asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make public the results of the special surveys recently made by his Department of the employment position in the counties of Caernarvon, Anglesey and Merioneth.

No. These documents are reports made by officials in Wales to their headquarters and contain much information given to them in confidence. I will inform the House in due course of the Government's conclusions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will in future take steps to ensure that the National Farmers' Union are informed of his decisions with regard to the quantity and state of agricultural and horticultural imports before they are announced to the Press.

The existing arrangements for keeping the headquarters of the National Farmers' Union informed on these matters are, I understand, regarded as satisfactory by the Union.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that, when considering the import of such items as foreign apples which will be in direct competition with our own farmers' products, he will discuss the matter concerned with the National Farmers' Union whenever possible.

No. Quota restrictions are imposed to safeguard our balance of payments and not for protective purposes, and are not, therefore, an appropriate subject for consultation between the Government and the United Kingdom producer interests concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representation he has received about the desirability of attracting industry to Carluke, in the county of Lanark; and what steps he has in mind to meet the employment needs arising from the closure of Castlehill Colliery.

I am aware of my hon. Friend's concern and that of the local authorities. I am informed that most of the miners who were employed at Castlehill Colliery have already taken up other coalmining employment, and the Ministry of Labour is doing what it can to assist the remaining men to find suitable work. The Board of Trade is continuing its efforts to introduce new industry into the Scottish Development Area, including particularly North Lanarkshire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report of the Monopolies Commission on certain widely prevalent discriminatory practices is to be published before the end of the current year or is one of the six it is the intention to publish at various intervals during 1955.

This is one of the reports which the Commission hopes to complete during 1955.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assist property-owning by repaying postwar credits to those people who require help in finding their building society deposit.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Dudley Williams) on 9th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of indebtedness by the United Kingdom to the International Monetary Fund at October, 1951, and now, respectively.

The International Monetary Fund's holdings of sterling amounted to £476 million on 31st October, 1951, and £380 million on 31st October, 1954.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the increase of indebtedness incurred by the United Kingdom to the European Payments Union between October, 1951, and June, 1952.

£176 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount made available to the Greek Government directly or indirectly by the United Kingdom since 1939 to offset threats to that country by Italian, German and Communist aggression.

About £84 million has been made available for military and economic purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated number of working people with weekly incomes of £5 or less, between £5 and £10, between £10 and £15, between £15 and £20, and over £20, respectively, after the deduction of tax and insurance contributions.

The table below gives the estimated distribution of net incomes, after tax, for 1953.

Range of net annual income.			Number of persons (millions).
Under £250	…	…	8·6
£250—£499	…	…	10·0
£500—£749	…	…	4·9
£750—£999	…	…	1·1
£1,000 and over	…	…	0·7

(1) The figures refer to all incomes, whether earned or investment. Separate figures for earned income are not available.(2) The group with net incomes below £250 consists mainly of pensioners and juveniles.(3) The deduction for national insurance contributions has been limited to that part of the contribution which qualifies for income tax relief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures to show to what extent the Pensions Increase Acts have kept pace with the rise in the cost of living since 1945 to 1954, respectively, in respect of those persons to whom the Acts related, and showing food and fuel figures separately.

The increases made under the Pensions Increase Acts for the relief of hardship have never been closely aligned to changes in the retail price index or in the cost of particular commodities. It is not practicable to produce valid statistics on the lines which the hon. Lady has in mind, or to draw any general conclusions from such comparisons as might be made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what complaints he has received from local authorities as to their inability to deal with the potential danger involved in the discharge of the lavatories of railway carriages on to the permanent way; and whether he will consult with the Transport Commission as to the extent of this danger and how it can be avoided.

My Department has received no complaints from local authorities on this matter since 1948.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the estimated value of agricultural land exempted entirely from rates in 1929; what is its present estimated value; and what would be the amount of rates if levied on such land at the present average rateable value.

The rateable value of agricultural land and buildings exempted entirely from rates was about £7½ million in 1929. They have not been revalued since. I am, therefore, unable to answer the second and third parts of the Question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether, in view of the end of all building licensing, he will give favourable consideration to loan sanction for the project for public swimming baths at New Addington, about which a proposal has already been submitted by the county borough council of Croydon;(2) whether he is prepared to give favourable consideration to loan sanction for a proposal for additional facilities at the community hall now being built at New Addington.

Applications for loan sanction will be considered as soon as details of these schemes are submitted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the expenditure in the borough of Poole for the making up of roads in 1953 and 1954.

The council was authorised to spend on this work about £5,500 in 1953, and about £19,600 in 1954.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has yet received the final report of the Beaver Committee on Air Pollution.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he received the report of the Beaver Committee on Air Pollution; and if he will expedite its publication.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has now received the final report of Sir Hugh Beaver's Committee who have been inquiring into the causes of smog; in what respects such report differs from the conclusions of Dr. Richard Scorer, a copy of which is in his possession, which was published in July of this year; and if he will make a statement.

