asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost of the reductions in the doctors' lists announced in his circular dated 11th January, 1951; and how much he estimates will be saved as a result of these reductions.

It is too soon for me to have any reliable estimate of either figure.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the population and numbers of doctors resident in Bath, Blackpool, Southend-on-Sea, Salford, Oldham, Leicester, Eastbourne, Hastings, Sunderland, Southport and Leeds, respectively.

The population and number of doctors resident in these areas are, according to the latest available figures, as follows:—

		Population	Doctors*
		(30th June, 1950).	(1st January, 1951).
Bath	…	77,040	40
Blackpool	…	149,600	65
Southend-on-Sea	…	151,400	60
Salford	…	177,700	66
Oldham	…	119,500	43
Leicester	…	287,200	120
Eastbourne	…	58,040	38
Hastings	…	65,670	44
Sunderland	…	178,100	58
Southport	…	85,490	47
Leeds	…	509,400	238
*Note.—These figures relate only to those doctors undertaking general medical services under the National Health Service and include assistants where known.

asked the Minister of Health at what price he is offering to the local authorities respectively concerned, the smallpox hospital at Chester and the Haddon Isolation Hospital at Bakewell.

The figures are £1 and £7,500 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions have been given to local registrars regarding the engaging of fit old age pensioners for work in connection with the forthcoming census.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) on 22nd February.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give further consideration to allowing able-bodied men in Class Z Reserve who are not likely to be called up to train as auxiliary firemen.

Any Class Z or equivalent reservist over the age of 40 and, with certain exceptions, those between the ages of 30 and 40 may be accepted for enrolment in the Auxiliary Fire Service.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that an Essex agricultural worker, of whose name and address he has been informed, having been rejected for service in the Royal Navy on the ground that a marked impediment in his speech would prevent him from passing on orders and would tend to retard his advancement, has failed to secure an assisted passage to Australia on the ground that he is lit for National Service; in what respects the requirements in regard to passing on orders are less stringent in the other Services than in the Royal Navy; and if he will re-examine sympathetically, and seek to clarify, this man's position, with a view to enabling him either to serve in the Royal Navy, in accordance with his original ambition, or to obtain an assisted passage to Australia.

Some five years ago this man was rejected when he volunteered for regular service in the Navy. Towards the end of last year he was found fit for call-up for National Service. I see nothing inconsistent in the fact that a man not acceptable for long-term service as a Regular in the Navy, should nevertheless be acceptable as a National Service Service man in some other branch of the Armed Forces. It is not possible to grant an assisted passage to Australia to a man whose call-up is deferred only so long as he remains employed in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Labour under what circumstances Mr. A. W. Barber, 13, Ennerdale Avenue, Stanmore, was placed in grade I although he was still suffering from acute nephritis.

I have arranged for a further medical examination of Mr. Barber.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that engineers and ship repairers on Merseyside have adopted a ban on overtime pending a decision on wage increase; that an early strike is likely if settlement is not made soon; and what action he is taking.

I regret that although discussions have been proceeding locally for some time no settlement has so far been reached. My officers are in close touch with the parties but adequate machinery exists in the industry to deal with any difficulties. It is the responsibility of both sides to see that this joint machinery is fully and properly used.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the dispute at Messrs. Taggs Limited, Newcastle-under-Lyme, where 60 foundrymen have been locked out for refusing to produce castings for Messrs. Craven Brothers of Stockport; and what steps he proposes to take to see these men are permitted to return to work.

My information is that the stoppage of work at Messrs. Taggs Limited began on 13th February when the foundrymen involved refused to work on castings for Messrs. Craven Brothers. The company gave the men notice on 15th February that unless they reported for work on or before 19th February other arrangements would be made to carry on their work by mechanised means and with unskilled labour. I understand the men had not returned to work by that date and that the firm have made other arrangements about getting the work done. I am making further inquiries into the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour how many porters on the staff of British Railways have become unemployed in the last three months.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour why he has appointed Lord Crook as Chairman of the National Dock Labour Board.

Because I think he was the most suitable person available for the post.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total swill collections for 1950 as compared with those for 1943.

Organised collections of swill by local authorities and by private firms operating concentrator plants amounted to 363,980 tons in 1950 compared with 402,387 tons in 1943. I have no figures for the quantities collected by farmers, domestic pig keepers and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the total estimated production of cereals, vegetables and fruit in this country in 1939 and 1950, respectively, divided into any special categories available; and what steps are being taken to augment the supply of each.

The answer to the first part of the Question is given in the table below, but my hon. Friend will realise that comparisons between any two single years, particularly for horticultural crops, may be misleading, owing to the effects of the weather. Many of the resources of my Department are directed towards increasing the production of cereals, good quality soft fruit (especially strawberries) and good quality dessert apples and pears. Only the maintenance of the 1947 acreage of vegetables is envisaged, and the chief need is to improve the marketable quality of the product and to reduce costs of production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to introduce the Bill indicated in the Gracious Speech to make available safeguards and powers to regulate production, distribution and consumption, and to control prices.

I cannot at present say.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to remove the hardship caused to former servants of the Government of undivided India in respect of pensions from the Government of India by reason of that Government's decision that such pensions should be liable to Indian income tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and gallant Member for New Forest (Colonial Crosthwaite-Eyre) on Tuesday, 13th March, 1951.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far canvassers' claims for the Register of Electors for 1951 have been met; and how long it will be before any outstanding claims are paid.

The responsibility for the payment of a canvasser's claim in connection with the preparation of the register of electors rests with the individual registration officer, who has the power under section 43 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949, to call upon his local authority to provide the necessary funds. I regret that I am, therefore, unable to give any information on the progress of the settlement of these claims.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the purchasing power of the £ has now deteriorated since 1938.

The £ now has about 51 per cent. of its purchasing power in 1938.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to set up a Purchase Tax advisory council to study the effect of Purchase Tax on the pattern of trade, to receive facts and make recommendations.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given today to the Question by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) which related to a rather similar proposal.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the attempt which is being made to use the headmasters of grammar schools for the dissemination of political propaganda, as illustrated by the leaflet which the Member for Halifax has sent to him; and what action he is taking in the matter.

The leaflet in question was an invitation to teachers to join a teachers' political association. I am inflexibly opposed to any attempt by any party to use teachers for the dissemination of political propaganda in any school, but I cannot object on that ground to the sending of such a leaflet as this to a teacher.

asked the Minister of Education when he experts to be able to announce that the period of two years' college training for intending qualified teachers will be raised to three years.

I cannot say. My more immediate concern is to see that there are enough teachers for the greatly increased number of children who will be coming into the schools over the next few years.

asked the Minister of Education how many men and how many women teachers were posted to primary schools during 1949 and 1950, respectively; and how many additional teachers he estimates will be required for these schools in each of the years 1951, 1952 and 1953.

About 9,250 men and 9,750 women teachers were appointed to maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools in 1949. In 1950 the comparable figures were 7,750 and 10,750. After allowing for wastage, this means that the total teaching strength in these schools increased from 196,000 in January, 1948, to 209,000 in January, 1950. This total would need to be increased by 6,000 in 1951, 7,000 in 1952 and 5,000 in 1953, if the staffing ratios of 1950 were to be maintained. This need arises from the increasing numbers of children in the primary schools, but it is not possible to give separate figures for appointments to these schools.

asked the Minister of Education what has been the result of his review of the compensation offered for damages to the Salemn Sunday School, Burley, Wharfedale; and if he is aware that the costs of renovation has gone up since February, 1950, when the building was derequisitioned.

I understand that this matter has now been settled to the satisfaction of those responsible for the school.

asked the Minister of Education why there is a time lag of five months between the announcement of the Burnham Committee on higher rates of pay for school teachers on 1st November, 1950, and the coming into effect of the rates on 1st April, 1951.

