asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider paying post-war credits to married women who have acquired them in their own right whenever their husbands reach 65 years of age.

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate of the total cost to the Exchequer in a full year of the complete removal of Purchase Tax from all non-wool textiles.

Approximately £25 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what arrangements are made generally for the housing of persons such as theatrical artistes and musicians who are obliged by their professional duties to spend some time each year touring and are, therefore, deemed by some local authorities not to be qualified by continuous residence for inclusion in council house waiting lists.

It is for local authorities to decide how they deal with applications for their houses and flats. I have made it known that I do not favour too rigid a residential qualification for applicants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of unfit houses in England and Wales demolished, or otherwise dealt with, during the 12 months beginning 1st April, 1951; and the number of persons displaced as a result.

The figures are:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the amount of advances made by local authorities in England and Wales under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and Housing Acts, during the 12 months beginning 1st April, 1951, for the acquisition, construction, conversion or alteration of houses.

The figures are:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses in respect of which local authorities have given guarantees to building societies to cover part of the advance.

The number of houses in respect of which local authorities have guaranteed advances made by building societies since 1945 is:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the Oroydon Borough Council have refused to approve an exchange of accommodation between Mr. W. Newbound, of 156 East Dulwich Grove, S.E.22, with Mr. L. R. Shrimpton, of 97, King Henry's Drive, New Adding-ton, Croydon; that the Camberwell Borough Council approved the exchange and the Croydon Housing Committee originally agreed to it, but have since declined to agree; and if he will consider circularising local authorities to the effect that such exchanges of accommodation in future should not be refused.

Section 83 of the Housing Act, 1936, leaves the local housing authority free to choose their tenants for themselves, and I have no power to interfere. All local authorities were asked in 1949 to facilitate exchanges, not only in their own areas, but also between one area and another. I have asked the Housing Management Sub-Committee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee to review this problem; when their report is ready I will consider whether further advice to local authorities is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government approximately, how many dwellings, specially designed for elderly people, have been, and are being, built; and the average cost of those buildings.

I have no separate record of the number of old people's houses being built. A large number of one bedroom houses and bungalows are being erected suitable for old people.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much was paid in rates in Newport for 1951–52; how much was paid by industrial hereditaments, which enjoy derating; and what would have been the amount if the rate had been paid in full, without derating.

I regret I have not the information on which to base an estimate and I should not feel justified in asking the local authority to extract it.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements he is making to enable old or disabled persons, who are not fit to stand in a queue, to see Westminster Abbey during the period when it is opened to the public, on payment, after the Coronation.

I have consulted the Dean and Chapter, but I regret that it will not be possible to make special arrangements for different categories of visitors. Westminster Abbey will be open for four weeks and it is hoped that there will not be long queues.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement about the destruction of Manton Down barrow.

The investigation into the damage to the barrow on Manton Down is not yet complete, but it is clear that it is not as serious as was feared. The stone burial chamber of this long barrow, dating from 2,000 B.C., survives, although the mound which enclosed it has been levelled.A party of young visitors to the site, on 26th April, gave the first informa-

asked the Minister of Health the number and cost of prescriptions issued, dental treatment provided, and appliances issued, for which charges were imposed under the National Health Service Act, 1952, for the months of January, February and March, 1953, as compared with the figures for the months of January, February and March, 1952.

Following are the figures for England and Wales:

asked the Minister of Pensions why the repair centre at Victoria for disabled ex-Service men has been closed down; and whether he is aware of the inconvenience and waste of time this is causing the men affected.

The centre was closed down after consultation with my Central Advisory Committee because its continuance could no longer be justified in view of the small number of callers who required emergency repairs, the improved facilities available at Roehampton and development of the postal repair service which enables limbless men, most of whom have a spare artificial limb, to post their defective limb for repair.I am not aware of any appreciable inconvenience or waste of time resulting from its closure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what special instructions he is issuing to internal drainage boards whose areas were affected by the floods about the laying of their rate on land which cannot be cropped this year.

Internal drainage boards in the areas affected by the floods are being informed that relief from the payment of drainage rates for the current year may be given to ratepayers whose property was damaged in the recent floods on the following basis:

asked the Minister of Food whether, in the light of the petition from more than 1,000 citizens of Derby, he will now disallow the reopening of a slaughterhouse in a congested area where 80 children reside within 100 yards; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to prevent the opening of slaughterhouses where those authorities so desire.

As far as I am aware, no petition has been received. The use of these premises has been licensed under the Food and Drugs Act, which provides that a person aggrieved by the refusal of a local authority to grant or renew a licence may appeal to the courts. Such an appeal was made in this case.My right hon. and gallant Friend has no power to override the decision of the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Chinese schools have been compulsorily closed in Malaya during 1950, 1951 and 1952; and the reasons for their closing.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st April, 1953; Vol. 513, c. 155], supplied the following information:Thirteen Chinese schools were compulsorily closed in the Federation of Malaya during the years 1950, 1951 and 1952. Nine were closed under the Registration of Schools Ordinance, which permits closure if the school building is no longer suitable for reasons of health or because the structure is unsafe; three have since been re-opened. Four were closed under Emergency Regulations which permit of closure if a school is used for the purpose of political propaganda to the detriment of the Federation, the public or the pupils of the school, or is used as the meeting place for an unlawful society; one has since been reopened.The details are as follows: