asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he proposes to take to prevent radio service agents using the word insurance when offering their agreements to the owners of television sets;(2) whether he is aware that firms engaged in retailing television sets are inducing people to sign service agreements under the belief that they are insuring their sets against breakdown, and against the cost of repairs; that the so-called policies issued by these firms have no validity as insurance policies; and whether he will take steps to protect the public from these firms.

I have no power to regulate the use of the word "insurance" in connection with agreements to maintain television sets. In any case, prohibition of its use would not affect the competence of the firms to carry out their agreements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to reduce dollar expenditure on films.

As was announced by the Board of Trade on 22nd September, the Anglo-American Film Agreement, which limits the remittance of American film earnings, was extended without change for another year, beginning 25th September, 1955.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that no findings of the Malta Conference will be made public until this House has been informed; and when the Conference is likely to complete its task.

The Report of the Conference will not be published before it is presented to Parliament. As regards the second part of the Question, I understand that the members of the Conference desire to complete their Report urgently.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the proposed imports of apples from North America are to be financed, in view of the present shortage of dollars.

£660,000 worth of apples are coming from the U.S.A. under aid finance, and £990,000 from Canada against payment in dollars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he last reviewed the position of pensioners benefiting from the Pensions Increase Act, 1954; and whether he will make a statement of his future policy with regard to these people;(2) whether he is aware of the poverty existing amongst retired Post Office workers; and whether he will now amend the Pensions Increase Acts to relieve the position of these Government pensioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increasing hardship being experienced by retired teachers, he will take steps to effect an immediate revision of the Pensions Increase Acts.

The Government is undertaking such a review and will announce its conclusions in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to ensure that people living on fixed incomes benefit from the ever-increasing prosperity of the community as a whole.

In his Budgets of 1952, 1953 and April, 1955, the Chancellor included measures designed specifically to help those living on small investment incomes. But my right hon. Friend has it constantly in mind that the best way of helping people living on fixed incomes to obtain their proper share of the country's prosperity is to safeguard the stability of the national economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that certain classes of pensioners are aggrieved at being excluded from the benefit of tobacco duty relief; and whether he will consider replacing this anomalous benefit by one which can be applied to all alike.

My right hon. Friend understands the feelings of pensioners who are not eligible for this relief. But the difficulties of extending it to apply to all pensioners have been examined by successive Governments and, as explained on many previous occasions to the House, have been found to be insuperable.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury how the Hungarian trade negotiations are progressing; and whether he will give an assurance that the position of Hungarian pre-war debts is being included in these discussions.

As the negotiations are still in progress my hon. Friend will not expect me to make any statement at the present stage. The negotiations cover pre-war debts and other financial claims as well as trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing value of the £ sterling at the latest convenient date when compared with 20s. in October, 1951.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in October, 1951, it is estimated that the corresponding figure for September, 1955, was 18s. This estimate is based on the consumer price index between 1951 and 1954, and the Interim Index of Retail Prices thereafter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to eliminate the surviving rabbits in various parts of the country in the interest of maintaining food production.

County Executive Committees are proceeding with vigour with the designation of rabbit clearance areas under the Pests Act, 1954, and by the end of the year more than half the area of England and Wales will have been designated. Where the conditions are exceptionally difficult in clearance areas, grants of half the cost of destructive or preventive methods are available for occupiers. Throughout the whole country farmers are co-operating in the campaign for the mopping up of surviving rabbits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what profit he has made in the current financial year on the sale of imported butter and cheese.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the names of those Essex markets to which swine fever was traced during the recent outbreak.

The Essex markets involved in the series of outbreaks earlier in the year were Chelmsford, Colchester and Braintree.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated percentage increase in corn crops and in other principal forms of agricultural production this year as a result of the decrease in the number of rabbits.

Reports based on observation suggest that the increase in cereal production over the country as a whole due to freedom from rabbit damage is not far short of 2 cwt. per acre. It is not possible to make an estimate based on statistics owing to the difficulty of isolating this factor from the other factors affecting production. It is even more difficult to estimate the increase in grass but it is certainly very considerable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the continued dissatisfaction with the pig marketing scheme, which has led to a shortage of bacon resulting in increased prices for the housewife; and whether he will make a statement.

I have no evidence of a reduction in bacon supplies arising from dissatisfaction with the form of marketing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dogs and how many cats have been registered by his Department for import and quarantine in the last 12 months and five years, respectively; and how many of these dogs and cats have subsequently contracted rabies.

During the five years up to 31st December, 1954, 9,201 dogs and 733 cats were detained in quarantine on arrival in Great Britain; the figures for the twelve months up to 30th September, 1955, were 1,854 dogs and 201 cats. There is no record that any of these animals subsequently contracted rabies in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for smallholdings from persons having agricultural experience were received during the last year by each administrative county council in England and Wales.

The following are the figures supplied by each county council of applications for smallholdings received during the year ended 31st March, 1955. The number of these applicants who had the requisite agricultural qualifications is not known.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many smallholdings were provided during the last year under Part IV of the Agriculture Act in each administrative county of England and Wales.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement regarding the rates of white fish subsidies.

I hope to lay proposals for new white fish subsidy rates before the House in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will rescind the decision to transfer Mr. Scriven, a district advisory officer, from Somerset to the North of England, in view of the representations made.

No. The reasons for the decision have now been explained to the hon. Member in correspondence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural workers left the land in England and Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The provisional result of the return taken on 3rd June, 1955, showed that during the previous twelve months there had been a net reduction of about 25,500 or 5 per cent. in the number of full-time regularly employed agricultural workers in England and Wales. The total number of employed workers fell by about 18,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural workers left the land in Essex in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The provisional result of the return taken on 3rd June, 1955, showed that during the previous twelve months there had been a net reduction of about 1,300 or 5£9 per cent. in the number of full-time regularly employed agricultural workers in Essex. The total number of employed workers fell by about 600.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the future of Remploy following upon the discussions which have taken place on the Report of the Organisation and Methods Division of the Treasury.

The company have completed their study of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Report; with the exception of some minor points they have accepted and are implementing all the recommendations. In particular they have agreed to the appointment of two additional full-time directors with responsibility for sales and production respectively. Discussions between the company and my Department are still continuing. As I have already informed the House, the number of severely disabled persons employed by the company will not be allowed to fall below 6,000 this financial year. I am meeting the board of Remploy myself shortly when I shall be discussing their general future policy, in relation to the preparation of Departmental Estimates for next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limits are placed on the letters which can be written by convicted persons to their Members of Parliament while serving their sentences in Her Majesty's Prisons.

Prisoners may use letters from their ordinary allowance to write to a Member of Parliament of their choice, and special letters are permitted in certain conditions, but some limitations are imposed in the interests of good order and discipline. In particular, a prisoner may not make complaints about his treatment in prison in a letter to a Member unless he has already exercised his right of making the complaints through one of the appointed channels for the consideration and redress of such grievances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint a committee to examine the pay and conditions of the police forces throughout the country and make recommendations.

The Committee under the Chairmanship of Lord Oaksey examined every aspect of police pay and conditions of service and submitted in 1949 a detailed report which has formed the basis of subsequent developments in the police service and remains of lasting value. I see no need to institute a further review of this kind at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in 1956, he will continue summer time until the end of October.

No. Her Majesty's Government have decided that it would not be right to ask Parliament to consider the use of the special powers given by the Summer Time Act, 1947, for next year. Accordingly the period of summer time in 1956 will be fixed by the Acts of 1922 and 1925 and will end on Sunday, 7th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the evidence submitted at the recent trials of Jack Corner and Albert Dimes at the Central Criminal Court, he will take powers to close temporarily any racecourse habitually frequented by known criminals.

No. I have no information to suggest that such a course is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to make an announcement on the action he intends to take as a result of the Report by the Working Party set up to examine the Hackney Carriage Laws.

I cannot yet say when I shall be able to make a statement about these lengthy Reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to provide for the date and place of executions not to be made public until after they have taken place.

I do not think that it would be right to refrain altogether from announcing the date and place of an impending execution but I have noted for legislation at a convenient opportunity the recommendation of the Royal Commission that notice should be given in the Press instead of by posting outside the prison gate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his dispute with the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Fire Brigades over the Council's proposals for more flexible duty systems; and whether he has considered the representations made by the Fire Brigades Union.

There has been no dispute between the National Joint Council and myself as to the desirability of settling duty systems by negotiation with the accredited representatives of the men and I am glad to say that full agreement has now been reached between us as to the measures necessary to implement the recommendations of the National Council. Subject to consideration of a subsidiary point, which arose in the course of the discussions and on which I am awaiting a recommendation from the National Council, I expect to be in a position to make the requisite regulations at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the deficiency on establishment of the police force for England and Wales, and the Metropolitan force, respectively.

