asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what proportion of the proposed new town Peter Lee is planned to be built on land under which a substantial seam of coal has already been taken; how much workable coal is estimated to be under the remainder; and whether there are any indications of subsidence.

From the outset the need for co-ordinating the programme of coal extraction under the site with surface development has been recognised both by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Fuel and Power, and myself. An expert investigation of the resulting problems including subsidence has been made and the plan of the new town will have to take account of the results of this investigation. In the meantime I am unable to give a reply to the hon. Member's first two questions.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman be more specific than that? Is he not aware that his timid answer will not allay the fears of the local population that many of the subsidence faults of the past will be repeated?

If the hon. Gentleman would tell me on what point he would like me to be more specific I should be glad to be so. I am not aware of any anxiety on the part of the local population.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman see that in my Question I asked what proportion of the proposed new town is planned to be built on land from under which a substantial seam of coal has taken?

I thought it was to be inferred from my answer, which I hope the hon. Gentleman will read, that it is not yet possible to say.

No survey yet?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what are the total expenses over the past year in connection with the proposed new town Peter Lee; and how much is represented by salaries.

The expenditure of the Corporation is subject to general budgetary control and it is not my policy to seek to control their day-to-day activities. The Corporation was set up on 22nd March, 1948, and the information sought by the hon. Member will be available in the annual accounts for the year 1948–49 which, under the provisions of the New Towns Act, must be prepared by the Corporation and laid before each House of Parliament. The total amount issued to date to the Corporation to defray expenditure on capital and revenue account is £54,000. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the salaries of the higher posts which require my prior approval.

Can the right hon. Gentleman, as a matter of interest, explain to the House why the new town has the engaging name of Peter Lee?

In memory of a very great and celebrated person named Peter Lee who functioned in that area.

What did he do?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when he proposes to separate the payments made for development charges by industry and by owners of private property, respectively.

The Central Land Board are analysing the amount of charge collected for particular types of development, and propose to summarise this information quarterly.

Am I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that industries in these categories which are to be summarised will be shown separately? It is important for industry to know how much it is contributing to this total sum.

Yes, that is so.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will give details of the public right of access to the 28,000 acres of the proposed national park area at Fylingdales Moor; and whether the military authorities are empowered to deny such access whenever they are so disposed.

The public will be permanently excluded, in the interests of their own safety, only from the battle area of some 19,300 acres. As stated in the announcement of the decision of the Government, the public will not, on account of the requirements of military training, be excluded from the assembly area of some 8,000 acres.

Does my right hon. Friend's reply mean that the public may go to the assembly area whenever they wish?

There may be occasions when they will be excluded, but normally they will be free to roam about.

Will my right hon. Friend consider now placing in the Library full details of the public rights of access in this area?

I will certainly consider it, but it is inherent in the decision that was made, which is available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take particular care to see that access is available during the holiday season?

Subject to the requirements of training. It is not possible to suspend training during holidays.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what steps he has taken to ensure that the development carried out by the Admiralty in the vicinity of Herstmonceaux Castle preserves the beauty of the castle and park.

My Department has been represented in all discussions relating to the Admiralty use of this castle and park. The local planning authority will see the plans as they are drawn up by the Admiralty architects and my Department will be kept fully informed.

Is it not a fact that there has already been considerable development; have the plans of that development been submitted to the right hon. Gentleman's Department; and could the right hon. Gentleman tell me what development charge has been levied in this case?

The hon. and gallant Member is asking a lot of questions which are not on the Order Paper.

That is what the Minister is there for—to answer questions.

The plans have not been submitted. Although there has been a good deal of representation about them in the Press, they have not yet been submitted.

But the stuff is there.

In any case, it is quite impossible to answer questions about a development charge.

Is the Minister aware that already Herstmonceaux Castle from being a very beautiful spot has become a blot on the landscape, whatever may be said about the plans?

Have any works been begun there before the plans have been approved?

Works are not the subject of this Question.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning on what grounds a proposal of Mr. Scarcliffe of the Old Police House, Old Bolingbroke, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire, to convert his house into a fish friers business was turned down by the Town and Country Planning authorities.

