asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the result of the negotiations with representatives of the medical profession on the National Health Service Act, 1946; and whether he contemplates any further legislative measures in connection with the Act.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Dr. Segal) on 26th June.

asked the Minister of Health whether he intends to make use of his powers under Section 22 (4) of the National Health Service Act, 1946, in so far as the setting up of divisional executives is concerned, or what alternative administrative arrangement he contemplates.

No. Following is a statement describing the alternative arrangements proposed:Section 22 (4) of the National Health Service Act, 1946, enables me to make regulations requiring local health authorities of counties in which schemes of divisional administration are in force under the Education Act, 1944, to make corresponding schemes of divisional administration with respect to the care of children under five. My object in seeking that power from Parliament was to safeguard continuity in the health services for children. On careful re-examination I have come to the conclusion that the making of regulations would entail disadvantages and that continuity in the health services for children can be secured, and secured more adequately and efficiently, in another way.There would be disadvantages for two reasons. In the first place many of the areas of divisional administration, which have naturally been selected by reference to educational considerations, are not so well adapted to the administration of health services. Secondly, the arrangements for infant care under Section 22 cannot, without loss of efficiency, be separately administered from the arrangements for the care of expectant and nursing mothers or from those concerned with infant health, like health visiting and vaccination and immunisation.I believe that continuity and the maintenance, which is so desirable, of local interest, can best be secured by subdividing all counties (except those where, either on account of the small size of the county or of other local considerations, de-centralised administration for the whole or part of the county would be inappropriate) according to local health requirements. In each sub-division, the County Health Committee would use its powers under the Act to appoint a subcommittee on which the Councils of County Districts comprising the subdivision would be represented, and to which would be delegated the day-to-day administration in the division, not only of the child care services specified in Section 22 (4), but also of other services under Part III of the Act. Under the County Medical Officer, executive charge of those services in the division will normally be taken either by an existing Assistant County Medical Officer, preferably one who is also Medical Officer of Health of one or more of the districts constituting the division, or by the Medical Officer of Health of one of those districts who would be appointed to the staff of the County Medical Officer.There is, moreover, a limited number of non-county boroughs and large urban districts which, besides being "excepted districts" under the Education Act, house an unusually high proportion of the total population of the county, and possess exceptionally well developed public health (including school health) services. Such a borough or urban district would ordinarily become an area of health administration separate from the surrounding districts and the County Health Committee would in these cases appoint, for that borough or urban district, a sub-committee of which half or more of the members would be members of the borough or urban district council, and to which day-to-day administration would similarly be delegated. The Medical Officer of Health of the borough or urban district would then be appointed, by agreement with the borough or urban district council, in a part-time capacity to the County Medical Officer's staff. Both in these areas and in the sub-divisions which I mentioned earlier the County Council as local health authority would retain, unimpaired, its responsibility for policy and finance.I have consulted the Associations of local authorities on this proposal, and they have informed me that they are in agreement with the principle on which it is based. I do not, therefore, intend to exercise my powers to make regulations under Section 22 (4) of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the report of his Department for the year ended 31st March, 1946, the figure of four cases of smallpox in 1945 is correct, in view of the interim report of the London county medical officer of health for 1945, that the final diagnosis of the disease in the two neighbours of the soldier and his sister who developed smallpox in Camberwell was vaccinia malaise in one case and scabies in the other; and whether this revision of the diagnosis of disease notified to the Registrar-General as smallpox was brought to the notice of that official or his Department.

The figure mentioned is the number of notified cases of smallpox recorded by the Registrar-General as it appeared in the final return of infectious disease notifications from the district concerned for the quarter in which these cases occurred. The final diagnosis of two of the cases was not known to the Registrar-General at the time his return was made.

asked the Minister of Education what action he has in mind to secure the staggering of school summer holidays as a necessary precaution for levelling out the August holiday peak.

