asked the Minister of Agriculture why the amount to be spent on artificial insemination is being increased; and why this service cannot be self-supporting.

The increase in expenditure in connection with the two artificial insemination centres maintained by my Department, is being incurred for the purchase of additional bulls, and the provision of pens to accommodate them, in order to meet the growing demand for artificial insemination. These centres are unlikely to become self-supporting because their primary purpose is to conduct research into problems connected with artificial insemination.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the reason for the appointment of nine more land commissioners, main grade, three architects, main grade and four architects, recruitment grade, in the land division, in excess of the number employed in 1952–53.

The actual increases in these grades have been six land commissioners, main grade, one architect, main grade and six architects, recruitment grade. The appointments were made because suitable candidates became available to fill vacant posts in the approved complement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the high price at which the 100 Landrace pigs, recently imported into this country, were sold was many times in excess of the price paid to the Swedish producers; and if he will control the future selling price here and thus enable small breeders to purchase these pigs.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the prices realised for the pigs recently imported from Sweden were high in comparison with the prices for which they were bought. He understands that the intention is that the whole of the difference, after payment of tax, will be used for some purpose of general benefit to the pig industry. My right hon. Friend has no power to control the prices of pigs sold for breeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in order to remove uncertainty and misunderstanding in the minds of magistrates, he will now send a circular to them regarding the attendance of their clerks when they retire to consider cases and the subjects on which they should, or should not, seek their advice.

I have sent to clerks to justices a copy of the statement made by the Lord Chief Justice in the Divisional Court on 16th November. No further action is called for on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what supervision and inspection takes place in respect of hostels run by voluntary organisations or by persons for young people who have previously been under institutional care but who have had to live in such hostels instead of in private homes when entering employment.

Such hostels provided by voluntary organisations or local authorities are inspected by the Home Office. Hostels provided by other agencies for young people of working age are not subject to Home Office inspection: if used by voluntary organisations or local authorities for boys or girls in their care, it falls to the organisation or authority placing the child to satisfy themselves that the conditions are satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far industrial craft training in Borstal institutions and approved schools is accepted as a qualification by the industries and trades unions concerned.

Arrangements have been made with the Building Apprenticeship and Training Council whereby the time spent by boys selected as suitable on a building trade course recognised by the council in an approved school counts as part of the period of their apprenticeship in the building industry after their release. The Prison Commissioners have under consideration a report by this council on the recognition of craft training in Borstal Institutions for entry into the building industry. Inquiries are being made about the possibility of similar arrangements for certain other kinds of vocational training in approved schools and Borstal institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change has taken place in the number of persons found guilty of indictable charges since the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, came into operation; and how the number now compares with 1938.

In 1938 68,679 persons were found guilty in England and Wales of indictable offences. Different provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, were brought into force at different dates in 1948 and 1949. The comparable figure for 1945 was 99,055, for 1946 92,925, for 1947 99,714, and for 1948 112,181. In the years since the passing of the Act the comparable figure for 1949 was 99,054 for 1950 100,948, for 1951 117,004 and for 1952 114,859.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mrs. Brayne, of Hove, may expect a reply to her letter, which has not yet been acknowledged though written more than four weeks ago, relating to an application for a permit for a French subject to reside in this country for the purpose of learning English.

It was necessary to refer this case to the Ministry of Labour for local inquiry, as it was not clear whether the conditions on which the French girl in question was to live in the Brayne household were such as to require a Ministry of Labour employment permit. I am sorry that it has not been possible to send an earlier reply to Mrs. Brayne, but I hope to be able to send a final answer to my hon. Friend about the case in the course of a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon he expects to complete his examination of the law relating to the granting of licences for clubs authorised to sell intoxicating liquor; and how soon he hopes to introduce legislation to give more control over the granting of such licences.

I am keeping this matter in view, but it is a difficult and controversial subject and I regret that I can hold out no prospect of legislation at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licensed premises have been closed since the end of the war; and how many new applications have been granted.

During the period 1st January, 1946, to 30th June, 1951, in England and Wales 1,521 licensed premises were closed and in addition business was temporarily suspended in 200 licensed premises. During the same period 9,073 applications for new licences were granted, of which 5,948 were granted in respect of existing licensed premises. In addition business was resumed in 836 premises the licences of which had been in temporary suspense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of registered clubs for each of the Welsh counties; and the number of new registrations that have been allowed since the lapsing of Defence Regulation 55c.

The number of registered clubs on 30th June, 1953, which is the latest date for which figures are available, is shown in c. 1 of the following table. The number of new registrations since Defence Regulation 55c was revoked is not known: c. 2 shows the number of registrations during the period 1st July, 1952 to 30th June 1953.