I am unaware of the grounds on which this proposal was refused. The decision was the responsibility of the Spilsby Rural District Council acting on behalf of the County Council and no doubt the reasons were conveyed to Mr. Scarcliffe. He has now given notice that he wishes to appeal to me against the decision.

Will rather more attention be given to him than is given to Hurstmonceux Castle?

He will be given a very fair hearing, which is what we are doing with Hurstmonceux.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that although the matter is not one for his Department the appeal is being made to him?

It is an appeal against the decision of the local authority. That appeal has to be made to me under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what quota of steel was allocated to his Department for use in reconstruction areas of bombed cities during 1949; and the names of the cities to which an allocation is being made, together with the amount allocated in each case.

The total amount of steel allocated to the reconstruction of blitzed cities in 1949 is 5,540 tons. This takes no account of any steel which may be allocated to industrial, residential, or other projects sponsored by other Departments, and in some of the blitzed towns the available building resources are almost wholly engaged on such other projects. The total steel within my control has been divided among various blitzed towns on the basis of their requirements, as notified to me by the local authorities; and in making the division I have had particular regard to the question whether projects are ready to start and labour is likely to be available. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the detailed figures for which my hon. Friend asks.

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will do all within his power to get the allocation of steel for reconstruction areas increased at the earliest possible moment?

I should like to see how local authorities get on with what they have got before I ask for more.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will give details of the national parks which have been taken over by the Government already; what others are contemplated; and whether the control of all such national parks will be under the jurisdiction of national committees as recommended by the Hobhouse Report, so as to serve the best interests of the country as a whole.

No national parks have been taken over by the Government nor is it contemplated by the Hobhouse Report that they should be. As regards the second part of the Question, my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate the terms of the Bill which was promised in the Gracious Speech from the Throne.

In drafting the Bill will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, unless a reasonable proportion of members of local parks committees is appointed by the Minister to the national commission to represent the users who are not resident in the national parks areas there will be very considerable disappointment on all sides of the House and in the country?

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that when the Government say that they are going to introduce such legislation it is an implied promise that they will not sanction development which will be greatly injurious to the parks when they are created?

Apart from any implied promise, I should say that that was a perfectly proper attitude for the Government to adopt.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, before he presents the Bill, that the people of Cumberland and Westmorland, who are expecting to be included in one of these national parks, resent very strongly the idea that they will be bossed by a commission in London? They want control to remain local.

Is it not the case that much land designated for national parks is now in the possession of the Government—for instance, Fylingdales Moor?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, in view of the difficulties which are being experienced in restoring normal civic life in Hull owing to the extensive nature of the damage caused by enemy action, he will relax the regulations governing the reconstruction of war damaged premises, where these have the approval of the town planning authority.

I am not wholly clear what the hon. Member has in mind but I am making inquiries in this matter and will communicate with the hon. Member.

Does not the Minister realise that the City of Hull is at present an outstanding example of Socialist misrule; and is he not prepared to do something to assist the people of Hull to repair the ravages of war?

I must confess that when I read this Question I did not gather that was what the hon. Gentleman had in mind.

Is it not perfectly clear from the Question?

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many men in the North Staffordshire coalfield have been examined since 5th July, 1948, by the Silicosis Medical Board; in how many cases have the men been advised that they are suffering from pneumoconiosis or silicosis or silicotuberculosis, and how many of these have been further advised that they may continue their former work or alternative work; and in what instances had this advice been accepted.

During the period from 5th July, 1948, to 31st December, 1948, 28 miners employed in North Staffordshire were examined by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board under the Industrial Injuries Act, and 23 were found to be suffering from pneumoconiosis. Of these, nine were advised that they could continue in the coalmining industry under approved conditions, and five said they proposed to do so. During the same period, 35 men were examined in connection with claims under the Workmen's Compensation Acts. Of these, 15 were found to be suffering from the disease to a dangerous degree and were suspended.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it is an accepted principle that in all cases where men are advised that they may return to work they will be protected against excessive dust in the mine which contributed to or caused the original pneumoconiosis?

