asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to bring in legislation to amend the law with regard to the betting tax on greyhound racing activities, particularly the reduction of the 10 per cent. tax on the totalisator to 4 per cent., in order to bring this form of betting tax more into line with horse-racing.

This is matter for consideration in connection with the Budget, and I shall bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum of money assessed by the Inland Revenue under Schedule A for the last period for which such figures are available; and what was the total sum of money allowed for repairs and maintenance claims for the same period.

The net income assessable under Schedule A for the year 1952–53 was about £370 million. This figure was arrived at after allowing £167 million for repairs and maintenance. The estimate for repairs and maintenance excludes amounts in excess of the statutory flat-rate allowance in respect of business premises to the extent that they have been allowed as an expense in computing the profits assessed under Schedule D.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate strength of the Department of Inland Revenue dealing with Income Tax assessment under Schedule A; what is the estimated cost; and what are the similar figures for repairs and maintenance claims under Schedule A tax.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has refused the Blackburn Rural District Council permission for their proposed sewage scheme far Killington. Clayton-le-Dale and Salesbury.

Because of its high cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reason there is for the present delay in issuing planning authority for the erection of new slaughterhouses when application is made by the local authority or the local butchers of an area; and whether, in the interests of trade in country towns, he will now proceed to grant authority when applied for, provided the plans for the proposed slaughterhouses comply with the regulations which govern layout and siting.

Until the Committee set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food has prepared the national siting plan for slaughterhouses, sites for new public slaughterhouses cannot be approved; but I understand that several small privately-owned slaughterhouses have been approved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which of the heavily war-damaged cities and towns do not receive equalisation grants.

A list of the county boroughs not at present entitled to equalisation grant is given below. My hon. Friend can make his own selection of those which he regards as heavily war-damaged.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the names of the rent tribunals to which requests have been made to determine the amounts of increases in rent under the Housing and Repairs Act, 1954, where the landlord provides services; the numbers of such requests in respect of each such tribunal; in which of such cases the respective tribunals have reduced the amounts originally demanded by the landlords and the average percentage by which such demands were decreased.

Such information as I have, to the latest available date, is given in the table below. I regret that I cannot supply the answer to the last part of the Question without special inquiry of all the tribunals concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the further assumed life of prefabricated temporary dwellings after their occupation for 10 years; what is the average cost of repairs and renovations for these structures; and what is their average all-in annual net cost to the community.

No particular length of life for prefabricated temporary houses has been assumed. The average annual cost will depend on how long these houses are retained. Figures for the average cost of repairs are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the total cost of living increase since October, 1951, and the increase on commodities derationed since then; and how far the decrease in weight of certain packaged, tinned and bottled commodities at prices which have remained fixed since 1951 is reckoned in computing the rise in the index.

Between 16th October, 1951, and 12th October, 1954, the Interim Index of Retail Prices rose from 129 to 144 points. The construction of the index is such that the average prices of individual food items at different dates are not computed. The Ministry of Labour Gazette and the Monthly Digest of Statistics give quarterly changes in the indices for certain groups of food-stuffs and I would refer the hon. Member to these figures. In computing the index a reduction in the quantity of an item sold at a fixed price is treated as equivalent to a rise in price and this rise is fully reflected in the index.

asked the Minister of Labour in view of the concern occasioned by the rising cost of living which to some extent is reflected in the one point increase in the latest Index of Retail Prices, making an increase of 15 points since October, 1951, what action the Government propose to take to reduce it to the level of October, 1951, in the near future.

I have nothing to add to the reply which was given to the hon. Member on 19th October last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement about the free passage scheme to Australia for ex-Service men and women.

Yes. It has been decided with the concurrence of the Australian Government, that this scheme should be brought to a close on the 28th February, 1955. Assistance under the scheme will continue to be granted, in approved cases, to ex-Service men and women travelling by that date and to their dependants travelling with them or following them within two years. The scheme, which was instituted in 1946 as a measure of resettlement for ex-Service men and women after the war and was closed to fresh applications at the end of 1950, has served its purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to sanction the increase in bakery trade wages agreed at the beginning of September; and when it will come into operation.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to a wages increase decided upon by the Baking Wages Council for England and Wales. An order to give effect to proposals submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend by this Wages Council on 21st October was made on 8th November, and will come into operation on 26th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the details of the representations made to him by the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board on the effects of present hotel and transport conditions on tourism in Scotland in 1953 and 1954; and, as a consequence, what improvements he intends to recommend in order to attract to Scotland greater numbers of tourists in future years.

My Department are in constant touch with the Scottish Tourist Board on many questions affecting the tourist industry in Scotland, and I understand that the Board are fully confident that their efforts will continue to attract an increasing number of tourists to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken in Scotland to ascertain the cause and possible cure of the disease of poliomyelitis; and with what results.

The cause of poliomyelitis is infection by a virus, and it has been established that the causative types of virus in Scotland are identical with those found in other countries. Scottish research into prevention and treatment of the disease is being carried out in close collaboration with the Medical Research Council, the main laboratory centres being in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The results of this research, which are published from time to time in the medical Press, are of a technical nature, but are adding gradually to the measures available to combat the disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the average waiting time in each of the hospital areas in Scotland before tuberculous patients who have been advised and are willing to undergo an operation for re-section of ribs, are admitted to hospital and operated on.

I regret that comparable figures for different areas are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many names are on the waiting list for ear, nose and throat operations in the Northern Regional Hospitals Board area at the present time.

At 31st October, the number was 1,059. This included 623 names for removal of tonsils, a procedure at present suspended in the Inverness area because of the incidence of poliomyelitis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to speed up the admission to hospital of those patients who have been a long time on the waiting lists both for thoracic surgery and other complaints such as ear, nose and throat operations.

It is the constant object of hospital authorities to reduce waiting lists by making more efficient use of existing facilities, and by adding to these facilities so far as available resources permit. The relative importance of competing claims for additional facilities can best be assessed by Regional Hospital Boards, in the light of medical opinion and their intimate knowledge of local needs and conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the danger of repeated floods in Creetown and the necessity of controlling the upper burn; and whether he will examine the possibility of combining damming the water both for control and for the production of hydro-electric power.

Yes. The problem of flood control is under examination. The possibility of combining flood control with electricity generation will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the replacement of Rapide aircraft in the Air Ambulance Service in the Scottish islands will take place; and what machine is to be used.

I hope to make a statement on this subject very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost of maintenance per day for Scottish patients staying at Sanatoria Mont Blanc, Leysen, and Wolfgang, Davos, in Switzerland; and if he has made inquiries into the diet of the patients at both.

The average cost is 29s. 6d. per day. The diet is reviewed when the sanatoria are visited, at intervals of not longer than six months, by doctors from Scotland and is under the constant observation of the Welfare Officers permanently posted to the sanatoria by the Scottish Branch of the British Red Cross Society.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been called to unsatisfactory conditions at Swiss sanatoria for Scottish patients, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will issue a statement.

I have seen an open letter addressed to me in the Press. While in some respects Swiss customs may be a little strange to Scottish patients, I feel quite sure, after consulting the doctors from Scottish hospitals, and from my Department who have visited the sanatoria at frequent intervals since the scheme began, that the arrangements for the treatment, care and welfare of these patients are satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to make a statement on the incidence of myxomatosis among rabbits in the county of Lanark.

Three outbreaks of myxomatosis in the Dolphinton district were confirmed on 2nd September, 1954, and two further outbreaks have since been confirmed in the Symington Lamington area. The disease is understood to have spread over some 1,200 to 1,500 acres of woodland and farm land but it is probably more widespread than these figures suggest. The disease is stated to be of a very virulent type, the mortality rate being about 98 per cent. in the areas of the initial outbreaks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent shorthand and typewriting are taught in secondary schools in Sutherland; what evening classes in these subjects are available in the county town of Dornoch, Brora, Helmsdale, Bonar Bridge, Lairg and Lochinver; and what bursaries are provided by the education authority to assist students who have to leave home for training.

Shorthand and typewriting are not taught in any secondary school in Sutherland; the education authority consider that the best form of commercial education is a three-year course of general education followed by a year's intensive course in shorthand and typewriting such as is provided at the Sutherland Technical School, Golspie. There are no evening classes in shorthand and typewriting at any of the places mentioned by my hon. Friend since the numbers of prospective pupils have been too small to justify the provision of such classes, but pupils travel from most of these places to evening classes at Golspie. Lodging and meals allowances are available for pupils who cannot live at home while following the intensive course at Golspie.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to introduce national salary scales for teachers in further education.

I hope that the working party who are considering the basic structure of further education salaries will be able to report, and that the National Joint Council will be able to make their recommendations in the light of the report, in time for the regulations to be brought into operation on 1st April, 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consideration he has given to the proposal to send a circular to local authorities drawing their attention to the Department's recommendations relating to corporal punishment.

I have considered the suggestion, but there do not seem to me to be sufficient grounds for sending out a circular singling out for special attention the recommendations about corporal punishment from among the many other recommendations in the memorandum, "The Primary School in Scotland."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to set up a working party containing representatives of the teachers of local authorities, and of the Department of Education, to inquire into the present extent of corporal punishment in Scottish schools and its relationship to size of classes, unsuitable accommodation and other relevant factors.

I do not think that the appointment of such a working party would be justified.

asked the Minister of Works what has been done at Chesters Roman Camp, Northumberland, to improve access for the general public since the camp came under the care of his Department.

An approach road and car park have been made.

asked the Minister of Works, in view of the need for greater emphasis on the importance of physical fitness to the nation as a whole, when gymnasium facilities are to be restored for hon. Members to enable them to give in this sphere encouragement by example.

I recognise the importance of physical fitness, but I am not convinced that it is one of the duties of hon. Members to encourage it by example. In any case, there is no suitable space which could be allocated for a gymnasium.

asked the Minister of Works when he intends to make the St. James's and Green Parks Regulations, which were laid before the House in draft on 27th July last.

Certain minor amendments have been found necessary, and I propose to lay a revised draft before the House next week.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will now state the advice being given to the Birmingham City Council by the Building Research Station regarding the defects in the floating floors on Egghill Estate, Birmingham.

Investigations on the spot by the Building Research Station show that the sound insulation of these floors is much better than that of ordinary wood floors and as good as that given by any other floating timber floors available at the time the flats were built. These are necessarily inferior to concrete floors which give better insulation at greater cost. The floors examined at Birmingham were no more springy or uneven than other timber floating floors. Birmingham City Council has been advised of these findings.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, when he now expects the Report of the Medical Research Council into cadmium poisoning at a copper refinery in Prescot, Lancashire, to be available.

I understand that the Report of the Medical Research Council investigation of the incidence of chronic cadmium poisoning has just been completed and will be made available to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance within the next week or so. It will be published as soon as possible in the medical Press.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research is taking place by the Medical Research Council or other investigators into the relationship between spondelytis and iritis; and whether any new treatment can be envisaged in the near future.

Research is at present in progress in one of the Medical Research Council's Units on the conditions under which iritis occurs in association with spondylitis. We cannot expect results for some time and no new treatment has, as yet, been discovered.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the Royal Marine Barracks, Chatham, will be ready for occupation.

Negotiations for the transfer of these barracks to the Army are still proceeding. It is now clear from the detailed examination which has been carried out that much more work than was originally anticipated would have to be done on them before they could be fit for occupation. In the altered circumstances, I am unable to say when the barracks will be ready for occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how much money the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes collected in Customs duty on wines and spirits and other dutiable articles in the Canal Zone between 1951 and the present date;(2) what claims the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have against the Egyptian Government; and over what period these claims are made.(3) what steps he has taken to ensure that Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are no longer collecting Customs duty on wines and spirits in the Canal Zone since this money no longer has to be paid to the Egyptian Government.

The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have always been liable for payment of import duty on wines and spirits and will continue so under the new agreement. The rates of local overseas allowance drawn by the troops in Egypt have similarly always taken into account the prevailing prices of wines and spirits including duty.After the unilateral abrogation of the Treaty, N.A.A.F.I., on instructions, withheld the payment of duty but prices and consequently local overseas allowance were not reduced. The Egyptian claim on this particular account was settled in the general waiver of a wide range of claims by both sides in the recent agreement. The bulk of the N.A.A.F.I. claims arose after the abrogation of the 1936 Treaty and included claims arising from their property in Egypt as well as on Customs and Excise. The financial consequences to N.A.A.F.I, of these arrangements are still being worked out. I can, however, assure my hon. and gallant Friend that any balance which will become available will be used to provide additional benefits for the three Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent it is proposed to use the port and dock facilities at Barry for the export of goods and supplies from the supply reserve depot of his Department at Sully, Glamorganshire; and what considerations have influenced his Department in the past in their choice of ports and docks.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation who acts on our behalf in this matter does, I know, try to use the Port of Barry whenever possible, but the extent of use is governed by the shipping opportunities. The main factors in the choice of ports are the need to get regular shipments to overseas theatres and the desirability of reducing movement by rail.

asked the Secretary of State for War what has been the percentage decline in the purchasing value of Army pay and allowances since the present rates were fixed; and what would be the annual cost of raising them so as to restore their original purchasing value.

As the soldier is paid both in cash and in kind and the present rates of pay, etc., were fixed at various times, there is no simple relationship with changes in price levels which would enable me to give the figures for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Secretary of State for War what his estimate is of the increase in the size of the Regular Army necessary to effect a six months' reduction in the period of National Service.

About 50,000 all ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now fix a date for the removal of the War Office huts on the Level at Brighton.

I cannot usefully add at present to my right hon. Friend's reply to a Question on this subject on 9th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the local objections to the more regular use of the small arms range at Otmoor, Oxfordshire; and whether he will give an assurance that the undertaking given by his Department in 1950 as to the use of this range will be observed.

As I have informed my hon. Friend, as circumstances have changed it was necessary for us to seek the agreement of the county council to modification of the conditions of use agreed in 1950, to enable the Regular Army to use the range on week-days. This has now been obtained, on conditions we are prepared to accept, and we shall now consult other interested departments and public bodies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the number of applications he has received, since the end of the Korean war, for licences to export goods to China; how many of these have been granted and refused; what were the types of goods in each case; and what was the total value in sterling of the goods supplied and those refused export licences.

This information is not readily available and could be extracted only at the cost of much time and labour which, I regret, would not be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he received an application for an export licence from the Austin Motor Company for the purpose of sending lorries to China; on what date a decision was given on the licence; what the decision was; and what was the total value of this order in sterling.

I do not feel able to disclose information affecting a particular application from a particular firm.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that China is receiving quantities of goods and materials from the United States, including cars, etc., whilst our manufacturers are being prevented from exporting similar goods to China; and whether he will now re-examine the whole question of exports to China so as to enable British manufacturers an opportunity of exporting their goods to this market.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 25th October by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) and the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson).

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends closing down the flax mill at Howden, Yorkshire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in view of the hardship which will result to the 1,000 workpeople when the flax processing factories are closed down, whether he will reconsider his decision;(2) what representations have been made to him following the announcement of the Government's decision to close down the home flax scheme.

My right hon. Friend received a deputation from the Transport and General Workers' Union, the National Union of General and Municipal Workers and the National Union of Agricultural Workers, and explained the reasons why the scheme must be closed down. These were set out in the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield) on 4th November. The workpeople would have in some cases one year's and in others two years' notice of the dates on which the factories would be likely to close and the Ministry of Labour, through its local offices, would do its best to help them to find other employment. At the mill at Howden, Yorkshire, work will continue until the processing of the crop to be sown in 1955 has been completed, which is not likely to be before the autumn of 1956. Representations have also been received from parties interested in farming, research and flax spinning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what specific restrictions at present remain with regard to imports and exports between France and Great Britain; and what steps are being taken to reduce these restrictions in the near future.

On the basis of the calculations used by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, about 35 per cent. of French imports on private account from other O.E.E.C. countries are still subject to restriction; in the case of the United Kingdom, the corresponding figure is only 17 per cent. Regular talks take place between the French Government and ourselves at which the possibilities of increasing quotas are discussed; and, as members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, both countries have undertaken to remove import restrictions to the maximum extent which their balance of payments permits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the values of exports to Canada, shown in Table 112, page 90, of the October issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics, are in United States dollars instead of Canadian dollars.

Our reserves of gold and dollars are customarily expressed in United States dollars. It would complicate matters to introduce a third currency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to introduce legislation enabling regulations to be made controlling the power of insurance companies to increase premiums for motor car insurance policies where claims have been registered, in view of the fact that third-party insurance is obligatory.

No. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that a holder of a motor vehicle insurance policy under which claims have arisen is not able, on the expiry of the policy, to renew his insurance at rates appropriate to the risk involved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and value of exports to and imports from Hong Kong over the last convenient period; and to what extent the number and value of umbrellas imported from Hong Kong shows an increase or decrease this year compared with each of the last five years.

The value of imports of all goods into the United Kingdom from Hong Kong from January to October, 1954, was £8,571,000, and the value of exports (including re-exports) to Hong Kong was £20,001,000. Quantity or volume figures are not available for this trade in total.28,277 dozen umbrellas (including sunshades) valued at £55,000 were imported from Hong Kong in this period. These imports of umbrellas (including sunshades) compare with imports in previous years as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the subject of the decline in studio space for the production of British films: and what reply he had made.

The Association of Ciné and Allied Technicians has expressed anxiety about a possible shortage of studio space for films for the cinema and suggested that the Government should take such action as might be necessary. The Association has been informed that we are not aware of any present shortage of studio space, or of any need for Government action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on the re-allocation of the factory site on the East Lancashire Road, at Kirkby near Liverpool, originally allocated to Standard Motors Limited.

This land is not owned by my Department, but I understand that Kraft Foods, Ltd., have acquired a 999 year lease of it with a view to building a large factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give the names and businesses with which they are concerned of the trade mission now visiting China; to what extent this mission has, or is receiving, the support of his Department; and whether he will give an assurance that his Department will support any trade agreements that this mission may reach with the Chinese Governments or business concerns in China.

The group of businessmen now visiting China was organised by the five Associations comprising the Sino-British Trade Committee and not by my Department; it would not, therefore, be appropriate for me to give the names and businesses of the members. The visit has the approval of Her Majesty's Government; there is, of course, no question of this group negotiating any trade agreement on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, but we hope that satisfactory business will ensue within the compass of the existing controls.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the risks to life and limb affecting employees and members of the public from the process of window cleaning, as confirmed in recent court decisions, he will consider introducing regulations to provide minimum standards of safety practice to be followed by employers and employees engaged in the processes of window cleaning for the protection of employees and members of the public.

I have no power to make regulations on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, now that the Royal Commission on Devolution has reported on Scotland, he will arrange for a similar Commission to examine the claims of Wales for a large measure of self-government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 28th October to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Barry (Mr. Gower) and Cardiff, North (Mr. Llewellyn).

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that the marks which have been applied to sheep presented for guarantee are sufficiently obvious and permanent, especially when applied to sheep while wet, to ensure that no duplication of payments can occur.

The provision of a satisfactory sheep marking instrument has presented great practical difficulties. Distribution of an improved instrument has now begun. I am glad to say that reports on its working to date are satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Food what official supervision is given to ensure that all stock which receives the Government guarantee are properly marked and checked against the existence of previous marking; and what steps he takes to satisfy himself that no stock sold by farmers and marked as having received guarantee payment have been represented for guarantee payment by the purchasers.

The initial responsibility for ensuring that all certified animals are properly marked rests with the certifying officer at each market: that of preventing the presentation of stock which has already been certified rests with graders appointed by the Minister. The work of both is closely supervised by Ministry of Food area staff.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much crude oil was imported into Argentina from the sterling area during the first six months of 1954 or other convenient period; and at what price per ton c.i.f. Argentine port.

Complete statistics are not available, but imports of crude oil sold for sterling by British-controlled companies during the period totalled 689,000 tons from the sterling area and 255,000 tons from elsewhere, at an average c.i.f. price of about £8 5s. a ton.

asked the Minister of Health to give the number of deaths among males from lung cancer during the years 1951, 1952 and 1953.

Deaths among males in England and Wales recorded as due to cancer of the lung numbered 11,166 in 1951, 11,981 in 1952 and 12,881 in 1953.

asked the Minister of Health why the Langstone Sanatorium, Portsmouth, which was surplus to the requirements of the National Health Service, was used as a repository and not handed back to Portsmouth until November, 1953.

This property did not become surplus to hospital requirements until the end of 1953 when it had ceased to be used as a hospital store. The property was offered to Portsmouth Corporation in May last, and the offer is still under consideration by them.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he plans to provide stamp machines in the Murray, Calderwood, Mains East and Mains West districts, respectively, of the new town of East Kilbride.

There is already a stamp selling machine in the Mains East district and machines will be provided in the Murray and Mains West districts within the next few weeks. The position at Calderwood will be reviewed as building proceeds.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he plans to establish sub-post offices in the Murray, Westwood, Mains East, Mains West and Calderwood districts, respectively, of the new town of East Kilbride.

As soon as candidates with suitable premises are available. It is hoped to open a sub-office in the Westwood district early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the temporary obstructions were erected in Belgrave Square, London, S.W.1; how many major and minor accidents have occurred in the Square since then; and how many for a similar period prior to their erection.

They were ready on 10th August, 1953. There were nine accidents all told during the preceding 12 months and five to date since.