asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Northern Housing Association, Dundee, are altering the rents of their houses without consultation with the local authority and without obtaining his approval, contrary to statutory provisions and to the instructions contained in his Department's circular D.H.S. No. 50/1954; and what action he proposes to take.

I understand that the Association which is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893, has no agreement with the Dundee Corporation requiring approval of its rents. It appears, however, that the rules of the Association require the rents proposed to be charged to be approved by the Secretary of State; and an application for approval of proposed rent increases has been received and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the grades of the officers of his Department who served on the Working Party referred to in paragraph 3 of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Summarised Accounts of Regional Hospital Boards, etc., for the year ended 31st March, 1954; what were the accountancy qualifications of each of these officers; and why there are no officers of the class of professional accountants employed in this work.

The Departmental representative on the Working Party comprised two assistant secretaries, one senior chief executive officer and one senior executive officer. Two of these officers are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland: a third is an Associate of the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors: the fourth has no recognised accounting qualification. In answer to the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question concerning the audit of Executive Council accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he does not employ officers of the professional accountant class of the Civil Service on the audit of the accounts of executive councils, particularly having regard to the comment of the Comptroller and Auditor General in paragraph 12 of his Report on the Summarised Accounts of Regional Hospital Boards, etc., for 1953–54.

The accounting and audit staff of the Department of Health for Scotland is, as in most Government Departments, drawn from the general service executive class. Although a professional qualification is not required, a considerable proportion of the Department's audit staff hold recognised accounting qualifications.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he proposes to take to enable the alteration of constituency boundaries to take place at less frequent intervals than at the present time.

This matter, which would involve legislation, is receiving attention, but I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider inviting members of the German parliaments to this country.

Yes. A number of German Parliamentarians have already visited this country during the past few years as guests of Her Majesty's Government; and we shall be happy to continue these invitations.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Territorial Army and Army Emergency Reserve camps have been curtailed, postponed or abandoned, owing to the railway strike.

For the Territorial Army 69 annual camps have been cancelled, 52 curtailed and five postponed. The corresponding figures for the Army Emergency Reserve are 98, three and none.

asked the Secretary of State for War what has been done to explain to all ranks the purpose and effect of the reorganisation of units to meet the new requirements of Home Defence and Civil Defence.

The need for these changes was fully explained to commanding officers of units, who will have passed on the information in the usual way. A good deal of publicity was given to this subject at the time of the Defence Estimates, and articles have appeared in Service magazines.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men who enlisted on Regular engagements of three years with the Colours and four years with the Reserve during the period 1st November, 1951, to 31st March, 1952; the number of such men transferred to the Army Reserve during the period 1st November, 1954, to 31st March, 1955; and the number still serving with the Colours.

15,315 men enlisted on this engagement during the period in question; 12,714 have been transfered to the Army Reserve; and 821 have prolonged their service with the Colours. The balance of 1,780 men is accounted for by wastage for such reasons as medical condition, unsuitability for the Arm in which they enlisted, or commissioning. I would add that during this period 3,802 men joined the Army on the five and seven year engagement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total attendances at cinemas in the first quarter of this year; and how this figure compares with those for 1954 and 1953.

Total attendances at cinemas in the first quarter of this year are estimated to number 309 millions, compared with 326 millions in the first quarter of 1954 and 328 millions in the first quarter of 1953.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total film quota defaults in the last year for which figures are available; and how they compared with those for the two previous years.

The last year in respect of which exhibitors' quota returns have been received and analysed was the year ended the 30th September, 1954. Comparison with previous years is as follows:

BRITISH FILMS QUOTA FAILURES FOR THE THREE YEARS 1951–52, 1952–53 AND 1953–54
—		First feature films	Films other than first feature	Total of (a) and (b)
		(a)	(b)
1951–52	…	1,042	1,901	2,943
1952–53	…	884	1,626	2,510
1953–54	…	734	1,116	1,850

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reports on what subjects are likely to be issued by the Monopolies Commission during the remaining period of the present calendar year.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive by the end of 1955 reports on the supply and export of tyres and the supply of sand and gravel in Central Scotland. He hopes also to receive a report on at least one of the other subjects which have been referred to the Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, in tenders made to the Bristol City Council for the supply of cement for 1955–56, 14 tenders were submitted from different firms on similar notepaper and all quoting the same price; and, in view of this and similar occurrences, if he will hold an inquiry into these price rings or refer them to the Monopolies Commission for a full investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that when the annual tenders were received by the county borough of Gateshead for the supply of materials, such as cement, salt glazed pipes and fittings, and certain types of road stone, the prices were identical; and if he will refer such practices to the attention of the Monopolies Commission.

