asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he is yet able to give a final figure of the cost of the questionnaire sent to parish councils by the committee of inquiry into allotments.

The questionnaire cost £1,315 to produce and distribute.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when the detailed studies of the proposed Wash barrage scheme will commence.

I cannot yet say.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will consider improving the refreshment facilities in the Royal Parks of St. James and Greenwich bringing them up to the standard provided in Regent's Park, and consider rebuilding the existing refreshment buildings with a view to allowing these establishments to cater for lunch, dinner and licensed drinks.

Preliminary planning is already in hand to replace the existing "Cake House" in St. James's Park. We will arrange for the facilities in Greenwich Park to be reviewed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the net increase in the area of offices occupied by the Civil Service throughout the country since October, 1964; and what is his estimate of the total annual cost involved.

The net increase is 3·3 million square feet, the annual cost of which is estimated at £5·7 million.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how much has been spent on No. 2 Carlton Gardens during the past two years; and how much it is proposed to spend this year.

During 1964–65 and 1965–66 £11,285 was spent on improving and maintaining the building and furnishings, including the space occupied by the Royal Fine Art Commission. The estimated expenditure for 1966–67 is about £5,000.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will introduce legislation to provide pensions for married women who are disabled.

Our concern is with all chronically sick and severely disabled people, including married women, and the problems they raise are being studied. The first step towards alleviating the condition of those who are the hardest hit financially has already been taken in the new scheme of supplementary allowances and supplementary pensions which comes into force in three weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether her research in regard to family poverty includes detailed consideration of child Income Tax allowances in relation to family allowances and tax adjustments.

As I indicated in the debates on the Ministry of Social Security Bill, we are examining the whole range of possibilities, including that which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Social Security what has been the fall in the real value of the State retirement pensions owing to increases in the cost of living between 29th March 1965 and the latest available date.

At current prices the single pension of £4 is worth about 5s. 3d. less than in March 1965 and the £6 10s. pension for a couple is worth about 8s. 6d. less.

asked the Minister of Health how much money, to the nearest available date, has been given from public funds to the British Dental Association or the British Medical Association for the purpose of promoting the fluoridation of public water supplies or studying its effects.

None.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has as to how the addictive effect and damage to health of tobacco compares with those of marijuana.

I am advised that no comparison is possible. The effects on health from the use of tobacco are quite different from those of taking marijuana, and there is no consensus of medical opinion on the extent to which either is addictive.

asked the Minister of Health whether the effects of tobacco will be within the terms of reference of the Brain Committee.

It will be primarily for the Committee to decide how to apply its terms of reference to particular substances.

asked the Minister of Health how many places of employment with women staff exceeding 100 provide facilities for cervical cancer tests; and whether he will publish the names of such firms or organisations in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The information requested by my hon. Friend is not available. I know, however, that some organisations are making arrangements for their employees to have smears taken either by their own medical officers or at local clinics. The smears are then examined within the hospital service.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has to help single-handed practitioners in isolated country areas who find it difficult to form a group partnership; and if he will make a statement.

The special payments to doctors in rural areas are being increased by 5 per cent. from £376,000 per quarter to £394,800 with effect from 1st October 1966, and later by a further 5 per cent. to £413,600. Such doctors who wish to improve their practice premises may, like others, apply for an improvement grant of one-third of the cost of the proposed works. They may also qualify for a group practice payment for a group of two doctors instead of the usual minimum of three.

asked the Minister of Health why he refuses to allow payment to a doctor's wife for services as an auxiliary help in single-handed and isolated practices; and if he will make a statement.

Doctors' wives are not covered by the provisions of the scheme for direct payments towards the cost of employing ancillary help because their inclusion could not be achieved without controls which neither the Government nor the medical profession in general would want. The contribution which doctors' wives make to their husbands' practices was, however, recognised in the negotiations between the Health Departments and the representatives of the profession last year and fully taken into account in the Review Body's recommendations on the remuneration of doctors themselves.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will give statistics showing for the years 1950, 1960, 1964 and 1965 the proportion of the gross national product accounted for by expenditure on health; and how this proportion was

Following is the information.

asked the Minister of Health what factors have caused him to increase the number of civil servants employed in his Department.

