asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what recent progress has been made in research aimed at a better utilisation of waste paper.

No research has been done recently under Government auspices on the better utilisation of waste paper. The reason for this is that the collection and sorting of waste paper is a laborious and expensive process, and lack of knowledge about its utilisation is not the main problem.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will issue a White Paper giving the fullest authoritative information available on the effects of radiation on the human race, the extent of medical research in all its aspects on this question now in progress, and the details of the advice given by Government advisers to Departments connected with work on atomic power so far as harmful effects are concerned and the action taken by the Departments.

As my hon. Friend will know, the Medical Research Council is already engaged on the preparation of a report on the medical aspects of nuclear radiation, for publication as a White Paper. The report will review the existing scientific information on the effects of nuclear radiation on human beings and will set out the most up-to-date research results available.The annual report of the Medical Research Council contains an extensive account of the research in progress and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.As regards the last part of the Question, the Factory Department of the Ministry of Labour and National Service has issued a booklet entitled "Precautions in the use of ionising radiations in industry," of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health hopes to issue in a few months' time a code of practice for the protection of hospital workers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, which areas of the country the Medical Research Council have in mind for making a study on populations who are subject to varying degrees of natural radioactivity.

I am informed by the Medical Research Council that discussions on a possible study of populations subject to varying degrees of natural radioactivity are still at an early stage. The Council are therefore not yet in a position to say which areas of the country might be selected.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, the estimated capital expenditure involved in the setting up of a national reference library of science and inventions.

As I said in reply to the hon. Member on 1st November, the establishment of a National Reference Library on Science and Invention is necessarily bound up with the future of the Patent Office building. The capital cost of a new building to house both the Patent Office and its Library, extended to provide the coverage of a National Reference Library, is estimated at rather more than £2 million, excluding the cost of the site. It is difficult to give a separate estimate for the share of the Library in the total cost; but it would take up more than half of the total accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will abolish pay parades and arrange for the issue of pay and allowances by means of pay packets.

A parade would generally be necessary even if pay were issued in packets and my right hon. Friend can see no need to change the present arrangements, which are economical of everybody's time.

asked the Secretary of State for War what lessons were drawn from the exercise, "Honest John," held by the British Army of the Rhine; and what reorganisation is contemplated in the structure of the armoured and infantry divisions.

The first impression is that the new organisation is sound but that changes in detail will probably be necessary. The necessary consultations arising out of these experiments have not yet been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he has failed to call to the Colours, Frank William Harvey, of 7 Thompstone Avenue, Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, who volunteered for a Regular engagement in the military police on 10th October and was promised enlistment on 19th October.

Mr. Harvey applied to join the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on 12th October but changed his mind on the 17th and said that he would prefer to enlist into the Royal Military Police. For this corps there is a special enlistment procedure which includes a process similar to that which applicants for the civil police undergo. Some delay is, therefore, unavoidable. I am assured that no promise was given to Mr. Harvey that he would be enlisted into the Royal Military Police on 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for war what percentage of men performing their National Service in the Army were considered illiterate or grossly defective in primary education on entry; what is the percentage of those who have become literate or have reached a reasonable educational level during their term of service; and, what, approximately, is the proportion of National Service men who receive training during their period of service that can enable them to find suitable employment in civil life.

Since 1953 under 1 per cent. of National Service men called into the Army have been illiterate. About 20 per cent. have been educationally below average but only a small number of these could be called grossly defective in primary education. The Answers to the last two parts of the hon. Member's Question are not available. Men who are illiterate on entry are, however, encouraged to study during duty and off-duty hours. All National Service men are encouraged to make use of the opportunities which exist for vocational training in a wide range of subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for War approximately what percentage of men called-up for deferred National Service, after their period of apprenticeship or other civil or industrial training has been completed, are enabled to employ the results of their pre-National Service training during their term of service.

Up-to-date information is not readily available, but examination of a sample of National Service men who completed their service in September, 1953, produced a figure of 31·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent Army chaplains are encouraged and are enabled to promote and to hold non-vocational educational groups or classes in military centres.

We provide for any soldier who wishes to have it not less than one hour's religious instruction a fortnight during working hours. Apart from this, there are Church houses in all major commands at which some thousands of men and women of all ranks receive additional instruction through Christian information and Christian leadership courses.

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision is being made for the 8,000 Mauritian members of the Pioneer Corps who, after serving with the British forces in the Suez Canal Zone and the Middle East, have been discharged and returned to Mauritius, where little opportunity of employment is available to them.

They were given 28 days' paid leave and interviewed on release by officials of the local government who I understand have had considerable success in finding employment for them either in the sugar industry or in Government works.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proposals he has for improving the efficiency of the accounting system in the Army.

We have no immediate changes in view, but we are constantly on the look out for methods of further improving the existing system.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he made for the revision of the Anglo-American film agreement during the recent negotiations for its renewal; and with what results.

The Government's proposal to extend the Anglo-American Film Agreement without change for another year was accepted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has recently received on the subject of the revision of the Anglo-American film agreement; and what reply he has made.

The Association of Cinematograph and Allied Technicians suggested that the remittance of earnings to the United States under the Agreement should be reduced and that the import of American films should be limited by quantitative control. The Association were told that these points and all other relevant considerations had been taken into account by the Government in deciding their attitude to the Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reduce the rate of deposit on hire purchase on second-hand cars, as compared with new ones.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reductions have taken place over the last three months in the indebtedness of the nationalised industries to the banks.

The maximum amount approved by the Government for temporary borrowing by the nationalised industries is £58 million to be outstanding on 31st December, 1955, compared with £298 million on 30th September last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far a donation by a joint stock company to an educational trust receives relief from Income and Profits Tax.

A donation for technical education may be an admissible expense for Income Tax and Profits Tax purposes under Section 140 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, if the education is directly related to the donor's trade. Small annual subscriptions by a company which has direct business connection with the trust may also be admissible. Further, effective relief from Income Tax may be obtainable for donations made under deed of covenant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the value, in terms of current purchasing power, of £100 of postwar credits allocated in 1943, 1944, and 1945.

The current purchasing power of £100 post-war credits allocated in 1943, 1944 and 1945 is estimated to be roughly £61, £63 and £64.This answer is based on the Consumer Price Index brought up to date by the Interim Index of Retail Prices. The Consumer Price Index has recently been revised for the years since 1946. No revised figures are, however, available for 1943, 1944 and 1945 so the Answer has had to be based partly on the old series.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to treat post-war credits on the same basis as Post Office Savings Bank deposits, and allow 2½ per cent. interest.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) on 23rd June and to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence) on 3rd November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the increases made by the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1952, are now inadequate, what steps he now proposes to take to improve the position of the pensioners affected by the Act.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies of my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 27th October to Questions by the hon. Members for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) and Dartford (Mr. Sydney Irving).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount of paper is purchased by Her Majesty's Government; and the cost.

Forty-six thousand tons of paper during the last financial year, at a cost of £5,556,000. This includes paper for use by the Stationery Office in its publications.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that tax collectors injured by assault in the course of their duties are not entitled to compensation from the Board of Inland Revenue; and whether he will take steps to remedy this injustice.

The Board of Inland Revenue is prepared in appropriate circumstances to consider the possibility of an ex gratia payment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of Treasury Bills outstanding at 31st October, 1955, or the latest convenient date; and what amounts were held, respectively, by British, other sterling area, United States, other dollar area, and other foreign persons or institutions, respectively.

The amount of Treasury Bills outstanding on 29th October, 1955, the latest convenient date, was £5,311,380,000, as published in the Exchequer Return. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount received in dollars for Treasury Bills issued during the year ended 31st October, 1955, or the latest convenient date; the total payment in dollars made in respect of interest on Treasury Bills; and the total payment made in dollars in respect of redemption of Treasury Bills during the same period.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in future, he will refrain from using the term "slum clearance" in official correspondence and publications, since many people living in obsolete houses that are now due for demolition are excellent citizens and resent the imputation that they are slum dwellers.

The same thought has often occurred to me. I agree that "slum" is an unpleasant expression. The full statutory official designation of slum houses is

"houses which are unfit for human habitation or by reason of their bad arrangement, or the narrowness or bad arrangement of the streets, dangerous or injurious to the health of the inhabitants of the area."

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the annual target for slum clearance, expressed in terms of units of accommodation, which the Government have set for achievement during the present Parliament.

Our immediate aim is to step up the slum clearance campaign so as to secure, as soon as possible, the rehousing of at least 200,000 people a year, involving the annual provision of about 60,000 new dwellings for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has for a higher rate of housing subsidy to apply to houses whose construction has been delayed because his Department has insisted on fresh tenders or alterations in specifications.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the position which will arise when the Housing Subsidies Bill becomes law. After the Bill has received a Second Reading, I propose to issue to local authorities a circular dealing among other things with this point, and I will send a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now satisfied with the existing arrangements for rehousing Service men on discharge, where they have been in occupation of married quarters.

In a circular dated 8th March, I recommended to housing authorities that any application for a council house from a Regular ex-Service man, who had found employment in or near the district or had family connections with it (provided the application is made within one year of his leaving the forces), should be considered exclusively on the basis of his housing need and without regard to the length of his residence in the locality. I asked authorities to let me know their practice in this regard and invited any, who saw difficulty in treating ex-Service men in this way, to send me particulars of the problem in their area.Out of 1,467 local authorities in England and Wales to whom the circular of the 8th March was sent, 1,329 have now replied. Of these, 966 have assured me that they were already applying the principles which I recommended. Two hundred and twenty-two have stated that, whilst they had not done so hitherto, they would in future bring their practice into conformity with my recommendations. Thirty-five authorities have given unsatisfactory replies. Ninety-seven have given partially satisfactory replies and nine are reconsidering their practice.All replies which are not fully satisfactory are being followed up, and further reminders are being sent to authorities who have not yet let me know their practice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have expressed to him their desire for a lower rate of interest on housing loans; and what reply he has made.