Local education authorities and school governors were asked on 6th January to collaborate with the regional controllers of the Ministry of Labour and National Service with a view, wherever possible, to fitting school holidays in with the local holiday periods.

asked the Minister of Education whether the 667 school buildings black-listed in 1925 included only those buildings which were at that time deemed wholly unfit for use; whether the 663 such buildings now in use for the national schools are used solely for primary schools; and why the black list is now regarded as out of date.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The number of schools originally included in the black list was 2,827. The figure he mentions was the number of black-listed schools in use in April, 1946. It included 93 schools which, at the time the list was compiled, were deemed incapable of improvement. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 12th June. I described the black list as out of date because in the twenty-two years that have elapsed since it was compiled standards of school accommodation have risen appreciably.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities are building or proposing to build permanent houses of the one- or two-bedroom type, with bedrooms on the ground floor, by traditional and non-traditional methods, respectively.

The answer is 728 and nought respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that makers-up of children's clothing are unable to fully employ their workers owing to the shortage of cotton and rayon cloths; and what action does he propose to take in the matter.

I am aware that a number of firms in those sections of the clothing industry which use cotton and rayon cloth could increase their production if more material were available, but cloth supphers have been urged to give special consideration to the requirements of children's wear firms which specialise in baby linen. If the hon. Member has any special case in mind and will let me have particulars. I will consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is estimated to have been the loss of production of cotton and rayon cloth and cotton and rayon yarn due to the coal crisis.

Precise estimates of the loss of production due to the fuel crisis cannot be made but output of cotton and spun rayon yarn by the cotton industry in February and March was about 38 million lb. less than it would have been had the December rate of production been attained. Comparable figures for cotton cloth and rayon and rayon mixture cloths are 78 million yards and 15 million yards respectively. The loss of production of continuous filament rayon yarn in these months was about 6¼ million lb

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many men and how many women are now employed in factory premises built under the Distribution of Industry Act; and how many of them are employed in the North-East, West Cumberland, Welsh and Scottish areas, respectively.

I am arranging for these particulars to be obtained and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the reasons for excluding from the British Tourist and Holidays Board any representative of the Association of Health and Pleasure Resorts; and whether, in view of the fact that this association is representative of over 90 per cent. of the British holiday resorts he will reconsider this decision.

In order to keep the number of members of the British Tourist and Holidays Board within reasonable limits it has not been possible to appoint to it representatives of the various national bodies interested in the many important matters with which it is concerned. I understand, however, that the Association have accepted an invitation to suggest the names of persons from whom the Board might appoint a member to its Home Holidays Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the considerable amount of furniture, particularly upholstered goods, which is being shoddily produced at inflated prices; and whether he will take steps to divert the labour and materials so used to the manufacture of utility furniture and consequently widen the class of persons to whom this utility furniture can he made a vailable.

All the suitable materials available are being used to produce as much utility furniture as possible. The output of other furniture is not considerable and does not employ materials which can he used by utility furniture manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he has decided that no Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire coal shall be delivered to Leicestershire; why supplies will be 30 per cent outcrop and 70 per cent Leicestershire, neither of which is good domestic coal: and why Leicestershire has been singled nut for this treatment.

the flow of coal supplies into any area is governed primarily by two factors, availability of coal and of transport. Leicestershire is the most natural market for Leicestershire coal and so long as the shortage of railway wagons remains acute must continue to be largely supplied from that source. Stations on the L.N.E.R system in Leicestershire not directly connected with the Leicestershire coalfields are, however, supplied from the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire coalfields. The disposal of opencast coal is also governed by the wagon shortage and distribution must, at present, be by road to areas within a reasonable radius from the opencast sites. In consequence all merchants' depôts, not only in Leicestershire, but in the whole of the North Midland Region, are required to take approximately 30 per cent. of their supplies in opencast coal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the quantity of anthracite grains which have been exported to Canada during the last six months; and the anticipated exports for the next six months.

