asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that electricity boards ask applicants for such posts as that of meter reader/collector for their political and religious views; and, in view of the fact that applicants feel that the wrong answer may prejudice their application, whether he will give a general direction to the Authority that questions of this kind should cease.

I agree that such questions are liable to lead to misunderstanding and are best avoided, but I have no reason to suppose that they are commonly asked. The methods adopted by boards in interviewing prospective employees are their own managerial responsibility, and a general direction on this subject would not be appropriate or necessary, but I am taking steps to see that my views are fully understood by the boards.

Is the Minister aware that when a Mr. Stephens of Stroud applied for a post with the Midland Electricity Board, he and all the other applicants were asked their political and religious beliefs? After investigating this case, will not the Minister reconsider his decision and issue an instruction to the three boards for which he is responsible suggesting that this undesirable practice should cease at once?

As I said, I do not think that this is a matter which it is appropriate to deal with by a general direction, but I am taking steps to see that my views are fully understood by the boards.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the load factor of publicly-owned electric power houses has fallen from 47·1 per cent. in 1950–51 to 44·7 per cent. in 1952–53 and 43·9 per cent. in 1953–54; and as this reflects a decline in occupational efficiency of valuable national assets at a time of rising general industrial productivity, what regard he is having to these trends when sanctioning new power house constructional programmes of the British Electricity Authority.

The relatively high load factor in 1950–51 was achieved only by the use of old plant and resort to load shedding. The load factor has fallen since then because the B.E.A. has installed enough new capacity to avoid load shedding, reduce its reliance on old plant and thus raise the efficiency of the system. The efforts of the B.E.A. to diversify the load, however, should lead in future years, as the development programmes to which I recently gave my general approval are carried out, to a steady improvement in the load factor.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in view of the policy of the Government in substituting oil, within a few years, for 10 million tons of coal burned annually at our power stations and converting to dual firing, what steps he has taken to establish the comparative costs of electricity production, respectively, by coal and oil; and what steps he is taking to prevent a rise in electricity prices resulting from oil substitution for coal.

The British Electricity Authority hope to negotiate agreements with the oil companies for the supply of fuel oil on the lines of the agreement made for the Marchwood Power Station. If price parity with coal is agreed, no increase in price should result from the use of this oil.

With regard to this and previous Questions, is the right hon. Gentleman in agreement with his right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour in desiring to spread the load and have more shift work, so making more efficient use of our power stations, or does he simply propose to go on increasing the number of power stations in order to meet every increase in the industrial demand for electricity?

The two things are not incompatible. It is important to increase the number of power stations, firstly, to avoid fuel cuts, and secondly, to meet the increased demand we expect in the future. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are equally keen to see greater use being made of the shift system, which would greatly increase the efficiency of the electric power supply.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the position regarding the projected electrical power station at Richborough; whether a site has yet been selected; and whether the station will be coal or oil fired.

The British Electricity Authority has made no application to me for my statutory consent to build a generating station at Richborough, but I am aware that the Kent County Council has shown in the town development plan for Richborough a site for a generating station and that the Authority has not yet been able to obtain the permission of the landowner to enter the site or make the trial borings which are essential before any design work can be done on the project.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now satisfied that coal merchants, in delivering coal of 2 cwts. and more, are observing the instructions of Article 11 of the Retail Coal Prices Order and specifying the grade and price of coal delivered to each consumer.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that merchants are aware of the requirements of the Order and generally comply with them. Appropriate action is taken when contraventions are discovered or are brought to the notice of officers empowered to investigate them.

Could the hon. Gentleman say, once the coal is delivered, what steps are taken to ensure that the coal in the cellar is of the same group as is stated on the price ticket?

If there is reason to suspect that it is not, my right hon. Friend's enforcement officers have powers to investigate the matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many old-age pensioners are receiving low grade coal delivered to them at prices which indicate higher grades; and if he can extend to 1 cwt. deliveries the requirements of group pricing, particularly on delivery lorries.

All retail deliveries are already subject to price control. My right hon. Friend is not contemplating any amendment of the Retail Coal Prices Order, nor is he aware of particular cases affecting old-age pensioners in which the Order has been contravened, but if the hon. Member will let me know of any such case, I will have it investigated.

