asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many houses and accommodation units, respectively, are scheduled to be destroyed to make room for the completion of the airport at Heathrow.

To complete the scheme for London Airport south of the Bath Road will involve the demolition of 57 houses. The layout of runways north of the Bath Road may involve the demolition of some 600 residential properties, and a further 150 properties might have have to be demolished in the final stage of development.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what was the average length of runways in use at main British civil airports in 1921, 1931, 1941 and 1951; what is the projected length for runways at Heathrow when completed; and what is the length of the Brabazon runway at Filton.

In 1921 and 1931 there were no runways at British civil airports, and in 1941 the only runway in civil use was one of 3,000 ft. at Bristol (Whitchurch) airport. The average length or runways in use at the main airports in 1951 is about 5,000 ft. The lengths of the runways at London Airport will be:—

No. 1	…	9,300 ft.	No. 5	…	9,600 ft.
No. 2	…	7,700 ft.	No. 6	…	7,600 ft.
No. 4	…	5,800 ft.	No. 7	…	6,300 ft.

The length of the Brabazon runway at Filton is 8,200 ft.

asked the Minister of Education the number of places available and filled in nursery and primary schools in each metropolitan borough.

I have no statistics of the number of places available in nursery schools and primary schools in each Metropolitan borough, but following are the latest particulars of the number of children on the registers of maintained and assisted nursery schools and primary schools in those boroughs:

Metropolitan Borough	Number of children on registers, January, 1950
	Nursery Schools	Other Primary Schools
City	—	498
Battersea	—	9,229
Bermondsey	80	5,843
Bethnal Green	—	5,124
Camberwell	30	14,938
Chelsea	—	2,869
Deptford	217	5,610
Finsbury	—	3,425
Fulham	168	9,039
Greenwich	115	7,073
Hackney	—	13,218
Hammersmith	—	9,312
Hampstead	—	3,856
Holborn	—	1,273
Islington	84	19,432
Kensington	81	7,823
Lambeth	—	14,639
Lewisham	90	18,303
Paddington	—	7,042
Poplar	37	6,981
St. Marylebone	—	3,710
St. Pancras	160	8,519
Shoreditch	—	3,757
Southwark	—	7,414
Stepney	—	8,861
Stoke Newington	—	2,787
Wandsworth	46	24,060
Westminster	—	3,895
Woolwich	163	12,877
TOTAL LONDON	1,271	241,407

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the maximum permitted cost per place for new nursery, primary and secondary schools in London.

The present limits of net cost for primary and secondary schools are £140 and £240 respectively. These limits apply throughout England and Wales, though where there are unusual site problems or other exceptional difficulties I am prepared to consider making some additional allowance for particular projects. No yardstick of cost can yet be laid down for nursery schools, very few of which can be built in present circumstances; each one is considered individually.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he will give an assurance that under subsection (b) of Clause 9 of the Ordinance concerning the powers and privileges of the Legislative Council of Trinidad there is no intention of limiting the democratic procedure of lobbying Members;(2) whether he will give an assurance that Clauses 5 to 8 of the Ordinance concerning the powers and privileges of the Legislative Council of Trinidad are not intended to limit the right of members of the public and representatives of the Press to attend meetings of the Legislative Council providing that they do so in orderly fashion;(3) whether he will make a statement on the powers given to the Speaker and officers of the Legislative Council in Section 20 of the Ordinance concerning the powers and privileges of the Legislative Council of Trinidad; and whether he is satisfied that this Clause does not violate section 60 of the Orders in Council.

I do not feel able to comment on the terms of a Bill which, so far as I am aware, has not been published and is still under consideration by the Trinidad Executive Council. I will, however, ask the Governor for his comments on the points raised and will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is proposed in some instances to release from service Class B reservists whose liability for reserve service has not fully expired, while retaining in the same unit Class A reservists whose normal liability for reserve service has fully expired; and if he will make a statement.

The policy regarding the release of Army reservists in the Korean theatre is as stated in the reply given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 1st May. Reservists who have completed 12 years combined colour and reserve service will receive priority in release subject to the considerations set out in the latter part of that reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing, in pence, the fall each month in the value of the pound sterling over the past 18 months.

Using the interim index of retail prices as price index, the fall in the value of the pound sterling over the last 18 months is shown in the table below:

June, 1947 = 20s
					s.	d.
1949,	October	…	…	…	17	10
	November	…	…	…	17	10
	December	…	…	…	17	9
1950,	January	…	…	…	17	9
	February	…	…	…	17	8
	March	…	…	…	17	7
	April	…	…	…	17	7
	May	…	…	…	17	6
	June	…	…	…	17	7
	July	…	…	…	17	7
	August	…	…	…	17	8
	September	…	…	…	17	7
	October	…	…	…	17	5
	November	…	…	…	17	4
	December	…	…	…	17	3
1951,	January	…	…	…	17	1
	February	…	…	…	16	11
	March	…	…	…	16	9

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the total value of building work on new schools, hospitals and other types of constructional work in the Economic Planning Programme for 1951.

