asked the Minister of Transport what improvements have been made during the last three years in the regulations relating to the summoning and to the providing of necessary medical and surgical aid by means of radio-telephony, telegraphy and otherwise, for persons at sea in British fishing vessels.

Masters of fishing and other vessels at sea requiring medical or surgical advice may obtain it through coast radio stations, 11 of which maintain continuous watch in the United Kingdom. In accordance with the International Radio Regulations, these messages receive priority over all calls other than those from ships in distress. There has been no change in the arrangements during the past three years. I am at present preparing revised scales of medicines and medical stores to be carried by different classes of fishing boats. A new and revised edition of the Ship Captain's Medical Guide will also be available soon.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to secure that the latest scientific discoveries are being fully used for life-saving, life boats and signalling, with a view to minimising the risks to which mariners are exposed.

My Department keep in close touch on all matters affecting safety of life at sea with the organisations which represent the shipping industry, with manufacturers of equipment and with the other Government Departments concerned. They are always ready to examine carefully suggestions from any source which may lead to greater safety. In a number of respects higher standards were introduced in the Rules which came into force last November to give effect to the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, 1948.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will set up a committee to review the adequacy of present arrangements for searching and assisting vessels in distress around the British Isles.

In my view this matter can best be dealt with by discussions between the Departments directly concerned and I have arranged accordingly. Other interested organisations will be consulted as necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Committee on the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil.

Many of the Committee's recommendations involve legislation. Meanwhile, as hon. Members will have observed from a statement which appeared in the Press on Friday last, the Chamber of Shipping and the Liverpool Steam Ship Owners Association are, I am glad and grateful to say, recommending to their members that they should voluntarily and without waiting for legislation adopt those recommendations of the Committee which it is practicable for them to put into force at once.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the ship "Nidar" owned by a British registered company was captured by Chinese Nationalists last December while flying the Panama flag; and what action he is taking with regard to use by the master of the Panamanian flag.

I have seen Press reports of this formerly Panamanian ship coming into Chinese Nationalist hands last December. The "Nidar" was not on our register and I have no reason to suppose that her ownership was such as to entitle her to be registered under the Merchant Shipping Acts as a British ship and to fly the British flag. As regards the last part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government have no jurisdiction over the flying of foreign flags by foreign ships.

asked the Minister of Transport which organisations he consulted with regard to the compilation of Statutory Instrument No. 1036 of 1953; and whether the final draft was prepared with their full agreement.

These Regulations were made in consultation with the National Maritime Board and with their full agreement. As my hon. Friend no doubt knows, the National Maritime Board is fully representative of both the shipowners and the officers and men of the Merchant Navy. In addition the Dock and Harbour Authorities Association and the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive were consulted and their agreement obtained on those Regulations which were of particular concern to them.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to take action on the dangerous length of main road between Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, and Newcastle, with special attention to Trent Vale.

The scheme for widening this length of road will involve extensive demolition of property and rehousing, and cannot be undertaken at present. Improved lighting has been installed and at Trent Vale guard rails will be erected during the next few weeks. A refuge has also been erected in temporary materials at the Flash Lane junction and will shortly be made permanent.

asked the Minister of Transport the length of the trunk road between Trentham and Trent Vale, Stoke-onTrent; how many accidents have taken place between the two places since 1945; and how many fatal accidents.

The distance is 1·7 miles, measured from Ash Green roundabout at Trentham to the junction with London Road at Trent Vale. Statistics of accidents on this length of road before 1st January, 1948, are not readily available. Police records show that from 1st January, 1948, to 30th June, 1953, there were 282 accidents, of which four were fatal and 99 involved injury.

asked the Minister of Transport to give an estimate of the annual cost of traffic congestion in London for the nearest convenient postwar year.

It is very difficult to form any reliable estimate in this matter, but the Economics Committee of the Road Research Board are giving a good deal of thought to it and will no doubt made the result of their researches known in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise the widening of the railway bridge in Parkhouse Road, Ardrossan, on trunk road A.78.

No. As I informed the hon. Member for South Ayrshire on 20th July, strengthening of bridges must take precedence in present circumstances over widening. In this case widening would necessitate substantial work to the abutments and delay the redecking of the bridge to a greater strength.

asked the Minister of Transport how many fatal road accidents occurred in the West Riding of Yorkshire for the year ended June, 1953.

Road accidents in the West Riding of Yorkshire, including the 10 county boroughs, during the year to the end of June, 1953, resulted in the deaths of 339 persons.

asked the Minister of Transport why his Department insists that the diameter of a traffic island shall be not less than 180 feet; and if he will reconsider this policy.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the central islands of roundabouts. For these a diameter of 180 feet is not insisted on as a minimum, although it is a desirable objective where sufficient space is available.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the trunk and Class I roads has less than a 30-foot carriageway in Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire, respectively.

On trunk roads the figures are as follows:

			per cent.
Lancashire	…	…	53
Cheshire	…	…	62
Staffordshire	…	…	80
and on Class I roads:
Lancashire	…	…	68
Cheshire	…	…	91
Staffordshire	…	…	99

asked the Minister of Transport the total mileages of classified roads in the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire; and what is his grant allocation per mile for 1953–54 to each of these counties.

The mileages of classified roads are as follows: Lancashire 2,056; Cheshire 1,279; Staffordshire 1,448. The grant allocation per mile for maintenance and minor improvements has been: Lancashire £427; Cheshire £416; Staffordshire £270.

asked the Minister of Transport the figure of tonnage of traffic on the roads of Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire, respectively, in 1938 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

The average tonnage figures for 1938 are available only for trunk and Class I roads. They are as follows:

Trunk Roads:
Lancashire	…	…	…	12,438
Cheshire	…	…	…	9,529
Staffordshire	…	…	…	9,112
Class I Roads:
Lancashire	…	…	…	6,760
Cheshire	…	…	…	4,265
Staffordshire	…	…	…	4,560

These are the latest figures available, since no full traffic census has been taken since the war.

asked the Minister of Transport why his grant allocation for maintenance and minor improvement of classified roads is less per mileage to Staffordshire than to Lancashire and to Cheshire.

Grants for the maintenance of classified roads are not based on mileage alone. Staffordshire County Council asked for a grant of £421,876 and have received £390,000, which is more than they received last year. I am, however, giving careful consideration to representations which hon. Members have made to me about Staffordshire roads.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of tonnage carried in 1938 and 1952, respectively, on the classified roads of Cheshire and Staffordshire.

The average tonnage per census point carried on Class I roads in 1938 was 4,265 in Cheshire and 4,560 in Staffordshire. No 1938 figures are available for Class II or Class III roads in these counties and no census has been taken on any class of road in them in 1952.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent he bases his grant allocations to counties for road maintenance and improvement on the tonnage of the traffic on the roads of each county.

The weight of traffic is only one of several factors taken into account. Others are the length and width of roads in the county and their condition; whether the county is predominantly urban industrial or rural and local costs of labour and materials.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now arrange to complete the Totnes by-pass.

I realise that only a comparatively small expenditure would complete the scheme, but the project would benefit pleasure and amenity traffic rather than industrial traffic and I regret that I cannot authorise this work out of the funds at present available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for an investigation, similar to those held with regard to London and Glasgow, into the transport needs of the area within a 50 miles radius of Manchester, and into the need of new roads and bridges.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 27th October last.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to complete the construction of the road on the South side of Lossiemouth Airfield, giving direct access to Lossiemouth to farmers in that area.

The provision of a road South of Lossiemouth Airfield will be included in the revised draft proposals, which I hope to publish soon, for the permanent closure of certain roads and the provision of substitutes consequent upon the extension of the main runway. Until a decision is reached on these revised proposals, I cannot say when the proposed substitute roads will be constructed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will amend his letter of 1st May, 1953, to divisional road engineers, so that the consultation with the Forestry Commission therein enjoined shall be extended to include the owner of any wood adjoining a proposed lay-bye, irrespective of the size of such wood.

No. The existing arrangements were made at the request of the Forestry Commission and are considered to be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Transport why there are still police notices closing the river side of the Embankment roadway to vehicle traffic, except for buses; and why have the buses been given rights not allowed to other payers of Road Fund licences.

Pending reconstruction of the carriageway, which is due to begin in September, it is not considered necessary to alter present traffic arrangements which are for the benefit of all concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport when work will start on lifting the tramlines on the Embankment and making the whole roadway available to normal vehicle traffic.

The local authorities concerned expect to start this work towards the end of September.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has considered a resolution from the Scottish Motor Trade Association Limited in support of the proposal that a bridge should be built over the River Forth at Queensferry by private enterprise; and what was his reply.

I have not received this resolution.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give some special attention to applications for grants to improve the roads in Uist and Yell in Shetland in view of the fact that, without an improvement in these roads, neither agriculture nor industry can expand.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the island of Unst. I have already allocated to Shetland for the maintenance and minor improvement of classified roads during the current year as much money as they have asked for, and no doubt they will use this to the best advantage.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now announce the appointments he has made to the British Transport Commission and the Executives to fill the vacancies arising in August and September; and what additional members he has appointed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that important decisions of policy are being held up through the delay in announcing the names of those appointed to serve on the British Transport Commission and its Executives; and why he has taken so long in filling these posts.

I propose to make a statement on the future of the British Transport Commission and Executives after Questions on Wednesday next.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in accordance with the power conferred upon him by Section 11 of the Transport Act, 1953, he will make regulations requiring that where an application is made by the purchaser of a transport unit or of shares of a company under the control of the Commission for an A special licence the names of any persons or companies with whom the applicant proposes to enter into a hire purchase agreement in regard to the unit or shares shall be disclosed.

No; in the case of transactions of this kind the finance company concerned becomes the legal purchaser and owner of the property which is the subject of the hire purchase agreement. This means that under the Transport Act, 1953, the finance company will be the person entitled to a special A licence for any vehicles concerned but subject to disclosure of the agreement to the licensing authority this right will pass to the other party to the agreement as soon as he assumes possession of the vehicles. The part played by the finance company will thus be known to the Commission, the Disposal Board and the licensing authority.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet given his approval under Section 3 (3) of the Transport Act, 1953, to the proposal of Transport Unit Finance to purchase vehicles from the British Transport Commission and resell them on hire purchase agreements.

Section 3 (3) of the Act, to which the hon. Member refers, deals with the make-up of transport units and not with their purchase by any particular person. I am not concerned in the acceptance or refusal of particular tenders unless any difference arises between the Commission and the Board, or unless a tender is refused wholly or mainly on the ground that it is likely to lead to the elimination or undue restriction of competition in road haulage.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a direction to the British Transport Commission under Section 4 of the Transport Act, 1947, to defer the London fare increases until the Committee of Inquiry's report on London Transport is presented.

No. Services in the London area are incurring losses at the current level of fares of about £5 million a year, and I could not contemplate adding to the Commission's accumulated revenue deficit at this rate.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to protect the London travelling public in view of the heavy burden which will have to be borne as a result of the recently announced further increase of fares.

The charge for transport services must be related to the cost of providing them, and the Transport Tribunal on whose decision the increases are based recorded that during the next 12 months services in the London area would be likely to run at a loss of nearly £5 million at the current level of fares. So far as action on my part is concerned, I have, as the House knows, already appointed a Committee to ascertain what practical measures can be taken by the British Transport Commission and the London Transport Executive in order to secure greater efficiency or economy.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has received a report from the committee which he set up to consider the future of Woolwich Arsenal.

The Select Committee on Estimates for the Session 1951–52, in its Twelfth Report, recommended that:

"The question of the use of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and its fuller integration with the whole organisation of the Royal Ordnance Factories should be given immediate consideration by the Royal Ordnance Factory Board"; and that "the possibilities of concentrating the work and releasing as much as possible of the site for other development should be carefully examined."

The Woolwich Arsenal site, which is at present wholly occupied by Government establishments, covers an area of 1,300 acres. The western end is mostly occupied by manufacturing activities, including a gun factory and an ammunition factory. The eastern end consists largely of low-lying marsh land and is used for the storage of explosives. The centre is mainly occupied by a filling factory, research establishments, proof butts, and Service stores. There are altogether nearly 14,000 people employed on the site.Last January, I set up an Interdepartmental Committee, composed of officials of the Government Departments concerned, to examine the problem raised in the Select Committee's Report. The Interdepartmental Committee, which was instructed to consult with outside parties interested in this question, has now submitted its report to me. In the light of this report and of other representations which I have received, I am considering the following proposals:

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has received the report of the committee set up by himself and the First Lord of the Admiralty to deal with the duplication of inspectors in Royal Ordnance factories to which attention was drawn in the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates of last Session.

