asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the desirability of British exporters concentrating upon developing exports to the industrial countries of Europe, he has adopted a policy of making the conclusion of trade agreements with Eastern European countries dependent upon financial settlements.

It is important to increase our export trade but it is also important, if we are to take increased imports from Eastern European countries, that there should be some practical recognition on their part of our legitimate financial claims. We have already made trade and financial agreements on this basis with Poland and Bulgaria.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what countries form the basis of our nickel supplies; whether he is satisfied that we are able to obtain sufficient supplies for current demands how far we are able to place supplies to stock; and what efforts are being made to obtain alternative sources of supply.

By far the greater part of our supplies come from Canada. There is a world shortage of nickel. Some manufacturers are getting less than they could use, and are unable to build up stocks. Manufacturers are buying increasing quantities of nickel from other sources, mainly from New Caledonia, but the amounts obtainable are comparatively small.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms, laboratories, or individuals in Britain have received licences this year from the Government to import monkeys for the purpose of medical research or for the manufacture of poliomyelitis vaccine.

Live animals other than hourses and cattle are admissible from all countries under the open general licence and importers do not require an individual licence from the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will continue the suspension of the steel import duty after 18th March, 1956.

The import duty on most iron and steel products was suspended until 18th March, 1956, by an Order made on 13th July, 1955. I have recently received the views of the Iron and Steel Board on the question of further suspension of duty on these products and am now considering the matter in the light of those views. I will arrange for the Government's decision to be made known as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the applications for increased import duties reported in his Department's journal for 18th October, 1952, 15th August, 1953, and 6th March, 1954.

These applications related to:

Bags, baskets, and similar receptacles, of straw or other vegetable plaiting materials (other than willow, cane or wicker).

Capsules, containing more than 75 per cent. by weight of lead, of a description commonly used on bottles, jars, cans, and similar containers.

Articles made wholly or partly of polyvinyl chloride resins or their copolymers the following:

sheets or sheeting of a weight of not less than 12 oz. or more than 35 oz. per square yard, not backed with a textile material, but otherwise whether or not treated or operated upon in any way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the embargo limit of 60,000 kilowatts on the export of turbo-generators to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern Europe was fixed; and what was the previous limit.

On 30th April considered during the pensions increase last. The previous limit was 10,000 kilowatts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the supply and export of pneumatic tyres will be published without excisions; and what will be the date of publication.

There will be no excisions from the Report which I expect to be published within the next fortnight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that due to the various new and increased taxes proposed in his recent Budget, a young couple now getting married will have to find an additional £30 to £40 for the cost of furnishing their home; and whether he will arrange in his forthcoming April Budget to grant an initial marriage allowance of £50 for Income Tax purposes, to all couples getting married as from October, 1955.

Without necessarily accepting the hon. Member's estimate, I appreciate that my Budget proposals do involve additional costs; but on the other hand I would ask him also to bear in mind that I have, this year, wholly exempted from tax all the curtains, towels, tablecloths, bed linen and blankets which a young couple would need to buy. I cannot agree that such extra expenses should involve an increase in Income Tax allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the Pensions (Increase) Act review, which will be laid before Parliament in the new year, will apply to former West Ham Council tramwaymen, London County Council tramwaymen, and other local authority tramwaymen transferred to the London Transport Executive, on the formation of that organisation.

This point will be considered during the pensions increase review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer approximately how many British citizens or their foreign wives bringing wedding presents into this country in the past year, when about to reside here, have been compelled to pay duty on these gifts; how many complaints he has received on this matter during the past year; and, in view of the hardship caused to those who have genuinely been recipients of such gifts by their having to pay duty, if he will consider devising a means by which wedding gifts are vouched for and duty waived on these if under a reasonable level of value.

I have no record of the number of such cases that occur, but complaints are infrequent. In fairness to couples getting married here, whose presents have to bear Purchase Tax and sometimes Customs duty, I do not think that the proposed concession could be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of gold reserves in January this year; and the figures for September, October, and November.

The level of the gold and dollar reserves on 30th November will be announced early next month. For earlier months I would refer the hon. Member to the published figures, for example, the November edition of Economic Trends.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if applications from local authorities to float loans have to be approved by the Capital Issues Committee.

No. Where Treasury consent is needed for such borrowing it is given on the advice of the Government Departments concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of what the value in 1945 terms will be of £1 of post-war credits in 1970 assuming inflation proceeds at the same average speed as over the last ten years.

I cannot accept the assumption contained in the Question. Accordingly I do not think it would be worth trying to make any estimate of the kind suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of agricultural land have been compulsorily acquired for industrial development and housing schemes by local government authorities in the West Riding of Yorkshire since January, 1954.

I regret that statistics are not compiled in the form asked for. However, certain relevant information is available in Appendix 5 to the recent Report of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Cmd. 9559).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to encourage and coordinate the activities of local authorities against the leaving of litter.

There is already in existence the Anti-Litter Publicity Committee on which my Department and the local authority associations are represented; but if the hon. Member thinks that there is any further action which I could take, I am very ready to consider it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the effect on the amenities of the sea coast in South-East Durham of the dumping of waste from coal mines; and if he will direct that this use of the land be discontinued, in accordance with Section 26 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947.

It is in the first instance for the local planning authority to consider whether it should take action. But I am well aware of this problem, and regret that so far nobody has been able to think of any satisfactory alternative method of disposing of this waste. If the right hon. Gentleman has any suggestions I should be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to revise the method of industrial derating so as to give relief on a system of differential payments, taking into consideration the amount of profits distributed by the respective firms concerned.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on this subject on 30th June last, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has not yet approved the West Sussex County Development Plan, Southern Section, which was submitted to him on 15th February, 1952.

Because the study of the issues involved is not yet completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the danger caused to public health in Fairwater, Cardiff, by the failure of the local authority, under the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936, to cover sewerage manholes; and whether he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member will let me have particulars I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many petitions and how many individual protests he has received against the official proposal to put a new radar mast within the Dartmoor National Park; and what action he proposes to take.

I have received two petitions containing 154 signatures and fifteen individual protests against the proposals which, as announced by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for Air on 16th November, had been discussed informally with the local authorities and interested amenity organisations. If, following the re-examination announced by my hon. Friend, there are still substantial objections to the proposals, and no other suitable site for the radio tower can be found, I shall arrange for a public local inquiry to be held before any decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government his reasons for not insisting on the local authorities concerned applying planning regulations in order to remove nuisance on land adjoining the residence of Mr. J. C. Alcock of 52, Enville Road, Kinver; and the report of his inspector.

This is a matter which should, in my opinion, be left to the decision of the local authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the comparative figures of housing subsidies paid out by the Government in 1946, 1951 and 1954.

The Exchequer subsidies paid in respect of permanent houses in Great Britain in the financial years 194647, 1951–52 and 1954–55 were £19,148,000, £31,645,000 and £52,042,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether houses provided for miners who move into a local authority area to meet the needs of the coal mining industry in that area will rank for the special rate of housing subsidy as set out in Clause 3 (3) of the Housing Subsidies Bill.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the provisions of Clauses 3 (3) (d) and 5 of the Housing Subsidies Bill will apply to areas of coal mining expansion, such as the Rugeley Urban District, with special reference to the development of the Lea Hall Colliery and the proposed adjacent power station.

These Questions refer to matters which could more appropriately be raised during the proceedings on the Housing Subsidies Bill which is now before the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if, in confirming slum clearance orders, he will direct local authorities to make payments as if for well-maintained houses in every case except where the house being compulsorily acquired is derelict;(2) if he will amend the law so that market value will be paid for unfit houses compulsorily acquired under slum clearance schemes.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement I made on 21st November, 1955, on the Second Reading of the Housing Subsidies Bill.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what number of owner-occupiers have come under the Compulsory Acquisition Order, from the year 1951 to date;(2) what number of owner-occupiers in the County of Durham have come under the Compulsory Acquisition Order, from 1951 to date.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to compel local authorities to provide houses for those men and their families who have to vacate tied cottages when they cease employment through retirement or illness, in order to prevent hardship.

It is the normal practice for local authorities to give special consideration to cases of this nature and I see no reason to interfere with the exercise of their discretion.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now able to say what site he has approved for Manchester's overspill housing.

I hope shortly to have a further discussion of this problem with the authorities principally concerned. Meanwhile I have no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement upon reductions of capital expenditure in each of the next five years by, respectively, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, and the South of Scotland Electricity Board,

I have nothing as yet to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 15th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what projects of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board are at present in hand; what was the commencing date of each and estimated completion date; what was the cost of each scheme at the time of authorisation by the Secretary of State and the revised cost estimated at November, 1955, in view of declining money values; what projects have been sanctioned and not yet commenced and what cost authorised for each; what is the commencing and completion date estimated for each of these projects; and what projects are to be abandoned, in view of the policy of Her Majesty's Government of eliminating inessential capital expenditure.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State (1) whether he will give an assurance that the development of electric power in Scotland from steam and other power will be maintained, and that the Government are fully aware of the importance of increasing Scotland's electric potential at the earliest moment; and if be will make a statement;(2) whether he will give an assurance that the Government's policy of capital restriction will not apply to provision for electrical development, and that economies in capital expenditure will not be allowed to dislocate the progress of hydro-electric schemes which employ labour in areas where no alternative employment exists.

The Government appreciate the importance of continuing to expand the production of electricity in Scotland; and also the value of hydroelectric projects in providing employment. These considerations are being fully borne in mind during the current review of the investment programmes of the Scottish Electricity Boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the aggregate sum expended, to the latest convenient date, on capital account, by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, out of the total £200 million authorised by Parliament within existing statutes; what further sums are committed in respect of unfinished projects; how much more it will cost to complete such unfinished projects; and the aggregate capital cost of projects sanctioned and not yet commenced.

At the end of October, 1955, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board had spent £117,300,000 on capital account, of which £94,100,000 was for generation and associated main transmission projects. At that date about £53,300,000 was committed in respect of unfinished projects and it is estimated that an additional £9,050,000 will be required to complete them. The aggregate capital cost of projects sanctioned but not yet commenced is estimated at £2,155,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is proposing to take as a result of the report, to which his attention has been called, of psychologists into the relative progress of pupils in the Scottish and English schools and especially into the possible defects in the education of Scottish children, between 8 and 11 years of age.

None. I can see no evidence in the report of such defects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what schemes of slum clearance in Edinburgh and Leith have been submitted to him by the Edinburgh Corporation; and if they have yet received his approval.

I have approved the Corporation's proposals submitted under Section 1 of the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954, involving the demolition or closure of 1,026 unfit houses in the city during the three-year period up to 31st December, 1958, and the building of an equivalent number of new houses for rehousing purposes. Areas at Spey Street and Burns Street, Leith, involving the demolition of 90 houses and other buildings have already been cleared. Objections to a compulsory purchase order made by the Corporation in respect of part of a clearance area at Calton Road have now been withdrawn and I expect to dispose of the order shortly. The number of unfit houses to be demolished in this area is 72. The Corporation has in hand or in contemplation the preparation of other clearance schemes, notably in the Dumbiedykes district where it has served notices in respect of 151 unfit houses as part of a large scheme of comprehensive development under the Planning Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount allowed for the current year to National Health Service hospitals in Scotland in respect of furniture and equipment; and what this represents per bed.

£370,000 for general furnishings and equipment and £235,000 for X-ray and electro-medical equipment. This includes certain equipment in new accommodation, for which no separate allowance is made. The total represents £9 12s. 6d. per staffed bed over the hospital service as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why expenditure in respect of furniture and equipment in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland is treated as capital expenditure, whereas in England and Wales it is included in ordinary running costs.

This is no more than a difference in accounting practice, which does not affect the financial provision made. I might add that the definition of capital expenditure in the hospital service is at present under review.

asked the Minister of Works how many Government building schemes have been suspended, in view of the credit squeeze; and if he will state the nature of each building and its site, together with the date when it was approved.

