asked the Minister of Labour why a man, details of whose case are in his possession, after medical examination, was allocated by his Department to the Royal Air Force, in view of the physical limitations of the man concerned.

A National Service medical board had found this man fit for service in the limited capacity appropriate to Grade II (a) (feet). He had expressed a preference for the R.A.F. and, having been accepted by that Service in full knowledge of his physical assessment, was, in accordance with normal practice, posted to the R.A.F.

asked the Minister of Labour when it is proposed to call upon a man, details of whose case are in his possession, to complete his National Service on suitable duties in the Army, in accordance with the practice followed in numerous other cases where the physical requirements of the Royal Air Force have not been reached.

After this man's entry, the R.A.F. obtained their own consultant's opinion and, on it, decided that he was below the minimum physical standard of acceptance for National Service. In such circumstances it is not the practice to call up a man for further service.

Does not the Minister appreciate that in the R.A.F. there are Grade III and Grade IV men—in fact there are some men who have to wear canvas shoes? Is he trying to justify this? Does he not feel that it will do a lot of harm to the principle of National Service unless there is some fair play between man and man?

I am not trying to justify it at all. What I am saying is that this man has been in front of our National Service medical board many times, as I think the hon. Member knows. I gave the assessment which these boards put upon him. The R.A.F., which is certainly not under my control, put a different assessment. There may be, as sometimes has happened before in these cases, some conflict of medical evidence.

Is it not the case that this man undertook a rather strenuous cricket tour in Australia last winter and that he scored 100 in a match only last Saturday, and that if he is fit to undertake a tour of that nature he is surely fit to peel "spuds" in the R.A.F.?

That sounds a very attractive proposition on the surface, but the fact is that a Service has to look at a man and consider what liability he will be to it in the future.

Can the Minister say if certain physical limitations are imposed by the R.A.F. on entrants who are conscripts called up for National Service? If they differ from the physical limitations imposed by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, could hon. Members be informed about the difference?

That is a question which the right hon. Gentleman will have to put to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Air and not to me.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases since 1st January, 1952, his Department has called upon men discharged from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy because of physical limitations to complete their National Service in the Army.

If the hon. Member has in mind men discharged from National Service engagements, the answer is "None, Sir." Men discharged from Regular engagements are called up to complete their whole-time service under the National Service Acts, if found fit by a National Service medical board, but statistics in the form required by the hon. Member are not maintained.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider making arrangements to give a longer notice of call-up to report for duty in the Armed Forces in the case of farm workers, especially those in specialised branches such as dairy cattlemen, in view of the difficulty of finding replacements.

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the present arrangements are working satisfactorily.

Is the Minister aware that it is customary for men in this position to be given a short holiday of perhaps a week before call-up? Will he bear this in mind?

I certainly will, but of course they normally get not less than six to eight weeks' notice, and if there is a harvest they are deferred very much longer.

Is the Minister aware that his satisfaction is not shared by the farm workers or the farmers, who realise that it is far more important that these men should be producing more food from British land than wasting their time in Cyprus, British Guiana and other places? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Oh, yes. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is the considered opinion of the National Farmers' Union in Scotland? Is it not time that the Government realised that this step to abolish the call-up would be welcomed by agricultural people?

I have never heard that the farming industry wanted to do other than play its fair share in what is a national duty.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has taken note of the official statement made by his Chief Inspector of Factories, that the cure of industrial ill-health had to come from the engineer, the chemist and the physicist after the doctors had declared where the danger lay; and whether he will recruit a greater proportion of such technically trained men and women for the Factory Inspectorate than he has been able to get hitherto.

Yes, Sir. This is one reason why the organisation of the Factory Inspectorate includes technical branches staffed by engineers, chemists and physicists as well as a medical branch. As regards the point raised in the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to his Questions on 15th March.

But does the Parliamentary Secretary still accept that the reason he has not got as many of these trained people in the Inspectorate as he would like is that the salary scale is not adequate and does not attract them sufficiently?

