asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will take steps to relieve the shortage of solid fuels in Hayes and Harlington.

I have drawn the attention of the House Coal Scheme to the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the shortage of domestic coal stocks in Colchester and north-east Essex; and what action he proposes to take.

I am informed that supplies to this area are being increased.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal has been imported from the United States of America in the last 12 months; who were the buyers and sellers, respectively, in the transactions; the average landed cost per ton; and how much has had to be carried in United States ships under the terms of the agreements.

About 900,000 tons, at an average landed cost of about £6 2s. 0d. per ton, bought by the National Coal Board through commercial channels. About 72,000 tons were carried in United States ships in accordance with an Agreement with the United States Government.

asked the Minister of Health how much notice he gave the Nottingham Corporation when transferring to them the duty of providing welfare foods.

The corporation were informed by circular on 7th April, 1954, that the transfer was to take place at the end of June.

asked the Minister of Health whether the technical difficulties encountered in connection with the testing of urine for fluorine content have now been resolved; and the nature of these technical difficulties.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers to the hon. Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Viant) on 14th and 25th February and 4th and 9th March, in which it was explained why these studies are no longer necessary.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make dihydrocortisone acetate ointment available on prescription by general practitioners in the National Health Service.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make cortisone products available on prescription by general practitioners.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to ensure that general practitioners in the National Health Service shall be available to their patients on the telephone.

No, but without prejudging any entirely exceptional case it seems quite clear to me, as a general matter of common sense, that a doctor providing general medical services is not in a proper position to fulfil his obligations to visit his patients when their condition so requires if he does not make reasonable arrangements for them to communicate with him by telephone.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has now been made towards an agreed plan for the installation of radio-telephone equipment in the ambulances of the Staffordshire health authority.

I am unable to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 7th March.

asked the Minister of Health what regulations he has issued about the protection of hospital workers using radioactive substances and about the disposal of radioactive waste in hospitals.

It is the normal practice of hospitals in the National Health Service to observe the recommendations of the British X-ray and Radium Protection Committee about protection and working conditions in X-ray and radium departments. This code of practice is, however, in some respects out-of-date and my right hon. Friend hopes to bring into operation shortly a revised code approved by the Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee which includes a section governing the disposal of radioactive waste.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a sample check of admissions to hospitals to show the numbers of patients who are not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and in order to find out how many have come here with the purpose of obtaining free hospital treatment.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the information obtained would be of sufficient value to justify the very considerable work which would be involved.

asked the Minister of Health the duties of the estate manager at Pasture Hospital, Mickleover, Derby; how much salary he is paid; who holds this appointment; and what sums of money have been spent upon alterations, fireplaces, decorating, and redecorating of Grange House since it has been occupied by the estate manager.

I am informed that the estate manager is responsible for the management of the farms and gardens belonging to the hospital and his duties include the upkeep and development of the hospital grounds and maintenance of all vehicles. The present estate manager, Mr. H. O. Hurst, was already in post at the commencement of the National Health Service and has chosen to retain the salary and conditions of service to which he was previously entitled. His salary is £849 6s. per annum, plus emoluments valued for superannuation purposes at £84 19s. 4d. Redecoration and the installation of a new range at Grange House before Mr. Hurst occupied it in September, 1949, cost £250; sums amounting to £450 have been spent on the house since that date.

asked the Minister of Health the salary of the secretary of the hospital management committee of the Pasture Hospital, Mickleover, Derby; how many applicants were interviewed for this post when the present secretary was appointed; and in which journals the vacancy was advertised.

I am informed that this officer's present salary is £1,350. He was on the staff of the committee when the previous secretary died in 1951. No other applicants were interviewed for the post and the vacancy was not advertised.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to prevent the nuisance arising from the burning of the soil tip of Hanley Big Colliery, Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent.

This is primarily a matter for the local authority. I understand that it is already taking steps in collaboration with the National Coal Board to abate the nuisance.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the overcrowding of Cathays High School for Boys; and what action is proposed, and when, to remedy the situation.

I am aware that there is pressure on the accommodation available at this school. It is the local education authority's responsibility to take account of the nature and amount of the accommodation when they decide how many pupils to admit. I am asking them what can be done to relieve the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many spastic children in Scotland are waiting for admission to special schools.

No accurate figures are available, but the information I have been able to obtain from education authorities indicates that 34 spastic children are awaiting admission to special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that all spastic children capable of doing so have facilities for studying for the General Certificate of Education; and if he will make a statement.

Spastic children who have the necessary ability are given the opportunity of studying for the Scottish Leaving Certificate, which is the appropriate examination in Scotland, if their handicap is not so severe as to prevent them from doing so. Two such pupils have been presented at this year's Scottish Leaving Certificate examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of overcrowding in the Carluke Primary School, Lanark, due to the increased population of Carluke; and if he will make a statement about proposals for its alleviation.

I am informed that, although one or two classes are slightly in excess of the prescribed maximum size, there is at present no serious overcrowding in the primary department of Carluke Junior Secondary School. The education authority is keeping the matter under review, and if it should become necessary to form another class temporary accommodation can be provided without undue difficulty. A new primary school for 680 pupils is under construction at Crawforddyke, Carluke, and is expected to be ready for occupation in September, 1956.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the extent of the area of which the Newbury and Hungerford district is part where the reception of the British Broadcasting Corporation Home Service in hours of darkness is bad owing to interference with the weak signals received; how many holders of radio licences are affected; and what would be the cost of a relay station to give this area a satisfactory service.

The British Broadcasting Corporation informs me that the trouble is confined to a small area on the borders of Berkshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire. The Corporation cannot be more precise because atmospheric conditions are not stable, and different areas may be affected at different times. For the same reason it is difficult to assess the number of licence holders who have poor reception of the Home Service programme at night.The Corporation regrets that it is not possible to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion of a relay station, as the transmitter would need to use a wavelength already in use elsewhere, and there would be mutual interference in "mush" areas. A separate wavelength is not available since our allocation of medium wavelengths under the international plan agreed at Copenhagen in 1948 is fully used by the existing stations. In these circumstances a relay station would probably cause more harm than good.