asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reach a decision in regard to increasing the pension of the widow of the late Police Constable Miles and other widows of policemen killed in the execution of their duty.

I recognise the importance which my hon. Friend, and others, attach to this matter, and I am giving it careful consideration. It raises many difficulties, however, and I am sorry that I am not yet in a position to say when I shall be able to reach a decision on it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that his Department has rendered an account for £104 10s. to the Devon Standing Joint Committee for the use of five walkie-talkie sets during the Lynmouth disaster; and how much of this charge will fall on the ratepayers.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given today to a question by the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds).

asked the Minister of Health the average death rate per 1,000 from tuberculosis for England during the latest year for which figures are available; and what the death rate from tuberculosis is in Walsall for the same period.

Death rates from tuberculosis in 1951 were 309 per million in England (not including Wales) and 580 per million in Walsall.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. F. N. Clark, employed by Lewis's Store in Birmingham, has died from psittacosis contracted from two parrots in his charge at the store; that the two parrots were sold on Thursday, 4th December and have not yet been recovered; and whether he will reimpose the ban on the import of parrots which was lifted by him in January of this year, after being in force for 21 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a suspected case of psittacosis, parrot disease, now in Sussex County Hospital, Brighton; what are the steps his Department take normally in such circumstances; whether he will reimpose the ban on the entry of parrots into this country; and why it was originally raised.

The cases referred to have come to my notice and are being investigated. In neither case has psittacosis so far been established. The ban was removed because psittacosis was found to exist among many other birds in this country—but its re-imposition can always be considered if it should prove necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the delay in supplying deaf aids to those needing them in Newport amounting to about 12 months in many cases; and whether he will supply them with the type of aid containing one battery only instead of with separate batteries as at present, especially as firms in South Wales are making them to this pattern.

I am aware of the delay, but the position is progressively improving. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of Health the average waiting period for applicants for Medresco hearing aids.

The waiting period varies according to the patient's priority and local circumstances and an average figure is not calculable.

asked the Minister of Health the number of applicants for hearing aids on the waiting list of the Royal Infirmary, Sunderland; the average time to supply non-priority patients; and what action he is taking to expedite delivery.

3,029, among whom those now being fitted applied just under two years ago. A new distribution centre is to be opened at Middlesbrough in the New Year, which will relieve the pressure on Sunderland.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. E. Moss of 37, St. George's Road, Cheltenham, was supplied with a Medresco hearing aid on the 28th August, 1952, after waiting three years and one month; and whether he is further aware that the instrument when supplied was not suitable and that Mr. Moss has been waiting since the end of August for a glass earpiece to be supplied to him to enable him to use the same; and what action he is taking in this matter.

I am informed that this patient has been provided with a temporary standard insert and is waiting for his individually moulded earpiece. Because of the pressure on the staff at Bristol they are in arrears with providing

WHITLEY COUNCILS FOR THE HEALTH SERVICES (GREAT BRITAIN)
Composition of Management Side
Council	Departments (a)	National Health Service Bodies		Local Authorities		Total
		England and Wales (b)	Scotland (c)	England and Wales (d)	Scotland
(1) General	8	6	2	8	2	26
(2) Administrative and Clerical	8	7	2	—	—	17
(3) Ancillary	8	5	1	5	2	21
(4) Dental (Local Authority Staff)	2 (e)	—	—	7	2	11
(5) Medical:
(a) Hospital staff	8	5	1	2 (e)	—	16
(b) Local Authority staff	2 (e)	—	—	14	3	19
(6) Nurses and Midwives	8	5	1	6	2	22
(7) Optical	8	5	1	4	—	18
(8) Pharmaceutical	8	5	1	1	—	15
(9) Professional and Technical "A"	8	5	1	3	2	19
(10) Professional and Technical "B"	8	5	1	3	2	19
(a) Ministry of Health (including Welsh Board of Health) and Department of Health for Scotland.
(b) Regional Hospital Boards, Boards of Governors of Teaching Hospitals, and, in the case of (1) and (2), Executive Councils.
(c) Regional Hospital Boards and, in the case of (1) and (2), Executive Councils.
(d) Mainly County Councils Association, Association of Municipal Corporations and London County Council. The Urban District and Rural District Councils Associations are represented on (5) (b).
(e) Observers only.
NOTE: Certain councils conduct their business through committees whose Management Side composition varies from that on the full council.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why people in West Cornwall are required to go to Plymouth for the fitting of hearing aids;(2) how many patients have been fitted with hearing aids at the Truro clinic in each six months since it was established.

