asked the Minister of Health how many mentally defective children are accommodated in homes provided by his Department and how many are awaiting accommodation in such homes.

There were about 56,200 persons, of whom 7,120 were under 16, in mental deficiency institutions on 1st January, 1951, the latest date for which a separate figure for children is at present available. On 1st January, 1952, the number of children awaiting admission was about 4,000. half of whom were regarded as urgent cases.

asked the Minister of Health what tests have been carried out in the use of rayon in surgical dressings: and with what result.

The use of rayon in elastic adhesive dressings, elastic bandages and cotton crepe bandages is already authorised. Following satisfactory tests the supply of rayon lint against medical prescription will shortly be approved. Clinical tests of rayon surgical gauze and rayon bandages are still in progress.

asked the Minister of Education what changes in policy she contemplates in consequence of the recommendations contained in the Fifth Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy (1951–52) Command Paper No. 8561.

I hope that the improved grants which I am offering to some technical colleges will enable these colleges both to improve their courses and to increase their output of well-educated technologists. It is too soon to say what further steps I shall wish to take in this matter or on any other recommendations of this Report which are my concern.

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether she proposes to maintain the existing total number of public awards for university education in 1952–53;

I shall be announcing within the next few days rates of maintenance for university students for whom my Department is directly responsible which have been revised to take account of current costs. I shall, at the same time, be issuing a circular to local education authorities recommending them to use these rates so far as appropriate for university students to whom they make awards, setting out some considerations of general policy and asking for information as to the authorities' intentions. I cannot at this stage say what the result is likely to be in terms of the number of awards given by local education authorities for university education in 1952–53.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has accepted the proposal of the Working Party that the number of State awards be increased.

My predecessor had already authorised the offer of up to 2,000 State scholarships of all types in 1951. I have recently announced my intention of offering the same number this year.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that, as the result of the lack of discrimination and over-rigidity of the reductions in the school transport service made by the Kent Education Committee, children of under eight years of age in the Tyler Hill district of Canterbury and in outlying areas of Herne Bay and Whitstable, are being compelled to walk more than three miles to school, often along narrow and dangerous roads; and if she will instruct the committee to make urgent inquiry into this matter, at the same time ascertaining how many parents would be prepared to contribute towards the cost of transport.

I have written to my hon. Friend about the cases he has in mind. I am not aware that any of the children concerned have been asked to walk as much as three miles, and in normal circumstances I cannot regard it as justifiable at the present time that free transport should be provided for children living nearer to school than the distances prescribed by the Education Act, 1944, two miles for children under eight and three miles for older children.

asked the Minister of Education whether her attention has been drawn to the petition of the Mile Oak Parents Association, submitted to the East Sussex Education Committee, relative to the school omnibus service and the particular problem of this locality; and whether she will take steps to secure a restoration of the omnibus services to St. Nicolas and Benfield Schools, Ports-lade.

I have seen the petition but see no grounds for questioning the authority's action.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the fact that Osterley Park will not now be open to the public, she will now arrange for the sale of the house and contents.

No.

asked the Minister of Education if she will now make a statement on the proposal of the Somerset County Council to close nursery schools in Chard and Yeovil.

I informed the authority on 24th May that before assenting to their proposal to close as many as eight nursery schools out of 10 in the county I wished to be satisfied that they had considered each case individually from the point of view of the welfare of the children as well as the employment of the mothers and the industrial conditions in the localities concerned. I have not yet received the authority's reply.

asked the Minister of Education what criteria she applied when she invited the Sunderland Local Education Authority to explain why the economies in accordance with Circular 242 are insufficient.

The letter sent to the authority did not say that the economies which they had made in response to Circular 242 were insufficient. Its object was to enable me to satisfy myself, in consultation with the authority, that their estimates reflected a full review of their expenditure under all heads and every reduction that could be made in the expenditure shown in their forecast consistently with the policy stated in the first paragraph of the Circular.

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether, in view of her most recent interference in the estimating by local education authorities and her threat to reduce or withhold grant, she will bear in mind the undesirability of interfering with the autonomous powers of local education authorities;(2) the reasons for her letter to certain local education authorities concerning their response to Circular 242.

The object of my letter was to obtain from certain local education authorities an explanation of the fact that their April estimates showed comparatively small decreases, or even increases, as compared with their forecasts. The letter did not threaten to reduce or withhold grant.

asked the Minister of Education what communication she has received from the Durham County Council concerning the dispute on the condition of the employment of teachers; and what reply she has made.