The main factors are that there is more work to be done as the health and welfare services continue to expand; and that my department is constantly seeking new methods and techniques to increase efficiency, improve quality, and get better value for the money spent on these services.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that the delay in reaching a decision on the Report of the Working Party on Ambulance Staff and Services is holding back certain local and county authorities on the question of training; and if he will take steps to expedite this Report;(2) if he is aware that certain local and county authorities are delaying the issue of improved uniforms to ambulance staffs pending his decision on the Report of the Working Party on Ambulance Staffs; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the views of organisations I consulted on the first part of the Working Party's Report which deals with training, and hope to be able to make an announcement shortly. The question of uniforms is, I understand, being considered by the Working Party in preparing the second part of its Report, dealing with equipment and vehicles, which is at an advanced stage.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients have been reported missing from Storthes Hall Hospital, Huddersfield, in each year since 1960; how many have been found dead; how many of these were found outside the hospital grounds; and what recom- mendations he has made to the regional hospital board.

The number of patients reported missing to authorities or relatives outside the hospital in each of the six years up to 30th September, 1966 were respectively 31, 14, 26, 133, 88, 117. Seven patients were found dead including four outside the hospital grounds and one died after being found.The hospital has instituted additional measures to ensure the safety of patients. I have requested the Regional Hospital Board to ensure that these measures are kept under constant review and that their importance is recognised in other similar hospitals in the region.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 2,066,000 per sons last recorded as being in part-time employment are now unemployed; and what proportion of these is registered disabled persons.

On 10th October, about 11,700 persons were registered for part-time employment at local offices. Separate figures for registered disabled persons are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the total of registered disabled persons was unemployed in October, 1964, October, 1965, and October, 1966; and what was the total of all unemployed expressed as a percentage on the same dates.

Of all persons registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts, 1944 and 1948, those registered as unemployed, including persons suitable only for employment under sheltered conditions, represented 7·6 per cent. at 12th October, 1964, 7 per cent. at 11th October, 1965, and 7·4 per cent. at 10th October, 1966.The unemployment percentage rates for all employees on these dates were 1·5, 1·4 and 1·9 per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how the unemployment figures in Great Yarmouth for the month of October, 1966, compare with those of the previous four years for the same month.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of people unemployed and the percentage of unemployment for each county in the

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers have left the betting, gambling and gaming industry to enter productive employment since the introduction of the Government's wages and prices standstill; and whether he will make a statement on the basis upon which he collates this detailed information.

I regret the information is not available. As part of my Department's monthly employment survey, the number of engagements made by a sample of employers with establishments in manufacturing industries is collected quarterly and labour turnover rates are calculated. The information about engagements does not show in which industries the workers concerned were last employed and it would be very costly both to employers and my Department to obtain and process this additional information.

asked the Minister of Labour what studies are currently being conducted into the mobility of labour; and what are his proposals for the publication of the findings of these studies.

Following is the information:

A comprehensive labour Mobility Survey undertaken by the Social Survey on behalf of my Ministry is being evaluated and a full report will be published next year. Preliminary information appeared in an article in the July edition of the Ministry of Labour Gazette. Some of the Ministry's regular statistics provide information about mobility which is usually published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. The Ministry also supports some academic work in this field.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will advance the date of paying out rebates of the Selective Employment Tax.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour what assessment he has made of the amount of unemployment in the Southwest which is attributable to the Selective Employment Tax; and what action he proposes to take.

There is insufficient information on which to base an assessment of the effect of the tax on employment and unemployment in the South-West.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of employees in the South-West are attracting premiums, refunds and full payment, respectively, of the Selective Employment Tax; and how these percentages compare with the percentages for Great Britain as a whole.

It will not be possible to give precise information until registration under the Selective Employment Payments Act is complete, but totals of employees and percentages based on mid-1965 employment estimates are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour what factors have caused him to increase the number of civil servants in his Department.

The main factors have been expansion of vocational and industrial training, development of the employment services, strengthening of the factory inspectorate and the redundancy payments scheme. More recently additional staff have been required for earnings related unemployment benefit, selective employment payments and the redeployment of labour.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications have been received for places in the two Government centres in Wales for industrial training during the last 12 months; and how many have been refused.

During the 12 months ended 31st October, 1966, there were 2,829 applicants for training at the two Government Training Centres in Wales. Of these 582 were accepted and were allocated to places, 676 subsequently withdrew their applications, 317 were found unsuitable at selection stage, 430 were awaiting allocation and 824 were under consideration at the end of the period.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of Vauxhall Motors' warning that unless their workers' work-to-rule attitude, which has crippled production, ceases, the whole production line would have to be shut down, if he will send his conciliation officers to the plant to attempt to end the dispute and get the men back to work; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the rate of working at the Luton factory is reasonably normal and that discussions are continuing between management and unions. Intervention by my Ministry would not help at present.

asked the Ministry of Labour if he will take immediate action to encourage the amalgamation of the 14 car unions within the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions and so minimise demarcation quarrels; and, since 70,000 employees of the British Motor Corporation will be made idle as a result of hold-ups at other plants, if he will treat this as a matter of urgency.

