asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning why he refused the application of Manston Medical Products Limited to erect a sign at 530, Chester Road, Old Trafford, Manchester 16.

Because I agreed with the Lancashire County Council that the proposed sign would have been unsightly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the explanation given to the applicant was that the sign would cut the skyline? Is he further aware that while there is a roof behind this proposed sign, one has only to go a little further down the street to see a much larger sign on which two vulgar teapots and the words "Drink Co-op Teas" cut the skyline?

I am aware of part of that, although not all. The proposed sign was, in fact, a hoarding 32 feet long and 2 ft. 6 in. deep composed of metal sheeting with iron brackets to be attached to and to run along the premises and the guttering. The Lancashire County Council thought it objectionable, and I see no reason to disagree with them.

Will the Minister see what can be done about the other sign which cuts the skyline much more?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many forms, plans and specifications, and how many copies of each, have to be completed and submitted to the Land Board in connection with an application to erect a projecting sign outside business premises; and what is the average period of delay before a decision is given.

None, Sir. The erection of a projecting sign outside business premises does not give rise to a development charge and is, therefore, no concern of the Central Land Board.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases the local authorities are requiring the submission of plans and specifications that would be more consistent with the erection of an important new building than the erection of a small hanging sign? Can something be done to simplify the procedure?

The hon. Gentleman asked me a Question, to which I have given an answer. There was a misleading letter—not for the first time—in the "Sunday Express" on 9th July, which may have misled the hon. Gentleman, together with others interested. In it the writer states that he was required to send plans to the Land Board. That is not true. The local authorities make their own arrangements with regard to these matters. They vary a good deal, and I do not like to interfere with them too much.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether the report of the public inquiry into the application to use Helmsley Moor as a bombing ground has been received; and, if so, when the decision will be made public.

Yes, Sir, and the decision will be announced very shortly.

Can the Minister explain why there has been the very long delay—nearly two years—between the public inquiry and the publication of the report?

I could not, without notice, agree that it has been nearly two years, but after these reports are made it is always desirable to consult a number of interested parties, including the local people, to see if we can reach agreement.

Has the National Parks Commission been consulted?

I could not answer that question without notice. It is a general rule that the National Parks Commission is consulted on such cases, provided they have arisen since the Commission was set up.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will grant a public inquiry into the siting of the new Caltex oil re- finery in the neighbourhood of Southampton Water, in view of the widespread alarm that has attended the leaking out of the news of this project.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, in view of the objections raised by the Hampshire County Planning Committee, as well as by local authorities and local residents, to the scheme for the establishment of an oil refinery in the neighbourhood of either Hook Park or of Bromwich on the Solent Coast, he will now refuse permission for this scheme to be further proceeded with.

His Majesty's Government have approved the proposal to erect an oil refinery somewhere on the eastern side of Southampton Water. No decision has yet been taken about the exact site or about a public inquiry.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that the negotiations that have hitherto taken place have been conducted in entire secrecy, and that the local authority concerned has actually been bound to secrecy under an oath under which they may still be held? Would not a public inquiry be the only way to offer a belated outlet to the feelings which exist?

I would not commit myself to a public inquiry, for reasons at which the hon. and gallant Member has himself hinted. If a request has been made that a matter should be kept secret, it is probable that some national interest of importance is involved, and must be respected. But, under the Act of 1947, I am required to give either an applicant or the planning authority, if they wish to be heard, an opportunity of developing their case, not necessarily at a public inquiry.

Does the Minister set no value on the report of the local County Planning Committee? If he does not set any value upon it, what is the use of having these county committees? Is he aware of the very strong feeling not only on the Committee, but among local inhabitants and local authorities, against this scheme, which will do damage to agriculture as well as amenities in that part of the county?

