asked the Minister of Health whether he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of his recent circular advocating limitation in the use of ambulance services.

A copy of circular 7/54 sent to local health authorities was placed in the Library on 30th March, 1954.

asked the Minister of Health the number of mentally-defective children within the county of Essex for whom no institutional accommodation exists; and what steps are being taken to provide accommodation for these children.

The number of children awaiting admission to mental deficiency institutions in the county of Essex at 1st January, 1954. was 167. The regional hospital board have made provision in their current capital programme for the erection of a villa to accommodate 54 low grade males at South Ockenden Hospital and a further villa to accommodate 54 low grade patients (about half of whom will be children) will be provided at South Ockenden from the special allocation for mental services. A hospital block at South Ockenden is also under consideration. In addition, two properties are in process of adaptation which will accommodate about 74 patients, including about 25 children.

asked the Minister of Education when she expects to receive the report of the committee set up by the School Broadcasting Council to inquire into the contribution which television can make to the work of the schools.

I understand that the committee will complete its task as quickly as possible, but I am not in a position to give a date by which the School Broadcasting Council are likely to receive its report.

asked the Minister of Education what action she proposes to take to bring about a resumption of negotiations regarding technical teachers' salaries.

I am ready to consider promptly any recommendations that are submitted to me by the Burnham Technical Committee immediately they are in a position to do so. I hope that this will be soon, but so long as I make this quite clear, I do not consider that there is any other action which I can usefully take at this stage to help forward the committee's negotiations.

asked the Minister of Education the average sum spent a year on each child in primary schools for the latest available period and for the year 1938, both figures being expressed in terms of the purchasing power of the £ on the former date.

The estimated average cost per pupil on the registers of primary schools maintained by local education authorities in England and Wales in 1953–54 was about £32. I cannot give a corresponding figure for 1938, owing to the changes made by the Education Act, 1944, in the organisation of the public system of education.

asked the Minister of Education how much money is available to her during the current financial year for capital grants under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937; and what percentage of this sum she proposes to allot for the provision and equipment of playing fields.

£140,000 is the sum taken in my Department's Estimates for the current year for grants under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, including capital grants and grants to certain national voluntary organisations. As it has not been possible to offer grants for the development of new playing fields since July, 1952, the amount paid on playing fields will depend mainly on the rate at which applications are made for the payment of grants offered in earlier years.

asked the Minister of Education the percentage of classes in special schools which exceed the maxima prescribed in the regulations governing the size of such classes.

The latest available figures relate to January, 1953, when the maximum sizes prescribed in the regulations were exceeded in 33·8 per cent, of the classes in special schools, other than hospital schools.

asked the Minister of Education (1) the number of children in England and Wales who competed this year for entrance into secondary grammar schools; the number of places available; and what action she proposes to take to provide adequate secondary education for those who pass the examination but for whom there is no room in the grammar schools;(2) the number of Cardiff children who sat the entrance examination for secondary grammar schools this year; the number of places she expects to have available in these schools for the competitors; and the number of children who will be denied secondary grammar education although they attain more than 50 per cent, of the marks available.

I could not give the figures asked for by the hon. Member unless I asked local education authorities specially for them. The purpose of these examinations is not to establish whether a child can achieve a pre-determined national or local standard but to help the local education authority to provide the children with the secondary education best suited to their age, ability and aptitude, in the light of the various secondary courses available in the authority's area. I shall continue to encourage them to provide the new secondary school places needed for the increasing number of children, including grammar school places where appropriate, and also to develop a variety of courses within schools of the different types.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now completed his investigation into allegations of Japanese infringement of Lancashire textile designs and trademarks; and what action he proposes to take.

At my suggestion the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, acting in conjunction with the Cotton Board and the British Rayon and Synthetic Fibres Federation, have made arrangements to examine the evidence on which such allegations are based and to make recommendations. These arrangements have been given wide publicity within the trade and a number of complaints have already been received and investigated. As soon as I have the detailed reports, I intend to bring them to the notice of the Japanese Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects contruction on a new factory to be started at the Pallion Trading Estate, Sunderland.

I cannot yet add anything to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 11th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost of extending the tobacco duty relief scheme to all persons over 70 years of age whether or not they are pensioners.

The extra cost of extending the tobacco duty relief to all habitual smokers over 70 years of age would be about £2 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the individual yield anticipated during 1954–55 on each and every form of activity upon which Entertainments Duty is levied, including each class of sport, Highland games, cinemas, theatres and otherwise; and the aggregate of estimated yield to the revenue from all Entertainments Duty for 1954–55.

The following are the figures:

Scale of Entertainments Duty	Type of Entertainment	Estimated revenue in 1954–55 (£ million)
First (lowest)	Theatres and music-halls, etc.	2·525
Second	Football	1·55
	Horse-racing.	0·94
	Dog-racing.	0·45
	Boxing	0·1
	Speedway	0·045
	Other sports, racing etc.*	0·39
	Total Sports	3·475
Third	Cinema	34·5
All Scales	All Entertainments	40·5
* Includes revenue from Highland games which is estimated at about £6,000 in 1954–55.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much he estimates he will collect from football pools betting duty during 1954–55 at the current rate of 30 per cent.; and by how much such duty would require to be increased to yield a sum commensurate with the loss of revenue entailed by cancellation of all Entertainments Duty in the financial year 1954–55;(2) what consideration he has given, and with what result, to abolition of Entertainments Duty and recovery of revenue lost by a commensurate increase in the football pools betting duty.

I estimate that receipts from the 30 per cent. duty on football pool betting will amount to about £22 million in the financial year 1954–55. I do not consider that it would be possible to obtain sufficient additional revenue from an increase in this duty to offset the cost of repealing the Entertainments Duty, which is expected to yield £40½ million in 1954–55.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage increases in wages and dividends, respectively, for each year, separately, since the policy of wage and dividend restraint was established by Sir Stafford Cripps.

The following is the reply:

Year	Gross Dividends		Wages
	£m.	Expressed as a Percentage of the 1948 figure	£m.	Expressed as a Percentage of the 1948 figure
1948	523	100	4,140	100
1949	496	95	4,365	105
1950	492	95	4,585	111
1951	557	106	5,100	123
1952	576	110	5,420	131
1953	609	116	5,740	139

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions have been issued by the Board of Inland Revenue regarding the working of overtime in local inspectors' offices during the summer; why no consultation took place with the Staff Side before these instructions went out; what is the estimated extent and cost of the overtime to be worked between now and September; what makes it necessary; and whether he will ensure that officers who are taking the Inland Revenue Staff Federation's Taxation Course at their own expense and in their own time, are exempted from this interruption of their studies for the diploma examination in November, and that other personal reasons for desiring relief from overtime are respected.

Supervising officers have been told that overtime may be authorised as necessary to deal with additional work this year of repaying Post-War Credits and are now making arrangements with tax offices. Provisionally, overtime between now and September is estimated at an average of 35 hours for each tax officer if every tax officer had to do it. So far as possible, however, overtime will be voluntary. The estimated cost is between £80,000 and £100,000.The Staff Side has been kept informed of the need for extra duty. Consultation about detailed arrangements for overtime working will take place locally in accordance with the usual practice, and account will be taken as far as possible of the personal circumstances of individual officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated extra cost of the investment allowance year by year.

The cost of the investment allowance in future years will depend on the actual level of investment, the way in which it is distributed between assets of different kinds and on the level of taxation then ruling. In these circumstances it might be misleading to attempt to forecast the cost year by year for any lengthy period. I may say, however, that at the present level and pattern of investment and rates of tax I expect the additional cost, as compared with that of the present initial allowances, to rise to about £30 million in 1959–60.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount has been recovered in the last financial year from employers who, by neglect or other reason, have failed to deduct Pay As You Earn from employees.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what principle expenses on music books are allowed to musicians while other professional books are not allowed as an expense to other professional men.

University Institutions in		Graduating students			First diploma students
		Men	Women	Total	Men	Women	Total
England	…	11,547	3,749	15,296	898	690	1,588
Wales	…	806	326	1,132	46	30	76
Scotland	…	1,963	878	2,841	217	85	302
Great Britain	…	14,316	4,953	19,269	1,161	805	1,966

The question what expenses are allowable for tax purposes depends on the facts of the case. If my hon. Friend has in mind any cases of difficulty and will send me particulars, I will look into them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why, when a disputed salary is secured by legal action, it is taxable under his regulations, whereas the legal costs incurred, which made the salary available for tax, are not allowed as an expense.

A taxpayer assessable under Schedule E is entitled to deduct only those expenses which he is obliged to incur wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of his duties. Legal costs incurred in the recovery of salary are not within this rule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost would be for the current year of remitting the tax on the undistributed profits of companies.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the Profits Tax charged at 2½ per cent, on undistributed profits. The cost of removing this charge would be about £40 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, to mark the ending of food rationing on 3rd July, he will disband the agricultural executive committees on the same date.

