asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the terms of reference of the committee on the problems involved in providing for old age include examination of the effects on the employment of older workers of the requirements of those insurance companies which finance pensions schemes; and whether he will ask the committee to consider the desirability of the conditions made by some such companies that all employees shall be covered and that no new entrants over a given age shall be admitted.

The terms of reference which I announced on Thursday, 2nd July, do not preclude examination of the effects on the employment of older workers of the requirements of those insurance companies which finance pension schemes. However, I do not think it would be proper for me to direct the attention of the committee to specific points of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the complaints about the numbers of dirty and soiled currency notes in circulation; and what steps are being taken to withdraw such notes from circulation.

Dirty and soiled Bank of England notes which reach the banks are withdrawn from circulation. Notes may, of course, pass from hand to hand for some time before reaching the banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total expenditure on Treasury bill interest in the financial years 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53; and his estimate for 1953–54.

The figures for the first three years mentioned are £24,736,000, £29,593,000 and £82,024,000 respectively. It is too early to give an estimate of the figure for the current year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far he estimates that the increases which he made to old age pensioners in 1952 were adequate to meet the increase on food prices before and after the 1952 Budget.

The relief given to old age pensioners during 1952 more than covers the increase on food prices before and after the 1952 Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the figures showing the authorised capital expenditure on new plant per person employed in manufacturing industry in Great Britain for the years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, and the estimates for 1953 and 1954.

Capital expenditure by manufacturing industry in Great Britain on machinery, vehicles and buildings per person employed, in 1948 to 1952, was as follows:

	£
1948	50
1949	54
1950	60
1951	70
1952	75

The figures represent actual capital expenditure based on returns made by firms. During the period in question there has been no direct control of expenditure on machinery by private manufacturing industry, although new building is of course subject to licensing. For this reason I am not in a position to provide forecasts of expenditure in 1953 and 1954.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has made to meet the situation created by the decision of the United States Congress to end the contract authority for mutual security deliveries in 1955, and the economic and military deliveries in succeeding years.

I set out the position in the speech I made in the House on 7th May. I indicated the nature of the joint effort which must be made by the Government and the country last night. I shall, no doubt, take future opportunities to reinforce and elaborate the theme already deployed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give instructions to all establishment officers in the Civil Service that, where one of the conditions of appointment to a post is membership of a specified professional organisation, a certificate shall be given to the holder of the post that such membership is, for the purposes of Income Tax, a condition of employment.

No. Such a certificate would not in general be true, but where such membership is a condition of employment it is the practice to give such a certificate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now publish a table showing the total number of civil servants in each Department; the numbers who are now allowed to take part in all political activities; the number allowed to take part in certain political activities and how this restriction applies; and the number who are not allowed to take part in any political activities at all as a result of Command Paper No. 8783.

I would refer the the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 31st March, to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make a statement about the future development of clinical research, and the part which the Medical Research Council is to play in this development.

Yes. For some time a Joint Committee representing the Standing Medical Advisory Committee of the Central Health Services Council and the Medical Research Council, who have worked in close consultation with the Advisory Committee on Medical Research in Scotland, have been studying the best ways and means of coordinating and developing clinical research work—that is to say, research directly concerned with sick persons. Their Report is being published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.The recommendations provide both for centralised and decentralised research. The former will be directed through a Clinical Research Board covering the whole country, to be appointed by the Medical Research Council, the latter through the hospital boards.These proposals have been welcomed and accepted, subject to detailed consideration of their practical application, by the responsible Ministers, namely, the Lord President of the Council, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Health, as well as by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. All concerned are agreed that the time is ripe for reorganisation and development in this field.No additional burden on public funds will be involved this year, but my right hon. Friend is ready to agree in principle to reasonable additional financial provision from the Exchequer, on the lines suggested in the Report, as the work develops.As regards Scotland, the Advisory Committee on Medical Research in Scotland will continue to advise on the allocation of National Health Service funds for decentralised research projects, and will also advise on the allocation of funds by the Hospital Endowments Research Trust to be constituted under current legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will take steps to provide an adequate water supply to Bermuda, near Nuneaton;

My right hon. Friend has authorised the Nuneaton Town Council, who are responsible for providing the supply to carry out a scheme for this area. I understand that work is to start shortly and I am not aware that there is any shortage of pipes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications he has received from the Brixworth Rural District Council for permission to commence the sewerage scheme at Clipston, which was the subject of a public inquiry on 26th July, 1950, and was approved by his predecessor on 24th November, 1950; and when he proposes to give permission.

Eight. I am afraid that no definite date for a start can be given. This is not one of the most badly needed sewerage schemes and others must have priority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date and in respect of what financial year he last submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor-General an account prepared under subsection 2 (5) of the Mineral Workings Act, 1951.

The first account is due for the year ended 31st March last and is now being prepared.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what will be the financial effect on local authorities, particularly in Essex, if the recommendations of his committee in respect of the distribution of the Exchequer equalisation grant is carried into effect; and what consultations with local authorities will take place in respect of this matter.

Detailed figures are being worked out and will be sent to the associations of local authorities. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for New-castle-on-Tyne. East (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 7th July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an estimate of the saving in the use of cement which would be effected by making softwood freely available for house building.

The saving on a house could be about 10 cwt.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take to secure a greater use of the improvement grant provisions of the 1949 Housing Act.

My right hon. Friend believes that the provisions need to be given greater publicity, but he is deferring action until he has been able to consider suggestions he has received that the provisions themselves also need improvement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has authorised the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Council to commence building only 420 houses during the next six months in place of 700 for which permission was sought.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why his regional officer has cut the 1953 housing programme of Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council by almost 500 houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what special steps he is taking to encourage the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation to build sufficient houses to meet the needs of approximately 16,000 applicants on their waiting list; and why he is authorising the Corporation to put out tenders for only 420 houses during the next six months instead of the 700 they had planned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent he is now compelled to curb the expansion of the housing programme owing to shortage of bricks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to maintain the housing programme at 300,000 houses a year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the housing programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the anxiety caused by the reduced allocation of houses to be built by local authorities in the North-East region in the autumn, he will make a statement on his plans.

There has been no cut in the programme. We are now building houses at the rate of about 300,000 a year. The bricks and cement available for housing will not support a programme at more than that rate. We must, of course, allocate building materials including bricks and cement for other essential needs such as factories, schools, etc.We are, therefore, steadying the programme at its present high level by matching the number of houses starting with the bricks and cement available. Too many starts would mean too few completions, because the bricks and cement would not go round. Individual local authorities who have not been given immediate approval for all the tenders they would like should remember two things: first, the rate of housebuilding in Britain has increased by half since we took office; secondly, the action we are taking will help every local authority to finish the houses they are now building by avoiding delays on sites, and ensure that their programme will run smoothly on into 1954.We shall build many more houses to let this year than ever before. Side by side with this, we expect to see more houses built for owner-occupiers. The Government feel that it is only right that people who wish to put their own money into building a house should be able to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities, since the passage of the Housing Act, 1952, have applied for permission to reduce or suspend the annual contribution to the housing repairs account; and the number of cases where permission has been given.

The numbers are 33 and 13 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses in Britain are still held by his Department under requisitioning powers; and what is the cost to the Exchequer in consequence.

At 31st May last the estimated number of houses so held in England and Wales was 77,473. The cost to the Exchequer for the financial year is estimated at rather less than £5 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will further circularise local authorities to release forthwith all requisitioned dwellings, in view of the slow progress so far achieved.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 7th July. I should add that my right hon. Friend is now considering the second interim report submitted by the working party.

asked the Minister of Works what plans have been made for an avenue of fully-grown plane trees in the Mall.

The planes in the Mall are too closely planted to permit full growth. There should, ultimately, be only one row on each side by the road. The trees which are not to be kept will be pruned so as to let the others grow naturally, and removed when they cannot be pruned further. I do not expect any trees to be removed for some years yet.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the success which has attended the additional open-air cafés and restaurants in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens during Coronation year, he will continue these arrangements in future years.

I am reviewing the catering arrangements in the Royal Parks and will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Works (1) if he will make a statement about the memorial to the late George Lansbury which his Department propose to erect at the Lido in Hyde Park;(2) when the unveiling ceremony of the memorial plaque to George Lansbury will take place.

Yes. My predecessor, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) conceived the idea which, I am sure, will commend itself to both sides of the House, of commemorating the happy and distinguished association of the late Mr. Lansbury as First Commissioner of Works with improvements to the Royal Parks and especially with the Hyde Park Lido. Accordingly, Mr. H. Wilson Parker, F.R.B.S., has been commissioned to design a plaque in bronze containing a relief of Mr. Lansbury's head and an appropriate inscription. The plaque is now nearly ready and will be fixed to the wall of the Lido Pavilion facing the Serpentine.The right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition has agreed to unveil it at a ceremony to be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, 30th July next, in the presence of members of Mr. Lansbury's family. Hon. Members who wish to be present will be very welcome.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the printed description below the picture, "General Monk declaring for a free Parliament," in the Commons Picture Corridor, is inaccurate in a material historical particular; and if he will take steps to correct this.