Why should I have to act as a private detective for the National Coal Board and the Minister? When a lorry is delivering 1 cwt. bags of coal, is it not possible to know whether it is delivering the correct group at the correct price? As there is a difference of as much as 3s. 10½d. per cwt. between Group 7 and Group 1, surely this is vitally necessary?

All deliveries are subject to retail price control, and therefore if a delivery is made upon a wrong basis, either as to its group or its price, the law is being broken. The problem is to obtain evidence of any breach of the law, and if the hon. Lady has any suspicion of any such case, we shall be very glad to investigate it.

But who is to provide the evidence? Does the hon. Gentleman expect me to go up and down the country looking for it? Are the fuel officials to sit on their hunkers in their offices while somebody else is rooting out cases in which the law is broken?

After her speech in the last debate on this subject, I was hoping that the hon. Lady would provide us with some grounds upon which investigations could be made, but unfortunately she was not able to disclose the name of the merchant concerned. I should add that upwards of 40 prosecutions have already taken place this year.

Is not the ending of house coal rationing the effective answer to all these complaints and difficulties. In view of the very marginal and relatively small additional supplies of coal which would now be involved, is the present cumbersome system, costing £1¼ million a year, really necessary?

That is nonsense. Let the Coal Board deliver the coal itself.

My hon. Friend is quite right as to the first part of his supplementary question. The real solution can be achieved only when the de-rationing of coal is possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement as to the coal position in Portsmouth, and the future prospects.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, owing to the very wet summer, much more coal is being used than is usual? Will he do his utmost to see that Portsmouth, which is a very important city, does not go short?

Portsmouth not only uses more, but is getting more.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far it is the policy of the Government to expand direct consumer sales of house coal by the National Coal Board at the expense of sales attracted from the co-operatives, coal departments and other merchants; and what retail price provisions he makes in this connection.

The same retail coal regulations apply to the board as to all other merchants. The Government's policy is to encourage fair competition between all concerned.

But is not the National Coal Board in a privileged position in this matter, as a monopoly producer of all the country's coal? Is it not also the fact that present trends show that the National Coal Board is increasing its supplies of house coal direct to domestic consumers, and that that increase is at the expense of the co-operative societies and private enterprise coal merchants? Is it desirable that a Conservative Government should give consent to a trend which could lead to the nationalisation of coal merchanting?

I think that my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. It must be remembered that while the allocation of the total amount of coal for domestic supplies for the whole country is made by the Government, the distribution between the various merchants, including the National Coal Board, is done by the merchants' own organisation.

In view of that relatively unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at a very early date.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements are made to provide those who use coal stoves for cooking purposes with best quality coal.

The National Coal Board is responsible for allocating the better grades of coal between merchants, and the latter do their best, I am sure, to meet special requirements.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that they should not fix rents for houses let to miners above the average of those charged by local authorities for equivalent houses in the corresponding area.

No, Sir. This is a question of management, which is the responsibility of the National Coal Board.

That form of answer was not exactly unexpected, owing to the fact that the right hon. Gentleman is inhibited from answering directly for the National Coal Board; but is he aware that on the newly created Pear Tree Estate at Rugeley the rentals are some 8s. a week more per house than for the equivalent house in the immediate vicinity? This is causing some dissatisfaction. Will he bring this matter to the attention of the National Coal Board?

I am aware of the problems which the hon. Gentleman has mentioned. If he would be prepared to accept it, I should be prepared to give him some advice afterwards as to the best method of proceeding further.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the borehole at St. Margarets Bay has yet yielded information helpful in reaching a decision on whether or not a new pit should be sunk in East Kent.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board, and I have asked them to communicate with my hon. Friend on the matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the figure for distributed stocks of house coal to the latest convenient date together with comparable figures for the last two years.

1·66 million tons of merchants' stocks on 6th November, compared with 2·01 million last year and 2·09 the year before.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the stocks are likely to be sufficient to meet all reasonable needs?

Yes. For two reasons. First, about 700,000 tons more coal has been delivered during this summer than during the summer of last year. Second, the imports which we have arranged are largely composed of house coal.

In view of the vast increase in imports—which information the Minister gave last week—and the reduction in the present stocks, can my right hon. Friend assure the House that he regards the situation as being anything but satisfactory?

The position is that imports are coming in at the rate of over 100,000 tons a week.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what instructions he has given to his fuel overseers for helping householders to settle complaints.

They have been instructed to advise householders who are dissatisfied about the quality of their coal and, where necessary, to remind merchants of their obligations in this matter, but it is not part of their duty to settle complaints about coal quality.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is still general dissatisfaction among householders about the quality of coal supplied to them, by virtue of the fact that the invariable reply of the merchants is that they, in turn, can get no satisfaction from the National Coal Board?

No, Sir; I do not think there is that general feeling at the present time. If my hon. Friend has details of any particular case, I shall be very glad to look into it.

Does the hon. Gentleman know that, on page 30 of the National Coal Board's Report, it actually complains that merchants are not complaining to it when they get a bad consignment? Surely the public outside do not know that the Coal Board wish complaints to be made about bad consignments? Cannot we have some co-ordination between the Minister and the public, to see that complaints are properly made by the merchants to the Coal Board?

Merchants are quite familiar with this procedure, and I know that the Coal Merchants Association in Scotland is most anxious that the allegations which the hon. Lady has made to the House should be substantiated or otherwise.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the large sums of money which have had to be provided by the nationalised fuel and power industries for the establishment of the new Fuel Efficiency Company, and the objections raised, he will reconsider his previous decision against a levy to enable private industry to contribute to the funds of the company.

No, Sir.

Is it not wrong in principle that privately-owned industry, which stands to gain so much financially and otherwise from increased fuel efficiency, should not bear some share of the cost of this service? Did not the Ridley Committee recommend and support the principle of a levy?

The Pilkington Committee endorsed this form of financing the new organisation. I am glad to say that the new organisation is already receiving fees from industry to the extent of £20,000 a year.

Is it not a fact that this work is really on far too small a scale? Will not the right hon. Gentleman therefore consider my hon. Friend's proposal to increase it greatly?

I think we have to see how the new organisation gets to work. It is expanding rapidly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number and value of interest-free loans made so far by the new Fuel Efficiency Company to private industrial concerns for the installation of fuel-saving equipment.

There is a Government scheme under which loans can be made that are free of interest for the first two years, and I have so far approved 95 such loans totalling nearly £700,000.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power approximately the amount of Coalite produced and available for domestic consumption during the past six months; and to what extent the demand now exceeds the supply.

It is not the practice to divulge information on the activities of individual firms.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman give me some sort of figure? Is he not aware that there is a shortage of Coalite in some parts of London, particularly in Essex? Is he also aware that there appears to be discrimination in the supply of Coalite to retailers, in view of the fact that the London Co-operative Society has no Coalite to distribute to its customers?

Both coke in general and Coalite, being a low-temperature coke, are de-restricted at the present time. This particular product is made by one firm and is in short supply. I will make inquiries about the point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, when making these inquiries, pay regard to my suggestion that there is possibly discrimination against the London Co-operative Society?

I have not heard of any such discrimination.

asked the Minister of Food the average price per lb. of tea on 1st January, 1954; and, in view of the fact that the price is now considerably higher, and has risen in the last few months, if he will consider the reimposition of price control.

The average retail price of tea was 5s. 2½d. per lb. on 1st January this year. I have nothing to add to the reply given on 26th October to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann).

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I shall be able to supplement his information, which is quite useless as we have not had it yet? Is he aware that Lyon's Green Label tea, which is of average quality only, was on 7th January this year 5s. lb. and is now 6s. 8d. lb., which is an increase of 1s. 8d.? What is the Minister going to do about this? Or are we to wait until the General Election before the old people may have the tea they want?

It is true, and I regret it, that there has been a substantial increase in the price of tea this year due to a number of causes, including the costs in the tea gardens, and including increased consumption in India and America. It is hoped that, with the arrival of the new crop, we may begin to see a reduction in prices.

Has my hon. Friend taken note of the fact that the recent Labour Party Conference emphatically rejected the idea of price controls, which are the only things which would affect this matter?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we on this side of the House would be very happy if he could say what the reasons are against re-imposing temporarily price control on tea?

Because, of itself, price control would not bring more tea and would need to be supplemented by consumer subsidies, which would mean a return to rationing.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the capital and revenue loss, respectively, incurred by the London County Council civil restaurants was met from the accumulated profits of the civil restaurants and their predecessors, the Londoners Meals Service.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Surely the hon. Gentleman is making this more difficult than he ought? There are two figures involved. Is he aware that the figures, which were given in reply to an earlier Question, of a £98,000 loss arising on capital expenditure and a £170,000 loss on revenue account, have been met by accumulated reserves, accumulated profits? It is completely misleading to give replies to Questions of this kind which do not tell the London ratepayers that there has not been a charge on the ratepayers for the London civic restaurants.

