asked the Minister of Education if she will consider continuing grants on a modified basis to those ex-Service architectural students who will shortly finish the five-year course of training for which the grants were originally given, but will have to practice for a further 12 months as students before qualification, under the new rules of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

No. I cannot properly continue grants to people who will no longer be full-time students but who will normally be engaged in paid employment

asked the Minister of Education how many children of the age of five years and over are at present unable to obtain places in schools; and if she has made an estimate of how this figure is likely to be affected by the cuts in the school-building programme.

I have no precise information. Preliminary returns for January, 1952, however, suggest that the number was not then large; the percentage of the five-year old age group then in maintained schools was higher than in any previous post-war year.My school building programme is designed to provide the 1,150,000 places which my predecessor estimated to be required by the end of 1953.

asked the Minister of Education how many boys and girls in the year 1951 left secondary and all-age schools for paid employment at the age of 14 years; and for what types of employment it is possible for boys and girls to leave school under the compulsory school-leaving age.

33,700 boys and 32,000 girls who left maintained or assisted schools in the year ended 31st July, 1951, for paid employment or employment at home were 14 on the last date they attended. Most of these pupils had their fifteenth birthday during the school holidays following their last term at school and did not, therefore, leave while under the age for compulsory school attendance.The only circumstances in which a pupil may be excepted from the normal attendance requirements are those covered by Section 115 of the Education Act, 1944.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has yet received a reply from the Somerset County Council to her inquiry about the proposed closing of certain nursery schools in the county; and what are the terms of the authority's reply.

No.

asked the Minister of Education from what date the maximum period of recognition for a newly-appointed temporary teacher has been reduced from five to three years.

The reduction from five years to three years of the maximum initial period of approval of a temporary teacher's appointment has applied to all appointments notified to my Department since February, 1952. Some of the appointments may actually have occurred some months before they were notified to the Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will, in the next issue of the Overseas Economic Survey of Malaya, include figures of the capital of companies incorporated outside of the Federation of Malaya with investments in tin mines and dredges in Malaya; and what they are at present.

The hon. Member's suggestion and his request for information have been referred to the United Kingdom Trade Commissioner in Malaya, who is responsible for the preparation of the Survey. I will write to the hon. Member when a reply has been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, on page 81 of the Overseas Economic Survey of Malaya, published by his Department, the United Kingdom's investments in the rubber estates is shown as 331.4 million Straits dollars and Hawaii comes next with 320.2 million dollars; and how this error came to be made.

I am aware of the error to which the hon. Member refers. The Overseas Economic Survey of Malaya was published on 29th February last. The correct figure for Hawaii is 0.5 million Straits dollars. A correction of the error was published on page 801 of the Board of Trade Journal of 19th April, and an amending slip was inserted in all unsold copies of the Survey.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the importation of Coronation souvenirs.

		Unit	Stocks at
Commodity			1st November, 1951	1st May, 1952
Softwood	…	Thousand standards	618	646
Unmanufactured Tobacco	…	Million pounds weight	445	480
Cotton	…	Thousand tons	293	292
Wool	…	Million pounds clean weight	145	161
Sulphur	…	Thousand tons	116	110
Copper	…	Thousand tons	124	113
Lead	…	Thousand tons	47	116
Zinc	…	Thousand tons	36	65

asked the President of the Board of Trade the imports of fondant during the first five months of 1951.

Imports of fondant were not separately recorded in the trade returns in 1951. But as I informed

Yes. The Government have decided to stop imports from foreign countries of souvenirs suitable for use in connection with Her Majesty's Coronation. An Order prohibiting such imports has been signed and comes into force tomorrow; a more detailed definition of the goods affected is contained in the Order which will be on sale tomorrow.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, by how much there has been a variation in the country's stocks since 1st November, 1951, in timber, tobacco, cotton, wool, sulphur and non-ferrous metals; and by how much he expects the existing financial policy to affect these stocks by the end of 1952, as compared with the end of 1951.

