asked the Minister of Health when building on the new Basingstoke hospital is likely to begin.

I understand that the Regional Hospital Board is considering the provision of a new hospital in Basingstoke, but progress must depend on its urgency compared with other calls on the available money and building resources.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some £24,000 was voluntarily subscribed in this town for a new hospital, and that there is deep dismay that apparently this money is now absorbed in a general pool, with little prospect of a new hospital.

They would not have been able to build much of a hospital for £24,000, or maintain it after it was built. Money has to be found, and had to be found before the Act, for the maintenance of voluntary hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that patients in Basingstoke must now, however ill, go to Winchester and back in order to be X-rayed; and whether he will therefore replace the obsolete X-ray equipment in Basingstoke.

I understand that a new X-ray set will be delivered to the Basingstoke hospital shortly.

While thanking the Minister for that help, may I ask whether he is aware that meanwhile patients who have to travel the whole way to Winchester can only do so if they consult a consultant; and does he not agree that that state of affairs puts the doctors into an invidious position?

No, I do not think so. It does not seem to me, from the consumption of X-ray film in this country at the present time, that there is any difficulty in anybody getting an X-ray.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Basingstoke hospital service is now responsible to Winchester Group, which is responsible to the region, which in turn is responsible to the South-Western Board; that expenses of operation have been increased by this system as well as by the appointment of officials and that delays due to this centralised control mar the efficiency of the service; and whether he will simplify control.

If the hon. Member will send me evidence of delays and increased expense I will investigate them, but I am not prepared to consider unsubstantiated statements.

I will certainly send the right hon. Gentleman evidence. Is he aware that the chairman of the hospital committee has resigned, and that the general view in Basingstoke is that the town is very much worse off since the Health Service was begun than it ever was before?

I doubt very much whether that is the general view in Basingstoke. At any rate, there are between 10,000 and 11,000 voluntary workers in the hospital system, and this is the first resignation we have had.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if he visits Basingstoke he will be able to confirm that what I have told him is true?

I may even consider addressing a meeting in Basingstoke to find out what they think about it.

asked the Minister of Health whether a decision has yet been reached in regard to Dr. J. Barg's application for registration under the Medical Practitioners and Pharmacists Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 30th June. I understand that this case raises exceptional difficulties, but the General Medical Council are doing all they can.

Does this mean that no decision has been made; and if so, does the Minister not realise that it was on 28th June of last year that the husband of my constituent made application to be registered, and that ever since then no decision has been made? It is 13 months now since he made the application.

I am not administratively responsible for the General Medical Council. I have asked them to go into this matter and they inform me that there are very peculiar legal difficulties connected with the investigation.

Does my right hon. Friend not agree that it is very unfair that, as a result of difficulty in interpreting an Act for which the Minister is responsible, this person has to wait 13 months before he can get any reply?

The difficulties here do not arise out of the Act at all. They arise out of certain other investigations which have to be made into the applicant's history. Of course, it would have been possible to reach a decision much earlier, but it would have been an unfavourable decision.

asked the Minister of Health if he will specially authorise the supply of a hearing aid to Mr. A. T. Wilkinson of 39, New Station Road, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, in view of the fact that he is 90 years of age.

No, Sir. It must be for the hospitals to decide on the facts of the individual case whether priority should be given.

Will my right hon. Friend, whom I know to be generously disposed towards matters of this kind, not give me a promise to look at this again with a view to granting the request in my Question? This man cannot have many more years to live, and it would be a good thing to enable him to spend his last few days with this hearing aid.

I think it would be a mistake for me to try to arrange these priorities. It does not necessarily follow that a very aged person should have an aural aid before a young person whose employment makes it necessary for him to have one.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mrs. Lawson, the matron of the John Groom's Babies' Home, at Cudham Hall, near Sevenoaks, ordered some spectacles on 12th December, 1948, and did not receive them until 2nd July, 1949; that, owing to the delay in delivery, her sight has deteriorated, so that the new spectacles now provided are no longer suitable; and, in view of the responsible position she holds, if he will take immediate steps to provide her with suitable spectacles.

There is a priority scheme which enables opticians to give preference to cases where delay may involve deterioration of sight, and this lady should be advised to consult her optician.