County or county borough	1. Number of registered clubs on 30th June, 1953	2.Number of clubs registered during the period 1st July, 1952, to 30th June, 1953
Anglesey	19	2
Brecon	27	1
Caernarvon	43	4
Cardigan	11	2
Carmarthen	46	2
Denbigh	45	7
Flint	65	4
Glamorgan	337	13
Cardiff county borough	77	4
Merthyr Tydfil county borough	30	2
Swansea county borough	54	3
Merioneth	9	3
Montgomery	10	—
Pembroke	56	3
Radnor	6	—
TOTAL FOR WALES	835	50
Monmouthshire	208	6
Newport county borough	68	2

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made in the composition of the Council for Wales and Monmouth; what further changes are contemplated; and if he will make a statement on the future of this body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to make a statement upon the future of the Council for Wales and Monmouth.

When the terms of appointment of most of the members of the council expired earlier this year some members were reappointed and a number of new appointments were made. Effect was also given to recommendations made by the council for changes in the procedure for the appointment of members. The appointments were for a period of three years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government's White Paper, relating to the memorandum of the Council of Wales which he received in February, 1953, and which was published in July, 1953, will be made available to hon. Members.

Tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received from the Council for Wales on the introduction of commercial television to the Principality.

None.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the extent of the growing under-employment and redundancy in various parts of the country among workers in the metal and allied trades; and if he will give the latest figures showing the amount of short-time working and of redundancy in these industries.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the metals, engineering and vehicles group of industries. In these industries the number of operatives reported by firms to be working short-time fell from 32,000 in the week ended 23rd May to 13,000 in the week ended 29th August (the latest date for which statistics are available). I am not aware of any general increase in underemployment in these industries since August.The number of persons registered as unemployed in the same industries decreased from 75,000 in March to 45,000 in October.

asked the Minister of Labour for what reasons provision for the compulsory supply of suitable leggings, with spats to protect the legs and feet from the spilling of molten metal, was omitted from the Iron and Steel Foundries Regulations, 1953, Article 8, in view of the fact that such provision was included in the draft regulations and has been recommended by factory inspectors.

The provision in question was discussed with both sides of industry and with their concurrence was omitted from the revised Iron and Steel Foundries Regulations to enable them to give further consideration to it.Joint discussions between the employers' organisations and the trade unions are taking place and it is hoped that a satisfactory understanding will be reached.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of the insured population now registered as unemployed in the county of Anglesey; the figures for the employment exchanges at Holy-head, Amlwch and Llangefni; and if he will give comparable percentages for Wales and the United Kingdom.

At 12th October the figures were 82 per cent. for Anglesey, 2·7 per cent. for Wales and 1·6 per cent. for the United Kingdom. It is not possible to compute reliable percentage rates of unemployment for the separate employment exchange areas in Anglesey, but the actual numbers unemployed at 12th October were 285 at Holyhead, 133 at Amlwch, 485 at Llangefni and 99 at Beaumaris.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will send to all farmers who have been granted deferment in respect of their employees a letter explaining the new interpretation of the Regulations as to the changing of employment whereby workers are to be called-up if they transfer to other farms.

I am still considering representations and have not yet reached a final decision on future policy on this matter. Accordingly the method of acquainting farmers with the decision does not yet arise.

asked the Minister of Labour to state the policy of his Department on the question of the call-up for National Service of agricultural workers who transfer from one farm to another, with special reference to the traditional hiring fairs held in certain areas of Wales and England.

In reply to similar Questions on 19th November, I informed the House that in cases where the move from one farm to another had already take place, applications for renewed deferment would be considered under the normal conditions. That disposes of the cases already in hand, some 250 in number. With regard to subsequent cases as they arise, I have suspended all action to call the man up until I have considered the representations now being made to me and am in a position to make a statement, as I undertook to do last week.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to ensure more generous consideration of applications for deferments from persons about to be called up for National Service; and, in particular, that whenever possible, two members of the same family shall not be required to perform their National or Reserve Service at the same time.

So far as the original call-up for National Service is concerned, this would be a matter for consideration, not under the deferment rules, but under the procedure for dealing with postponement of call-up on the ground of exceptional hardship. This procedure is governed by the appropriate Sections of the National Service Act, 1948, and the Regulations made there under, and the final decision in any particular case rests with the umpire who is an independent statutory authority. Recall for Reserve training is a matter for the Service authorities.

asked the Minister of Health how many tomograph X-rays are available under the National Health Service for the detection of cancer.

Precise figures are not available, but the apparatus is widely used and several hundreds are available in hospital X-ray departments.

asked the Minister of Health what action is intended to deal with the overcrowding which takes place in doctors' surgeries in industrial areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 19th November.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take action to improve the medical facilities of the people within the developing mining areas of Trentham, Blurton, Newstead and Meir; and if he will treat it as a matter of urgency.

