asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer Her Majesty's Government has given to the Committee of Nine instructed by the United Nations Assembly to ask States Members the degree of moral and material support which may be expected for the Special United Nations Fund for Economic Development.

The full text of Her Majesty's Government's answer is available in the Library of the House.The answer made it clear that while Her Majesty's Government support the principle of S.U.N.F.E.D., they do not consider it practicable to take any immediate steps toward the establishment of such a fund. The reply gave details of contributions from United Kingdom sources to the economic development of underdeveloped territories in the Commonweath, amounting to some £120 millions in 1953, and criticised a number of points in the Committee's Report, some of which have since been met.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the British delegation to the United Nations General Assembly voted on the issue whether the situation in Algeria should be placed on the agenda of the Assembly.

The United Kingdom representative opposed the inscription of this item.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present financial position of the United Nations Refugee Fund; how much has been disbursed; the present number of refugees in Europe who are still awaiting resettlement; and the rate of resettlement.

The United Nations High Commissioner's Fund for Refugees (U.N.R.E.F.) was established in January, 1955, with a target of 16 million dollars for four years. The 1955 target for Governmental contributions is 4·2 million dollars. Against this target, pledges have been made amounting to 2,138,000 dollars, and 1,360,000 dollars have actually been received. Funds are disbursed as soon as received, in accordance with plans approved by an Executive Committee on which the United Kingdom is represented.Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have contributed the equivalent of 224,000 dollars and have promised another 56,000 dollars if the total of Governmental contributions for 1955 reaches 3·25 million dollars. The United States Government have contributed 500,000 dollars and have promised another 700,000 on condition that the amounts contributed by the other Governments are at least double that contributed by the United States.In addition to Governmental contributions, a sum of approximately 1 million dollars has been raised from private contributions in the Netherlands.The number of refugees in Germany, Austria, Greece and Italy awaiting resettlement or rehabilitation is about 480,000, whereof 78,000 are living in camps. Of this total, the High Commissioner estimates that 238,000 could be assimilated in the economies of their country of residence, given international assistance. Under the 1955 plan, 27,000 refugees were to have been resettled in the course of the year. The actual number is however much lower as the High Commissioner's plans did not get under way until September, as contributions to the Fund were not paid until late in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on his Geneva conversations with the Prime Minister of Israel.

I saw Mr. Sharett twice, first in Paris on 26th October at his suggestion, and again in Geneva on 31st October at my invitation. Since our conversations were confidential I am not in a position to make a statement on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now had a reply to the representations made to the Soviet High Commissioner about interference of the East German Broadcasting Station with the Welsh Regional Station of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and what observations the agencies of the German Democratic Republic have made.

On 11th October the Soviet High Commissioner replied suggesting that this matter should be dealt with by a meeting between experts of the British Broadcasting Corporation and of the authorities concerned in the Soviet Zone of Germany.This reply is being studied by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in order to facilitate the interchange of visitors between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, he will approach the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with a view to securing a more equitable rate of currency exchange for British visitors to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

My right hon. Friend shares the hon. Member's views that the introduction of a realistic exchange rate for the rouble would do much to facilitate the interchange of visits between this country and the Soviet Union. In conjunction with his Western colleagues, he has already taken this matter up at the Geneva Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total number of employees in his Department, at a stated date, in the years 1951 to 1955, respectively, and the total annual wage and salary bill for these employees, for each year.

This information is contained in the annual Estimates but the following is a summary:

FOREIGN OFFICE STAFFS AND COSTS
Numbers
—	Home	Abroad		Cost £
		Foreign Service including locally engaged staff	Control Commission for Germany
1951–52	5,161	7,526	3,866	14,244,668
1952–53	4,790	7,297	1,609	13,105,360
1953–54	4,629	6,631	2,681	12,825,619
1954–55	4,657	8,695		12,854,490
1955–56	4,649	8,487		13,024,300

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of those countries which have no treaty of extradition with the United Kingdom, and the names of those countries with which the United Kingdom has treaties of extradition.

