Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 4th May, 1955
Kenya
Embakazi Airport (Convict Workers)
4.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the 4,200 prisoners working at Embakazi airport in Kenya are convicted prisoners, detainees from a detention camp and detainees from a special detention camp, respectively; what wage they are being paid; how this conforms with the standard wage of the area; and if they are volunteers for this work.
They are all convicts serving sentences of imprisonment. The remaining parts of the Question do not, therefore, arise.
Food Prices And Rents
2.
Craddock asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the resolution adopted by the Kenya Federation of Registered Trade Unions, a copy of which has been sent to him, calling for immediate steps to meet the recent increases in the prices of tea, bread and biscuits; and what action he is taking.
I have not yet received a copy of the resolution. The price of tea has fallen by 6d. per lb. since the resolution was passed. The general rise in the cost of living was taken into account in recalculating statutory minimum urban wages, and wage increases varying from 6d. to 7s. a month came into force on 1st May.
3.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the resolution adopted by the Kenya Federation of Registered Trade Unions, a copy of which has been sent to him, protesting against the raising of rents in Nairobi by 100 per cent. in less than a year; and if he will institute the independent inquiry into building costs called for by the Federation.
I have not yet received a copy of the resolution referred to. Most African housing in Nairobi is owned by the city council. They now charge full economic rents and there has been a sharp increase in building costs. Consequently rents of council housing have risen by between 77 per cent. and 100 per cent.; but the housing element in the minimum wage is now the same as the rent charged by the council for a bed space.I do not therefore consider that an independent inquiry is called for, particularly as the Government of Kenya are already considering, in consultation with the city council, a scheme to provide modern but cheaper housing in Nairobi at lower rents for 20,000 Africans.
Kikuyu Home Guard (Supreme Court Judgment)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement regarding the publication of a part of a judgment delivered in camera by Mr. Justice Cram in the Supreme Court in Kenya on 10th December, 1954.
Yes, and I welcome this opportunity to correct a misunderstanding which may well have arisen from my reply to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway) on 27th April.A copy of the full judgment, including the part delivered
in camera, was obtained in Kenya by means unknown and copies were widely distributed without Government authority. In view of this publicity, the Government of Kenya subsequently supplied a copy, on request, to "East Africa and Rhodesia," and I should like to emphasise that publication by that Journal, for which I have a high regard, constituted no impropriety whatever. I am very sorry if any words that I used last Wednesday may have given a contrary impression. According to my information, it is quite likely that other newspapers had reason to believe that they were at liberty to publish the judgment in full. In these circumstances, I have now placed a copy of the complete judgment in the Library.
Northern Rhodesia (Education)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to pages 68 and 69 of the United Nations publication entitled "Non-Self-Governing Territories," ST/TRI/SER.A/8 of 1954; if he is aware that there has been a fall in the total number of African schools in Northern Rhodesia from 1951 to 1952, and a fall in the number of African teachers and of African pupils in primary and secondary schools; to what extent this tendency has been checked and what the comparable figures are for 1953 and 1954; and if he is satisfied with the progress of African primary and secondary education in Northern Rhodesia.
Yes. The total numbers of African Schools and of African teachers and pupils in primary and secondary schools fell between 1951 and 1952. This was the result of a reorganisation in the African education system, whereby a number of sub-standard bush schools were abolished and some small and inefficient schools were amalgamated into larger and more economic units. At the same time a number of untrained and inefficient teachers of very low educational standard were retired. The number of pupils increased from 167,649 in 1953 to 186,976 in 1954; the number of teachers rose to 4,588 in 1953 but fell slightly to 4,369 in 1954. This was due to the retirement of further untrained teachers and has since been more than made good by the number of trained teachers coming forward.The number of schools was further reduced to 1,524 in 1953 and 1,381 in 1954, but this was the result of a continuation of the process of consolidation whereby school units are being added to and upgraded: for example, one school can now offer elementary, middle and upper primary education whereas formerly either elementary education only could be provided or three separate schools were required.Still more progress of this kind would be needed before I should be satisfied. But I do believe that the reorganisation which has taken place is achieving the object of a proper balance between quantity and quality in the progress of African primary and secondary education.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many girls are attending the only African junior secondary school in Northern Rhodesia; what steps he is taking to increase these numbers; and when he proposes to build a senior secondary school in that Colony.
There is one junior secondary school for girls only; at this and co-educational African junior secondary schools the total number of girls is 42. Numbers are limited by the lack of enthusiasm of both parents and girls, who seem to prefer early marriage. All possible efforts are being made to counter these factors through native and local education authorities, and propaganda by the African Education and Information Departments. The Government of Northern Rhodesia will shortly upgrade two junior secondary schools to senior.
Shipbuilding
Wear Shipyards
24.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the work in hand in Wear shipyards for the last quarter was less than the previous quarter and less than the corresponding quarter last year.
The tonnages of work in hand at the end of the first quarter of 1954 and of the first quarter of 1955 are 220,980 and 212,790, respectively. The tonnage of work in hand on 31st December, 1954, was 226,765. No reliable deduction can be drawn from variations of this sort between one quarter and another, to which shipbuilding is notably susceptible. The comparable figure for 31st December, 1953, is 202,915 and during the last year variations in work in hand in the Wear shipyards between one quarter and another have been of the order of 35,000 tons.
Output
25.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what factors have caused the fall in the rate of output during the last quarter in British shipyards.
As I explained to the hon. Member in my previous answer, statistical comparisons between one quarter and another afford no reliable basis for conclusions about the shipbuilding industry. The lower output figures for the last quarter are probably due more to very severe weather conditions than to any other cause.
Telephone Service (Doctors)
26.
asked the Postmaster-General whether he has studied the case of a doctor, particulars of whom have been sent to him, who refused to permit his patients to call him by telephone; and whether he will make it a condition for the priority given to doctors in issuing them with telephones that they should not apply such restrictive measures to their patients who seek to summon them on legitimate occasions.
Yes. This case is the only one of its kind which has come to notice, and the doctor is not the actual subscriber. On the general issue it would be impossible to enforce the observance of such a condition as the hon. Member suggests, even if it were desirable to impose it.
Raf Varsity Aircraft (Unauthorised Flight)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) what means were taken to track the Varsity aircraft which took off from Thorney Island on an unauthorised flight on Monday, 25th April, until it crashed in France;(2) if he will make a statement about the unauthorised flight of a Varsity aircraft which took off from Thorney Island on Monday, 25th April.
At about 7 p.m. on 25th April a Royal Air Force Varsity aircraft No. WF 246 piloted by Leading Aircraftman Nanik Agnani took off from the R.A.F. Station, Thorney Island, on an unauthorised flight. At the time the station was engaged in a training exercise and was awaiting the return of three other Varsities. Leading Aircraftman Nanik Agnani was a member of ground crew. Attempts were made by the staff at Royal Air Force, Thorney Island, to prevent the aircraft from taking off, but these efforts were unavailing.The Flight Commander, Flight Lieutenant Smiles, took off in another Varsity in an endeavour to shepherd Agnani back to the airfield and to pass landing instructions by radio. The aircraft piloted by Agnani, after circling the airfield several times, flew in the direction of Chichester and over Brighton at a low altitude. It then turned north and was tracked by radar and by the pursuing aircraft as far as Hornchurch, where it turned westward and flew over Central London at heights sometimes as low as 200 ft. At this point, in the fading light, the pursuing aircraft lost visual contact. The aircraft was observed by radar to have turned north-east and the pursuing aircraft was directed on this course. A few minutes later, at 9.5 p.m., radar contact was lost and Flight Lieutenant Smiles reported a fire on the ground at a point which coincided with the last position of the aircraft as observed by radar, and Service and civil authorities were instructed to search for the wreckage.Royal Air Force stations over a large area of Southern England were instructed to turn on runway lights in case the Varsity piloted by Agnani was in fact still airborne and endeavouring to land. A few minutes after midnight the aircraft crashed on the village of Onnaing near Valenciennes in Northern France, killing three people and seriously injuring three others, besides doing considerable damage to property. Leading Aircraftman Agnani was himself killed.The unauthorised take-off and the subsequent crash are the subject of a Court of Inquiry. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the sympathy of the Air Council with the relatives of those who lost their lives, and with the injured.
40.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will give consideration to making arrangements for payment to be made without delay of generous amounts in compensation to the people who were injured, and to the families and dependants of those who were killed, as a result of the Royal Air Force aircraft crash at Onnaing, near Valenciennes, France, during Monday night, 25th April, 1955.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what compensation will be paid in respect of damage done by the Royal Air Force Varsity aircraft which took off from Thorney Island on 25th April and which crashed in Northern France.
Compensation to those who suffered loss or injury will be paid as if the accident had occurred in this country, and arrangements have been made for dealing with claims.
Roads
Maintenance Works, Denbighshire
49.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that his refusal to approve the Denbighshire County Council's estimates for expenditure in 1955–56 on the maintenance of their classified roads, will result in the inability of the council to carry out maintenance works essential for the proper upkeep of these roads; and if he will give the reason for such refusal, having regard to the fact that the county council asked only for a small increase in grant to offset the increase in workmen's wages which took place during 1954.
