asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the present programme for constructing United Kingdom oil refineries indicating which schemes have been approved; the magnitude of each; the dates on which they will be coming into production; and the approximate total cost and total capacity.

Work has started on the construction of four plants at Llandarcy, Grangemouth, Stanlow and Shellhaven, which will increase refining capacity in this country by about 9½ million tons a year. The total cost will be approximately £46 million and it is expected that the projects will be completed at various times between the end of 1949, and the end of 1953. Other plans for extending refining capacity are being discussed with the companies concerned. If they are all carried out, United • Kingdom capacity should, in about four years, be capable of processing nearly 20 million tons of oil as compared with approximately 2½ million tons in 1947.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what bodies or organisations are being asked to nominate candidates for appointment to the Consultative Councils as laid down in Clause 7 of the Electricity Act, 1947.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. C. S. Taylor) on 4th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that it is now 10 months since the vesting date, there is any reason for the further postponement of the setting-up of the Consultative Councils as laid down in Clause 7 of the Electricity Act, 1947, and on what date these councils will be formed.

I have recently appointed the Consultative Councils for the South Eastern, South Wales and Yorkshire Electricity Areas and I expect that the Councils for the Eastern and South East Scotland Electricity Areas will be appointed in the next few days. The remainder of the Councils will be appointed very soon, probably before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that there is a shortage of anthracite fuel suitable for certain types of cookers in the Hereford district; and whether, in view of the effect this is having on these cookers, which are economical in fuel consumption, he will have steps taken to remedy the position.

For the reason given in my reply to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 25th November, anthracite supplies are not sufficient to meet all demands in the home market, but I have no reason to believe that the shortage is more acute in the Hereford district than elsewhere. If, however, the hon. Member will let me have details of any particular case where anthracite is essential and cannot be obtained, I will try and arrange for this fuel to be supplied. But coke which is plentiful at present can be used in most cookers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what research is being carried out in this country on production of synthetic oil from coal; and what are His Majesty's Government's plans for the development of such production, in view of the availability of coal and the lack of indigenous oil supplies.

Experiments have been carried out at the Fuel Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research over several years and are being continued. The staff of that station has also investigated processes operated on a considerable scale in Germany and keeps in close touch with work in the U.S.A. As regards the second part of the Question, the possibilities of producing oil from coal are under constant review. While technical developments hold some promise that the very high costs will be reduced, perhaps through the production of valuable chemical byproducts, they do not yet justify plans for operation on a commercial scale in this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what requests have been received, formally or informally, from the Marshall Plan administration, for a reduction in the export price of British coal.

Representations have been received from the Economic Co-operation Administration about the export prices of United Kingdom coal in relation to those of bizone coal. I have asked the National Coal Board to consider these representations. In the meantime, I am advised by the Board that in general their export prices are in line with world prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen have been released for other duties in the Metropolitan area as a result of the introduction of mechanical traffic signals.

Seven hundred and ten.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the necessity of attracting the maximum number of tourists, he will consider a revision of the licensing laws that will permit the licensing of night clubs.

This is a matter which will come up for discussion during the passage of the Licensing Bill through Parliament, and I think it would be desirable not to anticipate that discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits were paid by inspectors under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, to places registered for experiments on living animals during the year 1947; and why only 439 out of 459 of the places on the register were visited during the year.

The inspectors paid 880 visits during 1947, including some visits to places applying for registration. The 20 places not visited were ones where so little work was in progress that the inspectors' time was better used elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proprietary brands of beer are available in licensed premises under State management.

The draught beer sold in the State-managed houses in the Carlisle district is that manufactured at the Carlisle State brewery, but in one public house draught Bass is still supplied. In addition to the bottled beer made at that brewery, there are on sale the products of Messrs. Bass, Worthington and Guinness and some small quantity of lager beer. Other proprietary brands would be provided if the demand justified it.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the sum of £4,750,000 paid or owing to dentists for work completed under the National Health Service up to 30th October was in respect of new dentures; whether he is satisfied that all the new dentures being supplied are necessary; and if he will consider the possibility of cutting down expenditure on new dentures by the provision of speedier and more effective facilities for repairs.