Blurton, Newstead and Meir are classified as "designated" areas, i.e., areas where an additional doctor setting up in practice would be entitled to an initial practice allowance of £600 in the first year. Trentham is classified as an "intermediate" area where an application by an additional doctor would be considered on its merits by the Medical Practices Committee.

asked the Minister of Health if he will treat, as a matter of urgency, the provision of health centres, or suitable buildings where doctors could attend by rota, to meet the needs of the people in the new part of Blurton and Newstead in the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

Plans for a health centre are already under consideration in the Department.

asked the Minister of Health when Balderton Colony at Newark will be completed; and what additional accommodation will then be made available for mentally-deficient children from Derbyshire.

Work on this scheme commenced this year and the first phase, which it is hoped will be completed by 1957, will provide 252 beds, including 78 for children. The whole scheme provides for 800 beds, including approximately 200 beds for children, but I cannot say when it will be possible to complete it. Patients will be admitted in accordance with individual needs irrespective of the locality from which they come, but Derbyshire will be included in the area served by this hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has for extending Aston Hall Mental Deficiency Hospital; when the extensions will be completed; and what additional accommodation will then be available for mentally-deficient children from Derbyshire.

The Regional Hospital Board intend ultimately to extend the hospital to about 800 beds, including not less than 164 for children, but I cannot say how soon the whole scheme will be completed. Next year they propose to make a start on three new units with a total of 120 beds, about half of which will be for children.

asked the Minister of Health what public authority is responsible for the care of mentally deficient children who are unmanageable at home, when a regional hospital board is unable to provide accommodation in an institution.

The local health authority is responsible for recommending the priority of admission to hospital according to need, and, pending admission, for providing such supervision and help as are practicable.

asked the Minister of Health how much expenditure on hospital repair and maintenance there was in Monmouthshire in 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

The respective totals were £110,685, £122,339 and £143,724.

asked the Minister of Health how many long-stay annexes for old people there are in Monmouthshire; how many are on waiting lists for these places; and what is the average length of time of awaiting admission.

There are four institutions (227 beds) for the sick and 13 (452 places) for the non-sick. The respective waiting lists total 101 and 15. The waiting time varies according to local circumstances and to the patient's priority and average figures are not calculable.

asked the Minister of Health the number of prescriptions taken up in the area covered by the Welsh Regional Hospital Board for the years 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

The figures are: 1950, 15,391,012; 1951, 16,768,070, and 1952, 15,866,589.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that most of the patients who will require masks as a protection from fog will be old people in the low income group, he will allow such masks to be issued free of any prescription charge.

There are no grounds which would justify drawing a distinction between masks and other necessary drugs and appliances prescribed by general practitioners. Where the charge cannot be met without hardship the usual simple arrangements for securing a refund apply.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of motor propelled tricycles now on issue to war disabled pensioners and to National Health Service patients; and if he will define the differences in the regulations and conditions of eligibility which afford preference or priorities for war disabled pensioners.

The numbers are 1,530 and 7,167, respectively, in England and Wales. Certain severely disabled war pensioners may receive motor cars, which are not available to N.H.S. patients, and of which 1,729 are on issue in England and Wales, but there is no other differentiation.

asked the Minister of Health how many unstaffed beds there are at St. Lawrence Mental Hospital, Bodmin.

No beds are closed for lack of staff.

asked the Minister of Health whether the thoracic surgery unit at Tehidy Hospital, Cornwall, is now in full use; and how many major operations have taken place there.

The unit started work last week. Two major operations have taken place, and it is expected that there will be six a week from now on

asked the Minister of Health the average weekly number of patients in Tehidy Hospital, Cornwall, awaiting major thoracic surgical operations during the past 15 months; and how many persons outside the hospital have been on the waiting-list for such operations during the same period.

Precise information is not available in the form requested, but it is estimated that throughout this period there have been on average 50 patients in Cornwall suitable for thoracic surgery, including in-patients in Tehidy Hospital. Not all of these at any one time would be ready for immediate operation for which a long period of preparation is often needed.

asked the Minister of Health why the infantile mortality statistics for England and Wales, Table 26 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics, do not include the year 1952 while those for Scotland and Northern Ireland do so despite the fact that such statistics appear in Table 27 but with different figures for 1951.

I regret that the infant mortality figures for England and Wales for the year 1952 were accidentally omitted from Table 26. I am not clear what my hon. Friend implies by his reference to different figures for 1951, but the figures in Table 27 are given to the first decimal place because of the amount of detail in the Table, while those in Table 26 are rounded to the nearest whole number for convenience in comparing a long series of years.

asked the Minister of Health why, in Table 35 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1953, the deaths in the United Kingdom due to tuber culosis of the respiratory system are given as 17,042 in 1950 and in Table 36 are given as 16,973.

