asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the approximate amount spent annually in the purchase of utility garments, as compared with non-utility garments; and, approximately, what is the aggregate annual total financial advantage to the consumer by the supply of utility garments.

The amount spent in the purchase of utility garments at the retail stage is estimated to have been approximately £450 million in 1950, compared with approximately £265 million for non-utility garments. The advantage to the consumer resulting from the supply of utility garments is undoubtedly substantial, but I am not able to give even a rough estimate of how much it amounts to in terms of money.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that £843,000 worth of rubber was shipped to Russia from this country on the s.s. "Henri Barbusse"; and when the licence for this shipment was granted.

Yes. The licence for rubber exported on this ship was issued on 9th May, 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he referred to the Monopoly Commission, for investigation purposes, the dry battery industry; and when he expects to receive the Commission's report.

I have not referred this subject to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many colour-bar incidents have been dealt with by the Travel and Holidays Association, and with what result; and what steps are taken by the association to make it widely known in the trade that such discrimination is contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government and of the Association.

I am informed by the British Travel and Holidays Association that they have investigated one incident, and the explanation made it clear that there had been no discrimination against coloured persons as such. The Association has always stressed to hotel and catering establishments the importance of a courteous welcome to all visitors, a precept which I strongly endorse.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of members of the Metropolitan Police Force on 1st June, 1951, and 1st June, 1950, respectively.

On 1st June, 1951, the number of members of the Metropolitan Police Force (excluding persons seconded or serving overseas) was 15,571 men and 336 women. The corresponding numbers for 1st June, 1950, are 15,644 men and 283 women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of married members of the Metropolitan Police Force, occupying lodgings or sharing housing accommodation with their relatives, who wish for and have been unable to obtain separate accommodation.

The total number of married men in the Force who at present occupy lodgings, live with their families in furnished or unfurnished rooms, or share housing accommodation with relatives is 1,613.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police in the Metropolitan area have been killed or injured on duty during each of the last five years.

During the five years 1946–50, inclusive, 15 Metropolitan Police officers died as the result of injury or disease incurred on duty, and 3,736 were injured. Ninety-eight officers were granted pensions on account of injury or disease incurred on duty. The average period spent on sick leave through injury on duty was 21 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to police pay, arising out of his recent consultations.

A meeting of the Police Council of England and Wales to consider the pay claims submitted by the Police Federation was held on Tuesday, 24th July, and yesterday under the Chairmanship of Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve, who is being assisted by Lord Crook and Sir Alexander Grey as assessors. A meeting of the Scottish Police Council is being held today and my right hon. Friend and I hope to receive the Chairman's report on the discussions at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the many cases of cruelty to children in their own homes that have been reported recently; and what steps he is taking to secure early notification so that preventive action may be taken before irrevocable damage has occurred.

I have nothing to add to previous answers given to my hon. Friend. A comprehensive account of the steps taken to deal with children neglected in their own homes will be found in the recently issued Report of the Children's Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee on Cruelty to Wild Animals.

The Government have not yet come to any decision on the Committee's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue instructions that corporal punishment shall not be employed in dealing with homo-sexuality and other sexual aberrations in remand homes and approved schools in view of the likelihood that such punishment increases and does not diminish the cause or incidence of this behaviour.

I consider it right that, subject to the requirements and safeguards of the Approved School and Remand Home Rules, the heads of approved schools and remand homes should have discretion to decide whether corporal punishment is appropriate in the individual circumstances. Psychiatric observation or treatment can be provided where necessary. and methods of dealing with sexual aberrations are discussed from time to time by inspectors with the staff of the schools and homes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making for the provision of all equipment required by industrial and commercial undertakings for Civil Defence purposes, in accordance with Industrial Bulletin No. 1 issued by his Department; and whether he has yet received confirmation from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, in accordance with paragraph 35 of that document, that expenditure on Civil Defence equipment will be admissible as a deduction in computing trading profits for Income Tax and Profits Tax purposes.

So far as can be judged at present, stocks held by the Department and on order will meet the needs of industry for training equipment within the limits explained in the Bulletin. I understand that the Board of Inland Revenue consider such expenditure to be deductible.

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings he has now had with the Leaders of the Opposition on the question of defence.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the series of meetings which certain of my right hon. Friends and I had with the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition and other Privy Councillors in 1949, the holding of which was announced publicly at the time.As I told my hon. Friend on 28th November, 1949, three such meetings were held. This series of meetings has not been renewed, but various aspects of defence have been the subject of correspondence and informal conversation with the Leader of the Opposition since then, and there was a general debate on defence earlier this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will introduce legislation which will enable the decisions of the Minister and of county executive committees, with regard to dispossession or control of farmers and smallholders, to be appealed against in an independent law court.