Is the Minister aware that when this lady did get her spectacles, after waiting all these months, her sight had so deteriorated that her eyes became bloodshot; and is this not another example of the complete breakdown of administration? In view of the important work this lady has to do, will the Minister take a personal interest in the matter and get her a pair of suitable spectacles?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will advise his constituent to see the optician; it is within his power to determine priority. In all these cases it is the clinical obligation of the dentist, optician or doctor to decide the urgency of the case.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated annual cost of the clothing which needy patients are allowed to keep on discharge from hospital; what determines need in this connection; and what individual items of clothing are included in the issue.

The exact cost is not known, but it is small, since it arises only in the few cases where an individual requires an item of clothing on discharge which he cannot afford to buy without help. Need is determined by the hospital.

When will the right hon. Gentleman realise that the ever-increasing cost of the Health Services is hastening the collapse of the British economy?

The provision of clothes for patients in hospital was always regarded as an obligation on the public authority. I am distressed to learn that the hon. and gallant Member would turn a patient out naked on the streets rather than provide him with clothes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the estimated cost is greater or less than the costs incurred for the same service while the hospitals were under private enterprise?

There was no estimate of what it cost under the voluntary hospital system. That is part of our difficulties—there were no effective records kept in any hospital.

Nonsense.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Blyth Borough Council in granting four building licences to the Blyth Co-operative Society out of the 24 allotted to that council for the benefit of owner-occupiers; and, in view of the fact that this arrangement does not conform with the ratio laid down by him, what steps he is prepared to take in this matter.

I understand that, while action on the lines mentioned has been considered by the town council, licences have not in fact been issued. The attention of the council has been drawn to the terms of the circular giving local authorities discretion to issue licences, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Does the Minister agree that the circular he refers to—I think Circular 108—implies that these houses should be let to owner-occupiers, whereas if licences were granted to the Co-operative Society they would be let to tenants and would become tied cottages of the Co-operative Society?

I do not think that they would become tied cottages. However, I will make further investigation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the resolution of the Bognor Regis Urban District Council, of which he has been sent a copy, requesting an increase in the number of private enterprise licence permits; and what action he proposes to take in regard thereto.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the latter part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Haire) on 23rd June.

Can the Minister tell me why he replied to that hon. Member with regard to a resolution in connection with my own constituency; and will he say what good it is leaving building materials and labour unemployed in these areas when people are wanting houses, but when they cannot build them because the Minister will not allow permits to be granted?

I have no evidence that labour and materials are unemployed in these areas. If the hon. Gentleman will send me particulars I will have the matter investigated.

It is in the resolution.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason he refuses to allow a local authority, which pays a rate subsidy to a new town corporation in respect of accommodation provided for residents transferred from the area of the authority, the power to control the re-letting of the premises thereby vacated.

I have no power to authorise a local authority to control the lettings of privately owned houses which become vacant.

Can my right hon. Friend say in what way the overcrowded boroughs can obtain advantage from the New Towns Act if they are not able to control the letting of premises released by people who go to live in the new towns?

I think that when the lettings in new towns occur to any extent it will be possible to make some arrangements; but, as my hon. Friend knows, it is desired that the new towns vacancies should be associated with employment in the new towns, too.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the demand for rustic facing bricks for the building of power stations, which receives priority, is disorganising the building programme of some local authority housing estates, where the use of these bricks has been recommended by his Department; and if he will take steps to remedy this matter.

My Department will afford help to any local authority which is having these difficulties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the lay-out of the estate of which he has had particulars, is entirely spoilt by the lack of these facing bricks, and that much time and trouble has been spent in co-operation with his Department in trying to get a really attractive housing estate? Surely that matter should have been considered beforehand? This question of power stations has only recently arisen.

It does not necessarily follow that the kind of facing bricks a particular architect wants ought to be supplied or is in production. It is much wiser to find out what is the supply position before specifying a brick which may not he there.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the approximate time now taken between registration, medical examination and call up of National Service men.

