asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the high fees being charged by medical practitioners for certificates required under the Cremation Acts, 1902 and 1952; and whether he will expedite the negotiations with the appropriate medical professional bodies in order that a maximum fee may be fixed for these certificates which will be within the reach of the ordinary wage earner.

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make a statement on this subject in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the growing sense of dissatisfaction among police officers recruited between 1919 and 1921 at being required to continue their service beyond that period for which they contracted before they qualify for pension at the maximum rate; and if he will make a statement.

If the service of such officers has been continuous, they will now have completed the 30 years' service necessary for a full pension. If, however, they retire before August, 1954, otherwise than on grounds of age, their pensions will not fully reflect the pay increase granted in August, 1951, because of the three years' averaging provision for pension purposes. After careful consideration my right hon. and learned Friend regrets that he can find no sufficient grounds for proposing the exemption of these officers from the averaging provisions of the police pensions scheme.

asked the Minister of Health if he will recommend for inclusion in the list of substances exempt from Purchase Tax antiseptic fluids based on D.C.M.X.

I will see that the matter is considered, so that I can decide whether such a recommendation would be justified.

asked the Minister of Health when the money, subscribed locally in the Kingsbridge area of South Devon, for the provision of an X-ray department in the South Hams Cottage Hospital, will be made available by his Department for the improvement for which it was subscribed.

The provision of this department does not depend on the availability of this money but on the priority which can be given to the building scheme within the capital investment programme. The Regional Hospital Board are aware of the need, but as there are other more urgent hospital projects in the region it is not possible to say when this scheme can be fitted in. When it can be undertaken the necessary funds will be made available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of senior registrars whose appointments are being terminated and for whom there are not likely to be vacancies in hospitals; and what action he proposes to take.

I regret that this information is not available as the number of hospital vacancies cannot be predicted with any accuracy. I am, however, reviewing the position in consultation with representatives of the profession.

asked the Minister of Health where the new materity home for the Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Plympton St. Mary area is to be situated, consequent upon the closing of the Flete Maternity Home, near Modbury, in South Devon.

There has not yet been any decision to close the Flete Maternity Home.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if she is aware that the special services sub-committee of the education committee of the county borough of West Ham had reported to them recently that the number of children taking the mid-day meal has fallen by approximately 1,300 daily since the beginning of March; that this decrease of 15 per cent. of the number served prior to 1st March is due, in the opinion of the committee, to the increase in the charge of 2d. per meal which was imposed by her as from that date; and if, as many children are being deprived of a hot midday meal, she will now reduce the price to that in operation before 1st March, 1953;(2) if she has considered the letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning the failure of children in West Ham to take up their mid-day meal since the price was increased by 2d. per meal on 1st March; and whether she will make a statement in connection with this and the national effects of this increased price on the school meals service.

I am aware of the report referred to by the hon. Member and I have also considered the letter which he has sent me. I am not myself prepared to draw any firm conclusions at this stage. I have asked all local education authorities for a return of the number of school dinners provided on a day in June, and further returns will be available for a day in October. These figures will enable comparisons to be made with similar returns last year. When I announced an increase in the normal charge, I offered at the same time to consider on their merits any proposals for adjustments in the income scales by reference to which full or partial exemption from the charge is granted.

asked the Minister of Education if she will review the rules governing the conveyance of children to school so as to allow local education authorities in rural areas discretion to provide bus transport for all children with charge to the parents of those over seven years old.

No. The provision of transport for school children is governed by Section 55 of the Education Act, 1944. Any transport provided in pursuance of arrangements made under Section 55 (1) must be free of charge, but I am considering the introduction of an amendment to the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill now before the House to empower authorities to charge a reasonable fare for carrying in transport provided under Section 55 (1) any pupils not covered by the arrangements made under that subsection.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, why he has agreed to a reduction in the financial provision made for the Medical Research Council for the current financial year, in view of the need for the further development of the Council's work.

There is no reduction in the provision for current work which is, in fact, £5,229 higher than in the previous year. The overall reduction is due to the fall in the amount required for capital expenditure on new buildings.