asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the great importance attached to an early announcement of prices by farmers, he will ensure that the 1954 Price Review is announced not later than the middle of March. 1954.

I shall certainly bear in mind the importance of making as early an announcement as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that the increase by five assistants, scientific, and eight industrial staff of the number employed at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is necessary; and what special duties they handle.

There has been no increase of staff in the Assistants (Scientific) grade and the second part of the Question does not therefore arise. The explanation for the apparent increase in the 1953–54 estimates is that a combined figure for established and temporary staff in this grade has appeared for the first time. The increase in the industrial staff was due to a greater number of student gardeners being employed in the general interest. While learning about gardening these students perform the duties of the ordinary gardeners at Kew.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why it has been found necessary to increase the number of typists, office-keepers and messengers in Establishment Division II by 68; and what new duties have been undertaken by this division in consequence.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. C. S. Taylor) on 12th November, 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many county councils have been established in Kenya; and to how many of them Africans have been appointed, giving the number in each case.

County councils have been set up for Nairobi, Nakuru and Naivasha. One African member has been appointed to each.

asked the Minister of Health whether entrants into Great Britain are asked to produce a certificate of vaccination against smallpox.

Not normally, but if it is necessary to consider placing passengers from an infected area or craft under surveillance they may be asked whether they can produce evidence of recent vaccination.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how, in terms of 1946prices, the purchasing power of the 55s. a week pension for total disablement payable today compares with the purchasing power of the former 45s. a week pension in October, 1951.

In terms of 1946 prices the purchasing power of the 55s. pension today is about 4s. 6d. a week more than the purchasing power of the 45s. a week pension in October, 1951.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applicants in Lincoln are on the waiting list for telephones.

One hundred and nine applications are on the waiting list and 217 are being met or are under inquiry. Four hundred and ninety-six telephones have been provided in the past 12 months.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of motor bus companies operating in Nottinghamshire showing which companies allow school children to travel at reduced fares up to the ages of 14, 15 and 16, respectively.

The operators in the list below, which includes all the principal companies operating stage services in Nottinghamshire, allow children under 14 years of age to travel at half the adult fare:—Barton Transport Ltd.Trent Motor Traction Co. Ltd.South Notts Bus Co. Ltd.Lincolnshire Road Car Co. Ltd.Midland General Omnibus Co. Ltd.Mansfield District Traction Co.East Midland Motor Services Ltd.Gash & Sons.A. Skill.The first three undertakings on the list also charge reduced fares for scholars up to 17 years of age travelling to and from school. The Lincolnshire Road Car Co. does likewise, but up to the age of 18.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consult the museum and art gallery authorities concerning the possibility of loaning some of our pictures abroad which would not be damaged by travel, in return for the courtesy so frequently extended to Great Britain by some other countries in lending us pictures, often from their most important collections.

In recent consultations the Trustees of both the National Gallery and of the Tate Gallery were agreeable to an extension of their statutory lending powers. The National Art Collection Bill now being considered in another place will, if agreed to by Parliament, supplement their power under the National Gallery (Overseas Loans) Act, 1935, to lend overseas pictures by British artists by enabling them to make overseas loans of foreign pictures also. Most other national museums and galleries already possess similar lending powers, but the exercise of the proposed new, as of existing powers, will, of course, remain entirely within the discretion of the trustees.