asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the ban upon religious and political societies within the London polytechnics; and whether he will make a statement about them.

asked the Minister of Education if he will take steps to remove the existing ban which prohibits the forming of societies for political or religious purposes in London polytechnics.

The schemes regulating these polytechnics forbid the use of the premises for political, denominational or sectarian purposes. Political debates in any general debating society are, however, allowed. I cannot make fresh schemes unless the existing Trusts have failed. In the present case there is no evidence of such failure, and I have not received any request from the governing bodies to amend the schemes.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that this nineteenth century ban upon free speech is a rather shabby advertisement for our Western liberal way of life? How does he think the status of technical education can be raised among students when they are denied amenities for the formation of and discussion in societies, as in the universities?

I have no objection whatever to religious or political societies, and I have encouraged them in some cases, but the fact remains that under the present schemes of the Trusts such societies cannot be organised. But that does not mean that the Trusts have failed in carrying out their duties.

Do I gather from my right hon. Friend's reply that he is against the continuation of this ban, and, since the polytechnics are very largely provided or supported by public funds, will he not initiate action with the governing bodies so that this completely out of date ban can be ended?

My duty is to see that a new Trust is made provided one has failed. Although they do not allow these things, I cannot, in the circumstances, come to the conclusion that the Trusts have failed. If the governing bodies themselves initiated action, I should be quite willing to consider them.

The right hon. Gentleman said he has had no representations from the governing bodies. Has he himself had representations from the students?

Yes, I have.

Would not the Trusts fail if they were not supported by public funds, and could not we move, when the Department's Estimates come up, to reduce the amount of the Estimates by the amount of the funds?

No, they fail in their purposes only if they do not carry out the purpose for which they were formed.

Is this restriction on free discussion effected by moving the adjournment of the debate?

It is not a question of the restriction of discussion but of the formation of societies.

Would my right hon. Friend indicate to the trustees his feeling and the feeling of the House as a whole, so that they may make application in the appropriate place for a revision of the Trusts?

No. I think the people concerned will see the questions and answers in this House, and form their own conclusions.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now make a statement on the results of the conversations between the National Union of Teachers and the Durham County Council.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now make a statement concerning the recent conversations between representatives of the Durham County Council and the National Union of Teachers about the appointment of teachers in Durham.

No agreement was reached at the meeting. The Durham local education authority did not see their way to abandon their practice of questioning teachers about their union membership. In the result a situation arose which constituted a definite threat to the education service. I have, therefore, taken action against the local education authority, as I warned them last November I should, under Section 68 of the Education Act, 1944.

In view of the fact that this is a free Assembly supporting the Minister in his action, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, for the purpose of the record, he will publish his letter in HANSARD, SO that it may be a guide to those who come after this House of Commons?

Yes. The letter can be published in HANSARD. It has already been published in another place.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the statement—the alleged statement—of a member of the Durham County Council, made subsequent to this letter, that the letter does not forbid answering the so-called obnoxious questions? Will the right hon. Gentleman make it categorically clear whether he agrees with that interpretation or not?

That is something which has not been brought to my notice until this moment. I should like time to think about it before commenting on it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Middlesex County Council ask questions about political faith, and as the National Union of Teachers have not the guts to take action against them—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—yes, it is true—is he prepared to issue a direction against Middlesex County Council?

In circumstances similar to the circumstances that have already arisen in Durham I will direct the Middlesex County Council or any other local authority.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the fact of his sending this letter, and the words that it contains, do not now show that he regrets the decision of the council, which he, and those who sit behind him, refused to regret on 13th March?

I regret a lot of things about this business. My principal regret is that the interests of the children seem to be taking third, fourth and fifth place instead of first.

Does the possibility of action against the Middlesex County Council or any similarly acting county council depend only upon initiative taken by the National Union of Teachers, or can any step be taken by the Ministry where the Union fail to carry out their obligations?

My responsibility is to see that the administration of education is maintained.

asked the Minister of Education how many defective children in Cornwall are now awaiting places in special schools; and what are the prospects of such places becoming available.

