asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which areas off the coast of England and Wales he institutes conservation measures governing fishing by British vessels, other than measures taken under international agreements.

The sea fisheries committees, together with some river boards and harbour boards, cover between them all our coastal waters and their byelaws, made with my approval, contain various conservation measures.

When the Minister emphasises the word "all," does he include Scottish waters as well? Can he say whether all these regulations have been observed, or whether there has been any prosecution in respect of the breach of them?

I was speaking of England and Wales, excluding Scotland. I cannot say offhand what prosecutions there have been under the byelaws of the various sea fisheries committees.

When the Minister talks about conservation measures, does he include regulations about the size of the mesh? If so, will he see that those regulations are imposed on foreign fishermen as stringently as they are upon British fishermen?

Yes. What I said would cover regulations as to size of mesh made under the byelaws of the fisheries committees concerned and the river boards. As to foreign fishermen, each country is responsible for enforcing the international regulations on its own fishing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements are being made to celebrate, in October, the Tenth Anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and to bring a wider realisation of the value of the work of this organisation.

This is now being considered in consultation with a number of organisations having a special interest in the work of the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that adequate arrangements will be made to celebrate in this country the Tenth Anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation? Many of us feel that the value of the work done by this Organisation deserves still further recognition.

I agree with what my hon. Friend has said. We will do our very best to make this important occasion a worthy one.

Does the Minister appreciate that much of the fine work done by the Food and Agriculture Organisation is little known by the general public? If he undertakes to arrange celebrations on a scale that would enable us to put it over to the public in a non-party way, I feel that that would be in the general interest.

I agree. The United Kingdom National Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organisation now has the matter in hand in consultation with various public organisations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much home-grown wheat of the 1954 crop has been purchased by flour millers in comparison with the amount so used from the 1953 crop; and if he is satisfied that farmers have readily through the year been able to find a market for all the sound wheat offered for sale.

Flour millers purchased 1.378,000 tons of home-grown wheat of the 1954 crop and 1,644,000 tons from the 1953 crop. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes, Sir."

Can the Minister say how much home-grown grain was dumped abroad and at what cost to the Treasury?

No, I certainly cannot. I do not think that that arises from this Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that Mr. Blaxley, tenant of what remains of Eastfield Farm, Rushton, Northamptonshire, has had to quit SO acres of his farm and will shortly have to quit the remaining 60 acres in order to allow ironstone working, and that he is unable to get possession of Langton Farm, Isham, which he has bought to replace Eastfield Farm; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid the hardship caused to farmers by dispossession for ironstone working and to assist them to farm elsewhere.

I am aware of the facts of this case. I understand that the tenant is being required to give up the land in accordance with the terms of his tenancy agreement. I have no powers that would enable me to avoid any hardship caused in such cases or to assist those concerned to farm elsewhere.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this matter generally and see whether he can do anything to help these farmers who are being turned out on a rather large scale for the purpose of ironstone working?

I will certainly look into the matter, as the hon. and learned Member suggests, but I think he would agree that in most cases there were definite provisions in the lease to cover the eventuality of the land being required for ironstone working.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many new fishing vessels are being built under the subsidy arrangements of the White Fish Authority; how the distribution runs among the fishing ports; and whether he is satisfied that all ports from which applications for grants have been received are now being effectively supplied with vessels.

The White Fish Authority has approved applications for grant on 80 near-and middle-water trawlers. To state their distribution among the ports involves giving a number of figures, and, with permission, I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Rebuilding is proceeding well at some ports, but I hope to see many more applications for grant from most of the major ports before the end of the period for which grants are available. In addition to near-and middle-water trawlers, the Authority has approved applications for grant on 192 inshore vessels and 140 engines for inshore boats.

May I have an assurance that my right hon. Friend will take as much interest in North Shields, in spite of the bad temper of the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shin-well)? Will he bear in mind that the fishing industry is of equal importance to this country and to the population as the mining industry, and that we want our full share of support?

I assure my hon. Friend that my interest in North Shields is unlimited.

Of that very satisfactory number of new vessels built under the subsidy from the White Fish Authority, how many are oil-burning and how many are coal-burning? Is the White Fish Authority taking any steps to en-that all those boats are oil-burning; and against coal-burning ships?

I speak without having the figures before me, but I should think that all those boats are oil burning; and probably most of them diesel.

Thank you.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is the practice of his Department, when envelopes are in use for the first time, to send them out with economy labels containing the recipient's name and address affixed thereto; and whether, in the interests of economy, he will take steps to stop such a practice.

The standard practice of my Department is that economy labels should be used only with old envelopes or ungummed new ones.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, on the basis of preliminary reports, he will make a statement about the prospects of this year's harvest.

