asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a British consul in Italy has refused a visa to an intending visitor to this country and has refused to inform her whether or not she will be granted permission to enter the country, stating that this will be decided by immigration officials at the port of entry; and, since a fruitless journey will have been incurred in the event of permission being refused, if he will make a statement of practice in this regard, and if he will state the circumstances in which intending visitors can obtain an assurance before setting out on the journey that permission to enter will be granted.

I do not know the circumstances of the case to which the hon. Member refers. Leave to land in this country is vested by law in the immigration officer and cannot be guaranteed in advance but, on the contrary, an alien who had been refused a visa would run a serious risk of being refused leave to land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Departmant whether psychiatric or psychological consultants carry out examinations on boys sentenced to detention at detention centres.

Yes. Where the medical officer of a detention centre thinks a psychiatric or psychological examination by a specialist desirable this is arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon, after the arrival of boys sentenced to a term of detention at a detention centre, are the relevant probation officers' reports received; and whether these reports include health certification or comment.

Reports by probation officers on boys known to them who have been sentenced to a term of detention at a detention centre are received at the centre when the boy arrives there or shortly afterwards. They do not normally include health certificates or comment on health.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and in the matter of what principles, the attention of the courts has been drawn to the need to ensure that boys sentenced to a term of detention in a detention centre should be physically fit for the strenuous activities that will be carried out there.

When the detention centres at Kidlington and Goudhurst were opened in August, 1952, and April, 1954, respectively, the courts to which the centres were made available were sent circulars describing the régime at the centres and pointing out the importance of ensuring that those sent there should be physically fit for the fairly strenuous activities carried on at the centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further protests he has received from organisations representative of the medical profession about the ban on heroin since 1st December, 1955.

I have received a letter from the Secretary of the British Medical Association enclosing a copy of a memorandum which I understand has also been sent to all members of both Houses of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the annual quantity of heroin produced in this country in each of the last three years.

In 1952, 3,104 oz.; in 1953, 3,845 oz.; and in 1954, 4,233 oz.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement concerning the escape from prison of Mr. Alfred George Hinds.

Hinds escaped from Nottingham prison on the evening of 26th November apparently in the company of another prisoner named Fleming. Both men are still at large. An Assistant Commissioner has held an inquiry and the Prison Commissioners are at present studying his report. Meanwhile security precautions have been increased in the prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he still retains the papers of Sir Roger Casement, seized before his trial, including a diary purported to have been written by him.

Certain papers which came into the hands of the police in connection with the criminal proceedings against Casement are retained in the Home Office. It has been the consistent policy of my predecessors not to make any statement as to the existence or nonexistence of any diaries and I regret that I cannot give the hon. Member any information on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a police officer invalided out of the force because of injuries sustained in the course of duty, and who is awarded an injuries pension which includes an element from the Industrial Injuries Insurance Fund, is not permitted under his regulations to receive the benefit of any increase in that element made to meet the increased cost of living.

The police pensions scheme guarantees for police officers disabled on duty a minimum weekly income in respect of their injury, whether this is payable from police funds or the National Insurance schemes or, as normally, a combination of both.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received during the last year asking him to implement the unanimous recommendations of the Royal Commission on Betting which reported in 1951.

None, except on the occasions the matter has been mentioned in this House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he gave to the memorial which asked him to reconsider his refusal to suspend capital punishment for an experimental period, and which was signed by over 100 men and women distinguished in many different walks of life.

I have informed the Secretary of the Howard League that I have carefully considered the memorial, but that I am not prepared to introduce legislation to suspend the death penalty for an experimental period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approaches he has had during the last six months from persons and organisations interested in the abolition of the death penalty; and what was the nature of his replies.

Since 1st June 292 individuals and 15 organisations have written to me in favour of the abolition of capital punishment, and nine letters have been forwarded to me by hon. Members of this House. The answers depended on the terms of the letter under reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to how many Italians who fought against the Allies during the war certificates of naturalisation have now been granted.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Italians, since the war, have been granted working permits and how many residential permits.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the information relating to the years 1952–54 inclusive which I gave him in reply to his Question on 30th June last. I regret that corresponding information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement of his present programme for the promotion of education in swimming in schools under his jurisdiction.