The answer to the first part of the Question, involving a table of figures, is given in the following table.As regards the second part, the hon. Member will be aware that it is not the practice to disclose forward estimates relating to the stocks of individual commodities, but commercial stocks of raw materials generally should be adequate to support the expected level of consumption.my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Profumo) on 10th June, imports of fondant from foreign countries during the whole of 1951 were estimated at about £8 million. I should add that I do not anticipate that the licences which have been and will be issued during 1952 for imports of fondant from these sources will total more than £2 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of mathematical instruments imported into the United Kingdom during the latest convenient period, compared with corresponding significant earlier periods since 1945.

I regret that this information is not available as these instruments have not been separately distinguished in the trade returns since 1949.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in terms per week, per person, the extra cost of living due to Budget changes and recent rises in costs of foodstuffs arising out of other reasons operating since 1st November, 1951; and indicate the trend of prices in future.

As the House was informed on 16th June, the cost per person per week of the normal ration is about 81½d. more today than it was on 1st November, 1951. To this should be added about 6d. for the average increased expenditure on milk, bread and flour. There is no comparable measure of the increase in expenditure on unrationed and unsubsidised foods. Of the rise of 6 points in the All Items Interim Index between 13th November, 1951, and 13th May, 1952, food of all kinds accounted for about 75 per cent.The Minister of Food will announce at the appropriate time the details of the remaining price increases which follow from my right hon. Friend's Budget. I would not attempt to forecast the general trend of food prices; but it is significant that the Index remained steady during April and May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in a letter to a trade association of which particulars have been sent to him, the Board of Customs include among their reasons for rejecting proposals for reducing the cost of direct mail advertising to export markets, the fact that they would put additional burdens on Post Office services; and, in view of the fact that it is one of the important functions of the Post Office to support measures intended to promote our export trade, what advice he received from that Department on this point.

The letter was written with the object of bringing out the full range of the difficulties inherent in the proposals made by the Association. Considerations of Purchase Tax administration were, in fact, decisive; I understand that the additional burdens on the Post Office might not have been decisive, but they would have been real.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice has been given to the joint stock banks as to the rate of interest to be charged by them to customers on loans and overdrafts.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Mrs. D. S. Bassett, 73, Radford Road, Coventry, the wife of a National Service man in Korea, received on 31st May a parcel from her husband marked "Forces Gift Parcel," that she was asked to pay £2 8s. 9d. Customs fee and that, as she was unable to do so, the parcel was taken back to the Coventry General Post Office; and what action he proposes in the matter, following the details supplied to him by the hon. Member for Coventry, South.

The parcel was correctly charged since it contained 12 oz. of cigarettes on which the Customs duty was £3 3s. 8d. per lb. As the hon. Member is aware, the inclusion of tobacco, scent or liquor in a gift parcel from a Service man abroad disqualifies it from the duty-free concession for such presents which do not exceed 10s. in total value. In accordance with normal Post Office practice in these cases, if the duty is not paid the parcel will be returned free of charge to the sender.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that banks are not being helpful to small builders; and if he will take steps to ensure that, in the application of credit policy, due weight is given to their needs.

As stated in the answer given to the hon. Member for Ealing, South (Mr. Maude) on 7th December, 1951, I have asked the banks to ensure that the credit policy of the banking system shall operate in conformity with the general principles laid down for the guidance of the Capital Issues Committee. I understand that the banks do not consider themselves prohibited by the terms of my request from granting short-term advances to builders for the purpose of building houses for sale on completion, or as agents of local authorities. It is, of course, for the banks to assess the credit worthiness of individual borrowers.The provision of long-term finance for house purchase is a different question and forms of finance other than bank advance are usually more appropriate to these purposes. An intending house purchaser in need for a mortgage loan is able, for instance, to apply to a building society or insurance company or to a local authority for an advance under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts or the Housing Act, 1949.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about National Savings.

Yes. The current issue of 3 per cent. Defence Bonds will be withdrawn at the close of business on Saturday, 30th August, and a new 3½ per cent. Defence Bond will be on sale from 1st September, 1952. In addition to the higher rate of interest, the new bond will differ in several respects from its predecessors. It will attract a bonus of £1 after five years, and this will increase to £3 after 10 years. The maximum holding of the bond will be £1,000 exclusive of holdings of earlier issues.Other new features are that the normal notice of encashment will be reduced to three months after five years and that no deduction will be made where immediate encashment of bonds of a deceased holder is required for the purpose of winding up his estate. Provision is also being made to enable the Treasury to extend the life of the bonds in cases where no application for repayment is received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government's proposals to create an institution of university rank mainly devoted to the study of technology will be carried into effect.

I cannot at present add anything to the statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made on 11th June in reply to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. G. Longden).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what future use is to be made of American films and techniques, made available by the Mutual Security Agency, following the consultations which have taken place with that body.

Discussions with the Mutual Security Agency are still proceeding.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will place in the Library a copy of the regulations which forbid civil servants to approach their Members of Parliament on personal grievances.

Yes. The rule does not, however, as I have made clear in my replies to the hon. Member's questions on 12th and 17th June relate to personal grievances other than those concerning their individual position in the Civil Service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the Public Record Office to be reopened to visitors in Coronation year.

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the Public Record Office Museum. It is for the authorities of the Public Record Office to decide whether and when they can re-open the Museum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farms in the West Riding of Yorkshire are classed A, B and C, respectively.

Of the 15,154 holdings of five acres and over in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 7,319 have been surveyed. Of these, 4,406 have been graded A, 2,718 B and 195 C.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many individual orders have been served under the Tillage (Maximum Pasture Acreage) Order in the six months ended 1st June, 1952; the total number of Orders in existence at that date; the number of Orders which have lapsed; and the number of prosecutions for contraventions in the same period.

Sixty-nine directions were served under the Order during the six months ended 1st June, 1952, making a total of 485 since the Order came into operation on 31st July, 1948. Directions lapse only on a change of occupier. The number which have so lapsed, and consequently the number which remain legally in force, are not readily available. There have been no prosecutions during the six months ended 1st June, 1952.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has now settled the terms of the subsidy to be paid to farmers who rear calves for beef production.

No, but I hope to do so very soon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether colour-marked crossbred calves, sired by bulls of recognised beef-type breeds, will qualify for the proposed calf-rearing subsidy he proposes to introduce.

As I told the hon. Member on 12th June, I will make an announcement as soon as a scheme has been worked out in consultation with the National Farmers' Unions. I do not want to anticipate that announcement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will appoint a Departmental committee to review the measures taken to combat foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain, in the light of recent scientific knowledge and the administrative experience of the 1951–52 outbreaks.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for this suggestion. I have asked the Agricultural Improvement Council to advise me regularly on foot-and-mouth disease policy, and I reported to the House on 12th June the result of their first consideration of this matter. I have the fullest confidence in the Council's advice and in the ability of the veterinary service to deal with the disease.Nevertheless, I agree that it will be desirable to hold a special inquiry and when the present epidemic has abated, and the officers of my Department who would be concerned are less heavily engaged I then intend to appoint a Departmental Committee with suitable terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, for the period of the last 20 years, the cost of compensation paid on account of stock slaughtered in foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Great Britain; and the cost of administration, as a percentage, of the total value of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats in the country, to show the amount of the premium involved in ensuring that foot-and-mouth disease does not become endemic in this country.

The total amount of compensation paid in the years 1932–1951 was £4,047,000. Figures for the value of livestock in Great Britain for each of the past 20 years and the total cost of administration are not available, but on the basis of what are uncertain but probably conservative estimates of the total value of livestock the average compensation paid during the past 10 years for stock slaughtered as a result of foot-and-mouth disease is approximately equivalent to 1s. 6d. for each £100 of stock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what vaccines or methods to combat foot-and-mouth disease have been tested at the Ministry's Research Department at Pirbright; and whether, in view of the evidence of their proven effectiveness, the antigens prepared by a gentleman, whose name has been supplied to him, have been included in the tests; and with what result.

A list of all the vaccines and methods of combating the disease that have been tested by the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Institute would be very long. The Institute is in close touch with similar stations throughout the world, and all new vaccines and methods whose claims are based on experimental evidence are investigated.The claims of the gentleman referred to were tested at Pirbright in 1939, on lines previously agreed by him, and with his co-operation. In the opinion of the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Committee the test conclusively disproved those claims. Since that test no further evidence has been supplied to my Department by the gentleman in question, and no further tests have been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his Department will initiate discussions to obtain agreed action by European countries against foot-and-mouth disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider calling a conference of Ministers of Agriculture and advisers in Western Europe to discuss the wider implications of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

The technical advisers of my Department and those of other countries have already discussed, under the auspices of certain international organisations, the measures necessary for the control of foot-and-mouth disease in Western Europe. Recommendations have been made to the Governments concerned, and I do not think that there would be any advantage in calling a conference of Ministers of Agriculture at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the difficulties anticipated in sheep and lamb sales in Kent later this year due to restricted movement imposed by continuous foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, he will consult the appropriate authorities on what road and rail vehicles might be made available for the hygienic transport of livestock out of infected areas.

