asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what provision is made by his Regulations for members of the Association of Parish Councils or of parish councils to be nominated to the panel of local authorities from whom members may be appointed to consultative councils under the Electricity Act, 1947; and whether either of these two bodies may nominate members to serve on the sub-area committees.

As to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. G. Roberts) on 15th December, 1952.As to the second part, local or district committees are appointed by the consultative councils themselves and not by me. Requests for representation for parish councils, or any other interest, would, therefore, be for the consultative councils themselves to consider in the light of the various claims to representation on the committees.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the stocks of coal in Scotland at the latest date; and how this figure compares respectively with last year and the three previous years.

1·5 million tons of distributed stocks on 6th November compared with 1·4 last year and 1·5, 1·4 and 1·3 in preceding years.

asked the Minister of Food what evidence he has received about the ring dealings which exist in the wholesaling and importing of meat and their effect on retail prices; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

My right hon. Friend has no evidence of any such dealings.

asked the Minister of Food what representations he has received from pig producers and bacon factories in Aberdeen and the North of Scotland, protesting against his order discriminating against British pig and bacon producers in favour of foreign pig and bacon producers; if he is aware that this order is damaging the British producers and the British consumers; and what steps he is taking to protect British interests in this matter.

My right hon. and gallant Friend has made no such order. British pig producers are protected by the guarantee arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food the total amount of sugar stored in the open at Barton Hill, Bristol; how much of it was destroyed by the recent fire; what quantity has been rendered inedible by other means; and when the remainder will be stored indoors to prevent further deterioration.

21,000 tons, of which 7,000 has already been moved to the refineries. 300 tons were destroyed by fire. The balance will be cleared by about the end of the year. A small further loss was caused by water.

asked the Minister of Food what procedure the inter-Departmental committee for the siting of slaughterhouses has undertaken to secure evidence from local authorities; and up to what date local authorities and interested bodies may submit evidence to the committee.

The associations representing local authorities have given written and oral evidence to the committee. These associations and the national organisations representing the other interests concerned have been asked if they wish to submit any further evidence. No time limit has been set; the committee hopes that any further statements will be submitted as early as possible.

asked the Minister of Health the number of mentally-deficient children awaiting admission to institutions; what proportion of these children fall within the highest priority group; and the longest time that any child within this group has been waiting for admission.

At the end of September, the number was just over 4,000. There is no one group which can be regarded as having the highest priority, since this must depend, firstly, on medical classification, and, secondly, on the social conditions in which the individual child is living.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the growing concern among parents of mentally-deficient children in Essex at the slow expansion in facilities for caring for these children; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware of and share the concern over this problem, which unfortunately is not confined to Essex. In the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Squadron Leader Cooper), on 20th May, I referred to the action being taken to provide more institutional accommodation and I am glad to say that one of the adapted properties I mentioned has since been opened and the other will be opened soon. Progress is being made with the other schemes and I have no doubt the regional hospital board will continue to give high priority to the provision of accommodation for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the cost of training a guide-dog for blind persons which falls in part on public funds is, under present arrangements, about £180; and whether he will consider making alternative arrangements.

This is a service undertaken by a voluntary association, towards the cost of which local authorities responsible for the welfare of the blind have power to contribute at their discretion. I do not think that any action by me is called for.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the existence of the leagues of hospital friends in many towns and cities; and if he will take steps to encourage their formation and equip them to undertake certain tasks in hospitals which will free trained nurses for other and more important duties.

Yes. I do everything in my power to encourage the development of Leagues of Friends and similar voluntary help in hospitals. I hope that voluntary bodies everywhere will be ready to offer, and hospital authorities to accept, personal service of the kind suggested by the hon. Member wherever it can appropriately be done.

asked the Minister of Health the principal systems adopted in maternity hospitals at the present time to ensure that newly-born infants are assigned to the right mothers; what advice has been given by his Department in this connection; and what steps have been taken by his Department to compare the arrangements in this country with those existing in overseas countries.

The principal method is for a fixed bracelet of adhesive or linen tape bearing the mother's name to be attached to a baby's wrist at birth. I have given consideration to the suggestion of foot-printing but it appears to offer no real advantages and I am informed that methods in general use in other countries do not differ materially from the one I have described.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will recommend the foot printing of newly born babies in hospitals so as to make their subsequent identification easier.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Knutsford (Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport) today.

asked the Minister of Health whether plans have yet been approved for the building of a new outpatient department at Newcastle General Hospital, and when it is hoped to proceed with the work.

No; and I cannot say when it will be possible for the regional hospital board to fit this into its programme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the absence of a properly equipped plastic surgery unit on industrial Tyneside; and what action is proposed to make additional facilities available.

There is a unit of 40 beds at Shotley Bridge Hospital, serving Tyneside, and the theatres there are shortly to be improved. The regional board intends in due course to replace this unit by one in Newcastle. Meanwhile a 16-bed unit for children is to be provided within the next year at the Fleming Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that all necessary arrangements have been made by his Department and in the hospitals to deal with the sufferers from the effect of smog; and what instructions he has given to that end.

I do not think that any special instructions from me are needed. The hospitals can be relied upon, in the light of their experience, to deal with any emergency of this kind no less effectively than in December, 1952.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of young chronic sick now being cared for in hospitals, etc., under his jurisdiction; and whether he is now satisfied with the accommodation and amenities provided for them.

I have no separate information on this but I am obtaining it through a survey of facilities for the chronic sick which is in progress.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made with plans for increased facilities for care of the aged and chronic sick in the borough of Ilford.

It is the regional hospital board's intention to expand the facilities at St. George's Hospital, Horn-church, to meet the hospital needs of the aged and chronic sick in Ilford.

asked the Minister of Health how many mental hospital beds are available in the county of Surrey; how many people are on the waiting list for these beds; and how the size of this waiting list has changed over the last three years.

About 15,000 such beds are available in Surrey; there is no waiting period for certified patients but voluntary patients are subject to slight delay; there has been no significant change in the waiting position over the last three years.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Middlesex County Council has issued an instruction that its ambulance drivers are no longer to do any running repairs but must send to their depot for a relief ambulance if, for any reason, a breakdown occurs; and, in view of the fact that this may cause delay in a patient reaching hospital, if he will consult with the county council on the matter.

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

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, when announcing his policy with regard to an increase in retirement pensions, he will also announce such amendments to legislation and Regulations as are necessary to bring all pensions, benefits, National Assistance and other welfare payments to individuals out of public funds, into line with the current cost of living.

I cannot anticipate the terms of my statement but I would remind the hon. Member that what I am engaged upon is a review of the National Insurance Scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the present amount of the pension granted to an ex-Service man in Newport, 5/M.P./4224, who was examined by his Deparment on 17th June, 1953, and who was assessed as 100 per cent. disability in 1924; and the amount it is proposed to grant to this man as a result of the above examination.

The ex-Service man in question is receiving a pension of £2 15s. a week, the present rate for an ex-private 100 per cent. disabled, and an un-employability supplement of £1 15s. His wife is receiving a retirement pension of 21s. 6d. a week on her husband's insurance and the man receives an additional allowance of 10s. for her, making the total income of the couple £6 1s. 6d. a week. The medical report of the examination in June, 1953, showed that he was able to attend to all his personal needs and was not, therefore, eligible under the Royal Warrant for an award of constant attendance allowance. A further medical examination last week confirmed these findings.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what provision of the National Insurance Act, 1946, precludes him from taking immediate steps to raise the retirement pension in advance of the completion of the quinquennial review of rates of benefit.

I have never suggested that the provisions of the National Insurance Act could not be amended by fresh legislation. But with the best will in the world towards pensioners, and a full appreciation of their difficulties, any suggestion which seriously increases the cost of retirement pension must of necessity be weighed with the utmost care against the cost to the contributor and to the taxpayer both present and future.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider the payment of a Christmas bonus to all old-age pensioners in receipt of pension, on the second pension pay day in December, 1954.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Esher (Mr. Robson Brown) on Wednesday last.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that retired pensioners who accept employment with the Post Office for a limited period at Christmas are refused their pension for that period; and whether he will grant a special concession for this period only to enable the pensioners to increase their Christmas income.

I have no power to vary the statutory provisions in the way suggested.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of retired pensioners in Wales; the number who are in receipt of National Assistance; and the comparable figures for 1951, 1952 and 1953.

The following table gives the information:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will now announce his time-table for the increase of retirement pensions; and how long he allows for the passing of legislation to implement his proposals.

I cannot add to the replies given on Monday, 1st November.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the annual cost to the Exchequer to increase the blind persons' pensions by 10s. a week; and if he will take steps to assist financially those people who are sightless who have dependants and who are unable to compete in the labour market.

The National Assistance Board already provides assistance for blind people who are unable to compete in the labour market at rates which are about 18s. a week above the normal rate. To increase the non-contributory pension paid to blind people at 40 would cost about £100,000 net but it would only benefit a small minority of blind persons whose means are such that they are not eligible for assistance.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, when he reviews pensions and benefits, he will review the position of those in receipt of workmen's compensation.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the maximum workmen's compensation paid under the Workmen's Compensation Act in 1947, to a man with a wife and no children; what is paid now to the same man who is still unable to follow any employment as a result of his accident; and if he will take steps to increase the compensation of one suffering from pre-1948 accidents.

In 1947, a man with a wife and no child, who was incapable of work as the result of an industrial accident, was limited to 50s. by way of workmen's compensation. Such a man to-day can get by way of workmen's compensation and National Insurance benefits and allowances £5 4s., or £7 14s. if he needs constant attendance. Such men will of course benefit from any increases in National Insurance benefits and allowances that may result from the review of the National Insurance Schemes.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider the advisability of having the many leaflets which have been issued by his Department dealing with various aspects of compensation and industrial injuries benefits bound together, and issued in booklet form.

I am not convinced that it would be in the general interest to issue bound volumes of leaflets as suggested owing to the difficulty of keeping them up to date.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to state, in tabular form, the number of claims made and claims allowed for disablement benefits, and the number of death benefits paid, respectively, during the period up to and including 30th October, 1954, under the Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis Benefit Act, 1951, which came into operation on 10th March, 1952.

The reply is as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what estimate has been made of the number of persons in receipt of National Assistance who will require extra assistance at Christmas.

None, as there is no basis on which such an estimate could be made.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in Lincoln were in receipt of National Assistance on 1st September, 1951, and 1st September, 1954, respectively.

The number of regular weekly assistance grants paid in the National Assistance Board's Lincoln area, which extends beyond the boundaries of the county borough, was 3,180 on 28th August. 1951, and 3,984 on 31st August, 1954.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons under 65 years of age, who have voluntarily left superannuable employment, are now in receipt of unemployment benefit.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inquire of the Government of Vietminh, as to whether they have any information of the whereabouts of Corporal Eric Clyde Nickells of 4, Gordon Street, Northampton, who was taken prisoner at Dien Bien Phu on 8th May, 1954, and who has not been heard of since.

Her Majesty's Consul-General in Hanoi has already been asked to make inquiries of the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members of the United Nations voted at the present session of the Council for the admission of Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos; and how many voted against.

The Security Council has not considered these applications since September, 1952. The right hon. Member may, however, be referring to the current Session of the General Assembly, which has not yet considered a draft resolution recommending the admission to the United Nations of Laos and Cambodia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the per capita contribution of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Children's Fund for the present year and for 1955; and what information will be laid before this House showing what contributions are made by other countries.