I think the answer to that is contained in the replies to the two Questions of the hon. Member which follow.

asked the Minister of Labour how many factory inspectors were appointed following the advertisement of vacancies in March, 1954, and November, 1954, respectively; how many of those appointed hold university degrees in engineering, chemistry and physics; and how many have had more than 12 months industrial experience before being appointed.

Eight and four, respectively, and there are two candidates from the later competition who have still to take up their appointments. Of those appointed from the earlier competition, one has a degree in chemistry and one in physics, and both these have had more than 12 months industrial experience; of those from the later competition, one has a degree in physics and has had more than 12 months' industrial experience.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary remember that in November last, when we had an Adjournment debate on this subject, he said that the aim was to get one for one—one arts graduate for one trained person? Does not his answer today show that, as yet, his Department has not succeeded? May I ask him if he will now accept what I said? Is it not a fact that the salary scale does not attract these men? Why does not the Parliamentary Secretary speak to the Treasury more forcefully?

I am not trying to dodge the issue. In any case it arises again in the next Question. My answer shows that we are trying to attract technically trained graduates.

asked the Minister of Labour when he received a claim in 1954 for an increase in the pay of Class 2 factory inspectors; and whether he has yet made an offer in satisfaction of this claim, and at what date.

A claim was received on 7th July. No offer has been made but, following other correspondence, a considered reply was sent to the Association concerned on 13th October. This was followed by a meeting with the Association on 8th November last. The matter is still under consideration, but is being pursued as quickly as possible.

Is not this a very serious matter? Nearly a year has passed. This is the entrance grade that we are talking about, the most important level of all for recruitment, and we find that a year has passed and nothing really has been done. Will not the Parliamentary Secretary give us some assurance that he and his right hon. Friend will set an example, as they really must do in these matters in spite of the machinery, and let us have this claim accepted?

I hope that I shall not be accused of advocating a new doctrine if I say that I think it unwise for me to comment on a pay claim in my own Department which is still under consideration.

Will the Minister consider the fact that industrial developments are constantly increasing the importance of the work of the inspectors; that new duties are being added to them and the strain on the existing inspectors is very great, and that it is most desirable to increase their number?

I quite agree. I am not saying that I am not at one with the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend about the importance of the factory department. At the moment the authorised complement is 309. I accept that perhaps it would be better were it bigger, but there are 296 in post, so we are not very much under strength. We will do our best to get the right people for this most important job.

asked the Minister of Labour when a more accurate and up-to-date index will be available to measure changes in the cost of living.

The method of calculating the Interim Index of Retail Prices was revised in 1952. On the recommendation of the Cost-of-Living Advisory Committee, a comprehensive inquiry into household expenditure was undertaken over a period of 12 months ending early in 1954 for the purpose of providing more up-to-date information for the index. The information collected in this inquiry is now being studied by the Cost-of-Living Advisory Committee, and I hope that, with its help, it will be possible to carry out a further revision of the index towards the end of this year.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that old-age pensioners and people on small fixed incomes regard the present interim index with profound suspicion, because it understates the extent to which the cost of living has risen and therefore presents a rather false and inaccurate picture?

I am also aware that the economic report of the T.U.C. states that the T.U.C. thought this index was, on the whole, a very fair measure of the cost of living—

How long ago?

It is the current report—and that the inquiry we are undertaking will probably not bring about any major modification in the form.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the cost-of-living bogey was a complete flop at the General Election, and does he not think that the hon. and gallant Member should think of something new in this direction?

Is the Minister aware that what really happened at the General Election was that the Tory Press refused to tell the truth about the rise in the cost of living?

I am not unaware of what happened at the General Election. But as my Ministry is charged with presenting the facts fairly on an important matter like this, we had better stick to facts and not discuss politics.

But is the Minister aware that between 1951 and 1955 the cost of essential foodstuffs rose by 50 per cent.? He cannot laugh off that one, and if he denies it that would be a lie.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when halls for use by youth organisations and other social activities will be built in the new neighbourhood units of East Kilbride.

The development corporation has had preliminary discussions with the local authorities and voluntary organisations whose function it is to provide such accommodation, but no building programme has yet been formulated. In the meantime, facilities for the activities referred to are available in existing buildings in the new town.