The latest reports are for 1st July. These showed that the condition of the crops in England and Wales was then generally satisfactory. The yield per acre of corn crops was estimated to be about equal to the average of the last ten years, but it was too early to estimate the probable yields of root crops. I expect the next reports, for 1st August, to show a continuation of good prospects for the harvest in view of the recent fine weather, which we must all hope will last over the harvesting period.

Has my right hon. Friend had no report on the hay crop?

Yes, I have had a good many reports. I am glad to say that an excellent lot of hay seems to have been got in in most parts of the country. That is just what we wanted, of course, after the exceptionally bad weather of last winter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the fact that his Department has identified lucerne eelworm in a crop growing at Deal Hall, Burnham-on-Crouch, he is aware that the seed was imported from France; and if he will take steps to prevent the further import of affected seed.

Two small patches of lucerne eelworm were found in a field on this farm by my officers, who were informed that the seed had been imported from France. It is thought that lucerne eelworm can be seed-borne, but this cannot be confirmed pending further investigation, which is in hand. The question of imposing health restrictions on imported seed is under consideration.

Will my right hon. Friend consider sending one of the officers of his Department over to France or, possibly, Hungary to study the control of this disease?

I will take every step that seems advisable. We ought to allow the present investigation to go a bit further before we decide what steps will be necessary; but I assure my hon. Friend that I am treating this matter seriously.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the rising costs of potatoes, gas, electricity and frying oil are making it difficult for the fish and chip industry of this country to carry on; and, in view of the importance of preserving the industry from the point of view of public amenity and the ensuring of adequate outlets for landings of British fish, what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Any recent decline in sales I would expect in the main to be due to normal seasonal factors. I do not consider any action by me is called for or would be useful.

Is the Minister aware that quite a large number of these shops are closing down in Leicester and the Midlands, costs having gone up by 500 per cent. since 1947? As these shops provide a stable food for a large number of people, particularly pensioners and others, will the Minister do something about protecting the interests of the people by reducing the costs?

I was not aware of the information that the hon. Member mentions about Leicester, but I cannot accept his computation that raw materials generally for the fish fryers have gone up by 500 per cent. since 1947.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the estimated yield of grass per acre in 1952, 1953, and 1954, from permanent pasture and leys, respectively.

Yields from either temporary or permanent grass are extremely difficult to measure, and show enormously wide variations from farm to farm. I regret, therefore, that the information asked for is not available. My hon. Friend will agree, I am sure, that under favourable conditions and with good management, leys are generally more productive than permanent pasture, and are therefore greatly to be encouraged.

I am rather surprised at that answer. In view of the fact that grass is the most important crop we grow, can he put some of his statisticians on to getting this information for us for a future date?

I entirely agree that grass is an important crop. In fact, it is one of our most valuable agricultural assets. If my hon. Friend knows of a quick way of calculating the yield of grassland, I would be grateful if he would give me details.

There are certain ways of collecting the information, and I will with pleasure give to my right hon. Friend the address of the people concerned.

With the proviso that they are accurate ways.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the estimated yield of hay per acre in 1952, 1953, and 1954, from permanent pasture and leys, respectively.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does my right hon. Friend have figures of the yield from the better hay crops?

The figures of temporary grass, which would be the best, are: In 1952, 31 cwt.; 1953, 32 cwt.; 1954, 29 cwt.; the drop being due, of course, to the exceptionally bad weather. I hope very much that there will be a further increase in the making of sileage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the herring fishing boats of North Shields were able to sail following the ban imposed by the Herring Board.

The herring boats were able to sail from 9 a.m. on Saturday last.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this hold-up was partly due to the fact that the Herring Board, for one reason or another, seems to be short of capital? Can he exercise as much pressure on the Chancellor as the Minister of Fuel and Power, so that the fishing interests are not impeded by lack of capital? And can I help him in that?

Perhaps the first thing my hon. Friend would do to help me is clarify her question. I do not quite follow her reasoning. The reason for this temporary ban was the exceptionally heavy landings of herring at most of the ports and the fact that a large proportion of the herring landed was not suitable for the fresh market or for pickle curing, and, therefore, had to go for the oil and meal factories, which were temporarily glutted.

Lack of capital.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that perhaps what was in the mind of my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) was that capital for producing freezing equipment might be useful—

Hear, hear.

—and that if that equipment were produced the cost would be infinitesimal compared with the prices being paid for coal at this time?

Hear, hear.

I agree with my hon. Friend to this extent, that I think that freezing is one of the matters concerning the fishing industry to which it is right that we should give a very great deal of attention. We are doing that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the laying capacity of the British hen has improved since 1939.

I am advised that an average increase of 15 eggs per hen since the period immediately before the war would be a fair inference from such data as are available.

Could my right hon. Friend tell us how that satisfactory improvement in performance compares with comparable performances in Holland and Denmark, from which we buy eggs?

No, I am sorry I cannot give that information offhand. If we have that information available, I will see that it is given to my hon. Friend. The improvement has been due, of course, to more successful breeding and to better management, and I hope we have not reached the end of that progress.

On a point of order. I apologise, Mr. Speaker, for raising this matter, but last week I put down a Question to the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about the increased cost of coal to the white fish industry and I asked him in a supplementary question whether if he could give us a similar assurance about the herring fishing industry. The Minister suggested that I should put a Question down, and I did so, naturally, to the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is responsible for the herring fishing industry. I was informed last week that the Question had been transferred to the right hon. Gentleman, and I see that it is on the Paper for tomorrow as No. 131, so that there is no hope that it will be orally answered.

This is a rather serious matter, because it affects the whole of the herring fishing industry. The drifters are working their way down the East Coast, and in October, before the House reassembles, the great East Anglian herring fishery will be in full activity. The owners of drifters, especially of coal-burning vessels, are very concerned about their increased costs. I am asking if it would be possible for the Minister or the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to make a statement on this subject after Questions.

Not today, anyhow. I was quite unaware of the facts that the hon. Member has narrated to me. I am sorry for him in the predicament in which he finds himself, but it has nothing to do with me. There is no Question on the Paper about that today. I do not know about tomorrow.

Is it not a little unusual for a Question to be transferred in that manner? Perhaps I am unaware of the procedure—

The hon. Member is.

Due modesty is not a bad trait. Is it not a little unusual for a Question to be transferred in that way, especially as there are only 17 Questions to my right hon. Friend today, whereas the hon. Member's Question is No. 131 tomorrow?

I am sorry, but I cannot do anything about it. It has nothing to do with me.

Further to the point of order. Can the Minister make a statement today or tomorrow?

It is not a question of order, whether he can or not. The Minister, no doubt, has heard what has been said. It is not a matter for me, and it is not a point of order.

Ring up the Minister.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it has now been possible for the Forestry Commission to arrange to collect rates due to local authorities from their employees at the same time as they now collect rents due to the Commission.

I regret that this would not be practicable.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the local authorities wish it, the unions wish it and the employers wish it? Will he look at the matter again?

When my hon. Friend put the Question down, I had another look at the matter, but the difficulty is that the Forestry Commission has 3,500 tenancies, which are very much scattered all over the country and over a very large number of different local authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Forestry Commission has now been able to make arrangements for assisting occupiers of properties adjoining the Commission's plantations to burn heather in the neighbourhood of those plantations.

In March last the Commissioners decided, as a trial in certain areas, to offer to assist neighbouring occupiers by burning on land adjoining Commission plantations.

May I ask the Minister to encourage the Commission to be a little more generous and more neighbourly, because this protects the Commission's property as well as that of the occupiers?

I should like to assure my hon. Friend that the Commission takes a very conscientious view of its responsibilities in this matter. It sees the advantages to the Commission, but of course it is also conscious of the risk it might run of claims for damage from third parties. I am sure that it gives consideration to all these questions.

If the experiment goes well, will the Commission try to extend it as soon as possible?

I think that would be the general policy so far as trials are successful, to test the position in other places and to extend it if it were found possible to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how far it is the practice of the Forestry Commission to provide a free issue of dustbins for use by their tenants.

Practice hitherto has varied, but dustbins are now to be provided free for all tenants of Forestry Commission houses where there is an organised collection of refuse.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply?

Does the Minister not think that this was a silly Question to put down and with which to take up the time of the House?

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases for damages against National Health Service doctors and Hospital Management Committees brought in the last financial year; and in how many cases damages were secured.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the anxiety of local authorities responsible for the implementation of the Sections of the National Assistance Act concerned with the welfare of handicapped persons in respect of the high and increasing cost of these services; and whether he will consider making available to these authorities financial grants to ensure that no disabled person suffers by the failure to provide these statutory services.

The question of provision from Exchequer funds for welfare services for disabled persons is one of the matters under review by the Committee now sitting under the Chairmanship of Lord Piercy. Until the Committee's recommendations have been received my right hon. Friend could not usefully consider the matter.

Is the hon. Lady aware of the very considerable strain on local authorities of implementing this very necessary service, which is one which, I know, her right hon. Friend is anxious that they should undertake? Unless there is some alleviation of the financial burden, there will be a long-continued delay in putting this service into operation. Will she ask her right hon. Friend to give this matter his early consideration?

