asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give consideration to amending the regulations which at present provide only for a husband to be the tenant of full-time smallholdings, so as to allow the wife to take over the tenancy at his decease.

I have already amended the original Regulations, and the widow of a deceased smallholder may now be given preference as the new tenant.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am very grateful to him for the new provisions which he has introduced, because undue hardship has been caused by the operation of the old regulations?

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many authorities, in response to his circular letter of 1952, have written to him for approval to carry on with part-time holdings on land of good quality which were a part of their social structure and sought after by farm workers; to which of the authorities he has given his consent; and to which he has given a refusal.

Four authorities have written asking my agreement to the retention of particular part-time holdings. I have agreed to all these proposals, in one case provisionally.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me how many of the schemes were in respect of Durham County and the amount of money involved?

No, Sir, I cannot give particulars today. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question. Durham was not one of the counties which asked for agreement.

In view of the very large waiting lists of applicants for small-holdings in Durham County, can something extraordinary be done to acquire land to satisfy the demand?

I am watching the position all the time. That is a different question from the one on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the creation of new smallholdings has taken place since March 1952; what extensions have been carried out to existing holdings from March, 1952, to March, 1953; how many schemes costing more than £250 for improvements have been submitted to him for his approval; what was the amount of money involved; and what expenditure he has sanctioned.

I shall not know exactly how many smallholdings were created or increased in size during the year 1952–53 until I have received reports from authorities about the progress of their smallholdings schemes during that period. In the year, however, I approved proposals for the creation of 42 new smallholdings and for the addition of land to 35 existing holdings. Two hundred and thirty-nine schemes for improvements costing more than £250 were submitted for my approval during the year at a total estimated cost of £440,000. I have approved 212 of these schemes, which are estimated to cost £350,000.

Can the Minister state how many, if any, applications were made from Durham County for improvements and extensions costing more than £250?

Not without notice.

In view of the rate at which we are losing men from the land and the extent to which this might prove to be a method of holding them, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the figures are ludicrously small? Will he try to get more money for the purpose?

Considering all the factors involved, progress is good. I entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman that, where we get a good smallholdings estate, it is the most satisfactory way to keep the best type of young man on the land.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the improvements referred to by my hon. Friend include additional equipment such as piggeries and poultry houses? Is he aware that some tenants of holdings, especially in Durham, have the utmost difficulty in getting favourable consideration given to applications for such equipment?

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is "Yes, Sir." As to the second part, I must ask the hon. Member to put down a specific Question about Durham County.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount paid in 1952 for compensation for stock slaughtered because of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England.

One million, seven hundred and twenty-one thousand, eight hundred and seventy-one pounds.

Can my right hon. Friend say how that compares with the previous year?

The figure for 1952 was very high indeed. I have given the House the English figure for 1952. The figure for 1951 was £376,874. Up to 3rd July this year the figure is £57,000.

Could the Minister say whether the committee of inquiry is nearing the end of its labours, as it is getting rather belated?

It has almost finished taking evidence and will be visiting the Argentine, Norway and Sweden very shortly. Its report is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much we are spending on research into foot-and-mouth disease?

That is a different question altogether.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he proposes to hand back to the National Trust land in Adventurers Fen, in Burwell and Swaffham, in view of their expressed intention to flood it; how much public money has been spent by the agricultural executive committee; and if he will make a statement on the particulars which have been sent to him.

Adventurers Fen was derequisitioned last year, in accordance with the recommendations in Section VII of the report of the Agricultural Land Commission. This land formed part of a larger area of requisitioned land at Swaffham Prior and Burwell Fens and it is not possible to allocate expenditure by the County Agricultural Executive Committee between different parts of the total area. I am satisfied, however, that the crops obtained during the period of requisition justified the cost.

How does the Minister justify, under Section 84, (1, a and b) of the Agriculture Act, 1947, making derelict good agricultural land by flooding?

I think the hon. Member has a Question on that Section later on, but as far as this land is concerned it is curious that he should object to my returning to the National Trust land which was their property previously.

But would it not be better to use the provisions of the Act to acquire this land and keep it in food production.

