asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will produce a simply worded brochure explaining why, to what extent, and in what specific ways, the general standard of living in this country must fall as was foreshadowed on many occasions by his predecessor in office.

As regards the present Government's views, I think that the Economic Survey and the popular version should meet what my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much interest has accrued to the nearest convenient date on a National Savings Certificate purchased for 15s. in July, 1945; and how much both capital and interest is worth allowing for the subsequent fall in the purchasing power of the £ sterling.

3s. 4½d. and 12s. 9d., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the present procedure for the valution of shares of private companies brings considerable hardship to small companies when Death Duties have to be paid; what representations he has received to this effect from the National Union of Manufacturers, the National Federation of Grocers, the Drapers' Chamber of Trade and other bodies; and whether he will carry out an investigation into this problem.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received a number of representations on this subject and is ready to consider any concrete evidence of hardship which is put before him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a committee to consider what legislative or administrative action can be taken to help men and women with incomes above National Assistance level and below the scale assessable for Income Tax to meet the high cost of living.

I regret that I cannot accept the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what sum was spent, in the most recent year for which figures are available, on defraying the expenses of persons coming to London to attend an investiture.

The precise figure is not available centrally and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of time and work. It is, in any event, trivial.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in order to minimise the hardship which may be caused by necessary reduction of staffs in Government Departments, steps will be taken not to fill vacancies due to wastage and also to ensure that those who, because of their age or other reasons, can easily obtain other employment should be discharged first.

A substantial part of the staff reductions taking place in Government Departments is being achieved by refraining from filling vacancies caused by normal wastage. As for the order of discharge, where discharges are necessary, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Newport on the 26th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the decline in the membership of pig clubs and the number of small pig keepers, he will consider increasing the supply and lowering the cost of pig meal.

Although the number of pig club members and the number of domestic pig keepers in receipt of rations have been both lower during the past six months October to March than they were a year ago, the total number of pigs kept by these classes of pig keepers shows an increase of 7½ per cent. I cannot hold out any hope of increasing the rations for pigs at present, but domestic pig keepers, like other livestock producers, will benefit from the decision I announced on 24th April to hold unchanged until March, 1953, the basic release prices of feedingstuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of marginal land in this country; and what steps he is pursuing to bring it into agricultural use.

Estimates of the acreage of marginal land vary according to the definition used. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk. South (Mr. Baker).

asked the Minister of Agriculture when his Department will be able to undertake the inspection and control of the manufacture of sera and vaccines used for veterinary purposes, in accordance with an undertaking given on behalf of his Department more than three years ago to representatives of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, the British Veterinary Association and the Pharmaceutical Society.

A draft Order providing for the control of the manufacture of veterinary therapeutic substances and prescribing standards and tests of purity is under final revision with a view to its issue at an early date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many head of cattle have been destroyed in north Staffordshire as a result of foot-and-mouth disease.

1429 cattle have been destroyed in North Staffordshire since the first outbreak in the present series occurred there on 15th April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many animals have been destroyed in Scotland owing to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

The first outbreak in Scotland in the present series occurred on 26th April; and since that date 899 cattle, 2,229 sheep and 53 pigs have been destroyed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the cost to his Department of research on foot-and-mouth disease of cattle during the past five years.

For the cost in the last three years I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 12th May to my right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, West (Mr. lain MacLeod). Expenditure in 1947–48 and 1948–49 amounted to £45,000 and £66,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, on an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease after the livestock are slaughtered, hay and roots are sometimes left on the farmer's hands; and what steps are taken to prevent their sale and distribution round the country, thus spreading the disease.

The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order. 1928, prohibits the movement of anything from an infected place except with a licence granted by an inspector of my Department, and in accordance with specified conditions. Where there is any reason to suppose that hay, roots or other feedingstuffs on an infected farm have been contaminated they are destroyed or disinfected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the tri-valent vaccine used effectively in the Argentine for foot-and-mouth disease; and what results were obtained from the experiments done at the Pirbright research station with the 10 gallons of serum given by the Argentine Government in 1943.