When the problem came to my right hon. and gallant Friend under the Act of 1947 there had been a loss in the three preceding years of £161,000. My right hon. and gallant Friend was required by the Act to give a dispensation only if he could see a prospect of profitability. He gave that dispensation in 1952 and 1953, and there was a loss in 1952–53 of £5,100 and in 1953–54 of £8,700. The amount that has fallen on the rates has been £71,000 in the last four years.

I am sorry, but the Minister is mixing it up in talking about something about which I did not ask a Question. The Question was how much of the losses, the paper losses, have been met. The objection was that he did not give all the figures when he gave the earlier reply, which was, as I have said, that there had been a loss of £98,000 on the capital account. A great proportion of the loss has been met from accumulated reserves.

It is true that some £200,000 of the losses have been met from the reserves which might otherwise have gone to the relief of London's rates. It is equally true that £71,000 has fallen on London's rates in four years.

The Labour Party is a high rate party.

asked the Minister of Food how much in Profits and Income Tax was contributed by the London County Council civic restaurants during the whole period of its operation.

This information is not available to my right hon. Friend.

Would the hon. Gentleman say whether or not it is a fact that a very considerable sum of money was paid through Income Tax and Profits Tax to the Treasury that might have gone otherwise in reliefs of which he spoke with such concern just now?

Under the 1947 Act, my right hon. Friend comes into the picture and has the facts reported to him only if there has been a loss. On the general point, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I have just given to the hon. Member for Clapham (Mr. Gibson).

It was evasive.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many bakers are proposing to discontinue the production of National bread on the grounds that it is no longer an economic proposition; and what action he intends to take in this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 8th November.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many local bakery associations are urging a stop-production ultimatum? Would he undertake to see that, while the Government desire more National bread to be eaten, people will be able to get National bread in all districts, and that, if necessary, a further subsidy will be given?

I am aware of what the hon. Gentleman has said and the very real problems that confront small bakers. A claim for an increase in the net profit margin has been presented by the trade and is now under consideration. I hope that it will not be long before it will be possible to give a reply.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the losses to farmers on bacon pigs which are slightly overweight, he will introduce a graduated price scale for pigs exceeding 170 lb. deadweight.

No, Sir. Prices of bacon pigs are now determined in commercial negotiations between the producers and curers.

Is the Minister aware that the difference between 169 lb. and 171 lb. deadweight of pig means a loss of £7 to many of the farmers? Will he not look into this matter again? If he cannot do anything about it, perhaps he will find a few running tracks to enable the pigs to get a few pounds off them before they weigh in?

The present position is that the pork market has strengthened and prices being obtained on the pork market now compare favourably with prices paid by the bacon curer.

Will my hon. Friend pay not too much attention to the representations of the hon. Gentleman opposite? Is he aware that farmers are very anxious to produce the article the consumers require, and that if they are paid a good price for the article that is wanted, they are quite willing to suffer a penalty for producing an article which is not wanted?

asked the Minister of Food the percentage of bacon pigs which factories have declined to accept because of insufficient quality during the latest convenient three-months' period.

This is a commercial matter between the bacon curers and their suppliers, but I will ask the interests concerned to send the hon. Gentleman such information as they can.

Is the Minister aware that, in reply to a supplementary question which I put to him last week, his right hon. Friend said that it was quality which was cutting down the number of pigs entering the factories? At what point is the quality decided?

The present position is that bacon factories are able to take all the pigs which are offered.

Is my hon. Friend aware that last week one of our local bacon factories had 90 per cent. Grade A pigs?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that pig producers throughout the country are still very gravely dissatisfied with the Government's conduct over the whole of this situation? Has he had no complaints from the National Farmers' Union about it?

There had been complaints about the difficulty in the acceptance of bacon pigs by bacon curers, but the Government were not responsible for the circumstances leading to those complaints.

asked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that imported oranges and other fruit are now unaffected by insecticides or preservatives such as were used formerly by fruit growers overseas.

I believe that oranges are now unaffected by thiourea. A careful watch is being kept on certain other imported fruits such as pears for any remains of insecticides.

Is the Minister aware that at least one local health officer reported the detection of thiourea preservatives on oranges, not from Spain but from other parts of the world?

That has not been reported to us, but I should be glad to make inquiries if the hon. Member would supply the information.

asked the Minister of Food the nutritional value of the food shown in the food survey of his Department to be consumed by old-age pensioners; and how this compares with recent years.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

When these figures are produced, will they show that the individual constituents of the diet eaten by old-age pensioners are better or worse than in 1951?

For the last full year for which figures are available—1953—in the case of every nutrient except one, in respect of calorific values, proteins, fats and all the rest—except one—consumption was higher in 1953 than in 1951.

Is the hon. Member aware that figures will not fill the bellies of the old-age pensioners who are going short of food today?

These figures are derived from the National Food Survey used by the party opposite.

In view of the fact that the Economic Survey says that for the country as a whole the food values are down for last year, can the Minister explain how they are up in the case of old-age pensioners?

This is a statistical survey used by both Governments, and hon.

asked the Minister of Food what information is available regarding the amount of food being consumed by old-age pensioners at the present time; and how this compares with the corresponding amount in 1951.

asked the Minister of Food what results are shown by his Department's food consumption survey as to the diet of old-age pensioners as compared with recent years and with other sections of the community.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do the figures relate only to calorific and protein value, or do they show, as we know to be a fact, that

Can my hon. Friend assure us that this survey takes into account a proper cross-section of the pensioners and that therefore the results are reliable?

Yes. Sir.

No, Sir, it is not sufficient. These figures show that for cheese, eggs, meat, sugar and tea there was an increase in 1953 compared with 1951.

Without wishing to decry the figures contained in the Government's statistical survey, which we accept as well as do other hon. Members, may I ask whether it is not a fact that the Economic Survey for 1953 shows that, in the case of fats, proteins and calories for the whole of the country, the consumption was lower? Can the Minister explain why, in the case of old-age pensioners, it is higher?

These figures, obtained by the statistical survey method—which the right hon. Gentleman does not condemn—show unanswerably that in the case of those commodities the consumption by old-age pensioners was higher.

Are these answers likely to appear in the "Daily Herald" tomorrow?

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to ensure that deficiency payments for wheat and for barley are paid to farmers with the minimum of delay.

Under the provisions of the scheme as already announced, payment will begin next month on wheat certificates received for the period to 30th September. Any deficiency payment which may be due on barley will not be payable until after the end of the cereal year, but an advance payment is under consideration and an announcement will be made shortly.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he will give an indication when farmers are likely to receive their first payments for wheat and barley, respectively?

Do these figures, which the Minister is giving to the House, include such foods as fresh fruit and vegetables, which contain vitamins so necessary for old people as well as for the rest of us?

The answer to Question No. 33 does include the full details of the various vitamins to which the hon. Member refers.

In the case of wheat, it is hoped that payments may begin soon. Difficulty has arisen because the certificates—some 21,000 of them—were due to be sent in by the end of last month and some 70 per cent. of those sent in were insufficiently or inaccurately filled in. Nevertheless, it is hoped shortly to begin wheat payments. As I pointed out to my hon. and learned Friend, with barley it is a question of payment at the end of the cereal year, but consideration is being given—and I say this without commitment as to the conclusion—to an advance payment on account.

Could the hon. Member tell us what he estimates is likely to be paid, both for barley and wheat?

If the right hon. Gentleman will put that Question down, I shall be glad to do so.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that farmers who have to send all their wheat to millers in order to qualify for subsidy are charged a commission of 50s. per ton on any of their own wheat which they buy back for grinding; and if he will take steps to prevent millers from charging a fee for which they perform no service.

Growers are not compelled to send wheat to millers in order to qualify for deficiency payments. A grower who knowingly obtained re-delivery of his own wheat for grinding would be in breach of the Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme and would, consequently, lose his entitlement to deficiency payments.

Is the Minister aware that such things as are described in the Question are happening and, in fact, happened as recently as last week? Does he not think that the matter should be investigated, with particular reference to an extra profit which goes to the millers and which they do not earn?

If the hon. Member has any example of the practice which is quoted, I shall be very happy to look into it.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the new disposition of British troops, following the projected withdrawal of troops from the Suez Canal Zone, he will give priority consideration to the completion of the three Princess flying boats for trooping purposes.

As the hon. Member will be aware, completion of the Princess flying boats must await the availability of a new type of engine. There can be no question, therefore, of their use in the near future.

Can the Minister say when a definite answer can be given about the future use of these flying boats? Is he aware that some of us have been asking that for the past three years and have not yet had an answer?

Certain decisions were taken before this Government came into power concerning the construction of these boats. That is another matter. In dealing with the situation, we have to take the position as it is at present. The satisfactory use of the flying boats must depend on the development of an adequate engine. That is taking time.

asked the Minister of Supply if his attention has been called to disturbance and damage caused by supersonic bangs over parts of Hampshire and Southampton; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the disturbance caused by experimental aircraft breaking the sound barrier in the neighbourhood of Winchester; and what instructions are issued to pilots with a view to reducing the nuisance caused to the minimum compatible with the national interest in aircraft development.

I much regret the disturbance which has been caused to the residents of Hampshire by supersonic bangs. Measures have already been taken to reduce the inconvenience to the public. They include strict instructions to test pilots that supersonic speeds should be reached only when required by the nature of the tests, the recording of details of all supersonic flights and their scrutiny by officers of my Department. I am examining whether any further steps are feasible, consistent with the development necessary for the defence of this country. As my predecessor informed the House on 6th July, a comprehensive review of the available data of pressures created by shock waves is in progress.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that recently a supersonic bang caused damage estimated at £70 to a cottage in Ringwood, Hampshire? Can he tell me by what channels or by what means compensation can be obtained for that damage?

There is a Question on the Order Paper dealing with a claim for damage. Any information on alleged damage should be forwarded at once to me.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware of representations made to his Department by the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, where surgeons operating in the theatre are rather nervous about this, that the Dean and Chapter are also anxious about the Cathedral, and that the mayor has been shaken up in his parlour at the Guildhall? As the matter is beginning to assume rather serious proportions, I hope that the inquiry will be conducted with urgency.

I will certainly do everything I can to reduce the inconvenience caused.

asked the Minister of Supply how many claims have been received for damage alleged to be owing to supersonic bangs; and in how many cases payments have been made.

Three hundred and thirty-three claims have been received by the Ministry of Supply and payments have been made in 121 cases, up to and including 10th November, 1954. There are some 60 claims under consideration at the present time.

As a fairly high proportion of these claims has been rejected, will my right hon. and learned Friend consider having an independent assessor attached to his Department to consider the amount and the quality of the claims which are being presented?

It is not my information that a substantial number of claims has been rejected. I am told that in some cases claims have been withdrawn, and that in others it has not been possible to prove any connection between the claim and the alleged cause of the claim, but if my hon. Friend will give me any evidence with regard to these cases, I will certainly consider his suggestion.

Can the Minister explain why it is that aircraft operating from coastal airports cannot he required to produce these bangs over the sea instead of over the land?

I think that is not the point. The point is whether aircraft operating from inland airfields could be asked to operate over the sea. That is certainly a matter which requires consideration, and we are now considering it.

asked the Minister of Supply what financial or other encouragement he is giving, or proposes to give, to accelerate the use by aircraft firms of noise suppression equipment.

I am continuing to encourage the important research programme, details of which were given in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. R. Bell) and the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick) on 28th June. Letters were addressed some time ago to all manufacturers concerned, stressing their responsibilities to the public and asking them to review all measures for mitigating disturbance to the public. I have decided that the appropriate way for me to contribute is by expenditure on research estimated at about £100,000 this year.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the noise from engines under test is literally nerve-racking for workers and residents in Hucknall and other areas affected, and will he appreciate that if firms are to be encouraged to fit noise suppression equipment some financial assistance from the Government may be required?

I think the appropriate way for the Government to help is by pushing on with this fairly substantial research programme. I am not satisfied that the installation of noise suppression equipment should depend on financial assistance from the Government.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what progress has been made by this research?

I am told it is hoped that it will be possible reasonably soon to establish the kind of equipment which will mitigate the nuisance.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the excessive noise caused by the testing of jet engines at the Ansty Aerodrome, near Coventry; and what steps he is taking to obviate this nuisance to residents in the neighbouring villages.

This matter has been discussed with Messrs. Armstrong Siddeley, who own this airfield, and I understand that they have measures in hand to improve sound reduction arrangements in engine test houses at the aerodrome.

