asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the delays experienced by industrialists in Crawley in their exports due to the lack of facilities at the London Docks; and whether he will make a statement.

No. But if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to look into it in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, who has the primary responsibility in these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the growing imports of Italian woollen and worsted cloth; and what actions the Government propose to take in the interests of the British wool textile industry.

In the 12 months to the end of February, 1955, imports of wool tissues from Italy amounted to about twice the quantity imported in the preceding 12 months. However, they were less than one half of the levels in the years 1949–51, and amounted to less than 11/4 per cent. of the estimated total consumption of wool tissues in the United Kingdom. I am not aware that the present situation constitutes any serious threat to the interests of the United Kingdom wool textile industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in connection with the Czechoslovakian Trade Agreement; and when he expects this agreement to be signed.

:No progress has been made since last June, when trade talks were suspended because of the attitude adopted by the Czechoslovak Government concerning their debt commitments. Since then there have been exchanges of view about the repayment of debt. Resumption of the trade talks must depend on the successful outcome of these consultations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the letter of protest from the county council of Dunbartonshire on the recent decision to increase the Bank Rate; and what reply he has given to them.

:My right hon. Friend has told the council that their protest has been noted, and he has dealt fully with other points raised in their letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount paid in entertainment tax on admission to Association football matches in the First, Second, Third, North and Third, South Divisions of the Football Association, respectively, during the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954.

I regret that no separate information is available in respect of each of the Divisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far Purchase Tax is charged on dispensed veterinary medicines and drugs as it is on proprietary brands; and ifhe will make a statement.

Medicines and drugs which are of established therapeutic value can be obtained for veterinary dispensing free of tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider removing the Purchase Tax from veterinary medicines in order to permit farmers to take full advantage of measures for the prevention of disease and to cure illness in their stock.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement. At present animal medicines are dealt with broadly on the same lines as human medicines, with the result that a large number are exempt.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that many civil servants regard the proposals put by the Treasury before the Royal Commission on the hours and annual leave of civil servants as contrary to undertakings given by the Government during the war; and whether he will give an assurance that any recommendations on this subject by the Royal Commission will be the subject of further negotiations with the Staff Side before a decision is taken on them.

I am aware that there has been widespread misunderstanding on this point. I gladly reaffirm what has been made abundantly clear in both the written and the oral evidence submitted by the Treasury to the Royal Commission—that there will be further negotiations with the Staff Side before a decision is taken on any recommendations which may be made by the Royal Commission on this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much red clover seed has been imported during the current season.

During the current season import licences have been issued for 87,000 cwt. of red clover seed, made up of 59,000 cwt. of medium and broad red clover, and 28,000 cwt. of late flowering red clover.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to a case of a dog at Mulbarton, Norfolk, which was found chasing a rabbit which had myxomatosis, where the dog and six pups died subsequently and to a similar case at Clayton, Ipswich; and how many similar cases have been recorded.

Yes. I understand that in each case the veterinary surgeon who examined the dogs was satisfied that their illness had no connection with myxomatosis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to give the latest information with regard to the spread of myxomatosis in Great Britain; and which counties have now been virtually cleared of rabbits.

In large parts of the counties of Southern England and Wales rabbits have been virtually cleared by myxomatosis. In all other counties except Selkirk, the disease is present but not to the same extent. It continues to spread steadily in all areas. Mopping-up operations are in progress. Anglesey is. the only place where, I am told, the whole; county has so far been virtually cleared.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the subsidies paid on the nitrogen and phosphate content of fertilisers have resulted in lower prices for fertilisers being charged to farmers in the United Kingdom, compared with prices in Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and Germany, as disclosed in the recent Organisation for European Economic Co-operation Report.

:The subsidy on nitrogen and phosphates enables farmers in this country to obtain these fertilisers at net costs which are lower than in the countries mentioned by my hon. Friend. Accurate price comparisons are difficult but, in general terms, the unsubsidised prices of nitrogenous fertilisers are lower in this country and those of phosphatic fertilisers are in some cases rather higher.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will intensify the campaign to eradicate the warble fly in cattle this season.

Yes. It is of great importance that farmers should regularly examine their cattle during the next three months and treat any that are infested as required by the Warble Fly Order. My Department is conducting an intensified campaign this year to bring this home to farmers. I will send my hon. Friend particulars.

asked the (Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the names of the district councils in the counties of Brecon and Radnor which have been asked to assist in the erection of houses for forestry workers; and what has been the response.

:In the county of Brecon, the rural district councils of Builth, Brecknock, Crickhowell and Llanwrtyd Wells; and in the county of Radnor, the rural district councils of Rhayader, Knighton and New Radnor. The response has been entirely satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that when police appeals are made against the decisions of a magistrate's court the police obtain the assistance and advice of counsel; and if he will circularise all magistrates'courts reminding them that they also have the right to obtain the services of counsel if they consider it necessary in the preparation of their case.

I have no reason to think that justices need any guidance on this matter, but if the hon. Member will let me know of any difficulties that have arisen I will gladly look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the growing public resentment against the anomalies created by the Betting and Lotteries Act; and if he will consider amendments.

As the hon. Member will be aware, there is a Private Member's Bill before the House which seeks to amend the law relating to small lotteries, but I can hold out no hope of legislation by the Government on the subject of gambling during the present Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many males convicted for murder have been reprieved in the last 30 years, and how many have suffered the supreme penalty, excluding the period between the passing in the House of Commons of the resolution abolishing the death penalty and its rejection in another place; how many of such reprieved murderers were reprieved for mental reasons; how many because of their age; and how many served a life sentence other than in a mental prison.

In the years 1925–1954, excluding the period from 14th April, 1948, to 2nd June, 1948, 358 males who were convicted in England and Wales of murder were executed; 36 were certified insane after conviction and removed to Broadmoor; and 244 had their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life. A decision to recommend the commutation of a death sentence to one of imprisonment for life is taken after consideration of all the circumstances of the case, and there are few instances in which a decision was taken solely because of the mental state of the prisoner or solely because of his age. In no case was a decision taken; that a reprieved murderer should be detained in prison for the rest of his life.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will allow no-passport day trips to be run from the port of Great Yarmouth during the coming summer season.

I regret that I can see no prospect of allowing no-passport excursions to be operated from Great Yarmouth this year, and I have not in fact been asked by any shipping company to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the discussions held on Monday with Messrs. P. and A. Campbell, Eastbourne, concerning day trips to France from Eastbourne and Newhaven; and what arrangements he has made with the French Government to make sure that the passengers can land.

As I previously indicated to the House, I should like to see the pre-war facilities for no-passport excursions ultimately restored in so far as that would be consistent with the interests of security. With that important (proviso, and as a first step, I have decided in principle that during the forthcoming season Messrs. P. & A. Campbell Ltd. should be permitted experimentally to operate no-passport excursions from Newhaven and Eastbourne, subject to certain specified conditions of control which the company are understood to accept. Messrs. Campbells are today being informed accordingly. As regards the second part of the Question, it is for Messrs. Campbells themselves to approach the French authorities, and I understand that they are about to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why access to confidential police records at Notting Hill station is being provided for the purpose of research sponsored by the Nuffield Foundation; and whether his permission was obtained beforehand.

:The Nuffield Foundation, in connection with a programme of research designed to throw light on the validity of criminal statistics, asked that a research worker temporarily engaged by the Foundation for this study might be given access to certain police records relating to the investigation of crime; and I authorised the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to give the desired facilities. Similar facilities have been given in the past to bona fide research students working under the auspices of a university. I understand that this particular investigation has been discontinued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken on the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Adoption of Children.

The Committee's recommendations are "being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has now made arrangements to discuss grants to students in training colleges with the local authority associations.

:I discussed these grants with the local authority associations last week.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has now completed his consideration of the representations made to him about grants to university students; and if he will now make a statement.

I cannot yet make a statement, but the hon. Member will recall that a fortnight ago I assured the House that the new scheme would be started next autumn term.

asked the Minister of Education the number of educationally sub-normal children awaiting admission to schools especially catering for them in Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham, London, and Leeds.

The latest figures available are those for December, 1954. The following is the information:

NUMBERS OF CHILDREN ASCERTAINED AS REQUIRING PLACES IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATIONALLY SUB-NORMAL PUPILS AS AT 1.12.54 IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:—
Area	Day	Boarding	Total
Manchester	219	14	233
Liverpool	578	17	595
Sheffield	33	3	36
Bristol	27	2	29
Birmingham	27	21	48
London	—	67	67
Leeds	53	10	63
Total	937	134	1,071

These figures do not reflect the situation in different areas in strictly comparable terms, since the practice of authorities varies to the extent to which they ascertain children as requiring special school places in advance of the date on which places are likely to become available.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the number of scientists in training is, in relation to the population, one-quarter of that in the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of science students and teachers.

I doubt the value of this sort of comparison because of the different meanings given to the word f "scientist," but it is in any case the policy of Her Majesty's Government to expand the facilities for scientific and technological education which have been provided since the war in schools, technical colleges and universities. So far as the schools are concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of a fortnight ago to the hon. Member for New-castle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler).

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools were completed and how many school places provided in the Blackley Parliamentary Division of Manchester, between October, 1945, and October, 1951, and between October, 1951, and the latest convenient date, respectively.

:In the first period two schools were completed and 1,790 places were provided in these schools and by extensions to others. Since October, 1951, seven schools have been completed and 2,950 places provided in the same ways.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will include representatives of the National Association of Schoolmasters on the Teachers' Panel of the Burnham Committee.

No, Sir. I see no reason to dissent from the view held by my predecessors that the Teachers' Panel of the Burnham Committee, as at present constituted, adequately represents the teachers affected by the Committee's recommendations; and that the addition of representatives of other associations would not help the Committee's work.

asked the Minister of Education the membership of the teachers' unions represented on the teachers' panel of the Burnham Committee and the number of seats allotted to each union.

The composition of the teachers' panel of the Burnham Main Committee is shown below. I understand that the membership of the constituent bodies is as shown in the last column.

National Union of Teachers—16 representatives—218,000 members.

Incorporated Association of Head Masters—1 representative—1,350 members.

Incorporated Association of Head Mistresses—1 representative—1,130 members.

Incorporated Association of Assistant Masters—2 representatives—18,500 members.

Incorporated Association of Assistant Mistresses—2 representatives—13,500 members.

Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions—4 representatives—10,000 members.

asked the Minister of Education the cost in the last year for which figures are available of maintaining a child in a State boarding school.

The approved boarding fees, which are designed to cover the cost of boarding as opposed to tuition, range from £100-£140 per annum at most of the secondary schools with boarding places maintained or assisted by local education authorities. These figures do not apply to residential special schools for handicapped pupils.

asked the Minister of Education if he will ask local education authorities for the frequency and severity ratio of sickness for women teachers as compared with men teachers, in primary, secondary, modern and grammar schools, for the period January to June, 1954, and publish such information as is collected for the information of hon. Members of the House of Commons.

No. I would not feel justified in asking local education authorities to make such a special return.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position of the dispute between Britain and Iceland about fishing grounds.

I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Major Wall) and the hon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish in a White Paper the final statement of the representative of the State of Viet Nam referred to on page 7 of Command Paper No. 9239.

:I do not think it is necessary so long after the Geneva Conference to publish this statement in a White Paper, but I will place copies in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the fact that the imports of meat for 1954 were 1,865,895 cwt. less than the imports of meat for the previous year, what action he is taking to increase the amount of meat imported.

None. The prospect is that over the first year of freedom the public will eat as much meat per head as before the war, and about a quarter of a million tons more than in the last year under control.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to make a statement announcing his proposals for giving increased financial assistance which will enable local authorities to erect more community centres in new housing schemes.

The estimate, which has just been published, of £50,000 for grants in Scotland under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, shows an increase of £15,000 over the current year's Vote: this will enable more community centre schemes to be directly assisted. In addition, more money is to be available next year in the Education (Scotland) Fund, from which grants are paid on contributions by education authorities towards the cost of such projects.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps the senior naval officer, Ceylon, is taking to clear the Chinanvadi oil fuel depot of wild elephants; whether he is satisfied that no white elephants are involved; and upon which Vote any expenditure will be borne.

The Ceylon zoological authorities are going to help remove the elephants which have entered the oil fuel depot. All expenses involved will be borne on the appropriate establishment vote, in this instance Vote 8, Section II, Subhead K.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received a reply from the Governor of Northern Rhodesia concerning technical training for Africans.

Yes. I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Remploy have been compelled to accept Government contracts at unremunerative prices in order to obtain certain contracts; and what steps, under the circumstances, he will take to prevent the worsening of their economic position.

All work done by Remploy is unremunerative in the sense that the full cost of production exceeds the price at which the goods will be sold. Prices for Government contracts are always severely competitive and will sometimes involve a heavier loss than commercial sales. The Government Departments concerned are being most helpful, and I hope that an expansion in the number of long-term contracts will enable Remploy to produce goods more economically.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent commercial sales of Remploy products have increased in the current financial year; how far there has been a reduction in the sales personnel; and what plans there are in hand further to reduce commercial sales costs.

I understand that during the current financial year commercial sales of Remploy have increased by £724,000, which amounts to some 60 per cent. During the same period the financial saving resulting from a reduction in sales costs (due in part to reduction in personnel) has amounted to about £5,000. No further reductions in sales personnel are contemplated at present, but Remploy will keep their number under review.

asked the Minister of Labour whether Remploy are selling lines which show a reasonable sales margin; and what increase there has been in the overall sales margin earned during the past nine months.

:Yes. It is estimated that the sales margin (i.e., the difference between the cost of production in normal trade conditions and the Remploy sales price) has increased by about 4 per cent. over the last nine months.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make an announcement about a Government order for the Folland Gnat.

Yes. It has been decided to place an order for a development batch for this aircraft.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a further statement as to the proposal for continuing, in whole or in part, the work of construction on the ring road round the city of Chester.

:I am awaiting final comments on the proposed modified line of route before publishing the amending Order to which I referred in the answer I gave to my hon. and learned Friend on 8th November, 1954.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, the arrangements for research into the prevention of pneumoconiosis; what co-ordination there is of such research; and what progress has been made in the institution of effective methods of prevention.

Research into the prevention of pneumoconiosis is carried out mainly by:

(1) The Medical Research Council's Pneumoconiosis Research Unit, which is conducting medical and physical studies.

(2) The National Coal Board, which is engaged in a large-scale field investigation into the relationship between dust conditions and the development and progress of the disease.

(3) The Ministry of Fuel and Power, whose work, through the Safety in Mines Research Establishment and the Inspectors of Mines, includes research on the measurement, control and suppression of dust.

The Medical Research Council also supports research on pneumoconiosis in university departments in Cardiff, London and Sheffield. Responsibility for coordinating pneumoconiosis research rests primarily with the National Joint Pneumoconiosis Committee and the Medical Research Council's Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee. Dust prevention at mines and quarries is the concern of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.