asked the Minister of Labour whether he has now completed his review and will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's attitude on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Night Baking which reported in October, 1951, Command Paper No. 8378.

Not yet, for this is a most complex subject, but I will make a statement at the earliest possible date.

Can the Minister say when that will be? This matter has been before the House for very many years. Is this continual procrastination justified, because the Report deals with a legitimate grievance of a very large number of men?

I cannot give a date, but what I can say is this: I quite agree that the matter has engaged the attention of this House for upwards of 100 years. The Report was received in October, and the observations of the various interested people in the industry did not reach me until the middle of February. It has been necessary to consult other Government Departments and to collate their views, but we are getting on with the matter now.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is in a position to place the building trade workers who have received notice to terminate their employment with the Ministry of Works at Liverpool.

If these men, whose ages range from 66 to 74, register for further employment every effort will be made to place them.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not realise that if his colleagues at the Ministry of Works had taken notice of the speech which he made on 5th April, asking for aged workers to be kept in employment, it would not have been necessary for me to ask this Question?

The point is that these persons have not yet registered at the employment exchanges and their employment has not come to an end. In that age range, what we have particularly to consider is the strength and ability of the men as well as their willingness to work.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman understand that the type of work for which these men are called upon is more suitable for aged craftsmen than for the new entrants who are learning the trade at present?

The information I had was that they were joiners, painters, bricklayers and labourers who were likely to be affected.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the latest unemployment figures available for the borough of Lancaster.

The figures for 21st April will be available in a few days and I will write to my hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that this unemployment, which started under the last Government and has continued ever since, is causing great distress in Lancaster? In view of the contrary allegations which have been made on political grounds in certain circles, will he reaffirm that it is the Government's policy to maintain full employment?

It is the aim of the Government, and my constant anxiety, to do what I can to maintain that policy.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. F. Maclean) never raised this matter during the period of office of the last Government?

That is not true; I did raise it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take action to ensure that the refusal of an employer to accept an employee sent to him from the employment exchange to fill a vacancy of which he had given notice, on the grounds that the workman is a member of a trade union, shall become an offence under the Notification of Vacancies Order.

No, Sir. I am advised that there is no power to include in this Order any provision making it an offence for an employer to refuse to engage a particular worker.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that, as the Order now stands, he is, in fact, forced to accede to the recognition of the principle of the closed shop against trade unionists by employers who do this sort of thing? As he has brought the trade unions into partnership with him as special agents in running the Order, does he not see how anomalous that position is? Could he not do something to deal with it?

The difficulty about answering the Question otherwise than I did is the advice I have about what can be done under the Order. I am advised that it cannot be done by amendment of the Order, and that was the point which was put to me.

As this Order was framed in conjunction with the N.J.A.C., would not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree to reconsider this aspect of the matter—which is a new aspect and could not have been foreseen at the time—with the N.J.A.C. and take their advice on it?

The difficulty about that is that it is not so much any disagreement which has to be resolved; it is what powers are authorised by the regulation under which the Order was made. I am told that it could not be done by amending the Order. It is a point which has been discussed with the unions.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that although this Question refers to a case in Dundee, there is another case of the very opposite character in Dundee; and will he do nothing to alter the Order?

That is another matter.

Does the Minister realise that so long as the law permits an employer to refuse to engage a man merely because he is a member of a trade union, it is rank hypocrisy for the Tory Government to bar the Durham County Council because they do the opposite?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that, following the recent dismissal of 120 workers and the threatened redundancy of a further 350 skilled and semiskilled workers, the employees of S Smith and Sons, Limited, Cricklewood. have declared a strike; and what action he proposes to take to bring this dispute to a speedy conclusion;

(2) on what date the dispute at S. Smith and Sons, Limited, Cricklewood, was reported to his Department; and what action his conciliation department have taken to bring about a settlement of the points in dispute.

