asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total of the Czechoslovakian debts due to this country which must be settled before increased trade with Czechoslovakia will be permitted.

The total amount of the debts due from Czechoslovakia is about £23 million. We have invited the Czechoslovak Government to work out with us an arrangement for the resumption of payments in respect of these debts and to examine at the same time the question of increasing trade between our two countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that £100 post-war credits allocated in 1943 is now only worth £61, what steps he now proposes to take to ensure that those to whom future payments of post-war credits are made receive the full amount due to them.

In making payments of post-war credits at their money value, the Government follow the procedure laid down by statute.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the repayment in appropriate cases of post-war credits held by persons in receipt of National Assistance; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) on 3rd November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Government directors of the British Petroleum Company; their remuneration; and their duties.

The Government directors are Mr. F. E. Harmer and Sir Gordon Munro. They receive no remuneration from public funds but retain all fees received by them as directors of the com- pany and its subsidiary companies. I understand that at present such fees amount to £3,250 a year in each case. In addition to the ordinary functions of company directors, they have a general obligation to report on all matters, financial or general, which they consider should be referred to, or brought to the notice of. Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much steel it is estimated will be saved by the imposition of Purchase Tax on domestic articles.

I cannot say exactly what saving in steel will result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the provision of capital for the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have approved proposals for the South of Scotland Electricity Board for an issue of stock for the purpose of repaying temporary advances from the Scottish banks, of defraying further capital expenditure and for other authorised purposes. Accordingly the Board have today made the following issue of stock at £97 7s. 6d. per cent. to the National Debt Commissioners under Treasury Guarantee: £15 million of 4½ per cent. South of Scotland Electricity Guaranteed Stock 1967–1969.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is now the average period which elapses between the gathering of new laid eggs and their availability in the shops.

Now that the distribution of eggs is decontrolled, it is not possible to calculate a precise figure, but I am advised that about 7½ days would be a reasonable estimate of the average time between the gathering of home-produced eggs from the hen and their arrival in the shops. A large proportion of eggs reach the shops in about five days.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give an estimate of the number of combine harvesters in use in Britain for the gathering of the 1954 harvest and the 1955 harvest.

The estimated numbers of combine harvesters in use in Great Britain for the 1954 and 1955 harvests were 25,500 and 29,500, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to increase the production of home-grown feeding stuffs,

The White Paper on the 1955 Annual Review indicated ways in which the output and use of home-grown feeding stuffs could be increased. The price guarantees for barley and oats were raised and the fertilisers and ploughing-up subsidies increased. Every effort is being made to ensure that adequate technical advice and information on new techniques of crop and grass production are readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the present consumption of fortified flour, in all forms, which is of 70 per cent. extraction, giving the figure in the form of a percentage of the total wheat flour consumed.

The statistics of production and imports of flour do not show how much is of 70 per cent. extraction.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that flour used in baking standard National bread is at times of a higher extraction rate than is laid down by relations and what steps are being taken to ensure that the regulation is complied with.

I am aware that because of certain technical difficulties which have arisen in the practical application of the provisions of the Flour Order, the present situation is unsatisfactory. This was one of the considerations which led the Government in May to appoint a Panel to make an independent assessment of the composition and nutritional value of flour of varying extraction rates. I hope that the report of the Panel will reach me by the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of boxed Icelandic fish are now arriving in this country.

Recent imports have been averaging about 50 tons a month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the increased price of sugar beet pulp now charged to the growers of sugar beet, he will include a standard price to the grower for this commodity in the next review of farm prices.

No. I see no ground for treating sugar beet pulp differently from other animal feeding stuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the progress of discussions that have taken place regarding the future maintenance of fen roads, improved by his Department during the war, in the Littleport internal drainage area.

In response to a request made by the Littleport and Downham Drainage Commissioners an officer of my Department has made a detailed examination of these roads and will be reporting to them on maintenance costs as soon as possible. I have placed him at their disposal for any further consultations they may desire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of cases of fowl pest that have occurred in Norfolk in 1955 to the latest available date; and the number of fowls that have been destroyed.

The number of outbreaks of fowl pest confirmed in Norfolk in 1955 up to mid-day today is 129. Approximately 27,000 head of poultry have been slaughtered.

