asked the Minister of Works what inquiries he has made regarding the shortage of bricks in the Rugby area; and what answer he has received.

Since the hon. Member's Question on 28th April, I have had one complaint from the Rugby area. My regional office is in touch with the makers and users of bricks in the area where the expansion in building has caused a heavy demand for building materials. Local brickmakers are increasing their output somewhat more than the average increase for the country.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is yet able to make a statement about measures to safeguard ancient monuments from destruction or damage.

The owners and occupiers of about 7,000 monuments listed under the Ancient Monuments Act were notified at the time of listing that nothing should be done to the monument without three months' notice being given to the Ministry of Works. I am considering whether reminders should be issued periodically. Although a listed monument is registered as a local land charge this information does not always reach those concerned when the land changes hands. Prospective owners or tenants could help by making it their business to ascertain whether there were monuments on land they were buying or occupying.Owners of the more important monuments could also perform a valuable service by displaying a notice on the monument. The Ministry would gladly cooperate with them. Local authorities, learned societies and others interested might perhaps be prepared to help in providing such notices.Anyone who comes across a monument which has been, or is being damaged, is asked to inform the Ministry of Works immediately. The number of cases of destruction is small, and I feel that public opinion and the help of those interested could achieve as much as a large and expensive staff of inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school children there are in the City of Aberdeen; how many of these go to primary and secondary schools, respectively; and how many schools and of what kinds are now available for the children in that city.

At 31st March, 1952, the latest date for which figures are available, 18,729 pupils were attending 47 primary schools or primary departments of secondary schools, 9,551 were attending 19 secondary schools and 368 were attending two special schools. Three of the schools are grant-aided and three independent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many probation homes there are in Scotland for boys and girls, respectively; and whether he is satisfied that they are sufficient in number and accommodation to meet existing needs.

Fourteen homes and hostels for women and girls and one home for boys have been approved for probation purposes by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. In addition, there are a considerable number of voluntary homes to which, if their managers agree, a probationer can be sent by the court. I have no reason to think that these facilities are insufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the experiment in the type of accommodation provided for mental patients at Woodilee Mental Hospital; whether he will indicate the success achieved by this experiment; and if he will place in the Library photographs and report on this hospital, with a view to other regional hospital boards adopting this type of accommodation.

The pavilions at Woodilee, completed in 1942, are on recognised modern lines providing pleasant and bright conditions for suitable patients.The unit is already well known to those responsible for planning mental hospitals in Scotland and I do not think any useful purpose would be served by placing photographs and a report in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of deaths in Scotland from coronary thrombosis in each of the last five years; and the latest available figure.

For the five years from 1948 to 1952 the numbers were 5,354, 5,994, 6,757, 7,421 and 7,738. For the first quarter of 1953 the number was 2,088, compared with 2,247 in the first quarter of 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the sums spent in Scotland on official research on coronary thrombosis in each of the last five years; and the sum available for this year.

On the advice of the Advisory Committee for Medical Research in Scotland, five grants from National Health Service funds have been made for research on coronary thrombosis. At 31st March, 1953, £5,100 had been paid, and £11,600 remained to be paid during this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far research is being undertaken in Scotland on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of poliomyelitis; and the amount available this year for this purpose.

While observations and studies of potential research value are being made by individuals in the course of their ordinary work no formal research projects in this field are in progress in Scotland, and, accordingly, no specific allocation of funds has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new permanent schools, primary and secondary, have been started in Glasgow after the Government's decision to suspend starting dates until December, 1952.

Because of the overloaded condition of the building industry at the end of 1951 no new starting dates were awarded during the three months from 1st December, 1951, and starting dates already awarded were postponed for two months. The award of new starting dates was resumed from 1st March, 1952, and since then 11 permanent schools, all primary, have been started in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average class attendance roll for Glasgow schools, in the elementary, junior secondary, senior secondary and fee-paying categories, respectively; and how he proposes to assist in reducing the number of pupils in those classes which are presently overcrowded.

I hope that steps taken by my right hon. Friend and his predecessor to stimulate the recruitment of teachers and to help Glasgow to build new schools will enable them progressively to reduce the number of oversize classes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average cost of maintaining a patient in hospital during the year ended 31st March, 1953.

I will send the hon. Member a figure for 1952–53, on the same basis as that given him on 21st April last for 1951–52, as soon as the necessary analysis of hospital accounts has been completed in some weeks' time. Meanwhile, I can say that the total expenditure for 1952–53 was 7.2 per cent. higher than for 1951–52 while the average number of in-patients increased by 3.3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the Second Report of the Departmental Committee on the Supply of Teachers in Scotland; and what action he proposes to take to meet the present shortage and future demands.

