asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to announce an extension of the categories of disabled persons eligible for the provision of motor tricycles, so as to include men and women with amputations below the knee, or who live in areas of special climatic or topographical difficulty.

Eligibility at present depends on the degree of loss of use of the legs and, in those less severely disabled, on employment needs also, and a number of persons with amputations below the knee are eligible on these grounds. After a full review of the position I am satisfied that the present criteria are right. I may say, however, that climate is already taken into account in deciding the type of machine to provide, and topography in connection with employment needs, but I am arranging to consider specially any other individual cases where peculiar topographical difficulties arise, provided that otherwise the present criteria are satisfied.

asked the Minister of Health how many consultant psychiatrists are employed on the staffs of North Staffordshire hospitals; and what are the comparable figures for Sheffield and Portsmouth.

In North Staffordshire there are four whole-time consultants and one almost whole-time, assisted by five whole-time senior hospital medical officers. The corresponding numbers in Sheffield are four-and-a-half and three, and in Portsmouth four and three.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the general discontent expressed by dentists with their remuneration, he can give an indi- cation of how long the inquiry being held to ascertain the facts is likely to take.

Not yet, but good progress has already been made. The scheme of investigation has been agreed with the British Dental Association who are carrying out part of it.

asked the Minister of Education if she is satisfied that all shades of opinion are represented on the Burnham Committee; and if she will make a statement.

I have no reason to believe that in framing their recommendations the Committee fail to take fully into account the position of all categories of teachers.

asked the Minister of Education the relative value, in terms of purchasing power, of school masters' salaries fixed in 1938 at £180 minimum to £366 maximum increasing by £12 annually and the rates proposed by the recent Burnham award at £450 minimum to £725 maximum increasing by £18 annually; and what steps she proposes to take to see that the salaries of schoolmasters are restored at least to 1938 levels in terms of purchasing power, bearing in mind that this level is considerably lower than that recommended to Her Majesty's Government by the McNair Committee in 1943.

At present prices a scale corresponding to the 1938 scale mentioned would run approximately from £410 at the minimum to £840 at the maximum with increases of about £27 10s. annually. I cannot, however, accept that it is reasonable to make a simple comparison between the two scales quoted because of the many changes that have taken place in the whole framework of the Burnham Reports since 1938 and, in particular, because of the provisions for the award of discretionary allowances above the scale.

asked the Minister of Education why the mother of Barry Mouncey was refused permission to have him home from West Kirby Children's Convalescent Home at Christmas time.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education whether her attention has been drawn to the views on commercial television expressed by the National Union of Teachers, the Workers' Education Association, the Association of Education Committees, the Association of Assistant Mistresses, the Educational Institute for Scotland, the National Adult School Union, the British Federation of University Women, the National Union of Women Teachers, and the Vice-Chancellors of 14 universities which have been sent to her; and what consultations she has had with educational authorities and representatives of parents and teachers on this subject.

The first three bodies mentioned and the National Union of Women Teachers have written to me expressing their views. The Association of Education Committees has also presented its views to me orally.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools or departments are without canteens or school meals.

My latest information relates to a day in October, 1953, when the children of 799 schools or departments out of a total of 29,478 had no facilities for getting a school meal.

asked the Minister of Education the number of children taking school meals on an appropriate day in November, 1951, and the comparative number for a day in November, 1953.

The last return from local education authorities related to a day in October, 1953. I cannot add therefore to the information given in my reply to the hon. Member on 26th November, 1953.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of grammar school places is held by children who, at the age of 11, were being educated at local authority primary schools and what proportion is held by children who at that age were being educated at private schools; and what are the numbers of places in each case.

The information is not available in my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to provide employment in the Sunderland Trading Estates factory occupied by Messrs. Prices Tailors Limited.

My Department have put several firms who might be interested in taking over the lease of the factory into touch with Messrs. Prices, but I understand that no arrangements for the transfer of the lease have yet been entered into.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of persons, men and women, separately, employed in the North-Eastern Trading Company factories in Sunderland on the latest available date.

On 28th November, 1953, the latest date for which official statistics are available, 1,594 men and boys and 2,718 women and girls, making a total of 4,312, were employed in these factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the repayment of claims on German bonds and other German debts; and when another interim payment can be made.