I received the final Report of the Beaver Committee last week, and I am arranging for its publication without delay.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further consideration he has given to the plight of those overcrowded families that for various reasons cannot be or are not placed on any list of applicants for housing considered by local authorities.

The Housing Management Sub-Committee is at present examining this problem. I expect its report very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to give a considered answer to the letter of the hon. and learned Member for West Ham, South, dated 20th October, 1954, regarding increases in rents claimed by certain landlords on the basis of repairs paid for by grants to the landlords from the Lord Mayor's National Flood and Tempest Distress Fund.

I sent the hon. and learned Member a detailed reply on the 11th November.

asked the Minister of Labour in view of the number of disabled persons unable to find employment, if he will take steps to expand the Remploy factories in North Staffordshire.

I am afraid Remploy Limited is not yet in a position to extend its facilities in North Staffordshire or elsewhere. I am glad to say that the number of unemployed disabled persons in this area has continued to fall.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion registered disabled persons form of the number of unemployed persons in Newcastle-under-Lyme at the latest date for which figures are available.

Thirty-eight per cent. in mid-October, 1954.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will cause to be issued to every man who registers for National Service a copy of "Education during National Service, W.O. Code No. 10131, Revised"; and ensure that employers and school authorities are made aware of the contents.

This booklet, which is published by the Stationery Office, price 3d., deals with facilities in the Army; it would not be appropriate to issue it to every registrant for National Service, many of whom will serve in the Navy or Royal Marines, or Royal Air Force. The information in condensed form will, however, be included in the general handbook on National Service, now being prepared in my Department. This handbook will be made available, without charge, to parents, school authorities, employers and trade union officials, and to all men registering for National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the resolution of Glasgow Corporation in regard to the financial provisions for the new town at Cumbernauld; and if he will make a further statement.

I have just received the corporation's reply to the questions I put to it about the extent to which it would be willing to co-operate administratively and financially in any new development at Cumbernauld. I am arranging for the corporation to meet me at an early date to discuss the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now able to give a date when Mr. J. Mackenzie, of Evanton, about whom there has been correspondence for several months between his Department and the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty, can be admitted to hospital for a thoracic operation.

I am sorry I cannot give a date. I appreciate the hon. Member's concern about this case but the order in which patients are admitted must be left to the doctors concerned to decide in the light of relative urgency on medical grounds and other material factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the continuing concern in Scottish local authorities about the anomalies caused by the derating conditions of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929; and whether he will introduce legislation to increase the income of local authorities by modifications of the existing practice.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. Forman) on 13th July last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement concerning the proposed investigation into conditions in doctors' surgeries.

The discussions with the representatives of the medical profession, to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member's Question of 19th October, are still continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what appeals for financial aid have been received from local authorities in the county of Lanark in connection with the recent flooding of the Clyde, near Rosebank.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the principles which he takes into account when deciding whether or not to grant official recognition to associations of local authorities.

My predecessors and I have recognised as bodies to be consulted on matters affecting the interests of local authorities the Convention of Royal Burghs, the Association of County Councils in Scotland, the Association of Counties of Cities and the District Councils' Association for Scotland. These bodies represent all the local authorities in Scotland, and it has therefore not been thought right, except with the agreement of these bodies, to give similar recognition to any other association of local authorities. I am, however, always ready to consider any representations that may be made to me by any association or group of local authorities on matters affecting the interests of their members.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to police forces in Scotland corresponding to those given by the Home Secretary in connection with the Lattimore case.

The arrangements to which my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, referred in his reply to Questions addressed to him by several hon. Members on 28th October are designed to ensure that in any case like the Lattimore case no action will he taken by the police anywhere in the United Kingdom until there has been an opportunity for the matter to be considered at a high level.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has received from the Scottish Universities Entrance Board to his representations regarding the changes in the minimum entrance qualification, with particular regard to history and geography.

The board's reply was to the effect that over 75 per cent. of those entering Scottish universities with Scottish qualifications had four or more higher passes; under the new regulations one of these might still be in history or geography. Accordingly the regulations affected only the minority who satisfied the board's alternative requirement of three higher and two lower passes, and indeed only a fraction of that minority, since history and geography would continue to be accepted as one of the two lower passes. For these reasons the board trusted that the new regulations would not have an adverse effect on the study of history and geography in schools.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average number of honours degrees in arts granted by the Scottish universities in each of the five sessions immediately preceding the war; and the average number granted in each session since the end of the war.

These figures show the actual number of honours degrees in arts awarded in each academic year during the period in question.

