asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he proposes to expand the Nature Conservancy Research Station at Merldwood.

Existing accommodation at the Research Station is inadequate. New laboratories are needed to meet the requirements of the planned growth of the research programme over the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many units and places exist for autistic children in the United Kingdom; and how many of these are in the North-West of England;(2) what proportion of autistic children are being taught in special units specialising in this field.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Written reply to his earlier Questions on 19th December, 1968, and to the Adjournment debate of 10th December, 1968, from which the House will know that autism is not a defined handicap and that I have undertaken to consider the whole question of categories of handicap and their definition in connection with the new Education Bill.—[Vol. 775, c. 439–440. Vol. 775, c. 381–392.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the fact that gonorrhoea in England and Wales is the second commonest infectious disease, being exceeded only by measles, what steps he is taking to encourage the improvement of sex education in schools.

Last November a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Social Security was sent to Medical Officers of Health and to Chief Education Officers drawing attention to the increasing incidence of venereal diseases and the need to discuss the adequacy of the arrangements for the instruction of children and young people both at school and in further education. The Department's Handbook of Health Education, republished last year, contains a section on venereal disease. Talks on this subject are already given in many schools and colleges, and are encouraged by my Department through Her Majesty's Inspectors and Medical Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will revise the basis of grant for medical students on a clinical course to take into account the fact that such students have no opportunity to supplement their grants by means of vacation employment.

Medical students already receive additional grant in recognition of the fact that their courses last 48 weeks instead of the usual 30. Any further review of student grants will depend on the economic situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils, at the latest convenient date, have left their primary school, and their secondary school, respectively, unable to read; by what criteria the inspectorate measures ability to read; and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible to judge reading ability in the absolute way the hon. Member suggests. Her Majesty's Inspectorate have carried out surveys at regular intervals since 1948 using a constant objective test devised by Dr. A. F. Watts and Professor P. E. Vernon. These surveys show steadily rising reading standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in consultations with the Stockport Education Committee for the reorganisation of secondary education.

There has been a great deal of consultation both locally and with my Department about the proposals which the authority submitted in 1967. My Department will shortly receive up-to-date details in support of the original submission and I shall reach a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will raise the age of transfer from the primary to the secondary stage of education from 11-plus to 12-plus.

No. This is a matter for local discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Portsmouth City Council concerning the calculation of the education grant to Portsmouth; and what reply he has sent.

None other than the letter from my hon. Friend to which I replied on 29th January, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy regarding the siting of schools in the vicinity of motorways, particularly those carried by a viaduct; and if he will make a statement.

The siting of schools is a matter for local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science of the £7,200,000 grant-in-aid to the Arts Council in the year 1966–67, how much was used to encourage young British conductors and musicians.

Almost all of the £3·7 million spent on music will have helped British musicians by providing employment and encouragement. Except to a very small extent, the proportion spent on young musicians cannot be isolated. Most of the £20,000 spent on awards to individual musicians went to young artists. Other examples of direct help for young musicians by the Arts Council are its grants of £71,293 to the London Opera Centre, £20,000 to the National Youth Orchestra and £5,000 to the Yehudi Menuhin School.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current negotiations concerning teachers' pay.

On 31st January, the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee reached provisional agreement on salary increases to operate for two years from 1st April next. The settlement, which is within incomes policy, increases scales and allowances overall by £28½ million or just over 6 per cent. It also gives effect to an earlier agreement under which certain teachers, mostly in primary schools, receive some additional responsibility payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the future status of the director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory; and what reply he has sent.

None. I am aware of concern among the staff of the Observatory based on newspaper reports but they have been assured that no proposals have been made either to or by the Science Research Council or to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children of secondary school age are given leave of absence during school hours for the purpose of activities in connection with Voluntary Task Force work in their local communities.

As part of their school curriculum, about 200 secondary school-children in Derbyshire are taking part in voluntary community service organised by the Young Volunteer Force Foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grant he has made or what authorisation he has given to local authorities to make payment to the Voluntary Task Force.

The Department made grants to the Young Volunteer Force Foundation of £11,000 and £35,000 in 1967–68 and 1968–69 respectively. Local authorities need no authorisation from me to assist this body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the saving of public funds resulting from the existence of a private sector of education.

