asked the Minister of Health what instructions have been given to the main Medical Practices Committee in London with regard to taking into account recommendations made by the local medical practices committees for filling vacancies for appointments in their locality; and whether he is aware that recently a local medical practices committee took considerable trouble in selecting a suitable candidate for a post, but that the main Medical Practices Committee informed them, without giving any reason, that another applicant was being appointed.

Section 34 (3) of the National Health Service Act, 1946, governs the position. In the case referred to, the reasons for the Committee's action have been explained to the Chairman of the Executive Council. The doctor whose application was refused did not exercise his right of appeal.

asked the Minister of Health, in how many institutions in the Lancashire County Council area are mental defectives and aged persons maintained in the same buildings; what are the names of the institutions and the numbers of the inmates; and what immediate steps are being taken to bring this arrangement to an end.

Inquiries are being made and I will communicate further with the hon. Member when they have been completed.

asked the Minister of Health, to what extent Group Hospital Management Committees are limited in the creation of various posts on the domestic staffs of the hospitals, such as out-patients' amenities officers and similar extra positions outside the recognised ordinary established posts.

Subject to the urgent need for economy in staff appointments and a restriction on the numbers of senior officers, Hospital Management Committees are free to plan their own establishments within the approved grades and to determine the functions and titles of the officers appointed in those grades.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider making provision in the next Finance Bill for a special Income Tax relief to married men whose wives are permanent invalids either through paralysis or similar serious conditions over a number of years occasioning heavy additional expenditure for the provision of extra domestic help.

Relief in respect of a housekeeper can be claimed now if the wife is totally incapacitated and the housekeeper is employed to take care of young children.

asked the Minister of Food, whether, now that sugar is no longer available in lieu of jam, he will see his way to make some additional issue of sugar.

This matter is having my close attention, and I shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Works the number of workpeople in their different categories now employed by the contractors engaged on work at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell; what are the rates of pay; what number of days a week are worked; and what are the overtime rates.

The number of workpeople employed by contractors at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell is constantly changing, but there are at present about 700 building craftsmen, 800 general labourers, 270 electrical tradesmen, 280 mechanical tradesmen, and 500 miscellaneous workers. Their rates of pay (including overtime rates) are the standard rates agreed by the industry, and they normally work five-and-a-half days a week.

asked the Minister of Works, how many omnibuses are now employed in conveying workers to and from the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell; what is the weekly mileage; and what are the rates being paid to the owners of the buses and to the drivers.

Twenty-one double-decker buses and 50 single-decker coaches are at present employed in conveying constructional workers to and from the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell, running an average of 240 miles per vehicle per week. The owners are paid £6 10s. 0d. per day for a double-decker bus, and either £4 or £4 10s. 0d. for a single-decker coach according to capacity. The drivers are paid by the owners.

asked the Minister of Works whether the progress of the construction work at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell is in accordance with the estimated schedule; whether any indication can be given as to the length of time these numbers of workers, conveyed from all over the district, are likely to continue to be employed on this site; and how many different contractors are engaged on this work.

The progress of construction at the Atomic Energy Establishment at Harwell is, in general, in accordance with the estimated schedule. It is not yet praticable to say how long the workers, employed by 53 contractors, will be retained for this site.

asked the Postmaster-General why television licences are not issued by sub-post offices.

In areas where B.B.C. television broadcasts can normally be received, television licences are now sold at all post offices (including sub-post offices) which sell sound broadcast receiving licences.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the Midland television transmitter is powerful enough to serve the Derby area.

The B.B.C. expects that Derby will be within the service area of the Midland television transmitter at Sutton Coldfield.