Research at Pirbright on vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease includes the use of tri-valent vaccines such as that used in the Argentine. With regard to the second part of the Question, numerous unsolicited gifts of serum are received by the Institute. I understand that the hyper immune serum to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers came from a commercial firm. The nature and properties of hyper immune serum are well known to the Institute.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as part of the campaign against foot-and-mouth disease, he will encourage the construction at every farm of a shallow concrete dip, to be filled with a solution of strong disinfectant, through which the cattle can be daily driven.

I am advised that my hon. Friend's suggestion would not be effective in preventing outbreaks since, under natural conditions, cattle do not contract foot-and-mouth disease through the feet, but through the mucus membranes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will amend the Agriculture Act, 1947, to give greater protection to tenant farmers of proved efficiency.

No. I am satisfied that the Act already gives a full measure of protection to efficient farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will investigate the circumstances in which the Essex Agricultural Executive Committee issued an agricultural cottage certificate in respect of a house at 39, Buckwood Road, Braintree, to a person who is neither the owner nor the farmer of the farm for whose proper working the occupation of this urban dwelling-house, three miles from the farm, was said to be necessary.

I am already aware of the facts of this case and am satisfied that the certificate was propertly issued. The applicant shares with the owner of the farm the responsibility for the farming of the land, and the Essex Agricultural Executive Committee were satisfied that the work of head cowman, on which he was to be employed, was necessary for the proper working of the holding.The Committee when considering the issue of a certificate have no power to take into account possible hardship to the sitting tenant, or the fact that the cottage is situated some miles from the farm. It is for the county court to consider all matters bearing on the reasonableness of granting an order for possession.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total acreage of Pessall Pits and Broadfield Farms in the parish of Edingale, Staffordshire; and how many agricultural workers are employed whole-time on these two farms.

I cannot give this information. Section 80 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, does not allow information obtained from agricultural returns made by individual occupiers to be disclosed except with their written consent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reports he has received from the Agricultural Research Council with regard to the experiments recently conducted in the use of antibiotics in animal feedingstuffs; and, in particular, if these experiments confirm the American successes in fattening pigs and poultry in this manner.

Experiments on this subject are still in progress and the Agricultural Research Council tell me that it is too soon to add to the statement they recently released to the Press, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend It is hoped that results from which valid conclusions can be drawn will be available before the end of the year

asked the Minister of Agriculture what would be the annual cost of maintaining the Ellbridge Horticultural Station; whether he is aware of the view of the Tamar Valley growers that the transfer of the centre's work to Camborne would greatly reduce the value of the service; and whether he will consider maintaining the centre on the same basis as it exists today.

The average net annual cost of maintaining the Ellbridge Horticultural Station has been about £940. I am fully aware of the special problems of the growers in the Tamar Valley, and that is why I am considering the retention of the Station.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the desire of farmers in the Romsey area of Hampshire to construct and operate a co-operative grass-drying scheme; and whether he will consult with those concerned with a view to assisting them in starting such a scheme.

Yes, I shall be pleased to arrange for advice to be given to the promoters on the technique and organisation of co-operative grass-drying projects.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the cost of the National Domestic Poultry-Keepers' Council, which is being sponsored by his Department, will fall on public funds.

The new organisation will receive financial assistance from the Government in the initial period of its development. Such assistance will be on a diminishing scale and the organisation will be expected to become self-supporting.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he now has the information which will enable him to decide whether to introduce legislation to implement the recommendation made in paragraph 94 of the Report of the Land Drainage Legislation Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee.

No. The discussions to which I referred in my reply to the right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown) on 21st February have not yet been completed and it is likely to be some time before decisions about legislation can be reached.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the cause of the delay in settling the claim for revision of terms of employment submitted by mobile mechanics in the Forestry Commission many months ago; and if he will take steps to settle the outstanding matters at an early date.

