asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to make a statement on dock labour reforms throughout the country following his consultations with interested parties.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement as to action recently taken or pending in order to implement recommendations of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Unofficial Stoppages in the London Docks, particularly in reference to establishing good relationships between all parties and providing improved amenities for workers.

My consultations with the National Joint Council for the port transport industry are not yet completed.

Is it not a fact that one of the principal recommendations of the Leggett Committee was that the Communist elements, who are only concerned with disrupting the ports of this country, should be dismissed from the industry, and as there is agreement between the employers and the trade unions on that recommendation, why is the hon. Gentleman not prepared to act?

I do not think that it is the function of the Government to dismiss people from the port industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give any information as to new methods of combating dangerous dust hazards in the pottery industry, especially in the tile industry; and what action he is taking to encourage their use.

New or improved methods in regard to a wide variety of matters have been developed and are being increasingly applied in consultation with the factory department. They include new and better methods of rendering floors impervious and of cleaning them, and improvements in the design of vacuum cleaning appliances; improved transport of ground flint and clay dust: a new flint calcining process which avoids some dusty operations; and as regards tile works in particular, improvements in the arrangements for dust storage and supply and a newly developed process for preparing clay dust.

I thank my hon. Friend for the information he has given, but is he aware that two firms are using methods on the lines he himself has suggested, as the result of which it is virtually impossible for silicosis to affect workers in the tile-making industry, and will he do all that he can to see that his inspectors urge other firms to use these methods?

I do not know whether the methods used by the two firms my hon. Friend has mentioned are known to us. I will make inquiries and see what I can do to help him.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how far these improved methods to which he has referred are being used? I can assure him that if he needs assistance from this House in applying these methods he will get it in full measure.

I am quite sure that that is so. I am not quite certain which are the two firms my hon. Friend has mentioned, but I will look into the matter.

Is my hon. Friend not aware that in the report of the Chief Inspector of Factories these firms are specifically mentioned, although, of course, not by name, as having brought forward these specific ways of handling tile dust so that there is no risk at all to the worker?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is yet able to make a statement about the negotiations to encourage Government Departments and the nationalised industries to retain their employees after the age of 65 years if they are fit and anxious to continue at work.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to a similar Question on 5th June.

Will the Minister treat this as a matter of urgency as, for example, in the railway industry people are still being discharged against their will on reaching the age of 65?

Yes, Sir. We are very concerned about it. We have brought our policy to the attention of the industries concerned, and we will do everything that we can to see that it is carried out.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his original announcement was made in April, that it is now nearly the end of July and the Government have not yet made up their minds? Meanwhile, men who are reaching 65 are still being dismissed from the Service Departments. Will he look into this matter?

It is not true to say that the Government have not made up their minds. Our policy is well known, and we have done what we can. The hon. and gallant Gentleman will realise that very necessary re-arrangements have to be made in industries to do this. We cannot expect people to alter their whole policy and make other arrangements in a short space of time when for many years they have been functioning on a very different basis.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the recommendations of the Report of the Working Party on the Employment of Blind Persons.

The recommendations of the Report of the Working Party on the Employment of Blind Persons cover a wide range of topics and involve many considerations. These are at present being discussed with Government Departments and the various other interests concerned in the welfare and employment of the blind, and the steps eventually taken will depend to some extent on the result of these discussions.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many blind persons found employment comparatively easily during the war and in the years immediately following the war, but are finding it very difficult to obtain employment now? Could he do something to help them?

We are in consultation with those people who co-ordinate the activities of blind people. I am not sure that my hon. Friend is right in believing that there is any large increase in the numbers unemployed. We will certainly look into it and help in any way we can.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to make known to employers the terms of paragraph 4 of Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December, 1948, was given full publicity in a Command Paper (No. 7662) issued in early 1949.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is a firm known as D. C. Thomson, of Dundee, Glasgow and Salford, who have had a closed shop for the last 25 years and do not employ members of trade unions? People who are employed there must sign a declaration not to belong to a trade union, and in view of the international decision about human rights, what is the Minister prepared to do with this firm?

