asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total supplementation at present rates from National Assistance payable to a married couple, each 70 years of age, with a weekly rental liability of 10s. a week whose only other source of income is a joint full retirement pension under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1946.

A couple with no resources other than their 54s. retirement pensions who are living on their own in accommodation rented at 10s. will receive 15s. a week in supplementation from the National Assistance Board unless there are special circumstances calling for some extra payment.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the present minimum income, under his regulations, of a married couple living together, after making appropriate allowance for the items of income normally disregarded in such computation, which disentitles them to the payment of a parents' pension.

Seventy-five shillings a week.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of cases to the nearest convenient date in which, as a result of the lapse of Section 62 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, payments of benefit from the Industrial Injuries Fund in respect of pneumoconiosis and byssinosis, respectively, have been reduced or terminated.

None. Payments of benefit from the Industrial Injuries Fund are not affected by the lapse of Section 62 of the National Insurance Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total number of claims for industrial injury benefit made in respect of byssinosis under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis Benefit Scheme from 10th March, 1952, to the nearest convenient date; and the number of claims allowed.

Up to 31st October, 1953, the number of claims in respect of byssinosis was about 100 for disablement and 25 for death. Awards number 85 and 21, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that invitations are being issued for trade talks to take place in Moscow; how far he considers that participation will be beneficial to this country; and what action he proposes to take with regard to representation of this country.

Her Majesty's Government are anxious to encourage an expansion of legitimate trade with Russia and welcome recent indications that the Soviet authorities share that desire. There are already in existence normal channels through which trade is conducted and Her Majesty's Government and, I am sure, organised industry, would be very ready to consider suggestions for facilitating contacts between United Kingdom traders and Soviet trading organisations. In particular, we have always favoured a two-way traffic of business visits between the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R.I am, however, informed that the activities of the British Council for the Promotion of International Trade, which is the body issuing these invitations, are not solely or even primarily commercial, and that this body, which was founded after the last year's Moscow Economic Conference, is a Communist front organisation and is mainly concerned with the dissemination of Communist propaganda. In the circumstances, Her Majesty's Government are advising firms against contributing to such activities by visiting Moscow under the aegis of the British Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what figure a Member of Parliament's salary would have to be raised to enable it to have the same purchasing power as that in operation in 1946, when it was first raised to its present level of £1,000 per annum.

£1,450.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement concerning the planning and development of Wood Street, Cardiff, with special reference to the proposed swimming bath.

Proposals for the planning and development of Wood Street, Cardiff are included in the Cardiff development plan which is to be the subject of a public inquiry provisionally fixed for 23rd February, 1954. I am at present waiting for some further information from the Cardiff City Council about their proposed swimming bath.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now take steps to abolish the present system of industrial derating.

These issues are continually under consideration, but I cannot add to previous statements on the subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made by the committee inquiring into the effects of synthetic detergents.

The Committee will issue their report on this complicated and highly technical matter as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average wage rate paid to staff employed by his Department in the Houses of Parliament in 1946; and what has been their average percentage increase in wage rates from 1946 to the latest convenient stated date.

The Home Office has no staff employed in the Houses of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Works the average wage rate for staff employed by his Department in the Houses of Parliament in 1946; and what their average percentage increase has been since that date.

The details asked for are shown in the following table: