asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about the future of prefabricated bungalows; and to what extent these are now in need of repair, in particular as regards the gutters.

No, Sir. Local authorities are responsible for maintenance. Conditions vary. No general statement could therefore be made about the need for repair. My right hon. Friend has had no particular complaints about gutters.

Can my hon. Friend say whether he has any idea how long the need for these prefabricated bungalows will continue?

As was said on Second Reading of the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Bill, some of these prefabricated bungalows will be required for some time, but their maintenance remains the responsibility of the local authorities.

Can the Minister define "some time"?

That would depend in each case on local circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what powers local authorities have to vary the terms of Circular No.42 of 4th May, 1954; and what steps he takes to ensure uniformity throughout the country in the implementation of the provisions of this circular.

The circular makes it clear that approval will be forthcoming to the two guarantee schemes outlined in Appendix II. My right hon. Friend is also prepared to consider sympathetically applications for his approval to any similar schemes that local authorities may care to submit. He does not think uniformity on guarantees is essential. Some uniformity is desirable, however, in the conditions applying to advances by local authorities for house purchase.

Is the Minister aware that, alone of all the councils in the Midlands, the Sutton Coldfield Town Council is not complying with the recommendations of the Ministry, and is declining to approve loans to working-class people from working-class districts of Birmingham, whilst allowing them to other persons from more fashionable areas.

The main point made by the hon. Member arises out of a subsidiary question. Broadly speaking, the circular is often made the subject of conferences in all the counties concerned. In order to get some kind of uniformity they have county conferences, and these have produced satisfactory results.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he has received from the Sutton Coldfield Council concerning the advice he gave it in his Circular No. 42, of May, 1954

The council has informed my right hon. Friend that it proposes to restrict its liability for guarantees to building societies to that part of the advance which is in excess of 75 per cent. of the value of the property.

Is the Minister aware that in several cases, after a building society has approved an advance and the valuation, and after the applicant has paid survey fees, the council, meeting in secret, has nevertheless suddenly declined to proceed any further with the application, on the ground that the persons concerned are working-class people whom they do not want in the smart area of Sutton Coldfield?

Perhaps the hon. Member can let me have particulars of any instances which he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether, in view of the urgent need to rehouse the occupants of Field Farm and Hampden Estate hutted camps in Oxfordshire, and the inability of the Bullingdon Rural District Council to construct sufficient permanent houses for this purpose until approval of the redevelopment plan for Field Farm is given, he will expedite his authorisation to the county council to grant planning permission for this scheme;

(2) whether he is aware of the unhealthy and unsatisfactory living conditions which exist at Field Farm and Hampden Estate hutted camps, Oxfordshire; and what action he is taking to expedite the rehousing of the occupants.

My right hon. Friend is arranging for the alternatives mentioned in his reply to my hon. Friend's question of 22nd February to be discussed with the local authorities.In the meantime I understand that the rural district council plans to start rehousing the occupants of the camps this year by building 100 houses in other parts of its district.

Does the hon. Member realise that the conditions in this camp are quite appalling, and that the allocation made, while very welcome, is not enough to enable this local authority to rehouse the people in these two hutted camps? Will he give the most urgent consideration to approving this scheme as soon as he possibly can?

Yes. I have studied the particulars of this case, and I have sympathy with my hon. Friend.It is felt that the Oxford City Council could help in this matter, and it is proposed to discuss it with that council and with the Bullingdon Rural District Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now review the Exchequer subsidy to local authorities for housing to compensate them for the additional costs resulting from the recently increased Bank Rate

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the recent increase in the Bank Rate will entail an increase in the cost of loans to local authorities, whether from the Public Works Loan Commissioners or in the money market; what estimate he has made of the additional burden so imposed on the finances of local authorities; and what steps he proposes to take, by promoting legislation or otherwise, to ease that additional burden

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the present difficulties of local authorities in their loan arrangements, he will reconsider his decision to reduce the housing subsidy on 1st April

I am not satisfied that any special action is called for at present.

:Can the Minister explain why he is not satisfied? Can he give some reasons?

Interest and building costs have frequently changed up and down in the past without any immediate adjustment being made, and I see no reason to depart from that procedure.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that his predecessor in office won a notable victory over the Treasury upon this issue? Will not he try to repeat that victory?

I prefer to win my victories over other people.

Is the Minister aware that my Question is quite a different one from No.14? Are we to take it that no sort of estimate of any kind was made of the impact which the rise in the Bank Rate would make upon local government finances and, in particular, that no sort of estimate was made of the extra money that it might cost housing authorities, and its effect upon rent? That is what my Question is concerned about.

Of course, on the wider issue, the Equalisation Grant comes into the picture and I cannot go into that matter in answer to a supplementary question. With regard to the point about housing, there is a Question on the Order Paper about that, which I shall be answering later.

The Minister just mentioned that he prefers to win his victories over other people. Does his range of territory include local authorities?

Certainly not. I have found them always most co-operative.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will issue a new Order cancelling the Housing (Review of Contributions) Order, 1954, in view of the increase in interest rates recently announced.

:I have no power to cancel such an Order, except by making a new Order, fixing a revised subsidy rate.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman consider making such a revised Order, in view of the fact that unless he does so local authorities will be bound to raise rents of council houses quite considerably?

I have power only to reduce the subsidy and not to increase it. That is presumably not what the hon. Gentleman wants.

Why was it that when interest rates were raised in 1952 the Government increased the subsidy, whereas this year, when interest rates are raised, the Government are reducing the subsidy?

Increasing the subsidy requires legislation.

In that case, would the right hon. Gentleman advise local authorities to increase rents because of Government policy, or rates?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how far the reduction in his allocation of council houses at Northfleet, from 80 in 1954 to 65 in 1955, is made in accordance with a general change of policy applicable to all areas; and what special features relating to the situation in Northfleet make such a reduction necessary.

My information is that the council is not asking for any further allocations for the present.

That may very easily be the case, but does that preclude the Minister from answering the Question? This is a subject in which I am interested.

:I should perhaps have added, "Therefore the other part of the Question does not arise."

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities in England have declined to make any improvement grants.

Up to the end of last year 927 local authorities in England and Wales had made improvement grants. It does not follow that the others have decided against making grants.

I thank my right hon. Friend for answering a Question which I did not put to him. Will he consult the 927 local authorities to which he has referred as to what difficulties they are experiencing in making these improvement grants, and ask them in what way they consider that he can help them?

I am making inquiries into this problem, and I have sought the views of representative local authorities upon it. I have also taken a number of other steps in order to try to encourage local authorities to take full advantage of the powers given to them under the Act.

Is the Minister aware that his predecessor gave a promise to make a periodical report to the House of the progress made among local authorities in their extension of the use of the Act of 1949 in relation to improvement grants?

I believe there is another Question to which that supplementary question is more relevant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many ex-Service camps, used for temporary housing accommodation, were closed in the last six months of 1954

Eighty-four.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that when fixing these quotas, either temporary or permanent, he takes into account fully the number of ex-Service camps the occupants of which have to be rehoused?

That is the kind of consideration which is taken into account.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the answer given by his predecessor on 11th February, 1954, he will now say what is his estimate of the proportion of houses built for letting by private builders in 1954.

The information on which my right hon. Friend's predecessor's estimate was based has not been available since the end of 1953. No estimate can, therefore, be made for 1954.

Can my hon. Friend be more specific? I am asking for some very important information. What is the basis on which the former Minister of Housing and Local Government was able to give the information which is not now available?

I have not the basis of that information. The conditions which governed licences were altered at the beginning of 1954.This information could not be obtained while licensing continued, until November, 1954, so we have no means of making an estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for what purpose he requires local authorities to give him reasons for not putting retiring Regular Service men in the housing list

For information.

In view of the earlier remark by the Minister that he always finds local authorities most co-operative, could he not agree, on reflection, that it would be better to ask for this information by letter instead of requesting it by circular? Is he aware that our democracy makes provision for both central Government and local government, and that one is not subservient to the other?

It was by circular letter.

Altogether wrong.

I shall be glad to send the right hon. Gentleman a copy of the circular, which he will find is extremely courteously worded.

I have seen the circular. It is customary to treat local authorities as separate entities and not as subservient to the Ministry. Perhaps when the Minister has been in office long enough he will appreciate that.

I do not understand the right hon. Gentleman's point. It is customary and usual, and has been done by every Minister, to ask local authorities by circular for information on certain points of general interest. To judge from the reception given to my statement the other day, this point is most certainly of general interest.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many more houses he estimates the country needs.

It is quite impossible to make any reliable estimate.

How long will it take people at present on the waiting list to be housed, in view of the fact that the Government are providing an average of 302,000 houses a year as compared with 169,000 by the Labour Government?

