asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that nearly a year has passed since the Government accepted in principle the recommendations of the Rees Committee on Night Baking, and promised legislation; that this further delay is causing dissatisfaction among master bakers and journeymen; and if he will now table his proposals.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement on the action he proposes to take upon the recommendations of the Committee on Night Baking.

As already indicated, I am anxious to proceed with this as quickly as possible. My Department will shortly be discussing detailed proposals with the trade unions and employers' organisations, and I hope it will be possible to make early progress.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that a large majority of the House would like this matter dealt with quite soon?

I am one of them.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman so inform the Prime Minister and the Leader of the House?

They are both aware of it.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman accept it from me that we are delighted that he is so anxious to get this Measure on the Statute Book, and that he can rely on our support to get it there as soon as possible?

I am obliged to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled unemployed persons signing the register at Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Washington employment exchanges at the most recent convenient date, showing the men and women separately; and what steps he is taking to provide employment for these persons and other unemployed persons in those areas.

At 18th May, 1953, 50 men and one woman registered as disabled persons were registered as unemployed at Chester-le-Street, 22 men and four women at Birtley and 18 men and three women at Washington station. The districts concerned are part of the North-East Coast Development area and efforts continue to be made to encourage the introduction of fresh industry there.

Is the Minister satisfied that there are early prospects of these disabled unemployed persons being provided with employment in the areas mentioned in my Question?

It is difficult to state the prospects of early employment for all of them. The position is a little better than it was a year ago, but there is much still to be done, and I am constantly in touch with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade upon whom primarily rests the responsibility for the Development Areas.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that, despite what he says about the position being a little better, the number of females unemployed has increased recently?

Not the disabled female unemployed.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman make further examination into the problem, which continues to be a very serious one—that a large number of disabled men are capable of a good deal of work but that no employment is available for them in these areas?

I have had that situation in mind, and I shall bear it in mind again, in view of what the right hon. Gentleman has asked.

asked the Minister of Labour which of the items that constitute the cost-of-living index were mainly responsible for the recent fall therein.

The fall in the Interim Index of Retail Prices in May was mainly due to seasonal reductions in the prices of milk and coal, lower prices for fish and reductions in the prices of many appliances, floor coverings and miscellaneous goods following a reduction in the rates of Purchase Tax.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the fall in the prices of the latter items which he has mentioned, due to the reduction in Purchase Tax, has brought widespread satisfaction throughout the country with the Budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the dock workers who have been out of work for more than four weeks consist of men over the age of 65.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could only be obtained after considerable research.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend persist in trying to find some means by which these very elderly workers can be taken off the register and brought where they should be—within the normal national system of dealing with the aged?

I am aware of the difficulty in this particular regard, but I would inform the House that the figures of those merely getting attendance money have in the last few weeks been very low because I am happy to say that work at the docks is very much heavier than it was in months past.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consult with the Joint Industrial Council and the trade unions concerned and not take any action until they have had a chance to discuss the matter?

I should not dream of trying to take action without first informing the National Dock Labour Board, whose primary task it is, and we have always been careful to get in touch with both sides in industry.

Why does Her Majesty's Government get rid of most people at the age of 65 and give no consideration to those over 65?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we give a great deal of consideration to those over 65, and we are earnestly engaged in trying to help them now.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that these men over 65 years old are experienced and skilled in the handling of cargoes, and remained on to help the Dock Labour Board when the demand for them arose?

I am well aware that in spite of their age people over 65, as I have seen myself in the docks, can do admirable work, and I hope that all employers will notice it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will appoint a committee to inquire into adult education in Scotland.

No, Sir. The Advisory Council on Education in Scotland considered adult education as part of their remit on further education. Their report was published last year, and my right hon. Friend has made new grant Regulations and a new Further Education Code which, among other things, give effect to their recommendations about adult education. He does not consider that any further inquiry is necessary at present.

While appreciating what has been done and the reports that have been made, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he agrees that there is a great opportunity of extending adult education in Scotland, and whether at this time, when adult education is under review in England, it would be well to take a fresh view of it in Scotland at the same time?

I do not think it is necessary that we should take a fresh view, because we have only recently had a fresh recommendation. We are fully aware of the need, and we share the hon. Gentleman's view, and we are doing everything we can to extend adult education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the project of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for the generation of electricity from peat continues to be delayed.

There has been no undue delay. As my hon. Friend is aware, successful experiments have been carried out in the burning of peat in gas turbines. Sir Edward Appleton's Committee have now recommended that the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board should receive financial assistance through the Development Fund to establish an experimental peat-burning station in Caithness. This proposal is being carefully considered, and I hope that an early decision may be reached.

Is it not a fact that all these decisions by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, by Mr. Tom Johnston, the enthusiastic Chairman, by Sir Edward Appleton's Committee and by John Brown and Company were made a long time ago—some years ago—and that there has been a very serious delay? Will my hon. Friend do something to bring it to an end, because we urgently want the work and wages in Caithness?

First of all, the capital cost of this project is a very large sum and could not be approved without very careful consideration. All that is being done now, and I assure my hon. Friend that we at the Scottish Office are most anxious to get a decision.

Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that the scientists and administrators concerned having approved the project nothing can stop the Gov- ernment finding the funds for a pilot plant to be set up on the site and for further investigation directed to the huge by-products in the form of the agricultural growth that we may expect from the development of such a plant?

We are fully aware of the potentialities, but the capital cost is a very considerable sum, and it has, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, to be worked out what proportion should be for this and that, and so on. I assure the House that we are doing our best to get a decision.

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us what kind of capital sum he thinks is involved in a project for a pilot plant for Caithness?

Something of the order of £500,000.

Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that since relief has been given to the extent of £45 million or £50 million in taxation in the present Budget it is utterly disgraceful that this project should be hung up for the approval of £500,000?

The right hon. Gentleman is not in a position to call this project disgraceful. It is not a new one. It is an old project. We have the duty of bringing it to fruition, and I am saying that we are doing our best to do that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Sections 2 and 3 of the Forestry Act, 1951, contain no reference to windblown timber; and, in view of the illegal action of the Forestry Commission in requiring conditions for removing windblown timber in reliance upon these provisions, if he will now instruct the Commission to issue unconditional licences forthwith.

The Forestry Commissioners are proceeding on the view that windblown trees in general can properly be dealt with as growing trees under the statutory provisions in question, and representatives of woodland owners have accepted that the Commission should proceed in this manner. My right hon. Friend does not propose to ask the Commissioners to alter their existing practice.

Is it not a fact that my Question deals with the law, and not with the view of officials of any Government Department? Is my hon. Friend prepared to spend the taxpayers' money in legal proceedings against patriotic woodland growers, who for generations have served their country so well, at a time of financial disaster for them? Is it not the duty of the Government to secure their voluntary co-operation instead of trying to bounce them by compulsion?

What is the law is not for me or my hon. Friend to declare. That is a matter for the courts. This is not really so much a matter of law as a matter of practice. It is essential to get this blown timber cut. We and the Forestry Commission are putting up no obstacle to this, but it is essential that the ground, when cleared, should be replanted, and the owners have agreed with the Forestry Commission in the steps they are now taking.

Is my hon. Friend aware that owing to the fact that this timber has been blown down some of the land is not suitable for replanting? It is utterly wrong, surely, that provision should be made under this Act for dealing with blown timber when only growing timber is mentioned?

I hope that my hon. Friend will not be too theoretical about this. In any case where the owner is asked to fulfil conditions about replanting which appear to him to be unreasonable he has the right of appeal. There is machinery by which his appeal can be heard. The owners now have agreed to the Forestry Commission's present plans on the assumption that the conditions they ask for are reasonable. Therefore, I have every reason myself to think that they will be reasonable.

Is it not disgraceful that the Secretary of State should support the Forestry Commission in saying to the woodland owners in the North of Scotland that they must go to the courts if they want to prove that blown timber is not growing timber? Surely there is all the difference in the world? Why should he take advantage of the provisions of the statute and accept blown timber as growing timber?