As indicated in the footnotes to the Tables concerned, Table 35 is compiled on the basis of the Sixth Revision of the International List of Causes of Death, while Table 36 is compiled on the basis of the Fifth Revision.

asked the Minister of Health what changes are contemplated in the policy of administration of the teaching hospitals.

None, at present.

asked the Minister of Health upon what grounds it has been decided to close the Portland Road, Hove, annexe of the Sussex Maternity Hospital; whether he is aware that this will leave the borough of Hove without any maternity hospital provided by the National Health Service; and whether, in view of the strong local opposition to the proposed closing, he will hold a local inquiry before the decision becomes effective.

As I have already informed my hon. and learned Friend, I am satisfied that this area is adequately served by other maternity units; and that the Regional Hospital Board, whose primary responsibility this is, have rightly decided that it is not justifiable to continue to maintain this four-bed unit.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of patients suffering from tuberculosis who were on the waiting lists for admission to hospitals at the end of 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

9,378; 7096; and 6,126.

asked the Minister of Health when a geriatric unit will be provided for the Redhill and District Hospital Group.

As soon as financial circumstances permit the necessary additional specialist appointment is to be made.

asked the Minister of Education what recommendations she has recently received from the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers in regard to the supply of graduate teachers.

I have now received from the Council a Report on graduate teachers of mathematics and science. With the agreement of the Council, I am arranging for the Report to be published early next month.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of primary and secondary school children in England and Wales are attending schools built since 1946, between 1919 and 1939, between 1870and 1914 and before 1870, respectively.

By the beginning of 1953 places had been provided by new post-war building for about 14 per cent. of the children then attending maintained primary and secondary schools. Half of these places were provided in new schools, as distinct from extensions to existing schools and huts built under the H.O.R.S.A. programme. I do not keep statistics which would enable me to answer the remainder of the Question.

asked the Minister of Education (1) the number of children who received school meals on the nearest convenient date; and the comparable number for 1951 and 1952;(2) the number of children in receipt of free school meals on the nearest convenient date; and the comparable number for 1951 and 1952.

The number of children in maintained and assisted schools in England and Wales having school meals on a day in October, 1953, compared with October, 1952, and October, 1951, is as follows:

—	Dinners on payment	Free dinners	Total
1951	2,494,522	279,005	2,773,527
1952	2,705,745	250,072	2,955,817
1953	2,431,215	248,508	2,679,723

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in connection with the provision of a school for spastic children in Cardiff.

I have no proposal before me to provide a school for spastic children in Cardiff, though a school to be provided for physically handicapped children in South Wales which is included in this year's programme, will take a number of spastics.

asked the Minister of Education if she will issue a report on the progress being made in various parts of the country in providing education for spastic children.

The report of my Chief Medical Officer for the years 1950 and 1951 includes a chapter on the education and treatment of children suffering from cerebral palsy. I have asked him to review the further progress made in his report for the years 1952 and 1953.

asked the Minister of Education if she has considered the proposal that universities should themselves make grants to students from funds provided for the University Grants Committee, particularly in view of the variation in grants to students now made by the different educational authorities.

I do not think a sufficient case has been made out for such a change. So far as the rates of grant to students are concerned, I would point out that 134 out of 146 local education authorities have now adopted either wholly or substantially, the rates recommended by me.

asked the Minister of Education the percentage of 13-year-old children in maintained and assisted secondary schools in the excepted district of Newcastle-under-Lyme who are following a grammar school course, distinguishing between the proportion resident in Newcastle and the proportion resident in adjoining areas.

I have not got this information.

asked the Minister of Education which of the various education authorities have to submit their expenditure for the coming year for her approval.

No local education authorities have to submit their expenditure for the coming year for my approval.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if she is now in a position to state the average number of university awards, per 10,000 of the population, made by local authorities, with the separate figures for Leeds, Cardiganshire and the West Riding of Yorkshire;(2) if she is now in a position to state the average amount spent by local authorities on university awards per head of the population; and the separate figures for Leeds, Carmarthenshire and the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The figures are given in the following table. The averages are

UNIVERSITY AWARDS BY LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITIES
		Estimated population age 5–14 years	Total awards taken up in 1952	Total awards taken up in 1952 per 10,000 age 5–14 estimated population	Expenditure during academic year 1951–52	Average expenditure during academic year 1951–52 per head of age 5–14 estimated population
Total for whole of England and Wales		6,013,900	9,623	16·001	£ 5,169,455	£ ·859
Leeds C.B.	…	67,100	74	11·028	12,346	·184
Yorks. (West Riding)		227,700	246	10·804	104,754	·460
Cardiganshire	…	7,500	41	54·667	12,897	1·720
Carmarthenshire	…	23,100	123	53·246	63,723	2·758

asked the Under-secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that Dr. Malan, in a recent speech, reiterated the claim of his Government for the transference of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland to the Union of South Africa; and if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government still stand by their previous declarations on this matter.

The answer is "Yes" to both parts of the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for figures showing British exports, by volume, for 1952 and the first nine months of 1953, on an annual basis, respectively, as a percentage of those for 1951.

The volume of exports in 1952 was 94 per cent. and the annual rate in the first nine months of 1953 94½ per cent. of the volume in 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, when a licence was granted for the import of somewhere

Sprouts from Holland are admissible under open general licence at all times of the year, and no individual licence is required. An individual licence is, however, required for the import of vegetable seeds. I do not know of any case in which a licence for the import of sprout seed has been refused but, if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and will let me have the details, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, what effect he anticipated the recent decision to decontrol imported timber would have on the demand for home-grown hardwood and softwood; and whether he will make a statement.

The removal of controls over the use of imported and home-grown softwood should increase the market for softwood of all types, as was indicated to the House on 13th July by my noble Friend's predecessor.My noble Friend is not able to estimate the effect on the demand for home-grown hardwood of this measure of decontrol or of the freedom now granted to import hardwood from non-dollar sources.

asked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, what consultation he held with representatives of saw millers of home-grown timber and of woodland owners before he took the decision to remove all controls from softwood and allow unlimited imports.

A representative of the Scottish Home Timber Merchants' Association took part in certain discussions with my noble Friend on 21st October. With that exception no representatives of the home timber trade or the landowners approached or were approached by him after his predecessor made it clear in this House on 20th July last that the Government were urgently considering the removal of controls from softwood.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make available in the Library of the House of Commons the full report of the International Bank Mission which visited British Guiana, which was made available in mid-July; and why no copy of this report was available in this country by the date of the suspension of the Constitution.

A typed copy of the main report was placed in the House of Commons Library on 12th November. Advance copies, for the comments of Governments, have been available in my Department and in British Guiana since July, but the Bank's permission to make the report public was not received until 17th October. The printed report should be on sale in this country in December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) on what date information alleging a plot to burn Georgetown was supplied to the Attorney-General for British Guiana for his consideration; and whether this information is still under consideration;

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he will state the circumstances in which reports from police agents in British Guiana alleging a plot to burn Georgetown were submitted direct to the Governor and not to the appropriate Minister;(2) whether he will state the date on which he first received reports alleging a plot to burn Georgetown; and from whom these reports were received.

A report of the plan to set fire to property in Georgetown, based on statements by two reliable agents, was made on 6th October to the Chief Secretary, who was the appropriate member of the Executive Council since he was responsible for the police and internal security. I was informed of it immediately by the Governor, whose telegram arrived early on 7th October. As one of the Governor's principal official advisers, the Attorney-General would be informed of the report at the same time.The security authorities were satisfied that the plot existed. The evidence rested, however, on conversation with persons who had been present at the meeting when the plot was made, supported by further evidence of unusual sales of petrol and by conversation overheard between those who were to carry out the arson. Such evidence while giving clear indications of the existence of the plot, of which Government was bound to take notice is of its nature not suitable for the prosecution of individuals in a court of law. The Attorney-General has, therefore, decided that it is impracticable to bring any prosecution in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give a list of the projects referred to in paragraph 23 of the White Paper, British Guiana, Suspension of the Constitution, Command Paper No. 8980, in respect of which an estimated total of £10 million of overseas capital had been invested in the Colony over a period of five years, stating the amount of employment involved and how much of the capital has been expended; giving the dates of expenditure and particulars of the projects; and the amount of capital found

OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IN BRITISH GUIANA, 1948–1952
(in million B.W.I, dollars, at $4·80=£1)
Description				1948	1949	1950	1951	Totals 1948–1951	1952
A Investment by non-residents in:
(1) Sugar		…	…	5·5	6·3	4·1	5·2	21·1	16·0 (estimate)
(2) Bauxite		…	…	4·2	0·1	0·4	10·0	14·7
(3) Gold, etc		…	…	1·7	1·3	1·6	0·8	5·4
(4) Other industries			…	0·8	2·5	2·5	2·6	8·4
Total A		…	…	12·2	10·2	8·6	18·6	49·6
B Investment by Government abroad (minus), net			…	-2·7	+1·5	+2·0	+2·8	+3·6
C Investment of Currency Board and commercial banks abroad (minus), net				-1·4	+1·5	-0·6	-4·2	-4·7
A to C Net investment by non-residents in British Guiana				8·1	13·2	10·0	17·2	48·5
D Colonial Development and Welfare Grants from H.M.G.		…	…	2·2	1·4	1·1	1·2	5·9	2·3
Total net inflow of overseas funds, A plus B plus C plus D				10·3	14·6	11·1	18·4	54·4	18·3 (estimate)

Figures of the effects of development expenditure on employment are not available but employment has risen by between 20 and 25 per cent. in the period 1946 to mid-1952. The sums given were all expended in the years stated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date he first received a recommendation from the Governor of British Guiana that the constitution of British Guiana should be suspended.

