I have been asked by the Trustees of the British Museum to present a Petition, which they have to submit to this House each year, explaining their financial position and praying for aid. The Petition recites the funded income of the Trustees, and points out that the establishment is, necessarily, attended with an expense far beyond the annual production of the funds and the Trust cannot, with benefit to the public, be carried on without the aid of Parliament. It concludes with this Prayer:

"Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honourable House to grant them such further support towards enabling them to carry on the execution of the Trust reposed in them by Parliament, for the general benefit of learning and useful knowledge, as to your House shall seem meet."—(Queen's Recommendation signified.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the inclusion in future publications of the Digest of Welsh Statistics of more comprehensive financial returns as far as this is practicable

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 23rd February to a Question by the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. T. W. Jones).

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that I have received many letters expressing appreciation—indeed, many people have done it publicly—of the extension in the knowledge of Welsh activities which is afforded by the Digest? However, is he aware that a number of people have written to me complaining of its lack of financial information? While I appreciate the Minister's difficulties, will he do all that is possible in this connection?

I wish to make the Digest as comprehensive as possible, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that there are very real practical difficulties with regard to financial matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the Report on South Wales Ports from the Council of Wales; and what action he proposes to take by representation to the authorities concerned or otherwise, particularly in regard to railway rates and charges

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Llewellyn) on 16th February.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the South Wales ports will be suffering under a very serious disadvantage until this matter is put right? Will he make inquiries to see what action can be taken to put this in order, so that South Wales will not have these anomalies, as it has at present?

I certainly will. I am in close consultation with my colleagues.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority Metropolitan Police officers recently entered and searched the residence of Colonel A. P. Scotland; what evidence there was of any suspected intention to commit an offence; and whether he is satisfied that the Official Secrets Acts give power to seize documents before any offence has been committed under such Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose officers of the Special Branch visited the home of Colonel Scotland.

Section 9 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, empowers a justice of the peace to grant a search warrant if satisfied that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under the Act has been or is about to be committed. A warrant was issued under this section for the search of Colonel Scotland's residence because he had declared his intention of publishing a book containing unauthorised disclosures of confidential information entrusted to him while in the service of the Crown. It was not, however, executed, as Colonel Scotland voluntarily handed over certain documents to the police officers who visited his flat

As Colonel Scotland is a man who has served the country well and is very experienced in security matters, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give an assurance that these powers are not in such a case as this being used merely as an instrument to enforce Foreign Office policy? Can he give an assurance that this was not done merely at the request of the Foreign Office because the book which Colonel Scotland intended to publish might give offence to the Germans?

I have no information on that aspect. I have just stated the facts, which seem to be perfectly normal. I am sure that my hon. and learned Friend will realise that I can make no further comment on the matter as the question of taking proceedings is under consideration.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that responsible newspaper editors with considerable wartime experience of security are of opinion that there is no breach of security in the book, and that Colonel Scotland's only offence is that he has questioned the efficiency of the War Office during the war? Does he not think it is a little unfortunate that this 73-year-old soldier should be hounded in this way while more influential people, like Field Marshal Montgomery and the Prime Minister, have got away with publishing their memoirs based largely on official information?

I cannot add to what I have said in reply to my hon. and learned Friend. The question of taking proceedings is being discussed at the moment. As to the procedure under the Act, it was, as I have explained, in order and perfectly normal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the question of railway super annuitants has been referred to a committee as a result of Government action, he will refer the case of retired police officers' widows who died before July, 1948,to an independent committee to see what suggestions can be made for meeting their claim.

No, Sir. I do not think there is any basis of comparison between these two classes of pensioners.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend give an assurance that he will be a fighting friend for a good cause within the Cabinet? Can I have an assurance, please?

I readily give my hon. Friend that assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent his recent attempts to reduce prostitution in the central London area have proved successful; and whether he will make a statement in connection with this problem.

There is nothing that I can usefully add to the reply which I gave to Questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) and the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton) on 9th December last.

That reply was not entirely satisfactory. In view of the great number of cases which are continually being reported in the Press, and the fact that many people and organisations have stated that they believe that the nominal fines which are levied are not really satisfactory penalties for the crime committed, will not the Minister look into the matter again to see if something further can be done?

As I told the hon. Gentleman in answer to a Question last December, a Departmental Committee on homosexual offences and prostitution is sitting at the present time, and I think that it would be better to await its report.

