asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will publish as a White Paper a summary of the information that has been collected by the Commonwealth Economic Committee regarding the export trade of each member of the Commonwealth, including details of how much goes to other members of the Commonwealth, the other principal sources of export and the main types of exports.

The information on this subject collected by the Commonwealth Economic Committee is published annually by the Committee. A Memorandum entitled "Commonwealth Trade, 1960–61" has just been published. Statistics of Commonwealth trade are also published annually by the Board of Trade in a statistical abstract "The Commonwealth and the Sterling Area" which contains the information referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what study is being made by the Commonwealth Economic Committee of new proposals for the expansion and freeing of trade and payments reciprocally between Commonwealth countries, and of the conditions under which they may be linked for mutual benefit with the countries of Europe.

The formulation of policy is outside the accepted functions of this Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his visit to Cyprus and his conversations with the President and Vice-President.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question today by the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey).

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of students at present taking sandwich courses in England and Wales.

In the academic year 1960–61, 11,112 students were enrolled in sandwich courses leading to recognised qualifications in grant-aided establishments of further education in England and Wales. Information for the academic year 1961–62 will become available about the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will refer consideration of the effects of the decision that the Durham School Examination Board should discontinue activities in 1964 to his Secondary School Examinations Council.

Yes. This decision will be reported to the Secondary School Examinations Council at its next meeting in July.

asked the Minister of Education how many graduates entered university departments of education for a course of professional training in 1961.

The provisional figure is 3,192.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the new grading standards for beef cattle result in the rejection for subsidy of dairy beef crosses which many butchers find meet the consumer's demand for lean meat; and if he will consider, in the light of further experience, the need for revising the instructions given to his Department's grading officers.

Dairy beef crosses are rejected only where they do not measure up to the revised general standard for all cattle. There is no reason why well-managed dairy beef crosses should not make the grade. The new standard is a national one and we have had in mind the most acceptable type of carcase taking the country as a whole. We shall naturally be watching how the new standard operates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement, following his correspondence with the London County Council, about flood prevention in the Manor Lane area of North Lewisham.

The proposals for dealing with flood alleviation in the Manor Lane area of North Lewisham are being examined in relation to the comprehensive proposals for the improvement of the River Ravensbourne. The comprehensive proposals are estimated to cost nearly £5 million and involve careful financial and technical examination. These aspects were discussed at a meeting on 29th March between respresen-tatives of the Ministry, the London County Council and the Kent County Council. A further meeting between the Ministry's engineers and those of the two authorities is being held today at which it is hoped to make further progress. I am afraid it may still take some time before we can give a decision on whether or not the proposals for Manor Lane may proceed in isolation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the estimated annual expenditure involved in providing vaccination against fowl pest for all poultry in England and Wales.

The number of poultry reared each year in England and Wales is estimated to be between 200 and 250 million and many birds would have to be vaccinated more than once irrespective of the kind of vaccine used. If dead vaccine were used about 300 million doses per year would be required. I am not at present in a position to give a firm estimate of the cost of producing and administering vaccine in these quantities in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are in prison as a result of defaulting in their hire-purchase payments; and what is the annual cost to the country.

It is estimated that on 30th March, 1962, there were 178 civil prisoners in English and Welsh prisons who had been committed for failing to pay installments due under a hire-purchase agreement. The cost of this clase of inmate is not calculated separately.During the financial year 1959–60, the annual cost of imprisonment averaged over all classes of inmate was £435 5s. 11d. per head of the daily average population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had to pay for the medical attention they received from police doctors in London police stations on Sunday and Monday 17th and 18th September, respectively; and what was the total amount collected in fees.

Twenty-one persons arrested in the Metropolitan Police District on 17th September were examined by police surgeons and were subsequently ordered by the court, on conviction, to pay costs which included an element in respect of their medical examination. The corresponding figure for 18th September was six. Out of this total number of twenty-seven persons, six were involved in the anti-nuclear demonstration in Trafalgar Square.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the average cost of collecting the fixed penalty payments for parking offences when they are paid voluntarily, and when further steps have to be taken to enforce payment, respectively

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now ascertained the probable cause of the recent explosion at West Bromwich involving a lorry carrying chemicals; and what administrative action he has in mind to prevent a recurrence.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 29th March to Questions by the hon. Members for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler), West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) and Blackburn (Mrs. Castle).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were prosecuted and how many were convicted under the Litter Act in the whole country in 1961.

I regret that this information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Technical Advisory Committee on the Condition of Fitness for Taxicabs in London, which was appointed by the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has yet reported; and if he will make the report available to hon. Members.

The Committee's report is being published today and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 34 additional factory inspectors appointed during the year are regularly engaged on actual inspection, and how many on statistical or office work.