The decision to suspend the Constitution was taken on a series of

A detailed list of the projects is not available. The following table gives the components of the total figure in the White Paper. These are revised figures and it will be seen that over £11 million of net overseas capital investment look place in the four years 1948 to 1951 and that there was an estimated additional £4 million in 1952:reports by the Governor over a period which indicated quite clearly that the situation was progressively and rapidly deteriorating.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Attorney-General of British Guiana has yet completed his consideration of the matters referred to in the White Paper, British Guiana, Suspension of the Constitution, Command Paper No. 8980, 1953; and what action is being taken.

No. Two charges for sedition were laid on 24th November against leading members of the People's Progressive Party and the possibility of bringing further charges is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many representatives of Her Majesty's Government and officials of his Department visited British Guiana between April and October, 1953.

Seven.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will refer the papers referred to in paragraph 31 of the White Paper, British Guiana, Suspension of the Constitution, Command Paper No. 8980, 1953, alleging the existence of a hard core of some 400–500 party members who were ready to do violence at the bidding of the leaders, particularly Mr. King, to the Attorney-General of British Guiana.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state, the nature of the evidence in support of the allegation contained in Clause 31 of the White Paper, British Guiana, Suspension of the Constitution, Command Paper No 8980, 1953.

The statement in paragraph 31 of the White Paper that the P.P.P. has a well-developed cell system was based on close police observation of the party and was confirmed by the interception of instructions issued to these cells from party headquarters.The presence of a hard core of party members prepared to do violence was deduced from police observations during the period immediately preceding the arrival of troops. They were used to quell opposition at the party's meetings and to disrupt those of their opponents and were responsible for the disorderly public behaviour at meetings of the House of Assembly. On the night of 10th October Mr. King was seen parading up and down the main business street of Georgetown in company with a gang of these persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British Guiana Government intimated its view that there is no oil in British Guiana to the Gulf Oil Corporation before the company made its application for an oil exploration licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British Guiana Government informed the Panhandle Oil Canada Limited of its view that there is no oil in British Guiana before the company started its exploration; what success attended the exploration; how long the exploration took; and what area was explored.

The British Guiana Government has never made any statement that there is no oil in the territory, and the two companies named were not so informed. The Panhandle Company's geologists made a preliminary examination of the coast line from the mouth of the Essequibo River to the Venezuelan border occupying approximately one week. So far as is known, no proper exploration was carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of unemployment in the building trade in British Guiana in April, 1952, October, 1952, April, 1953, and October, 1953.

The numbers of registered unemployed in the building trade in British Guiana were as follows:

April, 1952	165
October, 1952	164
April, 1953	205
October, 1953	279

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the demand for lumber for the domestic building trade was made by the Sugar Producers' Association for the purpose of housing and re-housing sugar workers in their employment during the last six months for which information is available.

There is no information available on the total demand for lumber for domestic building nor on the amount used in housing sugar workers, but 336 houses were built through loans from the Sugar Welfare Fund in the first six months of 1953 and approximately 1,340 are in course of construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the sugar estates in British Guiana have established shower baths, changing rooms and canteens in connection with their factories since the recommendation made on this subject in the Venn Report.

Canteens, shower baths and drying rooms have been provided in six factories since the Venn Commission Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what success has attended the exploration for columbite-tantalite undertaken by Kenna-metals International S.A. (Inc.) in British Guiana; and how long the exploration has been proceeding.

The firm found some columbite-tantalite in the area of their exclusive permission but abandoned exploration in June, 1953, after 10 months' work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what success has attended the exploration undertaken by the New York Alaska Gold Dredging Company in British Guiana; and how long the exploration has been proceeding.

The results of drilling by the firm indicated low values of gold with high ones sporadically placed. The company abandoned its exclusive permission on 3rd September after eight months' prospecting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present membership of the Rice Marketing Board in British Guiana; and how many members of the Rice Marketing Board are known to be members of the People's Progressive Party.

The Rice Marketing Board in British Guiana consists of:

(a) Four officers in the public service:

(1). H. H. Croucher—Director of Agriculture.

(2). W. M. Bissell—Commissioner of Labour.

(3). A. D. Thompson—Local Government Department.

(4). H. E. H. Gadd.

(b) Eight rice producers:

(1). T. P. Jaundoo (Vice-Chairman)

(2). Gajraj.

(3). Persram.

(4). Harry Sukhu.

(5). Ram Lackhan.