Officers of my Department are discussing the effect of foot-and-mouth disease regulations on the seasonal movements of sheep in Kent with representatives of the Kent Branch of the National Farmers' Union on Monday next. I will consider what further action is required after receiving a report of this meeting.

asked the Minister of Food what has been the value of the meat provided by the slaughter of animals not infected with the disease but which have been ordered to be slaughtered by the veterinary officers of the Ministry of Agriculture.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 23rd June, so far as the first quarter of 1952 is concerned. In the last quarter of 1951 meat and offal were saved for human consumption to the value of £51,100 from 1,994 cattle, £1,381 from 407 calves, £7,901 from 2,011 sheep and £10,568 from 1,494 pigs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the result of the public inquiry, held on 11th and 12th July, 1951, regarding Hexhamshire and Allendale stinted pastures; and when copies of the report will be made available to the public.

I am not yet able to announce a decision on this very complicated question, but I hope to do so before long. The report of the public inquiry is intended for the Minister's guidance and is not for publication.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that on the Kevington Estate, St. Mary Cray, which is designated for building, eight acres of wheat, eight acres of potatoes and eight acres of raspberries are to be compulsorily ploughed up; and what steps he is taking to prevent the loss of food which will result.

I am aware that this land is in the early stages of being developed for housing. The site was given agricultural clearance in August, 1949. My information is that the wheat now growing there is being cut for silage, that as much as possible of the land occupied by potatoes will not be disturbed before the crop can be harvested, and that the raspberries will be picked before the canes are ploughed up.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the Warwickshire farm adoption scheme for schools; and whether he will take steps to publicise this, in view of the great desirability of familiarising townspeople with rural problems.

I have noted with interest and approval the progress of farm adoption schemes in Warwickshire and elsewhere. I think that the schemes are being well publicised through the activities of the National Farmers' Union and the Association of Agriculture. Responsibility rests with the local education authorities, but my Department and the Ministry of Education will always give any support they can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the concern of the police force of the country regarding pay and conditions of service, he will ensure that the Police Council meeting be held at an early date; and if he will name that date.

A meeting of the Council was held on 26th May, and a further meeting is to be held towards the end of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the form of headgear to be worn by police forces in England and Wales; and what representations he has received for their alteration.

Police regulations require all sergeants and constables to be provided with head-dress, but do not prescribe the type of head-dress to be worn. The helmet is, how-ever, the traditional form of head-dress and so recently as 1947 its retention was recommended by the Police Council Committee on Police Uniform as the normal head-dress for police sergeants and constables, on the understanding that a cap might be worn for some duties, such as motor car driving and motor cycling and, particularly in county forces, pedal cycling, for which it is considered more appropriate.Representations were made in 1950 by the Police Federation, following the introduction of open neck jackets, that the flat cap should be introduced experimentally as the standard wear for ordinary outside police duty, but the recommendation was not accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the constitution of the Civil Defence Joint Planning Staff, Industrial Planning Panel; on what dates it has met; what advice it has issued to industry on the setting up of a separate Industrial Civil Defence Force; and whether he will expedite and assist in the setting up of an Industrial Civil Defence Force.

The organisations represented on the Industrial Panel of the Civil Defence Joint Planning Staff are the British Employers' Confederation, the Federation of British Industries, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, the National Union of Manufacturers, the Retail Distributive Trades Conference, the Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Trades Union Congress. Four formal meetings have been held, on 21st September and 12th December, 1950, and on 21st March and 10th December, 1951, and there has at all times been informal contact between the Department and these organisations.I am sending to the hon. Member a memorandum on the organisation of Civil Defence in industrial and commercial premises which was issued in May, 1951; proposals for defining the relationship between industrial civil defence units and the Civil Defence Corps are at present under consideration by the Panel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the reasons submitted by the Poisons Board for their advice against the introduction of legislation making it legally obligatory upon manufacturers of dangerous drugs, poisons, and the like, to have an antidote printed in label form on the bottles, jars or receptacles containing these dangerous products.

