asked the Minister of Agriculture the revised estimate of the yield of the 1952 potato crop in Great Britain; how this compares with the two previous years; and what total acreage is estimated to be required to meet consumers' demands now that other foods are more freely available.

The production of potatoes in Great Britain from the 1952 crop is estimated at 6,746,000 tons, compared with 8,236,800 in 1950 and 7,066,800 tons in 1951. I cannot give any precise estimate of the acreage of potatoes required to meet consumer demand. Production depends on other factors as well as acreage, and future demand is difficult to forecast with accuracy. I am not, however, aware of any changes either in production or consumption which would warrant a significant reduction in the acreage at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what further steps he is taking, or recommending, to make the control of rabbits more effective.

We are pressing on with the organisation of voluntary schemes for clearing rabbits from infested areas. This depends on the initiative of the county agricultural executive committees and the ready co-operation of the farmers and landowners in the areas concerned. Success will depend largely on the enthusiasm with which these schemes are tackled by the local people. I am in consultation with the National Farmers' Union, the Country Landowners' Association and other interests and Departments concerned about both area clearance schemes and any other possible measures which may help in securing more effective control of rabbits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Her Majesty's Stationery Office refuses to supply copies of the Government publication, "Suggested Provisions for Amending Shops Legislation," S.O. Code 34/362, direct to individual firms or members of the public but, instead, requires applications for copies to be submitted through trade organisations.

This document was prepared solely as a basis for discussion with the interested representative organisations and is not intended for general publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities will be provided to enable disabled persons easily to reach their seats to watch the Coronation procession.

The police will do all they can to assist disabled persons who go on foot to the accommodation specially provided for them at Queen Victoria Memorial Gardens; they have, however, been advised to reach their places by 7.30 a.m. Arrangements have also been made for disabled ex-Service men to see the procession from coaches which will be parked in East Carriage Road, Hyde Park. Disabled persons travelling by private transport to points along the route can, like other members of the public, obtain windscreen labels to enable them to be set down as near as possible to their seats.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many weeks the junction of North Street and Wandsworth Road, Battersea, has been controlled by a policeman instead of by traffic lights; and what is the estimated cost to public funds of this situation resulting from the road repairs now taking place.

The road works, which included replacing the automatic traffic lights, have made it necessary for police officers to control traffic at this junction since 2nd February. The road works should be completed within the next 10 days. There will be no additional charge on public funds because the officers concerned would be on duty in any event.

asked the Minister of Health the percentage cost of administration in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board in the years 1950 and 1952.

The cost of administration in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board (including the central offices of Hospital Management Committees) was 2.08 per cent. of total expenditure in 1950–51, 2.33 per cent. in 1951–52 and is estimated at 2.33 per cent. in 1952–53. I regret that figures for the cost of administration at the unit hospitals are not available.

asked the Minister of Health how many pay beds come under the control of the Wolverhampton Hospital Management Committee; and how many are at present occupied.

There are 28 and 50 beds provided, respectively, under Section 4 and Section 5 of the National Health Service Act. On the 22nd April, 14 of the former and 38 of the latter were occupied.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the increase in the number of part-time and full-time chaplains employed in the Health Service since 1949, involving an increased annual expenditure of approximately£250,000; and if he will give reasons for this increase.

There has been some increase since 1949 in the number of chaplains employed in the Health Service, but at nothing like the cost suggested by the hon. Member. I am writing to the hon. Member giving him a full explanation of the position.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue instructions to dentists that they should obtain a clear statement from patients as to whether they wish to be treated as private patients or under the National Health Service before commencing treatment.

No. My right hon. Friend does not think this is necessary. It is for patients themselves to make clear to the dentist when applying for treatment whether they wish it to be provided under the Service or privately and, if the dentist accepts them under the Service, he is already required to give them a signed statement to that effect.

asked the Minister of Health the total cost of meeting loss of remunerative time and for travelling and subsistence expenses sustained by members of all boards and committees established under the National Health Service Act for the year ended 31st March, 1952.

About£105,000.

asked the Minister of Education how many children over five years of age have not been able to gain admittance to infant schools; and what action she is taking to improve the position.

In addition to the 70 children in Dagenham of whom my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary informed the House on 20th April, I know of about 780 children whose admission to school has been temporarily postponed owing to shortage of accommodation. For most of these, places will be found shortly, but there are about 180 for whom it may not be possible to provide before next term.

asked the Minister of Education at what interval of time after her Department had informed the responsible bodies in early January of this year that she would have to reduce the amounts of her grants to them from the beginning of the academic year 1953–54 by 10 per cent, by comparison with those payable by her in respect of the academic year 1952–53 and expressing willingness to have a talk with them as to the best method of administering this reduction, she decided to discuss the amount as well as the method of reduction.

