asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an estimate in terms of money of the damage caused by marauding sheep; and what proposals he has for further legislation to deal with this problem.

I regret that a reliable estimate cannot be given. The existing law provides remedies for damage done to land and crops by straying sheep and I do not consider that a case for further legislation has been established.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will prohibit the import from Eire of live horses for slaughter in this country.

The Horses (Sea Transport) Order,1952, and the Horses (Landing from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) Order, 1954, are designed to protect horses brought from Ireland from unnecessary suffering while in transit. I have no general power to prohibit or restrict their import.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the districts to be made compulsory rabbit extermination areas.

No Rabbit Clearance Order has yet been made. County agricultural executive committees are formulating proposals in consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider putting into effect at an earlier date than suggested the proposal to dispense altogether with the clean area and instead to deal with outbreaks of fowl pest on an emergency basis, as in cases of foot-and-mouth disease.

I cannot at this stage forecast whether it will be possible to withdraw the clean area restrictions earlier than has already been announced, but the position will be kept under constant review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a decision has yet been reached concerning the payment this year of hill sheep subsidy.

After full consideration of all the relevant circumstances and consultation with the interests concerned, the Government have decided that they would not be justified in paying a hill sheep subsidy in the United Kingdom this year. The estimated financial returns to hill sheep farmers in 1954 were generally at a satisfactory level, even though in some areas they were not so good as in 1953. The question of the subsidy will be reconsidered next year in the light of the economic conditions prevailing in the hill sheep industry in 1955.

asked the Minister of Labour what information is given by his Department's employment exchange at Lichfield to applicants in search of work on the Trent Valley Trading Estate in respect of wage rates and the local cost of living.

Applicants are given the wage rates and other particulars quoted by employers on the Estate when notifying vacancies. They are also given any general information about local conditions which may be required and is within the knowledge of the Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of disabled per sonnel working at the Remploy factory in Willesden on 31st December, 1953, and 31st December, 1954, respectively.

The numbers of severely disabled persons working at the Park Royal Remploy factory, Willesden, on 31st December, 1953, and 31st December, 1954, were 58 and 53, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the publicly-owned British Transport Commission must bear the cost of increased wages; and whether he will make a statement on Government policy towards wage increases in nationalised industries.

Yes. There has been no change in the Government's policy of leaving wages in the nationalised industries to be determined through the negotiating machinery established by agreements to which the managements and trade unions are parties.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men were granted deferment from call-up because of their farm work in Scotland and in the county of Lanark in the past year and the year before, respectively; and if he will state the number who were granted postponement of call-up in the two periods, respectively.

Information in reply to the first part of the Question is as follows:

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR DEFERMENT OF FARM WORKERS GRANTED
During the year		Scotland		County of Lanark
		First applications	Applications for extensions	First applications	Applications for extensions
1953	…	1,355	1,658	94	143
1954	…	1,419	2,595	98	208

As regards the second part of the Question, the numbers of first and renewal applications granted for postponement of call-up on grounds of exceptional business hardship in Scotland and the County of Lanark (excluding Glasgow) for 1953 and 1954 were:

asked the Minister of Labour what is his present policy with regard to the performance of National Service by men of call-up age who become British subjects by naturalisation.

My policy is that they should discharge their liability. If my hon. and gallant Friend has a particular case in mind and will let me have details, I will gladly make inquiry and communicate with him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist or are contemplated with regard to the payment of grants for adult school patrols in the county of Devon.

Under the School Crossing Patrols Act, 1953, it is for the appropriate local authority to decide what arrangements, if any, should be made for patrolling school crossings. I am not aware that the Devon County Council has made any such arrangements or contemplates introducing them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of complaints he has received over the last convenient period from discharged prisoners and other interested persons about inadequate facilities for providing clothing and financial assistance to ex-prisoners to tide them over the first few days of their release.

A precise figure is not available, but the number of such complaints is estimated not to exceed 50 a year, in relation to an annual discharge rate of about 35,000. Every complaint is fully investigated through the after-care organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what injuries were caused by horses to police on foot outside the Palace of Westminster on 25th January and in what circum stances; and what extra pay, compensation or allowances are being paid.

Three constables each had a foot trodden on by a police horse. Two suffered some injury, one of them being absent from duty for five days. The only damage sustained by the third officer was to his boot and only he has submitted a claim for compensation, which is being met in full.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what time on 25th January police under the control of his Department were informed that only people with appointments with a Member of Parliament were to be allowed into the Palace of Westminster; at what later time the police were in formed that those carrying a letter of appointment were not to be admitted; and how this decision was communicated to those who had been waiting.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that at no time on 25th January were instructions given to the police either that only people having appointments with a Member of Parliament were to be allowed into the Palace of Westminster, or that those carrying a letter of appointment were not to be admitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why, on 25th January, mounted police charged members of the public standing on the pavement and in shop doorways in Charing Cross Road and Oxford Street; why, at 9 p.m. on that date, two constituents of the hon. Member for West Ham, North, who were sheltering in a shop doorway in Oxford Street, were threatened by a mounted policeman that he would come in and get them unless they came out; and by what authority the police shift persons off private property when the owner makes no complaint and when no disturbance is being caused;(2) whether he is aware that, on 25th January, mounted policemen charged shopkeepers and their assistants out of their shop doorways in Charing Cross Road and Oxford Street; what authority the police have to inform owners of shop premises, standing on their own shop fronts, that they should clear off; and whether he will cause investigations to be made into these incidents.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that at about 8.30 p.m. on 25th January a large crowd gathered in the southern part of Charing Cross Road. As traffic was obstructed, and as it appeared that the intention was to form a procession and march down Whitehall, it was necessary for the police to disperse the crowd in pursuance of their duties under the general law and under the Sessional Order. In the course of so doing it was necessary for some of the mounted police officers to goon to the footpath. Subsequently mounted police shepherded an orderly procession by way of Shaftes-bury Avenue and across Oxford Street to Montague Place. The thorough investigations made by the Commissioner have brought to light no evidence that mounted police removed members of the public or shopkeepers from shop doorways in Charing Cross Road or Oxford Street. If the hon. Member would care to let me have particulars of the complaints to which he refers, I will have them looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the complaints made concerning the activities of the police in London on 25th January and in view of the fact that some Members of Parliament, in addition to many members of the public, witnessed incidents, he will appoint an independent committee of inquiry' to make a public investigation into the incidents that took place on 25th January.

Such complaints as have reached me do not in my opinion justify the course suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many thefts from public museums and art galleries have been reported to the police in England and Wales within the last six months.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the cells in Her Majesty's Prisons in Cardiff, Swansea, respectively, have three prisoners to a cell; and how these percentages compare with the average figures for England and Wales.

Prisoners are accommodated three to a cell only in certain local prisons for men. In those prisons, taken as a whole, the percentage of cells so used on 1st February was 12·96; the percentages at Cardiff and Swansea were 4·27 and 10·19 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Cardiff, do not attend the various religious services arranged on any given date.

Of about 300 prisoners at Cardiff prison 10 are excused attendance at chapel, the remainder attend the weekly services arranged for their denominations. For prisoners of the Church of England and Church in Wales there are two additional services during the week, at which the attendance is about one-third of those eligible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the anomaly in the law which allows young persons under 18 years of age to purchase alcoholic drinks in dance halls granted an occasional licence; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware that the restrictions on the supply of intoxicating liquor to young persons for consumption on the premises have never been applied to supply under an occasional licence. As at present advised, I do not think that there is any immediate need for legislation to amend the law in this respect. An occasional licence may only be granted with the consent of the justices, and this should give the justices an effective measure of control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce legislation to regulate steeple chasing so as to avoid unnecessary cruelty to horses.

No. The hon. Member will be aware that certain changes are being made this year to ease the hazards of the Grand National course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has given further consideration to the need for a review of the provisions of the prison rules governing admission to the third stage of sentences of preventive detention; and what action he proposes to take.

I have decided, after full consideration, that the time has not come to consider any review of the system of preventive detention as set out in the prison rules. Steps are being taken however to further help prisoners to understand the working of the system and in particular the selection of prisoners for the third stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were placed on Number 1 punishment diet at Dartmoor Prison during 1954;how many on Number 2 diet; and how many were on bread and water diet from 27th January to 7th February.

The figures are 149, none, and four, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at Dartmoor Prison have appeared before the Governor during the past 12 months to complain about the food; how many petitions were made to himself; and what action was taken in respect of those complaints.

I am sorry that this information is not available, but I am assured that the subject of food has not figured to any considerable extent in the complaints of prisoners at Dartmoor during 1954 and no special action was called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that many innocent persons charged with criminal offences are put to considerable expense in proving their innocence; and if he will consider ways, either by extension of the Legal Aid Act. 1949. or other means, whereby they can be assisted.

The courts in England and Wales already have power, when satisfied that such a course is desirable in the interests of justice, to grant legal aid to an accused person who is committed for trial. Legal aid may also be granted in certain circumstances in magistrates' courts; section 18 (2) of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, widens the power to give legal aid in magistrates' courts, but I am not in a position to say when it will be possible to bring this subsection into effect. Under the Costs in Criminal Cases Act, 1952, the courts also have power, in the case of an indictable offence, to order the reasonable costs of the defence to be paid out of local funds when the accused has been discharged by the magistrates' court or acquitted.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the Governors of the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids regarding the financing of educational film production.

I have discussed with the Governors the difficulties they are experiencing in securing the production of new films for schools, and I am now arranging to discuss the whole question of educational films with representatives of the local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education what proposals he has received from the School Broadcasting Council on the establishment of a school television service.

I recently discussed with representatives of the School Broadcasting Council the proposals outlined in the joint statement by the Council and the British Broadcasting Corporation which they issued to the Press last November.

asked the Minister of Education the amount of grant paid under Section 104 of the Education Act, 1944. to the managers and governors of pro posed Roman Catholic schools for displaced pupils in the financial years 1952–53 and 1953–54; and how much he estimates will be paid in this way in the current financial year.

£61,639 in 1952£53 and £155,602 in 1953£54; the estimated sum for 1954£55 is £470,000.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied that the decision to allow candidates to enter for the General Certificate of Education below the age of 16 years has been justified by results; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the schools have in general been making proper use of the discretion now given them in this matter and that it will be found that the most able pupils, for whom it was intended, will have benefited from it.

asked the Minister of Education when the Anson Primary School at Willesden was opened; how many pupils it was intended to cater for; and how many are, in fact, upon the roll.

The Anson County Primary School in Willesden was opened in May, 1952. It was designed for 280 pupils, but an additional 80 places have since been provided in hired premises. The number on roll is at present 425.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has now reconsidered the scale of grants for university students in accordance with the income of parents; and, particularly, whether he is prepared to agree to the means test being on the net income instead of the gross.

As I told the House on 3rd February, I am still reviewing the whole question of these grants and I am not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Education the cause of the dispute at Hereford Teachers Training College for Women; and whether he will make a statement.

The students at the college chose to criticise the feeding arrangements by a demonstration instead of by using the constitutional means provided for the purpose. I understand that the incident may now be regarded as closed.

asked the Minister of Education how many courses for the Higher National Certificate are now authorised for which the intake of students has been 10 per class or less; and how many of these have been authorised for the first time during 1953–54 or 1954–55.

I regret that this information could not be supplied without very considerable labour. In any case, approval of a course for National Certificates is not given by reference to attendance of a specified minimum number of students. The accessibility and suitability of approved courses elsewhere is taken into account.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the Middlesex County Education Authority is adopting the policy of applying political tests when appointing head teachers; and what action he is taking.

I understand that since October, 1950, the Middlesex Local Education Authority has been following a policy of debarring Communists and Fascists from headships. I do not like this policy, but I should only be justified in intervening if the education service were being seriously and adversely affected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many 12 inch and how many 17 inch television tubes were imported into the United Kingdom in 1954; and what was their average price, respectively, to the importer.

The trade statistics do not show 12 inch or 17 inch television tubes separately. 412,000 complete cathode ray tubes of all sizes for television and other purposes were imported in 1954 at an average value of £4. To this, Key Industry Duty of 33⅓ per cent, must be added.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much paper, of all grades, was used for printing before the war and in 1954: and how much of it was newsprint.

Supplies to home consumers of the types of paper normally used for printing were 1,916,000 tons for the 12 months ending 31st August, 1939, and 1,546,000 tons in 1954. Within these totals, comparable figures for newsprint are 1,243,000 tons and 811,000 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcies took place in 1954; and how this compares with 1953 and 1951.

There were 2,176 bankruptcies in 1954: 2.222 in 1953; and 1,816 in 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what have been the quantities and values of trade between the United Kingdom and Bulgaria in the last two years; and what steps he is

UNITED KINGDOM TRADE WITH BULGARIA
——	1953		1954
	Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value
		£		£
Imports		737,488		563,223
Of which:	Cwts.		Cwts.
Cereals and cereal preparations	453,189	635,820	256,867	322,766
	Tons		Tons
Feeding stuff for animals	3,039	76,528	250	6,595
Oil seeds, oil nuts and oil kernels for expressing oil	—	—	3,727	105,486
Exports		170,089		592,608
Of which:
Chemicals	—	43,731	—	216,885
	Tons		Tons
Iron and steel	813	68,876	2,323	162,067
Machinery, and electrical apparatus and appliances	—	26,310	—	98,422
Re-Exports		623,051		589,608
Of which:
	Thousand lb.		Thousand lb.
Sheep's and lamb's wool, raw	1,368	551,531	1,475	566,840

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will consider revising Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, so far as it affects the staff of the Post Office, to bring it up to date with modern conditions.

I have been asked to reply. I am afraid I could not do what my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from small cinema exhibitors about the financial hardship resulting

The Bulgarian Government have accepted our invitation to send a delegation to London to discuss trade and financial matters. The following are the figures:from heavy incidence of entertainments tax; and what proposals he is considering for relieving their position.

My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of letters relating to the position of cinema exhibitors. About half relate to small cinemas. The various proposals they contain will be considered in the preparation of my right hon. Friend's Budget.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will open a National Assistance Office within the Dagenham borough boundaries in view of the large population to be served.

This is a matter for the National Assistance Board who consider that the Area Office at 10, Rowallan Parade, Dagenham, which covers, as well as Dagenham, part of the borough of Ilford, is reasonably convenient of access to the population it serves.

asked the Attorney-General how many actions have been instituted under the Crown Proceedings Act, 1947, since it came into force; and how many of such actions were concluded without being discontinued or settled.

It would not be possible to obtain this information without a great amount of research, and I do not think that the work involved would be justified.

asked the Attorney-General how many of the actions which have been instituted under the Crown Proceedings Act, 1947, since it came into force, were in contract; and how many were in tort.

This information could not be obtained without examining the record in each case, and I do not think that the work involved in doing so would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what permanent organisation exists to ensure that schemes prepared under the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund and the Colonial Development Fund are integrated.

There is no such organisation, and I do not agree that "integration" would be appropriate. The purposes of the Corporation and of the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts, though to some extent complementary, are different. The funds provided under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts are administered by the Colonial Office or Colonial Governments and not by an individual agency com- parable to the Colonial Development Corporation. In practice, the Colonial Development Corporation through its Regional Controllers is aware of what Colonial Governments are doing in their own field; and the Governments with whom the Regional Controllers maintain close contact are also aware of the Colonial Development Corporation's interests and activities in their territories.

asked the Minister of Health if he will discontinue the use of National Registration Numbers throughout the National Health Service and substitute National Insurance numbers instead.

No. The proposal has already been carefully examined in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance. Only about half the population have National Insurance numbers, whereas nearly everyone has a National Health Service number. The former numbers could not, therefore, be used as a substitute for the latter.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give favourable consideration to the introduction of special rates, cheaper than the ordinary scheduled rates, in respect of letters and newspapers and light parcels sent from this country by airmail to troops serving abroad.

A full statement of the facilities already available for sending letters, newspapers and parcels to Service men overseas, both by air and surface routes is given below. The House will see that the rates charged to Service men's families and friends are substantially lower than the ordinary postage rates. The subsidy involved (which also covers concessionary postage rates for correspondence in the homeward direction) is now running at a rate of about £1,800,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in respect of which villages in the rural districts of Kettering and Brixworth sewerage

Local Authority	Parish(es)	Date scheme submitted	Estimated cost	Actual cost	Present Position
			£	£
Brixworth R.D.C.	Sulby	17th December, 1953	—	1,675	The scheme was approved in principle on 15th January, 1954, and authority to proceed was given on 1st April, 1954. The date of completion is not known.
Brixworth R.D.C.	Pitsford	17th December, 1953	26,150	—	The scheme was approved in principle on 11th January, 1955, subject to consideration by the Council of technical amendments. The result of this consideration is awaited.
Brixworth R.D.C.	Lamport and Hanging Houghton	17th December, 1953	8,600	—	The schemes are not yet approved. Further information from the Councils is awaited and when it is received the schemes will be investigated locally.
Brixworth R.D.C.	Ravensthorpe	17th December, 1953	12,300	—
Brixworth R.D.C.	Spratton	17th December, 1953	29,300	—
Kettering R.D.C.	Cottingham, Middleton and East Carlton	2nd December, 1954	49,000	—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for which of the sewerage schemes in the Brixworth rural district submitted on 19th April, 1951, and approved in principle on 28th March and 8th May, 1952, and in the Kettering rural district submitted on 11th August, 1950, and 16th July, 1952, and approved in principle, respectively, on 12th November, 1952, and 13th May,

Local Authority		Scheme	Date of authority to proceed	Contract Period or Starting Date
Brixworth R.D.C.	…	Parishes of Maidwell and Draughton.	30th March, 1954	12 months
Brixworth R.D.C.	…	Parish of Moulton	16th July, 1954	18 months
Kettering R.D.C.	…	Parish of Grafton Underwood	23rd February, 1954	9 months
Kettering R.D.C.	…	Parish of Loddington	28th January, 1955 (date of authority to obtain tenders)	April, 1955 (Probable starting date)

The information is below:1953, authority to proceed has now been given; on what dates; and what progress has been made in each case.

Authority to proceed or to obtain tenders has been given for the following schemes. Information as to progress is not available, but for schemes started the original contract periods are shown.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when supplies of leaflets will be available giving details of the improvement grants for rural housing.

The qualifications for grant for the improvement or conversion of rural houses do not differ from those for urban houses. Three publications are available giving details of these grants. A free leaflet, "Improvement Grants for Old Houses" is available from local authorities; a booklet, "Grants for Improvements and Conversions" is obtainable from booksellers price 4d. In addition, a new handbook entitled "New Homes for Old," fully illustrated with plans and special references to rural areas, was published early in January by the Stationery Office, price 3s. 6d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what have been the results of the Government of Kenya's surrender offer.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave on 16th February to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Maccles-field (Air Commodore Harvey) and the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the representations concerning medical treatment made to him by the hon. Member for Harrow, East, he will re-examine the court of inquiry papers in the case of the late Gunner R. E. Hill in order to assure himself that the correct medical precautions and subsequent action were taken in this case.

I have re-examined this case and have satisfied myself as requested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War what evidence exists that the late Gunner R. E. Hill did not report sick between 17th July, 1953, and 19th October, 1953.

Sick Reports for the period contained no entries in respect of Gunner Hill and they are confirmed by oral evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in the case of the late Gunner R. E. Hill, the medical officer concerned persisted for so long in the view that his ailment was not serious and continued to prescribe an ineffectual remedy; and why he did not, at an earlier date than 19th October, 1953, consult specialist medical opinion.

Before 19th October his condition, on examination, did not appear to be serious. During the previous months his symptoms resembled those of fibrositis and an X-ray early in February, 1953, showed no abnormality.

asked the Secretary of State for War what official memorials now exist to the men who lost their lives in the s.s. "Lancastria" off St. Nazaire in 1940; what proposals he has for such a memorial; when it is likely to be completed; and if he will give an assurance that parents and others will be invited to the opening ceremony.

Members of the forces who lost their lives in the s.s. "Lancastria" and whose bodies were washed ashore are buried in various local cemeteries, and memorials have been erected on their graves by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Those whose bodies were never recovered have been, or will be, commemorated by the Commission on the appropriate Memorial to those who have no known grave, and relatives are invited to the unveiling ceremonies.