asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the availability of pet-coke in the production of smokeless fuels; and whether, in view of the success of its utilisation in the industrial cities in the United States of America, he will take steps to expedite its use in this country.

Pet-coke can be imported under an open general licence, but it seems unlikely that in this country it could be used to produce smokeless fuel at an economic cost.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he proposes to fix the appointed day for the operation of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Supply why the staff of his Department increased by 179 during 1st January and 1st April, 1955.

The major part of the increase arose from the continued expansion of the defence research and development effort and from the need for more staff in the Royal ordnance factories to meet the requirements of defence production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the prospects of the experiment in quick-freezing at sea which is to be conducted by the "Northern Wave"; what is the cause of the present delays; and what loss will fall upon public funds as a result.

It is too early to forecast the prospects of the experiment, but the White Fish Authority do not think that the present delay should be prejudicial. The manufacturers who developed and installed the refrigerating equipment, which is novel in design, found unforeseen difficulties after its installation. They have accepted responsibility for remedying the defects and are giving this priority. I cannot yet say what if any extra cost may have to be accepted on public funds.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the reduced allocation of finance to the South Western Regional Hospital Board is preventing the necessary maintenance work of the hospitals from being carried out, that this is being deferred to the future, thus impairing efficiency, and that additional appointments have also had to be deferred for the same reason; and if he will take steps to increase the allocation to the amount estimated by the committee so that this regional committee can function effectively and efficiently.

I am not clear what the hon. Member means by the first part of the Question. The amount allocated to this Board for 1955–56 allows not only for the maintenance of the existing standard of the hospital services in the region, but also, as fully as the total voted by Parliament permits, for improvements and developments. I have undertaken, if necessary, to increase the allocation to meet the cost of salaries and wages awards not already provided for, and to adjust it to reflect any changes in price levels. I regret that I cannot go beyond this.

asked the Minister of Health what deductions are now made from the salaries of nurses living in hospital in respect of board and lodgings; and when the scale of deductions was last revised.

These charges, which were last revised on 1st December, 1954, range from £113 for student nurses to £253 for the highest paid matrons. Details are given in a Whitley agreement of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing importance of audits as an element in modern financial control, he will now make definite arrangements to obtain the assistance of some professionally-qualified accountants for supervising the audit of the accounts of the National Health Service Hospital Authorities.

No. As I have informed my hon. Friend, the present National Health Service audit service conforms with other comparable audit services in the Civil Service. All the senior staff have had practical experience in accountancy and auditing, and I do not think any change is called for.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds were available for use in mental hospitals and mental-deficiency hospitals in England and Wales at December, 1951; and at the latest available date.

119,502 beds in mental hospitals and 47,617 in mental deficiency hospitals were available for use on 31st December, 1951. The comparable figures on 31st December, 1954, were 121,555 and 50,726.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that appointment cards issued by St. Bartholomew's Hospital to patients contain advertisements for proprietary brands of toothpaste urging the patients to use a particular brand of toothpaste; and whether he will take steps to stop this practice.

I am informed that there has recently been some unauthorised use of appointment cards of this kind in the dental department of the hospital. The Board of Governors regret the occurrence and have taken immediate steps to ensure that it will not happen again.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons were waiting for admission to hospitals in England and Wales in December, 1954, December, 1953, and December, 1951; and what proportion of these persons were chronically ill old people.

The number of persons waiting for admission to hospitals in England and Wales was 470,213 in December, 1954 (provisional figure), 526,041 in December, 1953, and 503,584 in December, 1951. Of these 2.11 per cent., 1.74 per cent. and 1.75 per cent. respectively were chronically sick, the overwhelming majority of them being old people.

asked the Minister of Health how many motor-tricycles have been supplied to invalids since the war; how many were supplied in 1954; the average period between applications for one of the machines and the date of delivery; and, in view of their urgency, whether he is satisfied with the delivery situation.

Since September, 1945, about 12,000 motor and electric tricycles have been supplied, and the number issued during the year ending 31st December, 1954, was 2,736. During the past six months, owing to production problems associated with the introduction of new models, the average delay between application and delivery has been about twenty weeks. The delay is lessening as the output of new machines increases.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an estimate of the cost to his Department of replacing all invalid chairs and cars by two-seater vehicles on the existing models becoming obsolete through wear.

The estimated total cost of replacing the cars at present on issue is about £¾ million and of power propelled tricycles by two-seater vehicles £3½ million. The latter would also involve additional maintenance costs of about £½ million a year.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that his present restriction on the supply of motor cars only to war-disabled pensioners is too limited and operates harshly; that motor cars are supplied only to pensioners whose disablement falls into certain strictly defined categories; that there are other types of war-disabled pensioners whose limited powers of locomotion should entitle them to motor cars; and if he will take steps to remove the restriction complained of and extend the supply of motor cars to such other types of war pensioners.

