asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the effect to date of the greater freedom given to local authorities to borrow on the open market since 31st December, 1952; how much has been borrowed on the open market; and how much through the Public Works Loan Board; and if he will now remove the restriction which imposes a maximum period for borrowing of seven years.

Since 1st January, 1953, local authorities have borrowed £13 million by stock issued in the market. I have no information about the amounts borrowed by private mortgages since that date. The Public Works Loan Board have, this year, so far advanced £185.636,296 to local authorities.I assume that the last part of the Question refers to the requirement that borrowing by local authorities should be for a period of not less than seven years. I see no reason to alter this requirement at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, it is estimated, would be the annual cost over the next 10 years of reducing every year, by one, two and five years, respectively, the age limit for the payment of post-war credits.

No direct information as the ages of holders of post-war credits is available. It is, therefore, not possible to give more than rough estimates of the effect over the next 10 years of a progressive reduction in the age for repayment. These estimates are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the practice of the Inland Revenue in dealing with claims to marginal age relief by persons whose incomes include building society interest.

Marginal age relief may be claimed by a taxpayer aged 65 or more whose income slightly exceeds the limit, which until this year has been £500, at which the ordinary age relief deduction (now two-ninths) ceases to be due. It consists in restricting the taxpayer's bill to the sum of (a) what the tax would have been had the income been exactly equal to the limit plus (b) five-eighths of the income in excess of the limit.In the past, in cases where a claimant to marginal age relief had building society interest against which personal allowances and reliefs cannot be given, and, because such interest was included in the first £500 of income, the full personal allowances and reliefs to which the taxpayer was entitled could not be given against that amount, it has been the practice of the Inland Revenue to grant a measure of additional relief. This took the form of a reduction in the amount of five-eighths of the excess of income over £500 included in the marginal relief computation.This practice, for which there is no statutory basis, has been reviewed by the Inland Revenue, and it is felt that there is no justification for continuing it, having regard especially to recent increases in personal allowances and reliefs, and extensions of the "bands" of income chargeable at reduced rates. The concession will accordingly be withdrawn as from the current year 1953–54.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were estimated to have become unfit for human habitation during each of the last three years.

I regret that I have no figures on which to give the estimate required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what method he used to calculate the housing needs in the Metropolitan boroughs.

I think the hon. Gentleman is under some misapprehension. The housing needs of the Metropolitan boroughs are matters which by statute fall within their own purview.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consider setting up a commission to inquire into the level of local government expenditure, and make recommendations aimed at establishing machinery for more effective control.

These are large and complicated questions, partly of policy, partly of administration. I do not feel sure that a Royal Commission is the best way to tackle the problem.

asked the Minister of Works which Government buildings are to continue to be floodlit during the summer following the Coronation.

The following is a list of the buildings which will be floodlit during the summer:

• Admiralty Arch.
• National Gallery.
• Nelson's Statue.
• Trafalgar Square (fountains and flower beds).
• War Office (upper portion and cupolas).
• Horse Guards (on both the Park and Whitehall elevations).
• Houses of Parliament, Clock Tower.
• Westminster Abbey and Henry VII's Chapel.
• Lambeth Palace.
• Somerset House.
• Tower of London.
• Royal Naval College and Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
• Hampton Court Palace and Long Water.
• United Services Museum, Whitehall.
• Admiralty Old Block.
• Foreign Office elevation to St. James's Park (upper portion only).
• Royal Observatory.
• Whitehall Gardens (upper portion only).
• Carlton House Terrace.

asked the Minister of Labour the maximum number of textile operatives registered as unemployed in the Bolton area at any particular date in 1952; and the total number so registered at the latest available date.

It is not possible to state the maximum number of persons unemployed in a given year because figures are available only for a Monday in the middle of each month. Of the 12 monthly counts in 1952, that for 12th May showed the highest numbers of unemployed textile workers on the registers of the Bolton Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office. The figures for that date and also for 13th April, 1953, are shown below:

asked the Minister of Labour the minimum number of textile operatives employed in the Bolton area at any particular date in 1952; and the total number so employed at the latest available date.

Statistics of employment in local area are available for the end of May only in each year. The estimated numbers of employees in employment (including those who were on short-time) in the textile industries in the area of the Bolton Employment Exchange at the end of May, 1952, were 10,000 males and 15,000 females. The figures include clerical and other ancillary employees as well as operatives.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of National Servicemen called up in England during 1952.

142,731.

asked the Minister of Labour the terms of reference of agricultural deferment advisory panels in connection with the call-up of agricultural workers.

