asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the actions he has instructed the Metropolitan Police to take to clean up organised vice in London.

It has long been one of the normal duties of the police to keep a watch on those who organise vice, and take action when evidence becomes available, and it would be a mistake to exaggerate the extent of the evil in London. The vigorous and successful action which the police have been able to take recently shows that they are on the alert and no fresh instructions seem to be required. On the more general question of prostitution, I can only refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Paddington, North (Captain Field), on 12th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions a summons has been issued for obstruction against the owner of car number U.P. 5885 for obstruction in Thirleby Road, S.W.1.

It would not be appropriate for me to make public information of this nature regarding a private individual.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to publish the Report of the Committee on Cruelty to Wild Animals; and whether he can state what course of action has been recommended with regard to the gin trap.

It is expected that the Report will be published during next month. As regards the last part of his Question, the hon. Member must await the publication of the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the syllabus for sectional training of the Civil Defence Corps will be available to the appropriate units.

Civil Defence Training Memorandum No. 5, which contains the syllabuses for Section Training, was issued to local authorities on 8th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the strength of the Civil Defence Corps and of the Auxiliary Fire Service in England and Wales on 30th April.

137,000 and 9,900, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture from which countries where fowl pest is endemic he has prohibited the import of poultry carcases; and what is the estimated loss in tonnage of poultry this year in imports as a result.

The countries from which the importation of poultry carcases has recently been prohibited are Belgium, France and Poland. If the prohibition is maintained until the end of the year the loss of imports from those countries will, it is estimated, be some 6,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement as to the present incidence of fowl pest in the United Kingdom.

I am glad to say that there has been a progressive decrease in the number of recorded outbreaks of fowl pest in Great Britain in each month since January. Only 11 outbreaks have been confirmed in the period 1st to 29th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present position with regard to the development in this country of methods for the production of nitrophosphate fertilisers to take the place of superphosphate fertilisers; and to what extent field trials of nitrophosphate fertilisers are being encouraged by his Department.

I am advised that a number of problems remain to be solved before nitrophosphate fertiliser can be produced on a commercial scale. Research work, which has been going on for a considerable time, has recently been intensified, and the companies concerned have now reached a stage where they can plan extensive field trials. Nitrophosphate has been included in the comprehensive series of fertiliser field trials that are being carried out this season under the auspices of the National Agricultural Advisory Service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the level of milk production in the country as a whole and in the county of Essex during the current year and in the com parable months of 1950; if he is aware that some dairy-herds in Essex are now being dispersed and that there is a substantial increase in the number of cow-heifers sold for slaughter; and what steps he is taking to guard against a shortage of milk later this year and in the years to come.

I am aware that there has recently been an increase in the sales in Essex of cow-heifers for slaughter as compared with those in the early months of 1950. This is due, in my view, to the late arrival of normal spring weather and the shortage of feed.As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 9th May by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers).

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing how the present production of eggs, in the country as a whole and in the county of Essex, compares with production a year ago; and what steps he is taking to maintain the supply of home-produced eggs.

County figures for egg production are not available. I am, however, circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT statistics of the numbers of eggs sent to licensed packing stations in Great Britain during each of the two years and each of the two quarters ending 31st March, 1950, and 31st March, 1951.The range of seasonal prices, particulars of which are announced in the Press today, is designed to encourage an appreiable expansion of home produced supplies of eggs in the autumn and winter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, in view of the short supply of eggs, both home-produced and imported, he has told farmers that the Government want to check the rate of expansion in egg production.

As is made clear in the recent White Paper on the Annual Review and Fixing of Farm Prices, 1951, it is desired to check the rate of expansion of egg production in Spring and early summer, but there is room for appreciable expansion in the autumn and winter. The shortage of supplies this spring has been due largely to bad weather which has affected imported as well as home supplies, and I see no reason for any change of policy on this account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the award of 1½d. per gallon for milk by the February Price Review is but half the ascertained increased cost of 3d. per gallon agreed with his Department, and that producers, particularly the small men, will be unable to afford the essential high priced feedingstuffs and fertilisers; and what he proposes to do to remedy this situation.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member are approximately correct, as far as they go, but he has overlooked the substantial price increases for fat cows and veal calves which will benefit milk producers. The reduction in milk producers' profits, therefore, should not be serious. The special position of the small milk producer has been recognised by an increase in the production bonus, as a component of the average price increase of 1½d. Further, assistance in suitable cases is available under the Marginal Production Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what measures are being taken to ensure the efficient collection of household waste for feeding to pigs; and if he will give details of the system generally adopted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many horses and ponies were slaughtered in the United Kingdom in 1949 and 1950, respectively.

