asked the Minister of Education whether he will now make a statement on the timing of the introduction of a three-year course for students in training colleges for teachers in view of the strong support for such a course existing among educationists, and in view of the desirability that children should not be deprived of the advantage of being taught by teachers of improved quality.

No, Sir. But I have asked the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers to advise me on a number of factors which will have to be considered before I reach any decision on this matter.

Is the Minister aware that Sir Frederick Mander has suggested that the introduction of the three-year course should be synchronised with the reduction in the size of classes, and that Dr. Jeffery thinks that the three-year course should be a reality in progress of establishment by 1960? Should not the right hon. Gentleman have a considered plan?

There are many eminent gentlemen who believe that a three-year course would be a good thing, and naturally one agrees with them; but there are also a number of practical considerations, and on those I am of the opinion that the best thing I can do is to get the advice of my Council. When I have got that, I will see what we can do.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the difficulty of maintaining the supply of full-trained youth leaders; and if he will state his policy on the future pattern of the Youth Service.

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend intends to review policy in consultation with the various bodies that are concerned.

Does my hon. Friend expect that there will be an improvement in the supply of leaders for the Youth Service? Is he aware that, whereas it costs £6 a week to keep a boy in an approved school, only £3 a year is being spent by local authorities to help the Youth Service? Is it not true that a stitch in time saves nine?

That will be one of the considerations to which my right hon. Friend will give attention. I do not think I can be expected to go further than my original answer at this stage.

Will the hon. Gentleman treat this as a matter of some urgency? Is he aware that his own Ministry is finding it difficult to get candidates for the youth leader courses which are already being provided by the Ministry, and that the real difficulty is the unattractiveness of the salary scales for the Youth Service?

My right hon. Friend is fully aware of that, but the hon. Member may agree that there are considerable developments in the field of education at the moment. It is not possible to commence everything at once.

asked the Minister of Education what salaries are paid by local education authorities to Youth Service officers and full-time youth leaders; and how many local authorities have not adopted the Soulbury Report for Youth Service officers.

My right hon. Friend has no precise details of salaries paid by local authorities to youth officers and leaders, but he understands that some authorities use the Burnham scale for teachers, some the various scales for different local government officers, and some ad hoc scales.

Does not my hon. Friend think that it is time that all local authorities now paid youth leaders on a properly established scale?

I think my answer to my hon. Friend's first Question covers his supplementary question to this one.

asked the Minister of of Education what progress has been made in securing tough girls over 16 years of age for "Enterprise Unlimited" to help in emergencies; when and where recruiting campaigns are to be held; how it is proposed to toughen members for their arduous tasks; what type of uniform will be worn; or what will be the distinguishing marks of the members.

I do not interfere with the detailed administration of the Girls' Training Corps, but I understand that this scheme, which is confined to Kent, is going well, and that the hon. Member has been in touch with the girls.

While thanking the Minister for what he said, though I am a bit doubtful about his last few words, may I ask whether he will, as one who has some responsibility in making contributions towards this scheme, at least ensure that the girls are not made too tough, because men do not like them that way? On the other hand, will he agree with me that this is a wonderful idea and will he see that it does not fail because of lack of finance?

The hon. Gentleman is no doubt an expert on what is attractive. I understand that these girls are doing a very good job, learning how to deal with all kinds of emergencies such as floods and that kind of thing in which there is often great need for people who have had a little training. I hope that the scheme will be a success.

asked the Minister of Education if the Government will establish a hostel in London to receive all the year round parties of school children from the provinces.

No, Sir; there are many more important things to be done in education.

Is the Minister aware that every year thousands of boys and girls from Manchester schools and from schools from other parts of the country visit the Metropolis, and that at the end of the day they are very tired after seeing what is to be seen in the capital? Will he, therefore, give this suggestion further consideration? Does he also realise that the boys and girls coming from the schools are not so tough that they can stand up to a day of rushing round the city, and will he look at the matter again?

It is an attractive idea and I have been thinking about it, but it may well be that the way to deal with it would be by private effort. The Minister has so much work connected with schools themselves that I do not think we could start building hostels.

But will the Minister give further consideration to it?

indicated assent.

asked the Minister of Education the value of the projects for rural reorganisation of schools submitted to him by local education authorities for 1956–57; and the value of those schemes he has not approved for that year.

Projects for rural reorganisation proposed by authorities for the 1956–57 programme totalled about £11½million. Within the school building programme which I have already announced, I expect to be able to approve about half this work for starting in that year.

Am I to understand that the local authorities in the rural areas think they can complete the programme which they have submitted to him but that he thinks otherwise, or what reason is there for the cut in the estimate?

The reason is that the programme is larger than we originally thought it would be, as I explained to the House last week. By this instalment we shall, in fact, start half of the programme by 1957, so that the total programme will be started, one hopes, well within the next five years.

Can the Minister assure us that he is not going to let the Chancellor of the Exchequer interfere with his five-year programme for completing the organisation of rural all-age schools?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, so far from interfering, has welcomed this programme and has accepted the fact that it is considerably larger than when I first put it to him.

asked the Minister of Education how many minor projects were started in 1954–55; and how many have been approved for 1955–56.

The value of minor projects on all types of educational building started during the financial year 1954–55 was £7,334,000. I cannot forecast the corresponding figure for this year because I do not now impose a limit on the total amount of this type of work which local education authorities may undertake.

Do I understand that the local authorities are free to go ahead with all minor projects?

They are free to go ahead with any minor project up to £10,000 per job.

asked the Minister of Education how many all-age schools there are in urban areas; and his plans for reorganising all-age schools in towns within the next five years.

In January, 1954, there were 1,629 all-age schools and departments in urban areas. In answer to the second part of the hon. Member's question, I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave him on 3rd February last.

Is the Minister aware that it is because that answer was not satisfactory that I put this Question down? Will the right hon. Gentleman look again at this problem with a view to speeding up the reorganisation in the industrial areas for these kiddies, who have demands upon his attention equal to those in the rural areas?

We shall do that just as soon as the resources are available.

asked the Minister of Education what changes will be made in the school building programme as a result of the decision on restriction on credit expenditure made by the Government this week.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in Tuesday's debate on the economic situation, the programme remains as announced.

We understand that nothing that has at present been approved will be interfered with, but can the Minister give us an assurance that there will be no interference with the momentum of the school building programme? Is he aware of the tremendous harm done at the end of 1951 by the break in the build-up of the school programme; and, for the purposes of long-term planning by the local education authorities, can he give an assurance that there will be no interference with the future of the programme?

The programme which I have announced is for 1956–57. Local authorities are now in possession of all the information about their forward planning that they normally expect to have. Next year we will consider the following year's programme and we hope it will be no smaller.

Will the Minister give an assurance that the next year's programme will be no less than the programme which he has approved for 1956–57?

No Government has ever given such an assurance. In one year we give the local authorities the approved programme for the succeeding year. The local authorities know up to April, 1957, what they can do. This time next year we shall do the same thing again.

asked the Minister of Education the estimated expenditure on the school building programme in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The West Riding local education authority's school building programme for major projects to be started in 1956–57 will cost about £1½ million.

Could my right hon. Friend tell us how that figure compares with previous years?

The previous year for which I have the figure here is 1954–55, and it is £1,200,000. I regret that I have not got the other figures.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to publicise the need for boys and girls at grammar schools and independent public schools to read science or technology when they go up to the universities.

My Parliamentary Secretary and I try to influence opinion inside and outside the House, and hon. Members can greatly assist our efforts. We shall be successful if we take every opportunity to appeal directly and indirectly to those concerned.

Can the Minister say whether or not he considers that his advice to the boys of University College School, Hampstead, the other day, that they ought not to take up science because it is popular, is likely to have the effect he wants?

I think the hon. Gentleman has been misinformed about what I said at the prize giving at that excellent school. I told them we wanted both sides and if they went in for science they must realise that it was necessary to study some of the humanities as well.

The right hon. Gentleman obviously thinks that that is what he intended to say at University College School, but will he consider the newspaper reports of his speech, and will he bear in mind that this audience, of whom I was one, took away a very different impression?

I must thank the hon. Gentleman for coming to listen to me. I will certainly consider the newspaper reports, which I have not yet seen.

Did the right hon. Gentleman award my hon. Friend a prize on that occasion?

I never saw him.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the West Riding education authority deducts the salary of its teachers for the days when they are absent on leave for the purpose of taking an examination for a degree, including the Saturday and Sunday if these intervene; how far this practice is general; and if it has the approval of his Department.

The granting of special leave to teachers rests with their employers. I do not know whether local authorities generally, or the West Riding in particular, stop pay on these occasions or not.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my Question, which is, whether this practice has the approval of his Department, in view of the fact that local education authorities should do everything to help their teachers to be efficient and should not penalise them?

I think one has to leave these matters to the employers. There are many reasons why a teacher might want to go away for two or three days, and I think it is part of the relationship between the local authority and the teacher which of those reasons is recognised as not involving a cut in pay.

But why include Saturday and Sunday which in any case are days when a man is not teaching?

It seems sensible to me not so to do so, but I cannot issue directives to the employers.

While the right hon. Gentleman cannot issue directives and while it must be left to the local authority, could he advise local authorities in this sense? That would help.

It is probable that they will read this Question and Answer; and anyhow there has been a change in the council of the West Riding, so perhaps it will be more sympathetic.

Will the Minister bear in mind that there are too many circulars going out to local authorities, and particularly directives; and will he bear in mind that if the education service is to be kept a healthy part of local government, there must be an accent on the idea that the local authority is an authority and is not a junior partner of Whitehall?

I do have that in mind.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is aware that only about 50 per cent. of the immigrants to countries of the Commonwealth since 1945 have been citizens of other countries of the Commonwealth; and what steps are being taken to ensure that as many as possible of such immigrants are from countries of the Commonwealth.

My hon. Friend's figures are, I believe, broadly accurate. The migration policies of other Commonwealth countries are for their Governments to decide, but, as was stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 30th June, Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom continue to take a close interest in all migration matters and will always be ready to consider with Commonwealth Governments any particular proposals which seem mutually desirable.

Can my hon. Friend give some assurance that Her Majesty's Government will use some of their own initiative in this matter?

No, Sir. I think that that would interfere with what, by common consent, is the responsibility of independent Commonwealth Governments.

Is my hon. Friend aware that I am not suggesting any kind of interference? All I am suggesting is that there should be tentative suggestions of a harmless character. Will he not lead his mind on that path?

I am sure that all the Commonwealth Governments concerned are aware that on frequent occasions it has been stated from this Box that Her Majesty's Government will always be ready to consider any particular proposals of Commonwealth Governments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements have been made with the Governments of India and Pakistan for the upkeep of British graves in those countries which are not cared for by the Imperial War Graves Commission.

The arrangements for the care of European cemeteries in India and Pakistan formerly maintained by the Government of India were described in detail in reply to a Question by Mr. Symonds, the then Member for Cambridge, on 15th March, 1949, but were later amended in one respect in reply to a Question by the Earl Winterton, the then Member for Horsham, on 12th April, 1951. Otherwise the original arrangements continue in force and I have nothing to add to these replies, of which I am sending copies to my hon. Friend.

Whilst thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, and for the efforts which have been made by his Department, with the generous co-operation of the two other Commonwealth Governments, may I express the hope that all concerned will keep a keen interest in this matter so that as many graves as possible can be kept in decency and honour?

I am sure that all concerned will do their best to co-operate, but as my hon. Friend will see from the replies I have sent to him, this is a fairly large question. There were more than 1,350 cemeteries scattered over the Indian sub-continent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what further progress has been made towards the conclusion of an extradition treaty between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Eire so as to cover offences committed in Northern Ireland.

I regret that I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clark) on 16th June.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the persistent refusal of the Government of Eire to negotiate an agreement on these lines is creating an unfortunate impression in Northern Ireland? Will he and his noble Friend do their best to reach an understanding on this matter, in the interests both of common justice and good neighbourly relations between both parts of Ireland?

Yes, I am sure that the authorities of the Irish Republic are in no doubt that we want to see an improvement in the present position.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in view of the open recruiting by the Irish Republican Army in Eire for hostile operations against Northern Ireland, he will make a protest and ask the Government of Eire to take more effective steps to suppress this illegal organisation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to Sir D. Savory, the then hon. Member for Antrim, South, on 11th November, 1954.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is a very serious matter, particularly for the people of Northern Ireland, who are becoming increasingly alarmed by reason of Press reports on the activities of the I.R.A.?

We are well aware of the strong feeling in Northern Ireland about this matter. I would refer my hon. Friend to the last paragraph of the reply which I gave on 11th November, when I pointed out that in the debate in the Dail which followed the attack at Omagh both the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic and the Leader of the Opposition condemned this use of violence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider amending the law under which publishers are required to supply free copies of all their publications to certain institutions.

The hon. Member will be aware of the recommendations of the Copyright Committee on this subject, but I can give no promise of early amending legislation to deal with this part of its Report.

Am I right in thinking that copies have to go to the British Museum and to the Library of Trinity College, Dublin? Is not that rather a curious anomaly? Could not something be said for sending copies to a library in Edinburgh or to the Library of the University of Wales?

I think there is something to be said for that, but I understand that it is a controversial issue, which is dealt with at some length in the Copyright Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why it is that of imported raw hides and skins only goatskins bear an import duty; and what domestic production of goatskins there is.

The duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem on goatskins is imposed in accordance with the provisions of the Trade Agreements with India and South Africa by which the United Kingdom undertook to maintain the existing margin of preference of 10 per cent. ad valorem on goatskins imported from those countries. There are no official statistics of domestic production of goatskins, but I am informed that it is very small.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the rate of duty on foreign full chrome upper leathers and glace kid, respectively.

The duty on full chrome upper leather is 20 per cent. or in some cases 15 per cent. ad valorem and the duty on glace kid is 10 per cent. ad valorem.

Does not the Answer reveal a most unsatisfactory state of affairs and that the home glace kid manufacturer has to bear unnecessary import duty on his imported raw skins and then has less protection than similar leather manufactures against goods from abroad? Could my right hon. Friend do something to remedy that situation?

I shall be happy to look at representations made to me. As I said in reply to the earlier Question, the former duty is really part of the preferential arrangements, for which of course we get reciprocal benefits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to stop the import of knives and similar instruments which have devices such as spring clips attached to them where such devices can serve no purpose other than making the instrument speedily usable as a weapon.

No, Sir.

Would the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration a statement that was made a few days ago by the learned Recorder of Leicester, when he said:

"I am just not going to have Leicester turned into a City of young gangsters. I shall have no mercy on young men who get hold of coshes, guns, axes or knives."

In view of the fact that knives with these devices can be used for no other purpose than a vicious lethal one, will the right hon. Gentleman examine the position, see some of them, and then make up his mind whether he will allow them to come into the country?

As the Home Secretary explained at some length to the hon. Member, it would be quite impracticable to control the sale of these things in this country. In those circumstances, to apply an import control would be quite out of the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see these spring clips himself? If he decides that they have no other purpose at all—[Interruption.] This is a very serious matter. If he comes to the conclusion that they can serve no other purpose than making the knife readily usable for causing bodily harm, will he then decide whether he will allow them to come in or not?

Those were the very questions which the hon. Member addressed to the Home Secretary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the improvement in international relations, he will take steps to reopen trade negotiations with Czechoslovakia with a view to the conclusion of a trade agreement.

I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member on 21st July.

In view of the welcome improvement in the international atmosphere as a result of the Geneva Conference, would not this be a suitable situation in which the President of the Board of Trade could initiate or reopen trade negotiations which have broken down in the last few months with a number of countries in Eastern Europe, particularly Czechoslovakia, and see whether now, as a result of the improved position, we can overcome these disputes about debts?

The hon. Member is quite right in saying that the suspension is due to debt talks and not to trade talks. Debt talks, of course, are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and type of industries in this country subsidised by the Government.

Apart from various forms of assistance in connection with food and agriculture, very small payments in the nature of subsidy are made by the Government to two specialised industries—watchmaking and the motor car industry in respect of certain racing cars. In the latter case the payments represent the reimbursement of Purchase Tax paid.

Will my right hon. Friend keep an eye on this position to see if, when the opportunity arises, he can reduce subsidies, because that would help the Chancellor of the Exchequer in keep-down taxation?

Could the right hon. Gentleman explain why it is necessary to subsidise racing cars? Could not the motor industry, which is so prosperous, do that itself?

In this case it is scarcely a subsidy; it is more of a repayment of Purchase Tax to encourage the development of racing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to encourage and assist the export of high quality textiles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his meeting with representatives of the Cotton Board on 27th July to discuss the promotion of British textiles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is contemplating to counter the waning confidence in the Lancashire textile industry.

The usual services of the Board of Trade are, of course, available to help exporters of all textiles. At my request, the Cotton Board Standing Joint Conference on Overseas Trade Policy came to see me yesterday, when a useful discussion took place over a wide range of matters affecting the export problems of the industry and the tasks confronting Government and industry alike in dealing with them. In my view, the existence of machinery of a more permanent character to undertake regular consultation on export questions would serve a useful purpose. I therefore proposed and it was agreed that such meetings should be held at regular intervals and arrangements are being made accordingly.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for, and readily accepting, his real and obvious interest in the promotion of exports of high-quality textiles, may I ask him to bear in mind that a healthy export trade springs from a healthy home trade and that Purchase Tax is a cramping factor in the home market for high-quality textiles?

I will certainly bear that in mind. Of course, the removal of Purchase Tax from certain classes of textiles has had healthy results.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the one class of textiles which is completely free of Purchase Tax, namely, industrial cloths, has both a flourishing home trade and, therefore, a flourishing export trade, in contrast to the other parts of the industry which are burdened with Purchase Tax?

Yes. Of course, the removal of Purchase Tax from the non-wool household textiles and furnishing fabrics had also helped in this regard.

Has the President of the Board of Trade seen the figures of yarn production, showing that in the second quarter there has been a decline of over 13 per cent. compared with the same period of last year, and a rapid worsening even compared with the first quarter? In view of these very serious figures, when are we to have any glimmerings at all of any Government policy to deal with the situation?

Naturally, of course, I study, as the right hon. Gentleman does, the figures of production, but, as he is aware, this is a complex picture on which exports, imports and, not least, the situation of the American disposals, all have a bearing. It is not possible to give comprehensive answers to questions on these matters.

Does it follow from what the right hon. Gentleman says that, because the matter is so complex, the Government are not going to find any policy at any time for the wool and cotton textile industry?

I have announced our policy on textiles in a number of debates, and recently, on 3rd May, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister himself made a comprehensive statement on many of these issues.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that all these comprehensive statements that members of the Government have made from time to time during the past few months have left the industry completely unsatisfied? When I say "the industry," I mean all sides of it. Do the Government not realise that the complexity of the problem, to which the right hon. Gentleman has himself referred, itself requires that the Government should concentrate now on making up their minds on what is their long-term constructive policy for the textile industry?

I certainly agree with the hon. Member that decisions of policy in many of these matters are industrial decisions and for the industry itself within the general framework of commercial policy laid down by the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the damaging effect caused to the cotton textile industry in this country by the prolonged delay on the part of the United States Government in announcing their future price support policy for United States cotton; and whether he will again impress upon the United States Government the need for an early statement.

Yes, Sir. The Government have taken, and will continue to take, every opportunity to impress on the United States authorities not only the urgent need for an announcement of their cotton export policy for the coming season, but also that they should take no action which might endanger the world trade in raw cotton.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask whether he would not agree that the uncertainty now being created in the cotton textile industry because of this delay on the part of the American Government in making known their intentions on price support policy, is virtually bringing business in the cotton textile industry to a standstill?

I think I would certainly agree that at this moment the uncertainty with regard to United States policy about disposals is the most urgent problem confronting the cotton textile industry, not only of this country, but of many other countries.

Since this matter has been raised from this side of the House for several months as being a very urgent question, and since the right hon. Gentleman says that every possible step has been taken, will he say why he rejected the proposal of my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Rhodes) that he should go to Washington and press this matter personally on United States Ministers? Will he also tell the House whether, at the recent high-level meeting at Geneva, the Prime Minister pressed this question upon the President of the United States?

It is for me to judge whether it is better to make a personal visit or whether the matter should be pressed by Her Majesty's Ambassador, which is the appropriate method of doing these things, with the United States Government. I can give the assurance that every appropriate method has been adopted of bringing home to the United States Government the need, not only for an urgent decision, but also for a decision upon lines which will not disrupt the trade in raw cotton in world markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the average weekly production of cotton cloths in the United Kingdom primarily used for industrial purposes, and for apparel, respectively, in January and June, 1955;

(2) the average weekly retained imports of cotton cloths suitable for apparel in January and June, 1955.

I regret that these figures are not available.

In view of the importance of the manner in which imports are affecting production in this country of apparel cloths, can my right hon. Friend undertake to collect the statistics so that he himself, as well as the rest of us, can be better informed as to how these imports affect the production of apparel cloths in England?

I will certainly try to get any information which would be of value, but there are real difficulties in distinguishing the different types of cloth. If my hon. Friend would have a word with me, I might explain some of them to him afterwards.

What is the good of the right hon. Gentleman's equipping himself with all this information if his basic outlook on the problem is that it is one for the industry itself and that the Government disclaim all responsibility in the matter?

One of the reasons for getting this information is to ensure that the Government's broad commercial policy is on lines favourable to the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what amount United Kingdom exports of cotton cloth have decreased and imports of foreign cotton cloth have increased during the first six months of this year.

Generally, both imports and exports have decreased during the first six months of 1955. I will, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that these imports of foreign cloth are very heavy indeed and are seriously aggravating an already very difficult position in the cotton textile industry, with the result that short-time working and unemployment are now beginning to rise more steeply?

The situation in Lancashire is more complex than can be attributed solely to imports of foreign grey cloth.

Would the President of the Board of Trade not agree that the general picture in the cotton industry is now one of steady shrinkage and decline, with the result that young workers are either leaving the industry or are not entering it from school, and that unless the Government announce a plan showing what they think the size and rôle of the cotton industry should be in the economy, there will be simply an unregulated decline?

I do not think any help would be given by a statement from any Government as to what they thought the size of the cotton textile industry ought to be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many retired teachers are living on pensions that are inadequate; and what action he proposes to take to help them.

The position of retired teachers is being kept under review, along with that of other former public servants.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the position of some retired teachers has been described as a scandalous anomaly in what is alleged to be a Welfare State? Will he not commit himself to some expression of sympathy towards these retired members of a noble profession?

The Government have great sympathy with all those who have to live on pensions which are not now worth as much as when the pension was granted. That was why the Government brought in a new Pensions (Increase) Act in 1952. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in the House a fortnight ago that he was keeping the whole matter under review.

Is the Minister aware that the entire teaching profession is disturbed by the condition of the "Old Guard," that repeated representations have been made to the Treasury about these old folk, and that unless action is taken the right hon. Gentleman will meet with growing resentment from those still actively engaged in the profession?

I have already expressed my sympathy with the pensioners, not only of the teaching profession, but of other occupations.

They do not want sympathy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that travel organisations, including air and shipping companies and agents, are concerned that overseas visitors to Britain are being discouraged by the lack of suitable hotels; and whether as an encouragement to more and better hotels he will consider waiving the Purchase Tax on equipment which constitutes a considerable burden.

My right hon. Friend would not feel justified in relieving hotels of this tax, in isolation from other users of taxable goods.

Would the right hon. Gentleman and the Chancellor consider, with other members of the Government, what is to be done about this very difficult position? For instance, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the Royal Automobile Club was asked what country hotels were available within thirty or forty miles of Leicester, and not too far from the London road, the answer from the Club was that it was regretted that it had no details of country hotels in the required area? Does the right hon. Gentleman know that that situation prevails in other parts of the country? Will he try to meet the situation, which is extremely important to the tourist trade?

I recognise the difficulties of those who are trying to run hotels in these days, but there is no possible solution along the lines of a special exemption from Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had since his last Budget regarding a reduction in the tax on diesel fuel oil used in public service vehicles; and what reply he has made.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the road passenger transport organisations and from a few other bodies and individuals. They have been told that he has taken note of their views.

In view of the very widespread concern amongst the local authorities at the weight of this tax, would the Chancellor look into this matter and, since there is not to be an autumn Budget, consider taking special steps about it?

I quite agree with the hon. Member that this is an important issue, but of course it is also a very large one financially, because this tax is very closely linked with the tax on light oils, that is to say, petrol.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) what estimate he has formed of the effect upon Treasury revenue and expenditure of the repeal of industrial derating;

(2) the loss to the rate revenue of local authorities from the derating of industrial hereditaments in the nearest convenient year.

At 1st April, 1954, the aggregate rateable value of the property in Great Britain which had the benefit of industrial derating was about £15 millions. The repeal of industrial derating would have such widespread ramifications on Exchequer revenue and expenditure, that I am afraid I cannot give the hon. Member any firm estimate.

In view of the publications now issuing from the Conservative Party Central Office, may I ask whether it is the policy of the Government to repeal industrial derating at an early date?

The Minister of Housing and Local Government has said that a review is being undertaken of all aspects of local government, and that will include the question of the derating of industry.

Can the right hon. Gentleman make this clear? Are the Government in favour of abolishing the derating of industry?

The Government, very wisely, do not make up their mind until they have carried out a review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling at the latest convenient date when compared with 20s. in October, 1951; and how it compares with 1st January, 1955.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 26th July. The corresponding figure for January, 1955, was 18s. 6d.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate the need at least to stabilise the internal value of the £ for the sake of industrial peace in this country? Since it seems that it is going to take another nose dive, will he state what action, is being taken to avoid a very grave situation?

I also realise that whereas the purchasing power of the £ has fallen by 2s. under the present Government, it fell by 4. 7d. in the last three years of the Government formed by hon. and right hon. Members opposite.

That is not an answer to my question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total interest payment which will be due on loans by local authorities from the Public Works Loan Board during 1951; the total sum advanced; and if he will give an estimate of the interest repayment on loans made during the current year on the assumption that the sums to be borrowed will be the same as in 1951.

In the calendar year 1951, £390 million was advanced to local authorities by the Public Works Loan Board. The total amount of interest payable in respect of these loans is approximately £333 million. Assuming that the Board will advance in 1955 the same amount as in 1951, that there will be no further change in interest rates during the remainder of the current year, and allowing for the shorter average life of loans now being made, the total amount of interest payable on these advances would be approximately £349 million.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the increase in the interest rate on loans from the Public Works Loan Board has created a very heavy additional burden upon the local rates, and will he give an assurance that this very high rate of interest will be reviewed by the Government at an early date, with a view to its reduction?

The necessity for the increase in the rate is, as the hon. Member knows, the change in the market rates. Local authorities will be wise if they pay attention to what the Chancellor said, and consider very carefully whether this is the right time to seek to go forward with non-essential capital projects.

Is it, then, the policy of the Government that the local authorities should reduce their housing programmes —[An HON. MEMBER: "And school building."]—because this rate has gone up?

The Chancellor made a statement about the Government's housing policy on Tuesday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give an estimate of the amount of United States capital invested in industry in British Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories; and if he will estimate, in particular, the capital invested in the chemical industry;

(2) if he will give an estimate of the amount of United States capital invested in industry in this country; and whether he will estimate, in particular, the capital invested in the chemical industry.

I regret that in neither case is this information available.

Is not that a remarkable reply to a legitimate Question? Surely we are concerned about the silent dollar invasion through investment in overseas territories?

This is a very complicated question because the United States investment may be direct investment or portfolio investment. I would gladly write to the hon. Member to explain this matter further. American sources of information estimate that in 1953 the total value of United States direct investment in the United Kingdom was about £400 million.

Why did not the hon. Gentleman say that before?

Would my hon. Friend agree that it is really most desirable that trade and investment should move freely between the countries of the world?

I agree with my hon. Friend. The reason I did not give that answer at once was that the information which I have just given came from American sources. It was not information collected in Great Britain.

Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that it is very deplorable that, because of large dollar investments here, economic decisions affecting the British economy should be made in America instead of in London?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by the Registrar of Friendly Societies in relation to the breach of its own rules by the Northern Housing Association in raising the rents of its properties without having first obtained the approval of the Department of Health for Scotland.

None, Sir. The Registrar has no power to take action unless a breach by a society of its rules involves the commission of an offence under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts or creates a situation whereby the conditions of registration are no longer fulfilled.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this society has quite flagrantly broken its own rules by flouting the Secretary of State's powers in relation to it; and will he not at least draw the attention of the Registrar of Friendly Societies to the debate on the matter in the House the other night, and to the very full answer then given by the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland?

I can assure the hon. Member that I need not draw the Registrar's attention to that debate because he and I have read the report of it together. The facts are exactly as stated in the answer to the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the cars sold in the home market in the most recent year attracted the Income Tax initial allowance; and whether he will now withdraw the initial allowance from passenger cars.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. The proposal in the second part of the Question would require legislation, and the appropriate occasion for considering it would be the Finance Bill.

Whatever this percentage, which many people believe to be more than 50, is it not extraordinary that at a time when the Chancellor wants to divert goods from the home market the Treasury, in effect, should be subsidising the purchase of cars in this way?

The right hon. Gentleman is suggesting legislation. I am sure that he recognises that we could not bring in a Finance Bill even if we wanted to at this particular date. I will draw the attention of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what the right hon. Gentleman has said.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that I am trying to help him in his present difficulties? If he chooses to legislate on this subject he will have the support of many of us on this side of the House.

I always imagine the right hon. Gentleman as constantly wishing to be helpful.

Would not the Minister consider the suggestion of his hon. Friend the Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Sir J. Barlow) that when cars are used for business purposes they should have the name of the company painted on them, as in the case of commercial vehicles?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the capacity of Recommissioned Mills was used by farmers for the 1953 and 1954 harvest.

The grain-drying plant operated by Recommissioned Mills Ltd. handled during the harvest period of 1953, by a special intensive effort, about 30 per cent more grain than its theoretical capacity under normal conditions. In the 1954 harvest period 40 per cent. of the capacity was used. Conditions in the two years were not, however, comparable because of the different arrangements for guaranteeing the price of home-grown grain to the farmer.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether, in view of the small amount of use that was made last year of these mills, his right hon. Friend would encourage farmers to make more use of these driers?

No, Sir. I do not think that my right hon. Friend would agree to that. The economic place to dry and store grain, as my hon. Friend will know, is on the farm, and the figures given to him reflect to a large extent the efforts which farmers have already made to do that.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made towards implementing the recommendations contained in the first Report of the National Advisory Committee on the Employment of Older Men and Women, and when that committee will publish a Second Report.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the expected publication of the second Report of the National Advisory Committee towards the end of this year, which will, I understand, review the progress that has been made in carrying out its earlier recommendations.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that it is generally thought that this Committee is doing most valuable work? Is he fully satisfied that he is receiving the co-operation of both the nationalised and private sectors of industry in this matter?

I am very glad to agree with my hon. Friend about the value of the work of this Committee, and I can say that from all sections of industry, nationalised, private, and trade union, we are receiving ample support.