I think it is a measure of the importance we attach to it that it is at the moment part of the subject of a survey by a very important committee. Obviously, I cannot anticipate its findings.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware of the high incidence of pleural effusion and progressive primary tuberculosis lesions in young Irish girls who immigrate to Britain, and who are free from tuberculosis on entry; and what action he proposes to take to give them protection against this disease;

(2) whether he has noted the high incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in the Irish-born population of London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Coventry; whether he is aware of the fact that they become infected in Britain in most cases; what figures are available on this problem; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of certain studies which have been made on these subjects, but no comprehensive statistical information is available about the condition of immigrants on entry or about the time of infection. Nor could such information be obtained without the imposition of fresh restrictions and controls out of proportion to the danger to public health. The same protective, preventive and treatment services are available to these as to other residents in this country.

Will the Minister agree that that answer is not good enough in reality, because this is a very grievous problem which increases with the increasing number of people entering not only from Ireland but from the West Indies and from Africa, many of whom come from agrarian areas and are negative reactors and have no immunity from tuberculosis when they enter this country? Would he therefore not at least agree to ask, say, the Irish Ministry of Health to assist in seeing that they are skin-tested or given B.C.G. vaccine treatment before coming here? If many do not then receive that treatment, will he ensure that it will be given them when they come here?

On the question of the size of the problem, I would agree that it is, of course, a problem, although I should not like to be thought to agree with all the words that the hon. Gentleman has used. I was advised about two years ago that the figures revealed by the inquiry did not indicate a serious menace to the health of this country. If there is anything useful in the matter I can do with the Irish authorities, of course, I will do it, and I should like to consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for what he has just said, may I say that I am sure that if he consults the Irish authorities he will see that the problem is specifically serious, not to us here particularly but to Irish young men and women who contract tuberculosis after coming here?

I hope that I can make it clear that I do not want anything that I have said to be taken as suggesting that the Eire authorities are not deeply concerned about this matter. I am sure that they are.

Can the Minister say whether these immigrants are informed on landing of the services that are available? I agree that they are available to them, as to others, but do they know?

I should have thought that everybody knows now that these services in this country are freely available to everybody without restriction. I should have thought that even newcomers are aware of that, but if there is any gap in that respect I will certainly look into the matter.

Is there any real basis for these somewhat startling allegations made in respect of one particular form of immigrant from one particular country?

There has been a great deal of discussion of this matter in the scientific papers, in the "Lancet" and papers published by the Eire Health Department and so on. Beyond question the figures are, as I called them, a problem, but I should like to make it clear to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) that I do not accept all the statements that have been made by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross).

asked the Minister of Health how many beds are allocated for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in the North-West Metropolitan Region; and how many of these beds are occupied by immigrants from Irish rural areas.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 2,568: I regret that the information asked for in the second part is not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the number of beds for the treatment of tuberculosis occupied in the North-West Metropolitan Region by Irish immigrants, most of whom come from agrarian areas and are in a young age group, is more than the sum total of all beds occupied by foreigners from all over the world? Does not that high-light the fact that the problem is serious?

The hon. Member seems to be better informed than I am. That may well be so, and perhaps he would like to tell me the source of his information.

In view of the request made and the fact that I then have the Adjournment, I will give the information on Wednesday night.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mr. A. Spall, 3, Coronation Cottages, Cleethorpes, an ex-naval pensioner, sent his invalid's motor vehicle for minor repairs to the official repair depot last December, and that the repairs have not yet been done; and if he will give instructions that such minor repairs may be done at any local garage, and so avoid ex-Service men being deprived of their motor vehicles for such long periods.

Existing arrange-meets provide for any minor repairs to be undertaken by local garages, but the repairs needed in this case were extensive. It was, therefore, necessary for them to be done by a suitable approved firm. The unusual delay has been due in part to labour shortage and in part to difficulty in getting certain spare parts. In view of the delay I am arranging for a suitable replacement machine to be supplied at once.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for the action that he has taken, may I ask him, on the general principle, whether he would not allow these repairs to be done much more locally? This carriage had to be sent from Cleethorpes to Skegness, a distance of 30 miles, whereas at places like Cleethorpes and Grimsby there must be good garages where the work could be done without depriving an ex-Service man of his vehicle.

There seems to be something of a misapprehension in my hon. Friend's Question. He refers to minor repairs and, as I made clear, they were extensive repairs. If they are minor repairs, they can and should be done locally, but any larger repairs must clearly be done by approved firms.

asked the Minister of Health how many vacancies there are for district nursing staff in Worcestershire.

I am informed that the number of vacancies is nine.

asked the Minister of Health what discussions are taking place with the United States Government with a view to reciprocal arrangements being made for the provision of medical or hospital treatment for British subjects visiting the United States of America.

No discussions are taking place, since the health services of the United States do not offer any suitable common basis for reciprocal arrangements.