Exports of particular grades of coal to particular destinations are not separately distinguished in the Trade and Navigation Accounts. I understand, however, that about 7,300 tons of anthracite grains have been exported to Canada up to the end of June under a programme arranged with the National Coal Board for the resumption of shipments to Canada of up to 45,000 tons of anthracite peas and/or grains over the season April/October, 1947. Over the remainder of this season shipments of anthracite grains to Canada may be anticipated at about 10/15,000 tons, subject to availability.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the National Coal Board has removed the best furniture from a number of colliery offices for use at divisional centres; and if he will give directions under Section 3 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act that this furniture shall be returned.

It is for the National Coal Board to decide where their office furniture can best be used and this is not a matter affecting the national interest on which it would be appropriate for me to give directions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, since the Bank-side site is to be used for a power station, he will arrange for conversion to a thermal-electric station for the supply of hot water as well as electricity in the adjoining area to be redeveloped and reduce the scale of the station to a size appropriate to that dual purpose.

No. The purpose of the station is to provide additional electricity in the London area at the earliest possible date. The owners of the station have, however, undertaken to give full consideration to the question of district heating when the local authorities concerned are in a position to state their heat requirements. With regard to the second part of the Question, the provision of an external heating system would affect the design of the plant, but would not reduce the size of the station.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has yet received the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the possibility of reopening the leadmines and exploiting other minerals in the Wanlockhead-Leadhills area; and whether he will make an announcement.

No. The possible development of minerals in the area in question is only one of many similar questions which the Committee have to consider in regard to other parts of the United Kingdom before they can submit their report, and I understand that in consequence the latter will not be available for some time.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many members of the staff of his Department are employed full-time in devising, or advising and assisting in, the application of methods for the more efficient use of fuel; and if he will give details of the most successful features of their work during the last 12 months.

The total number of staff engaged full-time on this work is 173, including 79 engineers and 25 stoker demonstrators. During the last twelve months this staff has helped industrial undertakings to maintain or increase production with reduced or down-graded supplies of fuel. In this period the Ministry's engineers and the members of Regional Fuel Efficiency Committees, who give them valuable assistance in a part-time capacity, have visited 12,700 individual firms; the stoker demonstrators have given numerous demonstrations to boiler-house personnel on the firing floor. Consumers have also been advised in connection with the design or extension of factories. In addition, assistance has peen given in the conversion from coal to oil, where this is being carried out. In the domestic sphere local authorities and others have been advised on the selection of improved fuel burning appliances and householders have been given advice on how to make the best use of these appliances and on other methods of saving fuel. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of two recent issues of the Fuel Efficiency News, which contain further particulars of the work of this Branch in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many nights during the week speedway racing takes place in London: and how many people attend.

Speedway racing takes place on five evenings a week. The total average attendance is 140,000 weekly.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will identify the trade unions which are recognised by the National Coal Board for purposes of negotiation about wages and conditions in the industry.

No. Any question of recognition is a matter entirely for the parties.

asked the Minister of Labour how many students have enrolled for the general business course and the specialised business course, respectively, during the past 12 months.

During the 12 months ended 30th June, 1947, 5,023 undertook the General Business Course. The numbers placed in Specialised Courses during the period was 3,000.

asked the Minister of Labour which industries are co-operating in setting up specialised business courses within their industries.

Specialised courses have been established by over 2,400 firms in a wide range of industries. The following are the industries in which more than 100 firms have done so: electrical engineering, clothing manufacture, textile manufacture, building and contracting, motor-car distribution and servicing, paper and printing. 1,400 of the firms are in these industries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department it his attention has been drawn to the suggestion of Mr. Justice Humphreys that jurors should be paid reasonable expenses entailed by the discharge of the duties; and whether, and when he pro poses to adopt this suggestion.

I am sending to my hon. and learned Friend a copy of the reply to a similar Question by the hon. and learned Member for Brighton (Mr. Marlowe) on 10th July last to which I am not in a. position to add anything.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the shortage of cutting shears for the tailoring and hosiery trades; and what steps he pro poses to take either to have them manufactured in this country or imported from the U.S.A.

