asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the Dutch Foreign Minister on the possibility of the extension of the operations of the European Coal and Steel Community.

These talks were informal and exploratory only. I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave to the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) on 27th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that wholesale importers of eggs from Northern Ireland are removing the code labels which have been put on the boxes in accordance with the licensing conditions of the packing stations, and as a result stale eggs are being sold as fresh; and what steps he will take to stop this practice.

I have received only one report of alleged alteration of code dates on boxes of eggs from Northern Ireland. Retailers can, I think, be relied upon not to do business with those who deceive them in this way.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of broccoli have been grown in Devon and Cornwall, separately, during each of the post-war seasons.

The following is the reply: ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF BROCCOLI (HEADING) OR WINTER CAULIFLOWER IN DEVON AND CORNWALL IN EACH OF THE POST-WAR MARKETING SEASONS, 1945–46 TO 1954–55 Marketing Season ( a ) Devon Cornwall Tons Tons 1945–46 … 1,900 48,300 1946–47 ( b ) … 900 19,300 1947–48 … 3,400 31,600 1948–49 … 3,400 42,000 1949–50 … 2,600 25,700 1950–51 … 2,100 31,800 1951–52 … 1,600 25,200 1952–53 … 1,400 27,700 1953–54 … 1,600 15,000 1954–55 ( c ) … 1,200 18,000 ( a ) The marketing season is mainly from the end of November to early April; peak loadings occur during February and March. ( b ) Low yield due to frost damage. ( c ) Provisional.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on steps being taken, under the responsibility of his Department, to improve the strains of broccoli seed for use in Cornwall.

The National Institute of Agricultural Botany, in collaboration with Seale-Hayne Agricultural College, and the Rosewarne Experimental Horticulture Station of my Department, are conducting extensive trials with different varieties of broccoli. Research and trials are being carried out at the National Vegetable Research Station on the selection of new varieties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will give consideration to the possibility of a subsidy towards the cost of spraying materials, non-returnable fruit containers and potash fertilisers to help horticulturists.

I am afraid there would be substantial practical objections to the proposed subsidies as possible additional ways of helping horticulture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bulls, not registered with any pedigree breed society, were licensed last year.

5,343 non-pedigree bulls were licensed in the year ended 31st March, 1955.

asked the Minister of Labour when it is intimated to his Department that men are off the register of merchant seamen, what form of notification is made which enables his Department to know whether such men are engaged in a strike, as distinguished from men leaving the register for other reasons.

When the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen is satisfied that a man has ceased to follow seagoing employment, the Registrar notifies me by letter stating the reason for the transfer of the registration to my Ministry. As I explained in reply to the Question by the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool on 21st June, men who cease to be employed as merchant seamen for whatever reason, are called up in the normal way.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of grant given to Remploy Limited for the years 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955; what are the number of disabled persons employed in each of the five years and the number of outstanding applications for employment; and what provisions are being made to increase the intake of disabled persons during the present financial year.

The information is as follows: REMPLOY LTD. Year ended 31st March Average number of seriously disabled persons employed Amounts advanced to cover capital expenditure, working capital and net deficit on running expenses (1) (2) (3) £ 1951 … 4,937 2,690,754 1952 … 5,830 3,047,500 1953 … 6,002 2,376,600 1954 … 6,314 2,499,500 1955 … 6,513 2,900,000 The amount advanced in the financial year 1954–55 included £450,000 provided by way of supplementary estimate. A total of £2,480,000 has been voted for the financial year 1955–56. The number employed on 24th May, 1955, was 6,249. Remploy are not at present in a position to increase their intake of disabled persons. Waiting lists are not maintained since all seriously disabled persons are considered for suitable vacancies as they arise whether in Remploy or elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has noted that, in the United States of America, the Federal Civil Defence Administration has been instructed to develop plans for combating the fall-out hazards of nuclear bombs; and what steps are being taken in Britain to combat these hazards.

Yes. As the White Paper on Defence made plain, a complete overhaul of our home defence plans is being undertaken with particular regard to the extensive radio-active contamination which might result from the fall-out of a ground burst hydrogen bomb.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the offer of 3s. 9d. increase per week made to inspectors and chief inspectors of police, who are not on overtime rank, for responsibility and extra duties, in view of the fact that they refused the offer as being inadequate.