No. The end of food rationing is not directly related to the functions of county agricultural executive committees, except in so far as the increased production from our farms which has helped to bring about the end of food rationing has been the result of their leadership in the counties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the recent losses by bloat among dairy cows grazing on ley pastures, if he will ask the Agricultural Research Council to give special attention to this problem and make a report.

The Agricultural Research Council has already arranged to intensify research on bloat in collaboration with the veterinary and advisory services of my Department. My right hon. Friend will consider with the council the question of a report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many objections to the Fatstock Marketing Scheme have been received; and when the inquiry will be held.

Forty-two objections and representations have been received. These are being sent to the promoters so that they may consider whether they wish to proceed with the Scheme. A decision whether to hold a public inquiry will be taken in the light of their reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress is being made with the proposals for an egg marketing scheme.

I cannot add to the replies given to my hon. Friend on the 29th April and to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 6th May, except to say that consideration and discussion of the proposals are continuing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider the desirability of amending the Horticultural Produce (Sales on Commission) Act, 1926, to provide that a record of the sale should be made at the time of the transaction and a duplicate copy of this entry handed to the purchaser at the time.

I do not at present see any need for amending the Act in the sense suggested by my hon. Friend, but I shall be glad to consider any representations that growers or others concerned may wish to make.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the cost up to date to the taxpayer in sending the Agricultural Land Commission to investigate and report upon 109,500 acres mentioned in the Sixth Annual Report of the Agricultural Land Commission.

The cost, including an apportionment of salaries and other overheads, is estimated at £42,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the present extent of the spread of myxomatosis among rabbits; whether the disease is proving equally virulent and fatal in all the districts affected; and what steps are being taken to make a thorough clearance of surviving rabbits.

There are now areas of infection, some covering many square miles, in Kent, East Sussex, Essex and East Suffolk, and the disease has spread into Norfolk. Isolated outbreaks have been confirmed in the Isle of Wight and, in the last 10 days, in Radnorshire, Gloucestershire, Cornwall and Bedfordshire. It would be early to expect the development of an epidemic such as: occurred in France last year, and the disease appears to be causing a varying mortality among rabbits in the affected areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture on what outside evidence he rejected the Agricultural Land Commission's report and decided not to acquire by compulsory purchase Giblins Farm, Burwell and Swaffham Fens.

My hon. Friend will have gathered from my reply to him on 6th May that my decision against purchasing Giblins Farm was not based on outside evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recommendations on the question of control of private-hire vehicles have been made by the Working Party appointed in July, 1949, to examine the hackney carriage laws.

The Working Party have not completed their final Report, which I expect to receive shortly. Consideration will be given to any recommendations about the control of these vehicles which they may think it necessary to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to inform the House of the results of the investigations into the recent fire in Covent Garden; and whether he will consider banning the use of warehouses in this area for the storage of inflammable empty returnable boxes, sacks and barrels.

I would rather defer making any statement about this fire until after the coroner's inquest on the death of the firemen who lost their lives. I am sure the House will wish to join me in expressing our deep sympathy for their relatives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local police authorities took proceedings against the sale of obscene literature by local salesmen during the year 1953; and how many of these local police authorities took legal action against the publishers of such literature where the names and addresses of such publishers were known.

I am informed that during 1953 proceedings were taken in 197 cases against local vendors of obscene literature under the Obscene Publications Act, 1857, with a view to obtaining an order for the destruction of that literature. The majority of such publications emanate from a comparatively small number of publishers in London, and during the same year nine of these publishers were successfully prosecuted and I understand that the question of instituting proceedings in other cases is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the estimated all-in cost of building the police flats at Peckham Rye; what is the final all-in cost, per flat; and what was the cost of the Civil Defence provision in the basement.

The cost of these flats was £78,335, inclusive of £14,500 attributable to structural precautions, including the basement. The cost per flat, excluding the Civil Defence provision, was £2,660, or £298 more than the original estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the request, details of which have been sent to him, made by the National Chamber of Trade for legislation against the organisation of mock auctions; and if he will now reconsider the desirability of legislation on this subject.

I have no grounds for modifying the view expressed in the answer which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 28th January. I shall, however, consider the view which the hon. Member was good enough to give me personally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of public anxiety caused by the recent deaths of infants attributed to the presence of calomel in teething powders administered to them, he will state the grounds on which the Poisons Board has advised him against controlling the sale of calomel and request the Board to reconsider the matter.

No. The proceedings of the Poisons Board, the Advisory Committee set up by the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933, are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the congestion of cases for the Metropolitan magistrates' courts, he will now make arrangements for the re-establishment of a magistrates' court in Westminster as before the war, either in Rochester Row or elsewhere.