On the basis of a sample check about 40 per cent. The Dental Estimates Board satisfy themselves as to the necessity for a denture before approving the estimate. I have no evidence that the present arrangements for repairs are ineffective having regard to the volume of the demand.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the large sums which are being expended on free dentures, he will revise the scale of fees paid to dentists so as to weigh the balance more in favour of conservative dentistry.

While the present scale of fees must be reviewed with the dentists, in other respects it is already certainly heavily weighted in favour of conservative work.

asked the Minister of Health what alterations he proposes to make in the remuneration of dentists under the National Health Service.

With the dental Associations I am undertaking a full review of our present translation of the Spens Committee into fees for services. Meanwhile, as it is obvious that some dentists are earning far more than that Committee ever contemplated, I am adopting a temporary arrangement whereby fees are reduced by half after a dentist reaches an income of £4,800 gross—or £1,000 in excess of the point at which the Spens Committee said the risk of bad dentistry began. Doctors already have a limit, in the number of patients allowed on their lists.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now allow deaf people to have hearing aids that are not of the standard type providing they are prepared themselves to pay the extra cost, and will thus extend to them the principle already extended to others in the cases of eyeglasses and dentures.

No. I see no justification for doing so.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that people in Bolton who have been examined by an aural surgeon at the Bolton Royal Infirmary Out Patients Department, and whose suitability for hearing aid appliances have been determined, are still without the instrument owing to the shortage of supply; and if he will make a statement on the availability of these appliances in this area.

Distribution centres for hearing aids have been operating in Manchester and Preston since 1st November and are being supplied with aids at the rate of 100 per month.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications for permission to build health centres have been received from local authorities; how many such schemes in the London area have been approved as new structures and as adaptations of existing buildings, respectively; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient such centres are being constructed.

I have proposals for two quite new centres and have approved one, in London. Discussions are going on in about 20 other cases. So far there have been no adaptations of old buildings approved. There are, however, a number of existing dental or medical clinics which have been maintained under the new Act. I am certainly not satisfied, but progress is governed by the building situation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that medical specialists are, under the operation of the National Health Scheme, limited to making a total of 25 visits per quarter in a given area upon patients; and what arrangements there are for the treatment of the patients in that area when the specialist has fulfilled his schedule.

There is no limit on visits. Remuneration has a provisional ceiling for each quarter while longer-term arrangements—which will date back—are being worked out. The situation in the last part of the Question can be considered if and when it arises.

asked the Minister of Health what allocations for capital expenditure for 1949–50 have been made to the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board.

None. It is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to avoid a complete breakdown at Brookwood Mental Hospital owing to the grave shortage of staff.

Active steps are being taken, in co-operation with the Ministry of Labour, to relieve the nursing situation at Brookwood Mental Hospital by the appointment of ward orderlies and by recruitment of additional nursing staff. The matter is receiving special attention from the Regional Hospital Board's officers and I am advised that there is no question of a breakdown in the service.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of female patients and female nurses at Brookwood Mental Hospital; and state how far the number of female nurses falls short of establishment.

The number of female patients is 704; the number of nursing staff, apart from ward orderlies, is 79. The normal establishment for the hospital is 174 nurses but at present 500 beds are not in use.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is an average delay of nine months for patients awaiting admission to tuberculosis sanatoria; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

The delay varies from a few days to several months, according to the circumstances of each case. It is due to shortage of nurses, and everything possible is being done to recruit them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that people in Northampton are suffering great delay in the supply of glasses; and what steps he proposes to take to accelerate the manufacture of these articles.

I am aware of some difficulties, though not specially in Northampton. Increased production is under discussion with the manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the great difficulty in obtaining measules serum in this country; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the shortage.

I am not aware of any shortage. Supplies can be got through the Public Health Laboratory Service.

asked the Minister of Health why permission to practise in this country is still withheld from 33 dentists, refugees from Nazi oppression, now naturalised and living in this country.

The conditions on which foreign trained dentists may practise in this country are prescribed by the Dentists' Acts, and the duty of ensuring that these conditions are fulfilled rests with the General Medical Council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the deterioration of a number of private roads and streets in the Borough of Weymouth and whether, in view of the growing danger to public health and risk of personal injury he will now authorise the borough council to carry out the necessary repairs.