Pressure on the Plymouth centre is still such that the staff from there are able to go to Truro only to fit patients who, through age or other infirmity, are unable to travel to Plymouth. In the first six months following 1st September, 1951, 36 patients were provided with their aids at Truro, 42 in the second six months and 24 in the last three months.

asked the Minister of Health the composition of the management side of the Whitley Councils under the National Health Service.

The following table gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the delay in reaching decisions by the Whitley Councils of the National Health Service and the delay in putting into operation the awards that are made from time to time; and if he will set up a committee of inquiry to find out the cause of the delays.

The Whitley Councils reach their decisions by negotiation between the two sides, and in many cases this takes time. But I do not think there is any avoidable delay either in reaching decisions or in putting them into operation.

asked the Minister of Health what decision has been reached by him in respect to the appeal by Mrs. Beatrice Cox, 263, Maiden Lane, Cray-ford, whose jaw was broken by a dentist when having teeth extracted under the National Health Scheme.

A decision will be made shortly and I will then communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how long it is reckoned that a dentist has to wait before he receives permission to proceed with orthodontic treatment.

I am informed by the Dental Estimates Board that the average time taken is five weeks.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is still considerable discrepancy in the practice of doctors as to the number of prescriptions they put on one form; and if he will take steps to alter the doctors' terms of service to ensure that greater conformity is reached in this respect.

I am aware of this discrepancy, but I am not satisfied that an alteration in the doctors' terms of service would be an advantage.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the action of the Middlesex County Council in basing charges for the day nurseries according to the gross income of the families of which the children are members is causing considerable hardship; and if he will direct that, on the presentation of appeals, the net income only will be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the questionnaire issued to mothers by the Middlesex County Council in connection with the charges to be made in day nurseries if he is aware that this questionnaire calls for a means test based purely on gross income; and whether he will withhold his consent to charges being made until this questionnaire has been modified.

This is a matter for the County Council, and I see no reason to interfere.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have taken positive action in response to his circular permitting an increase in day nursery charges; and how many have declined.

The information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to ensure proper investigation of manufacturers' costs of pharmaceutical goods in view of the recent report of the Public Accounts Committee.

I am about to discuss the implications of the Report with representatives of the manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the letter published by the Hospital Management Committee with reference to the Darlington Memorial Hospital; and whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to it.

asked the Minister of Health what were his reasons for recommending to the Darlington Hospitals Management Committee that the two officials who had been dismissed by the committee should be offered formal reinstatement and that they should be regarded as on special leave with pay from the date of dismissal until other suitable employment could be found.

I am informed that in connection with the case writs for libel and slander have been issued and I consider, therefore, that it would not be proper for me to comment at this stage.

asked the Minister of Health what cuts have been imposed on the Welsh Regional Hospital Board since July, 1952.

None, but owing to the acceleration of certain works in progress at the beginning of the year, it has been necessary to defer the starting of other schemes.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the anxiety which has been caused to hospital management committees by the suggestion which has been made that there is to be a reduction in hospital staffs and that no replacements are to be made within existing hospital establishments without the consent of Regional Hospital Boards; and if he will consult with the Association of Hospital Management Committees before taking any action in this matter.

Hospital boards and committees have already received my memorandum on economy in staffing, and I am sending copies of it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the position of hospital officers who accepted the national negotiated rate of salary under the National Health Service Act, 1946, and whose positions have since been down graded, with the result that they cannot obtain an increase in accordance with the increase in the cost of living; and what new arrangements are being negotiated for them.

This is in accordance with a recent agreement of the Administrative and Clerical Whitley Council. I do not know of any negotiations for new arrangements for the officers concerned.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of X-ray sets held in stock by his Department at the latest convenient date; and how many of these sets have been in stock for periods of more than one, two and three years.

One hundred and twenty-six X-ray sets of all types were held in stock on 30th November, 1952. including those held for emergency purposes. Nine, 34 and 17 have been in stock for more than one, two and three years, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health (1) to take immediate steps to authorise expenditure on a casualty ward at Tamworth, Staffordshire, bearing in mind especially the coal-mining industrial risks in the locality;(2) to give urgent attention to the need for a maternity ward with the services of a consultant obstretician at Tamworth, Staffordshire; and if he will call for a copy of the report of the medical officer of the borough of Tamworth which deals with the present unsatisfactory state of affairs.