Her Majesty's Government's contribution to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for 1954 was £200,000, representing 0·94 pence for every man, woman and child in the United Kingdom. The same figure is proposed for 1955.A list of contributions made by Governments to UNICEF from its inception up to the end of 1953 is published in the Fund's financial report to the General Assembly for the year 1953, which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what payments from liquidated Japanese assets have been made to former Japanese prisoners of war who were members of the Singapore local forces, for example, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force; and whether he is satisfied that these payments are adequate.

Assets made available to Singapore under Article 14 of the Japanese Peace Treaty are not being distributed individually to former Japanese prisoners of war. They have for the most part been credited to the Malayan War Damage Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement regarding the intentions of Her Majesty's Government towards the future of the Kabaka of Buganda.

I propose to make a statement on Uganda tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans detained under the emergency Regulations in Kenya have been sentenced to corporal punishment for offences committed in the detention camps since the beginning of the emergency.

I am consulting the Governor and will write to the hon. Member on receipt of his reply.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what action is taken to ensure that the constant-wetting system affords protection to warships against the effects of atomic radiation following an attack, in view of the fact that the surrounding sea and hence any water being pumped on board, is likely to be heavily contaminated.

The possibility mentioned by the hon. Member has not been overlooked. The precise application of constant-wetting measures, in whatever form may be suited to the needs of the moment, must be left to the discretion of commanding officers of ships or squadrons.

asked the Minister of Education the number of teachers employed by each local education authority. respectively.

The information will be available very shortly and I will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish a table, similar to that which he published for 1952, showing the number of university awards made by local education authorities for 1953 and the number per 10,000 child population.

There were 9,928 local education authority awards taken up at universities for the first time in 1953–54. This is an average of 16·5 awards per 10,000 of that part of the population between the ages of five and 14. I am sending the hon. Member a table giving these figures for each local education authority separately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the current shortage of nickel supplies and any action which is being taken to overcome it.

Supplies of nickel are slightly better than in 1953; but the demand in this and other countries has increased still further, and I am aware of the difficulties which certain users are now experiencing. I understand that steps are being taken to expand the output of nickel but this cannot be expected to provide a solution in the short term. While the Government has no responsibility for the purchase or the distribution of nickel, my right hon. Friends the Minister of Supply and the President of the Board of Trade are considering whether there is any further action which can be taken to help in the present difficulties.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the recent increase in the basic travel allowance, the procedure for drawing the allowance can now be simplified.

It has been decided that the form T.1 which is used for applications for the basic allowance can now be dispensed with. Passports will have to continue to be marked.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men who, during the past 12 months, have been called for annual training camp; the number who have failed to report for camp; the number of these who have been punished; and the nature of the punishments.

These statistics are not kept and I do not think that the effort of getting them would be justified. If the hon. Member has some particular case or practice in mind, I am very ready to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how much of Ullenwood Camp, Cheltenham, is at present being used for military storage and how much of the area for Territorial Army training;(2) the type of Territorial Army training at present being carried out at Ullenwood Camp, Cheltenham, and the approximate time the camp has been used for such purpose during the past two years.

This camp used to be a military hospital and consists of about 25 wards and 65 smaller huts. Eleven of the wards are used for storing mobilisaation equipment and the huts are used for Territorial Army training. In the past two years, the huts have been used on 19 occasions for week-end training and on 23 occasions to accommodate units moving to or from their annual camps.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now authorise the commencement of the Notting Hill Gate, London, widening scheme.

This scheme is estimated to cost about £1½ million and I cannot at present say when it will be possible to authorise it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimate he has made of the average cost, apart from the costs of purchasing the land, of constructing fly-overs on main roads.

Anything from £60,000 to £250,000.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many sub-post offices, posting boxes and stamp machines, respectively, have been provided at each of the neighbourhood units in the expanding new town of East Kilbride.

The information required is as follows: