the Minister of Health why the recommendation of the British mission that the fluoride content of the urine of all persons in the community, and not only of a small group of children in London, should be tested, has not been carried out; and whether the technical difficulties referred to in his reply, dated 15th July, 1954, have been resolved.

Such tests have been found to be unnecessary, for the reasons explained in my answer on 25th February. The second part of the Question, accordingly, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health what quantities of orange juice were distributed through the maternity and child welfare services of local authorities in each month since July, 1954.

Full details are not yet available but I have called for returns from local health authorities showing the amounts of orange juice and other welfare foods distributed by them during the first six months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade values of United Kingdom exports to India of manufactured goods carrying an import duty of less than 60 per cent., and manufactured goods carrying a duty of 60 per cent. and more, respectively.

The total value of exports to India of manufactured goods (class D of the Trade Account classification) in 1954 was £95 million. I estimate that about nine-tenths of these exports carried a duty of less than 60 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men are serving with the British forces in Kenya.

I am obtaining this information and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War to place in the Vote Office a table of recruiting figures such as was made available in 1954.

The figures are now in the Vote Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of rum were imported by the United Kingdom and from which countries of origin, in 1938, 1947, 1951, and 1954; what quantities were withdrawn from bond for consumption in the United Kingdom and what quantities were in stock in bonded warehouses on 31st December of each of these years; and whether he will give similar figures for high strength cane spirit and brandy, respectively.

The following is the information asked for by my hon. Friend so far as it is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date the table published on 19th November, 1954, showing how the internal purchasing value of the £sterling has varied month by month, taking the value in October, 1951, as 20 shillings.

Taking October, 1951, as 20s. the figures for the months since October, 1954, based on the Ministry of Labour's Interim Index of Retail Prices, are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, although a parent may not be maintaining a child, he or she is nevertheless entitled to Income Tax rebate for the child, whereas the foster parent, who is responsible for the child, is not entitled

I am aware of this point. In reply to the second part of the Question, I cannot anticipate the Budget.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, by what date he expects the staff of the Mathematics Division of the National Physical Laboratory to reach the figure of 75, programmed in 1949.

Since 1949, certain work formerly undertaken by the Mathematics Division has been transferred to other divisions of the National Physical Laboratory. The figure of 75 is, therefore, no longer applicable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps have been taken to put into effect the suggestions in paragraphs 13 and 14 of the Report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1947–48, Command Paper No. 7761, that research associations might undertake studies of consumer need research, costing systems, and other subjects bordering on the economic sphere.

In recent years research associations have given considerably increased attention to subjects bordering on the economic sphere. Their main effort in this sphere has been in two directions. The first is the economic assessment of improvements in industrial processes arising from the application of research. This type of assessment, based on first-hand study of industrial conditions, is now conducted by most research associations, particularly in the field of fuel economy and the saving of expensive raw materials. The second is studies in the field of production economics being carried out in eight Research Associations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, in what industries development councils contribute to the funds of the appropriate research association.

The Cotton Board (1948) contributes to the Shirley Institute of the British Cotton Industry Research Association and the Furniture Development Council to its Research Committee. In addition, the Lace Research Association and the Wool Industries Research Association benefit from statutory levies made on their industries under the Industrial Reorganisation and Development Act, 194.