On 30th September, 1955, the authorised establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force was 19,475 male officers and 523 women officers; the deficiency was 4,034 men and 27 women. On the same date the total authorised establishment of police forces in England and Wales was 73,122 male officers and 2,311 women officers; the deficiency was 9,689 men and 290 women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his inquiry into matters affecting a street fight between two persons in Soho recently; and what action he proposes to take in connection with the report he has received from Scotland Yard concerning this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) on 25th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the findings of the investigation which he ordered following the recent acquittal at the Central Criminal Court of Jack Corner on a charge of malicious wounding.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Committee which is inquiring into the law relating to homosexuality and prostitution.

I understand that the Committee is likely to be occupied for at least another two months in hearing evidence and it is not yet possible to say when it will be able to present its report. It is, however, well aware of my anxiety to have it and I am sure that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed his examination of the law of obscene libel; and if he will introduce amending legislation during the present Session.

The examination is not yet completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances and on whose authority foreign troops stationed in this country are entitled to discharge firearms outside the bounds of their station or camp in apprehending another member of the same forces.

The law in regard to the discharge of firearms is the same for members of visiting forces outside their camps or stations as it is for anyone else in this country, and when a person has committed, or is attempting to commit, a felony all proper methods may be used in order to apprehend that person. In Green's case, to which I assume my hon. Friend is referring, Green was using a rifle and in the circumstances the use of firearms by those seeking to capture him would no doubt be regarded as justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to announce the names of the remaining members of the Northern Ireland Development Council.

I understand that the Government of Northern Ireland expect to announce the composition of the Advisory Development Council within two or three weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now authorise a further inquiry into the conviction of Timothy John Evans for the murder of his wife, to allay public anxiety.

I have considered this case very carefully in the light of all the information in my possession and of the views expressed in the Press and elsewhere, but I do not consider that a further inquiry would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that his Department informed owners of ships on the no-passport day excursions lines that a meeting with them would take place soon after the end of September; when such meeting is being held; and whether he will make a statement about the future extension of these trips to start from Brighton.

Yes. I am arranging for a meeting to be held next week and the question of introducing no-passport excursions from Brighton will be one of the matters for discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce legislation to control immigration into the United Kingdom from the Commonwealth.

Her Majesty's Government still have this matter under consideration and I am unable to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have died at Parkhurst prison during the last 10 years; what has been the average age at death; what has been the average prison population during this period; and how the death rate compares with that in other prisons and with that of the general population.

Forty-two prisoners died at Parkhurst prison during the years 1945-54. Excluding one suicide, the average age at death was 54£5 years. The daily average population of the prison during these years was 631. The death rate from natural causes was 6£5 per thousand at Parkhurst and 2£3 per thousand in all prisons in England and Wales. The foregoing figures include deaths in outside hospitals of prisoners temporarily released for medical treatment. I am informed by the Registrar-General that the average death rate per thousand of the population of England and Wales aged 20 years and over during these years was 15£3 (this rate is based, for the years 1945 to 1949, on the rate for civilians only, but for the years 1950-54 on all deaths registered in England and Wales). It is to be expected that the death rate at Parkhurst would be higher than in prisons as a whole because the prison population at Parkhurst has included a number of prisoners sent there specifically on account of their ill-health

asked the Minister of Health if he will now introduce legislation for the official registration of opticians.

As I explained to the House on 4th July, legislation on this subject must wait until Parliamentary time is available and it cannot be said when this will be. I am afraid that it is impossible for me to go beyond this statement.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make milk available to old-age pensioners at the same price as that at which it is at present allowed to expectant mothers, nursing mothers and young children, at 1½d. per cent.

No, my right hon. Friend does not think it would be appropriate to do this.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimate he has formed as to the adequacy or otherwise of distributed coke for domestic use during the forthcoming winter period; and whether coke production for householders is now running at a higher level than the comparable period of 1954.

Coke supplies this winter are expected to be adequate to meet demand. Production of gas coke, the type of coke mainly used by householders, is running at a higher level than a year ago.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what tonnage of foreign coal has been landed in the United Kingdom since 1st January, 1955; how this compares with the comparable period for 1954; what has been the cost of coal imports c.i.f. since 1st January 1955; and what was the cost of coal imports c.i.f. in the comparable period of 1954.