The hon. Lady is no doubt referring to the claim submitted to Panel C of the Police Council for Great Britain in August, 1954, on behalf of inspectors and chief inspectors, on which the Panel has failed to reach agreement. I understand that in the meantime a fresh pay claim has recently been lodged on behalf of all the federated ranks of the police, including the inspectors and chief inspectors, which is now before the Police Council for Great Britain. In these circumstances it would not be proper for me to comment on either claim.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Italian citizens have been permitted, during the last five years, to enter the United Kingdom to reside; and how many of these have been given working permits.

Aliens are not normally admitted to this country specifically for the purpose of permanent residence. In the years 1952–54 inclusive, the number of Italian nationals admitted for a stay of twelve months or, exceptionally, for a longer period, was 16,863. Of these, 15,268 were admitted to take approved employment or as the dependants of persons so admitted. I regret that similar figures are not available for the two previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that provincial police used in London during the railway strike did not suffer financially.

Police officers from other forces who came to London to assist the Metropolitan police during the emergency were provided with free accommodation and were entitled to subsistence allowances at the rates prescribed in the Police Regulations. I have no reason to think that any of them suffered financial loss as a result of performing this duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations he has made into safety provisions in stock car racing in this country; and if he will introduce legislation to provide minimum safety standards and giving powers to local authorities or police authorities to license such meetings.

I considered this matter some months ago, but in the light of the information which I obtained about the existing precautions, I was not satisfied that legislation was required. I will, however, review the matter in the light of further inquiries which I propose to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority police officers in the Metropolitan area are authorised to ask the age of motorists stopped for alleged breaches of the Road Traffic Acts.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that it is not the practice of the Metropolitan police to ask the age of a person reported for a traffic offence, unless he appears to be a juvenile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied so far with the administrative machinery for the running of the no-passport day trips organised by Messrs. P. & A. Campbell from Newhaven and Eastbourne; and if he will make a statement.

My information is that so far the arrangements at Newhaven and Eastbourne have been working smoothly.

asked the Minister of Education what undertaking is given by students at schools of music and drama receiving grants in aid that they will follow their training by obtaining employment in the profession for which they have been awarded personal grants in aid.

I am not aware that local education authorities, who make these grants, require undertakings of this kind.

asked the Minister of Education the number of schools where mid-day meals are available for pupils; and the number of such schools that are without any auxiliary staff employed specifically for the School Meals Service.

In October, 1954, the latest date for which I have information, school meals were available at 29,140 out of 29,833 maintained schools or departments. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available in my Department.

asked the Minister of Education what restrictions he still imposes on local education authorities with regard to the building of school canteens.

Local education authorities are free to carry out any building project for a canteen costing £1,500 or less. I am prepared to consider proposals costing more than £1,500 which authorities consider to be urgent.

asked the Minister of Education how many graduates in pure science from the universities of Great Britain have become teachers in grant-aided schools in the last three years; how this compares with the numbers entering industry and other occupations; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient numbers are being recruited to the teaching profession.

The following information refers only to England and Wales.

The number of mathematics and science graduates admitted to professional training for teaching or entering maintained schools as untrained teachers was 964 in 1952–53, 917 in 1953–54 and 1,008 in 1954–55. I have no precise information about comparable numbers of graduates entering industry. The number of university first degrees and diplomas in pure science awarded was 5,246 in 1952, 5,211 in 1953 and 4,970 in 1954.

The number of mathematics and science graduates in maintained primary and secondary schools increased from 11,022 in March, 1952, to 11,287 in March, 1953, and 11,615 in March, 1954. These increases are very welcome though it is a matter of serious concern that enough of the more highly qualified graduates have not been entering teaching. Moreover during the coming years the schools will need a much larger increase in numbers if staffing standards in science are not to deteriorate.

asked the Minister of Education how he proposes that the cost of extra allowances to certain teachers in grammar schools, recommended by the Burnham Committee in February, shall be met.

Expenditure by local education authorities on these allowances ranks for grant in the same way and at the same rate as other expenditure on the salaries of teachers. So far as direct grant grammar schools are concerned, I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Education if he is satisfied that there are sufficient boarding school places at the disposal of local education authorities to cater for the needs of the children of those serving overseas in the forces and in the Foreign and Colonial Services; and if he will make a statement.

The number of places needed will vary with changing circumstances and with the criterion adopted for defining need and will also depend on parents' wishes. No useful figure of places available can be given because local education authorities need not rely solely on places in schools maintained by them. While therefore I am aware of the difficulties which my hon. Friend has in mind, I do not find it possible to make the comparison which he suggests.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to make known in schools the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Information about the work of U.N.E.S.C.O. is given in the Organisation's own publications which are distributed in this country through Her Majesty's Stationery Office and for which my Department helps to secure Press publicity. They include an illustrated monthly journal designed for schools.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects to announce his decision regarding the public inquiry on 9th February, 1955, concerning the proposed erection of a domestic science college at Oxtalls, Gloucester.

In a few days' time.

asked the Minister of Education if he will call for a full report on the complaint of Mrs. E. A. Parkhouse, of 92, The Mall, Swindon, against the Wiltshire County Council, as the education authority, because of damage to the amenities of her house caused by the erection of extensions to the Commonweal Grammar School.

I do not consider that this is a matter in which I should intervene.

asked the Minister of Education the number of pupils who are at present being educated in England and Wales without any assistance from the State.

Rather under ½ million.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on how many occasions during his term of office, on what dates and for what length of time, the present High Commissioner has visited Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland, respectively.

The present High Commissioner, who assumed office on 4th March of this year, visited Southern Bechuanaland for seven days from 11th April to 18th April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now relax the hire-purchase restrictions affecting the furniture industry.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave last Thursday to similar Questions on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why restrictions in imports of lime oil from dollar sources have been removed in view of the fact that ample supplies can be obtained from the British West Indies.

Essential oils from dollar sources have been admitted under specific licences since early in 1954 in accordance with the Government's general policy of relaxing, wherever we can afford to do so, our import restrictions, especially on raw materials.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give consideration to invoking the waiver procedure under Document 6 of the White Paper, "Review of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade," in the case of apples and pears.

I cannot predict whether it will be desirable and expedient for a particular item to be included in any application which Her Majesty's Government may make to the Contracting Parties in due course under this procedure. This can only be determined in the light of the circumstances existing at the time. The terms of the waiver do not call for such an application to be made at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what regulations, conventions or international agreements govern the giving notice by any nation intending to explode an experimental thermo-nuclear bomb to Great Britain of such intention and of the intended time and place of any such explosion.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given by my noble Friend on 4th May.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consult the Chairman of the National Coal Board about the measures to be taken by Her Majesty's Government to help the Board to increase the manpower in the pits.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service and I are already working in the closest co-operation with the National Coal Board to increase manpower in the pits; for example, the Government and the Board are jointly running a special publicity campaign designed both to stimulate recruitment and reduce wastage, and under a programme launched jointly by the Government and the Board nearly 20,000 houses have been built for miners in areas where manpower is specially needed.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for the installation of telephones are outstanding in Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland; and what number have been installed in each year since 1950.

Four applications are outstanding. The numbers of telephones installed since 1950 are: Year ended 31st March Total 1951 … … … 7 1952 … … … 11 1953 … … … 10 1954 … … … 12 1955 … … … 27

asked the Minister of Health the average cost per prescription prescribed through the National Health Service in England and Wales during September, 1954; and how this compares with previous months during the year 1954.

51.00 pence. The figures for the previous months were: 1954 pence January … … … 48.59 February … … … 48.59 March … … … 49.45 April … … … 50.38 May … … … 50.68 June … … … 51.33 July … … … 51.49 August … … … 51.73 The figures do not cover medicines supplied by doctors who have undertaken to supply their patients direct, nor medicines dispensed at hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of the population in England and Wales were living in under-doctored areas at October, 1951, April, 1953, and at the latest available date.

I regret that information is not available in exactly the form asked for, but the percentages of the population on doctors lists and living in areas which have been regarded by the Medical Practices Committee as those where doctors should be encouraged to practise have over the years been broadly as follows: At 1st July, 1952 50 per cent. At 1st July, 1953 37 per cent. At 1st July, 1954 (the latest date for which figures are available) 27 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the concern that has arisen as the result of the discovery of landmines on holiday resort beaches; and what action is being taken to minimise the danger and restore the confidence of the public.

The very few accidents which have occurred in the last nine years, including the tragic case which the hon. Member has in mind, have usually been caused by mines washed up from the sea. A fresh general search would not overcome this risk and would mean closing beaches to holiday makers for long periods. I do not think it would be practicable to do this nor would it eliminate the main risk. It is of great importance that anyone who finds any suspicious looking object on the beach should leave it alone and report it at once to the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will propose to the East Kilbride Development Corporation that houses should be built for sale.

The Development Corporation recently submitted proposals of this kind which I am at present considering.