For independent schools I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Evelyn King) on 31st January. This is an extremely rough estimate from which no deduction has been made for tax and rate reliefs. No reliable estimates for other parts of the private sector are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why, for a further year, a nil allocation has been made to Brighton for its Youth Service programme; and if, in view of the shortage of public baths in Brighton, he will consider giving this matter priority on additional funds becoming available during the year.

I regret that, in common with a large number of other local education authorities, Brighton has not been allocated a project in the Youth Service Building Programme for 1969–70. There is considerable pressure on these limited resources, but I will certainly bear in mind the priority accorded by the authority to two projects, one of which consisted of a swimming bath.Subject to the authority continuing to give this project first place in its list of priorities for its 1970–71 Youth Service building programme, it will stand a good chance of being granted an allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the aggregate number of teaching staff at British universities at a comparable date in each of the last 10 years.

in 1967–68 the number of full-time academic staff at universities in Great Britain whose salaries were paid either wholly or partly from university funds was 25,718. Figures for the nine previous years are given in Table 57 of Volume 6 of Statistics of Education, 1966, which will be published tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many American citizens who are of an age liable to be drafted for national service are students at British universities; and how many of these are receiving grants from this country.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give approval to the scheme submitted by Leicester City for reorganising secondary education on comprehensive lines; and what secondary building projects he now intends to authorise for 1969 to 1970.

My Department is already examining the authority's scheme which was received last week. I shall come to conclusions on this and on the current building programme proposals which relate to it as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to increase the low average number of children in Norfolk proceeding to higher education.

I would expect the raising of the school leaving age in 1972–73 to have a beneficial effect in increasing the number of children qualifying for higher education particularly in local education authorities where the number staying on voluntarily is below average. The reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines would have a similar effect. As my hon. Friend is aware, a higher proportion of children aged between 15 and 17 are engaged in full-time courses in further education in East Anglia than in any other region.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what immediate plans he has evolved to improve Norfolk primary schools, following the East Anglian Planning Councils Report.

I have not had any reaction to the report from Norfolk or any other education authority in the region. I am visiting Norfolk for two days in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to enable the staffs and facilities of technical colleges to be available for the retraining of redundant workers.

Local education authorities and colleges of further education have already been asked to help as far as they can in meeting local demands for adult retraining facilities. The colleges have taken over all first year apprenticeship training classes, which has released 650 places for retraining adults in Government Training Centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many schools are affected by the professional work-to-rule now being practised by teachers;(2) if he will make a statement about the professional work-to-rule now being staged in selected schools by teachers.

I understand from the Press that the National Association of Schoolmasters has decided to instruct its members in certain schools to restrict their services, apparently in protest at the policy of the Teachers' Panel of the Burnham Committee.I have seen reports that this action is being taken this week in about 16 secondary schools in the areas of 12 local education authorities. I very much hope that the Association will quickly bring to an end this unnecessary and unjustified disruption of the schools, which bears hardly on both the pupils and the rest of the staffs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now include in the 1969–70 building programme the proposed extensions to the Eastwood High School for Boys in Southend-on-Sea.

I did so on 31st December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many colleges of education have a reading consultant on their staff to establish or advise upon advanced reading techniques.

Staff in the education and English departments of colleges of education would be familiar with current thought and research on advanced reading techniques. It would be for the academic boards of each college to determine whether in any case the services of a specialist consultant are required.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recommendations he has received from the Sports Council to put the salaries of National Sports Coaches on a specific scale; and if he will make a statement.

The level of salary for national coaches is a matter for the governing bodies concerned. The Sports Council has, however, undertaken a study of the terms of employment of national coaches with a view to giving guidance to the governing bodies. The Sports Council's recommendations are being considered in consultation with the Scottish Education Department and the Council intends to discuss the outcome with the governing bodies in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to ensure that local education authorities get value for money in the development of nursery school facilities.

Projects for new nursery schools will have to comply with cost limits laid down by my Department. Other projects (for additional building or adaptations of existing buildings) will be subject to individual cost approval. My Department has prepared a design note on buildings for nurseries which has been sent to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further remit he intends to ask the Central Advisory Council for Education to undertake.

I have no further remit in mind for the Council at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the concern of the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions over recent dismissals of staff and in particular at the lack of any right of appeal from such dismissals; and if he will introduce legislation to provide greater security and rights of appeal.