Yes. This shortage is due primarily to the lack of skilled labour in the small section of the hand tool industry which specialises in the production of these tools in this country. Imports are already being authorised, but cutting shears are also difficult to obtain abroad.

asked the Minister of Works what representations he has re ceived from the organised workers in the building industry calling for a full and public inquiry into the operations within the industry; whether he proposes to set up such an inquiry; and what the terms of reference are to be.

No official request has yet been received from the operatives' organisations for a public inquiry into the building industry.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will postpone the resumption of street lighting until 10th October.

No. In the interests of safety and the prevention of crime it is desirable that, from 10th August, the end of double summer time, the present restrictions on street lighting should be somewhat relaxed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now state the results of the inquiry into the construction of a new bridge across the River Wye at Hereford.

As a result of the conference at Hereford in 1945 it was decided that when traffic had become more normal it would be desirable to conduct a special census to determine the volume of through and local traffic, respectively. Only on this definite information would it be possible to determine the question whether an internal relief road or a by-pass was needed. Arrangements are now being made to take the census.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, as a result of the derequisitioning of the Old Assembly Rooms, Newcastle-on-Tyne, the Salvation Army Red Shield Club for soldiers is threatened with having to close down within the next three weeks; that the average number of soldiers given sleeping accommodation at weekends is over 100; that no suitable alternative sleeping accommodation at a reasonable cost exists for Service men in the city; and, as the Salvation Army intends to spend some £7,000 on creating a suitable club with sleeping accommodation by the end of the year, if he will reconsider closing down this club and grant an extension of the use of the Old Assembly Rooms until December, 1947, when the new Salvation Army hostel will he ready.

In view of the shortage of places suitable for public gatherings in Newcastle my Department did not feel justified in continuing to hold the Old Assembly Rooms under requisition and has agreed to release them by the end of this month. There remains a leave hostel run by the Y.M.C.A. with 120 beds of which only 20–40 are normally occupied during the week. In these circumstances I do not consider than an extension of the requisition of the Assembly Rooms is necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give an assurance that claims for arrears of pay, allowances and other emoluments due to British officers and other ranks serving in the India Defence forces will be safeguarded notwithstanding the proposed transfer of powers.

His Majesty's Government have no reason to suppose that the arrangements which are being made in connection with the transfer of power in India will fail to provide satisfactory means for meeting legitimate claims. They would, of course, if occasion should arise, be prepared to make representations to the Indian authorities in cases where this appears to them to he justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement regarding the present position of the Buganda deportees.

the present position after the latest quarterly review, is as follows: One convicted and hanged for the murder of the Prime Minister of Buganda; one died; one convicted and imprisoned for fraud; two deported to the Seychelles; two released unconditionally; six conditionally released, who are permitted to go anywhere in Uganda with the exception of an area of roughly 40 miles from Kampala. (Two of the six, being poor men, have, however. been allowed to return to their homes in areas which are closed to other deportees) and seven still under detention at Moroto in Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements will be made to ensure that the interests of railway users in Northern Rhodesia are safeguarded now that the Rhodesian railways are being acquired by the Government of Rhodesia, and whether any financial guarantee it connection with the purchase and maintenance of the railway have been given to the Government of Southern Rhodesia by the Government of Northern Rhodesia.

These railways have been acquired by the Southern Rhodesia Government which has agreed to introduce at the earliest possible date legislation vesting all the assets acquired in a statutory body, which will then become the legal owner of the railways and responsible for their operation. The members of that body would be appointed by, and in matters of major policy would he subject to the direction of, a higher authority on which the Governments of Southern Rhodesia. Northern Rhodesia and the Bechuanaland Protectorate would be represented. The financial commitments of the statutory body would be guaranteed by the three Governments in the proportions of 75 per cent., 20 per cent. and 5 per cent. respectively

asked the Postmaster-General the numbers of Post Office employees dismissed during the period 1st January to 14th June 1946

During the period 1st January, 1946, to the 1st July, 1946, there was a decrease of 3,026 in the full time temporary staff employed in manipulative grades. I am unable to say how many of these employees resigned or were discharged during this period.