asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement about the 1968–69 volunteer programme and about the plans of the voluntary bodies in the British Volunteer Programme for the 1969–70 programme.

There are 1,734 volunteers serving overseas at present of whom 1,348 are graduate and qualified volunteers, and 386 cadets. This is an overall increase of 183 on 1967–68. In 1969–70 the voluntary societies in the British Volunteer Programme aim to send 1,500 graduate and qualified volunteers and 400 cadet volunteers overseas.

asked the Minister of Overseas. Development how much overseas aid has been given to Kenya in the past 12 months; and what were the respective totals for each of the past five years.

The provisional figures of the cost of overseas aid provided by Britain to Kenya in the twelve months ending 30th September, 1968, the latest period for which figures are available, amounted to £10·4 million.A table setting out the figures for the previous five financial years is being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.These figures exclude aid to East African regional organisations.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much overseas aid has been given to Uganda in the past 12 months; and what were the respective totals for each of the past five years.

The provisional figure of the cost of overseas aid provided by Britain to Uganda in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1968 (the last date for which figures are available), was £3·6 million.The cost of the aid provided in each of the past five (financial) years to Uganda is set out below:

					£ million
1963–64	…	…	…	…	5·5
1964–65	…	…	…	…	4·4
1965–66	…	…	…	…	4·5
1966–67	…	…	…	…	5·7
1967–68	…	…	…	…	3·6

These figures exclude aid to East African regional organisations.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much overseas aid has been given to Tanzania in the past 12 months; and what were the respective totals for each of the past five years.

The provisional figure of the cost of overseas aid provided by Britain to Tanzania in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1968 (the last date for which figures are available), was £1·8 million.The cost of the aid provided in each of the past five (financial) years to Tanzania is set out below:

					£ million
1963–64	…	…	…	…	8·1
1964–65	…	…	…	…	7·5
1965–66	…	…	…	…	4·9
1966–67	…	…	…	…	3·7
1967–68	…	…	…	…	1·5

These figures exclude aid to East African regional organisations.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what special assistance he is providing to the Government of Botswana to develop the country's mineral resources.

We are financing British consultancies in the fields of mining, mining taxation, and town planning, in connection with the Botswana Government's plans for the development of its mineral resources.We are also providing grants totalling £16,158 in 1968–69 towards the development of the Botswana Geological Survey Department.Further assistance for the Geological Department and for the construction of facilities in North-Eastern Botswana in connection with the new mineral developments there are now being considered from our allocation of aid to Botswana for 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on the rates of interest at present being charged on Government funds advanced to the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

Loans to the Commonwealth Development Corporation are charged interest at the Treasury rate current at the time of issue but there is a limited waiver of interest on part of each year's borrowing.The current rate is 8¼ per cent. Out of a total of £10 million provided for 1968–69, £5 million will carry a seven-year waiver of interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of extending housekeeper relief under Section 214 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, to individuals having in their households a person over the age of 70 years and over the age of 75 years, respectively.

I have not enough information to make an estimate; but the amount would be comparatively small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs established and non-established respectively, whose total salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

The number of staff in departments for which my right hon. Friend is responsible were, on 1st December, 1968, as follows:

	Established	Non-established
Treasury	660	277
Customs and Excise	16,210	1,656
Inland Revenue	46,312	19,672
Central Office of Information	844	682
Royal Mint	579	1,068
Stationery Office	2,528	830

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, taking the purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. in 1951, he will show the value of this purchasing power in each subsequent year up until the most recent convenient date.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. 0d. in 1951, its values in subsequent years are estimated as follows:

					s.	d.
1951	…	…	…	…	20	0
1952	…	…	…	…	18	10
1953	…	…	…	…	18	7
1954	…	…	…	…	18	3
1955	…	…	…	…	17	7
1956	…	…	…	…	16	10
1957	…	…	…	…	16	4
1958	…	…	…	…	15	11
1959	…	…	…	…	15	10
1960	…	…	…	…	15	8
1961	…	…	…	…	15	3
1962	…	…	…	…	14	8
1963	…	…	…	…	14	6
1964	…	…	…	…	14	1
1965	…	…	…	…	13	6
1966	…	…	…	…	13	0
1967	…	…	…	…	12	8
1968	…	…	…	…	12	2

The estimates are based on movements in the consumer price indext from 1951 to 1967, with a provisional figure for 1968 based on the index of retail prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage rate of increase in the supply of money during 1969 falls within the criterion of the Government's current economic policy.

The significance of changes in the money supply depends to a considerable extent on the reasons for the changes. This makes it impossible to set a precise target of the kind suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the size of the Government's June 1968 drawing on the International Monetary Fund's November 1967 loan of $1,400 million; and what further drawings, and of what size have subsequently been made.

In June, 1968, the United Kingdom drew from the International Monetary Fund the whole of the $1,400 million to which we were entitled under the standby arrangement of November, 1967. There have been no further drawings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage proportion of gross national product, or any other comparable yardstick, spent in 1964 and 1968, respectively, on education, health, housing, social security, defence and overseas aid.

Figures for 1968 are not yet available and the table below therefore relates to 1964 and 1967; the services are defined as for Table 53 of National Income and Expenditure 1968, except for overseas aid which is defined as in the "Treasury analysis of public expenditure" in the same publication.