The County Council wrote to me on 5th June to inform me of the action they were taking in seeking to report to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour under the Industrial Disputes Order a dispute between the County Council and those of its employees, including teachers, represented by the Joint Emergency Committee of the Professions. After consultation with me my right hon. Friend is seeking further information from the County Council, and in these circumstances I am deferring my reply.

asked the Minister of Education when Mr. Eric Winnington-Ingram, of Charlcote, Oldlands Avenue, Balcombe, Sussex, may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 21st March last to her Department, Honeypot Lane, Canons Park, Stanmore, ref: R.P. 47/11610M/6, in connection with the repayment of certain superannuation contributions.

A reply was sent on 4th June to the teacher's letter of 20th March.

asked the Minister of Education which of the six new schools expected to be completed in Sunderland in 1952–53 were approved by her Department after 1st November, 1951.

None.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the recent disturbances among the Bamangwato.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has any statement to make on the recent disturbances in Serowe.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement that I made on 10th June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that disturbances involving violence have recently occurred in Bechuanaland; that these disturbances arise from his decision to prevent the succession of Seretse Khama as chief of the Bamangwato tribe; and what he is doing to remove the cause of the disturbances and to bring peace to Bechuanaland.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the statement that I made on the 10th June, in which I made it clear that the disturbances in the Reserve were caused by a minority group whose intention it was to defy the authority of the Administration. After the restoration of law and order, which I hope will be achieved early, there is reason to believe that the majority of the tribe will turn to the selection of a new chief. In this lies the best hope of the restoration of peace and tranquility in the Bamangwato tribe.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will send special and urgent help to Ceylon where there is insufficient rice to maintain with certainty even the present low ration of five and a quarter ounces a day for any length of time; and if he will make a statement on the position.

The United Kingdom Government are aware of, and sympathise with, the Ceylon Government's difficulties. There is a world shortage of exportable supplies of rice which of course also affects United Kingdom territories in South-East Asia. Malaya, for instance, depends on imports for half its supplies, and Hong Kong for almost all. The United Kingdom Government have consistently brought to the notice of the main exporting Governments the dangers of the shortage, and the need for as high a level of exports as possible.The bulk of supplies from the main rice exporting countries are allocated to Governments. Further such allocations which are made by Governments are likely to be made by Burma this month and by Siam within the next three months. Ceylon will no doubt be able to secure further quantities in this way.It is reported that the Ceylon Government have also been in successful negotiation for rice with the United States, Brazil and Indo-China, and that as a result the situation has been eased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of the Chemists' Federation, which forbids its members to supply goods to any traders other than pharmaceutical chemists; and if he will consider referring this practice to the Monopolies Commission.

Yes. I will bear this in mind when I next select matters for reference to the Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will represent to the French Government the need for urgency in the carrying out of the promise given by them at the end of March to issue import licences for British woollen and worsted tissues to the value of £400,000, being part of the orders for these goods which were frustrated by the French Government's ban on imports dated 4th February.

A number of such representations has been made. The French authorities have now informed our commercial representative in Paris that licences to the value of £150,000 have been issued, and that licences for the remaining £250,000 will have been issued by the end of next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the representations made to him by the National Feather Purifiers Association regarding the effect of the new D line on feather down quilts as compared with quilts stuffed with other fillings; and whether he will make changes in the scheme, so as to preserve this traditional industry.

My right hon. Friend is considering these and other representations about the Purchase Tax on feather down quilts. I regret I have no statement to make on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be able to make a statement on the revision of Service and other pensions.

My right hon. Friend hopes to introduce a Bill on this subject next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the agreement reached at the recent meeting of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation on the future of the European Payments Union.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the European Payments Union now publishes monthly figures of our gold and dollar losses or gains with that organisation, Her Majesty's Government will publish monthly the- figures of total losses or gains with the world at large.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made at the end of Questions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters, other than the European Payments Union, were discussed at the recent meeting of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

The Council took decisions about the main appointments in the Organisation for the next year of Office. In addition to some minor matters there was a useful debate on the general economic problems facing Europe.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what restrictions are placed on civil servants approaching their Members of Parliament on personal problems; and what are the reasons for these restrictions.

A civil servant must not attempt to bring political or other outside influence to support or advance his individual claims as a civil servant, for example on questions of promotion. Provision is made within the Service for matters of this sort to be raised through Service channels, with the ultimate right of appeal to the head of the Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will reconsider the amount of the feedingstuff ration allowed to disabled persons and others who have commenced specialist pig and poultry farming under the Resettlement Scheme of his Department and the Ministry of Labour; and whether he will increase the allowance to enable these people to develop their enterprises.