I regret that owing to the prior claims on the funds available for work on major improvement and new construction it has not been possible to increase this year the allocation to a number of counties, including Denbighshire, of the grant for maintenance and minor works.
Roundabouts, North Hykeham And Bristol
55.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has considered the request of the North Hykeham Parish Council for a roundabout on the A46 road in this village; and whether he will now give instructions for this to be provided.
I have noted the request. But for reasons which have been explained to the parish council, I do not think a roundabout is the right method of dealing with traffic at this place.
59.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the urgency of the need for the construction of a roundabout at Redcliffe Way, Bristol, which is the first of the new schemes in the five-year plan, he will give further consideration to the question of an immediate grant for this purpose.
I cannot say at present whether it will be possible this year to make a grant for this scheme. The Bristol City Council has not in fact indicated to me that they gave this scheme first priority, as the hon. Member suggests.
Safety Improvements (Lighting And Surface Dressing)
56.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the Report of the Road Research Board that better street lighting can reduce accidents at night by 30 per cent. and that surface dressing of roads can eliminate skidding accidents, he will take steps to intensify these two types of road improvement.
It is my policy to encourage improvements of this kind. I have the whole question of the administration of street lighting under consideration, and as regards surface dressing I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 9th February, 1955.
Bridge Works, Mill Bridge
60.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the inconvenience and obstruction caused to motorists by traffic signs erected at the London Midland Region Railway Station at Woodhouse, Mill Bridge, on the Sheffield to Worksop Road resulting from the fact that work on the demolition of this bridge was started considerably in advance of the supply of the necessary material, he will take the necessary steps to ensure that stricter supervision is exercised over the granting of rights to obstruct traffic by contractors engaged on bridge reconstruction.
Reconstruction began only after adequate supplies of materials were on the site. It is my policy to ensure that obstructions to traffic caused by bridge works are kept at a minimum.
Carlisle Relief Road
61.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, when considering schemes for the improvement of A6 and A7 roads in Cumberland, if he will take into account the proposal to provide a relief road through Carlisle to avoid congestion and delay to traffic in the city; and if he will make a statement.
I am always willing to consider proposals submitted by highway authorities. This scheme, however, has not been included in the programme recently submitted by the Carlisle County Borough Council.
Improvement Schemes, Elephant And Castle
65.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in what respects the proposed scheme for constructing a roundabout at the Elephant and Castle, for which the estimated cost of land and easements is roughly £750,000, differs from the abandoned scheme proposed under provision of the London County Council (Improvements) Bill, 1930, for which the then cost of acquiring the necessary land and easements was stated by the Minister of Transport on 19th November, 1930, to have been £1,458,000.
The abandoned scheme provided for the construction of a semi-circular roundabout at the Elephant and Castle intersection, Walworth Road being the straight side. The proposed scheme is to provide a five-sided roundabout at the Elephant and Castle intersection and a smaller roundabout at the intersection of Draper Street and Newington Butts. Walworth Road will not continue as a through route.
Civil Aviation
Renfrew Maintenance Base (Scottish Aviation Limited)
50.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now in a position to state the terms on which Scottish Aviation Limited will assume their tenancy at Renfrew Maintenance Base.
Scottish Aviation are being admitted to a part of the Base this week under a provisional agreement, pending final settlement of the terms of the lease.
Cyprus—Malta Service
62.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why, and on what authority, British subjects are prevented from travelling by air direct from Cyprus to Malta, although there is a service running, unless they have resided 14 days in Cyprus.
This rule was instituted in order that the Colonial Coach service operated between these islands should not carry through international passengers, as the rates charged are below those internationally agreed for such pas- sengers. I do not, however, think the rule can be maintained on this sector and it will be withdrawn, and alternative arrangements substituted.
Landing Facilities, Lincoln Area
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the nearest airfield to Lincoln on which small civil aircraft may land.
Binbrook is available for charter aircraft; and Manby for both charter and private aircraft.
Transport
British Transport Commission (Report)
53.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the 1954 Report of the British Transport Commission will be available to hon. Members.
The Commission tell me that they hope it will be available before the end of June.
Road Haulage Disposal Board (Report)
54.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to receive the next report of the Road Haulage Disposal Board.
Before the end of the month.
Vehicle Parking Regulations (Lights)
57.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now able to announce his decision in reference to car owners leaving their cars without lights on the street if within 100 yards of public lighting, following his hearing of comments received from interested organisations.
Yes. I am making regulations to permit certain vehicles to be parked in the streets of London at night with parking lights so long as they are on a road subject to a speed limit and are within 100 yards of a street lamp, and to be parked without lights at all if they are within 25 yards of a street lamp on such a road, except on bus routes. Outside London there will be similar arrangements except that parking without lights will be subject to the permission of the Chief Officer of Police concerned. The necessary regulations will be made under the Road Transport Lighting Acts and I would emphasise that they relate only to vehicle lighting and do not alter the existing law as to parking. A more detailed account of my proposals is given below.
Following are the Proposals:
The effect of the proposed Regulations in respect of the lighting of parked vehicles will be broadly as follows:—
Vehicles of the following classes, viz., private cars, hackney carriages adapted to carry less than 8 passengers exclusive of the driver, goods vehicles not exceeding 30 cwt. in unladen weight, motor cycles with or without sidecars, invalid carriages, pedal cycles and tricycles will be exempted from the requirements of the Road Transport Lighting Acts, 1927–1953 in respect of the carrying of front and rear lamps—
(A) (1) if showing a white light to the front and a red light to the rear from either—
(2) only while standing or parked close to and parallel with the near side edge of the carriageway within 100 yards of a street lamp (whether or not illuminated) on any road on which a 30 m.p.h. or lower speed limit is in force.
(B) If showing no lights—
(1) Within the City of London and Metropolitan Police districts
(2) Elsewhere throughout England. Scotland and Wales
subject in both ( a) and ( b) to the consent of the Chief Officer of the Police for the area concerned.
No exemptions will be granted by the Regulations in respect of the lighting of vehicles parked on road verges, and the leaving of cars with special lights or unlit near road junctions and intersections will not be permitted.
The proposed regulations deal only with exemptions from vehicle lighting requirements, and the existing law in regard to parking and obstructions remains entirely unaffected.
Rural Areas (Bus Facilities)
63.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps the licensing authorities take to encourage the provision of bus facilities in rural areas when rail traffic facilities are not available.
I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Speir) on 16th February, I may add that Transport Users Consultative Committees give special attention to the question of alternative bus services when considering proposals to withdraw train services.
Railways
Level Crossing, Burgh Station
58.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the level crossing at Burgh Station on the trunk road linking Skegness with the Midlands is a source of considerable delay and congestion to road traffic approaching or leaving Skegness; and what action is proposed to eliminate this level crossing.
When funds permit, I propose to eliminate this level crossing by building a bridge.
Branch Lines (Closures)
64.
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission that no branch line is to be closed until he has been informed and the House has approved the proposal.
No.
Modernisation Proposals, Cumberland
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now provide details of the British Transport Commission modernisation proposals affecting freight and passenger working in the Cumberland area, so that plans for trunk-road improvements and development may take account of the transport needs of the whole area.
Diesel multi-unit trains have already been introduced on 120 miles of track in Cumberland. Further details of work will be announced by the Commission in the annual forecasts which they will make.
Service Men's Children (Educational Allowances)
67.
asked the Minister of Defence why Her Majesty's Government have been unable to grant educational allowances on behalf of the children of Service men, on lines similar to those already accepted for members of the Diplomatic Services.
I am discussing this matter with my Ministerial colleagues who are concerned.
Icelandic Fisheries Dispute
69.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now state the present stage of the inquiry by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation into the Icelandic fishing dispute.
I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Haltemprice (Major Wall) on 6th April.
Nuclear Weapon Tests
68.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will specify the international provisions which now entitle the British Government to notice of the intention of any foreign Power to make an experimental explosion of an atomic, hydrogen or thermo-nuclear bomb.
There is no international agreement on this point. The only two Powers besides ourselves who have tested such weapons are the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The United States Government make it a frequent practice to give advance public notice of their test programmes, but the Soviet Government have not done so up till now.
Malaya (Press Articles)
70.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for suitable corrective statements to be issued by the British Information Services in New York to counter the inaccurate statements which have recently appeared in United States newspapers to the effect that British planters in Malaya have been guilty of temporising with the terrorists, or paying them protection money.
I understand my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to an article in a Malayan journal "The Planter" of March, 1955, which reproduced a despatch dated 13th February from the New York correspondent of an Australian paper quoting a report from a United States news agency correspondent in Singapore. As far as can be ascertained, this report, which was entirely inaccurate, was not carried in any of the leading newspapers in the United States, and no notice was taken of it.
Formosa (Situation)
71.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that in any discussions concerning the future of Formosa arising from the offer made by Chou En-lai at the Bandung Conference, he will take steps to prevent such an offer from being used as a manoeuvre to split this country and the United States of America; and that he will as far as possible work with the United States of America and the United Nations to ensure that Formosa's independence will not be endangered.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made plain in his statement to the House on 8th March, 1955, Her Majesty's Government's attitude on the future status of Formosa. In all the problems of the Far East we are working in close consultation with the United States and the Commonwealth, and my right hon. Friend does not share my hon. Friend's apprehensions.
