asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now prepared to state the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the increase of housing subsidies for houses built by local authorities in view of the considerable increase in capital Costs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Report which my right hon. Friend presented to the House on 6th July last, after reviewing the present rates of subsidy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state, his reasons for refusing to sanction the London County Council's compulsory purchase order for a housing site in Abbotsbury Road, Kensington.

My right hon. Friend rejected the order because he was of opinion that there was a reasonable expectation that the owner would develop this site by the erection of flats within the next two years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that the Government are giving the northern region its fair share of the national housing programme.

Yes. Judged by the population and availability of resources, the region is getting its fair share of the increased national programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that Wales will be given a fair share of the national housing programme during the next 12 months.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop) and others on 14th July. Judged by population and avail- ability of resources Wales is getting its fair share of the increased national programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have taken steps to carry out his policy of selling council houses to tenants.

I cannot give the information my hon. Friend wants since local authorities do not notify me until houses have been sold.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a further statement as to the Government's intentions with regard to the prices of houses controlled by Section 43 of the Housing Act, 1949, which expires later this year.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly after the Recess

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps the Government propose to take in order to bring about a fairer distribution of the rent burden between the tenants of post-war and pre-war municipal houses.

Local authorities are responsible for fixing rents of council houses and have power to distribute the rent burden as they think fit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give early approval to the decision of the Manchester City Council to install open fires in prefabricated houses.

The council have been authorised to make a start on installing open fires of a slow-burning type in some 500 of the houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rent tribunal offices have been closed by him; and what arrangements have been made to give information to landlords and tenants on questions relating to the Rent Acts previously dealt with by those offices.

Sixteen. As to the second part of the Question, local authorities in the areas concerned have been asked to continue to give publicity to the work of the tribunals and to give information to persons seeking it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the report of the public inquiry into the County of London Development Plan; and how soon thereafter he will announce his decisions.

Work in preparation for considering the report has gone on concurrently with the holding of the inquiry. There should, therefore, be no delay in considering the Report when it is submitted. But until the report has been received and studied, it is impossible to attempt any forecast of the time likely to be required for reaching decisions on the plan.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the proposal to build a school on the Morfa just below Harlech Castle in the forefront of one of the most famous views in Great Britain; and, as it is in the national interest not to build there but to find an alternative site, whether he will take steps to see that the proposal is considered at the highest level.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this proposal. He understands that planning consent has been given to it, with the approval of the Snowdonia Park Joint Advisory Committee. A compulsory purchase order for the land has been made by the local education authority and submitted to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education. The Minister will consult with my right hon. Friend before reaching a decision on the order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will reconsider the decision to allow part only of the sewerage scheme proposed by Lleyn (Caernarvonshire) Rural District Council for Garn Dolbenmaen to proceed, in view of the urgency of local needs and the comparative ease with which the full scheme could be implemented.

My Department are in touch with the rural district council on certain technical aspects of this matter, and I will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the concern of the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Urban District Council as to the likely loss of amenities which will be caused by the proposed route of the new mineral line from Wood-horn Colliery to Tynemouth Colliery; and what steps he has taken to ensure that the views of this authority have been fully taken into consideration.

The local planning authority have consulted the district council, and my right hon. Friend has no doubt that they will give proper weight to the views of the district council when dealing with the application for planning permission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a further statement about the proposal to build Bucklersbury House to a height of 170 feet.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my answer to a question by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir E. Keeling) on 21st July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the expense involved in the present procedure for local authorities promoting or contesting a Private Bill for the revision of boundaries, he will move for the appointment of a joint committee of both Houses to consider the possible simplification of present procedure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the present Private Bill procedure, before separate committees of both Houses, is proving an expensive method of settling questions as to the boundaries and special powers of local authorities; and what steps he is prepared to take by way of inquiry or improvement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, having regard to the heavy cost in promoting Private Bills by local authorities and other public corporations, he will move to set up a joint committee of both Houses, for the purpose of considering and recommending a simplified procedure and to instruct this committee to consider a joint committee of both Houses for the Committee stage of such bills.