The salary scales now current continue to apply until 31st March, 1951, in accordance with the agreement reached by the Burnham Committee in 1948. The announcement of last November to which the hon. Member refers was a summary by the Committee of its proposals for new salary scales to apply from 1st April, 1951. At that time these proposals had not been approved by the bodies of local authorities and teachers represented on the Committee for formal submission to me, but they have now been so submitted and have been approved by me to come into force from 1st April.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to ensure that children resident on canal boats receive an efficient, full-time education.

There are two schools in Middlesex which cater specially for the education of canal boat children. In addition, I have asked the Birmingham local education authority to set up a boarding hostel for canal boat children so that they can attend ordinary day schools. I hope that this hostel will be ready in the autumn and that the canal boatmen will co-operate in making this experiment a success.

asked the Minister of Education how many children were being taught in temporary hired premises in the country on 30th September, 1950, or at some other equivalent date during the fourth quarter of that year.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many children were admitted to primary schools in England and Wales during 1949 and 1950, respectively; and how many he anticipates will be admitted during each of the years 1951, 1952 and 1953.

It is estimated that the number of children admitted to maintained primary schools amounted to 641,000 in 1949, and about 586,000 in 1950. The comparable figures for 1951, 1952 and 1953, assuming the number of under fives remains constant at the 1950 figure, are expected to be 710,000, 780,000 and 700,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have provided grants for distinctive clothing.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many school dentists are employed for the schools under his jurisdiction in the County of Norfolk, either on a part-time or a full-time basis.

There are five school dental officers, all full-time, in the employment of the Norfolk County Council.

asked the Minister of Education whether he can now state when the official report of the investigation of the Foundation for Educational Research into punishments and rewards of children in school will be made available, in view of the fact that the first draft of the Report was completed in May, 1950.

I regret that I cannot add anything to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 19th October last.

asked the Minister of Education to state the total amount of Exchequer grants towards educational services in Wales in the financial year 1949–50 and in the current financial year.

The total grants estimated to be payable to local education authorities in Wales (including Monmouthshire) on the basis of the pre-audit returns for 1949–50 amount to £11,799,000, and for 1950–51, on the basis of the revised estimates of authorities, to £12,422,000. Direct grants are made by my Department to a number of schools, colleges, voluntary organisations, minor local authorities and bodies of managers and governors in Wales, but it would entail an unjustifiable expenditure of time and labour to attempt to extract the figures for Wales from the total of these grants for England and Wales as a whole. In addition, Wales benefits from the direct grants made by my Department in aid of non-local services such as educational research and other special educational services.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will take steps to secure the maximum integration of the economic and industrial resources of the Commonwealth at the earliest possible moment.

As the hon. Member is aware, it rests with each Member of the Commonwealth to decide its economic and financial policy and the use of its resources. There is, I can assure the hon. Member, already full co-operation between the Members of the Commonwealth on all economic questions. It is the policy of the United Kingdom Government to maintain and, where necessary, to improve this.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he is taking to employ and train Swazis in the development of Swaziland, especially on schemes of the Colonial Development Corporation.

The Swazi are constantly encouraged to train and fit themselves for increasingly responsible posts. There are facilities locally for general and technical education and the Government provides bursaries for further education outside the Territory. Recent Government appointments include an African assistant secretary and eight African development officers. Other appointments, for example, to the medical and education services will be made as soon as qualified candidates are available.The Colonial Development Corporation pursues a similar policy of associating the Swazi with its work and arrangements have been made for training its employees at the Government Trades School.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why he has not so far arranged with the Governments of Pakistan and Ceylon for the reciprocal non-theatrical distribution of Government-sponsored documentary films, of a similar character to those in effect with other Dominions; and when he proposes to do so.

We are at any time ready to enter into such arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations in view of the fact that Major A. O. Quigley has been awaiting final sanction of full pension from Pakistan since May, 1948, what further representations His Majesty's Government propose to make to protect the interests of this British subject.

This pension has to be sanctioned by the Pakistan Government who are awaiting verification from the Government of India of a period of Major Quigley's service. Our High Commissioners in India and Pakistan are continuing to press the Governments of India and Pakistan for an early settlement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the shortage of imported pulp, he will renew more urgently his appeals for the salvage of waste paper.