There is no practical point in that. The owners have met the Forestry Commission and they have agreed with the Commission that they should interpret the Act as they are doing, for the purpose of getting the felled trees out of the way and getting the land replanted as soon as possible. These are two national projects that everybody should surely support.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among teachers over his proposal to lower the standard of entry to the teaching profession; and if he is prepared to reconsider his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations were consulted before he issued Circular No. 269 relating to entrance to the teacher training colleges; and which of these organisations approved of the proposals contained in the circular.

Before publishing the draft regulations which accompanied Circular 269 I had discussions with representatives of the Association of Councils of Counties of Cities, the Association of County Councils, the National Committee for the Training of Teachers, the Association of Directors of Education and the Educational Institute of Scotland. My right hon. Friend also received memoranda which he had asked the Association of Headmasters of Senior Secondary Schools and the Association of Headmistresses to submit. The consultations were on a confidential basis, but I can say that the proposal met with wide support, though, as the Educational Institute have announced, they were against it. As required by the Act, my right hon. Friend will have regard to any representations against the draft regulations submitted by 20th July, and will then consider whether to proceed further with the proposal. If he decides to do so, regulations will be laid before Parliament which will be subject to annulment on a Prayer.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the explanatory note it is made clear that the regulations are mainly directed to women entrants? Are we to conclude that in their operation men will be excluded? Further, can the hon. Gentleman say what he will do if teachers refuse to co-operate in training these entrants to the profession who have these inferior qualifications?

As to the second matter, I hope that that will not arise at this moment. As to the first point, it is true that the regulations will apply almost entirely to women, but there are one or two exceptions in the case of technical persons, as the hon. Gentleman knows.

Would the Minister then indicate what particular types of specialist teachers are to be included in the regulations?

Unfortunately I have not the draft regulations in front of me and I am sorry I cannot answer that. I will gladly tell the hon. Gentleman as soon as I get the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has received from his technical staff to show which detergents are harmful in their effects on the skin particularly in producing eczema, and should therefore be avoided.

None, Sir.

Could the Minister tell us if there are any periodical analyses conducted by his technical staff in order to ascertain and keep themselves fully informed of any possible change in the constituents of detergents?

I think that is done. I should perhaps inform the hon. Member that the Department of Health chief medical officer advises that while there have been isolated cases of dermititis here and there, and while there have been suggestions made that they might have been caused by detergents, neither the Department, the Ministry of Health, the Minister of Labour nor the Ministry of National Insurance have any positive records to show that dermatitis or eczema is being caused by detergents in general or by any particular types of them.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult with the Minister of Housing and Local Government, who recently appointed a committee to inquire into the effects of detergents and all that sort of thing?

We are in touch with all these developments.

Is the Minister aware that there have been constant complaints by housewives south of the border, and will he consult with the Ministry of Health to ensure that some independent research through the Medical Research Council is conducted into the constituents of these detergents with a view to removing the fairly widespread anxiety that exists?

I will convey that suggestion to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many instances he has used the powers given him under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947, to encourage industry in the Highlands; and what plans he has for the future.

With the approval of the Secretary of State two local authorities in the Highlands have exercised their powers under the planning Acts to provide either sites or buildings or both for industrial development. My right hon. Friend is ready to give most sympathetic consideration to any similar proposals put forward by the local authorities.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but does he consider that industrialists are fully aware of the considerable advantages which can accrue to them in establishing satellite factories in the Highlands under this scheme? Furthermore, does he not think that the Secretary of State has in his hands a powerful means by this method of establishing small, suitable industries throughout the Highlands?

I quite agree with my noble Friend, and I wish that more industrialists knew about it, but I also wish that all local authorities who have the opportunity would investigate the possibilities of this matter and exercise their powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, to give farmers and crofters in the north every possible encouragement to increase the nation's food supply, he will introduce legislation to create a North of Scotland food-production and marketing organisation with the same financial facilities as those enjoyed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

While my right hon. Friend is anxious to encourage food production by every possible means, he does not consider the introduction of legislation on the lines suggested an appropriate step for this purpose. He would be interested, however, to receive from my noble Friend details of the kind of organisation he has in mind.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but does he not consider, apart from the difficulties of basic services and transport costs, that the main need for development in the Highland area is money, and could he not do something to meet this need more speedily in the Highlands?