The proceedings of the Poisons Board, the Advisory Committee set up by the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933, are confidential.

asked the Minister of Labour if the Parliamentary Secretary of his Department will, when paying his proposed visit to Lancashire, study the unemployment problem, inspect the Government magnesium electron factory at Lowerhouse, Burnley, with a view to considering its use to absorb some of the local unemployed.

No. I do not think that this visit would be profitable. As the hon. Member knows the possibility of bringing this factory into use has been thoroughly examined by the Ministers primarily responsible.

asked the Minister of Health what method of identification will be adopted in respect of the increasing number of people who have never had national identity numbers.

Arrangements have been made to issue such persons with National Health Service numbers.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make provision to exempt chronic sick patients, who require dangerous drugs which are dispensed weekly, from the prescription charge.

No. When such drugs are prescribed on a weekly basis, they are not usually required for periods so long as to make the ordinary provision for relief of financial hardship inappropriate.

asked the Minister of Health the procedure to be adopted by persons who have to pay 1s. prescription charge who are not in receipt of National Assistance but whose payment of Is. would make them obliged to claim refund.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Kirkdale (Mr. Keenan) on 19th June.

asked the Minister of Health how many methods have been agreed by him for the collection of the Is. prescription charge; and what they are.

Each hospital makes its own arrangements for collection. In certain rural areas special arrangements may be made, of which I am sending the hon. Lady particulars.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he has made at hospitals for a refund to be made to patients when it is found that the cost of the medicine supplied to them was less than 1s.

None.

asked the Minister of Health what amount of the average cost of a National Health Service prescription in England and Wales in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951, separately, was accounted for by each of the following items: the payment of the dispensing fee; the cost of the container; and the cost of drugs, medicines and dressings.

The approximate figures are as follow:

Period	Average cost of dispensing fee per prescription		Cost of container allowance per prescription		Average ingredient cost of drugs and appliances per prescription
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
1948 (July to December)	1	1		2½		11
1949	1	0		2	1	2	½
1950	1	0½		1½	1	5	¾

Figures for 1951 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will place in the Library copies of all relevant documents issued by him in relation to the advice and procedure for the refund of the 1s. charge for prescriptions to those entitled to refund.

Circulars to executive councils are placed in the Library in the ordinary course of circulation. I will add the appropriate hospital circulars.

asked the Minister of Health when an announcement concerning the revised scales of pay for all senior grades of domiciliary midwives can be expected.

I understand that the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council has reached the final stage of drafting the agreement that has been reached in substance and as soon as the agreement has been made I will communicate it to the local health authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the people of Biddulph are dissatisfied with the ambulance service because, when the curtailed service is applied, the people of Biddulph have to rely upon a service from Leek that may result in delays of from 40 to 90 minutes in an emergency; and if he will study the alternatives that have been suggested to the county authorities to remedy this situation.

I shall be glad to receive particulars of the delays so that they may be discussed with the local health authority.

asked the Minister of Health what number of schoolchildren have been treated under the General Dental Services administered by executive councils since the inception of the National Health Service Act.

No data are available for the period up to 31st March, 1950. Between 1st April, 1950 and 31st December, 1951 some 1,260,000 courses of treatment were given under the general dental services to children aged 6 to 15 years.

asked the Minister of Health how many health centres are now in existence; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to health centres.

Twenty-five; all, except one, taken over when the National Health Service began. The development of health centres must be subject to the present limited building resources which make any general expansion impracticable.

asked the Minister of Health if, in reaching a decision on the future of the South-West Metropolitan Region, he will bear in mind the unanimous feeling of the five mental hospitals in the western part of the region that they would best be administered with the other mental hospitals rather than with the general hospitals of any detached area.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health whether in reckoning the national average cost of maintaining a mental patient in hospital, he took into account both hospitals for the mentally ill and hospitals for the mentally deficient; and if he will give figures for these two categories separately.

The recently published costing returns for 1950–51 gave separate figures for the two types of hospital. The average cost of maintaining a patient for a week in a mental hospital was £3 15s. 11d., and in a mental deficiency institution £3 11s. 4d.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the fact that there are approximately 4,000 mentally-deficient children needing institutional care, he will encourage regional hospital boards to secure the necessary accommodation by adaptation of existing buildings and offer them a special grant for this purpose.

Regional hospital boards are aware that funds are available for the purchase of suitable buildings; but the cost of adaptations must be met out of the ordinary regional allocations.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from the organisations representing the nursing profession on the action of the Coventry Council in withholding increases of pay from nurses who are not members of a trades union; and what action he proposes to take.

I am considering representations on this matter which I have received from the Women Public Health Officers' Association. I also understand that representations from the Royal College of Nursing are on their way to me.The increases referred to in the Question do not come from any agreement made on the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council for the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities exist to the people of Barking who are given a prescription by their doctor for medicine urgently required to have this dispensed after the usual closing time of the chemists' shops.

Under a rota arrangement, two of the chemists in the district remain open each day for an hour after normal closing times. A doctor's terms of service require him to supply drugs, etc., needed for immediate treatment or before a supply can be otherwise obtained.

asked the Minister of Health when a start can be made with the provision of a plastic unit in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to meet the industrial needs of this Tyneside area.

A unit is already available at Shotley Bridge. The present restrictions on capital expenditure make it impossible to say when a start can he made with the further unit proposed in Newcastle itself.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will pay compensation to members of the permanent staff of the Cardiff Executive Committee who are to be dismissed by instruction of his Department.

Executive Councils have been asked to contribute to the national need for economy by dispensing with unnecessary staff. No question of compensation arises.

asked the Minister of Health how many Whitley Councils operate within the Health Service; how many representatives of his Department there are on each and how many of the Hospital Regional Boards; and if he will give a list of the increases in pay recommended by these councils since the start of the Health Service.

I am sending the hon. Member the information for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Health what means are employed to obtain samples of medicine for analysis to find out if pharmacists dispense strictly in accordance with medical practitioners' instructions on National Health Service prescriptions.

Test prescriptions are written by doctors and dispensed by chemists in accordance with the provisions of the drug testing scheme agreed by both professions.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have schemes in active operation for the administration of vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin; and how many persons have been so vaccinated.

One hundred and forty-three local health authorities have had proposals approved authorising the use of B.C.G. vaccine. Approximately 32,000 persons were vaccinated under approved schemes between October, 1949, and 31st December, 1951.

asked the Minister of Health the present state of medical research in this country in regard to vaccination with the vole bacillus vaccine.

A large-scale trial with this vaccine is being carried out under the auspices of the Tuberculosis Vaccine Trials Committee of the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by part-time nurses in sanatoria, such as Cfn-Mably Sanatorium, at the fact that they do not receive danger money as do the full-time nurses; if he is aware that this resentment is partly responsible for the shortage of part-time nurses in sanatoria; and what steps he intends to take to remedy the matter

These part-time nurses do receive an addition in their rates of pay. This is not regarded as danger money so much as to help recruitment.

asked the Minister of Health why his Department has sent an official committee of investigation into fluorine in water supplies to the United States of America; and whether he can give an assurance that they were instructed to interview opponents as well as supporters of the fluoridation of water supplies.

The mission was appointed following upon a recommendation to my Department by the Medical Research Council that a small mission representative of the various interested bodies should visit the United States of America to examine the American investigations. The mission was charged with the task of studying the whole question of fluoridation in all its aspects and adverse opinion and criticism were obviously to be taken into account in formulating the report.

asked the Minister of Health if he has studied the statement issued by the Fellowship for Freedom in Medicine on how to improve the hospital service, particulars of which have been sent him; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen this statement and, while I accept the need for the best possible allocation of expenditure within the Health Service, and for giving the general practitioner his proper place, I cannot accept all the statements made or the conclusions based on them. I have, of course, continuously under review the general question of increasing the efficiency and economy of the Service.

asked the Minister of Health how soon, and for what purpose, the recently-extended bed accommodation at the Walker Accident Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is to be used.