It is not possible to enumerate all the building schemes which would proceed if the Government had not enforced strict economy. Major schemes included in this year's Estimates of my Department and now deferred are the new Colonial Office, the office building in Horseferry Road and the new Embassy offices in Washington.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the restrictions on the space available for foreign, provincial, Scottish, and Irish newspapers at the British Museum Library, Colindale; and if he will assist the trustees to enlarge this accommodation.

Yes. I hope to make a start next March on an extension to the Museum's premises at Colindale which should provide sufficient space both to relieve the present congestion and to meet future requirements.

asked the Minister of Works when the quarters for disabled officers at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, are to be rebuilt.

There are six captains of invalids. Four have satisfactory accommodation and I hope next year to provide quarters for the others.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, in view of the additional information now in the possession of Her Majesty's Government, if he will now state when the White Paper on the effect of nuclear radiation on human beings will be published.

I regret that I am not at present in a position to add anything to my reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 1st November.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works as representing the Lord President of the Council, when the interim report on automation in industry will be published.

It is hoped that the Report which the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is preparing will be in the hands of the printers early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for War what basic training had been given to 23161340 Private Braisher before he was sent home on leave prior to posting to Cyprus.

Two weeks basic training and eight weeks training as a driver.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South, can expect a reply to her letter of 11th November, about the demobilisation of Private Webb, Pioneer Corps, Eastern Command.

I wrote to the hon. Member agreeing to her request on 24th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War what briefing is given to British troops in Cyprus about the background of the present emergency.

Soldiers in Cyprus, as elsewhere, receive instruction in current affairs which includes information on the problems, geography, culture, etc., of the country in which they are serving. In addition, they can read the daily newspapers which are sent by air from this country.

asked the Secretary of State for War what the duties and responsibilities of the full-time Commander-in-Chief, United Kingdom land forces, will be in peace and war.

The new Commander-in-Chief will be responsible in peace for the planning of all land operations in the direct defence of the United Kingdom in the event of war, including military assistance in Civil Defence. He will be ready to assume immediate command in an emergency.He will consult with the other Services and the civil authorities on these matters and will also act as adviser to the War Office on the training and organisation of the troops he will command in war. He will maintain close liaison with the Director-General of Civil Defence and under his direction the military commanders will draw up plans with the Civil Defence Regional Directors. As Chairman of the Commanders-in-Chief (United Kingdom) Committee he will in peace and war co-ordinate Service plans for home defence.In war-time the Commander-in-Chief would be responsible for directing land operations in the direct defence of the United Kingdom and for the command of all military personnel placed under him for Civil Defence duties.

asked the Secretary of State for War what changes he can now announce in the procedure for the issue of death certificates to the next of kin of Service men who lose their lives.

In cases such as that which the hon. Member has in mind arrangements are being made for the commanding officer to give the necessary information to the coroner and to send a copy of the death certificate to the next-of-kin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has completed his consideration of the suggestion of the Soviet High Commissioner that there should be a meeting between the experts of the British Broadcasting Corporation and the authorities concerned in the Soviet zone of Germany to discuss the interference with the Welsh regional station of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and whether he will now arrange for such a conference to take place.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed that a meeting should take place between experts of the British Broadcasting Corporation and the East German wireless system.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make further representations to Israel and her Arab neighbours drawing attention to the terms of paragraph 3 of the joint British, United States and French declaration of 25th May, 1950, on the maintenance of peace and stability in the Middle East, and reaffirming that Her Majesty's Government remain determined to oppose and resist the use or threat of force between any of the States in that area in violation of existing frontiers or armistice lines.

Her Majesty's Government have publicly reaffirmed on numerous occasions their intention to stand by their obligations under the Tripartite Declaration. I am satisfied that Israel and her Arab neighbours are already fully aware of Her Majesty's Government's position and that further representations are not called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information is in the possession of Her Majesty's Government indicating the willingness or otherwise of the Government of Israel to enter into direct talks with her Arab neighbours.