While I am glad to continue the special scheme of rations for disabled persons, I should not feel justified in giving preferential treatment to the others who have entered the pig and poultry industries under this Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total cost in feedingstuffs of his recent temporary increase in the monthly ration for domestic poultry; how much it would cost per annum to make the increase permanent; and whether he has now reconsidered the question of making a special additional ration for poultry kept by members of domestic poultry-keepers clubs.

The recent seasonal increase in the domestic poultry ration will require about 5,000 tons of feeding-stuffs this year. It would cost about the same amount to repeat the increase next year, and about 20,000 tons a year to make it continuous for a full year; but I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that the increase was designed to help householders to feed replacement pullets during the summer months. I regret I am unable to make any further special addition to the ration for members of domestic poultry keepers clubs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture which are the breeds of cattle, the steer and heifer calves of which will, under his regulations, be eligible for the new calf subsidy.

This is one question among others which we are discussing with the National Farmers' Unions. As soon as a scheme for the subsidy has been worked out I will make an announcement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement on the present foot-and-mouth disease position; and, particularly, if he will say to what extent any of the recent outbreaks are attributed to fresh incursions of infection from the Continent.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement I shall be making in the course of today's debate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider the banning of gymkhanas as a preventive of foot-and-mouth disease.

I am advised that there is little risk of foot-and-mouth disease being spread at gatherings where no cloven-hoofed animals are exhibited, and I see no need to ban gymkhanas or other gatherings of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give consideration to the proposal that, with particular regard to the large number of troops returning on leave by air from Germany, facilities should be provided at airports serving the Continent for disinfecting the soles of boots and shoes in order to lessen the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth infection.

The risk of spreading foot-and-mouth infection in this way is very small. I do not think it would justify making arrangements to disinfect the shoes of all passengers coming from the Continent, but am exploring with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War the possibility of disinfecting clothing and footwear worn by soldiers coming home from Germany by air.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what advice his veterinary officers have given about the exhibition of cattle, sheep and pigs at next month's show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

The Society has decided not to exhibit any cloven-hoofed animals at their Show next month. This decision accords with the opinion of my veterinary officers which was, of course, available to the Society.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the proposal to use Potton Island, Essex, as a fragmentation range; and if he will consult with the Minister of Supply to prevent the use of valuable agricultural land for this purpose.

I am aware of this proposal, and I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply about it. I shall make every effort to ensure that there is no avoidable interference with agricultural production on the Island.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is taking in respect of the proposals sent to him by the Fruit Trades Federation regarding the reorganisation of the British horticulture industry.

I have not received the proposals from the Retail Fruit Trade Federation, but I am quite prepared to examine, in consultation with my colleagues, any proposals the Federation may make.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now make payment of the compensation for loss of office awarded to Mr. F. J. Affleck, the Surveyor to Her Majesty's Commission of Sewers for the East Part of the East Riding of Yorkshire. on 13th August, 1942.

No. The Commissioners who voted this compensation had no funds out of which payment could be made. It is intended that their area should be wholly included in new drainage districts. Some have been constituted and the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board is preparing further proposals. When all the boards have been constituted the assets and liabilities of the Commissioners will be apportioned between them and it will be for the new board to consider whether this particular liability is one that they should accept.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the new River Board for the Usk and Ebbw Rivers has now been established; when the first meeting will be held; who are the members of the Board; and when it will assume its full functions.

Yes. The Order constituting the Usk River Board was made on 9th June. Arrangements are being made for a first meeting in the early part of July and the Board will assume its functions on 1st October next. The Board will have 22 members; I will send the hon. Member a list of their names in a few days' time, as soon as all appointments have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on the negotiating machinery to settle police pay and conditions of service; and when he hopes to lay regulations covering this matter before the House.

A Committee of the Police Council was appointed by my predecessor to examine and report upon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of sentence being served by prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons for the following years 1938, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951.

The figures asked for are available only in respect of sentences of less than three years imprisonment, which are given below. I am also giving, in case they are of interest to the hon. Member, figures showing the daily average population of the various categories of prisoner during the years in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the crimes of violence committed in the area of the Metropolitan Police in the first quarter of 1952, compare with the first quarter of 1951.

During the first quarter of 1952, 299 offences of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, wounding, indictable assaults, robbery and rape were known to the police in the Metropolitan Police District. The corresponding figure for the first quarter of 1951 was 335.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to say when the forthcoming report of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment will be available.