Can my right hon. Friend say how much land is involved in this proposal to re-flood land? While we want to keep as much land in the Fens as possible in cultivation, will he also bear in mind the naturalist side of this problem, because the research work done at Wicken and Burwell is enormously important?

The National Trust land covers about 280 acres and only 120 acres of the poorest and wettest land of that area will be flooded.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of veterinary officers and veterinary assistants at present employed by his Department; and how these figures compare with those of the last three years.

As the comparison with the last three years involves a table

asked the Minister of Agriculture the present number of veterinary surgeons and practitioners available to the agricultural industry; and how these figures compare with those of the last three years.

I am informed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons that there are 5,485 names on the register of Veterinary Surgeons. Of these, about 2,700 are in private veterinary practice in Great Britain, but not all are likely to be engaged exclusively on agricultural work. This compares with a figure of about 2,500 in 1950.

In addition there are about 300 veterinary practitioners in a supplementary register maintained by the Royal College. The number has not altered significantly over the past three years. About 200 are in private practice, but some of these may be engaged on work outside agriculture.

In view of the rapidly expanding agricultural industry

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, might I ask him whether he is satisfied that he can meet the ever-increasing demand from the agricultural industry for veterinary services?

Yes, Sir, I think that the position is satisfactory and that we can meet the demands as they arise.

Yes, Sir. As I said in answer to a previous Question, I keep this point very much under review the whole time. I am satisfied that the position is satisfactory. There are times when we get such a big increase of work in the eradication of tuberculosis that in certain areas we may be temporarily short, but the general position is satisfactory.

Is the Minister satisfied that the number of students in the various agricultural colleges and universities is sufficient to meet the demand of an extended agricultural industry in the future?

I have never had any contrary advice tendered to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will introduce legislation to protect agricultural tenants against harassing actions by companies who attempt to obtain vacant possession of farms that they have bought with the object of resale at a profit, since this kind of action can only result in a reduction in the country's food supplies.

I shall certainly be prepared to consider this the next time there is legislation to amend the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask if his attention has been drawn to a particularly bad case, that of Mr. Clarke, of Theddingworth, who has been the victim of litigation, obstruction and of being spied on through field glasses?

Yes, I have had my attention drawn to this particular case and I am watching developments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he effects boundary adjustments of agricultural land on the recommendation of the Land Commission under Section 84 (1) (a) and (b) of the 1947 Act when Section 87 provides for boundary adjustments.

Section 84 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, enables me, after inquiry by the Agricultural Land Commission, to acquire agricultural land and to provide and maintain the fixed equipment that may be necessary to ensure full and efficient agricultural production. Any boundary adjustments would be incidental to this main purpose. This Section, therefore, enables me to deal with cases where mere boundary adjustments, such as might be provided by a scheme under Section 87 of the same Act, would provide no solution.

May we take it that the Minister uses whatever Section suits him best to avoid an appeal?

No, Sir, I use whatever Section is most appropriate in the particular circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange for adequate representation of the British Landrace Pig Society on the purchasing commission which is to carry out the import of Landrace pigs from Sweden.

The purchasing commission appointed by the National Pig Breeders' Association includes a representative nominated by the Council of the British Landrace Society.

Does the Minister not think it rather queer that the National Pig Breeders' Association, which has been opposing this importation all along, and did so even in its statement accepting the consignment, should be used to do it? Secondly, was not the British Landrace Pig Society asked not to appoint a member of the purchasing commission but to arrange for some one to go along in an advisory capacity?

I think the Landrace Society have got the position wrong. As I have stated in my answer, the position is that their representative is a member of the purchasing commission, together with three other members from N.P.B.A. In regard to the first part of the supplementary question, there is bound to be difficulty in dealing with this problem, but by and large I consider that the National Pig Breeders' Association are responsible, in the main, for the breeding of pigs in this country. At the end of the day—although I expect criticism from all quarters whatever method is adopted—this is the best way to get the best results in the interests of pig breeders as a whole.

Can my right hon. Friend explain how these pigs are to be sold, and to whom, when they have been imported?

That is another question, but I will say at once they are to be sold by public auction under the auspices of the National Pig Breeders' Association.

In view of the clear difference between the views of the Landrace Society and of the Minister, would he be willing to see the various parties before importation and so perhaps remove the difficulties before rather than afterwards?