No. Part II of the Agriculture Act, 1947, and the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948, already provide that any of my decisions which materially affect either a landlord or a tenant shall be subject to an appeal to an agricultural land tribunal, which is an independent body whose decision is final and binding on all parties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture on how many occasions since the Agriculture Act, 1947, and the Small Holdings Act, 1948, became law he and the county executive committees have exercised, under those Acts, their powers of dispossession; and on how many occasions appeals by the farmers or smallholders concerned were successful.

One hundred and twenty-eight farmers and five landowners have been dispossessed. Nine appeals, all by farmers, have been upheld.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how far this year's potato acreage is sufficient to meet demands.

The total acreage under potatoes this year is not yet known.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the serious risk of fowl pest being introduced through eggs imported from countries where the disease is endemic; and how many outbreaks of fowl pest have originated in this way.

I am advised that the risk is negligible unless the eggs are used for hatching. This is in general prohibited in the case of eggs imported from countries where fowl pest is endemic, and my Department has recently reminded poultry keepers of the position and of the risks of attempting to rear stock from eggs imported for human consumption. No outbreak of fowl pest in this country has been attributed to imported eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the last case of fowl pest was confirmed in Norfolk; and if the disease is now definitely under control throughout the country generally.

The last outbreak in Norfolk was yesterday. A number of outbreaks of the less acute type of the disease are still occurring, and I cannot yet say that the disease is under control throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture at what institutions is research being carried on into hard-pad disease among dogs.

I understand that hard-pad disease is being studied by the Wellcome Foundation and the Animal Health Trust. In the course of its general studies of virus problems, the Ministry's veterinary laboratory at Weybridge is also now carrying out some research into this disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cubic feet of new farm buildings were erected in 1931, 1938 and 1950.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many combine harvesters and pick-up-balers there were in this country in 1939, in 1945, and at the latest convenient date in 1951, respectively.

It is estimated that in 1939 there were about 150 combined harvester-threshers and at least 500 pick-up-balers in the United Kingdom. In 1945 the figures were 3,000 and 1,900 respectively. For this year's harvest there will be about 17,000 combines and 11,000 pick-up-balers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of agricultural land in North Dorset; and the number of holdings and average acreage.

On 2nd June, 1950, the acreage of agricultural land in North Dorset returned by occupiers of holdings exceeding one acre was 184,683 acres. The returns were in respect of 2,221 holdings, giving an average of 83.2 acres per holding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is in a position to make a statement regarding the report recently submitted to him by the Agricultural Land Commission on the Lakenheath Fens.

No, I am considering this report but have not yet reached any decision on it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement regarding the present position and the future prospects of supplies of crystal violet for use as a preventive against swine fever.

There is at present a temporary shortage of swine fever crystal violet vaccine owing to the failure of two large batches of the vaccine to pass the tests. Another batch is now under test, and I hope that supplies will be available for issue before the end of next week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total cost involved in issuing,circular No. TDT/ 1951/4 entitled "Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, Application to Shipping "; and what percentage of the cost was incurred by sending it to local authorities not located on the sea and to whom it had no possible application.

The total cost of issuing the circular was £8 9s. 10d. As the circular covers all craft on inland waterways, as well as shipping in ports, the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much wool has been acquired by the Wool Marketing Board this year as compared with last; and if he is satisfied with the working of the scheme.

The amount of fleece wool acquired by the British Wool Marketing Board from the 1950 clip was 57,862,215 lb. as compared with 57,613,492 lb. for the clip of the previous year. Wool from the 1951 clip is now being taken up and present indications are that the total will be slightly in excess of the figures for 1950. I am satisfied with the operation of the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that William Ball and Son Limited, Rothwell, Northamptonshire, are in urgent need of certain mild steel, of which he has received particulars, and without which they cannot continue their manufacture of trailers and other agricultural vehicles; and whether, in the interests of agricultural production, he will assist the company to get supplies.

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of the firm's difficulties, and my Department is considering how far it can help.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £450 million in the invisible earnings estimate for 1951 in the Economic Survey was allocated to Anglo-Iranian oil; and, under the changed conditions, how much is now expected to accrue from this source.

I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member on 17th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Duchy of Cornwall's Account for 1949–50 was presented in dummy on 7th February; and when full accounts will be available.

In an Act of 1838 (1 and 2 Vict. c. 101) it is prescribed that the annual Account of receipts and disbursements shall be presented to both Houses of Parliament within one calendar month after the first meeting of Parliament subsequent to 1st January in every year.In practice, it is not possible to prepare and audit the Account by this date, and to meet the statutory requirement the Account is presented in dummy. The full Account for the year ended 31st December, 1950, has been available since 4th April.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies of the poster headed, "To put a drag on prices," were printed; and what was the cost.

13,210 copies of this poster were printed, and the cost of printing and paper was £250 3s. 7d.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the total cost of the Industrial Paid Sick Leave Scheme operated in certain Government establishments for the 12 months ended August, in the years 1948–49, 1949–50, and for each month since September, 1950.

No central records are kept of sick absence in Government industrial establishments from which the total cost could be calculated, and I do not think that a special inquiry would be justified at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is a waiting list of over 1,300 cases requiring operations for tonsils or adenoids, or both, including 100 urgent cases at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary; that not more than six cases are dealt with per week; that at the present rate those at the bottom of the list may have to wait five years before being operated on: and if he will state the reasons and what steps he is taking to improve matters.

Yes. I understand that the difficulty is shortage of E.N.T. beds, which the regional hospital board plan to remedy as quickly as possible by more than doubling the number.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made by the Rees-Evans Cancer Committee; and when he expects the committee to make their report.

I cannot add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 31st May.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to organise, or to encourage local authorities to organise, public education on the subject of cancer aimed at securing the earliest possible treatment for this disease.

The Central Health Services Council has recently advised that it is undesirable at the present time for any cancer publicity to be carried out by any central government organisation direct to the general public. I understand, however, that the Central Council for Health Education is planning a pilot experiment in public education in cancer through local authorities, with which I intend to keep in touch.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that no supplies of cortisone are available in Stoke-on-Trent; and when he hopes to find supplies and establish a centre there for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and allied diseases.

I regret that the small supplies of cortisone at present available do not enable my right hon. Friend to add to the hospitals already receiving this drug. The claims of Stoke-on-Trent will be considered when further supplies become available.

asked the Minister of Health how much money is outstanding on the claims by chemists for dispensing services to the latest convenient date.

It is estimated that the amount outstanding at the end of June was of the order of £¼ million, and my right hon. Friend is considering whether a further supplementary payment can be made.

asked the Minister of Health when the arrangements provided under Section 4 of the National Health Service Act, 1951, for the provision of accommodation and treatment abroad for respiratory tuberculosis will begin to operate; and what procedure will be adopted for selecting the patients to receive treatment abroad.

It has been arranged to begin sending patients to two sanatoria in Switzerland within the next few weeks. They will be selected from those awaiting ing in-patient treatment by regional hospital boards in accordance with specialists' advice.

asked the Minister of Health how many full-time and part-time consultants were employed in the City General Hospital of Stoke-on-Trent in 1938 and the number employed at present; and how many beds were available in this hospital in 1938 and at present.

The following are the figures:1938Bed complement 915.Beds available 915.

asked the Minister of Health if he can now make a statement regarding the negotiations between himself and the medical profession on the remuneration of general practitioners.

The General Medical Services Committee have requested that the matter be referred to arbitration and this request is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the number of professional and technical officers employed in the architect's department of the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.

Twenty-nine architects, 14 engineers, and 11 surveyors: these figures include 6 trainees.

asked the Minister of Health why doctors who are working in the welfare clinics are not included in the National Health Service.

I am not clear what my hon. Friend has in mind since clinics provided by local health authorities are part of the National Health Service: perhaps he would send me further information.

asked the Minister of Health the reason for the discontinuance at the St. David's Hospital, Cardiff, of the custom of issuing to male nurses a navy blue uniform suit every year.

It is for hospital management committees to decide about the uniform of their nurses, and this Committee decided that for male nurses the navy blue uniform should be discontinued and should be replaced by washable coats to be renewed when required.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a deduction of ls. 11d. a week is made from the pay of male nurses at the St. David's Hospital, Cardiff, to cover the cost of the washing of their overalls; and whether he will state the date on which these deductions were first made.