The requests for revision of their terms of employment which were submitted by mobile mechanics employed by the Forestry Commission in South Wales could not be answered without considering the grade as a whole. The Commission are taking steps to settle outstanding matters at an early date.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that on 28th November last the Secretary of State for the Home Department, speaking on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, told the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe that the Government would do everything possible to see that the affairs of the Council of Europe were debated in the House; whether that statement still represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government; and what steps it is intended to take to implement this undertaking.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made today in reply to his question on the business of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make any statement on the progress of recruiting for the Civil Defence Services; and in which branch, if any, there is particular deficiency.

On 30th April, 1952, the number of volunteers in England and Wales was approximately: Civil Defence Corps 195,200, Auxiliary Fire Service 12,000, National Hospital Service Reserve 22,500. The Civil Defence Corps has reached 42 per cent. Of its peace-time establishment and the Auxiliary Fire Service and the National Hospital Service Reserve 19 per cent. and 28 per cent. respectively of their provisional peace-time targets. All three services did better in the first quarter of this year than in the last quarter of 1951, showing an increase of 23,700 compared with one of 20,700. The most serious deficiencies are in the Auxiliary Fire Service and in the Rescue and Pioneer Sections of the Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now state when the Report of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire is likely to be published.

I understand that the Council hope to submit a further memorandum on their activities towards the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation banning the manufacture of celluloid and other toys made of highly inflammable materials.

A Departmental Committee which considered this question in 1938 found no justification for prohibiting the manufacture of such toys. I have no reason to think that accidents have become more frequent since then, and I can hold out no prospect of legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of persons entitled to vote at the recent local government elections; and the total number of votes cast.

These figures are not available at present, but they will be published in due course in the Registrar-General's annual statistical review for England and Wales.

asked the Attorney-General the number of cases of impersonation, arising from the recent municipal elections, which have been reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

One case of alleged personation in the recent local government elections is at present the subject of police inquiries on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the names of Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean have been removed from the list of suspected persons compiled by his Department for the use of immigration officers at British ports.

It would not be in the public interest to say what names are or are not on the list referred to. I can, however, say that no instructions have been issued to immigration officers in recent months about Messrs. Maclean and Burgess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prevent cruelty against wild animals to prevent such occurrences happening similar to the one in which the Master of Bramham Moor Hunt successfully defended a summons brought by the Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals against throwing a live fox to the hounds.

I cannot on the information before me accept the inference in the hon. Member's Question. The report of the recent Committee on cruelty to wild animals is still under consideration, but I can hold out no hope of early legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what principle he proposes to issue visas to a limited number of foreigners to enter the country to attend the British Youth Peace Festival at Whitsun.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on 13th March last, I am not prepared to grant facilities to foreigners to attend this festival, and appropriate instructions have been issued to passport control officers abroad and to immigration officers.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in his attempt to bring about a settlement to the industrial dispute at D. C. Thomson's where prospective employees are requested to sign a declaration that they are not trade unionists; and what steps he is taking to prevent this dispute spreading to other industries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the House last Friday, announcing my decision to set up a court of inquiry under the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, to inquire into the causes and circumstances of this dispute. The court has now been appointed and is holding a preliminary meeting this afternoon

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that within the terms of the International Labour Organisation Convention 98 of July, 1949, to which this country is committed, workers shall enjoy adequate protection against acts of anti-union discrimination in respect of their employment, and such protection shall apply more particularly in respect of acts calculated to make the employment of a worker subject to the condition that he shall not join a union or shall relinquish trade union membership; and, since these conditions are contravened by the actions of D. C. Thomson Limited, what action he proposes to take against this firm in this respect.

Yes. I am aware of the terms of the Convention to which the hon. Member refers and of its ratification by the Government in June, 1950. As the hon. Member will be aware, I have now appointed a court of inquiry to inquire into the causes and circumstances of the dispute involving D. C. Thomson and Company Limited, and it would, therefore, be undesirable for me to make any further statement at this stage.

asked the Minister of Health what decision has been reached in respect to the future of the 11 remaining day nursery schools in Kent.

asked the Minister of Health whether a decision has yet been reached about the suggested closing of the day nursery in Pelham Road, Gravesend.