In January this year, 212 handicapped pupils were awaiting places in special schools of various types; of these, 147 were educationally subnormal. The authority intend to open by the end of this year a new school for educationally sub-normal pupils which will take 46 boarders and 14 day pupils, and a boarding home for maladjusted girls. They are seeking places in special schools outside the area for the pupils suffering from other types of handicap.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him if he will do all he can to see that special places are available for these children?

Yes, Sir.

Would the Minister include children who are partially blind in the classifications he has mentioned?

The partially blind are already included in that category.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now arrange for the appointment of a Royal Commission or other body of inquiry to consider the financing and administration of public education in relation to the present rating and grant system.

No, Sir.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the very meaty representations made by the National Union of Teachers' Conference—apart from those made at other places—on this question? Whether or not the inquiry should be by a Royal Commission is of secondary importance, but will he now admit that the situation is becoming incredibly complex, and will have to be investigated in some form or another, and the sooner the better?

That is an entirely different question, it seems to me.

No.

The question that the hon. Gentleman is now asking about an inquiry, relates to the statement that was made that, when the new valuation lists were ready, grants which had been fixed some time ago would need to be reviewed. That review will take place, as I said, but I doubt if it calls for a Royal Commission.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered the case put to him of a teacher from whose salary payment due in April there is to be deducted the sum of £5 10s. in respect of an over-payment made as a result of an error made in 1948 in the county education service; and whether such a deduction is in accordance with Government policy.

Yes, Sir. Local education authorities have a statutory duty to pay salaries to their full-time teachers in accordance with the prescribed salary scales. In cases where errors of assessment are discovered it is for the authority to decide whether it is possible and desirable for them to recover the sum over-paid.

Does not my right hon. Friend himself feel that in cases such as this the error, if it has been made, should lie where it has been made, and not be passed on to the teacher concerned long afterwards?

What I am saying is that it does lie where it was made, and that it is for the authorities, if they wish, to remedy it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the yardage and total value of wool cloth imported in 1950 for sale in the general categories; and from which countries the imports were made;

Twenty-eight million square yards of woven woollen and worsted tissues, including mixtures, valued at £11,900,000 were imported into the United Kingdom in 1950 from 26 countries within the Commonwealth and 39 other countries. No cloth is imported as utility, but licences are issued to clothing manufacturers, under certain conditions, to make up imported cloth into utility garments. The percentage of cloth imported in 1950 which went into utility garments is not known. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a full list of the imports from each country, together with information about the duties chargeable on imports.

Do not these import figures show that this country, an exporter and traditional manufacturer of cloth, is now having to import from other countries? If this cloth is comparable in value to our own does it not show that foreign countries are likely to come into strong competition with our own manufacturers in the overseas markets in the near future? Is the Minister aware of this, and taking action accordingly?

There has always been a very considerable degree of trade both ways in woollen cloth and other textiles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value and yardage of wool cloth, including wool mixtures, imported by the United Kingdom and re-exported to the United States of America and countries of the British Commonwealth in 1948, 1949 and 1950, respectively.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the exports in March of rayon yarn and staple fibre.

The figures for March are not yet available.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Clitheroe (Mr. Fort) on 1st March he gave the House quite inaccurate information when he said that the exports of yarn in January were 891,000 lbs.? I want to be quite certain that when the right hon. Gentleman gives the figures for March he will give it in pounds sterling and lbs. and compare pounds sterling with pounds sterling and not lbs. with £ s. d.

I have expressed my regret, both in an answer and to the hon. Gentleman in question. The mistake was not, in fact, due to a comparison of lbs. with pounds sterling, but was a genuine error for all that. When the March figures are computed the right hon. Gentleman can be assured that they will be accurate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking action to restrict the export of this rayon staple fibre or yarn and have it diverted to the home trade?

As far as staple fibre is concerned, as existing contracts are completed, as most of them will be quite quickly, exports will be restricted in agreement with the producers to about one-third of their 1950 level. So far as rayon yarn is concerned, I gave an answer on that to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) a few days ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many looms in Lancashire are now stopped owing to lack of supplies.

No figures are available of looms which may have been stopped for lack of supplies, but the latest available figures of the total number of looms working show a slight increase since the beginning of this year. These figures, however, do not allow for short-time working, which, I understand, may have increased slightly in rayon weaving.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some six-loom weavers are now having to be content with four looms, and four-loom weavers with two, and so on, and that this under-employment is really rather serious?

The right hon. Gentleman will know the deep concern we feel about this very restricted degree of underemployment compared with the large amount of under-employment that Lancashire knew before the war—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—and I think he will be aware of the causes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman realise that I am trying to discuss a serious problem, which is related to the lack of supplies of cotton and rayon in this country due to his policy?

The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, because we have discussed this many times, that the lack both of cotton, and of rayon, which is affected by sulphur, is not in any way due to the policy of the Government.

As the exports of cotton today, in volume, are only 40 per cent. of the 1937 figure is the right hon. Gentleman able to estimate what the effect of this short-time work will be on our already too low export figures?

No, Sir, but the Cotton Board, who are, of course, in very close touch with industry in this respect, report that cotton looms have, in general, been very little affected by the shortage of supplies.

In view of the fact that because of the conversion rate the exportable value of this staple fibre as manufactured cloth is much higher than when exported as fibre, will the Minister ensure that this fibre is not exported?

I agree with what the hon. and gallant Gentleman has in mind. There is another Question on that on the Order Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how he proposes to allocate the manila rope made available for the fishing industry.

The discussions with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries are still proceeding, and I am, therefore, not able to add to the information given in my reply to the hon. Member's Question of 1st March.

How soon does the right hon. Gentleman think he will be able to make a statement on this matter; and is he giving full consideration to the inshore fishing industry?

Yes, Sir, full consideration is being given to that. I cannot say yet when I shall be able to make an announcement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that great dissatisfaction is caused by the fact that foreign fishermen can buy manila rope which is denied to our own fishermen, often in the same shops to which they go?

No, I am not aware of that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make a statement on the expected imports of sulphur into this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is now the position with regard to our sulphur supplies.

I regret I am not in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave on 22nd March to similar Questions on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not yet even in a position to answer the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham (Mr. Eccles) on 22nd March, whether superphosphates are still being exported from this country during the present critical situation?

That is another question. The Question I am now answering relates to the expected imports of sulphur into this country.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is very considerable apprehension in the hosiery industry in Leicester and the surrounding district about the supply of sulphur; and can he tell us when he will be able to say something more definite about the position?

I am aware that there is widespread apprehension in practically every industry in the country, because practically every industry is affected by the shortage of sulphur. In spite of repeated pressure we have still had no reply from the American Government as to the supplies we can expect for the second quarter, though we have been told that we can have 19,000 tons on account.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to keep experts who are familiar with the sulphur business in Washington until the present shortage is overcome, whether that be in a year or two years' time.

As long as their presence in Washington is required and can in any way help to solve this problem, they will be kept in Washington.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the shortage of raw materials in this country is directly due to the policy of His Majesty's Government?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any action is being taken to obtain the sulphur sup plies available in Iceland.

The possibility of obtaining sulphur from Iceland is being investigated, though I understand that no immediate supplies are practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the supplementary quota of 19,000 tons of sulphur which is being given by the United States Department of Commerce to meet our current production needs will be sufficient to avoid the previously anticipated 40 per cent. cut in rayon production; and if he will make a statement.

The 19,000 tons provided by the United States authorities are to cover the period until export allocations for the second quarter of the year are notified. Until our allocation is known, I cannot say whether or not the effect on rayon production will be of the magnitude previously anticipated.

As the Minister warned the industry that there would be this 40 per cent. cut, is he aware that it will mean an increase in the cost of utility garments as well as a shortage of supplies? Cannot he say to the trade and to the nation that this 19,000 tons of sulphur will at least keep us going for the next three months?

I said that a cut of the order of 40 per cent. would be inevitable if the allocation were not increased above 81,000 tons. Until I get a clear statement that we are to get more than 81,000 tons in the second quarter, I cannot give the assurance for which the hon. Gentleman rightly asks.

Even if the allocation of raw sulphur is sufficient to avoid this cut, would the right hon. Gentleman explore the possibility of substantially increasing the production of sulphuric acid in Germany in order to get increased supplies from there?

We are doing everything possible, and allowing free importation of sulphur and sulphur products from wherever they may be found. It is a very long job indeed to increase the production of sulphuric acid, particularly in this country.

In view of the low delivery of sulphur compared with what we want in the first quarter, is this figure of 19,000 tons to be taken as an advance on what we are to receive in the second quarter and as having nothing to do with the possible increase required in the first quarter?

We all hope that this will be 19,000 tons in addition to the figure of 81,000 tons, but although we have made many representations and asked for more information for industry, in order to know where it stands, we have still had no confirmation of that.

Will my right hon. Friend see if there are any prospects of supplies of synthetic or manufactured sulphur, so that we may be relieved of trespassing on supplies from the United States of America?

I am not aware of synthetic or manufactured sulphur, but we are pushing ahead very fast, as I have explained to the House, with the use of anhydrites, pyrites, spent oxide and other substances.

Will the Minister assure us that he is doing all that he can to facilitate the importation of sulphur chemicals? Is he aware that these chemicals are available on the Continent, but that the 33⅓ per cent. ad valorem duty makes the price to the manufacturers prohibitive? Will he discuss this matter with the Treasury to see if, while the shortage exists, the duty can be waived?

This seems to be another question. Many manufacturers in this country have been buying sulphur and other products at four, five and six times the American price, so I should not have thought that the duty which the hon. Gentleman has mentioned would stand in the way of importation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a further statement with regard to supplies of raw cotton.

I regret that I am not yet able to make a further statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the increasing anxiety about this matter? How soon will he be able to make a further statement?

I have, I think, already stated in the House what is the allocation of raw cotton granted by the United States Government. There has been a commodity conference on cotton, but there will be no further action taken by them until the prospects for the new crop year are available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the supplies of raw cotton are adequate to meet the rearmament demands?

I have said on a number of occasions that I am not at all satisfied that the allocations of cotton granted to us, even allowing for the very big purchases which are being made in other countries, are adequate to meet our requirements.

Has my right hon. Friend made inquiries into the possibility of increasing supplies from Egypt and the Sudan?

We have scoured the earth for supplies of cotton and we have got increased supplies wherever they can be got.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what official confirmation he has received from the United States Government of their intention to purchase for stockpiling purposes 350,000,000 pounds of wool; what representations he has made to them; and if he will make a statement on the effect of such stockpiling on the cost of clothing.

The requirements of wool of the United States and of other countries for all purposes including stockpiling will be among the matters to be considered by the Wool Committee of the International Materials Conference which is meeting at the present time in Washington. In these circumstances, I should prefer not to make any statement on this subject for the present.

While not wishing to embarrass the Minister while negotiations are going on, may I ask whether he has been officially informed by the United States authorities that they intend to stockpile to this extent?

No, Sir, we have had no official intimation to this effect, though information has reached us from usually reliable channels which suggests that there is something in this story.

Is not the trouble here that the American Government have not adopted bulk buying and that, in consequence, private buyers have forced up the price?

The world wool problem is not a question of whether it is bulk bought or privately bought, but of how much is being bought.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in fixing maximum prices for goods and materials, he will make regulations to ensure that all goods offered for sale bear price labels, and that the prices shown are clearly stated to be maximum and not minimum prices.

No, Sir. Certain kinds of goods must already be marked with their maximum prices, but individual marking of maximum prices on all price-controlled goods would be very burdensome and would add appreciably to retailers' costs.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many housewives in Coventry have written to me stating that certain traders represent maximum prices as minimum prices, and, furthermore, that the Board of Trade fixes them and that they have to be charged? Would he, therefore, give publicity to the effect that these rulings are to prevent profiteering and not to encourage it?

I entirely agree with the statement made by my hon. Friend, and I hope that due publicity will be given to the fact that these are maximum prices and not fixed prices.

When marking the goods will the right hon. Gentleman also ensure that woollen goods particularly are marked with the correct description of the fibre used in the making?

That is another question. I do not personally mark the goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to carry out the under taking given last year by his Department to the president of the National Willow Growers' Association to receive a case for the increase of the tariff on imported willows from 10 per cent. to 30 per cent.

As the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. De la Bère), was informed in reply to his Ques- tion on 20th March, we are always prepared to receive applications for variations in rates of import duties. In this case, however, we have not yet received a considered application for additional protection from the National Willow Growers' Association, and consequently have not been able to take further action.

Is it not a fact that at present Article 3 (1) of the Anglo-Polish Commercial Agreement, 1935, forbids the raising of duties on willows beyond 10 per cent.? Will the right hon. Gentleman free his hands of this matter, so that he may consider fresh duties that may be put up to him by the National Willow Growers' Association?

The hon. Gentleman is quite right. There is the complication of the Polish Agreement. We do not, however, feel that the Agreement precludes us from the possibility of examining any proposals that may be submitted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will allow more of the newsprint production of home mills to be retained in this country in view of the additional production of 50,000 tons annually in Tasmania which will be available to Australian and New Zealand newspapers.

Newsprint capacity in Tasmania is being increased, but I am informed that no additional supplies from that source will become available this year.

Meanwhile, will the Minister relax his requirement that 100,000 tons of newsprint must be exported from this country in the present year, and allow fair shares to our own newspapers?

I do not think that that is a matter affected by this Question. We have discussed the export of newsprint on a number of occasions and I have made it clear that if there is any danger of further restrictions of supplies to our home market I would be prepared to go into the question of exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds the date of 9th May was selected as the date before which the decisions of the Torquay Conference would not be disclosed.

As I informed the House on 22nd March, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) arrangements have been made to bring the Conference at Torquay to a close on 21st April, but the results of the Conference will remain secret until 9th May. It is necessary to have a common date in order to avoid embarrassment to individual Governments by piecemeal disclosure of the results of the Conference and this date has been chosen so as to allow sufficient time for delegations to make their reports to their Governments.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the date selected up to which secrecy will be maintained will be just at the beginning of the Whit-sun Recess? In view of the possibility that the House may wish to look at these proposals, is it not possible for them to be published a week earlier, even though the gentlemen who have been at Torquay all the winter have to expedite their deliberations?

I will do my best to get the results published earlier. I shall have no hesitation in bringing the results of the Torquay Conference before the House, but I am assured that it is not possible to get the work completed and the printing done before that time.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the ban on publication until 9th May extends to agreements like the proposed agreement with Cuba, which was strictly outside the general agreement on tariffs and trade being discussed at Torquay?

I understand that the ban of secrecy would not apply to those discussions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to make a statement about the Government's policy on resale price maintenance.

Government proposals on this subject will be presented in the form of a White Paper in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Central Price Regulation Committee have completed their review of price controls which have been removed; and whether he can now make a statement on the position.

The Central Price Regulation Committee have now reviewed most of the price controls over consumer goods (other than food) which have been removed since 1945. The Committee have reported that, in general, price increases since decontrol have not been excessive having regard to rises in raw material prices and other costs. In the case of certain classes of goods, however, which are the subject of a more detailed statement which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT they have reached the conclusion, after consideration of all the circumstances, that it will be necessary in the near future to re-introduce price control either on a statutory or on a voluntary basis. I am now taking steps to give effect to their recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy in regard to ensuring that all members of the Civil Defence organisation are completely trustworthy; and what steps he is taking to screen members and applicants as to national loyalty.

I know of no means of ensuring that all members of any organisation are completely trustworthy, but I have no doubt that local authorities exercise a reasonable discretion in accepting volunteers for the Civil Defence Corps. Local authorities can, of course, dispense with the services of volunteers at any time. It would be the duty of the central Government to take action in respect of any person who engaged in activities likely to endanger national security.

In view of the recent cases of disloyalty in other fields of Government service, would it not be advisable to take special precautions in this most essential organisation?

The Question refers to screening of members of the Civil Defence Corps. That is absolutely impossible, just as it is impossible to screen members of the Armed Forces.

Would my hon. Friend not agree it is very desirable that members of certain suspect organisations, such as "The Link," should not be enrolled in Civil Defence?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can yet state how soon London local authorities will be informed whether they have his authority to employ consultants to assist with the second stage of the shelter survey called for in Civil Defence Circular No. 48/1950; and how they are to obtain the other additional staff required to complete this survey by the stated date.

I hope to reach a conclusion before long. One difficulty is that the services of consultants who might be employed on the shelter survey may be needed more urgently for constructional work in the approved defence programme.

As this circular asking local authorities to complete this important job by the end of June was issued in December and it is now April and local authorities still cannot get the guidance they require from the Home Office, is the Under-Secretary aware that it tends to give people the impression that the Government are not now taking Civil Defence seriously?

Civil Defence is extremely important, but we do not want this work, important as it is, to prejudice any constructional work for the Fighting Services.

asked the Minister of Health the average delay in final settlement of chemists' accounts as at 30th June, 1949, 31st December, 1949, 30th June, 1950, 31st December, 1950, and at today's date.

Four, six, seven and a half, eight and a half and nine months, respectively.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that these figures are correct, except for the latest figure which, according to my information, is 11 months? Is that not far too long?

We regard nine months as far too long, and we are doing what we can to reduce it.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied with this increasing trend? Cannot he reverse it?

We are far from satisfied and are taking every step open to us, particularly by trying to open more premises in which the Joint Pricing Committee can work. We are quite sure that the position will improve.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that three months' credit for a Government Department is quite long enough?

Perhaps the hon. Member does not realise that the total payments are as up to date as they were before the war. Very large sums are paid on account.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of the full amount owing each month is paid to chemists under the National Health Service.

Chemists are paid monthly on account 90 per cent. of the estimated value of the prescriptions dispensed by them in the previous month.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that even if 90 per cent. is correct he has the use of some £1 million of chemists' money a year without interest?

We make supplementary payments in addition to the 90 per cent. to give relief to difficulties which may arise where cases are brought to our notice. We do not think that the chemists are handicapped.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to increase the beds for the chronic sick in the Northern Region.

A 30-bed unit has been opened, and the work on providing a further unit of 20 beds is almost finished.

In view of the importance of providing beds for the chronic sick, can the Parliamentary Secretary say why there are now fewer beds for the chronic sick in the Northern Region than there were before the National Health Service Act came into operation?

I do not think that that is altogether true. We are quite satisfied that a great deal more can be done to make better use of existing bed accommodation, even without increasing the number of beds.

Is there any difference between a bed and a "bed unit"?

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say why, when an order was obtained for a chronic sick woman to be taken into hospital quite recently in the Northern Region, there was not a bed available? Does he think that that is a good thing?

No, Sir, we do not think it is a good thing. But, to keep the question in balance, we must realise that there were also difficulties of this kind before the National Health Service Act, difficulties we are trying to overcome.

asked the Minister of Health what are the qualifications of Major General Lambert, who has just been appointed Chairman of the Berkshire Mental Hospitals' Committee.

Responsibility for this appointment rests with the Oxford Regional Hospital Board, but I understand that Major General Lambert has served as a member of the Committee and previously as a member of another mental hospital management committee in the area of a different board, by whom his services were strongly recommended.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this gentleman tendered his resignation after the first meeting of the committee three years ago, though it was not accepted; that he has since attended two other meetings and has taken no part in its proceedings, except once to correct someone who called him by the wrong military title? Does he consider that this is sufficient evidence of interest or knowledge of the hospitals in Berkshire to qualify this gentleman for the chairmanship?

While not accepting my hon. Friend's details of the qualifications of this gentleman, I would remind him that responsibility for these appointments rests with the regional hospital boards.