asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that at the recent industrial exhibitions at Milan and Brussels the United Kingdom exhibition compared unfavourably with the exhibitions of other countries; and what steps is he taking to ensure that at future industrial exhibitions overseas this state of affairs will not be repeated.

The United Kingdom stand at the recent Milan Trade Fair was designed in accordance with the policy recommended in the Ramsden Report on Exhibitions and Fairs (Command Paper 6782 of March, 1946). This Report recommended that Government participation should take the form of an information bureau in support of United Kingdom exhibitors located in their appropriate trade sections.The United Kingdom stand did not compare unfavourably with those of other countries, such as Canada, who adhered to these principles. Certain countries, however, put on expensive exhibits for reasons of prestige. I believe that the Milan Fair authorities are considering a change in their regulations for future fairs to bring them more into line with the policy to which I have referred. There was no United Kingdom Government participation in the Brussels Fair of 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans for controlling the rising price of sisal so as to make it economically possible for Scottish fishermen to maintain their fishing gear efficiently, or replace it when worn out.

All sisal used in this country is imported. I have no control over the price at which it is sold, as this is governed by world conditions of supply and demand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what have been the results of the action taken to recover sulphur from coke oven gases and the like from plants owned by the nationalised industries.

Sulphur is already recovered from coke oven gases fed to the public mains. Both the coal and steel industries are studying projects for the further recovery of sulphur from coke oven gases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has given a free hand to the Newsprint Supply Company to purchase newsprint in Canada; and what quantities have been bought for delivery in the next three years.

The Newsprint Supply Company, Ltd., have been authorised to conclude contracts for 525,000 tons of newsprint from Canada in the three-year period 1952–54 on a rising scale of deliveries, subject only to certain conditions as to increasing stocks. I understand that as a result of their negotiations they have been able to obtain a guarantee of a minimum quantity of 300,000 tons, but that the further quantities authorised by His Majesty's Government will only be available at the option of the suppliers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that manufacturers comply with minimum requirements laid down in utility specifications.

The form of specification of different kinds of utility goods varies considerably, and methods of enforcement vary accordingly. Officers of my Department pay periodical visits of inspection to factories making footwear and furniture; in other cases complaints are investigated as they arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the publication of the Report of the Working Party on Hackney Carriage Laws.

The membership of this Working Party was restricted to representatives of the cab trade, Departmental officials and a representative of the Commissioner of Police. It has been concerned with practical questions rather than with issues of general principle, and I do not think it would be appropriate to publish its Reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the Report of the Working Party or such other evidence as caused him to consent to the recent further increase in taxicab fares in the London area.

My recent decision to increase fares was reached after considering Reports on the financial position of the industry prepared, at my request, by an independent accountant. I could not publish the Reports without revealing information made available to me in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to make to ensure that an elector, when left off the register owing to the fault of the registration department of a local authority, is not deprived of his right to exercise the franchise.

The law does not provide for correcting the register after publication in such cases, and I do not propose to introduce amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the long record of delinquency and crime of Derek Poole; whether he is aware that youths with similar records exist; and if, in view of the need for the protection of the public, he will institute an inquiry as to the best means of dealing with such cases.

I am aware that there are unfortunately many young men with records as bad as or worse than was Derek Poole's, and that, though the methods of treatment applied to men with such records are often successful, they sometimes fail. The question of how these methods can be made more effective is constantly under review, and I do not think that a formal inquiry would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can yet report the result of his negotiations with the Governments of Northern Ireland and Eire to secure their acceptance of suitable regulations governing the export and transit of horses by sea from Ireland.

Proposals for regulating the transit of horses to this country were sent to the Governments of Northern Ireland and of the Irish Republic, and to the other interests concerned, some weeks ago for their observations. The Government of Northern Ireland has stated that it will consider making an Order on the lines proposed. The Government of the Irish Republic have suggested certain amendments to the proposals and these are being discussed between officials. Certain of the other interests consulted have not yet given their final observations.My Department will complete the consultations as quickly as possible, but it is necessary to allow a reasonable time for the consideration of the proposals, which are of a comprehensive and detailed character. I am not proposing to amend the existing regulations which govern the transit of cattle by sea from Ireland. These regulations have been in force since 1927 and appear to be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what method is employed to dispose of surplus agricultural executive committee machinery.

