asked the Minister of Education the latest figures of primary and secondary schools under construction; and how they compare with those of a year, and two years ago, respectively

On 1st October last there were 602 primary and 367 secondary schools under construction. Corresponding figures for 1952 were 756 and 309 respectively, and for 1951 they were 908 and 283.

In view of the ever-worsening situation in the primary schools under the Minister's régime, what action will she now take to increase the number of primary schools under construction in order to reduce the size of classes? Will she give an assurance that her programme will include enough school places to cater for the rise in tie secondary school population which will begin in 1956?

The hon. Member has no doubt noticed that in the building of secondary schools more work has to be done than in primary schools. The figures for the 12 months ending 1st October, 1951, show that only 114,000 new school places were brought into use. For the 12 months ending 1st October, 1952, and 1st October, 1953, they were 187,000 and 257,000 respectively.

Is it not a serious fact that we need one-fifth more places in our secondary schools within five years? Is the Minister satisfied that her building programme will provide those places?

I am satisfied that we are making more starts and are keeping up the momentum. If the present momentum is maintained, I think we shall achieve exactly what the hon. Member wishes.

asked the Minister of Education when she proposes to put into full operation Part III of the Education Act, 1944

asked the Minister of Education if she will make a statement on her discussions with the deputation that she received on Wednesday, 20th January, representing 145 education authorities in England and Wales, who requested her to operate Part III of the Education Act, 1944; and what decision she has made in connection with this request

asked the Minister of Education whether she will take steps immediately to put into operation Part III of the 1944 Education Act

I agree with the opinion expressed in the answer given to the hon. Member for Itchen (Mr. Morley) by my predecessor in November, 1950, namely, that Part III of the Act of 1944 should be brought into operation only when it can be effectively implemented. Though, in many respects, we are better placed than was the case three years ago for improving bad schools or for doing without them, yet I still doubt whether it would be practicable in the immediate future to enforce, as conditions for admission to an official register, standards as high as are in principle desirable.

All this I explained to the deputation, and also the heavy responsibility which would fall to my Department, not only for registration of several thousand schools of very varied scope and size, but also for continuing thereafter to secure regular information about them. Meanwhile, I am consulting my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary about further immediate action for excluding from schools teachers who have been convicted for offences against young persons.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that 1950 was over three years ago, and that since then she has had time to get the necessary inspectors and administrative machinery in order to put Part III of the Act into operation? Is she also aware of the rising tide of indignation at the fact that any ex-criminal can start a private school? Is there anything to prevent putting Part III of the Act into operation which could not be overcome by a little more drive and energy on her part?

I agree that it is three years and two months since that answer was given. The standard which is in force may have slightly improved, but it could not be a standard that most would regard as that which ought to be enforced for the registration of schools.

The Minister will be aware that on numerous occasions, over a long time, men who run schools have been found guilty of immoral and indecent conduct. They are not fit to be in charge of those schools. As she has known for some years that this has been going on, can she say exactly when action will be taken, because my hon. and right hon. Friends on this side of the House would be only too pleased to give her any assistance she may need?

I thank the hon. Gentleman, and I am sure that the whole House will. I am consulting the Home Secretary about further and immediate action. I should be glad to discuss this with the hon. Gentleman or any other hon. Member, because there are certain points in this difficult, complex subject that cannot be suitably dealt with by Question and answer.

While not wishing to curtail any conversations the right hon. Lady may like to have with the Home Secretary, may I ask whether she agrees that the only effective way of dealing with this problem is by putting into operation Part III of the Act? In spite of all the difficulties will she not have another look at this question, to see what can be done?

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman that the best way of dealing with the subject would be to put into operation Part III. It would involve cumbersome machinery. I am seeing whether we can get some other scheme that is quicker and more efficient.

asked the Minister of Education what extra staff would be required in her Department to operate Part III of the Education Act, 1944; and what would be the estimated cost

Additional inspectors and office staff would be needed. The exact numbers and the cost would depend on the pace and scale of the operations involved, but I estimate that the initial annual cost would be about £50,000.

Does not the right hon. Lady feel that so far as her Department is concerned there is no great difficulty in bringing Part III of the Act into operation?

