asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is fully satisfied that the six months' quarantine for animals is an inescapable necessity in view of the progress in medicine; and whether he will consider whether alterations can be made.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the quarantine of imported dogs and cats. I would refer him to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) on 10th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present machinery for ensuring adequate co-operation between the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the various agricultural research institutes under the auspices of the Agricultural Research Council; and whether, with a view to encouraging more effective two-way traffic between the farming community and agricultural research, arrangements can be made to appoint a certain number of the advisory service officers to agricultural research institutes, either on a permanent or temporary basis.

There is constant personal contact, secured in a number of ways, between officers of the National Agricultural Advisory Service and the staffs of research institutes. The stationing of advisory officers at such institutes has been examined in the past and adopted in one or two special cases. I do not consider that the present arrangements for securing two way traffic would be made more effective by similar appointments at other institutes, but the matter will be kept under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now announce what will be done to implement the Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Slaughterhouses.

I have not yet reached decisions on the Committee's recommendations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the urgent need for a policy on slaughterhouses, if he will make a statement following his consideration of the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee and comments on those recommendations by the interests concerned.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland. North (Mr. Willey), today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the licensing of pedigree boars only is in the best interests of pork and bacon production; and if he will make a statement.

The Howitt Committee on Pig Production has recommended that the Government should seek the necessary power to limit licences to pedigree boars. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are considering this recommendation in consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will arrange for men attending for a medical examination prior to call-up for National Service to be given a chest X-ray as part of that examination.

Over 80 per cent. of National Service men attending for medical examination are given a chest X-ray as part of their examination. In a few areas, including Anglesey, the percentage has been much lower, because of difficulty in providing the necessary facilities. The Welsh Board of Health is now able to arrange for a mobile X-ray unit to visit Bangor at quarterly intervals, and the great majority of National Service men from Anglesey attending for medical examination should be assured of an X-ray examination.

asked the Minister of Labour what changes have taken place since 1951 in the relationship between the number of persons employed in distribution and production, respectively.

There has been an increase of 440,000 in the number of persons engaged in production compared with an increase of 193,000 in distribution. As, however, the number engaged in production is much larger than that engaged in distribution, the effect is that for every 100 persons engaged in distribution there were 480 in production in 1951 and 460 in 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are to be taken to safeguard the property of residents in the neighbourhood of Fairlop Close, Barkingside, which suffers from the depredations of unruly neighbours.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has given special attention to this matter. A regular foot patrol visits Fairlop Close twice daily and visits at varying intervals are made by a dog patrol and a wireless car. The police fully appreciate the need to protect the property of neighbouring residents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations he has caused to be made into the complaint of Albert O'Dwyer, of Fairlop Close, of his treatment by the Barkingside police.

As I informed the hon. Member in a letter I wrote to him on 15th September, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis made careful inquiries into this complaint and sent me a full report. There are no grounds for thinking that the police acted improperly in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit the docking of dogs' tails.

There is already legislation on this subject and I would refer my hon. Friend to the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act, 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to cases of doctors charging high fees for signing cremation certificates B and C, amounting to £10 10s. in one instance, which violate the voluntary arrangements which he announced on 12th November, 1953, with the British Medical Association for a uniform fee of £2 2s., plus a mileage allowance at the rate of 1s. per mile; and if he will now make use of the powers contained in the Cremation Act, 1952, and prescribe maximum fees.

I must await the result of inquiries now being made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health into certain cases brought to my notice in which fees in excess of those recommended by the British Medical Association are stated to have been charged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the investigations by Detective-Superintendent Herbert Hannam of the alleged bribery and corruption among certain uniformed police officers attached to the West End Central Police Station; and whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report of this officer to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

As regards the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on 18th November. There can be no question of publishing police reports which are confidential documents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the use of bows and arrows and other dangerous weapons by children in public places except under responsible supervision.

It is already an offence wantonly to throw or discharge a missile in a street or public place. I am not satisfied that further legislation would be a practicable way of reducing accidents from the use by children of dangerous weapons.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools for handicapped children have been established in North Wales; where they are situated and what areas they serve; and what steps he is taking to provide more schools of this kind in the area.

Since the information for which the hon. Member asks is lengthy and includes a complicated table, I am sending it to him in a letter.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement indicating what assistance he is receiving and expects to receive from the electrical, petroleum, chemical and other technologically progressive industries in this country in connection with his plans for expanding educational facilities designed to meet present and future shortages of qualified scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians.

These industries co-operate very closely with my Department in the planning of technical education and with individual technical colleges in the planning of courses and by paying for the attendance of students. They also help many colleges by gifts of equipment and by encouraging members of their staffs to serve on governing bodies or to undertake part-time teaching.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the shortage of science teachers; and what steps he is taking to make their position more attractive in order to recruit more men into this profession.

Yes. My right hon. Friend hopes some improvement will result from the increased salary allowances now available for teachers of advanced work, from the decision announced last July to allow the deferment from National Service of certain graduates in science and mathematics who take up teaching, and from the growing recognition of the importance of this work. But the only long term remedy lies in a large increase in the output of scientists generally, and it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to secure such an increase from schools, technical colleges and the universities.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will indicate his policy on school-life agreements, in view of the inability of the Central Advisory Council for Education (England) in their Report on early leaving, paragraph 185, to recommend their general adoption.

My right hon. Friend does not wish to interfere with the arrangements of those authorities that find school-life agreements of value, but for the reasons given in the Report of the Central Advisory Council, he will not recommend their general adoption.

asked the Minister of Education, for the session ended 1954, the final examination results of State scholars and of State supplemental scholars, respectively, at Oxford and Cambridge.

The table below gives this information for the academic year ending in 1954. The figures for the academic year ending in 1953 are given in brackets:

—	New entrant award holders																Mid-course recipients of awards
	Column 1				Column 2				Column 3				Column 4				Column 5
	State (G.C.E.) only				State Supplemental only				State G.C.E. and Supplemental				Total of Columns 1, 2 and 3				State Supplemental
	Men		Women		Men		Women		Men		Women		Men		Women		Men		Women
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
First Class Honours	15	(20)	5	(3)	29	(28)	5	(5)	15	(10)	4	(—)	59	(58)	14	(8)	3	(—)	—	(1)
Second Class Honours	43	(43)	39	(38)	150	(130)	13	(20)	28	(30)	9	(6)	221	(203)	61	(64)	6	(2)	—	(—)
Other Honours	11	(10)	7	(9)	44	(38)	2	(3)	2	(7)	2	(1)	57	(55)	11	(13)	—	(—)	—	(—)
Pass Degree	2	(—)	—	(2)	4	(9)	1	(1)	3	(—)	—	(—)	9	(9)	1	(3)	—	(—)	—	(—)
Failed	—	(1)	—	(1)	1	(3)	—	(1)	—	(—)	—	(—)	1	(4)	—	(2)	—	(—)	—	(—)
Premature Termination or Result not known	4	(1)	—	(—)	4	(7)	3	(3)	1	(2)	—	(1)	9	(10)	3	(4)	—	(—)	—	(—)
All results	75	(75)	51	(53)	232	(215)	24	(33)	49	(49)	15	(8)	356	(339)	90	(94)	9	(2)	—	(1)
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
First Class Honours	16	(17)	2	(1)	34	(52)	1	(1)	30	(24)	4	(2)	80	(93)	7	(4)	5	(1)	1	(2)
Second Class Honours	87	(58)	27	(23)	190	(208)	5	(14)	54	(39)	8	(6)	331	(305)	40	(43)	12	(5)	2	(—)
Other Honours	29	(18)	7	(8)	53	(71)	2	(1)	26	(18)	1	(—)	108	(107)	10	(9)	3	(3)	—	(—)
Pass Degree	4	(6)	2	(4)	16	(12)	3	(3)	3	(8)	—	(—)	23	(26)	5	(7)	1	(—)	—	(—)
Failed	3	(2)	—	(1)	9	(2)	—	(—)	2	(1)	—	(—)	14	(5)	—	(1)	—	(—)	—	(—)
Premature Termination or Result not known	1	(3)	4	(1)	5	(7)	1	(1)	—	(—)	—	(—)	6	(10)	5	(2)	—	(—)	—	(—)
All results	140	(104)	42	(38)	307	(352)	12	(20)	115	(90)	13	(8)	562	(546)	67	(66)	21	(9)	3	(2)
Scholars known to have accepted both State (O.C.E.) and State (Supplemental) awards have been entered in the appropriate column; this information was not always available. Scholars entering in 1953 and subsequently were not entitled to accept both awards

asked the Minister of Education what figures are available showing the recruitment, wastage, and depletion in the teaching profession during the period 1945 to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will publish such figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The number of teachers has increased as follows:

January			Number in post	Increase over previous year
1946	…	…	175,900	—
1947	…	…	187,500	11,600
1948	…	…	196,200	8,700
1949	…	…	203,300	7,100
1950	…	…	209,100	5,800
1951	…	…	216,000	6,900
1952	…	…	222,000	6,000
1953	…	…	227,600	5,600
1954	…	…	233,700	6,100
1955	…	…	241,300	7,600

Since 1947 the numbers recruited from training colleges and departments and the net gains through married women returning to service, have been as follows:

Calendar year		Normal training	Emergency training	Married women returning to service (net)	Total recruitment from these sources
1947	…	7,400	6,700	Not available	Not available
1948	…	8,100	10,700	2,100	20,900
1949	…	8,500	7,600	1,600	17,700
1950	…	9,900	6,000	1,400	17,300
1951	…	11,500	—	1,500	13,000
1952	…	12,000	—	2,000	14,000
1953	…	12,200	—	2,400	14,600
1954	…	12,000	—	2,500	14,500

The difference between annual net gains and annual recruitment can be attributed to wastage through retirements, etc.; but this does not give an accurate figure for such wastage because allowance must also be made for the recruitment of small numbers of teachers from other sources than training colleges and departments and because throughout this period there has been a decline in the number of unqualified teachers.

asked the Minister of Education how many, and what percentage of eligible grammar school pupils, over the age of 16 years at the latest convenient date, left school without taking the General Certificate Examination.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many grammar school pupils, at the latest convenient date, sat for the General Certificate Examination; how many failed in all subjects taken; and how many, in each category, were over 16 years of age.

In the summer of 1954 144,362 grammar school pupils took the General Certificate Examination, of whom 131,903 were over 16. It is not known how many of these failed in all subjects taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far he has been able to implement the undertaking he gave during the debate on 29th October, 1952, about attracting new industries to areas suffering from employment difficulties outside the Development Areas.

It continues to be the Government's policy to encourage the establishment of new industries in areas outside the Development Areas where the outlook for employment makes this desirable. The undertaking related to relaxation in a few places of the restrictions on building which have since been abolished.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement in order to compare figures of recent United Kingdom export performance with earlier figures, both in respect of volume and value.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement regarding the increase in United Kingdom exports so far in 1955, in volume and in value, compared with the same period in 1954; and whether he will include such details as are available for this period of the increase in exports to the sterling and dollar areas.

Since 1953 United Kingdom exports have been increasing at an annual rate of about 7 per cent. in volume and 6 per cent. in value. The following is a table comparing United Kingdom export performance in stated periods, 1955, with corresponding periods, 1954:

	* Volume	Value
Total United Kingdom exports 1st 9 months 1955	+ 6 per cent.	+ 6 per cent.
United Kingdom exports to sterling area 1st 9 months 1955	not yet available	+ 4 per cent.
1st 6 months 1955	+ 4 per cent.	+ 3 per cent.
United Kingdom exports to dollar area 1st 9 months 1955	not yet available	+ 10 per cent.
1st 6 months 1955	+ 4 per cent.	+ 1 per cent.
United Kingdom exports of engineering goods April/September, 1955	+ 5½ per cent.	7 per cent.
* Calculated from the export volume indices with the base year 1950.

Volume figures are not available for United Kingdom exports to parts of the world not included in the table above.I much regret that I was in error on Friday last, in stating in reply to an intervention from my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Burden), that with certain exceptions the figures I had just given in my speech were volume figures. They were all value figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in the purchasing power of the £ since 28th July, 1950.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in July, 1950, it is estimated that the corresponding figure for October, 1955, is 15s. 10d. This estimate is based on the consumer price index up to 1954, and the Interim Index of Retail Prices thereafter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the course of his consideration of the request for Income Tax relief on private school fees, he will consider fixing differential rates of relief according to the income of the applicants.

My right hon. Friend has noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far the agreement to abolish artificial aids to exports has been carried out by members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

Under the decision of the Council of the Organisation of last January, member countries are required to discontinue a number of artificial aids to exporters by 31st December, 1955.Western Germany's currency retention scheme was withdrawn on 31st March, 1954, and the Federal Government have announced their intention not to renew their tax incentive scheme for exports which expires at the end of 1955.It is expected that the Organisation will shortly be calling for reports from the member countries to show the action they have taken to comply with the decision of 14th January, 1955.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will include in his pensions increase proposals for retired State and local government servants, not only those who have benefited by previous Pensions (Increase) Acts but also other retired servants of the State who, technically, may not have been civil servants, such as ex-members of judicial or other similar services.