The medical board advise these people that they can return to work under approved conditions, and we are in consultation with the National Coal Board and its mine inspectors to ensure that these approved conditions will be maintained.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many men and women have been examined by the Silicosis Medical Board since 5th July, 1948, in the pottery industry in North Staffordshire; how many of those examined have been found to be suffering from silicosis or silico-tuberculosis; how many of those found suffering have been advised that they may return to their former work or alternative work; and how many have accepted this advice.

During the period from 5th July, 1948, to 31st December, 1948, 489 persons employed in the pottery industry in North Staffordshire were examined, either on a claim to benefit or on an initial or periodical examination, by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board, of whom 40 were found to be suffering from pneumoconiosis. None of them were advised to return to their former work; but nine of them, being skilled men, have said they intend to do so.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it is intended to see that the men have some protection after return to work, particularly in view of the fact that silicosis amongst potters can advance very rapidly, even when such protection is given, and obviously very much more actively when they are not so protected?

None of the men who have pneumoconiosis is advised to return to work. It lies with the medical board whether or not to suspend the men. There are no similar conditions in pottery as in mining, for which we have approved conditions.

If it is impossible for potters and some miners to return to their former occupations, can consideration be given to providing them with alternative employment? Is experience in other parts of the country being made available to the area by means of the setting up of disabled persons schemes?

That is very much in the mind of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour who is concerned with that aspect of the problem.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) how much, to the latest available date, of the sum of £100,000,000 which is to be transferred from the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund to the National Insurance Fund has been transferred; and of that amount how much has been spent;

The whole of the capital assets of the Health and Unemployment Insurance and Contributory Pensions Schemes were transferred by virtue of Section 66 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, to the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund on the 5th July, 1948, and a sum of £100 million was transferred from that Fund to the National Insurance Fund on the same date. Apart from this transfer, no payment has been made out of the assets transferred to either of these Funds.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that all this money, which was the result of the thrifty saving of poor but freedom-loving people, is being poured down the Socialist drain? In view of what the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced yesterday—that the £ is worth only 7s. ld.—what is the use of going on paying benefits with pieces of paper which, under this Government, continually become more and more worthless?

The extent of the assets is due to the full employment policy of the Government being successful.

It is due to Marshall Aid and nothing else.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of the increased hardship caused to old age pensioners by the rise in the cost of living since October, 1946; and if he will give an estimate of the extra sum involved in the increase of the basic pension to 30s. per week.

As regards the first part of the Question it is open to any old age or retirement pensioner whose resources are insufficient for his needs to apply for supplementary assistance under the improved scale of National Assistance introduced in July last. In reply to the second part, the net additional cost of the change including appropriate increases for wives of pensioners would be about £35 million a year now, rising to about £60 million a year in 20 years' time.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, for the convenience of hon. Members and civil servants, he will issue a comprehensive booklet incorporating the leaflets issued by his Department explaining the provisions and regulations of the National Insurance and National Health Acts.

My right hon. Friend has it in mind to issue such booklets about the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries schemes at an appropriate time but it would be premature to do so yet. The question whether there should be a similar publication relating to the Health Service would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

Does not my hon. Friend think that now is the appropriate time, during the initial stages when many problems about National Insurance are arising and hon. Members are continually being asked questions by their constituents? Will he urge upon his right hon. Friend the need for such a booklet?

I appreciate the part about the questions because I get many questions from hon. Members every day. However, we have a very good series of leaflets dealing with these problems. A Question about a publication covering them all is rather premature because certain very important regulations have still to come before the House and, as hon. Members know, the question of hospital deductions is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what new proposals he has for increasing the supply of building labour in Scotland.

It is not our policy at present to take any special steps to increase the size of the building labour force as a whole.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the building force in Scotland is rapidly becoming depleted and that if no measures are taken the housing programme will slow down? Will he give this further consideration?

I am not aware that the facts are as stated by my hon. Friend. The position is—I shall be dealing with this in a little more detail in reply to another Question—that it is the spread-over of the total manpower which is important.

Does the Minister know that we are short of 800 joiners in Scotland?

I am not aware of the fact.

Can my right hon. Friend tell us why the very successful building trades training scheme at Hillington was stopped when we still needed the men?

Yes, Sir. The scheme was stopped because there appeared to be no possibility of absorbing all the men who are being trained. If Mr. Speaker will permit, perhaps such supplementary questions will be put to me after Question No. 29 on which I am dealing more fully with that phase of the situation.

asked the Minister of Labour in which branches of the building industry in Scotland there is a shortage of labour for house building at the present time; and what steps are being taken to obtain additional men.

There have been difficulties about meeting demands for certain craftsmen. These have been due to the large proportion of houses now at the finishing stage rather than to any long term shortage of particular craftsmen. The position has very considerably improved and outstanding demands for craftsmen are only about half what they were three months ago.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the rate of completion of houses is still being held up by lack of men in the finishing trades in Scotland? Would he not consult with the Secretary of State for Scotland about this matter with a view to getting more men, because these houses are urgently required?

We are doing that, but so many houses were pushed forward at one time to a certain point that, when they were ready for the finishing stages by painters, plasterers and so on, they had to wait until those men had completed their jobs. It would have taken a long time to train other plasterers, and it would have been unwise to have done so and then to have found so many surplus men when the job was completed.

Can the Minister deny that there is a serious shortage of plasterers in the West of Scotland, and what steps is he taking to remedy that situation?

We have taken sufficient steps to cut the outstanding vacancies to half of what they were. It would take a year to train plasterers, so we are en deavouring to induce the people in the area to transfer to the first jobs waiting to be completed.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he contemplates that the rate of completion is to be reduced? If so, then it should be pushed up to keep the present flow going.

No, the rate of completion should be increased now because we are getting the labour force into a better balanced position.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider his refusal to make a grant under the Further Education and Training Scheme to a young man, particulars of whom have been sent to him, who has been refused a grant on the grounds that his professional training prior to enlistment was on a practical rather than an academic basis.

No, Sir. As has been explained to the hon. Member, this case cannot be accepted as one in which training for a professional career was prevented or interrupted by the applicant's war service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that ruling is founded simply on the fact that the applicant's training began on a practical basis, and that before leaving school he was intended for this profession? Is he further aware that this rigid and narrow interpretation of the regulations in this and other cases is causing the gravest disquiet?.

I resent the accusation that I have been rigid or narrow in the interpretation of these regulations. I have attempted to interpret them most generously. I have stretched them as far as I can. I would point out to the House that these regulations were laid down under the Coalition Government, and I am trying to apply them fairly. In this case, no matter how I look at it, I cannot bring this young man within the scheme.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give instructions to those who are responsible for administering these grants that it is the wish of Parliament that the emphasis should be on giving the grants wherever possible instead of, as at present, trying to find excuses for not giving them?

The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong. The Department does not look for excuses not to give grants. I am afraid that the position now is that the Department looks for excuses to give the grants. I assure the House that in every case where there is reasonable doubt the matter goes to Lord Reading's Tribunal and that Tribunal decides, as between the applicant and the Ministry, whether the case is within the scheme.

In view of the unsatisfactory attitude of the Department, as exemplified in this and other cases, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that employment exchanges will facilitate the employment in other industries of mineworkers who wish to leave the coal industry when it becomes a closed shop.

If this situation should arise I will consider it.

Surely, the right hon. Gentleman is able to give the straightforward answer of "Yes" to this Question, or else we are entitled to have the greatest suspicion of his intentions?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at his Question he will see that he says:

"When it becomes a closed shop."

asked the Minister of Labour when the building of the factory for disabled workers in Newport will commence; how long it is anticipated before it will be ready for occupation; how many workers it will accommodate; and what work it is proposed to undertake.

Great difficulty has been experienced in finding a suitable site for a Remploy Factory in Newport. A site which appears suitable is now under consideration and in the meantime it is not possible to say more than that it is intended to provide for a minimum of 100 workers.

