asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the present rate of repayment, by what year he expects post-war credits will be fully repaid.

Substantially by 1985.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will waive the monetary deposit required by Her Majesty's Customs in respect of the temporary importation of musical instruments, thereby removing an impediment to members of the Orange Order resident in Eire who wish to attend gatherings of the Loyal Orange Institution in Northern Ireland.

Monetary deposits are rarely required for musical instruments temporarily imported by persons entering the United Kingdom for short visits and there is no recent record of any such deposit at the Northern Ireland Land Boundary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grant is made directly or indirectly from Treasury sources to the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Wallace Collection, the London Museum, the Bowes Museum, and to any other museum or art gallery in the north-east, respectively.

The first four museums are Government Departments and their current expenditure is provided for on Parliamentary Votes. The Bowes Museum is a private foundation and, as such, does not receive an Exchequer grant. It is only one of a number of local musums and art galleries which are facing financial difficulties. The financing of assistance to such museums is primarily for local authorities whose expenditure for such purposes may, in certain circumstances, qualify for a Government grant. Having regard to the large contributions from the Exchequer to the arts, I regret that I cannot hold out hopes of a direct grant to the Bowes Museum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make the taxation depreciation allowance for manure drills and combine drills the same as for spraying equipment in the horticultural industry.

As I explained in reply to my hon. Friend's earlier Question on this subject on 27th June, the determination of standard rates of wear and tear allowances is primarily a matter for the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. If market gardeners feel that the rates at present given for manure drills and combine drills are inadequate, they should approach the Commissioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he is now seeking on which to base his decision to introduce a new Pensions Increase Bill.

I think my hon. Friend has overlooked part of what I said to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for New Forest (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre) on 12th July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what steps have recently been taken to minimise air pollution throughout the country and, in particular, in the industrial areas which suffer most; what action has been taken to obtain the co-operation of the industries most responsible; and what have been the results;(2) what action has been taken, or is proposed, as a result of the latest research on the problem of air pollution;

The action already taken to reduce air pollution is fully described in the Report of the Beaver Committee published last November. I hope shortly to introduce a Bill to give effect to the Committee's principal recommendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what requests he has received from local authorities to clarify the principles on which he suggested that they should operate improvement grants.

Local authorities usually obtain advice of this kind through informal discussion with the regional representatives of my Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities are now encouraging the full use of housing improvement grants at the 50 per cent. rate; how many are not yet doing so; and if he will again draw the attention of these authorities to the satisfactory and economical results that are being obtained in many areas.

Over 1,130 local authorities in England and Wales have given improvement grants. About 340 have so far not done so. Figures are not available for the proportion of grants given at the maximum rate of 50 per cent. In view of the satisfactory progress made, I do not think that any further reminder is necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will expedite the decision about the clearance order for Alfred Place, Leeds, 7, which was the subject of a public inquiry in Leeds on 8th June, particularly having regard to the fact that a girl of five years of age is at present detained in hospital as a result of part of the roof of one of the houses falling on her.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he has taken to provide alternative employment for those unemployed as a result of the disputes in the confectionery trade.

Inquiries have failed to reveal any unemployment that can be attributed to the commercial disputes in the confectionery trade. In the event of workers becoming unemployed on this account, the services of the Employment Exchanges will be available to assist those who register to find other work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is a shortage of manpower in the basic industries like coal mining, agriculture and railways, and, since more women are employed in industry than ever before, into which less important industries labour is being attracted; and what steps he is taking to reverse this labour trend.

Yes. I am aware of the shortage of labour in some of the basic industries. Most of the increase in employment in the last 12 months has been in the manufacturing industries, particularly in engineering, which are not necessarily less important than the basic industries. My local offices are instructed to give special attention to vacancies in the more important industries, including those indicated by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take about workers in unlicensed residential establishments in view of the Report of the Catering Wages Commission.

My right hon. and learned Friend is arranging for discussions on these questions with the chairman of the Commission at an early date, but is not yet able to say when he will be in a position to make a further statement.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, in each of the last five years, employed on atomic energy research and on other forms of research, whose deferment was continued until they were no longer eligible for call-up for National Service.

The number of men given indefinite deferment for research and development work on atomic energy whose deferment has been continued until they have passed out of liability for National Service is as follows:—

In 1950	…	…	…	…	30
In 1951	…	…	…	…	12
In 1952	…	…	…	…	53
In 1953	…	…	…	…	61
In 1954	…	…	…	…	12

It is not possible to identify other deferments given specifically for research. The number of science and engineering graduates given deferment for work other than atomic energy who have passed out of liability is as follows:—

In 1950	…	…	…	…	77
In 1951	…	…	…	…	101
In 1952	…	…	…	…	129
In 1953	…	…	…	…	137
In 1954	…	…	…	…	66

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursery school places there are at present in Dundee; and what proportion this is of the children of nursery school age.

There are places for approximately 350 children, or about 5 per cent. of the children of nursery school age in Dundee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenders submitted to him by the county council of Ross and Cromarty for housing schemes are still pending.

All the tenders recently submitted by the county council have been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to minimise the dislocation caused in the schools due to the absence of children engaged on potato harvesting.

It is for each head teacher to take such steps to minimise dislocation as he considers appropriate to the special circumstances of his school, and I am satisfied that head teachers do all that they can in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, in view of the increased and increasing need for additional hospital accommodation in West Fife, he will make an early statement on the provision of a new hospital at Fod, near Dunfermline;(2) what priority in the provision of hospital accommodation is to be given to West Fife in the next five years.

With improvements now in hand at the two main Dunfermline hospitals, the existing facilities, together with the accommodation available for West Fife patients at Bridge of Earn Hospital, should provide a reasonable service for the area. No further major works are contemplated within the next five years. Suggestions for a new hospital at Fod were under consideration several years ago, but with so many other major projects of high priority I am afraid I cannot hold out any prospect that this scheme can be carried out in the foreseeable future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which areas off the coast of Scotland he institutes conservation measures governing fishing by British vessels, other than measures taken under international agreements.

1. Trawling is prohibited within three miles of low water mark off the whole of the coast of Scotland except the Solway Firth and the Pentland Firth, and in the waters scheduled to the Herring Fishery (Scotland) Act, 1889, which include the whole of the Firths of Clyde and Forth and a number of smaller bays. Trawling is also prohibited by byelaw made under the Act in the whole of the Moray Firth. Trawling by small boats is, however, permitted in Luce Bay on certain conditions from 1st September to 28th February and trawling for scientific purposes may be permitted in the prohibited areas under the written authority of the Secretary of State. 2. Seine net fishing for white fish is prohibited by byelaw made under the Sea Fisheries (Scotland) (Amendment) Act, 1885, within the exclusive fishery limits off the whole coast of Scotland except the Solway Firth and the Pentland Firth, and off the following parts of the coast where seining is permitted on conditions prescribed by byelaws: Luce Bay during the period 1st September to 28th February; Firth of Clyde; Shetland; and East Coast from Rattray Head in Aberdeenshire to Tantallon Castle in East Lothian, including the Firth of Tay outside the line Babbetness to Buddonness and the Firth of Forth outside the line Leith—Inchkeith—Methil. The exclusive fishery limits are drawn generally three miles from low water mark or from closing lines across bays at the point where they narrow to ten miles.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the archæological importance of Grime's Graves, Weeting, Norfolk; and whether he will make a statement as to his programme for further excavation and report thereon.

asked the Minister of Works what information he has on the excavations carried out in 1938 at Grime's Graves, Weeting, Norfolk; whether he will obtain and publish a report on them; and, in view of the importance and extent of this site, what steps he now proposes to take to promote or carry out further excavations.

These prehistoric flint mines have been in the care of my Department since 1931. Before the war excavations were carried out privately by a qualified archæologist. A report on his earlier excavations has been published in the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. I hope he will report on his later work. I have no immediate plans for further excavations, but I would consider proposals from qualified archæological societies or individuals willing to excavate at their own expense.

asked the Minister of Works whether, before reconstructing the plinth of the statue of the "Burghers of Calais" in the Victoria Tower Gardens, he will consider rearranging the figures in processional order, as described by the sculptor.

The evidence as to the sculptor's wishes is uncertain, but the existing grouping represents his final arrangement of the figures. In the circumstances, I think it best to leave the group as it is.

asked the Minister of Works for what reasons and for what periods each day the entrances to Hyde Park are closed.

The entrances to Hyde Park are closed from midnight until 5 a.m. each day. Closing the Park saves the cost of patrolling, lighting, etc.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a report available on the international conference on the peaceful uses of atomic energy to be held in Geneva on 8th to 20th August.

The conference is being held under the auspices of the United Nations Organisation. The proceedings of the conference will be reported in the Press and will be published in full.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the proposal of the United States Atomic Energy Commission to declassify a considerable amount of information, the Atomic Energy Authority will take similar steps; and to what extent it is intended to act in agreement.

