asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to issue regulations providing for charges to be made by a local authority for the inspection of meat; and whether he is aware of the burden now being borne by a small local authority, like Rishton, that happens to have within its boundaries a large slaughterhouse serving adjacent thickly-populated areas.

I am aware of this problem and I am considering how it can best be met.

asked the Minister of Food the export duty per pound on tea now imposed by the Governments of India and Ceylon, respectively.

8½d. and 1s. 6d. per lb. respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the present plans for increasing the productive capacity of the steel industry are adequate to the increased demands which continue to be made upon it.

Under the Iron and Steel Act, 1953, responsibility for ensuring the adequate supply of iron and steel products rests with the Iron and Steel Board, with which I keep in close touch. I understand from the board that plans are well forward which will increase substantially the capacity of the industry.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement about the provision of a separate allocation of funds to regional hospital boards and teaching hospitals to enable them to carry out long-delayed schemes for the modernisation of hospital plant and buildings and so reduce running expenses.

I am afraid I am not able to add to the reply I gave to a similar Question from the hon. Member on 18th March.

asked the Minister of Health the final allocations to the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board for capital and other expenditure for the current year, as compared with the actual expenditure for the year 1953–54.

The final capital allocation to the Board has not yet been made, but is likely to be approximately £950,000 including the special allocation for mental hospitals. The maintenance allocation totals £13,412,380. Figures of expenditure for 1953–54 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health the number and average cost of prescriptions dispensed under the National Health Service during the last quarter for which figures are available, as compared with 12 months previously.

The approximate number and the average cost for the quarter ending 30th June last were 52·07 million and 4s. 2·79d. respectively, as compared with 50·24 million and 4s. 2·59d. for the corresponding quarter in 1953.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that aureomycin has now been released for general use on medical prescriptions under the National Health Service, what steps can be taken to ensure that it is available to chemists through their normal wholesale sources of supply with a view to avoiding delay in urgent cases.

This is primarily a matter for the manufacturers, but I understand that they have made adequate arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the achievements of the Caernarvonshire, Anglesey and Merionethshire Tuberculous Subjects Aid and Protection Society; and what assistance he proposes to give this society to secure permanent work for tuberculosis and silicosis patients in the three counties.

Yes; to the extent that the work of the society is appropriate to the care and after-care arrangements provided by a local health authority, that authority may, with my approval, make a financial contribution which would be grant-aided by the Exchequer.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he is now in a position to make a statement with respect to extending the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, to magistrates' courts and county courts, particularly having regard to aid and advice to parties in proceedings in such courts on matrimonial matters and in respect of the complicated questions arising, both as regards tenants and small houseowners and tenants of business premises, from the provisions of the Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, and the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954;(2) whether he will now state what decision the Government has arrived at regarding the protection of legal aid being given to a party to an appeal to the House of Lords, particularly in a case where such party has had that protection in the court below and been taken to the House of Lords against his will

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that a number of actions have been taken in county courts by tenants who have not agreed that the landlord has satisfied the expenditure tests required under the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, when claiming increases of rent for repairs; that some of those tenants have been put to expense in pursuing those actions; and whether he will now take steps to give legal aid to litigants in similar cases in future.

I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Gloucester (Mr. Turner-Samuels) and other hon. Members on 25th October.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to extend the legal aid scheme so as to give the judges power to order that, where a plaintiff legally aided under the scheme is unsuccessful in an action, the taxed costs of the defendant shall be paid out of the legal aid fund.

No. The problem to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was fully considered by the Rushcliffe Committee and during the passage of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, by this House. It will no doubt be fully reconsidered when a general review of the Legal Aid and Advice Act takes place.The fact that an assisted person is not called upon to make any contribution to his own costs does not mean that he may not find himself ordered to pay towards his successful opponent's costs a sum which is a reasonable one for him to pay. having regard to all the circumstances, including of course his conduct in relation to the dispute.

asked the Attorney-General how many applications for legal aid against the medical profession and hospitals have been received since the introduction of the Legal Aid Act.