Of the 34 posts recently added to the authorised strength of the Inspectorate, 28 are for general inspection duties, three are for specialist inspection posts for the Building and Civil Engineering Section, and three are to undertake special surveys from Headquarters. None is for statistical or office work. In fact, about 60 more clerical staff were added to the establishment when the strength of the Inspectorate was increased.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the discomfort and distress which may be caused to garage employees, who work as much as eight hours a day in confined spaces where diesel fumes are heavy and concentrated and if he will take powers to ensure conditions of work which will avoid such dangers to health.

The health of garage employees is already safeguarded by the requirements of the Factories Act concerning adequate ventilation of work rooms and removal, where necessary, of injurious or offensive fumes. If the hon. Member can supply details of any case in which these requirements appear not to be met, I will have investigations made.

asked the Minister of Labour when he intends to publish the factual information promised in paragraph 13 of Command Paper No. 1626, Incomes Policy: The Next Step; and what addition it will make to that already available.

asked the Minister of Labour when it is proposed to publish the factual information on wage rates, earnings, and other subjects referred to in Paragraph 13 of Command Paper No. 1626, Incomes Policy: The Next Step.

The first issue of a bulletin "Statistics on Incomes, Prices, Employment and Production" will be published by H.M. Stationery Office on 6th April. Subsequent issues will appear at regular intervals. New material will include wage rate indices for groups of industries, indices of earnings in different industries and in different regions, an index of salary earnings from 1955, and an industrial analysis of company profits, dividends and interest.

asked the Secretary of State for War what official advice has been given to the wives of Servicemen in Singapore about the appropriate dress to be worn in public; and if he is aware of the resentment caused by criticism of the wearing of shorts and abbreviated clothing in view of the humidity of the atmosphere which can be very trying for women from this country.

All families who go to stations in the Far East are given a pamphlet to help and advise them. It is called "The Family Guide to the Far East". The latest edition explains that because of the difference in customs, shorts and similar clothes do not go down well with the local inhabitants. It advises avoiding these sort of clothes except for sports, on the beach, or at home. There is no question of orders, but commanding officers have been asked to draw attention to this advice and explain the reasons for it.

asked the Attorney-General how many persons have been prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act in the past ten years; and how many of these prosecutions were in respect of espionage on behalf of foreign powers.

During the last ten years seventeen persons have been prosecuted for offences against the Official Secrets Acts and eleven for conspiring to commit such offences. The Acts do not refer in terms to espionage. Section 1 (1) (c) of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, provides that an offence is committed by any person who obtains, collects, records, or publishes, or communicates to any other person any secret official code word, or pass word, or any sketch, plan, model, article, or note, or other document or information which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy. Ten persons, including five of those prosecuted for conspiracy, were charged with offences involving this provision. It was part of the case for the prosecution in all these cases that the accused had acted on behalf of, or had been in contact with the agents of, a foreign power.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the present general commissioners for Income Tax for the area or areas including the county borough of Oldham and the urban district of Chadderton, giving the dates of appointment.

The names and dates are as follows:

Sir Frank Lord, O.B.E.—15th December, 1941.

Mr. Seville Taylor—21st February, 1944.

Mr. William Taylor Hague—12th May, 1947.

Mr. Albert Houghton Stott—4th February, 1952.

Major Robert Hasty, M.B.E., T.D.—31st July, 1958.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the present advisory committee on the appointment of general commissioners for Income Tax for the areas or area including the county borough of Oldham and the urban district of Chadderton, giving the dates of appointment.

No. The advisory committees are appointed by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor to advise him personally and confidentially and it would not be in the public interest to give particulars of their membership.

asked the Attorney-General to what extent it is the practice to see that the advisory committee on the appointment of general commissioners of Income Tax is representative of all parties and classes of society; and whether he is satisfied that this practice has been followed in relation to the area including Oldham and Chadderton.

It is the practice of my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, advisory committees are representative of all classes of taxpayers. He has followed this practice in relation to the Middleton Division, which includes Oldham and Chadderton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance has been given by his Department to the formation of trade unions in Swaziland.

The Swaziland Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Proclamation provides for the registration and activities of trade unions. The Registrar and Labour Officer are available to advise and assist persons wishing to form trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take to enable children living in outlying areas in Swaziland to attend school daily.

Schools in Swaziland today are well distributed throughout the territory and the vast majority are in rural areas. In addition, school hostels exist to provide accommodation for 1,800 boarders. More schools and classrooms will be built as funds become available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what technical advice will be given to those intending to form co-operatives in Swaziland.

The Registrar of Cooperative Societies for Swaziland is available to advise on the law and procedures relating to the formation of cooperative societies. The High Commissioner is considering the setting up of a co-operative department with an Adviser when fresh funds become available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect upon the incidence of Schedule A taxation of the forthcoming revaluation.

As the law stands, the revaluation of property for the purpose of rates will not govern assessments to Income Tax under Schedule A.

asked the Minister of Health if, in the interests of health education, he will consult the British Broadcasting Corporation with a view to making available for exhibition to local authorities the British Broadcasting Corporation television film, Your Life in their Hands, of 29th March, 1962, showing the effects of smoke and air pollution on the human lungs.