My right hon. Friend is aware that contested Private Bills can be costly to local authorities. He has no present intention of moving for the appointment of a Select Committee; but it is open to any hon. Member to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement before the Summer Recess regarding the progress of the reconstruction of sea defences; and whether he is satisfied that the coast under his jurisdiction will be fully protected by 30th September, 1953.

The works maintained by local authorities for the protection of the coast against erosion suffered little serious structural damage on the 31st January and the necessary repairs will be substantially completed by the 30th September. In addition to the reinstatement of existing defences new works are in progress at certain points which have not hitherto been protected, and further schemes are now in preparation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has refused to authorise the Chailey Rural District Council to give a bulk supply of water to the Uckfield Rural District Council for distribution to the inhabitants of the Piltdown area.

I have not received any definite proposals for the Piltdown area to be supplied with water from Chailey Rural District. If I do so I am quite prepared to consider them.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement on current production of bricks, cement and roofing tiles; and how far supplies in the coming months will be adequate to maintain the present high rate of building.

The current rate of production of bricks, cement and roofing tiles as compared with 1951 shows increases as follows:

				per cent.
Bricks	…	…	…	19
Cement	…	…	…	13
Roofing tiles	…	…	…	42

We are now at the height of the building season and shortages of these materials are marginal. Further increases in the supply of all three are expected so that we can look forward to an expansion in the total volume of new building.

asked the Minister of Works the position of the supply of bricks and cement in the North-East; and how many local authorities and private contractors have informed his regional officers that they have been held up with their schemes during the last two months because of the shortage of supply.

The supply of bricks and cement in the North-East is at present satisfactory. There have been no complaints to my regional officers from local authorities or private contractors of delays on sites during the past two months.

asked the Minister of Works what increased storage space has been provided for the storage of cement in the North-East; and if he is satisfied that the present storage space will hold an adequate supply to keep the building industry going during the winter, if the normal routes of supply should be affected again this year due to bad weather.

There have been small additions to the storage space in merchants' depots, at the works of concrete product manufacturers and at builders' premises. The storage facilities at the usual discharging ports and at the one cement works in the North-East are considered to be adequate.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the shortage of bricks in the Rugeley, Staffordshire, district; and what steps he is taking to provide supplies, in view of the delay which is taking place in completing houses under construction for the Rugeley Urban District Council.

No. I am not aware that in the U.D.C. area concerned the completion of houses is being held up by shortages of bricks.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to improve the supplies of bricks and cement in the North-East.

I have had conversations with brickmakers at both the local and national levels, and I maintain close touch with the cement industry. Supplies to the North-East have increased and I consider they will be adequate to maintain the rate of building.

asked the Minister of Works his policy with regard to the installation of electric bogus log fires into historic buildings and other places of interest under the control of his Department.

Imitation log fires are not provided in historic buildings or other places of interest under my control unless the occupants strongly press for them.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will list in HANSARD all such projects which he considers should be carried out in order to improve the appearance and the amenities of the Royal Parks and such buildings as are in his care, together with the estimated cost of such work.

I am reviewing projects for improving the amenities of the Royal Parks and of historic buildings in my care and I hope soon to put forward some proposals.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is in a position to forecast a date by which Dover House will be ready to accommodate, once again, the Scottish Office in London.

Work on Dover House is about to start. The extensive structural repairs which are necessary may take as long as two years.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will ask for tenders from outside firms for the purpose of the moving of the "Burghers of Calais" from its present pedestal to a suitable site nearby.

If it were decided to move the group and money were available, tenders would be invited for the work involved.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has now considered asking the film companies responsible for the Coronation films to modify the financial arrangements agreed with them.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by the Financial Secretary to the right hon. Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Gaitskell) on 16th July.

asked the Minister of Works when it is proposed to repair or clean the staircase leading from the lower waiting room to the Committee floor of the House of Commons.