May we take it that my right hon. Friend will pursue this matter? Although alternative facilities do exist in local schools and buildings, they are not adequate for a series of technical and geographical reasons, and this is a very serious social problem for the new towns.

I agree, and I will pursue the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities are now providing a chiropody service for old people.

Eleven local health authorities are employing chiropodists to provide a service for old people, and nine others are making contributions to voluntary bodies who do so. In addition, many more voluntary bodies are undertaking the work with contributions from local authorities.

Will the Minister do his best to persuade all local authorities who have not yet such a service to institute one? Will he also inquire how many of those local authorities are applying a means test to these old people for such a service?

I have at present no knowledge or information about the last point, but I will look into it. I am anxious to see this service expanded.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when Lanarkshire County Council may expect his decision on the site for housing at Glenmavis.

The county council has submitted a compulsory purchase order for this site and I have fixed 1st July as the date by which the statutory procedure in connection with the lodging of objections must be completed. As, thereafter, a public local inquiry may be necessary, I cannot yet say when I shall be able to reach a decision.

Would it not be possible for the Secretary of State to hurry this matter? Is he aware that this is the second compulsory purchase order of the Lanarkshire County Council, and that this second order was instituted on 23rd March? Is not 1st July much too far away when dealing with such an important matter?

As the hon. Lady knows, certain procedure has to be followed and formalities gone through, which take time. I regret that there should have been delay, and I will do my best to expedite the final decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the advances in medical science for the treatment of the disease of poliomyelitis since his statement in Parliament on 2nd November last; how far these advances have been applied to Scottish patients; and if he will now make a further detailed statement showing the present incidence of the disease in Scotland.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. and learned Member on 23rd November last. He will be aware, however, of the recent statements made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health about the arrangements under consideration in Great Britain for the use of the new poliomyelitis vaccine for the prevention of this disease. There have been 186 provisional notifications of the disease in Scotland in the period of 32 weeks which began on 24th October, 1954, compared with 207 notifications in the corresponding period a year earlier.

Can the Secretary of State indicate the ages of the victims of this disease and the proportion of cures among the old and the young, respectively?

I must ask the hon. and learned Gentleman to give notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made to date with the survey, scientific tests and research begun in Scotland, with financial assistance from the Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust, into the causes, treatment and cure of poliomyelitis, spastic disease and cerebral palsy and into the most appropriate methods of rehabilitation.

The Trust has just accepted the first application for financial assistance for research into poliomyelitis and other virus diseases. This consists of a grant of £3,000 to meet the cost of equipment which will be required shortly for this purpose in the new virus laboratory at Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow. As regards spastic disease or cerebral palsy, the survey that the Trust is assisting began last autumn and is planned to extend over a period of two years.

In view of the very valuable work being done by this Trust, would the Secretary of State consider issuing a comprehensive statement on its work?

I think that it would be better to wait until this survey is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will take steps to increase the number of mobile X-ray units for the detection of tuberculosis in Scotland;

(2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the campaign to detect and eradicate tuberculosis in Scotland.

Since 1953, mass miniature radiography units have been employed on community surveys as well as on the survey of industrial groups and other special sections of the population. The six community surveys conducted in 1954 were responsible for 67,086 of the 360,852 persons examined by mass miniature radiography. The 1955 programme of mass miniature radiography is on the same lines. The best way of using mass miniature radiography in future years is now being studied, and I am prepared to consider providing additional mobile units if it is established that effective use could be made of them.

Can my right hon. Friend say if the main difficulty in the way of increasing the number of these surveys is shortage of equipment or shortage of trained staff?

As I have said, when we have a little more experience I will be prepared to consider trying to procure additional units, but this, of course, will necessitate the training of additional staff.

Is the Secretary of State aware that both in Leith and Greenock and in other places his Department's experiment had enormous success? There seems, therefore, to be enough information to justify developing this system of what might be called high-pressure salesmanship to get people to undergo this test. I should like to congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on the success of his Department in the experiments which have been conducted so far.

I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, and I will certainly bear in mind what he has said.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the shortage of mobile X-ray units for the detection of tuberculosis is making it difficult for regular follow-up examinations to take place in the Pilton Ward of Edinburgh and other districts, where a comprehensive initial examination has been carried out; and what action he proposes to take to meet this shortage.

Mass radiography units are not used for the follow-up of persons placed under observation as the result of community surveys such as that in Pilton, and so far as I know the regular chest clinics are finding no difficulty in carrying out this work. I am not satisfied that the repetition of a community survey after a relatively short interval would be an efficient way of using expensive equipment, or of employing the trained staff who would have to be diverted from other important work.

Is it not a fact that this particular area, which, with the central Leith ward, carried out so successful a campaign, is finding some difficulty in doing the follow-up work which it was asked to undertake by the Department and is complaining that equipment is not being provided? Would the right hon. Gentleman agree to think this matter over again?

We are, of course, watching it very carefully, but I believe it to be more efficacious to devote the available equipment to breaking new ground and to trust to the regular chest clinics to do the follow-up work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to arrange for further miniature X-ray campaigns against tuberculosis in Edinburgh along the lines followed by the Pilton Central Committee.

A similar campaign was carried through in central Leith in March of this year. As regards the future, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Sir I. Clark Hutchison).

Is the right hon. Gentle. man aware that there is a feeling of frustration about this? Can he give an assurance that there will be sufficient equipment available to make this possible?

We are certainly going to continue the process. There is no suggestion of stopping it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will appoint a committee to inquire into the structure and functions of local authorities in Scotland.

No, Sir. I am not aware of any general desire for such an inquiry on the part of local authorities in Scotland.

Does the Secretary of State not appreciate that a great many responsible people in local government in Scotland have expressed the need for such an inquiry? There has not been such an inquiry for nigh on 30 years, and as two of the four local authority associations in Scotland have asked for such an inquiry, will he reconsider his decision?

One does not have an inquiry unless one is satisfied that useful results can be obtained. The principal associations of local authorities have not made representations on this matter.

How can the right hon. Gentleman tell what results he is likely to get before he has the inquiry—whether there is a need for it or not?

If the principal associations have not demanded an inquiry, I very much doubt whether there is sufficient ground for instituting one.

Does the Secretary of State not consider the Convention of Royal Burghs in Scotland one of the principal associations, and would he not also include as one of the principal associations the District Councils' Association?

I am quite aware of the views of the District Councils' Asociation —so the answer is "yes"

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to announce the names of the members of the Crofters Commission.

I hope to be able to announce the membership of the Commission in the course of a few weeks.

Have the headquarters of the Commission been decided?

I think that I can say now that accommodation will be found in Inverness.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if helicopters are now available for urgent medical cases from the Scottish islands.

Discussions are still proceeding on the possibility of an arrangement for the use of naval helicopters in extreme medical emergencies, and I hope to be able to make a statement soon.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say where the nearest helicopter might be based?

I am afraid I cannot do so without notice. I shall have to consult the Admiralty on the subject.

Can my right hon. Friend say what would be the procedure in an urgent case? Does the doctor ring up St. Andrew's House, or what is the procedure to obtain a helicopter?

I should have thought that it would have been simpler and quicker to ring up the base where the helicopter is stationed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the delay in dealing with the repairs of hearing aids in Edinburgh; and whether he will take steps to speed up this service.

I regret that minor repairs have sometimes taken up to a week or ten days in recent months, but staff difficulties are now being overcome and I hope that normal service will soon be restored. Where major repairs are needed, a replacement aid is supplied immediately, and this is also done in other cases where the user's employment so requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will instruct his medical officers to investigate the sewage disposal position at Wartle, Aberdeenshire, having regard to the fact that water supplies are becoming contaminated.

I have arranged for one of my medical officers to visit the village and report. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult with the British Transport Commission and the Tourist and Holidays Board with a view to the introduction this summer of car-carrying facilities on express trains between London and Scotland in order to encourage the tourist industry.

I understand that the British Transport Commission is proposing to introduce this summer a special twice-weekly service between King's Cross and Perth for the carriage of cars and their passengers.

Under existing conditions, might it not be better to have a few train-carrying cars?

What will the charges be for carrying cars in these circumstances?

I was not asked that question and have not the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take action to further the education of parents, and particularly of expectant mothers, in dental hygiene and the maintenance of dental health.

Education in dental hygiene and the promotion of dental health is provided to mothers and expectant mothers as a permanent part of the maternity and child welfare services of the local health authorities. I sent to the authorities in October, 1952, a report of the Standing Dental Advisory Committee which emphasised the importance of this work, and I am shortly making available to them supplies of a special leaflet dealing with the care of children's teeth, for distribution to mothers of young children.

Since a special drive in this respect is being made in England, could not my right hon. Friend do something to emphasise the steps that are already taken and to stress the importance of this subject?

I do not wish to criticise England, but I would point out that we started on this in October, 1952, and that had it not been for the railway strike—[An HON. MEMBER: "Why blame the railway strike?"I—because people find difficulty in travelling—we would have had an important Press conference in Edinburgh on the subject. We shall have it as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to make a statement on the working of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act in the City of Dundee.

At 31st December last, the town council had granted eight applications for certificates of disrepair, refused two and had one under consideration. The next return, showing the number of applications dealt with up to 30th June, should be available towards the end of July. It will not, however, be possible to give information about repair increases and the local authority proposals for dealing with unfit houses under the Act until the autumn.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that under this Act there are about 300 tenants of the Northern Housing Association in Dundee who have been completely removed from the protection of the Rent Acts and left completely at the mercy of the landlords? What is he going to do about it?

The Association has informed the tenants, but has no intention of breaking any leases. The tenants are asked merely to renew their leases, if they wish to under the new conditions.

Is it not the intention of the landlord in this case to increase the rents? Is not the right hon. Gentleman now saying that they are enabled to do it by being outside the Rent Restrictions Acts? Was it his intention to secure this effect when he inserted this Clause in the Bill?

I cannot debate again a Clause which was fully debated when the Bill went through the House of Commons. During the long discussions, it was stressed again and again that an increase in costs necessitated some alteration to maintain houses.

Is it not the policy of the Socialist Party that local authorities should take over all these houses, and in that case would the houses not come automatically outside the Rent Restrictions Acts?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that an adequate proportion of Scottish university students are at present receiving financial assistance in their studies; and whether he will make a statement.

The Education (Scotland) Act empowers education authorities to give assistance to enable students to take advantage of university education without financial hardship to themselves or their parents, and I have no evidence that Scottish students who need this assistance are not getting it. Draft regulations proposing increases in the maintenance allowances and an adjustment at the lower end of the income scale on which parents' contributions are assessed were published last week.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman studied the latest returns of the University Grants Committee, which show that the percentage of assisted students in England is more than 74 per cent. whereas in Scotland it is less than 57 per cent.? Does the right hon. Gentleman feel that that is fair?

That is perfectly correct, but it is also true that in Scotland more students live at home, and that university fees in England are higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to restore legal protection under the Rent Acts to the tenants of private housing associations.

I have no reason to think that any fresh legislation on this subject is necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Northern Housing Association is a purely private body with no public accountability either to the tenants or to the country as a whole in any way? In the circumstances, are not private tenants being taken completely away from the protection of all the Rent Acts?

I am aware of the position, but I am not suggesting that the Northern Housing Association is doing anything that it should not. We shall, of course, watch the position.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say quite clearly that it was his intention, and that he now supports it, that this class of house should be taken right outside the protection of the Rent Restrictions Acts?

Yes. Sir, that is correct.

asked the Minister of Works why, despite all the facilities granted for parking in Central London during the strike crisis period, no facilities are given for additional parking on the Horse Guards Parade.

Additional parking has been allowed on Horse Guards Parade. The extra space has been reserved for official use.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement with regard to the progress made to date with the organisation of the Mobile Defence Corps.