73.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the discussions which have been taking place in Peking between Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires and Mr. Chou En-lai on the problems of Formosa and the off-shore islands.
Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has already requested an interview, but has not yet been informed when it will be convenient for Mr. Chou En-lai to receive him.
79.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Far Eastern situation in relation to Formosa in view of the threat to world peace.
I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr, A. Henderson) on Thursday last week, and to what he said in the course of the National Service debate the same day; and to the statements made to the House on 25th and 27th of April by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.
Radio-Activity (Atmospheric Pollution)
72.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a further statement regarding the genetic effects on human beings of radio-activities resulting from thermo-nuclear tests.
I would only add that as some Members will recall, Sir John Cockcroft in speaking to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on 20th April said: "The level of radioactive contamination in the world produced by all the atomic bomb explosions and peaceful atomic energy activities is at present so low that it should not cause any anxiety."
Austrian State Treaty
74.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions for an Austrian State Treaty.
I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon.
Friend gave to the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher) on 2nd May.
Iraq (Visa Discrimination)
75.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now succeeded in obtaining the withdrawal of restrictions imposed by the Government of Iraq upon British travellers by air in consequence of their Jewish faith; and if, in view of our accession to the Turco-Iraqi Treaty, he will make a new representation to Iraq in this respect.
I can add nothing to what my right hon. Friend told the House on 25th October, 1954. The Government of Iraq are well aware of our view on this matter, and we shall continue to represent it to them.
Vietnam (Geneva Agreement)
76.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further progress he has to report in the movement of refugees from north to south of Vietnam; and whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government is offering all proper and normal assistance to Mr. Diem towards the fulfilment of the Geneva Agreement.
78.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, as a result of the failure of the Government of North Vietnam to comply with its obligations arising from the Geneva Agreements, large numbers of refugees have not been able to move south; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that a satisfactory solution is found to this problem.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the extent to which North and South Vietnam are observing the provisions of the Geneva Agreement; if he is aware that the border between the two countries is to be closed in the near future; and, in view of the fact that this action will affect the liberties of the citizens of the countries, what action he proposes to take in order that the provisions of the Geneva Agreement shall be fully observed.
As hon. Members will be aware from the first and second interim reports of the International Supervisory Commission for Vietnam, which were published yesterday as Cmd. 9461, the Commission have been giving close attention to the provisions of the Geneva Agreements requiring the Vietnam authorities to permit and assist the movement of would-be refugees. In a public statement on 29th March, the Commission explained that they were awaiting reports from three special mobile teams sent out to investigate the position, before deciding whether the movement of refugees could in fact be completed within the time limit fixed by the agreement. It is expected that the third Interim Report of the Commission will be received by the Foreign Office this afternoon and this will help us to decide what further action should be taken on a matter which is justifiably causing grave concern.
East Germany (Peoples' Police)
77.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the People's Police in East Germany are now to be developed into an effective and militant army; and what information he has on the matter.
As stated in Cmd. 9213, by the end of 1952 a full-scale Soviet-type rifle corps had been created; by the summer of 1954 this force had been increased to two such corps, plus one independent mechanised division. Hitherto the East German authorities have refused to admit that these so-called police forces constitute a military force. In a statement published on 17th April, however, the East German Minister of the Interior said that the "Barracks-based People's Police" was to become a powerful cadre army.
Pensions And National Insurance
Widows' Benefits (Report)
82.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how soon he expects to receive the report of the Advisory Committee at present considering the 10s. widow's pension.
I cannot forecast when the Committee's report on widows' benefits will be available.
War Pensions (Personal Cases)
81.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why he is reducing, by 5s., the pension No. B9/D3/2735, awarded to Mrs. A. Peart, 330, Alwold Road, Birmingham 29, following the wartime death of her Service man son, W. T. C. Whitehouse; and whether he will reinstate this widow's pension to its full amount.
I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 2nd May. The pension is being restored in full.
85.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that the Chadderton lady who was in receipt of War Pension No. MC2170 in respect of the loss of her husband and Parents Pensions No. RC0430 in respect of the loss of her only son has received notice from the Ministry of Pensions increasing the first pension by 10s. 6d. a week and reducing the second by 9s. a week; and, in view of this hardship, whether Her Majesty's Government will introduce amending regulations.