1 can only authorise works on private streets where their condition is really dangerous; within this limitation I am prepared to consider proposals from local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that according to the Housing Return for Scotland, dated 30th September, 1948, Glasgow has completed 4,329 permanent and 2,512 temporary houses, a total of 6,841; and how these figures compare with reasonably comparable towns in England.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Housing Return for England and Wales, 30th September. 1948. (Cmd. 7552).

asked the Minister of Health if he will encourage local authorities when allocating new council houses to allocate as many as possible to families who are temporarily housed, so as to prevent occupants of such temporary houses from feeling that their occupation of such accommodation is being prolonged indefinitely.

I have asked the Central Housing Advisory Committee to consider what further advice should be given to local authorities on the allocation of their housing accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of his recent decision to enforce the installation of nothing but approved and scientific solid fuel burning apparatus in new houses what steps he proposes to take to ensure the early replacement of inefficient apparatus in existing houses.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 4 of Circular 170/48 of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that circular 171/48 does not ask local authorities to ensure that the information given on individual applications for a council house is brought up to date before submitting the return to his Department; and whether he will urge local authorities to arrange for this to he done, especially in the case of old applications.

Yes. This is a matter which I think can be left to the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the reference to the circular issued to local authorities in which advice was given that legal action to obtain possession of requisitioned premises should not be taken without the authority of his Department; and, as this limitation of freedom of action by rural district councils and others in regard to adjusting housing matters within their districts is not in the best interests of the public, what was the reason for issuing such instructions.

It is within the discretion of the local authorities to take proceedings to recover the possession of requisitioned property. Circular 2747, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member makes this clear. For technical reasons, however, it is my practice to issue, on request, a formal authorisation to enable the local authority to commence proceedings in its own name in a particular case.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions he has given to local authorities with regard to the accommodation of homeless families in public assistance institutions; what directions he has issued to separate husbands and families; and if he has laid down any maximum time for this home-splitting arrangement.

I have drawn the attention of local authorities to their duty under Section 21 (1) (b) of the National Assistance Act to provide temporary accommodation in certain circumstances of urgency. I have issued no direction as to the separation of husbands and families, which I deprecate.

asked the Minister of Health how many children in age groups of under 5, 5–11 and 11–16 respectively, are included in the 163 families at present lodged in London workhouses.

Of the children of families accommodated on 1st December, 1948, 179 were under age 5, 75 between the ages of 5 and 11 and 15 between the ages of 11 and 16.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of public companies have observed the voluntary standstill on dividend limitation since his request was made

Of the industrial companies reporting from 1st April to 30th November, 1948, 81 per cent. in terms of the number of companies and 93 per cent. in terms of the issued capital involved did not increase their dividends. Some of the remainder no doubt had justification for their increases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the heavy unemployment on Merseyside, he will reconsider his decision to transfer from Liverpool to Cardiff work now performed in Liverpool by the Departmental Claims Branch of the Inland Revenue.

Further consideration has been given to this matter and it has been decided to maintain the office at Liverpool for a further two years. The ultimate concentration of the work of this branch of the Inland Revenue in Cardiff where the greater part of its work is already dealt with is considered to be in the interest of sound organisation and good management.

asked the Minister of Education what plans have been prepared for one or more nursery schools in Newport; how many children between two and five years of age live in Newport; and what proportions are estimated as desiring to attend nursery schools; how many classes for such children exist at present; and how many children can be provided for in them.

The number of children between two and five years of age in the county borough of Newport is not known exactly, but is about 4,900. It is thought that accommodation in nursery schools or classes may ultimately he required for as many as one-half of this number. In January, 1948, there were 587 children under five years of age in attendance at primary schools maintained by the local education authority, of which 254 were in nine nursery classes.I am not aware that any plans have been prepared for the erection of nur- sery schools in Newport, and I cannot include proposals for schools of this kind in the authority's building programme for the year 1949, having regard to demands on labour and materials for more urgent projects.

asked the Minister of Education (1) what percentage of the age group three to five are at present in nursery classes organised as such; and what is the actual number of children involved;(2) what percentage of the age group two to five are at present in nursery schools; and what is the actual number of children involved.

In January, 1948, there were 20,661 children aged two and under five on the registers of grant-aided nursery schools. This was about one per cent. of the total number of children of these age groups in England and Wales. On the same date there were 71,000 children on the registers of organised nursery classes. It is estimated that the number aged three and under five was about five per cent. of the total child population of England and Wales in these age groups.

asked the Minister of Education (1) why, in approving schemes for assistance to pupils at direct grant and independent boarding schools, he requires that they include conditions relating to social circumstances, such as lack of suitable home, instead of leaving local education authorities free to make awards on educational grounds alone and to have regard to the wishes of parents;(2) why in approving schemes for assistance to pupils at direct grant and independent boarding schools he requires that they include the condition that the pupil has passed the county entrance examination for grammar school or equivalent; and whether he will give encouragement to boarding school education of all types where the parents desire it for their children.

I have imposed no such conditions and I am anxious to see a progressive development of all types of boarding education for suitable children. Since, however, most of the existing direct grant and independent boarding schools give an education of the grammar school type it is natural that local education authorities should satisfy themselves that the pupils they assist at such schools will be able to profit by that form of education. Also in Administrative Memorandum 225, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, the point was made that at present owing to the shortage of boarding accommodation it was to be expected that greater attention would have to be given to a pupil's extraneous circumstances than will, I hope, later be required.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the shortage of teachers, why it is necessary for a physical training instructor also to be a qualified teacher; and why a qualified physical training instructor is not allowed to conduct physical training classes.

Teachers seeking permanent employment in primary and secondary schools are generally expected, not merely to be experts in some particular subject, but to have taken a course of training in the art of teaching. In certain cases, teachers of physical training who have not followed such courses may be exceptionally regarded as qualified teachers under the terms of Circular 173, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now make a statement regarding the decision of the Secondary School Examinations Council that the new school certificate examination cannot be taken before the age of 16.

The age limit which I propose, on the recommendation of the Secondary School Examinations Council, to fix in connection with the examination for the new General Certificate of Education, is an integral part of an entirely new system designed to test a pupil's capabilities at the relevant time before entry to a university or profession. Difficulties would arise only if university entrance requirements were continued in their present form. In fact, I understand, they are now under review.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the good results achieved by the code of conduct drawn up by the headmaster of the Ada Road school, Birmingham; and if, in view of the recent increase of 30 per cent. in crime by children under 17, he will set up area committees of teachers to advise all heads of schools on the lines of this code.

It is one of the schools' most important functions to foster in their pupils a proper sense of social responsibility and I have read this code with much interest, especially in view of the consideration which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I are now giving to the means of combating the increase in juvenile crime.

asked the Minister of Education what machinery exists for ensuring that classes provided by the Workers' Educational Association for elections or other party propaganda are rendered ineligible for assistance from public funds.

My Department is supplied in advance with particulars of each grant-earning course conducted by the Workers' Educational Association, together with a copy of the syllabus. All courses are open to inspection and His Majesty's Inspectors and the responsible bodies themselves are well aware of the requirement that there should be no party bias or propaganda.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the serious shortage of supplies of utility cloth for the home trade, which is causing considerable difficulty to the making-up section of the industry; and if he will authorise that a definite percentage of utility cloth be directed to the home market for made-up garments.

I am aware that makers-up would like to get more utility cloth but supplies of cloth for the home market are limited by the need to meet export targets. Within the total so available the proportion within the utility scheme is being increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the cuts in electricity supply in Britain, he will cease the export of electrical power plant to the U.S.S.R.

The plant we are now sending to Russia is not of the kind required for the British Electricity Authority programme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average cost f.o.b. of the 1·6 standards of softwood required for a house on the basis of imports from the dollar area this year.

About £65.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards the conclusion of a bilateral trading agreement with the Joint Import-Export Agency of the Anglo-U.S. bizone of Germany.

We reviewed with the Joint Export-Import Agency last May the probable course of trade in 1948 between the sterling area and the bizone and we hope to have further talks in the near future about trade in the first six months of 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now authorise the retention of some pianos for sale in this country, in view of the fact that no pianos have been made for the home market since 1940; that many British people are waiting for new pianos, and that the price fetched by second-hand pianos as a result of the continuation of the present policy is prohibitive.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that foreign grey granite is being imported to this country despite the fact that British granite quarries are fully capable of meeting home demands; and whether, in view of the detrimental effects such imports will have on employment in granite quarrying areas, particularly in Trevor, Caernarvonshire, he will take appropriate action.

Limited imports of grey and other rough granite are being allowed under trade agreements under which we secure essential supplies of raw materials. As I have previously explained in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Monslow) on 18th December last, import licensing restrictions are not intended to provide protection for the home industry.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will amend his orders concerning the parking of cars in the Greater London area so as to take more account of the legitimate interests of street traders many of whom are at present suffering hardship as a result of the rigid application of the present rules.

My right horn. Friend has already provided for the legitimate interests of street traders by exempting those licensed to sell from an authorised pitch. He cannot do more than this without seriously impairing the effectiveness of the "no waiting" orders.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Transport Commission, which has acquired the Bristol Tramway Company's construction works, is precluded under the terms of the Transport Act, 1947, from producing buses for export; that 30 per cent. of the production in the past was for this purpose; and whether he will introduce legislation to remove this restriction on manufacture for export, or increase the quota for the home market in order to prevent an increase in unemployment among this class of workmen.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the limitations placed on the British Transport Commission in this respect, and is not prepared to ask Parliament to alter the provisions so recently incorporated in the Transport Act, 1947. My right hon. Friend is discussing with the Minister of Supply what quota should be allotted to this company for next year.

asked the Minister of Supply when authorisations for iron castings will cease to be issued by his Department; what arrangements will then be made to ensure proper distribution of available supplies; and when and in what form the relevant information will be passed to all concerned.

The order giving effect to the new arrangements for the distribution of iron castings comes into force tomorrow. On specialised items, which constitute the greater and more important part of the iron casting industry, arrangements have been made for a voluntary system of control. The balance of the production, which is mainly handled by jobbing foundries serving local needs, will not be centrally controlled. I announced the new arrangements at a Press conference on 22nd November. The iron foundries have also been advised through the appropriate trade association, and in the trade Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what increases, as a result of recent inquiry and negotiation, have been made in the salaries of primary and secondary teachers in Mauritius.

The Legislative Council of Mauritius has recently been asked to sanction the following revision of salary scales in respect of secondary teachers in Mauritius. Education Officers Grade I: Existing scale £450 to £675; New scale £375 to £840. Education Officers Grade III: Existing scale £225 to £380; now extended to £450. Women Education Officers: Existing scale £375 to £562 10s.; now extended to £660. There has been no change in the salaries of primary teachers since my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 17th March

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why U.S. air bases are to be established in Cyprus.

There is no proposal for the establishment of U.S. air bases in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in order to minimise damage to the houses and contents by the blast from big gun practice firing, the inhabitants of St. Margaret's Bay have to have their windows and doors open; and will he either have the guns removed from the immediate vicinity of the village or give instructions that firing practice should cease during the winter months and so enable the inhabitants of St. Margaret's to enjoy their homes without damage and discomfort.

Recent firing of heavy guns in the St. Margaret's Bay area has been necessary to carry out important trials. These trials have been finished and no further firing of heavy guns is contemplated, but I cannot promise that it will never be necessary. The firing of medium guns must continue at intervals for the training of National Service men. These guns are about one mile from the nearest houses in St. Margaret's Bay and fire only a reduced charge. This firing has no adverse effect on military buildings in the immediate neighbourhood and is unlikely to cause damage or discomfort to the residents or their property.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that, in Caithness, school children under 15 years, suffering from dental pain, are being obliged to wait three days for dental treatment, owing to the school dentist having to visit all schools in Caithness and that school children have had to travel to places, at which the school dentist was engaged, to get relief; and what steps he will take to ensure that local dentists, who have enrolled under the National Health Service, will accept such children for treatment in the absence of the school dentist.

I have seen Press reports about this matter but no representations have been addressed to me by Caithness County Council, who, as education authority, have a duty to arrange for the dental treatment of school children in their area.Dentists in private practice are not obliged to give any priority to school children for treatment under the National Health Service arrangements, but it is open to the education authority, as part of their school health arrangements, to arrange with such dentists so that their services will be available to school children. An additional dentist is taking up practice in the area shortly and this will ease the situation. I am arranging for an officer of my Department to revisit the area.