This information could be obtained only by inspecting each of the 200,000 applications made since the legal aid scheme came into force, and I do not consider that the work involved in doing this would be justified.

asked the Attorney-General if he will consider amending the legal aid scheme so as to allow a prospective defendant to submit evidence tending to show why a certificate of legal aid should not be granted to the prospective plaintiff.

I appreciate the object which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. Under Regulations made this year an area committee may discharge a certificate for legal aid when, as a result of information coming to its knowledge, it considers that an assisted person no longer has reasonable ground for taking, defending or being a party to the proceedings or that it is unreasonable in the particular circumstances for him to continue to receive legal aid. The prospective defendant is not precluded from making representations which may lead to the certificate being discharged under this provision. Consequently I do not think that there is now a need to amend the legal aid scheme in the way suggested.

asked the Attorney-General the cost to the Exchequer of the legal aid scheme up to the latest ascertainable date.

The cost to the Exchequer of the legal aid scheme up to 31st March, 1954. has been £2,508,000.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that many tenants of houses and flats are agreeing to pay much larger increases of rent than rent tribunals are allowing for similar houses and flats; that they have no remedy under the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, to compel their landlords to reduce the amounts once so agreed; and whether he will now extend the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, to allow tenants to be adequately advised and represented.

As regards the first two parts of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, to the hon. Member on 16th November.With regard to the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 1st November.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has considered the observations of the Master of the Rolls in the recent case of re Murray, deceased, Martins Bank, limited, and Another versus Dill and Another, regarding the emancipated status of a married woman today having a bearing on questions whether, from the point of view of public policy, clauses in wills are desirable which might make her capacity to enjoy in her own right substantial proprietary interests dependent on the willingness of her husband to change his name; and whether the Government will, accordingly, consider introducing legislation on the subject.

Yes. I have considered the judgment to which the hon. and learned Member refers and other recent decisions. Clauses of the kind referred to may well be invalid under the existing law either on the ground of uncertainty or on the ground that they axe contrary to public policy or both. Consequently I do not think that any question of legislation arises.

asked the Attorney-General how many judges of the Queen's Bench Division are remaining in London this term to try civil actions; and whether he is satisfied that these arrangements are adequate.

The number of judges in London fluctuates according to the demands of the circuits, but on an average 10 judges of the Queen's Bench Division will be available for the trial of civil actions this term. On many occasions this term assistance has been given by one or more Chancery judges, and arrangements have been made for a judge of the Chancery Division to sit in the Queen's Bench Division throughout next term. My noble friend the Lord Chancellor is considering what further steps can be taken to reduce delays in the hearing of civil actions.

asked the Attorney-General the average time between the setting down of a civil action for trial and the actual hearing in court in London and at assize, respectively; and what steps he will take to shorten this time.

The average time between setting down and trial in the case of a non-jury action is at present about 10 months in London and 12 months at Manchester. At Liverpool the period is about seven months and at other towns considerably less. The position at Liverpool and Manchester will no doubt improve when effect can be given to the measures outlined by the then Home Secretary in answer to a question on the 29th July last. I should, I think, emphasise that setting down cases for trial does not necessarily mean that the parties are ready for or want trial the next day.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has yet reached an agreement with Belgium for reciprocal payment of retirement pensions.

I cannot add anything to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott) on 2nd November.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will use plainer English in his letters replying to Members of Parliament who have taken up problems with him on behalf of their constituents.

We always try to use as simple language as we can in our letters. But the National Insurance Scheme is complicated and it is sometimes impossible to avoid using technical terms in explaining points to hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now make arrangements to pay the family allowance in respect of all children in receipt of full-time education.

No. Family allowances are already paid for children who continue in full-time education beyond compulsory school-leaving age up to 31st July after their 16th birthday. This covers the majority of children staying on at school. For those continuing their education beyond 16, local education authorities are empowered to make grants to prevent hardship, and these can be more readily adjusted to individual circumstances.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, under his regulations, a British subject, born in Burma, who served in the Army of Burma and was taken prisoner is entitled to the Japanese prisoners-of-war compensation payment.

The answer would depend on the circumstances of the individual, and if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any case he has in mind I will gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the amount of pension granted to widows from the 1914–18 war, based on the husband's pre-war income; what increases have since been made; the in crease in the cost of living since 1914; and whether he is satisfied that such widows are adequately provided for.

Rates of alternative pensions for widows varied with their husband's pre-war earnings. The system of awarding such pensions was abandoned in the 1920s, since when all pension awards have been on a flat-rate basis. Of the 93,000 widows of the 1914 war only 14,600 are receiving alternative pensions, the rest having been awarded the flat rate or transferred to it whenever it was more advantageous to them. I do not think there is any case for increasing still further pensions to widows who have all along been drawing higher pensions than the rest.On the basis of the cost of living index and the Interim Index of Retail Prices, the increase in the cost of living since 1914 is 192 per cent.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he now expects the final report of the Rock Carling Committee to be ready before the next meeting of his Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will provide the members of his Central Advisory Committee with a full copy of the final report of the Rock Carling Committee before their next meeting in order that their advice may be based on the evidence and findings.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why the new National Assistance order books only cover the period to the end of February instead of, as formerly, to the end of November.

The National Assistance Board issues assistance books covering various periods according to the circumstances of individuals but never for as long as 12 months.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that the Assistance Board at Cardiff has insisted on one of its officers accompanying a recipient of a grant for clothing when the purchase was being made; and what are his regulations with regard to the circumstances and conditions under which specific grants may be spent.

There are no regulations on this point, but the National Assistance Board expects its officers to be as helpful as possible in these as in all other matters. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind the Board will be glad to inquire into the circumstances if he will let me have the necessary details.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in Ashington and Morpeth were receiving National Assistance grants at the latest convenient date; and how this compares with a similar date in 1951.

The National Assistance Board regrets that the information asked for is not available as the towns of Ashington and Morpeth are part of a much larger area covered by an office at Ashington.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers in Scotland of retirement pensioners and retirement pensioners in receipt of regular supplementary allowances at December, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and at September, 1954.

The following table gives the information required:

RETIREMENT PENSIONERS IN SCOTLAND
Thousands
Date		Number of retirement pensioners (a)	Number of regular weekly grants (b) of National Assistance paid to retirement pensioners (a)
December, 1950	…	393	51
December, 1951	…	389	59
December, 1952	…	391	66
December, 1953	…	399	73
September, 1954	…	408	78

Notes:(

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what reply he has sent to the letter from the National Federation of Old-Age Pensions Associations, dated 17th November, 1954, concerning the raising of the pension rate.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what reply he has sent to the communication, dated 17th November, which he has received from the Secretary of the Old-Age Pensioners Association concerning evidence of the standard of living of old people.

The Federation wrote on the 17th November to say that some budgets were being sent to my right hon. Friend under separate cover, and its letter has been acknowledged.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of old-age pensioners in Liverpool and St. Helens who are in receipt of supplementary assistance from the National Assistance Board.

Most of the Board's areas in Liverpool and the area in St. Helens extend beyond the confines of those county boroughs. The precise figures asked for are not, therefore, available, but the Board estimates roughly that the number of regular weekly grants of National Assistance that are being paid in Liverpool to supplement retirement and non-contributory old-age pensions is rather more than 18,000 and in St. Helens rather more than 2,100. Some of the grants cover the needs of a household which includes more than one pensioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will approach the Chinese Government with a view to arranging an exchange visit of students, technical and administrative workers, artists, scientists, medical and hospital workers and geologists, between our two countries.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage conditions in which private individuals may travel freely between this and other countries, including China, for cultural and other purposes. They do not at present contemplate an exchange visit of the kind and proportions suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foriegn Affairs whether, as a means of improving and strengthening Sino-British relations, he will suggest to the Chinese Government an exchange of Parliamentary delegations between our two countries.

Whilst my right hon. Friend is anxious that Sino-British relations should be improved and strengthened, he does not consider that the present time is appropriate for an exchange of delegations between this Parliament and the National People's Congress of China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total number of British ships that have been stopped on the high seas, around the coast of China, during the last five years; on what dates these incidents occurred; the names of the ships concerned; what Government or country was responsible for the interference with legitimate British shipping in each case; what action Her Majesty's Government has taken to protest to those concerned; and what compensation has been claimed and received in each case.

According to the reports, available British ships have been stopped or otherwise molested off the China coast on 251 occasions from September, 1949, to the present date. In 141 instances the Chinese Nationalist forces, or their irregulars, were responsible; in 27 instances Chinese Communist forces were responsible; in 6 instances it is believed that pirates were responsible; and in 77 instances it was not possible to identify who was responsible.Protests have been made by Her Majesty's Consul at Tamsui and by Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking in all cases where it was evident that there was improper interference with British ships and responsibility for the interference could be established.Three claims for compensation have been made, two to the Chinese Nationalist authorities and one to the Chinese Government. The Chinese Nationalists have paid £11,638 for the injury caused to the chief officer of the "Glenearn" and for damage to the ship. A claim of £7,500 was made to the Chinese Nationalist authorities for compensation for the death of the master of the "Rosita," together with a claim of £227 for damage to the ship; the Chinese Nationalists have so far not met this claim. From the Chinese Government Her Majesty's Government claimed £20,000 for compensation for the loss of life and injuries sustained by the crew of a Royal Naval launch; this claim has been rejected.The list giving the date of the incidents, the names of the ships and the causes of the interference is as follows:INTERFERENCE WITH BRITISH SHIPS OFF THE CHINA COAST FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER, 1949 TO 22ND NOVEMBER, 1954.The total number of incidents is 251. This number covers all instances of interference with British ships including occasions when the ships have 'been fired on without being stopped. The number is not restricted to incidents on the high seas. It has not been possible to distinguish whether the ships were outside Chinese territorial waters in all cases. But whether the incidents took place in Chinese territorial waters or not they are all cases in which H.M. Government consider that the action against the ships was unlawful.2. (

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the concern felt by the Chinese Government over the present position in Taiwan; and whether, in view of the success of the recent Geneva Conference, he will try to arrange a similar conference with the interested parties, or through the United Nations, with a view to resolving this international problem, thus preventing a worsening of the present position and the possibility of war.

Her Majesty's Government have seen the numerous statements about Formosa made recently by the Chinese Government. Her Majesty's Government are fully alive to the dangers of the situation in that area and are watching the position closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that broadcasts by Cairo Radio in the Swahili tongue addressed to subjects of Her Majesty the Queen in Zanzibar have recently become subversive; and whether he has protested to the Egyptian Government which is responsible for the broadcasts.

I have noticed one objectionable reference to Zanzibar in a broadcast by Cairo Radio of 7th November. The attention of the Egyptian Government has frequently been drawn to the question of undesirable broadcasts and this has resulted recently in a considerable improvement in their tone.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many local fuel offices he has closed down during the past 12 months; and the annual saving, giving separate figures for Scotland.

460 including 74 in Scotland; the estimated annual savings will be £133,000 including £9,300 in respect of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many electricity power stations are now under construction; for how many plans are now being prepared; and how many of each are sited in urban and rural districts, respectively.

42 under construction comprising 18 in urban areas and 24 in rural; and 11 being planned comprising 3 in urban areas and 8 in rural.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement concerning coal supplies in Rochester and Chatham, and the prospects for the future.

I am making inquiries, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement in respect to the coal position in Dartford, Erith and Crayford, and the future prospects.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now take steps to implement the recommendation of the Turner Committee Report on Coalmining Subsidence Damage in regard to damage-free leases or tenancies of National Coal Board farms.

No, but the policy of the National Coal Board in this matter is still the same as stated by my right hon. Friend in the reply he gave to the hon. Member on 20th October, 1952.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will circularise local authorities recommending the omission, in ceremonies connected with schools, of the singing of songs of a party political nature.

My right hon. Friend deplores the exploitation of such occasions for party political purposes, but he thinks that the matter should be left to the good sense of those directly concerned. It is very rare for this discretion to be abused as it was on a recent occasion.

asked the Minister of Education how many Welsh language schools have now been approved for general grant purposes by his Department in Wales; where they are located; the number of children attending each school; and the number of teachers serving in each school.

In practically all primary schools in Welsh-speaking areas instruction is given through the medium of the Welsh language. The latest available particulars about primary schools, departments or classes for Welsh speakers in areas which are mainly English speaking are as follows:

Local Education Authority	Number of schools/departments	Number of pupils	Number of teachers
Caernarvonshire	2*	124	7
Cardiganshire	1	175	8
Carmarthenshire	2	290	12
Denbighshire	2	150	6
Flintshire	6†	458	18
Glamorgan	8	489	24
Cardiff	1	88	4
Swansea	2*	167	9
* Includes one school for English-speaking children where special provision is made for Welsh speakers.
† Includes four schools for English-speaking children where special provision is made for Welsh speakers.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to pro vide adequate secondary school facilities for children in the rural areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith, South (Mr. W. T. Williams) on 18th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in preparing legislation to implement the recommendations of the Gowers Commit tee as applying to agriculture.

Replies from organisations interested in agriculture to a memorandum circulated by my Department show that there is general agreement on the form legislation should take when Parliamentary time is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the large increase in the number of accidents on farms, following the great extension in the mechanisation of farming; and what steps he is taking to minimise the risk to which the men who handle the machines are exposed.

Comparative statistics are not available to show whether the number of accidents from machines on farms has increased in recent years. My Department is actively studying the question of accident prevention. A general leaflet on the prevention of machinery accidents has just been revised, and further detailed leaflets are now in course of preparation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will, before drafting and issuing revised provisions regarding the lodging and accommodation of persons temporarily engaged in gathering produce, discuss the matter with the National Farmers' Union.

I have been asked to reply.Yes, most certainly. The National Farmers' Union will, of course, be consulted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give consideration to a marketing scheme which will cover not only bacon pigs but all pigs, to avoid a repetition of the recent difficulties.

The recent difficulties in the marketing of pigs are to be discussed by the Joint Advisory Panel on which all the interests concerned are represented. Discussions with representatives of producers are also to take place to examine the difficulties inherent in a comprehensive marketing scheme for fatstock in the light of the operation of the free markets now restored.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of factory building under construction in Scotland in each quarter since June, 1951; and the estimated figures for the remainder of the current financial year.

As explained in the Board of Trade Journal on the 2nd October, 1954, the factory building statistics now record area instead of value figures. The following figures show the number of projects of 5,000 sq. ft. and over, and the total area under construction in Scotland at the end of the quarters specified:

Quarter ending		Number of schemes	Area (thousand sq. ft.)
September, 1951	…	163	6,789
December, 1951	…	160	7,249
March, 1952	…	156	6,844
June, 1952	…	153	6,482
September, 1952	…	144	5,591
December, 1952	…	123	5,157
March, 1953	…	127	5,011
June, 1953	…	134	5,191
September, 1953	…	136	5,205
December, 1953	…	137	4,027
March, 1954	…	149	3,992
June, 1954	…	143	3,673
September, 1954	…	132	3,465

The numbers and area of factory building projects in Scotland which were approved between January and September, 1954, were substantially greater than the corresponding figures during either of the two previous years, but it is not possible from this information to make any reliable estimate of the amount of factory building which will be under construction in Scotland during the remainder of the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will, to avoid the present delays and waste of time to all travellers caused by obstruction and bottlenecks created when repairs are undertaken to main thoroughfares, look into the possibility of requiring work on all such repairs, once started, to be carried on for the whole 24 hours of the day, so that work could be completed in about a third of the time now needed.

I will look into the question raised by my hon. Friend, but I would point out that, apart from my lack of powers to impose such a requirement, there are difficulties about 24-hour working, such as extra cost and interference with the peace of residents, which require careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimate has been made of the length of time it will take to dispose of the whole of the British Transport Commission's vehicles scheduled to be disposed of under the 1953 Transport Act, assuming the present rate of disposal.

I have made no such estimate.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what requests he has received from the Lincoln City Council and from the British Transport Commission, urging him to agree to eliminate the level crossing at the Durham Ox in the city of Lincoln; and whether he will make a statement.