I am informed that the theatre and ward accommodation are to be used as an annex to the Newcastle Eye Hospital. Minor structural adaptations will be required, and discussions are proceeding on how these can be fitted into the Regional Hospital Board's capital programme.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take over the recommendation in the Eleventh Report from the Select Committee on Estimates that there should be a national review by his Department of the staffing of the hospital service.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Third Report from the Select Committee on Estimates, Session 1951–52, containing Departmental replies to the Reports of the Session 1950–51, published as House of Commons Paper No. 132 which is available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Health what was the percentage of sickness absenteeism among part-time workers in the hospital service in 1950 and 1951 as compared with that of cull-time workers.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of part-time workers in the hospital service take work up to the qualifying period for drawing sick pay and, after taking their entitlement, leave the service.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of out-patients passed through the hospitals in each of the years 1949 to 1951 inclusive.

The numbers of new out-patients who attended hospital consultative clinics in England and Wales were as follow:

1949	…	…	…	6,147,825
1950	…	…	…	6,193,156
1951	…	…	…	6,298,746

asked the Minister of Health how many forms are filled in on the admission of a patient to hospital; and how many persons are employed in this work.

This varies from hospital to hospital and according to the circumstances and purpose of admission. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied with the preservation and sign-posting of rural foot-paths; how many county councils have taken steps to ensure effective sign-posting of their foot-paths; and how many previously did so in prewar years but have not resumed this since the war.

I think that it will be easier to form a general view when the public path survey now being carried out by the county councils has been completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that farmers and villagers at Shenley and Calverton, near Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, have been without water supplies for 10 days; and whether he will cause immediate steps to be taken to assist them.

I understand that owing to reduced pressure in the system supplies of water to some properties have failed. Water is being carted where necessary. I will look further into proposals for improving supplies to the area.

asked the Minister of Transport how many of the 55 schemes, each costing over £5,000, for the elimination of accident black spots on trunk roads, are situated in Scotland.

Five schemes, with an estimated total cost of about £57,000, have already been decided on, and another, costing about £7,500, is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport how many roads in East Lothian are included among the 900 schemes scheduled by his Department for an Exchequer Grant to improve road safety and eliminate accident black spots.

asked the Minister of Transport how many roads in Berwickshire are included among the 900 schemes scheduled by his Department for an Exchequer Grant to improve road safety and eliminate accident black spots.

One scheme in East Lothian has already been approved and one scheme in East Lothian and one in Berwickshire are now under examination.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether his attention has been drawn to the growing abuse by property owners of Section 12 (7), of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, whereby a landlord who charges a rental of less than two-thirds the rateable value can remove a property outside the scope of the Act; if he is aware that tenants are being induced to pay heavy premiums for such tenancies; and if he will take prompt action to frustrate this evasion of the Rent Restriction Acts.

The answer to the first two parts is "No." As regards the third, I have no powers in this matter.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many Post Office vans are used solely for carrying documents between Government Departments; and to what account the costs are debited.

Thirty-eight Post Office vans, including six reserves, are used for this service; the cost is borne on the Post Office Vote, but credit is taken in the commercial accounts.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that reception of television in the area of Hastings and Rye is exceptionally bad; the reasons for this fact; and what steps his Department are taking to ensure to subscribers in this district an efficient service.

The B.B.C. informs me that satisfactory reception in the area of Hastings and Rye is not normally possible since they lie well beyond the effective limits of service of the Alexandra Palace television transmitter. If it is decided to move from Alexandra Palace when the current lease expires, in 1956, the Corporation plans to site the new television transmitter so as to extend the coverage southwards to the coast, but until the new site has been finally settled it is not possible to say how far reception would be improved in any particular area.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that some telephone subscribers in the Cheltenham district have only just received their telephone directories dated August, 1951; and if he will take steps to ensure that in future they are issued nearer to the date which they cover.

Some subscribers in Cheltenham were, by an oversight, not included in the general issue of new directories which was completed in August and September of last year. I regret the omission and can assure the hon. and gallant Member that all possible steps are being taken to prevent this taking place again. As has recently been arranged in London, the next general issue of the directory will be confined to business subscribers and new residential subscribers; but existing residential subscribers will be able to get new telephone directories if they ask for them.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that it costs 4d. to make a telephone call from Loughton to Tulse Hill, a distance of 18 miles and yet a call from Loughton to Stratford, Maryland, a distance of about six miles costs 6d.; what is the reason for this discrepancy in charges; and whether he will take steps to lower the latter charge.