Courses on rescue work for volunteers and potential Army instructors are already being conducted by former Home Office instructors at one Army centre. Rescue and fire training for National Service men who are to go to the Mobile Defence Corps will begin in October.

The controlling staff of the Mobile Defence Corps has been at work for some time. The organisation of the rescue and fire battalions has now been decided and the battalions will be built up to strength as trained men are turned out by the centres. Although National Service men who will eventually form the greater part of these battalions will not begin to join them until the end of this year, I am glad to say that the volunteers who have so far come forward from Anti-Aircraft Command are sufficient for 25 Army battalions.

Is it not a fact that not enough publicity has been given to this new organisation and that many people who might otherwise join it are in the dark about it? Would my right hon. Friend give consideration to a greater degree of publicity for this very great new arm?

We have already considered this question, and I am obliged to my hon. Friend. I have no doubt that his Question will add to the publicity. A great deal of publicity was given at the inception of this organisation, and I hope that more will be given as it grows.

How many mobile defence columns are planned and how many have so far materialised?

There are 48 planned, and as I have said in answer to the Question we have cadres for 25 Army battalions, for which my Department are completely responsible. We have a further 11 planned, but we think there is no point in forming a cadre for them until the intake of National Service men arrives, which will not be until next year.

is it not true that hardly anyone in the Army has ever heard of these things, in spite of debates and discussions in this House? Would not the right hon. Gentleman take up the point made by his hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Ian Harvey) and circularise the units, explaining the form and the nature of this new organisation?

All the units have been circularised. It is my impression that the vast majority of those who might volunteer are well aware of the formation of these new units.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he has so far taken with regard to the recommendations contained in Command Paper No. 9433, the Report on the Organisation and Administration of Boys' Units in the Army.

As recommended by the report, I have appointed a full-time Director of Boys' Training. I have also set up a small committee under the chairmanship of the Director-General of Military Training to help in putting the recommendations contained in the report into effect and to advise on the best and quickest methods of doing so. This committee has already met and considered most of the points which require action.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now publish the findings of the court of inquiry into the barn fire in Austria in which British soldiers lost their lives and were seriously injured.

As I have often said in the House, the proceedings of a court of inquiry are privileged and I cannot, therefore, publish the findings verbatim. I have, however, prepared a summary. As this is necessarily rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very great distress has been caused to parents of soldiers who were concerned, because of what they consider the utterly inadequate information given to them? Will the summary that he is going to publish state the causes of the fire and whether there is any truth in a rumour published in the Press that the fire was caused by the letting off of a thunder flash by an officer in order to wake up the soldiers inside the barn?

I am aware of the particular case to which the hon. Gentleman refers. We have done our best to send individually to parents all the knowledge that came out of the court of inquiry. The long and the short of it is that, despite a very lengthy inquiry, it was impossible to establish the real cause of the fire. I can tell the hon. Gentleman now that one thing that was ruled out was that the fire was caused by a thunder flash.

Is there any reference in the right hon. Gentleman's summary of the inquiry to the rumours that no officers were present other than one young National Service officer, and that the only people who were able to effect a rescue was one other young National Service man?

No, Sir. When the hon. Gentleman reads the report he will find that that is not so.

In cases in which there is considerable public interest, would the right hon. Gentleman consider holding inquiries other than by an ordinary Army court of inquiry which, as he said, is privileged, which means that the facts are not really disclosed to the public?

As I have said repeatedly before, the great advantage on a court of inquiry is that the proceedings are privileged, which means that those who give evidence have to give evidence; whereas otherwise evidence must be voluntary, with legal representation as in an open court. Over a long period courts of inquiry have done a good job and have been proved to be a satisfactory way of holding inquiry. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that in this case absolutely nothing has been held back. There was a most careful and detailed inquiry, in which everyone wished to find out the origin and cause of the fire.

In view of the very serious allegation made by the hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Albu) about the conduct of an officer, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the report which is being published completely vindicates all the officers concerned?

I may not have been listening, but I did not actually hear any particular allegation, except that there was only one young officer present. As I have said, if the hon. Member will read the report I think he will find this. In addition, the report itself completely vindicates the conduct and behaviour of certain officers who were concerned and about whom there has been correspondence with the parents concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, during periods of acute road traffic congestion, he will ensure that inessential military traffic, particularly horses, are kept off main roads.

Instructions have been issued that only essential military movement should take place. If the right hon. Member will give me particulars of any case he has in mind, I will look into it.

Is the Secretary of State aware that last week, on a very busy access road to London outside Belsize Park Station, traffic was held up for several minutes by a number of horses belonging to his Department and that one of the horses panicked, mounted the pavement and nearly caused a serious accident among the pedestrians? Will he give instructions that this kind of traffic will be kept off the roads, not only during the strike but in periods of acute traffic congestion?

I have very few horses now in my Department. I do not know for what purpose this particular movement was made, or whether it was an alternative form of transport, but I will certainly look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to introduce legislation further to limit the power of monopolies.

The hon. Member will appreciate that there is nothing which can usefully be added to what was said in the debate on the Address, and he will not expect any pronouncement in advance of the publication of the report under Section 15 of the Monopolies Act of 1948 which deals with certain restrictive practices.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of a sensational speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the Election, when he said that this Government were going to fight the monopolies? Can he tell us when this sham fight is to begin? Is he going to egg on the Chancellor or hold him back—or is the towel to be thrown into the ring before the fight starts?

I am sure that the hon. Member will recall the announcement that the report on certain restrictive practices will be published in the course of two or three weeks.

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the repeated cases of tenders to local authorities and others for exactly the same amount for the same class of goods? In view of the Chancellor's speech, to which my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) has drawn attention, when are the Government going to deal with these things and rescue the local authorities from what is really a shameful position? When is Conservative freedom going to work?

The question of level tendering raises a point entirely different from that on the Order Paper, and the whole of the matter will shortly be the subject of a reference by my right hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what results have been achieved to date by the restrictions he imposed on credit trading facilities and hire purchase last February; and if he will give figures to illustrate the position.

The amount of credit extended to consumers has been restrained. I regret the figures are not available.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us one example of how these restrictions have affected the general question of the balance of payments which they were designed to assist?

It will help the hon. Member if I tell him that discussions are now taking place about collecting statistics with regard to hire purchase. It is hoped to start collection and publication shortly.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the first statistics he will need will be the figures of unemployment in the furniture industry, where these restrictions have already had a very serious effect indeed? Is he aware that we export very little furniture? Will he now tell the House what use is served by the hire-purchase restrictions as they apply to furniture?

The question about furniture raises a separate issue, but the statistics which it is hoped to collect and publish will show the position in its true light.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now consider taking steps to remove Purchase Tax from crash helmets, in view of the recent recommendation of the British Medical Association and the fact that some £4½ million a year is involved in treating injured people in hospitals who are unable to afford to buy this article.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to remove the Purchase Tax on crash helmets for motor cyclists.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that each year upwards of 1,300 motor cyclists die and 18,000 are seriously injured on the roads in Great Britain in accidents in which the absence of crash helmets is a contributory factor to the injuries sustained; and if he will now remove the Purchase Tax on these articles.

This is a matter which I have considered very carefully in view of the representations made to me. But I am not yet convinced that motor cyclists are deterred from using these articles by the few shillings tax involved.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that some 1,300 deaths a year are caused by these helmets not being worn? Even if the persons themselves are not prepared to purchase the helmets, does he not think it the duty of the State to afford facilities for these helmets to be used?

I hope that people will wear these helmets, but I am not at present in a position to remove the tax.

Can the Chancellor say the amount derived from the Purchase Tax on these crash helmets? Is it such a large sum that he cannot afford it?

This Government has, of course, restored prosperity to such an extent that it is not so much a matter of what we can afford but the very real difficulty here of picking out these special crash helmets for exemption—as, I believe, my predecessors in office also found.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that Purchase Tax was originally imposed partly to discourage people from buying things? Is it not time that we removed this particular discouragement from this very valuable and life-saving article?

There are other forms of very important protective clothing which are still taxed, and I am afraid that I cannot go further in my answer today.