(6). R. Sharma.

(7). Jhingoor.

(8). Ramjohn.

(c) Four other persons not being officers in the public service or rice producers:

(1). John Fernandcs (Chairman).

(2). W. J. Raatgever.

(3). G. A C. Farmum.

(4). H. G. Seaford.

Only one member of the board is believed to be a member of the P.P.P.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present membership of the Local Government Board in British Guiana; and how many members of the Local Government Board are known to be members of the People's Progressive Party.

The Board consists of three ex-officio members, namely, the Commissioner of Local Government, the Director of Medical Services and the President of the Village Chairman's Conference, and four other members appointed by the Governor. Of the latter two are members of village councils or of country authorities, and one is nominated by the British Guiana Sugar Producers' Association. No members of the board are known to be members of the People's Progressive Party.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the nature of the objection of Her Majesty's Government to the formation of committees of workers to advise on the executive of projects carried through by the Director of Public Works in British Guiana; and what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government to production councils.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government in the Colonies generally is to welcome the establishment of genuine voluntary joint consultative bodies, which could, if both sides agreed, discuss production problems among other things. In the case of the British Guiana Committees there was no mention of representation of the management. They were, however, to include a political representative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has of institutions existing in British Guiana for training the people of the Colony in the problems to be encountered by responsible Ministers in democratic government; on what date the institutions were established; and if he will place a copy of the syllabus in the Library of the House of Commons.

Essentially these are problems to be learnt from experience and there are no institutions in British Guiana for the purpose in question. The local schools have, however, taught civics, including lessons on democratic government, for many years. This teaching was intensified immediately before and after the setting up of the new Constitution.The British Council, in co-operation with the Extra-Mural Department of the University College of the West Indies, has provided material for simple lectures on Parliamentary government and had distributed booklets on the British system of Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what regulations have been made in British Guiana, on lines customary in Great Britain, for the adequate guarding of moving machinery; and on what date they were made.

A Factories Ordinance was passed in British Guiana in 1947 and its various provisions have been brought into force during the past four years. It covers the registration and inspection of factories and includes provisions for ensuring that machinery does not endanger the safety of employees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what new publicity, by post or other printed notice, has been undertaken in British Guiana in the last four years to give workers information about their rights to make claims and to proceed to arbitration in cases of industrial accident.

I am making inquiry of the Governor and will circulate a reply later in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an economic botanist, an entomologist, an agricultural chemist, a statistician and an agricultural engineer, have been appointed to the agricultural department or British Guiana since the publication of the Venn Report; and what approach has been made to the Directors of the United Nations Expanded Technical Assistance Programme to find out whether they could recommend properly-qualified persons of other nationalities to undertake the duties in question.

An economic botanist was appointed in April, 1950. An entomologist was appointed in August, 1950, but resigned in September, 1951. A probationer is now in training for this post and one experienced entomologist is in the territory at present on special investigations. An agricultural chemist was appointed in January, 1948, prior to the visit of the Commission.There is no statistician on the staff of the Department of Agriculture, but there is an agricultural economist who collects agricultural statistics. Provision for an agricultural engineer was made in this year's Estimates and a Guianese is now in training in this country for the post. No approach was made under the United Nations Expanded Technical Assistance Programme in connection with these appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many instructors and mobile vans have been supplied by the adviser on technical education in British Guiana for the purpose of giving such technical instruction as is recommended in paragraph 81 (ii) of the Venn Report.

No action has been taken on this recommendation yet. The principal of the Technical Institute responsible for the scheme left the Colony for the United Kingdom in May, 1952, and did not return. His successor took up his appointment this year and to date has been fully occupied with reorganising the Institute, which is suffering from a serious shortage of staff.

asked the Minister of Food his plans to guard against abuse of the future sales of fat cattle at auction marts.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the concern felt by farmers as to the likely operations of buying rings in the proposed auctions of fat stock; and if he will consider plans to prevent, or limit, the operation of these rings.

The recent White Paper on the Marketing of Agricultural Produce (Cmd. 8989) stated that the Government recognised that the pre-war auction system was unsatisfactory in certain respects, and that they were inviting representatives of the farmers and other interested parties to co-operate with appropriate Departments in making immediate improvements. Discussions have now begun.

asked the Minister of Food what reply he has made to the representations of the Lincoln Master Butchers' Association made in November, 1953.

I have written to the hon. Member in reply to the letter which he sent to me on this matter. If he has any further point he will no doubt raise it with me.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will indicate the total allocation of capital to Scotland in 1954 for transport improvements of a major character.

I cannot yet say what funds can be allocated to Scotland next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the average cost per year of operating a blinking beacon crossing.

