asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in calculating Northern Ireland's share of reserved taxes, he will take into account the fact that Northern Ireland is excluded from the grants and loans provisions of the White Fish and Herring Industries Bill, 1953.

No. Northern Ireland's share of reserved taxes is governed by Section 22(2) of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, as amended by the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the authorities are refusing to allow children's allowance for the financial year 1953–54 in respect of children totally dependent on their parents at the commencement of the financial year but who, in the opinion of the authorities, will become available for employment in the course of the year; and whether such action is in accordance with his instructions.

It is not the normal practice for the Inland Revenue to refuse an allowance merely because they expect a child to be available for employment in the course of the year. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will write to me, I will look into it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many of Her Majesty's Ministers, holding offices for which the salary is £5,000 or more but which is temporarily below £5,000, are qualified thereby to draw salaries as Members of Parliament, to which they would not otherwise be entitled; and how many have drawn such salaries in the financial years 1951–52 and 1952–53.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "None."

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many coast protection authorities have combined in respect of coast protection with joint coast protection authorities under the provisions of the Coast Protection Act, 1949; and where they are situated.

Three joint advisory committees, comprising five coast protection authorities in Yorkshire, 26 in North Wales and eight in Cardiganshire. have been formed under the Coast Protection Act, 1949.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that people who live in Sutton, Anderby Creek and other places on the coast of Lincolnshire, are only allowed to return to their homes at their own risk; and whether he will continue the payment of a lodging allowance in these cases until full permission to return is given.

Lodging allowances were paid for five weeks to give flood victims time to sort out their affairs. Those who are still unable to return to their homes. or who would be unwise to do so, should by now have been able to make their own arrangements with the householders with whom they are staying. Anyone who is unable to make a reasonable payment to the householder can apply to the Assistance Board.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what financial or other help can be given to frontagers responsible for unadopted streets damaged by the recent floods and by the subsequent passage of heavy vehicles engaged in the work of rescue and repair.

The Government expect the local authorities concerned to repair the damage, and the cost will be taken into account in the settlement between them and the Government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will consider taking steps to amend the De-Rating Act of 1929, with a view to easing the burden on the rates.

This is a question with wide ramifications the effect on the rates is not the only relevant consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular encouraging local authorities to put out to public tender all contracts for civil engineering and road maintenance before resorting to the practice of direct labour.

Section 266 of the Local Government Act, 1933, makes plain Parliament's intention that public invitation to tender for contracts for the execution of works should be the rule. The model Standing Orders with respect to contracts issued for the guidance of local authorities are framed to embody this principle, and the Memorandum accompanying them stresses the importance of adhering to it. My right hon. Friend does not think that an additional circular is required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state approximately the percentage of local government expenditure which can be attributed to governmental direction.

Generally the Government's function is to prescribe a standard if a service is to rank for grant. I am afraid it is not possible to say what expenditure, if any, can be attributed to this function alone.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many water undertakings have applied for consent to increase their charges since he took office; in how many cases consent was given; and what was the average percentage increase in charges permitted.

Consent has been given in 31 cases: the others are under consideration. The average increase is 30 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he will take on the application of the Staffordshire Potteries Water Board for consent to increase certain existing charges for water in the North Staffordshire area.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to give a decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how the existing charges for water supply of the Staffordshire Potteries Water Board compare with the average charges of water undertakings nationally.

My right hon. Friend does not know the average charges of water undertakers nationally. The existing charges made by the Board for domestic supplies are, however, less than the charges of 38 water undertakers who have recently applied for increases, whilst for metered supplies their charges are similar.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has any immediate plans to encourage the repair and improvement of rent restricted property which is worth improving or repairing.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that agreements still exist between property owners and the Central Land Board involving the liability for payment of development charge if there is a change of user; and whether he will make a statement as to his proposals for abolishing this liability.

If my hon. Friend is referring to the arrangements for deferring collection of development charge on farm-workers' cottages, my right hon. Friend can assure him that no attempt will be made to enforce the covenants provided that the buildings were still in use as farm cottages on 17th November last. He proposes formally to terminate the liability in next Session's legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether it is with his approval and consent that the Romford Borough Council have refused to issue licences for new houses, having an area not exceeding 1,000 square feet, upon the ground that the proposed purchaser of the house was not a person approved by the housing committee of the council, in circumstances to which his attention has been directed.

No. I have asked the borough council to send representatives to meet my officers in order that the council's position as agents of the Government for the issue of building licences may be explained to them.

asked the Minister of Works the estimated cost of the four arches, to be erected in the Mall, including the lions, unicorns rampant, and other decorations.

The four arches and their decorations, including experimental work and lighting, are expected to cost about £20,800.

asked the Minister of Works the cost of the Coronation dinner service he has recently ordered from Wedgwood's, Barlaston, factory.