Is it not a little out of balance that the large number of American visitors to this country, whom we all warmly welcome, receive these advantages, whereas the smaller number of British visitors to America do not have comparable facilities? Would it not be possible to have discussions with the object of reviewing the matter?

It may be difficult. If one is to have reciprocal arrangements, one must have something that one can be reciprocal with. Medical and hospital treatment in the United States are on a private footing. While that position remains it is a little difficult to do anything.

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has for providing financial assistance for British subjects who have occasion to receive medical or hospital treatment when visiting foreign countries with whom no reciprocal arrangements exist complementary to the British Health Service.

It is the Government's policy wherever possible to negotiate reciprocal arrangements with foreign countries in respect of social services, including medical care; but it would not be practicable to refund directly the cost of medical treatment received abroad by people normally living in this country.

Is it not a little unfair that the British taxpayer has to bear the cost of treatment afforded to foreign visitors? Is there no hope of persuading more countries to follow the excellent lead that we have given in this respect?

Given by a Labour Government.

Somebody has to lead in this matter. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I have not the power under the Acts to carry out the suggestions made in my hon. Friend's Question and, as I think the House would agree, it would be impossible to use public money for such a purpose because it would not be possible to check the standard of treatment given or whether the charges made were reasonable. But as countries come to have systems which are even remotely comparable with ours, so can we begin to have reciprocal arrangements.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have recently sent him particulars of cases relating to British seamen who have found it necessary to have medical and surgical treatment in foreign ports and have had to pay for it despite the fact that they are taxpayers and ratepayers in this country? Will the right hon. Gentleman see whether it is possible to make arrangements for captains of foreign-going vessels to meet the cost of such treatment in foreign countries and be refunded when they return to this country?

I will certainly look at the cases which the hon. Member has in mind, but I am still governed by the fact that under the Act, I have no such powers as are suggested.

Has my right hon. Friend seen a list of interim agreements arrived at by all the nations which form the Council of Europe, not only in relation to old-age pensions but to sickness and the facilities made available.in each of those fifteen countries? Do they not go a long way towards bringing about exactly what my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott), is asking for and what my right hon. Friend is dealing with in his replies?

I want to see these reciprocal arrangements made, as I am sure everybody does. We have a great number already, for example, in the case of insurance, which in many ways is a similar problem. We have arrangements with some countries for medical care. Where there is any arrangement in the country concerned which enables us to come to an agreement, I am more than happy to do so, but such arrangements cannot be wholly one-sided.

asked the Minister of Health the cost to the National Health Service last year of supplying medicine bottles; and whether he will institute a system of returnable deposits to effect economy.

Chemists are remunerated for supplying all containers, including medicine bottles, by a flat rate payment for each prescription dispensed. The approximate cost in England and Wales during 1954 was £1,138,000. A system of returnable deposits has often been considered, but not thought practicable.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the growing practice of some insurance companies who, without requiring medical evidence, insure the lives of old-age pensioners who at the time are suffering from diseases which invalidate the claim; and if in these circumstances he will take steps to relieve medical practitioners from the duty of supplying insurance companies with certificates of the cause of death.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any statutory obligation upon medical practitioners to supply insurance companies with certificates of the cause of death.

Do I understand the hon. Lady to say now that there is no statutory obligation on the medical practitioner to supply certificates setting out the cause of death in cases like this?

So far as statutory obligations are concerned, the doctor has to notify the registrar of deaths and to inform the near relatives or a person present at the death that he has done so in the prescribed form of death certificate. Any obligation he may have to supply a certificate to the insurance company is a matter for arrangement between the doctor and the insurance company and does not come under statutory obligation.

asked the Minister of Health why the number of patients on National Health Service doctors' lists in the London area exceeds the population of London; and what action he will take to ensure more accurate records and less waste in paying capitation fees to doctors.

I am informed that the number of patients on doctors' lists in London is not, in fact, in excess of the population, but it is certainly very near to it and there is a good deal of inflation in these lists. This does not affect the cost to the Exchequer, but I am concerned about the problem and am reviewing the present arrangements.

In order to check this further example of inflation under the present Government, is the right hon. Gentleman considering the establishment of a national registration index which is about the only way of making sure that two doctors are not being paid for the same patient?

Inflation of this nature in doctors' lists does not add to the cost on the Exchequer. That is not done on a patient basis but on the number of doctors there are in the scheme. In reply to the hon. and gallant Member's quip, I should say that inflation was a very great deal worse in this and all other respects under the Socialist Administration. The index is the main matter I am considering, which perhaps might prove to be the solution.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent, and why, the bulk purchase of medical equipment by his Department for resale to hospitals is declining.

The amount of medical equipment bulk purchased for supply to hospitals has not declined at all. It does fluctuate slightly from year to year, according to the demand.