As my right hon. Friend announced on 16th June, we have decided to ask the Monopolies Commission to inquire into the general effect on the public interest of level tendering and similar arrangements. Any local authority which Wishes to do so is, of course, at liberty to submit evidence to the Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet able to announce the terms of any of the further references to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission.

Yes. The electrical street lighting reference was made on 17th June. The full text is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the details of bulk purchases made by Her Majesty's Government of commodities from the United States of America during the last two years, showing the type and value of the articles purchased.

The following is the answer:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasing redundancy in the furniture-making industry, he will amend the restrictions he recently placed on the hire-purchase of furniture.

I have nothing to add to the reply given last Thursday by my right hon. Friend to similar Questions on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to alleviate unemployment in the Swansea area due to impending redundancy on a heavy scale at the Landore Works of the Imperial Chemical Industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the redundancy arising at the Imperial Chemical Industries Works, Landore, Swansea; and what steps he is taking to provide alternative employment.

I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour that interviews are being arranged with the workers affected and that there are reasonable prospects that they will find other employment. The Government will continue their efforts to introduce new industry to West South Wales and generally to increase the level of employment in this part of the South Wales Development Area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what restrictions have been put by Her Majesty's Government on building in the vicinity of the Jodrell Bank Research Station, near Congleton.

The Cheshire County Council has before it an application to erect a factory which has been objected to by the Jodrell Bank Research Station. In view of the issues of national policy involved, the county council has asked me to call in this case under Section 15 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, for decision by the Government. I have agreed to do so and am arranging for the necessary public inquiry to be held as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the abandonment of proposals to develop Congleton under the provisions of the New Towns Act and the Town Development Act, if he will give an assurance that early consideration will be given to the West Heath sewerage scheme submitted by the borough council to his Department.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take to prevent the destruction of the enjoyment of the national beauty of the Peak National Park by the development of motor race tracks.

I understand that the Derbyshire County Council are considering promoting a Private Bill for the creation of motor car and cycle racing tracks in the Peak District. If they decide to proceed with this intention, the decision will, of course, rest with Parliament.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many schemes of slum clearance have been submitted to him this year by local authorities in Wales.

Nineteen clearance areas have been submitted by local authorities in Wales since 1st January, 1955.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why permission for an adequate water supply for Woodleigh, near Kingsbridge, South Devon, has been withheld by his Department.

The South Devon Water Board has now been given permission to carry out the work needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the reason for the delay in the provision of an improved water supply scheme for Howey, Radnorshire; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made and action taken to ensure an adequate and constant supply of water for the residents immediately.

The inquiry asked for in the Question will be held as soon as the necessary application and relevant information is received from the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what effect the Housing Repairs and Rents Act has had in checking the decay of older houses; and if he is satisfied that the effect of the Act will give the desired result.

The Act is having a useful effect in encouraging the carrying out of repairs and improvements. Progress is bound to be gradual because of the safeguards imposed for the protection of the tenants.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he will take to provide more work for disabled persons in the borough and rural district of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

My local officers take all possible steps to assist disabled persons to secure employment, and I am glad to say that the present number of unemployed disabled persons in Newcastle-under-Lyme is 20 per cent. lower than it was a year ago.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons at Cardiff who are registered as unemployed, and the number of these who have been unemployed for over three months.

On 13th June, 1955, there were 300 registered disabled men and 58 registered disabled women, capable of ordinary employment, unemployed in Cardiff. Of these, 187 men and 20 women had been unemployed over three months.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons at Cardiff who received a rehabilitation course during the past 12 months from his Department but who have subsequently failed to obtain satisfactory employment.

In the 12 months ended 31st March, 1955, 177 disabled persons from the Cardiff and Bute Docks area completed industrial rehabilitation courses at the Cardiff Industrial Rehabilitation Unit. Of this number 144 have since been placed in employment or have started a course of vocational training. I cannot yet say how many of these have failed to settle down in jobs, but on average about 80 per cent. are still satisfied when inquiries are made six months after they left.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the position of the Retail Price Index at the latest available date.

The latest information relates to 17th May, at which date the index figure was 147.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men graded in medical category III who were conscripted to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, respectively, during 1954.

During 1954, five men in medical grade III were called up for service in the Royal Navy, 6,699 for service in the Army, and 1,346 for service in the R.A.F.; a total of 8.050.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the scope of the talks to be undertaken by the Foreign Ministers of Great Britain, the United States of America, and France in New York in June, 1955.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary held discussions in New York with Mr. Dulles and Monsieur Pinay on 16th and 17th June. The purpose of these talks was to consider arrangements for the Conference of Heads of Governments which will take place at Geneva from 18th to 21st July. There were also consultations with the German Federal Chancellor on matters concerning Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to publish in HANSARD, or make available in the Library, extracts from recent Athens radio broadcasts, which contain direct incitements to the Cypriot people to rebel and adopt a policy of violence against the present administration of the island.

Copies of monitoring reports on broadcasts by Athens Radio are already available in the Library. The following are some relevant extracts:ATHENS RADIO "VOICE OF THE FATHERLAND"

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the financial loss incurred by farmers in Midlothian by reason of opencast coal workings; and if he will introduce legislation to remedy this grievance.

I have no evidence that the present arrangements for the payment of compensation for land requisitioned for opencast coal production cause hardship such as would justify new legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the statutory term "monopoly value," as used by licensing authorities for the payment made by licensees of public houses when taking over a new house is misleading as there is in fact no monopoly; and whether he will take steps to amend the Licensing Acts to enable a different term to be used.

The sum payable on the grant of a new justices' on-licence, representing the difference between the value of the premises when licensed and their value unlicensed, has been described as "monopoly value" by Licensing Acts since 1904. Opinions may differ as to the aptness of the description, but I do not consider that there is sufficient ground for introducing legislation to alter it.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of married couples in receipt of old-age pensions and of grants by the National Assistance Board within the area administered by the area officer at Stroud, as at 20th May, 1955, and how many there were at the nearest convenient date; and how many old-age pensioners, under the headings widows, widowers, spinsters, and bachelors, shown separately, were also receiving National Assistance grants in the Stroud area.

The National Assistance Board regret that the information asked for is not available and could not be obtained without a special examination of the 2,750 cases dealt with in this area.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements exist for the intimation to executors of deceased holders of Savings Certificates of amounts due; and how far these amounts are only repayable on claims being made.

The executor or other legal representative has to get in touch with the Savings Department which will give full information about the deceased person's holding. Repayment or transfer is made against a claim or instructions delivered with proper authority.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what allocations of grants for Highland roads have been announced as being available in each year since 1945; to what extent these sums have, in fact, been expended in grants, or allocated to the purpose intended; what amounts remained or remain unspent; and what is the position with regard to such unspent sums.

The figures for grants allocated for Highland roads since 1945–46 are set out in the following table:

			Maintenance, etc.	Improvement, etc.
1945–46	…	…	115,552	19,882
1946–47	…	…	289,832	14,164
1947–48	…	…	300,300	207,912
1948–49	…	…	246,648	959,626
1949–50	…	…	300,129	50,107
1950–51	…	…	369,053	261,167
1951–52	…	…	419,564	81,922
1952–53	…	…	481,050	—
1953–54	…	…	578,445	373,966
1954–55	…	…	630,235	167,469

For the figures of payments against those grants since 1951–52, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to await the information I shall be circulating shortly in response to his Question on 14th June, which will also explain the relation between grants, which are promises to pay, and Exchequer payments against these grants. Figures of payments for earlier years are not available in the form requested.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what considerations led him to refuse to confirm the appointment, recently made by the urban district council of Ashby Woulds, of a surveyor and sanitary inspector.

Appointments of this nature are not subject to my confirmation, but if a grant is to be made towards the salary under Section 17 (2) of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, the appointment, retention and dismissal of the surveyor is subject to my approval. My general requirements before approving such an appointment are that the candidate selected shall hold a recognised qualification in highway engineering and have had substantial experience in the construction and maintenance of roads. Where the appointment is a dual one of surveyor and sanitary inspector and the responsibility for roads is small, I am sometimes prepared to waive the requirement of a professional qualification, but not that relating to experience. In the present instance, I could not take the view that the candidate selected had sufficient experience to justify me in making a grant towards his salary. This does not of course preclude the council from making the appointment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury for an estimate of the total extra cost to the Exchequer per annum of giving to all retired servants of the Crown, both civil and military, including the police forces, the same rates of retired pay or pension as if they had retired with their last rank held on 1st January, 1955, instead of on their actual respective dates of retirement.

The best estimate I can make is that the direct cost, over and above the cost of existing pensions increase, would probably be between £20 million and £25 million a year.