Exact statistics are not available, but the numbers are estimated as approximately 112,000 in 1949 and 88,000 in 1950, excluding animals slaughtered on account of old age or disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what figures he has as to the population of horses and ponies in 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 and 1950; and whether these figures include mules and donkeys.

No returns are collected of horses other than those on agricultural holdings, which have been collected at the June census under the headings shown in the table below. The figures do not include mules and donkeys.

Organised collection of kitchen waste is undertaken by local authorities, who either process the waste themselves into a form in which it can safely be fed to stock, or deliver it to other local authorities or private plant operators for processing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that Pinner Brothers, agricultural contractors of Little Stukeley, Huntingdonshire, sowed 135 acres of corn on Alconbury Aerodrome last autumn and are growing there also 22 acres of clover, and have now been given notice by the Air Ministry to plough up these crops; and what steps he is taking, in consultation with that Department, to ensure that this waste of food will not occur.

Alconbury airfield is being brought into condition for very early flying use, and it is necessary for this purpose that the land within the perimeter track which is now under cultivation should be sown down to grass. I am afraid that in these circumstances the loss of some crops cannot be avoided. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air will take all practicable steps to reduce the loss to a minimum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the results of recent experiments by his Department with regard to a new humane trap for wild rabbits.

The preliminary experiments are promising but have disclosed certain production defects which are being corrected to enable the efficiency of the model to be accurately assessed as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that there are sufficient veterinary surgeons in view of the increased interest in attestation.

The great interest shown in attestation recently has certainly thrown a strain on the resources of the veterinary profession, and delays in carrying out tuberculin tests have occurred in some parts of the country. The attested herds scheme continues to make rapid progress, however, and I do not think that the Government's plans for tuberculosis eradication are at present being seriously hampered by a shortage of veterinary surgeons.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how many boreholes have been made on the special advice of the Geo logical Survey of Britain; how many are at present being drilled; and how many are awaiting drilling as part of an established programme.

Two exploratory bores have been sunk for the Geological Survey in Staffordshire at Bagots Park, near Uttoxeter and at Whittington Heath, near Lichfield; one boring is being completed at Northleach in Gloucestershire and one is just being started at Slamannan in Lanarkshire. No other borings are awaiting drilling.

asked the Under secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the Lord President of the Council, who is responsible for planning the National Science Centre in London; and what progress is being made.

My noble Friend the Lord President of the Council is responsible, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Local Government and Planning and the Minister of Works. At the present preparatory stage attention is being concentrated on assessing the precise accommodation requirements and the best and most economical means of meeting them, and upon negotiations for a site. A committee of the-Advisory Council on Scientific Policy has fully examined the problem of making provision for a National Library of Science and Invention within the Centre, and has made recommendations to my noble Friend.Hon. Members will recall the warning of the then Lord President of the Council on 21st November last that a start cannot be made on the Centre until resources can be found and that there are many other urgent claims.

asked the Chancellor the Exchequer whether he is aware that the further recent increase in duty on petrol imposes a burden upon users of petrol-driven invalid carriages; and if he will take steps to permit such users to obtain supplies of petrol at concessionary rates.

The increase of 4½d. a gallon proposed in the Budget applies to all users of dutiable light oils, and I am afraid that it would not be practicable to single out particular classes of users for relief in the form of remission of duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the Treasury has imposed a complete ban on the exports of British refined sugar to Uruguay even if sold partly or wholly for United States dollars; and whether, in view of the fact that further import licences have recently been issued in Uruguay for the purchase of sugar and that substantial exports of British refined sugar to Uruguay were permitted before 1949 and preceding the outbreak of war, he will review this decision at an early date.

Exports of British refined sugar to Uruguay were stopped at the end of 1949 because of the dollar shortage since these exports are only possible on the basis of imports of raw sugar from dollar sources. I am, however, considering the possibility of permitting the export of refined sugar to Uruguay if sold partly in sterling and partly in dollars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under his regulations, a taxpayer who, after making his Income Tax return, subsequently ascertains that he would have been allowed to claim a larger allowance for expenses incurred than he had actually claimed, is given the right to amend his return accordingly.

Yes. A taxpayer who finds that he has claimed in his return an insufficient allowance for expenses may make an amended return. If an assessment has already been made, he may appeal against it, and if the time for appealing has expired, he may claim relief within six years of the end of the year in which the assessment was made if he has been overcharged because of some error or mistake in his return.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any statement to make on the recommendations of the Economic Commission for Europe for the revaluation of European currencies in terms of the dollar.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of stocks of cotton, wool, tea, sugar, meat, rubber, tin, copper, grains, lead and zinc, sold in the years April, 1948, to April, 1949, and April, 1949 to April, 1950, respectively; and the amount received for the sale of these stocks, giving in each case profit or loss on each transaction, and basing the estimate of such profit or loss on the average cost of the stocks less the price realised on sale.