In the first nine months of 1955 8£7 million tons of coal were imported at a landed cost of £55 million compared with 1£5 million tons costing £9 million in the same months of 1954.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the level of distributed coal stocks at 24th October, 1955, or latest convenient date; how this figure compares with one year earlier; to what extent this year's stocks have reached their present level as a result of coal imports; and whether enough house coal is now available in all regions to assure honouring of maximum householders' allocation of coal during the winter months.

Distributed stocks at 15th October, 1955, totalled 18£6 million tons compared with 16£9 million tons a year before, the higher level of imports more than accounting for the increase. House coal stocks are substantially higher than a year ago but the householder's allocation during the winter is met primarily from current production, the level of which cannot be guaranteed in advance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the success of the visits of the Royal Navy to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Soviet Navy to this country in creating better understanding and promoting goodwill between the two nations; and if he will extend this principle by arranging to send delegations of workmen from our main industries on similar missions and invite the Soviet Government to do the same.

The recent exchange of naval visits with the Soviet Union was clearly a success. My right hon. Friend shares the hon. Member's desire to promote better understanding and goodwill between ourselves and the Soviet peoples. He believes that this can be achieved by increasing contact between the two peoples at every level. The choice of particular delegations is, however, not a matter in which Her Majesty's Government should interfere.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish figures showing the total volume and value and nature of arms sold by this country to Israel and Egypt, respectively, in each of the last four years.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will consult the British Standards Institution about getting a better standard of crash helmet, with a view to making that standard compulsory.

My Department is represented on the British Standards Institution Technical Committee concerned with standards for crash helmets. Improvements to the present standard will be made if and when research shows that they are desirable. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25th October to the hon. Members for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas) and Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas).

asked the Minister of Defence the present total annual cost to the nation of maintaining Britain's National Service men.

The cost of National Service men, including the cost of the call-up, is running at about £103 million a year. This includes pay, allowances, rations, clothing, personal equipment, accommodation, medical services and travel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions have been placed on the import of British goods by the Jamaican Government in the last two years, either by quota or by tariffs.

During the period 20th October, 1953, to 20th October, 1955, the Government of Jamaica, in order to protect local industries, have introduced or increased a number of quota or tariff restrictions which in varying degrees affect, inter alia, imports from the United Kingdom and Colonial territories. Particulars are given below.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Gibraltar.

During my visit I had useful discussions with the Governor and his official advisers and with elected and nominated members of the Legislative Council, as well as with other leading personalities in Gibraltar. After full and frank discussion of the situation which had arisen as a result of the recent exercise by the Governor of his reserved legislative powers, all parties agreed to an announcement that I fully endorsed the action taken by the Governor: but that as a result of the consultations, the Governor in Council had decided that, for the smooth working of the Constitution, it was desirable to associate the Standing Finance Committee of the Legislative Council more closely in the formulation of financial policy involving both expenditure and revenue, and that steps were being taken to give effect to this as soon as possible. I was able to have discussions also on other current affairs including plans for port development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has studied the Memorandum on Constitutional Reform of the Government of Gibraltar; and what action he proposes to take towards constitutional development.

Yes. The Memorandum is now being considered by the Governor, and I must await his views before considering taking any further action.

asked the Minister of Education the technical colleges at which sandwich courses in engineering or applied science are now in operation.

I am sending the hon. Member a list of sandwich courses of all kinds which are now in operation in technical colleges. As he will see, practically all of the courses are in engineering or in some other form of technology.

asked the Minister of Education how many private schools have not yet supplied a list of their teaching staff; and what arrangements have been made with those schools that have supplied lists for the notification of changes of staff.

All the unrecognised independent schools have recently been asked for a second return showing the staff in the present term. The general response so far has been very good; it includes five of the thirteen schools which failed to reply last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are being made to enable the new hospital at Alexandria to be brought into use, in view of the reported inability of the Western Regional Hospital Board to allocate the necessary funds.

Although this hospital was built primarily as a reserve of accommodation for civil defence purposes, arrangements are now being made and staff recruited to bring the hospital gradually into ordinary use from 1st December. Finance is being provided from the sum available for expansion of the Hospital Service in the current year partly by diverting funds originally allotted to another Board which is not at present in a position to apply them to projects of equal importance.