I cannot say that. I would be willing to discuss the matter with the hon. Gentleman. It is not only the number of people and the cost; it is the arrangement for standards and how the scheme is to be worked out.

asked the Minister of Education if she has considered a report from the Science Masters' Association stating that 84 schools had to close part of their science departments, that 115 vacancies remained unfilled and that there was not a single applicant worth considering when recent advertisements appeared for 60 places; and what action she proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs

The report of the Science Masters' Association was taken into account by the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers when they were preparing their recent report on "Graduate Teachers of Mathematics and Science." Action on the latter is now proceeding, as I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Remnant) on 21st January.

Is the Minister aware that if she placed a list of the salaries paid to scientists in industry alongside a list of the salaries paid by her Department she would have the shock of her life? Is she not aware that this is a salary question, and that to increase the number of science teachers we must substantially increase their salaries?

The hon. Gentleman was mistaken in referring to salaries as being paid by my Department. The salaries are paid by the local authorities. The standards are laid down by the Burnham Committee, whose report I can either approve or reject. As I announced to the House last week, I have approved the present Report.

Is the Minister aware that if she seeks to make the whole of the teaching profession more attractive by encouraging higher salaries such action will be welcomed by the teachers, but that we seek no further discrimination within the ranks of the profession?

I am sure that teachers would welcome higher salaries. I sometimes wonder whether they would attract teachers in this House to return to teaching.

asked the Minister of Education (1) in view of the statement by the Chairman, Sir Philip Morris, contained in the foreword to the Report of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers, that the shortage of mathematicians and scientists in the schools cannot be made good by the Minister of Education and the local authorities alone, and that the council believe it should be considered as a national problem, what steps she is taking to deal with this matter as a national problem

I agree that this should be treated as a national problem and I shall bring my colleagues into consultation as the discussions referred to in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Remnant) on 21st January proceed. In any approach to the universities I shall, naturally, keep in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Does the right hon. Lady realise that the basic questions in issue here are those which are not really within the purview of her Ministry, namely, the distribution among the different national users of a very scarce national asset, scientists and mathematicians? Would it not be more appropriate, and in keeping with the Council's recommendations, that the problem should be taken out of the hands of one Department and put in the hands of, say, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has far more oversight than the right hon. Lady has at the moment over the basic questions involved?

There have been meetings already between the Federation of British Industries, the universities and the educational departments. That contact has been maintained, and there are to be further discussions. These interests have already got together to see how the difficulty can be resolved.

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether her attention has been called to the decline in the production of new films suitable for use in schools equipped with projectors; and what steps she proposes to take to remedy the deficiency

I am aware of the general position in this and certain other countries, and the difficult problem of new film production is one of the questions which I am at present discussing with the Governors of the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids.

While thanking the right hon. Lady for the assurance that this matter is under discussion, may I ask her to bear in mind that thousands of schools are equipped with projectors, but have only semi-obsolete films? Will she take into account the fact that in Germany, for example, the Film Und Bild organisation receives £60,000 a year subsidy for the production of educational films? Will she speed the discussions and get the Chancellor of the Exchequer to help her in this matter?

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means by "semi-obsolete." I have seen at primary schools a good many films about animals, both domestic and wild. I do not know whether they are obsolete or not.

May I offer this suggestion to the right hon. Lady? [HON MEMBERS: "No."] I am asking a question. Would the Department make a considered survey of the suitable films available at the various institutes of other countries in London, for instance, the French Institute that have many highly suitable films that could be used by our own education authorities?

That has been and is being considered. We have discussed the possibilities of getting films from such institutions as the hon. Gentleman mentioned.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the substantial promises of support for a schools television service now forthcoming from local education authorities, she will advise the British Broadcasting Corporation to make full preparations for the launching of the main experiment at the earliest possible date

As I said in reply to the hon. Member's Question on Tuesday, I have not yet been informed of the result of the inquiry sent out by the Association of Education Committees. I am expecting to be consulted by the School Broadcasting Council after it has heard from the Association.

Yes, but as the right hon. Lady informed me in reply to that other Question that she had seen in the Press that a number of important education authorities have replied favourably to this circular, and that there is support for the idea of a further development of the schools television service, will she press on with the matter so that the B.B.C. has a chance to get on with it before it is faced with the rivalry of commercial television?