I am making inquiries from the Regional Hospital Board which is primarily responsible, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has given consideration to the recent reports on hospital costing by the King Edward Fund and the Nuffield Trust; and what action he proposes to take.

I am consulting the Teaching Hospitals Association, the Association of Hospital Management Committees and each Regional Hospital Board about these reports: in particular I have asked for their views on the value to hospital administration of the system of departmental costing advocated in each report, its practicability and its likely cost in money and manpower.

asked the Minister of Education to give an estimate of the number of children who will not find school accommodation in January, 1953.

In general, I should expect the number of school places to be adequate, although I cannot guarantee that temporary shortages will not occur in particular localities. I can give no estimate, but the number of children concerned would be comparatively small.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will make a statement regarding the proposed new grammar school at Burton-on-Trent.

I have agreed with the local education authority that the next school to be built in Burton-upon-Trent to provide the additional places required for increasing numbers shall be a new boys' grammar school, the existing grammar school buildings continuing in use thereafter for other secondary pupils. The project is at present included in the reserve building programme for 1953–54.

asked the Minister of Education if she has considered the petition of residents in Old Trafford that the proposed new St. Hilda's, Firswood, primary and junior day school should be included in the 1953–54 building programme; and if she is now able to announce her decision upon this request.

Yes, and I have much sympathy with the desire of the signatories and of the Church authorities that this new Church of England school should be built as soon as possible. Since, however, the present pressure on primary school accommodation will be relieved when a new secondary school is opened, I should hope next year, and since I cannot at present approve school building solely on denominational grounds, I have reluctantly decided that I cannot include this school in next year's building programme.

asked the Minister of Education how many students entering universities and university colleges for the first time in October, 1952, held, respectively, State scholarships, supplementary university scholarships, or local authority awards.

One thousand nine hundred and fifty-six held State scholarships; 860 held supplemental university awards, and 46 grants under the further education and training scheme. The number of such students holding grants from local education authorities is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Education the names of Welsh local education authorities who have reduced the value of grants to students proceeding to the university.

No Welsh authority has submitted a scheme involving general reduction in rates of grant.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of children in Bradford in elementary and secondary schools; and what number, in each case, are receiving free milk each day.

The authority's latest return shows that, of the 36,572 pupils attending maintained schools on a day in October, 1952, 30,741 received free milk. Separate figures are not available for different categories of schools.

asked the Minister of Education what economies have been made since 1st January, 1952, as a result of her circulars to local authorities; and what further economies she proposes to request.

The estimates which local education authorities submitted to me last April showed a reduction of about £6 million on their forecasts of the previous winter. Authorities have certainly found it possible to make further economies, but I cannot yet say what the expenditure for the current financial year will turn out to be: nor can I yet say what, if any, further economies I shall be requiring in connection with next year's expenditure.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of schoolchildren receiving free dinners, dinners on payment and no dinners, respectively, and the number of schools providing and not

—				On a day in—
				June, 1950	May, 1951	June, 1952
1. Number of children:
(a) having free dinners	…	…	…	312,529	291,266	278,118
(b) having dinners on payment	…	…	…	2,218,121	2,293,854	2,433,312
(c) not having school dinners	…	…	…	2,731,805	2,704,126	2,856,315
2. Number of schools or departments:
(a) providing dinners	…	…	…	27,259	27,669	28,158
(b) not providing dinners	…	…	…	1,608	1,243	975

asked the Minister of Education to give, for each local education authority, the number of pupils admitted to grammar schools, including direct grant schools, and to grammar streams in multilateral and bilateral schools in September, 1951, per 1,000 of the number of children aged 10 and under 11 in maintained schools in March, 1950.

I have not the precise figures asked for, but I am sending the hon. Member the available information on this matter.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the supply of qualified men to teach science and mathematics in schools is slowly decreasing; and what steps she is taking to overcome this.

The supply is not decreasing. As the hon. Member will have noted from my reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery) on 23rd October, this year more graduates in these subjects than last year completed courses of professional training and have obtained or are seeking posts in maintained schools. Further, the number of men and women teachers with providing dinners at the last available date, with comparative figures for the same date in 1950 and 1951.