This will be borne in mind in the preparation of the detailed proposals to which I referred on 17th November, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Poole (Captain Pilkington).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many trawlermen have lost their lives at sea during the past 12 months, or for the nearest available period; and what percentage of the total number of men employed this number represents.

During the 12 months ended 31st October, 1955, 103 trawlermen lost their lives at sea, of whom 16 died from natural causes. This represents about 0·8 per cent. of the total number of men employed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in the interests of railway safety, he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to fit speedometers to railway locomotives.

No. All new electric and diesel locomotives built for the British Transport Commission under their modernisation plan are to be fitted with speedometers. It has also been their policy since 1952 to fit speedometers to new steam locomotives designed for passenger and mixed traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration he has given to a by-pass round Darlington on the Al road in order to ease traffic congestion within the borough.

The preliminary survey has been completed and I shall publish a draft scheme covering the line of this road, under the Special Roads Act, 1949, as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that many privately-owned tips in this country contain inflammable or otherwise dangerous material; and if he will take powers to regulate the dumping in the interests of public health and safety.

This is primarily a matter for local authorities; and I have not so far received from them any request for increased powers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to make an order under Section 72 of the Local Government Act, 1948, bringing into operation Section 55 of that Act to permit local authorities, upon the coming into force of the new valuation lists, to extend to higher rated properties the application of resolutions under which owners instead of occupiers are rated.

An order made on 9th November last, which came into operation on 14th November, brings Section 55 (1) of the Act of 1948 into effect on the day the new lists come into force. I am considering with representatives of the rating authorities in London whether Section 11 of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, should be extended to London on the same day under the provisions of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1949. If this is done it will be unnecessary to bring Section 55 (2) of the Act of 1948 into force.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when copies of the new valuation lists, required to be signed and transmitted to rating authorities by 31st December next, may, in fact be expected to be received by them; and whether different dates will apply in different valuation areas.

The lists will be sent to rating authorities after 14th December, the exact date will be settled in each area after consultation with the rating authority concerned.

asked the Minister of Health if the Guillebaud Committee on the cost of the National Health Service has yet reported to him; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have now received the Committee's Report. Every priority is being given to printing it so that it may be in the hands of hon. Members at the earliest moment; but the document is voluminous (the summary alone covers more than fifty typescript pages), and I am afraid it must be some weeks before publication can take place. In the meantime, I am sure it would be improper for me to attempt either to summarise the Report in my own words, or to comment on its recommendations.Although two members of the Committee have made certain reservations—which will of course be printed with the Report—the whole Committee have signed the main Report itself; and my right hon. Friend and I would like to take this opportunity paying a warm tribute to the Chairman and to all the members of the Committee for all the work which they have devoted to undertaking, and bringing to completion, this important inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health the composition of the Medical Advisory Committee which advised him concerning the ban on heroin.

The Committee, which is appointed under statute, includes the Presidents of the three Royal Colleges, the Chairman of the Council of the British Medical Association, the President of the General Medical Council and the Chairman of the Council of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. It also includes four consultant physicians, five consultant surgeons and five general medical practitioners, all of whom were appointed after consulting the appropriate medical organisations—including, of course, the British Medical Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he proposes to announce the abolishing of industrial derating;(2) if he will now announce the Government's future policy regarding agricultural derating.

As already stated in the House, the Government have decided to undertake a review of all aspects of local government finance in both Scotland and England and Wales. This will include the effects of derating and, pending its outcome, I cannot make a further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations he has had and with which members of the Government or Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia concerning constitutional reforms in that territory.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway).

asked the Secretary of State for War when the honourable Member for Northfield can expect a reply to his letter of 30th October concerning the recent Salisbury Plain tank disaster.

My right hon. Friend is still examining the numerous points raised by the hon. Member and will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Works what estimates he has made of the recent increase in the amount of building resources devoted to repair, renovation, extension, rebuilding and new building, of offices, cinemas, public houses, and similar construction; and how estimates of the extent of this work are now made.

The increase in miscellaneous building, including offices, cinemas, public houses, etc., between 1954 and 1955 is estimated at about £20 millions. This does not include repairs and maintenance of these buildings for which separate figures are not available. The estimate is based on returns made by building and civil engineering contractors.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations upon what conditions agreement had been reached with the Union of South Africa on the establishment of radar or other defence works in the High Commission Territories.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to grant facilities to the Union Government to survey sites for the establishment of radar stations in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland for possible use in defence in the event of war. The survey may be extended to Basutoland if suitable sites cannot be found outside its borders. No question has arisen of the establishment of any other defence works by the Union in the High Commission Territories.