Her Majesty's Government have extradition treaties in force with the following foreign countries:

Albania.	Mexico.
Argentine Republic	Monaco.
Belgium.	Netherlands.
Bolivia.	Nicaragua
Chile.	Norway.
Colombia.	Panama.
Cuba.	Paraguay.
Czechoslovakia	Peru.
Denmark.	Poland
Ecuador.	Portugal.
Finland.	Roumania.
France.	Salvador.
Greece.	San Marino
Guatemala.	Spain.
Hayti.	Switzerland.
Hungary.	Thailand.
Iceland	United States of America.
Iraq.
Italy.	Uruguay.
Liberia	Yugoslavia.
Luxembourg.

No extradition treaty is in operation between the United Kingdom and any other foreign country.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the work and recommendations of the National Insurance Advisory Committee which he appointed to review the provisions governing widows' benefits.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has yet received the Report from his National Advisory Committee on the subject of widows' pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a further statement about the position of widows receiving a weekly pension of 10s.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether the National Insurance Advisory Committee has completed its review of the position of the 10s. widows' pension; and when he will be in a position to announce his decision in regard to Government policy.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has now considered the recommendations of his Advisory Committee on widows' and other pensions, in particular the problems of those widows in receipt of only 10s. weekly; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) what he estimates that it would cost to brings the 10s. per week widow's pension up to the standard rate of pension of widows;(2) whether he will make a further statement on the consideration he has been giving to the applications made to him to increase the 10s. per week widow's pension; and the number of widows who are at present receiving the 10s. per week pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is now prepared, in view of the increase in the cost of living, to increase the amount of pensions to widows who only receive 10s. per week.

I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Middlesbrough, West (Mr. Simon) and the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth, West (Brigadier Clarke) on 31st October.At present about 150,000 widows not entitled to the widowhood benefits of the National Insurance Scheme are receiving the 10s. widows' pension of the old scheme. The cost of increasing these pensions to 40s. would be nearly £12 million a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in view of the increasing difficulties of old-age pensioners in maintaining a reasonable standard of living, he will bring before the House proposals for raising the levels of pensions and National Assistance.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what increases in old-age pensions, widows' pensions, service and other pensions and in the rates of National Assistance will be given to meet the increased rents and Purchase Tax.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is prepared to increase the amount of retirement pensions in view of the increase in the cost of living.

I have no such proposals in mind with regard to the benefits and pensions for which I am responsible. The present rates of National Insurance Pensions still provide a higher purchasing power than any earlier rates in force at any previous time. With regard to the National Assistance scales, I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. J. Howard) on 31st October; rents are allowed for separately by the National Assistance Board.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will state the present provisions regarding the capital sums a person may possess while still qualifying for National Assistance.

These provisions are contained in the Second Schedule to the National Assistance Act, 1948. Their broad effect is that the value of owner-occupied property, the first £375 of war savings of an applicant, and the first £375 of war savings of any dependant are wholly disregarded; that the first £50 of other capital is also disregarded and in so far as the aggregate value of such other capital exceeds £50 but does not exceed £400 it is treated as equivalent to a weekly income of 6d. for each complete £25; and that any excess over £400 is to be regarded as available for meeting the person's needs.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will take steps to alter the provisions of the recent Pneumoconiosis Benefit Schemes so that hardship allowances may be paid where appropriate.

No. This alternative was considered and rejected as impracticable before the present flat-rate scheme was introduced.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance which occupational diseases have been added to the schedule in the past four years; and what are the tests which must be satisfied before any disease can be classified as occupational.

Papilloma of the bladder was prescribed as an industrial disease under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts in 1953. The conditions which must be satisfied before a disease can be so prescribed are laid down in Section 55 (2) of the 1946 Act.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what extra benefit he proposes to give old-age pensioners by way of a Christmas bonus this year.

None. Payments of this kind have always been regarded as inappropriate to an insurance scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that in South Africa compensation is provided by law to miners for chronic pulmonary disabilities in which X-ray shadows are not necessarily present; and whether he will consider introducing similar legislation in this country.

