asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increased difficulty experienced by tuberculosis sanatoria in providing an adequate diet for their patients, he will consult with the Minister of Food with a view to obtaining an increased meat ration for the patients in such sanatoria and also for other persons certified by a doctor as suffering from tuberculosis.

I have no evidence of such difficulty as the hon. Member suggests, and I am advised that the present national diet is not inadequate for tuberculosis patients. They will, of course, have the benefit of the increases now taking place in the general meat ration.

Is the Minister aware that palatibility is one of the main things to work for in this form of dietary? Would he put the matter to his special diet committee for further consideration?

Yes, Sir, I am willing to do that.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that some proprietary medicines are not only expensive but useless; and what action he contemplates taking in order to protect the public;

There is already a considerable degree of legislative control over proprietary medicines and I have the matter generally under constant consideration. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any suggestions which he has in mind, I will gladly consider them.

Has my right hon. Friend considered the action that has been taken in France to bring about an improvement in this direction? If he has, can be tell us, briefly, what the French have done and whether he will consider doing something similar here?

I have been aware, since my hon. Friend put his Question down, that there are special provisions in France, but I am sorry that I have not yet had time to study them.

In the consideration that the right hon. Gentleman gives to this matter will he bear in mind that the word "proprietary" covers not only the useless but the immensely valuable products as well, and that it is very desirable that there should be a clarification of terms in this matter?

It is certainly true—I hope that my answer has not erred in this connection—that there are very valuable proprietary medicines.

I am not aware that my right hon. Friend's answer has dealt with the point in Question No. 16, in which I ask whether he will initiate an examination into the manufacture of proprietary medicines. Will he tell us whether an examination is being made into the ethical and the non-ethical, the useless and the useful?

The Central Health Services Council have a special subcommittee, the Joint Committee on Prescribing, under Sir Henry Cohen, which is surveying the whole field of prescribing. They include a survey of the whole field of pharmaceutical preparations available for prescribing.

Is it not a fact that a large proportion of these proprietary medicines are a god-send for the treatment of minor complaints in the home, and that they all, so far as we know, conform to a very high standard of preparation?

While recognising the force of what was said by the hon. Member for Luton (Dr. Hill), may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he does not agree that there are sufficient of these so-called "proprietary medicines" whose efficacy is doubtful and whose prices represent a fantastic racket? In taking this matter into account, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the impatience that exists in all parts of the House at the fact that this question has been discussed time and time again for six years? Hon. Members are becoming very impatient about it.

Quite a number of proprietary medicines and preparations have already been listed by Sir Henry Cohen's Committee and the names of those which are not desirable for prescribing have been notified to general practitioners.

Is it not a fact that a large number of proprietary medicines are prescribed by physicians?

There is no interference with the right of physicians to prescribe.

Is it not the case that the French forbid the distribution of unethical and useless proprietary medicines?

I have not had time to inquire into so many questions about the French system.

I well remember that there was an hon. Member on that side of the House, whom the hon. Lady the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann) will also remember, who spoke up vehemently in favour of a proprietary remedy for tuberculosis by which he said he had been cured. It was quite contrary to all medical experience, but it had done him a great deal of good.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take with respect to the hospitals concerned arising from the verdict of a Bradford coroner's jury in the case of Eileen Cunliffe.

I have asked the Regional Hospital Board to ensure that it is clearly understood at each of the hospitals concerned that in no circumstances may a patient who needs immediate admission to hospital be sent on to another hospital while still an "emergency" and that the casualty departments are always under the effective supervision of experienced medical officers.

I am informed that, after a very full investigation of the case, the Board have drawn the attention of the medical officer concerned at the Children's Hospital to the fact that she was seriously at fault in not seeing the child; and have informed the then senior surgical registrar at the Royal Infirmary that in their opinion he could not escape full responsibility for failure to admit her. The Board have decided that the casualty officer at the latter hospital should be completely exonerated from all blame.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for the personal attention which he has paid to the unfortunate case in Bradford, do I understand that he has now given general instructions to hospitals throughout the country that, where an accident or emergency case is taken to a hospital, the first hospital that receives the patient should give immediate attention even if it is necessary later to transfer the patient to a more appropriate hospital?