I have received representations from the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions about recent dismissals from Guildford College of Design. On the question of legislation I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 5th December last to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Bar (Mr. Christopher Price).—[Vol. 774, c. 1827.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further reports he has received from Her Majesty's Inspectors on the work of the Guildford College of Art, in view of the recent reduction in staff resulting from the dismissal of seven full-time and 32 part-time teachers there.

Her Majesty's Inspectors have continued to keep in touch with the college and have discussed aspects of its work. They reported that there have been appointments of additional part-time staff, and intended appointments of additional full-time staff; and that lecturers from the business studies staff of the neighbouring technical college are helping in appropriate subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many deaf-blind children there are in Great Britain; and what proportion is in the care of special units.

Statistics showing the total number of children who combine defects of sight and hearing and of their placement are not available. A special inquiry made by my Department in December, 1967, showed that Principal School Medical Officers in England and Wales were then aware of 208 children born since 1st January, 1962, with defects of sight and hearing, of whom 44 combined deafness with blindness. Of these 208 children, the majority of whom were not of school age, 34 were placed in special schools, 13 in special classes or units, 16 in training centres, 29 in sub-normality hospitals, and 6 in ordinary schools or nurseries.I understand that no information about the position in Scotland is at present available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that there are adequate provisions for educating and training deaf-blind children; and if he will make a statement.

The education of children with defects of both sight and hearing presents particular difficulties which are of current concern to my Department. Specialist facilities are available in some half-dozen units, all but one of which are attached to special schools. In addition, in cases where one or other of the sensory defects is not too severe, children may be educated in a special school providing in the normal way for children with handicaps of either sight or hearing. My Department will shortly be asking local education authorities to bring up to date the information on deaf-blind children born since 1st January, 1962, which was given by Principal School Medical Officers in December, 1967, in order to ascertain whether the needs of these children are being met by existing facilities and to what extent additional provision may be needed. The recently appointed Committee of Inquiry into the Education of the visually handicapped will also be considering the needs of visually defective multiple-handicapped children, including the deaf-blind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies his Department is making on the work undertaken by schools and colleges of further education over the 15-and 18-year range.

My Department is planning to carry out a cost-effectiveness study of the educational provision for the 16–19 age group in a few selected areas. The study will be carried out in collaboration with the local education authorities and institutions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to provide that university authorities shall produce a form of contract for all students and undergraduates specifying their liabilities, duties and obligations.

This is not an appropriate subject for legislation. The universities decide such questions for themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement clarifying his policy as to the age or ages of children and young people at which selection in the field of academic ability is acceptable.

The Government's declared objective is to end selection at 11+ and most local authorities are planning on this basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has refused to make a grant to Walsall for the purpose of nursery schools.

The initial phase of the urban programme was limited to authorities which had either more than 2 per cent. of households with more than 1½ persons per room (on 1966 census data) or more than six per cent. of immigrants on the school roll in January, 1967. Walsall did not qualify under either of these criteria. All local authorities will be invited to submit schemes in the second phase of the urban programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of his announcement as to the extra financial provision to be made for school-building necessitated by the raising of the school-leaving age, he will now approve the proposals for improvements in two secondary schools in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames for which he withdrew approvals already given when the money intended for work in connection with the school-leaving age was withdrawn.

No. As the right hon. Gentleman said on 24th October, the two projects have nothing whatever to do with the question of raising the school-leaving age. They are, therefore, not connected with the special programme for raising the age which I am authorising.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the names of the four Americans who have been disrupting work at British universities; what courses they are following and at which universities; how long they have so far spent respectively at universities; what are their ages; and what moneys they are receiving from public funds, through what channels and for what purpose.

My comments in the debate on 29th January were intended to indicate that the ringleaders of the disturbances at the London School of 'Economics included overseas students who were being subsidised by the British taxpayers.The subsidy is the difference between fees paid and the full cost of the tuition. It is not for me to give the names of the students concerned. Any disciplinary action would be a matter for the school authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now announce the membership of the proposed Constitution Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Progress is being made but I have at present nothing to add to the reply given to a Question by the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell) on 28th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 293.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of people who died in each of the last 10 years as the outcome of an assault on them; and on what basis he distinguishes in compiling statistics between people who are murdered and people who die as the result of assault.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the total numbers of victims of murder, manslaughter, infanticide and child destruction. An offence is recorded as murder if the police consider that the ingredients of murder according to the law appear to be present, but if a court returns an alternative verdict the offence is reclassified accordingly.The following are the numbers of offences (in terms of victims) of murder, manslaughter, infanticide and child destruction known to the police in England and Wales:

1958	…	…	…	…	263
1959	…	…	…	…	267
1960	…	…	…	…	282
1961	…	…	…	…	266
1962	…	…	…	…	300
1963	…	…	…	…	307
1964	…	…	…	…	300
1965	…	…	…	…	325
1966	…	…	…	…	364
1967	…	…	…	…	413

These figures exclude a very small number of offences initially recorded as murder but subsequently reduced to an offence other than those referred to above. In general, the figures include charges resulting in acquittal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what respect the practice of distinguishing between murder and death following an assault has varied in this century for the purposes of computing the number of people murdered in any one year; if he is satisfied with the accuracy of the present practice; and if he will make a statement.

During the present century the basis on which offences are counted as murder has, so far as I am aware, changed only in reflection of changes in the law of murder, in particular those brought about by the Infanticide Acts, 1922 and 1938, and the Homicide Act, 1957. As a consequence of these Acts, a number of offences that would formerly have been murder became infanticide or manslaughter and are counted accordingly in the Criminal Statistics. I am satisfied that the murder statistics are as accurate as it is practicable to make them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received on the progress of the British Standard Time experiment; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received representations against British Standard Time from 30 local authorities and 24 other representative organisations. He has also received letters from about 450 individuals, most of whom were opposed to the experiment. The effects of British Standard Time cannot be finally judged yet. The Government propose to make a comprehensive review in the spring of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to prevent the sale of miniature camera toys containing photographic slides depicting scenes of torture, details of which have been sent to him.

No. The Obscene Publications Acts and the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act, 1955, already provide sufficient protection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing number of robberies taking place in connection with private security companies delivering and collecting moneys; under what regulations these private people are allowed to carry offensive weapons in carrying out these duties; and whether as a means of assisting the police and offsetting the cost to public funds he will seek powers to form a system of security corps operated by the police on a fee paying basis to the hirers.

Statistics of robberies from private security companies are not readily available. Their employees do not have any special dispensation to carry offensive weapons. The answer to the third part of the Question is, "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what form of inquiry he now proposes to institute into the actions of certain police officers in relation to a bank raid at Ashtead, Surrey, upon which he has now received the report of the Director of Public Prosecutions, in view of the important issues of public policy involved.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis sent the report of an investigation by a senior police officer to the Director of Public Prosecutions, as required by the Police Act, 1964. After receiving the advice of the Director, the Commissioner decided that no criminal proceedings should be taken against any of the officers concerned; he is now considering whether any disciplinary action should be taken. It would not be proper for me to comment on this case at this stage. As regards issues of public policy, it is well established that the police should not stimulate crime by behaving as agents provocateurs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were in the care of Birmingham City Council each year from 1949 to 1968; and how many of these are of immigrant stock.

According to returns furnished by the Birmingham City Council, the Answer to the first part of the Question is as follows:

1949	…	…	…	…	1,582
1950	…	…	…	…	1,624
1951	…	…	…	…	1,592
1952	…	…	…	…	1,503
1953	…	…	…	…	1,485
1954	…	…	…	…	1,338
1956	…	…	…	…	1,320
1957	…	…	…	…	1,296
1958	…	…	…	…	1,276
1959	…	…	…	…	1,364
1960	…	…	…	…	1,397
1961	…	…	…	…	1,492
1962	…	…	…	…	1,598
1963	…	…	…	…	1,604
1964	…	…	…	…	1,722
1965	…	…	…	…	1,827
1966	…	…	…	…	2,019
1967	…	…	…	…	2,130
1968	…	…	…	…	2,277

The figures from 1949 to 1954 were as at 30th November in each year; and from 1956 to 1968 as at 31st March.No statistics relating to the origin of children in care were called for until 1967, when those local authorities wishing to claim grant under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 (which relates to areas with a concentration of immigrants) were asked to state the number of children in care who were immigrants. Immigrants were defined as persons born in another Commonwealth country who have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom for less than ten years and the children of such persons. The claims submitted by the Council for this purpose show that the number of immigrant children in the Council's care was 535 on 31st March, 1967, and 585 on 31st March, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent the 40,000 people who were fined £450,000 in the calendar year ended 1968 for the offence of using unlicensed road vehicles in the Greater London area were prosecuted following action taken by the Metropolitan Police; and if he will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

No. The information is not available from police records.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the first delivery of letters in December and January of this winter has taken more or less time than in the same two months of last winter.