I am grateful to the hon. Member for calling attention to this error, which I am taking immediate steps to correct.

asked the Minister of Works, if he has yet decided to preserve the Queen's Beasts; and where he will place them.

The Queen's Beasts will be preserved and I am arranging for them to be removed temporarily to the Great Hall at Hampton Court. I am considering further where they can find a permanent home.

asked the Minister of Works why visitors to Hampton Court during the times when the buildings are floodlit have to follow a fixed route, particularly as this route does not include the point from which the best view of the East Garden Front may be obtained.

The fixed route was arranged for the convenience of visitors and also to avoid damage to gardens and flower beds. If the hon. Member will let me know which special vantage point he has in mind, I will see whether it can be included.

asked the Minister of Works if he has considered the removal and replacement of the avenues of elm trees in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.

Yes. As my hon. Friend is aware, old elm trees are liable to drop branches without warning and in the interests of safety many of those in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park have had to be lopped to an extent which makes them unsightly. There is also evidence that the root systems of many of them are becoming unsound. The elms flanking the Broad Walk, Kensington Gardens, and the North, South and West Carriage Drives, Hyde Park, ought to be removed in the next few years and I propose to make a start with the Broad Walk this autumn. I am taking expert advice on the types of trees to be used in replanting these avenues.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the number of cinema theatres in the City of Aberdeen is insufficient; that this is especially so in summer when the city is crowded with visitors; that the partially built cinema in Ship Row, Aberdeen, of which he has been informed, has remained unfinished for 13 years and is still unfinished; and if he will now grant a licence to enable it to be completed.

Because of the need for conserving building resources for more essential work, it is not the present policy of the Government to licence this type of work. I do, however, appreciate the desirability of completing this partly built cinema and when some relaxation is possible I will consider the granting of a licence.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the applications which have accrued for licences for amenity buildings to meet the social needs of the people in various parts of the country, he will now consider some measure of relaxation of the ban imposed on this type of building.

The current Control of Building Operations Order expires at the end of this year. Before I make a further Order all aspects of building control will be carefully reviewed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how soon it is estimated that the pioneer work which culminated in the launching of the floating fish factory trawler "Fairtry," at Aberdeen, can be followed by making available to the fishing trade full-scale commercial units for freezing fish at sea, thus consummating the work of the Torry Research Station.

In my reply to the hon. Member of 30th June, I referred to trials of the freezing of fish on board trawlers at sea. Until those trials are made, the estimate for Which the hon. Member asks would be premature.

asked the Minister of Labour when it is intended to implement the recommendations contained in the Rees Committee Report on Night Baking.

As stated in the reply given on 23rd June by my right hon. and learned Friend to the hon. Members for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) and Islington, South-West (Mr. A. Evans), we are anxious to proceed with this as quickly as possible. My Department has recently been discussing detailed proposals with the trade unions and employers' organisation, and their comments are now being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many protests have now been made concerning the proposals to lower entrance qualifications to teacher training colleges; and whether he will now reconsider such proposals.

I have received written objections from four education authorities and from the Edinburgh and Glasgow Provincial Committees for the Training of Teachers. In addition objections have come from the Education Institute of Scotland and three of its branches, the Scottish Association of Certified Women Teachers and two of its branches, the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, and three individuals. As I indicated to the hon. Member on 30th June, I will reach a decision as soon as possible after the period for making representations has expired.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) in view of the fact that the shortage of teachers in science and mathematics is general on both sides of the Border, what liaison the committee appointed to advise him on this shortage will have with the Ministry of Education and other interested Ministries;(2) what interests will be represented on the committee he hopes to set up to advise him on the shortage of teachers in science and mathematics; and, in view of the fact that the universities and industry are interested in seeing that the supply of such teachers is improved, if he will include on the committee university representatives and representatives of science-based industry;(3) what will be the terms of reference of the committee he hopes to set up to advise him on the shortage of teachers in science and mathematics; and when he hopes to set it up.

I propose to set up the committee as soon as possible and I hope to announce its terms of reference before Parliament rises. Meanwhile, I can assure the hon. Member that it is intended to include representatives of the interests he has referred to and that there will be adequate liaison with England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the offer made to the Department of Health of bed accommodation for approximately 12 tubercular patients in the private sanatorium at Kingussie, called the Grampian Sanatorium; and, as the City of Glasgow alone has some 600 to 700 persons awaiting admission, if he will take immediate steps to take full advantage of this offer.