Yes, Sir, I am prepared to see any body at any time, but the commission leaves this country today to go to Sweden to go into the whole question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that some of these pigs come to Aberdeen, and does he not think it a very good thing that they are being imported into this country?

That is a different question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that the Danish Landrace pig which is to be imported under licence, produces better bacon than any of the English breeds.

No, Sir. But I think it right to permit a limited importation, which will be of Swedish Landrace pigs, so that the merits of this breed as regards quality and cost of production can be tested under our conditions.

Is my hon. Friend not aware that British agriculture has been recognised as the stud farm of the world? Surely he is not suggesting that our breeds of pigs are inferior to those in Scandinavia.

Certainly he is.

I said at the beginning, "No, Sir." This breed of pigs must have a fair chance of developing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many agricultural executive committees have made representations to him regarding harvest leave for members of the Armed Forces.

None, Sir.

May we take it, therefore, that my right hon. Friend is satisfied that agricultural leave will be granted to enable help to be given with the harvest where it will be badly needed?

That is a matter directly between the individual concerned and the Service Department.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied, in the interests of his own Department, that the matter is being properly conducted?

I have had no application from any county committees on this point.

Does the Minister believe that in an important matter such as this he should leave the final decision to those in charge in the Forces?

I am answering the Question on the Order Paper, the answer to which is, "None, Sir." I am satisfied from the general point of view that the harvest will be brought in.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the discovery on the Continent of a new variety of Colorado Beetle, black instead of striped; and whether he will give instructions for a careful watch to be kept for these insects, which might be mistaken for common black beetles.

The beetles said to be a black variety of the Colorado Beetle were reported as having been found by peasants in Lower Austria. Further inquiries are being made. I understand that the beetles are probably not Colorado Beetles, but a closely allied species of which several are known and which are harmless to potatoes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are taken to dress Irish cattle infested with warbles on arrival at British ports.

No steps are taken to treat Irish cattle on arrival at British ports since an Order requiring the compulsory dressing of infested cattle is in operation in Northern Ireland and infested cattle coming from the Irish Republic are dressed at the port of embarkation. Moreover, under the Warble Fly Order, 1948, any infested cattle coming into the ownership of a person during the dressing season must be dressed within seven days.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that hundreds of cattle that have come in this summer from the Irish Republic have been full of warble grubs and have had to have four dressings in this country? Will he please see that the Irish Republic do their part of this job?

I will look into the point raised by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will ascertain from the British Electricity Authority how much of the increased capital expenditure approved for rural electrification will be allocated to the Eastern Electricity Board; and what proportion of this sum is allocated to the Essex sub-area.

The allocation of the increased capital expenditure among the area boards is entirely a matter for the British Electricity Authority and the area boards, and I have no power to require them to provide the information requested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not clearly aware that unless steps are taken to get this additional capital investment allocated to the rural boards, the whole point of the exercise will be lost? Will he not, at any rate, get into touch with his right hon. Friend and get some powers to do it?

I am in touch all the time with my right hon. Friend. I want to make it abundantly clear that the position is as set out in answer to the Question. If there are any points of detail on which the right hon. Member wants information, he must put down a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.

The right hon. Gentleman is the Minister of Agriculture.

Yes, but I am not the Minister of Fuel and Power.

Why did the right hon. Gentleman not transfer the Question?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of outbreaks of swine fever in the present epidemic; and how far the figures show that it is now on the decline.

There have been 1,887 outbreaks of swine fever since 1st December, 1952. The worst months were April and May, with over 450 outbreaks in each. I am glad to say that outbreaks have since declined to 263 in June and 51 up to 8th July.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this information will be appreciated, not only by the farmers, but by the people as a whole?

Can the Minister tell the House of any real progress that has been made by veterinary surgeons or research workers towards discovering a cure for these epidemics of swine fever?

Investigation is definitely in progress but we have had a bad series of outbreaks this year, and we are very disturbed about it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will continue the licensing of the movement of pigs from auction markets.

Yes, Sir. I have no intention at present of withdrawing the licensing provisions of the Regulation of Movement of Swine Order, 1950, which are an essential feature of our measures to control swine fever.

