asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has considered representations which have been made to him from the Lincolnshire Federation of Domestic Poultry Keepers expressing grave anxiety at the present feeding-stuffs position; and what he intends to do.

I am aware that the Lincolnshire Federation of Domestic Poultry Keepers are concerned about the recent cut in rations for domestic poultry keepers. As I explained in the House on the 29th November, we have had to spread an unchanged total quantity of rationed feedingstuffs over increased numbers of livestock, with the result that ration scales generally for both commercial and domestic producers have had to be reduced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consult the Minister of Health as to the best use of land owned by hospital authorities for the purposes of food production.

I am already in touch with my right hon. and gallant Friend, who is encouraging hospital authorities to make all reasonable use for food production of land retained by them. They are keeping farmland only when it is required for hospital purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many tied cottages have been built by the Forestry Commission between the period 1st July, 1945, and 31st December, 1951; and how many tied farm cottages have been built during the same period.

1,060 houses have been built by the Forestry Commission during this period. They are all tied cottages in the sense that the occupants may be given notice if they cease to be in Forestry Commission employment, but it is not the Commission's practice to dispossess any employee without obtaining a court order. Two hundred and eleven of the houses are let rent free to foresters and foremen as part of their emoluments, and with one exception the remaining 849 are let on tenancy agreements to Forestry Commission employees. No figures are available of the number of tied farm cottages built during the same period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the Treasury subsidy to the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation is being reduced as the result of increasing the interest charges of the Corporation to 5½per cent.

In increasing its interest rate for new loans to 5½per cent. the Corporation has had regard primarily to the terms on which it would expect to be able to raise further capital in order to continue its lending operations. It does not follow that there will be any reduction in the Exchequer contribution to the Corporation due to the raising of the lending rate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many dog licences were issued in the years 1949, 1950, 1951; and what revenue they brought in each year.

The number of dog licences issued for the year ended 31st March, 1949, and the two following years were 3,050,062, 3,089,450 and 2,921,534, with receipts of£1,143,727,£1,158,464 and£1,095,539 respectively. As the receipts in England and Wales go to the local authorities, only the sums arising in Scotland accrued to the Exchequer. They were£71,745,£74,525 and£69,678.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of pensions payable to retired civil servants under the Superannuation Acts, 1934 to 1950, and the total amount of such pensions; the corresponding figures in respect of pensions granted to widows, widowers, dependants and children under those Acts; the total amount of the additional payments under first, the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1920 and 1924, and, secondly, the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1944 and 1947, in respect of all such pensions; and the number of pensions to which these additional payments relate

The following table shows the provision made in the Estimates for 1952–53 for pensions to retired civil servants and their dependants under the Superannuation Acts and the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why visas were refused to four Russian delegates and eight other delegates to the International Women's Day Movement meeting.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 13th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been made under the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, since 1945 for ill-treatment to children; how many concerned boarding schools; and in how many were there convictions.

Between 1st January, 1946, and 30th September, 1951, proceedings were taken against 6,329 persons for ill-treatment or neglect of children and 5.809 persons were found guilty. I do not know and have no means of ascertaining how many of these cases concerned boarding schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the increased charges for garage accommodation for private cars, sometimes by as much as 200 per cent., compared with 1938 charges; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to limit the increase in respect of lock-up and other garages, particularly in view of the increase in the cost of petrol, which has added to the burden of many who have to use a car for their avocation.

No. I am afraid that I can hold out no hope of legislation on this subject either now or in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the wife of a serving police officer can be called to give evidence against her husband at a disciplinary hearing; and if he will take steps to alter this.

No witness other than a serving member of a police force can be called against her will to attend a disciplinary hearing by the chief officer of police or the watch committee. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of any case she has in mind, I will look into it

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the disagreement in the Police Council regarding the application of the federation respecting plainclothes allowance, temporary duty allowance, inspector's overtime, etc., what decision he has taken on these matters; and if he will consider appointing an ad hoc independent tribunal to deal with these matters, as his predecessor did over the question of pay.

