asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now permit the free movement of pigs from registered vaccinated herds through areas infected with swine fever.

The movement of pigs, whether or not from registered vaccinated herds, through swine fever infected districts is permitted, provided they go by rail and are not untrucked within the district. This arrangement does not apply to journeys beginning within infected districts. Much as I should like to make a concession for pigs from registered vaccinated herds, this would require a comprehensive system of individual marking and certification, which is not feasible under a scheme of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the serum used for vaccinating pigs in registered vaccinated herds has proved effective during the present swine fever outbreaks in the county of Essex and elsewhere; and whether he will make a statement.

A few pigs in registered vaccinated herds are known to have contracted swine fever, but otherwise, so far as I am aware, the herds in the scheme have not been affected. I am satisfied that the vaccine issued by my Department's Veterinary Laboratory, when used as directed in the instructions accompanying each bottle, gives a very high degree of immunity for the best part of 12 months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who represented him at the European Symposium on Antibiotics and New Growth Factors in Animal Nutrition recently held at Rome; and whether he will make a statement on this Conference.

I am informed that this Symposium was arranged by a commercial firm. I understand that scientific workers from this country were present, but my Department received no invitation and was not represented. A report of the proceedings is being obtained.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what instructions are given to pilots using the bombing range near Aldbrough, East Yorkshire, in order to ensure the maximum safety and minimum inconvenience for those living in this area.

Pilots are instructed to keep arming and firing switches at "Safe." and bomb doors closed, until the line of sight falls within the danger area. Bombing runs are routed to avoid Aldbrough and Mapleton. Pilots are also required to avoid built-up areas when flying to and from the range.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give information regarding recent voluntary reductions of prices of proprietary and basic drugs and dressings prescribed under the National Health Service.

Since May, 1953, of the 73 most expensive and frequently prescribed proprietary preparations, 29 have been reduced in price (many by between 20 per cent. and 50 per cent.), some of these reductions reflecting in part reductions in the basic drug prices. In addition, special provisional reductions (which were mentioned in reply to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Vaughan-Morgan) on 31st January), ranging up to 20 per cent., were recently arranged with manufacturers in the prices of 19 proprietary preparations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a further statement on the position regarding the use in this country of anti-poliomyelitis vaccine.

Yes, a member of the staff of the Medical Research Council has just returned from a visit to the United States where he has been studying the latest developments. No explanation for the Cutter vaccine incident has yet been found, but it is possible that certain batches contained live virus. I understand that the safety tests to be applied to the vaccine in the United States have been greatly multiplied, including a closer control of manufacturing processes.Pending the introduction and application of similar measures here, the Medical Research Council has, I understand, postponed the start of any field trials. This will probably involve a postponement until the late autumn of this year, that is until after the normal epidemic season for the disease.There are a number of questions arising out of the production and use of poliomyelitis vaccine in this country, and its possible export abroad, such as the determination of the age groups to which the vaccine shall be offered when mass immunisation is possible. The Secretary of State and I are asking the Central and Scottish Health Services Councils to advise us upon this and similar matters.