Some deliveries have on occasions been extended by a few minutes, but there was no significant change generally.

asked the Postmaster-General by what authority and procedure mail is opened on his instructions, or at the request or on the recommendations of a Government Department or Minister of the Crown.

The power to open mail derives from Sections 16 and 58 of the Post Office Act, 1953. Mail may be opened for Customs examination or, if it is undeliverable, to ascertain the sender's name and address. Otherwise it is opened only under warrant signed by a Secretary of State.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to resume the full two-tier postal delivery service; and if he will make a statement.

The second-class letter service was resumed on 3rd February; but in some places bulk postings were not accepted until earlier accumulations had been cleared.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take action to stop the sending through the mail by a club in New York, whose name has been given to him, of lewd and obscene matter in an attempt to solicit orders for this pornographic material.

My Department is seeking the help of the United States Post Office to try to prevent further copies of these circulars being sent by post to this country.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list giving the Giro numbers of the various Departments of State.

The following Departments of State have opened Giro accounts. For Departments which have opened a large number of accounts a figure showing the number of accounts which have been opened by the Department concerned is given:—

Department of State	Giro Account Numbers
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	309	0317
	318	0816
Civil Service Department	517	6018
	507	6013
	516	6012
Defence	114
	accounts
Education and Science	300	4317
Employment and Productivity	12
	accounts
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (GCHQ)	210	1211
Health and Social Security	17
	accounts
Home Office	317	1310
Housing and Local Government	302	5217
Overseas Development	515	8214
Post Office	400
	accounts
Power	518	1119
	519	1114
	500	2117
	501	2112
	511	2117
Public Building and Works	305	0009
	315	0003
Scottish Office—
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland	118	0312
Scottish Home and Health Department	130	1004
Technology	500	5116
	Main Account
	22
	other accounts
Trade	13
	accounts
Transport	19
	accounts

asked the Postmaster-General why the Post Office purchased advertising space in the national newspapers on 29th January under the heading, What the Post Office can do for you this week. And, regrettably, what it can't do; in which publications was this advertisement carried; and at what cost.

To inform the public clearly and simply which Post Office services were affected by the industrial dispute and how the public could best use services available.The advertisements appeared in all national daily newspapers and in the

asked the Postmaster General whether he will investigate why on Friday, 31st January, 1969, at 1.37 p.m. the hon. Member for West Ham North was given false information over the telephone by one of his staff concerning the availability of his private secretary; and whether he will make a statement.

My private secretary was not available when my hon. Friend telephoned. He was leaving the office to deal with urgent business connected with my negotiations that day with the Union of Post Office Workers. I am sorry if there was a misunderstanding.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average weekly usage of the dial-a-disc facility as far as the Chesterfield and Derby exchanges are concerned, including smaller exchanges nearby having access to subscriber trunk dialling.

About 5,500 calls are at present made each week to the Dial-a-Disc Service on Chesterfield exchange. The service is not available from other nearby exchanges, nor is it yet available at Derby.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that he has apologised, and has offered to help recompense, Knight, Frank and Rutley for omitting their name in the London Telephone Directory, if he will now agree to take similar action in regard to other firms and private people who have been left out, details of which are in his possession.

When entries are omitted from telephone directories, we always do our best to minimise the inconvenience to the customer. What steps we take will depend on the particular circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to allow retirement pensioners and others living on small incomes to pay their television licence fees by instalments payable in arrears.

None. I understand the considerations which have led the hon. Gentleman to table the Question; but an instalment system would add materially to working costs and, if payments were not kept up promptly, would lead to a loss of revenue. The radio and television savings card provides a way for people to save for a licence.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will institute proceedings against the Association of British People for incitement to racial hatred.

If the hon. Member will forward to me any evidence which he may have that an offence under Section 6 of the Race Relations Act, 1965, has been committed by this Association I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why military police were used to guard the Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers at Marlborough House.

The Military Police are specially trained in pass control and other security duties, and for many years have been used to carry out these functions at Commonwealth and other international conferences in London.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the product, in each of the past four years, of Customs duty levied on Christmas gifts sent to individuals in this country by post from overseas; and what was the administrative cost involved in the collection of the duty in each of these years.