The interval between registration and medical examination varies between about two and 15 weeks, the oldest men being examined first so that all men whose cases present no special features may be called up at approximately the same age. The exact date of call-up depends upon a number of factors, but in a straightforward case the man may expect to receive his enlistment notice between four and six weeks after completion of medical examination. He will be required to report for duty about 14 days after receiving the notice. Full information on this and other matters affecting call-up for National Service is given in a leaflet (N.L.2) issued to every man on registration, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the article in the journal of the General and Municipal Workers Union which has been sent to him, condemning the unjustified absenteeism being stimulated by sick-pay schemes; and whether he will appoint a departmental committee to investigate this subject throughout industry.

The terms and conditions of employment relating to wages, including conditions as regards payments during sickness absence, are, generally speaking, a matter for negotiation between representatives of employers and workers, and I do not think it would be appropriate for me to appoint a departmental committee to investigate their merits or demerits.

But the Parliamentary Secretary must be perfectly aware that this evil is spreading throughout the country and is admitted by trade union leaders, labour councils, local authorities and the public? Is the Ministry content to let it go on when all sections of the community realise that this growing malingering is a thing which ought to be stopped?

No, Sir, but I think all sides of the House should welcome any statements by responsible officials of the trade unions condemning this sort of development. On the other hand, I have no doubt that every citizen should have the same freedom as Members of Parliament, and will be as little inclined to malinger as hon. Members.

On a point of Order. Is it in Order to ask questions in reference to a journal which is circulated for private and confidential purposes?

Straightforward questions are not out of Order, but imputations and insinuations are.

Is it not right, when these journals let the cat out of the bag, that the cat should be shown to the public?

Is not this entirely exaggerated? Have not many of these schemes been operated for many years with the general tendency being that workers have never taken advantage of them?

I think that both sides of industry can be relied upon to do the sensible thing. I think that by and large the workers are as little inclined to malinger as Members of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the figures of registered unemployed at Goole and Knottingley, Yorkshire, at the latest available date and at the equivalent date in 1938.

At 13th June, 1949, 153 at Goole and 59 at Knottingley. At 13th June, 1938, 1,006 at Goole and 614 at Knottingley.

Is my hon. Friend aware that these excellent results of the Government's policy of full employment are stigmatised by the local Conservatives as the poisoned fruits of the Socialist Party?

I am afraid that we must draw our own conclusions; I have given the facts.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that at Llangybi Primary School, Caernarvonshire, four classes are taught and the school dinner is cooked in the same room; that a proper school kitchen has been promised the school for years; that, although the local education authority is ready to move, consent is still being withheld by his Department; and if he will take action.

One of the two classes—not four classes—in this primary school of 38 pupils is taught at one end of the main room which is 40 feet long. The other end serves as dining room and kitchen. The authority submitted a proposal for a new canteen on 1st March, 1948, but have not yet submitted details of the site which has to be bought; I understand, however, that they will shortly be able to do so. Building will go forward as soon as possible, but there are several other canteens in the authority's area which are more urgently needed and must take precedence over this one.

asked the Minister of Education on what date he approved the London School Plan.

The London School Plan has not yet been approved.

Does that mean that the steps which the London County Council are taking to build 27 schools for 2,000 pupils each are being taken without the approval of the Minister?

No. It means that comments have been made on the London School Plan, and that although it has not yet been approved there is no disapproval of the general principles on which they are going to work.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the development by the London County Council of the Wandsworth County School for Boys, Sutherland Grove, S.W.18, from 500 pupils to 2,000 pupils involves building over the playing fields; whether this has his approval; and what alternative playing-field accommodation is to be provided.

I am aware of this proposal. The usual three months' statutory notice of it was published on 24th May, and I can make no decision about it until the end of the period during which objections may be submitted.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the destruction of the playing-fields of this school when he is considering whether or not to approve the proposal?

I have to take into account all things which are related to it when coming to a decision.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the steps being taken by the London County Council to increase Mayfield Girls' School, Putney, from 500 pupils to 2,000 pupils; whether this project has been approved by him; and whether any playing-field accommodation will be left when the new school is completed.

I approved this proposal in principle in June, 1948, and in April, 1949, I confirmed a compulsory purchase order made by the London County Council for the acquisition of land to extend the site of the school. The enlarged site of approximately nine acres will, with suitable planning, provide reasonably adequate playgrounds, but not a playing-field, for the school.