In all these cases I have felt unable to adopt the federation's proposals and my decision has been either announced at the Police Council or, in the case of inspectors' overtime, notified to the federation. I should not regard it as appropriate to set up an ad hoc tribunal to deal with matters of this type.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason police officers in the Metropolitan area ask motorists their age and profession when questioning them concerning parking offences.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that a question as to age should be asked only if a person appears to be a juvenile. There are no instructions that officers are to inquire as to profession, but it is the practice to ask whether the address tendered by a reported person is his private or business address.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority passengers arriving at airports are required to produce their passports or other identity documents for inspection by officers of the Special Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Immigration officers are empowered by the Aliens Order to call on a passenger to produce such information and in such manner as the immigration officer may require for the purpose of ascertaining whether the passenger is or is not an alien. In addition, police officers at ports have certain duties to perform in the exercise of which they invite passengers to produce their passports or other documents of identity

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received from the local education authority providing courses at the Borstal Allocation Centre at Ham, Surrey; and what arrangements he has made for carrying on the courses after June, 1952.

The Prison Commissioners have been informed by the local education authority that the authority cannot remain financially responsible after 30th June next for the provision of full-time and part-time teachers at Latchmere House Borstal Reception Centre. The nature of the arrangements to be made after that date is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made in the Home Office regional wireless service; by how many is the complement of wireless technicians and senior wireless technicians being reduced; and to what extent will police and fire officers now have to take over duties formerly performed by the displaced officers if a 24-hour service is to be maintained.

As part of the economy programme the 24-hour maintenance service provided by the regional wireless service has been replaced by a repair service operating for eight hours a day, including week-ends and public

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the London taxi-cab service is operating at a loss owing to rising costs; that as a result there will be progressive cessation of this service; and, in

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider increasing the fees payable by aliens who apply for naturalisation or registration as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

It has been decided to increase the fees payable by aliens who apply after 31st March for naturalisation or for registration. The main changes are that the fee for a certificate of naturalisation will be£20 instead of£15 and the fee for the registration of an alien wife of a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies will be£1 instead of 10s.The following statement shows (i) existing fees and (ii) the increased fees payable where application is made after 31st March, 1952.view of the necessity for this service to continue for the convenience of London residents, visitors, and, in particular, travellers with luggage who cannot travel by omnibus or Underground, what steps he is proposing to take to ensure the continuance of this service.

I am not responsible for the operation of taxi-cabs in London. My statutory functions are confined to the regulation of the conditions under which they may operate and the fixing of fares. I am always prepared to consider any representations on these matters which those responsible for the operation of London taxi-cabs may wish to submit to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that petty sessional courts are attaching printed notices to their summonses under Section 10 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, referring to the provisions of Section 33 of the said Act, which imply that the defendants need not attend at the hearing, and upon the non-attendance are issuing warrants for arrest; and whether he will circularise magistrates suggesting an alteration in the form of this notice, a copy of which has been sent to him, and also advising them on the matters which they should take into consideration before exercising their powers to issue warrants in cases of this nature.

One such case has been brought to my notice. I am making further inquiries about it and will communicate further with my hon. Friend. The situation generally is not such as to call for any general advice from me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that lorries and cars are being parked all night without lights, some mounted on the pavement, in Lanark Road, Paddington; and if he will instruct the police to take action to mitigate this nuisance to residents.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that no complaints have been received about this practice in Lanark Road in particular, but the parking of vehicles at night on the highway either without lights or with lights which do not comply with the law, is a constant problem to the police, and all possible attention is given with a view to checking the practice.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the need for additional wards at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital for paraplegics and the need for the necessary nursing staff before this can be done; and what steps he is taking to procure them.