The dispute has not been reported to my Department for conciliation action. There is, however, ample machinery within the industry for dealing with it and in the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to intervene.

Does not the Minister think it deplorable that so many of these skilled workers and half of this very efficient plant which ought to be engaged in priority work are at present idle?

Yes, Sir, I deplore that, but there is within the industry agreed machinery for settling disputes. I understand that officials of the Association are still in contact with the district officials of the unions concerned with the object of securing a resumption of work so that the machinery may be operated.

In view of the fact that this firm is engaged on defence orders, among other things, has the Minister any information to show that this strike is in any way Communist inspired?

Is not the Minister aware that an official of his Department has been in contact with the employers and the workers, but that his suggestion was so ambiguous and vague that neither side was prepared to accept it?

I cannot identify any officer of mine of which that could be said. We shall keep in touch, but intervention is another thing.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the need, he will set up a sub-office of his Department at S. Smith and Sons, Limited, Cricklewood, for the purpose of assisting redundant skilled and semi-skilled engineers to be transferred to other urgent employment of a national character.

Provisional arrangements have been made for my officers to attend at this factory to register redundant workers and to assist them to find other employment, but I understand that it has not yet been decided who are redundant.

asked the Minister of Labour how many firms are faced with a stoppage of production due to the cancellation of licences for the import of fondant sugar from the Continent announced last November; what increase of unemployment he expects as a result of these stoppages; and what plans he has for absorbing the redundant workers into other forms of employment.

I have received reports of only one firm where there has been considerable redundancy due to this cause. In that case there are still nine redundant workers registered as unemployed and the employment exchange is endeavouring to place them in other employment.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider bringing pressure to bear on the Minister of Food to see whether the pre-war allocations of sugar might be shared with those firms which have started since the war, and who were previously dependent on imported fondant sugar so as to prevent any unemployment at all?

I will bring that matter to the notice of my right hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour how many foreign workers there are in the United Kingdom; in which trades they are chiefly engaged; from which countries they have come; what steps are being taken to ensure that British workers are not made redundant whilst foreign workers remain fully employed; and to what extent it is proposed to repatriate them when they are no longer required.

I am unable to say what is the total number of foreign workers at present in the United Kingdom, but since the war more than 200,000 have been absorbed into employment in this country under official or semi-official schemes. With permission, I propose to circulate the remainder of the answer, which involves a table of figures and information about the issue of individual permits, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Minister see that foreign workers do not remain in employment when English workers are out of work, and that when redundancy arises foreign workers will be put off first?

In the case of those who are here under organised schemes for bringing foreign workers into the United Kingdom, most of the agreements between the two sides of the industries concerned provide that foreign workers shall be the first to be discharged in the event of redundancy. It is, of course, for the parties to those agreements to see to their implementation.

While appreciating that foreign workers must not be retained at the expense of British workers, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that many of the foreign workers were brought in to remove bottlenecks which arose from the reluctance of our own workers to do the job; and will he see that there is no dislocation of industry to any excessive extent from the necessity to remove these foreign workers?

indicated assent.

asked the Minister of Labour from which consumer goods industries he proposes to draw the

As the hon. Member knows, I exercise no powers to withdraw workers from one industry and place them in another. The extent to which labour will transfer from individual consumer goods industries to re-armament work depends upon the areas in which the demand for additional labour falls, the type of other industry in that area and its level of employment.

As the Economic Survey says that where additional workers are required they will have to come mainly from other industries, particularly consumer industries, and as the last week, in reply to a Question on the cotton industry. the Minister said:

"I am not saying that there will be an attempt to reduce the number of workers in the industry."—[OFFICIAL REPORT. 29th April, 1952; Vol. 499, c. 1212.]

is the right hon. and learned Gentleman simply relying on indiscriminate unemployment in order to find additional workers?

What I am suggesting is that if it turns out that in the consumer industries there are people not in work, it will be to that source that one will look for some addition to those required for the switch in industry.

Does that mean that the Minister has not the faintest notion where he can get these workers and that the rearmament programme depends on a number of haphazard accidents?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour what consultations he has had with the Minister of Supply and the First Lord of the Admiralty to ensure that normal defence contracts are placed in areas of unemployment like Blackburn.

From an early stage of the defence programme it has been the practice for my Department to advise the Admiralty and the Ministry of Supply from time to time of areas where labour is available for their guidance in placing defence contracts.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of confusion about the basis on which these two Departments, particularly the Admiralty, are placing their defence contracts? Will he consider setting up an inter-Departmental committee under the chairmanship of his own Department to bring about a co-ordinated direction of contracts to the areas where they are most needed?

We shall do all we can to encourage the closest contact. In the industries most concerned with Blackburn it has been taking place within the past few weeks, and is still taking place.

is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I have received very contradictory replies from the Admiralty as to the basis on which they place their normal defence contracts, first saying that they cannot place them in Blackburn because there is no skilled labour and then that they cannot do it because there is not sufficient unemployment?

I must take what comfort I can from the fact that the ambiguity comes from another Department. I am sure that the hon. Lady will put her question to that Department.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say why hon. Members opposite who are semi-pacifists are depending on re-armament for full employment?

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in Nelson there is a perfectly good and quite modern factory eminently suitable for some alternative trade to relieve unemployment in the cotton industry in the possession of the Admiralty and used by them purely for storage purposes? Could the Minister make representations to his right hon. Friend to release these premises and make them available for employment in this area?

I have heard of that particular factory from certain hon. Members and I will remind my right hon. Friend of the possibility of putting it to better use.

asked the Minister of Labour what advice he has had from his experts as to how far workers on processes involving the production or use of A-naphthylamine or B-nap, are thereby exposed to the risk of cancer; and what protective measures are the factory inspectorate demanding to minimise this risk.

There is reason to believe that the manufacture of these two substances is associated with the occurrence of cancer of the bladder among the workers concerned. This disease occurs also among both sexes of the general population which has no contact with these substances; and, although special research has been in progress for several years, the extent of the risk attributable to the industrial use and manufacture of the substances is not fully established.

The precautions recommended depend upon the method of manufacture and the circumstances of use of the substances.

In view of the wide publicity now being given to a certain case, would the Minister give a specific assurance that workers with these chemicals will not be exposed unnecessarily to the risk of cancer merely because of the high cost of protective measures?

I think it better that I should not say too much about the case which is now being tried because at one stage I took the part in it which the right hon. and learned Gentleman the ex-President of the Board of Trade appears to be taking now. This is a matter in which the Senior Medical Inspector of Factories is personally concerned both in research and in observing that all care is taken, and he is satisfying himself on that matter.

asked the Minister of Labour what action is being taken by Remploy Limited with regard to a cost-of-living bonus claimed by employees.

A claim for increased wages has been the subject of negotiations between the company and the interested trade unions, and both parties have agreed that the matter should go to arbitration.

Is there any indication that this can be settled speedily, since it has already been outstanding for eight months? Can the Minister also say that the reward will be retrospective, as it was in the case of foremen employed in these factories?

I cannot give any indication as to the award. I have not the date before me, but I think the decision to go to arbitration is a recent one.

Can we have an assurance that this will go to the same arbitration tribunal as did the doctors' case recently?

I think that was a special arbitration tribunal. This matter will go to one which I shall select in the ordinary way.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent his factory inspectors have under his regulations advisory powers in connection with the abatement of industrial noise where factory processes are likely to interfere with the sleep of persons compelled to live in the immediate vicinity of factories.

None at all, Sir. There is no statutory power under the Factories Acts to deal with nuisances affecting residents in the vicinity of a factory.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider this matter further and see whether he can give any assistance to a large number of constituents of mine living in Horwich, Lancashire, whose lives are made intolerable by the noise emanating all night long from the plant of the British Transport Commission? Will he consider this matter generally in connection with the development of industry, because in the opinion of many of us it falls within the purview of his Department?

I can only deal with the situation as it is. It does not fall within the purview of the Factory Inspectorate. It falls within the provisions of the Public Health Acts, which are the concern of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

Is the Minister aware that if there were powers the Factory Inspectorate is so much below establishment that it would be doubtful if they could give attention to the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the anticipated increase in the school population in the developing mining area of Fife, from January, 1952, to January, 1954, as a result of the transfer of miners and their families from the west to the east of Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure adequate educational facilities for these additional children.

About 290 in 1952 and about 390 in 1953. The needs of these children have been taken into account in planning new schools for Dunfermline, Kennoway and Kirkcaldy.

How, then, does the Secretary of State account for the statement he made at a Press conference a few weeks ago that, as a result of the circulars which he had issued recently, some of the areas which had suffered most would be among the development areas? Fife was one of the areas cited.

We are doing everything we can to push on with the erection of new schools in the areas receiving the transferred population.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many over-crowded classes existed in the primary and secondary departments of Fife schools on 31st December in 1939, 1945. 1950 and 1951.

Statistics are not available for 31st December in any year. I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate in the OFFICIAL

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary and secondary schools will be completed in Fife this year; how many additional places these schools will provide; and how far such new accommodation will relieve the problem of overcrowded classes.

One large secondary school was opened in March; it is hoped that a big temporary extension to another will be finished during the year. Four large primary schools are under construction; in each case it is expected that some rooms will be ready for occupation by September. The completion of one small school, and of additions or restorations at four other buildings, will take place within the year. All these buildings will together provide over 2,700 places which, I understand, will enable the education authority to reduce the size of 84 of the 103 oversize classes.

Can the Secretary of State say whether there is an increase indicated in the years in question and whether there is likely to be an increase in the overcrowded classes this year?

As to the increase before this year the operation of the Schools (Scotland) Code in September, 1950, lowered the maximum for primary classes from 50 to 45 and this, naturally, may cause an increase.

Does the right hon Gentleman realise that in the next year or two Fife is likely to have an increasing number of miners from the west of Scotland? Could he indicate therefore whether there are any extra facilities or increased priorities for the developing mining areas in Scotland as against other areas?

Yes, Sir. We realise that this transfer will create great difficulties in Fife which are not applicable in all other areas and we are doing everything we can to meet those difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) the number of private homes under the Lunacy Acts, 1862 and 1913; the number of patients, minimum and maximum. in each home; and the number over 60 years of age;

(2) what total contribution he is making towards the upkeep of patients in private mental homes; and what are the minimum and maximum payments per patient.

There are two institutions in Scotland licensed as private mental hospitals, for 90 and 36 patients. The numbers at present in residence are 32 and 36, of which 22 and 14 are over 60 years of age. There are no contributions from State funds towards the upkeep of these patients.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say if there are private homes under the Lunacy Acts in Scotland with as few as four patients or 20 patients?

There are, of course, other categories. Mental patients boarded out in private houses under guardianship numbered 502 at 1st January, 1952, the maximum number in any one house being four; but I have no statistics relating to age.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far experiments are being made in Scotland with the new tuberculosis drug, isonicotinic acidhydrazide; and with what results.

In co-operation with the Medical Research Council clinical investigations into the therapeutic value of this drug are being undertaken by the Research Committee of the Scottish Tuberculosis Society. Trials are planned at six Scottish hospitals prominent in the treatment of tuberculosis, but results cannot be expected for some months.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that while the British Medical Council has hesitated to make a definite pronouncement about this drug it can be obtained by the ordinary medical practitioner, who may pass it on to his patient irrespective of its possible effects on the patient?

It is true that it can be prescribed by doctors; but it will not be used in hospitals under the National Health Service until these trials have been completed.

