asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what rate of interest is assumed under his regulations to be earned on savings when assessing the eligibility of pensioners to National Assistance.

The treatment of capital for Assistance purposes does not turn on any assumed rate of interest but on the extent to which the capital itself is regarded as available for the person's needs under rules laid down in the National Assistance Act.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what progress has been made by the Beney Committee appointed to report on diseases not covered by the Industrial Injuries Acts.

I understand that the Committee is working on its Report.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the average length of time taken by his Department to replace lost sickness payment books; the length of time taken by his Sutton Coldfield office; and the reason for the difference.

I regret that the information is not available. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and will let me have particulars, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of men who submitted first certificates for sickness benefit during December, 1954, at the Ystradgynlais office, together with the number of such claimants who were refused benefit; the number who appealed against the decision of the insurance officer; the number asked to furnish additional medical evidence; the number visited by his officers; the number referred to the regional medical officer; the number who declared off before the examination and the number found to be capable of work.

597 first certificates were submitted (by men and women) in the five-week period 1st December, 1954, to 4th January, 1955. In 17 of these immediate reference was made to the regional medical officer, and in one a visit was paid by an officer of my Ministry; 12 of these claimants declared off before examination by the regional medical officer, and two were found on examination to be capable of work. Seven out of the 17 claimants were subsequently disallowed by the insurance officer and six of them appealed to the local tribunal. In three of these cases the Insurance officer reviewed his original decision in the light of further evidence and the remaining three dis-allowances were confirmed by the tribunal. In no case was a claimant asked to furnish additional medical evidence.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will make a statement giving the results of questions referred by him to the National insurance Advisory Committee and details of the progress made in the non-statutory review of the National Insurance scheme.

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my on. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Miss Ward).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the United States of America about their discussions for an agreement between the United States of America and the Government of Laos for military assistance, drawing their attention to the breach involved of the Geneva Agreement over Indo-China to which the United Kingdom was a party.

The report that the United States Secretary of State and the Laotian Prime Minister had discussed the negotiation of an agreement about military and economic aid has been formally denied by the Laotian Government.

asked the Minister of Food the percentage of second-quality hen eggs passing through packing stations in 1954 and in the previous year.

The percentage of second-quality eggs, excluding dirty eggs otherwise of first quality, passing through packing stations in Great Britain, was 3·3 per cent. in the calendar year 1954 and 3·1 per cent. in the previous year.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the home-grown wheat crop harvested in 1954 has been taken up so far by processors; and the position at the same date in the 1953–54 season.

In the six months ended 5th February, 1955, processors making returns to my Department took up 1,188,000 tons of home-grown wheat, representing about 43 per cent. of the 1954 crop. In the corresponding period of last season they took up 953,000 tons, representing about 36 per cent. of the crop.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the 1953 crop of home-grown barley was taken up by processors; and what evidence he has so far on uptake from the 1954 crop by processors.

Processors making returns to my Department took up 1,655,000 tons of home-grown barley from the 1953 crop, representing about 66 per cent. of the crop. In the six months ended 5th February, 1955, the same processors have taken up 1,280,000 tons, or about 57 per cent. of the 1954 crop.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the intake of wheat, barley, and oats by processors since the 1954 crops were harvested has been home-grown grain; and the corresponding proportion during the 1953–54 season.

45 per cent. of the intake of wheat, barley and oats in the six months ended 5th February, 1955, by processors making returns to my Department was home-grown grain. The corresponding figure for the whole of the 1953–54 season was 39 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is proposed to retain in the amalgamated Ministries of Food and Agriculture the functions of his Department relating to hygiene and standards which have been dealt with satisfactorily by his Department during the past 15 years.

I am as yet unable to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Dr. Broughton) on 17th February.

asked the Minister of Supply why the staff of his Department increased from 33,578 on 1st October, 1954, to 33,850 on 1st January, 1955.

The increase of 272 non-industrial staff arises from the continued expansion of the research and development effort and from the need for more supervisory and inspection staffs to meet the increased defence production in the Royal Ordnance factories and in industry. There has been a further reduction of the staff in the administrative branches.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from the British Dental Association about the restoration of the 10 per cent. reduction in fees; and what his reply has been.

The Association has asked for the reduction to be cancelled, and a meeting with its representatives is to take place this week.

asked the Minister of Health if he will announce his decision with regard to the proposed introduction of ancillary workers into the school dental service.

No extension of the use of ancillary dental workers in any part of the dental service is possible pending further legislation.

asked the Minister of Health the number of surgeons in the Manchester Region exclusively employed on thoracic surgery per head of population; and how these figures compare with those for other regions.

Four, representing 0·91 per million of the estimated population. The figure is lower than that of neighbouring regions and the national average, and the regional board is—I understand—arranging to improve the situation.

asked the Minister of Health how high the proposed hospital for Swindon comes on his waiting list; and if he will undertake to provide funds next year, and thereafter annually, until the scheme costing about £4 million is completed.

A new hospital for Swindon is regarded as the first priority in the Oxford Region, and as I told the House on 9th February, I have already asked the regional hospital board concerned to bring to completion the planning of the first stage. I hope that work will start in 1956. I cannot yet say whether it will be possible to complete the remaining stages as a continuous operation.

asked the Minister of Health what advice he has received as to the association of mercury poisoning in infants, following the ingestion of teething powders or tablets containing mercury, with Pink disease; how many infants have died within the last two years from Pink disease, and how many from mercurial poisoning; and in how many cases both factors applied.

I am advised that the degree of association between mercury poisoning and Pink disease has not been clearly established. Many cases of Pink disease have no demonstrable association with ingestion of mercury and the great majority of children who have been given mercurial preparations show no sign of the disease. It seems possible that some few infants may have an exceptional sensitivity to mercury. In 1952 and 1953, 64 children under five years' old were certified as dying from Pink disease and four from mercury poisoning; in two cases both Pink disease and mercury poisoning were mentioned in the death certificate.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the decision to rely on the deterrent of the hydrogen bomb as our main defence he will now institute an inquiry into the length of National Service with a view to its reduction.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 67 to 69 of this year's Statement on Defence where the conclusions reached by Her Majesty's Government on this matter are set out.

asked the Minister of Labour to publish a table showing the percentage each year of men called up for National Service who claimed exemption on conscientious grounds.

Following is the table:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will now announce the result of his investigations

asked the Minister of Education the number of school places provided by the education authority in the New Town of Harlow since October, 1951; and the total expenditure on schools construction there since that date.

The number of new school places brought into use in Harlow between 1st November, 1951, and 31st into the posting of a notice on a notice board which referred to the wives of ratings in derogatory terms.

My inquiries show no evidence to support the allegation that such a notice was ever posted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decrease took place in the volume of crime in 1954 as compared with 1953.

Provisional figures are available at present only for the first nine months of 1954. These figures show that the number of indictable offences known to the police in England and Wales during this period was 318,754 compared with 352,384 for the corresponding period of 1953, a decrease of 33,630 or 9·5 per cent. These offences may be divided into groups as shown in the following table:January, 1955, was 3,440. The value of the work done on school building projects in the new town during this period was about £790,000.

asked the Minister of Education the number of classes of over 40 and over 50 pupils, respectively, in primary and secondary schools, respectively, in Kent at the nearest convenient date; and how these figures compare with a year ago.

The latest available figures show that in January, 1954, there were in schools maintained by the Kent education authority, 902 junior classes with more than 40 pupils, including nine with more than 50, and 40 senior classes with more than 40 pupils, including one with more than 50. The comparable figures for 1953 were 971 and 17 junior classes, and 46 and one senior classes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses constructed in the new town of Harlow since October, 1951.

Under contracts placed by the Harlow Development Corporation 5,014 dwellings were completed between 31st October, 1951, and 28th February, 1955.