The present arrangements provide for disposal of surplus machinery from agricultural executive committees through trade channels and by public auction, and also by sale to agricultural contractors who have hired the machines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will furnish a comparative statement of the livestock numbers in the United Kingdom as at 4th March, 1947, and 4th March, 1951, under the following categories: cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases of fowl pest have there been in the county of Dorset in the latest convenient period; what was the number of birds destroyed; and when was the last outbreak.

Since the beginning of 1950 there has been only one outbreak of fowl pest in Dorset. This outbreak occurred on 16th January, 1951, and 818 birds were slaughtered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what travel allowance is paid to the workmen employed by the agricultural executive committees who have to use their cars to travel to work; and what allowance is paid to the foremen and officials under similar circumstances.

The travel allowances payable to C.A.E.C. manual workers and to officials vary according to circumstances. I am sending my hon. Friend a memorandum on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the serious shortage of sacks, he proposes to take any measures to increase the available pre-harvest supplies.

Yes. A supply of two-bushel hessian sacks has been offered to farmers by my Department to augment the supply of the usual hired grain sacks. A reserve of the two-bushel sacks is also being held by county agricultural executive committees to assist farmers who find themselves short of sacks at harvest time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow postwar credits to be set off against income tax.

Arrears of Income Tax on salaries and wages for 1945–46 and earlier years are set off against the post-war credit for 1945–46. That was a special arrangement made to meet exceptional circumstances, and I cannot extend it to allow other post-war credits not yet due for payment to be set off against tax arrears now due.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the profits of the Issue Department of the Bank of England for the years ending 31st March, 1940, to 31st March, 1951, inclusive.

The figures are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reduce Entertainments Duty payable on admission to football matches and other sporting contests which the British Broadcasting Corporation wish to broadcast or televise in order to induce controllers of sporting events to permit them to be broadcast or televised.

No.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will state the classes of officials for whom statutory authority exists to enter private dwelling-houses without any warrant, and the respective Statutes under which this authority exists.

I have been asked to reply. I am having this information collected and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how many people are employed in the Road Research Laboratory of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department.

270 non-industrial and 151 industrial.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement with regard to the dismissal of Mr. John Griffith from the position of chief administrative officer to the St. Helier Group Hospital Management Committee.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 10th May and the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Hardy) on 31st May. There is, however, no agreed procedure for employing authorities to follow in dealing with members of their staff who are the subject of disciplinary action, and until agreement is reached on the Health Services Whitley Council I am proposing to issue some guidance to employing authorities on this.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the circumstances leading up to the death of five-year-old Eileen Cunliffe, Bradford; and what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that such cases cannot occur in future.

I cannot yet add to the reply I gave on 7th June to the hon. Member for Bradford, North (Mr. W. J. Taylor.)

asked the Minister of Health what is now the aver age length of the delay experienced by patients waiting to be fitted with the Medresco hearing aids; and what further steps he is taking to increase the supply of these aids.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Members for Sevenoaks (Mr. John Rogders), and Langstone (Mr. Stevens), on 31st May and 26th April, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the long journeys which must be undertaken by individuals who require to be fitted with hearing aids under the National Health Service; and whether he will make arrangements for the establishment in additional places of centres for the fitting of hearing aids.

The number of distribution centres is being increased as resources allow.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to facilitate the import of terremycin from the United States of America.

Arrangements to obtain the manufacture of this drug in this country are now under consideration. The Medical Research Council are carrying out extensive clinical trials with material supplied by the American manufacturers for comparison with other drugs of a similar nature already available here.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths were recorded from cancer in 1900 and 1950; and what is the total number of deaths in the last half century.

The number of cancel deaths recorded in 1900 was 26,721 and in 1950 was 85,272. The total number of cancer deaths recorded in the 50 years 1901 to 1950 was 2,621,253.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the charges now being made for spectacles supplied under the National Health Service, he will abolish the system of prior medical certification.

This is intended to enable the doctor to decide whether the patient's trouble is due to need for spectacles or to some other cause requiring different treatment. This is not affected by the introduction of charges.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why Mr. Godding, 67 Madeira Road, North End, Portsmouth, is being made to pay for his glasses, in view of the fact that he applied for a sight test before 21st May;(2) if he will issue instructions that the date of application for a sight test, if properly authenticated, shall be the deciding factor whether a charge is payable or not for spectacles ordered.