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

The latest reports for cereal crops were that the quality of wheat and oats was generally satisfactory, but barley showed some variation and in some cases was of poor malting quality. Estimates of yields per acre of cereal crops are well above the average of the preceding five years.The hay crop was very good. The general condition and feeding quality are

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take precautionary measures to prevent the importation of peas or other produce containing live weevils, such as of the species Bruchus Pisorum; and what steps he is taking to prevent weevils which are imported from spreading to our own crops.

I am advised that, although this insect has been found from time to time on imported peas, there is no evidence that it has established itself in this country, nor that it is likely to do so. In these circumstances, I do not propose

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement regarding supplies of butter from New Zealand and Denmark.

Yes. The production season in New Zealand has opened well and I am informed that shipments now afloat will provide plentiful supplies from mid-December. Danish butter production has suffered from the past dry summer, but supplies should increase seasonally in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider establishing one standard tenderometer for canning peas by which tenderometers at all factories can be set and checked by independent individuals such as are appointed for a similar purpose by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Consideration is being given in consultation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to the possibilities of standardising tenderometers used for the evaluation of samples of green peas for canning or freezing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period from 1st July to 30th September, 1955; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 10·6 million cwt. of mill-able wheat dispatched on delivery during the first accounting period (1st July, 1955, to 30th September, 1955) is 19s. 10·9d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 27s. 11d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore, be 8s. 0·1d. per cwt. £8 Os. 2d. per ton). In addition, approximately 150,000 cwt. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment.About 26,000 growers in the United Kingdom will share £4·3 million. Except for a few certificates which are under query, payment will begin at once and will be completed by the end of November, 1955.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that butter has reached the price of 4s. 6d. lb., that the cheaper type of butter has risen from 3s. 2d. to 3s. 10d. lb., eggs have now risen to 5s. 9d. and 6s. 3d. a dozen, and potatoes have risen to 3½d. lb.; and whether, as these continued price increases are making it difficult for the lower income group to purchase these articles, he will now re-introduce price control.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann) today. I am satisfied that Government intervention in the form of price control would neither be justified nor helpful.

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of hours worked per week by men aged 21 years or over in 1938, 1946, 1948 and 1954.

Statistics of average weekly hours worked by all men are not available, but inquiries made in one week in October in respect of wage earners in manufacturing industries generally and in a number of the principal non-manufacturing industries, showed that the average hours worked by men aged 21 years and over were 47·7 in 1938, 47·6 in 1946, 46·7 in 1948 and 48·5 in 1954.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of employed men aged 21 years or over in 1938, 1946, 1948 and 1954.

The estimated number of male employees aged 21 and over in all industries and services in Great Britain at end-May, 1954, was 12,624,000. I regret that corresponding figures are not available for 1938, 1946 and 1948.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies had been notified to his Department in the Manchester area at the last convenient date.

7,793 at 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made with the provision of the attendance centres and detention centres that were authorised by the Criminal Justice Act of 1948.

The provision of attendance centres for boys aged 12 but under 17 is proceeding wherever there appears likely to be a sufficient concentration of cases to enable a centre to operate. Forty centres are at present authorised, of which 32 are already in operation.As regards detention centres, a junior centre for boys not less than 14 and under 17 years of age was opened at Campsfield House, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, in July, 1952. A senior detention centre for boys not less than 17 and under 21 years of age was opened at Blantyre House, Goudhurst, Kent, in April, 1954. A second junior centre at Foston Hall, Derbyshire, is nearly ready for occupation and is expected to be open at the latest early in the New Year. Buildings for a second senior centre are in course of adaptation as Werrington, Staffordshire, and I hope it will be open towards the end of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increases in pay will be given to prison officers and the Metropolitan Police to meet increased rents and Purchase Tax.

I cannot accept the view that increases in taxation imposed for national reasons on the whole country should automatically justify higher payments, at the expense of the rest of the community, to particular classes of persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the report submitted to him as the result of visits paid by the Joint Under-Secretary of State to Harwich and other ports in September; and what action is being taken to improve immigration arrangements at these ports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the result of his discussions with the British Transport Commission regarding immigration facilities for tourists at Harwich, Parkeston Quay; and what further proposals he has for improving these facilities in view of the growing importance of this port to the tourist industry.

I am satisfied that the immigration officers of the Home Office, at all the sea ports and air ports at which they are stationed, discharge their difficult and responsible duties with all possible speed, efficiency and courtesy. The facilities available to them are better at some ports than others, and in particular, it has always been recognised that the port of Harwich lacks the basic facilities that would enable very large numbers of passengers to be passed rapidly and comfortably through the control, especially at peak periods of traffic. In the light of this year's experience of the heavy traffic at Harwich, discussions have been proceeding between my Department, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, and the British Transport Commission, and it is hoped that it will be possible to make some minor improvements before next season.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the recommendations of the Hurst Committee have now been considered; and what action is going to be taken.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7th July last to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Sir I. Clark Hutchison).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that parents who are found guilty of neglect of children can be trained instead of being sent to prison, where such a procedure is thought desirable.

Courts have already power to make a probation order, where they are of the opinion that it is expedient to do so, in respect of any parent found guilty of neglect of children. The court may also require mothers they put on probation to reside at one of the homes where neglectful mothers, accompanied by their children under five years of age, are given training in household management and child care, usually for a period of four months.

asked the Minister of Education what increases in pay will be given to school teachers to help them in meeting increased rents and Purchase Tax.

It is the duty of the Burnham Committee, whenever it thinks fit, to make recommendations to me about the remuneration of teachers.

asked the Minister of Education by what amounts the salaries of women teachers in primary schools will be increased during the present financial year as an instalment toward securing equal pay for men and women teachers.

The Burnham Committee's proposal, which I approved, is designed to bring the salaries of women teachers up to the salaries of men by 1st April, 1961, in seven equal annual stages. The amounts which women teachers will receive during the present financial year will vary according to their length of service and qualifications.

asked the Minister of Education the total value of projects proposed to him by the Staffordshire local education authority for the 1956–57 school building programme; and the total value of projects he has approved.

The figures are about £4 million and about £1½ million respectively.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will issue a circular to all local education authorities making clear to them that it is the Government's intention that local education authorities shall not cut their school building programmes.

No. I think that local education authorities are fully aware that, in accordance with the recent pronouncements by the Government, they are expected to proceed with the projects in the announced building programme. If any authority considers that it should, on grounds of economy or efficiency, delay the start of any building for rural reorganisation, it may do so provided that all work needed for complete reorganisation will be started within the five years laid down in Circular 283. There remains some £10 million of minor works which I do not control. These should be closely scrutinised by local authorities and projects which are not urgently needed should be postponed.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how far children of five years of age living in Moat Green Avenue, Wednesfield, Staffordshire, have to travel to school;(2) if he is aware of the difficulties facing mothers of children of five and six years of age in the Moat Green Avenue area of Wednesfield, Staffordshire, because of the distance the children have to travel to school; and what steps he is taking to ease their problem.

No child in this area has to walk more than three-quarters of a mile to school, and there is an adult patrol at the crossing of the main road. The parents should not be involved in any unreasonable difficulty, and even when new primary schools are built there will no doubt be some children who will have to walk this distance.

asked the Minister of Education the number of children in each of the Counties of Surrey, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire who, after the age of 11 years, are compelled to stay at the same primary school until the age of 15 years owing to no places being available in secondary modern schools for those who fail to obtain a grammar school place.

In January, 1955, the numbers of pupils in the senior classes of all-age departments in the four administrative counties named were as follows:

asked the Minister of Education whether he will introduce a Bill, to encourage teachers to defer their retirement, during the present Session.

The Government propose to introduce during the present Session a Bill to give effect to a new teachers' superannuation scheme. This Bill will include provisions which I hope will encourage some teachers to delay their retirement.

asked the Minister of Education how many pupils in British schools learn French as part of the regular curriculum.

I have no statistics on this subject but I estimate that the number is nearly a million.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements have lately been made with Her Majesty's Government in Canada for assisted passages for migrants from the United Kingdom.

None, but Her Majesty's Government in Canada recently announced a considerable broadening of the categories of immigrants eligible to receive from them an advance of passage money.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will take a decision on the subject of a survey of the British film industry; and what character this survey may be expected to take.

This matter is under consideration at the present time but it is unlikely that my right hon. Friend will have a statement to make on it in the immediate future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost of the investigations undertaken to date by the Monopolies Commission.

The total cost of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission, including all office overheads, from its inception in 1949 to date, is about £535,000.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what conditions relating to the maintenance of given standards of service he stipulates when hearing appeals from licensing authorities by bus operators.

Each appeal is determined separately on its own merits in the light of the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts. Any evidence relating to standards of service is, of course, taken into account.

asked the Minister of Health the number of fatal accidents in the home atributed to coal gas poisoning for 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954, respectively.

The figures for England and Wales are as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General how far the 14-day rule affects the weekly broadcast of the Week in Parliament.

These broadcasts, being an impartial account of what has happened in Parliament, fall outside the scope of the 14-day rule.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will discuss with the Government of Mauritius the desirability of appointing a committee of experts to advise on the establishment of light industries in the Colony.

I am advised by the Governor that it is doubtful whether the appointment of such a committee would be useful at present.2. The economic development of the Colony was the subject of an exhaustive study undertaken in 1946–48. The Government are now engaged primarily on basic development such as the improvement of water supplies, the extension of irrigation projects, the expansion of the agricultural extension work and the development of the electricity supply.Plans for the major improvement of the communication system and the provision of additional port facilities at Port Louis are under close examination. Consideration is also being given to the diversification of the Colony's agriculture namely by the encouragement of the tea industry. The commitments already undertaken and those planned will make very heavy demands on local resources and at present priority must be given to them.3. Possible opportunities of industrial development are being studied but it is considered that at this stage the emphasis must continue to be placed on agricultural development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision has been made from the colonial development fund for assistance in the establishment of light industries in Mauritius.

Of the £75,000 allocated to the development of secondary industries in the Colony's development plan for the period 1946–56, £57,000 has been advanced as loans to various industrial undertakings.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give an estimate of the cost of installing Grid Line 275 kV.

The estimated cost per mile is £25,000 for a double circuit line with twin conductors of 0·4 sq. in. and voltage 275/380 kV.; and £16,000 for a double circuit line with single conductor of 0·175 sq. in. and 275 kV.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in continuing to authorise Grid Line 275 kV through Gloucestershire, and in particular the Cotswold Hills, he has taken into account the fact that coal sources of energy will become redundant in favour of nuclear energy within the forseeable future.

As explained in the White Paper on Nuclear Power (Cmd. 9389), coal sources of energy will not become redundant within the foreseeable future, and in any case the grid system will be needed to distribute electricity whether produced from coal or nuclear power.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the domestic coal situation in the County of West Sussex.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the unsatisfactory conditions under which some members of the staff are housed at 67, Cowlairs Road, Glasgow, what arrangements he proposes to improve this accommodation.

My Department has already been in consultation with the Ministry of Works about these premises and it is proposed to make some adaptation in the next financial year that will I hope, deal with the criticism.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students are enrolled for degree or equivalent courses in engineering and technological subjects in Scotland; and how many of these are foreign students.

2,014 students are enrolled for degree or equivalent courses in engineering and technology in technical colleges in Scotland; 243 of these students are from foreign countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses had been built and how many had been let by the East Kilbride Development Corporation, at the latest convenient date, and at monthly intervals since 1951.

By 22nd October, 1955, 3,480 houses had been built and 3,256 let by the Development Corporation. I am sending the details to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dwellings have been let by the East Kilbride Development Corporation; the population of the new town; how many shops have been built by the Corporation; and how many he estimates will be built in the corning year.

At 22nd October, 1955, 3,256 dwellings had been let the present population is approximately 13,500. Of the 65 shops in the area, 25 have been built by the development corporation, which estimates that by 31st October, 1956, 31 more shops will have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further areas of farmland in the Upper Ward of Lanark are being considered by the Forestry Commission for the development of afforestation.

The Forestry Commissioners have been offered by the owner an area of 600 acres in a coal mining district in the Upper Ward of Lanark where part of the land is let to a farmer: no decision has yet been taken as to whether the offer should be accepted. The Commissioners have also opened negotiations for about 70 acres of rough grazing land which have been offered to them by the owner-occupier.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that the engine testing of the Armstrong Siddeley Motors Limited at Ansty Aerodrome continues to cause annoyance to local residents; and what further discussions he has had to seek a reduction of the noise.

During the past year. Messrs. Armstrong Siddeley have installed a further test house with mufflers and are about to install two more. No jet engines will in future be tested without muffllers. Some brief testing of other engines which cannot, as yet, be effectively silenced is necessary, but is confined to the day-time.