asked the Minister of Education how many modern secondary schools enter pupils for examinations for the General Certificate of Education; and how many pupils from these schools were candidates for the General Certificate of Education examinations in 1954.

In the summer of 1954, at least 5,500 children from 357 secondary modern schools were entered for the General Certificate of Education.

asked the Minister of Education the number of applications for admission to short courses for teachers organised by his Department in 1949 and 1954, respectively.

Twelve thousand one hundred and fifty-six in 1949, and 6,836 in 1954.

asked the Minister of Education what action he is taking to improve and extend the teaching of science in the schools, in view of the national shortage of scientists and science students.

The number of pupils following advanced courses in science is increasing and I hope that a statement about maintenance allowances, which I shall be making shortly, will encourage this trend. Secondly, the new schools offer better facilities for science teaching. Thirdly, the recent proposals of the Burnham Committee are designed to attract, among others, more and better-qualified science teachers, a Question on which I have answered in the House today.

asked the Minister of Education what extra assistance for school building he is going to give the City of Plymouth in view of the fact that 7,000 places were lost as a result of the bombing.

:Post-war school building programmes for Plymouth have taken account of the loss of school places which occurred during the war. Already one child in three of primary school age is being educated in a post-war school.

asked the Minister of Education what applications for new school building he has refused for Plymouth in the last two years; and whether he will state his future policy for Plymouth in this connection.

:One proposal for a new secondary technical school. I shall consider sympathetically the Authority's proposals for 1956–57, which I received yesterday.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will institute an inquiry into the present system of external examinations, bearing in mind the continuing development of the secondary modern, secondary technical, and comprehensive schools.

I am considering this matter very carefully, and I hope to make a statement which can serve as a basis for further discussion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what funds are at his disposal for entertaining visitors and official delegations from the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Relations Office Vote includes a sum of £600 for entertainment by members of my Department which is used for entertaining visitors from other Commonwealth countries. The home service allowances payable to certain officers returned from overseas contain an element intended for the same purpose.The official entertainment by the United Kingdom Government of Commonwealth visitors and official delegations is borne on the Government Hospitality Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give encouragement to engineering industries to come to Portsmouth to absorb its skilled labour more remuneratively.

I shall certainly bear the needs of Portsmouth in mind but, in view of the considerable further development in prospect, there are at this moment other areas in greater need.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a local firm offered tea at 1s. per pound cheaper to the Hillfield Friendship Club, Newcastle upon Tyne; that, before the first delivery was made, the offer had to be cancelled because the firm was told future supplies would be stopped if the retail price was cut; and if he will ask the Monopolies Commission to expedite its report on restrictive practices regarding tea.

:The Commission is not investigating the supply of tea as such, but its current inquiry under Section 15 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act, 1948, has a close bearing on the methods used to enforce resale price conditions. I hope to receive the Commission's report by the middle of the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will alter the provisions of the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1955, in respect of hire purchase of caravans for residential purposes by extending the period from 24 to 36 months, in view of the still existent housing problem for lower-income groups.

I am considering a number of representations about residential caravans, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities and values of woollen gloves and glove linings imported into the United Kingdom from Hong Kong during 1952, 1953 and 1954; and what proportion this represents of total imports in those years.

Imports of woollen gloves and mittens, including glove linings, other than fabric gloves, were:

—	1952	1953	1954
(1) from Hong Kong (Thousand dozen pairs)	—	154	415
(2) from all countries (Thousand dozen pairs)	38	183	448
(1) as percentage of (2)	—	84	93
(3) from Kong Hong (£'000)	—	224	495
(4) from all countries (£'000)	115	287	561
(3) as percentage of (4)	—	78	88
NOTE: Imports of woollen fabric gloves are not shown separately in the trade statistics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantities and value of woollen gloves and linings manufactured in the United Kingdom during 1952, 1953 and 1954.

Sales by manufacturers in the United Kingdom, other than the small firms, of knitted woollen gloves, mitten and linings^* are given in the table below. The figures available for the year 1952 do not show woollen gloves separately from other knitted gloves.

—	Thousand dozen pairs	£'000
1953 (February, 1953, to January, 1954)	768	1,570
1954 (February to October, 1954) annual rate	725	1,333
* Prior to November, 1953, manufacturers were not asked specifically to include linings.

asked the President ofthe Board of Trade the number of square feet of factory building, per head of the population, for each of the Development Areas which has been built in the year ended 31st December, 1954.

The following figures relate to industrial building schemes over 5,000 sq. ft. in manufacturing industry, completed in the year ended

SQUARE FEET COMPLETED PER HEAD OF
—			(a)	(b)	(c)
			Total population	Working population	Working population in manufacturing industry
North Eastern D.A.	…	…	2·2	5·2	13·8
West Cumberland D.A.	…	…	0·8	2·4	5·6
South Wales and Monmouth D.A.	…	…	0·6	1·4	3·9
Wrexham D.A.	…	…	0·2	0·5	1·9
South Lancashire D.A.	…	…	0·6	1·6	3·7
Merseyside D.A.	…	…	0·9	1·8	5·0
North East Lancashire D.A.	…	…	0·6	1·2	1·9
Scottish D.A.	…	…	1·1	2·2	5·7

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the imports of cotton yarns and fabrics from India for January, 1955, expressed as a percentage of the value for the corresponding month of 1954.

Imports of cotton yarns and fabrics from India recorded in January, 1955, were 211 per cent. by value of imports in January, 1954.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of imports from India for 1938 and for 1946, respectively, of cotton yarns and fabrics, jute yarns and fabrics, and all other manufactured goods.

:Imports into the United Kingdom from India were as follows

£'000
—		1938	1946
Cotton yarns and fabrics	…	65	5
Jute yarns and fabrics	…	1,573	5,618
All other manufactures	…	6,923	14,744

The figures relate to the whole of British India as then constituted.The figures for "all other manufactures" comprise the rest of Class III of the classification then used in the Trade and Navigation Accounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions have recently been placed on the import of Swiss watches to Great Britain; whether he is aware of the resultant retaliatory 30th September, 1954. Figures for the year 1954 are not yet available.action against our exports to Switzerland, particularly motor cars, which are being, increasingly resisted in favour of German and Italian makes; and whether he will make a statement.

No new restrictions have been placed on the import of Swiss watches. In the Anglo-Swiss trade talks of January, 1955, we offered an increase in the quota for watches but unfortunately the limitations which we felt obliged to attach to the offer made it unacceptable to the Swiss delegation. Although it was not, therefore, possible to reach agreement on an increase in the quota this involved no discrimination against imports from Switzerland.No new restrictions have been placed on imports from the United Kingdom into Switzerland, but certain other countries appear to have obtained, as a result of bilateral negotiations, quota increases which have not been extended to the United Kingdom. I am not aware, however, that our exports of motor cars, which, save for heavy commercial vehicles, are not subject to import restriction, have been affected by the outcome of the trade talks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that subsidies are being paid by the German Federal Government to certain manufacturers in Western Germany to enable exports to be offered in European markets at artificially low prices; that this is detrimental to British export trade; and whether he will take action in this matter.

:I do not think that German exporters receive any direct subsidy such as my hon. Friend suggests, but exporters of certain goods do benefit from an export incentive in the form of tax remission. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer discussed this matter with Dr. Erhard when he visited Germany last year, and agreement was reached that the German Government would not seek renewal of the legislation under which this tax remission is granted when it lapses at the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what facilities he is making available in the new Forestry Commission villages for people, other than those employed in, or closely-associated with, the development of the neighbouring forests, to lease or buy sites for building.

The Commissioners' policy is to build houses for their workers and supervisors, and to provide housing sites for persons undertaking essential services. No specific sites are reserved for building houses by private persons who have no connection with the forest, but they could be made available in suitable cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many agricultural and forestry workers have been injured during the past 12 months while using machinery in the course of their employment; and what steps are being taken to give the same safety regulations to this industry, which is becoming more mechanical yearly, as are given to factory workers.

57 workers in agriculture and forestry in England and Wales were injured fatally while using machinery, in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1954. Particulars of non-fatal injuries are not available. Legislation to promote the safety of workers in agriculture and forestry will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government will now make a new financial agreement with the British Wool Marketing Board, as foreshadowed in the White Paper on the Annual Review of 1954.

The Government have reached agreement with the British Wool Marketing Board and the Farmers' Unions on new arrangements to start on 1st May, 1955, which is the beginning of the next wool year. In future the guarantee will be to the Board instead of to individual producers and the guaranteed price will take account of the Board's marketing expenses, instead of there being a separate marketing allowance.There will continue to be a stabilisation fund, known as the Special Account, but full settlements, at which any credit is taken out by the Board or a debit is written off, will take place at 15-year intervals instead of five-year intervals as at present. At the end of each intermediate five-year period, there will be a partial settlement when any debit balance in excess of £3 million will be writen off and any credit balance in excess of £5 million will be available to the Board. By agreement between the Government and the Board the first 15-year accounting period under the new arrangements will be deemed to have started on 1st May, 1950; whatever credit balance remains in the Special Account at the end of the current wool year will therefore be carried forward.At present the Board receives 10 per cent. of any surplus by which the market realisation price in any year exceeds the guaranteed price, the remaining 90 per cent. being paid into the Special Account. This arrangement will continue when the Special Account is in credit, but the full amount realised for the wool will in future be paid into the Special Account if it is in debit.These new arrangements require some changes in the provisions of the British Wool (Guaranteed Prices) Order, 1951, and a new financial agreement between Ministers concerned and the Board. A new Order has been laid before the House, and a new agreement will be completed as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the estimated food subsidies administered by his Department, given separately, for the purpose of the Supplementary Estimate dated 7th February, 1955.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the four agricultural subsidies and the white fish subsidy which were included in the figure of "Total Food Subsidies" appended to the Ministry of Food Estimate prior to 1954–55. It has not been necessary to present a Supplementary Estimate in respect of these subsidies for the current year, although a saving expected in payments of the white fish subsidy in England and Wales and Northern Ireland has been included in the Supplementary Estimate for fishery grants and services (Class VIII, 4).Following are the revised estimates of actual payments during 1954–55, including expenditure in Scotland:

	£ million
Attested Herds Scheme (G.B.)
Class VIII, 2, Subhead G and Class VIII, 3, Subhead D.1 (a) (iv) less part of Subhead Z (4)	11·85
Fertilisers subsidy (U.K.)
Class VIII, 2, Subhead A.	12·6
White fish subsidy (U.K.)
Class VIII, 4, Subhead A.2 and Class VIII, 13, Subhead C.2	2·22
Ploughing grants (U.K.)
Class VIII, 2, Subhead C and Class VIII, 12, Subhead B.1	5·255
Calf subsidy (U.K.)
Class VIII, 2, Subhead I and Class VIII, 12, Subhead, B.7	7·27
	39·195

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the heavy losses which the pig industry is suffering through virus pneumonia, he will provide, without stint, the funds and other facilities required for full-scale research into this disease at Cambridge and elsewhere.

I fully recognise the importance of this disease and of finding effective means of dealing with it. A great deal of work is already being done, and the Agricultural Research Council is to consider the programme for further research on 15th March. The limiting factor, if there is one, is likely to be scientific manpower rather than lack of funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what immediate action is being taken to strengthen the sea defences at Chapel St. Leonards, Lincolnshire, the weakness of which is causing anxiety.

The river board's aim in the Chapel St. Leonards area is to assist the restoration of the natural defences which were damaged but not breached in the 1953 East Coast flood. A system of groyning has recently been completed and the river board is closely watching the position. As the responsible local authority it is for the board to decide whether this action is achieving its object or whether any further protective measures are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that by act and speech Professor Bruno Pontecorvo has now proved himself to be disloyal towards Her Majesty; and if he will now deprive this man of his British citizenship by naturalisation conferred upon him on account of Crown service.

:I am taking immediate steps to institute proceedings under Section 20 of the British Nationality Act, 1948, to deprive Dr. Pontecorvo of his citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the names of those persons who, since 1933, have been accorded British citizenship by naturalisation on account of Crown services, thus avoiding the requirement that their applications for naturalisation be supported by private sponsors.

:As stated in the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 3rd March, applications for naturalisation on account of Crown service rendered abroad do not require to be supported by sponsors, but I understand that some such applicants have supplied the names of sponsors, usually official colleagues and immediate superiors. No separate statistics are kept of these cases, and in order to ascertain the number and to distinguish between those which did and those which did not supply the names of private sponsors, it would be necessary to examine some 90,000 files relating to naturalisations since 1933.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the reason for the delay in granting permission for Mrs. Anna Kraumann to enter the country and to reside with her daughter in Audenshaw, near Manchester.

The British visa officer concerned has now been authorised to grant Mrs. Kraumann a visa. I regret the delay in this case, about which I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which were the principal scientific bodies consulted with regard to the selection of persons nominated as ornithologists to the Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds.

Nominations of ornithologists were submitted by the International Committee for Bird Preservation, British Section; the British Ornithologists' Union; the British Trust for Ornithology, and the Wildfowl Trust, as well as by the Nature Conservancy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give a list of the organisations in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda which civil servants are debarred from joining and to which grades of civil servants these restrictions apply.

Civil servants in East Africa are debarred from joining the following political organizations:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans have been found guilty of capital offences; how many have been hanged in Kenya during each month since October, 1952; and what have been the charges in each case.

:From the beginning of the Emergency to 7th March, 1955, 1,442 persons have been convicted of capital offences, as follows

Murder	463
Unlawful possession of arms and ammunition	559
Consorting with terrorists	331
Administering unlawful oaths	76
Furthering terrorism	9
Demanding supplies for terrorists	4

Of these, 844 have been executed, 136 acquitted on appeal, 186 have had their sentences commuted, 180 were under age, six died in hospital and two were certified insane. In 88 cases appeals are pending or sentences are being considered by Executive Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total area of farm land which has been acquired by local authorities for new housing in 1933, 1939, 1943, 1946, and 1953, respectively.

Figures for 1933, 1939 and 1943 are not available. The total acreages of farm land approved for local authority housing in 1946 and 1953 were 7,838 and 1,399 acres, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants are given by agricultural executive committees for the reconstruction of farm roads to make them fit to carry heavy traffic, such as milk lorries; and if he will consult local authorities to ensure that there is full co-operation with the agricultural executive committees with the object of providing adequate roads wherever needed for the purpose of food produc-

:As to the first part of the Question, no grants are given for this purpose by agricultural executive committees. I have noted the suggestion made by my hon. Friend in the second part of the Question. I should point out, however, that local authorities have no responsibility for farm roads as such, though it is open to them to adopt such roads in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that there is a large factory at Bellshill belonging to his Department which has not been in production since 1945; and if he will put this factory into production which will help to relieve unemployment in that area.

My Department owns only one factory at Bellshill. This is in full production and has been so since the end of the war