I have already said that I must await the report from the Association of Education Committees. I think it would be very much better to pay attention to national bodies such as that than to rely altogether on the Press.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the children's programmes provided by the B.B.C. on both sound and television over a period of years have maintained the highest standards, and that, having this record in mind, any extension of its activities in co-operation with local education authorities is deserving of the warmest encouragement?

asked the Minister of Education if she will make a statement on the results of her investigations into the expenditure, both capital and day-today, at the residential college at Lambton Castle

I am satisfied that the amounts spent initially on the adaptation and equipment of the college were reasonable, and they had my approval. As the college was only opened last March it is too soon to form a judgment on the day-to-day running costs. I am, however, watching developments closely, and the authority has promised to review the financial arrangements at the end of the year's working.

Would my right hon. Friend kindly explain what is meant by "review the financial arrangements," because that is one of the points which everybody in the north of England would be glad to have explained?

I mean, seeing how much money has been spent and considering whether value has been got for it.

As this recently opened college caters for members of local authorities, trade unions and other bodies in the County of Durham will the right hon. Lady ensure that nobody, not even her hon. Friend the Member for Tyne-mouth (Miss Ward), sabotages this very desirable scheme?

I do not suppose that anyone would wish to sabotage it. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will agree that when a new college has been opened its first year's working must be experimental, and that at the end of the year we should see what are the best schemes and what is most valuable.

Will the right hon. Lady make absolutely certain that she places no impediment in the way of this very progressive local education authority's plans for further education?

I have already said that it was with my approval that the initial cost of the adaptation and equipment of the college was undertaken.

asked the Minister of Education when she expects a report from her Departmental Committee on maladjusted children

I understand that the committee expect to be able to submit a report to me in the spring or summer of next year.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that a great deal of confusion and uncertainty exists about the right way to treat these unhappy children and that this report is very badly needed in order that local education authorities may know what provision to make? Is she further aware that the Advisory Council on Education in Scotland was able to present Scotland with an excellent report on this subject two years ago and, as a former Member for Dundee, could she not infuse a little Scottish drive into her Department?

I shall not enter into a competition between Scotland and England. We realise the immense work which this committee is doing. After all, it has a larger field, numerically, to cover than in the case of Scotland. The terms of reference which have been given to the committee are very comprehensive and although I am anxious to get the report I think all will agree that we want the work done fully and thoroughly.

asked the Minister of Education whether her Department makes a contributory grant in cases where education authorities enter into firm contracts to buy land without first knowing the price of the land

Local education authorities are aware that I am not prepared to approve the purchase of a site or to pay grant on the expenditure involved if the price exceeds that recommended by the district valuer.

Is the Minister saying that she does not require local authorities to make sure of the price before they enter into the contract, as has been done in a recent case?

I think I made it clear that I would not approve the purchase or pay grant if the price exceeded that recommended by the district valuer.

Would the Minister answer the Question which I put on the Order Paper?

I think I have answered the hon. Member's Question. I would make the contribution only if the cost did not exceed that recommended by the district valuer.

asked the Minister of Education the minimum educational requirements which enable a university student to obtain a grant in the county boroughs of Cardiff, Swansea and Merthyr, respectively, and in the county of Glamorgan

Each of the authorities named has accepted the recommendation of the Working Party on University Awards regarding the minimum qualifications required for consideration for an award, namely, two passes at the advanced level in the General Certificate of Education together with evidence of general education.

asked the Minister of Education the total number and the average value of grants for students at universities made by each of the Welsh education authorities during 1953

The information about numbers will not be available until the end of February. The corresponding information about the average value of grants will not be available until about this time next year; but, at the end of February, I can give the hon. Member information on this point relating to the year 1952.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has now been made in providing a new secondary modern school for Biddulph, Staffordshire; and whether agreement has been reached about the site

A secondary modern school for 300 pupils in Biddulph has been included in the 1954–55 building programme. The local education authority has not yet submitted any site proposal to me.

While thanking the right hon. Lady for that answer, may I ask whether she herself will help to expedite the choice of site? Is she aware that there is much discussion at present, I understand, because the Ministry of Agriculture is objecting to an alternative site—a site which is not suffering from mining subsidence?

My information is that the authority has a site in mind, but is awaiting the mineral valuer's report on it.

asked the Minister of Education whether the plans and site are now ready for the new school at Weston Coyney, Cheadle, Stafford shire; and when the school is likely to be completed

I approved both the site and the plans for an infants school at Weston Coyney last November and building is expected to start within three weeks. In addition, there is a proposal to build a junior school there as part of the Staffordshire local education authority's approved building programme for 1953–54. The local education authority has made a compulsory purchase order on a site for this school and I now have it under consideration. It is too early to say when either school will be completed.

Again, may I thank the right hon. Lady for that concession to this part of North Staffordshire? Will she use all her energies to push ahead with this scheme, because some hundreds of miners' houses are being built in this area?

I realise that, and I will certainly help in every way I can.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the recent agreement concluded by the National Association of Local Government Officers making pay increases equal between men and women, she will apply the same principle in respect of the recent award for teachers

As I told the House last week, I have already informed the Chairman of the Burnham Committee that the revised scales proposed for teachers in primary and secondary schools are such as I shall be able to approve. The revised scales proposed by the Committee retain the same ratio as before between men and women.

My right hon. Friend has not dealt with the Question on the Order Paper. If, in one section of local government employees, the Treasury is prepared to pay men and women equal increases in rates of pay, why, as a matter of justice, cannot my right hon. Friend now approach the Chancellor of the Exchequer in order that there may be equality between one service and another, both of which involve Treasury grants? Is it not monstrously unfair that one section should be paid on equal rates by the Treasury while another section, equally deserving, is not?

I do not approach the Treasury on the subject of teachers' salaries.

But my right hon. Friend can do so.

I have either to approve or reject what the Burnham Committee decides. In this case, I have approved. As my hon. Friend will have noticed, the Burnham Committee also stated that if and when Government action is taken to operate equal pay for the Civil Service, it will consider the position in relation to teachers.

On a point of order. When I put the Question on the Order Paper, I understand that it was in order—that my right hon. Friend can take action. If that- were not so, I should not have been permitted to put the Question on the Order Paper. In other words, my right hon. Friend can take action without referring to the Burnham Committee.

While I agree with the right hon. Lady that the Burnham Committee is the proper negotiating machinery for teachers' salaries, may I ask whether she is not aware that that Committee refrains from putting forward a policy of equal pay for men and women until the Chancellor of the Exchequer does something in the case of civil servants? Will she therefore make representations to her right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he should bring forward a policy of equal pay for men and women in the Government service? The Burnham Committee will then follow suit.

The question of equal pay for men and women in the Government service is one which must be addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. My position with the Burnham Committee's award is that I can either approve the whole or reject the whole. I cannot amend it.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter as early as possible on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers in schools under her control have been charged with, and found guilty of, offences against pupils during the last 12 months; and what steps she has taken, or intends to take, to prevent this practice growing in the country's schools

In 1953, 24 such cases were reported to me by local education authorities under long-standing regulations of my Department. All these teachers, together with others who committed other forms of misconduct, were excluded from further teaching in schools under my control.

I am pleased that the figure is not too large, but would the right hon. Lady say what is the position in private schools? Has she had any reports about private schools? It seems to me that that is where the practice is most prevalent.

I could not give the hon. Member a report from the independent schools. I think it would not be wise to make any comparisons between schools and to suggest that this practice is more prevalent in one place than in another. Arrangements exist for advising schools recognised as efficient, in any case which comes to our notice, and if any properly authorised inquirer were to ask any questions about teachers on the excluded list my Department would give him any information which it could properly give.

Will the Minister confirm that it is possible for any of the 24 teachers concerned in the cases to which she has referred to go on teaching with impunity under the present law, as administered by her Department?

I have already pointed out what can be done and what is being done. I think it would be wiser if I did not go into that subject any further.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will publish a table showing the distribution by counties of primary schools condemned as structurally inadequate before 1930 and still in use

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind those schools which, in 1925, were condemned as unsuitable for continued recognition, but which were not subsequently removed from the list and are still in use. I will circulate a table showing the distribution of these schools by administrative areas. I would, however, emphasise that the 1925 list is now quite out of date and cannot be taken as a significant guide to the most urgent building needs.

Would it not be possible for the right hon. Lady to publish more up-to-date figures, which would be a significant guide?

No, I do not think it would.

asked the Minister of Education what guidance she has issued to local education authorities with regard to the occupation of seats on omnibuses by teachers travelling in charge of children if there are insufficient seats for all the children to use

None, Sir.

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to a statement made recently by an aldermanic cretin in Derbyshire, that because teachers are the servants of the children teachers should never be allowed to sit in a bus as long as a child is standing? Would she not agree that, since the members of the Derbyshire County Council pretend to be servants of the public, no alderman or councillor in Derbyshire should ever be seated in a bus while anyone else remains standing?

I have no control over this matter, but I think it is only fair, as the hon. Gentleman has directed our intention to one announcement in the Press, to remind him that there was a further announcement from the Chief Education Officer in Derbyshire, saying that it had been laid down that teachers were not to travel in school buses if there were not enough places for all the children. The children were to have the opportunity first of travelling in school buses and not the teachers.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has now considered the views on commercial television expressed by the National Union of Teachers, the Workers' Educational Association, the Association of Education Committees, the Workers' Educational Trade Union Committee, the Education Committee of the London County Council, the National Adult School Union, the National Union of Women Teachers, the British Federation of University Women and the vice-chancellors of 14 universities, which have been sent to her; and whether she will make a statement as to her consultations with educational authorities and representatives of parents and teachers on this subject

I have received copies of the resolutions passed by six of these bodies: one of them, the Association of Education Committees, brought their resolution to my notice among other matters at an interview I had with them last October. I have noted their views and also those expressed by the other bodies about whom the hon. Member wrote to me on Tuesday. No representatives of parents or teachers have asked me to see them on this subject.

Is the Minister aware that in her attitude to commercial television she is strongly opposed by practically the entire educational world, and will she give an assurance that at least so far as the children's television programmes are concerned these will not be commercialised under any circumstances?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman will realise that the control of the Ministry of Education is limited to control of the schools.

asked the Minister of Education how many classes there were of over 60, over 50 and over 40 on the last available date

I have no more recent figures than those which I circulated on 22nd October last, in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I can add only that of the 42 classes in secondary schools with over 50 pupils shown there, nine were reported to have classes with over 60 pupils; but these have been found, on investigation, to be assembled only for registration purposes and the pupils were, in fact, being taught in much smaller groups.

Can the right hon. Lady say what the figures were in October?

I have no more recent figures. The hon. Lady will find them in Hansard.

asked the Minister of Education how many additional pupils are expected to enter schools by the end of 1954

The best forecast that I can make on present information is that by January, 1955, the maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools will have on their registers about 115,000 more pupils than they have now.

asked the Minister of Education how many additional school places she expects to provide by the end of 1954

I estimate that between now and January, 1955, about 180,000 new school places will be provided.

asked the Minister of Education how many private schools are listed by her Department as efficient; what are the standards required to qualify; and how many applications to be listed as efficient have been turned down

On 1st January, 1953, the independent schools recognised as efficient numbered 1,322, The conditions of recognition are set out in Rules 16, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. My Department's provisional figures show that nine applications for recognition were rejected during 1953.

Would the Minister send me a copy of that paper, and would she say how many of these schools practise the colour bar?

I will certainlly send the hon. Gentleman a copy of rules 16. As to his other question, I know nothing.

asked the Minister of Education how many private schools were operating in England and Wales at the last convenient date

According to my latest information, about 5,100.

Does not the right hon. Lady think that the difference is very considerable and that there is need to have more supervision over the balance of these schools if they have not been submitted for any supervision at all?

I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman that it would be a good thing if some of the independent schools applied for recognition, but I must point out that the number has risen very quickly in the last few years. In 1948, there were only 999 and the number has been increasing every year quite considerably. I hope that that increase will continue and be speeded up.

Would the right hon. Lady, at the same time, concentrate on raising the standard of the ordinary school, thereby making it less necessary for some parents to send their children to private schools which, ultimately, ought to be abolished?

I agree that what we want is to raise the standard of the maintained schools for the reason which the hon. Lady puts forward, that we could then insist on a better standard for the others.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has a statement to make about the progress of the committee on shares of no par value; and when the report is likely to be available

I have now received the committee's report and I propose to have it printed and published as soon as practicable.

Is the Minister aware that a great many investors would be even more pleased if a committee were set up to look into the difficult problem of shares which have no market value?

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the potential importance of this market to the United Kingdom, what information has been received as to the volume and nature of trade between Japan and China in goods of United States origin, the export of which, from the United Kingdom to China has, at any time, been banned on the ground that the goods are of strategic importance

I have caused inquiries to be made and I have found no evidence of any trade in strategic goods of United States origin between Japan and China.

What is the President doing now, urgently, to see that we are not being left behind in reopening trade with China?

As this Question referred specifically to the past and supplies of strategic goods of American origin through Japan, and as many allegations had been made, I am very happy to say that there is no evidence whatever that these goods had, in fact, been supplied.

If the right hon. Gentleman reads the Question carefully he will see that it states:

"in view of the potential importance of this market…"

I ask him, what he is now doing, urgently, in this matter?

Can the Minister give any further information about the allegation that American motor cars were being sold in China?

It appears to be completely without foundation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount has been allocated to the British Institute of Management from the counterpart funds described in Command Paper No. 8776; and for what purpose

Sixty-five thousand pounds. Of that amount, £35,000 is for practical study of selected aspects of management, for making the results widely known and for strengthening the information department to meet the additional demands arising from the general programme. Thirty thousand pounds is for developing some local offices. The Institute has already been awarded a contract for research work in production economics, and discussions are proceeding on two other research projects.

Is the President certain that this money will be used for the specific objects which he mentioned, and not used to defray the general expenses of this very slow-moving body? Is he aware that the proposal for setting up local management organisations was made originally over five years ago and nothing has yet been done, and is he satisfied that the Institute has the staff qualified to carryout the research work that he has described?

I can give the assurance that this money will be used for the purposes which I have specified. I am satisfied that this body, which, I think, is doing a useful job of work, is pressing on with it as fast as practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for duty-free licences to import machinery not made in the United Kingdom, have been received since March, 1952; and how many have been granted

No duty-free licences for machinery have been granted under Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1932, against any of the 918 applications made since 11th March, 1952.

Does the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) now have to get a licence from the Conservative Central Office before he is allowed to speak?

When does the President of the Board of Trade intend to render these applications unnecessary by a clean sweep of the import duties on machinery?

An inquiry on this subject is now proceeding.

Does not the President's answer mean that the law, as stated in Section 10 of the 1932 Act, is being utterly frustrated by the fact that the Government are refusing every single application for licences, and have done so since the Chancellor's Budget speech of 11th March, 1952?

No, I do not think that the law has been frustrated. A full inquiry into this matter is now proceeding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many replies his Department has received to the letter from the Minister of State, Board of Trade, on the necessity for increasing exports; and how many came from firms in the City of Lincoln

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement following the dispatch to 50,000 manufacturers of a letter reminding them of the importance to this country of exports, and what is the nature of the replies

About 19,000 replies have been received, including 20 from the City of Lincoln. Some are from firms which produce goods not suitable for export or goods exported indirectly, but over one-third asked for further information, which has been sent them, about the services we can provide.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why an export licence was recently refused by his Department for the shipment to China of electrical-generating sets, supplied for use with cinematograph-projection equipment

Electrical generating sets of all sizes are regarded by us and our allies as falling within the terms of the United Nations Resolution of May, 1951, and their export to China is accordingly prohibited.

Does not this case, relating specifically to a set for use in cinemas, show that the export controls are now being operated with excessive rigidity?

These lists are drawn up in categories, and not with use purposes.

Has the President made any representation to the United States about redrawing these categories?

These categories are always under examination.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will have the security ban lifted on the export of British locomotives to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and China

There is no ban on the export of locomotives to the Soviet Union, although exports are subject to control. In the case of China, the ban must at present remain in force, in accordance with our obligations under the United Nations Additional Measures Resolution of 18th May, 1951.

Why should we be handcuffed in this matter when the American Administration is already turning its eye towards the development of more trade with China?

There is no truth whatever, as I said in answer to an earlier allegation, that we are under a disability relative to the United States of America.

In the case of China, as there has now been no fighting in Korea for months past, is there not a case for a major relaxation? Will the President do something in that direction?

