asked the Minister of Works what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to ask tenderers to sign a certificate of non-collusion; and what the results have been.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which I have promised to make as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Works the total value of contracts placed by his Department with tenderers who have refused to sign the certificate of non-collusion since the introduction of the certificate; and what proportion this represents of his Department's total contracts.

In the time available I have not been able to get out full figures, but during the period 1st January, 1953, to 30th September, 1954, the value of contracts placed with firms who had not signed the declaration was some £4,175,000. This was about 10 per cent. of the total value of works contracts placed by my Department during the same period.

asked the Minister of Works if the extension to the Government buildings at Lawnswood, Leeds, is yet completed; to what purpose the buildings are to be put, in view of the termination of the regional offices of certain Ministries; and whether he he will give consideration to the possibility of housing the Leeds Regional Hospital Board in the vacant accommodation.

The building of accommodation at Lawnswood, Leeds, was completed this summer for the Home Office. The standard office buildings there are fully occupied, and I am afraid therefore that I could not offer any of them for regional hospital board accommodation.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement as to the progress of the discussions on the Monopoly Commission's report on the practices of the London Builders' Conference.

I cannot yet add to the replies I have given to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 19th October and the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. P. Wells) on 26th October.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is intended to dispense with the use of British Armed Forces Special Vouchers by British forces in Germany.

I cannot at present foresee when they will be dispensed with.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now announce any relaxation on the embargo on trade on trade in motor tyres to China.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it will be possible to announce the quotas for bulb imports by the end of January next; and what decision has been made with regard to an increased duty on bulbs.

Arrangements for the import of bulbs from July, 1955, to June, 1956, will be considered in forthcoming negotiations with the principal supplying countries. While I cannot guarantee that these negotiations will be completed by the end of January, it will be my aim, as in previous years, to announce the quotas in ample time to allow importers to place orders. No decision has yet been reached regarding an increased duty on tulip and narcissus bulbs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the proposed extension of the security check in the Civil Service was discussed with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council.

In accordance with an undertaking to keep them informed on this matter, the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council were told on 4th October of the increase in the estimate of the number of posts subject to the special security procedure. The Staff have asked the Official Side to clarify certain points, and this is being done.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of dollar loans, arising during the war, which was repaid in the period 1945 to 1951; and what were the means employed for such repayment.

296 million U.S. dollars on the Reconstruction Finance Corporation loan, and 402 and 12 million Canadian dollars on the interest-free loans from Canada and Newfoundland, respectively. Repayments of the R.F.C. loan were made out of income from certain U.K. investments and proceeds of sales and redemptions of certain U.K.-owned securities in the United States, and repayments in the period of the Canadian interest-free loan from proceeds of sales and redemptions of U.K.-owned securities in Canada. Most of the Newfoundland interest-free loan was repaid from the gold and dollar reserves.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total indebtedness incurred by this country through loans, in terms of gold and dollars, in the years 1945 to 1951; how far service and repayment of these loans has been met; and by what year this country may be expected to be free of the obligations contracted in those years.

I can do no more than summarise the position in a short answer.The figure is $6,193 million, including the acceptance of an obligation in respect of supplies received in 1945 and earlier years under lend-lease arrangements. $548 million has been repaid and $347 million paid in interest. The above figures are in terms of U.S. dollars, but cover also loans in gold and Canadian dollars. The last payments are due on 31st December, 2000 A.D.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state, for each year since 1945, the annual number of applications received by the Capital Issues Committee; and, of these, how many were accepted and how many rejected.

The following is the reply:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the payments arrangements between the United Kingdom and Persia, which were envisaged in the statement issued in Tehran on 5th August, will be implemented now that the Persian Oil Agreement has been ratified.

Letters were exchanged between H.M. Ambassador in Tehran and the Persian Government on 25th October providing for the payments arrangements to have effect from the date of ratification of the Oil Agreement. An Order required by the arrangements was laid on 30th October. The text of the exchange of letters will be published as a White Paper in a few days' time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made by the official committee investigating the various causes of the pollution of the River Thames.

I understand that the necessary technical investigations are nearly complete; but I cannot say how soon the committee will be able to present their report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why a Welsh-speaking Welshman was not appointed Permanent Secretary of his Welsh Office in Cardiff.

Despite exhaustive search, my predecessor was unfortunately unable to find a Welshman of suitable rank and with the necessary experience to fill this post: and so he appointed a Scot.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether a decision has been reached on the application, of which particulars have been sent to him, for permission to develop certain land on the east side of Thong Lane, Gravesend.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for improvement grants have been received, and how many granted, giving separate figures for those under the Housing Act, 1949, and the Housing Repairs and Rents Act. 1954.

In the five years between the passing of the 1949 and 1954 Acts, grants were approved for 11,873 houses. In the two months between the passing of the 1954 Act and the end of September, grants were approved for 1,626 houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service he is responsible for making; what is the nature of each appointment: and what salary is payable in each case.

A list giving the particulars for which my hon. Friend asks is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service he is responsible for making; the nature of each appointment; and what salary is payable in each case.

My right hon. Friend is not responsible for making any paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are being made for the Jamaicans who are arriving in this country in large numbers to complete the two years' National Service.

None of these men can become liable for National Service until he has been resident in this country for two years, and then only if he is still under 26 years of age. There are standing arrangements for calling up British immigrants as they become liable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the evil effects of certain comic papers on children, he will initiate discussions with representatives of the newsagents' organisations with a view to preventing such reading material from reaching the hands of young people.