In view of the fact that there are still 500 or 600 unemployed disabled workers in Newport, will my right hon. Friend make every effort to facilitate the provision of the factory?

Yes, Sir. We are very anxious to provide the factory. We have had difficulty in finding premises. Although we can provide for a minimum of 100 of these people, I cannot say what trades are likely to be employed, but we shall not be satisfied until we can cover them all.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Wells House Hydro, Ilkley, which has been converted into a hostel for textile workers, has been empty for more than a year; and when this valuable accommodation will be put to some useful purpose.

I appreciate the desirability of releasing properties of this kind for their normal purposes at the earliest possible moment. I regret that I am not yet in a position to give a definite reply regarding the Wells House Hydro. This building was prepared for occupation as a hostel for women textile workers in September, 1948. Owing to the decline in the number of European Volunteer Workers available from the Continent the hostel has not yet been utilised. Recruitment from other sources of foreign labour is now under consideration and the hostel will be required to house these workers if our efforts are successful.

Will the Minister say whether the textile trade unions are still preventing German textile workers from coming to this country, and, if they are, and the Government cannot persuade them to alter their attitude, will the right hon. Gentleman hand over this hostel to the local authority so that it can help to relieve the housing situation in Ilkley?

No, Sir. For some time we have been in negotiation with the American authorities in the American zone of Germany, where there is a large number of Volksdeutsche. Once that is concluded, we hope to have some from there. Belgian unemployed textile workers are also the subject of discussion for an agreement between the Belgian Government and ourselves. None of the textile unions has offered objections to these two sources if only we can get access to them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any plan for finding skilled work for the engineers now becoming unemployed owing to the closing of the General Aircraft factory at Feltham.

The employment exchange service has been carefully planned to assist redundant workers to obtain employment suitable to their skill and experience. It is designed to meet, in its normal operation, just such a situation as this.

Yes, but what about the factory? Will the Government give an assurance that they will not encourage the conversion of this factory into mere storage space, which would give no employment for the hundreds of skilled men involved, and have they considered using it for aircraft maintenance?

Those questions ought to be put to another Minister. I can only deal with the service of employment within the Ministry of Labour.

Is the Minister aware that these private fluctuations in employment in the aircraft manufacturing industry in Feltham, Reading and elsewhere will not be obviated until this industry is run in a planned way under public ownership?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this creates a particularly difficult situation in an area affected by the movement of the Leyland Works from Kingston?

The question I was asked was, what steps were being taken to find skilled work for these men? I was saying that we are doing what we can to find appropriate work for them in accordance with their service. These other questions are not for me to answer.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the numbers of disabled persons acting as car attendants in Cardiff; whether he is aware of the conditions of service under which these people are employed; and whether he will take steps to secure minimum requirements for the protection of these people.

I understand that 16 full-time and six part-time attendants are employed in public car parks in Cardiff. They are all disabled men. The terms and conditions of service are governed by a national trade union agreement. Any representations the men may wish to make should be made to their employer either direct or through the trade union concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give details of the results of the survey of wool factory conditions in the West Riding of Yorkshire; what recommendations were made; and in what way these are being implemented.

The special survey which I assume my hon. Friend has in mind was made by factory inspectors last Summer to collect up to date information as to various health and welfare conditions in wool textile mills, and not with a view to making recommendations. The survey of last Summer shows that improvements in health and welfare arrangements, on lines subsequently recommended by a joint committee, had already been made or were actively in hand at a considerable number of mills.

asked the Minister of Labour what plans his Department has for the future of those members of the Polish Resettlement Corps for whom no employment can be found by reason of age or infirmity.

On termination of their approved period of service, unemployed members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are entitled to all the social security benefits that are available to British subjects.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a considerable resentment in the country, which may give rise to undesirable general anti-Polish feeling, against the fact that Polish people who are old and infirm are being kept on at high rates of pay, whereas similar British men who cannot obtain employment are on the comparatively low social insurance benefits?

There is no basis for that view. These men volunteered to join the Polish Resettlement Corps for a maximum period of two years. When they have served their two years they are treated as ordinary people and are discharged from the Corps. If they cannot find employment—and employment is not found for them—they are treated as ordinary British citizens.

Could my right hon. Friend say when the time will have expired when the last of these men to join the Corps will have completed his period of service?

They are coming out of the Polish Resettlement Corps all the time. It is hoped that before the end of this year even these elderly people will have concluded their period in the Corps, and then they will be treated as ordinary British citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when power will be given to local authorities to allow private houses to be built.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will resume the granting of licences for the building of double cottar houses.

The issue of licences for private houses including double cottar houses is at present authorised where the houses are urgently required for miners, agricultural workers, and other special needs. How soon this control can be relaxed in favour of other classes of the community depends on the progress made in completing houses already approved.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that on 21st December he indicated to the Aberdeenshire Housing Committee that it might be possible to raise this ban in April, and can he comment on that?

The position is being watched closely from month to month, and it may be possible, after the two bad building months of February and March have passed, to look at it more favourably.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time now taken to build a permanent traditional house in Scotland.

Owing to the varying circumstances of different housing schemes, some of which have houses on which no work whatever was done for periods in 1947 because of material shortages, no reliable average figure can be given. With the improved supply of materials for houses under construction, however, and the increasing rate of completion there is evidence that the rate of building has improved in recent months.

Is the Minister aware that his right hon. Friend the Minister of Works has stated the time it takes to complete houses in England? Why could the hon. Gentleman not give similar information in regard to Scotland?

As I have stated, the position is rather different in Scotland due to the fact that a larger number of houses were under construction there. Therefore, the comparison could not be made accurately.

Will the hon. Gentleman give the comparative figures between the two?

Answer.

Do not the answers of the hon. Gentleman really mean that an average time could quite well be given but that that average time is very long indeed?

Answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what basis the four firms who are to be allowed to tender for the erection of Swedish timber houses in the seven Highland counties to which they have been allocated were selected; and if he is satisfied that there are no other large Scottish contractors capable of carrying out this work.

These firms, all of whom have the large-scale organisations necessary for this programme, were selected because of their experience of building in the Highlands and Islands, and of building prefabricated timber houses. Since the programme is limited to 1,000 houses, it was thought that a list of four contractors from whom local authorities could obtain competitive offers would suffice.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many large firms who are at present carrying out contract work for local authorities, to the entire satisfaction of those local authorities, are precluded from tendering because of this regulation; and does he not think it more right and proper that in a case of this kind the Government should confine their activities to drawing up an approved list of contractors from whom the local authorities could make their choice?

It was considered necessary to draw up the contracts in this way in the interests of speed. The letting out of contracts would have delayed the operation, which was rather urgent.

Is it not the case that Weir's Housing Corporation, of Coatbridge, in whose factory £200,000 has been spent on plant, can produce a far better and very much cheaper house than one of Swedish timber?

That question does not arise.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answers to this Question, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which types of nontraditional permanent houses it is proposed to continue to authorise in Scotland.

Except for types which make heavy demands on steel and other scarce materials, my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider any proposals for non-traditional houses which local authorities, authorised to proceed with new houses, may put before him providing that they are competitive in price.

Does not my hon. Friend consider that it would be of much greater advantage, from the point of view of production and of reducing price, for the number of types to be limited and the orders to be given on a much larger scale and not in mere driblets from the local authorities?

Will the Joint Under-Secretary take into account also the actual performance in building and completion of houses by the various factory organisations?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenants of Scottish Special Housing Association houses have applied for assistance under the Rent Rebate Scheme; and how many have been assisted.

Up to date, 98 tenants have applied for assistance under the Association rent relief scheme and, of these, 10 have been assisted.

Would the Under-Secretary agree, from the figures given, that the rents of these houses are far too high, judging from the number of people applying for rebates, and, by the few who have been given rebates, that there is something far wrong with the rebates system?