Did the right hon. Gentleman ask the London County Council to try to find alternative sites before they agreed to the destruction of the present accommodation?

The usual procedure was followed; statutory notices were exhibited and there was no opposition or objection.

asked the Minister of Education how many applications he received from students on completion of their training for permits to teach in non-profit-making independent schools during the year ended 31st March, 1949; how many were granted; and what was the average period between the application and the grant of the permit.

During the year ended 31st March, 1949, I received 120 applications on behalf of grant-aided students in training colleges and university departments of education for permission to accept posts in other than State-aided schools. Most of these were non-grant-earning efficient secondary schools, but I do not know how many were nonprofit-making; 101 of the applications were granted and 19 were refused. The average period between receipt of the application and notification of the decision was about one month.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a presumption in training establishments that it is very difficult to get a permit, and that it takes a long time? Is he aware that, in consequence, people are not applying for these permits, and can he make the acquiescence of his Department in granting permits more freely more widely known?

My answer disposes of the suggestion that applications are not looked upon with sympathy.

As a general rule, are not grant-aided students appointed to grant-aided and grant-maintained schools?

Generally, that is the case; in the vast majority of cases it works out that way.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of pupils on the roll in each of the comprehensive secondary schools now open; and the estimated enrolment of any such school due to open in September, 1949.

As the answer to the first part of the Question contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. No such school is expected to open next September.

Can my right hon. Friend at any rate say what the average enrolment of the new schools to be opened this year will be?

The hon. Member had better read my answer.

In view of the importance of comprehensive schools, will my right hon. Friend give the number of such schools and the county administrative areas in which they are located?

My answer relates to certain schools in certain areas.

asked the Minister for Education whether he has any statement to make as to the position of the claim by teachers in Kingston, Surbiton and district for London Area Allowance, in view of the dissolution of the Local Government Boundary Commission.

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to his previous Question on 7th April last, the matter is one for the Burnham Committee to consider in the first instance, and any representations by the teachers should be made through their Association to the Teachers' Panel of that Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the time he made his previous statement, on 29th November, 1948, that this matter would be considered when the Local Government Boundary Commission reported, that seemed like a reasonable answer? In view of the change in Government policy with respect to the Boundary Commission will he not stir up the sleeping beauties of the Burnham Committee?

I do not know who the sleeping beauties of the Burnham Committe are, so I cannot very well stir them up, but I must point out that I never suggested that when the Commission reported this matter would be considered. I said that when their Report was implemented it would be considered, which was the decision of the Burnham Committee following representations made by Lord Soulbury.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that that decision must, in the nature of things, be out of date now in view of the Government's decision about the Boundary Commission? Is he prepared to take no action?

That is all the more reason why those who submitted it to the Committee should re-submit it.

asked the Minister of Education what increase has been made this year in the number of staff inspectors; and how many of the new appointments are part-time.

The number of staff inspectors has not increased this year. Taking all grades of the inspectorate together there has been an increase of 21, all full-time, since the beginning of the year. In addition, 50 inspectors are now employed on a daily basis for the inspection of independent schools.

Does my right hon. Friend contemplate any addition to the number of staff inspectors to deal with the encouragement and development of specific subjects?

Not at the moment.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities insist upon candidates for appointment as teachers being examined by radiography.

Some local education authorities require candidates for appointment as teachers to undergo a medical examination before appointment, but I do not know how many require an examination by radiography.

Would my right hon. Friend look into the matter again? In view of the importance of preventing the spread of disease, would he consider publishing a list of the authorities which do not insist upon radiography, so that candidates for appointment will know the advantage which they are missing and parents will know the danger to which children are being exposed?

Most of the candidates submit themselves for medical examination. I am more concerned about mass radiography, if it is to be applied, being applied to teachers after they have done some teaching rather than before they have actually done any.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total sum paid to United Kingdom farmers in the past 12 months as grants for ploughing up grassland; and how much of this was in respect of permanent grassland of at least seven years standing.

The total of grants for ploughing up grassland paid to United Kingdom farmers during the 12 months ending 30th June, 1949, is £5,975,000. I regret that I have no separate record of the amount paid in respect of grassland of at least seven years' standing.