The stained glass windows of the Grand Committee staircase will be restored during the summer Recess. When next year's Estimates are being prepared the possibility of cleaning the staircase will be considered.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will consider the possibility of replacing the paintings in the corridor leading from the Chamber of the House of Lords to the Chamber of the House of Commons with specially-commissioned ones of greater artistic value and more in keeping with the dignity of a Royal Palace and the home of democratic government.

The paintings in the Peers' and the Commons' corridors were the result of recommendations of a Royal Commission on the Fine Arts set up in 1841 under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness, The Prince Consort, to consider whether advantage might not be taken of the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster to encourage the fine arts. The Commission decided which artists should be employed and the subjects they should paint. My right hon. Friend warmly agrees that the artistic merits of the paintings are questionable but he doubts whether a change could be made without arousing much controversy.

asked the Minister of Works, whether he will commission artists to paint pictures to supplement those which already decorate the Royal Palace of Westminster and to record events in Parliamentary history more recent than those already recorded.

If there were evidence of a general desire for such pictures and funds were available, I would consult with the authorities of the Palace of Westminster about providing them.

asked the Minister of Works if he will state the estimated cost of resurfacing New Palace Yard now, and also next year, after further deterioration in its surface; and the cost of patching it up now, by filling in the worst craters.

An estimate is being prepared. The cost of making good the worst places now would be about £500.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to implement the Rees Report of the Committee on Night Baking.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Willesden. East (Mr. Orbach) on 14th July, 1953.

asked the Minister of Labour which organisations are being consulted by his Department on the need to make industrial pensions inter-available, if workers over 40 years of age are to be enabled to change their jobs.

My right hon. and learned Friend intends to consult the National Joint Advisory Council about this and other matters affecting the employment of older persons when he receives the report of the National Advisory Committee on the Employment of Older Men and Women, which is expected very soon.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to amend the Industrial Disputes Order, 1951, to enable professional organisations to use it.

My right hon. and learned Friend is still examining with his colleagues certain questions which have arisen, bearing upon the amendment of the Order in the sense indicated by my hon. Friend. Until a decision has been reached on these questions, I regret that it is not possible for me to add to previous statements on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what estimate he has made of the average number of foundry workers in the Falkirk—Bonnybridge district likely to be redundant over the next 12 months;(2) what estimate he has made of the probable permanent decrease, as a result of the recent changes in the industry, in the number of foundry workers employed in the Falkirk—Bonnybridge district.

I am afraid it is not possible to make these estimates. The future level of employment in the industry will depend on the volume of orders received and on the ability of the individual firms to adjust themselves to changes in the markets for their products.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now consider the revocation of the Notification of Vacancies Order, 1952.

My right hon. and learned Friend keeps this question under constant review but he is satisfied that the Order could not yet be revoked without detriment to the supply of labour for important work, particularly on production for export.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has to report in improving the conditions in ironfoundries.

The Chief Inspector of Factories continues to report that progress in this matter is being made. Moreover, as my right hon. and learned Friend announced at the time, a draft of regulations proposed to be made under the Factories Acts was published in January last. Since then the draft has been the subject of consultation with the organisations of employers and trade unions concerned and my right hon. and learned Friend is about to publish a revised draft which we hope will be generally acceptable to all concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has now granted permission to Remploy Limited, to purchase a site at Redruth for their proposed new factory.

As the hon. Member knows, Remploy is not embarking on a building programme while it is consolidating its trading position, and owing to the needs of other areas I am afraid it is unlikely that a new factory at Redruth can be built for some time to come. When Remploy Limited are in a position to proceed with developments at Redruth we will give careful consideration to any proposals that may be made.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to discourage the outflow of labour from the engineering industries into the distributive trades and other industries catering for home consumption.

My local offices do their best to encourage workers who are seeking a change of employment to take first preference work in the basic industries and in defence and export work in other industries, such as engineering. Although there was a fall of 1 per cent. in the numbers employed in the engineering industries in the twelve months up to May, 1953, there were increases in some important sectors such as aircraft and shipbuilding. The industries in which employment increased most were textiles and clothing in which a considerable recovery has taken place in exports as well as in home trade.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are registered as disabled by pneumoconiosis or silicosis in the areas Bethesda, Penygroes, Llanberis, Portmadoc and Pwllheli in Caernarvonshire and Blaenau Ffestiniog in Merioneth; and if he will give comparable figures for these areas for 1939, 1946, 1951 and 1952.