No decision has yet been reached, and discussions with the Kent County Council are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to make a full report about the production of bone-induction hearing aids; and when these will be available for supply.

I regret that it is not yet possible to make a full statement, but a partial assessment of the results of the large-scale clinical trials of the experimental bone-conduction model that are now nearing completion encourages the hope that early production will be possible.

asked the Minister of Health why the delay in fitting hearing aids by the United Sheffield Hospitals is now running at two years; and when Mrs. Shaw, about whom he has had information, is likely to be called to the hospital for fitting.

I am glad to say that increased supplies have led to a great improvement in the position and the waiting period for new applicants at Sheffield has already been halved. My latest information is that Mrs. Shaw had an appointment for her aid to be fitted yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he has any statement to make concerning the complaint made to him by the Brierley Hill, Staffs, Trades Council that local doctors are charging for the issue of sick notes which are required by the National Insurance authorities and sick club secretaries before benefits can he paid: ( (2) under what authority doctors are authorised to make charges for the issue of sick notes which are necessary before insured persons can claim insurance benefits.

General practitioners are required to provide free of charge to their National Health Service patients any medical certificate included in the list forming the Second Schedule to the National Health Service (General Medical and Pharmaceutical Services) Amendment (No. (2) Regulations, 1949. This list includes certificates required for claims to sickness benefit under the National Insurance Act, but not those requested by friendly societies or sick clubs, for which a doctor may charge if he so wishes.

asked the Minister of Health what emoluments or perquisites doctors are entitled to receive from National Health patients as supplementation to their recently-increased State remuneration.

The circumstances in which general practitioners may accept fees from patients on their National Health Service lists for medical treatment are set out in paragraph 10 of the First Schedule to the National Health Service (General Medical and Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations, 1948. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Regulations.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of general medical practitioners in the National Health Service who have under 1,000, 1,000 to 1,500, 1,500 to 2,000, 2,000 to 3,000 and over 3,000 patients on their lists; and the numbers in each of these groups who have additional patients on their lists in respect of assistants employed by them.

At 1st January, 1950, the numbers (excluding limited lists) were as follows:

Lists of under 1,000 patients—2,400 doctors.

Lists of 1,000 to 1,500 patients—1,613 doctors.

Lists of 1,500 to 2,000 patients—1,936 doctors.

Lists of 2,000 to 3,000 patients—4,059 doctors.

Lists of over 3,000 patients—5,916 doctors.

The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has appointed any assistant or unestablished medical practitioner as a member of the working party to make recommendations to him on the redistribution of the central pool, so as to bring about a relative improvement in the position of those practitioners least favourably placed under the present plan of distribution to make it easier for new doctors to enter general practice and to stimulate group practice.

The Working Party on the Distribution of the Central Pool consists of officers of the Health Departments and representatives of the medical profession appointed by the General Medical Services Committee of the British Medical Association. I could not, of course, influence the Committee in its choice of individual representatives on the working party.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has caused to be furnished to the Working Party, established to report upon matters affecting the remuneration of general practitioners in the National Health Service, full information upon the conditions of employment of salaried assistants and practitioners and the restrictions placed upon the entry of such assistants into practice as principals.

No. The working party has to make recommendations upon the distribution of the central pool between principals in general practice. In the National Health Service the principal is responsible for the acts of his assistant, who is employed and paid by him according to an agreement reached between them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet completed the investigation into the circumstances under which a nasal douche, of which he has been given the name, was prescribed under the National Health Service, although its cost to the service was nearly 20 times that of a similar douche of identical therapeutic value to the patients, and of which the formula is contained in the national formulary.

Some prescriptions for this preparation have been traced and I am arranging for one of my medical officers to take the matter up with the doctor concerned. As the preparation is no longer being made no further action seems necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many National Health Service prescriptions were dispensed in the month of February in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

The figures for England and Wales are 19,023,000; 20,000,000; 21,045,000; and 21,215,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many National Health Service prescriptions were dispensed in the month of March in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

The figures for England and Wales are 20,443,000; 22,284,000; 20,214,000; and 21,105,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make arrangements for an adequate supply of Dental Form, E.C. 17, to be available to dentists in the Middlesex area.