But are not these doctors working under the National Health Service, and is it not rather risky that they should be allowed to prescribe the drug, since it has not yet been pronounced on by the B.M.C.?

I agree with the hon. Lady. I should have thought that it would have been wiser to await the result of the trials.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons suffering from tuberculosis who are unable to have hospital and sanatoria treatment because of the lack of accommodation and staff.

The number on the waiting list for sanatorium treatment in Scotland at 31st March was 1,723.

Would the Secretary of State communicate that answer to his hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary, who, in the debate last week, did not regard this problem as being of much significance? Further, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many hundreds of tuberculosis patients will have to pay for their drugs and medicines on the 1s. prescription as long as they remain outpatients?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Economic Survey for Scotland, 1952. will be published.

I hope to publish the annual White Paper on industry and employment in Scotland in 1951 on 14th May.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care to see that the Scottish Survey is not curtailed, as was the English survey?

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I have no intention of curtailing it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in regard to the need for modification of the Catering Wages Act for hotels in the Highland area, as recommended by the report by the Highlands and Islands Advisory Panel on the County of Sutherland.

I have brought the recommendation to the notice of my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour who, as he stated in reply to a Question by the bon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd) on 10th April, is in discussion with the two sides of the hotel industry.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that hotel keepers in the Highlands and Islands are labouring under a very great difficulty pending the revision of the Catering Wages Act?

I can assure my noble Friend that I am aware of this, and that I have been in touch with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour on this matter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman ask his noble Friend the Member for Inverness (Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton) whether he is aware that the report made a comment on this rather than a recommendation? It is not a recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to enable retired teachers who are able and willing to return to teaching to do so without loss of pension.

In the case of teachers who retired between the ages of 60 and 65, pension is suspended on re-employment, but I have recently made provision for them to have the benefit on final retirement of a new pension award which takes account of any further service exceeding one year. Retired teachers over 65 years of age can only return without loss of pension to teaching service if the amount of their salary on re-employment, together with their pension, does not exceed their salary on retirement.

It is a long-established principle applicable to civil servants and local government employees as well as teachers that they should not receive both a salary and pension paid or aided from public funds, and I am not able to make an exception to this principle in the case of teachers.

Is the Minister aware that teachers who have earned their pensions are able to draw them in any other form of occupation than teaching? Does he not think that that is an injustice which is handicapping many local authorities, and will he not look at this matter again?

I should be very glad to look at it, but I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on this subject on 12th February, 1951, by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Gaitskell).

That answer is well within my recollection, and if the right hon. Gentleman disapproved of it he now has the chance to remedy it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to institute monthly payment of teachers' pensions.

The change to monthly payment of teachers' pensions could not conveniently be made for Scotland alone, as teachers' pensions for both Scotland and England are paid by the Paymaster General. I should not feel justified in proposing this change in the present financial circumstances of the country in view of the additional cost which would be entailed.

How can the payment of the total pension which must be made be affected by the financial condition of the country? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is very unfair that those who are drawing small payments in the form of pension should have to wait as long as three months between each payment? Would he not agree that there should be greater frequency in these payments and could not he get in touch with his right hon. Friend to adjust it on a national basis?

It would necessitate additional accommodation as well as additional staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities have applied for permission to use premises other than schools for the teaching of schoolchildren.

Two, since this Government took office; but authorities do not apply for permission unless they wish to be assured that their expenditure on rent will rank for grant, as it does in the normal case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent school dental officers in Scotland are fully-qualified dentists.

All school dental officers in Scotland are fully-qualified dentists.

While thanking the Secretary of State for that reassurance, may I ask him if he can give the House some information about the eight girl students from Scotland who came to London to the Eastman Dental Clinic, and, according to his report, are returning to employment in the school dental service in Scotland? What exactly are they going to do when they get back?

If the hon. Gentleman will let me have details, I will give him the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the figures for the past year, to the nearest convenient date, of the number of children in Scotland who have had dental inspection at school; and the number who have not had dental inspection.

The number of children inspected by school dental officers during the year ended 31st July, 1951, was 231,381. The number not inspected was 552,298.

Is the Secretary of State aware that hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite, in the debate on the National Health Service Bill last week, were arguing that there had been a great augmentation to the school dental service, and that the figures which he has revealed show a deplorable lack of attention to the children's teeth in schools? Will he not direct the children and the authorities to use the general dental service under the Health Act?

The number of dentists in this service has recently increased from 95 to 115, and I think there is reason to hope that it will improve; but it will take a number of years to build up a wholly efficient service.

Is not the Secretary of State aware that more than half the school children in Scotland are not getting their teeth examined at all? Is he prepared to wait for a long number of years before children get dental treatment?

If the hon. Gentleman will study the Dentists Bill he will realise that we hope to help to speed up this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for infant mortality in Kirkcaldy; and the average for Scotland.

The provisional total of deaths of children under one year of age in Kirkcaldy in 1951 was 33, representing an infant mortality rate of 35.8 per 1,000 live births, compared with 37.4 for the whole of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to remove the financial burden being borne by the burgh of Clydebank as a result of the destruction, by bombing and consequent replacement of about 4,000 houses.

This matter was recently discussed at a meeting between my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Pollok (Commander Galbraith) and representatives of the Town Council, and is being considered in the light of the discussion.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the bombing of Clydebank was consequential on the great contribution which the burgh of Clydebank made to the national war effort, and, therefore, also agree that the national Exchequer should bear the financial burden of the reconstruction of Clydebank, and not the citizens of Clydebank itself?

I agree that the burden is a heavy one, but, as these representations have been made to me only recently, I would prefer to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the progress made in eliminating duplication of administration in central and local government affairs.

The recommendations of the Scottish Local Government Man-power Committee in its first Report have, in the main, been implemented. The Committee is now considering the existing arrangements for ensuring economy in the use of manpower by local authorities and Departments concerned with local government matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received from the White Fish Authority regarding the reorganisation of the industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The White Fish Authority have made no recommendations for the reorganisation of the industry in Scotland; but they have made general recommendations for assistance towards the cost of replacing near and middle water and inshore fishing vessels, and they have under consideration a transport equalisation scheme and other projects.

the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the progress of housing undertaken by the East Kilbride Development Corporation; how many new houses have been built to the last convenient date; and what sums have been borrowed by the Corporation to date.

At 30th April the Corporation had completed 357 houses and had 1,032 under construction or contracted for. There have been difficulties about the labour supply, which has now been increased. The total advances to the Corporation amounted to £1,428,380 at 31st March last.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that represents a completion of 14 houses last month and of only 37 since the middle of December? Is be satisfied that that total amount is adequate for a Corporation which has existed for this purpose for over four years?

A great deal of the labour available at present is concentrated upon factory work of first importance and as that is proceeded with there will be more labour available for houses.

Is the Minister aware that the workers in the factories which are under construction will need housing?

Is the Secretary of State aware that these development corporations have, of necessity, had to do a great deal of ground work? Is he further aware that the Minister of Housing and Local Government said in a recent debate that the ground work had been virtually completed and that he would reap the harvest that was about to result in an increased number of houses?

The surfacing of the roads is going on as rapidly as possible, and it will be possible to make more rapid progress with the housing which we realise is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, since his plans to import Swedish prefabricated houses have been frustrated by the general exchange difficulties of the European Payments Union to which Sweden belongs, he will continue to explore the possibility of importing such houses from countries within the sterling area to hasten the Scottish housing programme.

I am not aware of any source of supply of the kind my hon. Friend has in mind. I shall be glad to consider any particulars he cares to give me.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that the term "hardwood" which normally applies to wood available in the Commonwealth is, from the carpentry point of view, soft? Is he aware that there are great quantities of timber available in countries I can specify and that there are great possibilities of developing that trade and industry?