The flashing beacons have not been working long enough to make a reliable estimate, but I am informed that the lighting of the beacon (including the cost of electricity, renewal of lamps, general maintenance and the necessary travelling) may be about £4 per beacon per year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what has been the expenditure for improvements and maintenance, respectively, on the section of the Carlisle—Glasgow and the Abington—Cumbernauld trunk roads within the area of the county of Lanark during the last four calendar years; and what is the estimated expenditure in the current year.

On the Carlisle-Glasgow road the expenditure on major improvements in Lanark has amounted to £132,377 in the last four calendar years and the expenditure on maintenance in the same period has amounted to £200,097; the estimated expenditure in the current year is £12,080 on major improvements and £58,244 on maintenance. On the Abington—Cumbernauld road the expenditure on major improvements in the same period has amounted to £46,648 and on maintenance £75,276. No provision is made for major improvements in the current year but £23,828 is estimated to be spent on maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement on the intentions of the Government to set up a Royal Commission to consider and report on mental illness and deficiency in Scotland.

The whole field was covered by the Committee on the Scottish Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Laws under the Chairmanship of Lord Russell, that reported in 1946. A further inquiry at this date is unnecessary, but I am considering the report and propose in due course to lay a White Paper before Parliament as a basis for further discussion of the issues involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the estimated annual cost of maintaining the Hertford British Hospital, Paris; and how far this exceeded the funds which were estimated to be available.

The Hertford British Hospital has been shut completely since the summer of 1952.In the calendar year 1951, which was the last complete year in which all the departments of the Hertford British Hospital were open and in use, the total expenditure on maintenance was frs. 49,483,331. During that year fees paid by patients amounted to frs. 17,608,975 and income from investments was frs. 4,585,145. Certain items of extraordinary income accounted for an additional sum of frs. 499,985.The Hospital's total income from all the above sources was therefore frs. 22,694,105, leaving an excess of expenditure over income of frs. 26,789,226 (£27,300 approximately). Voluntary gifts during the year amounted to frs. 15,368,968 and the net deficit was therefore frs. 11,420,258 (£11,600 approximately).In 1950 when the cost of maintaining the Hospital was only frs. 42,105,788 (i.e. over frs. 7,000,000 less than in 1951), the excess of expenditure over income was frs. 18,260,572, which was reduced by voluntary gifts and subscriptions, amounting to frs. 15,875,500, to a net deficit of frs. 2,385,072 (£2,400 approximately).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how the stocks of house coal in Derbyshire compare at the present time with the same period of 1952.

Merchants' stocks of house coal in Derbyshire were 26,070 tons on 14th November, 1953, compared with 27,169 tons a year before.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for new telephones are now outstanding in the Lanark County Council area; and what the corresponding figure was last year.

1,707 applications were outstanding a year ago and the number now is 1,686. Progress was retarded at the beginning of this year because labour had to be diverted to other parts of Scotland to deal with the widespread storm damage to telephone lines; but in the last six months 900 applications, including new and outstanding demands, have been met.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost of collection, and what proportion this cost bore to the total yield of Surtax, Income Tax, as a whole, and Income Tax collected through Pay As You Earn, respectively, in the last financial year for which particulars are available.

The cost of collection of Inland Revenue duties generally in the year ended 31st March, 1952, the latest for which figures are available, was 1·07 per cent. It is not possible to distinguish the cost of collecting individual taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in respect of the fiscal years 1952–53 and 1953–54, a table showing the dollars received, or likely to be received, and the value of the assistance granted by the United States Government to the United Kingdom under the headings of defence economic aid, offshore procurement and other United States Government expenditure, such as expenditure on air bases and military aid, respectively.

The dollars received by the United Kingdom from the U.S.A. as defence aid (excluding military end-items), under offshore procurement, under the "Katz-Gaitskell agreement" and the "Benton-Moody amendments," and from the expenditure of U.S. forces in the United Kingdom amounted to $567 million in the year July, 1952, to June, 1953. Details are given on page 67 of Cmd. 8976.Receipts under these heads in 1953–54 depend upon circumstances and cannot therefore be forecast with precision. But we would expect to receive most of the amounts allocated under the Mutual Defence Assistance Agreement and the Mutual Security Acts, 1951 and 1952, but not received by 30th June last ($200 million), part of the $85 million earmarked under the Mutual Security Act. 1953, for financing our aircraft production and of the amounts we may be allocated under Sections 541 and 550 of that Act. We shall continue to have receipts from the expenditure of U.S. forces here and also from offshore procurement orders. These latter now total nearly $450 million; but, of course, deliveries will be spread over a long period and only a comparatively small proportion of the sum will be received in 1953–54.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue derived by his Department from the Pool Betting Duty on football pools in 1951 and 1952.

The receipts of Pool Betting Duty in respect of football and similar pools were £17,218,392 in 1951 and £19,772,642 in 19