I do not know that we have the power to do anything, but I agree with my hon. Friend that it is deplorable that in 1951 any firm should have to adopt such disgusting tactics.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when the Minister of Labour was winding up the debate on the Hants-Dorset bus dispute the other evening, he showed himself at variance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

I do not at all accept that.

If the Minister decides to give further publicity to the provision mentioned in the Question, will he at the same time give equal publicity to the provision of paragraph 2 of Article 20 of the same Universal Declaration, that no one may be compelled to belong to an association?

I do not know if that includes the trade union that caters for solicitors and lawyers.

Is my hon. friend aware that at the United Nations on 10th December it was recommended for international acceptance that everyone had the right to form a trade union for the protection of his or her own interests?

I quite accept that.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent difficulty still exists in finding employment for retired ex-Regular officers of all three Services; and whether, in view of the manpower shortage, he proposes to take any special steps to absorb them.

Although the number of unemployed ex-Regular officers is smaller than at the beginning of the year, it remains difficult to find suitable employment for those who have no professional or technical qualifications, particularly when they have settled in parts of the country where few administrative or executive posts are available. Special appeals have been and will continue to be made to employers to consider sympathetically the claims of ex-Regular officers and to notify suitable vacancies to my appointments offices.

Can the Minister say how many Regular officers are on the books of the Ministry of Labour?

The number of unemployed ex-officers registered at the appointments office fell from 1,703 in January of this year to 1,302 this month, and placings increased from 129 during the three months ending 16th April to 160 during the three months ending 16th July.

Does the Minister think that adequate publicity has been given to the much improved conditions which now obtain for ex-Regular officers who rejoin the Services?

I should have thought that those conditions were pretty well-known to ex-Regular officers, but I will consult my right hon. Friend at the War Office and see what can be done.

asked the Minister of Labour the hours of work and the wages paid to the workers in the Remploy Factory at Wallsend; and what is the percentage of output expected from these disabled men compared with workers in the ordinary factories.

The hours of work at the Wallsend Remploy Factory are 44 per week and the wages of adult severely disabled workers range from £4 8s. 0d. to £5 10s. 0d. per week. No specific output is laid down for these workers but, while it is Remploy's policy not to make unreasonable demands of them, each is expected to make his maximum contribution to production within the limits of his disability.

Can the Minister say how the hours, wages and conditions of work are regulated, and by whom?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour is he is aware that there is dissatisfaction in the Remploy Factory at Wallsend about the pressure put upon the men to produce a given output regardless of their varied disabilities and skill; and if he will have inquiries made and a report given to the hon. Member for Wallsend.

I have no knowledge of any dissatisfaction among the workers at Wallsend Remploy Factory on the ground that pressure is being put upon them to produce more than their disabilities allow. From inquiries made, I find that two workers complained of the exhibition of a chart illustrating progress of work in each section of the factory intended to enlist their active interest in production, but I understand that trade union representatives who saw it were satisfied with its purpose.

I asked whether an investigation could be made and a report given. Can that be done?

As I pointed out to my hon. Friend, the charge against which some complaint is made has been shown to the trade union people who represent the workers concerned, and they find no cause for complaint of any sort.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to control the hours of work in industry.

I see no necessity for introducing further legislation on this matter.

May it be assumed from that reply that the hon. Gentleman has no aversion whatever to firms working five days a week, and if that be so, can he explain why traders who work five days a week are being asked to open on Saturdays in order to receive goods carried by British Road Services, while traders opening on Saturdays are being asked not to deliver goods to the railways on that day?

The Government do not wish to interfere with the arrangements that are made between employers and trade unions as to how the work in industry may be carried out. We cover young people and women by legislation, but I would not like to extend that by any means.

I hope the nationalised industries will take note.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons were injured by woodworking machines, drilling machines and lathes in 1949; and whether he will list the types of machines where danger exists for young, inexperienced workers and the safety guards required.

The statistics asked for are not available, and the suggestion in the second part of the Question is quite impracticable.

Possibly the hon. Gentleman has misunderstood the latter part of the Question, which asked whether he was prepared to proscribe these machines in the case of young persons?

The difficulty is that one or two sorts of machines, such as drillers and lathes, cannot be proscribed. There is a whole series of different types of machines and some single-purpose machines produced for the purpose of a single employer's needs, and to begin to proscribe one or two of them would not make any difference to accident rates.