The following figures relate to maintained primary and secondary schools other than boarding, special or nursery schools, for which it is not possible, from the information available. to distinguish free dinners from those provided on payment.degrees in mathematics and science employed in maintained secondary schools providing courses up to the standard of the General Certificate of Education and in direct grant grammar schools rose from 9,381 in September, 1951, to 9,642 in September, 1952. The schools still, however, need more teachers of this kind than they can recruit and I will continue to do all I can to help them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what instructions have been given to the United Kingdom representative on the Trusteeship Council concerning the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the future of South-West Africa.

The report of the Ad Hoc Committee on South-West Africa will be considered by the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly and not by the Trusteeship Council. It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reveal instructions to the United Kingdom delegation, but hon. Members will however recall that, in previous years, it has been the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support any proposal leading towards a negotiated settlement within the terms of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, so as to include Northern Ireland; and whether he will then designate parts of Northern Ireland as development areas under this Act.

The Government of Northern Ireland have their own legislation, under which they carry out functions similar to those carried out in the Development Areas in Great Britain. Northern Ireland also shares in the administrative measures employed in the United Kingdom generally for helping existing Development Areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will remove the present percentage margin control of prices on Utility furniture and substitute instead ceiling prices only, pending the introduction of the Purchase Tax D Scheme for furniture.

As my hon. Friend knows, Order S.I. 1952 No. 2125 was laid by the Board of Trade on 9th December, to come into force on 15th December, revoking price control on new and secondhand Utility and office furniture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the plentiful supplies now available, he will arrange for the removal of price control on linoleum.

The Central Price Regulation Committee is in correspondence with the Linoleum Manufacturers' Association on this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement about the future of the Jewellery and Silverware Development Council.

Yes. I regret that it has not been possible to secure agreement within the industry for the continuance of the Council after the end of 1952, nor for the setting up of a body to succeed it. My right hon. Friend has accordingly decided, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make an Order under the Industrial Organisation and Development Act, 1947, for dissolving the Jewellery and Silverware Council. A draft Order to this effect will be laid in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the nine places where factories are under construction in the Durham coalfield; and if he will give the number of adult males and females that will be employed in each factory.

Four of the nine projects for new factories and extensions are at Consett, three are at Stanley, one is at Bishop Auckland and one is at Sedgefield. I regret that I cannot give the numbers of people to be employed by individual firms at new factories, since these figures are confidential.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now remove the existing Highland Development Area from the Schedule and in its place create small Development Areas in selected Highland towns.

Action of this kind could, of course, only be undertaken after full consultation with the various local authorities concerned. Since in practice our efforts have necessarily been concentrated rather on the lines which my hon. Friend has in mind, I do not think that anything would be gained by the change.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what form the promised Government help is to be given to halt the fall in productivity, which has now reached serious proportions and must be altered without delay.

Measures to improve productivity are, of course, primarily the responsibility of industry. The Government lend their support wherever possible, for example by the various incentive measures contained in the last Budget. The Government also support the British Productivity Council who are preparing a programme of work designed to increase national productivity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what grants and loans have been made each year from

SUMS SPENT IN EACH DEVELOPMENT AREA IN RESPECT OF GRANTS AND LOANS UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF INDUSTRY ACT, 1945
Financial Year	Total Expenditure	North Eastern	South Wales and Monmouthshire	Wrexham	West Cumberland	South Lancashire	Merseyside	Scotland
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1945–46	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1946–47	120,730*	41,910	74,895	—	—	—	—	3,925
1947–48	601,128	25,570	422,016	—	—	—	—	153,542
1948–49	833,679	88,484	548,920	6,950	72,252	—	—	117,073
1949–50	823,683	153,477	410,372	5,250	50,098	2,700	—	201,786
1950–51	1,082,185	138,533	397,768	550	16,300	—	40,000	489,034
1951–52	1,075,843	57,832	446,009	2,536	93,790	—	—	475,676
1952–53	1,166,542†	21,885	332,755	914	69,500	396	—	741,092
TOTALS	5,703,790	527,691	2,632,735	16,200	301,940	3,096	40,000	2,182,128
NOTES:
* This now excludes £6,637 paid under Section 8 of the Act and included in the figures given on 11th November.
† Corrected figure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many summonses and distraint orders have been served under the Tithe Act, 1936, each year since the Act commenced to operate.

The preparation of precise figures would entail much labour which would not in my opinion be justified. The cases in which it has been necessary to resort to these processes have, however, been very few relative to the large number of landowners liable to pay tithe redemption annuities.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will make a revision of the Treasury Similar Service rule so that it may operate more generously in favour of old servants of the Post Office.