Declassification is carried out by agreement between the Atomic Energy Authority and the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and any announcements will be made simultaneously.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that his Department instructed Northern Command on 7th July that the hut required by the British Legion at Wallsend was to be sold for £150, but that no information was given to the British Legion by 14th July; and when Northern Command will act on his instructions.

Headquarters, Northumbrian District wrote to the British Legion at Wallsend on 14th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange that all agricultural workers should complete their two weeks' annual training at a period to be agreed mutually between the commanding officer and the farmer concerned in view of the great inconvenience caused, especially on small farms, by the absence of their workers during certain selected summer months.

The main object of annual camp is to assemble the members of a unit to train together as a team. To achieve this, as many men as possible must attend camp during the fortnight fixed for their unit, and this consideration limits the extent to which we can offer alternative training periods. My right hon. Friend cannot, therefore, give any general undertaking in respect of agricultural or other workers, but commanding officers consider sympathetically any application to change dates of training on the grounds of hardship to a Reservist or his employer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what payment has so far been made under Articles I and IV of the Payments Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Turkish Republic, dated 17th January, 1955.

I regret to report that, so far as I am aware, no payments have yet been made under Articles I and IV of this Agreement. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Ankara has been instructed to take the matter up again with the Turkish authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date last year the ban on the export of copper wire to the East was lifted; and why it has now been reimposed.

On 16th August, in the case of exports to the Soviet bloc. The ban on copper wire has not been reimposed, but there are bans on the export to the Soviet bloc of copper wire rod, co-axial, multipair and submarine cable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Her Majesty's Government will not participate in the International Fair at Salonica this summer.

The Government do not as a rule organise national pavilions at overseas trade fairs. The 1954 Salonica Fair was an exception. Inquiries made earlier this year suggested that on this occasion there would be little support for a British pavilion from United Kingdom manufacturers or their Greek agents, and in the circumstances it was decided that the organisation of a national pavilion would not be justified. This decision does not, of course, prevent, nor should it discourage the exhibition of British products elsewhere in the Fair, nor does it mean that we do not attach importance to our exports to Greece.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage distribution of Canadian trades, both imports and exports, with the United Kingdom for the years 1953 and 1954, and for the first six months of 1955.

The following is the answer:

Imports into the United Kingdom from Canada as a percentage of total United Kingdom imports:
1953	…	9·1 per cent.
1954	…	8·1 per cent.
Jan.-June, 1955	…	8·8 per cent.

United Kingdom exports to Canada as a percentage of total United Kingdom exports:
1953	…	6·1 per cent.
1954	…	4·9 per cent.
Jan.-June, 1955	…	4·4 per cent.

Imports into Canada from the United Kingdom as percentage of total Canadian imports:
1953	10·3 per cent.
1954	9·6 per cent.
Jan.-March, 1955	8·6 per cent.

Imports into Canada from the United Kingdom as percentage of total Canadian imports:
1953	16·1 per cent.
1954	16·7 per cent.
Jan.-March, 1955	19·0 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government are taking to estimate the speed with which automation will displace productive workers in the engineering and other manufacturing industries; and whether he is aware that such developments taking place at a time when the rearmament programme is tailing off will necessitate large-scale industrial planning in order to maintain full employment.

The Government are taking a close interest in the greater use of automatic processes in industry. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is at present carrying out a study to discover the extent to which automatic processes have been and are likely to be introduced in industry. It is hoped that an interim report will be published in the autumn.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek the necessary powers to enable countervailing and anti-dumping duties to be imposed on horticultural produce.

As my hon. Friend is aware, I hope to introduce a Bill after the Summer Recess to permit the imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties. I cannot at this stage anticipate the detailed contents of this Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the rents charged to London Airport employees on the London Airport Estate at Cranford, Middlesex; and what complaints have been received from tenants that the rents are too high.

I understand the hon. Member is referring to property owned by the Airways Housing Trust. I am not responsible for this property but am putting the hon. Member in touch with the Trust.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimate he has made of the aggregate capacity of private and independent generating plant expressed KWI and to what extent this is working in parallel with the grid.

About 4½ million kilowatts. Information is not available about the extent to which this is working in parallel with the grid.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal has been produced from Saturday and Sunday working in the pits in the 12 months ended 30th June, 1955.

Twelve million tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much opencast coal has been marketed in each year since the National Coal Board took control of such operations; what part of such opencast coal was derived from Grade A agricultural land; and how many acres of such land were thereby lost and for what periods.