There has already been an encouraging response on the part of local authorities to the appeal which I launched in December last. I am, however, considering steps to draw the attention of the few urban districts which are still not co-operating fully to the urgent need for the resumption and expansion of their collections. When we are satisfied with the numbers of local authorities collecting and the efficiency of the services, I shall consider a direct appeal to the general public.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of Abb wool used for fishermen's jerseys; and what steps he is taking to overcome it.

No. I am informed that there is no shortage of Abb wool yarns and that supplies are available for immediate delivery from the spinners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the International Materials Conference is specifically examining wood and wood-pulp supplies for the paper industry; and when it is anticipated that this conference will be in a position to make recommendations which may lead to greater supplies of pulp being available for British paper-makers.

The establishment of a Commodity Committee for pulp and paper is still under consideration in Washington, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to find markets for herring in Eastern Europe.

Provision for the export of herring is included in our trade agreements with Poland and with Finland. In these and other countries the negotiation of contracts rests with the Herring Industry Board. His Majesty's Government will continue to do all they can to support them in their efforts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of persons convicted for being in charge of motor vehicles whilst under the influence of alcoholic liquor for each year since 1945; what was the number of drivers who had their licence suspended following such conviction; and in how many cases were such licences restored before the full period of suspension had operated.

The numbers of charges of driving under the influence of drink or drugs for which convictions were recorded in each of the years 1946–1949, and the numbers of these cases in which the driving licence was suspended, are as follows:

	1946	1947	1948	1949
Number of charges for which convictions were recorded	1,635	1,656	1,423	1,662
Number of cases in which the driving licence was suspended	1,266	1,549	1,302	1,566

Figures for these offences were not compiled in 1945, and the figures for 1950 are not yet available. I regret that information about the numbers of licences restored before the full period of suspension had expired is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the strength of the Civil Defence Corps and Auxiliary Fire Service on 28th February, 1951; and how many recruits joined the Corps and the Auxiliary Fire Service, respectively, during the month of February.

In England and Wales during February 12,000 recruits joined the Civil Defence Corps, bringing the strength at the end of the month to 122,200; and 650 recruits joined the Auxiliary Fire Service, bringing the strength at the end of the month to 9,400.The detailed figures for the Civil Defence Corps are given below:

Region	Increase during February, 1951	Total Strength at 28th February, 1951	Strength per thousand of population
Eastern	1,555	13,715	4·53
Southern	1,446	11,426	4·33
South-Western	1,393	11,802	3·93
South-Eastern	906	9,930	3·91
Northern	891	8,371	2·67
Midland	1,103	11,043	2·51
Wales	577	6,445	2·49
North-western	1,861	15,810	2·48
North-Midland	772	8,154	2·38
London	957	18,026	2·15
North-Eastern	566	7,459	1·83
	12,027	122,181	Average for England and Wales 2·80

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the fact that the fees chargeable for certificates of naturalisation were last fixed in 1920; and what consideration he has given to increasing them.

It has been decided that for a certificate granted on an application made by an alien after 1st April the fee charged will be £15 instead of £10 and that £2 instead of £1 will be payable on the submission of the application. Corresponding charges will be made in the fees chargeable for the naturalisation of British protected persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what answer he has given to the application from Dr. Kratochvil, former Czechoslovak Ambassador to India, for asylum in Britain as a political refugee; and whether it is proposed to admit him.

Dr. Kratochvil has been informed that he and his family will be allowed to settle in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the considerable increase in the price of such items as printing and envelopes, it is proposed to amend the Representation of the People Act so as to allow Parliamentary candidates to spend at an election a proportionately greater sum of money.

No. I have no evidence at present that the existing allowance is too small.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if, in the case of the ordinary family council house, he will insist on the provision of an outhouse, even if inside floor space be reduced.

My right hon. Friend will insist on a store, either indoor or out.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will indentify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in S.I. 1951, No. 219; and why these are not identified in the Instrument.