No. As I informed the House on 18th May, I am not expecting to receive the Committee's Report before the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement on the results of the investigations now being made by British and American experts into the possibility of lessening jet engine noise.

Research already undertaken in this country has substantially increased our knowledge about the basic problems involved and has indicated possible ways in which the design of jet engines might be modified so as to reduce noise. However, it is still too early to say what results will be achieved in practice. The American authorities concerned are working very closely with us and they recently sent representatives to take pan in a joint conference organised by the Ministry of Supply in collaboration with Southampton University. Next month British experts are attending meetings on this subject in the United States at the invitation of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he proposes to take to increase the production of steel plate; and if he will state the additional yearly tonnage increase that will be necessary to meet consumer demand.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he proposes to take in view of the report of the Iron and Steel Consumers' Council that adequate steps are not being taken to ensure that in future years supplies of plates will meet the increased demand.

In the Report referred to, the Consumers' Council drew attention to the fact that there were differences of opinion within industry in regard to the volume of future demand and recommended that the problem should be referred to the Iron and Steel Board for examination. I have drawn the special attention of the Board to this part of the Council's report.

asked the Minister of Supply the total number of security officers employed by his Department.

Seventy-five.

asked the Minister of Supply what orders he has placed for coupled Proteus III engines for the Princess flying boat so that this prototype can be completed.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now in a position to make a statement about the future use of the Princess flying boat.

Trials of the first Princess flying boat, using Proteus II engines, are still proceeding. As I explained on 17th March, 1952, it was decided to install these engines only in one aircraft for the purpose of test flights and then to wait for more powerful engines to become available.Work on the single Proteus III engine is proceeding as fast as possible. The coupled version of this engine is not yet developed and work is at present held up for the reasons stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport and Fareham (Dr. Bennett) on 16th March last, namely that it would delay the development of engines required for the Britannia and other super-priority aircraft.

asked the Minister of Supply the estimated cost of dismantling the Brabazon; and the estimated value of the scrap to be recovered.

I cannot yet give any reliable estimate of the break-up value of the materials and components of these aircraft. I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that the winding-up of the Brabazon project will involve no further charge on public funds.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many widows under the age of 60 years and how many widows over the age of 60 years, were receiving 10s. per week pensions at the end of June, 1953.

Approximately 180,000 widows under the age of 60 and 30,000 widows over the age of 60 were receiving 10s. pensions at the end of June, 1953.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what would be the cost to the insurance funds if the present 10s. per week pensions of widows under the age of 60 years were increased to the standard rate of 32s. 6d. per week; and the cost if the pensions of 10s. per week of widows over the age of 60 years were increased to the standard rate of 32s. 6d. per week.

The additional cost to the National Insurance Fund would at present be about £10¾ million a year for widows under the age of 60 and about £1¾ million a year for those over 60.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will increase the amount that widows may earn before a reduction is made in their pension, in view of the need for increased production.

These amounts were substantially raised in 1951 and I see no ground for reviewing the provision then made.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what instructions have been issued to the local offices of his Department to discourage payment of benefits in cash and to persuade applicants to accept payment by postal draft; whether he is aware that this involves delay in the receipt of benefit and hardship to sick people; and whether he will give instructions that benefits shall be paid, as a general rule, in cash in accordance with M.N.I. Circular B.F.11 (Notes) C.W.

No instruction to the local offices of my Department discourages the payment of benefit in cash and, in accordance with the note to which the hon. Member refers, payment by this method is made when requested. The great majority of claimants prefer to be paid by post and I cannot, therefore, agree to issue instructions that benefit should as a general rule be paid in cash.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state in respect of Chester-le-Street and Gateshead areas of the National Assistance Board the numbers of retired pensioners whose pension includes an increased pension earned under Section 4, subsection (3), of the National Insurance Act, 1951, and who are in receipt of an allowance from the National Assistance Board.

I am informed by the Board that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many people in Wales and Monmouthshire are expected to benefit by his decision to take steps to enable disablement benefit to be paid to those partially-disabled persons hitherto excluded from such benefit; and if he will give the comparable estimated figure for England.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will now make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's intentions with regard to men partially disabled by pneumoconiosis who have been unable to obtain compensation.

As I informed the House on Thursday my discussions regarding the scheme of benefit for men partially disabled by pneumoconiosis who failed to qualify for compensation have reached a stage when I am satisfied that, given good will and the co-operation of all concerned, a scheme providing a flat rate benefit for these people on the general lines of the existing scheme for total cases would be practicable. I cannot say exactly how many men would benefit under such a scheme but they may be as many as 15,000; of whom I expect about half to be in Wales and one-third in England. I hope before long to complete the preliminary work and thus clear the way for the introduction of the necessary legislation extending the scope of the Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis Benefit Act, 1951.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in Coventry summer stocks of domestic coal are lower than in any year since the war; that house deliveries this winter are expected to be below those of last winter by an average of 1 cwt. per registered customer while, in addition, there is little hope of giving customers the full allowance of one ton of domestic coal allocated for the summer period; that the average amount delivered will be 15 cwt. including some opencast coal; and what steps he is taking to ensure that supplies in Coventry are commensurate with those in other cities of comparable size.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been drawn to the domestic fuel position in Dundee; and what steps he is taking to ensure adequate supplies during the coming winter.

The House Coal Distribution (Emergency) Scheme ensures that merchants in all parts of the country receive a fair allocation from the house coal programme and I understand that deliveries against allocation in the cities of Coventry and Dundee are well up to the average of the rest of the country. In regard to the general level of domestic coal supplies, I would refer the hon. Members to my right hon. Friend's recent statements.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the difficulties which coal merchants in the Isle of Wight are having in obtaining supplies of coke at reasonable prices; and when the scheme submitted to him by the Gas Council for consideration by the Industrial and Domestic Coal Consumers Councils is to be implemented.

I am advised that there are ample stocks of coke in the Isle of Wight. My right hon. Friend trusts that any difficulties in marketing the coke will be resolved by the Gas Council Scheme which, as he advised my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) on 13th July, will come into force this autumn.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what average weekly increase in coal supplies he estimates he would require for the period from the end of July to the end of March next in order to cover the present coal shortage and provide reasonable supplies to domestic consumers during the coming winter; and how many individual pits are operating in Great Britain.

There are approximately 1,300 pits, of which 881 are operated by the Coal Board. My right hon. Friend would prefer to wait until we have a clearer picture of the likely level of end-summer stocks before he gives an estimate of next winter's supply requirements.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the amount in respect of each divisional coal board of the £50 million recently awarded by the tribunal presided over by Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve as the valuation of colliery houses.

The tribunal was not appointed by my right hon. Friend but jointly by the National Coal Board and the Mining Association of Great Britain, to obtain guidance on the principles relating to the valuation of colliery houses. The district valuation boards remain responsible for the valuation of the houses for compensation purposes, but my right hon. Friend is hopeful that the issue of the tribunal's report will facilitate their task.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has considered the suggestions put forward by the Barnstaple Borough and Rural District Councils for re-zoning the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Gloucester into one zone in which there should be one standard price charged for coal; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend cannot accept this suggestion which would involve substantial increases in price to a large number of consumers, particularly those in Somerset and Gloucester.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the capital value of pithead baths which have been completed since, and including, 1947, showing each National Coal Board Division separately; the number of workmen for whom these pithead baths provide bathing accommodation; and the proportion of workmen in each division who are now provided with pithead baths facilities.

The National Coal Board inform me that the capital

PITHEAD BATHS COMPLETED BETWEEN 1ST JANUARY, 1947 AND 30TH JUNE, 1953
N.C.B. Division			Completed baths	Extensions	Workmen provided for in Cols. (2) and (3)	Total proportion of workmen provided with baths*
(1)			(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
						Per cent.
Scottish	…	…	32	11	20,518	82·4
Northern (N. and C.)	…	…	9	—	10,020	60
Durham	…	…	6	5	7,140	68·4
North Eastern	…	…	24	1	24,638	85·4
Northwestern	…	…	15	5	13,874	87·8
East Midlands	…	…	17	1	15,630	83
West Midlands	…	…	10	—	8,880	86·9
Southwestern	…	…	22	—	21,035	72·1
South Eastern	…	…	—	—	—	100
TOTALS	…	…	135	23	121,735	79
* Includes baths built before 1947.

asked the Minister of Materials the total amount of sawn softwood held on Government account at 31st December last and at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement as to the extent by which he intends to run down this stock during the remainder of this year.