No. This rule, which relates to the reckonability for 1945 for the improvement of basic services in each Development Area as authorised by Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945; and what are the estimated grants and loans for 1952–53.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th November, 1952; Vol. 507, c. 27], supplied the following information:superannuation purposes of unestablished service of established civil servants who entered the Civil Service before 27th June, 1935, is operated under the Superannuation Act of 1887. I can see no justification for making more generous an obsolescent rule which is applied only where it is more favourable than the arrangements provided under the Superannuation Acts of 1935. 1946 and 1949.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further reductions he has been able to make in the number of officials authorised to carry out inspections and investigations in private and business premises without a search warrant.

I think my hon. Friend will wish to have figures covering all Departments, not only those for which I am responsible. In all Departments, the officials having powers of entry have been reduced by 2,875, and those having power to enter private houses by 902, as compared with the figures given in reply to my hon. Friend on 15th July last. Since June, 1951, there has been a

SCHEDULE OF POWERS OF ENTRY WITHOUT JUDICIAL WARRANT (WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE) POSSESSED BY OFFICIALS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AT THE 1ST DECEMBER, 1952
(1) Government Department	(2) Officials with powers of entry on enclosed land, business premises or private houses	(3) Officials included in (2) whose powers authorise them to enter private houses used exclusively as such
	December, 1952	December, 1952
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries	1,986	Nil
Ministry of Civil Aviation	50	20
Customs and Excise	1,800	115
Ministry of Education	549	Nil
Ministry of Food	626	Nil
Forestry Commission	25	Nil
Ministry of Fuel and Power	224	Nil
Ministry of Health	56	20
Home Office	150	78
Ministry of Housing and Local Government	8	Nil
Inland Revenue	2,690	2,690
Ministry of Labour and National Service	2,155	Nil
Ministry of Materials	5	Nil
Ministry of National Insurance	1,210	Nil
Ordnance Survey	800	Nil
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research	102	Nil
Tithe Redemption Commission	107	Nil
Board of Trade	121	Nil
Ministry of Transport	963	Nil
War Damage Commission and Central Land Board	55	55
Department of Agriculture for Scotland	46	Nil
Scottish Education Department	96	Nil
Department of Health for Scotland	6	Nil
Scottish Home Department	39	7
TOTALS	13,869	2,985

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement about the effect on liability to particular rates of Purchase Tax of the addition to certain articles of Coronation emblems.

Yes. A Treasury Order is being laid today which will, with certain exceptions, prevent goods from becoming chargeable with Purchase Tax, or from becoming chargeable with Purchase Tax at a higher rate, solely because they consist of, incorporate, or bear, certain emblems of the Coronation. reduction of 5,326 (some 28 per cent.) in the total number of officials having powers of entry, and of 3,003 (some 50 per cent.) in the number with power to enter private houses exclusively used as such.The following is the current list:This Order will come into operation on 15th December, 1952, and expire on 30th September, 1953.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of revenue collected by the Exchequer each year up to and including the end of the financial year 1952 derived from football or other pool stakes placed by punters in Northern Ireland with pools operated in Great Britain; and to which Exchequer the tax so collected is credited.

I am afraid that no figures are available. Pool Betting Duty is paid weekly by promoters on the total stake moneys received, irrespective of source, and in the case of promoters operating in Great Britain accrues in full to the Imperial Exchequer, in the same way as it accrues to the Northern Ireland Exchequer in the case of promoters operating in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he proposes to spend £160,000 in providing and storing grain sacks.

My Department's expenditure on grain sacks this year has been approximately £112,000. The sacks were purchased to provide a reserve and were re-sold, without loss to the Exchequer, to farmers who found themselves short of sacks during this year's harvest. It is not proposed to continue this scheme as sacks are now readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the present overall picture of the increased facilities provided by county education committees in Wales and Monmouthshire for farming students; and if he will make an overall plan for each institute to specialise in one branch so as to avoid overlapping.