I have made special representations to the Regional Board responsible for the hospital where this deplorable event occurred. There is no evidence that similar instructions need be issued to hospitals generally, but the senior administrative medical officers of all regional boards have had the facts of this and similar cases brought to their notice and have been asked to look into the whole question of the admission and treatment of casualties of this kind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Press were not admitted to the inquiry into the case? Does he not think it undesirable and against the public interest that proceedings of this character affecting public institutions should be held in private? Is he aware that I have here a letter from a juryman at the inquest alleging that perjury was committed by a person or persons when giving evidence on oath at the inquiry? In view of this will he cause the whole of the proceedings to be made public, so that the allegations may be seen to be justified or not?

I feel that I cannot reply to the serious allegations contained in the second part of that supplementary question, of which I have had no notice and for which I doubt if I have responsibility anyway. As for the first part of the supplementary question, the hon. Member should realise that where the professional reputation and integrity of people is concerned it is desirable that they should have the full opportunity of legal representation, which they did in this case, and an opportunity to state their case without the Press being present.

Is it the intention of my right hon. Friend to give instructions to regional boards in the light of the supplementary question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, East (Mr. McLeavy)?

No, Sir. I have explained that we have drawn this situation to the attention of the senior administrative medical officers of other regional boards where we are not aware of any such errors having been committed.

Is not the essence of the whole trouble that no patient should be turned away from hospital without being medically examined?

Exactly, Sir. That is precisely the essence of it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the very serious concern which is felt not only in Bradford but throughout the country as a result of this very unfortunate case? Is he also aware that he would find general agreement on all sides of the House that everything possible should be done to prevent a recurrence of this type of case in any other part of the country and that the feeling of the House would undoubtedly be that he should give general instructions to make sure that no regional boards, hospital committees, or management committees, or whatever officials may be affected, make an error of this unfortunate character in future?

I believe that I have taken all reasonable steps. As the hon. Member for Luton (Dr. Hill) said, the essence of it is that errors of professional practice were committed in this instance. By drawing the attention of administrative medical officers to this possibility and asking them to ensure that it cannot possibly occur in their areas I feel that I have done all that is reasonable and practicable.

When the Minister says that he has no authority to deal with the points raised in my supplementary question, does he mean that he has no authority to cause the proceedings of the inquiry to be made public?

I have no authority over the courts. If I understood the hon. Member's supplementary question correctly, he made an allegation about the proceedings at the coroner's court.

I asked the Minister to cause the proceedings to be made public. I now repeat that request.

On a point of order. I understood the second part of the supplementary question put by the hon. Member for Bradford, North (Mr. W. J. Taylor), to include the allegation that he had received a letter from a juryman at the inquest alleging that there was perjury before the coroner's court. Perjury before any court is a criminal offence. Surely the duty of the hon. Member is to convey that letter very promptly to the police, and not put Questions in the House.

May I have your Ruling, Mr. Speaker? Is it not the duty of an hon. Member to raise an important issue of this kind in the House?

I suppose that that is so, but we had better get on to the next Question.

Now that these serious allegations have been made, will my right hon. Friend see that a reply is made so that public confidence in this matter shall be restored?

I am sure that the attention of the Minister responsible will be drawn to the supplementary question of the hon. Member for Bradford, North (Mr. W. J. Taylor).

asked the Minister of Health if he is now able to state his decision on the request from the conference of local medical committees that the long-standing dispute on the remuneration of general practitioners in the National Health Service be referred for arbitration.

I hope to reply to this request in the course of the next few days.

As there appears to be a dispute between the medical committees and the National Health Service, will my right hon. Friend now refer the matter to the Minister of Labour with a view to the appointment of an arbitrator so that the matter can be discussed in the same manner as ordinary industrial disputes?