No, I do not think there is a case for a major relaxation in the case of China, although all these matters are under constant examination. The Question relates solely to the export of locomotives.

rose—

On a point of order. In view of the statement which the right hon. Gentleman made in reply to my supplementary question, I want to ask, through you, Mr. Speaker, whether he is aware that China is collecting more dollars than any other country in the Far East?

The hon. Member is abusing a point of order. There is no question of order about China that I can see.

In view of the totally unsatisfactory replies of the President of the Board of Trade to the whole of these Questions about trade with China, I give notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity of raising the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of recent official statements by the members of the United States Administration, he will now enter into discussions with the Government of the United States of America, and with other Governments involved, with a view to making relaxations in the strategic controls imposed on shipments to Eastern Europe

As I have previously stated, Her Majesty's Government believe an expansion of trade with Eastern Europe to be desirable and it is our policy to increase this trade to the maximum consistent with our essential security needs. To that end, we keep in close and regular touch with the other Governments represented on the Consultative Group, including the United States Government.

Since this process of keeping touch never seems to lead to any relaxation, will the President not say whether the Government will now take the initiative, as one contribution to easing world tension, instead of always having to lag behind the United States in this matter?

As a result of our consultations in recent months controls have been lifted on tinplate and certain chemicals to the Soviet bloc, and the embargo on small motor cars and sodium peroxide has been removed.

In view of the present international situation, should not the Government go much further and review the whole question of trade with the East with a view to liberalising it much more? Is there any reason why we should be dependent upon what the U.S.A. wants to do?

I have already said that these lists are constantly under examination.

Is the President aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the course of one of his many Press conferences in the last few weeks, has expressed the opinion that development of East-West trade is of great importance to the Commonwealth and particularly to the colonies of South-East Asia? Does the President intend to follow up the Chancellor's suggestion?

I associate myself fully with anything which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said at any of his Press conferences, and I repeat the assurance that an examination of these lists is constantly going on.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the United Nations' Report on the study of trade between Asia and Europe? Has his Department studied this serious document? If so, has the President read therein of the absolute necessity for the expansion of trade between us and the East? If we do not do it the rest of the world will. How much longer is this humbug to be kept up?

I certainly bear in mind that report, as well as all other relevant documents, in my consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, although over 700 cinemas defaulted on the quota provisions laid down in the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948, in the period, September, 1952, to September, 1953, no prosecutions were instituted

Analysis of exhibitors' returns for the quota period 1st October, 1952, to 30th September, 1953, which have only just been received, is proceeding. I do not, therefore, yet know how many cinemas may have failed to achieve their prescribed quotas, and a great deal of detailed information has to be assembled before decisions can be made about the institution of proceedings in appropriate cases.

Is that not a thoroughly evasive answer? The President has had over four months in which to consider the returns. Will it take him another year before he can make up his mind whether he is to prosecute defaulters?

I do not think my answer was evasive. It is an accurate description of the legal position.

If the facts stated in the Question are proved eventually to be accurate, is it not obvious that the quotas are unrealistic? Would it not be better to alter the Act?

The mere fact that a cinema has not fulfilled the allotted quota figure does not necessarily constitute an offence under the Act. Hon. Members who are familiar with this matter will know that a number of defences are open.

Is it not the case that the right hon. Gentleman is in the habit of taking the advice of the principal offenders under the Act as to whether they should be prosecuted? Is it not unlikely, therefore, that there will be any prosecutions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement on the booking of films for the Gaumont and Odeon cinema circuits through the single agency of the Circuits Management Association Limited, although this is contrary to the provisions of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948

The booking of films by a single agency does not contravene the Act, and was expressly accepted by the right hon. Member' for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson), as President of the Board of Trade, in 1948, subject to an undertaking that the effective booking strength of the two circuits would not be altered. I am satisfied from assurances that I have received from the J. Arthur Rank Organisation that that undertaking has been honoured, and that the arrangements provide no justification for the Board of Trade to refuse, under Section 5 (5, b) of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948, to license those theatres.

How can the President say that the undertaking has been honoured when an independent producer has to see the same man whether he wishes to book with Gaumont or the Odeon circuit, and all bookings are done through the same person in this single agency?

The principle that the bookings should be under a single management was accepted by the right hon. Member for Huyton in the clearest possible terms.