I assume that the hon. Member's Question refers to trading on Government account. For the reasons given in answer on 7th May to a similar Question put down by the hon. and learned Member for Northwich (Mr. J. Foster), the information asked for cannot be given in the form requested. The following table, however, gives total sales of the commodities concerned by quantity and value, and the profit or loss on the basis adopted in the published trading accounts. The quantity and value figures are not in all cases comparable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the Lord President of the Council, why the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has not facilitated the development of the direct drive gas locomotive invention which their technical adviser recommended.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research brought this invention to the notice of organisations more directly concerned that the Department with actual commercial development of inventions of that character. The Department did thereby facilitate the development to the extent that was possible for it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can expedite delivery of a hearing aid to Mrs. M. S. Cornish, 16, Haslemere Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, who is a working woman and has been waiting for this aid for two years.

I understand that this patient, who took employment only recently, is being given priority.

asked the Minister of Health how many people are at present waiting for hearing aids; how many are considered priority cases; and what is the average length of time taken before supplying either of these categories.

Waiting list figures on 30th April total 112,365; I regret that the other information is not available. Averages would in any case have very little meaning.

asked the Minister of Health whether his regulations enable John Griffiths who has been discharged from his post by the St. Heliers Group Hospital Management Committee to appeal against the decision, or whether the Minister is prepared to hold an inquiry into his dismissal.

Under the relevant Regulations the appointment and dismissal of hospital staff (other than certain medical staff) are specifically delegated to hospital management committees. The regulations make no provision about appeals and it is for the regional hospital board to decide whether to entertain an appeal. As I have already told the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 10th May, I am not prepared to intervene in this case.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board has refused an offer from the Jewish Blind Society to take care of a number of chronically-ill Jewish blind patients at the Jewish Home for the Blind, Rokefield, Westcott, at an all-in figure of £5 per person per week on the ground that the Board has not the money available; and if he will make special arrangements for this offer to be accepted in view of the fact that the cost to the regional board is less than the full maintenance of these patients in other hospitals.

I regret that the Board cannot at present add to its existing contracts for beds in private institutions.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the fact that on 31st December, 1950, there were 1,324 patients on the waiting list for chronic sick beds in National Health Service hospitals in the county of London, what arrangements he is making to provide alternative accommodation to the 60 beds no longer available in St. Luke's Hospital owing to transfer of certain wards to the Chelsea Hospital for Women for pathological laboratory work; and when will this alternative accommodation be available.

Alternative arrangements are being considered, but I cannot make any further statement at present.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that the present arrangements for outpatients at Watlington Cottage Hospital, Oxfordshire, are unsatisfactory and inconvenient: and what efforts he is making to expedite the provision of better facilities;(2) whether he is aware that outpatients at Thame Victoria Nursing Home, Oxfordshire, are obliged to wait for attention under unsatisfactory conditions; and when it is expected that this situation will be remedied.

I have been informed by the regional board that they have been unable as yet to arrange, within the limited amount of capital investment available to them, for necessary structural improvements to be carried out at these hospitals, but they intend to arrange for these as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that small hospitals in rural areas receive an adequate grant for the provision of outpatient facilities; and whether he will consider reducing the grant to larger hospitals to permit an increase in the grant to smaller hospitals.

It is primarily for the regional hospital board to plan the development of hospital and specialist services in their area, to assess the relative urgency of different projects, including the provision of out-patient facilities in rural areas, and to consider how the limited available resources can best be used.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that 10,000 people suffering from tuberculosis are awaiting admission to hospital in Great Britain, he can arrange with the hospital authorities in Switzerland a considerable increase beyond the 130 beds so far promised for patients from the United Kingdom.

I regret that this is not practicable.

asked the Minister of Health how many midwives trained in the use of analgesics there are in the county of Norfolk; and what gas and air machines are available for their use.

154 practising midwives, of whom 128 are in the domiciliary service, 121 gas and air machines are available in this service; the number in hospitals and nursing homes is not known.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the charges made for accommodation at convalescent homes under his control in respect of under school-age children and that this may amount to £4 4s. per week, whether he will take action to ensure a much lower maximum charge to parents of children for whom there would be no charge if old enough to attend school.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to accommodation in holiday homes, arranged for by local health authorities. Here the amount of the charge is a matter for the authority, having regard to the means of the person concerned.

asked the Minister of Health the number of uneducable children who are not receiving any form of education; what provision is being made to give them the specialised tuition they require; and whether any special report is to be issued regarding this problem.