Of course, I attach importance to the report and views of the planning authority—in this case the Hampshire County Council. As I have already stated in reply to a previous Question, if the County Council desires, it will be my duty, and I will gladly perform it, to give them the opportunity to develop their case to me or to a person appointed by me; but it is not always the case that the local planning authority sees the whole picture, particularly when large national and strategic interests are concerned.

Will my right hon. Friend use his influence to press on with this project as rapidly as possible, in order that full employment in Southampton may be maintained?

It is, of course, a very important project for many reasons, not least from the point of view of oil supplies.

How can the Minister reconcile his statement that a decision has been already reached by the Government to place the refinery on Southampton Water, with suggestions that he will now give consideration to objections by Hampshire County Council?

I said it is going somewhere on the eastern side, but it is yet open to argument exactly where.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning on what grounds it has been decided that district heating schemes shall not be proceeded with in the new towns.

Because, in the one new town where this was contemplated, I was satisfied that it would not pay.

Can my right hon. Friend say if consideration has been given by the New Towns Development Corporation to district heating from rubbish destructory plants, as well as by the waste heat from electric power generating stations?

That is a wider question. I went into this particular case very carefully, and I was satisfied that the density of building was not such as to give any probability of the scheme covering its cost, and, for that reason, I turned it down.

Will the Minister, in general, be sympathetic to this kind of proposal, in view of its very great economic importance, and in view of the fact that in other countries, and particularly in Paris, they have made a success of it?

I would be sympathetic to it if I thought it would be an economic proposition. In some parts it would be; in others it would not. It might well be in London, where there is a density of population, and tall blocks of flats and so on, but that is not so in a relatively dispersed development.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether in cases where before 1947 there was a genuine intention to develop, and delays by local planning authorities prevented planning permission being granted before publication of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, but permission has since been granted by him, on appeal, he will exercise his discretion and issue a Section 80 certificate if the applicants submit a by-law application in conformity with his final recommendations.

Yes, provided that the by-law submission was made within the 10 years preceding 7th January, 1947.

Is the Minister aware that many applicants did not submit their bylaw application in time, because of delays by the planning authorities in coming to a decision? If he will not grant it in these cases is it not rather unfair that they should be penalised when it is no fault of their own?

The law is very definite on the subject. Before the 1947 Act was passed, the position was that if this concession with regard to dead ripe land was to operate, there had to be a by-law application or a building contract, or a building application, within the 10 years ending 10th January, 1947. I am bound by the law, and I cannot go beyond that.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the requirements of the Section operates very harshly on a number of applicants? Will he not consider the possibility of amending legislation with regard to that particular Section?

I do not think they operate very harshly, and I can hold out no hopes of legislation at present.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware of the concern felt by the local planning authority, the local authorities and other bodies at his recent decision permitting an extension of sand and gravel excavations at Chevening in the rural district of Sevenoaks, which will result in detriment to the amenities of the village of Chipstead in addition to necessitating the closure or diversion of two public footpaths which cross the land to be excavated; and what steps he will take to ensure that these amenities are restored as soon as circumstances permit.

Yes, Sir, and my permission to work this area is subject to conditions for its restoration. The footpaths will be the subject of a further inquiry, and if they are closed alternative paths will have to be provided.

Can the Minister tell us when that statement on the future of these footpaths will be made, and whether they will be closed, diverted or elevated in part on causeways through the workings, and when the amenities will be restored?

We are looking into it with the local planning people.

Can the Minister say when his report on the control of mineral development is likely to be published; and will he consider including in that report a recommendation that planning authorities should consult the amenities societies, especially as, where this consultation has taken place, it has proved valuable?

That is a wider question. Perhaps the hon. Member would put it down. I am, of course, always anxious to bring amenities societies into consultation on these matters.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what was the purchase price paid by the Bracknell New Town Development Corporation for Farley Hall; and the estimated cost of adapting it to the Corporation's requirements.

This is a matter of detailed administration, which I am content to leave to the Development Corporation. In accordance with the normal practice, the price paid for this property was negotiated by the district valuer.