I have discussed the problem of the supply of teachers with representatives of the Educational Institute of Scotland, the National Committee for the Training of Teachers and the Associations of local authorities concerned: and I have also considered memoranda on the problem which the Association of Directors of Education and the Associations of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Senior Secondary schools submitted at my invitation.After taking full account of the views expressed my right hon. Friend has published draft regulations which propose that a person who has narrowly failed in one of the five subjects in the Scottish Leaving Certificate Examination should be admitted for training if the training authority are satisfied, after an interview, that the person is likely to become an efficient teacher.On 14th May I gave a broadcast on the need for more teachers and I understand that since then the National Committee have received 250 applications from persons who desire to train as teachers. Other steps are under consideration and a further statement will be made in the course of the debate on the Education Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what authority the Forestry Commission impose replanting conditions, in issuing felling licences for wind-blown timber.

The conditions are imposed by virtue of the provisions of Sections 2 and 3 of the Forestry Act, 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the cattle in Scotland are attested; and whether he will circulate in HANSARD a detailed list setting out the proportions by counties.

I am informed that 61 per cent. of the cattle in Scotland are attested. The proportions by counties are as follow:

County			Per cent.
Aberdeen	…	…	22
Angus	…	…	34
Argyll	…	…	73
Ayr	…	…	100
Banff	…	…	21
Berwick	…	…	35
Bute	…	…	100
Caithness	…	…	27
Clackmannan	…	…	72
Dumfries	…	…	100
Dunbarton	…	…	88
East Lothian	…	…	37
Fife	…	…	62
Inverness	…	…	49
Kincardine	…	…	23
Kinross	…	…	58
Kirkcudbright	…	…	100
Lanark	…	…	88
Midlothian	…	…	63
Moray	…	…	39
Nairn	…	…	38
Orkney	…	…	31
Peebles	…	…	91
Perth	…	…	38
Renfrew	…	…	100
Ross-shire	…	…	42
Roxburgh	…	…	37
Selkirk	…	…	63
Stirling	…	…	76
Sutherland	…	…	71
West Lothian	…	…	67
Wigtown	…	…	100
Zetland	…	…	100

asked the Secretary of State for War if inquiries are now completed in regard to the death of Private Donald Harrison, of Stockport, who died in Moston Hall Military Hospital in April; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I previously undertook to give the House a full and frank reply on this subject.Private Harrison, a young man aged 18, was called up for military service in January, 1953, when he was passed as medically fit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now make a statement regarding the granting of permission to those deputy lieutenants who have bought khaki caps to continue to wear them with Service dress.

Yes. Deputy lieutenants of counties may now wear the khaki cap with Service dress uniform.

asked the Minister of Materials the value of the orders placed with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for pit props in each year since 1945, as compared with similar orders placed in Canada in the same period.

Following is the table:

IMPORTS OF PITPROPS (ACCORDING TO PUBLISHED TRADE & NAVIGATION ACCOUNTS)
—	From Canada (including Newfoundland)		From U.S.S.R.
	Pield cubic fathoms	Value £ c.i.f..	Pield cubic fathoms	Value £ c.i.f..
1937–9 (average)	31,400		228,053
1945	103,909	2,185,656	9,022	194,667
1946	225,816	6,083,050	4,635	111,452
1947	216,758	5,605,266	10,688	307,098
1948	201,000	5,231,849	9,355	224,490
1949	165,393	3,704,177	11,387	220,611
1950	8,179	186,304	49,747	1,045,139
1951	51,612	1,994,161	48,657	1,965,466
1952	210,919	8,503,796	59,578	2,752,302

NOTE: The figures of quantities for 1937-9 are given for purposes of comparison. It should be noted that the value figures include freight charges which are, of course, not usually payable in the currency of the country concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms in the United Kingdom manufacture moulding powders used in the plastic industry; and if he is satisfied that new entrants to plastic manufacture can obtain supplies of moulding powder.

I understand that there are about two dozen such firms and that their products are, in general, freely available to manufacturers. If the hon. Member has a particular case of difficulty in mind, perhaps he will let me have particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it compulsory, for the benefit of the consumer public and the furnisher, for all retail furnishers to use the new code of retail advertising produced jointly by the National Association of Retail Furnishers and the Retail Trading Standards Association, of which a copy has been sent to him.