With permission I will answer this and the following Question together. The Act provides that the governing date shall be that on which the sight-test is given, and this could only be varied by an amending Act.

asked the Minister of Health upon what principles he bases his calculations imposing a charge of £1 for a pair of spectacles, in view of the fact that the recent Act imposed one of 50 per cent. of the cost, whereas £1 is greatly in excess of this.

The charges authorised by the Act of 1951 are those specified in the Schedule.

asked the Minister of Health whether the certificate of the medical attendant and the confirmatory medical certificate required under the Cremation Act, 1902, are provided free of cost under the National Health Service, or what is the normal fee charged for such certificates.

These certificates are not provided free under the National Health Service except for the first certificate when a patient dies in hospital. The fee, which is a matter for private arrangement, is usually about £2 for the first certificate and £1 for the second.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement about the development of the old smallpox hospital at Camerton which the Cumberland County Council have agreed to sell to his Department for tuberculosis patients.

I hope very shortly to be able to approve the scheme, but I am not yet able to say when work on adapting the premises will start.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of non-training hospitals and institutions in Wales catering for senile psychotics and mental defectives; and the total number of such patients catered for.

There are 19 mental hospitals not associated with medical schools. In these there are approximately 1,260 patients aged 65–74 and 520 aged 75 and upwards. There are 15 mental deficiency institutions; accommodating 1,528 patients.

asked the Minister of Health in view of anomalies existing by which parents of children below school age or unable to secure a place in school are charged for medical or convalescent services when they would not be so charged if their children attended school, when he intends to take steps to remove this inconsistency which conflicts with the principle of a free national health service by relieving local health authorities of the responsibility of making charges in this respect.

The power of local health authorities to make charges in connection with their arrangements for the care of young children is limited to residential accommodation, food and articles provided and does not extend to medical treatment or medicines. I do not consider that any change is required.

asked the Minister of Health when he received the Report of the Mackintosh Committee on Social Workers in the Mental Health Services; when he proposes to publish it; and what action he proposes to take on its recommendations.

The Report was received on 24th February. It is now being printed for publication. The recommendations are under active consideration.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements were made for the payment of enumerators employed on compiling the census; and what is the period of delay between completion of their duties and the payment of their total remuneration.

The payment is made in two instalments. A basic allowance of £6 was paid to the enumerator when he handed the completed forms of return to the local Census officer in April: the balance (ranging in most cases from £2 to £5) comprises allowances which will vary in each of the 50,000 enumeration districts and is payable when the claims have been verified centrally. I am informed that some of these claims have already been paid, and that the remainder should be settled within the next four weeks.

asked the Minister of Health if he can yet make a statement on the provisional figures arrived at from the recent census in England and Wales.

The provisional figures for England and for Wales and for each county, each borough and each urban and rural district will appear in the Registrar General's preliminary report, which will shortly be laid before both Houses of Parliament as required by statute.

asked the Minister of Labour the average weekly wage of the workers in the Remploy (Special) Factory, Southmead, Bristol; and whether he will consider an increase to meet the rising cost of living.

As some of the workers on account of their disability do less than a full week, the average payment to all workers in the factory is £4 15s. a week. The average wage paid to men working a 44 hour week is £5 9s. Any question of variation of wage rates is for the consideration of the Company.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement about the labour force for the cotton industry during the period of the current re-armament programme.

The Government attach the greatest importance to maintaining production of cotton goods for defence, export and essential home uses, and every effort will be made to maintain, and if possible augment, the cotton industry's labour force.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he was consulted by the Football League before the finding of the National Arbitration Tribunal regarding the period of footballers contracts was changed by the Football League.

I am afraid there is some misunderstanding. The award by the National Arbitration Tribunal provides that playing season wages should commence on the first Saturday in August, but so far as I am aware there is no award governing the period of contract of players employed by clubs in the Football League. I have not been consulted by the League in regard to any recent change.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is now in a position to state what effect the increase on the cost of school meals, from 6d. to

asked the Minister of Education whether he will introduce a distinction mark in addition to the old pass mark in the General Certificate of Education.

The present arrangements, which enable candidates to show their qualifications in a particular subject at one of two levels, the Ordinary and the Advanced, are only just coming into operation, and my right hon. Friend would therefore be reluctant to vary them. He is not convinced that the addition of a third level of qualification would be either necessary or desirable.

asked the Minister of Education why, in the negotiations between himself, the Durham County Council and the teaching profession, he refused to include any representatives of the National Association of School masters, although several hundred teachers affected by the action of the council belonged to that association.

My right hon. Friend invited the organisations which represent the main body of teachers in the various categories of schools in the country.

It is difficult to draw reliable conclusions on the evidence so far available, but the following figures give the numbers and percentages of children taking dinners shown in the returns made for single days in February and May, 1951, before and after the charge for dinners was raised to 7d..

asked the Minister of Education what was the cost per place of building the nursery and primary school at Ricardo Street, Poplar; and how many vacant places there are in the two sections of the school.

£182 and £196, respectively. The nursery school, which will provide 80 places, is not yet completed. The primary school was opened on 9th April last with accommodation for 520 pupils. On 25th May, the latest date for which information is available, there were 397 pupils on the registers.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations took place between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Governments of India and Pakistan with regard to the situation in Tibet; and if any joint action was agreed on.

We are always in close touch with the Government of India on matters relating to Tibet since all our existing Treaty rights and obligations with regard to Tibet were assumed by the Government of India on the transfer of power to India in 1947 and they maintain a representative in Lhasa. Our exchanges of views with other Commonwealth Governments are always treated as confidential but I can say that no question of joint action has in fact arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made with the Okovango scheme affecting Bechuana-land.

My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to suggestions that have been put forward from time to time for developing a large area in the northern part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate by controlled use of the waters of the Okovango River, which at present run to waste in a swampy region covering about 5,000 square miles. In June last year I authorised a grant of £28,000 to the Bechuanaland Protectorate Government from Colonial Development and Welfare funds to finance a preliminary survey of the Okovango area, including an investigation into the practicability and cost of certain major schemes which have been put forward. This work is now in progress and will last until at least 1953. When it is completed we shall be in a better position to judge to what extent large-scale development in the area is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what members of the Bamangwato tribe were forbidden to attend the recent meeting with him at which those present told him that they did not wish for a return of Tshekedi Khama to their territory; and for what reason they were forbidden to attend.

The only persons who were advised not to attend the Bamangwato tribal meeting with me in Serowe were followers of Tshekedi Khama who had gone with him to live at Rametsane in the neighbouring Bakwena Reserve. Less than 48 hours before the meeting Tshekedi Khama sought permission to send a deputation of these people to the Kgotla at Serowe. His application was refused by the Administration because in the opinion of the Bamangwato tribal leaders the attendance of the deputation might cause trouble or disorder and because the members of the proposed deputation had by their own act of removing themselves to the territory of another chief forfeited, under native law and custom their right to attend Bamangwato tribal meetings.Subsequently, and in accordance with this decision, five of Tshekedi's followers from Rametsane who happened to be in the neighbourhood of Serowe on visits were advised by the Administration and tribal functionaries not to attend. Tshekedi and his followers in Rametsane later attended another kgotla which I held in the Bakwena Reserve in which they are now resident. I also had talks in Mafeking with Tshekedi and some of his followers from Rametsane.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many times since his original exclusion from the Bamangwato Reserve of Bechuanaland has Tshekedi Khama re turned to the reserve; what has been his longest period of stay; and whether any disturbances have resulted from his presence.

Since the original order of exclusion was served in accordance with the decisions set out in the White Paper (CMD. 7913) Tshekedi Khama has been given conditional permission to enter the Bamangwato Reserve several times. His longest visit to the Reserve lasted some weeks, of which he spent over half in the company of a district officer handing over to Seretse Khama the cattle which formed the latter's inheritance. I can let my hon. Friend have more precise information on these two points when I have heard from the High Commissioner. No disturbances directly resulted from his presence, in the Reserve on these visits. On each occasion, however, special precautions were taken by the Administration and police.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many local councils have been established in Bechuanaland; how many of these are in the Bamangwato Reserve; and what is the composition of these councils.

No local councils have yet been established in the Bamangwato Reserve or elsewhere in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. In accordance with the policy of His Majesty's Government laid down in the White Paper, steps are now being taken in the Bamangwato Reserve to introduce as speedily as circumstances permit more representative forms of local government based on indigenous institutions. His Majesty's Government's aim in the other native areas of the Protectorate is gradually to introduce more representative forms of local government centred round the chieftainship as a continuing institution; but this can only be achieved with the co-operation of the people and the chiefs.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations under what legislation have powers been used to exclude Tshekedi Khama, a British-protected person, from the Bamangwato Reserve of Bechuanaland; and what opportunity is to be given him to answer publicly amongst his own people the charges made against him.