Is the Minister aware that many of my constituents are losing sleep because of this noise, which is fantastic? Even the cows are complaining—they are giving less milk in this neighbourhood—and will he impress on this firm the necessity of lessening noise in this factory?

I quite understand the point the hon. Gentleman is making, including the agricultural implications, and I understand that improvement may be expected next month.

Will the Minister bear in mind that this has been a long-standing grievance in Coventry, which is the home of jet engines, and will he contact the firm of Armstrong Siddeley and ask them to pay special attention to the testing of jet engines in the factory itself, as the noise is causing great inconvenience to those who live in the vicinity.

That is another matter to the Question on the Order Paper, but I will certainly take it into account.

asked the Minister of Supply if, in view of the high rate of unemployment and distress in Northern Ireland, he will place further Government orders with Northern Irish firms.

I fully realise the importance of Government contracts to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is treated as a Development Area for the purpose of placing Government contracts, and we do all we can to place orders there.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that some of the conditions prevailing in Northern Ireland are reminiscent of those of the '30s in this country, and no doubt due to the harsh treatment meted out by the National Assistance Board?

Without making any comment on the last matter referred to in the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I am concerned with the state of employment in Northern Ireland. We will certainly do what we can to help it.

Will the Minister bear in mind the particular case of Messrs. Short Bros., which I raised with his predecessor on several occasions? Is he aware that unemployment in Northern Ireland has been running at too high a rate over the last three years, although it is now on the downward level, and is he also aware that it is only recently that hon. Members on the other side of the House have taken any interest in this matter?

With regard to the question of unemployment in Northern Ireland, we will certainly do what we can, so far as this Ministry is concerned, to see that a high and stable level of employment is maintained, and seek to put as many contracts there as we possibly can.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind, when he is considering giving contracts, that at Newry and Londonderry, unemployment is running at the rate of one in four of the insured population and that some of us are very glad that our visit has stimulated some of the Ulster Unionist Members to take an interest in this matter?

So far as the first part of the supplementary question is concerned, we will certainly take this into account.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that if there were National Service in Northern Ireland and if the school-leaving age were 15 instead of 14, the number of insured persons unemployed would be the same as in England?

I do not think the matters which my hon. and gallant Friend has mentioned are matters for me.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now prepared to sanction the building of the new out-patients' department of North Middlesex Hospital, including a new chest clinic.

I am afraid that it has not yet been possible to find a place for this project in the capital programme.

Is the Minister aware that there is serious overcrowding in the chest clinic, with considerable dangers for both patients and staff, and that the number of new patients has doubled since 1948 and is still rising very rapidly indeed?

I am aware of the problems of the North Middlesex Hospital. This problem involves expenditure of about £350,000 and, therefore, is too big a scheme for a regional hospital to bear and would have to be financed separately. I am making a review of these schemes in a few weeks' time, and this proposal will be taken into consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have this chest clinic looked at by a member of his Department?

Yes, indeed.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give a list of the mental hospitals in the Birmingham area, showing the extent of overcrowding, at the most convenient recent date.

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

If, as is expected, the figures show a shocking degree of overcrowding, with beds one foot apart and with patients sleeping in dining rooms and, in some cases, practically on the floor, why did the Minister's Department take something like 14 to 16 months to approve plans for new building to expand the hospitals in Birmingham?

That does not arise directly out of this Question. I have given the details of percentage overcrowding. Perhaps on a later Question of the hon. Member's we can cover the other point.

Is the Minister aware that on the committee on which I have sat for the last 30 years, we have quite a number of men who have been sleeping on the floor for over two years? [Laughter.] I meant to say that male patients have been sleeping on the floor for the past two years. There is plenty of room for erecting new buildings in the area of the Winson Green Mental Hospital. Will the Minister consider a proposal that will shortly be coming to him, which we discussed at the last committee meeting, asking for something to be done to provide accommodation? We are now in the position of having to refuse admission to the Winson Green Mental Hospital because of the considerable overcrowding, especially of the male patients' side.

Of course, I will look at that proposal when it comes to me. I assume that it will come through the regional board. The hon. Member will, however, in fairness agree that I have made very special and careful provision for the needs of the mental health services in the last year or two.

asked the Minister of Health how much of the special £1 million, allocated for spending by March, 1955, on increasing accommodation in mental hospitals, has been approved for spending on actual capital projects.