Would the Minister not get an independent person to investigate this situation instead of always taking his information from the very people against whom the accusations are made?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the Portsmouth Trades Council regarding the closing of Her Majesty's dockyard for two weeks at the peak of the holiday season

None, Sir.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that all the dockyard workers and commercial interests in Portsmouth are opposed to the closing of the dockyard for two weeks? Will he do something about the commercial interests of Portsmouth?

No one has presented anything to me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding staggered holidays

Holiday dates must, of course, depend on the decisions of individuals and on the normal methods of settling them in industry, but it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage people as far as is practicable to take their holidays outside the peak holiday periods.

Would my right hon. Friend draw the attention of the Admiralty to his statement?

The Admiralty take notice of all my answers.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that if his Department does not investigate the possibility of East and West trade there will be plenty of staggered holidays in some industries?

In view of the importance of the tourist industry, has the President consulted the Transport Commission about staggering holidays possibly by Government and public action?

Consultations have proceeded on a number of occasions with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the British Travel and Holidays Association, both of whom are concerned with this question. We all recognise that some staggering of holidays would be a great advantage.

Is not the main difficulty in the question of staggered holidays the dates of the school holidays? Will my right hon. Friend consult my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education on the subject?

My hon. Friend's question shows that quite a number of persons are concerned in this particular matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what advice and assistance he has given to the proposed trade mission to Moscow, which includes representatives of the Lincoln firms of Ruston and Hornsby and Rose Brothers

The Board of Trade have from the outset given their full support to this party of businessmen over their visit to Moscow, and have advised them about the types of goods in which we should welcome an expansion of trade with the Soviet Union.

Is the President aware that trade with Russia in engineering products is one of the traditional trades of Lincoln, and will he ask the Foreign Secretary to be careful not to imply, as he previously did, that enterprising firms are Communists merely because they want to revive trade with a Communist country?

No such suggestion has ever been made.

May I refer the President of the Board of Trade to the recent Question and answer in connection with those who want to trade with China?

There was an organisation operating in this field, which was a Communist front organisation, but these traders are not operating through that organisation today. This body of businessmen are proceeding under their own power and with the full support of the Board of Trade.

Can the right hon. Gentleman produce a shred of evidence to support the assertion he has just made, that the organisation to which he has referred was a Communist front organisation?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Question that was put to the Foreign Secretary, and his answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman produce the evidence?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this trade between the engineering trade of this country and Eastern Europe is traditional and has gone on for the last 100 years? Will he also bear in mind that in the 'thirties, when the engineering trade in this country was in a period of acute depression, over 80 per cent. of the machine tool exports went to Russia and Poland? In view of the probable recession in America, is it not very important that the Government should encourage the resumption of all the trade possible within the bounds of national security?

I fully appreciate that, and, indeed, it is our policy to foster all the trade possible in non-strategic goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons for the fall in the value of United Kingdom exports to Peru, Chile, Bolivia and the Argentine Republic in 1953 compared with 1952

I could not attempt, in the compass of Question and answer, to analyse the various causes that may have contributed to the decline in our exports to these four countries. Peru and Chile, however, are both short of sterling; Bolivia is short of foreign exchange in general and is restricting imports from all sources; while there has been a regrettable delay in the issue of import licences in Argentina.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he expects that the recent tour of the Minister of State, Board of Trade, will make a great improvement in this import position?

I think that the visit of my right hon. Friend to the South American continent will certainly do a great deal of good.

Since the prospect of British exports to Latin-America would be greatly improved if the United Nations technical assistance work were expanded, will the President press his colleagues to secure a larger allocation of British currency for that?

I will bear that in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the nature of the order worth $14,000,000 which this country recently lost to Japan for building a viscose factory in Yugoslavia

I have no means of finding out the details of a contract between parties in two foreign countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a preliminary report on the results of replacing quantitative restrictions on certain horticultural produce by tariffs in accordance with the waiver given by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

It is too early to judge the effects of the new rates of duty, which were introduced on 1st December, 1953, on imports of certain fresh and preserved fruit and vegetables. The revised duties are mainly seasonal in character, and many of them do not, in fact, become effective until later this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why a quota certificate has been granted to the film, "Royal Symphony," now showing at the Gaumont Cinema, Haymarket, although this film consists of news films and is in no sense a feature film