The order excluding Tshekedi Khama from the Bamangwato Reserve was made under Section 3 of the Bechuanaland Protectorate Maintenance of Peace Proclamation, under which such an order may be made on its being shown to the satisfaction of the High Commissioner that there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person is dangerous to the peace of the Protectorate. The High Commissioner has a general responsibility for the maintenance of law and order in the Protectorate. Specific charges are not involved, and such a decision does not necessarily reflect any discredit on the person concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the United Nations Organisation as to the number of service personnel now serving in Korea of each contributing member of the United Nations.

Although information about the numbers of men in Korea has been released for one or two contributing countries, the Unified Command prefer that for security reasons such details should not in general be disclosed. Apart from the United States and the United Kingdom, the following members of the United Nations now have men serving in Korea:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to people living at the Racecourse Estate, Ely, Cardiff, by the lack of adequate telephone kiosk facilities; and what steps he is taking to remedy this grievance.

Yes. Arrangements have already been made to provide a telephone kiosk on this estate by the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning the comparative figures of housing accommodation to date per head of population, and for the year 1938.

On the information available, it is estimated that additional accommodation has been provided since 1938 for about four million persons, compared with an estimated increase in population of about two and a half million over the same period.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning the number of orders confirmed by him under Section 28 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947; if he will give the number of such orders for each of the county planning areas in England and Wales; and if he is satisfied with the progress in implementing the section.

388 orders have been confirmed. Details by counties are given below. Some very good work has been done by local authorities in preserving trees and woodlands, but I want to see a great deal more. I am never satisfied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what powers are retained by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with respect to territories which enjoy self-government within the Commonwealth.

I assume that the hon. Member does not refer to the independent members of the Commonwealth but to the territories for which my right hon. Friend is responsible. In these territories the extent of the control exercised by His Majesty's Government varies considerably. The general constitutional position is that in addition to the authority of Parliament, there are certain powers which may be exercised by His Majesty or by the Governor, according to the constitution of the territory concerned.

asked the Minister of Food the average cost per acre to the Queensland British Food Corporation of clearing and ploughing the area so far put down to sorghum; and by how much has the cost exceeded the original estimate.

The total cost of land clearing and development up to 30th September, 1950, was £A.8,175. Expenditure on other operations carried out in order to bring land into a state suitable for agricultural and pastoral operations (and charged to revenue) up to the same date was £A.29,259. The Corporation's records do not, however, enable these costs to be divided between the acreage laid down to crops and the acreage improved for grazing.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many of the sealed eggs recently sold in Liverpool were bad; and to what extent he is satisfied with the effects of sealing.

The extensive inquiries which I have made through the trade and local food offices do not support the hon. Member's suggestion.The process of preserving eggs by sealing with oil and then putting into cold storage is used in all the principal egg producing countries. It was the subject of careful experiments here before being applied on a commercial scale, and I think that it is satisfactory and effective. The oils used for sealing are odourless, tasteless and colourless and they do not affect the flavour of the eggs.I should be obliged, if the hon. Member would submit any detailed evidence to support the allegation in his Question. If he will do so, I will at once have it examined.

asked the Minister of Food how much cheese he has recently purchased in the United States of America; and at what price.

On our purchases of cheese from the United States of America during the first five months of this year I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 4th June to the hon. Member for Wembley, South. It would not be in the public interest to disclose particulars of individual day-to-day transactions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the grave consequences of the continuing delays experienced in loading and discharging ships at British ports of call, resulting in more ships than formerly being required to carry the same volume of cargo in a year; and whether he will now initiate discussions, or take other steps to improve upon this state of affairs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 4th June and to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 11th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the Territorial decorations gazetted 18 months ago will be issued to recipients.

All Efficiency Decorations gazetted up to 31st December, 1949, have been issued with the exception of eight. In two of these cases the recipients have died and in the other six the recipients cannot be traced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he now has any further statement to make in connection with the question of rented houses which, on becoming vacant, are offered for sale.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. McGovern) on 24th April.