I have no reason to believe that existing arrangements are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Health how many chronic and aged sick in Kent are awaiting admission to hospital; how many have been on the waiting list more than six months; and what action is being taken to deal with this problem.

At the end of April, the waiting list was 465 and 102 had been waiting more than 6 months. The regional hospital board have taken various steps to deal with the problem, including the improvement of facilities for home care, the development of facilities for rehabilitation, and the transfer, where possible, of medically fit patients to accommodation provided by the local authority.

asked the Minister of Health how many tuberculosis cases in Kent are awaiting admission to hospital; and how many have been on the waiting list for more than six months.

I understand that, of 275 patients awaiting admission to hospital on 30th April, 57 had been waiting over six months.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are concerned solely with administration, excluding porters, engineers and cooks, in the Central Middlesex Management Committee Group which controls 1,500 beds.

On 24th April last 176 persons were employed full-time and eight part-time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give consideration to the desirability of segregating or housing securely and with especial precautions child murderers and sexually deranged criminals, whose escape can prove to be a public menace.

This matter, among others, will be considered in the light of any recommendations that will be made by the Committee of Inquiry which was announced on Monday last.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether persons in mental homes and criminal lunatic asylums are examined periodically in order to ascertain whether they are dangerous to other persons; (2) whether he will arrange that all persons in mental homes are examined periodically with a view to determining whether they should be released.

The existing statutory requirements already provide for periodical examinations to determine the need for continued detention. In these examinations, and in the ordinary course of medical observation and treatment, full attention is given, among other things, to the question whether the patient is potentially dangerous.

asked the Minister of Health what is the annual cost of maintaining an inmate of Broadmoor Criminal Institution.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith (Mr. Scott) on 13th May.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take in order to increase the precautions against the escape of patients from Broadmoor, pending the report of the board of inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health pending the result of the inquiry into the escape of John Thomas Straffen from Broadmoor on 29th April, what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the details of the security measures in operation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the inconvenience resulting from the lack of sufficient accommodation for mental defectives in the county of Norfolk; and if he will now give his approval to the projected building extensions at Little Plumstead, details of which are already known to him.

Yes. Approval has been given to plans for two blocks to be built at Little Plumstead Hall as soon as the necessary materials become available.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the Members of both Houses of Parliament who are members of the regional hospital boards in England, Scotland and Wales.

The following is the informaion for England and Wales. Lord Quibell, the Earl of Cranbrook, Lord Cunliffe and the hon. Members for Tottenham (Mr. Messer), St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson), Hackney, South (Mr. H. Butler), Barking (Mr. Hastings), Barking and Bermondsey (Mr. Mellish).

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that the only Member of either House who is a member of a Scottish regional hospital board is Lord Mathers.

asked the Minister of Health how far his regulations permit that members of hospital management committees who derive their membership of such committees from their connection with trades councils may give periodical reports to such trades councils of the work and proceedings of the hospital management committees; and what guidance or instructions have been issued to hospital management committees on this matter.

No regulations or instructions have been issued on this matter, but members of these committees are appointed in a personal capacity and not as delegates of any organisation which may have suggested them. They are therefore under no obligation to report back and I consider it inappropriate that they should do so. Any publication of the proceedings of hospital management committees should be made by the committee and not by individual members.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make representations to fife British Transport Commission that they should provide special facilities on railways for mothers travelling long journeys with babies or children.

Perhaps the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the type of facilities he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consult with the Minister of Pensions and the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to finding means to bring civilian users of the motor propelled tricycles supplied by the Minister of Pensions into conformity with war disabled in respect of grant to cover increases in petrol tax and thus expedite the achievement of equity between these two classes of user.

I am in consultation with my right hon. and hon. Friends on this matter.

asked the Minister of Education what increase in the size of primary school classes she estimates for staffordshire during the next three years, in view of the fact that the revised 1951–53 building programme provides, for 1,000 less primary school places than the original programme.

The revised building programme, together with projects already under construction, will provide adequately for the estimated increase in the primary school roll in Staffordshire during the next three years. Although precise calculation is impossible, I am, therefore, satisfied that in general, lack of accommodation will not lead to an increase in the size of classes.

asked the Minister of Education what is the percentage of girls who leave secondary grammar schools at 16 years of age.

44.5 per cent. of the girls leaving grant-aided grammar schools over the last school year left when they were 16 years old.

asked the Minister of Education what action she is taking to have fresh milk supplied to four primary schools in Breconshire and three in Radnorshire, all in rural districts, and now receiving national dried milk.

The supply of fresh milk to the Llwynmadoc school, Brecon, started on 22nd April. The other cases are under constant review by the area milk officer, and supply will be arranged as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers there are working in private schools.

In January, 1951, there were 16,058 teachers in independent schools recognised as efficient. I do not get returns from other independent schools.

asked the Minister of Education what further proposals, other than those contained in Ministry of Education, Circular 250, she has to reduce costs in the schools meal service.

Any further proposals will depend on the replies which I have asked local education authorities to make by 30th June to the suggestions made in the circular.

asked the Minister of Education if she has any statement to make on the recent school television experiment.

No. This is a preliminary experiment that is being undertaken by the School Broadcasting Council of the United Kingdom and the British Broadcasting Corporation primarily to test various techniques of presentation. I understand that the Council and the Corporation will continue to issue statements about the experiment from time to time.

asked the Minister of Education how many persons were employed as inspectors of schools by local authorities and her Department, respectively, on 1st January, 1952.

I have no information about the number of inspectors of schools employed by local education authorities. On 1st January, 1952, Her Majesty's Inspectors for England and Wales numbered 554

asked the Minister of Education if she will arrange that parents of the Ex-Women's Auxiliary Air Force Camp, Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, need not send their children to Hardwicke School along the Bristol main road which is considered unsafe for children owing to the heavy traffic.

No. I understand that Hardwicke School is the nearest to these children's somes and that although part of the journey is along this busy road, there is a footpath for the children who at no point have to cross the road.

asked the Minister of Education whether the Kenninglands School Camp will now be re-opened; and whether she will recommend education authorities sympathetically to reconsider the re-opening of other school camps that have been closed.

I understand that the Essex Authority are to give further consideration to the future of the Kenninglands Camp. I should welcome proposals from authorities made either singly or jointly, for the re-occupation of national camps now vacant.

asked the Minister of Education if she has considered the resolution sent her by the London Housewives Association protesting at the employment of 2,000 known Communist teachers in the schools; and what action she has taken or proposes to take.

I have received a copy of the resolution. I should take a serious view of any case where a teacher was found to be using his position to propagate his political views in school. Otherwise a teacher's political views are his own concern.

asked the Minister of Education what are her regulations governing the provisions of home tuition for physically-handicapped pupils.

There are no regulations about this, but advice has been given to local education authorities in a manual of guidance of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Education whether she can arrange to open Apsley House on Sundays from 12.30 p.m. to 4.0 p.m. in winter and 12.30 p.m. to 6.0 p.m. in summer.

The intention is that the Sunday hours of opening shall be the same as in the Victoria and Albert Museum, namely from 2.30 p.m. to 6.0 p.m.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will reconsider her decision to make no grants for the building of village halls and community centres in the case of those remote villages which have no other suitable place for public assembly.

No. I regret that my financial and building resources do not allow me to offer grants towards the building of any new village halls and community centres except under the terms of paragraph 19 of Circular 245 of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the committee, set up under his chairmanship, following the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Conference, to consider the problem of economic development of the Commonwealth, is expected to complete its report; and whether that report will be published.

Commonwealth Governments are still considering the interim report made by the Working Party at the conclusion of its first series of meetings, and a date has not yet been fixed for the resumption of meetings. I cannot anticipate the decisions of Commonwealth Governments on the publication of any reports of the Working Party.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reductions there have been in the British Civil Service staff at present in Delhi working for British Government Departments since 6th December; and what further reductions are proposed.