Since the Public Works Loan Board rate increase to 4¼ per cent. on 9th July I have had representations from nearly sixty local authorities. They have been told that it is Government policy that they should pay the current market rate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the floor area of new office building erected since the war, in course of erection, and approved, in the London area and in the Borough of Holborn, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the ratio of unemployment in Scotland greatly exceeds the ratio of unemployment in the Midlands and south of England; if he will investigate and state the causes of this; and what steps he is taking to remove the causes of unemployment in Scotland.

I am aware that unemployment is higher in Scotland than in other parts of Great Britain. It has, however, fallen considerably over the past two years and the number unemployed in October was the lowest for the month since 1945. It is not possible to deal adequately with the last part of the inquiry within the limits of an Answer to a Parliamentary Question, and I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the speech which my right hon. and learned Friend made in the debate on industry and employment in Scotland on 14th July last.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage increases in wages of manual workers employed in the coal mining, gas, electricity and railway industries from 1946 to 1954, for each industry and each year.

I am having the available information extracted and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men discharged as medically unfit from the Regular Forces during the past twelve months have been called up for National Service.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the estimated total of the subsidy on phosphatic and nitrogenous fertilisers this year; to what extent this subsidy results in the cost of fertilisers to British farmers being reduced below the cost of similar fertilisers at world prices; and what check he keeps on the profit margins taken by the fertiliser manufacturers.

The estimated total cost of the fertiliser subsidy in the current fertiliser year (July to June) is about £16 million. The initial costs of phosphatic fertilisers to British farmers are broadly in line with world prices, and those of nitrogenous fertilisers are a little below world prices, so that after recovery of the subsidy, the net costs of both are substantially less. Payment of the subsidy does not involve control over fertiliser production or costs. I would remind my hon. Friend that this industry has been referred to the Monopolies Commission for investigation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Howitt Committee on pig production.

The recommendations in this Report cover a wide field and most of them call for consultation with the various sections of the pig industry. The Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and my right hon. Friend will shortly be seeking the views of the organisations concerned and a statement will be made as soon as possible on those recommendations which would necessitate Government action. I should like to take this opportunity, on behalf of my right hon. Friends and myself, of thanking Sir Harold Howitt and his colleagues for the speed and thoroughness with which they have dealt with the issues referred to them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the traffic congestion and waste of police manpower caused by works at the junction of Theobald's Road and Southampton Row; and whether he will take steps to shorten the period of dislocation.

The recent congestion here has been mainly due to the necessary alterations to mains before road improvements could be carried out. The London County Council, who is responsible for the improvements, is doing everything possible to expedite the work.

asked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the operation of the National Health Service Act disciplinary procedure in relation to the services administered by the Medical Executive Council, with a view to amending the composition of the appeal panel, in view of the fact that this panel comprises persons appointed by the Minister and that the further appeal from the panel is to the Minister himself.

Under arrangements which go back in principle to 1913, and which appear to have worked satisfactorily in the interests of both patients and doctors, the responsibility for deciding appeals from the decisions of executive councils on complaints against practitioners taking part in the general medical services under the National Health Service, rests with me and not with a panel. The persons taking oral hearings do so on my behalf.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give an estimate of the extra cost to the Exchequer, per annum, of giving to all retired teachers the same rates of pension as if they had retired on 1st January, 1955, instead of on their actual respective dates of retirement.

I have been asked to reply.The changes which have taken place in the education system and in the structure of the Burnham salary scales since most of the present 76,000 teacher pensioners retired make it impossible to say what pension they would have received had they retired on the 1st January, 1955.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of students at present enrolled at technical colleges in sandwich courses in engineering and applied science.

In the 1954–55 session, 1,522 students were taking a variety of these courses leading to different levels of qualification. I have no figure for the present session, but I know that a number of additional courses have been started.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools were under construction at the latest date for which figures are available; and how this figure compares with those at the same date in 1954, 1953, and 1952.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alterations are envisaged in the duties and functions of local authorities concerning Civil Defence as a result of the recent appointments in this field and the coordination of Civil Defence with the Armed Forces.

I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to the regional directors of Civil Defence, whose duties will include liaison with the Army commands in their newly increased responsibilities for civil defence. These recent appointments are in recognition of the need to strengthen the existing regional organisation of the Home Office to meet the greater demands that will be made upon it as the replanning of civil defence proceeds: they do not mark any alteration in the wide range of important Civil Defence responsibilities laid upon local authorities.