There were 43 in April, 1953. Figures for 1939 and 1946 are not available. In April, 1951, the number was 64 and in April, 1952, it was 48.

asked the Minister of Labour what degree of defectiveness of vision and hearing, respectively, is permitted in assessing the fitness of National Service men for service with the Armed Forces.

A man otherwise fit would be called up under the National Service Acts if his visual acuity could be corrected by suitable glasses either to not less than 6/24 in both eyes or to 6/12 in one eye and 6/60 in the other, and if, using both ears, he was able to hear a conversational voice at 10 feet.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied that care is taken to call up university graduates, due to enter National Service, with the least possible delay, once they have completed their university course.

Yes, unless the man has expressed a preference for some delay, as many do, in order to appear before a Services Selection Board with a view to training for a commission, or in order to consider taking a post-graduate course involving further deferment, or for some other valid reason.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken to ensure that boys who are called up for National Service on leaving school at the end of a school session and who desire to go to a university thereafter are called up at such a time as to ensure that they will enter the university in October two years later.

Students who have informed the Department of their intention to enter a university immediately following completion of their whole-time National Service are, wherever possible, entered or enlisted into the Forces by the middle of September. Where such information is received belatedly, special-efforts are made to get the man into the Forces in the first October intake.

asked the Minister of Labour the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the extension of the National Service Acts at the end of 1953.

As announced in the Statement on Defence, published in February last (Cmd. Paper 8768), the Government's policy is that the present National Service scheme should be extended for a further five years.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. F. Guy, 10, Lincoln Road, Cleethorpes, who served with the Royal Navy from February, 1940, to September, 1945, and was recalled for a further 18 months' service in December, 1951, did not apply to his employers within the statutory period for reinstatement and has been refused re-employment by them; and what action he proposes to take to get this man employment.

Mr. Guy has made an application to the Reinstatement Committee for the determination of his rights and it will be for that committee to decide whether there was reasonable cause for the delay in making application to the employer. I understand Mr. Guy is for the time being in employment as a labourer, but the employment exchange will do their best to find him more suitable employment if he so wishes.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Roy Johnson, of New Park Estate, Leicester, was called up for medical examination on 5th May, 1953, passed A1 having volunteered for three years' service in the Royal Air Force, was rejected on medical grounds on 24th June one day after arriving at the Royal Air Force station and three weeks later was called up again for examination for the Army; and whether he will inquire into the matter so that no further calling-up notices shall be sent in this case.

A man who is not accepted by one of the Services as a Regular is not necessarily unfit for any form of National Service. In view of his rejection by the R.A.F., Roy Johnson is, however, being re-examined for National Service. He has been referred to an aurist whose report is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ascertain from the British Electricity Authority to what extent the increased capital expenditure approved for rural electrification will be applied to Scotland and, in particular, to the area of the South-East Scotland Electricity Board.

I understand that the British Electricity Authority still have this matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now able to make a statement on the progress of the possible legislation mentioned in the Queen's Speech affecting the supply of electricity in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 21st July to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Malcolm MacPherson).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses for farmworkers were built in the counties of Roxburgh and Selkirkshire in 1950, 1951 and 1952; and how many he anticipates will be completed in 1953.

The numbers of houses completed in Roxburgh county for agricultural workers were 26, 44 and 30 in 1950, 1951 and 1952 respectively, while 44 houses are expected to be completed this year. The corresponding figures for Selkirk county are 14, nil, 8 and 10.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many condemned houses requisitioned under Defence Regulations and due to be evacuated by 15th May, 1953, are still occupied by local authority tenants.

No special record is kept of the number of condemned houses held on requisition. A sample inquiry covering six local authorities shows that of 188 houses held by them on requisition at 30th June last. 74 were condemned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Highlands Panel first drew his attention to the need for action to relieve the burden of freight charges in the Highland area and the North of Scotland.