During the financial year ended 31st March, 1952, the number of posts for United Kingdom-based civil servants working for Government Departments in Delhi was reduced by 11. This reduction, which included the elimination of three posts of senior administrative grade, was achieved before the 6th December last. Since that date the numbers of United Kingdom-based staff employed in Delhi have again been reviewed, but I am not aware of any proposals for further reductions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase the exports of cured herring to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other East European countries.

As regards Russia, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in reply to a Private Notice Question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Aberdeenshire (Mr. Boothby) about the contract concluded with the Soviet Trade Delegation in London for the sale of about £850,000 worth of cured herring. This is the counterpart of a purchase of Russian canned salmon and crab to an equivalent value. So far this year it has not been possible to arrange sales of herring to other countries in Eastern Europe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the staff in the Statistics Division of his Department have been dismissed since October, 1951; and how many transferred to other work.

Since 1st October, 1951, 48 of the staff of Statistics Division have left the Board of Trade and 102 have been transferred to other work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the concern in the Birmingham jewellery industry as a result of the import of coronation medals, brooches and badges into this country by German and Japanese manufacturers; and, in view of the unemployment in that industry in Birmingham, what steps he is taking to stop these imports.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 13th May to a similar Question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a British firm of electrical engineers, details of which have been given to him, who quoted a price to the United States Army Corps of Engineers 20 per cent. below the lowest American tender for nine transformers for the Garrison Dam, North Dakota, have been informed that, although this tender meets fully all technical requirements, the order is likely to be placed with an American firm; and what steps he is taking to assist this firm to obtain this contract, in view of the importance of dollar exports.

Information which I have received from the British Embassy in Washington confirms that the bid of the British firm referred to is in the neighbourhood of 20 per cent. below that of the lowest American tender. The Embassy have also been informed that the British firm, in common with other bidders, have met the specifications of the invitatioaa to tender, including the delivery schedule.

The various tenders are at present under consideration by the United States authorities and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the likely outcome. I am, however, aware that in considering tenders by foreign firms the United States authorities are required to take into account the provisions of the "Buy American" Act and Regulations thereunder.

The British Embassy is maintaining close touch with the British firm and is giving them all possible assistance.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what steps he is taking to increase the supplies of beryllium copper to manufacturers in this country; what is the present rate of importation; what is the total of outstanding demands; and if he will give an estimate of how soon they are likely to be satisfied.

I have been asked to reply.

Beryllium copper is imported on private account, but my noble Friend understands that shipments of the master alloy from the United States, which is the only source of supply at present, have amounted to about 40,000 lb. so far this year. It would be contrary to practice to publish the volume of outstanding orders.

Importers have for some time been finding considerable difficulty in obtaining supplies, but I am glad to say that, thanks to representations through official and trade channels, the position has become rather more encouraging. Beryllium copper is, however, likely to remain scarce for the present, and I could not predict when the outstanding demand is likely to be met in full.

asked the Minister of Works what will be the reduction in the labour force employed on the Plymouth city centre as a result of the refusal of a licence for the projected building by the South Western Gas Board.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will give an estimate of the number of men who will continue to be employed on the reconstruction of the city centre of Plymouth at the end of the year on the basis of current commitments.

I cannot say exactly how many men would have been employed on the building for the South Western Gas Board if it had gone ahead: it might have been about 100 on the average. On the basis of current commitments and on the assumption that no new projects are started, it is estimated that about 200 men will be employed on the reconstruction of the city centre of Plymouth at the end of 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any payment has yet been received from the Government of Albania of the damages due by reason of her mining of His Majesty's ships in the Corfu Channel.

No. As I explained to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr.J. Hynd) on 14th November last, we are still awaiting the decision of the arbitration, the arrangements for which were published in White Paper No. Command 8242. We expect the arbitrator's opinion to be given in August or September next.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which States have ratified and which have acceded to the Genocide Convention.

