asked the Minister of Labour whether he now intends to make special regulations to safeguard workers using radioactive substances.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies) on 24th February.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary look at this question again? I am sure he appreciates the need for vigilance and the fact that the effects of these substances cannot be detected immediately. Was it not as long ago as 1949 that it was suggested that there might be a case for regulations?

I said in the previous answer that we were considering whether to make special regulations. That consideration is now well advanced.

asked the Minister of Labour what instructions he has issued to his Department with regard to forwarding the employment in civil life of retired Regular officers.

The general effect of the instructions to appointments offices and local offices is to ensure that they do all they can to help the Regular officer to obtain the type of employment or training best suited to his capabilities and wishes.

The Advisory Council on Relationship between Employment in the Services and Civilian Life, set up in 1950, has given much attention to the resettlement problems of Regular officers. Under its guidance the Ministry has prepared a booklet, which will be issued to Regular officers who are approaching their retirement. I will send my hon. Friend a copy at an early date.

While I appreciate what my hon. Friend has said, may I ask him whether he does not agree with me that a large majority of these officers, who have already spent a great deal of their life in public service, would be particularly suited for employment in Government Departments? Does he not consider that it would be advisable for him not only to circulate his own Department but also to encourage his right hon. Friends to circulate their Departments to find possible vacancies which would be suitable for officers who have retired from the Services, bearing in mind that they have many years of active life ahead and have already been used to serving their country?

:The booklet which I will send to my hon. Friend outlines very clearly what the retired officer, or the officer who knows he is to be retired, should do to get a job in the public service. Vacancies which exist are always known by my appointments offices, one purpose of which is to try to help retired officers.

:Is the hon. Member aware that the highest ranking officers, such as air marshals and field marshals, have no difficulty whatever in finding appointments, because they immediately become directors of one of the Big Five banks, although they have no banking experience?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has noted the unsatisfactory figures for the number of accidents that occur among women and girls in factories and establishments supervised by the inspectorate of labour; and what steps are being taken to bring the accident rate among these groups to a lower level.

The Chief Inspector of Factories again drew attention to the unsatisfactory trend of these accidents in his last Annual Report and urged that industry should devote more thought to means of reducing the number of accidents to female workers. Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories pay attention to this problem in their inspections of establishments employing female workers.

The National Joint Advisory Council, which my right hon. and learned Friend consulted recently on the general question of accident prevention in factories, has appointed a sub-committee to make recommendations as to the means by which greater freedom from accidents to workpeople generally may be achieved. This sub-committee is now working.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary agree with me that this unhappy state of affairs highlights the fact that the inspectorate tends to become grossly weakened year by year in the technical skill of its entrants? I am speaking of technically-trained entrants. Will he not do something about that to make sure that it is not one of the factors in this distressing increase?

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman at all. This is a special problem which has been clearly outlined, and we have a very good and expert sub-committee now working on it.

:Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is no substitute for an efficient safety committee inside certain types of factory, where the committee can demonstrate how fatal it is to use files without handles and spanners which are worn out and to do such things as that? Will he try to get employers to give such demonstrations inside the factories rather than put it on the shoulders of the factory inspectorate?

I am grateful to the hon. Member for bringing attention to that point. I think the existence of more safety committees would do a great deal to help.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to remedy the admitted deficiency in the factory inspectorate of sufficient technically-trained men and women; and whether he will appoint an independent committee to examine and review the problem and make recommendations.

Steps have been taken to make these posts more widely known amongst science graduates and the Civil Service Commission has agreed to hold a continuing competition for factory inspectors in place of the biennial competitions it has had hitherto. An intensive study of the wider aspects of the problem is going on within the Department and my right hon. and learned Friend does not propose to appoint an independent committee.

:Is it not a fact that a committee appointed within the Department means that it will be compelled, quite rightly of course, to see how it could make the best possible use of the material now available to it? Do we not really need a committee which can recommend to the Minister and the House whether some other steps should now be taken, including those I have suggested to the Parliamentary Secretary before, namely a new scale of remuneration?

:Whilst I appreciate the interest of the hon. Member in the factory inspectorate, so far as remuneration is concerned, as probably he knows, negotiations are still going on. On the general issue, I think that when he asks hisnext Question he will see that the position is not so bad.

asked the Minister of Labour what is now the authorised complement of the staff of the factory inspectorate; what is the actual number in post; and, of these, what is the number who are in course of training and therefore not fully available for duty.

