asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total number of planning appeals received by the Minister in each of the years 1952 and 1953 and up to the latest convenient date in 1954; and for the same period the number of appeals that have been allowed, the number that have been dismissed, and the number that were discontinued before hearing.

The following are the figures:

—	1952	1953	1954 to the end of November
Appeals received	3,441	4,456	4,752
Appeals allowed	1,251	1,013	1,235
Appeals dismissed	1,053	1,206	1,683
Appeals withdrawn	1,222	1,292	1,641

The figures for appeals withdrawn include cases where the withdrawal was made at, or following, the inquiry or hearing, and cases in which it was decided that the Minister had no jurisdiction or that no permission was required for the proposed development. No separate record is kept of such cases, but they are comparatively few.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will inquire into the circumstances in which demands for water rate in respect of houses in the new town of Basildon were recently raised, lowered and raised again.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the repair shops of a motor business are always assessed on the same basis as shop property, whereas repair shops for other trades are given the benefit of industrial derating.

Repair shops which form part of premises which as a whole are industrial qualify for derating if the work of repair is a necessary part of the industrial process. Motor repair shops are usually excluded from derating on the ground that they are more in the nature of retail shops.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Ronald Hewitt, a crane driver employed by the Staveley Iron and Chemical Company, near Chesterfield, has been "sent to Coventry" by his workmates for refusing to join the one-day strike ordered by the Amalgamated Engineering Union to which they belong, although his own union, the General and Municipal Workers, had advised their members not to strike; and if he will consult with the Trades Union Congress to see what steps can be taken to end such practices.

I understand that the ban on talking to Mr. Hewitt has now been lifted, following representations from his own union.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage unemployed at the latest date on the Scottish register; the percentage unemployed in Coatbridge and Airdrie; and to what extent these are expected to be subject to fluctuation in future.

The rate of unemployment for Scotland was 2·6 per cent. at the latest count on 15th November. There are no separate rates for Coatbridge or Airdrie, but the rate for North Lanarkshire as a whole was 4·8 per cent. at that date. Apart from the normal seasonal variations in particular industries, there are no indications that the general level of employment in Scotland or in North Lanarkshire will decline in the near future.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the importance to the export drive of well-designed silk fabrics and of the difficulty in finding British nationals trained in such designing, he will allow Mr. Walter Lehmann, a Swiss national, a labour permit to continue to design for Lancashire Silk Mills Limited, Darwen, in spite of the expiry of his permit as a student-trainee.

Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend has written to my hon. Friend about the case, about which he has been in correspondence with him.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate has been made by Her Majesty's Government of the future trend in the numbers likely to be employed in the coalmining industry in North-West Durham; and what steps are being taken to provide alternative employment in that area by the introduction of new industries.

The numbers employed in the coalmining industry in North-West Durham are expected to continue to decline gradually over the next few years. Despite the decline in coal-mining, the employment position in the area has improved steadily in recent years and there are good prospects that a high level of employment will be maintained. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to a later Question he has addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the future level of unemployment in the Crook area; and what steps are being taken to provide employment opportunity.

During 1954 the level of unemployment in the Crook area has been lower than for a number of years and no deterioration in the position is expected. Present employment opportunities in and near Crook are favourable. My right hon. and learned Friend will keep the position under review in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the industrial unrest affecting certain contracts of Wimpey and Sons; and whether he will take the opportunity of investigating this matter with a view to preventing an industrial dispute arising.

My officers have had informal contacts with the parties in this dispute but, as the hon. Member will be aware, it is to be considered by a special disputes commission which has been set up by the industry itself.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider establishing a Remploy factory to meet the needs of the densely-populated areas of South Staffordshire.

I am glad to say there are comparatively few unemployed severely disabled persons in this area and that there is at present no justification for a Remploy factory.

asked the Minister of Labour when the building of the Remploy factory will be commenced on the site reserved for such factory at Lower Beyendean, Brighton.

I regret that Remploy Limited are not yet in a position to add to the number of their factories. The number of unemployed disabled persons in Brighton has continued to fall.

asked the Minister of Labour what information he has in respect of employers during the last year refusing to employ persons on the ground of colour or race and how many incidents have been recorded of other employees resisting the employment of others because of colour or race.

I am aware that there have been, and may still be, some employers who are not prepared to consider coloured persons on their merits as workers. I have also seen reports that some employees have said that they were not prepared to work alongside coloured persons, but I have no statistics of such cases.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people, being persons to whom the Dock Regulations of 1934 apply, have been drowned in docks in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1924 to 1954, inclusive.

I regret that the information is not available. The total number of fatal accidents of all kinds to employed persons subject to the Factories Acts at docks, wharves, quays and ships, is published each year in the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories and monthly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what annual intake of students the new Dundee dental school is capable of accommodating; and what was the intake of dental students for the current 1954–55 session.

There were 15 new students this session for the 25 places available in the new school at Dundee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to arrange to pay the pensions of retired teachers on a monthly basis.

The question of the intervals at which pensions should be paid can be raised in the forthcoming consultations with teachers and local authorities on the superannuation schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make any reduction in the prices of school meals.

No. I do not think that any reduction in the standard charge could be justified. The arrangements for free meals and meals at reduced prices ensure that no children are deprived of meals because of financial hardship; and since the fall in demand after the increase in price in 1953 there has been a steady recovery in the numbers taking meals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional financial provision and what other facilities he is making to enable patients in Scottish regional hospitals to plan and enjoy Christmas festivities.

It is, I think, appropriate that such items should be provided from endowment funds or by voluntary gifts, and I am most grateful to all who help to make this possible. In the exceptional case where no such resources are available, reasonable expenditure within the normal budget is permitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in establishing in Scotland a radioactive cobalt unit for the treatment of cancer similar to that recently opened at Bristol.

The Western Regional Hospital Board expect to provide limited facilities for this type of treatment in the Western Infirmary within the next few months. They are also planning a major radiotherapy centre at the infirmary to provide extensive facilities for treatment by means of the cobalt beam and other radioactive substances, as well as for teaching and research in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the resentment felt by members of the teaching profession and others interested in education in Scotland at the action of the Scottish Universities Entrance Board in omitting geography and history from the list of subjects qualifying for entry to the universities; and if he will continue to draw the attention of the Board to the fears expressed by teachers on this change in the regulations.

I know that the view has been widely expressed that the new regulations of the Scottish Universities Entrance Board may have the effect of lowering the status of geography and history in the schools, and I have no doubt that the Board are fully aware of this view. I have already informed the Board that there are grounds for believing that the change, through its effect on the planning of pupils' courses, may discourage the study of history and geography on the higher grade. I have as yet no direct evidence that this is happening, but if any such evidence is received I will convey it to the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to effect a purification of the River Forth; and whether a target date has yet been set by the board to this end.

The Forth River Purification Board has been established and will shortly be functioning. Their first task will be to appoint a river inspector and to make a survey of the rivers in their area, which must necessarily take some time. On the results of this survey the Board will formulate their bye-laws and future policy for the prevention of pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is prepared to consider, as part of the Government's proposed developments in education, the development of Glasgow Technical College into a technological university.

The Government believe that the progress of higher technological education in Glasgow can best be served if the College and the University work out a relationship which, without in any way hampering the development of the College, would enable their work to be co-ordinated. The Government therefore invited the two institutions to enter into discussions with a view to evolving a scheme which would be satisfactory to both parties and they hope that the discussions now in progress will have a satisfactory outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the extent of the increase in the charge per patient at Swiss Sanatoria since 1951; and what variation there has been in the diet since then.

There has been no significant variation in the charges since 1951. Although visiting doctors and the resident Red Cross Welfare Officers are satisfied that the diet is adequate, they have from time to time made suggestions to the sanatoria authorities with the object of bringing the type of food and methods of preparation more nearly into line with Scottish customs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to give separate figures for the cost per patient at the Leysin and the Davos Sanatoria, respectively; and if the diet is the same in each.

The cost per patient at each sanatorium is approximately 29s. 6d. per day. The diets are similar.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of deaths in Scotland from lung cancer for each year since the war.

The following is the answer:

NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM CANCER OF THE LUNG IN SCOTLAND IN EACH OF THE YEARS 1946–53
Year		Males	Females	Totals
1946	…	742	220	962
1947	…	789	179	968
1948	…	887	231	1,118
1949	…	941	238	1,179
1950	…	934	249	1,183
1951	…	1,099	267	1,366
1952	…	1,230	242	1,472
1953	…	1,466	300	1,766

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many members of the prison staff in Scotland are living out of official quarters; and to which prisons such officials are attached;

The following is the reply:

Establishment	Number of Married Officers not not living in Official Quarters	Number of Official Quarters occupied by persons other than members of Prisons Staff
Aberdeen Prison	9	—
Dumfries Prison	—	1
Edinburgh Prison	9	—
Barlinnie Prison	24	23
Duke Street Prison	—	14
Greenock Prison	5	—
Inverness Prison	1	—
Perth Prison and C.L. Dept.	29	5
Peterhead Prison	10	15
Castle Huntly Borstal Instn.	3	—
Cornton Vale Borstal Instn.	1	—
Polmont Borstal Instn.	11	—
	102	58

NOTES:1. Official quarters are normally provided only for married officers. Quarters for unmarried officers are however available at four institutions for women and at Cornton Vale Borstal Institution.2. At Perth five houses are occupied by Mental Nurses seconded from the General Board of Control for employment in the Criminal Lunatic Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how soon he intends to introduce legislation relating to the sale of food and drugs in Scotland.

I hope that a Bill will be introduced very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance he has given, or is prepared to give, to local authorities for expenditure incurred in meeting exceptional consequences of recent storms and floods in Scotland.

As the hon. Member has been informed, there are no funds at present at my disposal from which such assistance could be given and the evidence available does not suggest that Parliament could be asked to vote a special grant. My Department will, however, be very willing to discuss the position in any particular locality with the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms in South-West Scotland area are still without an electricity supply; what progress has been made in the past year to provide a supply; and what is the expected progress during the current year.

I am informed by the South-West Scotland Electricity Board that at 31st October, 1954, some 2,250 (or 23 per cent.) of the farms in their area were still without an electricity supply; during the year ended 31st March, 1954, an additional 675 farms were connected; the number of connections during the current year is expected to be between 500 and 600, of which some 300 were connected up to 31st October.

asked the Minister of Works what action he proposes to take to abolish the nuisance caused by the emission of black smoke from chimneys on Government buildings in Whitehall.

My hon. Friend is gradually replacing open fires and unsatisfactory central heating installations. Seven buildings have already been connected to the district heating scheme; more will be connected in due course.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will obtain technical advice to work out a practical scheme of heating Westminster Hall when it is used for official functions.

My hon. Friend and his predecessors have had technical advice on the heating of Westminster Hall from time to time and, on more than one occasion, have heated the Hall for official functions. Adequate heating has, however, proved very costly.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the damage to houses and farms in Pembrokeshire caused by the recent gale; and what steps he has taken to make available labour and materials for the purpose of temporary repairs.

With the co-operation of building contractors in the county my Director for Wales was able to offer immediate help to the local authorities. Most of them were able to deal with the situation with the resources available on their housing sites. My Department was able to lend tarpaulins to Haverfordwest and Tenby and arrange for supplies of slates to be available.

asked the Minister of Works the valuation obtained by his Department for the Porta Pia site in Rome, to which reference is made in the Seventh Report of the Select Committee on Estimates.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the valuations until a decision on the future of the site has been made.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements he is making for car parking in the Central Royal Parks.

I propose to introduce the following arrangements for car parking by the public in the Central Royal Parks.1. The following areas will be appointed for parking cars in St. James's and The Green Parks:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will give the names of those members of the recently appointed Clinical Research Board who have special interests in mental health.

Yes. Professor Aubrey Lewis is a specialist in mental health.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made with the implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 37/43 of the Seventh Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy with regard to the reorganisation and improvement of scientific libraries and technical information services.

The recommendations contained in paragraphs 37/43 of the Seventh Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy would involve very substantial capital expenditure and are at present under consideration by the Departments concerned. I regret that I am not in a position to say anything further on this at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he has any further information regarding the inquiry into the relationship between lung cancer and air pollution.

Investigations into the possible realtionship between the incidence of lung cancer and exposure to atmospheric pollution are at present being sponsored by the Medical Research Council and the British Empire Cancer Campaign. These investigations are necessarily of a long-term nature and I regret that no estimate can at present be made of the date of their conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the percentage decline in the purchasing value of the basic rates of cash pay and allowances to Regular soldiers since the present rates were fixed; and what is his estimate of the annual cost of restoring their original purchasing value;(2) the percentage decline in the purchasing value of cash pay and allowances to National Service men since the present rates were fixed; and what would be the annual cost of raising them so as to restore their original purchasing value.

Figures in the form asked for by the hon. Member are not available. Furthermore, such comparisons would be misleading having regard, for instance, to the provisions in kind made for the soldier.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, as an exercise in the demolition of obstacles, he will direct that an Army unit demolish the concrete gun emplacement in the garden of 42, The Mount, Shrewsbury.

My hon. Friend's suggestion is an ingenious one, but not, I am afraid, practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for War to set up a court of inquiry with evidence to be taken in public to investigate the circumstances leading up to the death of Peter Foden, at Plumer Barracks, Plymouth.

I very much regret this serious incident which has naturally caused great anxiety particularly among parents; and I would express my deep sympathy to the guardians of Boy Foden. I am determined to do everything possible to ensure that nothing like it shall happen again.After the proceedings in the civil court, I thought it unwise to take the further action I had in mind until I had been able to consider the full record of evidence. I can now say what steps I am going to take.First, a further inquiry will be held into the conduct of those individuals closely concerned with these particular boys in the Infantry Boys Battalion at Plymouth.Immediately after this incident I made summary inquiries about all boys units and from the information at present available to me it would appear that this is an isolated case which is in no way typical of these units.Nevertheless, the Army has a great responsibility to parents in the supervision and administration of boys units and I think it is imperative that parents should be assured that they are properly run and that their boy will not be a victim of this sort of bullying.For this reason, I have decided that a general inquiry shall be held into the organisation and administration of all Army units for enlisted boys. I am glad to say that, for this purpose, I have been able to obtain the services of Mr. B. L. Hallward, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham University, and Mr. J. H. Bruce Lockhart, formerly Headmaster of Sedbergh School. They will be joined by Lieut.-General Sir Euan Miller, a very experienced officer. I will make their report available to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the highest number now borne by a Service man in the Army; how far any computation has been made of the time and cost involved in their use; and how far consideration has been given to the introduction of smaller numbers and with what result.

All Army numbers now have eight digits. The reason for this is that we have to avoid issuing the same number twice since we still get inquiries about men who left the Army very many years ago. It is for this reason that the numbers run into millions.We could save two digits by altering the system and introducing letters as well as numbers. I do not believe that the saving of two digits would be justified in comparison with the very great complications and cost of altering the whole system.

asked the Secretary of State for War to reconsider the proposal to disband the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, in view of the particular historical associations of this regiment with Ulster since 1688.

I am very sorry to see this and the other battalions go, but I cannot reconsider the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement on the progress which is being made in the disbandment of the Anti-Aircraft Command.

Details of the reorganisation are being worked out urgently. This for the Regular component should not take long, but in the case of the Territorial Army more time will be needed because we have to consider the local circumstances of each unit. I know that many hon. Members are anxious about the future of particular units and individual officers and men in the Territorial Army and I would assure them that details will be announced as soon as practicable. I do not, however, want to rush these changes without full consultation and consideration with all the Territorial Army authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps were taken to inform units of Anti-Aircraft Command of the impending disbandment of the Command; and what guidance has been given to them with regard to their future rôle.

Previously prepared letters were sent to units as soon as the announcement had been made in this House. A decision on the future of particular units must await the consultations now taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for War what restrictions are imposed upon officers and men stationed in Gibraltar in regard to entering Spain.

Passes for visits to the Campo area are at present only being issued by the Spanish authorities to officers and to married other ranks accompanied by their families. Passports and a valid Spanish visa are necessary for other visits to the Campo area and, as has always been the case, for visits elsewhere in Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements exist for adequate numbers of military police to be available in all military camps and barracks to prevent or quell disorder.

The Royal Military Police do not operate within unit lines unless specially summoned. Maintenance of order within a unit is a matter for the commanding officer and, where necessary, Regimental Policeman are provided from within the unit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken in regard to North-West Durham to create new employment, bearing in mind the fact that emigration is now causing a slow, but steady fall in the population.

I am aware of a small decline in the population in North-West Durham which has been more than offset by increases in other parts of the county. Some new industries have already been introduced to North-West Durham, and one of them is already planning a substantial expansion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the percentage of all industrial development certificates issued and their total values that have been granted to enterprises within the areas of Great London, Greater Birmingham and Greater Manchester for

NEW FACTORIES AND EXTENSIONS OVER 5,000 SQ. FT. IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, FOR WHICH INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED IN THE AREAS AND YEARS SPECIFIED
—	Greater London			Greater Birmingham			Greater Manchester
	Approvals		Area (Million sq. ft.)	Approvals		Area (Million sq. ft.)	Approvals		Area (Million sq. ft.)
	Number	Per cent, of G.B.		Number	Per cent, of G.B.		Number	Percent, of G.B.
1950	380	18·7	9·3	209	10·3	4·1	163	8·0	3·1
1951	372	18·8	8·7	188	9·5	3·3	116	5·9	1·9
1952	222	19·6	5·7	116	10·3	2·7	73	6·5	2·7
1953	439	22·3	10·5	159	8·1	2·5	134	6·8	2·4
1954*	512	26·1	15·8	181	9·2	4·2	116	5·9	2·4
* First three quarters.
"Greater London" has been taken as approximately the area of the Greater London Plan. It includes the New Towns of Basildon, Harlow, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn and Stevenage, but not Bracknell or Crawley.
"Greater Birmingham" and "Greater Manchester" have been taken as the West Midlands Conurbation and South East Lancashire Conurbation respectively. These areas are used in the presentation of official statistics and are denned in Table IV of the Preliminary Report of the 1951 Population Census.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost to this country in dollars during 1955 of the importation of a substantial number of overdrives, less casting, by the subsidiary company to Borg-Warner in the United States of America resulting from licences already issued by the Board of Trade.

Imports from the United States of overdrives (less casings), have so fair 'been authorised to the value of £225,000 c.i.f. It cannot be exactly stated how much of this expenditure will fall within 1955.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which United Kingdom company is the largest importer of tea.

As explained in the Board of Trade Journal on 2nd October, 1954, the factory building statistics now record figures of area instead of value. The figures are, therefore, given on the new basis:

This information is not available. In any case, it would be contrary to Government policy to use information obtained from the trade returns or from import licensing records to disclose the position of individual firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has examined details sent to him in respect of a company which, despite the provisions of Section 124 of the Companies Act, 1948, has failed to make annual returns for the years 1948 to 1953, inclusive, and, since his Department have had information of this omission for three months, what action he will now take to enforce compliance with the law.

The Registrar of Companies has been pressing the company for the outstanding returns since the end of September and they were lodged with him on 2nd December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to remove the injustice whereby certain United Kingdom controlled overseas mining companies pay aggregate taxes at a rate of over 70 per cent. of their profits because certain local taxes levied wholly or partly in lieu of local income tax, do not qualify for double taxation relief.

This is a matter on which the mining industry has made representations to the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income. Consideration must await the Commission's report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to allow an application for the division of post-war credits to be made up to the date of 31st March, 1955, in the cases of wives whose post-war credits have been registered in their husband's names.

My right hon. Friend explained in a letter to the hon. Member on 18th November the difficulties in the way of any change on these lines.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the future of the Capital Issues Committee.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to his Question on 23rd November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, to encourage the promotion of food hygiene, he will remove or reduce Purchase Tax on utensils and equipment necessary to ensure the preparation of clean food.

My right hon. Friend will bear this point in mind when he next reviews the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount invested since 1945 by this country in nationalised industries or corporations sponsored in whole or in part by the Government; the amount necessary to service Government securities issued for these purposes; and the capital sums that in this connection have been written off.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Table 27 in the Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure 1946–1953. The answer to the second part is that no Government securities have been issued specifically for these purposes. Up to 31st March, 1954, advances to the Overseas Food Corporation, the Queensland Food Corporation and Colonial Food Yeast Limited totalling approximately £37 million have been written off.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North: and whether, in view of the evidence therein produced, showing the diminishing returns to the Treasury of the present discriminatory 10 per cent. Pool Betting Duty and its adverse effects on greyhound racing, he will now rectify this injustice by either abolishing this tax altogether or placing all types of betting duty on the same level.

I have seen the letter which the hon. Member recently sent to my right hon. Friend. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on his suggestion for changes in taxation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, with regard to the recent social survey made by the Central Office of Information on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture in regard to poultry and pig keeping, he will state the number of forms sent out, on what basis they were distributed, the number returned, how many reminders were sent, and the overall cost of the whole operation.

Nine thousand six hundred forms were sent out by post to a geographically representative sample of heads of households in England and Wales. So far, 7,800 replies have been received; reminders were sent to approximately half the original sample, and replies are still coming in. The second stage of the inquiry, which is now in progress, involves interviews with a 1,000 of the sample who have not sent a reply. The total estimated cost of the whole operation is £3,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what progress is being made in the consideration of the recommendations of the Nathan Committee on Charitable Trusts; and if he will now make a statement as to what action the Government propose to take on such recommendations.

The Government have not completed their consideration of the Nathan Committee's recommendations, and I cannot yet make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a White Paper explaining in detail the Government's plans for the furtherance of technological education.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 7th December, when the Government's plans were very fully explained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the application for the office of Steward of Her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds was received by Her Majesty's Government from the previous hon. Member for the county of Inverness; when the said application was accepted by Her Majesty's Government; and when that acceptance appeared in the London Gazette.

The application was received by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on Thursday morning, 2nd December; the Warrant of Appointment was executed the same morning; and an announcement appeared in the London Gazette on Friday, 3rd December. According to the customary procedure, as soon as the Warrant was executed, letters were dispatched by hand to Mr. Speaker's Secretary and to the Government, Opposition and Liberal Chief Whips informing them of the appointment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Statutory Instruments were in force in July, 1945, and July, 1951, respectively; and how many of those have now been withdrawn.

There are no records which disclose the number of Instruments in operation at any one time in 1945. There were in operation on 1st July, 1951, about 7,689 made under permanent legislation, and 783 made under emergency legislation. I am afraid that to ascertain precisely how many of these have since been revoked or become spent would involve disproportionate work and cost.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he will make a statement upon the incident which took place on the Eire-United Kingdom border in County Tyrone on the night of 6th December, when a British Customs officer was shot and gravely wounded when endeavouring to stop an unlighted van carrying arms and ammunition;(2) whether in the light of an incident in the Faror Royal area on the Eire-United Kingdom frontier on 6th December when a British Customs officer was shot and seriously wounded, he will consider issuing arms for self-protection to British Customs officials operating on the Eire-United Kingdom land frontier.

I understand that two men have been detained by the Police in connection with this incident, brought before the court, and remanded in custody. The case is therefore already sub judice, and my hon. and gallant Friend will not expect me to give him detailed information.I am glad to say that although the Customs officer was seriously wounded, recent reports indicate that he is making good progress. The issue of arms to the Customs officers operating in these Border areas might have various repercussions and hitherto has been considered inadvisable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present cost of news and information services, including the cost of the British Council, in South America.

The provision for the current financial year for news and information services, including the cost of the British Council, in South America, is £188,816; namely, £84,690 on behalf of the Foreign Office and £104,126 on behalf of the British Council. This does not include the cost of the B.B.C. Latin-American Service, or of the services supplied by the Central Office of Information, for which it is difficult to give precise figures.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory buildings of the Charing Cross Hospital and medical school, and the high capital cost of making temporary provision to meet needs; and when he will authorise the commencement of the new hospital and medical school for which the land has already been acquired and plans approved.

I am aware of the needs here, but I cannot forecast when it will be possible to fit the commencement of a new building into the capital programme, having regard to other urgent demands on the available resources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the concern felt by distant-water trawler owners over the number of applications for grants from the White Fish Authority for new trawlers between 130 and 140 feet in length, which are capable of fishing in distant waters; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the Exchequer monies made available for grants are used for their proper purpose of rebuilding the near and middle-water fleet.

The 15 middle-water trawlers between 130 and 140 feet for which the White Fish Authority have received applications for grant will only partially replace the 28 middle-water trawlers which have gone out of commission since the end of July, 1952, the operative starting-date of the building grants scheme. These vessels are well suited for the Farces and West Coast Fisheries and there is no evidence that they are being built in numbers larger than the middle-water fisheries can support.I am aware there are fears that such vessels may nevertheless be extensively used in distant waters. Moreover, the provision of grants without explicit regard to the requirements of the near and middle-water fisheries as a whole might lead in time to the creation of an ill-balanced fleet. After consulting the White Fish Authority, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are therefore proposing to strengthen the existing restrictions in the scheme on the use in distant waters of further vessels built with grants, and also co put it beyond doubt that the White Fish Authority, in considering applications for grant, may have regard to the needs of the fisheries as well as to the individual merits of the applications. The necessary Statutory Instrument will be laid before Parliament shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the results of the recent elections in the Federation of Malaya, giving the names of the political parties participating.

The recent elections for 16 seats in the State Council of Johore and 15 in the State Council of Trengganu were contested by two parties, the Party Negara and the Alliance of the United Malays National Organisation and the Malayan Chinese Association. There were also a number of independent candidates. The Alliance won all the seats.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make some provision in cash or kind for the necessary expense of buying new civilian clothing, which at present falls wholly and heavily on National Service men or their families, on completion of their military service, since after two years, at this age, they almost invariably find that their former civilian clothing no longer fits.

No, I see no sufficient ground for varying the decision reached on this matter by the late Government and announced in the House by the then Minister of Defence on 30th March, 1949.

asked the Minister of Education the result of the efforts which have been made to encourage employers to release students for part-time day education.

The numbers of such students have almost doubled since the end of the war, as the following figures show:

			Number of students released by employers for part-time day attendance
1946–47	…	…	167,403
1950–51	…	…	264,016
1953–54	…	…	323,000 (provisional)

But I am by no means satisfied that all employers realise the value of these day-courses, and I hope that much wider use will be made of them.

asked the Minister of Education what provision is planned for the education of spastic children in Cardiff, Glamorgan and Wales, respectively.

In 1955, the Glamorgan authority will start building a school for 100 pupils which should meet the needs of all children in South Wales suffering from cerebral palsy who need boarding education. A similar school will be built in North Wales if a survey I am now making shows this to be necessary. I am considering an application from the Cardiff authority to provide in an existing day special school a unit for children suffering from cerebral palsy and another from the Swansea authority to establish a day special school for the same purpose.

asked the Minister of Education which technical colleges in England and Wales have been recognised for an increased grant of 75 per cent. under his Department's Circular 255.

Courses have been approved for the purpose of advanced technology grant under the provisions of Regulation 13 of Grant Regulations No. 1, 1952, in the following colleges:

• Acton Technical College, Middlesex.
• Birmingham College of Technology.
• Bradford Technical College.
• Brighton Technical College.
• Cardiff College of Technology and Commerce.
• Glamorgan Technical College, Treforest.
• Huddersfield Technical College.
• Leicester College of Technology and Commerce.
• Liverpool College of Building.
• Manchester College of Technology.
• Nottingham and District Technical College.
• Salford, Royal Technical College.
• Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire Technical College.
• Sunderland Technical College.
• Rugby College of Technology and Arts.
• West Ham College of Technology.

LONDON

asked the Minister of Education how many technical colleges in England and Wales applied for recognition for an increased grant of 75 per cent. under Circular 255; how many were refused recognition; and how many still await decision.

Ninety technical colleges have asked for this grant. Sixty-three have not qualified for it, and the requests of three are still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that profits of the various tea firms rose from less than £1,750,000 in 1952–53 to more than £7 million this year; and whether, before the proposed further increase in the retail price of tea is made, he will cause an investigation to be made into the five increases of price this year, to an extent of 2s. per pound, with a view to the reimposition of control.

Tea is sold in Calcutta, Colombo and London at public auctions attended by buyers from all importing countries, the return to the producer being decided by the bidding of the buyers at such auctions and not by himself. Present prices directly reflect international demand for tea. An inquiry of the kind suggested would not therefore help matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the full and authoritative report on the trading prospects of the South Wales ports recently submitted to him by the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire.

Yes: I am arranging for this report to be printed and presented to Parliament.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the average period between a saver's application to withdraw more than £3 from the Post Office Savings Bank and its satisfaction.

Generally speaking, a depositor who posts an application to withdraw more than £3 from his Post Office Savings Bank account on Day A receives the authority for payment on Day C or Day D at the latest. If the hon. Member knows of any particular case of difficulty or delay and will supply details, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General to state the number of outstanding applications for telephone service in Rugby from residential and business applicants, respectively; and how many have been outstanding for two years or more.

The figures at the 30th September, 1954, were as follows:

—	Business	Residential
Total applications on hand	82	266
Number over two years old	16	68

Three hundred and twenty-one telephones were connected during the previous 12 months and a further 100 were in course of being met or were under inquiry on the 30th September. The rate of new demand has gone up by more than 60 per cent. in the last two years.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) if he is aware of the need for the provision of a telephone kiosk in the parish of Llaniltern in the county of Glamorgan; and whether he will provide one soon;(2) whether he is aware of the need for the provision of a telephone kiosk at St. Brides-super-Ely in the county of Glamorgan; and whether he will provide One soon.

Yes. Sites have been selected and if these are approved by the road authority it is hoped to have the kiosks working by next April.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he is taking to mitigate the disturbance to the public in the neighbourhood of airfields arising from the manufacture or repair of aircraft.

I am continuing the extensive programme of research and development, estimated to cost some £100,000 this year, to which I referred in my answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Warbey) on 15th November. The fruits of this research will be made freely available to those concerned.All manufacturers and repairers of aircraft have recently been approached concerning their responsibility to do their utmost to reduce disturbance to the public by noise; and have been asked to review their arrangements for noise reduction at airfields which they use. I have arranged for the information received in reply to this approach to be supplemented by visits by my staff to establish the extent of the problem at each airfield concerned, and to recommend to firms action that may seem appropriate in the light of the knowledge available to us.The results so far achieved give grounds for hoping that manufacturers will be able to mitigate substantially the disturbance that their important programmes of work would otherwise cause. Since, however, sound reduction equipment for use with complete aircraft, particularly four-engined aircraft, is still in the development stage, progress is bound to be gradual.

asked the Prime Minister what further discussions he has had recently with Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery on the question of the telegram which he sent in 1945; whether this telegram is now available; and whether he will publish the text in HANSARD.

The situation about my telegram has not changed since I made my last statement on the subject on 7th December in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler). I am not prepared to burden the House with accounts of private conversations I have with anybody. I cannot recall any precedent for such demands among Members of Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to racial equality in all African Territories for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible.

It has often been stated that the aim of our policy in Africa is the advancement in honourable partnership of all communities without discrimination on grounds of race.