The following 36 States have now deposited instruments of ratification or accession:

Australia; Belgium; Brazil; Bulgaria (with reservations regarding articles IX and XII); Cambodia; Ceylon; China; Costa Rica; Czechoslovakia (with reservations regarding articles IX and XII); Denmark; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Ethiopia; France; Guatemala; Haiti; Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Honduras; Hungary (with reservations regarding articles IX and XII); Iceland; Israel; Republic of Korea; Laos; Liberia; Monaco; Nicaragua; Norway; Panama; Philippine Republic (ratification with reservation regarding articles IV, VI, VII and IX); Poland (with reservations regarding articles IX and XII); Roumania (with reservations regarding articles IX and XII); Saudi Arabia; Turkey; Viet-Nam; Yugoslavia.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is likely to be the effect of the strike in United States oil refineries on oil supplies in this country; and what steps he is taking to meet the situation.

As a result of the strike in the United States refineries, the U.S. Government has suspended all exports of aviation spirit. Since the rest of the world has been drawing a large part of its supplies from the U.S.A. this is obviously a very serious matter and Her Majesty's Government has accordingly had to restrict consumption of aviation spirit in this country, and in conjunction with the U.S Government has advised other countries to do the same. At the moment the U.S. Government has not felt it necessary to interfere with exports of any other petroleum products and, as the rest of the world is far less dependent on exports from the U.S.A. my right hon. Friend hopes that it will not be necessary to restrict consumption.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the reform of local government in all its aspects.

My right hon. Friend would refer the hon. Member to his reply to the hon. Member for Paddington, North (Mr. Field), on 4th March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he hopes to implement the recommendations of the Hobhouse Report on the improvement of agricultural cottages.

These recommendations to which legislative effect was given in the Housing Act, 1949, are being implemented so far as labour and materials allow, and my right hon. Friend hopes it will be extended.

asked the Minister of Transport what official reports he has received on road safety; and the dates on which these were received, respectively.

The following are the reports submitted by the committees on road safety.

Title of Report	Date of Submission
Interim Report of the Committee on Road Safety	December, 1944
Final Report of the Committee on Road Safety	May, 1947
Report to the Minister of Transport on the desirability and practicability of amending the Pedestrian Crossing Places (Traffic) Regulations, 1941	February, 1949
Report to the Minister of Transport on policy in relation to speed limits	July, 1949
Report to the Minister of Transport on the Highway Code	March, 1952
Report to the Minister of Transport on motor cycle accidents	March, 1952

asked the Minister of Food if the committee to review the work of the Queensland-British Food Corporation and the future prospects of this scheme has been appointed; and if he will announce the names and qualifications of the members.

The composition of the advisory group which they have appointed was announced by the Queensland-British Food Corporation last night.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications are pending in Leicester for telephone installations; and how long it will take before the telephones are likely to be provided.

3.175 applications were outstanding on the 31st March, 1952, excluding 776 in course of being met or under inquiry. Additional plant will be brought into service this year and next, but I cannot say when all outstanding applications will be met.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much land is owned by the Department of Agriculture; how much of that land is leased to tenants; and how much farmed by his Department, respectively.

The Department of Agriculture are responsible for the management of some 790,000 acres of land. 674,000 acres are let to tenants and 116,000 acres are farmed by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crofts there are in Scotland and how many agricultural holdings under 50 acres; how many over 50 acres and under 100 acres; how many over 100 acres and under 300 acres; how many over 300 acres; and what is the total acreage in each category.

Following is a statement showing the numbers and acreages of agricultural holdings in Scotland in the specified size groups:

Size Group	Number	Acreage
Above 1 and not exceeding 50 acres	50,196	663,452
Above 50 and not exceeding 100 acres	9,984	737,195
Above 100 and not exceeding 300 acres	12,266	2,050,076
Above 300 acres	2,160	943,183

The figures relate to acreage of crops and grasses excluding rought grazings. The number of crofts included in the first size group is estimated to be about 20,000.