The figures for 1st January, 1950 (the latest available), showed 13,680 mental defectives under the age of 16 in the care of local health authorities. Of these 3,600 were receiving some form of training. That number has probably increased by about 30 per cent. since that date, as the services are being progressively developed. In addition, there are 6,424 mental defectives under the age of 16 in institutional care where, of course, they are receiving training. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health when the report of his committee examining the claims of Mr. Rees-Evans on cancer treatment may be expected.

I understand that the committee have not quite completed their investigation and are unable to say how soon they will be able to report.

asked the Minister of Labour why, in spite of recommendations made by the Dock Labour Board at the request of the Prime Minister in May, 1949, for the improvement of the lack of amenities in the docks, his Department in February, 1951, informed the Board that no further action by the Government was contemplated.

My Department did not so inform the Board. The following is a copy of the letter sent to the Board on 10th February:DEAR SIR,When Mr. Isaacs received a joint deputation from your Board, the National Joint Council and the Dock and Harbour Authorities' Association on 29th November last on the subject of dock welfare amenities, it was promised that sympathetic consideration would be given to the deputation's representations. Although no conclusive decision has been taken on the points then raised further consideration has been give to them by the Department and your Board would doubtless like to have an indication of the result.As regards the provision of

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the marked increase in the death rate in recent years from diseases of the heart and circulation, he will give instructions for the use of agenised flour to be discontinued; and whether he will arrange for flour to be matured in a natural manner by storage, without the use of chemicals such as chlorine dioxide, which are injurious, to public health.

I am advised that there is no evidence that the rise in the death rate from circulatory disease is related to the use of agene in flour or indeed that flour treated by present methods or with chlorine dioxide is harmful to man. The natural maturing of flour is a long and impracticable process.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that long delays in reaching final financial settlements with individual milling companies under the flour milling control scheme operating between his Department, the British Millers Mutual Pool Limited and the individual millers, are preventing companies from finally closing their accounts for periods covering the last 10 years; and if he will review the system employed to enable settlements to be reached more expeditiously.

Under the terms of the Flour Millers' Remuneration Agreement it is not possible to reach, in respect of any control year, a final financial settlement with the British Millers Mutual Pool Ltd., covering all the millers who are parties to the agreement, until provisional settlements have been made with every miller individually, thus enabling the Ministry to establish on a global basis (a) the total standard average production, (b) the total standard average profit, and (c) the total actual production of the control year in question.In addition, from the fourth control year, the total excess production over the total standard average production has to be ascertained. These total production and profit figures may further be affected by appeals to the tribunal set up under the agreement. A final financial settlement for any one year is not practicable until all these matters have been resolved, and the speed with which this can be done depends to a large extent on the speed with which the millers themselves can furnish the information still required; there is thus no short cut.The returns of individual millers are examined and a provisional settlement reached reasonably quickly after the returns are received by the Ministry, and the millers usually complete their Financial Accounts by incorporating these provisional settlements. It is unlikely that any major adjustments will be necessary, save in very exceptional circumstances.Provisional settlements have been reached in practically all cases for the first three control years and there are relatively few cases not yet settled for the next three control years. There is now little delay in making these provisional settlements except where there is a dispute on items in the returns; every attempt is made to reconcile differences as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a pilot was killed when his aircraft crashed into the sea-wall near Bradwell-juxta-Mare, Essex, on Monday, 28th May; and what steps are taken to prevent dangerously low flying in this neighbourhood.

This unfortunate accident occurred during an air-to-ground firing exercise at Dengie range, the pilot in an attack hitting the sea-wall some distance past the target. A court of inquiry has been convened. Flying below 1,000 feet in this area is prohibited apart from authorised low flying in the course of exercises at firing ranges.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now completed his studies and consultations on the reports on legislation establishing racial discrimination in the Colonies; and if he can now make a statement.

I hope to be able to make a statement about the position in the African territories very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is proposed to be taken against the persons responsible for the losses on the Gambia poultry scheme.

As I informed the House on 13th March, a change was made in the management of this project in December, 1950. No further action of the kind referred to in the Question is contemplated. I understand that there is no case for legal action of any kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether all the outstanding details in connection with the deduction of Indian Income Tax from pensions to residents in this country have now been cleared up; and if he has any further statement to make on this subject.

Discussions with officials of the Government of India on detailed arrangements for the working of the relevant provisions of the Indian Income Tax Act have begun. I am not yet able to make a further statement on the subject.