My right hon. Friend has no special programme for education in swimming. It is usually given where facilities and staff are available, and local authorities are well aware of its value.

asked the Minister of Education how many private schools have not yet supplied, as requested, details of teaching staff; what action has been taken in view of the length of time that has elapsed since the first request was made; and the number of children concerned.

All but four of the unrecognised independent schools which failed to supply the return last year have already replied to my recent request for a second return. My right hon. Friend is taking steps which he hopes will shortly reduce this number still further. The exact number of children involved is not known, but all the four schools are small.

asked the Minister of Education why he proposes, in his memorandum to local education authorities, dated 9th November, 1955, that raw lead glazes may still be used in advanced courses in ceramic design and technology; and whether he will give an assurance that such lead compounds will be used only rarely and for the purposes of fundamental research.

asked the Minister of Education on what grounds he suggests in the Memorandum 517, 9th November, 1955, that the use of raw lead glazes in advanced courses in ceramic design should be permitted when the use of these glazes has been forbidden in the pottery industry for some years.

Raw lead glazes may occasionally be needed to demonstrate the development of pottery making and the results produced by different types of glaze. The advice my right hon. Friend has given is that their use should be very rare and limited to advanced courses in institutions of further education. He is sure that the responsible authorities will exercise due care.

asked the Minister of Education if he will introduce legislation to amend the Training of Teachers Grant Regulations, 1950, Section 17 (e), which requires potential students to bind themselves to undertake certain specified employment on completing their training.

I am proposing to do this. Legislation is not needed.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the decision in the case of Watt v. Kesteven County Council and of the effect of that decision upon the application of Section 76 of the Education Act, 1944; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the decision to which the hon. Member refers. As it endorsed the advice given to local authorities in the Manual of Guidance issued by my Department in 1950, which I consider sound, I see no reason for a statement.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the dispute between himself and the National Union of Teachers regarding the actual amount of the actuarial deficiency in their superannuation fund, he will appoint an independent actuary to investigate the matter.

No. The National Union of Teachers does not dispute the Government Actuary's calculations.

asked the Minister of Education how much has been contributed to the teachers' pension fund, from its inception to the latest convenent date, by teachers and their employers, respectively; what, over the same period, is the total sum paid out of the fund; and what, respectively, were the totals of payments out and payments in during the last financial year.

Following is the Answer:

TEACHERS (SUPERANNUATION) ACCOUNT
Statement of income and expenditure from 1st June, 1922 to 31stMarch, 1955 (including provisional figures for 1953–54 and 1954–55)
	£
Contributions from teachers	122,946,000
Contributions from employers	122,946.000
Total contributions	£245,892,000
Interest	£116,149,000

Pension payments
(a) in respect of service on or after 1st June, 1922	114,712,000
(b) in respect of service prior to 1st June, 1922, met wholly by the Exchequer	165,763,000
Total pension payments	£280,475,000

Income and Expenditure in (provisional) in 1954–55
Total income (including interest)	31,848,000*
Total expenditure	17,147,000*

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the shortage of science teachers in schools he will, as a temporary measure, take action to enable retired science teachers to resume teaching without loss of pension, so long as their total emoluments do not exceed current rates of salary.

While I am grateful for any suggestion for relieving the shortage, I doubt the wisdom of any such proposal, which would have wide implications for public pension schemes in general.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he has taken to verify the membership of those teaching organisations represented on the Burnham Committee and those, at present excluded, who claim the right to representation.

I do not make a point of verifying these figures because representation on the Burnham Committee is not determined solely by the size of the associations concerned.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that his new proposals for grants to university students are insufficient to meet the increased costs borne by students; and whether he will make a statement.