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST
	1964	1967
Education	4·8	5·7
National health service	3·9	4·5
Housing	2·8	3·3
Social security benefits	7·2	8·4
Military defence	6·8	7·0
Overseas aid	0·7	0·6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the balance of payments out-turn for 1968, indicating the reasons why there was not a credit balance by the end of the year, as he originally forecast.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave earlier today on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that additions are made by the Customs authorities to the invoiced value of imports by concession holders of brand named goods; upon what authority this is done; and what effect this practice has on the percentage value of deposits made.

These additions are authorised by the Customs and Excise Act, 1952. The effect varies according to the individual circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the increase of 60 per cent. to 390 per cent. in the dividend of the proprietors of Selby Bridge Company complies with the prices and incomes policy; and what action he is taking in this matter.

Yes. This is a close company whose dividends may be increased in accordance with the guidance given in paragraph 55 of Cmnd. Paper 3590.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that those who now voluntarily disclose holdings of gold coins under Statutory Instrument No. 438, 1966, will profit from the higher market price of gold compared with those who made their disclosures after 27th April, 1966, the date on which they were legally required to do so; and if he will introduce an amending order to remove this anomaly.

I am aware that persons who now voluntarily sell their gold coin under the 1966 Order get a higher price than those who did so earlier. This has been an unavoidable anomaly, but persons holding gold coin risk prosecution, and on a conviction the courts have power to order forfeiture in addition to the usual penalties. I have no intention of introducing an amending order at this time. I am still satisfied that the 1966 Order fulfils a useful purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to amend the legislation regarding the Road Fund tax so as to allow tax remission to owners of vehicles who have been ill for a month or more, upon production of a medical certificate.

I do not think that this would be practicable since a licence relates to a vehicle and not to a particular driver.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations he has made into the incentive effect of a move from direct to indirect taxation.

I am carefully considering the several investigations which have previously been made and which are relevant to this question.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many cars were available in the Government pool and for use in the Civil Service generally on 31st December, 1964 and on 31st December, 1968.

Of the cars for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, the number in service at 31st December, 1968, stood at 377 throughout the U.K. Details of the number in service at 31st December, 1964, are no longer available, but the increase over the 4-year period was not more than 6.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether, now that the Commonwealth Conference has finished, he will mend the clock over St. James's Palace and allow it to be illuminated again.

The clock itself has not been out of action but there has been a failure in the lighting of the clock face which has now been rectified.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many men and apprentices, respectively, were employed by his Department in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, on 1st October, 1964, 1st April, 1966, and 1st October, 1968.

The numbers are:

		Men	Apprentices
1st October, 1964	…	708	80
1st April, 1966	…	671	80
1st October, 1968	…	698	61

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the rising unemployment in Gainsborough, he will expedite his decision on the West Burton B Generating Station; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 26th November, 1968.—[Vol. 774. c. 104.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs established and non-established, respectively, whose total salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

At 1st December, 1968, my Department employed 1,363 established and 360 non-established officials. Details of the numbers whose total salaries and allowances are between the stated ranges are not readily available and the information could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the importance of the balance of payments to the United Kingdom, he will give a general direction to the Steel Corporation to rescind their policy of buying oil up to 1972 at a cost of £120 million, and, as an alternative, to enter into contracts to buy British coal or North Sea gas.

No. But I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to remove some possible misconceptions about these contracts. First, they do not represent a new departure in the steel industry's choice of fuels but a rationalisation of its existing oil supply arrangements; second, coal is not a practical or economic substitute for most of the uses for which the oil is required; third, the distribution facilities to take natural gas to all of the steel works concerned do not yet exist nor indeed could the quantities of gas required for complete substitution throughout the contract period be made available without unacceptable diversions from other users; fourth, there is every prospect that the natural gas which will be available up to 1972 will be absorbed into uses most of which will involve the displacement of oil and much of which will displace oils of higher value than those normally used by the steel industry.

asked the Minister of Power if he can now announce his final decision whether to give consent to the British Steel Corporation's participation in Sheffield Rolling Mills.

I am today giving my formal consent. I had already agreed in principle to the B.S.C.'s participation in the company but decided not to give final consent until I had assured myself that there were reasonable safeguards against the purposes of the agreement being frustrated. Since then, the detailed agreements have been discussed with me at the formative stage and contain the following safeguards:

(i) that the unanimous consent of all the parties should be required to a substantial expansion of S.R.M.'s activities by the issue of more share capital or by extra borrowing;

(ii) that S.R.M. should be required to seek to avoid policies likely to cause substantial harm to the steel-making interests of any of the partners;

(iii) the prevention of the concentration of a majority holding in one hand, and,

(iv) the prevention of the use of a majority vote to force the disposal of S.R.M.'s assets.