Academic year.					Nos.
1934–35	…	…	…	…	320
1935–36	…	…	…	…	325
1936–37	…	…	…	…	289
1937–38	…	…	…	…	283
1938–39	…	…	…	…	366
1946–47	…	…	…	…	257
1947–48	…	…	…	…	361
1948–49	…	…	…	…	488
1949–50	…	…	…	…	649
1950–51	…	…	…	…	599
1951–52	…	…	…	…	517
1952–53	…	…	…	…	421
1953–54	…	…	…	…	388

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among headmasters and local education authorities about the school-leaving record as presently issued; and whether he will withdraw it and substitute a more satisfactory certificate.

Yes. The record was introduced for an experimental period but has not proved as useful as was hoped, and I shall shortly be considering, after consultation with the educational bodies concerned, what, if any, form of leaving record should replace it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will make a report available on the experiences of local education authorities operating the promotion scheme for pupils proceeding from primary to secondary schools.

I do not propose to issue a special report on this subject. I shall, however, continue to watch the working of promotion schemes and to comment upon it from time to time in the annual report on education in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Works how many men have been discharged, in the last three months, from the direct labour force of the building section of his Department; and his policy in regard to this force.

In the last three months 90 men have been discharged for various reasons of whom eight were employed in the London area. A similar number, including three in London, has been engaged. The Ministry's policy continues to be to use direct labour on day-to-day building maintenance work where the amount of work is sufficient to keep a balanced labour force continuously and economically employed, and to justify the costs of running a depot.

asked the Minister of Works why contracts to the value of over £4 million have been placed by his Department with firms refusing to sign the certificate of non-collusion.

Because their tenders were the lowest.

asked the Minister of Works the hours of work of the attendant at Pendennis Castle.

The hours of work vary with the hours of opening to the public, and these depend on the time of the year. They average 48 hours a week.

asked the Minister of Works why he has terminated the employment of 44 building workers in his Department on the sole ground that they reside beyond a certain distance from their place of employment.

I have recently given three months' notice to 35 building trade workers in London. In each case the employment exchange nearest his home is 14 miles or more from the depot where he works, and he therefore draws regularly an allowance of 27s. or more each week to cover the time and fares spent in coming to work. These allowances were negotiated by the London employers and operatives shortly after the war to ensure the mobility of building workers in London who might be required to move from one urgent job to another at varying distances from their homes. The building workers employed by my Department are attached to particular depots which are in effect their permanent places of employment and I do not feel justified in accepting this expenditure indefinitely for men who are not established. I am confident that these men will be able to obtain alternative employment nearer their homes.

asked the Minister of Works when he intends to make an order under the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act, 1948, to make unlawful the agreements or arrangements referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 241 of the Monopolies Commission's Report on the London Building Conference.

As I stated on 19th October, in reply to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd), the representatives of the London Builders' Conference have already agreed to abandon the practices referred to by the Monopolies Commission. Discussions are still proceeding and I am not yet able to add to my previous statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War what sum of money was spent on Service publicity, particularly as it applies to recruiting, in 1953–54.

Three hundred and forty-four thousand pounds, nearly all on recruiting.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will issue an instruction which will ensure that soldiers undergoing punishment in view of the public are not given tasks which bring discredit upon the Army.

My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that there is any need for an instruction of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he will be able to inform Territorial units with regard to their camp sites and dates of annual training for the training year 1955.

A large number of units have already been told the place and date of their camp next year and, apart from a few cases where special problems arise, the rest will soon get this information.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Home Guard cadre battalions receive training in Civil Defence.

This training is already being carried out, particularly in towns, and is being further developed.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to increase the military use of the range at East Holme, Dorset; and how far such increased use is expected to affect the Kimmeridge area.

I understand that the hon. and learned Member has in mind a particular site at Kimmeridge Bay. I am getting a special report on the reasons why access to it has had to be restricted and will write to him.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement concerning the delay of H.M.S. "Delight" in sailing from Her Majesty's Dockyard, Chatham.

The delay in the sailing of H.M.S. "Delight" from H.M. Dockyard, Chatham, to take part in a N.A.T.O. exercise at sea, was occasioned by the discovery of sand in the ship's steering machinery on 4th November. Although the damage proved to be slight, the ship was retained at Chatham for examination of the machinery and inquiry into the incident. While these investigations were proceeding, two valves which should have been open were found shut; this however caused no damage. The ship has now sailed and a naval board of inquiry will report shortly. Although it has not yet quite completed its inquiries, I have no reason to suppose that this was sabotage with a political motive, nor is there any evidence to suggest that dockyard employees were responsible in any way.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that the helicopter recently sent to Kenya has proved useful; and whether he intends to send some more of these aircraft to assist in operations against Mau Mau.

I am afraid it is too early for me to be able to add anything of value to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 3rd November.

asked the Minister of Supply what percentages of the workers employed at the Royal Ordnance factories at Swynnerton and Radway Green are registered disabled persons.

Five per cent. of the workers employed at Swynnerton and 6 per cent. at Radway Green are registered disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the average cost of construction, excluding costs of purchasing the land, of one mile of two-lane dual carriageway road on a trunk route.

It varies a lot, but a fair average would be £140,000 per mile.