asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the disquiet which exists locally on the matter, he will make a statement about the recent disposal of Crichel Down; and if he will appoint a committee of inquiry.

Yes, In order that all the relevant facts of this case should be established and made clear, I have now decided that it will be to the advantage of all concerned that there should be a public inquiry into the procedure adopted in the disposal of Crichel Down. I hope to announce shortly the name of the Commissioner to hold this inquiry and the terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give priority to his plans for resisting the public slaughterhouse at Adamsdown, Cardiff, in view of the nuisance caused to nearby residents.

The siting of slaughterhouses throughout the country is now being considered by an Interdepartmental Committee. It would be unwise to determine any particular order of priority until I have received their report and recommendations on the problem as a whole. The representations made by the local authority in regard to the resiting of the public slaughterhouse at Adamsdown will, of course, be taken fully into account before a decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the danger to public health caused by swarms of flies attracted by offal lying in the open at the public slaughterhouse at Adamsdown, Cardiff, within 50 yards of private houses; and if he will arrange to inspect the insanitary conditions prevailing there.

Special instructions were issued early this summer to all our slaughterhouses regarding the dangers of fly infestation and the cooperation of the local authorities was invited. I am informed that for a short period in August there was delay in the collection of certain offals from the Cardiff slaughterhouse. This was put right. My local officers, in association with the local authority officials, are giving particular attention to the question of fly infestation at this slaughterhouse.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions in which workers at the public slaughterhouse at Adamsdown, Cardiff, have to change their clothes, wash and clean and eat their meals; and if he will take steps to see that the resulting danger to public health is removed by bringing working conditions up to a better standard.

I am not aware that there is any danger to public health arising from the conditions of the workers' accommodation at this slaughterhouse. I understand that the local authority have under consideration possible improvements to the messing facilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to send a trade mission to the Middle East.

There are very important export markets in the Middle East. The oil-producing countries, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, are now receiving considerable sums in oil royalties, which are being used to finance large-scale development programmes, and we must do all we can to encourage them to spend these earnings in the sterling area, and particularly on United Kingdom manufactures. Syria and Lebanon, though not oil producers, are substantial and expanding markets in themselves and Lebanon is also an important centre of entrepôt trade.I have, accordingly, decided to send a trade mission of prominent business men to the Middle East in November; the Governments of the countries to be visited have informed Her Majesty's Government that a mission would be welcome and I am glad to say that Sir Edward Benthall has accepted my invitation to lead it.The mission will be in a position to convey to these countries our desire and our ability to help them in the development of their economies and will be qualified to suggest means by which we may increase the export to them of our goods and services.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the fact that the greatest single factor in the problem of the pollution of the sea by oil is the persistence and indestructibility of the oil, what chemical research is being undertaken with a view to discovering means of dispersing oily waste.

In their recent Report the Committee on the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil recommended that the desirability of initiating such research should be considered. This will be followed up, but I am advised that any research into the chemical treatment of oil must take time to produce results and that an early solution of the problem of oil pollution must be sought in other directions. These I have under urgent consideration.