Gifts are not always identifiable as such and it is impracticable to say what is the amount collected on Christmas gifts, or the cost of collecting it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an indication as to the approximate loss of general betting duty that is now being incurred by the recent growth of illegal betting clubs where betting is carried on without payment of the duty.

No estimate can be made. If my hon. Friend has evidence that the duty is being evaded, I should be grateful if he would let me see it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what applications he is at present considering under the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans) (Greater London) Direction, 1966.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering whether he should intervene under the Direction in 12 cases referred to him by the local planning authorities. In addition, he is considering 23 applications which have been "called in" for his decision, it am sending my hon. Friend brief particulars of all these applications.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why prints of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968, which received the Royal Assent on 25th October, 1968, were not available until 21st November, 1968.

My right hon. Friend has no responsibility for the printing of any Act of Parliament; but he understands from the House authorities concerned that the time required for publication of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968, was lengthy because an unusual number of large Acts passed on 25th October and it was necessary to give precedence in publication to those which contained provisions operative immediately upon the Royal Assent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968 (Commencement No. 1) Order, 1968, was not printed and available until the afternoon of 6th December, 1968, the day on which its provisions came into operation.

My right hon. Friend believed that all concerned would wish to take the earliest possible advantage of certain improvements and simplifications provided by the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968; but he regrets that this resulted in too short an interval between the making and the coming into operation of the first Commencement Order.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimate of the cost of the nuclear missile depot at Coulport; how much had been spent there up to 31st December, 1968; and what he now estimates will be the total cost when completed.

£10 million; £11 million; and £13 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why, having regard to the fact that the military priorities of the United States of America are dissimilar to those of Her Majesty's Government, he is supplying chemical warfare materials and information to the United States of America.

No chemical warfare materials are supplied to the United States of America. Information is exchanged with nations including the United States with whom we have arrangements for mutual co-operation in defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent Her Majesty's Government's chemical and biological warfare policy is one of defence; to what extent it is one of deterrence; and what measures are being taken to defend the public against this form of warfare.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government in this field is one of defence and of seeking international agreement to effective measures of disarmament; it is not a policy of deterrence except to the extent that any defensive measures constitute a deterrent; measures for the defence of the public in this respect are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Home Affairs and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend to other ranks in the Armed Forces the same opportunity of commutation of pension as applies to commissioned officers.

I have been asked to reply.The present rules are under review, but I am unable to say at present when this review will be complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the next Defence Review estimates of expenditure on military defence, other than expenditure on the Defence Budget.

This information will be published as usual, in the Defence Estimates and the Statement on the Defence Estimates. Reference will be made in the former to the token vote for the purchase of United States aircraft and the remaining expenditure will be summarised in an Annex to the latter.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will include expenditure on military defence other than expenditure on the defence budget within the defence budget.

It would not be appropriate to include this expenditure in the Defence Budget since it is not part of the substantive cost of the Defence programmes which fall directly under my responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why officers in the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II are neither issued with No. 2 (Service) dress uniform, nor given an allowance to purchase it, in view of the fact that other ranks have been issued with this uniform.

Officers of the TAVR II are permitted either to draw a No. 2 Dress uniform (Service Dress) of the soldier pattern, or to claim the cost in lieu. Under this arrangement a male officer may claim £10 and a female officer six guineas.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-Government hypodermic syringes were sold for private retailing in each year since 1960

From the inquiries I have been able to make I can find no record of any sales of hypodermic syringes of the type which my hon. Friend has in mind from Ministry of Defence stocks in the years in question.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development when Mr. Stephen Henchy, of 24 Knebworth Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, may expect to receive the payment of the monetary entitlement accrued during a period of secondment to the Zambian Government, which terminated on the 20th May, 1968.

It has been proposed that an ad hoc payment should be made to Mr. Henchy in respect of extra hours worked during his secondment to the Zambian Government. This payment will be made as soon as possible by Mr.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARD FEBRUARY, 1969
Appointed to 31st March, 1969				Area			First appointed
Mr. A. T. Anderson	…	…	…	Hawick	…	…	March, 1956
Professor R. H. Girdwood	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	March, 1965
Mr. J. Kelly	…	…	…	Midlothian	…	…	March, 1965
Mr. R. King	…	…	…	Glenrothes	…	…	March, 1965
Mr. L. McCormick	…	…	…	Kirkcaldy	…	…	April, 1964
Miss M. O. Robinson, C.B.E.	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	February, 1962
Professor G. J. Romanes	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	March, 1958
Mrs. M. B. A. Ross	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	March, 1965
Dr. John Sturrock	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	March, 1966
Appointed to 31st March, 1971
Dr. P. Aitken	…	…	…	Kirkcaldy	…	…	March, 1967
Mrs. C. M. W. Goodson	…	…	…	Kelso	…	…	March, 1965
Dr. L. Lamont	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	March, 1964
Dr. A. K. M. Macrae	…	…	…	West Lothian	…	…	February, 1962
Mr. J. G. Methven, C.B.E	…	…	…	Midlothian	…	…	March, 1967
Mrs. R. Nealon (Chairman)	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	March, 1966
Mr. H. K. Penman	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	June, 1966
Mr. A. F. Pollock	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	March, 1967

asked the Minister of Power what plans he has to establish a Welsh Power Board; and if he will make a statement.

I have not yet concluded my examination of the organisation and structure of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names and addresses of the members of the South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board, their date of appointment and the date of the termination of the respective appointments.

The information asked for is set out in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now exepects the names of Scottish members of the Constitutional Commission to be announced; and when he expects the hearing of evidence in Scotland to start.

An announcement will be made shortly about the membership of the Commission. It will be for the Commission itself to decide on the arrangements for taking evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled drivers draw the £5 allowance payable to users of Ministry three-wheelers.

In England and Wales about 15,500.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the cruelty involved, he will now ban the import of baby seal skins.

The most effective method of preventing cruelty is by means of direct controls designed to ensure that methods of slaughtering are humane. I am informed that such controls are operated, among others, by the Canadian Government. I shall, however, be considering the matter further and shall inform the hon. Member of the outcome.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy on the future structure of the Lancashire Textile Industry, with particular reference to recent merger proposals.

As I have told the House on a number of occasions, I have been awaiting the Report of the Textile Council's Study on Productivity and Efficiency before taking major decisions of policy about the industry. This report, which I expect to receive in the course of this month, will deal, among other subjects, with the structure of the industry. In the Government's view, this most important matter should not be left to be determined solely by take-over bids and market forces: it requires to be examined thoroughly and objectively in the light of the Textile Council's Report. Accordingly, as soon as I receive the Report, I propose to review its findings in close consultation with the industry and with the Textile Council, drawing upon such other advice as may be necessary. In particular I shall examine in what way the most satisfactory measures of further concentration and rationalisation can be brought about. So that this examination may be comprehensive in its scope, Courtaulds has agreed, at my request, to withdraw its current proposal to bid for English Calico; and I am grateful for its collaboration in this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the Report of the further inquiry under the Chairmanship of Mr. Fay into the Munich air crash which occurred on the 6th February, 1958.

About the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of the study now being conducted on his behalf by Professor Buchanan and partners on proposals for a new town at Llantrisant.

The fee for this study is £41,000, in addition to which the consultants are entitled to travelling, subsistence and other out-of-pocket expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of the study now being carried out by consultants upon the line of the proposed Llantrisant radial road.

£38,000 including surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution his Department made to the cost of the study carried out by Professor Buchanan and partners into the redevelopment of Cardiff.

The contribution will be 50 per cent. of the final net cost of the study and will amount to about £150,000.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made, following the report of the consultants acting for the National Ports Council, on the suitability of the flat lands east and west of Newport, Monmouthshire, as a site for a new super-port.

The coastal flats near Newport are only one of a number of sites physically suitable for the development of maritime industrial development areas. Consideration is still being given to other aspects of these studies. It is too soon to say whether or when a decision will be taken to go ahead with development at one or more of the sites.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the Railways Board to keep the railway records in London.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport how many prosecutions have been made in the calendar year ending 1968 for the offence of using unlicensed road vehicles in the Cheshire administrative area, including the county borough of Stockport; what was the total amount of fines imposed; and if he will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I am informed that for the two independent licensing areas the combined total of prosecutions in 1968 for keeping or using unlicensed vehicles was 1,813. The fines imposed amounted to £11,520, including £5,365 in respect of back duty.