I understand that the Royal Commission hope to present their report by the late summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the on-licensed premises at present existing in each of the areas which have been designated for a new town, indicating the particular brewery to which each such on-licensed premises is tied.

I am sending the hon. and learned Member a list of existing on-licensed premises in new towns in England and Wales, but I am not able to supply all the information for which he asks because I am not fully informed about their ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing number of cases of cruelty by juveniles against animals; and, in view of this, whether he will consider the re-introduction of birching for boys.

No. There is no evidence of any general increase in the number of cases or in the degree of cruelty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has studied details of Communist activities published in the "Hayes Chronicle," particulars of which have been sent to him; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen an article in the "Hayes Chronicle" of 5th April which quotes from a document stated to have been issued by the local Communist Party. The activities recommended in the document are well known as methods of Communist propaganda and I do not think any action by me is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary officers in the prison service were given notice terminating their employment; and how many of these notices have been withdrawn.

Notices expiring at the end of this month were given in May to 38 temporary officers and re-engaged pensioners. All the notices have now been withdrawn and the men have been offered re-engagement on a weekly basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has sent to the representations he has received from Cardiff branch of the Clerical and Administrative Workers' Union, concerning legisation to implement the recommendations of the Gower Committee with regard to health, welfare and safety in non-industrial employment.

I have replied that I am not yet in a position to make any statement about the prospects of legislation on this subject, but that I hope to be able to announce the Government's intentions before very long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the hon. Member for the Exchange Division of Liverpool was not notified of the visit of his Department's officials to the Gerard Crescent air raid shelters on 6th June, 1952; if he is aware that the residents of the area resent the discourtesy shown to their Member, in view of the inconvenience and worry they have had to endure for so long; and, in view of the inspection of the shelters, what action he now proposes to take to see that conditions are improved in the area.

When replying to the Question which the hon. Member put to me on 22nd May, I promised to write to her about these shelters and I did so on 5th June, telling her what measures had been proposed by the medical officer of health and saying that the carrying out of these measures would be examined at once. The shelters were inspected on the following day by representatives of the city architect and the Ministry of Works and the measures proposed are being put in hand.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the expiry of appointments of six out of seven chairmen, 23 out of 24 full-time members and eight out of 13 part-time members of the British Transport Commission and its six Executives on or before 30th September this year and, in view of the tasks which, in accordance with the provisions of Command Paper No. 8538, the Government require certain of these officials to fulfil, he will state to what extent it is intended to extend their appointments and for how long.

I am anxious to give the members of the Commission and the Executives the earliest possible information as to their personal future, and I propose to discuss the position with each of those concerned. I intend to offer to renew the majority of their appointments for one year, though not necessarily in their present capacities.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the troopships "Empire Trooper," "Dilwara" and "Dunera" have arrived at Southampton during April and May with their painting done in Japan and China; and, in view of the unemployment amongst painters in Southampton, if he will make a statement.

The bulk of the painting of these ships is done at Southampton and a full painting of the hulls of both "Empire Trooper" and "Dilwara" has, in fact, been carried out there since the termination of their recent voyages. In accordance with prudent ship-owning practice, the opportunity was taken when "Empire Trooper" was in dry dock in Japan for urgent repairs and during "Dunera's" turn-round time in Hong Kong to do certain necessary painting work. No work was done on "Dilwara" in Japan or China on her last voyage which only extended as far as Singapore.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the shortage of pins and bushes for the tracks of crawler tractors in south-east England at present; and whether he will take steps to increase the supply as soon as possible.

Until recently there was a general shortage of spares for imported American crawler tractors, but the position has now improved. We are continuing our efforts to increase supplies still further, but if my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular case in mind and will let me have details, I will look into it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence at what date he has estimated, for purposes of planning the defence of the United Kingdom, that the period of greatest danger will occur.

The present re-armament programme has been planned to provide an effective defence for the United Kingdom at the earliest practicable date and is not related to any specific period of danger.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will call local authorities' attention to the effect upon speedier completion of domestic housebuilding which would result from prompt payment to building contractors and if he will consider recommending payment of 90 per cent. of the cost of materials, when delivered at the site, and 95 per cent. of the cost of works as they are completed.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a circular which I issued to local authorities on 9th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has reached a decision on the Uyeasound Pier.

Uyeasound Pier is included in the list of essential piers contained in the Programme of Highland Development published in 1950. I am aware that Zetland County Council have been in negotiation with the proprietor for the purchase of the existing pier, but I have no specific proposals before me at present which call for a decision.