The Northern Regional Hospital Board have had for some time a contract for the use of 30 out of 40 beds at the Grampian Sanatorium. These beds are available to National Health Service patients from any Scottish region. The sanatorium authorities have recently increased their total accommodation to 50 beds and have invited the Board to extend the contract proportionately. I understand that the Board will be considering the question later this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of new roads have been constructed by the Forestry Commission since 1945; and how many miles of these roads are open for use by the public.

The Forestry Commission, since 1945, have constructed in Scotland 643 miles of new roads. The Commission have not thrown open these roads to the public for vehicular use, but they are used to some extent by pedestrians, particularly in the National Forest Parks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Department of Agriculture to acquire an estate suitable for cattle production in the Highland area, as a pilot scheme with a view to demonstrating the potentialities of this area in the raising of beef on a large scale.

The purpose which my noble Friend has in mind is, I think, already served by the Department of Agriculture's Management of Glenforsa Estate, Mull, which covers an area of 15,000 acres and at present carries a breeding stock of 170 cattle and 3,500 sheep. The experience gained at Glenforsa will, I think, form a useful supplement to the evidence of the cattle rearing possibilities of the Highland area which is being provided by existing private enterprises.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many farmers in isolated areas have taken advantage of the self-help scheme for providing telephone transmission lines in the seven crofter counties and in Ross and Cromarty, respectively.

On a preliminary assessment only seven farmers in Ross and Cromarty come within the scope of the self-help scheme. I am sorry that because of heavy pressure of work in the Aberdeen area we have not yet been able to approach them individually. Of the farmers in the other crofter counties who are eligible, two have so far agreed to take advantage of the scheme.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of applications made for the installation of a telephone, and the number installed,

——					Applications for telephones during 1952	New telephones supplied during 1952	Outstanding applications at 31st March, 195
Dumbarton	…	…	…	…	93	79	172
Helensburgh.	…	…	…	…	70	94	114
Cardross	…	…	…	…	18	10	24

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the application of Mrs. H. Bailey, of 21, Orchard Place, Swaffham, Norfolk, for a war widow's pension, in view of the fact that her late husband was in receipt of a 60 per cent. disability pension for a chest wound, accepted as due to war service.

I have decided to obtain the opinion of an independent medical expert as to whether Mr. Bailey's death was connected with his war wound or otherwise with his service. Mrs. Bailey is, I am glad to say, in receipt of a widow's pension under the National Insurance Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government will renew the effort to obtain compensation

28,679 applications for telephones were received and 28,010 new telephones provided in Scotland during 1952. At 31st March, 1953, 39,280 applications were oustanding.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of applications made for the installation of a telephone, and the number installed, during 1952 in the burghs of Dumbarton and Helensburgh and the district of Cardross, giving each area separately; and the number of applications still outstanding at the most recent date.

The figures are as follow:from Albania in respect of the Corfu Channel mine outrage, in order to make special compensation to the dependants of the victims of this crime.

Her Majesty's Government believe that the best hope of obtaining compensation lies in our claim to the Albanian gold which is now submitted to the International Court of Justice. But, as the hon. Member has already been informed, a settlement by Albania of her debt would not in any case affect the amount of compensation which has already been paid to the dependants of the dead seamen in accordance with normal pension arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the present position in Egypt; and, with the view of ending the present deadlock, if he will take steps to place the Suez Canal under international control of the United Nations.

As regards the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. C. S. Taylor) on 30th June. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions which have been taking place with the Government of Nepal concerning the recruitment of Gurkhas for the British forces.

As my hon. and learned Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations informed the House on 16th October last, the Government of India have informed Her Majesty's Government that they wish to terminate the present arrangements by which the enlistment of Gurkhas from Nepal for service with the British Army takes place on Indian territory.Following discussion with the Government of India, Her Majesty's Government approached the Government of Nepal and the two Governments have agreed that depots for the recruitment of Gurkhas for the British Army shall be established on Nepalese soil, near the frontier of Nepal. This arrangement shall remain in force, in the first instance, for five years. Any proposal for its extension or for the variation of its terms shall be the subject of consultation between the Government of Nepal and Her Majesty's Government.A party of military experts will now visit Nepal to confer with the Nepalese military authorities and to choose, in consultation with them, suitable sites for the new recruiting depots.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will ascertain from the British Electricity Authority the apportionment to area boards of the revised rural electrification capital investment allocation of £7,500,000 in 1954; and the apportionment for comparative purposes of the allocation of £3,000,000 in 1951.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Braine) on 9th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give a table showing the comparative figures, county by county, of the acreages and numbers of smallholdings let by county councils in 1951 and today; and how many, in each year, were part-time holdings.