We have considered that.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is considerable unemployment in the prefabricated housebuilding industry in Finland? Will he see whether he can obtain prefabricated wooden houses from Finland to help our housing drive?

When, originally, we thought of importing prefabricated houses, it was urged that we should build them in this country and that is now being done.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any intention of withdrawing the contract already placed with the Coat-bridge firm for these houses? Is it not the case that they are better houses at lower prices than he can obtain in the sterling area, which is now almost as difficult as the dollar area?

I have no intention of withdrawing the contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what number of prefabricated timber houses are expected to be completed in Scotland by the end of 1953.

The aim is to complete the whole programme of 3,000 houses by the end of 1953.

Will the Secretary of State impress upon the Treasury the desirability of being able to import prefabricated houses from Sweden? Is he not aware that prefabrication in this country will take away labour from the general housing programme?

I am in a difficulty over this. At one time we did intend to import, and we were pressed to build in this country; but I shall be very glad to consider what is the best course to adopt in the future.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why we should employ Swedish workers when there are unemployed workers in Coatbridge, or why the Treasury should pay more for these houses when we could get them cheaper and better from the Coatbridge factory?

Is it not still broadly true to say that the housing problem in Scotland is, proportionately, about six times worse than in the rest of the country and, if that is so, will my right hon. Friend keep it very much before his colleagues when any possibility presents itself of extending this programme by any possible means?

Is the Secretary of State satisfied that to allow the firm at Coatbridge to undertake the entire programme is the best means of quickly carrying out this programme? Would it not be better to have various firms in different regions of Scotland prefabricating on the spot?

I am afraid that that would add to the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of private contractors who have failed to implement their contracts with the Glasgow Corporation for the building of houses in that city during the years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951; and to what extent some form of penalty clause is included in such contracts.

I am informed that 36 housing contracts involving 24 contractors were terminated by the Corporation from 1947 to 1951. No penalty clauses were included in these contracts.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that these figures illustrate the necessity for the inclusion of penalty clauses in housing contracts. and will he encourage local authorities in Scotland to insist on those clauses being inserted?

The use of a penalty clause for traditional housing is suggested in Part VI of the Scottish Housing Handbook, issued in December, 1951, and the Corporation have now adapted the Department's model penalty clause for nontraditional contracts.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the figures also show that we cannot depend too much on private enterprise in solving the housing problem?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware that Glasgow Corporation have only received, since January, 1952, 135 applications to purchase houses at Merrylee; and since this leaves a balance of 487 houses, what action is proposed by the local authority to find purchasers;

(2) how many houses built for sale in the Merrylee scheme, Glasgow, have been completed since November, 1951; and how many have been occupied as at 1st May, 1952.

At 1st May, 146 houses had been completed at Merrylee; 28 had been sold; and the sale of 31 was being negotiated. In addition, there are eligible applicants for 76 more houses. I have asked the Corporation what their plans are for the disposal of the remaining houses.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the inability or failure of the local authorities to secure purchasers for these houses is sufficient justification for him to intervene and let the houses to the applicants on the housing waiting lists?

The hon. Gentleman is aware that the houses are not all completed yet, and that, as a result of the meeting, I have written to the Convenor of the Housing Committee. We are watching this matter very carefully. I have no power, of course, to intervene in local authority affairs.

The right hon. Gentleman has just indicated that there are 146 houses completed. Some of them have been standing unoccupied for over six months, which is criminal in the light of today's housing shortage. Will he therefore intervene and instruct the Glasgow authority to let these houses?

I will watch the position, but, as I have said, I have no power to order them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent provision, by conversion and new building respectively, or residential accommodation for old people is curtailed by present building restrictions.

Two projects for extending existing accommodation have been delayed; eight local authorities who have made inquiries about new building have been asked to make further search for suitable existing premises.