Both the Caernarvonshire and Carmarthenshire Education Committees have opened new agricultural institutes this autumn. The Flintshire Committee is building a horticultural in- stitute which will be ready next summer. The Denbighshire Committee has bought a house which will be used as an additional hostel for its present institute. When completed, these additional facilities will enable farm institutes in Wales and Monmouthshire to take 300 students compared with 200 last year. In addition, the Glamorgan Education Committee has opened a centre for part-time agricultural education this autumn, and the Cardiganshire Committee will open a similar centre in January.I hope that the new institutes in Caernarvonshire and Carmarthenshire and the existing ones in Denbighshire and Monmouthshire will each continue to give a course in general agriculture for men and a course including rural domestic economy for women. Advanced and specialised courses are also needed, and care will be taken to avoid overlapping. The Monmouthshire Institute is already providing specialised courses in poultry husbandry and in horticulture. The new Flintshire institute will provide a specialised course in horticulture for students from North Wales. The county education committees are considering what provision should be made for other subjects in consultation with the Welsh Joint Education Committee and my Department, and I am confident that a satisfactory arrangement will be worked out.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will indicate the reports made to him to date by the Agricultural Land Commission; and his action thereon.

Since I took office the only report I have received from the Agricultural Land Commission under the Agriculture Act, 1947, is their 5th Annual Report, which contained no specific recommendations for action. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what compensation is paid to the owners of animals that die of anthrax.

None. I have no power to pay compensation to farmers whose animals die of disease. Compensation under the Diseases of Animals Act is payable only when animals are slaughtered by order of my Department to prevent the spread of disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that about 6,670 sheep were killed by dogs in 1951 and that the number killed in 1952 is not likely to have diminished and, in view of the discouragement which such killings cause to the increased production of mutton and wool, he will introduce legislation at an early date in order to make more effective laws in dealing with the matter.

I am afraid that there is at present no prospect of the Government being able to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the fact that about 50 farmers a year have been dispossessed since 1947, if he will give an estimate of the extent to which production has increased because of this action.

I regret that no precise estimate such as my hon. Friend desires is practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases of fowl pest have occurred in the present outbreak; how many counties are affected; what has been the number of birds destroyed; and the amount of compensation paid.

Since 28th November there have been 119 outbreaks in 36 counties. About 55,000 birds have been destroyed; the compensation payable is about £55,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what recommendations he has received from the committee dealing with the increase in the starling population in Trafalgar Square, Birmingham, Manchester and other places; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I did not set up a Committee to go into this problem but arranged for it to be examined in consultation with the Departments and interests most closely concerned. The conclusion has been reached that the best way of dealing with these local nuisances would be by trapping the starlings at the places where the nuisances occur. Tests will be carried out during the winter with a new humane cage trap to ascertain whether trapping is likely to offer a solution. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he has noted the correlation between the incidence of cancer of the lung and the density per acre of dwellings; and what research work is at present being carried out to determine the specific carcinogenic substances.

Yes. I am aware of the observations published by Dr. Percy Stocks in the British Journal of Cancer. Further studies on the relationship between the occurrence of specific atmospheric carcinogens and the incidence of cancer of the lung are under discussion between the Departments concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether his research Department are now able to state the approximate amount of arsenic benzpyrene and radioactive particles present in the atmosphere of an urban area such as Stoke-on-Trent, Stepney or Shoreditch, as compared with Torquay or Blackpool.

I am unable to give figures for the places named, but it has been shown in recent surveys carried out under the auspices of the Medical Research Council and the British Empire Cancer Campaign that the concentration of arsenic and of benzpyrene in the atmosphere of towns rises during the winter and that there is a tendency for the mean annual concentrations of these substances to increase with the size of town studied. Other investigations have shown that radioactivity of suspended matter in the air does not vary greatly between urban and rural districts.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a table showing the road accidents to cyclists in recent years distinguishing between those occurring in daylight from those occurring after dark.

The table below shows the number of casualties to pedal cyclists in recent years divided as desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if police signs set up under his regulations instructing motorists to turn right, to turn left, not to turn left, or not to turn right are to be construed as implying one-way traffic on the roads to which the limitations apply.

Not necessarily. There is often two-way traffic on roads to which signs of this type apply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will review the amounts payable to members of local authorities and hospital boards in respect of loss of earnings as the present maximum imposes hardship and, in many cases, prevents councillors from attending to their public duties without entailing considerable sacrifices.

So far as members of local authorities are concerned legislation would be necessary, and I can hold out no prospect of this at present. Members of hospital authorities and other Health Service bodies receive the same allowances for loss of earnings as local authority members and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health considers it undesirable that their position should be reviewed in isolation.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what advice was given by the Air Registration Board regarding the operation of Tudor aircraft; and whether his restriction prohibiting more than 50 passengers from being carried outside a radius of 250 miles from land was made on the specific recommendation of the Board.

It would not be in accordance with normal practice to disclose details of advice given to my right hon. Friend by the Air Registration Board. I can say, however, that full account has been taken of the views of the Board in this as in other matters which fall within their purview.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the nature of Lord Mountbatten's new appointment in the Mediterranean.

No such appointment has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take to enable the growers of Sea Island cotton on the island of Antigua to secure improved prices for their cotton, in view of the great poverty of the growers of this raw material.

The sale of the 1952–53 Antigua crop has already been negotiated. The prices to be paid for Sea Island cotton, after the 1952–53 season will be negotiated between the West Indian Sea Island Cotton Association, representing the producers, and the spinners. The parties are at present discussing future marketing procedure. It would in these circumstances be improper for me to comment on details of these discussions, but it is my hope that the discussions will result in mutually acceptable arrangements. Investigations are also being made into the growing of a strain of cotton of higher quality than that now mainly grown in Antigua.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks will be engaged in Coronation ceremonies; and for what period they will be unavailable for their normal military duties.

About 16,000 officers and other ranks will be engaged on ceremonial duties. The period they will be absent from normal duties varies according to the location of their usual station, but for those who are stationed in the United Kingdom the total period will average about 10 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to give a list of all commodity price stabilisation funds now operating in colonial territories and the

WEST AFRICA. The Marketing Boards hold general reserve funds as under, part of which is available for price stabilisation:—
Board	Date	General Reserves	Remarks
		£
Gold Coast Cocoa Marketing Bord.	30th Sept., 1951	71,317,886	£51 million is specifically allocated for price stabilisation.
Gold Coast Produce Marketing Board (various produce).	31st Dec., 1951	334,226	—
Nigeria Cocoa Marketing Board	30th Sept.1951	33,001,420	70 per cent. of these reserves are held available for price stabilisation, without prejudice to the actual size of stabilisation reserves which may prove necessary.
Nigeria Groundnut Marketing Board.	31st Oct., 1951	12,366,833
Nigeria Oil Palm Marketing Board.	31st Dec., 1951	21,638,740
Nigeria Cotton Marketing Board	31st Oct.. 1951	3,243,909	—
Gambia Oilseeds Marketing	30th Sept., 1951	2,484,097	—
Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board (various produce).	31st Dec., 1951	4,605,982	Separate stabilisation funds are maintained for each commodity.
Fuller details of these funds are available in the Board's annual reports.
UGANDA. The Cotton Price Assistance Fund, operated by the Lint Marketing Board now stands at its statutory limit of £20 million.
MAURITIUS, FIJI, BRITISH GUIANA, JAMAICA, TRINIDAD, ST. LUCIA, ST. VINCENT, ANTIGUA, BARBADOS. These territories maintain sugar Price Stabilisation Funds which collectively totalled over £5 million at the end of 1951.
There are also a number of smaller stabilisation funds and other reserve funds available for stabilisation in other territories. Details of these are being obtained and will be sent to the hon. Member

asked the Minister of Food for what purpose was his recent meeting held with representatives of the chocolate and sugar confectionery industry.

The object of the meeting was to discuss the level of the sweets ration for the next period, and maximum prices.

asked the Minister of Food what increases in coffee, and coffee mixture, prices have occurred since October, 1951.

From October, 1951, until August, 1952, when price control was removed, there were increases varying from 5d. to 8d. a pound according to quality and pack. Following reserve funds now standing to the credit of each fund.

The following is the latest available information about the principal funds:decontrol, prices rerhained generally unchanged for a time, though special high priced blends, which had not been available during control, were again on sale. I understand, however, that the proportion of coffee bought at current high world prices is now increasing in the blends and that, in consequence, certain well-known brands have risen in price by amounts varying from 2d. to 10d. a pound. This tendency may be expected to continue unless the world price of coffee falls, of which there is no present sign.

asked the Minister of Labour the figures for the latest available date of the number of dock workers signing on for whom employment could not be found at each of the control points on the docks on the North-East Coast; and the proportion which each of such figures represents of the numbers available on the register.