Will my right hon. Friend maintain this restriction, because there is a strong feeling that the outbreak of swine fever was started as a result of dealers taking pigs from market to market instead of retaining them on licence for 28 days after they had been to market?

I could not hear my hon. Friend's supplementary Question very well, but the gist of my answer is that we are keeping an eye on the position.

What the hon. Member is really asking is whether "Set the swine free" would not be a good political slogan. What does the Minister think?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement about progress with the consideration of a marketing scheme for homegrown threshed peas which has been before his Department for a long time.

No Sir. This scheme is still under consideration by the Government.

Is not the time taken for the consideration of this scheme rather long, especially in view of the fact that the scheme has to have the approval of the House and must be submitted to a poll of the producers, and the preliminaries are rather protracted?

The preliminaries have taken a considerable time, but a number of important and difficult questions dealing with this scheme have to be resolved.

In view of the rough handling that the scheme has had at the inquiry and elsewhere, will the Minister make quite certain (a) that it is a marketing scheme if it comes forward and (b) that it is really worth putting forward?

The right hon. Member's remarks will be taken note of.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that his use of the Agricultural Marketing Acts and other Acts is leading the way to the nationalisation of the farming industry; and if he will make a statement on his future policy in this regard.

No, Sir. On the contrary, the Government are moving steadily towards a freer agricultural economy, as is shown by the decontrol of eggs and the forthcoming decontrol of cereals and feedingstuffs.

Whatever the Minister says, does he not realise that in fact he is operating the Socialist policy of land nationalisation, that farmers are being dispossessed without the right of appeal to an ordinary traditional court of English law on points of fact and merit, and would he, as a Conservative Minister, stop doing these things?

That has nothing whatever to do with the Marketing Acts. It may be of interest to my hon. Friend to know that any marketing scheme, before it becomes the law of the land, must first come to this House and then be agreed to by a large majority of the producers themselves.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that anxiety by the farmers about setting the industry free is the biggest conclusive proof that he is not operating Socialist policy?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent young constables are sent out with instructions to bring in trivial motoring offenders for the purpose of gaining experience in police courts; and whether this practice has the approval of his Department and the Inspectorate of Constabulary.

No such instructions are in force in the Metropolitan Police, and so far as my right hon. and learned Friend is aware no such practice exists in any of the county and borough police forces of England and Wales.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in a northern county to my knowledge these instructions are given to young constables—they are given five minor points of trouble to look for in parked cars such as no waterproof licence cover? Does he not think it is desirable, from the point of view of establishing the right relationship between the police and the motorist, to discourage these practices?

I am not aware of that. If my hon. Friend will send particulars I will certainly have them looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pending an amendment of the Gaming Houses Act, 1854, he will advise chief constables not to proceed against workmen's clubs in which a stipulated proportion of the proceeds of the game of house is applied to charitable objects.

It is not within my right hon. and learned Friend's province to give advice as to the particular circumstances in which proceedings should or should not be taken. The decision in each case must be taken by the responsible chief officer of police.

Is it within the province of the hon. Gentleman's right hon. and learned Friend to circulate to every chief constable a telescope and a blind eye?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inquire into the methods being practised by an increasing number of mock auction businesses, with a view to considering legislation to protect the public and traders against this form of trading.

My right hon. and learned Friend has recently agreed to a request from the National Chamber of Trade to send a deputation to the Home Office to discuss this matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman's right hon. and learned Friend aware that there is a tremendous increase in this type of business and, despite the clever technique involved, it is in the main nothing less than bare-faced robbery?

As the hon. Member has given notice that he intends to raise the matter on the Adjournment tomorrow, I think it might be more appropriate to discuss it then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will announce the result of his consultations with local authority associations about additional disablement benefits for members of the Civil Defence Service and the Auxiliary Fire Service.

As my right hon. and learned Friend said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. R. Harris) on 25th June, he will make a statement as soon as he has received and considered the comments of the local authority associations on the proposed scheme.

Is there not a clear case for some additional compensation where, as in the case of a fireman now in a mental home, to which I have drawn the attention of the hon. Gentleman on more than one occasion, it would be desirable both on the grounds of humanity as well as recruiting for this essential service that additional compensation should be forthcoming?

As my right hon. and learned Friend said on 25th June, a scheme has been prepared. It went to the local authority associations on 17th June and we are now awaiting their reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what ex gratia payments he has made during the past year to persons wrongly imprisoned.

Ex gratia payments are made from time to time for a variety of reasons but during the period in question there has been no case in which any payment was made in respect of wrongful imprisonment.

Why is the Home Secretary so mean and heartless in a case of this kind? Does the hon. Gentleman recall the case of Penfold, who was three weeks in Brixton and was given £5 from the magistrate's poor box, and the eighteen-years-old girl of St. Austell who was imprisoned for three weeks and had a small contribution towards the cost of her appeal? Will he give the same kind of treatment to the dustman in Warwickshire, whose case I hope is now being sympathetically considered?

If the hon. and gallant Member wishes to raise particular cases, I hope he will put down a Question, or write to my right hon. and learned Friend or to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at which depots mailbags and sacks containing gifts intended for flood victims are still unopened; and what is the number still to be opened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mailbags, sacks and parcels containing gifts for flood victims still remain unopened; what attempts have been made, by public appeal or otherwise, to get additional voluntary labour for this task; and when he expects that all the parcels will have been opened and the gifts distributed.

My right hon. and learned Friend is informed by the Women's Voluntary Services that no mailbags remain unopened and that it is estimated that 85 per cent. of the packages received have been unpacked and dealt with. The number of garments already unpacked, sorted and graded is approximately 10 million. Distribution is still continuing and a generous issue of winter clothing is planned. It is not possible to say when all the clothing will have been disposed of.

Does not the hon. Gentleman appreciate that the Government of the day have some responsibility to the millions who were so good as to send these parcels, and that the parcels should have been opened before now? On his own statement 15 per cent. are still unopened. Does he not think that is wrong when all that is required is an application to other authorities to help the W.V.S., who do not seem able to do the job fast enough?

Having regard to the very large number of parcels involved, I think that the hon. Member is less than generous to the magnificent work of the Women's Voluntary Services.

While everyone appreciates the good work of the W.V.S., does the hon. Gentleman seriously suggest that five months taken in unpacking parcels is a very speedy job, even though there are a large number of articles? Could he not call in some other agencies to assist because, on the percentage he quoted, it seems that a million garments are still undistributed?

I do not think the hon. Member realised that I said that all the mailbags had been opened. It is only 15 per cent. of the packages which remain unpacked. The number is very large and, as I told the House last week, no damage is being done to the garments not yet unpacked.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that various other organisations are anxious to help in this work? Why should they be kept out and why should the work only be given to the W.V.S., who have been on it for five months?

I was not aware that other offers of help had been made. If the hon. Member will communicate with me I will look into the matter.

Is not my hon. Friend of the opinion that many hon. Members in this House do not know how big a million is?

Would the hon. Gentleman please answer the middle part of my Question 36:

"what attempts have been made, by public appeal or otherwise, to get additional voluntary labour …"

What is the point of saying that these garments are not suffering any damage? Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that they were needed four or five months ago?

I think I am right in saying that the total of garments is in excess of the immediate needs. As I have indicated in my answer, it is a question of making garments available for the coming winter. As to the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, the Chairman of the W.V.S. has today sent a personal letter to all W.V.S. regions asking for a big effort to dispose of these gifts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the shortage of police necessary for enforcing more stringent parking regulations, restricts the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis from encouraging or participating in any bold measures for the removal of congestion from London streets.

Although the Metropolitan police are undoubtedly handicapped by the existing manpower shortages in dealing as comprehensively as the Commissioner of Police would wish with the various causes of traffic congestion in London I am assured that the Commissioner would not be deterred for this reason from encouraging or participating in any scheme which he thought likely to assist in the removal of congestion from the London streets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the prisoner Christie now under sentence of death has been allowed, since his conviction, to communicate with representatives of any newspaper or with any persons other than officials and his legal advisers.

The prisoner Christie has not been allowed since his conviction to communicate with newspaper representatives and until yesterday had had no visits except from his legal advisers. He has written only one letter, which was not in any way concerned with publicity.