There is no dispute. An exchange of views is taking place. My latest letter will be on its way very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present composition of his Advisory Council for the Welfare of Handicapped Persons; and whether he is satisfied that adequate representation is given to Welsh interests.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish the names of those representing Welsh interests on his Advisory Council for the Welfare of Handicapped Persons; when this council last met; how many times it has met since 1st January, 1951; and what recommendations it has made in so far as handicapped persons in Wales are particularly concerned.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the present composition of the Advisory Council. I am satisfied that there is adequate representation of Welsh interests. The Council has met once this year on 1st March. The advice which my right hon. Friend received from it relates to the welfare of handicapped persons throughout England and Wales and has not been framed on a geographical basis.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he has yet considered the recommendations of his Advisory Council for the Welfare of Handicapped Persons; and whether he proposes to publish these recommendations, in view of the concern of local authorities in regard to their obligations under the National Assistance Act;

(2) whether he proposes to issue directions to local authorities in respect of the welfare clauses of the National Assistance Act. in regard to disabilities other than blindness.

My right hon. Friend will be issuing a circular to local authorities on the provision of welfare services for handicapped persons other than the blind, based on the recommendations he has received from his Advisory Council, in the course of the next few weeks.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his reply will be received with pleasure, because local authorities are very much concerned about how they should act on this questions?

I am aware that they are anxious to put some of these proposals into force.

asked the Minister of Health how many domiciliary confinements were attended by midwives in the public service in Monmouthshire during the year ended 31st December, 1950 and in how many of these confinements was gas and air administered.

The numbers are, respectively, 2,362 and 1,516.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these figures reveal that there were 846 mothers who did not receive gas and air treatment, although every midwife in Monmouthshire has the equipment? Can he say why they received no gas and air treatment?

No, Sir.

Before foisting upon the public this useless, out-moded and expensive analgesia, will my right hon. Friend ascertain why the women are not taking advantage of it?

I will make what inquiries I can, but it is rather difficult to find out exactly what happened in cases which I hope, are now happily delivered.

asked the Minister of Health the number of domiciliary confinements in Monmouthshire during the year ended 31st December, 1950, at which a doctor was present; and the number which were carried out by midwives only.

I regret that the information is not available in the form desired.

Is it not very important that we should know whether or not a doctor was present at the confinements in Monmouthshire?

I was very anxious to give the hon. Lady the information, but it is difficult to get it because the boundaries of the administrative arrangements of the midwifery service do not coincide with the administrative boundaries of the county.

Is there any constitutional precedent for the exchange of constituencies between the hon. Lady and the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft)?

In view of the fact that my right hon. Friend has not been able to give the information asked of him in the question, would he consider approaching the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) and asking him for his aid in this matter?

asked the Minister of Health what reasons were given by the Swiss Government for being unwilling to reciprocate by making medical attention and hospital treatment available free of charge to British visitors to Switzerland.

The Swiss Government have stated that their domestic legislation does not enable them to grant such reciprocity.

Is the Minister aware that a constituent of mine who was recently on holiday in Switzerland became ill, had to go into hospital and received a bill for£70 for treatment? Does he not think it monstrous that Swiss citizens here who become ill while on holiday should get free treatment, while British citizens in Switzerland should not?

Nothing would please me more than if the Swiss Government would establish a national health service, but until they do so there is nothing to be done about it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Swiss Government and to other Governments to co-operate in this matter?

Will my right hon. Friend make representations through the usual channels to try to persuade Members of the Opposition to advertise the Health Service of this country when they go abroad?

asked the Minister of Health for what purpose the Kingston Victoria Hospital is at present being used.

The necessary work is in hand for conversion to use as a gynaecological unit.

In view of the allegation of the regional board about the urgent need of this hospital for its new purpose, can he say when it will be available for use?

I cannot say for certain when it will be available, but the work of painting and flooring is proceeding, and the electrical and plumbing work has to be done after that. I cannot give a firm date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the very general feeling in the neighbourhood that this work is taking a very long time, having regard to the alleged urgency, and will he look into the matter to see if it can be expedited in any way?

Yes. Sir, certainly.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he proposes to make whereby employees in the Health Service who are dismissed from their employment may have a right of appeal to an independent tribunal.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will ask the Hospital Administrative and Clerical Staffs Whitley Council to consider, as a matter of urgency, the drawing up of a code of procedure for dealing with disciplinary cases.

This is a matter for the General Whitley Council, not for any particular council, because it concerns all grades of staff. The General Council has been discussing it for some time and I am very disappointed that an agreement has not been reached. In the meantime. I am issuing a memorandum of guidance on the subject to employing authorities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has already issued a memorandum on this matter to the hospital boards on the procedure to be followed, and, if so, whether the procedure outlined therein is now being adopted?

I approved the final draft of the circular a week or so ago. I do not think that it could have reached the regional hospital boards yet.

asked the Minister of Health how many ineducable children there are in Birmingham certified to be in need of institutional care but unable to obtain admission; how many have been waiting for more than two years; and what steps his department is taking to provide additional accommodation for such cases.

There are 142 mentally defective children under 16 in the City of Birmingham awaiting admission to institutional care and of that number 69 have been waiting for more than two years. Regional boards have been asked to give high priority to the provision of additional accommodation for such children within the limits imposed by the present economic situation.

While appreciating the Minister's answer, may I ask if he does not realise that this need is causing very grave anxiety throughout the whole of the Midlands, as it is hardly possible to-obtain a vacancy throughout the whole of the Midlands? Does he not think that there should be much closer investigation and inquiry into this matter, because it is causing considerable anxiety to parents who are unable to control very difficult children?

I am aware of the seriousness of this problem. I am sorry to say that it can be found in other parts of the country as well as the Midlands. I am doing all that I can administratively, by encouragement of the enrolment of nurses and by pressure on the regional boards, to provide more accommodation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people in the Midlands, including specialists, teachers, and laymen, feel that there are perhaps children in these institutions who might safely be released and thus afford beds for much worse cases?

Yes, Sir, and the possibilities of release are continuously under review.

asked the Minister of Health how long the children's ward of the Skin Hospital, Birmingham, has been closed, when it is likely to be reopened; and what alternative arrangements have been made for children in need of hospital treatment.

The ward was closed on 7th February and it is expected that it will re-open on 15th August. During the closure, beds have been available in side wards in the Skin Hospital and in other local hospitals.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that I have had recently a case of a child who had been under hospital treatment for two and a half years, who was admitted in November and discharged in December and has not been able to be re-admitted since February last? It is a very grave matter if children are unable to get treatment for skin diseases for so many months.

Yes, but I am sure my hon. Friend is aware that the hospital was closed because of an outbreak of chicken-pox. The closing has been followed by some redecoration. The hospital is to be re-opened on 15th August, and if the case which my hon. Friend has in mind is not then admitted I hope he will communicate with me.

asked the Minister of Health how many tuberculosis beds are now available in the Bristol area; how many persons are waiting for sanatoria treatment; and what action he is taking to meet the increased demand for treatment and to induce nurses to enter this service.

On 30th June, 1951, there were 425 staffed beds and a waiting list of 96. By using spare accommodation in general and isolation hospitals, 59 additional beds had been provided since July, 1950, and 15 more will be opened shortly. More nursing staff has been made available by the introduction of comprehensive training schemes which link the beds with large general hospitals.

Will my right hon. Friend utilise beds that are set aside for other purposes and are not in use, and, at the same time, consult the T.B. specialists in the area on this question?

The waiting list has been halved since June, 1950, and I think that great progress is being made. I am satisfied that the board are devoting their attention in every possible way to this serious problem.

asked the Minister of Health why the import of cortisone on private account is forbidden.

Such imports are not recommended because my Department is already importing the maximum quantity of this drug obtainable from the U.S.A. and distributing it for clinical research and for hospital treatment of cases which, on medical grounds, are most in need. Private imports would make it difficult for me to expand, or even to maintain, these arrangements.

I must emphasise that, like A.C.T.H., cortisone is still experimental and requires careful, continual biochemical investigation of the patient during treatment. For this reason, it is inadvisable to treat patients away from hospital and laboratory facilities. Carelessness in the use of the drug and omission of these precautions can have serious and unpredictable results. A longer period of experimental investigation is, therefore, essential.

What happens in the case of a person genuinely requiring treatment by cortisone who lives in a distant part of the country, remote from a hospital where the drug is obtained? Can such a person's doctor obtain the drug and administer the treatment?

For the reasons I have given, it is necessary that the treatment takes place in hospital. I have no doubt that there are persons who would benefit from this treatment who are not able to get it, but we are importing the maximum available and we are treating suitable cases with it. In the circumstances, I do not see that more can be done.