Is it not necessary to call for this information before deciding to abandon the ploughing up subsidy altogether?

The acreage involved is 1,508,000. To dissect these figures in order to get the information which the hon. Gentleman requires would be a task disproportionate to the value of the reply.

Has the right hon. Gentleman no idea of the effect of the Government's policy?

Yes, we have.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, in view of the increase in price of skinned rabbits, his executive committees are destroying rabbits by gassing; and what instructions he has issued.

The maximum reduction of the rabbit population is essential in the interests of food production. Gassing is a most effective method of destruction, and county agricultural executive committees have been instructed to employ this method whenever practicable, and especially after trapping, snaring or ferreting, so as to destroy any potential breeding stock which may remain.

Would it not be better to use gas where trapping and snaring are not possible?

It is probably used in both cases.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that gassing is not always the most effective way of destroying rabbits? If the soil is porous, or has tree roots in it, the gas escapes.

I am satisfied from reports from agricultural executive committees that gassing is the best known means of destroying rabbits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give figures showing the number of poultry in Britain before the war, at the end of the war, and at present.

The numbers of poultry on agricultural holdings exceeding one acre in Great Britain were approximately 68 million in June, 1939, 44½ million in June, 1945, and 61 million in June, 1948. Corresponding figures for June, 1949, will not be available until towards the end of August, but I expect a further increase over June, 1948.

Is my right hon. Friend able to procure at home and abroad adequate feedingstuffs for poultry and other livestock?

There have been increases over the past 12 months, which are indicated in the growth of the number of poultry.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that cocks and hens were especially more prosperous in the years of Tory misrule than under this beneficent administration?

I hesitate to believe that that was even a remote possibility.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that county agricultural executive committees are asking farmers to increase the wheat acreage by 50 per cent. in the next two years; and if he is satisfied that this can be done with due regard to the rules of good husbandry.

The target wheat acreage for England and Wales in 1951 is 12½ per cent. higher than for this year. The percentage increase for many individual counties is greater than that, but for no English county is it as high as 50 per cent. County agricultural executive committees decide what increase can reasonably be asked of any individual farmer, and naturally do so with due regard to the rules of good husbandry.

May I show the Minister the letter that I and other farmers have received from the Chairman of my County Agricultural Executive Committee? Further, is he satisfied that the extra three-quarters of a million acres of wheat which he has asked the farmers to grow, in addition to barley and other coarse grains, can be done without outraging the fertility of our soil?

The advice of all the technicians on the subject is that the acreage both for wheat and coarse grains can be obtained without vitiating the rules of good husbandry.

In view of the increasing supplies of grain throughout the whole world and the prospects of large importations of grain into this country from many places not only in the dollar area, ought not immediate consideration to be given to a revision of the agricultural programme in order that we can concentrate more on the production of milk products and livestock?

No, Sir, because there is no guarantee that this country can import from one source or another the amount of feedingstuffs that will be necessary once our livestock have increased to the numbers we desire. Indeed, the only certainty there is about feedingstuffs is the certainty of those that we grow ourselves, while importing as much feeding-stuffs as we can afford from any source where they happen to be available.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he can get this extra acreage of wheat without the use of marginal or difficult land?

We believe so.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the amount of small savings and withdrawals, respectively, for the past eight weeks.

£118,806,000 new savings and £136,730,000 withdrawals.

Is it not obvious that this continued "de-saving" is due to the high rate of taxation in this country? How can we possibly expect people to save when 8s. in every £ of the National income is taken in taxes?

Is it not a fact that these withdrawals are due to people going on holiday at this time of the year?

Obviously, that has a great deal to do with it.

Have withdrawals of small savings reached such a state that they are causing anxiety to the Treasury?

No. We realise that at this time of the year withdrawals are likely to be quite large.

Was that true last year?

Last year the deficit between savings and withdrawals was something over £9 million.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered the representations made to him on the subject of relief from Purchase Tax of racing cars manufactured in this country and required for experimental purposes; and whether, in view of the fact that similar racing cars of foreign manufacture are operated in this country without payment of Purchase Tax, he will extend a similar concession to those manufactured in this country.

The question is under consideration with the interests concerned.