I understand that two additional wards, at present in use for other purposes, will be made available at this hospital for paraplegics when alternative accommodation can be built. The regional hospital board hope, if conditions permit, to undertake the necessary building during the year 1952–53 and that sufficient nurses will be available to staff the additional wards when ready.

asked the Minister of Health what is his estimate of the increased expenditure which the National Health Service hospital authorities will have to incur as a result of the reduction of food subsidies.

Probably about 1¾ million a year, when the reduction is fully operative.

asked the Minister of Health what are the number of beds allocated to the care and treatment of the chronic sick in Sunderland hospitals; what steps are being taken to provide additional beds; and how many chronic sick are awaiting admission to hospital.

I am informed that there is a total of 567 beds for the investigation and treatment of elderly people in hospitals in the Sunderland group, and that it is proposed to provide 26 more during the next financial year. The number of patients waiting is 15.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons suffering from tuberculosis are known to be awaiting admission to sanatoria in Anglesey and Wales, respectively.

Twenty resident in Anglesey and 906 in the whole of Wales and Monmouthshire.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in Cardiff awaiting admission to tuberculosis sanatoria; and how many have been waiting more than six months.

Ninety, of whom 28 have been waiting more than six months.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to announce that he will institute an inquiry into the position at the Caernarvonshire and Anglesey General Infirmary, Bangor; and if he will make a statement.

An inquiry is being made by the regional board and my right hon. Friend hopes to have their report shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now state the steps that have been taken to reduce the waiting period for children needing eye treatment and who are seeking admission to hospitals in Cardiff.

Arrangements are being made to provide five additional beds for this type of treatment.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, from 31st March, the freedom of the staffs of hospitals to choose their representatives on joint consultative committees will be restricted by the requirement that they can only elect persons who are members of nationally-recognised negotiating bodies; and whether he will take immediate steps to continue their existing freedom in the selection of their representatives.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply of 20th February to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway).

asked the Minister of Health how many applications for hearing aids under the National Health Service were outstanding at the latest convenient date in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

At the three hearing aid distribution centres in the West Riding there were 11,425 applications outstanding on 29th February.

asked the Minister of Health if he will explain the discrepancy between the figure of£327,000 for the cost of hearing aid instruments purchased in 1950–51 and the relevant estimate for the same year of£1,015,000.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension as there is no discrepancy in the figures quoted.£327,000 represents the actual cost of instruments purchased (excluding batteries) in 1950–51: whereas the sum of£1,015,000 is the preliminary estimate for 1951–52 for batteries, repairs, spare parts and other items as well as the instruments themselves.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that the total charges to recipients for hearing aids in a full year are estimated to amount to£61,500, how many hearing aids, subject to such charge, he estimates, will be issued.

The estimate quoted was based on the number of patients supplied with aids last year. The rate of distribution has, however, been steadily increasing and, because of this and other varying factors, it is impossible accurately to estimate the number for any future period.

asked the Minister of Health if, owing to the delay in supplying Medresco hearing aids, he will supply other hearing aids made by commercial firms which are readily available

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a supplementary question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford (Mr. Profumo) on 21st February.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now considered the proposal of the Kent County Council to close day nurseries, and particularly to close the day nursery at Pelham Road, Gravesend; and whether he will use his powers to over-rule these proposals and particularly to over-rule the proposal to close the day nursery in Pelham Road, Gravesend.

My right hon. Friend cannot fully consider the proposal of the county council until the time allowed by the National Health Service Acts for representations to be made by local authorities and other interested bodies has expired. The county council have decided to postpone the closing of the nurseries until the end of May, at the earliest, to allow time for proper consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the need for day nurseries in Kettering and other parts of Northamptonshire, where many mothers are employed in local industries; how many day nurseries there are in Kettering; how many in other parts of Northamptonshire; how many it is proposed to close; and whether he will disapprove the closing.