In view of the local understanding that this building, which was a hotel, is to be adapted, will he advise the Corporation to use the utmost economy in adapting the building to their requirements?

Yes, I should expect them to use the utmost economy, but, on the other hand, their job is to build a town, and for that they must have proper headquarters accommodation. But I have every reason to believe that they are behaving with proper economy and energy.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what is the total sum collected for development charges under the Town and Country Planning Act.

Up to the end of June, £3,500,000 had been collected and, in addition, £2,960,000 had been set-off against claims on the £300,000,000.

In view of the miserable amount of development charges which have been collected so far, in relation to the £300 million that the Act provides shall be given to landlords, is it not time that the Government did something with this particular Section of the Act?

If it is such a miserable sum, I am astonished at the amount of grumbling and complaint about the collection of it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will consider granting to contributors to the former voluntary pensions scheme the option of drawing unconditionally a pension of 10s. per week.

Apart from serious practical objections, I could not contemplate giving a preferential option of this kind to former voluntary contributors.

Is the Minister aware that many contributors joined the voluntary scheme in 1938 with the idea of being able to supplement their income by 10s. a week at the age of 65, and that, instead of that, they are still paying out either 3s. 1d. or sometimes 6s. 2d.? Is it not really a repudiation of a Government contract?

I am sure the hon. Member will agree that those people who voluntarily contributed in the past now stand to obtain benefits which are actuarially far superior to the 10s. a week.

While I appreciate that point, it still does not alter the fact that they cannot obtain it without retiring, and that is the cause of the grievance.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) whether, in view of the hardship caused to old age pensioners in country districts, she will consider making special arrangements whereby, when there are several members of one family living together and drawing old age pensions, one member of the family may be appointed to draw all the pensions, and thus make it unnecessary for them all to make the tiring journey often required in the country to reach the nearest post office;

(2) whether she is aware that the present regulations governing the appointment of proxies by old age pensioners are causing hardship in country areas where the journey to the nearest post office may require them to walk two or three miles, owing to the fact that pensioners are required to certify that they are prevented by illness from attending in person; and whether she will consider adding the words or infirm to the wording on the back of pension order forms and Form B.F.73 (Revised).

Without at the moment committing myself to details, I am considering what steps can be taken to meet the difficulties mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she has completed the experiment of paying National Insurance contributions by schedule; and to what extent the experiment has proved successful.

Yes, Sir. The results of the experiment have in general been satisfactory. The detailed arrangements are being reviewed in the light of the experience gained. As I have said before, this system is only suitable for employers with a large number of regular workers.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) how many persons in the City of Aberdeen now receive the full amount of National Assistance at the increased rate recently agreed by this House; and what proportion they are of the total number of persons in that city receiving National Assistance;

(2) how many persons residing in the city of Aberdeen are now in receipt of National Assistance; and how does this compare with previous years.

The only available information relates to payments made by the Aberdeen office of the board which covers all Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire. On 27th June assistance was being paid in 6,868 cases, of which 6,016 or 87.6 per cent. were receiving the full amount of the increases recently approved. The number of cases in June, 1949, was 5,641 and in July, 1948, 3,970.

Is the Minister aware that the manner in which this scheme is being administered in Aberdeen is regarded with very great satisfaction by the people there?

Thank you.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she proposes to amend the relevant regulations to bring within the scope of the Industrial Injuries Act all foundry workers who suffer from a pneumoconiotic condition as a result of being engaged in any process in or around a foundry.

Pneumoconiosis is already prescribed in respect of a number of foundry processes where medical evidence indicates there is a risk of contracting the disease, and I am now considering an extension of the scope of the regulations. If my hon. Friend has further processes in mind, perhaps he will let me know.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that reply will give considerable satisfaction? Is she also aware that there is a great deal of evidence of the spread of pneumoconiosis and silicosis in other processes than those prescribed by the regulations? Would it not be much simpler and more just if, instead of having to prescribe processes, the basis for eligibility were to be made the existence of the disease in a foundry worker?