Is the Minister aware that there are a great many complaints at the moment from hospital authorities which apply to his Department for apparatus and are told to refer direct to the manufacturers? Will he inquire into the situation, because there does seem to be a rising number of complaints by hospital authorities which are unable to get equipment which they were getting, for example, last year?

I am always ready to consider anything which hon. Members draw to my attention, and perhaps the hon. Member will do that. However, the tendency is not downwards. Over the last few years it has been upwards.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken by his Department to prevent the conduct of medical experiments with harmful effects on the patients concerned.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 14th February which has been brought to the notice of the responsible officers of hospital boards.

Will the Minister ask his officers and the Medical Research Council to keep a continuous watch on this matter? Is he aware that there are still occasional reports in the medical Press of experiments with new drugs that are known to have harmful effects on the patients concerned? Will he, therefore, ask those who are nationally responsible for this research to bear that in mind and put a check on those who perhaps are going a little too far in these matters?

Following an exchange which we had in the House, I arranged for this matter to be brought to the notice of secretaries and senior administrative medical officers of the Regional hospital boards and the secretaries of boards of governors. They were given a copy of a confidential memorandum issued by the Medical Research Council to members of its staff who are engaged in any research of this kind. Therefore, I think that the situation has been covered. If the matter needs following up, I will see that that is done.

asked the Minister of Health the cost to the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board of the convalescent treatment by contractual arrangement for 1954–55 in lieu of beds available in the region.

The answer is £25,203.

Will my right hon. Friend explain why his predecessor bought or acquired the Prudhoe Memorial Nursing Home and why my right hon. Friend is allowing that building to stand unoccupied and derelict and deteriorating? Is not this the most absurd method of finance? Would it not be better to put the Prudhoe Memorial Nursing Home into operation? Would my right hon. Friend kindly explain why the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board has no beds for convalescents and why we have to send our patients out? Is not this a very bad administrative arrangement indeed?

I should be delighted to explain some, indeed I hope all, these matters to my hon. Friend, but they do not arise from this Question.

asked the Minister of Health what administrative action he has taken to ensure that war pensioners requiring hospital treatment do not lose the priorities that were previously afforded in special Ministry of Pensions hospitals.

Special hospitals for war pensioners have so far continued to be administered directly by my Department and war pensioners have continued to have first call on their services. Where units in other hospitals have been transferred to the administration of the local hospital authority, I have required the same priority to be maintained, and I shall do so if and where whole hospitals are transferred in the future. In addition, as my hon. Friend will know, since August, 1953, war pensioners requiring treatment for their accepted disability have enjoyed priority at all National Health Service Hospitals, subject only to the needs of emergency and other urgent cases.

Does my right hon. Friend think that the appointment by regional hospital boards of persons known to the ex-Service world, particularly perhaps to members of the British Legion or other responsible organisations, would give confidence to the ex-Service men that these priorities have been carried out?

I am sure these priorities are being carried out. I think perhaps it will meet the point my hon. Friend has in mind to say that, if and when these hospitals come into the ordinary stream of hospital administration, we shall take care to see that, where appropriate, some members of the committees are representatives of the bodies concerned with the welfare of ex-Service men.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now able to make a statement concerning the delay in the phase three re-building at Stoney Stanton Road Hospital, Coventry; and what is the present position.

Some progress has been made on the contracts referred to in the answer I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 25th April. Revised plans for Item No. 2, the kitchen, dining and clinical services block, have been received and approved and tenders were due to be received at the board's offices today. The board's amended proposals for Item No. 4, adaptations to provide additional wards, have been agreed in principle and Item No. 7, the adaptation of the disused boiler house to provide engineers' workshop and stores, has been approved. No further progress has been made with regard to Item No. 5, which is adaptations to the out-patient department, and Item No. 6, the new dental department.

Is the Minister now saying that real progress is at last being made with the new ward? Is he aware that this is the most urgent need in Coventry, and would he make it quite clear?

Yes. There are still two items, Item 5 and Item 6, on which we have made no progress. I should like to make it clear that the delay in those items does not mean the board cannot go ahead, as indeed it should, with the other items which form phase three of this particular scheme.

asked the Minister of Health how far the acceptance of student nurses depends on the resource and decision of hospital matrons; and, in view of the easier position in respect of the number of nurses and student nurses in some hospitals compared with others in the same region, what steps are taken by group or regional hospital authorities to encourage the distribution of student nurses according to hospital needs.

The acceptance of student nurses for training is very largely at the discretion of the hospital matrons, who are in the best position to judge the suitability of candidates. Regional hospital boards can promote a more even distribution of nursing staff by assisting in the organisation of local recruitment campaigns and by limiting the approved establishments of the more fortunately placed hospitals.