I am aware of the South African legislation referred to but similar legislation would not be appropriate in the conditions of this country.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has considered the request of the Cardiff and District Branch of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association calling for a compensatory addtional grant to the fixed pension assessments for amputations for the 1914–18 war pensioners, in view of their increasing difficulties with advancing years; and what reply he has sent.

I have received a number of resolutions on this subject, which have been acknowledged, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary to Questions by the hon. Members for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton) and Sunderland, North (Mr. F. Willey) on 31st October.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will now increase the basic allowance to the 2,100 limbless pensioners of the 1914–18 war in view of the additional hardship caused by their disability in advancing years.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on this matter which I gave him in reply to Question No. 64.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now restore to Mr. Martin Harraher, of 15, Forest Drive East, Barry Island, Glamorgan, an ex-Service man of the First World War now 68 years of age, the 100 per cent. disability assessment award which was considered appropriate during the period from 1932 to 1947.

Mr. Harraher's current pension assessment of 60 per cent. is in accordance with the findings of four medical boards held since 1947. As the hon. Member has been informed, my chief medical officers have advised that this assessment fully represents the degree of disablement due to war service and I regret therefore that I am unable to increase Mr. Harraher's pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he is taking in regard to the welfare of the dependants of the four men lost at the sinking of the trawler "Barry Castle," and of the fourteen survivors.

There are special arrangements for dealing with this kind of situation and I am glad to say that these came into immediate and effective operation.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what it would now cost to grant an additional supplement of £1 per week to all war disability pensioners of the 1914–18 war.

About £13¾ million a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the current value of the basic disability pension for ex-Service men in terms of the purchasing value of the £ sterling in 1939.

On a comparison of the current Retail Prices Index figure with the 1939 cost-of-living index figure 67s. 6d. now would be equivalent to 35s. in 1939.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what estimate he has made of the increase in the cost of food since December, 1954, for the purposes of assessing the basic retirement pension.

As measured by the Interim Index of Retail Prices, the increase in food prices since December, 1954, is about 4½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has considered the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the question of benefit for very

OUTPUT, EXPORTS, IMPORTS OF COAL AND EMPLOYMENT IN COAL MINES
GREAT BRITAIN
Year		Output			Number on Colliery Books
		Deep-mined	Opencast	Total
		Thousand tons	Thousand tons	Thousand tons	Thousand
1913	…	287,430	—	287,430	1,080·0*
1938	…	226,993	—	226,993	766·0*
1954	…	213,994	10,096	224,090	707·2
1955 (first nine months)	…	154,529	8,454	162,983	705·6

Year	Exports		Foreign Bunkers†	Imports
	Tonnage	Value (f.o.b.)		Tonnage	Value (c.i.f.)
	Thousand tons	£ thousand	Thousand tons	Thousand tons	£ thousand
1913	73,400	50,727	21,032	Negligible
1938	35,856	37,406	10,489	Negligible
1954	13,716	59,075	2,500	2,963	16,950
(1955 (first nine months)	8,636	37,185	1,632	8,696	54,700
* Adjusted to give comparability with the figures for 1954 and 1955.
† The value of coal supplied for foreign bunkers is not available.

Yes. The Report is being published today, and I am indebted to the Committee for its full and careful review of this important part of the National Insurance scheme. The only change it recommends is one to enable a worker who has already taken an annual holiday to get unemployment benefit if he has to take an unpaid second holiday in the same year. I have today submitted to the Committee a preliminary draft of Regulations to give effect to this recommendation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the total output of coal, the total quantity and value of exports including bunkers, the total quantity and value of imports, and the average numbers of miners employed in the industry, in 1913, 1938, 1954 and the first nine months of 1955.

Following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will institute an inquiry into the difference between the price of coal at the pits and that charged to householders by coal merchants.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering this proposal, and will inform the hon. Member of his decision in due course.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the increases in the price of domestic coal has forced the Tottenham Borough Council to approve supplementary estimates of over £4,000; and if, in view of the effect of repeated increases on the fixing of rates, he will consider some method of price fixing which will not affect the rate estimate.

My right hon. Friend is aware that problems are created by increasing fuel costs, but he does not consider that they could be solved by changing the method of price fixing.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the establishment figure for Her Majesty's Mines Inspectors in the East Midland Division; and what is the size of the present staff.

Twenty-one and sixteen respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what efforts he is making to attract larger numbers of men into the mines inspectorate.

I am not at present in a position to add to the replies given to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. B. Taylor) on 27th June last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) the notional national average percentage of minor faults for which he makes allowance in payments of subsidy on first-quality eggs;

Subsidy is payable only on eggs graded by the packing station as first quality. Samples are check tested by Ministry inspectors and, if found to contain more than a prescribed percentage of second-quality eggs, a deduction is liable to be made on that account when the packer's claim is paid. The prescribed percentage is the average monthly percentage of second-quality eggs found in the samples tested by the Ministry in the corresponding month of the previous year. For instance, the figure for October is 2·5 per cent.My right hon. Friend has authority to pay subsidy only on first-quality eggs, and a complementary obligation to devise a practicable arrangement to ensure that it is not paid on second-quality eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now considered the Report of the Inter-departmental Committee on Slaughterhouses; and what action he proposes to take in relation to it.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) on 3rd November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that during the last five years no dogs or cats which were detained in quarantine on arrival in Great Britain subsequently contracted rabies, he will now relax the quarantine regulations.

I cannot accept the risk of doing this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amounts have been paid this year by way of deficiency payments regarding homegrown cereals and fatstock, respectively; and how much it is now estimated will be paid this financial year.

From the beginning of the current financial year, deficiency payments for the United Kingdom on homegrown cereals amounted to £20·3 million up to 31st October, and on fatstock to £37·8 million up to 28th October.In the Supplementary Estimate published on 5th July, the deficiency payments for the financial year on cereals were estimated at £48·9 million and on fatstock at £81·8 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the inconvenience to fishermen arising from the fact that each of the thirty-two river boards in England and Wales is a separate licensing area; and whether he will introduce amending legislation to enable comprehensive licences to be issued.

I have received representations on this matter from a number of bodies representative of coarse fishing interests, though not from others. I have undertaken to consider the proposal whenever the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Acts are reviewed.

asked the Minister of Health how many applications by, or on behalf of, tubercular patients for treatment in Swiss sanatoria during the years March, 1953, to September, 1955, were refused.

Seventy-one had to be refused by the responsible consultants as medically unsuitable or too young to be sent.

asked the Minister of Health what financial saving is effected by his cancellation of the scheme for sending tubercular patients to Swiss sanatoria for treatment under the National Health Service.

The Swiss scheme cost about £100,000 a year, which had to be found in foreign currency. The cost of treating an equivalent number of patients in sanatoria in this country would be about £75,000.

asked the Minister of Health what tasks of a more urgent nature have caused the hospital board to postpone its previously announced schedule for a maternity home at Harwich; and why it did not know about these projects when it announced their intended plans last year.

Only £1,000 was ever included for this scheme in the 1955–56 programme and increased costs on more urgent schemes already in the programme will now preclude expenditure on this maternity unit in the current financial year. Capital programmes must always be subject to review in the light of such developments.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the result of the special committee set up in each regional area which inquired into the farming activities of hospitals; how many hospital farms he has agreed to close; and how many of these are mental and tuberculosis hospitals in each area.

Reports have been received from regional hospital boards on 207 hospital farms. Decisions have been reached on 112 of these and discussions are still taking place on the remainder.The decisions reached so far provide for the disposal of land as follows:

	Acres.
To be sold	5,248
To be leased	3,708
Farmland at present leased to be surrendered	5,618
TOTAL	14,574

In fourteen cases these decisions involve the complete abandonment of farming activities. Nine of the hospitals involved are mental hospitals, four tuberculosis hospitals and one a general hospital.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increased cost of living, he will abolish the 1s. charge for prescriptions for all old-age pensioners.