Figures showing the position on 31st March in 1951 and 1952 are given in the last two reports to Parliament, of which I am sending copies to my hon. and gallant Friend. Figures for 1953 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the damage done by rabbits to crops in the country, generally, and in Yarborough Road, Lincoln, particularly; and whether the experiments with myxamatosis hold out any hope that rabbits may be eliminated without upsetting the balance of life in the countryside.

I am well aware of the damage done by rabbits generally. I am having inquiries made about the area referred to by the hon. Member and will write to him. All aspects of the use of myxamatosis are being investigated, but present evidence on its value as a long-term control measure is, I fear, not encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total value of all gifts, given or promised, to British Dependencies since the end of the First World War, including direct grants for wealth-producing schemes, or to help to pay recurrent expenses, remission of debts, war and catastrophe grants, etc.; if he will give a list, in detail, of all the beneficiaries and the amounts allocated to each; and what was the total of trustee stock loans raised for these Dependencies in London over the same period.

The total value of all such gifts to the Colonial Dependencies by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom since 1920 is £334,135,146. The statement below shows how this sum is divided into various kinds of assistance.The figures do not include (

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in percentage form, and as the total cost to his Department, the amount of maintenance work done on the trunk and classified roads

The following table shows the expenditure in 1938–39 and 1951–52 which fell to be met from the Road Fund in respect of maintenance and minor improvement of trunk and classified roads, together with percentages of

—		Trunk Roads £'000	Classified Roads £'000	Total £'000	Estimated approximate value of work done based on 1938–39 = 100
1938–39	…	2,727	6,481	9,208	100
1951–52	…	8,082	16,507	24,589	70

The figures for trunk roads represent payments from the Road Fund, while those for classified roads represent the proportion of the expenditure incurred by the highway authorities which fell to be met out of the Road Fund.The figures of expenditure in 1939–39 and 1951–52 are not comparable since in 1946 further trunk roads were created and a number of roads included in the new Class III and the rates of grant for Class I and Class II roads were increased.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total tonnage of coal and other fuel sold by the National Coal

BRITISH OVERSEAS COTTONS LIMITED
Year Ending						Turnover	Net Payment
							To the Exchequer	From the Exchequer
						£	£	£
31st July, 1941	…	…	…	…	…	308,393	—	45,396
31st July, 1942	…	…	…	…	…	510,337	—	7,534
31st July, 1943	…	…	…	…	…	885,571	8,383	—
31st July, 1944	…	…	…	…	…	1,884,055	6,228	—
31st July, 1945	…	…	…	…	…	1,153,330	33,090	—
31st July, 1946	…	…	…	…	…	2,764,816	18,564	—
31st July, 1947	…	…	…	…	…	7,091,355	45,535	—
31st July, 1948	…	…	…	…	…	5,700,788	85,447	—
31st July, 1949	…	…	…	…	…	1,634,743	44,320	—
31st July, 1950	…	…	…	…	…	570,700	45,224	—
31st July, 1951	…	…	…	…	…	576,760	23,974	—
31st July, 1952	…	…	…	…	…	300,065	259,333*	—
* Including accumulated profits on special transactions in previous years.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she has taken to ensure that the interests of graduate

I am advised by the National Coal Board that the information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of turnover and net profit or loss to the taxpayer for each year of British Overseas Cottons Limited.

Following are the figures requested:teachers are sufficiently represented in the present constitution of the Burnham Committee, and that the salary scales are sufficient to attract sufficient numbers of honours graduates into the teaching profession.

I have no reason to believe that in framing their salary recommendations the Burnham Committee fail to take fully into account the position of graduate teachers or that the interests of such teachers are not adequately represented on this Committee.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware of the shortage of school places at Cross Heath and the urgent need for more secondary school places at Chesterton, in the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme; and if she will reconsider the school-building programme for Staffordshire for 1953–54, with a view to including some projects for this district.

Some relief will come to the Cross Heath area next term when part of the new Hempstall's Farm County Primary School comes into use. As I told the hon. Member on 23rd October last, the local education authority and my Department are watching the secondary school requirements in Newcastle-under-Lyme carefully. I do not think it necessary or practicable to add a project there to the 1953–54 building programme but the position is being reviewed in relation to the 1954–55 programme.