The reduction by 9s. in the parent's pension is being restored in full in accordance with the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 2nd May.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that in the case Ministry of Pensions Reference Number D2/23595, an Oldham lady was in receipt of a retirement pension of £1 12s. 6d. and a parent's pension in respect of her only son killed in the war of 13s. 6d. and has now received notice from his Department increasing the first pension by 7s. 6d. and reducing the second pension by 7s. 6d.; and what steps he is taking to remedy this matter.
The parent's pension is being continued at the rate of 13s. 6d. a week, and the lady has been informed of this.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what alterations have been made in the regulations for computing need for the assess- ment of Parents' Pensions in respect of children killed as the result of war service to bring parents' pensions in conformity with other pensions increases.
I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 2nd May.'
Old-Age Pensioners (National Assistance)
83.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why the National Assistance grant to Mr. and Mrs. Hollyman, 18, Harvey Road, Langley, Slough, old-age pensioners, was reduced from 17s. a week to 2s. 6d. from 25th April last.
The income of Mr. and Mrs. Hollyman has remained unchanged since 7th February, 1955, when their Assistance was increased. Their Assistance was adjusted on 25th April by 14s. 6d. because their retirement pensions were then increased by this amount.
Benefits And Allowances
84.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that in a large number of cases where notifications of increase of pension has been sent out the notice has been followed by a notification of reduction in other pensionable payment or supplementary allowance; and what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to remedy this hardship.
I am not sure what types of case the hon. Member has in mind, but I would refer him to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 2nd May.
Dependants' Pensions
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people are in receipt of dependants' pensions; and what is the annual cost.
There are nearly 53,000 dependants' pensions based on need. Their annual cost at the end of last year was just over £ 2¼ million.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people, in receipt of dependants' pensions, are also in receipt of old-age, widows or other pensions.
I regret that this information is not available.
Prescription Charges Scheme, Scotland (Refunds)
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in Scotland applied for reimbursement of the National Health Service charge of one shilling per prescription in each year since 1952; and what was the total amount repaid in each year.
The records do not show how many individuals have claimed such refunds. The approximate numbers and total amounts of the charges refunded in Scotland by the Ministry and by the National Assistance Board since the charges came into operation on 1st June, 1952, are as follows:
| — | Number of charges refunded | Total amount refunded |
| 1952 (June to December) | 333,000 | £16,650 |
| 1953 | 676,700 | £33,835 |
| 1954 | 727,100 | £36,355 |
Education, Scotland
Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry (Annexe)
86.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the new annexe to Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry, will be ready for occupation at the beginning of the new school session.
No. I understand that Dundee Education Authority do not expect the building to be ready for occupation before the end of September.
School Meals
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the percentage of schoolchildren taking school meals in each of the last six years.
In all schools in Scotland the percentage of those pupils present on the day of the annual return in October who took school meals was as follows:
| 1949 | … | … | … | … | 40·3 |
| 1950 | … | … | … | … | 37·6 |
| 1951 | … | … | … | … | 37·1 |
| 1952 | … | … | … | … | 37·7 |
| 1953 | … | … | … | … | 38·2 |
| 1954 | … | … | … | … | 33·1 |
Legal Aid (Rent Increases)
80.
asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that owing to their inability to obtain legal aid or advice, large numbers of tenants throughout the country have agreed to pay additional rents in excess of the amounts awarded by county courts or tribunals in respect of similar accommodation in the same or adjoining buildings; and whether he will take immediate steps to extend legal aid for those tenants whose position has not yet been crystallised in respect of the Housing Repairs and Rent Acts.
I understand that many increases of rent authorised by the Housing Repairs and Rents Act have been agreed between landlord and tenant; I am not aware that such increases have in general been greater than those awarded by county courts or rent tribunals, and I have no evidence that the tenants who agreed to them did so in ignorance of their legal rights. As the hon. Member already knows, the Government have decided to make legal aid available for all types of county court proceedings which are covered by the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949. The hon. Member will appreciate that a considerable amount of administrative work will be necessary before my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor will be in a position to make the appropriate Order under the Act, and I cannot yet say when that Order will be made.
Trade And Commerce
Cotton Industry, Oldham
87.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a large number of mills in Oldham are now working short time and that some have closed down; and what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to deal with the situation in the cotton industry which is one of increasing gravity.
There is some short-time working in the cotton mills in the Oldham area; it affects a relatively small number of mills and a small part of the total cotton labour force in the area. Two mills, which had employed about 150 workers, have closed since January. In reply to the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Women's Clothing
asked the President of the Board of Trade what import licences have been granted for the purpose of bringing in coats and dresses from Eastern European countries; if he is aware that one London firm has bought the entire quota of cotton dresses, sun dresses and play suits from Hungary at prices which are competitive with British products; and what reciprocal exports of women's clothing have been made to Hungary or other East European countries.