The Government of Israel have often stated publicly that they are willing to enter into direct talks with their Arab neighbours.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that persons are touring farms hit by fowl pest and attempting to buy up carcases of compulsorily slaughtered birds; and whether he will warn farmers not to consent to the removal of such carcases in view of the danger of infection.

I have heard of only one case of an alleged attempt to buy carcases of poultry that had been slaughtered on account of fowl pest. Inquiries into this case are proceeding. The removal of such carcases is an offence under the Diseases of Animals Acts and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a Press announcement on the subject which was issued by my Department last week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to help Australia dispose of her surplus wheat production by Government bulk purchase or otherwise.

The Australian Government are in contact with us about their difficulties which, of course, reflect the wider problem presented by the world surplus of wheat, recently discussed by F.A.O. and the Wheat Conference at Geneva. Bulk purchase by the United Kingdom Government would hardly be possible, since the grain trade has been decontrolled.

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he is aware that the Committee's policy of letting rooms for dinners, luncheons and teas is increasingly inconveniencing Members who wish to entertain guests from at home and abroad: and whether he will make a statement.

As part of its endeavour to balance the acounts of the Refreshment Department, and to keep prices charged to Members as low as possible, the Kitchen Committee decided in February of this year to allow individual Members to book the Harcourt Room for functions on Monday evenings. This arrangement worked smoothly till last Monday, 21st November, when there was an exceptionally large attendance of Members at the House. The Committee has now requested the manager not to accept bookings for Mondays in future when a large attendance can reasonably be foreseen.

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, to what organisations the Harcourt Room has been made available for luncheons or dinners since the present Government have been in power.

The Harcourt Room is never made available to organisations. It is sometimes let to individual Members who wish to entertain a large number of guests. Since the present Government took office, two hon. Members from this side of the House and two hon. Members opposite have booked it for luncheons or dinners.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware of the difficulties facing British firms tendering for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation contracts, particularly in relation to the central section pipe line project; and what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure the equitable adjudication of tenders.

I am aware of the problems which my hon. Friend has in mind.Her Majesty's Government are considering the desirability of proposing further changes in the present approved practices and procedures for awarding Infrastructure contracts. My hon. Friend will appreciate that any such changes must be accepted by all countries concerned before they can become effective, and that in matters of this kind compromises are usually necessary in the interest of N.A.T.O. as a whole. In the meantime, Her Hajesty's Government will continue to give full support within present practices and procedures to British firms who submit tenders for Infrastructure contracts.

asked the Minister of Education why the collection of Indian paintings and statues, lately exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, has been closed and dispersed.

The Indian Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum was closed to the public last July because the galleries in which it was housed are to be demolished in order to provide for the extension of the Imperial College of Science and Technology. My right hon. Friend hopes that the finest examples in the collection will be on view to the public next summer in two rooms in the main museum building. As soon as further alterations to the Museum have been completed, other items of the Indian Collection, together with the Study Collection of Paintings and Textiles, will be displayed. The bulk of the remainder of the collection will be housed at the Burlington Galleries, Cork Street, where it will be available to students from next April.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Factory Inspectorate is now at full strength; how many inspectors have either left during 1955, or are in the course of leaving; the main reasons for loss of inspectors; and what action he proposes to take to improve the position.

There are ten vacancies for which no successful candidates have so far been forthcoming. Ten inspectors have left this year and one more is known to be leaving. Most of those concerned are taking up employment in industry or in education. It is expected that the wastage will be made good by ordinary recruitment.

asked the Prime Minister by what authority the Conference of Privy Councillors on security precautions will call and examine witnesses.

The Conference will have no express statutory authority for enforcing the attendance of witnesses. But I cannot imagine that it will experience any difficulty on this account.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made towards the restoration of the road between Fareham and Lee-on-Solent since the publication of the draft order on 29th April last; and what specific reasons have arisen for any further delays.

I regret the delay in this case. My Department and the Admiralty are at present negotiating with a local resident who has objected to the draft order and with statutory undertakers who are affected. Unless all the objections are withdrawn it will be necessary to refer the case to the War Works Commission for a report as the Statute provides.