This is primarily a matter for the unions concerned, but I welcome the action taken by the Trades Union Congress and some of the unions in the engineering industry to promote amalgamations. The Trade Union (Amalgamations, &c.) Act 1964 has made it easier for unions to take this step.

asked the Minister of Labour what new steps he is taking to end the five-week-old unofficial strike of car delivery drivers which has brought Austin's factory at Birmingham to a standstill and made 13,000 men idle; and if he will seek to provide through the unemployment exchanges other car drivers who are willing to work and restart the factory.

My officers have been in almost daily touch with the parties in this official strike, but there has not so far been any indication that intervention by the Ministry could help to bring about a settlement.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made in the discussions on a new pay and grading structure for the railway industry; and if he will make a statement.

Following the joint meeting chaired by one of my officials on 1st November, direct informal discussions between the British Railways Board and the unions are being continued, with a view to a further joint meeting next month.

asked the Minister of Labour how many labour permits are currently in use by alien croupiers employed in casinos in this country.

Labour permits for foreign croupiers are granted initially for a period of six months but this period may be extended. During the six monthly periods ending March and September, 1966, permission was given for 128 and 52 foreign croupiers respectively to work in this country. The number of permits at present in use is not known.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give, for the latest convenient stated date, the number of workers who have been dismissed or placed on short time since 20th July, 1966; to what extent these have been re-employed in essential and export industries; and if he will make a statement on the efforts made by his Department to achieve this redeployment of labour.

I regret that the figures requested are not available. On 24th October I gave the House full details of the efforts being made by my Department to achieve redeployment.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has of the average weekly wage in West Suffolk, in particular in Haverhill; and how this compares with the average wages paid at the same date last year.

Statistics of average earnings are not available for areas less than Ministry of Labour administrative regions. The average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in manufacturing and other industries and services covered by the Ministry's half-yearly inquiries in the Eastern and Southern region, which includes West Suffolk, were £20 9s. 10d. in April, 1966, the latest date for which information is available, compared with £19 0s. 1d. in April, 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) on what date the provisional map of public rights-of-way in the East Riding of Yorkshire was published in accordance with his direction under section 37 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949;(2) on what date and in what newspapers the East Riding County Council gave notice of the publication of the provisional map of public rights-of-way in the East Riding.

The provisional map of rights of way is not published but is deposited for public inspection. What is published is notice of the preparation of the map. The preparation of the provisional map for the East Riding of Yorkshire was completed by 27th September. The East Riding County Council are asking parishes about suitable places for the deposit of the maps. As soon as this information has been received notice of the preparation of the provisional maps will be published with advice about where they can be inspected and the maps themselves will be deposited.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date, and by what authority, the public footpath from Wood House Farm, Pocklington, to Pocklington Village, via Chapel Hill, was erased from the official copy of the draft map of the public rights-of-way for the East Riding of Yorkshire, which is deposited in Pocklington.

By the County Council before the copy of the map was sent to Pocklington. I understand that the footpath was omitted from the draft map by mistake and the copy was amended accordingly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the delay in the redevelopment of the town centre at Wellingborough; and if he will consider a revised town map before the end of this year.

I understand that plans for the redevelopment of the town centre are being reconsidered by the local planning authority in consequence of the proposal to accommodate an increased amount of London overspill. My right hon. Friend will consider a revised town map when it is submitted to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what factors have caused him to increase the number of civil servants in his Department.

Over the past two years, in addition to recruitment to existing vacancies, the main factors have been the setting up of the Rent Assessment Panels under the Rent Act, 1965; the absorption into the Civil Service of the staff of the Furnished Rent Tribunals; the opening up of Regional Offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham and Bristol; the transfer of certain functions from the Minister of Public Building and Works and the transfer of certain staff responsibilities from the Ministry of Health.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make a statement on the future strength of the British Army of the Rhine.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decision has been reached about the provision by the Royal Air Force of assistance to the Malaysian Air Force in the servicing and operation of airfields in East Malaysia.

It has been agreed that the Royal Air Force will continue to run the airfields at Kuching, Labuan and Tawau on behalf of the Malaysian forces for a limited period after the British forces have left. Some Royal Air Force aircraft will also be available for air supply of Malaysian troops in inaccessible areas. Details are now being worked out with the Malaysian authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds during 12 months to the latest convenient date of the military personnel seconded by Her Majesty's Government to the armed forces of Malaysia.

