Written Answers To Questions
Wednesday, 1st July, 1953
Northern Rhodesia (Tobacco Growing)
25.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the total of tobacco grown by the Africans of Northern Rhodesia for 1952 was marketed through co-operative organisations.
All tobacco grown by Africans for export in 1952 was marketed through the Petauke Co-operative Marketing Union.
26.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much tobacco was grown by Europeans and how much by Africans in Northern Rhodesia for 1952; where were the two types of tobacco auctioned; and what was the average price per pound.
Most of the tobacco grown by Europeans is flue-cured, but they also grow some Burley and Turkish. Africans grow only Burley. Europeans produced 9,564,100 lb. and Africans 74,000 lb. for export.Tobacco grown in the North-Western Province was sold at Salisbury, that grown in the North-Eastern Province at Fort Jameson.Of the European tobacco, 5,400,000 lb. of flue-cured was sold at Salisbury at an average price of 32·5d. per lb., 4,100,000 lb. of flue-cured at Fort Jameson at 20·7d. per lb., 50,000 lb. of Burley at Fort Jameson at 28·3d. per lb. and 14,100 lb. of Turkish sold privately at 27·6d. per lb. All the African tobacco was sold at Fort Jameson at an average price of 28·04d. per lb.
West Indies
Inter-Island Shipping Service
38.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to institute a new inter-island shipping service for the West Indies.
Two independent surveys of shipping possibilities in the West Indies have been made during recent months. Certain proposals are at present under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
Raf Airfields, Nassau (Purchase)
39.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the agreement for the purchase of Windsor Field and Oakes Field, Nassau, has now been signed by the Government of the Bahamas and the Air Ministry, and what are the terms of this agreement; and when it is proposed to reopen Windsor Field.
The Bahamas Government recently bought Windsor and Oakes Fields from the Air Ministry for £160,000. The R.A.F. has title right of re-entry in emergency. It is not yet known when Windsor Field will be reopened as a civil airport, but the Air Ministry may, without payment, resume possession of its assets there if the transfer of the civil airport from Oakes Field has not started by 30th April, 1958.
Air Photography
40.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what programme of air photography is now being carried out on a commercial contract in British Guiana, Jamaica and the Leeward Islands.
26,000 square miles are being surveyed in British Guiana, 3,000 square miles in Jamaica and parts of the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat.
Post Office
Commonwealth Telegraph Act (Regulations)
59.
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when regulations will be made under Section 7 of the Commonwealth Telegraph Act, 1949.
Regulations under this Section will be laid before the House if and when my noble Friend is satisfied that a need for them has arisen.
Television Reception, Hastings
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that television reception in the Hastings area is erratic and indifferent; and, in view of the comparatively high population in the district, if he will erect for this area a booster station, such as has been provided in the Brighton district.
The B.B.C. informs me that the present unreliable television reception in the Hastings area will be improved when the London television station is moved from Alexandra Palace to Crystal Palace. The temporary booster at Brighton was provided exceptionally, in order to improve service for about 400,000 people. It will be closed down when the new London station is working.
Royal Air Force
Review (Expenditure)
66.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how much money is being expended by the Royal Air Force on the review which is to take place on 14th July.
About £17,000.
Sick Airman (Notification To Mother)
68.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why no official notice has been received by the widowed mother of 3515644 Aircraftman M. Blowers, since he was taken seriously ill on 28th February, 1953.
This airman has not been on the seriously or dangerously ill lists at any time since he fell sick on 27th February. The next-of-kin of airmen aged 18 years or over are notified only in cases of dangerous, serious or mental illness. A medical report was, however, sent to Mrs. Blowers on 20th June in answer to a letter, and she saw her son in hospital on 21st June.
Low-Flying Us Aircraft, Cardiff
69.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the anxiety caused to Cardiff residents on Tuesday, 23rd June, 1953, when an American B.47 jet bomber flew at roof-top height; and what action he is taking to prevent a recurrence of this public nuisance.
The United States Air Force authorities have asked me to express their regret for the disturbance caused to the people of Cardiff. They have identified the pilot concerned and are holding a full investigation. I will inform the hon. Member of the outcome.
Korea (Truce Talks)
71.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement on the Korean truce talks.
At Panmunjom on 29th June a representative of the United Nations Command handed over to the liaison group of the other side General Mark Clark's reply to the Communist commanders' letter of 19th June. Dealing with recent developments in Korea, General Clark's letter said that the United Nations Command would make every effort to secure South Korean cooperation in the armistice. He went on to suggest that the armistice delegations meet immediately to discuss when the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission could begin to function and when, therefore, the armistice agreement might be signed.
Scotland (Rural Electrification Expenditure)
72.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ascertain from the British Electricity Authority to what extent the increased capital expenditure approved for rural electrification will be applied to Scotland and, in particular, to the area of the South-East Scotland Electricity Board.
