asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reintroduce the Deer Poaching (Scotland) Bill.

In view of the division of opinion reflected in the Report of the Deer (Close Seasons) Committee, I cannot undertake to introduce a Bill this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Clyde Valley Pollution Board has yet been set up; what bodies are represented on it; and whether it has begun work.

This board was established in April last but is not yet functioning because the 21 local authorities concerned have been unable to agree about the extent of their representation on it. In these circumstances I have decided to prepare an administrative scheme for the board, and I shall be submitting a draft Order to the local authorities for consideration very shortly. In addition to local authority representatives, the board will include representatives of industry, agriculture, and fisheries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on which islands in Orkney and Shetland the new air ambulance will be able to land.

The D.H. Heron will be able to land on the islands of North Ronaldsay, Sanday, and Stronsay, in addition to the mainlands of Orkney and Shetland.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement on the improvements in the Army's pay code since September, 1950, giving his estimates of the proportions of officers, noncommissioned officers, and men who have benefited from these improvements.

The principal increases in Army pay since September, 1950, can be found in Cmd. Paper 9088. Details of the pay and allowances of officers and other ranks are set out each year in the appendices to Army Estimates and the rates from year to year can thus be compared. The numbers of officers and other ranks who have benefited by the various changes are not available and I do not think that the labour of obtaining them would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, as an inducement to sign on for a three-year engagement, National Service men are being informed that unless they do so they cannot join the regiment of their choice.

National Service men are not told this, and their wishes are met whenever possible. What is explained to them before their call-up is that, because preferences do not always correspond with the Army's needs, they cannot, as National Service men, be certain of joining the regiment or corps which they would wish, but that they may do so if they undertake the longer Regular engagement.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, contrary to Queen's Regulations, the punishment of picking up leaves one by one, while in the view of the public, has been awarded to guardsmen stationed at Wellington Barracks; whether he will cause such punishments to be discontinued; and what action he will take, or has taken, against those responsible.

A working party was employed in the normal way clearing the parade ground before a parade in connection with the Remembrance Day Service. Brooms and rakes were used to sweep up the leaves and only the few remaining leaves were picked up by hand.

asked the Secretary of State for War what expenditure has been incurred on the maintenance and improvement of the Chepstow Army School during the current financial year and in 1953, respectively; and whether, in connection with the recent expenditure incurred at this school, account has been taken of the fact that the whole school will have to be moved elsewhere when construction work starts on the Severn Bridge.

About £500 was spent on improvements and £10,000 on maintenance at the Army Apprentices School, Chepstow, during the last financial year; this year we are spending £17,500 and £7,000 respectively. The improvements are necessary to provide temporary accommodation for an additional 180 apprentices. In incurring all this expenditure we take account of the fact that the school may eventually have to move.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the 13,322 men who enlisted on Regular engagements of three years with the Colours and four years with the Reserve during the period 1st November, 1951, to 31st March, 1952, have, up to 31st December, 1954, prolonged their service.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply by my right hon. Friend to his similar Question on 9th December last, in which he said that available statistics of prolongations were not related to the precise month of enlistment. Similarly, they cannot be related to any particular group of men without a special and lengthy examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of boys serving in the Infantry Regiment Boys' Battalion on 31st December, 1952, 1953, and 1954; the number of boys selected for training as officers since the Battalion was first formed; and the number who have been commissioned.

121, 385 and 338 respectively. Two boys have been selected for training as officers since the Battalion was first formed and they are now at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. There has not been time for a boy from the Battalion to have been commissioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 22759007 Officer Cadet Michael Sharman, completed his infantry training and a special course in Russian at Cambridge, became an officer cadet, signed on for a third year of service, proceeded to the Joint Services School of Linguists at Bodmin, where he now is, and was told shortly before his final examination that he could not appear before the War Office Selection Board for a commission because of a defect in his eyesight, which was known before his entry on National Service and had caused him to be medically graded; and whether, in view of the waste of public money involved in special training, over a long period to no purpose and in view of the hardship to a diligent and successful student, he will now allow this officer cadet to be considered for a commission.

Officer Cadet Sharman was accepted for training as a Russian linguist in the knowledge that he was ineligible for a commission. His knowledge of Russian will be of value in the Intelligence Corps, where there will be a vacancy for him as an other rank. There is, therefore, no question of this training and public money having been wasted.

asked the Prime Minister if he will ask the forthcoming Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference to consider organising and financing the proposed Antarctic expedition as a joint Commonwealth enterprise.

We have it in mind to speak to the Prime Ministers concerned about this while they are here.

asked the Prime Minister the main points on the agenda for the forthcoming Prime Ministers' Conference; and whether he will propose that issues involved in the relationship of the Commonwealth nations should receive consideration.

The meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers has been arranged to enable them to consider together in an intimate and informal way, as has been the practice at such meetings over a period of years, all the important questions in the world today that are currently of interest to them. They certainly will wish to discuss the international situation and recent developments in foreign affairs and to review progress in the economic and financial field.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that during 1955 the Chinese Government is to build 80–100 new cities, consisting of 200,000 inhabitants in each city; that these cities will be equipped with new schools, hospitals, power stations, etc.; and whether he will make inquiries of the Chinese Government to ascertain what plant and equipment we can export from Great Britain to assist in this reconstruction.

I am aware that the Chinese Government have announced their intention of building a number of new cities. I see no necessity however for any special inquiry by Her Majesty's Government as to the plant and equipment which will be required for their construction; British industry are well able, through their normal contacts with the various Chinese purchasing agencies, to make such inquiries for themselves and also to let the Chinese know what goods can be supplied from this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made with regard to the formation of a successor to the British Lion Film Corporation.

The Government have approved generally the proposals submitted by the National Film Finance Corporation for the formation of a new company, British Lion Films Limited, to undertake the distribution functions performed by the British Lion Film Corporation. The assets transferred to the new company include the majority share holding in British Lion Studio Company Limited, which controls the Shepperton Studios. The necessary arrangements are now being made and the new company will begin operations on 29th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision he has reached in his consideration of the request that Britain's fishing industry should be investigated by the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission.

I have nothing to add to the answer which my hon. and learned Friend gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 9th November last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total revenue, in respect of Purchase Tax on shinty sticks, has been received by his Department during the last 12 months' period for which records are available.

The revenue from shinty sticks is not recorded separately; but I do not think it is large.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the representations that have been made to him by the Committee of the Paper, Printing and Stationery trades, about the Purchase Tax on commercial and educational stationery; and whether he will make a statement.

The Committee has been informed that I have taken careful note of its representations. I regret that I am not in a position to make any further statement on the matter at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the anomalous position created in schools by the continuation of Purchase Tax on school materials and equipment; and whether he will now take steps to end this tax.

I am afraid it would not be practicable to single out those articles for a special tax exemption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net yield from Purchase Tax on commercial and educational stationery after allowing for the cost of collection and deducting any Government grants or subsidies designed to reduce the cost of stationery to educational or other aided organisations.

The yield of the tax on paper stationery, excluding greeting cards, picture postcards, and pictorial calendars, is estimated at about £20 million a year. I regret that no information is available in regard to the other points raised in the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Purchase Tax reductions he proposes to make so as to obviate a seasonal depression before the next Budget.

The Purchase Tax Orders which have just been laid before Parliament are in each case designed to deal with special situations which have come to my notice and which need to be rectified without delay.There were exceptional circumstances last year which I considered sufficient to justify the unusual course of saying in February that I did not contemplate further Purchase Tax changes in the Budget. As the House is aware, Purchase Tax changes can be made at any time, and I think that in future there should not be any regular time of year for such changes.No inferences should be drawn from this. It is too early for me to say what, if any, tax alterations it may be right to make this year, and in any event there are a number of other taxes to be considered also, so it would be unwise to take my present statement as pointing to the likelihood of Purchase Tax changes in the next Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the accumulating evidence of increasing violence in extremes of weather now affecting the United Kingdom and the unpredictable loss and hardship which have struck sections of the population; and whether he is prepared to appoint a committee to make an appreciation of the problem and to consider the desirability of including such acts of God as risks properly to be provided for by national insurance.

While I am very far from indifferent to the many hardships to which the weather gives rise, I do not think that either the narrative of history or the research of modern science indicate that our climate is becoming less temperate, and I therefore consider that there is no case for appointing a committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will open a separate Income Tax office in Dagenham to deal with the large number of local inquiries.

There are no plans for a separate office in Dagenham. The Board of Inland Revenue has received no representations that existing facilities are inadequate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the policy of Her

Commodity	Procurement Authorisation value	Quantity purchased*	Value of purchases* f.o.b.
	$m.		$m.
Tobacco	20·0	27,600,000 lb.	20·0
Prunes	5·0	13,183 tons	4·845
Lard	8·0	17,040 tons	8·0
Cottonseed Oil	11·0	22,000 tons	6·06
Tinned apricots and peaches	2·5	9,437 tons	2·5
Tinned grapefruit	2·5	2,269 tons	0·48
Fresh oranges		54 tons	0·007
Fresh grapefruit		1,658 tons	0·19
Lemons		1,215 tons	0·182
Lemon Juice		11,049 Imperial gallons	0·02
Beef	17·25	5,192 tons	2·842
Butter	6·0	—	—
* These figures represent contracts notified to the Board of Trade in the case of tobacco and to the Ministry of Food in the case of the other commodities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that, in the Government's scheme of priorities, funds needed urgently for hospitals will take precedence over further gifts to Dependencies, which have been allotted £530 million since the end of the First World War.

No, because Her Majesty's Government and Parliament, in deciding what funds should be allocated Majesty's Government on the convertibility of the £ sterling.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government on the convertibility of sterling has consistently followed the statement in the communiqué of the Commonwealth Economic Conference, 1952.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a detailed statement regarding purchases of United States surpluses made available under Section 550 of the Mutual Security Act since the statement made on 22nd June, 1954, in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Wembley, South, giving details of commodities, quantities and values.

The following figures show total purchases, not merely purchases, since the statement made on 22nd June, 1954.for the hospitals and for the Colonies, must be free to have regard to the merits of each individual case as well as to the general financial position. I would only add that in the current financial year no less than £321 million has been provided for the expenses of the hospital, specialist and ancillary services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the yield of the Entertainments Duty on the living theatre for the first nine months of the current financial year; and how it compares with the similar period for 1953.

The receipts of Entertainments Duty allocated to theatres and music-halls and to other similar entertainments chargeable at the same rates of duty are approximately as shown in the following table. The figures do not include revenue derived from sales of Entertainments Duty Stamps through Post Offices, as this cannot be allocated to particular entertainments.

Month	Theatres and music-halls		Other
	1954	1953	1954	1953
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
April	177	184	18	11
May	145*	157	28*	49
June	149	168	24	25
July	194	232	43	22
August	214	226	50	29
September	212	226	39	33
October	201	217	26	31
November	170	165	13	9
December	142	165	20	15
* The rates of duty were reduced as from 30th May, 1954.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of gross and net long-term overseas investment of the United Kingdom in 1936 to 1938, on analogous lines to the estimates he has recently given for the period 1946 to 1953 and 1951 to 1953.

No. I regret that the information needed is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of gross domestic fixed capital formation by companies and public corporations in 1938, on analogous lines to the estimates for post-war years given in the official publications on national income and expenditure.

Gross domestic fixed capital formation in 1938, analysed by sectors of the economy in the same way as in Table 43, item 5, of "National Income and Expenditure, 1946 to 1953," is estimated to have been as follows:

	£ million
Persons	193
Companies	264
Public corporations	10
Central government:
(a) trading	26
(b) other	9
Local authorities:
(a) trading	38
(b) other	116
Total	656

The total of £656 million is a revision in the light of later researches of the rough estimate of £600 million given in the Annual Abstract of Statistics No. 91, Table 282.The bodies classified as "Public corporations" in 1938 were the Central Electricity Board, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Electricity Board for Northern Ireland, the London Passenger Transport Board, and the Scottish Special Housing Association.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement on the housing allocation to Newcastle-under-Lyme for 1955.

From the report I have received I am satisfied that the authorisations granted are sufficient to enable the Borough Council of Newcastle-under-Lyme to build in 1955 at least as many houses as in 1954, which was a record year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new houses were completed in the three years ended 31st October, 1954; and the comparable figure for the previous three years.

In the three years ended 31st October. 1951, 591,675 new permanent houses were completed in Great Britain. In the following three years the number was 883,470.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to give, in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the names of the local authorities which, at the latest possible date, had more than 100 families in requisitioned premises; and the number of families in each case.

The required information is as follows:

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF FAMILIES IN REQUISITIONED HOUSES AT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1954
GREATER LONDON
(a) 100 to 500 families
Feltham	104
Orpington	104
Friern Barnet	113
Banstead	118
Twickenham	123
Surbiton	124
Dagenham	127
Hayes and Harlington	140
Esher	142
Carshalton	147
Southall	158
Kingston-upon-Thames	161
Barnes	171
Chingford	195
Richmond (Surrey)	210
Ruislip and Northwood	212
Wood Green	222
Southgate	230
Wan stead and Woodford	231
Wembley	235
Bexley	242
Erith	244
Coulsdon and Purley	248
Maiden and Coombe	285
Heston and Isleworth	295
Bermondsey	298
Mitcham	315
Ilford	324
Chislehurst and Sidcup	329
East Barnet	337
Barking	389
Enfield	398
Walthamstow	448
Finchley	455
(b) 500 to 1,000 families
Bethnal Green	538
Edmonton	550
Harrow	561
Bromley	575
Hornsey	637
Penge	652
Beckenham	685
Ealing	689
Finsbury	734
Brentford and Chiswick	739
Acton	743
Hendon	815
Woolwich	829
Wimbledon	839
St. Marylebone	849
Leyton	894
Holborn	915

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will requisition such of the 500 empty houses in Southend as have been vacant for at least three months and make them available for Dagenham and other housing authorities in Essex with long housing lists and little land for building.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made towards a solution of the housing problems of Service men who come to the end of their engagements or are discharged.

I hope to be in a position to make a statement on this matter very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that 66 out of 200 prefabricated traditional houses built for Cardiff Corporation in Gabalfa and elsewhere are damp; in what year they were built; and what compensation will be paid to the Cardiff Corporation.

These houses were erected between 1949 and 1951. I am arranging for them to be inspected on 26th January, and I will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authority houses were completed by Leeds City Council for 1954; the allocation for which it asked for 1955; and how many of these he is allowing it to build.

2,575 houses were completed by Leeds City Council in 1954. It has asked for authorisations for an additional 3,000 during 1955. It has so far received authorisations for 2,042 and has been informed that a further instalment will be considered in the early spring.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT of those local authorities which have now taken powers under local Acts of Parlia- ment to establish and operate smokeless zones and to deal with smoke from industrial furnaces, and associated matters.

Yes. The list is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, following his consideration of the Beaver Committee Report, what action is to be taken to combat smog and the evils of air pollution.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to make his statement on the prospects of local government reorganisation.

Before very long.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what statistics he has compiled to show sums of money contributed by local authorities possessing smokeless area powers under local Acts of Parliament, to reimburse domestic consumers or householders for the whole or part of any expenses incurred by them in complying with the provisions of any smokeless area order.

I regret that the information asked for is not readily available.

asked the Attorney-General what progress has been made in the drafting of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Marriage Laws.

The Royal Commission is still engaged on drafting its Report. I cannot yet say when it will be published.

asked the Attorney-General what action Her Majesty's Government proposes to take with regard to the constitutional issues raised by the action of a Chancery Division Judge in granting an interim injunction and by the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Harper and others versus the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

A report of the proceedings in the Court of Appeal and of the judgment of Mr. Justice Roxburgh has been placed in the Library for the information of hon. Members, and in view of the decision of the Court of Appeal no further action appears to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Education how much Britain has contributed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; what our annual contribution to it is at present; and on what projects it is now engaged.

The total contribution of the United Kingdom to U.N.E.S.C.O. from the time of its foundation in 1945 up to and including 1953–54 was £2,606,962. This sum includes, in the Organisation's Working Capital Fund, a repayable deposit which, at the current rate of exchange, is valued at £118,286. The United Kingdom contribution payable for 1954 was £373,051, and that for 1955 is estimated at about £237,000.With regard to the last part of the Question, my right hon. Friend is sending the hon. Member a copy of the White Paper in which a Report was presented to Parliament on the seventh session of the General Conference held in Paris at the end of 1952. This Report gives a general account of the programme approved by the Organisation for 1953 and 1954. He proposes to present a similar Report on the eighth session of the Conference which was held in Montevideo last month.

asked the Minister of Education the exact terms of the invitation he sent to certain organisations to send representatives to discuss the future of teachers' superannuation with him; and what were the names of the organisations so invited.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter which I wrote to the Association of Education Committees, the Association of Municipal Corporations, the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions, the County Councils Association, the Joint Committee of the Four Secondary Associations, the London County Council, the National Union of Teachers, and the Welsh Joint Education Committee.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland wrote in similar terms to the Association of Councils of Counties of Cities in Scotland, the Association of County Councils in Scotland, and the Educational Institute of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Defence how many United Kingdom troops are still in Korea; and when the Government intends to bring these troops home.

There are now 10,000 United Kingdom troops in Korea and Japan. The United Kingdom will continue to contribute to the Commonwealth Forces in the theatre so long as they are still required by the United Nations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a national inquiry into the problems and dislocation caused by heavy snowfalls in the winter seasons; and whether he will suggest, and be prepared to subsidise, up-to-date equipment for snow clearing in the areas most likely to be affected during the winter.

So far as roads are concerned I have asked for a report from my Divisional Road Engineers on the situation as revealed by the recent heavy snows. The hon. Member will no doubt be aware that responsibility, except on trunk roads, lies with the local highway authorities, who also act as agents for me on trunk roads. In the latter case I provide the equipment, of which I also hold a reserve, and I can and do lend this equipment to them in respect of their own responsibilities.Railways are the responsibility of the British Transport Commission, which informs me that blockages from snow occur at relatively few places and can usually be quickly dispersed with existing equipment.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give guidance to transport undertakings and local authorities on the action they should take to prevent the disorganisation of traffic which results each year from the first fall of snow.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what arrangements Her Majesty's Government intend to make with regard to financial assistance to the Transport Commission to meet the increased expenditure which the Commission has now incurred in honouring the findings of the Court of Inquiry set up by the Government.

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour has indicated, the Final Report of the Court of Inquiry will be available to hon. Members this evening, and no doubt matters arising from it will soon be before the House.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total amounts expended on major road improvements and new construction in 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954; and the average amount per head of population of these expenditures in each of the 10 divisions of his Department.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th December, 1954, Vol. 535, c. 204], supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what basis he decides from which countries there shall be quantitative limitations of lubricating oil imports.

There are no quantitative restrictions on imports from the sterling area, Western Europe and certain other non-sterling countries. Imports from other sources depend on general trade policy, the U.K. supply position, and balance of payments considerations. There may also be legal reasons for refusing to permit imports from certain sources.

asked the Minister of Health the daily diet allowance per patient in the mental and also the general hospitals in the Dartford area; and on what dates the present scales were introduced.

I am informed that since July, 1953, the hospital management committee has had a procedure for authorising the officer concerned in the general hospitals in the Dartford area to spend up to a certain weekly sum per head of staff and patients without further reference to the committee. The sum is at present 26s. a week. There is no such procedure in the mental hospitals in this area.

asked the Minister of Health when Miss Toyne of 60 Nocton Drive, Lincoln, will receive the invalid carriage promised to her some months ago.

There has been some difficulty in finding a machine which Miss Toyne will be capable of controlling, but it is hoped to have a special lightweight machine available in two or three weeks' time. If she is found able to control this when a test is made, it will be issued to her.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many new telephones were installed within the Borough of Morley during 1954; the number of applicants now on the waiting list; and the date of the longest outstanding application.

Ninety-five telephones were installed last year and 115 applications are at present on hand. The longest outstanding application for telephone service dates from 17th July, 1953, and cannot be met until additional plant is provided. I am afraid this may take some time.

LABOUR EMPLOYED IN THE BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY IN GREAT BRITAIN
(Thousands)
—	New work (a)					Repair and maintenance etc.	Total
	Housing	Industrial building (b)	Agricultural building	Schools	All other new work
	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(iv)	(v)	(vi)	(vii)
1953
1st quarter	295	123	5	33	104	407	967
2nd quarter	314	121	4	35	103	418	995
3rd quarter	317	118	5	36	99	427	1,002
4th quarter	318	118	5	33	96	417	987
1954
1st quarter	304	114	4	28	96	411	957
2nd quarter	319	121	4	31	101	409	985
3rd quarter	319	122	6	35	108	399	989

These figures exclude the building trades workers directly employed by local authorities, public utilities and private firms in other industries, e.g., in brewing, shipbuilding, etc. Of these, about 25,000 men have been throughout 1954 employed by local authorities on new house construction. The remainder are employed mainly on repairs and maintenance.(

asked the Minister of Works whether he will consider acquiring Build-was Abbey, Salop, so that the parts of this monument already leased by his Department may be permanently available to the public, and the remainder may be excavated and rendered accessible.

Most of the Abbey remains are already in my Department's guardianship and are open to the public. I am negotiating with the owner with a view to excavating the rest of the Abbey.

asked the Minister of Works how many building workers were employed each quarter since the beginning of 1953 on new houses, industrial building, agricultural building, school building, repair work, and all other forms of building work, respectively.

The following are the figures up to the third quarter of 1954. Later figures are not available.column (vi) "Repair and maintenance" work, except that for industrial and agricultural buildings, an estimate has been made for men employed on work below the exemption limit of £25,000.(