Can the Chancellor say whether he has provided himself and his colleagues with the necessary crash helmets in order to anticipate the coming crash in the autumn?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the annual yield of Purchase Tax on motor cycle crash helmets.

Traders are not required to make separate returns of the tax paid in respect of all the many classes of goods in which they deal, and therefore I regret it is not possible to say how much tax is collected in respect of specialised articles such as crash helmets.

In view of the undoubted fact that the amount involved must be comparatively small, can my right hon. Friend reconcile the levying of tax on these motor cycle crash helmets with the fact that there is no tax on miners' helmets, both of which are designed for the same purpose, namely, the saving of life?

I think my right hon. Friend the Chancellor made it clear that the difficulty about crash helmets is not the amount of money involved, but the arguments that there are against complicating the Purchase Tax schedules by very large numbers of special exemptions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to implement the resolution of the House of 19th March, 1954, to combat the rise in the cost of living.

Since the House passed the resolution to which the hon. Member refers, the real value of retirement pensions and other national insurance benefits has been considerably increased. It is the constant concern of the Government to safeguard that value, but positive reductions in the cost of living must come from reductions of costs and from increases in productivity.

With all respect to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, may I ask whether he is aware that he has missed the point of the Question, which referred not to those whose pensions have increased but to those people living on fixed incomes, who do not benefit from any tax concession, wage increase or profit increase, but to whom the only way of giving aid is to reduce the cost of living? Since the Government's policy for the last three and a half years has failed, is it not time that they had a new policy to reduce the cost of living?

The country seems to find our policy eminently satisfactory.

If the right hon. Gentleman makes these wide claims for his policy with regard to the cost of living, will he please explain to the House why he gave permission last week to the Court of Governors of the Bank of England to increase the fiduciary issue by £50 million, setting the printing presses to work at double speed?

I think it would be much better if such an important Question were put on the Paper. It would be unfortunate if the country were to derive any impression of abnormality from any seasonal increase in the fiduciary issue, for which similar examples can be shown in previous years.

I understood the Chancellor to say that any hope of a reduction in prices must depend on a fall in costs. Can the Chancellor say whether he honestly thinks that in the present inflationary situation such a fall in costs is in the least likely?

I said that it should come from a reduction in costs and an increase in productivity. I would not accept that the situation is unduly inflationary. There are trends, however, which it is the policy of the Government to combat and which the Government's policy is so far having success in combating.

Since the index of world prices shows a fall of 20 per cent. compared with a period of exactly 12 months ago, will he say whether that is the fall in costs that he is looking for and when we can expect to see that fall in prices passed on to the prices of goods in the shops?

I think I should need notice of any particular question. I could not give an accurate answer if I did not have notice of that question.

Did my right hon. Friend read a very interesting article by one of the Scottish Lady Members in "The Star" two nights ago, in which she said that this line of argument had failed completely at the Election?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will bring in a new Pensions (Increase) Act to supplement the work of former similar Acts in assisting aged local government and Civil Service pensioners whose pensions have lagged behind the rise in the cost of living.

This matter is being kept under review.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer remember that these are small groups of people who cannot affect General Election results, and that these are people who for five years have been suffering a steady diminution in their standard of living? Has not the time now come for a further Pensions (Increase) Act?

We have already had one Pensions (Increase) Act. I read the report of the speech of the hon. Member in the debate on the Address, and I agree with him that this is a very serious problem. That is why I gave the answer that the matter is being kept under review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if, in conjunction with the local authority associations, he will set up a committee of inquiry into the operation of the Private Street Works Act, 1892, with a view to discovering ways and means of bringing private streets under public ownership and control more speedily.

(2) if he will call for a report from all local authorities on the number and conditions of private streets in their areas and the problems which confront them in planning the repair and adoption of these streets, with a view to introducing legislation to assist them;

(3) what form of control he exercises over the amount spent and the work planned by local authorities under the Private Street Works Act, 1892.

As I have already stated, I am prepared at any time to discuss any difficulties with the local authority associations if they so desire. Unless it is financed by loan, I exercise no control over expenditure on private street work.