I cannot agree that there is anything wrong with the rebates system. A number of the people turned down were turned down because of the income to the family being above the standard generally accepted.

Is there not a means test in existence?

Of course, there has to be some regard to the total income of the family. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]

Is it not a fact that the Labour Party have condemned the household means test in public for years?

Answer.

Would the hon. Gentleman say whether it is a household means test, or not?

Of course, it is not a household means test.

Have the rents no relation to the cost of these buildings; and is my hon. Friend aware that the Special Housing Association have erected some of the worst modern slums there are in the whole of Scotland?

I would like to take the opportunity of denying the latter part of that question. The Scottish Special Housing Association are building some of the finest houses in Scotland, but, obviously, the cost factor has some relation to the rents charged for these houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that unauthorised fencing has been erected through Alyth Commonty; and what action he proposes to take to have this removed.

I understand that a fence has been erected in the neighbourhood indicated in the Question. Whether this infringes any rights is a question which only a court of law can decide; my right hon. Friend has no authority to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that it was necessary to issue seven corrections to the Press Notice on Research on Agricultural Engineering, issued from St. Andrew's House on 14th January, 1949; that these corrections were not issued until three days after publication of the original document; and what action he proposes to take to improve the procedure of his Department in such matters.

Of the seven corrections referred to six consisted of the substitution of one letter for another in the names of five English members of the Committee which had been inaccurately teleprinted; the seventh was a rectification of a slip in the description of the title of the Committee. The Press notice, the substance of which was unaffected, was issued on Friday, 14th January; the trivial errors were discovered on Saturday, 15th January after its publication in the daily papers; and the correcting slip was issued on the Monday, 17th January primarily for the benefit of the weekly newspapers.

In view of the enormously swollen staffs in Government Departments, are there not enough people to see that these things go out correctly on the first day? Secondly, may I have an answer to the last part of my Question, as to what the right hon. Gentleman proposes to do to improve the procedure in such matters?

There are no steps my right hon. Friend needs to take to improve the procedure. These slips were small and insignificant, as I have indicated—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—and did not affect the substance of the statement. Very largely the slips involved the insertion of a "C" for a "G" in the initials of members of the Committee and I do not think that was a serious matter.

Why did it not go out correctly the first time?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the nature of the duties attached to the position of Commandant of the Scottish Police College.

The Commandant's main duties will be to organise training courses for the various classes of students at the College, to arrange for the services of suitably qualified instructors and lecturers, to supervise accounting and other arrangements, and generally to ensure that the College is an efficient establishment. In organising the College and its training courses he will be working in close association with an Advisory Committee of which the Chairman is H.M. Inspector of Constabulary and the other members are police officers representative of all ranks of the Police Service.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether this post has been given to an Air Vice-Marshal with no experience of police duties and what steps are being taken to instruct this officer in the nature of his duties before he starts instructing the rest of the police force?

My right hon. Friend answered a Question last week in which he set out the reasons why he had appointed this individual. He had been selected by a selection board which was very representative; he set out the nature of its representativeness in his answer last week. He had no reason to decline to appoint this person, who seems to be eminently suited to the duties which have been assigned to him.

Are we to take it that this is a new policy of the Government and may we now expect a Chief Constable to be placed in charge of the R.A.F.? Obviously it is a case of square pegs in round holes because they have got influence.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in view of the fact that this officer has obviously, through his long training, all the qualifications required for this post, this is a very suitable appointment?

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if this appointment was influenced by the fact that the appointment of a military officer in command of the English school has proved such a very great success?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the applicants for the post of commandant of the Scottish police training centre had police experience in England; and how many in Scotland.

Of the applicants eleven had police experience in England, seven had police experience in Scotland, and one had police experience in both countries.

Are we to take it that no policemen in Britain possess the qualifications necessary for such a post and that in future we can expect the higher branches of the Police Force in Scotland, if not in England, to be chosen from the preserves of ex-Service personnel?

It would be quite wrong to make any such assumptions.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction with the fact that none of the people who had previously been considered fit to act as heads of training colleges were given these appointments, and that such actions are very discouraging to the police force?