I am aware that one London company holds the bulk of the licences to import women's clothing from Hungary. Since 1st September, 1954, licences have been issued under the current Hungarian Trade Agreement for imports of women's clothing to a value of £28,500, but none in respect of other Eastern European countries. During the same period exports of women's clothing to Eastern Europe amounted to about £2,000.The current Trade Agreement with Hungary does not specify a figure for exports of women's clothing, but it does provide for the licensing of exports of textile fibres and manufactures to a total of over £2,400,000, as well as substantial amounts of chemicals, metal goods, machinery, vehicles, scientific instruments and electrical equipment.
Naval Armament Vessel (Oil Pollution Complaint)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what action he has taken on the release by the dockyard tug "Tampeon" of a large quantity of black oil off Ryde on 22nd November last, as set out in the Report of the Chief Fisheries Officer of the Southern Sea Fisheries District, of which he has received a copy, in view of the fact that no civil proceedings were taken in respect of this offence as the vessel was a Naval one.
The Naval Armament Vessel "Tampeon," of 177 tons, is a coal-burning vessel. The complaint that she discharged a large quantity of oil while moored off Ryde on 22nd November, 1954, was fully investigated when received by the Admiralty, but was not considered to be substantiated. Any bilge water discharged could not have contained fuel oil, but at worst only a negligible amount of lubricating oil. It was not considered, therefore, that she could be held responsible for a stream of oil reported to extend for three-quarters of a mile.
Ministry Of Health
Poliomyelitis Vaccine
asked the Minister of Health, in view of the deaths, injuries and paralysis that have already occurred to children injected with the vaccine obtained from the kidneys of the corpses of monkeys for the alleged cure of poliomyelitis, if he will prohibit all further experiments on children in the country by this method; and if he will give an assurance that children will only undergo this injection after the authorities have obtained the parents prior consent in writing.
Naturally the recently reported events in America are being fully considered by the Medical Research Council, and a member of their staff is going over there immediately to get first-hand information. This should be ready for study here before the routine safety tests, now being conducted on batches of vaccine, are finished and therefore before any of the proposed trials on children over here are due to begin. Meanwhile arrangements for these trials continue. I can certainly assure the hon. Member that there is no intention of inoculating any child unless the full consent of the parents has been first obtained.
Social Workers (Local Government Services)
asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the need for further guidance as to the best form of training for social workers in the local government services for which he is responsible; and if he will institute an inquiry into the matter.
Yes, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I, after consultation with the associations of local authorities, have decided to set up a working party to examine the proper field of work and the recruitment and training of social workers at all levels in the local authorities' health and welfare services under the National Health Service and National Assistance Acts and, in particular, whether there is a place for a general purposes social worker with an in-service training as a basic grade.
South Wales Ports (Report)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to make a statement upon the report on the South Wales ports by the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire.
This is a valuable report, and it has been carefully considered by the Ministers concerned. The first of its two main recommendations was that the Government should request the British Transport Commission to undertake, after the issue of the new charges scheme, an urgent and exhaustive review of the level and content of rates for port traffic. The British Transport Commission have agreed to set up an expert committee, consisting of the representatives of the railways and dock managements, to do this. Meanwhile, until the new Railway Merchandise Charges Scheme comes into effect, the Western Region of British Railways will investigate any cases where rail borne traffic to and from the South Wales ports might be profitably developed.The second recommendation was that a further attempt should be made to resolve the matter of the shipowners' and shippers' responsibilities for dock charges in South Wales. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation understands that the shipowners are willing to discuss the matter with the other interests and he is arranging to bring the parties together.
Housing
Flats (Expensive Sites Subsidy)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many flats drawing the expensive-site subsidies have been built each year since 1949; and what is the total value of these subsidies.
The number of flats built since 1946 in respect of which higher subsidy has been claimed is about 65,000 and the annual rate of subsidy on these flats is approximately £3 million. Comparatively few flats of this type were built before 1949. More detailed information is not available without considerable research.
Slum Clearance
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) to what extent the slum-clearance programme of a local authority in any one year is taken into consideration by him in fixing the number of dwellings which that local authority should submit for approval during that year;(2) to what extent, in fixing the number of dwellings which a local authority should submit for approval during any one year, he takes into consideration the slum-clearance programmes of neighbouring local authorities.
Where information is available, slum clearance is one of the factors taken into account when allocations are made. But it will not be possible to obtain a balanced view of local authorities' housing requirements for slum clearance until they have all submitted their proposals under Section 1 of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954. They have until the end of August to do this.