The county council maintain one day nursery in Kettering and two elsewhere in the county, and propose closing all three. My right hon. Friend cannot decide the question until the time allowed by the National Health Service Acts for representations to be made by local authorities and other interested bodies has expired.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from local medical committees in Lincolnshire to the effect that dispensing rural practitioners should not be made responsible for the collection of 1s. for medicines dispensed.

One of these committees has represented that dispensing doctors should not be responsible for the collection of the charge. My right hon. Friend is about to discuss these difficulties with the British Medical Association.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from the British Medical Association regarding the proposed charge for prescriptions and its collection by dispensing practitioners; and what reply he has given.

My right hon. Friend is about to discuss the matter with the British Medical Association.

asked the Minister of Health what action he is taking on the representations he has received from the medical profession objecting to the proposed arrangements for the collection of prescription charges by dispensing practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

I am about to discuss the matter with representatives of the British Medical Association.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has sent to the representations made by the Trades Union Congress against the proposed Health Service charges.

My right hon. Friend discussed these points yesterday at a meeting with representatives from the T.U.C.

asked the Minister of Health whether, under his Regulations, a person is liable to pay for dentures which were prescribed before a charge was imposed but supplied after the date when charges were imposed; and what instructions he has issued on this matter.

Under the 1951 Act a person is not liable to pay for dentures supplied either under the general dental service or by the hospital service if he was accepted for treatment by the respective service before 21st May, 1951, when the charges became payable. Instructions to the statutory bodies concerned were issued on 16th May and to dentists on 19th May, 1951.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the experiment of doctors for children only which has been going on for the past few years in Bristol; and if he will inquire into the benefits of this system of medical treatment for children with a view to encouraging it.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this experiment. It depends for its success on the special interest of a particular doctor and my right hon. Friend doubts whether it is suitable for general application except possibly as a development of group practice.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to hasten the day when an announcement can be made about the remuneration for general practitioners in the National Health Scheme; and whether he is aware that the constant delays that have occurred have been the cause of dissatisfaction and uncertainty in the medical profession.

By agreement with the representatives of the medical profession, this question has been submitted to adjudication by Mr. Justice Danckwerts. I am unable to say when he will be able to announce his award.

asked the Minister of Health if he will provide for the expenditure of more money to intensify cancer research.

The Department has this question constantly under review in consultation with the Medical Research Council and it is estimated that more money will be spent in this financial year on certain developments which will be in the interests of research as well as treatment.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of cancer research in 1951; and how much of this was borne by State funds.

Cancer research is undertaken by National Health Service Hospitals, the Medical Research Council, universities and other bodies such as the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the British Empire Cancer Campaign, and no figures showing the total cost or the share borne by Exchequer funds are available.

asked the Minister of Health which of the Hampshire local authorities, Hampshire County Council, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton county boroughs, supply free milk for those afflicted with pulmonary tuberculosis, and which do not.

My right hon. Friend is asking the authorities for information and will write to the hon Member as soon as he can.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the makers of the Rotor tablets claim curative qualities for this product; and whether, in view of the conflict of medical opinion between his medical advisers and those of the firm, he will permit a large-scale test to be made in a number of the larger hospitals, as requested by the firm concerned.

The claims made by the manufacturers of this product are not, I understand, accepted by the competent authorities in the country of origin. My right hon. Friend would not, therefore, feel justified in arranging such a test as is suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now reconsider his decision not to remove the restriction on the import of Rotor tablets from Holland, in view of the relief that many people suffering from peptic ulcers receive from these tablets, and the fact that there is a volume of medical opinion in favour of the extensive use of them.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) on 28th February.

asked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the case of Elizabeth Yates, Sunderland, who is seriously ill after being hypnotised on the stage of a Sunderland theatre; and, in view of the growing number of such cases, if he will now take urgent steps to protect the public.

My right hon. Friend has made inquiries and is informed that the patient has recovered and is now convalescent. Cases of this kind are, happily, rare, and there is no present intention on the part of the Government to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour what changes he is making in the administration of his Department in respect of the inspection of factories in Wales.

The boundaries of some inspection districts have been altered so that there are now five districts comprising the whole of Wales and Monmouthshire, and they have been grouped into an inspection division for Wales with its divisional offices in Cardiff. The new division started last month.

asked the Minister of Labour what is now his policy in regard to the emigration of skilled and other workers.

The policy of my Department is to facilitate emigration to Commonwealth countries, but to secure that those who are taken from the working population are spread over as wide a range of occupations as possible. The Commonwealth authorities concerned conduct the recruitment of such persons in this country in consultation with my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the number of registered unemployed in the county borough of West Ham has increased from 882 in February, 1951, to 1,428 in February, 1952; and what action he proposes to take to stop this rapid rise in unemployment and thus prevent the repetition of the poverty and insecurity of the inter-war period resultant from heavy unemployment in the borough of West Ham.

Yes. Part of the increase occurred in industries subject to seasonal fluctuations. Most of the remaining increase was due to the reduction in demands for clothing and furniture which has affected other areas, and it is early to say whether this feature will continue.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of building trades operatives in the Sunderland district who are at present unemployed; and how many of these are craftsmen.

Three hundred and seventy-nine at 11th February, 1952, including 131 building craftsmen. The total includes all unemployed men and boys whose last employment was in the building industry.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of vacancies for weavers registered at the Burnley employment exchange in October, 1951; and how many vacancies there were at the latest convenient date in February, 1952.

The available figures relate to the cotton weaving industry as a whole. The numbers of vacancies notified to the Burnley employment exchange and remaining unfilled at 24th October, 1951, were:

135 for males, 174 for females

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to publish the findings of the tribunal which has been considering the various aspects of the terms on which professional footballers are employed.

Copies will be available in the Library of the House tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Italians employed in the coalmines returned to their own country during 1949, 1950 and 1951; and what proportion of those employed this represents in each year.

The scheme for the recruitment of Italians for the coalmines did not commence until May, 1951. Since then 31 have returned to their own country. This represents about 1 per cent. of the total of 2,173 arrivals to date.

asked the Minister of Labour the industries and the classification of workers in those industries, and the numbers involved, who have not had an increase in wages, salaries or fees since 1946.

Among the organisations of wage-earners in respect of whom changes in rates of wages are regularly reported to my Department, there is no industry or group of workers that has not had a wage increase since 1946. Complete information regarding changes in rates of wages arranged by individual employers or within unorganised groups of workpeople, or changes in remuneration of clerical and other salaried workers and persons paid by fees, is not in the possession of my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour how many farm workers in the county of Norfolk have been called up for military service up to the last date for which figures are available.

329, up to 29th February, 1952.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many of the 41 cases in Berkshire since 1st November last where an agricultural worker applied for deferment which was not granted, he has been able to obtain a substitute for the farmer concerned.

In 16 of these cases no decision had yet been taken; the number of cases in which deferment was originally refused was, therefore, 25. Subsequent information has disclosed that in four of these cases the decision was reversed on reconsideration and deferment allowed. In 19 of the 21 cases in which deferment was refused, the farmer has not notified any vacancy. In one of the remaining two cases I understand that the employer himself has succeeded in finding a replacement. In the other case it has not yet been possible to submit a substitute worker.

asked the Minister of Labour how many agricultural workers were posted to the Forces between 1st October and 1st March last; and how many were called up for duty with the Z Reserve.

Up to 29th February, 1952, 6,529 agricultural workers of the 1933 age class, which became available for call up from 1st November, 1951, had been called up.The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available but the number cannot have been large.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the need for nursery schools in Kettering and other parts of Northamptonshire, where many mothers are employed in local industries; how many nursery schools there are in Kettering; how many in other parts of Northamptonshire; how many the local education authorities propose to close; and whether she will disapprove.