Do not the Factory Regulations already provide that every dangerous machine shall be securely guarded?

Yes, certainly.

As the hon. Member is obviously misinformed, would he read the last report on this subject by the Chief Inspector of Factories?

I may be misinformed, but I have worked at lathes and machines from the age of 14 until I came to this House.

Is the Minister aware that one of the most dangerous lethal machines in general use in this country is the bacon slicer in the grocer's shop, which is not covered by the provisions of the Factory Acts at all?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish a table showing the number of foreign workers, men and women, shown separately, who have been admitted from each country in each year since the inception of the schemes for the immigration of European volunteer workers; how many have returned; how many have proved unsuitable; and whether he has any information as to the number who stay with the employer by whom they were engaged for the full year agreed.

I am having the available information extracted and will write to my hon. Friend.

What proportion of them fulfilled their obligations by staying for a year in their employment? Is my hon. Friend satisfied with the results?

In the main, yes.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will accelerate the introduction of safety regulations for divers on civil engineering works, with special consideration to telephone communication with the surface.

A preliminary draft code of safety, health and welfare regulations for various kinds of civil engineering works was published this year, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. Draft Regulations Nos. 80 and 83 deal with this subject. Consultations with the various bodies concerned will necessarily take some time, but I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that there will be no unreasonable delay.

Will the Minister promulgate these Regulations as quickly as possible, paying particular attention to the question of telephone communication with the surface? Is he aware that only last week a most distressing accident occurred to a diver, employed by British Railways at Holy-head, who had to cut off his own fingers to release himself from a trap, and that this accident could have been avoided if he could have spoken by telephone to the surface?

We wish to help these gallant men in any way possible, and we will expedite the matter accordingly.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements have been made to call up agricultural workers and farmers in the autumn for National Service; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture in the course of the debate last Wednesday.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now consider exempting from National Service men who have served five years with the Merchant Navy.

No, Sir. Employment in the Merchant Navy in peace time is not regarded as equivalent to National Service and, as in the case of a coalminer or agricultural worker, a young man born in or after 1929 who leaves the Merchant Navy before reaching the age of 26 is liable to call-up under the National Service Acts.

Is it not wrong to call up these men for service in the Army when it is obvious that, in case of emergency, they will be re-called either to the Merchant Navy or to the Royal Navy?

That question might be applied to a whole series of people in industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many gas and air machines have now arrived in Coatbridge.

I am glad to say that four machines have now arrived. The town council have indicated that if a need for more is demonstrated more will be ordered.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there has been any demand or any application from the women of Coatbridge for this machine?

In fairness, I have to state to my hon. Friend that so far there has been only one woman in the whole burgh who has applied for treatment by this machine.

Does that supplementary question not show clearly that proper administration of the analgesia service in Coatbridge is badly lacking?

You can appreciate my difficulty, Mr. Speaker, in keeping the peace. The town council has given reasonable publicity to the service. We must admit the right of women to chose the method which they think is most appropriate to their confinement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any report by the Amenity Committee in regard to Constructional Scheme No. 25, the Breadalbane project, of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

Yes, Sir, I have received from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board a copy of the recommendations made by the Amenity Committee on the Breadalbane Scheme, together with the Board's observations upon the recommendations.

Was the report in favour of the scheme or against it? Is it not desirable that the report should be published so that the community may know the facts?

I read the report with great care. I do not think it would be quite proper for me to comment upon it yet. The report is bound to be published since, if the scheme is objected to, there is a statutory obligation to make the report available to an inquiry. If there is no objection, the recommendations will be published in the White Paper which accompanies the scheme on its presentation to the House.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say whether the report was favourable to or against the scheme?

I am not going to comment upon it, but I have to make it clear that while the Committee have many recommendations to make—some, in my opinion, very good recommendations— they did, of course, accept the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date herring curers in Wick who had completed their Herring Industry Board quota were notified that, subject to certain conditions, they could go on buying herrings and curing them from 10th July.

I am informed by the Herring Industry Board that all curers at Wick who have completed their quota were informed of the arrangement referred to by the hon. Gentleman before they had done so, some on 10th July and others as they neared their quota.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept my assurance that no curers at all in the town of Wick had any knowledge of this change until the night of the 12th, two days after the Order came into operation?

I should be glad to accept it, because the hon. Gentleman and I share anxiety upon the point. In fairness to the Board, I must say that information in my possession leads me to conclude that some of the curers at any rate had the information on 10th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the plans of the Herring Industry Board for the restoration of the herring fishing and marketing of the landings in the Isle of Barra and the Uist Islands.

Until there is evidence of the return to the Barra and Uist grounds of the shoals of fine quality summer herring obtained there before the war, I am informed by the Board that they would not feel justified in renewing the efforts they have made since the war to redevelop herring fishing and the facilities for the disposal of the catch in the area.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Western Isles some of the world's finest seamen are now standing idle? Surely something can be done by the Herring Industry Board to give them employment?

It would be very unreasonable if a person of my name, of all people, were inconsiderate to this Island of Barra. I must admit, since these shoals are not there in quantity, that it would be unjustifiable to set up machinery and facilities which could not be used because of the absence of the herring in substantial quantities.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the maatjes cured in this locality are an epicurean article ranking with caviar? Will he therefore direct the Herring Industry Board to make intensive research into this matter, as the result might be very advantageous to this country?

I am so delighted to hear the hon. Member turning away from his parochial choice of herring and oatmeal that I am anxious to agree with him. I have spent some time trying to persuade some of my American friends of the obvious truths about our herring. The fact is, however, that the herring are not now there in quantity. If the hon. Gentleman has any influence on this subject, perhaps he will let me know.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have seen herring— some of the finest herring in the world— landed at this place in the early summer, only to be sold for fishmeal and oil products? Surely the Herring Industry Board have some better policy than that.

I do not quarrel with my hon. Friend at all on this subject. Whatever the fine summer quality of the herring may be, we can dispose of the fish. Unfortunately, there is not the herring in the seas at the moment, and I scarcely think the Government can be asked to take action to remedy that situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the plans for water supply for the Isle of North Uist; what part of the work is to begin this year; and whether he will take urgent steps to hasten the work in view of the deplorable condition of the existing supplies.

The county council have prepared a regional scheme for North Uist estimated to cost over £200,000, but they have not so far included any part of it in their initial programme of the most urgent works. I am prepared, however, naturally to consider any adjustment of the programme within its present approved limits which the county council may suggest for this purpose.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that all the schemes within the present financial limit are already prepared and that some of them are now under way, that no provision whatever has been made for this island in the next four or five years, that at this moment there is an epidemic of gastro-enteritis and influenza, that the local doctor is using pumped water, and that the place is in a deplorable condition from the unhealthy and unhygienic water? Cannot my right hon. Friend put some life into these schemes and see that North Uist has a chance with the rest of the country?

I have great sympathy, but I am sure that my hon. Friend would not ask me to do the work of the county council. The scheme is there on paper, and it is for them to make a programme for their scheme.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the urgent nature of the problem throughout the whole of the Highlands?

I am aware of it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is not the county council which sets the overall limit of expenditure, and that the county council has prepared schemes to the limit of that expenditure? Surely the Department of Health and the Treasury can now make some allowance and show a little elasticity in favour of places as badly served as this island?

I think I have displayed my willingness not to be tied to a rigid figure, but the material and labour must he available.

The labour is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Mr. William Anderson, 5, New Edinburgh Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian, has been refused legal aid and assistance.

This is a matter of day to day administration of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Scheme, 1950, which has been entrusted to the Law Society of Scotland and for which, therefore, my hon. Friend will understand I have no responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the latest figures available showing the effect of the recent 1d. increase in the price of school dinners.

It is estimated that there has been a decrease of just under 1.6 per cent. in the number of pupils taking school dinners.

May I ask my right hon. Friend two questions? First, is he absolutely convinced that this sum of money could not have been saved in more desirable directions from our point of view? Secondly, is he aware that the extra pennies for over 14 million school meals could have been provided by cutting out £60,000 from the annual increment paid to Queen Mary?

I do not think the second part arises at all. I have been anxious to vary the scheme in any detail which would make it easier for these authorities, but my hon. Friend must know that, happily, the drop is not significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of school children in Glasgow receiving meals; and what the effect on these numbers are following the recent increases in the cost of the meal.

