asked the Minister of Labour if he will reconsider the decision to close the hostel at Hawarden, as it is in an area in which private lodgings are particularly scarce.

No, Sir. I recognise with regret, that there will be some disturbance caused to workers and to employers, but a number of the employers concerned are making special efforts to find lodgings for their workers affected by the closure and the local officers of my Department are doing all they can to help. It is our experience that by such means more lodgings are usually found when a hostel is closed than could be foreseen.

If this effort to find lodgings fails, will not the Minister keep this decision open for a little while? Is he not aware that a large number of foreign workers—Poles and Italians—are concerned, that a great many women in this area go out to work, and that it will be a serious matter to find accommodation for about 120 workers, most of whom are foreign?

I understand the difficulties, but our difficulty is that these hostels are losing an average of £1 per week per member of the hostel, and that is a very large sum of money. We can only consider deferring this decision if some firm offer is made by the local authority or by a group of businessmen which may lead to negotiations enabling us to dispose of them in that way.

It may well be the case that £1 per head per week is lost on these hostels, but does the Minister not recognise the value of the productivity of the workers concerned, and that, if hostels are not provided, these workers may be lost to the area?

That is a proper point, but the difficulty is that this is to some extent subsidising firms which have workers in these hostels. I hope that the firms themselves may make some offer to take over the hostels, and if they do we will do all that we can to assist them.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a trade dispute threatens between miners and their employers in the Rugeley, Staffordshire, area; and what action he intends to take.

I am not aware of a trade dispute affecting miners in the Rugeley area. It may be that the hon. Member has in mind a matter affecting that area to which reference has been made in the local Press. This matter is one for the National Coal Board, and I understand that the hon. Member has recently written to the National Coal Board about it.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that while there are severe and, some may think, undue restrictions about Questions regarding the activities of nationalised industries, it is always the responsibility of Members of Parliament to try to forestall trouble? Secondly, would he take into account the opinion of people concerned locally that there is a dispute about the housing association rentals which are subject to agreement between the local authorities, and that this is causing dissatisfaction?

That may be, but unless a dispute is brought officially to the notice of my Ministry I cannot officially take any direct interest in it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the Advisory Committee on Industrial Health will have all the powers and resources necessary to enable it to carry out an effective survey, so as to make clear the main deficiencies of the existing health provisions in industry.

The Committee will be an advisory body. The scheme for the development of industrial health services, including any necessary surveys, will be carried out through Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate, which possesses wide powers under the Factories Acts.

Is the Minister satisfied that they have power to inspect all the conditions in some of the small factories where it is known that there is the most need of that at the present time?

The powers are very wide. They include,

"at all reasonable times, by night and day, right of entry into, inspection and examination of a factory and every part thereof. …"

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the definition does not include a wide range of industrial processes outside the Factories Acts?

The Committee which we have set up is dealing with premises covered by the Factories Acts.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has now completed his discussions with interested bodies regarding the composition of the Advisory Committee on Industrial Health; and whether he has now agreed to the inclusion of persons with experience of local government work in this field.

No, Sir. Further requests for membership of the Committee have been received, and the whole subject is still under consideration.

Will not the Minister now decide to give some place on this Committee to public health authorities, in view of the heavy responsibilities that they already bear? Is it not quite fantastic to set up a Committee to advise the Minister without including any representatives of this very important section?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that local authorities, while very important in this field, have only a limited responsibility in the field of industrial health. But that does not prejudge the decision of my right hon. and learned Friend, which has yet to be taken.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed men, women, youths and girls in the borough of Leyton for the first six months of 1954 and for 1953; the average period of their unemployment; and how many in those periods were over 60 years of age.

I will send the available information to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour approximately how many girls and women of foreign nationality are now employed in domestic service in this country; the average annual number of changes of employer; and to what extent over-long hours of work and underpayment exists among this class of employee.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

But the Minister will agree that this information is necessary? Could not something be done to acquire it for the benefit of social workers and others interested, in view of the fact that one knows that some girls are working very long hours?

I am afraid that it is quite impossible to get accurate information of this kind, because it covers all types of domestic servants, including those employed in hospitals and other institutions.

Would it not be appropriate if these girls joined their respective trade unions and allowed the unions to deal with the question of working hours?

I should think that that would be a very satisfactory solution.

Does my hon. Friend find that the girls coming into this country for domestic service are keeping to the conditions on which they are allowed entry permits?

On the whole; but in the case of a girl who does not keep to the conditions of entry, consideration is immediately given to withdrawing the permit.

Is an invitation extended to these girls to join a trade union, and is information given with respect to the trade union which they should join?

That is not a matter for the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has of the number of colonial men and women who have come to this country during the past two years who have been settled in regular employment; how many are now unemployed; and the average period elapsing before new colonial registrants secure employment.

The figures desired by the hon. Member are not immediately available, but I am making inquiries to see how far an estimate can be made.

Has not the Minister provided this information to the inter-Departmental inquiry which is supposed to be investigating the problems arising from this immigration? Can the Minister state what part his Ministry is taking in these discussions, and what the result is likely to be?

As I explained to the House last week, so far we have not kept these figures, because we do not make any differentiation on the basis of the colour of the people who are dealt with at employment exchanges. We are looking at the system to see if there is some way of making a record of this without putting up a colour bar.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage the exports of Scottish industry.

In matters of special interest to Scottish exports I keep in close touch with the President of the Board of Trade, who is responsible for the encouragement of the exports of the United Kingdom as a whole.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a United Kingdom mission to Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Sudan, will shortly leave—at the expense of the taxpayer—to promote and develop industry in those countries and to obtain orders for British exports, but that Scottish industry is not represented on that 11-man delegation? Is not that quite wrong, having regard to the fact that Scottish industries play an important part in developing these countries with capital goods such as steamships, locomotives and engineering products of all kinds?

The trades, on a United Kingdom basis, may make recommendations as to the representatives they wish to send. As the President of the Board of Trade said, on 16th December, it would not be practicable to organise trade missions on a geographical as well as a trade basis, without making them unwieldy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that Scotland is particularly concerned with heavy industries, and can he assure the House that he is consulted before these trade missions are finally decided upon?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the trades concerned are consulted, and I am certainly most anxious to see that Scotland is always adequately represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland who is responsible, under his regulations, for setting up the local medical committees; and their purpose in the administration of the general medical service.

Local medical committees are formed by the medical profession themselves, and are accorded statutory recognition by the Secretary of State. They appoint medical members to the executive council; they must be consulted by the council on certain specified matters, and are normally consulted on other matters, affecting the general medical services; and they have a number of specific functions under the Regulations, including particularly the investigation of excessive prescribing.

In view of the fact that the Secretary of State has intimated his responsibility for these local medical committees, may I ask if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction at the manner in which many of them are carrying out the functions assigned to them, and that they are tending by their attitude to limit the right of a doctor to give the type of treatment which he considers necessary for a patient? In view of the assumption of this kind of judicial attitude, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a doctor ought to be represented when he appears before one of these committees?

I should like to examine the point which the hon. Member has raised, as we do not, of course, wish any dictatorial attitude to be adopted by these committees. I thought that they were working quite well, but I shall be glad to look into the matter.

Is the Secretary of State aware that one of the interviews to which a doctor was called started by the chairman informing the doctor that he need not worry because on that occasion he would not be fined? Is that a proper attitude to take at an interview of that nature?

I was not aware of that, but if the hon. Member will give me details, I will gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the power to vary the rate of grants to roads of different classes and to give grants to roads which are not now eligible in Scotland is being included among the powers to be transferred to him from the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation.

It is proposed that all the powers of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in relation to the maintenance and improvement of Scottish roads should be transferred.

Does not that mean that the Secretary of State will have the power to vary the rate of grant? Will he have the power to deal with the very serious problems of unclassified roads in the Highland area?

So far as unclassified roads are concerned, I shall have the power to do whatever I am permitted to do. [Laughter.] I said that all the functions of my right hon. Friend will be transferred. But as to the rates of grant, I cannot say that I can vary the 75 per cent. on Class I roads or the 60 per cent. on Class II roads unless these rates are varied throughout the country.

The right hon. Gentleman says that he will do all that he is permitted to do, but who grants him permission?

When the powers are transferred from the Minister of Transport to me I shall take them over.

On the question of reclassification, I appreciate that the right hon. Gentleman cannot vary the rate of grant, but will the transfer of powers enable him to reclassify roads as Class I, II, or III roads, respectively?

In so far as powers exist whereby roads are periodically altered and moved up to Class I, for example, those powers will continue under me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to introduce legislation to deal with the recurring problem of flooding in many areas in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation to enable the Government to undertake greater responsibility for action in cases of flooding in rural areas.

As the hon. Members are aware, discussions on the agricultural drainage problem have taken place with the interested organisations, but I regret that so far it has not been possible to devise an acceptable solution.

Is the Secretary of State aware that I have been receiving that answer ever since I entered the House in 1950? Is he also aware that this problem of flooding applies to more than purely agricultural areas, and that homes are being flooded in Scotland each time we have severe rain? If he cannot introduce legislation, can he not deal with special cases on their merits, to avoid extreme hardship taking place each winter in Scotland, with nothing being done about it?

I shall be very glad to help in cases of extreme hardship. I believe that local authorities already do this. As I said in my answer, I regret that a solution has not been reached which would enable me to introduce legislation. I am sorry that the reply which the hon. Member has received has always been to that effect, but that does not mean that it is an inaccurate reply.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this question has caused real disquiet? Would he consider making a statement at some time, indicating where the difficulties of reaching agreement lie, so that we can argue the whole question out and try to contribute to a general solution of this matter?

I shall certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take to avoid a steep rise in the cost of winter feed, in view of the flooding, resulting in the loss of crops.

There are local shortages of hay which have resulted in higher prices, but this is unavoidable, and has happened before. Despite the bad harvest, however, the quantity of winter fodder on farms seems likely to be generally adequate, although the quality will often be low.

Is not the Secretary of State convinced, on the information that he has, that some controls are necessary to avoid a steep rise in the cost of winter feed? Is he aware that many tenant farmers are already having to get rid of store cattle because of their inability to feed them over the winter? Will he again examine this matter with a view to making certain that this difficulty, which has not been budgeted for by the farmers, will be covered? There has been a great loss of crops in certain areas in Scotland.

The hon. Member may recollect that the Minister of Agriculture made a statement on 16th December, in which he said that the Government had decided that where the failure to harvest the grain is not due to bad husbandry or negligence by the grower, the acreage claimed by the grower but not harvested as grain will be eligible for deficiency payment. This will be of material help in the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the greatest time that a patient has had to wait in Lanarkshire for a major thoracic operation; and how many have had to wait this period.

No tuberculous patient has been on the present waiting list for more than six months, except one whose operation was postponed at her own request and who has now been waiting eight months. Five patients have been waiting six months, three of whom have had their operations postponed on medical grounds.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that six months is a very long time for any patient to wait—especially one suffering from tuberculosis, which has very depressive effects? To wait such a long time for an operation is very bad. What steps does he or his Department propose to take to cut down this waiting time?

The waiting list in the region has been reduced from 404 in May, 1954, to 172, which shows that steps have been taken. In Lanarkshire arrangements are being made to transfer a number of patients from Hairmyres to a ward in Wester Moffat Hospital, Airdrie, which is at present being redecorated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will require local authorities to make quarterly returns showing the number of applications for certificates of disrepair under the Housing Acts; the number granted and the number refused; and the number of applications received from landlords for the revocation of such certificates, the number granted and the number refused.

I propose to ask local authorities in due course for a return.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that his answer will give great satisfaction to those of us who are greatly concerned at the large number of certificates of disrepair being issued by local authorities on quite trivial grounds?

Answer.

My hon. Friend asked me if I was aware that my answer would give satisfaction, and I am very glad to hear that it will.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement concerning recent representations made to him about a Forth road bridge.

The Forth Road Bridge Joint Board communicated to me an offer by certain financial interests to advance a loan for the construction of the bridge, provided that the principal and interest were guaranteed by the Government. After consulting my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, I replied that, for reasons which have been explained in this House, it had not been the practice of successive Governments to borrow for new road construction.

Is the Secretary of State aware that that reply will occasion no surprise? Can he indicate whether the prospects for the Forth road bridge have brightened since the announcement that he is to take over responsibility for roads and bridges in Scotland? Further, can he indicate whether there is any significance in the fact that the Joint Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Fife, East (Mr. Henderson Stewart), is now sitting with the Parliamentary Private Secretary on the bench behind?

I can add nothing at this moment to what has already been said.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement on the prospects of a new health centre in Glenrothes, Fife.

I have come, with regret, to the conclusion that funds cannot be allocated for a health centre at Glenrothes from the resources available for the National Health Service. I am arranging to discuss with the development corporation and the county council alternative methods of providing the accommodation required for health services in the new town.

Is the Secretary of State aware that this decision will cause profound disappointment in the developing mining areas in the east of Fife, and that it seems to be another Government blow at the whole idea of developing mining communities? How does he expect miners and their wives and families to come in from the west, when there are no education facilities, no industries, and now no health centre?

I hope very much that it will be possible for the county council and the development corporation to work out satisfactory plans, which will, of course, rank for grant in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what route vehicles of his Department are instructed to follow on journeys between Edinburgh and Dundee.

There are no standing orders laid down about the route to be followed on such journeys.

Is the Secretary of State aware that, a week ago today, the Minister of State made an official journey from Edinburgh to Dundee, that this journey was by way of the Kincardine road bridge, that it took four hours, and that he kept the people of Dundee waiting, and, very sensibly, returned thereafter by train? Does this not prove a lack of faith by the Scottish Office itself in the Forth ferry services, the complete inadequacy of the Kincardine road bridge as a means of communication between Edinburgh and the north-east, and the urgent need for road bridges over the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth?

I am sure that my noble Friend would wish me to express his deep apologies to those people whom he kept waiting in Dundee. My information is that he got held up in Glenfarg owing to ice conditions, and that it was not due to the Kincardine bridge. I would only add that I make this journey myself sometimes, and I make up my mind according to the season and the crowds. It is a matter of chacun à son goût.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the anxieties of parents and the strain on children imposed by the promotion examination from primary to secondary schools; and if he will consult the local education authorities with a view to providing an alternative to this test.

There is no evidence of serious or widespread anxiety or strain. The aim of promotion schemes is to find the right type of course for each pupil, and the decision on this is based not only on the results of the tests applied but also on other factors, such as an estimate by the primary school teacher of the pupil's capacity. Promotion schemes are kept under review by the authorities and the Department, and the authorities regard the present arrangements as generally satisfactory.

The Question asked if the right hon. Gentleman would consult local authorities. Is he correctly informed upon this matter; and, further, is he aware that the fact that children are being segregated at this early age is creating great concern? Does not he agree that it is a bad thing, socially and educationally, to segregate these children at such an early age and put them into different schools?

I am not a confirmed believer in the principle that everybody must pass examinations. I do not think that it is necessary. I was never particularly successful myself. I think that many perfectly good people come through without coming top in examinations. I shall certainly bear in mind what the hon. Members says. We are, of course, in close consultation with the authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult the local education authorities with a view to adopting the comprehensive school as the basis of secondary education in Scotland.

No, Sir. I prefer to continue to leave it to each education authority to decide what type of secondary education is best suited to the particular circumstances and needs of its area.

We are aware that local authorities have this power, but does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the comprehensive school system would eliminate the risk which now obtains of children being allocated to the wrong type of school at the present early age?

I think that the local education authorities are the best people to decide how this comprehensive school question should be handled in their respective areas. They do differ. Glasgow, for example, takes an entirely opposite view from Fife. Due regard must be had to the particular problems of each locality.

Does not the Secretary of State agree that experience of this policy in Scotland would suggest that the comprehensive school system is the right one to adopt in the future?

I think that the right course is to allow the local people, who best know their needs, to have some say in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount per head of population spent on technical education in each Scottish education authority area.

As the reply consists largely of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind the urgency of persuading many local authorities to increase facilities in this very important aspect of education, particularly in the field of pre-apprenticeship and day-release training?

I am in agreement with the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum he estimates will be spent on school building in Scotland during 1955.

On the information available I estimate that the value of school building work which will be carried out by education authorities in 1955 will be of the order of £9 million.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate the percentage representing new school building as against the minor work of expanding old schools?

I can tell the hon. Member that the total value of work likely to be done will be of the order of £10 million, of which over £9 million will be spent upon schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase the intake of students into Dundee Dental College.

The shortage of dental students is general throughout the country, and, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health announced on 6th December, we are setting up an Inter-Departmental Committee to inquire into the reasons and suggest directions in which remedies might be sought.

Will the Secretary of State consider some sort of planning, in consultation with the Scottish universities and local authorities, with regard to the dispersal of students between the various educational facilities?

I will certainly remember what the hon. Gentleman says, and I will ask the Committee to take it into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a grant to ensure that the girl who passed first in her class at Dornoch Academy, details of whose case are in his possession, shall be able to obtain training in shorthand and typewriting at Inverness, as such training is not available to her in Sutherland.

I have no power to make such a grant. I understand, however, that Sutherland education authority informed the parent that it was prepared to consider an application for a bursary to enable the girl to attend evening classes in shorthand and typewriting during the current session, which are available in its own area as well as Inverness.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this girl cannot afford to stay in the Highland village of Embo out of work, which would be her lot if she was dependent on evening classes? Is he also aware that my Question was directed to asking my right hon. Friend to give her a bursary for full-time training in Inverness on terms equal to that offered her to the value of over £100 for training in domestic service at Bridge of Allan?

I think the best thing that my hon. Friend could do, if he would not mind my offering the suggestion, would be to have a friendly talk with the Sutherland Education Committee to see if a grant can be budgeted for.

Would it not be better for the right hon. Gentleman himself to have a talk with the Sutherland Education Committee, its friendliness depending on its responsiveness to his approach?

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. If he thinks that my intervention would be of any help, and if my hon. Friend has no objection. I will do my best.

While I always value the advice of my right hon. Friend, is it not a fact that about five-sixths of what is spent in paying for education in Sutherland is the taxpayers' money, and is it not his responsibility to a much greater extent than that of the Education Committee?

I think that although central funds do contribute very largely, this is a matter for the local education authority.

asked the Minister of Works the accepted tender price for the new offices at Maryhill Road, Glasgow; and whether the contract was fixed under a time and penalty clause.

It would be contrary to normal practice to disclose the amount of accepted tenders for Government contracts, but I can say that the contract contains the usual penalty clause for delay.

Can the Minister give any indication of when this building is likely to be completed?

I understand that it is due to be completed by 31st March, 1955.

asked the Minister of Works the total number of Government offices; the estimated total number of civil servants employed therein; and the estimated rents paid by the Exchequer in the London district bounded by Park Lane, Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Piccadilly.

There are 18 offices in the charge of my Department in the area, housing about 6,700 staff. The estimated total rents, including an allowance for Crown freeholds, are about £440,000 per annum.

In view of the urgent need to economise as much as possible in the spending of the taxpayers' money, would it not be a good thing to let these bureaucrats work on less expensive sites? Could they not work equally well south of the river, say, near the Elephant and Castle? Could they not be more appropriately housed, say, near the gasometer at the Oval? Why must they work in the most expensive parts of Mayfair?

My hon. and gallant Friend is fertile in making useful suggestions, but he will have worked out already that the rent is about £66 per head, and for all headquarters offices in the London area the average is £63 per head, so that I do not think it is very much too high.

Is there not a risk that, if these civil servants were to work around the Elephant and Castle, they might go into the Elephant and Castle and get "elephant's trunk"?

If my right hon. Friend increases the number of civil servants, will it not reduce the figure from £63 per head?

asked the Minister of Works (1) what consultations he had with the Admiralty before granting an allocation of steel for the building of the Royal Sailors' Home and Club;

(2) why steel was allotted out of Admiralty allocations for the building of the Royal Sailors' Home and Club, Portsmouth, when there was insufficient money available to complete the club.

In 1949, 75 tons of steel per quarter were granted out of the steel allocation for civil building, after consultation with the Admiralty.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that these two Questions were originally put down to the Admiralty, whose responsibility, in my opinion, they are; and, further, that this steel was allocated out of an Admiralty allocation for other purposes during six years of Socialism?

asked the Minister of Works what plans for raising some of the fallen stones at Stonehenge have been authorised by his Department.

I have received recommendations from the Ancient Monuments Board for England. These are being examined.

Will the Minister publish the results of what decisions he reaches?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Works what protests he has received against the use of the Royal Parks as car parks.

I have received one letter.

Is the Minister aware that the use of the Royal Parks for this purpose shows that the Government's policy for dealing with traffic in the West End has completely broken down? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that the chaos will be even greater unless he widens or by-passes the gateways to the Royal Parks, where there is already considerable congestion, before these car parks are established?

The question of the gateways is a different one.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that motorists, of which I am one, are quite rapacious in their demands and will take every inch of open space that they can get? Will he, therefore, resist any further encroachment on these beautiful parks, and assure the House that these arrangements are entirely temporary?

I will certainly do so.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now make a statement about the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of buildings in the Greater London area.

Yes, Sir. As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 19th October last, the London Builders' Conference has abandoned the practices criticised by the Commission. I welcome and accept its assurances. Similar practices have been followed to some extent outside London and the Government take the view that these also should be given up.

In future firms will not be included on any list of approved Government contractors for new buildings if in tendering for such work they follow the practices criticised by the Commission. The firms already on the lists are being asked to confirm that they wish to remain there and accept this condition. This will make it unnecessary to continue the use of the form of declaration which was directed against these practices.

The attention of the associations of local authorities is being drawn to the Report and to the action taken.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the outcome of this matter, which he has just announced, will give very general satisfaction?

Can the Minister say whether the ban on firms being allowed to contract if they do not comply with these conditions will apply to contracts for local authorities?

No, Sir. What I said applied to the Government list of tenderers. As the hon. Gentleman knows, local authorities follow different practices, and it will be up to them to decide what to do, but I am drawing their attention to what we are doing.

Can the Minister say whether the recommendation of the Monopolies Commission to the effect that there should be a conference between the London Builders' Conference, the R.I.B.A., and other building interests, has yet been carried out, and, if so, what the result was?

There has been no general conference of the parties concerned. I have seen them individually.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that he will be able to check whether, in fact, these practices are continued or not?

I think that our ability to check whether they are being followed or not will remain as good or as bad as it is now. I think that we should be able to detect any flagrant abuse.