There are no formal terms of reference, but the functions of the panels are to advise the National Service deferment boards on the agricultural aspects of deferment applications, including the question whether any rearrangement of the work on the farm could be made which would enable the man to be called-up without a substantial loss of food production, the prospects of finding suitable alternative labour within a reasonable period and, in the case of stockmen, whether call-up would leave the employer with no alternative but to reduce substantially the amount of livestock on the farm.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for deferment of call-up of agricultural workers have been referred to the advisory panel in Breconshire; how many of the recommendations have been unanimous for and against deferment; in how many cases the panel has not been fully constituted; and how many farms have been visited.

One hundred and eighty-two applications for deferment of agricultural workers have been referred to the Agricultural Advisory Panel in Breconshire. The panel unanimously recommended the grant of deferment of 161 cases and rejections in 15 cases. At five out of 20 meetings, the panel was not fully constituted. There have been no visits to farms by members of the panel, but on one occasion a Departmental officer was asked to make local inquiries for the information of the panel.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of agricultural workers in each of the counties in Wales have been called up for service to date.

I regret that this information is not available. The number of agricultural workers born in 1933 or later called up from the whole of Wales (including Monmouthshire) from November, 1951 to 30th April, 1953, was 451. This is the product of two and a half age groups and represents about 1 per cent. of the whole-time regular male agricultural workers (including working farmers) in Wales and Monmouthshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the seed potato trade from the Northern Highlands to England is in jeopardy as buyers cannot afford to pay the freight rates charged by British Railways; that many orders for "Majestic" and other leading varieties have been cancelled as a result of the latest increase in freight rates; and what steps he intends to take to enable this important trade to survive.

I am aware that the high cost of transport to the English markets bears heavily on the seed potato trade of the Northern Highlands, but I have received no representations that for this reason the trade is in jeopardy or that orders have been cancelled.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further progress has been made with regard to providing a satisfactory radiotherapy service for Berwickshire; and whether he can now announce the date when the Eyemouth health clinic will be reopened.

I am informed that this matter is to be considered by the appropriate committee of the Regional Hospital Board this week. I shall write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I have their report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland at how many centres is the aluminium dust inhalation treatment available to sufferers from pneumoconiosis.

I am not aware of any centre in Scotland where this procedure is in use. It is at present experimental, and I am advised that its value, if any, is likely to be palliative or preventive rather than therapeutic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Lanarkshire Education Authority have decided to dismiss 50 women kitchen assistants and 200 attendants in school dining centres, due to reduction in demand for school meals since prices were increased; and, as further closing-down of central kitchens is contemplated, what steps will be taken to prevent this service from falling off altogether in this redevelopment area.

I am aware that the authority have issued notices terminating the employment of 41 kitchen assistants and 142 dining attendants. Only one central kitchen is being closed and if, as I hope, the number of children taking meals rises again, it should not be necessary to close other kitchens. The authority have issued a pamphlet to parents pointing out the benefits their children will get from taking school meals and explaining how the charges will be remitted in whole or in part where parents cannot afford to pay them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the reduction in the number of children taking meals in school since the increase in price; if he will give the numbers for Scotland, and for Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Perthshire, respectively; and what these decreases represent in percentages of children who were taking meals before the increase in charges.

The following table shows the reductions in the numbers of dinners served in April as compared with February:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many protests he has received in the past two months concerning the most recent increase in the price of school meals; how many of those protests were from local education authorities; and how many from other organisations.

Ten, of which three were from education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now information of overspill within the Clyde Valley; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this problem.

I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to her Question on this subject on 31st March last, to which, meanwhile, I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the value of house property sold by local authorities in Scotland in 1938, 1939, 1950, 1951 and 1952.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he now has any further information about the killing of Sergeant Fill in ambush in Egypt on 27th April.

The circumstances of Sergeant Fill's death are the subject of a court of inquiry, the results of which have not yet been received. Meanwhile. I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Miss Joan Lister was discharged from the Women's Royal Army Corps; and why her request for further investigation was refused.

Miss Lister was discharged in October last year on the grounds that her services were no longer required. This action was taken after very full investigation, but I have personally called for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Major S. W. Alexander, formerly of 2nd Echelon, British Army of the Rhine, was deprived of his rank; and what further consideration has been given to this case.

Major Alexander, in April, 1947, was, on grounds of inefficiency, relieved of an appointment which carried the temporary rank of major and therefore reverted to his war substantive rank of captain. In July, 1947, he submitted an appeal under Section 42 of the Army Act against his removal and consequent loss of temporary rank. After careful consideration by the Army Council it was decided that the appeal should fail and the officer was informed accordingly.In March of this year he addressed a letter to the War Office asking that his case might be reconsidered, but since no fresh evidence was produced in his letter he was informed that there were no grounds for reconsideration of his case by the Army Council.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Mr. Justice Hilberry recently sentenced a soldier found guilty of assault to imprisonment unless he volunteered for active service in Korea; and whether this man has yet been returned to military jurisdiction.