Apart from strategic reserves, which it is not the practice to disclose, Government stocks of softwood consisted at 30th June of 51,000 standards, as against some 100,000 standards at the beginning of the year. It is the intention to continue selling this balance throughout this year.

asked the Minister of Materials if he will undertake, in pursuance of the assurance given by his predecessor, to consult the timber trade before releasing to the market strategic and emergency stock of softwood.

I shall certainly continue the present practice of consulting representatives of the timber trade on the disposal of Government stocks.

asked the Minister of Materials when he expects to make his further statement announcing the Government's decision with regard to the control of consumption of softwood timber.

I cannot now add to my reply to Questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll), Newbury (Mr. Hurd), and Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott) on the 20th July.

asked the Minister of Materials what tonnage of blown timber, resulting from the storm damage of February, has been purchased by his Department.

None. The Ministry of Materials no longer trades in timber. As regards purchases for the stockpile, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Major Anstruther-Gray) on 27th April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement giving the annual cost in the financial year ended 31st March, 1946, and in each subsequent financial year of Exchequer subsidies and local authorities' statutory contributions, respectively, in respect of new permanent houses and flats built in England and Wales since 1st April, 1945.

The figures for Exchequer subsidies are:

Financial Year				Aggregate Amount
1945–46	…	…	…	—
1946–47	…	…	…	172,282
1947–48	…	…	…	1,703,161
1948–49	…	…	…	5,355,058
1949–50	…	…	…	7,872,198
1950–51	…	…	…	10,161,123
1951–52	…	…	…	13,226,064
1952–53	…	…	…	18,038,844
				(Provisional)

I regret that figures for rate contributions in respect of these houses are not available. In general, the normal rate fund contribution is one third that of the Exchequer contribution.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the value of rural water schemes submitted for approval; the value of schemes approved but not yet authorised to go to tender; the value of schemes authorised for commencement; and the value of grants paid under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts, 1944 and 1951 to the last convenient date.

The total value of rural water schemes for England and Wales submitted to my Department up to 30th June, 1953 is £72,058,741. The value of schemes authorised to begin £37,069,870; the value of schemes approved in principle but not yet finally authorised is £14,994,318. The total amount of grants paid in respect of rural water schemes in England and Wales up to 30th June is £5,369,101. In addition a further £10 million odd has been promised.

Metropolitan Borough Council				Increase of Maximum Annual* Appropriation to £	Increase of Maximum of Fund to £	Consent to increase given on
(1)				(2)	(3)	(4)
Bethnal Green	…	…	…	15,000	Unchanged	4th March, 1953
Greenwich	…	…	…	8,416	Unchanged	21st January, 1949
Greenwich	…	…	…	8,090	Unchanged	21st January, 1950
Greenwich	…	…	…	15,401	Unchanged	11th December, 1950
Greenwich	…	…	…	20,000	50,000	25th March, 1952
Hackney	…	…	…	30,000	100,000	10th August, 1951
Hackney	…	…	…	Unchanged	150,000	22nd January, 1953
Kensington	…	…	…	20,000	180,000	10th March, 1950
Kensington	…	…	…	† 40,000	Unchanged	8th July, 1950
Kensington	…	…	…	Unchanged	300,000	27th September, 1950
Kensington	…	…	…	25,000	300,000	11th June, 1952
Lambeth	…	…	…	45,000	150,000	30th April, 1952
				† 8,480 14s. 0d.
Lambeth	…	…	…	45,000	150,000	25th October, 1952
				† 24,954 1s. 5d.
Lewisham	…	…	…	15,000	100,000	27th March, 1952
Paddington	…	…	…	45,000	135,000	7th June, 1951
Poplar	…	…	…	10,000	Unchanged	9th December, 1952
St. Marylebone	…	…	…	80,500	359,446 plus accumulated interest	27th January, 1949
St. Marylebone	…	…	…	128,285	400,000	7th February, 1950
St. Marylebone	…	…	…	175,000	400,000	9th February, 1951
Shoreditch	…	…	…	14,289	Unchanged	7th February, 1949
Shoreditch	…	…	…	14,289	50,000	23rd August, 1951
				† 11,853
Shoreditch	…	…	…	2d. rate product plus £8,130 for each year from 1952–53 to 1955–56	50,000	7th November, 1952
Southwark	…	…	…	30,000	75,000	11th January, 1949
Southwark	…	…	…	30,000	100,000	9th November, 1951
				† 9,622 6s. 8d.
Stepney	…	…	…	Unchanged	60,000	13th March, 1950
Woolwich	…	…	…	30,000	150,000	28th April, 1952
* The maximum annual contribution to Renewals and Repairs Funds under Section 79 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1939, is £10,000, or the product of a rate of 2d. in the £, whichever is the less.
† Special additional contributions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many cases in the last five years permission has been given to Metropolitan borough councils to exceed the limitations imposed by Section 79 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1939, upon repairs and renewals funds; and what was the borough and amount concerned in each case.