I think that is a pretty general desire.

Though the hon. Member assures his noble Friend that his right hon. Friend is most anxious to increase food production in this area by every possible means, would he tell us when the Hill Beef Commission last met, and when his right hon. Friend proposes it should meet again?

I require notice of that question.

If I tell the hon. Gentleman that it has not met since December will he use his influence to persuade his right hon. Friend to arrange for it to meet again in the near future?

I will convey that information to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the reasonable comparison in cost with brick and concrete housing, he will encourage the use of stone for new houses.

My right hon. Friend has told local authorities that he is ready to consider sympathetically proposals for building houses in stone provided the cost is reasonable.

Would the Minister agree that the figures which he gave me last week were very striking as showing that stone is cheaper than bricks and concrete in a good many cases, and that a great deal of good local stone in parts of the Highlands is available for this purpose? Will he see that every effort is made to ensure its use?

There are a number of provisions—I have them here but I will not weary the House with them—which are now operating and which encourage local authorities and private persons to use stone. I agree with the hon. Gentleman's aims in this direction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost, separately, of the acquisition, adaptation, and equipment of the former Marine Hotel, Gullane, East Lothian, as a residential school for the fire service; and what will be the average cost per student per week.

The purchase price of the Marine Hotel, which was generously met by the Fire Service Research and Training Trust, was £13,500, and the estimated cost of adapting the property and providing a drill ground, water tanks and a drill tower is £18,500. The cost of additional furniture and equipment is estimated at £3,000. The estimated average cost per student per week is £9 6s.

Is not this a striking misapplication of money and material in the strenuous times through which the country is passing? Can the Joint Undersecretary state who are the Fire Research Trust? Are they appointed by the Secretary of State to administer funds apportioned by him, and what public funds are involved in this whole project?

To deal with the latter point first, the public funds involved are the sums that I mentioned to the hon. Gentleman and include the cost of adapting the property and the cost of furniture. The other part comes from a trust which, as he knows, has a fund established by other means. As to whether it is a shocking waste of money or not, the fact is that the present training college for firemen is in an ancient building at Paisley which, as everybody knows is very old and the cost there is very high. By making this transfer the cost per student will be considerably less, more firemen will be trained, and that being the aim of everybody I should have thought that this step would meet with general approval.

Does the Joint Undersecretary not understand the position? What is the point of having men who are trained to go to fires doing so with ageing appliances? Would it not be more sensible to spend money on up-to-date appliances and obviate having the men meeting the difficulties that they are experiencing at the present moment?

I can quite understand the hon. Member's point of view, and I agree with him that we need better fire equipment. He will also agree that firemen must be properly trained. I took the greatest care before I gave my own approval to this matter. I went to see the place, I examined it, and I met all the leading firemen in Scotland. I was assured, after considerable doubts, that this was essential for the better fire services of our country.

Why do the Government consider that students have to be trained and accommodated in hostels at public expense? Would not it be possible for firemen to be trained, as they have been trained throughout the country for generations, by qualified firemen in fire stations without having to provide lodgings for them and a lot of other facilities?

That was exactly the point that I put to the expert fire masters whom I met in Scotland before I agreed to this expenditure, but it was pointed out to me that the need was not only for instruction but for implements of instruction, which are not available except at a central place such as this.

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us what implements he hopes to have in this training school which are not available in a first-class fire station, such as Glasgow? Will he tell us what benefits he hopes will derive from theoretical training in this school as opposed to practical fire service training in such a place as Glasgow; and will he also tell us further why the Government find it desirable to spend £20,000 a year on this scheme instead of making it a first instalment of the development of the pilot peat station in Caithness?