I am quite prepared to examine that.

Could the Minister state what procedure is adopted before a disease is regarded as an industrial disease and is liable to be brought under the Industrial Injuries Act?

We have to have convincing medical evidence that it can be attributed to the process.

Is the Minister aware that this position was being considered by her predecessor? Can she give the House any idea when she will be able to make a decision on the point?

I am actively considering it now.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the proportion of appeals to the tribunals set up under the National Insurance Acts which are turned down purely on grounds of lateness of application; and what is the number of individual claims, where, due to oversight, sickness or failure to complete the forms accurately, the individuals have failed to obtain their insurance benefit after appeal to the tribunals, during the last six months.

During the six months ended 30th April last, there were approximately 6¾ million claims for benefits. During the same period about 40,000 appeals were made to local tribunals and in approximately 8,500 of them benefit was disallowed in whole or in part on the ground that good cause had not been shown for delay in making a claim or giving a notice.

One of the cases I sent to the hon. Lady was about Mr. Stephenson who delayed making his claim, omitted certain details from the claim form and was deprived of his benefit after appealing to the tribunal. Would my right hon. Friend look into that case and look into the matter generally to see whether tribunals are not turning down a number of cases on unnecessarily trivial details, especially as the impression seems to be spreading that that is the case?

As I expect my hon. Friend knows, the figures I have just given do not accurately reflect the present position, because we have made provisional regulations extending the time during which those persons who are making a first claim for sickness benefit can apply. When these figures were compiled it was three days; it is now three weeks.

While I appreciate what my right hon. Friend has said, would she care to explain why it is that in a case of this sort—an appearance before a tribunal—the onus of proof is upon the applicant to show that there has been no carelessness? Why should not the onus of proof be upon the tribunal to prove completely that the applicant could, in point of fact, have registered the claim or was in a state of mind to have registered the claim when it should have been made?

I think only the applicant has the necessary evidence.

In view of the changes which have been made, will the Minister be able to reopen any cases which have been turned down recently under the old regulations?

I am afraid it cannot be made retrospective.

Would my right hon. Friend see that the same attitude of mind is adopted by these tribunals as is adopted in the case of pensions tribunals, and would she also look into the case of which I have sent her details?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many of the 248,000 widows now in receipt of a widow's pension of 10s. a week are not in employment; and if she will take steps to assist those widows who are unable to supplement their pensions by remunerative employment.

Although I cannot give precise statistics, tests based on contribution records indicate that some four-fifths of widows with pensions at the 10s. rate, are employed or self-employed. Widows who are unable to work may be entitled to unemployment or sickness benefit, and National Assistance also is, of course, always available.

In view of the fact that the number of widows receiving 10s. a week and unable to work is small, would the Minister give consideration to embracing that number within the Insurance Act so that they receive 26s. a week the same as everyone else?

I think I have explained before to my hon. Friend how difficult it is to integrate the two schemes. It is inevitable that there must be some anomalies, but I can assure my hon. Friend that if the comparatively few widows who need National Assistance will apply for it, they will find that they will be treated with every courtesy and understanding.

That will be from the National Assistance Board and not from the Insurance Act?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what was the cost to the absorbed funds of the 2½ per cent. Treasury Stock held by the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund at 31st March, 1949, and shown in the accounts of that Fund as costing £153,924,166 6s. 10d.

The original cost of the 2½ per cent. Treasury Stock transferred from the absorbed funds on 5th July, 1948, was £159,112,934. I should point out that the figure quoted by the hon. Member includes a certain amount of stock purchased subsequently.

Why is the correct figure not shown in the accounts?

I am afraid the hon. Baronet does not read the documents very carefully. If he will look at paragraph 14 on page VIII he will see that the figures of cost prices shown in statement VII represented, in most cases, the price at which investments were taken over.

Why not give the actual figure of the cost instead of a figure for something quite different?

I cannot agree with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why, while footnote (b), on page 25 of the House of Commons Paper 61, interprets cost price as market value at 5th July, 1948, no similar footnote appears with regard to the expression cost price on page 12; and whether a warning will be inserted in future Statements of Securities of the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund that the expression cost price bears no relation to cost.

As some of the investments shown on page 12 of the paper were purchased during the period of account, a footnote in the terms suggested by the hon. Baronet would not have been appropriate. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 4th July regarding the form of the accounts.

Will the right hon. Lady at least give a warning that the figure given for the cost price is not the correct figure of the cost?

Certainly. The warning has been given on page viii, as I have frequently pointed out. If the hon. Baronet is still confused—because he has put Questions down on four occasions on this subject—and if he cares to come to my Department I will guide him through the accounts.

Will the hon. Lady put the right figure in?

asked the Minister of National Insurance why the recent increases in the National Assistance scales are not being paid to a number of Glasgow recipients; and under what section of the National Assistance Act or the subsequent regulations is the Assistance Board permitted to deny the increase to the said recipients.

I am informed that all recipients of National Assistance who are entitled to the recent increases are now receiving them. As regards the cases in which the amending regulations have not brought about any increase, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Ayrshire, Central (Mr. Manuel), on 18th July, but if he has any particular case on which he would like an explanation perhaps he will let me know.

In regard to the Question put last week and the one which I have put today, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is a fact that people who were on the old scale of the public assistance authority in Glasgow are not getting the increase because the scales they formerly received were higher than the national scales? Surely, as the cost of living was responsible for the increase, the people of Glasgow are entitled to it equally with others.

Altogether 90.9 per cent. of the people in receipt of assistance in Glasgow are getting it at the higher scale. In those areas where the local authority did pay a scale which was higher than the new scale, certainly there has been no increase.

On what grounds are they being denied the increase when the principle for increasing the scales was the increased cost of living?

On grounds of equity.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are employed as crabbers and lobster men in the fishing industry.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the figure to the latest available dates as to the unemployment in the producing side of the soft fruit industry.

I regret that this information is not available.

Is the Minister aware that there is a good deal of unemployment caused by the fact that home produced soft fruit is not being used? Will he consult with the Minister of Food on this matter, so that the unemployment does not increase?

Our problem is one of designating accurately the people employed exclusively in the soft fruit industry. People employed in this branch of horticulture sometimes pick soft fruit and sometimes hard fruit. I do not know if they deal with nuts.

Nuts are on the right hon. Gentleman's side.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the un employment in highly skilled technical trades, such as ship building and engineering, in the City of Aberdeen, what steps he is taking to ensure that the services of such highly skilled workers are not wasted by their being absorbed into work requiring less or different skill and technique from that for which they were trained.

The employment exchange will continue to do all that it can to help skilled workers who are out of employment to find work suited to their skill and experience.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are, in fact, many highly skilled technicians who are being guided into inappropriate jobs? Will he have this rectified, in the interests not only of national production but of the men themselves, whose high skill is being wasted in jobs beneath their capacity?

No, Sir, I am not prepared to accept that generally, because men who have got high skill in one branch of, say, the engineering industry are often suitable in other industries. So far as ship building is concerned, there are 44 skilled shipyard men now unemployed at Aberdeen. I am afraid that if they want to carry on in that particular occupation they must be willing to leave Aberdeen and go elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an estimate of the respective numbers of old and slum factories and underground factories in the London area.

I am unable to give such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many factories were visited on an average day by each factory in spector during 1948.

About six.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as it is physically impossible for an inspector to inspect six factories in the course of a day, there is every reason why the whole administration of the Factory Acts should be reviewed?

No, Sir. I do not accept that. If an inspector is to make a full routine inspection of every factory in his area, large and small, it would be difficult to inspect six a day, but many of these visits are follow-up visits to see if certain things have been done that it was advised should be done, or to make investigation of some special complaint. I am satisfied, in view of the number of inspectors we have, that they are doing their work very conscientiously.

What progress is my right hon. Friend making with the recruitment of inspectors to cover this very important work?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons em ployed in general woodwork and furniture making sustained injuries through using woodworking machinery during 1949.

The figure asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the shortage of brickmakers; and what action he is taking to increase the number of men available for this essential work.

Although the number of workers engaged in brickmaking has risen steadily during the last two years, I am aware that vacancies still exist in some areas. My officers are doing their best to help the firms concerned to find the additional labour they require, and in addition to normal local recruitment they have recently assisted in obtaining a number of men from development areas and from the Irish Republic.

Seeing the position is as the Minister has explained, why is it that his Department are issuing in the Press advertisements for brickmakers to go to Australia, offering them assisted passages, very high wages, and all sorts of other kinds of inducements? Surely if there is a shortage of them we want to keep them in this country?

That may be, but, on the other hand, I think it was with the acquiescence of Parliament as a whole that we decided to help our Dominions to obtain key workers; and the few who are likely to go, compared with the number here, will not make a material difference to us.

Is it not a fact that the shortage of bricks is due in part to the great number dropped recently by the Secretary of State for War?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will assist in the solution of the building labour problem for Southampton by re-opening the Adult Training Scheme for building workers.

Since November, 1947, the Vocational Training Scheme for the building trades has been restricted to the disabled. The question whether recruitment should be re-opened to able-bodied men has for some considerable time been under examination by my Department with the industrial organisations concerned.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the shortage of local building labour is one of the gravest problems of the blitzed towns, and that, pending the recognition by the nation of the needs of the blitzed towns, such a scheme as this would be of great help to Southampton?

Without going into the first part of that supplementary question, I can assure my hon. Friend that it is important that we should get co-operation with the industries concerned to set up again our training of adult labour.

Would it not help the situation very considerably if building employers were to carry out fully the apprentices scheme in the industry?

I do not know that it is quite right to blame the employers in this, but it is a fact that the industry has not got the number of apprentices to which this scheme entitles it. Without putting blame anywhere, I may say it is the case that the normal number of recruits to the industry is not coming forward, and we are trying to get this further scheme adopted.

Will my right hon. Friend give an indication of when he will be able to come to a decision about the matter?

I wish I could give such an indication.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the building force in Southampton are likely to be transferred to the new oil refinery which is being built near by?

Not without notice.

Would the right hon. Gentleman ask the Minister of Town and Country Planning?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will withdraw the Department of Agriculture for Scot land tractor service from areas which are adequately catered for by private agricultural contractors, and thereby reduce the heavy loss to the taxpayer of maintaining this service.

This is the policy at present being pursued.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any date by which this service will be removed from those counties and areas which are quite capable of managing without it? For instance, in my own constituency the private contractors are sufficient in number and scale to operate there without the use of this service. Where it is not needed will the service be removed?

Whenever we are satisfied that the Department's machinery service can be suspended in any area it is immediately withdrawn, but we have to have regard to the needs of farmers who require it.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the high cost of this service will soon automatically cause its withdrawal?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the bringing into force of the provisions of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act, 1949, in terms of Section 17 (4) of that Act.

It is hoped to bring the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act, 1949, into force for the purpose of civil proceedings in the Court of Session and the sheriff court, except those excluded by the Act, on 2nd October next, and all necessary arrangements are being made to enable this to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the Report of the Scottish Committee on Tuberculosis Service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the recommendation of crisis expansion of tuberculosis service.