No. The grants have been carefully worked out on the best information available about costs, and I think the increases given to university students are reasonable.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects local education authorities to conform with the suggestions of Circular 285 concerning uniformity of grants to students in universities; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have adopted the new arrangements for university awards recommended last May.

One hundred and thirty-seven of the 146 local education authorities have already adopted, wholly or substantially, the rates and methods of assessment of grants to university students which I recommended last May. I am continuing discussions with the remaining nine authorities.

asked the Minister of Education how many new grammar school places were provided in Wales during the past twelve months; how this figure compares with the number of new places in 1951; and what number he estimates may be provided during the next twelve months.

Two hundred and fifty-five compared with 900. I estimate that a further 1,700 new places will be provided in the twelve months ending 1st October next.

asked the Minister of Education how many new secondary modern school places were provided in Wales during the past twelve months; how this figure compares with the number of new places in 1951; and what number he estimates may be provided during the next twelve months.

Two thousand and fifty-five compared with 1,200. I estimate that 5,000 more places will be provided in the twelve months ending 1st October next.

asked the Minister of Education how many new primary school places were provided in Wales during the past twelve months; how this figure compares with the number of new places in 1951; and what number he estimates may be provided during the next twelve months.

Six thousand three hundred and ninety compared with 5,460. I estimate that a further 6,400 places will be provided in the twelve months ending 1st October next.

asked the Minister of Education the number and percentage of school children in infant, junior or secondary modern schools who are receiving education in buildings erected since the end of the last war and in buildings erected between 1918 and 1939; how many school buildings are now in process of erection and for how many school places; and how many school buildings have been condemned and due for replacement but are not likely to be replaced in the near future.

I am sending the hon. Member such information as I have.

asked the Minister of Education how the staffing ratio for primary and secondary schools has changed during the last few years.

The figures, given below, show a welcome improvement in junior classes, which should continue with the movement through the schools of the large age groups and the continued increase in the number of teachers in the schools.Following is the information:

PUPILS PER FULL-TIME TEACHER
January		Juniors	Seniors	Juniors and Seniors
1947	…	30·5	21·5	27·0
1948	…	30·6	22·9	27·4
1949	…	30·8	22·7	27·3
1950	…	30·9	22·2	27·1
1951	…	30·5	21·7	26·7
1952	…	31·2	21·4	27·0
1953	…	31·9	21·1	27·4
1954	…	32·1	20·9	27·4
1955 (provisional)	…	31·5	21·0	27·1

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools his Department's development group has now taken part in building.

One primary school and five secondary schools, all of which are now in use. A seventh project is now being planned.

asked the Minister of Education what has been the effect of Circular 283 on the grants offered to village halls.

The grants offered for village halls in the first six months of the current financial year were about £132,000, of which £110,000 was in respect of 107 new halls, compared with £32,000 in the corresponding period last year, of which £24,000 was in respect of 36 new halls.

asked the Minister of Education what progress is being made in the reduction of the size of junior classes.

Between January, 1954, and January. 1955, the average size of junior classes fell from 35·6 to 35·0 and the number of junior classes with more than 40 pupils from 40,447 to 37,011.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities regard acceptance by a university as qualification for a grant.

I ask local education authorities to select candidates for their university awards on a number of criteria, of which acceptance by a university is only one. I should not therefore expect local authorities to be guided by this criterion alone.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the serious situation in Birmingham where there is a shortage of 600 school teachers; that, as a result, school children may, in future, have to be sent home; and if he will consider a territorial allowance to teachers in that city in order to encourage recruitment.

I am aware that the Birmingham local education authority is among those which are finding particular difficulty in recruiting and retaining teachers. I could consider a territorial allowance only on a recommendation by the Burnham Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many British subjects have emigrated to Australia in the last three years; and what financial assistance has been given by the British Government.

According to information published by the Board of Trade 107,200 persons of British nationality left the United Kingdom by the direct sea routes for permanent settlement in Australia during the three-year period ended 30th June, 1955. Direct United Kingdom Government financial assistance towards migration from this country to Australia during the three financial years 1952–1955 totalled £731,777.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many trainees there are from Ceylon in the United Kingdom at present sponsored by his Department; and whether he is satisfied with the development, shown by this figure, so far as the United Kingdom and Ceylon are concerned, of the Technical Co-operation Scheme under the Colombo Plan.