£1,343,900 for the year ending 30th June, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what factors have caused him to increase the number of civil servants employed in the Army Department;(2) what factors have caused him to increase the number of civil servants employed in the Air Department.

The numbers of civil servants employed in both the Army Department and the Air Force Department have been reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Director of Prison Security received his appointment.

1st January, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a list of those bodies, both public and private, to whom he has circulated his proposals for changes in the law relating to gambling; and why these widely circulated proposals have not been made available to Members of Parliament.

The proposals have been sent to the bodies listed below and their comments invited. Parallel consultations have been undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. In addition, copies have been sent to the right hon. and learned Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg). The proposals are entirely provisional, and I thought it right that the authorities and organisations most closely concerned should be given a first opportunity of commenting on them in confidence at this preliminary stage.

• Association of Chief Police Officers.
• Association of Conservative Clubs Ltd.
• Association of Independent Cinemas.
• Association of Liberal Clubs.
• Association of Municipal Corporations.
• British Gaming Association.
• Churches' Council on Gambling.
• Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
• County Councils' Association.
• Essoldo Group of Companies.
• Greater London Council.
• Justices' Clerks Society.
• Magistrates' Association.
• Manchester Betting Licensing Committee.
• National Association of Bingo Clubs.
• Night Clubs' Association.
• Roman Catholic Church.
• Rural District Councils' Association.
• Working Men's Club and Institute Union Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action was taken by his Department following the discovery of clandestine printing operations in Wormwood Scrubs Prison.

A duplicated magazine, "New Horizon", is produced at Wormwood Scrubs by and for the prisoners. On one occasion it was discovered that a single copy of this had been improperly produced by tampering with one of the stencils.The stencils are now destroyed as soon as the magazine has been run off.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers were serving overseas in September, 1964 and September, 1966; how many immigration officers were serving in Great Britain in September, 1964 and September, 1966; and how many immigration officers were known to speak Urdu or some other Indian language in September, 1964 and September, 1966.

Two and seven: 507 and 628; and 18 and 29.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Brodrick Committee's Report will be available; and if proposals for the revision of the form of death certificates in respect of murdered people and of birth certificates for illegitimate children will be included.

I understand that the Committee is likely to report in 1968. The terms of reference do not include the question of birth certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that the Boundaries Commission's recommendations will not become operative until the Royal Commission on Local Government has issued its findings; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will arrange for the publishing of agricultural statistics for Wales, including Monmouthshire, on the lines of the agricultural statistics published each year by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.

A substantial volume of statistics relating to Welsh agriculture is available in the "Welsh Digest of Statistics" and in the annual series of Agricultural Statistics for England and Wales, both published by H.M. Stationery Office. Much information is also available in the Secretary of State's Annual Report "Wales" usually published on St. David's Day.More detailed tables are compiled by my Welsh Department for the "Annual Digest of Welsh Agricultural Statistics". A copy of the latest issue of this Digest was sent, as is our normal practice, to you and other Members for Wales early last week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his discussions with the millers on the question of bread prices.

The discussions I am having with leading firms in the industry are continuing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refer the new delivery charge due to be introduced by the Leicester Co-operative Society Limited to its customers on 7th November, details of which have been sent to him, to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I am looking into this matter and will write to the hon. Member when my inquiries have been completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors have caused him to increase the number of civil servants employed in his Department.

The main factors which have led to an increase in the staff of this Department over the past two years are the increase in work arising from the development and implementation of new policies and the expansion of the technical and advisory services.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current annual level of expenditure on food at the latest convenient date.

The level of expenditure on food in the United Kingdom was £5,910 million for the twelve months to the end of June, 1966.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will tabulate by tables the complaints received by his Department from the public about rising prices in response to his statement of 12th September; what replies have been sent; and what action has been taken to investigate each complaint.

The First Secretary's statement of 12th September requested members of the public first to press the supplier for an explanation of any price increases, and then to take the matter up with the Government Department with knowledge of the industry or trade concerned if unconvinced by the reason given. Since then, over 6,000 complaints have been received by various Departments. Many of these were first sent to the Department of Economic Affairs, and subsequently transferred to the correct Department. These Departments have acknowledged all such letters and in those cases where the increase complained of does not seem justified have taken the matter up with the trader concerned.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what representations he has received suggesting a reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes of the earnings of mineworkers and the cost of coal mined at Bevercotes Colliery; and if he will make a statement.