I understand from the British Electricity Authority that the amounts of increased capital expenditure to be sanctioned for each of the area boards, including the two Scottish boards, are still under consideration.
Education
School Dental Service
asked the Minister of Education how many more full-time dentists are needed in the school dental service to give comprehensive dental care to all school children.
With the school population at its present figure, rather more than 2,000 dentists are needed to give a ratio of 1 to 3,000 children, which is the number I estimate to be necessary to provide a complete service of dental inspection and treatment. The equivalent of 908 full-time dentists were employed by local education authorities on 15th May, 1953.
| Name | Nature of project | Number of places to be provided by completed project | Estimated date of completion | |
| Blackley, Moss House Secondary Modern | … | New school | 450 | September 1953 |
| Blackley, Charlestown Primary School | … | New school | 420 | September 1953 |
| North Manchester High School for Boys | … | Extension | 45 | September 1953 |
| Blackley, Crab Lane Primary | … | New school | 560 | September 1954 |
| New Moston Primary | … | Extension | 200 | January 1954 |
asked the Minister of Education how many new school places will have been provided in the Blackley Parliamentary division of Manchester since October, 1951, when the work now proceeding has been completed; and what are the corresponding figures for the previous six years.
In the six years up to 31st October, 1951, 1,680 new school places were provided in the Blackley division of Manchester. When projects still under construction at that date, or started since that date, have been completed, a further 1,915 places will have been completed.
Teachers (Tuberculosis)
asked the Minister of Education whether she will give the incidence of tuberculosis among schoolmasters and schoolmistresses separately.
The number of teachers in maintained and assisted schools whose employment was suspended during the past five years on the ground that they were suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis was as follows:—
| Year | Men | Women | Total |
| 1949 | 73 | 72 | 145 |
| 1950 | 95 | 99 | 194 |
| 1951 | 98 | 111 | 209 |
| 1952 | 112 | 99 | 211 |
| 1953 to date | 50 | 72 | 122 |
School Building, Blackley
asked the Minister of Education what work is now proceeding on new schools and on extensions to existing schools in the Blackley Parliamentary division of Manchester; and by when she anticipates that it will be completed.
The major school building projects at present under construction in the area are as follow:
Graduate Teachers, Lincoln (Status)
asked the Minister of Education what action she proposes to take on the petition signed by 19 graduate teachers of the City of Lincoln, which was forwarded to her on 11th June, concerning the status of graduate teachers.
I do not propose to initiate any action. In due course the Burnham Committee will submit to me their recommendations for the salary scales of teachers, including graduate teachers, to apply from 1st April next. With regard to the proposal for a change in the constitution of the Committee I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for New-castle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 17th June last.
Ministry Of Food
Pigs (Weight Ranges)
asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the tighter weight ranges in which producers now have to place their pigs, he will shorten the period of notification to make it easier to conform with the weight requirements.
I regret that the present period of notice is the minimum required for the orderly collection and slaughter of the pigs and the subsequent distribution of the meat and bacon.
Sheep (Maximum Weight)
asked the Minister of Food why he has laid down a maximum weight for sheep after December, 1953, which discriminates against large breeds such as the Lincoln Longwool.
We must encourage the production of carcases suitable for the retail meat trade. The limitation on the weight of sheep, which has been agreed with the farmers' unions, is intended to do this by discouraging the production of large overfat carcases. It is not practicable to make special provision for the large breeds.
Copper And Copper-Based Alloys (Monopolies Commission Investigation)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement on the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply and export of semi-manufactures of copper and copper-based alloys.
Yes. The reference to the Commission limited their investigation and report to the facts about supply in the United Kingdom and exports. I have now decided to ask the Commission to extend their investigation to the bearing of the facts on the public interest. I shall lay the completed report before Parliament in due course in accordance with Section 9 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948.
Agriculture (Marketing Schemes)
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement on the advantages derived from those marketing schemes now in force; and what plans he has for the termination of any of these schemes or for the introduction of new ones.
The marketing schemes at present in force assist the more orderly and efficient marketing of the products and provide valuable services to the farmers concerned. The revocation of any of these schemes, or the promotion of new ones, is primarily a matter for the producers themselves.
Glasshouses, Kent (Coke Supplies)
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will examine the situation in connection with the provision of fuel and the allocation of coke for glasshouses in Kent.
I am not aware of any special difficulties in Kent. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, and will write to me, I will make inquiries.
Palace Of Westminster (Heating)
asked the Minister of Works why it was necessary to have the heating system in full operation in the top corridor on the south side of the Palace of Westminster at mid-day on midsummer day.
My officers have no knowledge of any heating being turned on in the Palace of Westminster on mid-summer day. A supply of steam is kept ready in order to supply the kitchens, etc., and to heat the Palace in the event of an all-night Sitting and it is possible that the valve serving the corridor in question was turned on inadvertently. My staff are taking measures to see that this does not occur in future.