Leaving aside the question of homosexual offences, can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say to what extent the whole prostitution organisation in the West End is run with the knowledge and approval of the police?

I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman has seen fit to make an observation of that sort. It is a reflection upon what everybody agrees to be a very fine force. On further consideration, the right hon. Gentleman may wish he had not made it.

On the contrary. I make it.

In that case I do not think so highly of the right hon. Gentleman as I used to. It is not done with the knowledge of the police. The very fact, to which attention was called by the hon. Gentleman, that the number of arrests has increased, is due to increased activity on the part of the police in the West End. The matters which were referred to the Committee were homosexuality and prostitution.

I am not talking about homosexuals, and I am indifferent to what the Minister thinks about me. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I want to know whether the Minister will deny that the whole of this prostitution organisation is within the knowledge of the police and is connived at by them.

I can only say what I said before. I do not accept that, and I say again that it is an attack upon the police which is wholly unjustifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he now proposes to take, in view of the additional evidence supplied to him, concerning the actions of the police on 25th January in and around the central London area, whereby, in many instances, they exceeded their legal rights in dealing with peaceful citizens

I am making inquiries into the complaints put forward in a letter which the hon. Member has brought to my notice, and I will communicate with him as soon as those inquiries have been completed.

Will the Minister try to make investigations into the action of the mounted police in charging ordinary members of the public who were standing in Leicester Square tube station as onlookers? Why should they charge them into the underground station at Leicester Square?

I cannot accept what the hon. Gentleman says about charges by mounted police. That is what the hon. Gentleman says here. I am having inquiries made into the matter.

Is it not a fact that several of these peace-loving citizens have been fined heavily in the police courts for attempting to kick police horses in the belly?

If they were, I am glad to hear it.

On a point of order. My question refers to peaceful citizens. My hon. Friend from one of the Scottish divisions has said that these peaceful citizens——

That is not a point of order. Major Anstruther-Gray.

Excuse me, Mr. Speaker. It is a point of order.

An hon. Member cannot secure audience of the House by saying "On a point of order" about something which is not a point of order. If the hon. Member has a dispute with his hon. Friend he had better settle it with him.

I am raising with you a point of order, Mr. Speaker. When you have heard it you may then be able to decide whether it is a point of order or not. I was going to raise with you the point that in my Question I referred to "peaceful citizens" who were some of my constituents, and who were not fined, as my hon. Friend suggested in his supplementary question. Is it, therefore, right for my hon. Friend to insinuate that my constituents were fined in court?

There is no point of order. All matters of difference between Members of Parliament and in this House are not points of order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to make a statement concerning the case of the late Mr. Edwin Braybrook Webb, details of which have been submitted to him, who died in Paddington Police Station

On 20th February, 1955, Mr. Webb was arrested and charged with being drunk and incapable, was placed in a cell at Paddington Police Station at. 3.15 a.m., and was visited at half-hourly intervals. At 4.45 a.m. he could not be roused. A doctor was called immediately and found that he was dead, death having taken place very recently. The notes of the coroner's inquest show that the severe cerebral haemorrhage which caused Mr. Webb's death would have proved fatal in any case and that it would have been difficult in the circumstances even for a doctor to distinguish between the symptoms of cerebral haemorrhage and the symptoms of alcohol. I am satisfied, as the coroner was, that the police officers acted properly and called a doctor as soon as a change in Mr. Webb's condition was noted.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the statement he has made will bring substantial comfort and consolation to the relatives of Mr. Webb because it has vindicated him from the charge of drunkenness?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the application made to him by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades for approval of a settlement on wages and duties

I received these recommendations only last week. They are receiving urgent consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself, and we hope to be able to convey our decision on the question of wages to the National Joint Council in the course of a few days. The recommendations on hours of duty may need somewhat longer consideration.

Will any approved settlement cover the case of regular fire brigade instructors seconded for instruction of the H Reservists whom the Home Secretary mentioned two days ago?

I could not reply to that question without notice, but I will certainly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the local authorities which have not yet implemented the School Crossing Patrol Act

I will, with permission, circulate a list in the Official Report.

Is it not disgraceful that Cheshire County Council, one of the authorities in that list, should so far have refused to implement school crossing patrols on the ground that there have not been enough child victims to justify their introduction?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to look into the food complaints of prisoners at Dartmoor Prison; what similar complaints have come from other prisons; and whether he will have inquiries made to ensure that prisoners have plain, decently-cooked food

As regards Dartmoor Prison, I would refer the hon. Member to the concluding part of the reply which I gave on3rd February to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Foot). From other prisons there has been no appreciable volume of complaint about food except at Parkhurst last November, as a result of which the Prison Commissioners caused a review to be made of the arrangements there for the preparation and service of meals. It is a requirement of the Prison Rules that the food provided for prisoners shall be of a nutritional value adequate for health and strength and of wholesome quality, well prepared and served, and reasonably varied; and I am satisfied that these requirements are observed.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman make it clear to those who have the duty of looking after these unfortunate people that even a prisoner is entitled to have food which is decently and properly cooked, and that it is a purposeless thing to destroy food by making it unpalatable? Will he emphasise these points to the persons I have mentioned with a view to seeing that nothing which has already happened recurs?

I am afraid that I cannot accept what the hon. Gentleman says. The suggestion apparently is that the food is bad. That is quite untrue; it is not. The food is of a very good quality. There is only one complaint that had justification and it was immediately put right. That was the Parkhurst one to which I have referred. Considering the number of people in prison, and the time they have to think about food, it is remarkable how little complaint about food there is.

Is the Home Secretary aware that according to the dietary sheet to which he has referred, and a copy of which he was good enough to send me, it was stipulated that a prisoner should have one egg per month and 12 ounces of sugar per week? In Dartmoor no eggs have been supplied for the last 2½ years, and no sugar is issued separately to the prisoners. Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that that should be investigated?

I will look into the part of the hon. Member's question about eggs. It does not mean that because sugar is not issued separately, the prisoners do not get it. The quality of the diet is based on scientific advice from the Ministry of Food, and as the hon. Gentleman knows, the Prison Commissioners have their own adviser.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the number of deaths and accidents which have been caused and the cruel nature of the performances and training, he will introduce legislation to prohibit the exhibition of wild animals and turns in which they appear

No, Sir. I have seen Press reports of a recent fatal accident, but I am not aware that the number of fatal or other accidents is large.

Is it not a fact that only last week one man was mauled to death by four lions, and in another case a man only just escaped with his life? Are not exhibitions of this description far more dangerous for children to see than any horror comics? Will he not take some action to prohibit these undesirable and sadistic exhibitions?

I do not know that I would agree about a lion looking like a horror comic. I think that it is a very beautiful sight, which many children are happy to look upon. If that were not so, there would not be so many toys made in that form. While I have not complete records, so far as I have been able to ascertain there have been only two fatal accidents in the last 25 years, and very few minor ones.

Would not the case be met by prohibiting imports of all wild animals except those required by approved zoological societies?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable juries in England and Wales to return the Scottish verdict of "Not proven" in appropriate cases

No, Sir.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend not agree that the very fact that this verdict has been available for generations to juries in Scotland indicates that it must have considerable value? In view of the fact that the responsibility which faces juries in England and Wales is an awful one when they have to say merely "Guilty" or "Not guilty" in doubtful cases, will he reconsider the matter?

May I ask the Home Secretary if he will ignore the uneasy conscience of the hon. Gentleman, and bear in mind that it would be a terrible thing for anyone to walk about with a verdict of "Not proven" following him, even the hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower)?

Quite unworthy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Dr. Otto Strasser, when he arrived from Canada, at London Airport, in the early hours of 18th February, 1955, was put in custody by officers of his Department, and was not allowed to proceed to his hotel in London; and if he will make a statement

Dr. Strasser was refused leave to land, and detained until arrangements could be made for him to continue his journey to Switzerland, in pursuance of the decision to which my predecessor referred in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's previous Question on 8th July last, to the effect that it was not in the public interest to allow him to come to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were made to the visiting committee at Dartmoor Prison during 1954 and to the most convenient date in 1955

This information is not available, as it has been the practice to file the record of a prisoner's application to the Board of Visitors in the personal record of the prisoner concerned. I will arrange for a board of visitors' application book to be kept in future.

Is the Minister aware that from a very reliable source I understand that many complaints have been made to visiting magistrates during the period stated in the Question, and I am very pleased to know that he is going to do something about this in the future, because I think that these records should be kept?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why figures of the number of petitions made to him concerned with the standard of food in Dartmoor Prison are not available

Prisoners' petitions are filed on the prisoners' personal files and not by reference to the subject matter of the petition.