In the week ending 29th November, the figures were:

—	Average Daily number of men surplus to requirements	Percentage of Register
Newcastle and Dunston	127	18·2
South Shields	24	5·0
North Shields	21	5·3
Blyth	5	2·4
Sunderland and Seaham	41	12·2
Total:—
Tyne and Wear Area	218	10·3
Middlesbrough	354	26·9
Hartlepools	15	5·6
Total:—
Middlesbrough and Hartlepools Area	369	23·3

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the expected increase in unemployment in Oldham due to the closing of works; and how many vacancies for engineers were available in Oldham on the lists of the Employment Exchange on the last convenient date;(2) whether he is aware of the threat to the maintenance of employment in

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS AGED 18 AND OVER ON THE REGISTERS OF THE OLDHAM EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Date	Total number on registers						Registered disabled persons included in *preceding columns
	Men			Women			Men	Women
			Wholly Umemployed	Temporarily Stopped	Total	Wholly Unemployed	Temporarily Stopped	Total
12th Nov, 1951	90	1	91	81	17	98	67	6
16th June, 1952	426	1,531	1,957	512	3,030	3,542	125	14
14th July, 1952	464	1,479	1,943	537	2,485	3,022	131	18
11th Aug., 1952	525	1,254	1,779	476	2,302	2,778	132	21
15th Sept, 1952	519	996	1,515	448	2,011	2,459	130	22
13th Oct., 1952	557	1,049	1,606	423	1,509	1,932	150	23
10th Nov., 1952	603	575	1,178	450	1,394	1,844	143	29
* Excluding a small number of registered severely disabled persons who are unlikely to obtain employment other than under special conditions.

I am aware of the decision to close the East Works, Oldham, but understand that a large proportion of the workers will be transferred to the Hartford Works, Oldham. Although several hundred workers have already been discharged from, or have voluntarily left, the former factory, there have, in fact, been reductions in the numbers registered as unemployed in Oldham in the last six months. A substantial number of additional workers are expected to be discharged from works closing down in Oldham but the employment exchanges will do everything possible to assist them to secure other work in this or other areas so as to avoid unemployment. Twenty-seven engineering vacancies were outstanding at the Oldham Employment Exchange on 19th November, 1952.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the figures of total unemployed in Oldham for adult males, adult females, and disabled persons, respectively, for November. 1951, and for the six months up to and including November, 1952.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed in Shrewsbury to the latest convenient date; and the number of

SHREWSBURY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE
Number of unemployed persons on the registers				Number of Vacancies notified and remaining unfilled
Date	Males	Females	Total	Date	Males	Females	Total
10th November, 1947	51	103	154	26th November, 1947	1,534	182	1,716
15th November, 1948	58	92	150	24th November, 1948	305	237	542
14th November, 1949	104	96	200	23rd November, 1949	420	191	611
13th November, 1950	103	106	209	22nd November, 1950	334	118	452
12th November, 1951	71	92	163	21st November, 1951	431	101	532
10th November, 1952	94	111	205	19th November, 1952	327	135	462

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will direct the British Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast urgent and grave information, officially conveyed to it by the chief of a county fire brigade, in the same way as similar news is now broadcast that is conveyed by the chief of county police.

No. The Government are continuing the traditional policy of allowing the B.B.C. independence in what they broadcast. It has long been the practice of the police to make arrangements direct with the Corporation to broadcast urgent announcements on their behalf; any broadcast desired by the fire authorities should also be discussed direct. I understand that in the instance which my hon. Friend no doubt has in mind, the B.B.C. did broadcast information at the request of the Chief Fire Officer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the percentage of officers called up in 1951 and 1952 who volunteered to serve in vacancies notified to the Shrewsbury employment exchange remaining unfilled on the same date for the five previous years.

The following table gives the information desired:Exercise Ardent for the full period of two weeks and for two week-ends, respectively, and also the percentage for other ranks.

The following is the reply:

PERCENTAGE OF OFFICERS AND AIRMEN CALLED UP FOR 15 DAYS' TRAINING IN 1951 OR 1952 WHO SERVED VOLUNTARILY DURING EXERCISE ARDENT
—	For two weeks	For two Weekends	For One Weekend	Total
	percent.	percent.	percent.	percent.
1951
Officers	16·3	0·5	—	16·8
Airmen	2·5	0·3	2·0	4·8
1952
Officers	3·7	2·0	3·7	9·4

NOTES:(1) None of the airmen called up for 15 days training in 1952 was invited to volunteer for Exercise Ardent.(2) 12·5 per cent. of the officers who were called up for 15 days' training in 1951 served voluntarily at other times in 1952.(3) In addition, to the figures above, many members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Fighter Squadrons, which were called up for three months in 1951 but not in 1952, took part with other Royal Auxiliary Air Force Units in Exercise Ardent in the ordinary course of training.