asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what guarantee he asked from the three Prime Ministers of India, Ceylon and Pakistan in respect to the future of Indo-China: and what was the response.

In his messages to the Prime Ministers of India, Pakistan and Ceylon, my right hon. Friend drew attention to the need for the widest possible measure of support for any settlement reached at Geneva over Indo-China and asked for their views. As a result, valuable exchanges of view have taken place, but these have been confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will again request the Communist leaders to allow the Franco-Vietnamese wounded to be evacuated from Dien Bien Phu in accordance with the laws of war and customs of civilised peoples.

The House will have learned with deep regret that the fortress of Dien Bien Phu fell on 7th May. The wounded must now be presumed in Communist hands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made at the Geneva Conference towards a satisfactory arrangement for the evacuation of the wounded at Dien Bien Phu.

Despite the efforts made at Geneva, it was not possible to come to any satisfactory arrangement for the evacuation of the wounded from Dien Bien Phu before the fall of the fortress on 7th May.

asked the Minister of Food what price was paid to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for red salmon now being sold in the shops at 5s. 6d. per tin; what quantity was bought; and whether the price was on delivery.

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, it would be unbusinesslike to publish the price paid to one of our suppliers. Until the contract, under which the seller can deliver either red, silver or pink salmon, has been completed, it will not be possible to say how much red salmon will be delivered. Purchase is on an f.o.b. basis.

asked the Minister of Food if he will take all the necessary precautions, in the interest of national health, to ensure that all canned salmon imported from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Japan in future is free from all signs of radio-activity, in view of the hydrogen bomb explosions in the Pacific on 1st and 26th March and the migratory nature of any salmon that may have been affected.

Yes. But I am advised that the risks to which my hon. Friend refers are negligible.

asked the Minister of Food the effect on consumption of lowering the retail price of milk last summer and raising it in the autumn.

For a variety of reasons, including price, sales last year increased by about 1·7 per cent, in the summer and declined by about 1 per cent, in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he expects to be able to reach a decision in the case of Mr. W. G. Buss, Ely, Cardiff, in view of the fact that it is now clear that the original medical opinions in this case have been proved to be inaccurate.

As the hon. Member has been informed, my right hon. Friend is now awaiting the reports of a specialist investigation, and a decision will be given when they are received.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, from his study of higher pensions for old-age pensioners, he will now give the date when a substantial increase will be payable.

No.

asked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, what materials are now being controlled by the 924 officials in the Ministry of Materials.

The Ministry of Materials (apart from its responsibility for strategic reserves) has to dispose of surplus stocks left over from the war and the subsequent period of shortages, worth about £50 million. The orderly disposal of these stocks and the safeguarding of the public money which they represent is of major importance. The statutory control of internal distribution or use of materials, one of its other functions, represents only a small part of the work of the Department. It is now confined to paper, paper-making materials, manilla hemp, jute and jute goods. The Ministry's staff now numbers 853.

asked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, to what extent Her Majesty's Government is continuing to encourage the collection of waste-paper salvage; and whether he will give an indication of the value of this salvage to the country.

The policy of the Government is to encourage the use of salvaged waste paper wherever it can be collected and used economically. The mill receipts of waste paper in 1953 were worth about £7·5 million. Much of this represents a saving in imports of more expensive woodpulp. In addition, about 50,000 tons of the better grades were exported for about £¾ million.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of illness due to the consumption of food produced in Britain which has been rendered unwholesome through the use of preservatives or insecticides have been reported during each of the last three years.

None, as far as I am aware.

asked the Minister of Health the present staff of the Dental Estimates Board; what variation there has been over the last two years; and what are his proposals regarding the future size of this staff.

The present staff totals 896, including 19 dental advisers. The corresponding numbers for 1953 and 1952 were 883 and 877, of whom 15 and 14, respectively, were dental advisers. The size of the staff is kept under constant review, but future requirements will depend on the volume of work.