I have ordered for official use a dinner service bearing the new Royal Arms at a cost of £825. It will be used for the first time at the dinner which the Foreign Secretary traditionally offers to the Sovereign at the Coronation. Ninety sets will be retained for official hospitality in this country and their cost will be paid from the Government Hospitality Fund. The remaining 60 sets will be sent to one or perhaps two of Her Majesty's Missions overseas, and are a gift from a generous subscriber to my fund for works of art to be placed in Government buildings.

asked the Minister of Works when the official decorations for the Coronation in London will be completed; for how long they will be kept up; and what will be the hours of illumination.

The decorations of buildings and thoroughfares for which I am responsible will be completed on the night before the Coronation. The intention is to begin their removal on Monday. 22nd June. From 2nd June till 21st June selected public buildings and portions of the decorations will be floodlit from dusk till midnight.

asked the Minister of Works how far his regulations provide that the £500 licence-free allowance for repairs should include a frontager's repairs to footpath and road where this is applicable.

Where portions of unadopted roads or footpaths form part of the frontager's property, as defined in the Control of Building Operations (No. 18) Order, 1952, work on those portions of the road or footpath comes within the licence-free allowance for the property.

asked the Minister of Works how many housing estates are managed by his Department; and in how many cases trained women housing managers are employed.

My Department manages only one housing estate and does not employ a trained woman housing manager.

asked the Minister of Works where he employs the prisoner-of-war labour referred to in the Trading and Profit and Loss Account of the Building Materials and Housing Fund for the year ended 31st March, 1952; and what is their nationality.

The Account relates to the work done by prisoners-of-war on preparing housing sites for local authorities from 1945 to 1948. They were nearly all German, but a few were Italians. The settlement of these Accounts with local authorities is nearing completion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent the proposed change in the site for the National Theatre from the area adjoining Waterloo Bridge to that adjacent to County Hall will affect the scheme for developing the Science Centre on the South Bank; and whether he will make a further statement with regard to progress in connection with the latter scheme, which has already been approved in principle by Her Majesty's Government.

The proposed change of site for the National Theatre will in no way affect the carrying out of the decision to build a Science Centre on the South Bank. The site proposed for the Science Centre is downstream from Waterloo Bridge; both the old and new sites for the Theatre are upstream. As regards the second part of the Question, my hon. Friend will be aware, from the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works on 17th December last, that the planning of the Centre has had to be deferred in view of the need for economy. He may, however, rest assured that my noble Friend appreciates the importance of this project, which he fully intends to pursue when economic conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give permission to the baking and confectionery industry to work their female labour on Sunday 31st May in order that their products may be fresh when distributed on the eve of Coronation day.

My right hon. and learned Friend is advised that he has no power to authorise this except by Order under Defence Regulation 59, and he is not satisfied that he would be justified in doing so.

asked the Minister of Labour how many dockers employed in the Glasgow docks have taken advantage of the National Dock Labour Boards temporary release scheme.

Fifty-seven.

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of dock workers signing on in Glasgow docks for whom no work was available during 1952, and the comparative figures for 1951.

During 1952 the average daily number of dock workers surplus to requirements at the Glasgow docks was 426. The comparative figure for 1951 was 262.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men were employed in the granite industry in Cornwall in each year since the war to the latest convenient date.

The available statistics relate to the whole of the stone quarrying and mining industry. The estimated total numbers of males in that industry in Cornwall at the middle of the years 1948, 1951 and 1952 (including a small number who were unemployed), were 1,430, 1,240 and 1,170, respectively. Comparable figures are not available for any earlier years. nor for 1949 and 1950.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can yet make a statement about the inquiry which he recently initiated into the rehabilitation and resettlement of disabled persons.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend on 12th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Miss Ward).

asked the Minister of Labour the unemployment figures for Bury and Radcliffe, respectively, during the last three months.

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE BURY AND RADCLIFFE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Date		Bury	Radcliffe
8th December, 1952	…	644	141
12th January, 1953	…	799	269
16th February, 1953	…	578	200

asked the Minister of Labour what have been the results of his invitation to industry, public and private, to bring the age of retirement from work into conformity with that now prevailing in the Civil Service.

The main result of my right hon. and learned Friend's invitation, which was in more general terms than those suggested by the right hon. Gentleman, has been to stimulate thought and discussion among employers and workers—an essential step towards effective action in a matter of this kind involving changes in long-established attitudes and practices. In certain fields, including the Civil Service, changes have already been made to enable and to encourage workers to defer their retirement. The advice of the Committee on the employment of older men and women, of which I have the honour to be chairman, will enable further progress to be made.

asked the Minister of Labour what rise has taken place in the cost of living per person per week since 10th March, 1952, to the latest convenient date; and what groups of items are included in his reply.

The Interim Index of Retail Prices rose from 133 in March, 1952, to 138 in February, 1953, a rise equal to about 4 per cent. This rise cannot be expressed as an amount per person per week. Details of the items which have risen in price since March, 1952. have been published in the monthly issues of the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

asked the Minister of Labour the cost of living today in comparison with its cost in 1939.

There is no official index which measures the change in the cost of living between 1939 and the present time. The Interim Index of Retail Prices measures the change in the average level of retail prices for working-class households compared with June, 1947, and it is not possible to arrive at a satisfactory measure of the change in price levels since 1939 by linking this index to the earlier Cost of Living Index.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking, through the Forestry Commission, to establish sawmills making use of floating timber.

It would not be practicable to establish sawmills of this kind, since in this country the floating of timber is not an economic or a convenient way of transporting it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that the number of girls in Scotland under 18 years of age, registered as unemployed, is the highest total of any region in the United Kingdom, he will consider the re-formation of a Women's Land Army.

I do not think it would be appropriate at this time to consider the re-establishment of this essentially war-time organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the substantial decrease in the number of children taking school meals since the introduction of the increased charges. if he will reconsider these increases.

No. I have made it clear to education authorities that, where payment of the full charge would involve financial hardship, some remission may be granted, and I hope that, as when the charges were increased in 1950 and 1951, the fall in the number of children taking meals will be only temporary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why auxiliary nurses in Scotland who are engaged in tuberculosis wards and units do not receive the extra grant for tuberculous patients which is awarded to other nursing members of hospital staffs similarly engaged; and if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that auxiliary nurses doing the same work are subject to the same principle of special recognition.

Auxiliary nurses in Scotland qualify for a bonus in respect of continuous work in tuberculosis wards, but under more limited conditions and after a longer qualifying period than trained nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the sense of grievance among auxiliary nurses in Scottish hospitals because they were not included in the recent wage increases paid to other sections of the nursing profession; and if he will consult with the regional boards to redress this grievance.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedure exists for the writing off of payments made in error by a police committee to a widow under the Police Pensions Regulations, with a view to avoiding the hardship imposed by recovering the overpayment in instalments from the widow.

Police authorities are not empowered to write off a payment made in error if it is legally recoverable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now announce the names of the members of the committee who are to look into the siting of slaughterhouses in Scotland.

The Chairman of the Committee will be Sir John Handford, C.B., O.B.E., formerly Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. The names of the other members are:

• Dr. James W. Macfarlane, Vice-Convener of Renfrew County Council.
• Mr. N. M. Paterson.
• Mr. R. Howat. Department of Health for Scotland.
• Mr. W. J. M. Menzies, Ministry of Food.
• Mr. H. Whitby, Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

The Committee's terms of reference are:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether swimming is a compulsory part of training in the Service; and why charges for admission to swimming baths and pools for instruction are not admissible against public funds.

While all ranks of the Army are encouraged to learn to swim, swimming is at present a compulsory part of the training only at stations where War Department or free natural facilities are available. We have not the funds available to meet the total admission charges which would result from compulsory training everywhere.

asked the Secretary of State for War on how many cases courts of inquiry were assembled between 3rd September, 1939, and 15th August, 1945, under the provision of Section 72 of the Army Act, on the ground that a soldier had been absent without leave for 21 days or more.

A comprehensive record of courts of inquiry assembled under Section 72 of the Army Act is not kept centrally, but I can say that during this period 99,319 cases of desertion were reported following such courts of inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of all imports on which duty was imposed on an ad valorem basis during 1952 shown separately under the relevant Import duties Acts; and if he will give the amount of duty received under each Act which was charged on an ad valorem basis.

I am advised that the values of imported goods entered for home consumption on payment at ad valorem rates of duty under the various Acts imposing duties, and the amounts of duty charged thereon, during the calendar year 1952, were as follows:

—	£ million
	Net value of goods duty paid	Amount of duty
Import Duties Act, 1932	464·98	71·90
Ottawa Agreements Act, 1932	21·78	3·10
Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921	5·16	1·77
Beef and Veal Customs Duties Act, 1937	6·70	0·81
Finance Act, 1925 (in respect of silk and artificial silk duties)	8·70	2·04

Unlike the figures given in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 3rd March, these figures do not take account of draw-back of duty paid on goods which are subsequently re-exported. The value of goods duty paid under the Import Duties Act, 1932, includes £5·33 million in respect of beef and veal also charged with duty under the Beef and Veal Customs Duties Act, 1937.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects that the liquidation of Ernest Reid and Company Limited, which commenced in 1950, will be completed.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) on 3rd March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total of the premiums collected under the voluntary scheme for the insurance of business chattels under Part II of the War Damage Act, 1943.

Subject to certain exceptions, the business scheme was compulsory. The total of the premiums received thereunder is approximately £77 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply and export of matches and the supply of match-making machinery.