Seventy-two. I consider that the figure reflects satisfactory progress on the trainee side of the United Kingdom programme of technical assistance to Ceylon under the Technical Co-operation Scheme of the Colombo Plan.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many experts and advisers have been provided by the United Kingdom Government to Ceylon during the past 12 months under the Colombo Plan; and upon what projects they were provided.

41, engaged on 30 separate projects, mainly in the fields of medicine, engineering, railways and taxation. If the hon. Member would like it, I will send him a full list.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what technical assistance his Department provides for United Kingdom concerns contemplating participation in the establishment and development of enterprises in Ceylon.

None. Under the Technical Co-operation Scheme of the Colombo 'Plan, technical assistance is provided to Governments and not to business concerns, United Kingdom or otherwise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement on the prospect of bringing to the new town of Glenrothes some new light industry.

We will draw the attention of suitable industries to Glenrothes as appropriate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reconsider his decision not to exempt agreements under the Leeds City Council's hire-purchase scheme for furniture for corporation tenants from the provisions of the hire-purchase orders, in view of the representations made.

I regret that I cannot do this. The hire-purchase restrictions are an essential part of the Government's general economic policy, and no relaxations are justified at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received the Report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the supply of hard fibre cordage.

Yes. I received this Report on 3rd December. It will be laid before Parliament in due course in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many, and which, European countries impose restrictions upon imports of British pottery; and what steps he is taking to negotiate the removal of these trade barriers.

Nine Western European countries, namely, Denmark, Finland, France, Western Germany, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. In the Soviet bloc countries the import of all goods is controlled.We have secured quotas for our pottery exports under trade agreements with Denmark, France, Western Germany, Norway and Portugal, and we shall continue to negotiate for such quotas wherever we feel we can usefully do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which Commonwealth countries impose quota restrictions on imports of British pottery; and what representations he is making to remove these trade barriers.

Imports of domestic pottery are subject to varying degrees of restriction in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Pakistan. These restrictions, which affect pottery less severely than many other consumer goods, form part of general measures taken by the Governments concerned to protect their balance of payments and representations would not be appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the plight of retired teachers; and whether he will introduce legislation to restore their pensions to a value not less than that enjoyed by teachers now retiring.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward), on 17th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the hardship caused to widows through having to wait so long for the payment of post-war credits due to their late husbands; and if he will arrange for such post-war credits to be made payable to such widows at 50 years of age.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes) on 6th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what answer he has sent to the British Pottery Manufacturers' Association following their letter of 29th November, on the effect of the Purchase Tax on exports of pottery.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 6th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the rates of Estate Duty necessary to obtain the present revenue on the basis that the duty was levied in progressive steps; and whether he will publish a table showing the effect of this change.

A number of alternative scales of Estate Duty, under which the duty would be levied at increasing rates on successive slices of the estate, could be devised to produce approximately the same yield as at present. One such scale is shown below:

Slice of estate			Rate of duty
£			Per cent
0–3,000	…	…	Nil
3,000–4.000	…	…	2
4,000–5,000	…	…	4
5,000–7,500	…	…	6
7,500–10,000	…	…	10
10,000–12,500	…	…	14
12,500–15,000	…	…	18
15,000–17,500	…	…	22
17,500–20,000	…	…	26
20,000–25,000	…	…	30
25,000–30,000	…	…	34
30,000–35,000	…	…	38
35,000–40,000	…	…	42
40,000–45,000	…	…	46
45,000–50,000	…	…	50
50,000–60,000	…	…	54
60,000–75,000	…	…	58
75,000–100,000	…	…	62
100,000–150,000	…	…	66
150,000–200,000	…	…	70
200,000–300,000	…	…	74
300,000–500,000	…	…	78
500,000–750,000	…	…	82
750,000–1,000,000	…	…	86
Over 1,000,000	…	…	90

The effect of the adoption of such a scale on individual cases would be to charge slightly less than the present duty on estates near the bottom of a range, about the same as at present at the midpoint of each range and rather more than at present at the top of each range.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost of raising the level at which Surtax begins from £2,000 to £3,000.