Is the hon. Lady aware that, in spite of all she said—and I appreciate it—in many hospitals more or less adjacent to each other the staff is very badly distributed in the matter of student nurses and, as a result, some hospitals have a fair number of staff and in others there are chronic shortages? Could not something more be done to secure a fair distribution of student nurses?

I appreciate that the nursing establishments of the teaching hospitals are generally very favourably placed compared with other general hospitals, but the demands on nursing staffs are heavier in the teaching hospitals. We have a great deal of co-operation from the vast majority of the teaching hospitals in seconding their staff, particularly to help us out in staffing sanatoria. I am quite sure this must be done by cooperation between the boards of the hospitals rather than by compulsion.

Will the hon. Lady encourage it?

Certainly. We do everything we can.

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many mentally defective children were admitted into appropriate institutions in 1954; how many are now awaiting admission; what are the proposals or plans for increasing accommodation for mental defectives; to what extent there is a shortage of nursing and other staff; and what is the estimated number of mentally defective or retarded children who are daily attending from their homes special schools or institutions.

Figures in age groups for 1954 are not yet available, but the number of children admitted in 1953 was 1,311. Children awaiting admission at the end of 1954 totalled 3,475, of whom 2,086 were urgent cases. Plans for more hospital beds so far approved include some 7,000 beds for mental defectives of all ages. There is an estimated shortage of approximately 2,000 nurses and some 70 doctors. At the end of 1954 7,150 mentally defective children were attending occupation and industrial centres daily from their homes, and I understand that 15,635 educationally subnormal children were attending special schools as day pupils.

Is the Minister aware, in view of these still serious figures, that a very great burden rests on many families, causing sometimes tragic conditions in the home? What is he doing to expedite the supply of both nurses and hospitals for this unfortunate type of patient? Might I also ask him what has been done particularly in regard to the special schools mentioned in the latter part of my Question? Has any attention been paid to that?

The query about the special schools should more appropriately be put down to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education. As far as the first part of the Question is concerned, we are concentrating deliberately on this shortage which is most serious in the whole of the field of the National Health Service, and all our publicity drives and the new campaign we are having this autumn will be particularly directed towards the mental field.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many cases of children whose removal to some home or institution is urgently desirable from every point of view, but that there is no vacancy for them and the parents very often cannot afford to pay to go to a private institution? Is there any provision for financial help for these people while such children are awaiting a vacancy?

I think the best method of dealing with the case which my hon. Friend has in mind is for the local authority to use the powers given under the circular to arrange short-term care for the child so as to enable the mother to go on holiday and have a rest, thus relieving the burden of the waiting period until a place can be found for the child.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the official proposal made by Mr. Cabot Lodge in the United Nations General Assembly, that a scientific inquiry should be made by the United Nations into the dangers of radio-activity resulting from the test explosion of nuclear bombs, he will propose the suspension by all governments of such tests for the period of one year while the inquiry is made.

No, Sir.

Now that the Russian Government have officially proposed the suspension of the tests, would not it be much wiser for the Government to agree to it for at least a year while scientific inquiries are made? Why cannot we agree? Is it because we wish to test the hydrogen bomb ourselves? If so, would it not be much more in the spirit of the Geneva Conference to hold it up?

If the right hon. Gentleman looks at the Russian proposal of 10th May in the Disarmament Conference, he will see that the Russians do not propose that there should be this suspension of atomic and nuclear test explosions as an isolated act. They suggest that the suspension of the tests should form an early part of a disarmament agreement, which is an entirely different proposal from that of the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with a view to facilitating the acquisition of scientific knowledge on radiation by both official and unofficial agencies, Her Majesty's Government will now consult with the other Governments concerned on the cessation of all nuclear tests until such scientific knowledge is obtained.

No, Sir. I am advised that the cessation of nuclear tests would be of no assistance to scientific research into the problems of radiation. As I told the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 20th July, our policy is to work for an international disarmament agreement covering conventional and nuclear armaments.

Does the Minister's reply mean that at the forthcoming meeting of the United Nations Disarmament Commission the question of banning tests will be considered? May I ask the Minister whether he is aware of the continuous evidence being produced by official as well as unofficial agencies, culminating in a report of an international medical commission, I think last week, on the dangers of radio-activity? Does not he consider the matter to be urgent?

As the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, the Medical Research Council is going into this whole question and the result of this examination will be laid before Parliament and the public. So far as our existing information goes, it is based on the statement by Sir John Cockcroft on 20th April to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee that:

"The level of radioactive contamination in the world produced by all the atomic bomb explosions and peaceful atomic energy activities is at present so low that it should not cause any anxiety."

Can the Minister at least undertake that this matter will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting in September? Will he not at least agree to discuss it?

Everything relevant to disarmament will no doubt be discussed at the forthcoming meeting.