The number dropped from 59,000 in March to 57,800 in June. This, however, I am glad to point out, is not more than the usual seasonal decrease.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the selection of tubercular patients for treatment in Switzerland; on what basis is selection determined; and when are the first patients likely to leave the United Kingdom.

As I explained when announcing these arrangements on 10th April last, patients selected for treatment in Switzerland are normally persons in need of at least six months sanatorium care but unlikely to require any major surgical operation. Treatment in Switzerland is offered to persons recommended for sanatorium treatment in the ordinary way, where on medical grounds this particular treatment is considered appropriate by the tuberculosis physicians.

Whilst thanking my hon. Friend for that information, would he indicate what steps are being taken to give the maximum amount of publicity to these facts and figures in the T.B. hospitals and to all T.B. patients throughout Scotland?

I should have thought that has received wide publicity through the co-operation of the Press, but I should be glad to consider whether there is any other scheme we can utilise to bring it to the notice of the patients.

Is it still a fact that only 130 beds altogether have been arranged for British patients in Switzerland? Having regard to the fact that there are upwards of 10,000 people awaiting treatment for tuberculosis, is there no hope of arranging for a far greater number of beds in Switzerland for patients from this country?

I must resist the attempt to make any party capital out of this and point out that this represents more beds than ever before. But I ask hon. Gentlemen to go slowly in what at this stage can only be an experiment, although it is an experiment about which I am very optimistic.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there can be no question of party capital here; it is a question of arithmetic. I am merely asking him to compare the existing number of beds, 130, with the stated number of patients, which is 10,000.

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman is going to press me, let me say that his arithmetic is wrong. He must multiply it by two for Great Britain, and that number gives more beds than any Opposition Member ever thought of.

Really, this gross attempt to make party capital must be resisted. Is the Minister not aware that he was pressed by the Opposition for many a long month before the slightest action was taken by the Government?

Oh!

I must confess that I am indebted to the co-operation of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman upon this subject. While I do not want to be pushed, I must repeat that the Opposition, when in power, took no special steps.

On that point, surely the right hon. Gentleman is aware that a much larger number of beds was available at home then?

indicated dissent.

Is it not right and proper that we on this side of the House should make party political capital out of this wonderful Service that was talked about so much by the Opposition but about which nothing was done?

May I point out that the hon. Member is seeking to disprove the statement of the Secretary of State and that an attempt is being made to make party capital out of this from his own benches?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the National Committee for Old People's Welfare and from the National Corporation for the care of the old on the virtual impossibility of getting hospital accommodation for old people who need it; and what reply he has made to these representations.

I regret I cannot trace having received any such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent there is a deficiency of school sites in new housing areas in Glasgow; and in how many cases have the areas approved as sites been smaller than the standards laid down by the Scottish Education Department.

The number of school sites in new housing areas in Glasgow is adequate for the needs of the areas themselves, but sufficient provision has not been made there or elsewhere in the city for special schools and for secondary schools to serve wider areas. Of the 66 sites in the new areas, 17 are smaller than those recommended by the Department.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that under Circular 46 of the Scottish Department of Health of May, 1950, the power to determine these standards was given to local authorities for an experimental period of one year? Can he now say what consideration has been given to the future attitude of his Department on the areas of school premises?

It is a subject about which I am considerably worried. It must vary from area to area, and I ought to say that while general consideration is pending, there are substantial difficulties in Glasgow of which we must take account.

May I ask, further, if my right hon. Friend is considering withdrawing these powers from the local authorities and resuming them himself?

No, I am considering what is the best method I can use to put up the needed number of schools approximately to the standards required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider issuing a report covering the progress and changes which have been made in the scope and content of Scottish education during the first half of the present century.

As was stated in my Report on Education in Scotland in 1950, I am arranging for an historical survey of the Leaving Certificate Examination, with an assessment of its effects upon the development of secondary education in Scotland, to be included in my Report for 1951. An historical survey of the development of technical education was included in a Report of the Advisory Council published in 1946. I will consider the inclusion of surveys of other aspects of education in future Reports.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to how far education authorities are finding the new promotion schemes an improvement over previous practice, with regard particularly to pliability.

It is still rather too early to assess what improvement the new promotion schemes have effected, but my in. formation is that they are generally regarded by education authorities as more satisfactory than the former procedure and that they are reasonably flexible in operation.

My right hon. Friend will appreciate that these schemes have been in operation, I think, since 1947. May we hope that in the next Annual Report we will have more than the three lines that are devoted to them in the Report for 1950?

indicated assent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, when land is surveyed to determine the best allocation between forestry and agriculture, what consideration is given to ensuring that the agricultural holdings created are of such a size and nature as to provide a living for a family.

The surveys referred to by my hon. Friend are not primarily directed towards the re-organisation of agricultural units, but when land is purchased under the Forestry Acts and reconstitution of agricultural holdings is necessary, the aim is to provide units of an economic size wherever possible.

Does that mean that all the units at present being provided are of an economic size?

I should say that that was generally true.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses under the special programme for housing agricultural workers have now been allocated; how many have been completed; and what are the pro-proportions of traditional and nontraditional houses.

Four thousand one hundred houses have been allocated in this programme. 64 per cent. of the 2,170 houses completed and 17 per cent. of the 820 houses under construction at the end of June were non-traditional houses. The remainder were traditional houses.

Can my right hon. Friend say how the proportion of nontraditional houses compares with the proportions of other types of houses in the housing programmes?

I am indebted to my hon. Friend for his interest and prodding on this subject. In the first instalment, the proportion of non-traditional houses was higher, but in those under construction the proportion was lower.

Will my right hon. Friend consider advising local authorities, in placing their tenders, to give preference to non-traditional house building in order that we might speed up the completion of houses in Scotland?

Yes. I have already indicated almost a reluctance on my part to usurp the job of local authorities, but while every consideration should be given to the local contractors I hope that where they do not have the potential to undertake the job, local authorities will use non-traditional houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Department's regulations concerning cattle grids will be available for the local authorities in Scotland.

According to my information, the general provisions regarding the installation of cattle grids under the Highways (Provision of Cattle Grids) Act, 1950, are contained in Circular No. 659, which was issued to local authorities by the Ministry of Transport on 4th May last.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a month ago hill farming schemes for cattle grids were being held up by the lack of issue of these regulations? Will the Secretary of State look into this matter again? Is this not a case where a little more bureaucratic expedition could assist home food production?

I am sure that the noble Lord is misinformed. I have looked at some hill schemes myself where cattle grids were included, and which would, of course, rank for grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to increase judicial salaries in Scotland to bring them into line with the recently proposed increase in the salaries of county court judges.

I hope to make a statement at an early date on this subject.

Will this statement apply to all classes of judicial officers in Scotland, or only to sheriffs and sheriffs-substitute?

It will not apply to all classes.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is just as important for Scottish judges to be put in a position to maintain appropriate standards of life as it is for their English colleagues?

I have never doubted that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make this statement before the House rises for the Summer Recess?

I very much hope so.

Will my right hon. Friend take into account the position of, for example, the chairman of the Scottish Land Court, who has the status of a judge, but not the salary?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the higher income groups in Scotland receive encouragement from him to have higher salaries at present, it will arouse the greatest resentment throughout the lower income group, particularly rail-way-men and others employed in heavy occupations, who are not receiving wage increases?

I did not think it was obvious that I was encouraging anyone.

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind that no reasonable person in Scotland will object to these law officers receiving what is due to them and is long overdue?

Will the decision in regard to English county court judges in any way affect the terms of my right hon. Friend's statement?

It would be unusual if there were a separation between these two sectors of justice.

Arising out of a question from the benches opposite, does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the salaries at present paid to sheriffs and to sheriffs-substitute are, in view of their responsibilities, an absolute scandal?

asked the Minister of Pensions the basis upon which the annual maintenance allowance of £52 10s., paid to disabled persons who have been provided with a motor car by his Department, was calculated.

The allowance represents the Government's contribution towards the cost of garaging the car, maintaining it in a roadworthy condition, and towards incidental running expenses. The State pays the insurance and road tax in addition.

In view of the fact that the Petrol Duty has been twice increased in the last year or so, is the Minister satisfied that undue hardship is not being caused to pensioners using these cars?

The hon. Member's question gives me the opportunity of making this point clear. None of this allowance is allocated towards petrol. It is meant to cover the cost of garaging, repairs, tyres and spare parts—in other words, to keep the car in running order—and not the cost of petrol for running it.

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the fact that some of the users of these cars have been considerably embarrassed by being asked to pay sometimes a considerable sum to have the runway from the street to their garage altered so that they can get the car in and out? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider this matter?

The Minister and the Government cannot undertake the reconstruction of houses, but we help in every way we can. When it is considered that the sum of £52 10s. is given to keep a new car in running order, it is not an unreasonable amount.

asked the Minister of Pensions when Mr. P. H. Titchen, Ordnance House, London Road, Pitsea, will be issued with a wheeled chair for which he was recommended in December, 1950.

A hand-propelled chair was delivered to Mr. Titchen on 28th June, but unfortunately he feels that he is unable to manage it. He is 78 years of age. One of my technical experts is visiting him this week to see how his special needs can best be met.

I appreciate the Minister's answer, but would he not agree that an inordinate delay to a man aged 78 is likely to cause greater distress than it would to a younger person? Since this chair was first recommended a long time ago, could he not impress upon his officials the need for more efficient and expeditious handling of the matter?

I assure the hon. Member that my officials have done their best to expedite it. The whole matter is governed by the supply situation. Such a great number of these vehicles have been issued lately to pensioners that for the time being we have outrun the capacity of the factories.

asked the Minister of Pensions for an estimate of what would be the cost of paying pensions, irrespective of the date of marriage, to widows whose husbands died as a result of active service before 3rd September, 1939; and what steps he is taking to remove the present anomaly.

I regret that there are too many unknown factors to permit me to give a reliable estimate of the number of such widows and, therefore, of the cost of paying pensions to them. With regard to the second part of the Question, I do not think I can usefully add to the reply given by my Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd), on 19th June.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that a great deal of difficulty and misunderstanding was caused by this anomaly, and would he not carefully consider whether he and his right hon. colleagues could authorise the expenditure of what, presumably, would be an ever-decreasing sum of money in order to put the anomaly right?

There is, of course that anomaly, which arose from the decision taken in 1946 to deal with so many of these people who had been in need of assistance for a great time before that. I assure the hon. Member that we are not without sympathy towards this particular application, but in the circumstances I do not think we can take any action at the moment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it was possible for him to give his first answer when one of the reasons always given before for not paying these pensions has been their cost?

Would the hon. and gallant Member please repeat the last few words of his Question?

I asked how the right hon. Gentleman can ally his answer to the Question with the statement that one of the reasons for not making the concession hitherto was that it would be too costly.

I must point out that that difficulty of cost was mainly overcome by the decision in 1946. The argument before 1946 was that of cost, and I suppose that was why it was never tackled.

asked the Minister of Pensions what changes, and at what dates, have been made in the pensions paid to officers' widows since the end of the first war.

As the reply is rather long and contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

There have been some variations of rates according to the circumstances of the officer's death or whether the widow is receiving an allowance for a child or is over 40 years of age or is incapacitated.

The yearly basic rates for a 1914 War widow of a subaltern were £75 or £100 in 1917, £90 or £120 from January, 1919, £90, £120 or £140 from April, 1920, £110, £130 or £150 from November, 1944, and £130 or £150 from June, 1949. For 1939 War widows, the relative rates were £90 in September, 1939, £110 from February, 1942, £130 from August, 1943, and £130 or £150 from May, 1944.

Higher rates are applicable for widows of officers of higher ranks.

asked the Minister of Pensions when the new limbless centre is to be opened in Leicester; and where it will be situated.

The new centre will be situated at 94, New Walk, Leicester, the present medical examination centre. Alterations to the premises are necessary, but I hope the centre will be opened by early September.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for all the interest he has taken in this centre, which will be very much appreciated in Leicester, may I ask if he will be good enough to see that the opening is expedited and that this is done as speedily as possible?

Yes, Sir, all the plans are ready and everything prepared. We are awaiting the consent of the landowner to some minor alterations.