asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual net saving in Income Tax resulting from his Budget proposals in 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955, for a married couple with two children in the income groups,£400,£500,£5,000,

			1952 Budget				1953 Budget				1955 Budget
Gross earned income			Tax reduction			Percentage of net income	Tax reduction			Percentage of net income	Tax reduction			Percentage of net income
			£	s.	d.	Percentage	£	s.	d.	Percentage	£	s.	d.	Percentage
£500	…	…	11	13	4	2· 40		4	6	· 05	1	2	2	· 22
£5,000	…	…	68	15	0	2· 73	104	5	0	4· 03	112	5	0	4· 18
£10,000	…	…	68	15	0	1· 98	229	5	0	6· 49	237	5	0	6· 30
£20,000	…	…	68	15	0	1· 74	479	5	0	11· 95	487	5	0	10· 86
NOTES: (1) An earned income of£400 paid no tax throughout this period.
(2) No changes in personal taxation were made in the 1954 Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Income Tax was being paid by the 2,400,000 who will now be relieved of such payment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to similar Questions by the hon. Members for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough) and Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently paying Income Tax at the standard rate; and what will be their total relief consequent on the Budget proposals.

The answer to the first part of the Question is about 2 million, and to the second,£48 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage increase in National Savings in each of the past four years.

The percentage increase or decrease in the total remaining invested in the Post Office and Trustee Savings banks, National Savings Certificates, Defence Bonds, and other Government securities on the Post Office £10,000, and£20,000 per annum, respectively; and by what percentage each income group have had their net spending income increased in each of these years.

The table below shows the successive reductions in the tax paid by a married man with two children whose income is all earned.register, during the last four financial years is as follows:—

—	1951–52	1952–53
Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-).	- 0·6	- 1·2
—	1953–54	1954–55
Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-).	- 0·2	+ 2·0

This last figure is partly estimated: the final figure for the total of National Savings outstanding at 31st March, 1955, is not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as farm profits unavoidably vary from year to year due to the effect of the weather, which is quite beyond the farmers' control, if he will consider assessing farmers' tax liability on profits under Schedule D on a three-yearly instead of a one-yearly basis.

The basis of assessment of fluctuating incomes, including farm profits, is one of the matters within the province of the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income, and we should, I think, await the Commission's Report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the Pennine Way path will be completed; and what distances have been opened to the public during the past three years.

My right hon. Friend cannot yet say when the whole route will be formally completed, but with the exception of some four miles where there have been difficulties, the whole of the 250 miles from the Peak to the Border is now open to the public. In the last three years 63 miles of new public rights of way have been made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in order to facilitate agreement between local authorities for the absorption into neighbouring towns of excess population from overcrowded cities, he will specify what financial assistance they may expect from Government funds.

In order to help relieve congestion in large overcrowded cities, the Town Development Act, 1952, provides assistance for the expansion of smaller towns in the surrounding counties. Provided that the places chosen are suitable and that the scale and pace of the expansion are moderate, both exporting and receiving authorities should benefit. Nevertheless, it seems that, largely owing to uncertainty about their respective liabilities, the local authorities concerned are finding it difficult to agree upon the necessary financial arrangements between one another.I have, therefore, been considering what the Government can do to clarify the position. In any scheme of town expansion, one of the main iterns of expenditure is the extension of the water and sewerage systems; and we have always been prepared to make grants towards these costs. It has been our practice to vary the rate of grant according to the circumstances in each area. However, in order to eliminate this element of uncertainty, I have now decided, in agreement with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that henceforth these grants shall be made at the uniform rate of 50 per cent. for all schemes approved under the Act.In negotiations between exporting and receiving authorities, difficulty has also been experienced over the apportionment between them of the liability for the payment of the statutory rate contribution to the housing subsidy; and it has been suggested that the Government should help them to resolve this problem. Since the new houses will be allocated to persons on the exporting authority's housing list, it seems fair that that authority should meet this expenditure during an initial period. On the other hand, it would not be reasonable to expect it to go on carrying this financial burden indefinitely.In my opinion, the exporting authority should normally be prepared to accept responsibility for paying to the receiving authority the statutory rate contribution for 10 years, or such longer period as may be agreed between them. But at the end of that period its financial liability should cease altogether. By that time it is to be hoped that the increased rateable value resulting from the expansion will enable the receiving authority to meet the rate contribution on the new houses, without too much difficulty. However, in cases where the Government are satisfied that this would place an unduly heavy burden upon the local rates, they will provide an Exchequer grant to meet the whole or part of the rate contribution for such further period, beyond the first 10 years, as they may consider appropriate.I hope that the announcement of these decisions will help to clarify the financial liabilities of exporting and receiving authorities, and will now make the way clear for them to conclude between one another fair and workable agreements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what provision is being made by local planning authorities for green belts; and whether he will state his policy on this matter.

