asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give an estimate of the cost of increasing old-age or retirement pensions to £2 10s. per week, and of raising basic pensions for disabled ex-Service men to £4 10s. per week, respectively.

With regard to retirement pensions I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) on 30th November last. The cost of the increase in basic pensions for disabled ex-Service men is estimated to be about £24 million a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will, in view of the changed value of money and in recognition of the country's obligation to its injured soldiers, now give consideration to increasing the basic war disability pensions.

There is nothing I can usefully add to what my Parliamentary Secretary said on this subject in the debate on the Adjournment on 8th February.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has considered a request from the National Federation of Old-Age Pensions Associations for an early interview to put before him the needs of pensioners; and what reply he has sent.

I am in correspondence with the Federation on the subject.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in receipt of compensation for industrial dust disease died in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953, respectively; in how many of these cases the presence of industrial dust disease which had been certified during life, was confirmed after death; and in how many cases it was not so confirmed.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if the same board who certify the presence of industrial dust disease during life have to confirm or refute their own diagnosis after the death of the certified person; and what appeal there is against their decision.

No. Medical boards are not required to certify the cause of death on a claim to benefit arising out of a man's death. Any dispute on this point is decided by the the statutory authorities on medical evidence, and a claimant has the usual rights of appeal to the commissioner.

asked the Minister of Food the average price of milk during 1953; and the subsidy on non-welfare milk.

The retail price in the financial year 1953–54, excluding welfare and school milk will average just over 6½d. a pint. The subsidy in the same period, including the attested herds scheme, is estimated at £54¼ million, or about l⅛d. for every pint sold as full price liquid milk.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the surplus stores of orange juice held by his Department which contain lead is being sold for human consumption; and whether he will make a statement concerning this disposal.

All the surplus orange juice concentrate held by the Department is being offered for sale through the trade for food manufacturing purposes. The juice has been examined by the Government Chemist and by independent public analysts, and the results do not indicate a lead content any higher than the general limit for foods recommended by the Food Standards Committee.

asked the Minister of Food the site which has been approved for the new slaughter house and abattoir for Hull; and the dates on which, respectively, approval was given to proceed, building is to commence and slaughtering operations will begin.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the reply given to him on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Supply the amount of financial support which is being given to Scottish Aviation Limited for the development of their Twin Pioneer aircraft.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) on 23rd February.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what increases, per ton, have been made in the price of coal to the consumer since the mines were nationalised; and on what dates.

Following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the grounds for his refusal to publish the report of the presiding officer at the inquiry held at the instance of the occupier of Aitchison's Bank, Gretna, into the application of the British Electricity Authority for wayleave to carry transmission lines across his farm in a particular manner; and whether he will now publish details not available at the inquiry of the cost of altering the line of pylons in accordance with the wishes of the farmer.

The wayleave was granted by an administrative decision for which my right hon. Friend was wholly responsible, and it would not be proper to publish the confidential report made to him by the inspector who had held the inquiry provided for by the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919. The answer to the last part of the Question is that my right hon. Friend has no such further information available for publication.

asked the Minister of Health the number of diabetics in this country in 1920, 1938, 1948 and 1953 respectively.

The number of persons suffering from diabetes in England and Wales in the years specified is not known. There were 98,000 persons in England and Wales on food office registers for special rations for diabetics at the end of 1947.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a disabled person, Mr. Douglas Jones, 39a, Severn Grove, Cardiff, has been waiting a long time for a covered car to enable him to get about in all weathers; and whether, in view of Mr. Jones' desire to attend a rehabilitation centre, he will expedite delivery of the car.

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

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many of the 143 water supply schemes, under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts, completed in Wales up to 30th June, 1953, which are situated in rural areas received more than one-third grant from his Department.

One hundred and eleven.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to indicate the number of the 73 sewerage and sewage disposal schemes under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts completed in Wales up to 30th June, 1953, situated in rural areas which received more than one-third grant from his Department.

Sixty.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why no decision has yet been reached on the County of Caernarvon (Burial Ground at Beddgelert) Compulsory Purchase Order, 1953, in view of the fact that three public inquiries have been held on the matter, the last in October, 1953; whether he is aware of the difficulties in which the Beddgelert Parish Council now finds itself; and if he will expedite a decision as a matter of urgency.

I am aware of the difficulties of Beddgelert Parish Council due to shortage of burial space and I hope to issue a decision on this compulsory purchase order in the near future.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will amend Circular No. 7/54, which requests local authorities to give favourable consideration to the products of undertakings providing sheltered employment for disabled persons, so that undertakings employing persons suffering from tuberculosis, particularly the Manton Factory, Caernarvon, are specifically included.

The circular is intended to cover such undertakings as the Manton Association; but it was not possible to name every one. The association is being advised to write to local authorities who are likely to be interested in its products asking for their help as envisaged by the circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish evidence on the basis of which he concluded that if the calf teeth of bulls are forward at licensing age the permanent teeth can be expected generally to come up in the same position.

The evidence consists of verbal reports and demonstrations of plaster casts of mouths given to the Licensing of Bulls Advisory Committee and is not in a form suitable for publication. The investigation is continuing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to make a statement on the result of his negotiations with the interests concerned about future dried grass marketing policy.

In reply to their recent representations, the Association of Green Crop Driers have been informed that while I appreciate the difficulty of finding profitable outlets for dried grass at a time when manufacturers and consumers of feedingstuffs are well supplied with alternative material, I cannot see my way to ask Parliament to amend the First Schedule of the Agriculture Act, 1947, by the addition of dried green crops. Consequently I have no power to introduce any scheme of payments to dried grass producers generally to supplement the prices received on the open market. Such measures as lie in my power to alleviate the immediate difficulties of these producers are being taken, and expert help has been offered for developing any scheme for a marketing and storage organisation which the industry feel able to put forward.

asked the Minister of Education (1) the average value of grants made by each of the Welsh education authorities to students in universities during 1951 and 1952, respectively;(2) whether she is now able to state the total number of grants for students at universities made by each of the Welsh education authorities during 1953; and the comparative numbers for 1951 and 1952;(3) the total number and the average value of grants to students at teachers' training colleges made by each of the Welsh education authorities during 1951, 1952 and 1953.

I regret that this information is not yet available, but I hope that it will be ready very soon, except that relating to the average value of grants made in 1953, which will not be available until about February next year.