asked the Minister of Labour if he will investigate the wages paid by Remploy with a view to bringing them more into line with local industry.

As I think that my hon. and gallant Friend knows, the rates of wages of Remploy workers are fixed as the result of negotiations between Remploy Limited and the trade unions concerned and there have been three wage adjustments since 1951. It would not be proper to interfere with the normal processes of negotiation.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the increasing amount of unemployment amongst women in Southampton; and if he will make a statement.

No. The number of women unemployed in Southampton has recently been falling and is now substantially lower than 12 months ago.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of vacancies outstanding on the London, Northern and Scottish Appointment's Registers at the latest convenient date; and what percentage of these vacancies were taken from the advertisement columns of newspapers and trade and professional journals.

On 6th December, 1,841 at the London Appointments Office, 495 at Northern Appointments Office and 201 at Scottish Appointments Office. None of these vacancies were taken from advertisements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what schemes for the redevelopment of Edinburgh he has at present before him; when they were received; and when he expects to give a decision concerning them.

The only comprehensive redevelopment proposals by Edinburgh Corporation at present before me relate to the St. Leonard's (Dumbiedykes) Area. These were submitted to me by the Corporation on 14th January, 1954, as an amendment to the development plan for the city. The development plan raises major issues, and I cannot at present say when I shall be able to give my decision on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the need for increased capital expenditure to meet the needs of the mental health services in South-East Scotland; and whether he will authorise the regional hospital board to undertake the works necessary to ensure an adequate service.

I am aware that this is one of the directions in which the hospital service in Scotland requires to be improved or expanded, and that the Board have several projects in view. Meanwhile, a new building is on the point of completion in Fife, to provide 100 additional mental hospital beds. The relative importance of competing claims for investment can best be assessed by Regional Hospital Boards themselves, in the light of medical opinion and their intimate knowledge of local needs and conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution the Government has made to the Creetown Relief Fund.

None. While I greatly regret the hardship caused by the flooding at Creetown, I have no information to suggest that the relief fund opened locally will prove inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to make a statement on the present provision of hospital and other accommodation in Scotland for elderly sick persons, distinguishing between temporary and chronic cases, and on his plans for extending the present provision for them.

It is not possible to make a comprehensive statement within the limits of Question time, but an opportunity of developing the subject in debate may occur on the Motion of which the hon. and learned Member has given notice. Meanwhile, I would assure him that the size and importance of the problems are fully recognised. Regional hospital boards, in conjunction with local authorities and executive councils, are now completing a series of surveys of requirements and resources throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the recent report on the internal administration of hospitals, he now proposes any change in the practice of employing full-time medical superintendents in Scottish hospitals.

This report relates to conditions in England and Wales, and no action is in view in Scotland. Continuance of the present Scottish practice was assumed in a report prepared by the Scottish Health Services Council in 1952, which was summarised in their published annual report for that year, and no advice in a contrary sense has been tendered to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tubercular cases in Greenock and district are presently awaiting surgical treatment; and how many of such cases have been waiting for more than a year.

There are at present no tuberculous patients in the Greenock area waiting for thoracic surgery.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for certificates of disrepair have been received by local authorities in Scotland for the three-monthly period ended 30th November, 1954, and what is the number granted and the number refused.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 7th December to the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Miss Herbison).

asked the Minister of Works how many buildings are, respectively, held under requisition for offices and for residential accommodation; and how many requests have been received in respect of each category for resumption of residential use by the owner.

So far as residential accommodation held by local authorities is concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 23rd November. Three hundred and twenty-two buildings used for offices and 128 for residential purposes were held on requisition by other Departments on 30th September, 1954. The number of requests for release by owners for resumption of residential use was 20 in each case.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that land in the Porta Pia area of Rome is valued at £120 a square metre; and whether he will consider selling the Porta Pia site, which measures 6½ acres, and building the Chancery next door to the Embassy residence instead of at Porta Pia.

I am advised that the figure quoted by the right hon. Gentleman is much too high. As I indicated in reply to a Question last week, the future of the Porta Pia site has not been finally settled.

asked the Minister of Works the monthly charge for the scaffolding surrounding the Albert Memorial; how many months this has been up; when it will be removed; and how many men are engaged in repairs.

The scaffolding is hired at a charge of £140 a month. It has been up since 7th July, 1954, but the hire charge did not begin until 1st August. It will be removed when the cross and orb have been replaced, towards the end of March, 1955. At present five masons are at work on the memorial. In addition, three bronze workers are engaged off the site.

asked the Minister of Works on what date building operations commenced on the new offices at Mary-hill Road, Glasgow; and when it is anticipated that construction will be completed.

Building operations were started on 23rd November, 1953, and are due to be completed by 31st March, 1955.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, the size of the present staff of the Mathematics Division of the National Physical Laboratory.

Fifty-five.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research the National Physical Laboratory is now conducting in low temperatures down to that of liquid helium.

Research at low temperatures down to that of liquid helium is being carried out at National Physical Laboratory on the strength and other properties of metals.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made in giving effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates that the work of the Road Research Laboratory should be expanded.

The Road Research Laboratory has been given a fair allocation from the additional financial resources recently made available to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and it is hoped to increase its staff by more than 25 per cent. by 1959.

asked the Prime Minister why the dates when the Minister of Food replies to hon. Members' Questions have been altered; and, in view of the urgency of this subject, if he will take steps to restore the second appearance of the Minister each week.

The number of Questions to the Minister of Food has declined and there no longer appears to be justification for two occasions each week for them to be answered. Accordingly, the reduction was made when other adjustments were made at the time of the Summer Recess. Consultation took place in the customary way through the usual channels and with the Authorities of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will institute a special review of all sentences exceeding 12 months' imprisonment awarded by court-martial in the Canal Zone.

All sentences of over 12 months are reviewed every six months, and my right hon. Friend does not think a special review is needed. If, however, my hon. Friend has some particular problem in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War to introduce legislation to amend the Army Act so that all soldiers can express their views in public freely on international problems.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if, in considering a new military legal code for the British Army, he will take into account at each stage on their merits the solutions not only of the English legal system, but also of the Scottish legal system;(2) if, in considering any future changes in the Army Act, he will take steps to define the various military offences which may be charged and the defences available to persons who may be charged with such offences; and, in doing so, if he will incorporate, on their merits, the provisions of the relevant Scottish law as well as those of the relevant English law.

The hon. and learned Member will now have studied the new Army Bill which is, as my right hon. Friend undertook on 12th November, drafted on the lines of the Report by the Select Committee on the Army Act and Air Force Act, without any alteration of policy or principle.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total annual expenditure on the pay and allowances of field marshals.

The charge to Army Votes is about £13,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities he now intends to introduce to assist officers and other ranks in the Army to purchase homes of their own.

We are hoping to bring out a new scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War what improvements in the amenities of the Redesdale artillery practice camp he anticipates will be forthcoming as a result of the proposed expenditure of £20,000.

New cookhouses, paved floors for the dining tents and pavements between the tents and huts.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he has taken regarding Company Sergeant-Major Walker and Corporal Shaw, instructors to the Infantry Boys' Battalion, who incited boys in their charge to commit a series of assaults on one of their comrades; and what action he will take with the commanding officer of the battalion.

Both the allegations about these non-commissioned officers and the general supervision exercised within the battalion are matters under investigation by the court of inquiry being held at Plymouth.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements exist to ensure that in all barrack rooms and other military premises at least one non-commissioned officer is always available or within immediate call to maintain discipline and to prevent or quell disorder.

A non-commissioned officer is put in charge of each barrack room and lives in the barrack room or near it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the fact that threats of violence have been used to secure information from Mau Mau suspects, he will state what the regulations are governing the conduct of members of the Forces in this matter.

Threats of violence by members of the Forces are not countenanced, and I know that General Erskine would take any necessary action if such a case occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the present weekly rates of marriage allowance for private soldiers, whether Regulars or National Service men and the dates on which these rates were fixed; and what calculations he has made as to the relation of these allowances to the present cost of living.

42s. a week for a Regular and 35s. a week for a National Service man. The rates were fixed in November, 1948, and July, 1946, respectively. Marriage allowance is only part of the emoluments of the married soldier, and in itself bears no direct relationship to the cost of living.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he is taking to safeguard the future of those officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery whose present employment will be terminated as a result of the disbandment of Anti-Aircraft Command.

My right hon. Friend is most anxious that this reorganisation should be carried out with the least possible effect on the Royal Regiment of Artillery as a whole. We are examining urgently how this can best be done and, as my right hon. Friend has said, details will be announced as soon as possible.In the Territorial Army reorganisation, it is our aim so far as possible to keep men of the same unit together. In considering which units to retain we shall take special account of those which have a high proportion of volunteers. Where it is found necessary to disband units, all volunteers will be given an opportunity to transfer to other units, since we do not want to lose a single volunteer if we can avoid it.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds he issued a certificate stating that, in his opinion, it was not in the public interest that the oral evidence of a member of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association should be given in the case of Broome versus Broome and Edmundson.

My right hon. Friend issued the certificate to preserve, in the public interest, the confidential character of interviews between welfare officers, on the one hand, and soldiers and their wives on the other. The hon. Member will readily understand that soldiers and their wives cannot be expected to speak freely if they know that anything they say may later be given in evidence in legal proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what purpose the War Department has purchased the ancient manor house of Warcop Hall, Westmorland; and what price was paid for it.

Warcop Hall is being bought as part of an area required as a range. The price of the whole was reached in agreement with the owner and it would not be proper for me to disclose it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that parents of soldiers serving with the 11th Hussars at Kuala Lumpur and with other units in the Far East have been refused the concession of free parcel post because their sons' regiments have not had allocated to them Army Post Office numbers; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this hardship.

As announced in the House on 17th November by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence, this concession applies to men who left this country for Malaya after 3rd November. If my hon. Friend knows of any case where this condition has been fulfilled and the parents have been refused the concession, I will look into it urgently if he will send me details.

asked the Secretary of State for War to take steps to alter the terms of the Army Act so as to ensure that a British soldier who is charged with a civil offence not specified in the Army Act while serving in Scotland shall be entitled to claim trial before a Scottish civil court instead of before a military court.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to a Question by the right hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirling (Mr. Woodburn) on 8th December this year.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the number of men due for transfer to the Army Reserve during the period 1st November, 1954, to 31st March, 1955, and who originally enlisted on a Regular engagement of three years with the Colours, who have prolonged their engagements up to the latest date for which figures are available.

From 1st November, 1951, to 31st March, 1952, 13,322 men enlisted on the three-year engagement. Details of those who have so far prolonged their service and are therefore no longer due for transfer to the reserve are not available. Up to 31st October this year, 578 prolongations from the three-year engagement had been recorded. In addition, 1,147 prolongations beyond the three-year point had been recorded among men serving on the 22-year engagement.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the number of men transferred to the Army Reserve during the period 1st to 30th November, 1954, sub-divided into categories showing the period of Colour service together with the period which they originally engaged to serve.

One thousand three hundred and twenty-six. This was made up of 607 from the three-year engagement, 17 from the 22-year engagement, 455 from the five-year engagement and 247 from other and longer term engagements. All those on the three- and five-year engagements enlisted on these engagements originally. I cannot, without a special inquiry, give the original engagements of the others.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has permitted an increase in the number of United States motor cars which will be imported into Britain during 1955; and whether he is aware of the effect on employment of his decision.

Our balance of payments has now improved sufficiently for us to be able to afford a modest relaxation in our restrictions on imports of North American motor cars. I see no reason to expect that this decision will affect employment in our own industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what medicines are on the list of goods on which there is an embargo for export to China.

The embargo covers a few basic materials such as bismuth and mercury compounds which could be used for medicinal as well as strategic purposes. Antibiotics, sulphonamides and anti-malarial drugs were freed from all restriction in November, 1953.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when a report on the census of wholesale distribution for the year 1950, which was taken in 1951, will be available.

The third volume of the census of distribution report, covering the wholesale trade, is in the printers' hands and will be published in January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to grant import licences to business firms, other than the Newsprint Supply Company, for the import of newsprint from China.

I do not consider that it would be advantageous for a change to be made now in the arrangements which have existed since shortly after import licensing started, whereby the Newsprint Supply Company imports newsprint on behalf of all users of imported newsprint.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that China is anxious to extend trading relations with this country; and what action he has taken, or proposes to take, to initiate talks on trade between China and Great Britain with the ultimate objective of signing a trade agreement between the two countries.

Her Majesty's Government are anxious to see trade with China in non-strategic goods developed as much as possible. This can be done without a formal trade agreement: essentially it depends upon the willingness of the Government of China and the Chinese trading bodies to buy such goods from us.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what approaches he has received from the United States Government for an extension of the embargo on East-West trade; and what was the nature of his reply.

The strategic controls are always kept under review and my right hon. Friend could not undertake to keep the House informed of all matters which may come up for discussion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he had with the National Farmers' Union before deciding to terminate the Home Flax Scheme after the harvesting of the 1955 crop.

The decision to close the Home Flax Scheme announced on 31st August was taken because of the loss, now exceeding £500,000 a year. Flax fibre costing over £500 a ton to produce has to be sold at a world price a little over £200. In view of the magnitude of the loss and the limited advantages now accruing from the production of flax fibre in this country, there was no preliminary consultation with the National Farmers' Union, but the reasons for the decision were subsequently explained to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement about the restrictions imposed by the Spanish authorities on the shipment of tomatoes to the United Kingdom from the Canary Islands.

Tomatoes are shipped from the Canary Islands to the United Kingdom both by lines operating a direct service and by passing lines. For some years the Spanish authorities have maintained regulations designed to ensure that the bulk of the traffic is carried by the four lines operating the direct service. One of these is Spanish, one Swedish, one Norwegian and one British. In general, the rule has been that a passing liner might load up to 10,000 baskets (each of 12 kilogrammes) although on occasions individual ships have been allowed larger cargoes.On 18th October, 1954, the Spanish authorities issued an order containing regulations for 1954–55 season. The order made no reference to the previous regulations under which passing liners were allowed to load up to 10,000 baskets each but contained a sentence to the effect that passing liners were authorised to load whenever an excess of fruit existed. This wording was ambiguous and in the first instance it was interpreted by the Canary Island authorities to mean that no passing liner should be allowed to load any tomatoes unless there was an excess of fruit which could not be carried by the direct services. Certain passing ships were, in consequence, forbidden to load.Representatives of the passing liners immediately protested. The Spanish authorities then explained that the order had been misinterpreted; there was no intention to exclude the passing lines and the original regulation under which ships of these lines could load up to 10,000 baskets of fruit remained in force. The object of the new regulations was to allow passing vessels to load without limitation when it could be demonstrated that there was an excess of fruit which could not be transported by the regular services. Shipments by passing lines were thereupon resumed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list showing country by country the overseas taxes which, not being income taxes, are nevertheless admitted by the Inland Revenue in computing double taxation relief credits.

Credit for overseas tax is allowable under the law only where the tax is similar to United Kingdom Income Tax or Profits Tax, and I am not aware that credit has been given for any tax which does not fall within this description.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement concerning that part of the Final Report of the Beaver Committee on Air Pollution suggesting tax reliefs and the making of grants designed to reduce pollution of the air.

The matters referred to in the Question must be considered in relation to the Committee's Report as a whole. On the Report generally, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 7th December to Questions by the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Marquand) and the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent his regulations permit the accumulated interest on compensation under the Town and Country Planning Acts, which will shortly become payable, to be spread, for purposes of Income Tax and Surtax, over the years in respect of which it has accrued.

This interest, which becomes payable only when the compensation is discharged, will rank for Income Tax purposes as income of the year in which it is paid and tax will be deductible at the standard rate for that year. As regards Surtax, Section 238, Income Tax Act, 1952, contains provisions under which a measure of relief, on a basis broadly equivalent to spreading the interest, can be claimed if the receipt of the accumulated interest increases the recipient's Surtax liability for the year in which the interest is paid by more than 5 per cent. over what it would have been if one year's interest only had been received in that year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the increasing number of Commonwealth students who, finding themselves unable to obtain places in universities in this country, go to United States universities instead; and if he will increase the university grants so as to allow of an increase in the number of Commonwealth places.

No; but I should be glad to consider any information which the right hon. Gentleman may have on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to place all entertainments on the same level in respect of taxation in view of the anomalies which are caused by its unfair incidence, particularly on cinemas.

I am aware of the hon. Member's views on this subject. I cannot, however, anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is yet in a position to announce his intentions concerning alterations to Purchase Tax in the coming year.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary's reply to Questions on this matter on 7th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount paid by his Department in fees to private professional valuers since 1948 in connection with the revaluation of special properties; and whether the Inland Revenue valuers are now able to cope with further work of this kind without outside assistance.

£1,332,459. The contracts with private valuers for this special work run until 31st March, 1958.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement setting out what gifts of money have been made or promised since the end of the First World War to each British Dependency or British Mandated Territory, including waiver of debts due by each of them, and by Burma; what is the total sum; and what addition to that total is contemplated at present.

The total value of all such gifts made or promised since 1920 is £529·7 million. Of this £107·3 million represents grants to Palestine and Transjordan between 1921–22 and 1949–50 and £55·4 million waivers of claims on Burma arising from the 1939–45 war. The remaining £367 million consists of gifts to Colonial Dependencies, etc. (excluding loans from the Consolidated Fund to the Colonial Development

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before granting any consent for a capital issue for the purposes of the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India, he will arrange for representations to be made to the Indian Government for removal of the barriers to the import of United Kingdom cotton goods into India.

I cannot define my attitude to a possible application for consent to a capital issue which has not

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the talks with the staff representatives in respect of equal pay in the Civil Service.

I will make a statement as soon as I can.

asked the Financial Secretary of the Treasury if he will publish as a White Paper an up-to-date comprehensive list of all members appointed to central and regional nationalised boards of a commercial character with details of individual salaries, pensions, and expenses allowed, together with a separate list showing all individuals holding more than one appointment; and what those appointments are.

A White Paper of this character will be published shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the destruction of property in Willesden and the distress caused thereby to many owner-occupiers by the tornado of 8th December and the lack of emergency powers to deal with such contingencies, he will introduce legislation to confer such emergency powers both on his own Department and on local authorities.

I should be glad if the hon. Member would explain what specific powers he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will arrange for the publication of specimen conditions to be imposed upon grants of planning permission for mineral working, similar in form to those published in Appendix A of the Memorandum on the Control of Mineral Working, 1951, but brought up to date and improved.

A revised edition of the Memorandum is being prepared, in the course of which the Appendix will be reviewed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the concern felt by local authorities, small shopkeepers and householders at the present unfair position with regard to industrial derating; and whether he will now introduce the necessary legislation to abolish this present unfair system of rating.

I would refer the hon. Member to my full statement given on 6th December to my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn. West (Mr. Assheton).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many families in Holborn are living in requisitioned property; and how many new flats he has authorised for construction by the borough council in the coming year.

Nine hundred and fifteen families are living in requisitioned property in Holborn. My right hon. Friend has not laid down any specific limit to the number of flats that this council may build in the coming year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the average erection cost of the various sizes of houses built in the new towns and how these compare with the national average.

Circumstances vary so much that it is not practicable to give figures.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what grants have been made by him to the urban district councils of Stroud and Nailsworth and the rural district councils of Gloucester, Stroud, Dursley and Thornbury, Gloucestershire, under the Housing Act, 1949, for the repair of houses for each of the years ended 31st October. 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954; and what applications for grants have separately been received from these several councils under the 1954 Act.

I assume that both parts of the Question refer to grants for im-

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many telephones on the Camrose Exchange, Pembrokeshire, are still unserviceable and why he has not attended to the matter.

The telephones on Camrose Exchange which were put out of action by the recent storms had all been repaired by 16th December.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many call-boxes in Brentford and Chiswick have still to be modified to take threepenny pieces; and when he expects this process will be completed.

No coin boxes have yet been modified to take threepenny pieces. A threepenny slot is one of a number of features which are being considered in connection with the design of a new coin box, but the new box will not be ready for general use for some considerable time.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what sum was allocated under the rural allocation scheme for kiosks in remote places in 1952, 1953 and 1954; and what sum is proposed for 1955.

Financial quotas were only introduced this year, during which we expect to spend £130,000. The sum proposed for next year is £136,000.

asked the Minister of Health when the Pembrokeshire County Report of the 1951 Census will be published.

In about two months' time.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for close co-ordination between the three Government Departments concerned with the treatment, education and employment of spastics; and if he will arrange for an inter-Departmental inquiry to be held and recommendations to be made about any possible improvements in regard to such co-ordination.

The need for furthering the present co-ordination of the Departments concerned is already well recognised, and it is one of the matters under consideration by the Committee now sitting under the chairmanship of Lord Piercy, which includes representatives of those Departments. My right hon. Friend sees no reason, therefore, for any separate inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health what expenditure he estimates would be necessary in 1954 to pay for the construction and completion of hospital buildings which cost £9 million in 1950.

My right hon. Friend is advised that expenditure of £9 million on hospital building in 1950 would be equivalent to expenditure of some £12 million in 1954.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what date he took the decision to go ahead with the proposal to build a new Lune Valley Road; and when he anticipates a new road will be ready to carry traffic.

No such decision has yet been taken. The next step is to publish a draft scheme as required by the Special Roads Act and give due consideration to any objections which may be raised. I cannot say when it may be possible to build the road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonies and Protectorates payments are made to chiefs by the administration; what these payments are; and to how many chiefs they are made in each territory.

The information is not all readily available, and a number of Colonial Governments are being consulted. When I have their replies, I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many citizens of British Guiana have had their freedom of movement restricted since the constitution was suspended.

Twenty-two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is being made for the dependants of prisoners in British Guiana who have been imprisoned for offences such as unlawful assembly and going beyond restricted limits.

Prisoners can ask for financial assistance for their dependants. Inquiries are then made by the Social Assistance Department and deserving cases are given public assistance in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt in the Leeward Islands with the present federal system of government; and what action he intends to take.

Yes. I hope to introduce legislation as soon as practicable to abolish this Federation. This accords with the wishes of the Leeward Islanders and will also accord with the Plan for a British Caribbean Federation, which provides for the entry into the Federation of Antigua, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, and Monstserrat as separate member units.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many trade unionists registered in the West Ham employment exchanges and involved in the recent ship repairers' dispute had deducted from National Assistance grants made to them sums equivalent to the sums those trade unionists received as donations from trade union branches and from factory personnel.

The National Assistance Board informs me that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is now the position of old-age pensioners living out of Great Britain and particularly in Eire; and what will happen to those who go to live in Eire.

Persons who have qualified for contributory old-age pensions or National Insurance retirement pensions may receive these pensions abroad if they are living or go to live in any part of the Commonwealth or in the Irish Republic, or in a country with which the United Kingdom has a reciprocal agreement covering such pensions. These pensions are payable at the rates current at the time when they went to go or live abroad, or, if they had gone abroad before qualifying for pensions, at the time when they first qualified.

asked the Minister of Education the value of new schools started and completed in the last 12 months with comparisons for previous years since 1945.

The following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Food if he can yet make a statement in respect to flour improvers.

I have now received a report from the Sub-Committee which was set up under the Chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health to consider this question. A detailed experimental study has been made under the aegis of the Medical Research Council. The methods of flour improvement which have been examined are agene, chlorine dioxide, potassium bromate, ascorbic acid and an aeration process.The experiments have confirmed that agene-treated flour, when fed in large quantities, causes fits in dogs and have shown that none of the other improvers tested does the same. Since other methods of flour improvement exist which have not produced these symptoms in animals, the Government are of the opinion that, although no ill-effects in man due to the use of agenised flour have been established, effect should now be given to the decision taken in 1950 to discontinue agene.In view of this decision, the National Association of British and Irish Millers have agreed to recommend their members to discontinue the use of agene and to give an undertaking that the equipment for treating flour in this way will be removed from their mills by the 31st December, 1955. Some delay is inevitable because new equipment has to be obtained to treat flour by other means. The National Association of Flour Importers have similarly agreed to recommend their members to ensure that no flour treated with agene will be imported by them.The further investigations undertaken by the Medical Research Council have revealed some differences between the effects on flour of the other methods of improvement, but the effects demonstrated are not sufficient to require the discontinuance of any of the other four improving processes. These methods of flour improvement will continue to be kept under close scrutiny in collaboration with the milling and baking industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, when he goes to Paris for international discussions, the local Press attaché or the head of the Press Department at the Foreign Office or some other official make the arrangements for Press hand-outs and for looking after British and foreign Press correspondents at our Embassy and elsewhere.

When my right hon. Friend attends international discussions in Paris the United Kingdom delegation usually includes the head or a senior member of the Foreign Office News Department. It is his duty, in conjunction with the Press and information staff of the Embassy in Paris, to make the arrangements referred to.