I am fully satisfied that these safeguards meet the needs of the situation. The employment consequences of the merger have been fully discussed with the unions, and I have myself discussed the questions raised by the merger with representatives of the unions, both locally and nationally.The merger will allow for amalgamation of certain of the partners' bar and rod interests in the Sheffield area by concentration of production on the most modern plant. The Corporation expect their participation to result in fuller use of their assets and a considerable financial gain. I am satisfied that the merger is in the interests of the national economy and of the nationalised steel industry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why his Department's Order and Plan announcing the details of the Preston/Leyland/Chorley new town were on display at the Town Hall, Rawtenstall, and the Town Hall, Burnley, but not at the Town Hall, Darwen, which borough is nearer the designated new town.

These documents are required to be available for public inspection only within the proposed designated area. Any request for copies of the documents for display by neighbouring authorities will receive consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of his ruling that extra-statutory contributions to recompense local authorities, for damage caused to their property from extraneous sources, were payable only if an unreasonable burden would otherwise be placed on local finances, he will state how his definition of reasonableness in such matters is framed.

The burden that would otherwise fall on the rates is not the only criterion by which my right hon. Friend judges whether or not special Government assistance can reasonably be expected. He must also consider the nature and extent of the disaster, and, in particular, whether local authorities could have insured against the resultant damage.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to amend the regulations which govern a local authority's eligibility for the Needs Element of the Rate Support Grant to include those holiday resorts which have a large summer population.

No. The distribution formula for the needs element of rate support grant may be amended only by a rate support grant order. The order determining the grants for 1969–70 and 1970–71 was made last month and my right hon. Friend has no power to make a further Order before the next grant period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs, established and non-established, respectively, whose salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3.000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

The number of officials employed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government on 1st January, 1969, was 4,386 of which 3,445 were established staff and 941 unestablished. To provide the further detailed information requested would incur expenditure which I could not regard as justifiable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many people are employed in executive positions in the planning departments of local authorities in England and Wales; and how many of these hold any relevant professional qualifications.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish the countries of origin of the 190 landlords convicted for harassment of their tenants under the Rent Act, 1965, up to 30th September, 1968.

This information is not available and I do not think it would be profitable to try to obtain it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the amount of financial assistance given to Lancashire County Council for the clearing of derelict areas in each of the last three years; and how much of this was allocated to Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley.

No grants have yet been paid to the County Council but reclamation schemes to the value of £900,000 have been approved or provisionally approved. These include a substantial scheme in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley at a total cost of about £330,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the acreage of derelict land within the boundaries of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley; and what proportion of this represents colliery slag heaps.

The latest survey figures, showing the position on 31st December, 1967, in the districts named are as follows:

	(i)	(ii)	(iii)
	Total derelict land acreage	Acreage justifying treatment	Acreage of spoil heaps included in (ii)
Leigh Borough	574	382	194
Atherton Urban District	76	64	26
Tyldesley Urban District	295	287	201
Totals	945	733	421

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much money the central Government has made available to the county borough of Huddersfield for the year 1968–69; and how this compares with the amount made available for the year 1963–64.

The rate support grants to the county borough of Huddersfield for 1968–69 are estimated at £4,339,510 compared with £2,603,325 in respect of the corresponding grants in 1963–64. The amounts of capital grants, specific revenue grants and housing subsidies for 1968–69 are not yet known. For 1967–68 these grants and subsidies totalled £688,696 compared with £429,153 for 1963–64.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that local opinion is disturbed at the intention of British Railways to destroy Crowhurst Viaduct; and if he will grant a preservation order for the structure as a building of special architectural interest.

Four local authorities, including the East Sussex County Council, have investigated the possibility of preservation and British Railways are prepared to transfer this viaduct, which they no longer require, to anybody willing to preserve it. It is open to the County Council, as the planning authority, to serve a building preservation notice in respect of it, which would prevent demolition while its future is being fully considered. I understand, however, that the cost of repairing and maintaining the viaduct, which has already been studied, is considerable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress of leasehold enfranchisement in the Tight of recent tribunal decisions.

The progress of leasehold enfranchisement is not being publicly recorded because it is taking place chiefly by private negotiation. The Government are studying the recent decision of the Lands Tribunal. There is a right of appeal from the Tribunal's decision to the High Court on points of law, and in view of this it would be inappropriate at this stage to comment on the decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will consider introducing legislation to amend the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967, so as to clarify the provisions regarding compensation by ensuring that in the valuation of property the leaseholder is regarded as the sitting tenant.

Consideration was given to the compensation provisions of this Act in the recent decision of the Lands Tribunal, which is being studied by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will consider recommending a Royal visit to the Falkland Islands in 1969.

No.The House fully appreciates the heavy burdens which members of the Royal family cheerfully assume in undertaking visits overseas, particularly in the Commonwealth, but provisional programmes already planned for such visits in 1969 appear to make a visit by any member of the Royal Family to the Falkland Islands unlikely.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the per capita income per annum of the Falkland Islanders; and how this compares with United Kingdom incomes.

An economic survey of the Falkland Islands carried out in 1967 suggests an average income per head of the population in the year 1965 of £503. For the same year the United Kingdom figure was £526.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the rates of Income Tax in the Falkland Islands; and how these compare with United Kingdom rates.

Since the reply is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to United Kingdom public funds of the Common wealth Conference and how far individual countries contributed; and what steps were taken by Her Majesty's Government to enable Members of Parliament other than members of the Government party to meet Ministers and others from the Commonwealth.

Full details are not yet available but it is expected that the total cost to United Kingdom public funds will be about £81,000. Of this £79,000 represents expenditure normally falling upon the host Government. The remainder is Britain's share of the extra cost to the Commonwealth Secretariat attributable to the Meeting. This is met by all Commonwealth countries in agreed proportions.Members of Parliament of all parties were invited to Government functions during the Meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the circumstances in which 73-year-old Mr. Li Chung-kun and 78-year-old Mr. Ma Ching-lung were arrested in Hong Kong; what were the charges preferred against them and the lengths of their sentences; and whether, in view of their age, he will arrange for a remission to permit their release.

The names given do not exactly correspond with any to be found in the Hong Kong records, but the following information is believed to be relevant.A Mr. Li Chung-Kwan aged 71 was one of twenty-three persons found in residential premises suspected to be an operational centre for terrorism. These premises contained propaganda posters, a large number of choppers, sharpened piping, 2,000 empty bottles and corrosive acid. Most persons found were sentenced to 21-months imprisonment; Mr. Li was sentenced to 12 months for being found in premises containing offensive weapons. He was released in April 1968 after receiving normal remission.A Mr. Ma Kam-Lung aged 78 was convicted in August 1967 for possession of offensive weapons, possession of inflammatory posters, forming part of an intimidating assembly and obstructing a Police Officer. At the time of the border incidents in 1967 Mr. Ma ran a rice shop in a market town near the frontier at which he displayed many inflammatory posters and broadcast incitement to make trouble. Although other shops stopped similar activities after warnings by the Police, he persisted and turned his shop into a fortress. When raided by police he put up strong resistance using choppers and petrol bombs. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment which he is still serving. Government doctors attending him have recently recommended his release on medical grounds. This advice is now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs, established and non-established, respectively, whose total salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

The total number of home-based officials paid from the Diplomatic Service Vote in 1968 was 10,660. Of these 8,261 were established and 2,399 non-established. I regret that information about their salaries and allowances in the form asked for by the hon. Member is not readily available; to produce it would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the correspondence

PRINCIPAL INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULED SERVICE ROUTES WHICH HAVE BEEN LICENSED BUT ARE NOT CURRENTLY OPERATED (EXCLUDING SEASONAL ROUTES)
Route	Licence Holder	Licence No.	Effective date	Remarks
Luton/Berne	Autair International Airways Ltd.	A6388	1.11.67
Newcastle/Rotterdam and/or Basle	B.K.S.Air Transport Ltd.	A4421	1. 5.65
Newcastle/via optional intermediate points/Bergen.	ditto	A4422	1. 5.65
Leeds/Lille (optional)/Basle	ditto	A4528	6. 6.65
London/Biarritz	ditto	A5424	1. 5.67
London/Dinard	B.E.A.	A288*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.70
London/Malta† (optional)/Catania	ditto	A303*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.70
London/Malta† (optional)/Ajaccio	ditto	A305*	30. 3.61
Malta†/Tripoli/London (optional)/	ditto	A311*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.69
Benghazi (optional)/Cairo (optional).
London/Oslo†/Stockholm†	ditto	A336*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.70
London/Copenhagen†/Stockholm†	ditto	A341*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.70
Glasgow/via optional intermediate points/Milan.	ditto	A347*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.70
London/Algiers	ditto	A1281	1. 4.63
Manchester/London (optional)/Rome	ditto	A2939	1. 4.63	Suspended to 31.3.70

A letter from the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association dated 15th August, 1967, and the reply of the Solicitor-General of Hong Kong dated 11th October, 1967, were both published in full in the Annual Report for 1967 of the Hong Kong Bar Association.I am asking the Governor for copies of the Annual Report which will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the international air routes for which licences have been issued to British civil airlines, but which are not currently being operated, together with the names of the operators concerned and the date of grant of the original licence.

Yes. The list indicates also the destinations on the routes in question which are served by the operator under another licence.Following is the list:

Route	Licence Holder	Licence No.	Effective date	Remarks
London/Crete	ditto	A5454	1. 1.68	Suspended to 31.3.70
London/Split	ditto	A5982	1. 4.68	Suspended to 31.3.70
London/Almeria	ditto	A5983	1. 4.68	Suspended to 31.3.69
London/via optional intermediate points/Marrakesh.	ditto	A6272	1.11.67	Suspended to 31.3.69
London/Athens† (optional)/Izmir	ditto	A6404	1. 4.69	Suspended to 31.3.70
Glasgow/Manchester (optional)/Brussels.	ditto	A6405	1. 4.71
Glasgow and/or Manchester†/Copenhagen† and/or Stockholm.	ditto	A6406	1. 4.69	Suspended to 31.3.70
Glasgow and/or Manchester/Rome	ditto	A6407	1. 4.70
East Midlands/Basle	British Midlands Airways Ltd.	A5272	1. 5.66	Suspended to 31.3.69
East Midlands/Rotterdam and/or Amsterdam.	ditto	A6151	1. 4.67	Suspended to 31.3.69
London/via optional intermediate points/Singapore†.	B.O.A.C	A418*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.69
London/via optional intermediate points/Aden.	ditto	A427*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.69
London/via optional intermediate points/Los Angeles and/or San Francisco†.	ditto	A437*	30. 3.61
London/via optional intermediate points/Shanghai and/or Hong Kong†.	ditto	A438*	30. 3.61
Nassau/via optional intermediate points/Lima and/or Santiago.	ditto	A468*	30. 3.61	Suspended to 29.3.69
London/Frankurt†	ditto	A5166	1. 4.66
London/via optional intermediate points/Beirutt and/or Damascus.	ditto	A6085	1. 4.67	Suspended to 31.3.69
Southend or Lydd or Bournemouth and/or London/Basle (optional)/Geneva.	British Air Ferries Ltd.	A1326	1. 9.61
Southend† or Lydd and/or London/Ostend† (optional)/Strasbourg (optional)/Basle.	ditto	A1327	1. 9.61
Jersey and/or Guernsey/via optional intermediate points/Cherbourg or Dinard.	ditto	A3400	29.10.63	Suspended to 31.3.69
Southampton or Bournemouth or Gatwick/Cherbourg.	ditto	A3402	29.10.63	Suspended to 14.3.69
Lydd or Manston/Calais	ditto	A3404	29.10.63	Suspended to 14.3.69
Coventry and/or Southend†/Le Touquet and/or Calais†.	ditto	A3552	15. 3.64	Suspended to 14.3.69
Coventry/Cherbourg	ditto	A3553	15. 3.64	Suspended to 14.3.69
Southend/via optional intermediate points/Liege/Geneva (optional).	ditto	A3554	15. 3.64	Suspended to 14.3.69
Lydd and/or Bournemouth/Bordeaux	ditto	A3555	15. 3.64	Suspended to 14.3.69
Lydd/Nimes	ditto	A3556	15. 3.64	Suspended to 14.3.69
Manchester/East Midlands/Rotterdam.	ditto	A5146	1. 4.66	Suspended to 31.3.69
Southend/Calais† and/or Le Touquet	ditto	A7325	1.10.68	Southend/Calais operated under A5299.
London (Gatwick)/Paris	British United Airways Ltd.	A1002	1. 4.63	Suspended to 31.5.69
London (Gatwick)/Milan	ditto	A1008	1. 4.63	Suspended to 31.3.69
London (Gatwick)/Lisbon† (optional) /Madeira.	ditto	A1022	1. 4.63
London (Gatwick)/Athens	ditto	A1025	1. 4.63	Suspended to 30.4.69
London (Gatwick)/Basle	ditto	A1026	1. 5.63	Suspended to 30.4.69
London (Gatwick)/Barcelona and/or Gerona.	ditto	A1028	1. 5.63	Suspended to 30.4.69
London (Gatwick)/Tarbes	ditto	A1029	1. 5.63	Suspended to 30.4.69
London (Gatwick)/Seville	ditto	A2902	1. 4.63	Suspended to 30.6.69
Glasgow/Dusseldorf and/or Frankfurt	ditto	A5205	1. 5.66
Glasgow and/or Newcastle/Blackpool (optional)/Amsterdam and/or Dusseldorf.	British United Island Airways.	A3731	27. 2.64
Southampton/Dinard	ditto	A4565	1.11.65

Route	Licence Holder	Licence No.	Effective date	Remarks
London (Gatwick) and/or Southampton and/or Le Havre and/or Deau ville.	ditto	A4566	1.11.65
Glasgow or Prestwick/Barcelona/Ibiza (optional).	Caledonian Airways (Prestwick) Ltd.	A5223	1. 3.67	Suspended to 31.3.69
Glamorgan and/or Bristol/Barcelona	Cambrian Airways Ltd.	A6174	1. 4.68
Glamorgan and/or London/Nuremburg.	ditto	A6207	1. 4.68	Suspended to 31.3.69
Birmingham/Cork	ditto	A6442	1. 4.68
Tees-side/Palma	Channel Airways Ltd	A6284	1.10.67	Suspended to 31.3.69
Tees-side/Basle	ditto	A6286	1. 6.67	Suspended to 31.3.69
East Midlands and/or Tees-side/Copenhagen and/or Stockholm.	ditto	A7241	1.10.68	Suspended to 31.3.69
Swansea via intermediate points/Basle.	Dan Air Services Ltd.	A6152	1. 4.67	Suspended to 31.3.69
East Midlands via intermediate points/Tours or Poitiers.	Skyways Coach Air Ltd.	A4443	30. 4.65
London/Dublin	British Eagle International Airlines Ltd.	A1054	1. 4.63
Manchester and/or Birmingham/Nice	ditto	A1064	1. 4.63
Liverpool via intermediate points/Dinard and/or La Baule.	ditto	A2425	1. 4.63
Manchester via intermediate points/Luxembourg and/or Innsbruck.	ditto	A3855	1.11.64
Glasgow via intermediate points/Pisa	ditto	A4298	1. 4.65
London via optional points/Stuttgart	ditto	A4299	1. 5.65
London/Tunis and/or Djerba and/or Monastir.	ditto	A4643	1. 4.66
London/Palma	ditto	A5157	1. 5.66
Liverpool/via intermediate points/Rimini and/or Forli and/or Pescara.	ditto	A5365	24. 8.66
Liverpool/via intermediate points/Perpignan and/or Gerona.	ditto	A7196	1. 4.68
Birmingham/via intermediate points/Palma and/or Ibiza.	ditto	A7197	29. 3.68
Liverpool/via intermediate points/Rotterdam and/or Frankfurt.	ditto	A7507	1. 7.68
Glasgow/Dublin	British Eagle (Liverpool) Ltd.	A4367	1. 5.65
Liverpool via intermediate optional points/Ostend.	ditto	A5187	11. 3.66
* These licences were granted under the Civil Aviation (Transitional Licences) Orders and were in continuation of licences held prior to the setting up of the Air Transport Licensing Board.
† The destinations marked are served by the licence holder by through flights operated under his other licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs, established and non-established, respectively, whose total salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

