asked the Minister of Supply what saving he expects to make as a result of the transfer of the engineering and iron and steel divisions to the Board of Trade.

In terms of staff, 250; and in terms of total expenditure, £576,000.

asked the Minister of Supply how far the decision to cease production of the Hunter aircraft in Coventry was due to the fact that the costs of production in the Armstrong Whitworth aircraft factory are higher than the costs in factories controlled by his Department at Blackpool; and by how much the costs differ.

asked the Minister of Supply the comparative costs of producing the same Hawker aircraft in Coventry and in Blackpool in factories under the supervision of his Department.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I have given today to Questions by the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) on this subject.

asked the Minister of Supply why aircraft fly from Moreton Valence aerodrome during much of each night, and during the day on Sundays; whether he is aware of the discomfort caused to local residents by this practice; and whether he will make a statement.

Test flying by the Javelin all-weather fighter is done from Moreton Valence and must necessarily include some night flying; some flying on Sundays is also necessary if the development and delivery programme is to be achieved. Whilst I much regret any consequent discomfort to local residents, I hope they will accept it as an essential contribution to the defence of the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will amend the quarantine Regulations so that, in cases where two or more dogs, owned by one person are brought to this country from abroad, such animals may be housed together during their six months' quarantine and not kept in separate quarters, as at present, thereby minimising the suffering caused to the dogs concerned by separation from their owner.

I regret that we could not make this amendment because it would weaken the present safeguards. If two or more imported dogs were permitted to share quarters in quarantine, it would be much more difficult than it now is to ensure that other dogs in the establishment were segregated at all times.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals of each variety were placed in quarantine for which his Department is responsible in each port in the United Kingdom and at London Airport during 1954; what charges are made per week for each animal; what additional costs fall on the Exchequer; and what is the total cost of maintaining and enforcing the quarantine regulations in this country per annum.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind quarantine for imported animals under the Diseases of Animals Act. Suitable premises in private ownership are approved for this purpose by my Department. The only animals quarantined at ports or airports in 1954 were eight reindeer at Glasgow. In addition, 1,888 dogs, 193 cats, 146 other canines, felines, and zoological specimens, and two goats, were detained in quarantine at places other than ports. The cost of keeping animals in quarantine falls on their owners. The charges are a matter for settlement between the parties. The estimated cost to the Exchequer of administering the quarantine Regulations is about £5,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to ensure that the housewife is informed of the protection afforded to her by recent legislation against abuse of advertising, labelling and composition of foodstuffs.

The recent legislation has been widely discussed in the Press and elsewhere. But in addition, as my right hon. Friend has informed the hon. Lady, we are considering whether information on these matters can be given in a form helpful to consumers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that loaves of bread usually called the 2 lb. and 1 lb. loaf only weigh 1¾ lb. and 14 ozs., respectively; and if he will amend the law so that the weight of these loaves will correspond with the names given to them, as was the case prior to the change in 1946.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the changes which were made in 1946 in the weight units of loaves usually described as "large" and "small" respectively. This question is being reexamined in consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Health when the new model Monopak, No. OL 44X, hearing aid for children will be made available; and how many will be necessary to meet current requirements.

If the report on the present trials which I expect very shortly is favourable, distribution should start next summer. The number of children needing aids is not precisely known, but they will receive priority when supplies are available.

asked the Minister of Health how many surgical boots were supplied last year; the average time between application for and delivery of such boots; why there has been a delay of over eight months in some cases, details of one of which have been sent him; and if he will take steps to expedite the delivery of these boots, which are always wanted urgently by the applicant.

49,689 pairs of surgical footwear were supplied in England and Wales during 1954. The average time for delivery is two and a half months from first measurement to final fitting. Delay may occur in some cases owing to difficulties in fitting or manufacture or to the failure of the patient to attend hospital. Priority has been given to the completion of the order in the individual case mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that everything possible is being done to check the poliomyelitis rate in Barnsley; and how far the visit of Dr. Bradley, one of his senior officials, to Barnsley has resulted in the source of the infection being traced.

I am satisfied that the best measures known at the present time are being applied to control the outbreak. Unfortunately existing techniques do not enable us to identify with any certainty the origin of poliomyelitis in a community.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the manufacturers of the poliomyelitis vaccine in this country obtain the virus of the three types of poliomyelitis and grow this on monkey kidney tissue; how far he has examined alternative processes of manufacture; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, I am aware of the methods employed. The Medical Research Council Committee concerned is, I understand, actively considering the use of alternative culture material.

asked the Minister of Health the figures of legitimate and illegitimate births, respectively, in England and Wales for 1954, specifying the numbers in respect of each year of age where the mother, at the time of maternity, was aged between 12 and 20 years, inclusive, and the total where the mother's age was 21 years and over.

The figures requested for 1954 are as follows:

Age of mother at maternity (last birthday)		Legitimate births (live and still)	Illegitimate births (live and still)
12	…	—	—
13	…	—	5
14	…	—	33
15	…	1	154
16	…	514	472
17	…	2,868	1,080
18	…	8,109	1,738
19	…	15,316	2,090
20	…	23,367	2,209
21 and over	…	607,116	24,779

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make grants to retirement pensioners and old people on National Assistance for the purchase of modern coal-saving stoves.