Motor cars are supplied to war pensioners with 100 per cent. disability pension who have suffered the total or almost total loss of the use of both legs. In addition, power propelled tricycles are supplied more widely and borderline cases are always sympathetically considered. I do not feel justified in going further than this.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the details of the method employed to prove that the Salk vaccine is not injurious; and how many children are now being given this treatment.

The methods of testing to be employed have not yet been finally settled. No children are receiving this treatment under arrangements made by this country.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the official decision of the State health department of Idaho, United States of America, not to resume the mass inoculation programme against poliomyelitis, and to sponsor no further free vaccinations for schoolchildren because of the doubt as to its safety and effectiveness; and whether he will take similar action in this country.

I have seen Press reports of this decision; as I have already informed the House, we shall carry out intensive tests before deciding to embark on vaccination against poliomyelitis in this country.

asked the Minister of Health what is the normal time required by the London Ophthalmic Executive Council of the National Health Service to return to patients the forms completed at the time of examination.

Where the applicant lives in the County of London, glasses are normally approved within four days of the receipt of the form. This takes longer where he lives outside the county and it is necessary to consult the committee for another area.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement regarding the progress made in the inspection of doctors' surgeries.

These inspections are being carried out under arrangements made by the British Medical Association; it is understood that they are progressing well. The Association cannot yet say exactly when they will be completed, but will let my right hon. Friend have a report as soon as they can

asked the Minister of Health how many babies were born in England and Wales during the years 1951, 1953, and 1954; and what percentage of these births were home confinements.

The answer is as follows: — Live Births Percentage of Home Confinements 1951 … 677,529 37.4 1953 … 684,372 35.9 1954 … 673,651 36.4

asked the Minister of Health why the results of the Penman Committee of Inquiry have not been implemented; and why he will not put the claim of the dentists to arbitration.

The Working Party under the Chairmanship of Mr. Penman investigated the facts of chairside times and make no recommendation regarding the level of remuneration. The findings of the Working Party are being taken into account in the framing of the new scale of fees which is being worked out with the British Dental Association in the light of the agreement recently reached for an increase in the remuneration of general dental practitioners from 1st May last. As an agreed settlement of the Association's claim for higher remuneration has been reached the question of arbitration does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he proposes to take steps to re-establish diplomatic relations with Albania.

Her Majesty's Government are not at present contemplating any steps to re-establish diplomatic relations with Albania.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund works in 30 British territories out of the 91 countries in which it operates; that the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund spends, approximately, £340,000 in British territories, whilst the total contribution of the United Kingdom and the British territories is, approximately, £180,000; and whether he will consider raising the amount of his contribution towards the funds of the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund.

Her Majesty's Government are fully aware of the very great help which U.N.I.C.E.F. has given in British territories. The total direct contribution of the United Kingdom and the British territories in 1954 was £219,000, and not £180,000. In addition, the British territories contributed about twice this sum as their matching contributions. U.N.I.C.E.F. since its inception has allocated £969,214 to Colonial Territories and the matching contributions from within those territories over the same period total £1,767,143.

As to the last part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government will carefully examine the possibility of an increase in 1956 in the light of the available financial resources of this country and our international commitments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government now propose to make a contribution to the fund of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the year 1955.

I am glad to announce that, subject to Parliamentary approval, Her Majesty's Government propose to make a contribution of £100,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner's Fund for 1955. £80,000 will be made available as an outright contribution; and a further £20,000 will be paid if the total of contributions for 1955, including the United Kingdom's own contribution, reaches 3.25 million dollars.

The House will be asked to approve a Supplementary Estimate to cover the full amount of £100,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Aflairs what amounts have been subscribed by Her Majesty's Government for refugee aid since the establishment by the United Nations of a High Commissioner for Refugees.

Since the establishment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner in 1951, Her Majesty's Government have contributed £100,000 to the United Nations Refugee Emergency Fund. This Fund was superseded on the 1st January, 1955, by the fund of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

In addition to the direct contribution mentioned above. Her Majesty's Government also contribute indirectly to the administrative budget of the United Nations High Commissioner which is paid for from United Nations funds. Up to the end of 1954, Her Majesty's Government contributed approximately £80,000 under this heading.

The hon. Member will have seen from the reply which I have given today to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Sir R. Conant) that Her Majesty's Government also propose to contribute to the United Nations High Commissioner's Fund in 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received an invitation to take part in the work of the preparatory committee set up by the Governments of France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the German Federal Republic at the Messina Conference.

Yes. The formal invitation to participate in the studies to be undertaken by a committee of Government representatives pursuant to the Messina Conference was conveyed to Her Majesty's Government in a Note from the Netherlands Foreign Minister dated 30th June. I replied on 1st July accepting the invitation to take part in the studies, and explaining that Her Majesty's Government will be happy to examine, without prior commitment and on their merits, the many problems which are likely to emerge from the studies.

I will lay the correspondence before the House tomorrow as a White Paper.

asked the Attorney-General what advice centres have been set up in London under Section 7 of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949; and where such advice centres are situated.

Section 7 of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, has not yet been brought into force. The answer to the first part of the Question is, therefore, "None" and the second part does not arise.

asked the Attorney-General when the report of the Royal Commission on the marriage laws will be published.

The Royal Commission hopes to complete its work on the draft Report by the autumn and the Report will be published as soon as possible after it has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the law relating to street trading so as to leave the discretion in granting or withholding licences solely within the discretion of local authorities.

No. Metropolitan borough councils and a few other local authorities have power under local Acts to regulate street trading in their areas. It is primarily for the local authority concerned to seek amendment of these provisions if they so desire, but I would not be prepared to recommend Parliament to amend the law in the manner suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the results of the Prisoners Prerelease Habilitation Scheme at Bristol are satisfactory; and what further schemes of the same character he has in mind.

The response of the preventive detention prisoners who have been selected for the pre-release scheme at the Bristol hostel has been strikingly satisfactory, though it is too soon to try to assess long-term results. The Prison Commissioners are proposing to extend the scheme to other recidivist prisoners, and Parliament will shortly be asked to approve the necessary amendment of the Prison Rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent financial compensation for physical injury causing incapacity is payable to prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons who have been attacked by other prisoners.

Where one prisoner attacks another it is not necessarily proper for a payment to be made from public funds to the prisoner attacked, even though he may suffer a degree of incapacity. If the prisoner attacked considers that the attack was due to or facilitated by the negligence of the prison authorities, he may have a claim at common law for damages; and prisoners do sometimes prosecute such a claim. Further, it is not uncommon for a prisoner who suffers an appreciable incapacity, or has undergone great pain and suffering, as a result of an attack by another prisoner, to be given some remission of sentence by way of compensation.

asked the Minister of Works when Dover House, Whitehall, will be ready for reoccupation by the Scottish Office.

I hope before the end of the year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of awards made this year under the new scheme for Royal Air Force Cadet Officer Entry and the schools in which such candidates are at present being educated.

Fifteen Royal Air Force scholarships have been awarded so far this year. The successful candidates are from the following schools: Brentwood School, Essex. Bristol Grammar School. Cheltenham College. Cotton College, Oakamoor. Highgate School. Haberdashers' Aske's School, Hampstead. Hereford Cathedral School. Malvern College. Preston Grammar School. St. Edward's School, Oxford (2 awards). St. Peter's School, Southbourne. Taunton School, Somerset. The Cathedral School, Truro. Trinity College, Glenalmond.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new council houses he has sanctioned to be built in the Sedgefield Rural District Council area, the Stockton Rural District Council area, the Darlington Rural District Council area, and the Billingham Urban area for the years 1955 and 1956; and how the number to be built differs from the number asked for by each of these local authorities.

The number of houses to be sanctioned in the Sedgefield, Stockton and Darlington Rural Districts and the Billingham Urban District will, subject to the need for keeping the building programme in balance with the resources available, depend upon the amount of work each Council has in hand and the progress they make. No precise forecast can, therefore, yet be made of the number of houses which will be sanctioned this year. Details of tenders already approved are given in Appendix B to the Housing Return, which is published quarterly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the Great Britain total of industrial building under construction was being carried out in Scotland at the end of each of the years from 1950 to 1954.

According to the latest information available to the Board of Trade, the figure at the end of each year was:— 1950 … … … 9.0 per cent. 1951 … … … 10.3 per cent. 1952 … … … 8.3 per cent. 1953 … … … 6.9 percent. 1954 … … … 6.0 per cent.

These figures relate to new buildings and extensions to existing buildings of more than 5,000 sq. ft. for manufacturing industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet able to announce the terms of reference to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission in respect of steel frames for buildings.

Yes. The reference was made on 30th June. The full text is as follows:

Steel frames for buildings

Whereas it appears to the Board of Trade that it is or may be the fact that conditions to which the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948, applies prevail as respects the supply of steel frames which cost more than £2,500 each, for buildings:

Now, therefore, the Board in pursuance of Section 2 (1) of the said Act hereby refer to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission for investigation and report the matter of such supply.

The Commission shall as respects such supply investigate and report on (1) whether the conditions to which the Act applies in fact prevail and, if so, in what manner and to what extent; (2) the things which are done by the parties concerned as a result of or for the purpose of preserving those conditions; and (3) whether the conditions in question or all or any of the things done as aforesaid operate or may be expected to operate against the public interest.