I have received a copy of a resolution passed by the Scottish Council of the National Federation of Newsagents, Booksellers and Stationers at a meeting at Perth held on 27th October, recommending all newsagents not to handle horror-type comics. I welcome this sensible and helpful attitude.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now prepared to reconsider the application of a butcher in Berwickshire to be granted a licence to use his own slaughterhouse, in view of the facts which have been put before him, which are supported by the local authority concerned.

I am ready to reconsider such applications at any time in the light of new facts. But on the information before me, I am satisfied that slaughterhouse facilities in Berwickshire are adequate, and accordingly, under the Slaughterhouses Act, 1954, I am unable to consent to registration of the slaughterhouse in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the large holding, No. 1 Achnabourin, Sutherland, which carries more than 200 sheep and which was formed in 1923 by the Board of Agriculture under the powers provided by Part II of the Lands Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, was recently let to the tenant of No. 2 holding, instead of to one of the many skilled agricultural workers who are seeking land of their own.

The holding in question is privately owned, and I have no power to interfere with the owner's choice of a tenant, provided he has let the holding on landholder's tenure. I understand that Holding No. 1 Achnabourin has, in fact, been let on this tenure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which towns and villages in Scotland poliomyelitis cases have been officially reported during the last 12 months; how many cases of poliomyelitis are now known to exist in each; what are the approximate ages of the sufferers; and what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of this disease.

The following table shows the distribution, by local health authority areas, of the 507 provisional notifications of poliomyelitis during the 12 months to 23rd October last. The table also shows by age groups the 97 notifications received during the last four weeks of that period, a figure which represents approximately the number of cases now in the active stages of the disease.In the present state of our knowledge, the main precautions available against spread of the disease are the isolation of patients, the observance of strict hygiene rules by contacts, and the avoidance by children of group activities such as cinemas and clubs. The health departments have made available full technical information for medical officers of health, who are providing appropriate guidance to the public in the affected areas, adapted to suit local circumstances. Medical officers of health are also advising the temporary closure of schools where, exceptionally, this step is considered desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total numbers of schoolchildren who have been engaged in potato harvesting in each year since the war.

Since the Education (Exemption) (Scotland) Act, 1947, became law, the numbers of children employed in the potato harvest have been:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to prevent the loss of Russian shipbuilding orders to our competitors, in view of the fact that the inflow of new orders is now at a very low level.

It is open to British shipbuilders to compete for Russian orders, subject to certain security restrictions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the sale of ships to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the continuation of the embargo, in the light of the recent French agreement to import about 600.000 tons of Soviet oil in exchange for 10 French cargo ships.

Apart from warships and those merchant ships which are of particular strategic value, the export of ships to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is not prohibited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why an allocation of capital expenditure has not been allowed for the rebuilding of the London Sessions House; and whether he is aware that the old premises have now been empty six months;(2) when a starting date will be given for the rebuilding of the London Sessions House.

There is provision in the capital investment programme for the rebuilding of London Sessions House. I understand that the London County Council planned to start work earlier this year but that unforeseen delays occurred. It is now hoped to start in December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the circumstances in which representatives of foreign powers may procure, for official purposes, the assistance of British public servants or British citizens on British territory, otherwise than under powers conferred by a treaty or a statute, or in response to requests submitted through the appropriate diplomatic channels.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to a series of Questions on this subject on the 28th October.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the duties and terms of employment of the three ladies posted by the Air Ministry to United States air bases in the United Kingdom under the title of British Information Officers.

These British Information Officers will be the full-time representatives of the local Anglo-American Hospitality Committees which have been formed near United States Air Force bases to help those serving there to take part in the social life of this country. The appointments are temporary and carry a salary of £500 a year. The conditions of service are, in general, similar to those for other temporary civilian staff employed by the Air Ministry outside London.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why the report of the proceedings of a court martial held in the Canal Zone, particulars of which have been sent to him, had not reached the Air Ministry three months after the court martial took place.

It is administratively convenient to retain court-martial proceedings in an overseas command for a period after they have been confirmed, promulgated, and reviewed, against the possibility that the man sentenced submits a petition which has to be dealt with locally. I have had instructions issued, however, which I hope will do away with any avoidable delays.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the economic and other difficulties affecting the rubber industry, what representations have been made to the United Nations further to ease the restrictions on trade with China.

I would refer to my right hon. Friend's answer on 25th October to the right hon. Members for Battersea North (Mr. Jay) and Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson), to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sums of money have been contributed annually by the United Kingdom Government, since 1948, to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund; and if he will make a statement as to future contributions.

Annual contributions have been as follows:—

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many certificates of pneumoconiosis disablement have been issued at each level of assessment of disablement in each of the months from January to September, 1954, inclusive.

Figures for each month are not available, but the following table gives the quarterly figures.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if an agreement has yet been reached between Belgium and this country for the reciprocal payment of pensions and benefits.

The negotiations for this agreement are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Prime Minister of Malta has yet replied to the proposal by Her Majesty's Government that responsibility for matters relating to Malta should be transferred to the Home Office.

The Prime Minister of Malta replied three weeks ago that his Government had come to the conclusion that, before the particular question of the transfer of the affairs of Malta from the Colonial Office is pursued, negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the Maltese Government should be undertaken with a view to reaching agreement, at least in principle, on a revision of the constitution and on the financial relations of Malta with Her Majesty's Government.His reply did not, however, refer to a suggestion which I put to him in August that it might be a valuable step if repre- sentatives of the political parties represented in the Maltese Legislative Assembly were to discuss with Her Majesty's Government in London the broad implications of the constitutional change involved in the transfer of responsibility to the Home Office. Such an all-party discussion may, I think, be regarded as a normal and acceptable way of clarifying and carrying forward further proposals of a constitutional nature. I hope to receive the reply of the Maltese Prime Minister to this suggestion in the near future.