Subscribers on exchanges within 10 miles of Oxford Circus pay higher rentals for their service than other subscribers. In compensation, the charges for short-distance calls to and from these London subscribers cover longer distances than elsewhere, with maximum effect on calls to and from exchanges within five miles of Oxford Circus. This explains the difference between the two charges quoted, as Tulse Hill is within five miles of Oxford Circus and Maryland is not.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the expansion of the housing programme in Stockton-on-Tees during the summer months is threatened by a shortage of cement; that work on a number of new housing contracts is due to commence and stocks of cement are inadequate for this purpose; and whether he will arrange for additional supplies of cement to be sent to the area in the next three weeks to avoid a hold up in building.

——	Quantity	11th March, 1952			25th June, 1952
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Asbestos Cement:
3/16" flat sheets, two tons and over	per sq. yd.		2	3		2	3
Building Plaster:
Coarse white, one ton and over	per ton	7	12	3	7	12	3
Cement:
Ordinary Portland, in bags, in lots of 6 tons and over	per ton	4	19	9	4	16	9
Rapid Hardening, in bags, in lots of 6 tons and over	per ton	5	7	9	5	4	9
Gypsum Rock (pithead price at Robertsbridge):
Large quantities	per ton	1	2	0	1	2	0
Lead Sheet:
One ton and over	per cwt.	9	14	0	7	12	9
Lead Pipe:
One ton and over	per cwt.	9	15	3	7	14	0
Plasterboard:
⅜" wallboard, 4' wide, 600 yards and over	per sq. yd.		2	7		2	7
Sanitary Earthenware:
Small water closet basins, small quantities	each	1	14	5	1	17	0
Sanitary Fireclay:
Sinks, small white, small quantities	each	2	10	0	2	10	0

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to institute investigations into the need for re-equipment, and the provision of capital therefor, to conserve labour and fuel and

Supplies of cement in the north-east have already been increased and are now nearly 30 per cent. higher than during the corresponding period of last year. As far as I can ascertain, no house-building at Stockton is held up for lack of cement at present and supplies should be adequate for future housing work.

asked the Minister of Works the prices of plasterboard, gypsum rock, building plasters, sanitary fire-clay, asbestos cement, lead sheet and pipe, sanitary earthenware, cement (ordinary Portland and rapid hardening) on 11th March, 1952, and on the latest convenient date.

The following prices are for delivery to site in London:provide for expansion in the brick and tile industry.

I am in close contact with the brick and tile industries, and the matters mentioned by the hon. Member are under observation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much the total payments of the West German Federal Government amounted to in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951, either calen-

——	1948–49	1949–50	1950–51	1951–52
	DM m.	DM m.	DM m.	DM m.
U.S. Zone	1,995	1,661	2,252	2,274
British Zone (including Belgian and other forces)	2,538	1,860	1,923	1,626
British Zone (excluding Belgian and other forces)	2,448	1,721	1,709	1,321
French Zone	544	591	1,041	1,021
	5,077	4,112	5,216	4,921

Owing to the accounting system of booking back expenditure incurred in one year into the accounts of previous years when the original commitments were made, the figures are subject to later adjustments. The figures represent expenditure in meeting the full occupation cost requirements of the respective authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give a detailed statement of the payments made on behalf of British Forces and

——		1950–51	1951–52	April, 1952 (payment authorisations)
		DM m.	DM m.	DM m.
Labour	…	574	515	42
Rent, utilities and fuel	…	157	149	4
Communications and transportation	…	156	139	1
Capital works and repairs	…	388	226	14
Other supplies and services	…	434	292	23
		1,709	1,321	84

Owing to the accounting system of back expenditure incurred in one period into the accounts of previous

Following are the figures by financial years:civilian authorities by the West German Federal Government for the financial years 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, in addition to April, 1952, specifying, in particular, the pay of German civilians and labour forces, the rent of houses, barracks, etc., other services and goods bought.

The detailed figures are not readily available for the years 1948–49 and 1949–50. The following are the figures for the later periods:Periods when the original commitments were made, the figures are subject to later adjustments.