asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that nurses are required to purchase black shoes and stockings as part of their uniform; that the cost of these garments is not allowable for taxation purposes; and whether he will make a statement on this aspect of tax regulations.

I am not sure that the practice of hospital authorities in this matter is uniform. Up to now no general Income Tax allowance has been made, but the Board of Inland Revenue propose to enter upon discussions with the appropriate professional organisations in order to find out all the facts and to consider whether any Income Tax allowance can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that an adequate proportion of the income of industry is devoted to research and development.

The vital importance of scientific research is recognised by the special allowances given for tax purposes. In addition, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and other Departments are continuously concerned in encouraging research and development by industry. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research assists co-operative industrial research associations by grant aid related to the amount of money contributed by industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person commencing employment after a period of unemployment is entitled, under his regulations, to claim any Income Tax rebate that may be payable on the first pay-day after commencing employment; and under what circumstances an employer is entitled to withhold payment of any rebate due.

If a refund is due and it does not exceed £5, the employer is required to make it on the first pay-day. If it exceeds £5, he has to get prior authority from the local tax office. The question whether any refund is due, however, depends on several factors, and if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I would invite him to send me details of it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Minister for Home Security and a special Department to deal with the safeguarding of the civilian population in the event of an atom and hydrogen bomb war to prepare plans for evacuating areas threatened by air attack, for feeding and accommodating displaced civilians, and the immediate construction of deep underground civilian air-raid shelters.

No. I do not think that this would be a good plan at all. Preparations for civil defence are closely linked with the expansion of a wide range of normal, peace-time functions of local authorities and public utilities. It is better that the Ministers chiefly concerned with those functions should be responsible for the civil defence preparations arising out of them, subject to co-ordination by the Home Secretary and for Scotland by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is being done to encourage the agricultural apprenticeship training schemes in Northumberland; how many boys and girls have been accepted for training; and how many have been successfully placed after training.

The Agricultural Apprenticeship Scheme was launched just over a year ago by the two sides of the industry. Help is given by the Youth Employment Service, local education authorities and my own Department. In Northumberland so far there are five apprentices, all boys. The course is for three years and the last part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that, as a result of the act of grace in returning Mrs. Woollett her land, it is no longer possible to exercise the right granted by the Court of Appeal to carry her case to the House of Lords; and that, in consequence, a final decision on several important points of law in relation to the constitution of tribunals can no longer be given, and, as many people, particularly in the eastern counties, are affected, who cannot afford the expense of an appeal, if he will introduce legislation to clarify the law.

No. I am advised that, in view of the decision of the Court of Appeal, the legal position does not need clarification by legislation. It is, however, open to Mrs. Woollett to appeal to the House of Lords if she wishes to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he proposes to take to deal with the serious potato root eelworm infestation disclosed by the recent survey carried out on his behalf.

Farmers in areas believed to be infested are being encouraged to have their soil examined and advice as to cropping is given by the Ministry's Advisory Officers. The most effective method of controlling this pest is by good husbandry, and especially by adopting a rotation in which potatoes are not grown more frequently than once in four years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the estimated tonnage of sugarbeet still unharvested and waiting for delivery at the latest convenient date; and whether he will take steps to see that sufficient factory space is kept open to handle the quantity of sugarbeet still waiting to be harvested and delivered at present.

It is estimated that about 45,000 tons of sugarbeet still remain to be delivered to the factories. The British Sugar Corporation, I understand, have arranged for five factories to continue to operate so long as enough sound beet is being delivered to enable them to work economically.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now state the terms of reference and the names of the individuals of the inquiry into horticultural marketing.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham (Mr. Godber) on 1st December, but I hope to be able to do so shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what consultations he has had with the organisations of farmers and farm workers with a view to designating a Saturday in January or February for a drive against wild pigeons.

After full consultation with the organisations representing farmers and farm workers, shoots are being organised in most counties each Saturday from January to mid-March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how he proposes to deal with the request of the National Farmers' Union for a Special Review under Section 2 of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

The request was made in a letter to me of 19th January from the President of the National Farmers' Union for England and Wales. I informed him on 25th January that, after carefully considering the circumstances, the Agricultural Ministers had agreed that a Special Review should be held at the same time as the forthcoming Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the spread of myxomatosis in wild rabbits during the past year.

Yes. The Second Report of the Advisory Committee, published today, shows that the disease has spread extensively all over Wales and Southern England, with scattered outbreaks widely distributed over the rest of England and Scotland. Copies of this Report are available in the Vote Office.Since last autumn county agricultural executive committees, in collaboration with farmers, land owners, farm workers and those engaged in forestry, have been planning measures to destroy rabbits that have survived in areas where the disease has taken a substantial toll. These "mopping-up" operations are already well under way in many districts and are about to start in others. I hope these operations will be energetically pursued by all farmers and workers. Their success depends on individual efforts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the landing price of cod has risen since decontrol of prices.

Under control the price for whole cod at first-hand sale was 4s. 9d. a stone. During 1951, the first full year after decontrol, the average price of cod at first-hand sale was 5s. 8d. a stone. During the first 11 months of 1954 it was 5s. 10d. a stone.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to make a statement on his plans for dealing with horror comics, in so far as this subject lies outside the responsibility of parents.

I am not at present able to add to the answers which I gave to Questions on this subject on 9th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the two speakers' pitches in Lincoln's Inn Fields are being lost to their traditional use because of competition from parked cars; and whether he will arrange with the Metropolitan Police to keep these sites free from cars until 2.30 p.m. on weekdays.

I am aware that, at any rate since about 1938, it has been common for meetings to be held at lunch-time at two of the corners of Lincoln's Inn Fields, and I am also aware that cars are now sometimes left at these corners; but the police have no power, unless an offence of obstruction is committed, to restrict the parking of cars in order to make room for meetings, or indeed to restrict the holding of meetings in order to make room for cars.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ensure that men convicted of serious offences and liable to prove dangerous, are not, in future, sent to the Eastchurch open prison.

Prisoners convicted of offences involving violence or considered likely to be dangerous have not been sent to Eastchurch prison, and no change of policy in this respect is contemplated. I am glad to have this opportunity of correcting certain inaccurate reports which have appeared on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will delay action to deport an American citizen, of whose name he has been in formed, since she is a person of good character, employed in a responsible position by the London County Council, and since she is, in any case, likely to become a British subject by marriage within the course of a few weeks.

I decided that it would not be in the public interest to grant an extension of stay to this woman, and as she did not leave the country after her permitted stay expired, I made a Deportation Order against her. It was not necessary to enforce the Order as, on being informed that it had been made and would be enforced, she left the country.

asked the Secre tary of State for the Home Department whether he will now relax passport regulations for cross-Channel day trips; and whether he is aware that one steamship company has already announced that it cannot continue its cross-Channel service because the passport restrictions have made it uneconomical, and that others are similarly affected.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies I gave on this subject on 9th December last, to which at present I have nothing to add, except that I am arranging to receive a deputation from certain of the interests concerned to discuss the matter in the near future.

asked the Secre tary of State for the Home Department how many of the doctors who examined Mrs. Christofi were psychiatrists; and what was the extent of their examination.

Of the three doctors appointed to conduct a medical inquiry into Mrs. Christofi's mental condition, one holds a Diploma in Psychological Medicine, and the other two—a former Medical Superintendent of Broadmoor Institution and a former Director of Prison Medical Services—have long and special experience of cases of this kind. The doctors had two prolonged interviews with the prisoner. They also interviewed the governor of the prison, the Church of England chaplain, the prison medical officers, the Greek Orthodox priest who ministered to Mrs. Christofi, and the prison officers who had charge of her.

asked the Secre tary of State for the Home Department why visas were refused to writers invited by the Authors' World Peace Appeal to attend an international conference of writers to discuss the part which might be played by literature in the creation of a peaceful world.

It has been made clear to the House on several occasions that foreigners cannot be admitted to this country to attend meetings organised by bodies which are, consciously or unconsciously, serving the purposes of the Communist-dominated World Peace Movement. I am satisfied that the Authors' World Peace Appeal is in this category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many monkeys have been used for the purpose of experiments on living animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, in each of the last five years; from which countries they came; and what was the purpose of the experiments.

I have no information as to the countries of origin of animals imported for experimental purposes. Separate statistics of experiments carried out on monkeys under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the recent visit to him of a deputation from the Birmingham City Council concerning the immigration of workers into Birmingham.

I am studying, in consultation with my colleagues, the views expressed by this deputation. I regret that I am unable to make any further statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that there is no power to repatriate colonial citizens to their colony of origin even in cases where they have arrived as stowaways and have subsequently been found guilty of serious felonies; and if he will now take steps to acquire such powers forthwith.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, Her Majesty's Government have this matter under consideration, but I regret that I am unable to make any statement at present.

asked the Minister of Education if he is now in a position to state whether the proposed special school for handicapped children in New-castle-under-Lyme will be included in the 1955–56 building programme.

My right hon. Friend has now heard from the Staffordshire Local Education Authority that they have arranged for a review of the need for special school places for delicate and physically handicapped children in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The school will not be included in the 1955–56 building programme, and its inclusion among the authority's proposals for 1956–57 will depend upon the result of the review.

asked the Minister of Education his estimate of the number of new school places on which building will start in the year 1955–56; and how this compares with his estimate of the number to be started in 1954–55.

I have only just received authorities' proposals for additional major projects to be started in 1955–56. For this reason, and because there is no limit on the number of minor projects which may be undertaken, I cannot yet say how many school places in all will be started in that year. There is little doubt that this year's figure will be exceeded.

asked the Minister of Education how many county education authorities have no residential school or schools for educationally sub-normal children.

Twenty.

asked the Minister of Education how many county borough authorities have no day special school or schools for educationally sub-normal children.

Twenty-one.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that Kathleen Lee, aged 5, a pupil at Upton Junior School, Somerset, broke her leg in the school playground, and was thereafter made, by the headmistress, to stand on one leg for 10 minutes, was shaken, made to lie on a hard floor for 50 minutes, sent home in the school omnibus although the child's parents are on the telephone and have a car, and was finally carried 400 yards to her home with the leg dangling; and what action he intends to take with the mistress concerned.

Difficult as it must be to establish exactly what happened in a case like this four months ago, I have no doubt it was a very regrettable incident. Having obtained the views of the parents and of the local education authority, I do not consider any action is called for on my part. I am glad to say that the child is making a good recovery.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have postponed the retirement of head teachers in their service after the age of 65 years; what is the number of head teachers concerned; what is the period by which the retirement has been postponed in each case; and in how many cases he has approved the exercise of such power by the local education authority.

On 31st March, 1953, the latest date for which the information is available, 118 head teachers aged 65 or over were employed by 58 local education authorities. Of these, 92 had not reached their 66th birthday; of the others, 18 were 66, four were 67, two were 68, two were 70 and one was 72. My approval is not necessary to the retention by local education authorities of teachers beyond the age of 65.

asked the Minister of Education the names of the local education authorities in England and Wales which have no child guidance centre or centres.

I am sending the hon. Member a list of the 23 county and 26 county borough authorities which, in December, 1953, had no child guidance centres or clinics. A number of these authorities are able to use centres or clinics provided by regional hospital boards or by other authorities.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the recent decisions concerning the introduction of equal pay in the Civil Service, he will make a statement about equal pay for teachers.

In the first instance, it is for the Burnham Committee to consider this question. I shall be ready to look at any proposals which the Committee may make to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that about half the British employees of the Sudan Government have resigned; and if he will make a statement.

The Sudanisation Committee, set up under Article 8 of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of 1953, has completed its examination of all Sudan Government posts. The majority of the Committee's recommendations have been accepted by the Sudan Council of Ministers and have received the Governor-General's assent. In addition, Clause 4 (ii) of the Sudan Government's Compensation Ordinance, under which non-Sudanese officials have the right to give notice of their intention to resign on compensation on or after 1st January, if their posts are not scheduled for Sudanisation, is now in operation.The Sudanisation Committee's terms of reference, set out in Annex III to the Agreement, were "to complete the Sudanisation of the administration, police, the Sudan Defence Force and any other Government post that may affect the freedom of the Sudanese at the time of self-determination," and to "review the various Government posts with a view to cancelling any unnecessary or redundant post held by Egyptian or British officials."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of United States coal imported into the United Kingdom was carried in British ships.

About 36 per cent, in 1954.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now make a statement on profit margins in subsidised bread.

My right hon. Friend has decided to increase the profit margin from 5s. to 9s. per sack on the first 25 sacks of every baker's weekly usage of flour in subsidised bread. The increase will take effect from 3rd October, 1954.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the unsatisfactory position with regard to the meat content of sausages, he will take action to make it obligatory on sausage manufacturers to provide a minimum meat content of 50 per cent, in beef sausages and 65 per cent. in pork sausages.

No. The latest returns from Food and Drugs Authorities show an average of 68 per cent, of meat in samples of pork sausages and 63 per cent, in samples of beef sausages.

asked the Minister of Food if he will now make a statement on the siting of slaughterhouses.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 20th December, 1954.

asked the Minister of Food what action he is taking to obviate a shortage of both fresh and frozen meat in March and April and, consequently, a rise in prices.

My Department has built up substantial stocks of all types of frozen meat, and the trade with all supplying countries outside the dollar area has been thrown open to private importers upon the completion of bulk purchase contracts. Following the early and heavy killing season in Australia and New Zealand, substantial and increasing quantities of privately imported meat are arriving. There therefore seems no reason to expect a shortage of frozen meat in March and April and wholesale prices should remain at reasonable levels. It is, however, impossible to avoid a reduction in fresh meat supplies in the first half of the year when fatstock marketings are seasonally low, though by freeing the market we have successfully encouraged farmers to market their stock at a more level rate than under the fixed price control system.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of shoppers consequent upon the increasing practice of butchers in marking up the prices of pieces of meat with no indication of the price per lb.; and if he will take action to ensure that information is given to enable the public to compare meat prices per lb.

I agree that it greatly assists housewives in shopping economically if butchers show the price per lb. they are charging for meat. Under rationing, when the Ministry directly controlled the price of cuts, my Department were able to secure the co-operation of the majority of butchers in displaying price tickets. Now that housewives are free to shop where they choose, I am sure that they can, and I believe they will, make their own influence felt in this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the launching at Kiel in December, 1954, of the first of 24 fish-factory ships being built in West German shipyards for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; whether he is aware that the value of this contract secured by Western Germany is in the region of £17 million; and what steps he is taking to encourage the placing of similar orders with shipbuilders in this country.

My attention has been drawn to the launching of the ship to which the hon. Member refers, and I can assure him that licences will certainly be issued to British shipbuilders for similar, ships if and when orders are forthcoming. It should not be assumed that they have not competed for orders for ships of this type.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make a statement on the progress of discussions about the restrictions on the export of ships to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern Europe.

Discussions are still proceeding and it is not yet possible to make a statement.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the latest information about the survey for water supplies along the Ghanzi-Lobatsi cattle export route in Bechuanaland; what further progress has been made with plans for more extensive investigations; what progress has been made with the survey of farms in the Ghanzi area; and how the steps which are now being taken in these matters conform with the recommendations of the Gaitskell Report.

Seven successful bore holes have been sunk long the first half of the route. Drilling to depths of 900 feet has been undertaken at 11 sites on the second half of the route, so far without success. Heavier equipment capable of reaching sub-artesian supplies which are believed to exist at depths of 1,500 feet has been ordered and will be delivered shortly. For information about the plans for more extensive investigations, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White) on 18th November. Action on them awaits the passing of a new Colonial Development and Welfare Act.Arrangements for the survey of farms in the Ghanzi area are now under discussion by the Administration and the farmers concerned. The development of water supplies along the cattle export route and the survey of farms in the Ghanzi area conform with the recommendations of the Gaitskell Mission. The plans for more extensive development relate to areas which were not within their terms of reference.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on what date the European and African Advisory Council was consulted on the proposal to deal with all cattle exported from the Bechuanaland Protectorate through the Lobatsi abattoir; and what advice was given by the European and African members, respectively, on that occasion.

It has never been intended that all cattle exported from the Bechuanaland Protectorate should be handled by the Lobatsi abattoir. It has always been recognised that exports of live cattle from certain remote areas in the North should be allowed to continue. The African and European Advisory Councils were consulted about the proposal to establish an abattoir at Lobatsi in September, 1950. The African Advisory Council welcomed the project. The European Advisory Council, after appointing a Committee to examine the project in detail, accepted it by a large majority.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to secure equal payment for men and women in the National Health Service.

This is a matter that will have to be discussed in the first place on the Whitley Councils for the Health Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the decisions concerning the introduction of equal pay in the Civil Service, he will make a statement about equal pay for teachers in Scotland.

I propose, in the first instance, to ask the National Joint Council on Teachers' Salaries to consider the question of equal pay for teachers in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what purpose it is proposed to use the Norfolk flax factory after the Home Flax Scheme is discontinued this year.

This factory, with four others, will continue in operation until the crop to be sown in 1955 has been harvested and processed. It is therefore premature to discuss its future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make on the Fifth Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of the National Research Development Corporation.

Yes. This Report with accompanying Statement of Accounts has now been laid before the House as required by the Development of Inventions Act, 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make about the completed report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the supply and export of semi-manufactures of copper and copper-based alloys.

I received this Report on 22nd January. When it has been printed, it will be laid before Parliament in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement following his reconsideration of the Kingsway Tunnel as a car park.

Since I answered a Question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 22nd December, I have been to have a look at the tunnel. I am afraid that at present I do not know of any practical use to which it can be put at any reasonable cost. My London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee is considering the matter further, and I will look at the matter again when I have their Report.