Does that mean that no new building at all will be permitted for accommodating old people in Scotland?

No, Sir, it does not mean that. We have had to delay operations, and preference will be given to projects which seem likely to provide satisfactory accommodation most economically.

How long will the delay last?

It depends upon our ability to overcome the financial difficulties

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of aged and infirm persons in Scotland who are unable to have nursing care and attention through lack of suitable accommodation.

I am afraid I have not got comprehensive figures, but if the hon. Member has any particular area in mind I should be glad to make inquiries. Home nursing and domestic help services are, of course, available, under arrangements made by local health authorities, for people in their own homes.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that most of the local authorities in Scotland who are responsible, under Section 3 of the National Health Service Act, for the care and attention of old people, have sent forward to the Scottish Health Department schemes which they intend to operate when the right hon. Gentleman gives them freedom to have building licences which they can utilise to provide accommodation? Would he not, in view of the number of old people in Scotland needing attention, issue building licences, so that these, people may receive the care they need?

We have to be careful in regard to building licences at the present time. It is not the case that all these people require hospital accommodation; some of them can be looked after in their homes, and that does not require any new building.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I did not deal with hospital accommodation, but with the care of the aged and infirm, responsibility for which is placed firmly on the local authorities by Section 3 of the National Health Service Act?

New homes have been opened recently, and more are being opened, and I will, of course, encourage that development in any way possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is being made for building community centres in the special housing areas for miners in Fife.

Approval has been given, and grants have been offered, for the erection by the Miners' Welfare Commission of community centres at Oakley and Kennoway in Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 3,000 Swedish houses allocated to Scotland are to be built in Fife.

Two hundred and fourteen houses were offered to local authorities in Fife, including 72 to Glenrothes Development Corporation. By 3rd May, a total of 88 had been accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 3,000 timber houses have been allocated, or offered, to Edinburgh.

One hundred houses have been offered.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now make a further statement on the responsibilities to Parliament of those Cabinet Ministers who are charged with co-ordinating the work of various Ministries.

asked the Prime Minister (1) for what matters the Secretary of State for the Coordination of Transport, Fuel and Power has any responsibility to Parliament;

(2) in what way the responsibilities of the Lord President of the Council, in his capacity as co-ordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture, differ from those of the Secretary of State for the Coordination of Transport, Fuel and Power.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the Secretary of State for the Co-ordination of Transport, Fuel and Power is responsible to Parliament.

As I think it would meet the convenience of the House, I will, with permission, make a statement at the end of Questions. May I be permitted to say at this moment that I am obliged to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) for postponing his Question from yesterday

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to transfer the responsibility for administering the regulations with regard to diseases of animals, so far as Scotland is concerned, from the Minister of Agriculture to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

It is thought more prudent to keep centralised control at this moment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the Secretary of State had similar powers to those of the Government of Northern Ireland he would be able to prohibit the importation of cattle across the Border from England whenever an outbreak of foot and mouth disease was confirmed? If he had had powers to do this, it might have prevented infected cattle from reaching Scotland, which is now regarded by the Dominions and the United States of America as one of the very few clean countries in the world.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not also aware that the chief veterinary officer for the whole of Scotland is in the Secretary of State's office in Edinburgh, and that the scheme has worked well for 15 years without any complaint from hon. Members opposite?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a torrent of complaints from Scotland at the present time?

I am sure my hon. Friend would be fully capable of giving full vent to any such torrent, but the difficulty is that we are not sure that foot and mouth disease is as well educated on the subject of borders and questions arising out of them as he is.

Will my right hon. Friend adhere to the policy of single control of this epidemic disease, which has worked well in the past and is working well at present, and will certainly not be helped by splitting up control between contending centres in this country?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is no proof that the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Scotland is due in any way to the importation of cattle from England?

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

I am afraid that I cannot undertake to be present when this new red herring is drawn across the Border.