Could the Joint Under Secretary say what effect he thinks this will have on police recruitment, which at present is disappointingly slow?

None at all, I should think.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that dentists are refusing to relieve patients suffering from toothache, are fixing dates for extractions, and sending patients away until they can enlarge a simple extraction into a general overhaul with an enlarged account for the service; and what steps he will take to impress on dentists the immediate necessity of relieving pain.

Dentists are empowered to give all necessary emergency treatment for the immediate relief of dental pain and I am not aware that they are refusing to do so. If, however, the hon. Member will give me particulars of any cases she has in mind, I shall have inquiries made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is not one complaint but a great many complaints and that they are widespread; that it is a practice of dentists to turn patients away or to relieve pain only if they deposit 7s. 6d. or 10s.; that in one case brought to my notice this week the dentist asked for £3 for the extraction and replacement of a tooth; and will he try to arrange hours in the morning or the evening for such extractions to take place?

I should like to have particulars of the cases which my hon. Friend has quoted. We have under consideration at present the possibility of making certain hours available for this purpose.

Would my hon. Friend be interested to know that I hold a letter from the Operative Cotton Spinners and Twiners Associaton, in my constituency, complaining that one of their members has been treated in precisely the same way; and in view of this will he consult, or ask his right hon. Friend to consult, the Minister of Health with a view to dealing with this matter as soon as possible in both England and Scotland?

And Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for basic salary have been received from doctors in Lanarkshire; how many of these applications have been approved in whole or in part; and how many refused.

Forty-five applications for the fixed annual payment have been made to the Lanarkshire Executive Council. The Council has given its consent in 10 cases and has refused consent in 34 cases; one is under consideration.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the personnel of this committee who are dealing with these cases were entirely and vigorously opposed to the question of a basic salary, and will he further consider putting this matter in the hands of a committee of laymen?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the national and non-party character of the speeches, he will invite Members of Opposition parties to give recruiting speeches on the B.B.C.

Yes, Sir. I have already addressed such an invitation to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, and I am happy to say that he has accepted on behalf of his party. Further details will be announced when the necessary arrangements with the B.B.C. have been completed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in home affairs, as in foreign affairs, it is deeds, not words, which are important; and that if the Government are seeking to carry out a policy of national unity, it is deeds on which they will be judged, and that even vermin are proud to be British?

I thought there was general satisfaction that the Leader of the Opposition was to speak some words on this matter. The hon. Member seems to be deprecating that.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to make an announcement offering financial support for the establishment of a national theatre for Wales.

The proposals of the Government for facilitating the provision of a national theatre in London were made as a result of an approach to them by a body of trustees having at their disposal substantial resources already collected for this purpose and a site upon which to build. Similar evidence of public support elsewhere would be needed before we could consider taking any further action. In any case I do not think it follows that because the State is helping to provide a national theatre in the heart of the Commonwealth, similar assistance should necessarily be given at the taxpayers' expense elsewhere.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I had no desire to annoy him and that the thought of having his own theatre here in London did not disturb me in the slightest? Is he also aware that we shall welcome the implied assurance that if we can raise some money he will do his best to get some more?

I can assure my hon. Friend that he did not annoy me at all, but I would ask him to read very carefully the statement I have made, which was carefully prepared.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is already a repertory theatre in Newport, which needs great help, is providing national plays and is an effort which has already been started?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend to blinded and other 100 per cent. disabled ex-Service men the special concession of cheaper cigarettes and tobacco granted to old age pensioners.

I fear that the objections which have been stated on various previous occasions are still decisive.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman at least consider extending this in the first instance to blinded ex-Service men, who are a comparatively small number?

I am afraid not. If the hon. and gallant Member will read the many explanations given on the matter he will see why.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that there are many aged persons who do not draw the statutory benefit, but are in receipt of a small annuity, who have a fair entitlement to this consideration? Will he bear that in mind?

I am always prepared to bear anything in mind, but as a practical matter of administration this cannot be extended.