My right hon. Friend will lay this report before Parliament in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948, as soon as he can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that imports into Cardiff docks declined by 18.9 per cent. in 1952 and that exports from the same port declined by 18.5 per cent. in comparison with 1951; and what action he is taking.

I have not been able to trace the figures quoted by the hon. Member. According to our information the tonnage of exports through Cardiff increased by 26 per cent. and of imports decreased by 23 per cent. between 1951 and 1952. It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to promote the expansion of our external trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that shipping arrivals at Cardiff docks during 1952 declined by 287 vessels, as compared with 1951; and to what extent this decline was caused by the abolition of bulk purchase of timber.

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM
Year		Granite				Marble
		Raw in blocks		Wholly or mainly manufactured		Rough or sawn		Wholly or mainly*manufactured
		tons	£	tons	£	tons	£	tons	£
1946	…	121	1,398	1,109	9,064	2,568	60,817	67	4,137
1947	…	242	3,112	2,512	20,221	27,210	727,829	57	2,138
1948	…	3,730	28,279	3,241	24,599	15,636	396,968	90	7,456
1949	…	7,909	65,726	3,196	74,526	23,522	511,680	718	46,733
1950	…	9,289	94,012	2,506	52,526	26,509	554,993	762	69,314
1951	…	9,474	100,664	3,956	79,230	33,154	776,822	850	76,505
1952	…	11,553	129,634	2,868	63,423	28,126	662,564	685	66,002
* Other than works of art.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated total net saving to the Exchequer, after making allowances for administrative costs and for the extra cost to the National Assistance Board. both direct and administrative, of the charge of 1s. on prescriptions from the time of its introduction to the nearest most convenient date for computation.

The estimated net saving to the Exchequer from the prescription charges paid by patients in England and Wales between the 1st June, 1952, and the 31st December, 1952, after the deduction of refunds made by the National Assistance Board, is about £2¾ million. Administrative costs, though not known in detail, would not materially affect this estimate. In addition, there was a saving to the Exchequer during this period of about £1¼ million because fewer prescriptions were dispensed than would have been expected if charges had not been introduced though it is possible that other factors contributed to this decrease.

Yes. I cannot say, however, to what extent, if any, the decline can be attributed to this cause.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the imports, in quantities and costs, of granite and marble, respectively, in each year since the war to the latest convenient date.

The following is the answer:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence the total estimated cost to the Exchequer of the Z call-up which has now been discontinued.

About £11½ million, including the cost of training the Class G Reservists of the R.A.F.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the forthcoming defence conference between representatives of the West African and British Governments.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs will preside at a conference to be held in Lagos from the 20th April, between representatives of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the four British West African Governments. The purpose of the conference, which is a sequel to that held in London in 1949, will be to review the agreement then reached for the division between Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the West African Governments of the cost of the West African Land Forces, on the basis of their present composition, and other related matters.

asked the Attorney-General when legislation to deal with imperfect trust instruments, dealt with in Chapter 12 of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Law and Practice relating to Charitable Trusts, will be introduced.

I have nothing to add to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th December that the Government have decided to introduce legislation as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of local education authorities showing the percentage of 13-year-old children receiving grammar school education under each authority for the latest convenient dates, the percentages for boys and girls being shown separately.

The information asked for by the hon. Member includes a great number of figures and I do not think that it would be appropriate to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am, however, sending it to him in a letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that recent reductions in the grants available to the British Council have in no way reduced the effective implementation of the Anglo-French Cultural Convention.

The terms of the Anglo-French Cultural Convention do not stipulate any specified level of activity which should be observed, but merely provide for cultural co-operation in a variety of forms. While the extent of certain of the activities carried out by the British Council as the principal agent of Her Majesty's Government for the purposes of the Convention has inevitably diminished in consequence of the reduction in recent years in the grants made available to the Council, I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that Her Majesty's Government attach great value to the Anglo-French Cultural Convention and are satisfied that it continues to be effectively implemented.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what sum has been paid in benefit to unemployed persons in each of the years 1946 to 1952 in England and Wales and in the county of Flint, respectively.

The approximate amounts paid in England and Wales in the years 1947–52 (figures for the calendar year 1946 are no longer available) were as follows: 1947, £21 million; 1948, £15 million; 1949, £15 million; 1950, £14 million; 1951, £10 million; 1952, £19 million. The amount paid in 1952 by employment exchanges covering the county of Flint was £116,000. I have no records of amounts paid in individual areas in previous years.

asked the Minister of Pensions on what date, and for what reasons, war disability pensioners with double amputations below the knee were deprived of invalid tricycles.

There has been no change in the arrangements whereby such pensioners may be supplied with motor tricycles if their walking ability is seriously restricted and they need a machine to obtain or retain employment.