I hope to be able to make a statement on this matter shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people are on the staff of the Custodian of Enemy Property; and to what extent he has enlarged his staff during the last year in view of the work involved in examining claims and paying out moneys due on German bonds and other debts.

The Administrator of German Enemy Property—whose responsibility it is to deal with claims under the Distribution of Enemy Property Act, 1949—was empowered to receive claims from 1st February, 1952. On that date the staff employed on this work was 70. On 31st December, 1953, the staff numbered 92, as compared with the peak figure of 182, which was reached in February, 1953.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that Income Tax evasion showed an increase as revealed by the analysis just published by the Comptroller and Auditor General, what steps he proposes to take to stop this tendency to evade payment of tax.

The figures to which my hon. Friend refers do not point to an increase in tax evasion so much as to the increasing success of the Inland Revenue in bringing the tax evader to book. They show that the steps taken in recent years to build up a campaign against evasion are now bearing good fruit. I can assure my hon. Friend that the whole question of evasion receives continuous attention from the Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the present tax on fuel oil which is used by most omnibus companies now amounts to 2s. 6d. per gallon or over 214 per cent. on the basic price of the fuel; and, in view of the fact that its consumption bears more heavily on poorer people and is now higher than any maximum form of taxation on luxuries, he will reduce or abolish the present tax.

While not necessarily accepting the arguments in the hon. Member's Question, my right hon. Friend will consider this matter in the preparation of his coming Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider setting up a committee, presided over by a prominent Queen's Counsellor, at which evidence can be taken on oath to examine and report on the present methods of dealing with ideas and suggestions in State organisations, and to recommend improvements.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what arrangements are being made for the continuance this year of students' camps to provide extra help for farmers through the corn and potato harvests.

Arrangements similar to those of last year are being made. The detailed programmes will soon be announced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the arrangements he has made for the handling of this year's cereal crops.

Arrangements for handling the 1954 cereal harvest are set out in the White Paper on Guarantees for Home Grown Cereals, Command No. 8947, supplemented by the announcement on Monday last by the Ministry of Food and the Agricultural Departments. I am sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of this Press announcement and of two leaflets which have been prepared for the information of farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the Commissioners of Crown Lands are asking high premiums, which they term fines, as a condition for granting leases of unfurnished houses; and whether he will take action to stop this practice.

Instead of letting Crown property at a full market rent, the Commissioners of Crown Lands are sometimes ready to accept a lower rent and to take the balance as a capital payment or fine. This is a practice quite normal in the letting of property and I see no reason to stop it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the floods which occur annually in the region of Patley Bridge, and of the loss to farmers and others by reason of such floods; and if he will increase his grant towards the erection of defence works against flooding.

If my hon. and gallant Friend will send me particulars of this flooding, I should be happy to look into it. The watercourses in this area are not, however, the responsibility of the Yorkshire Ouse River Board and, so far as I can judge, I have no power to pay grant in respect of works on them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the importance of domestic rabbits to the individual's private larder and to the export trade, he will make a statement concerning the research he is carrying on to help the domestic rabbit keepers of this country to prevent their domestic rabbits being attacked by the rabbit disease known as myxomatosis.

Research is in progress at the Ministry's Veterinary Laboratory at Weybridge with a vaccine that is known to give rabbits a reasonable degree of protection. I am advised, however, that domestic rabbits can be protected by the use of insect screens and insecticides against mosquitoes which may carry the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement as to the general effect of the high January tides upon the parts of the coast which were flooded in January, 1953, and in particular as to the effectiveness of the defence work done during the past year.

On the night of 3rd January, a surge in the North Sea raised high tides to some 3 feet above the predicted level. These tides were accompanied by high winds and waves and subjected the new defences on the East Coast to their most severe test so far. Although there was minor damage in a number of places, there was no serious threat of flooding anywhere. South of Aldeburgh, there was some loss of shingle but minor flooding that occurred in the town itself was caused by heavy spray and not by any failure of the defences. While the weather did not compare with the abnormal conditions at the end of January last year, river boards can derive some satisfaction from the way in which the extensive works done since the floods stood up to their first serious test.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding coracle fishing on the River Teifi, between Llechryd Bridge and Cenarth Falls.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has discussed the problems involved with the South West Wales River Board and with representatives of the fishermen, and representatives of the riparian owners will be invited to similar discussions. It is not yet possible to say whether a solution to this longstanding and difficult question can be found.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to evidence in a recent case at the Old Bailey that Criminal Investigation Department officers can go in a police car on a tour of public houses and buy drinks on an expense account; and whether he will alter the regulations covering this practice.