Litherland
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has refused approval of proposals by the Litherland Urban District Council, Lancashire, for the acceptance of tenders for any more than 120 dwellings during 1955.
I am re-examining the housing programme of the Litherland Urban District, in the light of my hon. Friend's recent letter, with a view to considering whether some increase in their allocation is justified.
Local Government
Water Supplies And Sewerage Works, Huntingdonshire
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the value of the new rural water supply and sewerage works carried out in Huntingdonshire in the years 1949 to 1951 inclusive and in the years 1952 to 1954 inclusive.
I regret that figures showing the value of work carried out are not available. The figures for work authorised by me are:
| — | 1949 to 1951 | 1952 to 1954 | ||
| £ | £ | |||
| Water | … | … | 80,792 | 49,530 |
| Sewerage | … | … | 226,300 | 194,428 |
| Totals | … | … | 307,092 | 243,958 |
Dust Nuisance, Cardiff
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the growing nuisance to the residents of Splott, Cardiff, of discharges of iron ore dust from Guest Keen Iron and Steel Company Limited; that remedial measures taken by the company have not succeeded; and what action his Department will take.
I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
National Finance
House Property (Capital Values)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to give an estimate on the basis of Schedule A valuation of the capital value of all the house property in Great Britain and of that part of it which is rent controlled.
I regret that I can make no such estimate, and I think that in any event an estimate on the basis suggested would, indeed, be of little value.
£ Sterling (Value)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date the table published on 19th November, 1954, showing how the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling has varied month by month, taking the value in October, 1951, as 20s.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21st April. The figure for April will not be available until the latter part of May.
International Finance Corporation (United Kingdom Participation)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom propose to take to accept membership of the International Finance Corporation.
The proposed Articles of Agreement of the International Finance Corporation are acceptable to Her Majesty's Government. Her Majesty's Government will therefore make proposals to Parliament to provide for United Kingdom participation in the Corporation when we have assurance that the United States and other prospective members intend to proceed similarly.
Purchase Tax Remissions (Cost)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the estimated annual loss of revenue from all reductions in Purchase Tax since 1952.
The following are the more important reductions which have affected the Purchase Tax revenue since 1952:
| Time of change | Goods mainly concerned | Cost in a full year |
| £m. | ||
| May and June,1952 | Textiles and footwear | 21 |
| September, 1952 | Leather goods, cut glassware and pianos | 1 |
| April, 1953 | All Purchase Tax goods, except textiles and footwear | 60 |
| January, 1954 | Jewellery, silverware and other minor changes | 3 |
| January, 1955 | Fur garments and other minor changes | 0· 6 |
| April and May, 1955 | Non-wool cloth and household textiles | 6 |
| TOTAL | 91·6 |
Medical Research Council (Nuclear Radiation Committee)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, the membership of the committee appointed by the Medical Research Council to prepare a report on the medical aspects of nuclear radiation.
The Committee is as follows:Sir Harold Himsworth, K.C.B., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S., Q.H.P., Secretary of the Medical Research Council (Chairman).Sir Ernest Rock Carling, F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., Consultant Adviser, Ministries of Health and Home Office (Civil Defence), and Member of the Health Policy Committee of the Atomic Energy Authority.Sir John Cockcroft, K.C.B., C.B.E., F.R.S., Director, Atomic Energy Research Establishment.Professor A. Haddow, M.D., D.Sc, Director, Chester Beatty Research Institute.Dr. J. F. Loutit, D.M., Director, Medical Research Council Radiobiological Research Unit.Professor K. Mather, D.Sc, F.R.S., Professor of Genetics, Birmingham University.Professor W. V. Mayneord, D.Sc, Professor of Physics applied to Medicine, London University.Professor P. B. Medawar, D.Sc, F.R.S., Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, University College, London.Professor J. S. Mitchell, C.B.E., M.B., F.R.S., Professor of Radiotherapeutics, Cambridge University.Professor L. S. Penrose, M.D., F.R.S., Galton Professor of Eugenics, University College, London.Sir Edward Salisbury, C.B.E., D.Sc, F.R.S., Director, Royal Botanic Gardens.Dr. F. G. Spear, M.D., Deputy Director, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge.Professor J. R. Squire, M.D., F.R.C.P., Professor of Experimental Pathology, Birmingham University.Professor C. H. Waddington, Sc.D., F.R.S., Professor of Animal Genetics, Edinburgh University.Professor Sir Lionel Whitby, C.V.O., M.D., F.R.C.P., Regius Professor of Physic, Cambridge University.Professor B. W. Windeyer, F.R.C.S., Professor of Radiology (Therapeutic), London University.