asked the Minister of Health whether he will now reconsider his decision to defer the allocation of a sum of £2,750 towards the Upper Harbledown sewage disposal scheme, in view of the danger to health arising from the present condition.

A grant of £2,750 towards the cost of this scheme has already been allocated provisionally under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944. Authority to proceed with the work will be given as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Health where our recent smallpox infections originated; what foul ports are visited by British ships; and if he is satisfied that international health and quarantine regulations are efficiently observed at these ports.

All cases were traced to an Asian seaman who arrived in London on 5th March. It has not been possible to establish the source of infection. British ships inevitably visit many ports where serious infections may occur, but the application of health and quarantine measures is a matter for the Governments concerned.

Could my right hon. Friend say what ports are, technically, foul ports at the moment?

No, I could not say at the moment what they are, but if my hon. Friend puts down a Question I will try to obtain the information for him. We are satisfied that certain ports of call have been sources of infection, and I am making inquiries about it through the International Health Organisation

Could my right hon. Friend say how many of the victims in this country had recently been vaccinated?

If my hon. Friend will put down a Question I will give him an answer. I think that quite a number had not been vaccinated.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the anxiety which exists about pollution of the River Thames and the danger to health therein involved; and what action he is taking.

I am aware that conditions are unsatisfactory in certain parts of the river, and I am in close touch with the authorities concerned as to the different problems which arise. If the hon. Member would indicate which particular reaches of the river he has in mind I should be glad to make inquiries and to give him such information as I can.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared, in due course, to indicate whether any reaches above tide water are unsafe for bathing on health grounds?

If the hon. Member will indicate what particular reaches they are, I will make inquiries. At the moment I do not know.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider giving a general warning to the public, covering the whole of the river above tide water?

No; I think that would frighten people unnecessarily.

asked the Minister of Health if he will expedite the granting of permission for the connecting up of the supply of mains water to the council houses and doctor's surgery in Foulsham, Norfolk.

The local authority have been authorised to make an immediate start on the extension of mains for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking in selecting members of river boards to ensure that the interests of boat owners and others using the rivers for navigational sport and recreation are properly safeguarded.

The River Boards Act does not provide for the appointment of members to represent the interests to which the hon. and gallant Member refers.

While I realise that, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he proposes taking any action to encourage representations by local authorities and other interests to ensure that the interests of the users of waterways are not deliberately disregarded?

I should have thought that the hon. and gallant Gentleman would have relied upon the representatives of local authorities to safeguard the interests he has in mind.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that navigational sport is not the only form of recreation that can be derived from rivers, and will he take steps to see that the interests of fishermen are also properly safeguarded?

That is exactly why Parliament decided, when the Act was being passed, that only revenue producers should be represented on the river boards.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question is an indication of difficulties which, unless he takes some action in the matter, will result in the interests of navigation being completely overlooked?

I do not anticipate any difficulty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement on the progress of the River Great Ouse flood prevention scheme, with particular reference to the financial aspect.

Before work on the main scheme begins, the Catchment Board need to determine the extent of their liability under Section 42 of the River Great Ouse (Flood Protection) Act, 1949, for protective works in the Port of King's Lynn. Negotiations to this end are in progress, and 1 understand that, meanwhile, the Board are putting in hand certain surveys and other work of a preliminary nature. Whether the Government grant of 90 per cent. on the main scheme can be extended to include any protective works is a matter to be considered when the probable cost of such works is known.