I am convinced that, for the well-being of our people and for the preservation of the countryside, we have a clear duty to do all we can to prevent the further unrestricted sprawl of the great cities.The development plans submitted by the local planning authorities for the Home Counties provide for a Green Belt, some 7 to 10 miles deep, all around the built-up area of Greater London. Apart from some limited rounding-off of existing small towns and villages, no further urban expansion is to be allowed within this belt. These proposals, if strictly adhered to, should prove most effective. For this the authorities in the Home Counties deserve much credit.In other parts of the country, certain planning authorities are endeavouring, by administrative action, to restrict further building development around the large urban areas. But I regret that nowhere has any formal green belt as yet been proposed. I am accordingly asking all planning authorities concerned to give this matter further consideration, with a view to submitting to me proposals for the creation of clearly defined green belts, wherever this is appropriate.However, I do not intend on this account to hold up my approval of development plans already before me. Additional provisions for green belts can be incorporated later.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will send a circular to all local authorities drawing their attention to the need to ensure that full information is in the hands of as many farmers as possible regarding the grants available to enable cottages to be improved.

I do not think that another circular is needed at present. It is apparent from the recent marked increase in the number of grants made, particularly in rural areas, that both farmers and local authorities are now well aware of the possibilities. Publicity has been and is being given about the grants available by leaflets, booklets and exhibitions. In addition, 27 special meetings have been held by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food especially for farmers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the newspaper strike, he will now consider taking steps to extend the time during which claims can be made under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1954, as many people have been unaware of their rights.

Yes. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given today to my hon. Friend the member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell).

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers unemployed and on short time in the furniture industry in the country as a whole, and signing on at the Tottenham Employment Exchange, respectively.

At 14th March, the latest date for which complete figures are available, there were 1,790 persons, whose last employment was in the furniture and upholstery industry, registered as wholly unemployed and 3,089 registered as temporarily stopped at employment exchanges in Great Britain. The corresponding figures for the Tottenham Employment Exchange were 84 and 71, respectively. At 18th April, the latest date for which we have a local figure, they were 73 and 287. I understand that there has been an increase in short time working since then.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, for the latest convenient date, the number of workers who were receiving less than£500 per annum and the industries in which these workers are employed.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workers who were, in October, 1954, receiving the then national average wage rate of£8 11s. 9d.

NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN WALES, GLAMORGANSHIRE AND CARDIFF AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Date	Wales			Glamorganshire			Cardiff
	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
11th March, 1946	40,002	31,781	71,783	26,681	21,171	47,852	1,779	1,166	2,945
10th March, 1947	66,986	20,649	87,635	33,866	11,188	45,054	2,835	594	3,429
15th March, 1948	29,330	12,644	41,974	17,734	6,929	24,663	2,241	366	2,607
14th March, 1949	27,374	11,105	38,479	16,439	5,775	22,214	2,468	525	2,993
13th March, 1950	25,971	10,520	36,491	14,765	4,869	19,634	2,867	471	3,338
12th March, 1951	18,677	9,248	27,925	9,963	4,432	14,395	2,161	480	2,641
17th March, 1952	16,627	10,897	27,524	8,697	5,235	13,932	1,889	659	2,548
16th March, 1953	21,088	10,304	31,392	10,843	5,031	15,874	2,263	471	2,734
15th March, 1954	16,239	9,752	25,991	8,443	4,547	12,990	1,958	499	2,457
14th March, 1955	12,430	7,612	20,042	5,786	3,379	9,165	1,458	417	1,875

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed and the number of vacancies notified at the employment exchanges at

NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND NUMBERS OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED AT THE BROMSGROVE AND REDDITCH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Date		Bromsgrove Employment Exchange			Redditch Employment Exchange
		Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
		Numbers registered as unemployed
12th March, 1951	…	9	1	10	10	—	10
17th March, 1952	…	13	34	47	24	27	51
16th March, 1953	…	704	108	812	243	65	308
15th March, 1954	…	15	1	16	46	25	71
14th March, 1955	…	21	3	24	37	9	46
Notified Vacancies remaining unfilled
14th March, 1951	…	235	30	265	444	235	679
12th March, 1952	…	257	64	321	335	385	720
11th March, 1953	…	91	40	131	172	106	278
10th March, 1954	…	160	59	219	213	222	435
9th March, 1955	…	191	48	239	308	308	616

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in Wales, Glamorgan, and Cardiff, respectively, for each of the post-war years.

The following table gives the information desired.Bromsgrove and Redditch, respectively, on the latest convenient date, and on the same date in each of the previous four years.

The following table gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons at Cardiff who have been registered as unemployed for six months or longer from the latest convenient date.

On 18th April there were 185 registered disabled men and seven registered disabled women in Cardiff who had been unemployed for more than six months. These figures include 36 men and two women considered unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of working days lost by stoppages in the coal-mining industry during January and February, 1955; how these figures compare with comparable ones for 1954; and what proportion, expressed as a percentage, these figures represent to those for all industrial groups stoppages during the same periods.

I assume that the question refers to stoppages of work caused by industrial disputes. The number of working days lost in the coalmining industry by workpeople involved in such stoppages was about 144,000 in January and February, 1955, compared with about 81,000 in January and February, 1954. These figures represent about 58 per cent. and about 31 per cent., respectively, of the total number of working days lost through such stoppages in all industries in these same periods.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the number of National Service men who have completed their apprenticeship as engineering turners for whom the Army can find no other use than as infantrymen;(2) what proportion of National Service men recruited to one or other of the Army technical corps and employed in occupations requiring engineering skill had followed an engineering occupation in civil life; and how many he estimates will return to that occupation after their period of National Service.

We do not require these statistics for official purposes and I do not consider that the large amount of clerical work necessary to obtain them would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the parents of T/22891795 Wilcox were not notified of the serious operation performed on him at the Queen Alexandra Hospital; and whether he will take steps to improve the War Office system for informing parents of any serious illness of their sons whilst serving in the Army.

In reply to a Question earlier today by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway), I gave the circumstances in which the next of kin is automatically notified by the hospital of a soldier's illness. In other cases we are satisfied from past experience that it is better and more reassuring to let the soldier write home himself. Driver Wilcox knew well in advance that he was going to have to undergo this operation, and I understand he wrote home to his parents both before the operation and the day after.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total attendances at cinemas in the financial year 1954–55; and how this figure compares with those for 1953–54 and 1952–53.

Figures for total attendances at cinemas are not yet available for the first quarter of 1955. Admissions for the calendar year 1954 were 1,276 million, compared with 1,285 million in 1953 and 1,312 million in 1952.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what inquiries he has made as to the cause of the closing of cotton mills in Lancashire; and what action he now proposes to take to deal with the situation.

The Board of Trade and the Cotton Board have always kept in close touch about the position of the cotton industry. Some months ago my right hon. Friend arranged for up-to-date information to reach him more regularly and more frequently on a number of matters, including the closing of mills.As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statement made last Friday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the value of the exports from Scotland during each of the last five years of radio and television and electrical equipment, respectively, indicating the extent and value of the exports from each Scottish industrial centre and to each country;(2) the value of the exports from Scotland during each of the last five years of heavy and light engineering products, respectively, indicating the extent and value of the exports to each country.

The information sought is not available.

asked the Minister of Defence if, in view of the Report from the Committee of Privileges, in which it is stated that a member of the Armed Forces is entitled to communicate with Members of Parliament on other than military matters, he will give an assurance that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that, while it is desirable that the usual Service channels for the raising of complaints and grievances should be used wherever possible, Service men have an absolute right to communicate with Members of Parliament on all matters, including Service matters, so long as there is no disclosure of information that must be kept secret in the interests of national security.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that National Service men require new clothes on the completion of their service to enable them to resume civil life; and whether he will make a grant for this purpose.

I have nothing to add to the reply on this subject given by my predecessor on 14th December last to the hon. Member for Sheffield Park (Mr. Mulley).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the estimated total gross fixed investment in agriculture, excluding forestry and fishing, in 1954; how this sum was divided as between vehicles, plant and buildings; and to define the items, and their values, which comprise these three categories.

The total of gross fixed investment for agriculture is estimated to have been£88 million for Great Britain in 1954; this comprises£4 million for public investment (mainly building work but not including arterial drainage) and£84 million for private investment. The private investment is divided between£55 million for plant and machinery,£6 million for vehicles and£23 million for building and construction. All the figures include purchases for replacement. Plant and machinery includes such items as glasshouses and poultry houses; vehicles include farm lorries and vans but not cars; building and construction includes farm houses as well as farm buildings, water supplies and farm drainage, but not farm cottages.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the fall in tillage acreage for 1954 as compared with 1953.

The June census return 1954 shows that the tillage area (crops and bare fallow) in the United Kingdom fell by 472,000 acres as compared with June, 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to make a statement about recent acquisitions by the National Gallery of Scotland.

The Trustees of the National Gallery of Scotland learned last month that Sir Francis Cook and the Trustees of the Cook Collection were willing to sell the Velasquez painting "The Old Woman," which forms part of that collection. It was recognised that it was of the highest national importance that this picture, which is one of the very few paintings by Velasquez still in private ownership, should remain in this country, and the Trustees accordingly decided to seek Exchequer help towards its purchase.The price of the picture is£57,000. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make an Exchequer grant of£25,000 towards this sum. The National Art Collections Fund have generously offered to contribute£5,000, and the remainder will be contributed by the Trustees from their own resources. A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before the House as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there is discontent among prisoners in Peterhead Prison, Aberdeenshire; and if he will set up a public inquiry to ascertain and remove the causes of this discontent.

I am satisfied, after very full inquiry, that conditions at Peterhead Prison are satisfactory and that no further inquiry is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the correspondence in June, 1954, which the City Engineer of Aberdeen has had with his Home Department about proposed demolition of the communal residential surface air-raid shelter at 44, Kintore Place, Aberdeen; if he is aware that this shelter is unnecessary, an interference with the amenities of many residents, and is causing deprivation of their drying-green space; and if he will now authorise its removal.

While this shelter is reported to be in good condition, I recognise that it is causing considerable inconvenience to the tenants of the neighbouring properties and, in the circumstances, I am authorising the town council to demolish it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an assurance that he will refrain from granting the application to close sections of canals in the Leek area to anglers and others until an opportunity of a public inquiry is given to interested parties.

No such application has been made to me.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce special regulations applying to the display of index letters and registration numbers on trailers drawn by tractors, to avoid the embarrassment frequently caused at present and before these farming implements are used in the coming harvest.

I am considering what can be done to help farmers in this matter.