No. My right hon. Friend has no such power.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now reconsider the question of imposing a quantitative restriction on imports of dry bulb onions in July.

My right hon. Friend has reviewed this matter in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Agriculture and Food and has decided that there is no case for varying the import arrangements already announced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has in mind to attract to the new town of East Kilbride industries which may take up the slack left by the expected tapering-off of demands for products of the Rolls-Royce factory there.

As my hon. Friend learned from the answer to his earlier Question, a high level of production is likely to be maintained at this factory. We shall continue to encourage industrialists to establish or extend suitable projects in the area and Scottish Industrial Estates have recently been authorised to erect a factory there for Hayward Tyler and Company, Limited.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much additional revenue he anticipates receiving this year due to the change he has ordered in the assessment of stamp duty payable for a new lease;(2) why he has changed the basis on which stamp duty is assessed for the lease on new property; and under what regulations he has made this change.

The stamp duty on leases is governed by statute only and not by regulations. There has been no recent change of law or practice in this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the desire of the members of the Prime Ministers' Commonwealth Conference to remove barriers to international trade, when he proposes to make the £ sterling freely convertible and implement the other proposals of the conference; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to what I told the House on 17th March about convertibility and to statements made from time to time of action taken in pursuance of matters referred to in the communiqués of the recent meeting and of the conference of December, 1952.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the amount of money that has been granted for rural water schemes to the Leek Rural District Council, Staffordshire; and for what specific schemes these grants have been made.

My right hon. Friend has undertaken to give £15,000 towards the cost of the council's scheme to supply Rudyard, Horton and Longsdon. £7,500 of this grant has been paid.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will increase the figure of £30 allowed by his Department for remedial measures to combat condensation in temporary bungalows in the borough of Wood Green, and agree to meet the cost of repairs arising directly from condensation in these bungalows.

No; £30 has generally proved adequate to meet the cost of the remedial measures recommended by the Building Research Station, particulars of which were sent to the local authority in September, 1951.

asked the Minister of Works what negotiations he has had with the contractors concerned regarding the price of the No-fines house: and what is the price finally arrived at.

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has settled prices for each region for several types of new tradition houses: the Wimpey No-fines house is one of these. Local authorities are not bound to accept these prices, and the two parties can negotiate according to the circumstances of each particular scheme. The object of the arrangements is to save time in the preparation, submission and approval of schemes for the building of standardised houses.There are several types of Wimpey No-fines house, and prices vary from region to region. In the region in which the hon. Member's constituency is situated the price for a three-bedroom five person intermediate terrace house is £1,156 on a level site, with variations according to size of contract and reductions for repeat contracts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has considered the proposal of the Harlow New Town Corporation for the more extensive use of substitutes for softwood in house building; and if he has approved the additional expenditure involved.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to eight houses already built by the Development Corporation at my right hon. Friend's request. They are intended as a practical demonstration, arranged in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, of how and where in a house softwood could, at need, be saved without adding prohibitively to the cost. The houses and their purpose are more fully described in a circular and booklet, copies of which I am sending the hon. Member. The houses at Harlow are open for inspection until 3rd July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he can yet make a statement of Government policy regarding the amendment of the Rent Restrictions Acts.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has studied an extract from the "Justice of the Peace and Local Government Review" relating to the removal of price control, which has been sent to him; and when he will be able to do away with price control.

I have seen the paper referred to. As I have already stated, I hope to make an announcement on the matter before the end of the Session.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now tell the House whether the Royal Fine Art Commission approved the proposal to put up a building 170 feet high near the east end of St. Paul's Cathedral; and whether he will make a further statement.

As to the first part of the Question, the Royal Fine Art Commission have already published a statement making clear their attitude to this proposal. As to the second, my right hon. Friend has nothing to add at present to the reply given to the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Hay) on 12th June.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if he will state the number of casualties incurred in Korea by British forces between 1st July, 1951, and the nearest convenient date; and the total number incurred by United Nations' forces in the same period.

United Kingdom casualties between 1st July, 1951, and 1st June, 1953, were 2,237 officers and men, of whom 447 wer killed or died of wounds. For the same period, total United Nations casualties, including South Korean and United Kingdom casualties, were about 180,000 of whom about 35,000 were killed.

asked the Minister of Supply why he is continuing to institute prosecutions under the Iron and Steel Prices Order when it has been held, in the case of the Defiant Cycle Company versus Newell, that his Department was not exempt from printing the deposited schedules as required by Section 2 (1) of the Statutory Instruments Act, 1946, and had failed to prove that reasonable steps had been taken to bring them to the notice of the public.

In the Defiant Cycle case the Divisional Court did not decide that the Iron and Steel Prices Order of 1951 was invalid. They did decide that no certificate had been issued exempting the deposited schedules from printing under the Statutory Instruments Act. 1946. The Ministry of Supply, having assumed that there was a certificate, had given no evidence before the justices in that case that reasonable steps had been taken to bring the deposited schedules to the notice of the public. In future cases where this point arises such evidence will be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many scholarships have been awarded in Grenada in the past 12 months; and how many of those granted have been for education in the universities in this country, and how many at the University of the West Indies.

Ten scholarships have been awarded. One is for education in a university in this country and two in the University College of the West Indies. The other seven scholarships are for continuation courses, including five at West Indian centres and two in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what films upon athletics are available for showing in the Colonial Territories, particularly those films of past Olympic and Empire Games.

Items on athletics, especially of colonial athletes in action, are included whenever possible in the specially-edited newsreel "British News," which is distributed to Colonial Territories. Eight such items were included in 1952, including four from the Olympic Games. A full-length technicolour film of the 1948 Olympic Games was distributed commercially, but for financial reasons rights could not be acquired for it to be shown outside commercial cinemas. No full-length film of the 1952 Games is available.Instructional films on athletics can be bought by colonial Governments, including four produced for the Ministry of Education in 1949. The British Council have included films on sprinting, hurdling and the high jump among those sent to their representatives in the Colonies. The recently formed Overseas Film Library, from which Colonial Territories can borrow films, has at present only one film on athletics, but it is hoped to add others. The Nigerian film unit is at present producing a film on athletics for local use.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he expects to be able to revoke Statutory Instrument, 1948, No. 223, which suspends the statutory obligations of electricity undertakers.

This Statutory Instrument is no longer in force.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements have been made to replace the coal and coke stocks lost by flooding in the Eastern counties, and the coal and coke taken to the flood areas from other parts of the Eastern counties.

Extra supplies of coal and coke were made available to the flooded areas to cover both the additional requirements and any stocks lost by flooding.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will investigate the possibility of reducing, and improving the quality, of the administrative staffs of Government training centres.

My Department's normal methods of strict staff control have not revealed that the staff of the Government training centres is either in excess of requirements, or deficient in quality. If my hon. Friend has any evidence to the contrary he will no doubt write to me.

asked the Minister of Labour how many deferments of call-up have been granted, and how many refused, to agricultural workers in the county of Glamorgan during the past three months.

During the three months ended 31st May, 75 applications for deferment were granted, and 2 refused.

asked the Minister of Labour how many deferments of call-up have been granted, and how many refused, to agricultural workers in the Principality of Wales, including Monmouthshire, during the last three months.

During the three months ended 31st May, 896 applications for deferment were granted, and 29 refused.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of the discrimination in the payment of added increments to the standard rate of retirement pensions; that men of over 65 years of age who decided to remain working prior to 16th July, 1951, and hope to continue to do so for five years are in a disadvantageous position to those who decided to take this step after that date; and whether he will take steps to give equal rewards to all these pensioners.

The increased rate of increment provided by the Act of 1951, though it applied to everyone who was still working irrespective of when they attained minimum pension age, was deliberately not made retrospective. The whole matter was gone into very fully by the previous Government and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to reopen it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of persons receiving retirement pensions in Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Washington local office areas; and, of these persons, the number who are receiving supplementary allowances from the National Assistance Board, showing the average weekly allowance paid to each person.

Information about the number of persons receiving retirement pensions in particular localities, or the average weekly allowance paid by the National Assistance Board to those of them who are receiving supplementary allowances is not available.I am informed by the Board that on 31st March, 1,800 regular weekly payments of National Assistance were being made to retirement pensioners in the area comprising the urban and rural districts of Chester-le-Street, including Birtley; there is no separate figure available for Washington.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what additional cost would be incurred if those in receipt of retirement pensions were able to earn £3 per week, £4 per week or an unlimited amount, without deduction from their pensions.

I cannot give an estimate owing to the impossibility of forecasting how many additional persons might qualify for retirement pensions in such circumstances.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will issue other postage stamps of values Is. 6d. and Is. 3d. after the period of issue of the Coronation stamps.

Yes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements will be made to enable Members of this House to see the Royal Review of the Royal Air Force.

A number of Members will receive individual invitations to the Air Council enclosure at Odiham, and a further 200 places in it will be reserved for other Members and their ladies, Luncheon and transport will be provided.