I also thought of that idea of the Glasgow Fire Brigade providing this service, which they did during the war, but Glasgow is not willing to do that now. It is not a practical proposition. The right hon. Gentleman ought to recall that himself. Therefore, we had to find a central station. The one at Paisley is costly, out of date and inefficient, as everybody admits it to be, and this is an endeavour to provide an efficient station.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average cost of replacing an out-of-date, ball-type fire hydrant with the present standardised type; and the estimated cost of standardising all fire hydrants in Scotland.

The average cost of replacing a ball-type hydrant by the standardised type is about £30. The estimated cost of standardising the 62,000 non-standard hydrants at present existing in Scotland would be upwards of £1½ million.

Is the Joint Undersecretary aware that in his report on the fire services in 1952 the Chief Inspector for Scotland said that little had been done in regard to these conversions? I hope that the hon. Gentleman will stress how important it is that when men go to an incident they should not feel a sense of frustration by having to stand by and watch a fire burning because they cannot operate their appliances on out-of-date connections.

I warmly agree with the hon. Gentleman. We are quite aware of that and we are doing what we can, within the resources at our disposal, to improve the equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fire hydrants there are in Scotland; how many are fitted with standardised outlets; how many were converted last year for the use of standardised standpipes; how many remain to be so converted; and how many of the ball-type need replacement for the use of standardized equipment.

It is estimated that there were 85,000 fire hydrants in Scotland at the end of last year, of which about 23,000 were fitted with standardised outlets. The number converted last year was 4,482. The number of hydrants remaining to be converted or replaced is thus about 62,000. of which about two-thirds are of the ball-type variety which cannot be converted and will eventually have to be replaced.

Will the hon. Gentleman draw the attention of his right hon. Friend to these figures and ask him to get a move on with this most important work in order to protect, at factories and ports, exports and produce which are so important to our economic life?

I hope that when the Government are able to do all this work and spend all this money, they will not be criticised, as they have been on another fire service matter this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. F. Skelly, of 62, Charteris Road, Bradford, was refused a war pension between 1943 and 1951; and, in view of the reinstatement of pension in 1951 based upon medical evidence which proved that the disability arose from war service, if he will consider making payment of pension retrospective to a date in 1943 and so remove an injustice done to Mr. Skelly.

As my hon. Friend told the hon. Member in a letter of 6th May, he can find no exceptional grounds on which Mr. Skelly could be awarded arrears of pension from 1943; he made no approach to the Department between 1943 and 1951 and it seems clear that he was not prevented by reasons outside his own control from making an earlier application for reinstatement of pension.

Whilst thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him why the fact that this man is a Christian Scientist and believes in faith healing should not be taken into account? Whilst it is true that there was a period during which he was not under medical supervision, I do not think that because of his beliefs the man should be incommoded in respect of receiving his pension for the period stated in the Question.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, my hon. Friend has gone very carefully indeed into every aspect of this case, but he cannot find any reason for back-dating the pension for eight years. To start with, he has no means of knowing the extent of the disability throughout those eight years. If the hon. Gentleman has any new evidence with regard to the case which he has not already put in the correspondence, we should certainly like to see it and would look into it.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will allow Mr. R. Munro, of Ridgewood Viewfield, Inverness, who was 100 per cent. disabled in World War I, a constant attendance grant, and an unemployability grant.

My hon. Friend is arranging to obtain an up-to-date medical report on Mr. Munro's condition and when this is received will consider whether a constant attendance allowance can be granted. Mr. Munro is receiving a "wounds pension" and under the Royal Warrant my hon. Friend is not empowered to award an unemployability supplement to an officer who is in receipt of this special pension, which is higher than the standard rate of war pension. Mr. Munro receives by way of "wounds pension" and retirement pension more than he would get if he were transferred to the standard rate of war pension and became eligible for the unemployability supplement, which is not payable with a retirement pension.

May I ask my hon. and gallant Friend if he is aware that this man, who was 100 per cent. disabled as the result of a wound received in action in World War I, is wholly dependent on his wife and is totally unable to work, and that there has been no increase in the award which was made to him in 1923, since that date, although the letter telling him of his award said that it would be liable to re-adjustment according to increases or decreases in the cost of living? In view of the vast increase since then, does my hon. Friend not think it is time that this pension was readjusted?