Details are not readily available of the numbers of officials whose total salaries and allowances are between the stated ranges and this information could be provided only at disproportionate expense. The total numbers of established and non-established staff (non-industrial) employed by the Board of Trade on 1st October, 1968, were 12,931 and 5,097 respectively. Corresponding figures for the Export Credits Guarantee Department are 998 and 367, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the results of his inquiry into the method of charging import duties on carpets containing man-made fibres which was announced on 21st May, 1968.

The enquiry was made as a result of representations that a significant permanent increase in the duty on such carpets was likely to result from making duty depend on the weight instead of the value of the man-made fibre content. The Board of Trade undertook to consider, in consultation with the trades and industries concerned, whether it was feasible to make some further lasting adjustment to the tariff. The enquiry has revealed that the change had little effect on carpets other than those containing rayon, and that any tariff adjustment in favour of carpets containing rayon would either reduce the duty payable on carpets containing other fibres or would re-introduce serious difficulties into the administration of the tariff. I have therefore decided that a further permanent adjustment to the tariff would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of deserted wives in England and Wales.

I regret that the information on which such an estimate would have to be based is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to ameliorate the effect of the financial measures of November last on old-age pensioners.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 2nd December in answer to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Forescue).—[Vol. 774, c. 231.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs, established and non-established, respectively, whose salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

On 1st December, 1968, there were 69,400 non-industrial staff employed in the Department of Health and Social Security. Of these, 55,510 were established and 13,890 were non-established. I regret that the information requested about salaries and allowances is not readily available and could not be obtained without considerable expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the stocks of blood available in Southern England.

There was a temporary shortage over the Chirstmas and new year period and some hospitals were obliged to postpone non-urgent operations. I understand that the situation has improved and the stocks of blood are now becoming adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) to what extent there is a shortage of supplies of blood in the Lewisham Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is the number of occasions in the last six months that hospitals in the Lewisham Group have either had to refuse or postpone treatment due to shortages of blood supplies.

In the period after Christmas 14 non-urgent operations were postponed for longer than 24 hours. In the six months before that, approximately 20 non-urgent operations were postponed. No urgent operations have been refused or postponed. During the past week blood supplies have much improved, and I understand that there is at present no shortage in the Group.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent a shortfall exists in the number of general practitioners in medicine in the area of the London borough of Lewisham; and whether he will make a statement on the steps being taken to overcome this shortfall.

There is no fixed complement of general practitioners in this or any other area. The area is not classified by the Medical Practices Committee as under-doctored, though they place no restrictions on doctors wishing to enter practice there. The Inner London Executive Council, who are responsible for securing the provision of family doctor services in the area, will be glad to help anyone who may have difficulty in getting accepted by a doctor.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to cushion the impact of unemployment following the transfer of the Royal Air Force services from Acklington, Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is considering whether an alternative Service use can be found for the Royal Air Force Station at Acklington, and the possibility of civilian use will also be considered. Acklington is in a Development Area, and efforts are continuing with the aid of the incentives available to industry to add to employment opportunities within travelling distance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs established and non-established, respectively, whose salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

In total, some 129,100 established and 219,500 unestablished officials were employed by the Ministry of Defence on 1st October, 1968. Disproportionate effort and expense would be required to compile this information requested in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what superannuation arrangements have been made for civil staff formerly employed by Territorial and Auxiliary Forces associations who were taken into the Civil Service with their work as part of the reorganisation of the Army Reserves provided for in the Reserve Forces Act, 1966.

Undertakings were given to these staff to the effect that they would be able, on certain conditions, to reckon as unestablished civil service all service reckonable for pension or gratuity in the appropriate Territorial and Auxiliary Forces scheme. The Government have, however, been advised that the terms of existing legislation are not wide enough to allow these undertakings to be honoured to their full extent. Amending legislation will be introduced at the first convenient opportunity in order that the undertakings may be honoured in full. Any superannuation awards which fall to be made pending the enactment of that legislation will be paid on an extra-statutory basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the proposed closure of the Royal Air Force station at Acklington, to which Department and under which Minister he intends to transfer the 202 Helicopter Service, in order that the North-East Coast may not be deprived of an Air Sea Rescue Service.

The aircraft in question are 2 Whirlwind helicopters on detachment from No. 202 Squadron based at R.A.F. Leconfield. Upon withdrawal of the R.A.F. from Acklington these aircraft will transfer at least temporarily to R.A.F. Ouston, and then to another location in the same area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs, established and non-established, respectively, whose salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

The number of staff employed by my Department on 1st October, 1968, was 16,139, and this comprised 11,572 permanent and 4,567 temporary officers. The breakdown of these numbers into salary bands is not readily available and could not be provided without unreasonable expenditure of time and money.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has received for changes in bread prices; and whether he will make a statement.

The major plant bakers have notified my Department under the early warning arrangements of proposed changes in the price of bread. The principal changes—which the Government has agreed should apply from 3rd February—will be an increase of 1d. on the large (1¾ lb.) standard loaf and a reduction of ½d. on the small (14 oz.) standard loaf. Related adjustments will also be made in the prices of non-standard loaves produced by these firms, with the exception of proprietary bread. The price of proprietary breads is still under consideration and for the time being will remain unchanged. The increased costs which the bakers have advanced in justification of their proposals, and their capacity to absorb them, have been carefully examined against the criteria for price increases set out in the White Paper on Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy in 1968 and 1969 (Cmnd. 3590) and the Government accepted that the adjustments proposed are consistent with the policy.In adjusting these prices account has been taken of the need to eliminate the halfpenny in current prices in anticipation of the demonetisation of that coin on 1st August. Slightly different adjustments from those mentioned above may therefore be necessary in Northern Ireland, and in those areas remote from the plant bakeries, where bread prices have traditionally been marginally different from the price of the standard loaf in England and Wales and of the most popular loaf (the batch loaf) in Scotland. These adjustments, too, have been accepted by the Government.The firms concerned have given the Government satisfactory assurances about the progress being made towards modernisation in the industry with the objective of achieving greater efficiency in the longer term in bread production, having regard to the special increase in bread prices granted for this purpose at the time of the last price adjustment.The prices charged by smaller independent bakers vary over a wide range according to size, quality, type and individual circumstances. These bakers, too, have been facing increased costs and (like plant bakers) have to take account of the need to eliminate the ½d. from their price structure. My Department has, however, received assurances from their representatives that any price adjustments they have to make will be fully consistent with the Government's prices policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs established and non-established, respectively, whose total salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

On 1st December, 1968, my Department's non-industrial staff was as follows:

Established

Non-Established

Total

3,021

1,185

4,206

These figures include 619 established and 322 non-established staff in the Victoria and Albert and Science Museums.A breakdown of these figures into salary bands is not available and could not be prepared without a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the recent negotiations in the Burnham Committee on teachers' pay; and if he will refer teachers' pay to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Negotiations are still proceeding and I have no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the average amounts paid by the parents of fee-paying pupils attending direct-grant schools in each of the last five years; and how these amounts compared with the actual average cost per pupil educated at these schools.

The average amounts paid by parents cannot be readily distinguished from those paid by L.E.A.s without undue expenditure of time. The information below relates to the five latest years for which complete returns have been received from the schools:

Financial Year			Average amounts paid by parents and local education authorities	Average Cost per pupil
			£	£
1962–63	…	…	75·7	129·4
1963–64	…	…	80·2	136·5
1964–65	…	…	83·4	149·1
1965–66	…	…	92·4	169·3
1966–67	…	…	97·3	175·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the number of man-hours lost as a result of voluntary absenteeism on New Year's Day 1969.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Waver-tree (Mr. Tilney) on 20th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what was the number of man-hours lost as a result of official strikes during the year 1968, or for the last 12-month period for which figures are available;(2) what was the number of man-hours lost as a result of unofficial strikes during the year 1968, or for the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

In official statistics loss of time due to stoppages of work is measured in terms of "days lost". Stoppages known to have been official accounted for a loss of 1,797,000 working days out of a total of 4,692,000 days lost during 1968 through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom. These figures are provisional. It is not known whether all the stoppages accounting for the balance of days lost were unofficial, though the great majority would have been.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will give in column form the number of people she employs, established and non-established, respectively, whose salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

On 1st January, 1969, there were 30,067 people employed in my Department. 21,040 of these were established and 9,027 were non-established. The figure of non-established employees includes 1,986 part-time staff each counted as a half. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is not readily available and to obtain it would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will introduce legislation to prohibit all friendly societies from discriminating in their rules against trade unionists, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and employers' organisations.

Yes. The Government announced in paragraph 55 of the White Paper "In Place of Strife—A Policy for Industrial Relations", published on Friday, 17th January, that they intend to include legislation on these lines in an Industrial Relations Bill to be introduced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will withdraw the circular issued by her Department which accompanies all wages council notices to employers entitled, "Wages Regulation Orders and Prices and Incomes Policy".