:The authorised complement, excluding senior and specialist posts, is 309, and the number in post 294. Twelve inspectors are at present taking a course of technological training at the Leicester College of Technology and are not fully available for duty. The general practice as regards newcomers to the inspectorate is to train them on the job.

May I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for that answer—which is more reassuring than I thought it might be? I think on 12th November last he told me that the Royal Commission which was sitting would consider the whole of this matter, but up to date I believe it has not yet given such consideration. Could he tell me what is the position today and, in addition, if any information comes from the Committee studying the matter, can it be put into the Library so that hon. Members may study it?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down; then I may be able to give him a full answer.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of working days lost through unofficial strikes in 1952, 1953 and 1954.

I regret that the information at my disposal does not distinguish between official and unofficial stoppages.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the numbers of unofficial strikes in recent months, if not years,

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, are now on the register of unemployed persons in the city of Aberdeen; which trades are involved and how many in each trade; and how these figures compare with the corresponding trades in the comparable periods for each of the last five years.

I am having the available information extracted and will write to the hon. and learned Member. show indications of widening in extent as well as numbers? In view of the vital necessity of honouring agreements freely entered into, has he inquired from the unions, whether his Department can be of any assistance to them?

I think that would be a difficult thing to do. On the general issue, whilst we all defend the right to strike, we certainly deplore the use of the strike where there is some other means of negotiation or settlement available, and my Department is always very ready to help in that way wherever it can.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women were registered as unemployed at the nearest convenient date, at the employment exchanges of Ashington, and Morpeth, Northumberland; and how these figures compare with these for the same period in 1952, 1953 and 1954, respectively.

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the Official Report.

:Does the Minister realise that the unemployment of skilled workers is a loss, not only to them, but to the nation? What steps is he taking to deal with the unemployment which undoubtedly exists in Aberdeen?

:In total, the unemployment over the dates the hon. and learned Member asked for does not show any substantial change, but I am getting out all the detailed facts. Then, if he cares to put down another Question, he may do so.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now consider withdrawing the Notification of Vacancies Order, 1952.

This question has recently been reviewed and we have come to the conclusion that, in the present state of labour supply and demand, this Order could not be withdrawn without adverse effects on our export and other important industries.

Does the reply of my hon. Friend mean that this Order may be a permanent part of our employment machinery while full employment continues, as we all hope it will? Is it not in fact a severe restriction on personal liberty and an interference with the private channels of employment? Will he take the matter up?

:I do not for a moment mean that this is a permanent feature of our legislative set-up. What I do mean is, for instance, that it has been very useful recently in steering a number of men into the aircraft industry, where they are badly needed.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made by the British Transport Commission and the railway unions in the setting up of a railway productivity council.

I understand that the Commission has proposed to the three railway unions and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions that such a body, to be known as the British Railways Productivity Council, should be established and that the unions have agreed in principle. The Commission will hold a meeting with the unions this week at which the functions and procedure of the Council will be discussed.

Would my hon. Friend suggest to the Transport Commission and the railway unions involved in this suggestion that they might bring in members from outside bodies, such as the Federation of British Industries and the National Chamber of Trade and other members of the Trades Union Congress?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for his suggestion. I certainly think, for example, that perhaps the British Productivity Council could help in this task. I am sure the British Transport Commission will seek help where-ever it can get it.

asked the Minister of Labour the value of the orders executed by Remploy Limited during the last financial year for Government Departments; and what percentage this formed of total Remploy Limited output.

:The figure, for the financial year 1953–54, was £1,050,000. This was 45 per cent. of the total sales of Remploy Limited in that year.

:Whilst thanking the Minister for that very helpful reply, may I ask him to bear in mind the need to consult his colleagues in the Government with a view to arranging these welcome Government orders on the basis of long-term contracts, thereby increasing the efficiency of Remploy, extending their usefulness, and reducing the subsidy?

I will consider that, but perhaps there is more scope in local government for increasing contracts than in national Government.

:Does the Department of the hon. Gentleman have any more success these days with the Home Office in getting this work done by Remploy instead of it going to prisoners in jails?

We do our best with all Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many spastic people there are now in Scotland, where they are situate and how these figures compare with those for each of the previous five years.

:As this condition is not notifiable, I regret that the information asked for is not available.

Is no register kept of these unfortunate people? Can the Secretary of State not say whether the numbers are increasing or decreasing in Scotland?

:There is no record but, according to such information as we possess, we think the numbers are in the neighbourhood of 2,000 children and 5,000 adults. A survey has been started in Dundee from which we shall obtain more information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now reached any conclusions as to the effectiveness of vole vaccine in the treatment of tuberculosis as the result of the inoculations given to the children at Bridge of Weir Home.

:Vole vaccine, like B.C.G. vaccine, is a protection against tuberculosis, not a form of treatment. So far as can be established by testing all those who were vaccinated, the effectiveness of the two vaccines is closely comparable. There have been no cases of tuberculosis in the homes since vaccination began in 1951.

Will the Secretary of State remember that these experiments have provoked a great deal of disturbance in the publicmind in Scotland, particularly in view of the fact that they were carried out on children who could be described as deprived children? Will the right hon. Gentleman in future watch this sort of experiment very carefully indeed?

It will certainly be watched, but I hesitate to suggest that my personal observation would aid very much.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 Scotland.

:I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 3rd March.

:Surely the Home Secretary has not the problems of Scotland to administer? Surely that is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable discontent in Glasgow about the lack of Civil Defence preparation? Is he aware that in America they are spending 3,000 million dollars on these preparations and that it would be far safer for American personnel in Scotland to be sent back to America?

I think the hon. Member may be assured that there is anxiety not only in Glasgow but in many other parts of the country. The Home Secretary and I have joint consultations on this subject, as do our Departments and the experts. The statement my right hon. and gallant Friend made covered both countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many United States Air Force personnel have been prosecuted in Ayrshire during the last two years; and what were the offences and the penalties.

:On a point of order. Before this Question is answered, would you, Mr. Speaker, say whether it is in order, seeing that it is obviously designed and intended to throw some reflection on our allies—[Hon. Members: "No."]—and welcome guests?

It is a purely statistical Question.

:The answer to the Question is: Twelve members of the United States Air Force were prosecuted in the Ayrshire courts during the period referred to. Of 10 charged with road traffic offences, one was found not guilty and the others were fined amounts varying from 10s. to £10. One man charged with theft was discharged absolutely, and one man was convicted of an offence under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1885, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

:Is the Secretary of State aware that my sole purpose in asking this Question is to protect my constituents and those of the hon. Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore)? Is he aware that there is considerable anxiety in Ayr and neighbourhood about the large number of road accidents caused by the queer ideas the Americans have of the speed limit? Does he not think something should be done to bring to the attention of the American authorities the need for protecting the civil population of Ayr?

I think the fact that nine of them were fined shows that something is being done.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that the best thing would be to compare these figures. with similar British figures so that we could then have some idea of the proportion, instead of singling out these figures?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates would be the area of destruction caused by a hydrogen bomb exploded over Prestwick Airport.

:The destructive effects of hydrogen bombs vary according to their power and the height at which they are exploded. As the Home Secretary indicated on 5th July last, a bomb 1,000 times as powerful as those dropped on Japan might, if exploded in the air, cause total destruction within a radius of five miles.

:Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether Glasgow and the whole of the industrial belt in the west of Scotland would be affected in the event of an H-bomb dropping over the American base at Prestwick? Is he aware that the "Glasgow Herald" has recently pointed out that Aberdeen might be affected by its fall?

:Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us who is to drop this bomb?

:I am sure all hon. Members will support the Government in trying to stop these ghastly events from occurring. I would point out to the hon. Member, who asked about Prestwick, that Glasgow is without the radius of lighter damage if a bomb should be dropped over Prestwick. I can only suggest to him that if he has foreknowledge or second sight he should take the precaution of evacuating himself.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the official report from the River Tweed Commissioners that the large number of seals off the coast constitutes a menace to the Tweed salmon industry; and what action he proposes to take.

I have seen references in the Press to this Report. The protection of salmon fisheries in the Tweed is, in the first instance, a matter for the River Tweed Commissioners, from whom I have received no representations on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to make a statement concerning his talks with the National Coal Board about manpower requirements in East Fife, and especially in the area of Glenrothes.

:My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State had further discussions with the National Coal Board last week and will shortly be meeting the Glenrothes Development Corporation and the County Council to discuss future developments in the new townin the light of the information he has obtained from the Board.

:Would the Secretary of State not agree that the sooner uncertainty in this matter is removed the better it will be? There is a great deal of disquiet in East Fife, particularly in the Glenrothes area, about the question of the manpower likely to be needed in the Rothes colliery.

:I am aware that there have been changes and that the date of commencement of production is being delayed by four years. That is the trouble, that the best laid plans do not always work out.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the estimated increase, on an annual basis, of the cost to the Exchequer, local authorities and other public bodies which arises from the latest increase in the Bank Rate and from the previous increase.

During the last three years Scottish local authorities borrowed on average about £60 million a year, about half of it from the Public Works Loan Board and the balance from various sources. The increase of ¼ per cent. in Public Works Loan Board rates would on this basis involve an additional annual charge of about £60,000. The increased charge in respect of other borrowing would depend on the source from which it is effected. Rather more than half of the increase would fall on the Exchequer.

As regards public bodies, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board have informed me that they are not likely to require to borrow in the immediate future.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman give any intelligible explanation as to why it is necessary so to complicate the finances of local authorities merely to stop hire purchase and other things which have nothing to do with public borrowing? Why is it necessary to interfere with public borrowing merely because the Chancellor wants to take steps to deal with financial transactions elsewhere?

The right hon. Gentleman raises questions of high financial policy which I hesitate to embark upon at Question time, but the rates of interest of the Public Works Loan Board, of course, move—

Move up.

move in step with the Bank Rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the number of casualties that would ensue if a hydrogen bomb equivalent to a charge of 20 million tons of trinitrotoluene were dropped on the centre of Glasgow; and what measure of protection is afforded to the citizens against its effects in the first, second, or third phases of destruction.

The number of casualties would depend on many factors, including the height at which the bomb was exploded and those precautionary measures relating to evacuation and shelter which, as stated in paragraphs 114 to 116 of the White Paper on Defence, are at present being re-examined.

:Is the Secretary of State aware that that is a very sketchy and unsatisfactory answer to this very serious problem? Could he give us a little further information? Under what conditions in the event of such a bomb falling in Glasgow would obliteration be inevitable, and under what conditions would survival be possible? Apart from proposals in the White Paper, which are non-existent, what protection is now afforded to the people of Glasgow against such a contingency?

I try to keep an eye on the clock when I deal with answers to Questions.

Never mind the clock.

I have to do that because other hon. Members have Questions to ask. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement by the Prime Minister in the House on 1st March.

:Could the right hon. Gentleman not have a rather constructive approach to this matter and realise that, instead of preparing for doom, it may be advisable to try to distribute some of the industries and populations in Glasgow and the big cities among less densely populated parts of the country?

This is a most difficult problem. I hate to think of preparing for doom, and I trust the Opposition to support the Government in efforts to avoid it.

:In view of the very unsatisfactory answer by the Secretary of State, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the statutory development plan for the city of Dundee.

I am informed that Dundee Corporation hope to be able to submit their development plan by the end of this year.

:Will the Secretary of State bear in mind, when he meets Dundee Corporation towards the end of this month on the subject of the Tay Road Bridge, that it is quite impossible for the Corporation to fulfil its statutory planning duties unless it receives a firm undertaking from the Government that the bridge is on their list of commitments?

One bridge leads to another.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private owners of forests entered into dedication schemes in 1954.

Sixty-one new estates were dedicated in Scotland during the forest year ended 30th September, 1954.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that this is a great decrease compared with the number in 1953? What steps is he taking to use his compulsory powers in these matters?

I personally am averse to taking compulsory powers. The Forestry Commission is doing its best. There has not been a great difference in acreage compared with two years ago. Sixty-one estates account for 54,393 acres and we have 64 further estates in process of dedication.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the acreage of land acquired and the acreage planted by the Forestry Commission in the year 1954.

:During the forest year ended 30th September, 1954, the area acquired in Scotland was 85,715 acres of which 39,010 acres are classified as plant-able; the area planted in that year by the Forestry Commission was 34,344 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for a helicopter to be available in cases of emergency for serious medical cases in the Highlands, especially in islands on which the present air ambulance cannot land.

While I am advised that there are risks in using single-engined helicopters on over-water crossings, I am considering with my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty the extent to which use can be made of naval helicopters in extreme medical emergencies.

Is the Secretary of State aware that that answer will bring considerable satisfaction and hope to the North, and may we hope that suitable arrangements will be made for using helicopters in these cases?

I shall certainly do my best.

Would it not be more appropriate to use the Prestwick Pioneer, which is equally suitable for this purpose and at a fifth of the cost?

I have no desire to ignore the Prestwick Pioneer, but I think it is rather early to assess its value.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far the operation of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954, has effected improvement in the condition of controlled dwellinghouses.

Any comprehensive statement about the operation of the Act must await information which will not become available till the autumn. I hope, however, to be able to give interim figures about certain aspects shortly.

:Does not public experience so far show that this Act is a complete failure and has not realised any of the promises that were made by the Government when the Bill was going through the House?

I hope that is not the case. The Government did their best to tackle a very serious problem, but the Act has been in operation only since 30th August and I think we are entitled to a little more time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further statement he is now prepared to make on the development of a new town at Cumbernauld as a result of his recent meeting with the representatives of Glasgow Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of his negotiations with Glasgow Corporation on 4th March with regard to the proposed new town at Cumbernauld.

I am not in a position to make a statement until I receive the corporation's views on the suggestions which I put to it at my recent meeting and which I have since confirmed in correspondence.

Is the Secretary of State aware that, so far as the overall deficit is concerned, his proposals are not very clear? Is he further aware that the corporation has now come part of the way to meet him in the direction which I suggested in the House on 25th January, and will he assure us that as the corporation has done that he will not now impose upon it the idea of unconditional surrender?

:I was grateful to the hon. Member for his Question to me on the previous occasion. It is true that the corporation has come part of the way. As to the handling of the deficit, I suggested that the receiving authority, the corporation and the Exchequer should each handle one-third, but I said, and I have repeated, that I am prepared to listen to alternative proposals.

:Is the Secretary of State aware that within a period of less than two years every available building site in Glasgow will have been exhausted? Since the right hon. Gentleman has been handling the question of a new town at Cumbernauld for more than two years, will he stop monkeying about with it and get on with the job?

:I assure the hon. Member that my desire is to get on with this job, in view of its urgency, to which he has referred and with which I agree.

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any consultations with Dunbartonshire County Council?

I have not had consultations up to date for the reason that we have not yet reached that stage; but Dunbartonshire County Council was represented at the last meeting and is aware of what is taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many more houses he estimates are needed in Scotland.

Half of the 500,000 houses which the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee estimated were required in 1943 have been built, but I have no information on which to base an up-to-date estimate. The areas with continuing housing needs are, of course, well known.

Has the Secretary of State no indication whatever that he can give to the House as to the wastage since 1943? How many years does he think it will take to produce the houses which are now necessary, after the survey to which he has just referred?

It will take time, of course, in the worst areas, but I am glad to say that in some areas the smaller local authorities are completing their post-war housing programmes. What we must still do, of course, is to concentrate on the bad areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the increased rates of interest that will have to be met by Scottish local authorities, he will increase housing subsidies.

No, Sir. I would remind the hon. Member that when interest rates on housing loans fell in 1953 and again in 1954 there was no reduction in housing subsidies in Scotland.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that his answer will be received with dismay in Scotland? Does he really think it fair that local authorities and municipal tenants should have to pay the cost of the follies of the present Government?

:Instead of my answer being received with dismay in Scotland, it ought to be a matter of satisfaction that we did not do the opposite in 1953.

We are in some bewilderment, because in one answer the right hon. Gentleman told us that the interest rates to the local authorities did not vary with the Bank Rate, and now he has told us that they do vary with the Bank Rate. Will he explain?

The answer is perfectly simple. The Bank Rate used to vary constantly, and Public Works Loan Board rates did not always vary with it, but they do bear some relation to it and are now liable to variation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there has been an increase in the percentage of houses built in England and Wales in 1954 as compared with 1953; what the percentage decrease in the number of houses built in Scotland has been for the same period; and what is the reason for the decrease in Scotland.

There was an increase of 10·6 per cent. in England and Wales and a decrease of 2·3 per cent. in Scotland. Output in the Scottish industrial areas, where housing needs are greatest, was maintained in 1954. The decrease for the country as a whole arose mainly from the fact that a number of the smaller local authorities, nearing the end of their programmes, have either stopped or are slowing down the rate of building. In Scotland there has been no substantial expansion of private building as in England and Wales.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last year 30,000 more houses were completed in England and Wales, whereas there was a decrease in house building in Scotland? Is he aware that in Scotland, which is the worst housed country in Europe, building contractors are today dispensing with their building labour forces? What steps does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take to avoid severe unemployment in the building industry in Scotland?

As I said in my answer, I admit that there was a decrease, because private building in England has increased by 52 per cent. whereas, to my regret, in Scotland it has increased by only 4·4 per cent. Added to that, 79 authorities in Scotland are drawing to the end of their programmes.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that the difficulties and the threat of delays in house building in Scotland are greatly increasing in the most heavily built-up areas owing to the lack of sites and that it is by no means right in every case to throw the blame on the Scottish Office? Will he make sure that local authorities do their best to think ahead on this problem and work in co-operation with his Department?

We realise the difficulties and are endeavouring to assist local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the increased cost of the average four-apartment local authority house as a consequence of the increase in interest rate of the Public Works Loan Board.

The increase will be 4s. 2d. a year on each £100 of the cost of the house over the loan period of 60 years.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a recent committee which he set up drew attention to the fact that the rates in Scotland were already overloaded? Does this new development mean that he will be still further overloading the heavily burdened ratepayers in Scotland?

One answer is that if the ratepayer does not carry it the taxpayer will, and I think that both are overloaded.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many certificates of disrepair have been granted in Dundee under the provisions of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) Act.

:Of 11 applications for certificates of disrepair received up to the 31st December, 1954, the town council granted eight, refused two, and have still one under consideration.

While thanking the Secretary of State for that information, will he also expedite the issuing of general information on the working of this Act, both in Dundee and elsewhere in Scotland, so that we may know how it is operating and, in particular, how our constituents are being affected by it?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I have no desire to hide anything and will shortly issue the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on behalf of Chapter VI Diploma Teachers in Further Education; and whether he will make a statement.

It has been claimed that the qualifications of these teachers entitle them to be classified in a higher group than is proposed in the draft of the Teachers' Salaries (Scotland) (Amendment No. 1) Regulations, 1955. This claim is being discussed with representatives of the National Joint Council today, and my decision will be incorporated in Regulations which I hope to lay before the House before the end of this month.

May I take it from that reply that my right hon. Friend will not dismiss the claim of this section of teachers without due consideration?

Certainly I should not dismiss it, but I should prefer not to comment at this stage.

:May I take it from that that the Secretary of State is not definite about the draft regulations, that they will, if necessary, be amended before they are presented to the House, and that he will consider any representations made to him as to their modification?

Yes, I should certainly take all representations into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now made a decision concerning the monthly payment of teachers' pensions as a result of the representations made to him by the Educational Institute of Scotland.

Not yet. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 14th December, this matter can be raised in the course of the discussions on teachers' superannuation with the teachers and local authorities which started on 16th February.

:In view of the very long time that this matter has been under consideration, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it is time he made a decision? What are the difficulties which prevent him from making a decision?

The hon. Member must be aware of some of the difficulties in view of the Bill which was before the House in the previous Session. Other important matters have to be considered in addition to that which the hon. Member has raised in this Question. I do not think that the particular matter to which his Question refers should be treated in isolation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on grants to university students; and how these compare with grants to students in England.

The Education Authority Bursaries (Scotland) Regulations, 1953, in accordance with which awards to Scottish university students are assessed, are at present under review in the light of such increases as may have taken place in students' expenditure since the Regulations were made. While exact comparison is difficult, awards under the current Regulations are on the whole less in value than the corresponding awards made to English students.

:Would the Secretary of State not agree that it is quite unfair that there should be inequality between grants given to students in England and those for Scotland? Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that, in the matters which he has just indicated will be coming forward, this inequality will be cleared away and Scottish students will get the same help as their counterparts in England?

:The system in Scotland has always been different from that adopted in England, and that is not necessarily always a bad thing. The hon. Lady the Member for Lanarkshire, North (Miss Herbison), in the debate on 11th February, referred to this matter in a carefully thought out speech, in the relevant part of which there is nothing with which I disagree. The hon. Lady rightly pointed out that the increased grants come out of the global sum that is available and that the more that is taken out of the global sum for increased grants the less there is available for general educational services.

While we have no dispute with the point made in the speech of my hon. Friend, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an anomaly has occurred inasmuch as English students frequently come to Scottish universities and it is a little awkward when they have much more handsome grants than the Scottish students? When the right hon. Gentleman is considering this matter, will he bear that anomaly in mind?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider increasing the grant payable to students in the fourth, fifth and sixth years of senior secondary schools.

The Education Authority Bursaries (Scotland) Regulations under which awards of this nature are made are at present under review.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind in the course of this review that it is from the categories which are mentioned in the Question that potential recruits are obtained for the professions, particularly the teaching profession? Will he bear in mind that in many instances it is not so much a case of objection by the children themselves as of the difficulties and anxieties of parents caused by the increased cost of living?

In view of the fact that these regulations are under review, I prefer to say nothing further now but will bear the hon. Member's remarks in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage the use, and aid the production, of educational films to assist teaching in schools.

Annual grants are paid to the Scottish Educational Film Association, one of whose chief aims is to encourage the use of these visual aids in the schools, and to the Scottish Central Film Library, who purchase films for hire to education authorities. Grant is also paid to enable the Joint Production Committee of the Scottish Educational Film Association and the Scottish Film Council to produce films and film strips to meet the needs of Scottish schools.

While thanking the Minister for the information contained in that answer, may I ask him to do all in his power to aid the education authorities who are keen on furthering the use of visual aid projects within their own county areas to take what advantage they can of teaching by this method?

Yes, Sir. In so far as we can make these films available, I shall be glad to encourage them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the estimated additional sum required to be paid by local education authorities in the next financial year as a result of increased interest charges consequent on the raising of the Bank Rate from 3½ to 4½ per cent.

Though precise figures are not available, it is estimated that the increase of¼ per cent. in the Public Works Loan Board rates will involve an additional annual charge of about £16,000 in respect of borrowing by education authorities from the Board. Education authorities also borrow from various other sources, and no estimate can be given of the increased charge in respect of this.

:Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the additional charges that the local authorities will have to pay in interest will have an adverse effect on the development programmes in education? There is already considerable apprehension among local education authorities about the future prospects in education.

:Less than one-half of any increase falls on the rates. We have had alterations in the Bank Rate before now, and they have not always led to increases in the rates of the Public Works Loan Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why work on the Haldane Public School at Balloch has been stopped.

Shortly after the preliminary work of pegging out the site had started I approved a proposal by Dunbartonshire education authority to extend the size of the school, and the work was suspended to enable the necessary alterations to be made to the plans.

Is the Secretary of State aware that just four weeks agothe Joint Under-Secretary of State informed me that work had just started on this school? Is it not the case that the local education committee wanted a larger school and that the plans were held up because the right hon. Gentleman's Department did not agree to a larger school, that the committee finally agreed to the smaller school and that then his Department suggested that a larger school should be built? Could I have some explanation of this avoidable delay?

The delay is due to the fact that it was decided that it was right to increase the size of the school.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is hoped the three-classroom school at Cardross, on which work started in April, 1953, will be completed.

I understand that the instalment of this school that is now being built will be completed in June of this year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have a report on a luxury hotel built in Bond Street, with 219 bedrooms each with a bath and shower, and with many luxurious and magnificent public rooms, all built in 21 months? Why is it that under the direction of his Department it has taken more than two years to build a small three-roomed school in the village of Cardross? Is this an indication of what priority means under the Tory Government?

It is proof of the fact that American dollars do not build Scottish schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number and the types of new schools started in Ayrshire since January, 1952; and how many of these are in Kilmarnock.

:Construction has started on one new primary and two new secondary schools, as well as on three major extensions to existing schools. Of these, one new senior secondary school is in Kilmarnock.

Am I not right in assuming that the right hon. Gentleman surely must be aware from the needs of Kilmarnock and Ayrshire generally that this is altogether inadequate and shows the complete folly of the Government in their approach to the question of building? Is he aware that in Kilmarnock, in connection with the great new housing schemes, there is considerable difficulty now leading to much ill-feeling because the authorities have failed to put up the educational establishments which are necessary for the children there?

I assure the hon. Member that this is not the end of the story. Approval has been given to four new primary schools, three secondary schools and three major extensions to existing schools in Ayrshire.