The local education authorities concerned tell me that they have no intention of closing any of the six nursery schools in Northampton or either of the two in Northamptonshire, which are at Kettering and Wellingborough, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education whether in view of her recent estimate that the school population will increase by 1,353,000 between January, 1946, and January, 1954, she will now amend the school building programme to provide for an additional 200,000 places.

No. The expected increase in the school roll was one of the factors on which my predecessor based his estimate that 1,150,000 additional places would be required between January, 1947, and December, 1953. I accept this estimate, and the school building programme is designed to match it.

asked the Minister of Education the schools to be built in Sunderland under the revised 1952–53 building programme; the number of school places thereby to be provided; and the number of school places that would have been provided under the original 1952–53 building programme.

The Hylton, Red House County Junior School and the St. Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Primary School which will together provide 920 places have been included in the revised 1952–53 building programme. The authority's original 1952–53 programme would have provided 840 places.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the ban on building has affected four schools in Bristol, one of which is on a new estate which is a considerable distance from an existing school; and if she will take steps to ease this ban forthwith, so that the entry of children next year will not be seriously affected.

The ban to which the hon. Member refers has now been lifted and the new schools most urgently needed in Bristol will start as soon as the authority are able to release the necessary steel from their allocation. Discussions on this point are now in progress between the authority and my Department.

asked the Minister of Education her latest estimates of the total number of new school places brought into use since 1st April, 1945; and the total number to be provided by buildings now under construction.

On 1st February last, 679,985 school places had been completed since the war and about 398,000 were under construction.

asked the Minister of Education how many schoolchildren in Sunderland are being taught in classes of over 40 children.

In January, 1951, the latest date for which the information is readily available, there were 7,740 children in classes with over 40 pupils on the registers in primary and secondary schools maintained by the Sunderland education authority.

asked the Minister of Education how many education authorities have informed her of their decision to abolish school visits to places of interest during school hours and to make no grants for that purpose; and what recommendations she has issued in regard to these decisions.

Arrangements for school visits made during school hours as part of the ordinary school curriculum, and the expenditure attributable to them, need not be submitted for my approval and are not separately recorded in the returns made to my Department. In Circular 242 I asked authorities to review their expenditure, with certain reservations, under Section 53 of the Act, under which, amongst other activities, school visits outside school hours are arranged.

asked the Minister of Education if she has yet circulated the local education authorities with the tables showing the number of awards related to the relevant population statistics, as suggested in Circular 247; and where copies are avilable for Members.

These tables are at this moment being prepared for circulation. I will see that a copy is sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education what action she has taken, or will take, in respect of the decision of the Essex and other education committees to limit transport for schoolchildren to those over eight years of age and only for distances of over three miles.

I know of no such decision on the part of Essex or any other local education authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will increase the annual grants to students under the further education and training scheme for ex-Service men in order to meet the increased cost of living since the last increment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6th March to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence).

asked the Minister of Education if she has yet received the final revised estimates of the Somerset-shire Local Education Authority for the ensuing year; if she is aware that the chairman of the education committee has announced that it will not be possible to maintain the existing services after the reductions which have been made; and what action she proposes to take to ensure that there shall be no deterioration in the service in this county.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is "No." As regards the third part, I have already reminded the authority that reductions should not be made which would impair the essential fabric of the education service and I have no reason to doubt that they will bear this in mind in settling their estimates for the coming financial year.

asked the Minister of Education full details of all salary increases made to teachers since 1946 to the latest stated date.

Full details are given in the Reports of the Burnham Committees. I am sending the hon. Member copies of the Reports of 1945, 1948 and 1951.

asked the Minister of Education what information she has with regard to the proposed part conversion of Gordon Memorial School, Kilburn, N.W.6, to accommodate children of the Roman Catholic faith; and when the scheme will be approved.

I am not yet in a position to make any statement about these proposals, which have only just been put before me by the local education authority.

asked the Minister of Fool if he will make a statement on the National Farmers' Union request to him for the establishment of a large-sized modern co-operative bacon factory in central Lincolnshire, details of which have been sent to him.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. and gallant Friend yesterday to the question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas).

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of animal feedingstuffs were produced from sea fish in the years 1950 and 1951, respectively.

In 1950, 58,753 tons; in 1951, 70,914 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the capital city of Northern Rhodesia, Lusaka, has rejected any direct African representation on its Native Affairs Board.

I am asking the Governor for information on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made towards implementing the recommendations of the Hiley Committee with regard to the establishment of a Forest Commission in Kenya.

The Government of Kenya are still considering these recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the latest available report of the Fiji Department of Forestry reveals that care and maintenance of the forest in the wet zones has been unsatisfactory because of lack of trained staff; and whether this has now been supplied.

I agree that the conservation of forests in Fiji has been severely hampered by shortage of trained staff. At the end of 1950, the year covered by the report to which my hon. Friend refers, the trained staff consisted of one acting conservator and two assistant conservators. The establishment of one conservator and four assistant conservators has now been filled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many students are under instruction at the Cyprus Forest School; and in what courses of instruction they are engaged.

There are at present 30 students. Sixteen are now taking part I of a comprehensive two-year course in the technical and scientific aspects of forestry to fit them for appointment to responsible posts in the forest services of Cyprus and other territories. The remaining 14 were sufficiently qualified to dispense with part I of the course and are taking part II only.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the latest available report of the Fiji Department of Forestry reveals that serious damage is being done to the forest resources of the Colony by fire and grazing in the dry zones; and what success has been achieved by the steps being taken to control this.

I am aware of the conditions referred to by my hon. Friend. I have not yet had a report on the success of the measures proposed in the 1950 Report of the Fiji Forestry Department to control fires and grazing in the dry zones, but I am communicating with the Acting Governor and will write to my hon. Friend when I have had a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the latest available report of the Forest Department of Northern Rhodesia states that the area of gazetted forest reserves is pitfully small; and what steps are being taken to increase the same.

It is a primary aim of forest policy in Northern Rhodesia to increase the area of gazetted forest reserves as soon as possible and the Governor is giving all possible support to the Forest Department in carrying out this policy. The progress made in 1950 is given in Section II of the report to which the hon. Member's Question refers. I am asking the Governor for a report on achievement in 1951 and will write to the hon. Member when I have the Governor's reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the anxiety of the workers employed at the Treforest Trading Estate about the increasing instances of redundancy and short-time employment, he will discuss with the Ministers concerned the possibility of placing a greater share of defence equipment contracts with firms in this part of the Welsh Development Area.

I am aware that there has been recently a comparatively small amount of redundancy and short-time working on the Treforest Trading Estate, but unemployment in the area was less in February, 1952, than it was in February, 1951.I understand that some firms on this estate are already engaged upon defence contracts, and I can assure the hon. Member that the Ministers concerned are fully aware of the importance of using the resources of the Welsh and other Development Areas in carrying through the defence programme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now decided to amend the Hire-Purchase Order to include motor cycles in the same category as motor cars; and when the amending Order will be laid.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given today to similar Questions by my hon. Friend, the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd) and the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Peter Freeman).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the exhibitors' film quota for the year beginning 1st October, 1952.

After consulting the Cinematograph Films Council, I do not propose to make any Order this year to amend the Cinematograph Films (Quotas) Order. This means that the prescribed quotas will remain at 30 per cent. for first-feature films and 25 per cent. for supporting programmes for the exhibitors' quota year beginning 1st October, 1952.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what principle he allocates orders to the various shipbuilding and ship-repairing ports of Britain; and what proportion in value and tonnage is allocated to the various Scottish ports, respectively.

As regards the first part of the Question, Admiralty orders for shipbuilding and ship-repairing are allocated, in so far as it is practicable and economical to do so, to yards which are most in need of work; preference is given, other things being equal, to ports in Development Areas or areas of relatively high unemployment. I regret that I am unable in the public interest to disclose the information asked for in the latter part of the Question.