Is my hon. Friend aware that on Wednesday of last week the "News Chronicle" published a purported statement, or a confession, which they said had been made by Christie—to a prison official, they said? Without trespassing on the inquiry now going on, may I ask if my hon. Friend has any reason to suppose that Christie has had any communication with the Press, or that such a statement as was made by the "News Chronicle" could be well-founded?

The answer I have given is the truth and the whole truth in this connection. Although I am aware of the statement to which my hon. and learned Friend refers, I am not in a position to speculate on how it came about.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that last Sunday the "Sunday Pictorial" published a long article which was advertised as being the first of a series of articles purporting to be the personal confessions of Christie, and that the paper has gone so far as to publish a facsimile copy of his handwriting purporting to prove that these are genuine and authentic articles? Will the hon. Gentleman say now, or if he is unable to say now will he inquire, on what terms this newspaper has obtained possession of these alleged confessions; because it is a serious matter in the opinion of many hon. Members of this House that a newspaper should interfere with the course of justice whether by paying for the defence on conditions, or in any other way?

I can only repeat what I have already said. The prisoner Christie has had no visits, except from his legal advisers, since the date of his conviction.

Can my hon. Friend say whether it would be possible for legal advisers to act as intermediaries for the Press?

My hon. Friend must form his own opinion on that matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are given to persons convicted of murder to write articles for the Press.

None, Sir.

Does not the Minister think that some reconsideration should be given to all these arrangements? Does not he think that this arrangement between the legal profession and the Press for the exploitation of murder has gone to the extent of constituting an offence against social morality? Does not he think that this regular exhibition, this exploitation of murder, has made a section of the British Press earn the reputation of being the worst Press in the world, and has not the time come when there should be an investigation?

I can only say that no facilities are provided and that the implications contained in the supplementary question of the hon. Member are not a matter for me.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of partially disabled mineworkers who, owing to their disability, are unable to obtain employment in their occupation and who are registered at the employment exchanges in the Easington rural area; and whether he has any scheme in contemplation for providing them with employment.

There are 75 disabled coalminers unemployed in the Easington rural area, of whom 11 are classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. My officers make continuous efforts to place them in employment and co-operate with other Departments concerned in encouraging the introduction of fresh employment opportunities both for these men and other unemployed persons in the area.

Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that more should be done for these disabled men, that the setting up of more rehabilitation centres should be considered? Is he aware that these men feel they are the forgotten men?

I can assure the hon. Member that view is not taken by me or by my Department. We do our best to see that opportunities are given. There are in that area, as the hon. Member probably knows, three Remploy factories for those requiring employment under sheltered conditions. This is an area in which it is difficult to find employment for disabled people who do not require sheltered conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is a considerable number of women who are registered at the employment exchanges in the Easington rural area; and whether he intends to find employment for them.

Yes, I am aware that there is a considerable number of women available for employment in this area. The employment exchanges are doing all they can to assist them to find work.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise there is only one means of finding work in the area, and that is to introduce new and lighter industries into the new town of Peterlee and the adjoining district? Will he try to persuade the President of the Board of Trade to do something in that direction?

I saw that the right hon. Gentleman did something himself earlier in the week. I will try to assist his efforts.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it is precisely because I have very little influence with the President of the Board of Trade that I am asking him to appeal to his right hon. Friend?

We will see what we can do together.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will recommend to arbitration boards that, white the cost of living remains steady, any wage increases should take the form of an incentive bonus rather than an addition to the basic wage, with a view to stimulating greater national productivity.

No, Sir. It would be contrary to our long-standing tradition and practice for the Government to make recommendations to the arbitration boards as to the nature of their awards.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend take any other action which is open to him on a matter on which I think it is agreed on all sides of the House—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—will increase productivity, which is the only way by which the standard of living of the people as a whole can be raised?

I do my best to encourage an increase in the standard of productivity, and I shall refrain from making any sort of remarks to the arbitration boards.

Is the Minister aware that even the suggestion made by his hon. Friend below the Gangway is likely to cause concern among the trade unions, because the slightest suggestion of any attempt to interfere with an arbitrator is likely to bring the arbitration to a close?

It would not be only on one side among those concerned in industry that it would be resented. I do not think anyone should say more.