I have done so, and the possibility is being examined.

asked the Postmaster-General how many established positions there are in the postal and telephone branches of the Post Office in Northern Ireland carrying a salary of £1,800 per year or more; how many of these positions are held by Northern Ireland men; and if he will ensure that, when making appointments in the higher grades, the qualifications and experience of Northern Ireland men are not overlooked.

Nineteen established posts in the Post Office in Northern Ireland carry a maximum salary of £1,800 per year or more, of which four are held by Northern Ireland men. One post is at present vacant. I assure my hon. Friend that the qualifications and experience of Northern Ireland men are always fully considered.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will set out Post Office staff numbers as at 1st January, 1962, in the same form as that contained in Annex B of Command Paper No. 1327.

The numbers are:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the existing personnel, equipment and its effective use, of the Lanarkshire Fire Authority, are adequate to provide the fire cover standards required by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied with the position in the county as a whole, but I am looking into certain problems of the part-time service in the Coatbridge area which have been brought to my notice by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many successful prosecutions there were in Scotland during 1961 for causing or permitting

I regret that I do not have this information, which could be obtained only by extensive local inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications from Inverness-shire for grants and loans under the Local Employment Act, 1959, have been made in each year since the passing of the Act and in the current year to date; how many have been accepted; how many have been refused; and what were the amounts of the money involved.

Thirty applications have been received for financial assistance under the Local Employment Act, 1960, for projects in Inverness-shire—23 in the year ended 31st March, 1961, and 7 in the year ended 31st March, 1962. Eleven projects have been offered assistance amounting to £102,425, and 17 applications have been rejected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications from Scotland, from the Highlands and Islands, and from Inverness-shire, respectively, have been made in each year, and in 1962 to date, for grants and loans under the Local Employment Act for the expansion of hotel accommodation, restaurant and other such facilities for tourists; how many have been accepted; how many have been refused; and what were the amounts of money concerned.

The following table sets out the information requested for the two years since the Act came into force on 1st April, 1960:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he will take to provide increased opportunities for the export of British goods to East Germany.

The Federation of British Industries has recently concluded a new unofficial trade arrangement with the East German authorities covering the calendar year 1962. This envisages total imports of East German goods (inclusive of East German estimates of sales of goods on Open General Licence) of £9·1 million and total British exports of £8·4 million. These are the same figures as in the 1961 arrangement. Imports in 1961 totalled only £6·7 million, as many of the import facilities under the arrangement were not fully used. Of British exports to East Germany amounting to £8¼ million in 1961, £5½ million were in iron and steel, non-ferrous metals and basic materials, which are not covered by quotas, and many of the quotas for British exports agreed by the East Germans were not fulfilled.In the 1962 arrangement the Federation of British Industries have negotiated adjustments in individual quotas on both sides designed to facilitate a modest expansion of trade over a wide range of goods. In my view the facilities now provided are satisfactory in present circumstances and having regard to the fact that the amount of trade that can be done under bilateral arrangements of this kind is limited by the availability of sterling exchange.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to reply to requests for a public inquiry into the proposed ring road and flyover at Wallsall which were sent to him on 28th December, 1961, by the Walsall Ratepayers (Town Development) Committee, on 16th January, 1962, by The Walsall and District Incorporated Chamber of Commerce, and on 29th January, 1962, and 17th March, 1962, by the hon. Member for Walsall, South.

A reply has now been sent to my hon. Friend explaining that at this stage it is for the Walsall County Borough Council as highway authority to provide opportunities for the discussion of views expressed by local organisations on their road proposals. We shall be replying similarly to the Ratepayers Committee and the Chamber of Commerce within the next few days.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a further statement about the Report of the Industrial Association of Wales and Monmouthshire about future highway requirements in South Wales.

I have now completed my study of the Report of the highway needs of South Wales and Monmouthshire made by the Industrial Association. As I told the House on 15th November, it is a valuable document and I am indebted to those responsible for it.I agree with many of the conclusions and recommendations about the ultimate road pattern in South Wales. Most of the chief proposals are already planned and some are in progress. There are some which I should like to look into more closely and I have arranged for a careful investigation into them. But I cannot go as far or as fast as the Report proposes. For example, the westward extension of the motorway from Newport would of necessity be a very long term project on which I must reserve judgment.The rate and extent of the road programme for the country as a whole must depend upon the state of the national economy and on the proportion of the financial resources that we can afford to spend on roads. In determining the programme for South Wales within this total, I must, of course, have regard to the competing needs of other areas. I shall, however, always take full account of the needs arising from the important developments taking place in South Wales.Some of the recommendations are about classified roads. It will be for the local highway authorities to submit their proposals which I shall be glad to consider in the light of the funds at my disposal and the relative priority of each scheme.I have recently had a meeting with representatives of the Association when I gave them my fuller comments on their Report.