No.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance When he will he in a position to make a statement with regard to the review of the 10s. widow's pension which he announced in the House of Commons some time ago.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Poole (Captain Pilkington) on 4th July.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will publish a table showing for 1955, 1956, 1957 and for any further period for which provisional forecasts can be made, estimates of the probable demand for coal, the probable supplies available from internal sources, and the consequential need for coal imports, assuming that exports are maintained at the 1954 level.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 8th July.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the annual investment in the coal mines since vesting date, 1st January, 1947, showing year by year figures; and the annual investment authorised for 1955, 1956 and 1957.

Following is the answer:

National Coal Board—capital expenditure on collieries and associated activities
Actual:				£m.
1947	…	…	…	18·5
1948	…	…	…	24·4
1949	…	…	…	29·9
1950	…	…	…	27·2
1951	…	…	…	29·9
1952	…	…	…	46·1
1953	…	…	…	59·4
1954	…	…	…	77·2
Approved:
1955	…	…	…	92·0

No authorisation has yet been given by the Government for 1956 or 1957, but the Board estimates provisionally that investment in each year will approximate £100 million.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total amount of annuities and interest charged to the National Coal Board since, and including, 1947; and what these amounts represent per ton of coal produced each year.

In the eight years to 31st December, 1954, the National Coal Board paid £127·6 million for principal and interest charges on Exchequer advances required to meet its liabilities for compensation and interim income on transferred interests and for capital requirements since vesting date.The incidence of these charges has been uneven but the average was approximately 1s. 61½d. per ton of deep-mined coal produced. With increasing capital investment in the industry the annual liability is tending to rise.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total amount of compensation so far paid to the previous owners of the coal mining industry.

£284,751,198 to 30th June, 1955.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the compensation for subsidiary interests in the coal mining industry has been paid, showing the amounts in respect of each district separately.

The total compensation paid for subsidiary interests is £121,660,777. The amount remaining to be paid is estimated at £5 million to £6 million. The figure for each valuation district is as follows:

Valuation district	Compensation paid (to nearest £'000)
North Staffordshire	2,256,000
Kent	689,000
Bristol	12,000
Somerset	244,000
Cumberland	612,000
Forest of Dean	243,000
South Derbyshire	568,000
Shropshire	274,000
Warwickshire	2,565,000
North Derbyshire	8,006,000
Cannock Chase	2,126,000
Nottinghamshire	9,327,000
Leicestershire	938,000
South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire	238,000
Durham	23,936,000
Northumberland	7,064,000
Scotland	11,408,000
Yorkshire	27,229,000
South Wales and Monmouthshire	17,952,000
North Wales	928,000
Lancashire and Cheshire	5,045,000
Total	£121,660,000

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what stocks of domestic coal are now available in Bristol as compared with this time last year; and to what extent stocks are being built up to meet the needs which will arise if we experience a severe winter.

I am making inquiries about present stocks and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. As to supplies for the winter, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ladywood (Mr. V. Yates) and my hon. Friend the Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) on 27th June last.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the annual investment, year by year, in the electricity industry since vesting date 1st April, 1948; the average annual load factors of power stations in each year down to the year ended 31st March, 1955; and the annual investment authorised for each year forward to 1958 in respect of the electricity industry.

Following is the answer:1. The annual capital investment by the Central Electricity Authority and Area Electricity Boards year by year from 1st April, 1948, to 31st March, 1955, was as follows:

				C.E.A. (£ million)
1948–49	…	…	…	95·0
1949–50	…	…	…	117·2
1950–51	…	…	…	128·6
1951–52	…	…	…	141·7
1952–53	…	…	…	153·8
1953–54	…	…	…	169·8
1954–55	…	…	…	202·9
				(provisional)

2. The average annual load factors of the Central Electricity Authority stations were:

				per cent.
1948–49	…	…	…	43·76
1949–50	…	…	…	44·35
1950–51	…	…	…	47·13
1951–52	…	…	…	46·87
1952–53	…	…	…	44·69
1953–54	…	…	…	43·92
1954–55	…	…	…	45·20

3. Capital expenditure of £197·9 million and £204·5 has been authorised for 1955–56 and 1956–57 respectively. No subsequent authorisation has as yet been given by the Government.

asked the Minster of Fuel and Power what action he has taken as a result of the findings of the industrial steam survey conducted by his Department two years ago.

My Department analysed the results of the survey to determine the number of individual cases where the installation of back pressure engines was likely to prove economic and my Fuel Efficiency Advisory Committee considered this analysis. I have arranged with the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service to examine, in consultation with the firms concerned, 300 possible schemes where the prospects of saving fuel seem best.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, the total funds authorised for the programme of Scottish roads in general and Highland roads particularly, for each year since 1951; how much has been actually spent on the work; what sums remain unused, and how far money not taken up in the year of allocation accumulates as credits for the time when the work can proceed.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th June, 1955; Vol. 542, c. 6], supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has studied the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Sunderland, South, concerning the nuisance caused by stones left in the streets from miners' concessionary coal; if he is aware of the doubts concerning responsibility for its removal; and if he will consider introducing legislation assigning responsibility for its removal.

Yes. I have read the Press cutting which my hon. Friend has sent me. While I must not comment on a particular matter which it appears may come before the courts, I see no doubt that in general Sections 72 and 73 of the Highways Act, 1835, are adequate to cover this sort of problem, and I therefore see at present no need for further legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to end the practice whereby food and groceries are sold under various names which disguise the fact that the consumer is dealing with a monopoly and combine.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that pig-iron suppliers controlled by the Iron and Steel Board are charging rail transport to small firms of ironfounders who were obliged to collect their own supplies by lorry during the recent rail strike, but are not making this charge to large firms of ironfounders; and, in view of the harm done to the national interest through this discrimination against small firms, whether he will give a direction under Section 10 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1953, to cancel this charge.

Prices for pig-iron determined by the Iron and Steel Board are maximum prices varying between zones in which delivery takes place. My right hon. Friend would certainly not wish to intervene to prevent producers and consumers negotiating prices below these maximum prices in the ordinary course of business; nor is he aware of any circumstances arising out of the conditions brought about by the rail strike which would justify him in giving a direction under Section 10 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1953.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to make sure that land from which clay has been extracted for brickmaking and from which sand and gravel has been extracted is left in such a condition that it will be suitable for growing crops.

The extraction of minerals is subject to control by local planning authorities. The authorities require the land to be left fit for resumption of agriculture where that is practicable. Advice on this matter was given to them in a publication entitled "The Control of Mineral Working", of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what contribution is made by Her Majesty's Government into research into the causes of mental retardation in children.

Research on various genetic and environmental factors which may affect the causation of mental retardation in children is supported by the Medical Research Council. Studies are also in progress in a number of hospitals under the National Health Service and are financed both by Exchequer and endowment funds.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will consider widening the entrances into Hyde Park at Stanhope and Grosvenor Gates so that each will take two lines of traffic each way in order to reduce the present congestion and delay in Park Lane.

Proposals are under consideration for major improvements in this area which will take into account the traffic problems at Stanhope and Grosvenor Gates. Substantial expenditure on these entrances would hardly be justified meanwhile.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an able seaman, whose name has been sent to him, was awarded eleven days' stoppage of leave and pay for being late returning from leave during the rail strike; that this man made efforts to return to his ship the day before his leave expired; that his leave pass was signed at Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury, on that day and he was instructed to report to Shrewsbury Station at 9 a.m. the next day; that on discovery that no train was running that forenoon he reported at once to the naval recruiting office in Shrewsbury; and, in view of the efforts made by this man, verified by the naval recruiting office, he will direct that the award be cancelled.

I have looked into the question of men of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines who were late in returning from Whitsun leave owing to the railway strike.By far the majority of the men who were granted leave just before Whitsun, many thousands in number, returned to their ships or establishments on time, making their way by all manner of means, sometimes at considerable expense to themselves, in order to do so. The Admiralty considers that this reflects great credit on the Service as a whole. A small minority, numbering only a few hundred, did not do so, in spite of the warning which had been given them before leave commenced. Their commanding officers took carefully into account the reasons given by the men for their failure to return by the time their leave expired.In order to ensure that, in the special circumstances of the railway strike, disparity of treatment is avoided so far as possible, I have asked the commanders-in-chief to review the cases that have occurred in their commands with a view to reducing the punishment in any instance in which they conclude that the penalty imposed was too great. I have brought this particular case to the notice of the flag officer concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many National Service men have been admitted into the Royal Air Force for the past two years with a physical disability which has subsequently been treated whilst serving in the Royal Air Force; and how many of these cases have responded to such treatment.

I regret that this information could not be made available without disproportionate research.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the period of time that he keeps a temporarily disabled National Service man in the Royal Air Force for the purpose of ascertaining whether he will eventually become medically fit and efficient for Royal Air Force duties.

Up to twelve months from the date of ceasing duty. All periods of absence from duty due to the same disability are aggregated unless they are separated by six months or more.

asked the Postmaster General if he has now considered the representations from the Wallsend Borough Council and the hon. Member for Wallsend, asking for hand rails to be erected on the steps of the entrance of the post office in Station Road, Wallsend; if he will give an estimate of the cost involved; and, in view of the dangers to old-age pensioners, if he will have the matter reconsidered.

I am having this looked into again locally. I can assure the hon. Member that whatever is reasonably required of the Post Office will be provided. The cost of hand rails would be about £6.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applications for installation of telephones on the Larks-wood, Chingford, Exchange, which have been outstanding for five, four and three years, respectively.

The figures are:

Over 5 years	…	…	…	50
4–5 years	…	…	…	42
3–4 years	…	…	…	67

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones installed on the Larkswood, Chingford, Exchange, together with the number of applications outstanding for 1952, 1953 and 1954, respectively.

The figures are:

Year			Telephones installed	Applications outstanding
1952	…	…	590	1,601
1953	…	…	1,159	823
1954	…	…	512	1,103