I would refer the hon. baronet to my answer to his Question last Monday.

asked the Minister of Food if he will indentify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in S.I., 1951, No 236; and why these are not identified in the instrument.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him on 9th March.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in S.I., 1951, No. 224; and why these are not identified in the instrument.

The only specific statutory powers under which this Order was made are those referred to in its opening words. The reference to other powers is a formula which is usually and properly employed in Statutory Instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements are being made to continue the Argentine Tramways negotiations, in view of the fact that discussion on this issue will not be included in the present negotiations.

The hon. Member appears to have misunderstood the position. I would refer him to the Written Answer which I gave on 12th March to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling).

asked the Minister of Supply, in view of the shortage of metals, what changes he proposes to make in the Order dealing with the control of nonferrous scrap.

I have today made an Order (The Non-Ferrous Metals Prices (No. 2) Order, 1951) which will give my hon. Friend the information for which he asks. The Order will be laid before the House tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he is taking to make available to Kentish growers the wire essential for growing hops.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. P. Wells) on 5th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many administrative officers are under training as district commissioners; and how many of these will be sent to the Gold Coast.

The number of cadets under training for the Colonial Administrative Service is 123. Thirteen have been allotted to vacancies in the Gold Coast. These cadets are trained for all administrative duties and not specifically as district commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the respective value, to the latest available date, of rural water schemes submitted to him for approval; of schemes approved in principle but not yet authorised to go to tender; of schemes authorised for commencement but not yet completed; of schemes completed; of grants paid in respect of these schemes; and of grants promised but not yet paid in respect of schemes.

The following is the information:

		£
1. Value of schemes submitted since end of war to 31st December, 1950		46,095,000
2. Schemes approved in principle but not yet authorised to go to tender		13,155,000
3. Schemes authorised for commencement but not yet completed		7,280,000
4. Schemes completed		498,000
5 Grants paid—
(a) for completed schemes	£91,737	457,477
(b) for schemes still in progress	£365,740
6. Grants promised but not yet paid on schemes		7,145,500

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his arrangements are complete for the issue of census forms; and what steps he has taken to ensure that the ordinary householder can complete these forms without guidance.

The arrangements for the issue of the census forms are complete. The form contains instructions and examples for the guidance of the householder, and enumerators will be ready to give further help and guidance if required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any reports as to the condition of Cruden and Swedish houses erected in Orkney and Shetland.

An inspector examined the houses in Shetland last week, and I shall write to the hon. Member when I receive his report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the comparable costs of erection of Cruden, Swedish and Norwegian stone and brick houses in Orkney and Shetland.

The following table gives particulars of the tender prices of the houses in question. As, however, there are wide difference in the dates of the tenders, the design of the houses, and the

Situation of Houses		Date of Tender	Construction	Cost* per house	Remarks
				£
Orkney County
Kirkwall	…	Oct. 1950	Brick (Dunedin)	1,757
Stromness	…	Aug. 1950	Concrete Blocks	1,784	Terraced houses in blocks of four.
Kirkwall	…	Mar. 1950	Stone	1,805	Terraced houses in blocks of four.
Kirkwall	…	May, 1946	Crudens	1,273	Additional charges, of which the amounts are not at present ascertainable, are payable for sea transport of components from the mainland.
Kirkwall	…	Feb., 1949	SwedishTimber	2,028
Zetland County
Lerwick	…	May, 1950	Brick	2,038
Scalloway	…	Dec., 1950	Brick	2,139	These were alternative offers. The Local Authority accepted the lower price
do	…	do	Concrete Blocks	1,964
Sandwick	…	Jan., 1949	Swedish Timber	2,133
Lerwick	…	Dec., 1948	do.	2,042
Scalloway	…	May, 1946	Cruden	1,283	Additional charges, of which the amounts are not at present ascertainable, are payable for sea transport of components from the mainland.
Lerwick	…	do.	Cruden	1,273
*Note.—Except where otherwise stated, the tender prices given in this Table are for four-apartment two-storey cottages in blocks of two.