Yes. I am informed that the learned judge referred to service overseas and made no specific mention of Korea. Two men were involved and they have both returned to duty.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, following the investigation by Major-General Kennett Bayley, Director of Personnel Administration at the War Office, he will reconsider the decision not to extend the local overseas allowance to married men serving in Korea.

I have had no reports on this subject from Major-General Bayley. who has not yet returned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what course he proposes to take following the report of the Monopolies Commission on the match industry.

My right hon. Friend is carefully considering this Report, which raises a number of complicated issues involving interests in other countries as well as the home market. They require extensive discussion with the industry before decisions are taken. My right hon. Friend will, of course, make a statement on this matter as soon as he can.

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been drawn to the Seventh Report of the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments in which the special attention of the House is drawn to the unusual and unexpected use of the powers conferred by statute in respect of the Courts-Martial Appeal Court (Witnesses' Allowances, etc.) Regulations, 1953 (S.I., No. 574); and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has noted the Seventh Report of the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments and has revoked Regulation 2 of the Courts-Martial Appeal Court (Witnesses' Allowances, etc.) Regulations, 1953.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects to be able to announce the steps to be taken to overtake the arrears of civil cases awaiting trial at Manchester and Liverpool.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary expect to receive very shortly the report of the Departmental Committee which they appointed to inquire into the need for the establishment in South Lancashire of a court on the lines of the Central Criminal Court. I shall be in a position to make a statement when this report has been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to bring the provisions of the Visiting Forces Act, 1952, into force.

No date has yet been fixed. My right hon. and learned Fried hopes, however, to be able to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special conditions are imposed this year before granting visas to visitors who have been making annual visits to this country for many years past.

Applications for visas are considered on their individual merits, and no special instructions have been issued for the present year.

asked the Minister of Materials if he will make a statement about the derationing of newsprint.

No. Discussions with the Newsprint Supply Company are taking place at the moment to determine whether any relaxations of the existing newsprint rationing arrangements are at present justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements he has made to provide wire and earth static defences for Kikuyu Home Guard posts.

I have asked the Governor for this information and will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement as to the massacre of a Home Guard post at Iriani, in South Nyeri Reserve, Kenya, on the night on 9th May, with particular reference to the static defences for this post.

I have asked the Governor for details of this incident and will write to the hon. Member when I have received his reply.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what percentage of old-age pensioners in the Bolton area are in receipt of National Assistance.

I regret that it is not possible to give the percentage of pensioners in receipt of National Assistance in particular localities.

asked the Minister of Pensions what type of disabled persons are entitled, under his regulations, to apply for a motor car; and what steps are taken to ascertain whether persons who cannot use public transport should be provided or not with a car.

The persons entitled to apply are ex-members of the Armed Forces and the Mercantile Marine pensioned at the total disablement rate for the loss of both legs with one or both amputations above the knee, or paraplegia or any other disability resulting in the total or almost total loss of the use of both legs. When applications are received reports are obtained and all the circumstances are considered by my medical and technical officers.

asked the Minister of Supply what action was taken by his Department to bring the schedules to the Iron and Steel Prices Order, 1951, to the notice of persons likely to be affected by the Order.

Copies of deposited schedules to the Iron and Steel Prices Order, 1951, were available for inspection at the offices of the Ministry of Supply, the Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain and the British Iron and Steel Federation in London and in the offices of the Ministry of Supply in Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow and at the Ministry of Commerce in Belfast. Other steps taken to bring the schedules to the notice of persons likely to be affected by them included the issue of notices to the Press, the publication of price lists in trade journals and the issue of copies of the full schedules to trade associations and of many thousands of copies of abbreviated schedules to both buyers and sellers of steel.

asked the Minister of Supply how many prosecutions for contraventions of the Iron and Steel Prices Order, 1951, were initiated by his Department up to 1st May, 1953; and in how many cases convictions were secured.

Prosecutions have been initiated against 111 persons. There have been 77 convictions and 13 persons were acquitted. Twenty-one cases have still to be heard.

asked the Minister of Transport the names of the chairman, deputy chairman and four members of the Road Haulage Disposal Board, to be established in accordance with the Transport Act, 1953.

I am sorry that I cannot add today to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on Thursday last.