asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now reconsider his Department's prohibition of the import of grapes and other fruits from Bulgaria in view of the need to encourage foreign trade.

We should be prepared to admit imports of grapes and other fruit from Bulgaria as part of a general settlement of trade and financial matters. As I informed the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 17th February, the Bulgarian Government have accepted our invitation to send a delegation to London for discussions to this end.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reserves of timber stock in the United Kingdom; and what is the Government's policy with regard to the release of this stock to the general trade.

Apart from the strategic reserve, details of which are not disclosed, there is no Government stock.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the latest trade statistics of the United Nations show that exports from other European countries to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics increased substantially during the first seven months of 1954, while those from the United Kingdom decreased; and whether he will, consequently, take steps to initiate discussions with the Soviet Government with a view to securing a trade agreement leading to an expansion of British exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The United Nations statistics of United Kingdom trade include re-exports, to which special considerations apply. If these are excluded, exports from the United Kingdom to the Soviet Union in the first seven months of 1954 were seven times their value in the corresponding period of 1953. There is nothing to prevent the Soviet authorities from placing orders for United Kingdom goods provided they are not strategic, and the traditional major exports of the Soviet Union already enter the United Kingdom free of import restriction. I do not consider that a trade agreement would materially influence the course of trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will provide information as to the number of cinemas to be acquired by the Rank Organisation and the Associated British Picture Corporation for which sanction for acquisition has been given, indicating at the same time the number which can be classified as newly built, and those which are war-damaged premises repaired.

So far, one application for an exhibitor's licence has been received from the Rank Organisation in respect of a theatre recently acquired from an independent exhibitor. This application will be granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tea-producing companies are owned and controlled by British capital.

The information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase there has been in imports of raw materials over the past six months for furniture and other household goods.

The trade statistics do not show imports of raw materials by reference to their use.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will set up a Ministry of Aircraft and Guided Missile Production.

No. After full consideration we have come to the conclusion that this procedure is not necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the estimated £2.50 million support for agriculture for the current year he estimates will return to his Department in taxation.

I regret that there is insufficient information available about the distribution of this amount between farmers in different income groups to enable any reliable estimate to be made, but the proportion is probably less than 10 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is today's nominal value, including accrued interest, of a National Savings Certificate, purchased in September, 1939, for 15s.; and what is its real purchasing power, allowing for the subsequent drop in the internal purchasing power of the £

22s. 11d. and 10s., respectively. The second figure is based on the price index of all consumer goods and services between 1939 and 1953, and the Interim Index of Retail Prices thereafter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amounts in wages and salaries estimated to have been paid in 1951 and 1954.

Total amounts paid in wages and salaries, as defined in the "Blue Books" on National Income and Expenditure, 1946–53, were £7,695 million in 1951; the provisional estimate for 1954 is between £9,250 and £9,300 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the value of the total net assets of Colvilles Limited, of Mother- well, at the date of nationalisation, and at 31st December, 1954.

The figure of total net assets of Colvilles Limited, including its subsidiaries, was £15,705,000 in the group balance sheet as at 31st December, 1950, and £22,180,000 as at 2nd October, 1954. These are the nearest dates for which such figures are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what price was paid on nationalisation for the total share capital of Colvilles Limited; what dividends were paid by Colvilles Limited from the date of nationalisation to 31st December, 1954; and what loans or additional in vestment in Colvilles Limited were made by the Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain during the period of nationalisation.

The compensation for the total share capital of Colvilles Limited on nationalisation was approximately £10 million. Dividends paid on the share capital from the date of nationalisation to 31st December, 1954, net of tax, totalled about £1¼ million; in addition the company paid a special dividend of approximately £6 million net to the Agency in December, 1954, which the Agency applied in subscribing for fresh securities issued by the company. The Corporation did not make any loans to or additional investment in the company during this period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what profit or loss the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency expect to make when Colvilles Limited have been completely resold to private investors.

The gross proceeds of the sale to the public of the ordinary shares of Colvilles Limited are £13 million, and this in itself exceeds by nearly £3 million the cost of the Agency's investment in this company. In addition, the Agency hold debenture stock and preference shares of the company to a nominal value of £14 million, of which £2 million has been paid up; the balance will have to be met in due course and will fall to be recovered when these securities are sold. No exact figure of profit can be given until this sale has taken place.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will investigate the growing number of football clubs' financial transactions involving inaccurate and misleading tax returns being made by the clubs and individuals concerned, with a view to taking proceedings; and(2) what evidence he has now received from Mr. Robert Smith and Mr. Wilfred Mannion as to football transfer negotiations that have been completed in circumstances involving undisclosed cash payments and other arrangements designed to evade taxation.

I can assure the hon. Member that this matter has not escaped the notice of the Inland Revenue but I cannot deal, in answers to Questions, with the affairs of individual taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of repaying post-war credits to all persons who are registered as permanently unfit for work because of illness or disability.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that while wage rates rose by less than 5 per cent. last year, gross profits were up by 11 per cent. and distributed dividends rose by 18 per cent.; and what steps he will take to ensure a fair allocation of the benefits of increased production.

Yes. Comparisons over a longer period would give very different results. There are limits to what the Government can do to regulate the distribution of the benefits of increased production. But the fair distribution of benefits is a matter which I shall continue to have very much in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that at the end of 1954 wage rates were only 4 to 5 per cent. higher than a year earlier, while the general level of food prices had risen by nearly 8 per cent.; and whether, in the light of the new situation disclosed, he will take steps to reduce the cost of food.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the continued increase in the cost of living, as recorded in the January retail prices index, what recent policy has been introduced to combat this state of affairs.

Since food only accounts for about 40 per cent. of the Index of Retail Prices, a fair comparison with wage rates would be the All Items Index, which rose by only about 4 per cent. between the end of 1953 and the end of 1954.As I have previously explained, the cost of living depends on many factors, some of which are outside the Government's control. So far as Government action is concerned, all our relevant policies are designed to prevent inflation forcing up prices; but I would not regard it as being in the best interests of the country, to attempt to bring about a reduction in the cost of living by artificial means.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to reduce the rate of interest for municipal housing loans.

The rates of interest on loans from the Local Loans Fund are kept under regular review, since their level reflects broadly the rates at which the Government can borrow for comparable periods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the serious effects on textile exports and the home trade of the Purchase Tax on textiles and clothing; whether he is aware in particular that production of some important export lines such as two-fold poplins has now almost entirely ceased; and whether he will take immediate action to remove the tax entirely from textiles and clothing.

Representations have been made to me to this effect. I cannot say more than that I am watching the position closely.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has formed of the present tendencies in the movement of world prices and the effect of such movement upon our balance of payments.

The U.K. terms of trade deteriorated during the second half of 1954 and in January, 1955, were about 6 per cent. worse than a year earlier, chiefly owing to increases in the prices of tea, rubber, non-ferrous metals and freight rates. This change in the terms of trade has naturally affected our balance of payments position adversely, but it is to be remembered that an adverse move in the United Kingdom terms of trade does not necessarily lead to a deterioration in the balance of payments of the sterling area as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take in order to increase the volume of our exports.

The Government's policy is to foster production and to keep a proper balance in our internal economy so as to encourage and assist exporters to maintain and increase the considerable efforts they are already making. At the same time our external policies are directed towards promoting the expansion of international trade as a whole. Of course, the volume of U.K. exports has increased steadily over the last three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the possibility of savings being achieved both for the banks and for the public by dispensing with endorsement when a chequer is paid into the payee's own bank.

Various representations have been made to me on this question, and I have given careful consideration to them. I have come to the conclusion that the complicated issues of law and practice raised by this proposal merit a thorough examination in the light of the evidence of experts in this field and of the views of all interested parties. I have therefore decided to appoint a Committee to investigate the matter further. I am happy to be able to announce that Mr. Alan A. Mocatta, O.B.E., Q.C., has consented to become Chairman. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the valuable initiative he has taken in focusing attention on this matter.I will make a further statement about the membership and terms of reference of the Committee as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the effects of lifting the hire-purchase restrictions on the sales of furniture and other household requirements as observed from Purchase Tax records.

There has been a general increase in the taxable value of trade in furniture and household appliances in 1954 compared with 1953, but I cannot say how far this is due to lifting of hire-purchase restrictions in July, 1954.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the net salaries after tax attached to the office of the chairmen of the Transport, Gas, Electricity and Coal Boards assuming the incumbent is a married man without children and with no other source of income.

£3,425, £2,887, £3,425 and £3,225, respectively. These figures assume that any allowances received in addition to the basic salary are completely absorbed in meeting expenses allowable for tax purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the present rate of stamp duty chargeable on farm tenancy agreements and particularly those of small annual value discourages some people from entering into written agreements which are in the interest of good husbandry and estate management; and whether he will consider an amendment in the scale of such duties.

The rate of stamp duty on tenancy agreements for farms of small annual value is itself quite low, and I have no evidence that it has been a serious factor in discouraging farmers from entering into written agreements. In reply to the second part of the Question, my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the cost of providing full equal pay to women civil servants aged 57 years, and older.

The extra cost of giving equal pay to this category at once instead of gradually over a period would be about £1¼ million in the first year, and about £4½ million over the whole period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the pools investor has to pay a pool betting duty on all investments made on football pools whereas those who invest on the Stock Exchange pay no such duty; and whether he will consider introducing a tax on all investments made in stocks and shares and capital gains resulting there from.

While I cannot admit the comparison made by the hon. Member, I would remind him that the yield from the Stamp Duties on Stock Exchange transactions was £20·2 million in 1953–54, compared with £21·6 million from football pools. The Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income has, I understand, been examining this question, and I have no statement to make on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the cost, per cent., of the collection of "Pay as You Earn" as compared with cost of assessing and collection of Purchase Tax.

I regret that it is not possible to give separate figures for the cost of assessing and collecting either Purchase Tax or Income Tax collected under P.A.Y.E. In 1953–54 the total cost of collecting Inland Revenue Duties was 1·23 per cent., and of Customs and Excise Duties 0·76 per cent., of the gross yield.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the system of collection of Income Tax by unpaid agents under "Pay As You Earn" is now a permanent part of the tax-collecting system; how many such unpaid agents there are; and how much was collected by this method in the years 1945 and 1954, respectively.

I am not aware of anything likely to lead in the near future to any major change in the P.A.Y.E. system. The total number of points from which tax deducted under P.A.Y.E. is remitted to Inland Revenue offices is nearly 900,000. Many large concerns have more than one remitting point. The total tax collected under P.A.Y.E. was £575 million in the calendar year 1945 and £610 million in the calendar year 1954. These two figures are not completely comparable, as P.A.Y.E. did not apply to the armed forces in 1945.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proposals are under consideration for unifying tax and rate collection; and if he will list the various methods and agencies by which taxes are collected in the United Kingdom from citizens.

No proposals for unifying tax and rate collection are under consideration. In answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, I think he will find the information he requires in the 97th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue and in the 45th Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many tax collecting offices exist in the United Kingdom; what is the total staff of tax collectors; and what prospect there is of reducing their numbers.

There are about 1,000 local Inland Revenue offices and about 1,500 Customs and Excise offices in the United Kingdom. The staff of the Inland Revenue, excluding staff engaged on valuation for rating, is some 41,000, and of the Customs and Excise some 15,000. In answer to the last part of his Question, the number of staff employed is constantly under review, but my hon. Friend will not, I am sure, expect me to forecast whether it might be affected by future changes in taxation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give an estimate of the percentage over total retail turnover in the United Kingdom which would be necessary to provide the amount now collected in selected commodities at varied rates in the form of Purchase Tax.

Assuming that such a tax covered the whole field of retail expenditure, including all foodstuffs, drink, tobacco, newspapers and books, hairdressing and laundry charges, and so on, the necessary rate would be about 3 or 4 per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in view of the fact that a Supplementary Estimate of £37,839,602 to be voted for science in the year ending 31st March, 1955, indicates an inadequacy in the system of estimating expenditure, what proposals he has to secure more exact forecasts in future.

I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind the amount voted for "services," not for "science." I do not think that the Supplementary Estimate to which my hon. Friend refers indicates inadequacy in the system of estimating. Of the sum now asked for, the greater part is needed because of changes in policy or circumstances which could not have been foreseen at the time when the original Estimates were framed. Among the more important of these changes are the increases in the rates of pensions and National Assistance, the increases in Civil Service pay and the pay of University staffs, the withdrawal of the Teachers Superannuation Bill, and the need for increased grants and loans to Kenya. Over the greater part of the field, therefore, the second part of the Question does not arise. For the rest, I think Departments are fully aware of the need for the closest possible estimating of their requirements. I would point out that the Supplementary sum in question represents an increase of only 1·39 per cent. over the total of the original Estimates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when a new Treasury Minute relating to the administration of the National Gallery is to be issued in consequence of the National Gallery and Tate Gallery Act, 1954, with particular reference to clarifying the policy of the National Gallery Trustees regarding the loans of pictures as set out in paragraph 7 of the Treasury Minute of 5th February relating to the administration of the Tate Gallery.

The National Gallery and Tate Gallery Act, 1954, does not affect the National Gallery in such a way as to call for a new Treasury Minute redefining its general administration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to what extent the terms of the Treasury Minute of 5th February relating to the administration of the Tate Gallery place on the Trustees the sole responsibility for employing the staff of that Gallery; and what restrictions the Treasury exercises over the Trustees' powers in this respect.

The staff of the Tate Gallery are civil servants. The responsibilities of the Trustees for employing them are similar to those of the Head of a Department. The appointment of the Director is made by the First Lord of the Treasury after consultation with the Trustees.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the latest position in connection with the committee investigating the causes of the pollution of the River Thames.

The very extensive technical investigations of the Water Pollution Research Laboratory have now been completed. The results are being analysed; and it is hoped that in the next few months they will be ready for consideration by the Departmental Committee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the estimated number of houses and flats which local housing authorities have been given permission to build in 1955; and what was the comparable figure for the years 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954.

It is not customary to publish figures of housing authorisations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now give approval to the plan for redevelopment as a housing estate of the Field Farm hutted camp at Dorchester, Oxfordshire.

This development would be a substantial departure from the approved development plan for Oxfordshire, and I have directed the county council not to grant permission for it without my authorisation while alternatives are being explored.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on current negotiations involving the approval of his Department for sites to house the London County Council overspill population outside the county area.

Yes. The London County Council are discussing with representatives of the Councils of Letchworth, Basingstoke, Peterborough and Ashford (Kent), the possibility of undertaking expansion schemes, under the Town Development Act, with a view to absorbing some of the excess population from London.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why it would be inappropriate to reimburse the Birmingham City Council for the cost of soundproofing the floors on the Egghill Estate, Birmingham, following failure of the Building Research Station's specifications; what is the cost involved; and what discussions he has had with the city council on the matter.

A local authority must be responsible for its own decisions on matters within its discretion. In this instance ample guidance was available in the Technical Appendices to the Housing Manual, 1949, which stated the limitations of the method previously described in the Building Research Station Digest No. 15. I have no information as to the cost of the works which the city council has thought fit to carry out. I have had no discussions with the council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking on the complaint made under Section 171 of the Housing Act, 1936, in regard to the decision of the corporation of Sale to purchase no more land for housing.

I have informed the borough council of the terms of the petition which has been received and I await their observations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of houses built by private builders in 1954 were built for letting.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the inadequacy of the number of houses he has allocated Leeds for the coming year, he will revise that number at the earliest possible time.

As I informed the hon. Lady in reply to her Question on 25th January last, the council of the city of Leeds were promised that a further instalment of housing authorisations would be considered early in the spring.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have awarded improvement grants to the nearest con venient date; and how many such grants have been awarded before and since the passing of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 3rd February. More recent figures are not yet available. On the second part of the Question, in the five years between the passing of the 1949 Act and the coming into operation of the 1954 Act grants were approved for 11,873 houses. The Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, did not come into operation until 30th August. In the subsequent four months for which figures are available, grants were approved for 7,924 houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the foul particles being emitted by the Swindon Gasworks; and whether he will take steps to prevent their emission.

No complaints about emissions from this gas works have reached me since 1948. This is primarily a matter for the local authority, but my technical officers are available to advise them if desired.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses, and what other properties, are now under requisition by the Winchester City Council.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will arrange, in view of the increasing importance and number of planning inquiries, to make available to appellants the instructions issued by his Department to inspectors, as to the rules to be observed by them relating to the taking of evidence and the procedure to be followed at such inquiries.

I do not think that it would be helpful to appellants to see the instructions. I am depositing a copy in the Library.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he has now taken to prevent St. James's Theatre from being replaced by offices.

The London County Council recently gave planning permission in principle for the replacement of St. James's Theatre by an office building. I am informed by Mr. Prince Littler, part-owner of the site, that the application for this permission was made without his knowledge or that of his partner, and that they have no present intention of demolishing the theatre or selling the site. On the contrary, Mr. Littler assures me that he is most anxious to do what he can, consistent with the economic running of his business, to preserve this well-known London theatre.While St. James's Theatre undoubtedly possesses character and charm, the exceptional concern which this project has evoked is not based solely upon architectural considerations. Nor can it be wholly accounted for by distress at the possible disappearance of a famous playhouse with sentimental associations. Behind these feelings there is, I believe, the understandable fear that, if one by one other West End theatres were similarly to disappear, London's renowned position in the world of drama would be endangered.I have discussed this wider issue with representatives of the London County Council; and they are considering what practical action is open to them, in their capacity as planning authority, to help safeguard the future of London's theatres.

asked the Minister of Labour why he is recalling Edward James Harris, Army No. 22979042, for military service, when his certificate of service book contains a statement by his commanding officer that he failed to complete his basic training for medical reasons when he volunteered for service with the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1953.

Harris was recalled under Section 23 (1) of the National Service Act, 1948, to serve the balance of his period of whole-time service under the Act. He had not been discharged from Regular service as medically unfit for further service, and had, in fact, accepted his discharge in full knowledge that he was liable for further service under the National Service Acts.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of vacancies he is unable to fill in the electrical engineering, civil engineering, and building industries, respectively.

The notified vacancies unfilled on the 12th January in the electrical engineering, civil engineering and building industries were 11,687, 5,017 and 17,006, respectively, but the fact that a vacancy is not filled on a particular day does not necessarily mean that we are unable to fill it reasonably soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if further education is available in Helmsdale; and if shorthand and typewriting classes are available either during the day or the evening.

Further education is provided at Helmsdale in evening classes, the particular subjects offered each session depending on the demand. The number of prospective students is too small to justify the holding of classes in shorthand or typing, but the education authority provide conveyance for pupils who wish to take the evening classes in these subjects at Golspie.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase salaries for teachers in secondary schools.

The salaries of teachers in secondary schools were increased from 1st April, 1954, by the Teachers' Salaries (Scotland) Regulations, 1954, which are not due to expire till 31st March, 1957. Changes in the Regulations affecting the salaries of secondary school teachers may be proposed as a result of any recommendations that the National Joint Council may make on the application of equal pay to the teaching profession or as a result of consideration of the Report of the Appleton Committee on Mathematics and Science Teachers. My right hon. Friend has not yet received the Report of the Appleton Committee and he should, of course, have to obtain the views of the National Joint Council on any proposals affecting salaries that might be made in it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the system of transporting school children from the Parish of Rogart to Golspie and back each day in winter is causing illness among the children and absenteeism; and if he will consider providing suitable education in Rogart.

This is the first session in which secondary pupils have, at the request of their parents, been transported daily to Golspie instead of lodging there as previously. In view of the exceptionally severe winter it would be premature to judge the success of the arrangement solely on this year's experience. The small number of pupils involved does not justify the provision of a secondary course at Rogart School.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the Appleton Report on Shortages of Teachers of Mathematics and Science.

I understand that the Report is likely to reach me in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to make a statement on his recent talks with the members of the Glenrothes Development Corporation.

My light hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State recently discussed with the chairman and Members of the development corporation a number of matters affecting the progress of the development of the new town. The discussions are to be resumed when further information has been obtained from the National Coal Board about the number of immigrant miners likely to be employed at the Rothes Pit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a large proportion of those girls who, on leaving school, wish to enter some form of nursing are unable to do so, largely owing to the rules for recruitment, and are in consequence lost to the nursing profession; and, in view of the continuing short age of nurses, whether he will inquire into, and seek to remedy, this situation.

While the rules of the General Nursing Council fix minimum ages for admission to final examinations and to the various forms of State registration, hospitals are not forbidden to employ girls below any specified age, and I am aware that girls of 15 and 16 are not uncommonly employed at cottage hospitals in country districts. It is, however, generally considered that the attendance of young girls at pre-nursing courses provided by education authorities is preferable in their own interests to their employment an hospital staffs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment concerning Scotland have already been implemented and on which action is proceeding.

The recommendations already implemented relate to certain considerations to be borne in mind in deciding whether in particular cases the prerogative should be exercised; to the arrangements for executions; and to the periods of detention, and the obligations on release, of reprieved murderers. Those on which action is proceeding relate to the conditions of detention for prisoners condemned to death and for prisoners who have been reprieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which recommendations involving legislation of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment affecting the law of Scotland are now being considered.

The recommendations under consideration relate to the law regarding provocation; the age limit below which a person may not be sentenced to death; the treatment of mental deficiency and insanity for the purposes of a special plea and a special defence; the empowering of the judge to call evidence about the issue of insanity; the empowering of the jury to decide in any case whether imprisonment for life should be substituted for the death penalty; and the fixing of the date of execution. All these recommendations except the last also affect England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the regulations, required under Section 12 of the Electricity Reorganisation (Scotland) Act, 1954, dealing with compensation to officers, will be laid before Parliament.

These regulations are under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to say when they will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the considerable interest shown by local authorities in England in investigations by the Organisation and Methods Department of the Treasury, what facilities for such investigations are available to local authorities in Scotland; and what requests he has had from local authorities.

The Treasury Organisation and Methods Division is always ready within the limits of its resources to advise local authorities in Scotland on organisation and methods problems; and the Town Council of Glasgow have appointed two organisation and methods officers on loan from the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to experiments on 600 children, mostly orphans conducted during the last three years at the Bridge of Weir, near Glasgow, for testing a new vaccine against tuberculosis; in how many cases permission was obtained from parents or guardians, and in how many permission was refused or un-obtained; whether he is aware that many of these children have contracted a serious skin disease; what other injurious effects have been observed and how far these effects are permanent; by what authority these experiments were allowed; what compensation is available to the children; and if he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Tradeston (Mr. Rankin) on 15th February, which makes it clear that the few late local reactions to the use of this vaccine have all been slight and are clearing up, and that the general health of the children has been entirely unaffected. Consent was given in every case either by the management of the homes acting in loco parentis for children in their care, or by the parents where these were resident members of the staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the cost of the eleven eight-horse-power cars supplied to seriously war disabled 100 per cent. pensioners between 31st August, 1953, and 1st February, 1955; and how the remainder of the Vote of £93,000 in 1953–54 and £84,150 in 1954–55 was spent.

I am having this information extracted, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of agricultural land in Scotland, arable, grazing, and rough grazing, have ceased to be used for agricultural purposes since the end of the 1945.

The acreages in 1945 compared with 1954 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the capital cost per kilowatt installed, £/kwI, in respect of all hydro-electric works completed by the North of Scotland Board since 1945; the estimated cost on the same basis for works in course of construction; and the comparative cost per kilowatt installed, £/kwI, for new steam stations exceeding 50,000 kwI., put into commission since 1950.

The average cost per kilowatt installed of all the Board's hydro-electric schemes completed since 1945 is £114. The average cost per kilowatt installed of schemes under construction is, on the basis of estimates published with the constructional schemes, £126; this figure will be considerably exceeded, as a result of subsequent rises in costs, before the schemes are completed. The average cost per kilowatt installed of new steam stations exceeding 50,000 kilowatts put into commission since 1950 is approximately £60.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state in convenient form the aggregate output of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for the year 1954; what part of such output was consumed in the Highlands, and what part of the output was transmitted elsewhere; and the average load factor achieved by the water power establishments of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board during the year 1954.

The Board tell me that their aggregate output for the year 1954 (from hydro-electric, steam and diesel stations) was 1,566 million units. Of this 1,176 million units were used in the Board's district and 390 million units were exported to the South of Scotland. The average load factor achieved by their water power establishments in 1954 was 32 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total electricity requirements of the Highlands, and the aggregate maximum demand of all domestic and industrial needs excluding electric rail traction and excluding current transmitted to the area of the South of Scotland Board; and what part, expressed as both percentage and amount, of the aggregate maximum demand of the Highlands is at present being supplied by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board from all its generation resources.

In 1954 the maximum demand for electricity in the North of Scotland district was 314,000 kw., the whole of which was met by the Board from their own resources. The Board expect this demand, which is more than double that for 1947, to increase up to threefold in the next ten years.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to make available a grant for the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.

While welcoming the valuable work which is being done, the Historic Buildings Council have not felt able to recommend a grant towards the cost of repair.

asked the Minister of Works if he will take steps to control the cost of building material.

No.

asked the Minister of Works when it is proposed to complete the large office block in Whitehall.

Work will be resumed in May and the building should be completed by the late summer of 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for War the proportions of expenditure on armed manpower, equipment, and administration, respectively, in the Army in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

In 1953–54, for every £1 spent on manpower, we spent 13s. 6d. on equipment and 9s. 6d. on other items. The corresponding figures for 1952–53 were 10s. 3d. and 7s. 9d. and for 1951–52 6s. 9d. and 8s. 9d. "Other items" include works services, pay of civilians and pensions. I cannot give a figure for "administration," as the hon. Member asks, because of the impossibility of defining what items and services should fall under this heading.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Edward James Harris, No. 22979042, in the 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, was discharged after having volunteered for service and served over six months in 1954.

Private Harris was discharged from his Regular engagement because his medical category fell, after enlistment, below that required for the infantry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, under his new regulations, the Army Pensions Office will be responsible for the payment of pensions and retired pay for ex-officers of the Indian Army.

No. The new office will deal only with pensions paid from Army Funds.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied with the results achieved by the system of super-priority for certain fighter aircraft which was announced in March, 1952; and for how long he proposes to recommend the relevant Departments to continue to operate this system.

As my right hon. and learned Friend informed the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) yesterday, the super-priority system has produced valuable results. The need to continue the scheme is reviewed from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he intends to take to aid Dominica in view of the present depression in the lime oil industry.

I am awaiting the report of the fact-finding Mission on the West Indian citrus industry and am not at present able to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the Sussex County Master Bakers' Association have agreed to increase the delivery charge to 4½d. a week, beginning Monday, 31st January; and, as this charge is unreason

I have seen a report of this agreement but I have no information about the extent to which bakers in Sussex are making the charge. Some are reported not to be doing so. Whether the charge is unreasonable in any particular case is a matter for the courts, but I am looking into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food if the Food Hygiene Advisory Council has yet been constituted; and if he will now state the names of those appointed to serve on the council.

I cannot yet add anything to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 15th February.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the prices of the main foodstuffs in this country as compared with prices in the United States of America, France and Switzerland.

The following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, for the year 1954 and for each area, the number of claimants from the coal-mining industry examined for the first time by pneu

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Metropolitan Police to concentrate their activities against persons Who organise prostitution in London instead of engaging in sporadic: offensives against prostitutes soliciting in the streets of the Metropolis, since these offensives are, in the long run, bound to be ineffective.

The Commissioner of Police tells me that it: is not the practice of the Metropolitan police, in dealing with the problem of prostitution, to pay attention only to solicitation in the streets, or to deal with this aspect of the problem only by way of sporadic offensives. In 1954, in addition to the action regularly taken to deal with street solicitation, the police kept observation on 273 premises suspected of being used for immoral purposes, and investigated101 cases of suspected living on immoral earnings.

Following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects a second runway at Prestwick Airport to be in operation.

The runway, without its associated taxi track, should come into limited use in the autumn of this year. Work should be completed in the spring of 1956.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the future development of Prestwick Airport.

When the new runway is complete the aerodrome's runways and taxi tracks should be able to meet all foreseeable needs. A new control tower is planned to come into use in 1956. Sketch plans are being prepared for a new terminal building which will become necessary in the course of the next few years.