Is the Minister not aware of the case of one of my constituents—a Mr. Kent, of Sheffield—who is between life and death and who requires this drug very urgently? I have appealed to the Minister, but delay is still taking place. If that man is allowed to die without some of this drug being used a very serious state of affairs will arise.

Is the Minister not aware that the statement he has made represents the general view of those engaged in this work, and that it is undesirable in the public interest to deal with this subject in relation to individual hard cases until there has been a period of examination and experiment?

I am very grateful indeed for that supplementary question. I made a long answer purposely, because it has been so much impressed upon me by my medical advisers that we must proceed very cautiously.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will encourage the establishment of a factory in this country for the production of cortisone, as he did in regard to the manufacture and production of aureomycin.

Yes, Sir. I will certainly consider sympathetically any proposals designed to achieve this object.

As the Minister knows, and as I have said before, despite what has been said by my distinguished Friend the hon. Member for Luton (Dr. Hill), cortisone is regarded by very able physicians as affording the only relief for arthritis. As the right hon. Gentleman has been so successful in encouraging the manufacture of aureomycin, will he not do his best to facilitate supplies and experiments as quickly as possible?

I understand that an approach has already been made to my Department, and we are giving it all the help we can.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) is asking for the establishment of another nationalised industry?

No. I said that it should be given encouragement.

asked the Minister of Health if he will specify in detail the purposes for which identity cards are still required.

Identity cards are an essential part of the national registration system, which continues to render valuable services in connection with National Service, security, food rationing, the National Health Service and the administration of other services such as family allowances and post-war credits. The possession of an identity card enables the holder to obtain a new ration book and to withdraw money from the Post Office Savings Bank with the minimum of formality; it simplifies the process of obtaining a passport; it makes it unnecessary to produce a birth certificate in support of a claim for the payment of post-war credits; and it avoids difficulty in establishing identity when applying for dental or other treatment or to be placed on a doctor's list.

Is not food rationing the only service mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman which we did not have before the war? Can he explain why we managed before the war to draw money out of the Post Office Savings Bank and to enjoy most of the other services he mentioned without having identity cards?

Yes, Sir, but there is no doubt that the existence of a National Register greatly facilitates these matters. It makes them easier than they were before the war.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the only people who are seriously disadvantaged by the regulations concerning identity cards are those who break the law? Will he resist the blandishments of the Opposition, which are designed to enable him to help such antisocial persons?

How does the National Registration card affect the need for a birth certificate in the case of the redemption of post-war credits, since the date of birth is not stated on the card?

I am advised that the quotation of the National Registration number on the application form enables the date of birth to be checked efficiently and economically.

Why are identity cards required by opticians and dentists before spectacles and teeth are provided under National Health Insurance arrangements? What use is made of these registration numbers by the Ministry of Health?

There is, of course, no National Health Insurance in this country. (HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] That is a very common misunderstanding and I like to take every opportunity to correct it. If there were no National Register I should have to invent a register of my own for the National Health Service for the purpose of identifying the persons who use the Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health whether under his regulations dental and medical practitioners are entitled to demand the production of their patients' national identity cards for the purposes of inserting these particulars on his department's forms.

No, Sir. Patients desiring treatment under the National Health Service are asked to give their National Registration numbers as an additional means of identification and normally do so.

In view of this answer, will the Minister reconsider the answer given to me on 5th July and discontinue the practice of compelling doctors and dentists to put identity numbers on all papers submitted to his office? If they have not the right to demand the production of the card, it is very difficult for them to be certain of the accuracy of the numbers they put on the forms.

I agree that it is difficult if patients do not co-operate, but I cannot see any easy remedy for that. It means that a lot of additional administrative work has to be done.

As the Health Service is available to every inhabitant in this country, will he explain how it is impossible to continue the service without the use of the identity card?

I do not say that it is impossible, but it is enormously more convenient to have numbers.

Think of a number; will not names do?

Names would not do, but if the hon. Member for Luton (Dr. Hill) had lived in Wales, as I have, he would know that there are thousands of David John Williams, and it is necessary to have numbers, which do no one any harm.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain how they got on in Wales, in the days before the National Health Service, without identity cards?

I am quite certain that they had a great deal of trouble; but they also had numbers then.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Court of Appeal, Dunn v. Fidoe, 1950, whereby a brewery company leasing a public house, with land attached, on a yearly tenancy, is adjudged to have acquired a title to the land in perpetuity subject only to an appeal to him under Section 25 (1, d) of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948, and that this title can be assigned to another company; and whether he will take action to remedy this anomaly.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the decision of the Court of Appeal, to which the hon. Member refers, which was that on the facts of that particular case the public house concerned, and the land attached to it, comprised an agricultural holding for the purposes of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948. Since before the proceedings were taken, the Agricultural Land Tribunal had withheld their consent to the operation of a notice to quit given by the landlord to the tenant, such notice is now ineffective.

It is not true, however, to say that the tenant has thereby acquired a title to the land in perpetuity. The nature of the tenant's interest is entirely unchanged by the Court's decision that the holding is an agricultural holding for the purposes of the Act. The tenant is only entitled to such security of tenure as that Act gives to tenants.

Has the attention of the Minister been drawn to cases on similar lines? Will he see that in such cases the public house and the land can be vacated without encountering the difficulties which were encountered in the case to which I have referred?

If the hon. Member is thinking in terms of removing what appears to him an anomaly in this connection, my reply is that that can only be done by amendment of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948. Any alteration on these lines can only be done by amendments to that Act.

I hope that in the near future we may have an amendment to that Act on these lines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he proposes to take following upon the application made to him by a number of commoners of Tyler's Common, Upminster, to convene a meeting in accordance with Section 1 of the Commons Act, 1908, to make regulations for the turning out of animals on the common.

My right hon. Friend has invited the applicants, through their solicitors, to supply him with further information. This has now been received and is being examined. No decision to summon a meeting will, however, be taken in any event until the Essex County Council have had a reasonable time in which to carry out their expressed intention of investigating the existence of the alleged rights of common.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Essex County Council have had over a year to carry out this examination, and that they have illegally enclosed this common and let it to one of their members? Will my hon. Friend see that immediate and further support is given to the commoners to show a far greater interest in and observation of the law than Essex County Council?

My right hon. Friend will, of course, consider the representations of my hon. and learned Friend.

Is my hon. Friend aware that more than two months ago full evidence was submitted to the Essex County Council, including photostats of the rolls of the manor, showing that from all the evidence available this was a public common?

As far as my right hon. Friend is concerned a meeting under the 1908 Act would almost certainly prove abortive, or at least premature, while any dispute of the right of common exists and it would not be possible to summon a meeting until they have satisfied themselves about the existence of common rights.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what protests he has recently received from agricultural executive committees on the withdrawal of transport facilities in remote rural areas; and what steps he is taking to support the agricultural executive committees in this matter.

County agricultural executive committees making representations to my right hon. Friend as they sometimes do—about the withdrawal of transport facilities are usually advised that where public service vehicles are involved, the procedure prescribed in the Road Traffic Acts should be followed. On the whole that procedure is satisfactory, but in any case my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene.

Is the Minister aware that Wiltshire Agricultural Executive Committee and the Wiltshire branch of the National Farmers' Union have put in a request that a bus service to a village in my constituency, namely, Ridge, should be restored in the interests of agriculture? Having regard to the fact that this service operated for 25 years until it was withdrawn after nationalisation, will the hon. Gentleman press his colleague the Minister of Transport to restore this and similar services?

I understand that the Minister of Transport has explained the whole position in recent correspondence with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the results of his experiments with suitable rabbit traps to replace the gin-trap; and can he give any indication as to when these alternative traps will be on the market.

I cannot, at present, add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay) on 12th July.

While appreciating the humane quantities of the Minister of Agriculture, may I ask if the hon. Gentleman is not aware that the public—including farmers—are becoming very gravely concerned at the continuous use of this barbarous instrument, the gin-trap?

My right hon. Friend is very anxious that the experiments taking place should be absolutely complete before we encourage the placing of this instrument on the market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the results of the voluntary area schemes initiated under his auspices last year for the reduction of the rabbit population.