The number of cases is 26. The following table gives the remaining information.REPORT a statement showing those administrative counties and county boroughs which it is expected will receive Exchequer Equalisation Grants in respect of the current financial year, and the amount of such grants expressed in terms of rate poundage which it is at present estimated that they will receive.

Following is the statement:

——	Estimated Exchequer Equalisation Grant for 1953–54
	Amount	As a rate poundage
(1)	(2)	(3)
	£	s.	d.
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNTIES
ENGLAND
Bedford	652,204	6	11
Berks	235,544	2	3
Buckingham	120,889		10
Cambridge	325,799	6	5
Chester	888,817	3	4
Cornwall	798,779	8	7
Cumberland	662,755	12	10
Derby	1,650,065	9	1
Devon	329,451	1	10
Dorset	307,770	3	2
Durham	3,343,318	17	6
Essex	1,055,626	1	10
Gloucester	1,163,219	10	0
Hereford	408,447	12	7
Hertford	—	—
Huntingdon	275,890	18	1
Isle of Ely	427,476	26	10
Isle of Wight	—	—
Kent	—	—
Lancaster	3,580,850	5	11
Leicester	1,059,822	12	8
Lincoln:
Parts of Holland	450,728	24	5
Parts of Kesteven.	475,592	16	5
Parts of Lindsey	966,005	12	10
Middlesex	—	—
Norfolk	1,522,526	20	8
Northampton	730,415	11	1
Northumberland	895,974	7	3
Nottingham	1,300,988	9	2
Oxford	498,969	10	9
Rutland	56,528	9	9
Salop	895,735	12	7
Soke of Peterborough	107,411	5	4
Somerset	870,553	6	1
Southampton	468,124	2	0
Stafford	2,968,677	15	10
Suffolk, East	620,565	11	2
Suffolk, West	424,341	15	6
Surrey	—	—
Sussex, East	—	—
Sussex, West	—	—
Warwick	628,899	3	11
Westmorland	84,744	3	9
Wilts	763,843	6	10
Worcester	1,224,382	12	4
York:
East Riding	518,789	8	10
North Riding	691,824	6	2
West Riding	4,510,824	11	5
Isles of Scilly	6,633	19	9