I have always been prepared to discuss with theese bodies the amount of my Department's grants for their work as well as more detailed matters affecting these grants.

asked the Minister of Education when she will appoint the members of the Committee of Inquiry on Adult Education Grants; when its first meeting will take place; and whether its reports will be published.

asked the Minister of Education who are the members of the committee which is to advise her upon the arrangements regarding Responsible Bodies for Adult Education; and what are the terms of reference of the committee.

The membership and terms of reference of this Committee will be announced as soon as possible, and I cannot yet say when its first meeting will take place. It is my intention that its report should be published.

asked the Minister of Education if she will now publish a White Paper giving the information on which she based her decision to maintain adult education grants for 1953–54, together with the relevant correspondence between herself and the adult education bodies on the subject.

No.

asked the Minister of Education if she will estimate the saving to her Department consequent on the reduction in the rates of Purchase Tax proposed in the Budget statement.

I am afraid that I have not the data on which to frame the estimate for which my hon. Friend asks.

asked the Minister of Education the capital cost of the school building programme for England and Wales in the post-war local education authorities' development plans for primary, secondary, nursery and other schools, county colleges and other projects, respectively.

I regret that this information cannot be made available without a great, and in my opinion, an unjustified, amount of labour.

asked the Minister of Education how many classes in Newport had more than 40, 50 and 60 children, respectively; and what was the highest number in any one class this year.

In January, 1952, the latest date for which information is available, there were in maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools in Newport, Monmouthshire, 90 classes with between 41 and 50 children on the rolls, and two classes of 51 children. There was none with more than 60 children.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent periodic examination of children's bicycles, on which they ride to school, is made; and if she will circularise local education authorities to advise that a regular examination should take place in order to minimise the risks to children on the roads.

Except where bicycles are provided by a local education authority, it is primarily the responsibility of parents to see that their children's bicycles are in good order. As a further precaution periodical inspections at school, in which the police might take part, were recommended in my Department's Circular 65, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the concern felt by many technological institutes and other professional bodies in the country, at the low standard of knowledge of the English language of many of the candidates presenting themselves for associateship of such bodies; and whether, at an early date, she will arrange for consultation with local education authorities with a view to finding means for remedying this state of affairs.

Yes. But while I agree that improvement is desirable, I think the shortcomings are sometimes exaggerated. I know that local education authorities and teachers are giving much thought to this matter. As one way of helping them my Department is preparing a pamphlet dealing with the teaching of language in all types of educational establishments, and a special section will deal with the use of English by technical students.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers are needed by the Birmingham Local Education Authority to make up their quota; and what action she proposes to remedy this shortage.

The quota applies neither to men teachers nor to certain categories of women teachers. In the categories of woman teacher affected by the quota the Birmingham Authority, according to my information, were employing 3,038 on 1st February, 1953, compared with a quota for the current year of 3,500. The deficiency can be made up only by increasing the overall supply of women teachers and by ensuring that the available supply is fairly distributed. To both these tasks I am continuing to apply myself.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement in connection with the supply of certain Pharmaceuticals to China.

Pharmaceuticals are not subject to the embargo which the United Kingdom has maintained on certain exports to China ever since it was imposed by the previous Government after the United Nations' Resolution of 18th May, 1951. Since August, 1951, however, exports to China of certain Pharmaceuticals which would be of value to the maintenance of large military forces have been limited to normal civilian requirements. A number of Western European Governments have hitherto permitted exports of these Pharmaceuticals without restriction and this has tended to frustrate the controls which we have maintained. These Governments have, however, now agreed to impose similar restrictions to ours.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that it has been officially announced in the United States of America that tariffs are to be raised; and what representations have been made to the United States Government by Her Majesty's Government on this subject.

No. I am not aware of any such announcement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the question of Brazil's indebtedness to this country.

Her Majesty's Government have been exchanging views with the Government of Brazil on this subject for some time past. We have now proposed, and the Government of Brazil have agreed, that formal discussions should open in Rio de Janeiro as soon as possible. We expect them to begin in the second half of May. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Rio de Janeiro will conduct the negotiations and will be assisted by representatives of the Treasury and of the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the the Board of Trade how many factories in the London area vacated by commercial concerns which have moved to the new towns in the home counties have been reoccupied by other commercial concerns; and what is the description, number of employees and places of origin of such commercial concerns.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a committee of inquiry on grants from public funds to universities on similar lines to the proposed committee of inquiry on adult education grants.