On 25th March, 1949; when the Highlands Panel decided to join with representatives of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and the Scottish Board for Industry to consider the incidence of freight charges in the Highlands and Islands. The Report of the Committee appointed jointly by the three bodies was published in 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Forestry Commission will give assistance, by way of labour and equipment, in clearing blown timber on private estates; and at what date.

The Forestry Commission are already assisting some private owners of blown timber by hiring out labour, where other labour is not available, and by hiring out equipment. Owners who desire assistance of this kind should get into touch with the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far he hopes to standardise pig breeds; and which breeds are most suitable for the north.

I have no powers to standardise pig breeds. The Large White is by far the predominant breed in the North of Scotland. The Wessex takes second place.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Landrace pigs have been imported into Scotland; how far they have proved suitable for conditions in the North of Scotland; and what experiments in crossbreeding have been carried out.

To date 17 Landrace pigs have been imported into Scotland from Sweden. Another five are being imported shortly. Reports show that pigs of this breed are able to thrive under the conditions in the North of Scotland. Cross-breeding, mainly with the Large White, has been carried out by a number of breeders with results which are reported to be satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 Scotland since 1st April, 1945.

The annual amounts payable for each financial year from 1945–46 to 1952–53 in Exchequer subsidies and local authorities' statutory rate contributions, respectively, for new permanent houses and flats completed in Scotland since 1st April, 1945, were as follows:

—			Exchequer	Rates
			£	£
1945–46	…	…	88,952	26,652
1946–47	…	…	194,689	58,147
1947–48	…	…	439,980	131,475
1948–49	…	…	908,316	267,444
1949–50	…	…	1,407,947	409,878
1950–51	…	…	1,900,256	548,129
1951–52	…	…	2,419,158	707,451
1952–53	…	…	3,121,862	947,824

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the children, whose births were registered in each of the years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, were successfully vaccinated; how many deaths from smallpox were registered in each of those years at ages 0 to 4, 5 to 24, 25 to 64, 65 years and upwards; and how many deaths from cowpox and effects of vaccination were registered during those years.

Of the 469,605 children whose births were registered in these five years, 163,106 are shown in the returns of the local health authorities to have been vaccinated. The only deaths from smallpox during the period were in 1950, when there was a total of six; one in age group 0 to 4, four in age group 5 to 24, and one in age group 25 to 64. A total of five deaths from cowpox and post-vaccinal complications were registered during the period, one in 1948, two in 1950, and two in 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to stop the decrease in the number of full-time Scottish students recorded in the Returns for Universities, Command Paper No. 8847.

In bursary Regulations which I made last week I have prescribed increased allowances for university students and have also increased the amounts of higher school bursaries. I am considering what further steps can be taken to induce pupils with the necessary ability to remain longer at school and qualify for university entrance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement about the committee which he proposes to set up to investigate the shortage of teachers of mathematics and science.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now state the terms of reference of the committee to be appointed to inquire into the supply of teachers of science and mathematics; and whether he will give the names of the Chairman and the other members of the committee.

The terms of reference of the committee will be to consider and to report on the causes and effects of the present and prospective shortages of teachers of mathematics and science in Scottish secondary schools and to suggest remedies. I am glad to say that Sir Edward Appleton, Principal of Edinburgh University, has agreed to be Chairman and I hope to announce the names of the other members shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school places were provided for the children under Lanarkshire education authority in June, 1951. June, 1952. and June, 1953.

Twenty places were provided in June, 1951, and none in June, 1952, or June, 1953. But in the years ended 30th June, 1951, 1952 and 1953 the numbers of new places provided were 730, 1,310 and 1,550.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school meals were served in Lanarkshire in June, 1951, June, 1952, and June, 1953.

The daily average number of midday meals served in June to pupils in Lanarkshire was 32,154, 34,986 and 27,742 in 1951. 1952. and 1953, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has not imposed maximum net costs per place for primary and secondary schools, as recommended in the Eighth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates.