As all civil investment programmes are being re-examined in the light of the higher defence programme, I regret that I am not yet in a position to give the desired information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will revise tables 25 and 26 of the Economic Survey by giving figures for 1951, based on the Budget proposals.

The information is given in the following tables.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the negotiations in Berne in regard to the liquidated German assets held in Switzerland.

These negotiations are proceeding. Since they are not concluded, and since the Governments of the United States, France and Switzerland are parties to them, I regret that it is not possible for me to make a more detailed statement at present.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of asparagus have been imported into this country out of the permitted allocation of 100 tons allowed since the cessation of the importation of asparagus under an open general licence.

According to the information of my Department, about 30 tons of asparagus have been imported since the open general licence for this product was suspended on 16th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the International Refugee Organisation for payments from its special fund for the benefit of non-German and non-Jewish refugees.

I assume that the special fund referred to is that allocated, under the terms of Article VIII of the Final Act of the Paris Conference on Reparations, to victims of the Nazirégime. His Majesty's Government have informed the International Refugee Organisation that in their opinion the terms of the agreement under which this fund is administered can be interpreted in such a way as to benefit non-German and non-Jewish refugees. The bulk of the funds available has, however, now been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about arrangements for the resettlement of those refugees for whom the International Refugee Organisation has responsibility, after that organisation has been closed down.

It is expected that by the time the International Refugee Organisation closes down there will remain on the books of that Organisation very few refugees capable of resettlement abroad and not already absorbed into the economies of the countries where they now live. Good progress has been made in solving the problem of the so-called "hard core" and it is anticipated that the residue of some 10,000 institutional cases will be dealt with by the end of the current year, either by resettlement schemes abroad or by arrangements made locally.After the Organisation closes down, Governments and private organisations will still be able to arrange for the repatriation or emigration of persons formerly on the books of the I.R.O. who may desire or be capable of such movement.The principal functions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who was appointed by a decision of the United Nations General Assembly last autumn, will, be to provide legal protection and advice, and he will not be responsible, as the International Refugee Organisation has been, for resettlement. He will however advise and assist States and private organisations in their activities relating to repatriation and resettlement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in order to add to the amount of coke available to consumers, he will consider increasing the allocation of coal to the nationalised gas industry, thus saving the necessity of so much coke being used in the production of water gas.

Full account has been taken of the considerations referred to by the hon. and gallant Member in the plans which have been made for the supply of coal and gas oil to the gas works.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that people in Birmingham who have changed their coal merchant have, in many instances, lost their last month's supply of coal; and what action he will take in this matter.

I have no evidence that deliveries of coal to any individual consumer in Birmingham or elsewhere have been adversely affected by changing his coal merchant on 1st May. As I have explained on previous occasions, the quantities of coal which a householder may buy are not rations, the supply of which is guaranteed; they are limits up to which he may buy if the necessary supplies are available. The allocations of coal to merchants have never been sufficient to allow them to provide the maximum permitted quantity for every household. For this reason, I regret that it is not practicable to make good in one period deficiencies which arose in a previous period. But where hardship would otherwise arise the local fuel overseer is empowered to authorise an extra supply.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for an early investigation into the submission of the Incorporated Dental Technicians' Association which has been made to him that a saving of several million pounds annually might be achieved in the cost of the dental services provided under the National Health Scheme if greater opportunity were given for direct participation by qualified and approved dental technicians in the provision of dental appliances.

The proposals would appear to involve contravention of the provisions of the Dentists Acts designed to safeguard the public.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of schizophrenia were admitted to mental institutions in the years 1936, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1948.

I regret that these figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what categories of staff are included in the estimate of expenditure of £21,144,000 in the hospital estimates for England and Wales under the heading, "Other staff."

The estimated expenditure of £21,144,000 relates to a great variety of staff who cannot be classified in a small number of groups but about one-half of the amount is for "domestic staff" and another quarter for "porters," using those terms in a broad sense.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give an estimate of the cost of supplying dentures and spectacles respectively under the National Health Service in the years 1948, 1949 and 1950.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Caernarvon (Mr. G. Roberts) on 26th April, 1951.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what action he proposes to take to ensure that candidates for salaried positions in local authorities in the County of Durham are not asked whether they belong to a trade union.