No. The notice explains the legal effect of changes in statutory minima and makes clear that changes in the basic rates approved for the lowest paid workers should not be interpreted as approval for general increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the average household income received in each year since 1964 in Scotland, in the North of England, in South-Eastern

				Two-year periods
				1964 and 1965	1966 and 1967
SCOTLAND
Number of households	…	…	…	690	1,035
Average number of persons per household	…	…	…	3·17	3·25
Average weekly household income	…	…	…	£22 12s.	£27 1s
NORTHERN STANDARD REGION OF ENGLAND
Number of households	…	…	…	376	679
Average number of persons per household	…	…	…	3·10	2·99
Average weekly household income	…	…	…	£19 18s.	£25 11s.
SOUTH EAST STANDARD REGION OF ENGLAND
Number of households	…	…	…	1,944	3,157
Average number of persons per household	…	…	…	2·88	2·94
Average weekly household income	…	…	…	£26 14s.	£31 7s.
UNITED KINGDOM
Number of households	…	…	…	6,636	10,660
Average number of persons per household	…	…	…	3·01	3·01
Average weekly household income	…	…	…	£24 3s.	£27 19s.
Average weekly household income in Scotland as a percentage of that in the United Kingdom	…	…	…	94 per cent.	97 per cent.
The average given are subject to sampling error.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs, established and non-established, respectively, whose salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

The numbers employed on 1st January this year were:

Established	…	17,077
Unestablished	…	6,386

It would not be possible to sub-divide the numbers into the salary and allowance ranges quoted without a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

Estimates of average weekly household incomes to the nearest shilling based on particulars provided by households which co-operated in the Family Expenditure Survey in the two year periods (a) 1964 and 1965 and (b) 1966 and 1967 are given in the table below. The survey data for two consecutive years are combined and averaged because of the small regional numbers of survey households in an individual year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the name of the new Chairman of the South-East of Scotland Regional Hospital Board.

As I announced last week, I have appointed Councillor Mrs. Rina Nealon of Edinburgh to be Chairman of the Board with effect from 20th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of pupils attending each school in the islands of Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, Grimsay, North Uist, Berneray, Harris Scalpay, Scarp, Lewis and Bernera, respectively, in 1948, 1958 and 1968, respectively, showing where schools have closed down and showing where pupils have been transferred to other schools because of closure or other reasons.

I am sending this information to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crofts were taken outwith crofting tenure, on the initiative of the tenant, in each of the last four years, in each of the islands of Barra, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Harris and Lewis, giving separately, where possible, the number in each of the smaller islands of Vatersay, Eriskay, Grimsay, Baleshare, Beneray, Scalpay, Scarp and Bernera, Lewis.

Applications to have crofts taken out of crofting tenure are made to me, by landlords, under Section 16(9) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1955.The following two changes of tenure were directed by me in the areas and years specified as a result of applications by landlords:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce legislation to change the divorce laws in Scotland.

As I indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Dewar) on 6th December, 1967, this has never been thought a suitable subject for Government legislation. The Government are however, prepared to consider a request for drafting assistance, should an hon. Member wish to introduce a Bill to reform the divorce law in Scotland on lines which appear likely to be generally acceptable.—[Vol. 755, c. 1420–21.]

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs established and non-established, respectively, whose salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

The number of staff employed at 1st October, 1968, was 328,685 established, and 89,066 non-established. These figures do not include some 23,000 Sub-Postmasters, who are employed on an agency basis. Part-time staff are counted as one half each.Information is not readily available to break down these figures into the categories specified in the question and I do not consider that the time and effort required to obtain it would be justified.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give in column form the number of officials he employs established and non-established, respectively, whose total salaries and allowances are under £1,500 per annum, between £1,500 and £3,000 per annum, between £3,000 and £5,000 per annum, between £5,000 and £7,500 per annum, and over £7,500 per annum, respectively.

My Department employs 14,500 established and 7,500 non-established non-industrial civilian staff. I regret that detailed information about numbers of staff in the quoted salary bands is not readily available in that form and could not be obtained without disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now announce the amount of the subsidy which will be paid for rail services in the Oxford area.

I hope to announce within a very few days, in respect of all railway passenger services being grant-aided, including those in the Oxford area, the length of the period for which I have undertaken to pay grant and the amount of grant payable in 1969.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a 75 per cent. grant will be payable for the whole of the proposed Oxford Inner Relief road, including extensions to the north to the area of the Northern By-Pass and spur roads which may become necessary.

Suggestions for an inner relief road have been proposed by Consultants to the Oxford City Council, who are now studying the Report. I cannot consider the question of grant for any particular section of road until the Council have reached a decision and submitted proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will ensure that when a new motorway is being constructed illuminated speed limit signs, which can be changed according to fog conditions, will be erected as an essential part of the motorway.

Motorway signals which can be used in any hazards, including fog, are being provided progressively on all motorways in accordance with a programme which takes account of such factors as type and volume of traffic, the physical characteristics of motorways and weather conditions. Some new motorways may be equipped initially with twin flashing amber lamps but these will be replaced later by the new signals.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to deal with the problems of the Grangemouth Docks.

It is for the harbour authority concerned to initiate proposals for port development, subject to my authorisation under the Harbours Act, 1964, of any scheme over £500,000. After reconsidering an earlier proposal, the Forth Ports Authority is in the course of submitting to me a revised scheme for a new entrance lock at Grangemouth.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue instructions to driving examiners that they should ensure when persons are being tested that the doors of the vehicle are secure, and that they should not rely upon the trainee's judgment.

No. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that the doors of his vehicle are secure; but, wherever practicable, an examiner will take suitable action to prevent an accident arising during a driving test.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation making it an offence for vehicles to follow closely upon each other, especially during fog; and if he will make a statement.

Drivers following another vehicle too closely may already be prosecuted for dangerous or careless driving.