Yes. This deduction represents the annual charge of £5 which the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council have agreed should be paid by hospital nurses for the use and laundering of uniform. Deductions were first made on 1st February, 1949.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the distress caused in the Cardiff, West, constituency by certain dentists who refuse to give immediate treatment under the terms of the National Health Scheme to people suffering from acute toothache but who offer to give the necessary treatment if the patient makes a cash payment of 12s. 6d.; and what action he proposes to take in this connection.

No; persons in urgent need of emergency treatment should get in touch with the Executive Council, who will always help them find a dentist who will provide the necessary treatment under the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health when he decided that piano bifocal spectacles cannot be supplied through the Supplementary Ophthalmic Services; and how he made this decision known to the optical profession.

Since the beginning of the supplementary ophthalmic services bifocals have been provided only as an alternative to two necessary separate pairs of glasses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can yet give a date when he will begin discussions with the professions dealt with by the Cope Committees; and whether he proposes to put his own proposals before the professions or to base the discussions on the Reports.

My right hon. Friend proposes to send very shortly a memorandum to the professional bodies concerned for their consideration. This memorandum together with any observations made by these bodies will form the basis of discussions which he hopes may take place in October.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the benefits claimed for those who suffer from rheumatism from the use of A.C.T.H., he will approve the project to build a laboratory in this country.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart) on 5th July and to the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 9th July. My right hon. Friend will certainly consider sympathetically any project designed to expand and cheapen production of A.C.T.H. in this country. No application for a building licence for this purpose has yet been made.

asked the Minister of Health how much the Leeds Regional Hospital Board have spent upon buying carpets for the accommodation used by them at the Queen Hotel, Harrogate.

The net cost of the entire contents of the hotel was £29,750. No carpets have been bought since, and about 100 have been taken up and replaced with linoleum. These and any other furnishings not needed by the Board for the nurses training school and hostel will be sold.

asked the Minister of Health how many square yards of garden and how many greenhouses are maintained by the three gardeners employed by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board at their headquarters at Queen Hotel, Harrogate; and to whom £989 a year is paid in wages.

One gardener, one labourer and one juvenile labourer maintain 16,698 square yards of ground and three greenhouses. Their total wages amount to approximately £859 per annum.

asked the Minister of Health how many rooms there are in the Queen Hotel, Harrogate; how many are occupied by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board; and how many were occupied on 15th July by the nurses home and training school.

There are 191 usable rooms; the regional hospital board occupy 73. None was occupied on 15th July by the nurses home or training school, but 99 are earmarked for these purposes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the circumstances which led up to the death of Eileen Cunliffe; and what instructions of a general character he has issued to hospital authorities throughout the country to prevent a recurrence of incidents of this kind.

No. The regional hospital board has not yet completed its inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health how many chronic sick and aged over 65 years of age, men and women, separately, are at present in institutions; how many are requiring help in other ways; what is the estimated number in five and 10 years; and what steps are being taken to make suitable arrangements for their maintenance.

In addition to about 46,000 chronic sick in hospitals on 1st January, 1951, there were 22.113 aged or infirm men and 20,306 aged or infirm women in accommodation provided under Part III of the National Assistance Act in England and Wales. No figures are available of persons over 65 requiring other forms of help. As regards future estimates, I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Roy al Commission on Population of 1949. All local authorities were required to estimate the long-term residential provision needed for old people and their proposals for meeting this need in the schemes provided under Section 21 of the National Assistance Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether alternative arrangements have yet been made for the 60 beds no longer to be available in St. Luke's Hospital; and whether this accommodation has been in fact transferred to the Chelsea Hospital for Women

It will be some months before this accommodation is transferred. I cannot yet make any further statement about alternative arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the production of a bone conduction hearing aid for issue under the National Health Scheme; and, in view of the need of many deaf persons for whom the Medresco aid is not suitable, if he will make these bone conduction aids available as soon as possible.

Arrangements are now being made for large-scale clinical trials of an experimental model.

asked the Minister of Health how many mentally-defective and uneducable children there are in the region administered by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board; and how many of these are still awaiting admission to hospital.

The number of mental Defectives in the community and in institutions in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Area who are under 16 is about 2,100. The position in institutions and on the waiting list has not changed materially since my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend's question on 3rd July.

asked the Minister of Health by what total amount hospital staff establishments within the area of the Leeds Regional Hospital Board have been reduced consequent upon the reduction by his Department of the estimated hospital expenditure for the current year from £12.033,435 to £10,830,570; and how many hospital staff and workpeople have been dismissed or not replaced consequent thereon.

The full information is not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member when I have it.

asked the Minister of Health what upper limit he has placed on the number of beds which a teaching hospital shall contain; and upon what grounds his decision was based.

