asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests he has received from persons and bodies in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, to exempt football from the Entertainments Tax; and whether he will accede to these requests.

My right hon. Friend and I have received a considerable number of individual and corporate representations concerning relief from Entertainments Duty on football. I cannot give the exact number from each part of Great Britain, and indeed, most of the representations were of general rather than local intention. They will all be included, with no geographic preference in the general review of taxation before the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect his change in the Bank Rate has made during the past month; and to what extent this has reduced the cost of living.

While it is too soon to look for statistical evidence, I do not think there is any doubt that the measures recently taken are exercising a useful check on credits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fall took place in the purchasing power of wage rates between June, 1947, and October, 1951, taking the index of wage rates and the Index of Retail Prices; and, using the same indices, what rise took place between October, 1951, and the latest convenient date in 1955.

Between June, 1947, and October, 1951, the index of wage rates rose by 22 per cent. and the Index of Retail Prices by 29 per cent.; real wage rates, therefore, fell by 5½ per cent. Between October, 1951, and February, 1955, wage rates rose by 20 per cent. and retail prices by 13 per cent.; real wage rates, therefore, rose by 6 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far, and when, the question of textile exports to Australia has been discussed recently; and, in view of the fact that recent limitations on cotton imports by the Australian Government have been attributed to the Chancellor's fiscal policy, what early action he is taking.

We are in constant touch with our Australian friends on all commercial matters of mutual interest including our textile exports to Australia. I do not accept the implication in the second half of the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to remove the Purchase Tax on warble fly dressing in order to encourage the observance of the Warble Fly (Dressing of Cattle) Order, 1936.

The normal warble fly dressings are not chargeable with Purchase Tax.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total cost incurred by the Northumberland and Tyneside Rivers Board in taking the case of Mr. Stanton, a Bulmer inshore fisherman, to the Divisional Court.

I understand that the cost was £139 7s. 11d., inclusive of the defendant's taxed costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will continue to refuse, until agreement is reached with the inshore fishermen, to confirm any new bylaw suggested by the Northumberland and Tyneside Rivers Board relating to the type of net that makes it more difficult for these men to earn their living.

Before confirming any bylaw, I consider the interests of all parties likely to be affected by its operation. I have not as yet received any fresh proposal from this board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the capital investment in the agricultural industry for each of the years 1952, 1953, and 1954, respectively; and what steps he is taking to encourage further investment.

Gross investment in agricultural equipment and buildings in Great Britain is estimated to have been £80 million, £83 million, and £88 million for 1952, 1953, and 1954, respectively. Government encouragement includes the investment allowances for machinery, plant and buildings introduced at the last Budget; recent determinations of farm price guarantees, which recognised the need of farmers for additional resources; and the agricultural capital allowances for landowners given in Section 314 of the Income Tax Act, 1952.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentages of farms in England and in Wales, respectively, are still without available electric light and power; and how these compare with the proportions in 1953.

The only statistics available relate to farms classed by the different area boards as capable of being connected to a mains supply because they are equipped holdings. I am informed that, at the end of 1953, 43 per cent. of these farms in England and 74 per cent. of these farms in Wales were without electric light or power. At the end of 1954, the corresponding figures were 38 per cent. and 69 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how far his Department's Estimates, which have just been published, take into account the changes arising from the special and annual agricultural Price Reviews recently concluded.

These changes will be dealt with at a later date by Supplementary Estimates for my Department and for the Scottish Department of Agriculture. For the information of the House, however, under Class VIII, Votes 2 and 12, the estimated additional cost of direct production grants to be borne in the coming financial year is about £7 million.

asked the Minister of Labour what advice he has now received from the Advisory Committee appointed under the Radioactive Substances Act, 1948, about the risks to which workers using radioactive substances are exposed and the measures necessary to protect their health and safety.

The Protection Sub-Committee of the Statutory Advisory Committee has enunciated certain health and safety principles to be followed in work in which radioactive substances are used. Practical measures based on these principles are set out in an advisory booklet issued by the Factory Department of my Ministry on the precautions to be used in industry, and Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate have been instructed to ensure that these measures are applied.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to bring before the National Joint Advisory Council the desirability of providing factory welfare schemes, canteens, recreation facilities, and bonus payments for increased output; and if he will make a statement.

The National Joint Advisory Council considered at its January meeting the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories which, in its welfare section, deals with the provision of factory canteens. I see no reason to raise the other question referred to at present at the National Joint Advisory Council, but it is, of course, open to the representatives of industry on the Council to raise them at any time if they wish.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement as to the possibilities of finding employment for a citizen of Lincoln, details of whose case have been communicated to his Department, who is in his early fifties, has excellent references, has managerial experience, has been unemployed for many months, and who appears to be likely to remain so as employers, in many cases, because of complexities of their pension and superannuation schemes, are reluctant to employ men of this age.

I am looking into the case and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to absolve a driver of a car from being technically in charge of a car merely because the driver

Various suggestions for the amendment of Section 15 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, with the objects which my hon. Friend has in mind, were made when the Road Traffic Bill was under discussion in another place. We have so far been unable to find any means of amending this particular provision without unduly weakening it and creating a number of anomalies, but the matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from prison during each of the last five years; from what types of prison the escapes have been made; and, in each case, how many were recaptured.

The particulars are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to say whether the recommendations of the National Joint Council on Fire Service pay and conditions will be implemented.