I do not think this would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties of boxing promotions due to the rate of entertainment tax; that the position of the Liverpool Stadium Promotions is typical of the rest of the country; that Liverpool Stadium promoted 28 shows from September, 1952, to 16th April, 1953, and paid£4,272 tax and lost£2,804; and if, in order to save the boxing promotions from ceasing altogether, he will reconsider the rate of tax.

I have noted the information given in regard to the Liverpool Stadium. In regard to the first and last parts of the Question, the British Boxing Board of Control made representations to me in this sense before the Budget. These were carefully considered and, as the hon. Lady is aware, my right hon. Friend has introduced an exemption from Entertainments Duty covering amateur boxing and a reduction of Purchase Tax covering sports equipment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD the statement and figures regarding boxing promotions submitted to him by the deputation which he received from the British Boxing Board of Control since the imposition of the increased tax in 1952.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the annual cost to the Treasury of exempting from Entertainment Duty those cinemas which, on 31st December, 1952, had a seating capacity of under 400 and whose weekly takings were below£150.

About£600,000 a year, initially; but since any such concession could not be restricted to such cinemas at the particular date in question, the eventual cost would, as explained in the reply to my hon. Friend's question on 23rd October, 1952, be considerably greater.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view, of the evidence set out in the memorandum sent to him by the National Union of Manufacturers, as a result of the independent inquiry by "The Economist" intelligence unit on the effects of Death Duties on the family business, he will now arrange for a public inquiry to be made on this subject.

My right hon. Friend does not think a public inquiry would assist his consideration of this subject, which has been fully covered in the evidence referred to by my hon. Friend and in other representations which he has received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what exemptions from taxation are granted in respect of salaries secured against the Consolidated Fund or otherwise payable from Government funds.

There are no general exemptions from taxation for salaries of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend. If, however, he means tax-free allowances paid from Government funds, I would refer him to the answer I gave to my noble Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) on 24th March, 1953.

asked the Minister of Food how many eggs he has been obliged to purchase from farmers in fulfilment of his obligations under the Agriculture Act, 1947, since eggs were freed; and what is the average price he has paid.

Approximately 77 million eggs. The greater part was bought from packers when the average minimum price to producers was 3s. 9d. a dozen. The price paid is expected to average about 3s. l1d. a dozen packed and graded.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why civil pilots undertaking private tuition courses to qualify them for flying appointments are not deemed to be entitled to National Insurance benefits, in view of the fact that in similar circumstances Merchant Navy personnel are entitled to full benefits.

There is nothing in the Act or Regulations to deprive such pilots of National Insurance benefits so long as they satisfy the normal statutory conditions. My right hon. Friend does not, however, see his way to extend to them the special modifications of the statutory conditions for unemployment benefit which were made in 1948 to meet conditions in the Merchant Navy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to reintroduce the Poaching of Deer (Scotland) Bill.

I propose to await the report of the Committee which is at present inquiring into the question of a close season for deer in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Supply whether a decision has now been reached to build an atomic power station at Winscale, Sellafield, Cumberland; and when building will commence.

It has been decided to build an experimental atomic power station on the Calder Hall site alongside the Ministry of Supply Atomic Energy Establishment at Windscale, Sellafield. Work on the preparation of the site will start in a few days' time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of factories established in each of the new towns for the London overspill areas specifying their description, number of employees and places of origin.

The detailed information desired would involve a greater expenditure of time and labour than I think could be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of dwelling houses built by local authorities in the United Kingdom, and the average cost per house, during the years 1930, 1931, 1932 and the last three years 1950, 1951, 1952, respectively.

The figures for England and Wales are:

Financial years
(No figures available for calendar years)
1930–31	…	…	…	55,874
1931–32	…	…	…	70,061
1932–33	…	…	…	55,991

Calendar years
1950	…	…	…	…	138,684
1951	…	…	…	…	139,036
1952	…	…	…	…	159,651

The average cost of non-parlour type houses built by local authorities in the financial years 1930–31, 1931–32 and 1932–33 was£341,£328 and£300, respectively, excluding land, services and fees. The Third Report of the Committee on Housing Building Costs gives prices for houses built in the year 1951–52.