——	Estimated Exchequer Equalisation Grant for 1953–54
	Amount	As a rate poundage
(1)	(2)	(3)
	£	s.	d.
ADMINISTRATIVE COUNTRIES—Cont.
WALES
Anglesey	245,436	23	7
Brecknock	260,245	17	10
Caernarvon	368,393	11	9
Cardigan	415,324	47	10
Carmarthen	1,012,147	36	7
Denbigh	509,710	12	1
Flint	305,538	7	5
Glamorgan	3,010,868	20	4
Merioneth	265,996	36	11
Monmouth	1,465,348	25	0
Montgomery	348,326	39	5
Pembroke	598,315	32	1
Radnor	68,174	7	1
COUNTY BOROUGHS
ENGLAND
Barnsley	200,956	10	1
Barrow-in-Furness	102,283	5	1
Bath	—	—
Birkenhead	109,182	2	3
Birmingham	1,496,686	4	2
Blackburn	80,832	2	3
Blackpool	—	—
Bolton	161,369	2	10
Bootle	92,813	3	6
Bournemouth	—	—
Bradford	62,179		7
Brighton	—	—
Bristol	—	—
Burnley	76,575	2	8
Burton-upon-Trent	69,991	4	4
Bury	56,924	2	11
Canterbury	—	—
Carlisle	65,082	2	10
Chester	—	—
Coventry	206,822	2	3
Croydon	—	—
Darlington	20,071		8
Derby	49,548	1	0
Dewsbury	111,691	7	4
Doncaster	—	—
Dudley	164,888	10	1
Eastbourne	—	—
East Ham	192,508	5	1
Exeter	—	—
Gateshead	329,209	11	1
Gloucester	35,830	1	6
Great Yarmouth	18,666		11
Grimsby	192,769	7	0
Halifax	129,351	4	2
Hastings	—	—
Huddersfield	—	—
Ipswich	116,483	3	3
Kingston-upon-Hull	739,698	8	2
Leeds	—	—
Leicester	35,725		4
Lincoln	28,909	1	2
Liverpool	—	—

——	Estimated Exchequer Equalisation Grant for 1953–54
	Amount	As a rate poundage
(1)	(2)	(3)
COUNTY BOROUGHS—
ENGLAND—Cont.
	£	s.	d.
Manchester	—	—
Middlesbrough	414,886	10	5
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	—	—
Northampton	—	—
Norwich	—	—
Nottingham	115,549	1	0
Oldham	244,135	7	1
Oxford	—	—
Plymouth	—	—
Portsmouth	2,133		0¼
Preston	190,025	5	0
Reading	—	—
Rochdale	124,584	4	6
Rotherham	218,354	9	5
St. Helens	315,205	12	8
Salford	314,652	6	0
Sheffield	599,853	3	7
Smethwick	153,627	7	4
Southampton	—	—
Southend-on-Sea	—	—
Southport	—	—
South Shields	249,218	8	6
Stockport	160,562	3	7
Stoke-on-Trent	885,341	12	11
Sunderland	421,553	8	2
Tynemouth	40,519	1	9
Wakefield	47,415	2	4
Wallasey	—	—
Walsall	300,740	10	4
Warrington	213,047	9	11
West Bromwich	268,392	12	3
West Ham	194,000	3	3
West Hartlepool	151,768	7	3
Wigan	191,829	8	4
Wolverhampton	179,713	3	4
Worcester	40,202	1	10
York	102,368	2	10
WALES
Cardiff	—	—
Merthyr Tydfil	329,687	31	7
Newport (Mon.)	74,786	2	0
Swansea	203,428	3	9

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that it is possible for any person, including juveniles, to purchase freely, without signature, rat poison containing yellow phosphorus with enough lethal effect to kill five people; and whether he will introduce regulations making it obligatory upon shopkeepers, chemists, etc., to obtain signatures in a specific poison book before the sale of such articles and to make the sale of such articles illegal to juveniles.

Rat poisons containing yellow phosphorus may be sold to the public by retail chemists only. I am asking the Poisons Board to consider whether their sale should be further controlled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the monthly totals, from September, 1951, to June, 1953, of the following crimes known to the police in the Metropolitan area,

—		Murder and attempted Murder	Wounding felony and (mis-demeanour)	Burglary	House Breaking	Shop breaking and similar offences	Robbery and assaults with intent to rob
1951
September	…	3	99	32	395	551	16
October	…	6	86	49	458	713	26
November	…	1	71	46	499	768	19
December	…	3	120	58	718	1,086	16
1952
January	…	4	78	43	631	850	27
February	…	2	72	51	541	857	16
March	…	6	68	46	608	918	17
April	…	5	92	71	540	778	32
May	…	2	114	64	381	716	32
June	…	7	70	38	344	661	15
July	…	10	94	40	320	586	21
August	…	5	112	65	480	620	20
September	…	4	81	41	409	603	30
October	…	3	102	56	514	669	26
November	…	8	95	38	512	639	25
December	…	6	83	60	652	1,247	37
1953
January	…	2	64	66	652	833	31
February	…	5	72	42	506	704	31
March	…	5	81	47	580	729	31
April	…	9	96	42	540	679	29
May	…	4	99	49	360	637	23
June	…	6	106	61	383	576	22