With his officers my right hon. Friend has been studying carefully this Report, but has found in it no recommendation for the expansion of facilities which has not already been considered, whilst most of the recommendations have been tried with varying degrees of success. In the last two years more than 300 additional beds have been brought into use for respiratory tuberculosis, many of them in infectious diseases and general hospitals. This process my right hon. Friend proposes to continue, especially in general hospitals where nursing staffs are strongest.

But would my hon. Friend inform the Secretary of State that all the recommendations published in the British Medical Journal have not been tried, and notably these two recommendations—one, that beds in infectious diseases hospitals should be used, and second—which, I think, is practicable—that the patients should have treatment in their own homes? Will she ask him to give attention to those two points?

The information which my hon. Friend has is quite wrong. In my answer I pointed out that already we have 300 beds, most of them coming from infectious disease hospitals. As to domiciliary treatment we have taken certain steps in that direction in the auxiliary services.

Is the hon. Lady aware that there are only 10 beds for tuberculosis patients in the County of Caithness, and that there is a very large number of sufferers walking about in great danger who should be accommodated, and for whom accommodation could be found?

Is this the committee appointed by the Scottish National Health Services Council in July, 1948?

No, this is quite another committee.

Bearing in mind that there are 1,000 beds available in Switzerland for the treatment of tuberculosis, would the hon. Lady consider the restoration of the scheme under which public moneys were made available to enable persons to obtain treatment in Switzerland, and so set an example to her right hon. Friend the Minister of Health?

Do the recent figures show a rise in the trend of notification or a fall; and has the number of deaths, which was recently notable, continued, or is it slackening off now?

That is another question, but I can give the information. The number of notifications for the whole of Scotland has gone down slightly. In the number of deaths in the 16 principal towns in Scotland there has been about a 20 per cent. decrease during the last year.

Before involving the taxpayers in any considerable expenditure of money in sending people to Switzerland, would my hon. Friend seriously consider whether Swiss treatment is suitable for all these cases?

Are any useful conclusion emerging from the second committee to which I referred; and will the report be soon available? We were assured in March of this year that it was on the point of being published.

That is another question, which perhaps my hon. Friend will put down.

Further to the question as to the possible unsuitability of Swiss treatment—and this affects the whole of the United Kingdom—is it not a case of relieving the strain upon the overloaded bed system of this country, there providing treatment for all sufferers from tuberculosis in this country?

The question of Swiss sanatoria has not much to do with the Question on the Order Paper, and I can give no information on it at the present time.

Could we not have a coordination of these committees which are investigating tuberculosis in Scotland?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the large number of tuberculosis patients in Glasgow awaiting admission to hospital; and if he will give an assurance that every effort is being made to increase hospital accommodation and that the waiting list is being progressively reduced.

Glasgow's waiting list at 30th June this year showed an improvement of 205 compared with last year. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have already given to the hon. Lady the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann).

Can my hon. Friend give any indication of the weekly intake to the hospitals of these cases? As far as I can gather, there are thousands waiting to get in who are almost giving up hope of ever being attended to.

In my answer I gave the increase in the number that we have been able to take in for the year, but I am sure I can find that further information for my hon. Friend.

How many are actually on the waiting list in Glasgow?

Could my hon. Friend find out what progress is being made in obtaining other accommodation for people, at present occupying hospital beds, who need neither medical attention nor the attention of trained nursing personnel?

That is quite another question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give any estimate of development charges likely to be incurred by local authorities for new use in providing additional space for obsolete machinery and metal.

Since development charges are a matter for the Central Land Board, and since their amount depends on the facts of each case, it would obviously be inappropriate for me to make a hazard.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of domiciliary confinements in Coatbridge for 1949; and how many of these were conducted by midwives acting without a doctor in charge.

The number of domiciliary confinements in Coatbridge in 1949 was 647. A midwife alone was present at 495; but a doctor was in charge, although not attending the confinement, at all but 31 of these.

Could the hon. Lady say in how many of these cases the midwives were equipped with and trained in the use of analgesia?

That is another question.