The arrangements explained in the Departmental reply to the Select Committee's recommendation should be as effective as would the imposition of maximum net costs per place in keeping costs within reasonable limits and should, while giving education authorities greater freedom in the design of schools, encourage them to keep within the financial limits by good planning rather than by lowering standards.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 22747580 Signalman K. F. Davis, while awaiting discharge for a severe degree of flat feet was required to take part in a field exercise on 21st March which was followed by his being admitted into the Military Hospital, Catterick, on 25th March with rheumatic fever.

Under the unit medical officer's current instructions, this soldier was on 21st March being employed on light duties. Approval for his discharge on medical grounds was not notified to the unit until two days later. Since I told the hon. Member that Signalman Davies took part in this exercise, I have made further inquiries; and it now appears that, while he paraded with the remainder of the unit on the alarm signal, he did not in the event leave the barracks with a mobile column, but was employed in a sentry post on the perimeter and as a messenger.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he has taken and is taking to trace the whereabouts of 22443865 Private Armour, King's Own Scottish Borderers, last seen in Korea on 4th May, 1952.

Every possible inquiry is being made but I regret to say that no new information has come to light.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he is taking to end the situation at Moston Hall Military Hospital, Chester, under which neither the number nor the qualifications of the hospital staff have been adequate to ensure proper care and supervision of patients.

The medical officers at this hospital, who are all fully qualified, are up to strength. The subordinate nursing staff, comprising both Royal Army Medical Corps and Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps other ranks, are similarly at full strength. There are, however, 18 nursing officers less than the establishment. This deficiency almost exactly reflects the worldwide shortage of these officers. I am most anxious to get all the nursing officers that the Army needs and in the past few years there has been a steady improvement in the position.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he will not bear all or part of the expense incurred in the repatriation of the body of 22791866 Driver T. Thompson from Germany for burial at Stockton-on-Tees.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to Questions by the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 7th July this year, in which I explained the policy in connection with a similar case.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers have died whilst serving in Germany; and how many bodies have been brought home for burial during the past year, and at what cost.

540 soldiers have died whilst serving in Germany since 1st January, 1948. The bodies of 28 soldiers have been brought home by the relatives for burial during the past twelve months. The total cost is not known because, as stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence in his reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 8th July this year, the bulk of the costs are payable to the agency which carries out the transport.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange with the Secretary of State for Air, to transport to the nearest areodrome at home the bodies of soldiers dying in Germany whose parents wish to have the burial at home.

No. Apart from practical difficulties, there would be no financial saving to the relatives unless repatriation at public expense were specially authorised for this theatre.

asked the Secretary of State for War why men between the ages of 45 and 48 years of age are being sent Army Form D406 (R.O.) in view of the fact that the information asked for is already in the possession of the War Office; if he is aware that men of this age should be exempt from the demand; and at what age men cease to be Z class reservists.

This form should not have been sent to any Z reservist over the age of 45. If the hon. Member will send me details of the men who have received them, I shall be glad to look into the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for War if arrangements have now been completed for the purchase of land at Roseneath Home Farm, Dunbartonshire, about which he wrote to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, West, on 6th February.

My Department is now opening negotiations for the purchase of this particular land.

asked the Secretary of State for War what decision has now been made about the future of the proposed gun site at Trecastle, Breconshire; and whether he will make a statement.

Although authority for the use of this outlying gun site was given by the Minister of Local Government and Planning on 19th September, 1951, I decided to see if we could get on without it. We now find that it is essential for training and I hope that it will be brought into use before the next training season.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 22634767 Alfred Bell, D.C.R.E., at Derna, North Africa, fell on a cable and was electrocuted; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances of this soldier's death.

I am awaiting a full report from the court of inquiry which assembled on the day following Sapper Bell's death. I can, however, say that he was employed with the Royal Engineers Works Services on a task at the Army Kinema Corporation Cinema at Derna and that during these duties on 15th July he was found lying across a 320 volt electric overhead cable on the roof of the cinema. After first-aid treatment by a medical officer he was removed to the British Station Hospital where, most regrettably, he died three hours later.

asked the Secretary of State for War what machinery exists to enable men genuinely sick, but accused by medical officers of malingering, to secure independent medical advice and treatment for their disabilities.

Any soldier is at liberty to take independent civilian medical advice and treatment privately during off-duty hours.

asked the Secretary of State for War in how many cases during 1952 and 1953 have details from medical reports on men and women serving in the Army been made available to outside persons or for publication in the Press; to whom such disclosures were made; and what were the circumstances of each case.

Without considerable research, I cannot give the exact number of cases in which details from Army medical reports on serving personnel have been made available to outside persons during this period. Since, however, such disclosures are normally made only if the individuals concerned are facing serious criminal charges, the number must be very small. In no case have details been given for publication in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for War what inquiries he has made into the disclosure at a recent court-martial of part of an Army medical report on Private Irene Rosser; and with what result.

I have made inquiries into this matter and find that a copy of a medical report on Private Rosser dated 6th May, 1953, was put in evidence during the re-examination of Colonel Gleave at his court-martial.When State documents of this kind are required for the defence at a court-martial they are normally in the possession of the Department and it is therefore necessary to make application to the Secretary of State for his permission to produce them. This affords the Crown an opportunity to consider whether or not it will claim privilege for the document concerned. In this case the copy of the report was already in the possession of Colonel Gleave himself and no application was made. Under these exceptional circumstances I had no opportunity of considering whether privilege should be waived in this case or not.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the prospects of developing trade between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, with special reference to heavy engineering equipment.

Her Majesty's Government have stated on several occasions that they are anxious to see an increase in trade with the U.S.S.R. in non-strategic goods. There are many engineering goods which do not fall within our strategic controls and there is nothing to prevent the Soviet Government from placing orders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement about the negotiations between his Department and the Soviet Trade Delegation on the proposed exchange of Soviet matches for British textiles.

Yes. Agreement has been reached with the Soviet Trade Delegation in London that Her Majesty's Government will during the next twelve months issue import licences for Russian matches up to a total value of £500,000. In return the Soviet Trade Delegation have agreed to place orders in the United Kingdom for an equal value of woollen and worsted piece goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, in view of the shortage of materials for building, mobile shops are at present hampered, when compared with fixed premises, by the limitation on hire purchase which affects them equally with ordinary delivery vans; and if he will consider extending the period under Hire Purchase Regulation 121 so that mobile shops can be paid for over the same periods as other purchase tax-free vehicles such as ambulances.

I am aware that sales of mechanically propelled road vehicles used as mobile shops are subject to the restrictions imposed by the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1952, and that sales of fixed premises are not. In answer to the last part of tine Question. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 14th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that the Buckie-Peterhead area enjoys the full advantages of other Development Areas in all respects.

Powers under the Distribution of Industry Acts do not apply to this area which is not a Development Area. In accordance with the arrangements for this area described by my right hon. Friend on 29th October, 1952, the Development Commission are prepared to consider sympathetically requests for the provision and lease of small factories and for the other facilities within their powers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a further statement on the progress of discussions in the film industry on the future of the British Film Production Fund, since his statement of 10th March.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his Question on 18th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the countries and industries concerned in the 330 cases of alleged malpractices in the employment of merchandise marks or copying of designs which his Department has taken up since 1952.

The 330 cases mentioned in my answer to the hon. Member on 7th July referred to complaints regarding merchandise marks and not copying of designs. They were mostly not cases of alleged malpractice but cases where a mark which resembled an existing mark on goods of British origin had been registered, often innocently, in a foreign country. A detailed analysis of these cases could not be given without a great deal of work, and perhaps the hon. Member will inform me of any particular aspects in which he is interested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute some special certificate or designation to firms and companies which institute profit-sharing, co-partnership, pension and welfare schemes; and if he will take steps and make representations to ensure that other considerations being equal, such firms and companies may have priority in the matter of Government and public contracts.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken during the last six months to increase exports of cast-iron goods; and with what success.

In so far as our exports of cast-iron goods are limited by import restrictions in Commonwealth countries overseas, we have endeavoured to ensure that such restrictions are relaxed as soon as the balance of payments of the various countries permits. Our overseas officers in the principal markets for cast-iron goods have been asked to pay particular attention to the possibility of improving the overseas sales of these products, but in the many unrestricted markets the initiative for increasing their overseas sales must rest primarily with the trade. From the annual rate of exports of the main kinds of cast-iron goods in the first six months of this year it would seem that exports are being fairly well maintained this year as compared with 1952.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet requested the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission to extend their factual investigation of non-ferrous semi-manufactures to the bearing of the facts upon the public interest.

Yes. A variation of the reference originally made to the Commission was sent to them on 15th July. The full text is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a committee on which interested educational bodies and voluntary societies will be represented to consider the quality of comics in Great Britain, the extent of their distribution and influence, and to advise on such action as may be desirable.

No. I considered a similar proposal last year in consultation with my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Education, and our conclusion was that the appointment of such a committee would not help to solve the problem of undesirable comics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reissue the list of places holding licences to practise experiments on living animals.

No, because as I told the hon. Member on 13th November last the expense of publication is not justified by the extremely small demand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of the importance of the emergency feeding unit of the welfare section of the Civil Defence Corps, he will consider allowing women under 30 years of age to be eligible to join this side of Civil Defence.

Apart from the food flying squads, for which recruitment is quite satisfactory throughout practically the whole of England and Wales, women are not recruited into the welfare section of the Civil Defence Corps for specific duties. Instead, they are expected to carry out any of the many different tasks allotted to the section that might require to be done in time of war. Moreover, it is considered that older women are, in general, better suited to welfare work, and that younger women should be restricted to the more active duties that fall to other sections of the Corps.

asked the Minister of Health how many death certificates were received on which vaccination, vaccinia, generalised vaccinia, post-vaccinal encephalomyelitis or similar words appeared in the years 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, with the ages of the cases.

In 1949, three, ages 13 months, 6 years, 71 years. In 1950, two, ages 18 years, 67 years. In 1951, seven, ages 2 months, 3 months, 3 months, 5 months, 6 months, 5 years, 20 years. In 1952, four, ages 3 months. 6 months, 8 months, 26 years.

asked the Minister of Health how many children were immunised against diphtheria at ages under 1, 1 to 4, and 5 to 14 years in 1950, 1951 and 1952.

Figures are not available in this form prior to the second half of 1951. The following table gives the information available from local health authorities records for these years:

Age	Under 1	1–4	5–14	Total
1950	432,898		84,538	517,436
1951—
1st half	247,263		92,329	589,349
2nd half	93,108	156,649
1952	205,218	254,968	95,543	561,858*
* Includes 6,129 aged 1–14 which cannot be allocated to a specific age group.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths were registered as due to smallpox, with the ages of these cases, in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952.

In 1949, five, in age groups 20–24, 30–34, 60–64 (2), and 65–69. In 1950, none. In 1951, ten, in age groups 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 35–39 (2), 40–44, 45–49, 50–54 (3). In 1952, one, in the age group 55–59.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from pneumonia, all forms, were registered in each of the years 1941 to the last year for which such records are available.

The information is as follows:

1941	…	…	…	26,666
1942	…	…	…	21,087
1943	…	…	…	25,014
1944	…	…	…	20,295
1945	…	…	…	20,205
1946	…	…	…	20,478
1947	…	…	…	22,950
1948	…	…	…	17,831
1949	…	…	…	21,001
1950	…	…	…	18,416
1951	…	…	…	23,442
1952	…	…	…	19,521*
* Provisional.

asked the Minister of Health what machinery exists under the Breconshire County Council for the welfare of handicapped children after they have left school; and what functions the county health department has in this direction.

Welfare services are provided in accordance with the approved scheme under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, for the blind and partially-sighted and arrangements are made through the county health department in accordance with the approved proposals under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, for the care and after-care of persons suffering from illness or mental defectiveness.