All I can say is that it will be quicker than under the Labour Government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses have been sold by local authorities, following the issue of Circular No. 64 of 1952

Three thousand one hundred and twenty up to the end of last month.

Bearing in mind that there are about 1,500 local authorities, would not the Minister agree that this method of creating a property-owning democracy has been a tremendous flop?

This is not the only channel of home ownership.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the additional cost of a £2,000 house built by a local authority on money borrowed at the new rates of interest from the Public Works Loans Board.

This is the question to which I was referring earlier in replying to the hon. Member for Clapham (Mr. Gibson). The increase in loan charges on £2,000 will be about £4 a year.

:In that case, does the Minister propose to take steps to increase the subsidy to local authorities in order to prevent an increase in rents?

I do not think the hon. Member was in the House earlier when I answered a Question on that subject.

:Is the Minister aware that this will mean an increase of about Is. 6d. a week in rent, if the loss is not to be borne by the local rates?

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot take action by means of an Order—I agree that that may be so—why is he not prepared to introduce legislation to meet this point?

I know that the hon. Member was not here earlier when I dealt with several questions on this subject.Perhaps he will look it up in Hansard.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further steps have been taken, consequent on the Report of his Housing Management Sub-Committee, to deal with the problem of applicants for housing accommodation in virtually fully built-up areas and the need for certain local authorities to amalgamate their lists of urgent cases; and, in particular, if he is aware that this problem is acute in the Borough of Leyton and in similar areas

My right hon. Friend has recommended to local authorities the adoption of one of the sub-committee's proposals, and he is considering what action should be taken in regard to the others.

Are we likely to have some constructive recommendations in the very near future, in view of the fact that in constituencies like mine there are literally hundreds of families with no hope of ever having a house in their home constituencies?

My right hon. Friend appreciates the need for haste in this matter, but thinks it better that the Government's attitude to the sub-committee's recommendations should be considered first.

When will that be?

As soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether his attention has been called to the judgment in the case of Fullerton versus Wallasey Corporation, as it affects the standards of fitness prescribed under the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, governing the issue of certificates of disrepair; and what action he proposes to take.

I have considered this judgment, but I do not see that it calls for any action by me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the views expressed in this case are in direct conflict with the interpretation of his predecessor and, in the view of many local authority officials, may have a very serious effect on housing standards generally and on the implementation of the Act? Will he not look at the matter again?

There is no point in my looking at it again. I have looked at it. I agree with the hon. Member that there is a conflict with the interpretation given in a Departmental circular, but I do not propose to venture an opinion at this moment as to who was right and who was wrong.

Will the right hon. Gentleman at any rate agree that this is a matter of great concern that affects very seriously the work of the local authorities throughout the country, and would he not at least give the local authorities some advice on it?

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that if he were to take a second look it might give him a new look?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will send a circular to all local authorities advising them that applications for planning and development permission should not be disclosed to the Press or to unauthorised persons.

No, Sir.

Does not the Minister appreciate that disclosure to the Press or to unauthorised people of information of this kind can cause grave harm to businesses, even to St. James's Theatre, when application is made by someone who has no connection whatever with the concern in question?

The Press are the eyes and ears of the people.

But does not the Minister agree that clerks in offices should not disclose to the Press confidential information which they obtain in the course of their work? Have they not an obligation, in the same way as civil servants, to keep their mouths shut about what goes on in their offices?

Publication is essential so that other parties who may be affected can be informed and make objection if they wish to do so. We cannot inform the public without also informing the Press.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now able to announce his proposals for the reorganisation of local government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to make a statement on the question of local government reorganisation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a statement on the future of local government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now able to make a statement on the future of local government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is yet in a position to make a statement on local government reform.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will introduce legislation for the reform of local government

I expect to be in a position to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will now introduce legislation by which agricultural land, which is now exempt from taxation, will pay its normal quota of local rates which at present have to be borne by the rest of the community to the extent of over £20 million per annum;

(2) whether he will now introduce legislation by which industrial premises will pay their full amount of rates in place of the 25 per cent. as at present as a result of which over £40 million per annum has now to be borne in rates by the rest of the community.

No, Sir.

In view of the fact that old-age pensioners, blind people, cripples, and people in receipt of pensions of one kind or another, have to pay their full rates, and even have to bear an extra burden in this regard, does not the Minister think that the time has come to relieve these older people of such heavy responsibilities which should be borne by the farming community and the big industrialists, who are in a position to pay their share?

The hon. Member's Questions raise very large and wide issues of national policy which it would be inappropriate for me to attempt to answer in replying to supplementary questions.

Would not the Minister agree that to do as the hon. Member for Newport (Mr.Peter Freeman) requests would be to put up the prices of food to those very people for whom he is pleading? It would undoubtedly result in an increase. Would not the Minister further agree that when agricultural derating took place all local authorities received a block grant fully recompensing them, and that, therefore, they would be no better off were rating reimposed?

In view of the fact that the farming industry probably receives more by way of subsidies, allowances, grants and guaranteed prices than any other industry, and yet has not succeeded so far in reducing the price of food, would the Minister give similar subsidies to all the other trades and industries?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is yet in a position to introduce legislation to allow members of the councils of boroughs and urban districts to be relieved of the burden of the expense of travelling in the performance of approved duties within the area of the council.

No, Sir.

Would not it be appropriate if the Minister could take some action in this matter as in several areas, as a result of the recent decision of the courts, councillors who have previously been entitled to free passes on municipal transport so as to be better able to carry out their duties—which are often expensive, on account of the amount of travelling required—now have to pay their fares? Cannot the Minister do something instead of replying with a flat "No"?

The hon. Member should not blame the courts. The trouble arises from the 1948 Act, which was passed by the Government of which the hon. Member was a member, and which authorised travelling expenses to county and rural district councillors but not to borough and urban district councillors.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the hardships being caused to severely bombed boroughs by the high rates they have to levy; that this will be made worse by the proposals contained in the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Bill and the increased Bank Rate; and what action he proposes to take to assist these financially embarrassed local authorities.

It is misleading to generalise about the position of severely bombed boroughs. Their rates and other circumstances differ widely. They cannot, therefore, be considered as a group.

I hope that I can thank the Minister for that reply. Do I understand that he will look at the position of individual councils and consider whether or not, on their merits, they can be assisted in the future as they have been in the past—especially the County Borough of West Ham, the position of which he knows?

I have no reason to suppose that the County Borough of West Ham will be less well treated in the future than it has been in the past.

Has the Minister yet arrived at any conclusion about the formula to be used in the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Bill for dealing with special hardship problems of borough councils?

The hon. Member is a member of the Standing Committee which is discussing the Bill, and he will have a better opportunity of raising the point there.

I thank the Minister for the reply which he gave to my supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consideration led him to consent to the request of the Manchester Corporation for the diversion of the Pennine Way.

I was advised that the use by the public of a part of the route originally approved would under certain circumstances cause additional risk of pollution to the Manchester Corporation's water supply.

Is the Minister aware that all the expert evidence given at that inquiry is in complete opposition to the statement which he has just made? Is he further aware that the prospect of pollution from hikers going over these streams is infinitesimal compared with the pollution that now goes on from buildings alongside the railway and the reservoir? Does he realise that he has routed the Pennine Way through a bog, and that in wet weather hikers will have to go back to the original route if they dc not want to go up to their knees in mud?

I do not know anything about the bog. I realise that the alternative route is regarded as being less attractive, but I felt that the additional risk to health, however small it may be, was something which I had not the right to accept.

On a point of order. In view of that unsatisfactory answer, which goes against all the expert advice, I beg to give notice that I shall try to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he will take to accelerate the completion of private streets, particularly those which have remained in an unmade condition since before the 1939–45 war; and if he will bear in mind that the disappointment of the people affected by the condition of such streets is aggravated by the prompt completion of new roads, often in proximity to these private streets

This is a matter for local authorities. They need to apply for my right hon. Friend's consent only when they wish to raise a loan for the work. My right hon. Friend is always ready to consider such applications where streets are in a bad condition.

Is the Minister aware that there are signs that the machinery for dealing with this problem is inadequate? For example, is he aware that, in the Whitchurch area of my constituency, people have been living for more than 20 years in houses which abut on roads which are in a deplorable condition? They are quite willing to pay the charges but are not able to get the work done.

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of this case, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to publish the result of the inquiry, held in September, 1954, of the compulsory purchase of the Louis Street area of Leeds, the Compulsory Purchase Order for which was made in April, 1954

As soon as possible.

Does not the Minister think there has been sufficient delay in dealing with this matter? It was delayed for some considerable time because the local Conservatives had a temporary majority on the City Council. Now it is delayed by a Conservative Government. When does the Minister expect to be able to give us a decision?

As the hon. Lady knows, this is a very big scheme. I have already studied it. It involves criteria for approval of the local authority's conversion scheme. My right hon. Friend is now studying it, and will give his decision as soon as he possibly can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will extend the requisitioning of Montague Gardens, Holborn, due to expire on 31st March, to at least as long as houses backing on to the gardens continue to be requisitioned.

I have invited representatives of the Holborn Borough Council to discuss the provision of children's play-spaces in Holborn, and the release of Montague Street garden. I shall be meeting them tomorrow, and my right hon. Friend must take account of the views they express in reaching a decision.

Why is it intended to derequisition these gardens?

Why is it intended to derequisition these gardens?

I do not want to anticipate consideration of this question. I shall have an opportunity of hearing the views of the deputation tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Labour in what way his officers in the West Midlands region are advising, under the provisions of the Notification of Vacancies Order, engineering workers who are seeking employment in other engineering factories.

The advice that would be given would depend upon a number of circumstances such as the nature of the work that the applicant had been doing, what he would like to do, his general experience and ability, and the relative importance of vacancies for which he would be suitable.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that answer, may I ask whether he is aware that some members of the Coventry Confederation of Employers have, apparently, a tacit agreement not to employ certain engineering workers from the Rugby factories? Would he not agree that it is a bad thing that some workers should not have mobility to change their jobs and thus to better themselves?

I certainly think that it would be a very bad thing if either employers or trade unions stood in the way of getting the right men into the right jobs in the national interest.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Remploy factories employ only persons disabled as a result o f tuberculosis; and where they are situated

Seven Remploy factories employ only tuberculous persons. These are at Bermondsey, Birmingham, Bristol, Hull, Leeds, Portsmouth and Sheffield.

Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that not one of those factories is situated in Scotland; and as the incidence of tuberculosis is much higher in Scotland, and as it is much more difficult to find light work in many places in Scotland, does the hon. Gentleman not think that there is a very big need for one of these factories to be situated there? What steps will he take to ensure that it will be?

I realise that, and I can tell the hon.Lady that when Remploy is in a position to build some more factories a factory for tuberculous workers in Scotland will have very high priority.

When does the hon. Gentleman think that Remploy will be in that position? Is it not the case that if the Government, who have talked so much about the matter, had done some more, Remploy would have been in that position two or three years ago?

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, men and women, respectively, were on the unemployment register in Lowestoft at the latest convenient date; how many of these are disabled persons; and how the introduction of new industries into the area has affected the position.

On 14th February last, 542 males and 78 females were registered as unemployed at the Lowestoft employment exchange, and on 21st February, 78 disabled males and eight disabled females were registered as unemployed and fit for employment under ordinary conditions. Unemployment in the area has fallen substantially in recent years, and the establishment of new industries has largely contributed to this. It is estimated that since 1947 about 2,000 additional jobs have been provided in this way.

On a point of order. It was quite impossible to hear the Parliamentary Secretary.

There is rather a lot of conversation in the House. I think the hon. Member who asked the Question is entitled to hear the answer.

:I heard no part of the answer.

With your leave, Mr. Speaker, I will read it again, although I am afraid it is rather a long answer.

Does the Minister regard this figure of over 600 unemployed, with a considerable number of disabled persons almost permanently unemployed, as satisfactory? In view of these figures, does he agree with the assertions which have been made in the area lately that the saturation point in new industries has been reached? Will he do all he can to try to stimulate the employment of disabled persons in that area?

Yes. We are certainly doing what we can but, looking at comparative figures, I see that unemployment in the area has been halved since 1951.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to bring to an end the strike of busmen in the Medway towns

I understand that work was resumed on Sunday, 6th March and that negotiations will now take place through the machinery for the settlement of disputes which is available within the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour how many members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Factories are specially qualified to deal with the effect of the use of radioactive substances.

Six officers at headquarters with appropriate qualifications and experience have made a special study of the problem from the medical, scientific and technical angle, and the Chief Inspector of Factories draws freely upon the expert advice of members of the Radiological Advisory Panel, of the Statutory Advisory Committee appointed under the Radioactive Substances Act, 1948, of the Radiological Protection Service of the Medical Research Council and of the Atomic Energy Authority itself. Instruction has been given to all inspectors in the precautionary methods to be adopted in the use of radioactive substances.

While fully appreciating what has been done, in view of the increasing use of radio-active substances in industry and medicine, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to see that this training is expanded rapidly so that it matches the increasing use of these substances?

Yes. I agree with the hon. Gentleman; this is very important, and we will certainly try to do as he suggests.

asked the Minister of Labour how much short-time working is now taking place in the area of the Accrington employment exchange; and if he will give comparable figures for the same date a year ago.

I regret that statistics of short-time working in local areas are not available. The number of persons registered as temporarily stopped at the Accrington employment exchange at 14thFebruary, 1955, was nine, compared with 33 at 15th February, 1954. These figures, however, do not include persons who were at work on those dates but were stood off on other days of the week.

:Is the Minister aware that the gravity of this situation is being disguised by the fact that firms are keeping workers on, although they do not really need them, in order not to lose them? Will he bear that in mind when considering the general position in that area?

Yes. That is always an unknown factor but, on the figures, the unemployment position at the moment is better than it was at this time last year.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the high incidence of lung cancer deaths among men employed for over 20 years in conditions exposing them to asbestos dust, he will make a special inquiry into the incidence of this disease among men of long standing in the asbestos industry and in industries using asbestos fibre.

No, Sir, such an inquiry is not necessary. The information required for preventive purposes has for many years been obtained by my Department by detailed investigations into fatal cases of cancer of the lungs following prolonged exposure to asbestos dust. These investigations are continuing year by year.

Is the Minister aware that a body of doctors recently held an inquiry among the men who have been working in this industry for over 20 years and found, as they stated, 10 times more men suffering from lung cancer in this industry than they had expected? This is a serious position. Will the hon. Gentleman make a special inquiry into the circumstances of men who have been working in this industry for a long time?

I should be very glad if the hon. Gentleman would let me have that information. We keep the industry very carefully under review because its dangers are well known, and we can at any time, therefore, regard ourselves as being reasonably up to date with our research and with development in the industry.

Can the Minister say whether there is a periodic examination of these men in this dusty industry?

:I think that is so.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce the legislation necessary to ensure that all immigrants ordinarily resident in this country, and who are not nationals of or resident in any other country, shall be made subject to the provisions of the National Service Act

No, Sir. I think we should create more difficulties than it is worth while if we attempted in peace-time to call-up compulsorily men who are not British subjects.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a Bill has recently been passed through the House in order to close the gaps through which British citizens have been evading call-up? Does he not think it scandalous that young men who come to live here, who have no other country, who enjoy the full benefits of all our services, including education, and who certainly will become British citizens when they are no longer liable to call-up, are not doing their duty in the same way as British citizens do theirs?

I can see the difficulties of the special type of case which my hon. Friend has raised and I will undertake to look at it again, but I cannot promise him that we can find a way of dealing with it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the difficulties caused to farmers by bad weather in the last months of 1954 and in February, 1955, he will arrange for the suspension of call-up of agricultural workers in order to help farmers catch up the arrears of work.

Yes, Sir. In consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, I have agreed to suspend until 14th May the call-up of agricultural workers after the Army intake next Thursday and the Royal Air Force intake next week.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this decision will be very welcome in all parts, and will be of great assistance to the agricultural community generally?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that although this limited concession will be of value, the only way of stopping the constant drift from the land which has been going on ever since October, 1951, is to suspend the call-up of agricultural workers altogether?

This was not to stop the drift from the land. It was to try to help hard-pressed farmers to get their work up to date in difficult weather conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for Scotland has officially assessed the minimum requirement of health visitors at one for every 2,500 of the population; and in how many, and which Scottish areas, the number of health visitors falls short of that minimum, and by how much.

No, Sir. This assessment related to the theoretical requirements for all services operated from a comprehensive health centre. Few areas are staffed on that scale, the average population per health visitor in Scotland being just over 4,000.

Does the Secretary of State realise that it is essential to increase the number of health visitors in Scotland for the purpose, amongst others, of relieving pressure on the hospitals? What steps is he taking in that direction?

The number of health visitors has risen from 1,000 in 1946 to 1,225 in 1954. The necessity for them, or their importance, varies in different areas, and I do not think we get a proper picture if we take an average figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that health visitors are required to possess two more obligatory qualifications than hospital sisters but receive less remuneration than hospital sisters; and what steps he is taking to improve the salaries, pensions, and conditions of service, of health visitors.