Including this?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will seek an agreed solution of the German problem at the Four-Power talks through the admission of Germany and all ex-enemy European States to the United Nations, implementing the provisions of Articles 52 and 53 of the Charter relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, and making the fullest use of the Economic Committee for Europe of the United Nations to promote intra-European trade and economic development.

As the hon. Member is aware, the problems of Germany and of European security have been discussed at Geneva and referred for further study to the four Foreign Ministers.

Is the Minister aware that in the discussions at Geneva and in the directive to the Foreign Ministers, apart from the reference of disarmament questions to the sub-committee of the United Nations, no attempt whatever was made to use the machinery or obligations of the United Nations Charter in order to solve these issues? Would not the deadlock be broken were the Government to make a serious attempt to find a solution based on implementing the relevant obligations of the Charter?

Everything done by Her Majesty's Government in the field of foreign affairs is in full accordance with their obligations under the United Nations Charter. I do not think it lies in the mouth of the hon. Gentleman to say that at Geneva an attempt was not made to settle the German problem. It is the cardinal question in the division of Europe and hence of the world today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what warships Her Majesty's Government have agreed to transfer to Egypt.

Her Majesty's Government agreed on 21st of May to sell two "Z" class destroyers to Egypt. The Egyptian authorities have since paid for these vessels and are making the necessary arrangements for a refit in this country.

If it is the case that we do not sell arms to those who may turn them against us, can my right hon. Friend say whether we should delay transferring those vessels until we have had satisfaction for and settlement of the Aqaba Gulf incident?

No, Sir. But I can offer this much consolation to my hon. Friend; the refit will take at least several months and, possibly, a year.

While the transfer may be delayed as the right hon. Gentleman has intimated, can we have some assurance that these warships will in no circumstances be used against British ships engaged in open and lawful trading operations in the Canal?

As the right hon. Gentleman well knows, we are still applying the policy laid down in the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 to provide a limited quantity of arms to Middle Eastern States for their legitimate self-defence—

Answer the question.

—and we have also recently released two similar destroyers to Israel.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what public statement has been made about this transfer of ships and whether an undertaking was not given to the House, in view of the similarity of this incident with earlier incidents, that before any further transfer took place, an announcement should be made from the Government Dispatch Box? Has that undertaking been kept?

So far as I am aware, Her Majesty's Government have acted with complete propriety in this matter in informing the House of Commons in answer to this Question. There has been no secrecy about this.

Further to that answer, does the right hon. Gentleman really think it in conformity with the spirit of the undertaking that a transfer agreed in May should be announced in response to a Question on 25th July? Is not there here some attempt at concealment?

There has been no, attempt at concealment whatsoever.

In that case—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—I regret that I must insist on this point. An undertaking was given to the House that an announcement would be made. May I ask the Minister why two months have gone by before any announcement has been made, in view of the fact that the Egyptians have been firing on British ships and we are still engaged in transferring them?

I am unaware of the undertaking to which the hon. Gentleman refers. So far as this transfer and release is concerned, I am not aware of any impropriety on the part of the Government.

Would my right hon. Friend consider very carefully before any transfers of any warlike equipment are made from this country to any State which considers itself in a state of war with any other State?

Of course we go into these matters extremely carefully before any releases are made. We seek to preserve a balance and, in the case of these destroyers, we have preserved a balance. We regard it as important from the point of view of preserving a balance, to keep these arms deliveries, so far as possible, within our own hands, and not let them get into the hands of possibly irresponsible Governments of other countries.

Is there not a point in the hon. Gentleman's Question? Egypt is in a declared state of war with another country, as are some other countries. Egypt has fired on our ships. Is it not utterly inappropriate that we should be supplying warships, and other warlike weapons, to a country which is in a state of war and which has been firing on our ships?

I am astonished at the right hon. Gentleman's question, considering that we are operating both the spirit and the letter of that policy as laid down in the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 of which he himself was a signatory.

The Tripartite Treaty was before my period of office. In any case, is not the right hon. Gentleman riding off on an irrelevant issue? What has the Tripartite Treaty to do with this? The point I am putting to the right hon. Gentleman, and the one which was put by his hon. Friend, is that Egypt is in a state of war. Surely, we should not supply warships to a country which is in a state of war of its own volition, and, secondly, which has been firing on British ships? What are the Government doing in supplying warships so that they may fire on British ships again?

The right hon. Gentleman asked me what the Tripartite Declaration has to do with it; I will tell him. It provides that we shall supply limited quantities of arms to Middle Eastern States for their legitimate self-defence. That is precisely—

What self-defence is there in firing on British ships?

If the hon. Gentleman will be civil enough to allow me to answer, that is precisely the policy which Her Majesty's Government have followed and will continue to follow.