With regard to the first point, that of the constant attendance allowance, the pensioner was examined two years ago with a view to seeing whether he would be eligible for it. When we received the representations of my noble Friend we took steps to have the pensioner re-examined and, when that examination is completed, I will inform my noble Friend. With regard to the second point, the pensioner has been on a higher rate of pension than the standard rate, so I do not think he has been unfairly treated. Should his present rate drop below the standard rate he can transfer on to the standard rate at any time, but at the moment his pension is higher than that received by equivalent people.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will increase the opportunties available for Welsh National Service men to serve with Welsh units.

Welsh National Service men are posted to fill all available National Service vacancies in the Welsh Guards and the three Welsh infantry regiments.

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that in this respect, as in many others, Welsh nationals do not have as many opportunities as the Scots and people in Northern Ireland?

We have only three Welsh infantry regiments and we fill them with Welshmen. I do not think we can go further than that.

Is the Minister aware that the best opportunity to give to Welshmen would be to end conscription and let them decide if they want to volunteer for any unit at all?

I think that the hon. Gentleman had better put down a Question about that.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the Welsh language was used in recent tests to determine educational standards among National Service men recruited from Wales.

Two educational tests are given to all recruits as part of the selection procedure, which is designed to put the men in the most suitable military jobs. For this reason the English language, which is used in all military work, is used for these tests.

Is the Minister aware that the first language of most of these recruits from the Welsh-speaking areas of Wales is Welsh, and that therefore the report which was published by his education department about two months ago is completely valueless because the Welsh language was not used? Furthermore, is he aware that the figures in that report were misleading and that the conclusions in it were offensive to the Welsh people? Will he convey that to his education department?

I will certainly try to find out more about the report, but the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that when we make these tests we do it to gain an assessment of what these men are going to do when they join the Army, where they have to speak English.

Is the Minister aware that these figures allege a proportion of illiteracy which no one in Wales believes for a moment? For example, in my own county we have a bigger proportion of grammar schools than any other county in the country. Will the Minister publish in the report the criterion upon which these tests are based, so that we can judge for ourselves?

If the right hon. Gentleman will put down a Question, I will try to give him an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Mr. N. C. Brown, Brookside, Little Totham, Maldon, Essex, formerly 22605957 Gunner Brown, Royal Artillery, has not received the moneys which he was assured, on his demobilisation on 11th May, would be sent to him within about a week; and if he will expedite payment.

As soon as this case was brought to my notice, I arranged for an immediate payment to be made to Mr. Brown. Final settlement was made on 18th June.

Whilst appreciating that there is an occasional slip up in even the best regulated offices, is the Minister satisfied that the Army pay offices are making full use of the best modern methods for the calculation and disbursement of pay?

That is rather a different question, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that a great deal of new machinery has been put into both our record and pay offices.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will give an assurance that the dependants and next-of-kin of the late Private Donald Harrison will be properly and adequately compensated financially;

asked the Secretary of State for War if consideration has been given to the making of an ex gratia payment to Mrs. Harrison, the widowed mother of the late Private Harrison, who died in a military hospital last April.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As an officer is facing a court martial in the case to which these Questions refer, should there not be some caution in the acceptance of these Questions by the Table?

The first Question is in rather general terms and does not impinge upon the subject matter of the court martial. I was about to warn the House that, if there were any straying into the merits of the case, that would be out of order.

Further to the point of order. Is it not a fact that a court of inquiry has investigated certain matters connected with this case and has reported publicly and that these Questions do not deal with any matter which is sub judice?

We had better wait and see how the answers to subsequent Questions go. The point made by the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Snow) has substance in it.

I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions has awarded Mrs. Harrison a pension.

The Minister has not attempted to answer Question 28. I ask in Question 28 whether or not he could give a reason why in his letter, which I agree was very sympathetic, he made no mention of the War Office, the Government or any Department accepting financial responsibility. Can he now explain why he did not in some way give some alleviation to the suffering of this mother by mentioning it in the letter which he sent her?

That matter did not escape my notice, but I deliberately refrained from saying anything because the final decision did not lie within my province and had not been made. I think it would have been very wrong to give any assurance to her which could not be fulfilled, and I deliberately delayed it until a decision had been made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the late Private Harrison was a constituent of mine and I am quite capable of looking after his interests without the assistance of the Opposition? May I further ask my right hon. Friend if Mrs. Harrison has been informed of this award, and if he can now tell the House what the award is?

My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that it is not for me to inform Mrs. Harrison, but for the Minister of Pensions, and I am not aware whether he has done so. So far as the award is concerned it has been worked out as being the maximum which she can have which will not proportionately reduce the other assistance given to her. That is the basis on which it has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of recent disclosures, he will institute an inquiry as to the organisation and administration of military hospitals and the desirability of the treatment of Service patients in civil hospitals as in the late war.

No, Sir. I have been into the whole of this serious occurrence most carefully and I am convinced that it was caused not by any fault in the method of procedure laid down for Army hospitals, but by the failure of certain individuals to carry out their duties.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that the best medical advice should be available to all Service personnel, and that that advice is much more likely to be obtainable in a large general civilian hospital than anywhere else?

We have a very close liaison with civilian medical staff and a great many surgeons work for us. Twenty per cent. of our medical cases are treated in civilian hospitals. I can assure the hon. Member that there is a very close liaison indeed.

Is there any reason why Service hospitals in Great Britain should not be part of the general hospital service? Is there any reason why, when a person is wounded or ill, he should be treated in any other way than as a civilian?

That is a very much wider question which raises the whole policy of integration of the Service and civilian hospital systems, and I do not think I could give an answer to that now.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take action to recommend Army Nurse Irene Rosser and Private John Edward Nicholson for some public pecuniary award in appreciation of their action in drawing public attention to the case of the late Private Donald Harrison.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that these two individuals did go to some pains and did in fact cause themselves great difficulty in drawing public attention to this matter? Surely they should receive some recompense? If it is not given on this basis, can the Minister do something with regard to the court martial and have it expunged from the record?

The court martial raises an issue different from that in the Question. I think it would be quite improper if one were to give a financial reward to a man who was absent twice when to achieve his object once would have been ample.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the continuance of the excess of imports over exports, and in view of the fact that all increases in national and local government expenditure and in wages increase our costs of production and impede or destroy our ability to compete in the markets of the world, he will take steps to restrict increases in expenditure and wages, and issue a White Paper in simple language explaining the' present economic position of the country; and if he will make a statement

It has been my constant endeavour, not only in my Budget speech but also on all other suitable occasions, to put the economic situation of the country clearly before the people and in particular to stress the vital necessity of our improving our competitive power in overseas markets. I shall continue to do so and shall continue to take whatever action is open to the Government to maintain economic conditions best calculated to further the efforts of employers and workers to secure higher production and lower costs and to encourage the expansion of exports

May I ask my right hon. Friend why he will not adopt the suggestion in the Question and tell the people of Britain, including himself, that the principle behind the Budget is the same as the principle behind the budget of the humblest home in the country— that is, that if one spends more than one's income the end must be disaster? Will my right hon. Friend also explain that this is the one country in the world which is not and cannot become self-supporting, and that unless we make whatever efforts are necessary and export goods and services at world competitive prices we are faced with starvation?

That seems to be anticipating the debate on the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Government's policy about the payment of tax-free salaries to British servants of international agencies.

It is the Government's policy to see that British servants of international agencies are treated no differently from the servants of other nationalities of the same agencies. So far as exemption from United Kingdom Income Tax is concerned, the matter is governed by the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act, 1950. This requires that privileges may not be granted until an Order in Council has been made and approved by each House of Parliament.

May I ask the Chancellor whether the decisions are uniform throughout all these agencies? Also, while I appreciate the great difficulties of drawing up any international salary scales in view of the taxation position, may I ask whether there is not now some anomaly between the position of some people working in these agencies and others doing similar work in international services?