Were all the 31 women who had midwives aware that they were entitled to a doctor and a specialist if need be?

It would be very difficult indeed for me to answer that question. I should imagine that all women in Scotland know that, particularly since 1948, they have a right to a doctor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds, and after what procedure, he overturned the decision of the Chief Constable of Roxburgh and Selkirk to dismiss Constables Sangster and Peters from the police force.

My right hon. Friend considered the appeals of these two men under the procedure of the Police (Appeals) Acts, 1927 and 1943, and his decision to vary the punishment imposed by the chief constable was reached after careful consideration of the notices of appeal and of all the statements and documents submitted.

Is the hon. Lady aware that until the Secretary of State intervened, these constables had pleaded guilty to a series of the gravest charges, namely, gambling in private houses in duty hours and five times falsifying the police books; and how does she and her right hon. Friend expect that there can be discipline in county police forces if this kind of thing is condoned?

It is not a case of condoning anything that these men have done. They exercised their right of appeal to the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State, after examination of all the evidence, decided on the course that has been adopted.

Is there any possibility of these constables being transferred to another area, in view of the attitude of the chief constable, which, to judge by the noble Lord's question, is one of great detestation for the action of the Secretary of State for Scotland, and in view of the fact that these men will be under a cloud if they are kept in that area?

Is the hon. Lady aware that one of these constables has gone to a neighbouring county, and that there are other outstanding charges being brought against him; that the whole situation is utterly unsatisfactory; and would she not review it?

As I am the Member for the constituency in question, may I ask the hon. Lady whether she knows if any notification of this matter was sent, as a matter of courtesy, to the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Robertson), to whose area one of the constables has been transferred? I ask that question because I wish to know why certain Conservative elements in Roxburgh and Selkirk, who have raised this issue, have asked Lord Dunglass—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]—to raise it in the House.

May I say, Mr. Speaker, that I hope the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Macdonald) is not insinuating anything in what he has just said? As the reply given is entirely unsatisfactory, I wish to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reasons for the decision of the Western Regional Board to enforce the retirement of all officers in their asylums and mental institutions who have reached the age of 60 years.

I am informed by the Western Regional Hospital Board that they have taken no such decision, and that in fact many mental health officers over the age of 60 are employed in the region.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that answer is very welcome indeed, because there is a very widespread belief that these officers are being discharged?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, with a view to preventing injustice to Caithness farmers who have been deprived of hill cattle subsidy, he will appoint one of his agricultural experts to join a delegation from the Scottish National Farmers Union which will shortly visit Caithness to inspect the farms from which subsidy has been withdrawn.

No, Sir.

Is that not an extraordinary answer in view of the doubts which exist about the justice of the Secretary of State's decision? Why should the Secretary of State not allow one of his experts to join a good trade union deputation?

The good trade union has not asked the Secretary of State to send anyone to join this delegation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what agricultural executive committees a limit lower than 50 per cent. is placed on assistance in respect of the cost of goods and services specified in paragraph 6 of S.I.,1949, No. 610 (S.32) (The Marginal Agricultural Production (Scotland) Scheme, 1949); and why lower limits are specified than those prescribed in this statutory instrument.

The scheme prescribes a maximum of 50 per cent. of the cost of certain measures of assistance to marginal farms. The agricultural executive committees are authorised by the scheme to offer assistance to such extent as they consider necessary to meet the needs of any particular farm. All of the committees in fact offer rates of grant varying from 10 per cent. to 50 per cent.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some agricultural executive committees have stated that they are limited in the amount they give by the total amount made available to them, and for that reason are not giving the optimum percentage but a maximum of less than 50 per cent., and is that in accordance with the Order?

I am surprised to learn that agricultural committees are saying that they are limited so that they cannot give up to 50 per cent. So far as I am aware, they are granted varying amounts between 10 and 50 per cent., but even the Secretary of State is limited in the amount be can spend by decision of Parliament.