I am familiar with the circumstances of this case. I cannot find in them any grounds for amending the police regulation under which a detective normally employed on outside duties is paid a detective expenses allowance of 10s. a week to meet minor and incidental expenses which could not be separately claimed without creating a disproportionate amount of work. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is taking steps to emphasise to all detective officers in the Metropolitan police force the need for strict economy in the use of police transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to commence repair of war damage to West Central, Saville Row, Police Station.

At the beginning of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the recent reorganisation of the Metropolitan Police; and the reason for the resignation of certain senior officers therefrom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the recent resignations of officers from the Metropolitan Police.

The Commissioner of Police has recently implemented, with my approval, recommendations made by a working party for increasing the responsibilities and rank of uniform officers in charge of sub-divisions and upgrading comparable posts in the Criminal Investigation Department and also for carrying out a certain measure of reorganisation at headquarters, including the setting up of a research and planning branch and the replacement of police officers by civilians in certain branches where the work does not call for the exercise of police powers or experience. There is no foundation for the suggestion that certain senior officers have resigned because of dissatisfaction with this reorganisation, and in particular with a supposed decision to interchange uniform and detective officers. There has been no such decision.As regards the higher posts, selected detective officers are occasionally transferred to the uniform branch in order to gain wider experience, but this is not a new policy; and there have been no transfers into the C.I.D. of senior officers without previous detective experience. As regards the lower ranks, it has for some years been the practice for a number of uniform officers who wish to be considered for appointment as detectives to be employed as "aids" to the C.I.D., and the average period of employment as an aid has recently been shortened so as to give an opportunity to more men to show their aptitude for detective work.I am satisfied that the changes which have been made are in the best interests of the force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now prohibit the use of calomel in the manufacture of teething powders.

I have no power to prohibit the use of calomel in the manufacture of teething powders, but I understand that the only firm known to have been manufacturing such powders wholesale in recent times has decided to omit this ingredient. Retail pharmacists who manufacture their own brands of teething or soothing powders have been advised in the Pharmaceutical Journal to use safe aperients in lieu of calomel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to amend Section 1 (1) (b) of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, to allow cinema owners to devote a proportion of their net takings to the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund, if they so desire.

The charities which are to benefit from the sums required to be paid under this Section are designated by the licensing authorities and may, and in some cases do, include the Fund to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason he prevented foreigners from entering this country to take part in a conference, held last month, sponsored by an organisation called "Teachers for Peace."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why certain visitors from France, desiring to spend a holiday in this country, were refused permission to land in Great Britain when it became known that they intended, during part of their stay, to attend a conference organised by the National Committee of Teachers for Peace, taking place in London on 29th and 30th December, 1953.

I have made it plain to the House more than once that I am not prepared to admit foreigners to attend meetings organised by bodies which, under the guise of some harmless name intended to deceive the public as to their aims, are instruments of Communist propaganda. I am satisfied that "Teachers for Peace" is in this category, however unconscious of it some of its members may be, and accordingly foreigners known to be coming to attend the conference which it organised on 29th and 30th December were excluded from the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long Dr. Paul Oesterich, a German delegate to the Teachers for Peace Conference in London, was detained by his officers in a room at London Airport; and how much he was charged to meet the cost of his detention.

Dr. Oestereich, who arrived at London Airport at 6.50 p.m. on 27th December last was, after having been refused leave to land, detained overnight in the detention room at London Airport because there was no flight back to Hamburg that night. He left by the 10.30 a.m. flight next day. Under the Aliens Order, 1920 (as amended) is it the responsibility of the carrying company (in this case British European Airways) to convey a foreigner who has been refused leave to land back to the country from which he came, and, at the request of the Immigration Officer, to detain the foreigner pending his removal. I understand that British European Airways charged Dr. Oestereich £8 10s. to cover their expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons wishing to attend the recent Teachers for Peace Conference in London were prevented from entering this country; from what countries they came; and what was the reason for the exclusion.