On a point of order. This is the fourth time I have got up and not been called. I do not know whether that is due to the sun shining through the windows, but I would like to put a supplementary question occasionally.

It is unusual for the Home Secretary not to be forthcoming in this matter. Does he not agree that these records which concern the health of the prisoner ought not to be disregarded, but very carefully kept?

They are not disregarded. The hon. Gentleman's question was whether we have kept the figures. That would mean an enormous amount of work, dealing with every kind of petition. That is not to say that a petition is disregarded: on the contrary. But to keep statistics on the various kinds of complaints would provide an enormous amount of work.

May I ask if the Minister is satisfied at the present arrangement for the functioning of visiting committees, especially regarding the number of times within a given period— [HON. MEMBERS: "Wrong question."]— well, Question No. 15 relates to the same thing——

Mr. George Craddock. Question No. 16.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the 90 men who refused their food at Dartmoor Prison on Friday, 21st January last, had signed a petition complaining about the food; and what action was taken in response to this complaint

No petition or application in proper form was made to anyone in authority, but a fortnight before the refusal of food, round-robins which had been passed around for signatures, were found on two prisoners, who were reported and punished for being in possession of an unauthorised communication.

Does the Minister deny that 90 men signed a petition complaining about the food? Surely notice should have been taken of the significance of this action by 90 men? Further, is the Minister aware that the Assistant Commissioner was in the prison on the day when the petition was laid; that it was given to him, and he refused to entertain it?

I cannot accept that. The Assistant Commissioner was present the day before the mass refusals of food began, and no complaints about the food were made to him.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that when men are confined in this way it is extremely difficult for them to have their complaints dealt with properly? If in fact 90 men did sign a petition of this nature, what did the Minister mean by saying a few moments ago, in reply to a Question of mine, that there had been very few complaints? Surely 90 complaints is a considerable number to be received at one time?

There is a difference between the complaints and what happened at Dartmoor——

What is it?

I referred to it in answer to the previous Question by the hon. Gentleman. When the hon. Gentle man says that it is difficult for these men to make complaints, that is not true

Indeed it is.

It is no use the hon. Gentleman repeating that it is, when I say that it is not. It is well known that there are many ways of making a complaint. If the hon. Gentleman doubts that, let him refer to what I told him in answer to a previous Question, that complaints at Parkhurst were considered to be justified and were remedied.

In view of the increase in brutal crimes, will the Home Secretary direct that Dartmoor be made no more comfortable than it is now?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why four prisoners at Dartmoor Prison were placed on bread-and-water diet from 27th January to 7th February, 1954; and when this method of punishment will be abolished

The information which I gave to the hon. Member on 17th February that four prisoners were on bread-and-water punishment diet between 27th January and 7th February, referred to the present year, as I had supposed that to be the period in which the hon. Member was interested. The figure for the corresponding period in 1954 was six, and the punishment was awarded for various offences, including threatening, improper or disrespectful language to a prison officer, creating a disturbance, disobedience to orders, and leaving the place of work without permission. Restricted diet No. 1 is a form of punishment provided for in the Prison Rules, which received the approval of Parliament; and no amendment of the Rules with regard to it is contemplated.

May I ask why it is that at Dartmoor the No. 2 punishment diet, specified by a dietary specialist, is never used; and why, on the evidence of the figures which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman himself has given, during the whole of last year all the punishment was bread-and-water diet? Is it not rather disgraceful that we should continue to use this medieval form of diet, and how long will it be before it is abolished?

As I said to the hon. Gentleman, this form of punishment was approved by Parliament. A Departmental Committee on prison punishment has looked into the matter since, and I will quote from paragraph 49 of its Report:

"There was general agreement that No. 1 diet was an effective and proper form of punishment.… No witness suggested that it should be abolished.… The value of the punishment is that it is short and sharp.…"

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why 42 men recently engaged in a hunger strike at Dartmoor were not seen by the medical officer until they had refused all food for over 48 hours

There is no requirement in the Statutory Prison Rules or in prison regulations that a prisoner who persistently refuses food shall be seen by the medical officer from the outset of the demonstration, although the medical officer may, in the exercise of his judgment, consider it expedient to do so. In the case of the recent demonstration at Dartmoor, the acting medical officer made it his business to interview all the prisoners concerned; this took a considerable time, and he did not manage to see them all before refusal of food had persisted for 48 hours, though he did see a number. I should like to take this opportunity of placing on record my appreciation of the tact and skill with which the acting medical officer dealt with a difficult situation.

While I appreciate that answer, may I ask if it is not rather serious that we should have as many as 42 persons refusing food who were not seen within 48 hours? Might not that have been seriously detrimental to their health?

There was nothing to prevent them from keeping up their health by eating, because there was nothing wrong with the food. It was a demonstration of some sort, and no one suffered from it at all. But the real point is that the prisoners could easily have eaten the food, had they wanted to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to assist prisoners to understand the system of preventive detention; and in view of the fact that at present the overwhelming majority of such prisoners are unable to earn the full remission of their sentences even by exemplary conduct and therefore lose hope of rehabilitation, what action he proposes to take

A notice has been prepared, to be given to preventive detention prisoners when they enter the second stage of their sentence. It is designed to set out as clearly as possible the considerations governing selection for the third stage and consequent earlier release. Certain alterations will be made, with the same object, in the information provided on the prisoners' cell cards. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's Question on the same subject on 17th February.

Does not the Minister realise that, on the figures which his Department supplies, the overwhelming majority of preventive detention prisoners have a long term of imprisonment, with no chance whatever of earning full remission? If that be so, is it not a reflection on our present organisation that we do not provide the conditions to make it possible for prisoners to be rehabilitated?

Again, I cannot possibly accept what the hon. Gentleman says, because it is not borne out by experience. The fact is that good behaviour cannot be the only criterion for the remission of sentence. It may well be, in fact it has often so proved, that a good prisoner is a very different man when he gets out of prison. After all, these people are in prison for the protection of the public. By good conduct, preventive detention prisoners can earn a remission or, more correctly, eligibility for earlier release, of one-sixth of their sentence. That is the normal expectation. Those who are selected exceptionally for the third stage can earn one-third.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the steps taken by the Herefordshire County Council to keep in touch with children placed by them in the charge of foster parents and, in particular, with the steps taken to keep brothers and sisters in touch with each other; and if he will make a statement

Yes, Sir. I am satisfied that in exercising its functions under the Children Act, 1948, the county council ensures that regular visits are paid, as required by the boarding out rules, to children placed with foster parents; and makes all possible arrangements for brothers and sisters in care to keep in touch with one another.

Will the Home Secretary bear in mind that this is the authority which previously forgot to look at a youngster which it had placed with foster parents, and who became the cause of legislation being passed by this House; and, again, that this authority is the one which allowed a brother and sister to marry in ignorance? If this authority keeps children aware of each other's identity, did not something go wrong?

Without commenting on the latter part of the supple- mentary question, I may say that I have caused inquiries to be made so that I may be further informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he requires county council children's committees to report to him when they place orphan children of the same family in different homes; and how often his welfare officers keep in touch with the young people after they attain school-leaving age

Under the Children Act it is for the local authority to provide as it thinks best for a child in its care. No reports are made to me about individual placings; but my inspectors keep in touch with local authorities about their general arrangements, including arrangements for children who have left school.

Would the Home Secretary say when the inspectors lose touch with these people? Is it when they reach the age of 21, or before?

Speaking offhand, I should have thought it was nearer 18.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue to all benches of magistrates a memorandum explaining their rights and duties in respect of sittings in open court and the hearing of evidence in camera, and pointing out in particular that, even if the court is cleared for the hearing of evidence, they may not refuse to disclose the name of the accused, the details of the charge, or the decision at which they arrive

No, Sir. I have no reason to suppose that justices are not aware of the relevant statutory provisions. The effect of these provisions is that justices are normally required to sit in open court when trying criminal charges against adults. They are expressly relieved from this obligation when sitting as examining justices—that is, when they are considering, in an indictable case, whether there is a prima facie case for committing the accused for trial—but so far as I know, they sit in private only in exceptional circumstances. I am not aware of any provision which compels the disclosure of particulars of the accused, the charge, and the justices' decision, but I have no reason to think that on the rare occasions when examining justices might think it necessary to sit in private they would in general refuse to disclose this information.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the public concern caused recently in West Sussex by the action of the Littlehampton Magistrates——

Order. If the hon. and gallant Member wishes to attack a particular decision of a bench of magistrates he should put down a Motion to that effect.

Is the Minister aware that justices in general are well aware of their duties and responsibilities, and are kept fully informed by their own organisation—the Magistrates' Association?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent strait jackets are still used in prisons; and how often they are used for the additional restraint of prisoners

In 1953, the latest for which figures are available, the number of prisoners to whom the canvas restraint jacket was applied was 109. The circumstances in which mechanical restraints may be used, and the conditions governing their use, are set out in the Prison Rules. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the relevant rule.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this form of restraint has been dispensed with at Broadmoor for a long time? How can it be done without at Broadmoor and still be regarded as necessary in the prisons for which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is responsible?

I suppose that I have responsibility everywhere. The fact is that the governor is the person to decide whether it is necessary or not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what injuries were suffered by a prisoner at Winchester Gaol, of whom details have been forwarded, after he had been placed in a strait jacket; and how these injuries were caused

This prisoner was placed in a body belt, not a restraint jacket, after being forcibly removed to a special cell following a serious assault on an officer. Shortly afterwards he asked to see the prison medical officer, who found that he had a cut on the back of the head and some bruising of the shoulders. How he came to sustain these slight injuries is not clear. A little later a prison officer, on entering the cell, was attacked by the prisoner, who tried to kick him, and in self defence hit him on the head with his stave. The prisoner sustained two cuts, from one to two inches long, which had to be stitched.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman explain how it comes about that, after being placed in the body belt, this prisoner was hit over the head with a truncheon and sustained two cuts in the head, one of two inches and another of one and a half inches, which had to be stitched? I admit that this prisoner was a difficult case, but is there not something a little repugnant about a man being hit over the head with a truncheon after he has been strapped down?

I do not think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman quite realises what a body belt is. With a body belt the feet and legs are completely free—as this man found out—and when the officer came in the prisoner tried to kick him. If the kick had landed it would have been a very serious matter. The officer had to use his stave, and that was perhaps the cause of the two cuts which the prisoner had to have stitched. The hon. and gallant Gentleman says that he may have been a difficult man. I would say that that is a triumph of understatement. He was a very violent and dangerous prisoner.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend inform me whether, as a result of investigations made into this incident—which occurred in my constituency—he can say that no blame attaches to the prison staff in this matter?

I cannot add to what I have just said. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, there is bound to be a conflict of evidence in cases of this sort. We have made every inquiry we can, and I have given to the House the facts as they were ascertained. As I say, the prisoner was an extremely violent and dangerous person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what shipping companies are being invited to meet officers of his Department to discuss day trips to the Continent without passports; when they are meeting; and if he will arrange for them to visit the ports in dispute

In the first instance, Messrs. P. & A. Campbell Ltd. have been invited to discuss the matter, and it is hoped to arrange a meeting this week. I do not see that there is any reason to visit ports at this stage.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend tell me why P. & A. Campbell Ltd. are the only ones being asked? Is there any special reason for that?

The only reason is that they are the ones who have suggested a method of getting over the difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the buildings required for security purposes at ports of south and south-east England, approved for the purposes of the Aliens Order, which are not to be found at Brighton or Eastbourne piers; how many people are employed on security work in these ports, especially at Newhaven; and how many were so employed in 1938

I have not made any detailed comparison of the facilities at Brighton and Eastbourne with those at the approved ports. One hundred and twelve immigration officers, including 12 at Newhaven, are employed at approved ports in south and south-east England, the numbers in 1938 being 93 and eight respectively.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend assure us that—as he promised us—he is eventually going to look into this question of the Brighton and Eastbourne piers being used once again for these trips, if it is at all possible?

What I hope to do is to restore the full facilities which we had before the war. When this question was referred to last week, I explained some of the difficulties which confronted us and which we are trying to overcome at the present time. I said then that if I can find a method of working we shall watch it carefully to see if it can be extended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the powers possessed by courts at the present time in connection with cases of road accidents involving personal injury, to call for medical reports as to whether any physical or optical defects of the parties concerned may have been a contributory cause of the accident, are inadequate; and if he will introduce legislation to increase these powers

Where criminal proceedings are taken following a road accident, it is open to either the prosecution or the defence to call any relevant medical evidence, and I am not aware that the courts require any special powers in addition to those which they already possess to obtain a report on the physical and mental condition of the defendant after conviction to assist them in determining the appropriate penalty.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman go further into this matter, especially in view of the fact that he must know that a large number of accidents are caused because of these deficiencies on the part of the drivers?

Yes, but it is not the function of the courts to inquire into the causes of accidents. As I pointed out, it is open to either the prosecution or the defence to call any witnesses to support allegations such as that mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now fixed the dates of Summer Time; and if he will make a statement

As I announced on 21st October, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. E. Wakefield),the period of Summer Time in 1955 will be from 17th April to 2nd October.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend received any strong representations to change these dates?

I cannot recollect any at the moment other than representations in this House. I think the House would agree that it is far better to stick to one date each year, particularly in view of time-tables. Changing the date from year to year makes difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Professor Bruno Pontecorvo has yet been deprived of his British citizen ship; if he will now publish the names of those persons in Britain who sponsored the professor's naturalisation; and if he will make a statement

The Secretary of State has power to deprive a naturalised person of his citizenship if he is satisfied that the citizen has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards Her Majesty. There has hitherto been no information as to Dr. Pontecorvo's activities which would provide a reliable basis for the exercise of this power but I have of course noted with interest the statements recently attributed to Dr. Pontecorvo in the Soviet Press and am giving urgent consideration to the matter. Dr. Pontecorvo was naturalised on account of Crown service rendered abroad, and it is not the practice to require such applications to be supported by private sponsors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the introduction of amending legislation to apply the Incitement to Disaffection Act, 1934, to offences committed outside the United Kingdom

Conduct overseas which, if pursued here, would constitute an offence against the Incitement to Disaffection Act is happily rare, but Her Majesty's Government would not hesitate to take such steps as might be necessary if they were satisfied that the safety of the Realm was becoming imperilled.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that in this period of the cold war some protection should be afforded to soldiers overseas and to their relatives at home who suffer from the kind of exploitation of grief that we saw in the recent Paper issued on the subject of the Korean prisoners? Is not some action necessary to prevent a recurrence of the dastardly things which happened in Korea, with the appalling exploitation of honest men and women and their relatives here at home?

I appreciate what my hon. Friend has said. I think the whole House will agree that we should try to prevent such things occurring as were recently reported. I repeat that I shall watch the matter very carefully. If I am satisfied that steps are necessary, I shall not hesitate to take them. In regard to past events, legislation would have to be retrospective, and that is not to be commended in any case if it can be avoided, particularly in criminal cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a circular to Civil Defence authorities, giving the latest detailed information concerning the effects of the hydrogen bomb at Her Majesty's Government's disposal

Yes, Sir. Such a circular containing all useful available information is in course of preparation.

Will the Home Secretary also consider making it available to the House as a White Paper, so that hon. Members and the public may have more accurate and complete information about this vitally important subject?

I certainly shall consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many councils have withdrawn support for Civil Defence on the ground that it offered no protection from nuclear warfare

Three, Sir: one county borough, one non-county borough, and one urban district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study his Civil Defence advisers have made of the mass evacuation plans of United States cities, with a view to taking similar precautions in this country

The United States proposals for mass evacuation of cities have been closely studied by my advisers. The plans contemplate a temporary dispersal of the population from vulnerable areas within a few hours on receipt of a tactical warning of attack. This is not evacuation as we have hitherto understood it in this country. Neither the lay-out of our cities nor the length of any tactical warning period on which we can count encourages us to believe that corresponding arrangements would be appropriate over here. As the Statement on Defence, 1955, made plain, Her Majesty's Government are at present re-examining all Civil Defence policies, and notably those on evacuation and shelter.

Has the Minister seen the Report in "The Times" of last Monday, referring to a statement made by Mr. Val Peterson—his opposite number in America—from which it seems that Chicago is far more advanced than London in this respect? It is easier to get out of Chicago than London. The difficulty is how to get back.

That is something which may not be so important—but I still think that the American system is not particularly applicable to the peculiar conditions here. As I have said, all aspects of Civil Defence are being looked at urgently.

As Mr. Peterson has been giving evidence to Congress upon this subject and a great deal of information has been published, will the Home Secretary consider whether we can have similar information here?

I shall do my best to give all possible information, as I said in answer to a previous Question.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend pay particular attention to the wisdom or Unisom of using East Anglia—especially that part where American Air bases are situated— for purposes of evacuation, should the need arise?

In view of the anti-American utterances of the Minister, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Education how many private schools have not yet responded to his request to supply lists of their staffs; on what dates the schools in question were first approached for the information; and what action he is taking in respect to those schools that so far have evaded supplying the information

Out of 3,808 schools asked for staff lists,288 are known to have closed and all but 124 of the rest have replied. The outstanding cases, of which 103 were approached in September and 21 more recently, are being followed up.

How can the hon. Gentleman be complacent when he knows that for nine months efforts have been made to get this information, and that on 9th December he said that the Minister

"is taking action to hasten outstanding replies."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th December, 1954; Vol. 535, c. 1107.]

The replies received so far represent 97 per cent. of those approached. Since the hon. Member last asked this Question a month ago, 50 replies have come in, and only 3 per cent. are still outstanding.

asked the Minister of Education if he will take action to ensure that financial allowances made by Her Majesty's Government to teachers from this country going to Canada under the exchange scheme are sufficient to obviate the need to take on other work in view of the present unsatisfactory position

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I propose to undertake a general review of the arrangements for these exchanges. In the meantime, we have decided that, as a temporary measure, some increase may be authorised in the amounts to be granted to teachers going to Canada this summer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on both sides of the House the statement which he has just made will be received with great approval? He is aware, is he not, that many people have felt a sense of humiliation when people in important educational circles in Canada have made those disagreeable statements about having to take part-time employment to enable them to follow their jobs?

asked the Minister of Education if he will take powers to license and control children's camps in view of the evidence supplied to him by the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth of the unsatisfactory way in which such camps are liable to be run

Most camps are well run, and the occasional instances to the contrary do not, in my opinion, justify the introduction of a system of licensing and control such as is suggested by the hon. Member. Local authorities already have power under the Public Health Act, 1936, to deal with the physical conditions in camps.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as, I believe, this case is still sub judice in the assize court, I am prohibited from reminding him about certain police evidence in this case? Does he not think that some inspection should be made of these children's camps where circumstances arise such as were said to have arisen in this particular case?

As the hon. Gentleman says, this particular case is before the courts. I have no reason to think that it is other than an exceptional case. If I had reason to believe that there were widespread abuses, I should certainly consider action.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to encourage the use of, and aid the production of, educational films and, in particular, films which will assist the teaching of science in schools

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 17th February to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Warbey). I cannot add to that until I have had my discussion with representatives of the local education authorities.

Is the Minister aware that at present, owing to lack of funds, no educational films are being made and that in this respect this country compares unfavourably with a number of other countries? Is he aware that if a grant were made to the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids it would enable films to be produced which would be of considerable advantage to, and play an important part in, educational work?

I think that this must be talked over with the local education authorities to see whether they consider that this is a teaching aid of which they should bear part of the cost. The hon. Gentleman may know that there is by no means unanimous opinion on whether these films are really an aid to teaching or not.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the domestic unhappiness consequent upon the lack of sufficient schools, day and residential, for spastic children in the counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford; and his intentions in the matter of building further accommodation

The local education authorities of the counties and county boroughs concerned tell me that on 1st October last 43 spastic children were awaiting places in special schools, two in day schools and 41 in boarding schools. Schools in course of provision added to those already available should provide enough places for all the physically handicapped children, including spastics, in these areas.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the figures he has just given me do not exactly tally with those given by the National Spastics Society, a highly responsible body? Is he aware that there is a great deal of family anxiety in the Midlands in connection with this matter? Perhaps he would be kind enough to see me afterwards to discuss the matter?

These figures have been obtained recently from local authorities. In the County of Warwick only two spastic children are not in schools at the moment. The other children are in schools in the county area.

asked the Minister of Education the number of projects submitted by local education authorities for the development of school playing fields to serve existing schools or establishments of further education, to the latest convenient date

Since I issued Circular 283, authorities have made 21 such proposals.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers, qualified to teach Welsh, have taken teaching posts in England; and how many posts in Wales for teachers of Welsh are still vacant

This information is not available in my Department.

Will my right hon. Friend say what steps are taken to assist teachers who are qualified to teach Welsh to obtain teaching posts in Wales?

I have always understood that Welsh local authorities are very active in that matter themselves.

asked the Minister of Education whether his Department will undertake an education case history of every National Service entrant to the Army who is found unable to write his name and address on a form

I am arranging with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to investigate a sample of the cases to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.