Regulations giving effect to the main recommendations relating to the basic pay of the Fire Service came into force on 18th March. I have to-day made a supplementary Regulation giving effect to the one remaining recommendation on pay, about which I had asked the National Joint Council to supply me with further information. I have the recommendations on hours of duty under consideration, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of new schools and new school places constructed since 1945; and in how many cases building started after October, 1951.

Between 1945 and 1st February, 1955, 1,348,000 school places were provided by new building, including 2,395 new schools Work on 325,700 of these places and on 582 of these schools started after October, 1951.

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools were completed in the period 1945 to October, 1951, and in the period November. 1951, to 1955; and how far he expects the provision of new school buildings to be maintained or increased.

Seven hundred and twenty-seven and 1,668 schools respectively. I expect that the recent rate of building will at least be maintained.

asked the Minister of Education how many additional school places were provided in Wales in the period 1945 to October, 1951, and in the period November, 1951, to 1955, respectively; and how far he expects the provision of additional school places to be maintained or increased.

Twenty-six thousand six hundred and thirty and 35,754 school places respectively. I expect that the recent rate of building will at least be maintained.

asked the Minister of Education when the Lepton, Yorkshire, Church of England School was last inspected; what defects the inspector reported in the water supply; whether he is aware of the unhygienic state of the lavatories caused by the periodic cutting off of water; and what action he is taking.

This school was last formally inspected in 1952. No defects in the water supply were reported then, but I understand that the position has since become unsatisfactory. I am informed that a new main which should overcome the difficulties is to be laid shortly.

asked the Minister of Education how many rural and how many urban authorities have made application for grants for village halls under the Physical Training and Recreation Act; and how many of these applications have been granted in respect of each type of authority.

Since Circular 283 was issued I have received 53 new applications for such grants. One was from a rural authority, one from an urban authority, and the remainder from voluntary village hall committees. I have had to refuse two applications; the remainder are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Education if he will identify the regulations or other statutory provisions which make the institution of an independent committee of management a condition precedent to a grant in respect of village halls.

There are no statutory provisions for the management of village halls, but I have followed my predecessors in making it a condition of grant that the responsibility for their management should rest with a properly representative committee.

asked the Minister of Education to make a statement on the progress in providing facilities for further technical education in Wales.

Since the war £2 million worth of new building has been completed at 26 technical colleges and institutions in Wales; a further £1½ million worth is in hand or has been authorised.

asked the Minister of Education what circulars he has sent to education authorities during the last two years which require increases in expenditure or staff by them.

Apart from notices issued from time to time announcing increased salaries for teachers, the only circulars requiring authorities to spend more were those in which they were informed of the transfer to them of responsibility for the purchase of school canteen equipment and the supply of milk to maintained schools. In both these cases all, or nearly all, the expenditure is, in fact, met by Exchequer grant. I cannot say how far such changes have affected the size of the authorities' staffs.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what further consideration has been given and what consultations have now taken place between Her Majesty's Government and other Commonwealth Governments in respect of further membership of the Commonwealth.

Her Majesty's Government have the future development of the Commonwealth under constant consideration. There have been no consultations with other Commonwealth Governments so far, but they would take place between all existing Members at the appropriate time when the question of the admission of a new member arises.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, with regard to the new mountain road in Basutoland, how many miles have been built and at what capital cost; what will be the annual cost of maintenance; and when it is intended to complete the road.

Forty-six miles of road have been built so far at a capital cost of £245,000. The road is now nearing the banks of the Senquenyane River and will soon reach the site provisionally selected for the headquarters of a new administrative district, which is being established to make possible the closer administration of large tracts of remote mountainous country.Although there would be advantage in extending the road across Basutoland to join the road system of Natal, it is not proposed to do so at present, for at this stage of Basutoland's development it is felt that efforts should be concentrated on anti-erosion and other projects which will directly improve the standard of living. The annual cost of maintaining the road will be £9,000 on its completion in early 1957.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions, at the instigation of his Department, have taken place in each of the years since 1945 of firms alleged to have applied a false trade description and in how many of these cases the defendants were found guilty.

Between 1946 1951 there were two prosecutions under the Merchandise Marks Acts for applying false trade descriptions, one in 1949 and the other in 1951. Both were successful. There were no prosecutions in 1952 and 1953, but in 1954 there were 13 prosecutions, of which 10 were successful. So far there have been five prosecutions in 1955, of which four have been successful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that British brush manufacturers and exporters do not experience undue hardship through the embargo on imported brushes recently made by the United States Government; and whether he will make a statement on the general position.

Her Majesty's Embassy in Washington have discussed the treatment of uncompleted contracts with the United States Treasury. Exporters have been advised to get their United States customers to file applications for licences with full details of the contracts involved and of the state of manufacture reached at the date of the embargo.

asked the Minister of Food how far his Department's Estimates, which have just been published, take into account the changes arising from the special and annual agricultural Price Reviews recently concluded.

These changes will be dealt with as necessary by Supplementary Estimate at a later date. For the information of the House, however, under Class VIII, Vote 10, the additional cost of the price guarantees on the basis of the original Estimate is about £7 million. This does not take into account the increases in the guarantees agreed at the Annual Review on cereals, potatoes and sugar beet, which apply to the 1956 harvest.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make it an offence to offer for sale any substances marked as cream ices which contains synthetic and not real cream.

The question whether such a practice would at the present time be an offence against Regulation 1 of the Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943, or whether any sale made pursuant to such an offer would be an offence against Section 3 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, is a matter for the courts. The law relating to the use of the word "cream" will be strengthened by Section 12 of the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act, 1954, which I hope to bring into operation at an early date.