Seven Belgians, four French nationals and two Germans who sought to enter this country to attend the conference were refused leave to land. I have explained the reason for this decision in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available to hon. Members copies of the statements made by Christie at Notting Hill Police Station in December, 1949.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that he has adequate powers to prevent public mischief under the guise of an unofficial industrial dispute; and what steps he is taking to prevent public mischief.

It is no part of my responsibilities to intervene in an industrial dispute, official or unofficial. The enforcement of the law and the maintenance of public order are, in the first instance, matters for the police, and I have no reason to be dissatisfied under either head. It is, of course, the duty of any Government to take such measures as are necessary and reasonable for securing the essentials of life to the community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on living animals have been conducted under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, in connection with cancer to the latest known date; and what results have been obtained as to the cause or cure of this disease.

From 1907, when these figures were first kept separately, to the end of 1952, 1,367,820 experiments were carried out in connection with cancer research. It is not within my province to assess the results of such experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for a licence were refused in each category in each year to conduct an experiment on a living animal since the Act was passed in 1876; and what were the reasons for the refusal in each case.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to lessen the danger and inconvenience to road users on A41 in the neighbourhood of Elstree caused by earth spilling from lorries.

There is in force in the Elstree Rural District a good rule byelaw designed to prevent danger or nuisance caused by the spilling of loose substances from vehicles on to highways. The police pay attention to the observance of the byelaw in the normal course of their duty. I understand that the position has recently improved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Cardiff National Coal Board Branch of the Clerical and Administrative Workers' Union, a copy of which has been sent to him, seeking legislation to implement the Gowers Report on Office Conditions; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 12th November to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Padley) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the granting of the vote at 18 years of age; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on this matter.

Her Majesty's Government agree with the view taken by the Speaker's Conference in 1944 and by Parliament in 1948 that the appropriate age for the franchise is still 21.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the names of the inspectors appointed by him under the Cruelty to Animals Act. 1876; what salaries each receive; and which of them has held a licence to perform such experiments at any time.

The information for which the hon. Member asks is as follows:Chief Inspector: Dr. P. L. C. Carrier, M.D., B.S., M.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., D.P.H.: Salary, £2,000.Inspectors: Dr. F. Elliott, M.B., B.S., T.D.: Dr. E. J. Fitzgerald, M.D., B.Ch., B.A.O.; and Group Captain G. Struan-Marshall, O.B.E., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., L.D.S., R.C.S., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H. (retd.); their salary scale is £1,250–£1,725 to which there is at present an addition of £100 per annum.Group Captain Struan-Marshall held a licence up to 1925.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the salaries received by each of the members of the Advisory Committee on Experiments on Living Animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876; how many meetings were held in 1953; and how many times he has consulted them and been consulted by them.

The members of this Committee give their services free. One meeting was held in 1953, at which three cases were discussed. In all, 126 cases have been referred by my predecessors and myself to the Committee for their advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps so that persons who, some years ago, surrendered their firearms to gun dealers and others will have them returned or receive compensation.

No. No question of compensation arises in respect of the voluntary surrender to the police of weapons illegally held without firearm

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has taken note of the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates dealing with inadequacies in Civil Defence; and what action he proposes to take on its recommendations.

I am considering this Report in consultation with my colleagues concerned with Civil Defence, and I hope soon to be in a position to deal

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of cases where penalties were imposed for the offence of being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle during each of the years 1938, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953, respectively.

I append a table giving figures for the years 1938, 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1952. I regret that figures for 1953 are not yet available.with the criticisms made by the Select Committee on the policy and administration of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now state the number of persons enlisted in Industrial Civil Defence.

According to a recent return, 146,093 men and women are under training in Industrial Civil Defence units.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes he proposes to make in the constitution of the Advisory Council for Wales, following his recent rejection of their advice;(2) whether he will publish the correspondence he has had with the Advisory Council for Wales concerning their public charge that he treated them with discourtesy;(3) if he will state the number of occasions, prior to December, 1953, on which he consulted with the Advisory Council for Wales concerning their proposals for preventing the drift from rural Wales; and what proposals he has for regular consultation in the future.

As I indicated in my speech in the debate on 8th December, the Government have derived great assistance from the Second Memorandum of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire, which included the Report of the Rural Development Panel. Although it would not have been proper for me to discuss the Council's proposals with them before they were considered by the House, I have since then had a useful discussion with representatives of the Council, and I am always ready to hear their views on any matter which they wish to discuss with me. The fact that proposals made by the Council have not been accepted in their entirety by the Government affords in itself no reason for making changes in the constitution of the Council, and I do not propose to publish correspondence between the Council and myself.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the cases where workmen engaged in digging trenches for drains and sewers have been killed by the collapse of the sides of the trenches; and if he will examine the safety regulations on this subject with a view to their being strengthened if necessary, especially in respect of excavation work carried on during wet weather.

Yes. Such fatalities are required to be reported to the Factory Inspector who investigates the circumstances. Investigation has not shown need for amendment of the current regulations which relate to excavations in connection with building operations, but I am considering extending them to cover other kinds of work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government will authorise the publication of the transcript of the proceedings of the court of inquiry, held in London this month, into wage disputes in the shipbuilding and engineering industries.

No. The proceedings of the courts of inquiry have been reported in the Press and in due course their reports will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations or letters of protest his Department has received against the proposed closure of the Builth Wells employment exchange; and what replies have been sent.

It is not proposed to close these premises but to reduce the days of opening to three per week including market days. In addition to representations from the hon. Member, my Department has received 10 letters from local political organisations, trade union branches, local authorities and a trade association in the area. In each case a reply has been sent indicating that the Department is unable to reverse the decision reached.

asked the Minister of Labour how many employment exchanges have been closed in Wales during the last 12 months, either permanently or in favour of part-time facilities; what offices are under consideration for closure or for part-time facilities; and what saving in manpower and expenditure is expected for each.

No local offices have been closed. Facilities have been curtailed in two areas with a saving of one and three staff and about £500 and £1,400 per annum, respectively. The only other change contemplated at present is at Builth Wells where a reduction of facilities will save one staff and about £500 per annum.

asked the Minister of Labour the main reductions in the prices of vegetables and fruit during the past 12 months; and to what extent such reductions have been responsible for stabilising the cost of living during this period.

Because of the seasonal fluctuations in the prices of vegetables and fruit, it is best to compare the latest available prices with those for the corresponding month of the previous year. At mid-December, 1953, the average prices of tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, turnips, onions, canned processed peas, oranges and canned plums were all lower than in December, 1952, the reductions ranging from 7 per cent. to 45 per cent. The effect of these reductions in stabilising the retail prices index during 1953 may be judged from the fact that they are equivalent to a change of 0·6 in the index figure of retail prices and roughly offset the increases in the prices of butter, margarine, cooking fat, sugar and syrup which occurred in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether a person sustaining injuries as a result of falling off a moving bus in included in the total of road accident casualties.

Yes, but the figures do not show whether the bus is moving or stationary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress made towards arranging the Korean peace conference.

The hon. Gentleman will have seen my right hon. Friend's reply yesterday to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson). According to Press reports, the "Liaison Secretaries" of the two sides made no progress yesterday but agreed to meet again at Panmunjom on 23rd January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the invitation to Her Majesty's Government from the Schuman Plan Authority to negotiate a form of association.

The High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community have informed Her Majesty's Government that they wish to enter into discussions in order to establish a formal association between the United Kingdom and the Community by means of an agreement. They have also offered certain preliminary suggestions as to what this agreement might contain. The policy of Her Majesty's Government is to maintain an intimate and enduring association with the Community, and they have received this proposal with great interest. The High Authority's proposal will require careful study and consultations with the interests concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what national flags are flown in the High Commission Territories in South Africa.

The flag flown by Her Majesty's High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland is the Union Jack, with a special badge emblazoned in the centre on a white shield surrounded by a green garland. Government Offices in the Territories also fly the Union Jack.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when all centres of population in the Bechuanaland Protectorate will be equipped with a telephone service.

The population of the Bechuanaland Protectorate is scattered over a wide area. The provision of telephone services to all centres of population would not be practicable, but extensions to telephone communications will be made when the financial resources of the Territory permit.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when Her Majesty's Government propose to open negotiations with other Commonwealth countries for social security agreements similar to that concluded with Australia last year.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Major Anstruther-Gray) on 17th December last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet received a report from the court of inquiry which he set up to investigate the allegations that British troops in Kenya had been offered rewards for killing members of Mau; if he will make the report available to the House; and if he will make a statement on the subject.

Yes. I have studied the proceedings and will shortly give the House a full report. There can be no question of publishing the proceedings themselves.