The matter has received some public attention and it is a source of some anxiety to at least one international organisation, which has just started an inquiry. I can assure the hon. Member that if any such inquiry is instituted by an international organisation we, so far as we are concerned, shall take an interest in the matter.

The right hon. Gentleman did not answer all the last supplementary question. Could he say whether the scales are in fact uniform as between nationals of different countries? He says ours should be treated no differently from any others. If that is so, why does not the same principle apply to Servicemen in the various forces of the United Nations?

I should want notice of the exact situation of each particular international agency concerned. All we want to see is that our nationals are treated the same as other nationals. If the hon. Member cares to put down a Question on the other point, I will try to give him an answer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will ensure that the committee of inquiry into the problem of air pollution will include investigations into the effects of the discharge of sulphuretted hydrogen into the atmosphere in areas where there are colliery refuse tips and refuse from chemical works.

The committee's terms of reference will be wide enough to cover this, but I would prefer them to decide, from the evidence they receive, which particular aspects most need investigating.

Is the Minister aware that the case of this discharge of sulphuretted hydrogen, to which I have drawn attention recently in this House, is one which has been the subject of a public analyst's report recently, in which a statement was made that this kind of atmospheric pollution might be a danger to public health? Will the right hon. Gentleman expedite an inquiry in order that local authorities may have information about the most up-to-date methods of preventing this pollution?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Cardiff City Council have submitted to him their means test proposals for rent charges on houses built with Government and local subsidy; and what representations he has made to the Cardiff City Council on this question.

No, Sir. The fixing of rents of council houses is a matter solely for the council concerned.

Is the Minister aware that I am not surprised that he tries to avoid any responsibility in this matter, but there is a widespread belief in the City of Cardiff that this is simply means of blackmailing people into buying council houses and that it is not due solely to the financial income of the authority? Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the matter again?

I will of course look at anything the hon. Member asks me to look at, and I shall be glad to discuss the question with him, but the statutory obligation of the fixing of rents-and this is not the only case of its kind-rests with the council, and not with me.

Is it not the case that similar schemes have long been brought forward by local authorities of all kinds of political complexions in other parts of the country and that the model of these schemes is in Plymouth?

Yes, Sir.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the last reply, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.

asked the Minister of Works on what date it was decided to make a charge to the public sitting in Government-erected stands to view ceremonial processions subsequent to the Coronation; what were the reasons for such a decision; and how the information was conveyed to the public.

On 21st May I decided the charges which were to be made for the use of the stands in the Mall on four ceremonial occasions after the Coronation. Full details of these charges and information as to how seats for the parade on 11th June might be purchased in advance were issued to the Press on 28th May.

Is it not a fact that before that date the right hon. Gentleman explained to the House that the prices of the stand seats were to cover the cost to the Government for the Coronation ceremony? How, then, does he explain this second statement that further money was to be received for the use of the stands?

Unfortunately I had to fix the price of the seats in the stands early, because the Commonwealth Governments wished to get information out to the Commonwealth. It was fixed before the last tenders were in, and the last tenders were higher than the first tenders, with the result that I made a loss of a few shillings per seat.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consider offering the artistic coats of arms displayed on the Coronation stands in Parliament Square to the appropriate municipalities as souvenirs of an historic occasion.

Yes, Sir. I am offering these coats of arms of the county towns of the United Kingdom at approximately cost price to the appropriate cities and boroughs.

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman is aware that that announcement will be received with a good deal of pleasure. There has been much interest in these coats of arms. Will he say how he is bringing this offer to their attention? Will he give in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the municipalities concerned, or will he write to them?

I think that this Question and answer will draw attention to it. The towns and cities are the county towns of the United Kingdom, but I may think proper to write to each one and make a separate offer.

In view of the fact that Christie is taking up all the newspaper space these days, will the Minister do that?

Is the Minister offering the coats of arms of the Commonwealth Governments and the Colonial Territories in the same way?

The Commonwealth Governments have accepted the free gift of their Emblems from Her Majesty's Government.