None, unless there is a threat to any public service for which I am responsible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements were made, and when, with the Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organizations for a camp site in the Festival area on the South Bank to be occupied by various youth organisations; why, when and how these arrangements were cancelled; and whether he is aware that the exclusion of the activities of the youth of the country from the South Bank Exhibition has wasted much hard work voluntarily put into the organisation of the camp site and caused great disappointment to the youth organisations concerned.

Discussion of this particular proposal for associating the youth organisations with the Festival began towards the end of 1949 but it was not until March, 1951, that the Festival organisation were forced to the conclusion that the camp could not satisfactorily be accommodated within the South Bank Exhibition. The decision was conveyed to the Standing Conference of National Voluntary Youth Organisations by letter from the Director-General, who expressed his deep regret that it was necessary to abandon the plan.I am aware of the disappointment caused to the youth organisations concerned by the cancellation of this part of their widespread Festival programme and know that it is shared by the Festival organisation which only reached its decision after all the alternatives had been most carefully examined.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many pensions were awarded in cases of schizophrenia in the years 1946, 1947 and 1948.

In the records kept by my Department schizophrenia is grouped with other diseases of a psychotic nature. It is estimated, however, that in the years mentioned the numbers of first awards of pension for this disease were 200, 250 and 130 respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General why, following the hardship suffered by Mr. C. B. Payne, formerly caretaker-operator at the Earlswood, Warwickshire, exchange, he has now taken legal proceedings against him regarding the vacation of his former residence; and whether, in view of the circumstances of this case, and the fact that Mr. Payne made strenuous efforts to find alternative accommodation and has now vacated the premises, he will take immediate steps to withdraw his legal action.

I regret that it was necessary to start proceedings in order to ensure that the Post Office could meet its legal obligation to give vacant possession of the premises. The proceedings were withdrawn on 7th May and Mr. Payne was informed of the fact on the same day.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that as the recently-issued 2½d postage stamp so closely resembles the colour of the previously-issued 1d. stamp confusion has resulted, cheating of the revenue has been made possible and the closer scrutiny required by Post Office servants has involved loss of time and extra labour; and whether he will consider withdrawing this issue and replacing it with an issue of more distinctive colour.

As explained in the Press notice which I issued on 9th May, the recent changes in the colours of the postage stamps were made in order to conform with the Universal Postal Convention and all practicable steps have been taken to reduce the possibility of confusion to a minimum. Difficulties will disappear as stocks of red penny stamps in the hands of the public are used up.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is in a position to make any statement in regard to the representations made by Scottish farmers on the subject of an assured market for oats.

Yes. I am glad to say that the Government have agreed that all cereals should be treated alike in this matter. A statement to this effect will be included in the White Paper on the Annual Review and Fixing of Farm Prices, 1951, which is shortly to be issued.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the output of rolled strip and fillet from the Royal Ordnance factories and the Royal Mint for the three months ended 31st March, 1951, in each of the following metals: bronze, nickel brass, cupro-nickel, copper, brass, nickel and other alloys.

In the changed circumstances, it is not in the public interest to continue to give this information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number, cost and area of factories completed, under construction and approved in the North-East development area at 1st May, 1951,

NEW FACTORIES AND EXTENSIONS IN THE NORTH-EASTERN DEVELOPMENT AREA
			Number of Schemes	Area ('000 sq. ft.)	Cost £'000
Number of schemes approved:
Government financed	…	…	166	5,355	7,282
Privately financed	…	…	366	13,845	31,014
Number completed:
Government financed	…	…	150	4,837	6,248
Privately financed	…	…	205	8,003	11,544
Number licensed and under construction:
Government financed	…	…	11	329	701
Privately financed	…	…	107	4,526	12,156

At 31st December, 1950, the latest date for which employment figures are available, 5,325 men and 10,918 women were employed in Government financed factories, and 10,179 men and 4,392 women in factories built with private finance, making a total of 15,504 men and 15,310 women in all.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to publish the White Paper on Resale Price Maintenance.

I cannot give a firm date, but I hope it will be fairly soon after the Whitsun recess.

The following is the information requested for the period mid-1945 to 31st March, 1951, the latest date for which figures are available:

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is intended to extend the period of opening hours of the Patent Office Library; and up to what hour, on which days of the week, and over how long a period of months.

The opening hours of the Patent Office Library were extended as from last Monday, 7th May. The Library is now open on Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., instead of 6 p.m. as previously. The opening hours on Saturdays remain unchanged at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is intended that the extended hours shall continue for an initial period of six months, during which the use made of the Library by the public in the evenings can be ascertained.