I am considering, in consultation with the chief magistrate, what steps should be taken to relieve the congestion in some of the Metropolitan magistrates' courts. I could not at present give any undertaking to re-establish a court in Westminster.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to stop the police in London holding up traffic for foot passengers when there is a subway available.

The public cannot be compelled to use a subway and the Commissioner of Police considers it better to stop traffic periodically to let pedestrians cross than to leave them to find their own way through the traffic.

asked the Minister of Supply the cause of the recession in the aeroplane industry in Scotland; and what steps he is taking to rectify the conditions which are causing this recession.

I am not aware of any recession in the aeroplane industry in Scotland, and I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. and learned Member by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour on 13th May.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now in a position to make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's policy on the recommendations of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of electric wires and cables.

In their Report on the Supply of Insulated Electric Wires and Cables, the Monopolies Commission summarised their conclusions as follows:

1. The restriction of members' freedom which is involved in their having to submit new designs and types to their associations for approval is a necessary concomitant of the minimum standards of quality established by the associations and has been reasonably administered.

2 (a). A system of purchasing mains and super tension cable which is in the long term interests both of the consumer and of the producer will have to be worked out by the British Electricity Authority with the industry.

2 (b). The present arrangement for the Cable Makers Association (C.M.A.) members' costs to be investigated by independent accountants is in the public interest and so long as C.M.A. members act together as sellers of these types of cable, there should be an obligation on them, in the ranges in which no competition exists, to submit their costs to the British Electricity Authority in order to establish that the prices charged are reasonable.

2 (c). Prices to buyers other than the British Electricity Authority should bear a direct relationship to the prices charged to the British Electricity Authority and this relationship should be reasonable.

2 (d). This relationship should be made known.

3. The system of common prices for rubber cable and the Covered Conductors Association's (C.C.A.) system of common prices for covered conductors should be brought to an end.

4. As a defence against extreme price cutting the C.M.A. and C.C.A. should be allowed to fix minimum prices, giving no more than a reasonable profit to the lowest cost producer of each type of cable; if minimum prices are established on this basis, costs and profits should be reviewed by the appropriate Government Department from time to time to ensure that the prices are fixed in accordance with the conditions which we have recom mended.

5 (a). So long as there is no independent competition in submarine telegraph cable the periodical cost investigations which are now made are clearly desirable.

5. (b). Submarine telegraph cable is outside the international agreement and it is important that it should remain so.

6. (a). We suggest that the General Post Office should leave itself free in future to place a proportion of orders for land telephone cable with independent concerns and should take appropriate steps to ensure the protection of the public interest for all its purchases of telephone cable outside the bulk orders.

6 (b). Price agreements for sales of telephone cable to purchasers other than the General Post Office should be brought to an end.

7. If further bulk orders are placed, their existence should be publicly announced and provision should be made to safeguard the continuance and development of efficient independent competition.

8. The quota systems of the C.C.A. and of the affiliated associations of the C.M.A. should be brought to an end.

9. The system of allocations operated by C.M.A. members and others should be brought to an end in all cases in which it still obtains.

10. The covenant entered into by British Ropes, Limited in which they undertake not to make cables, should be allowed to lapse.

11. We welcome the co-operation of the C.M.A. and C.C.A. on the questions of quality clauses in B.S.I, specifications and we recommend that clauses governing the quality of the insulating materials (together with any warning addendum that may be thought appropriate) should be included in all B.S.I, cable specifications.

12. The C.M.A. and C.C.A. policy on patents has been liberal and we have no recommendation to make.

13. When the present arrangements for regulating copper supplies are brought to an end the Government should continue to keep a watch on the position to ensure that supplies are fairly allocated or that competitive supplies are available either within the United Kingdom or by import.

14. We make no recommendations as regards import restrictions, because they form part of a complex whole including provisions affecting the export trade which are outside our terms of reference.

15. The exclusive dealing provisions in agreements with wholesalers and other buyers of rubber cable should be brought to an end.

16 (a). The aggregated quantity rebates payable in connection with rubber cable should cease.

16 (b). Association rebates payable in connection with rubber cables should cease.

16 (c). The rebate paid to the National Electrical Contractors Association on purchases by its members of mains cables should cease.

17 (a). The C.C.A. aggregated quantity rebates should be brought to an end.

17 (b). Their agreements with buyers who undertake not to make covered conductors should be brought to an end.

After a thorough examination of the complicated issues involved, the Government have asked the trade associations concerned to give an assurance that they will bring their arrangements into conformity with these conclusions, with the exception of numbers 2 (