The following table shows the tonnage of opencast coal marketed, the percentage obtained from Class I agricultural land and the acreage of Class I land requisitioned between 1st April, 1952, and 30th March, 1955:

(a)	(b)
Opencast coal marketed	Percentage of (a) obtained from Class I land(*)	Acreage of Class I land requisitioned for opencast production
('000 tons)
1952 (April-December)
6,498	0·2	13
1953
13,471	0·2	171
1954
10,616	1·6	6
1955 (January-March)
2,048	1·8	59
32,633	0·9	249
* Land classified as Class I in the Land Utilisation Survey of Great Britain.

Thirteen acres of Class I land which were requisitioned for opencast operations in 1952 were handed over for agricultural treatment after 11½ months. The other Class I land requisitioned since 1st April, 1952, is still occupied by the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the percentages of weekly avoidable and unavoidable absenteeism for the latest available period; and what were the percentage figures for each working day in a typical week.

In the first half of 1955, the average absence percentages have been 3·94 voluntary and 8·54 involuntary. I regret that daily figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total number of skilled miners engaged on capital development work, separately, for the years 1946 to 1954; and to what extent the number is expected to increase.

It is estimated that the numbers of shifts worked on development work in the pits as distinct from other capital and special work at the collieries in each of the years 1946 to 1954 were approximately equivalent to the full-time employment of the following numbers of men:

1946	…	…	…	…	14,000
1947	…	…	…	…	16,000
1948	…	…	…	…	16,000
1949	…	…	…	…	17,000
1950	…	…	…	…	17,000
1951	…	…	…	…	18,000
1952	…	…	…	…	19,000
1953	…	…	…	…	20,000
1954	…	…	…	…	21,000

The increase is expected to continue during the next few years but no estimates for the increase can be given.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many extra miners al present rate of production he estimates would be required to make available an extra 10 million tons of coal per annum.

About 35,000, assuming the men could be made available at the collieries where they are needed and that productive capacity at those collieries could be increased to the necessary extent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the output per man-year for coalface workers in the years 1946 to 1954; what has been the total cost of all mining developments and of new machinery introduced during the same period; and what has been the approximate estimated improved coal output from this expenditure year by year.

The output of coalface workers per man-year has changed as follows:

					Tons
1946	…	…	…	…	647
1947	…	…	…	…	650
1948	…	…	…	…	675
1949	…	…	…	…	684
1950	…	…	…	…	708
1951	…	…	…	…	738
1952	…	…	…	…	730
1953	…	…	…	…	708
1953*	…	…	…	…	726
1954	…	…	…	…	737
* The definition of face workers was changed at the beginning of 1954. 708 tons is the figure for 1953 on the old and 726 on the new basis. The second week's paid holiday was introduced in 1953; in 1953 there were also Coronation holidays.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in what circumstances sub-lieutenants and other naval officers are permitted to resign the service; and by what authority the Royal Navy retains the services of naval officers who were entered through the Royal Naval College by their parents and who do not wish to make the Royal Navy a career.

Applications from naval officers to retire or resign are considered individually in the light of the needs of the Service and the nature of the reasons given. It is not possible to define in general terms the circumstances in which applications might be approved; these would differ greatly as between an officer who had just completed his training and one approaching the normal age of retirement.The authority to retain the services of officers derives from the Naval Discipline Act.

asked the Minister of Health the average waiting period for persons on the waiting list for beds in the Durham County Hospital and Dryburn Hospital, Durham; and how this compares with each year from 1951 to date.

The waiting period varies between different departments, and average figures have no significance.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons on the waiting lists for admission to the General Hospital and the Isolation Hospital, Chester-le-Street.

Thirty persons are awaiting admission to the General Hospital and thirteen are on the chest physician's waiting list for the Durham area for admission to the Isolation Hospital or wherever a vacancy first occurs in the tuberculosis beds allocated to the area.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for a telephone were still outstanding in Norwich to the latest convenient date; and how this figure compares with similar totals in each of the last four years.

The figures at the 31st March each year were as follows:

Year					Applications outstanding
1951	…	…	…	…	1,619
1952	…	…	…	…	1,537
1953	…	…	…	…	812
1954	…	…	…	…	645
1955	…	…	…	…	948

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will renew permission for Miss S. Antonius to remain in the United Kingdom after 12th July, 1955.

Miss Antonius has been given an extension of her permit until 1st September.