No. The National Assistance Board will refund the charge to any pensioner who satisfies the Board that he cannot meet it without hardship.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the large demand in France for the import to France from Scotland of monk fish; that last year the request for facilities to export such fish from Scotland was rejected by the British Government and if he will explain the reason for this rejection; if he is aware that such exports and sales would bring French currency to Britain; and if he will now arrange that such exports from Scotland to France be permitted and facilitated.

The Government very much appreciate the desirability of securing increased facilities for the sale of fish abroad, and they take every opportunity open to them to negotiate for larger quotas. The proposition, which I think the hon. and learned Member has in mind, would have involved unacceptable conditions, but the quota for the import of our fish into France was increased by 10 per cent. as the result of our negotiations last year with the French Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what encouragement is being given by Her Majesty's Government to promote sales of cotton and other British textiles in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

We take every opportunity to impress upon the Soviet Government our wish to develop and diversify our export trade with Russia and to sell consumer goods, including textiles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the names of the principal "Other Foreign Countries," as given on page 82 of the Trade and Navigation Accounts for September, 1954, from which Britain imported coal in the first nine months of 1955, with the quantity and value from each.

The information is as follows:

	Tons	£
Poland	1,043,113	7,161,020
United States of America	3,640,581	24,763,681

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on the progress of trade negotiations with Czechoslovakia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cleveland (Mr. Palmer) on 27th October.

asked the Minister of Education how the United Kingdom representative at the Eighth General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation voted on the Resolution recognising that the results attained by Esperanto corresponded with the aims and ideals of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; and the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's support for Esperanto.

The United Kingdom delegate voted for this Resolution, having first successfully proposed the deletion of a recommendation that Member States of U.N.E.S.C.O. should encourage the teaching and use of Esperanto. The resolution does not commit either U.N.E.S.C.O. or Her Majesty's Government to the promotion of Esperanto.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that 4125938 Leading Aircraftman C. West has completed his two years' service overseas at D11 L. East 115 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force, Habbanya, Middle East Air Force 19, but has not yet been returned to a home station; when this will be done; and whether he will take steps to ensure that men serving overseas at Middle East Air Force 19 are not detained there after their period of overseas service has expired.

The airman completed his overseas tour on 25th October. He was flown back to the United Kingdom on 4th November. The delay of ten days was due to the diversion of aircraft for the Cyprus airlift.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to what extent the Royal Air Force has been making rain by cloud seeding; what attempts there have been to relieve areas of drough; and to what extent the Royal Air Force is to be available to assist areas badly in need of rain.

Some experiments in cloud seeding have recently been carried out from R.A.F. aircraft in the course of normal cloud flying training. The experiments were controlled by the Meteorological Office and have taken place over an area where any positive results might have a practical as well as an experimental value. It is, however, not yet possible to say whether any significant increase in rainfall can be achieved, and in consequence the last part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the growing difficulties of pensioners and those on fixed incomes in meeting the steadily increasing cost of living; and what steps he is taking to improve their position, particularly in the case of single pensioners and widowers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) on 27th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the probable effect of the imposition of Purchase Tax on the export of pottery.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to his questions on 3rd November.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the names of the present members of the Boards of the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation, respectively, and those of former members who have relinquished their appointments since 1951.

The following is a list of the present members of the Boards of the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation.B.O.A.C.Chairman: Sir Miles Thomas, D.F.C., M.I.Mech.E., M.S.A.E.Members (full-time): Major J. R. McCrindle, C.M.G., O.B.E., M.C., Mr. B. Smallpeice.Members (part-time): The Lord Burghley, K.C.M.G., Major General The Lord Rennell of Rodd, K.B.E., C.B., Sir Francis Brake, M.I.E.E., Mr. J. W. Booth, Sir John Stephenson, C.B.E., J.P., Mr. H. L. Newlands, M.B.E., The Rt. Hon. The Lord Tweedsmuir, O.B.E.B.E.A.Chairman: Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Douglas of Kirtleside, G.C.B., M.C., D.F.C.Deputy-Chairman (part-time): Sir John Keeling.Member (full-time): Sir Arnold Overton, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., M.C.Members (part-time): Sir Patrick Dollan, D.L., LL.D., J.P., Mr. W. A. Edmenson, C.B.E., Mr. A. C. Ping, M.Inst.T.A., Mr. S. K. Davies, C.B.E., The Rt. Hon. Lord Bafour of Inchrye, P.C., M.C.The following have ceased to be members of these Boards since 1951.B.O.A.C.Mr. Whitney Straight, C.B.E., M.C., D.F.C., Deputy-Chairman. Major R. H. Thornton, M.C., Member (part-time). Sir Clement Jones, C.B., Member (part-time).B.E.A.Mr. P. G. Masefield, M.A. (Eng.), F.R.Ae.S., Member (full-time) F.A.Ae.S., M.Inst.T.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the loss of the Grimsby trawler "Barry Castle" which sank off the coast of Iceland last week with the loss of four lives.

I have so far little information about this casualty. I am informed that the "Barry Castle" sprang a leak on 1st November off the north-west coast of Iceland and sank in heavy seas at about 11.30 a.m. after being taken in tow by the trawler "Princess Elizabeth." Fourteen members of the crew were rescued by ships which had come to her assistance; I regret to say that four others were lost. I have ordered a preliminary inquiry under the Merchant Shipping Acts into the casualty. I am sure the House will join with me in expressing our sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives in this unhappy occurrence. I should like also to express my appreciation to all those who went to the assistance of the vessel and her crew.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many political refugees are at present in Trinidad; how many are from Venezuela; how many refugees have been deported in the last twelve months, and for what reasons; and if he will give an assurance that Venezuelan refugees will be allowed to remain in Trinidad.

EXPATRIATION PAY AND ALLOWANCES
—						1953–54	1954–55	1955–56 (estimated)
						£	£	£
Nigeria (Eastern Region)	…	…	…	…	…	96,090	118,090	131,880
Nigeria (Western Region)	…	…	…	…	…	106,750	123,500	120,000
						Calendar Years
						1953	1954	1955 (estimated)
						£	£	£
Gambia	…	…	…	…	…	21,008	23,108	22,970

Twenty-four political refugees and their dependants are known to be in Trinidad at present. All are from Venezuela. No political refugee has been deported in the last year, but ten refugees from Venezuela who had been granted temporary permits to reside until such time as they were able to make satisfactory arrangements elsewhere, left the territory during the year.It is the policy of the Government of Trinidad to grant asylum to bona fide political refugees, but the hon. Member will appreciate that I cannot give an unqualified assurance that all Venezuelan refugees, whatever their number, personal conduct or political activity, will be allowed to remain indefinitely in Trinidad.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the cost of the expatriate portion of pay and allowances, excluding basic pay common to Africans and expatriates, for each of the last two years in each of the territories of Federal Nigeria, the Eastern Region of Nigeria, the Northern Region of Nigeria, the Western Region of Nigeria, the Nigerian Cameroons, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia; what it is, approximately, for the current year in each of these territories; and what each territory has received during the same periods from the colonial development and welfare fund.

The following are the best available figures:

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones in Brentford and Chiswick are still outstanding; how many were met during the nine months ended 30th September last; and how this figure compares with the total applications met in 1953 and 1954.

Three hundred and eighty-nine applications, excluding 214 in course of being met or under inquiry. 452 telephones were connected during the nine months ended 30th September last, 506 in 1953, and 536 in 1954.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that his proposals for the maintenance of rating on the northern and southern outfall sewers will take account of the loss of rate income from the period of the introduction of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1955.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25th October.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have decided to curtail or temporarily suspend house-building programmes as a result of the increase in loan charges.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery) on 1st November.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much lubricating oil is consumed monthly or for any other convenient period by the British Army in Cyprus.

During July, August and September, 1955, 3,869, 4,866 and 6,692 gallons, respectively.