In my right hon. Friend's view it is undesirable for acute general hospitals to have more than 700800 beds. The relevant considerations are well set out in the Chief Medical Officer's Report for 1948, pages 141 to 142, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the relatives or executors of old age pensioners who wish to be cremated, have to complete a form which has to be signed by two doctors who may charge substantial fees for so doing; and, in view of the desirability of encouraging cremation, if he will introduce legislation to enable this certification to be provided free of charge to old age pensioners under the National Health Service.

No. The question of the fees charged for these certificates, which are in the nature of reports, is the subject of one of the recommendations in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Cremation Regulations now under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that hardship is being caused to parents who must buy baby powder and cotton wool which carry Purchase Tax; and whether he will take steps to make these available, tax free, through the mother and child welfare centres.

I think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. There is no Purchase Tax on plain cotton wool, and dusting powders for babies can be obtained tax free in unbranded non-proprietary form.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the purchase of Riddobrou for use in hospitals costs the hospital service 60s. 11d. for 100 grams, whereas the British Pharmaceutical Codex alternative costs 4s. 6d. per 100 grams, plus the cost of five minutes' work by the pharmacist; and what action he proposes to take to encourage the use of the alternative.

This is part of the wider problem of encouraging the use of standard rather than proprietary preparations. A committee of the Central Health Services Council is working on it, and its findings are from time to time brought to the attention of hospital staffs.

asked the Minister of Health what later review of children who have earlier been deemed uneducable is made; and how many have come back into the educational field.

Local health authorities and hospital authorities may at any time refer the case of any child reported as uneducable under Section 57 (3), Education Act, to the local education authority, which must then consider whether the child should be re-admitted to the education system. Statistics of the number of cases so referred are not available but the number is known to be small.

asked the Minister of Labour what special steps he is taking to review the requirements for scientists and engineers, both at home and overseas, in relation to the available supply.

Yes. It has been decided to reconstitute the Technical Personnel Committee, which, under the chairmanship of Lord Hankey, dealt so successfully with questions of scientific and technical manpower during the last war and during the immediate post-war period. The new Committee will have rather wider terms of reference than the old one. It will review the requirements for scientists and engineers at home, and especially those arising from the defence programme, in relation to the available supply. It will also consider what more can be done to meet certain important overseas needs for people of the same type.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now make a statement upon the prospect of future employment and status of dilutee workers under the war-time relaxation agreements.

No. This is clearly a matter which should be left to both sides of industry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state how many workpeople are employed at the Remploy, Limited, factory at Cleator Moor; what is the nature of the work performed; how many unemployed are awaiting admission to the factory; what is the size of the factory; what working space is used; what space is used for storage; what welfare facilities are available; what space is used for canteen requirements; what has been done to secure a suitable site for a new factory; when will a new factory be provided; and how does the present working space compare with the space allowed in an up-to-date modern factory.

As the Question involves detailed inquiries, I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour why in view of the fact that he is recruiting Italians for the mines and the railways, he is not offering similar employment to Maltese.

The coal-mining industry and certain other industries, but not at present the railways, have special arrangements under which Italian workers are recruited. I will, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, consider again whether there is scope for suggesting that any industry might also recruit from Malta.

asked the Minister of Education how many dentists are employed in State schools; and how this figure compares with that of 12 months ago.

The number of dental officers in the school dental service at the end of 1950 was equivalent to 717 full-time officers as compared with the equivalent of 738 full-time officers at the end of 1949.

asked the Minister of Education how many children of secondary school age in Cornwall, at the latest convenient date, were in secondary grammar schools, secondary modern schools and primary schools, respectively; and how many primary schools were involved.

In January, 1951, of the children aged 11 or over on the registers of schools maintained by the Cornwall local education authority, 6,561 were in 183 all-age primary schools, 3,761 in secondary modern schools, and 4,997 in secondary grammar schools.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider sanctioning the admission of an additional 100 scholars to the secondary modern school, Helston, if moderate improvements are made to the building and the local education authority make the necessary application as a temporary measure pending the provision in due course of a new secondary modern school.

My approval to a reorganisation of several schools in the Helston district was conveyed to the Cornwall local education authority on 13th July. The approval was given on the understanding that certain essential, but minor work would immediately be done at the Helston County Secondary School.

asked the Minister of Education how many children of secondary school age in the Helston area of Cornwall, at the latest convenient date, were in secondary grammar schools, secondary modern schools and primary schools, respectively; and how many primary schools were involved.

In January, 1951, of the children aged 11 or over on the registers of schools in Helston school district maintained by the Cornwall education authority, 375 were in 18 all-age primary schools, 198 in secondary modern schools, and 240 in secondary grammar schools.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the Somerset County Council has rejected a proposal by its education committee to increase the number of university awards from 40 to 56; that the number of major scholarships provided by Somerset is therefore proportionately lower than those awarded by any other county authority; and what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the interests of Somerset school children.

I am aware that the Somerset County Council have rejected a proposal to increase the number of university awards to be offered by them and my Department is in communication with them about this decision. I do not know of any basis on which it would be possible to make the calculation implied in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that, in some cases, children are being excluded from school activities because they are not in possession of school uniform; and if he will issue instructions that this practice must cease.

No, but if my hon. Friend will send me details of any particular case she has in mind, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Education in view of the futility of inflicting corporal punishment for sexual offences by boys, whether he will recommend to education committees that this form of punishment should cease and, where necessary, the delinquent should have psychiatric guidance.

The regulation of corporal punishment in maintained schools is a matter for the local education authorities, and I should not want to interfere with their discretion in this matter.

asked the Minister of Education if, arising out of the case of Mr. K. W. Trussell of St. Ippolyts, Hitchin, submitted to him, he will take steps to introduce greater uniformity into the practice of different county education authorities with regard to boarding education and the exchange of tuition fees between counties.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28th June to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane). As to the particular case in question, I see no sufficient reason for interfering with the local education authority's discretion.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that work on new schools is being held up at Cleethorpes, Scunthorpe and Mablethorpe owing to the delay in the delivery of steel windows; that there is danger of delays occurring for the same reason in the case of nine other schemes in the county; and if he will have the matter investigated and action taken at once.

I understand that in several of these cases the difficulty is mainly due to the fact that the design and method of construction do not permit detailed orders to be placed sufficiently far in advance of the time when the windows are required on the site. My officers are in touch with the local education authority and will help as far as they can.

asked the Minister of Education why a teacher leaving the profession is asked to repay a commuted amount of the cost of his college training.

Public funds are spent on the training of teachers so that the supply may, so far as possible, meet the needs of the schools. It is therefore important that students who have signed a declaration of their intention to teach in grant-aided schools should not lightly abandon their intention. I exercise my discretion in asking for repayment of grant according to individual circumstances; for example, the amount may be reduced where a period of approved teaching service has been given.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consider altering the provisions of the Teachers Superannuation Acts, 1937 and 1945, relating to payment of contributions in certain cases for limited intervals in contributory service, so that the period of absence while a teacher is a Member of Parliament may be altered.

No. After full consideration it was decided in 1945 not to adopt the course suggested by my hon. Friend, and I see no reason for re-considering the question now.

asked the Minister of Education what is the dividing line laid down in his regulations between a subnormal child and an uneducable child; and what examination is used to determine this line of division.

The dividing line is not prescribed by Regulations. Under Section 57 of the Education Act, 1944, the local education authority must report to the local health authority all children found to be incapable of receiving education at school. The authority must have the child examined by a medical officer approved by me for the purpose, and must also consider any information obtainable from teachers or other persons who know the child. If the parent objects to the child being reported he has a statutory right to refer the matter to me, and in cases of doubt I arrange for the child to be examined by one of my medical officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will describe the direct efforts made by His Majesty's Government to persuade the Indian Government to accept mediation in accordance with the United Nations proposals in their dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir; whether he is aware that an increasingly grave situation is developing as a result of India's refusal to accept mediation; and what further steps he proposes to encourage the Indian Government to modify its attitude.

The United Kingdom Government, as a member Government of the Security Council, have played a full part in the efforts of that body to achieve a peaceful solution of the Kashmir dispute acceptable to both parties. In addition, they have naturally been constantly in touch with both the Commonwealth Governments who are parties to the dispute, and have on frequent occasions made direct efforts designed to promote a settlement. It would be quite contrary to the spirit and nature of these exchanges to make public the suggestions which have been made from time to time by the United Kingdom Government.The United Kingdom Government are very conscious of the grave effect that this dispute continues to have on relations between India and Pakistan, and view with particular concern recent indications of increased tension between the two countries. In that connection, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Low), on 19th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if, in view of the fact that the Government of Pakistan has now removed the statue of Queen Victoria from Lahore and is proposing to remove all other such statues, he will request the Prime Minister of Pakistan that these emblems be returned to this country.