I am afraid I cannot add to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary during the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 28th July, except to say that the Chairman of the British Transport Commission has mentioned to me the anxiety that local residents have expressed to him on this subject and that I have well in mind the desirability of approving a scheme to bridge this level crossing when the design has been settled and funds can be made available.

asked the Minister of Defence the total number of science graduates at present employed on instructional duties in the Fighting Services; and the average annual intake of science graduates into the Services for this purpose.

The number of uniformed personnel holding degrees in science, including mathematics and engineering, who are at present employed on instructional duty in the Services is about 940. The average annual intake for this purpose into the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force together over the last three years has been about 165. In the Army science graduates are not as a rule recruited specifically for instructional duties.In addition, some 120 civilian science or engineering graduates are employed on instructional duties with all three Services, with an average annual intake of about 10 over the last three years.

asked the Minister of Defence the total number of science graduates at present employed on Government research and development for the Fighting Services; and the average annual intake of science graduates into Government service for this work.

Some 2,860 civilian science and engineering graduates are employed on research and development by the Service and supply Departments. The average intake over the past three years has been about 185. Science graduates are not recruited into the Services specifically for research and development duties, but about 110 uniformed personnel holding degrees in science, including mathematics and engineering, are in addition employed on research and development for the Services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revision has been made of the index indicating the drop in the value of the £ sterling since 1945; and to give figures, calculated by each index, indicating also the rise in the retail prices accordingly each year.

The change in the purchasing power of the £ sterling since 1945 is measured by reference to the Consumer Price Index, which is calculated only for complete calendar years, up to the latest complete year. The figures are subject to revision—generally slight—each year.Until the figure for the current year is available the change in the purchasing power of the £ is brought up to date provisionally by linking the Consumer Price Index for the last year with the Interim Index of Retail Prices, which is calculated monthly. If, when the Consumer Price Index for the complete calendar year is available, it is discovered that the two indices have moved differently it may be necessary to revise any figures previously obtained by linking them.The table below sets out the Consumer Price Index for 1945 to 1953, with a provisional figure for October, 1954, and

—		1	2		3	4
		Consumer Price Index 1948=100	Purchasing power of the £ derived from col. 1* 1948=20s.		Interim Index of Retail Prices 1948=100	Corresponding value of the £ derived from col. 3* 1948=20s.
			s.	d.	s.	d.
1945	…	85	—		—	—
1946	…	87	—		—	—
1947	…	93	—		—	—
1948	…	100	20	0	100	20	0
1949	…	103	19	6	103	19	5
1950	…	106	18	10	106	18	11
1951	…	115	17	4	116	17	4
1952	…	122	16	4	126	15	10
1953	…	125	16	1	130	15	4
October, 1954	…	128	15	7	134	15	0
		(provisional)
* Figures in cols. 2 and 4 have been calculated from the series given in cols. 1 and 3 before rounding.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to give further details of the scholarship scheme, the introduction of which was announced on 9th March last.

Arrangements have now been made for the first scholarships to be awarded in May, 1955, and the Regulations for the scheme are about to be published. Up to 75 scholarships will be awarded annually to boys aged about 16 to enable them to remain at their own schools until they are able to enter the Royal Navy or Royal Marines at about 18. In addition to the 75 paid scholarships up to 15 honorary scholarships may be awarded to boys whose parents' income is too high for the grant of financial assistance. All scholarship holders will be guaranteed places at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, or at the Officers' School, Royal Marines, provided they satisfy the educational conditions of the scheme and remain medically fit. also gives a comparison of the change in the purchasing power of the £ as measured by this index with the change as measured by the interim index over the years for which both indices are available.Scholarships will be awarded on the results of interviews and selection tests, without a formal written examination. Candidates will first appear before preliminary boards held in a number of regional centres, and these boards will recommend which boys should go before the Admiralty interview board at Dartmouth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give consideration to an amendment of the law to enable juries in criminal cases to base their verdict on a majority decision of not less than nine to three except in capital cases.

Such a departure from the practice which is traditional in England and Wales would require the most careful examination, and at present I cannot say more than that I have taken note of the suggestion.