I have no information to suggest that the Pakistan authorities are contemplating any general removal of statues of the kind referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps have been or are proposed to be taken to inform pensioners of the Government of India, both those resident in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, whose pensions may be subject to deduction of income tax by the Government of India, of the scheme of compensation already announced.

Details of the compensation scheme are being worked out urgently. We hope to make an announcement shortly and the pensioners will also be informed individually.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent rations issued to the Parachute Brigade in Cyprus are below their full scale; and why sufficient supplies were not sent there in time.

I am not aware of any general shortage of rations in Cyprus. I have, however, called for a report and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the proceedings in Bonn dealing with the negotiations for the increase of the limit of export of scrap from Germany above the 600,000 tons agreed in September, 1950.

Discussions with the Federal German Government regarding the past shortfall in scrap deliveries under the Trade Agreement, and future supplies of scrap for the United Kingdom are now in progress; it is not however possible to make a statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far, under his regulations, officers of the Colonial Service who are dismissed have a right to a court of inquiry or the right of appeal to the Secretary of State.

All officers in the Colonial Service have a right of appeal to the Secretary of State. Officers hold office subject to the pleasure of the Crown, and the pleasure of the Crown that an officer should no longer hold his office may be signified by the Secretary of State.The normal procedure for dismissal of pensionable officers may be summarised as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of his British officers are employed in temporary engagements; and on how long notice such engagements are usually terminable.

I could not give accurate figures without consulting all the colonial governments by whom the officers are employed. Most officers serving on temporary terms are engaged by the governments of the Colonial Territories in which they live, but as far as officers recruited in this country or in other Commonwealth countries are concerned, I estimate that about 4,000 are employed in temporary engagements.Temporary engagements are usually terminable by the officer or by the colonial government on giving three months' notice or by paying one month's salary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the road to the Palm Oil Estate of the Bamenda Cross River Calabar scheme is yet fit for two-way traffic upon all days of the week; and if a manager has yet been got for this estate.

I have asked the Governor for information on these two points and will write to my hon. Friend when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many rubber estates in Malaya now have a wireless transmitter to communicate with police headquarters; and to what extent they are still dependent on telephone lines which can be cut by bandits before an attack.

I am making inquiries of the High Commissioner and will write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has had from the Central Selangor District Planters Association with regard to the fact that police lieutenants are still compelled to travel in the most dangerous areas in open cars; how many police ambushes have taken place in Selangor in the past six months; and why there is still a shortage of armour-plating for patrol cars.

I have not received any such representations. During the six months ending 30th June, 1951, police road vehicles were ambushed on nine occasions in Selangor, 16 police being killed and 12 injured. I know of no cases where it has been impossible to meet orders for armour-plate from Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that sugar producers in the West Indies are unable to obtain sufficient supplies of jute in which to bag the forthcoming sugar crop; and whether he will make representations to the appropriate authorities to assist them in this matter.

Production of jute goods in India, the normal source of supply for British Colonial territories, is at present inadequate to meet world demands. Although allocations announced for the second half of 1951 are an improvement on allocations for the last six months, I am aware that they are still insufficient to meet requirements of some Colonial Territories, including the West Indies, and am considering urgently what action I can usefully take to assist them to secure increased supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking, in view of the resolution passed by the Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, a copy of which has been sent to him, which calls for improved methods of consultation with Colonial Territories in the negotiation of trade agreements which may affect such territories.

I consider that the arrangements which already exist for consultation on such matters between the United Kingdom and the governments of Colonial Territories are satisfactory. It is for colonial governments themselves to decide what consultation with commercial interest within their own territories is necessary.Requests by the governments of Colonial Territories particularly concerned for their representatives to be associated with the United Kingdom negotiating team would always be favourably considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a 16-year old boy sentenced in Mombasa to three years at an improved school has been sent to South Africa; and whether he will advise the Kenya Government to find some method of dealing with young offenders within the Colony.

I have received no report on this case. In addition to the probation system, there are in Kenya a reception centre and two approved schools for the treatment of non-European young offenders. The Kenya Government are alive to the need for extending the facilities within the Colony for the treatment of young offenders and have appointed a committee to review the matter.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the average weekly retail price per ration book of rationed foods for the week beginning 26th February, 1950, and the price of the same quantity of foods today; the percentage increase in price; the price of these foods in each case without subsidies; and the subsidy as a percentage of retail prices.

The following table shows the retail price of the weekly rations for the week beginning 26th February, 1950, the corresponding prices for the same quantities today, and the percentage increase in price.

—	Ration at 26.2.50	Retail cost at 26.2.50		Retail cost at 23.7.51		Percentage increase
		s.	d.	s.	d.
Carcasemeat.	1/6d.worth	1	6	1	9¼	18
Bacon	5 oz.	0	8½	0	9¾	15
Butter	4 oz.	0	4½	0	7½	67
Margarine	4 oz.	0	2½	0	3½	40
Cooking fat.	2 oz.	0	1½	0	2	33
Cheese	2 oz.	0	1¾	0	1¾	—
Sugar	8 oz.	0	2½	0	3	20
Tea	2½ oz.	0	6¼	0	7	12
	—	3	9½	4	7¾	23

The corresponding prices without subsidies, and the subsidies expressed as a percentage of the retail prices are as follows:

—	At 26.2.50			At 23.7.51
	Retail cost without subsidy		Subsidy as percentage of retail cost (a)	Retail cost without subsidy		Subsidy as percentage of retail cost (b)
	s.	d.	percent.	s.	d.	per cent.
Carcase meat.	1	8	11	2	0¼	14
Bacon	1	1	53	1	2½	49
Butter	0	9	100	0	9¾	30
Margarine	0	3½	40	0	4½	29
Cooking fat.	0	2	33	0	2½	25
Cheese	0	3	71	0	3½	100
Sugar	0	3	20	0	3½	17
Tea	0	7½	20	0	8¼	18
	5	1	34	5	10¾	27
(a) Average subsidy rate for the financial year 1949–50.
(b) Forecast average subsidy rate for the financial year 1951–52.

asked the Minister of Supply what has been the percentage rates of sickness in all Royal Ordnance factories in each of the past 12 months among disabled and non-disabled persons, respectively.

I regret that the information asked for is not available centrally and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Minister of Supply what has been the total number of working days lost each month from June, 1950, through sickness in all Royal Ordnance factories as compared with the corresponding months of the previous year.

The following table shows the total number of working days lost each month in all Royal Ordnance factories during the past 12 months, compared with the corresponding figures for each month of the previous year.

—	1949–1950		1950–1951
	Total Working Days	Number of Working Days Lost	Total Working Days	Number of Working Days Lost
June	736,540	36,155	608,000	33,777
July	920,250	36,677	746,625	36,079
August	740,000	29,003	592,840	23,862
September	742,740	32,458	748,325	37,348
October	919,800	46,585	603,780	33,767
November	730,560	37,805	608,700	36,053
December	902,400	45,809	765,200	43,941
January	705,800	38,815	681,760	79,839*
February	676,740	43,525	697,300	74,149*
March	660,060	48,800	887,575	58,004
April	808,250	46,841	718,760	42,313
May	633,960	34,444	726,200	35,340
*Due to an influenza epidemic.

asked the Minister of Supply how many men working in the Royal Ordnance factories have been discharged for drawing sick pay under the Paid Sick Leave Scheme while working elsewhere; and whether legal proceedings were taken against these men.

Twenty employees have been discharged for drawing sick pay while working remuneratively elsewhere. No legal proceedings have been taken in these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has approved the proposal, commended in a recent report of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee, to set up a Scottish body to advise him on the construction of non-traditional houses.

Yes. I have appointed a Scottish Examination Panel whose task will be:

"To examine plans and specifications, referred to the Panel by the Secretary of State, for the construction of houses in Scotland by new methods or materials and to advise him whether the method of construction, the materials and the specifications generally are suitable for permanent local authority housing in Scotland."

I have appointed Mr. Lockhart W. Hutson, Past President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, as Chairman of the Panel. The other members are:James Austen Bent, Esq., Assistant General Manager, Scottish Special Housing Association Ltd.T. Bertram, Esq., County Architect, Midlothian County Council.Robert Boyd, Esq., Provost of Greenock.Joseph L. Gleave, Esq., Architect.James A. F. Morrison, Esq., J.P., City Quantity Surveyor, Dundee.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to make a statement with respect to the restoration of the scheduled air services between London and Leeds, Bradford and other provincial centres.

My noble Friend has decided that routes between London and Manchester, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, Blackpool, Newcastle and Lands End shall, for a five year period from 1st April, 1952, be made available for operation by private companies selected under the normal Associate Agreement procedure. Private companies interested in the operation of these routes may now submit their applications to the Air Transport Advisory Council, who will give them early consideration.