About £25 million in a full year if the rates on the income in excess of £3,000 were left at their present levels, or £41 million if the rates now applied to successive slices of income above £2,000 were used for the corresponding levels above £3,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost of implementing the recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income to exempt from taxation the undistributed profits of overseas trade corporations; and what part of this applies to overseas trade corporations within the Commonwealth.

The cost would depend on the definition of overseas trade corporations, and on the extent to which companies operating both in the United Kingdom and overseas modified their structure so as to bring their overseas business within the relief. No precise figure can, therefore, be given, but the cost might be as high as £75 million. It is not possible to estimate how much of this would apply to companies operating within the Commonwealth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking the year 1947 as 100, what has been the purchasing power of all the main pensions and grants, including National Assistance, paid from Exchequer sources after allowance has been made for increases in levels of payment.

It will take a little time to see what can be produced, but I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the monthly average market realisation price for bacon and pork pigs, separately, from July, 1954, to the latest month for which figures are available.

It is not possible to give the information asked for, since the statistics on which the guarantee payments are based do not distinguish between the different uses of pigs.The following table, however, shows the four-weekly average realisation prices for pigs certified under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme at auction markets and at bacon factories. These include in each case pigs of all weights regardless of the use made of them.

UNITED KINGDOM—PIGS
28TH JUNE, 1954–4TH DECEMBER, 1955
Four-weekly average realisation prices of auction market and bacon factory pigs.
Four-weekly period ended		Auction market deadweight per score		Bacon factory deadweight per score
		s.	d.	s.	d.
1954
18th July*	…	34	8	38	2
15th August	…	38	2	36	9
12th September	…	30	2	35	5
10th October	…	28	5	33	10
7th November	…	28	11	34	2
5th December	…	34	11	33	7
1955
2nd January	…	39	6	34	4
30th January	…	37	9	34	7
27th February	…	37	3	33	11
27th March	…	30	9	31	3
24th April	…	26	11	28	6
22nd May	…	26	6	26	7
19th June	…	33	3	28	9
17th July	…	36	5	33	2
14th August	…	39	1	38	7
11th September	…	44	1	43	6
9th October	…	49	10	45	5
6th November	…	51	0	45	7
				(Prov.)	(Prov.)
4th December	…	48	4	45	3
				(Prov.)	(Prov.)
*Three-weekly period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the first-hand prices of imported bacon from 15th June to the latest available date.

FIRST-HAND PRICES OF IMPORTED BACON: 15TH JUNE, 1955–31ST December, 1955 Shillings per cwt.
					Polish
Period	Selection	Danish	Dutch	Irish Republic	Standard	Half-brand	Swedish	Hungarian
		s.	s.	s.	s.	s.	s.	s.
15th June	A	238	228	—	218	216	—	—
to	B	228	218	—	208	206	—	—
22nd June	C	218	208	—	198	—	—	—
23rd June	A	248	240	236	232	230	—	—
to	B	240	232	228	224	222	—	—
29th June	C	232	224	—	216	—	—	—
30th June	A	254	246	242	238	236	—	—
to	B	248	240	236	232	230	—	—
13th July	C	242	234	—	226	—	—	—
14th July	A	274	268	264	262	260	—	—
to	B	270	264	260	258	256	—	—
20th July	C	266	260	—	254	—	—	—
21st July	A	286	280	276	274	272	—	—
to	B	282	276	272	270	268	—	—
10th August	C	278	272	—	266	—	—	—
11th August	A	296	290	286	284	282	290	284
to	B	292	286	282	280	278	286	280
17th August	C	288	282	—	276	—	—	276
18th August	A	316	310	306	304	302	310	304
to	B	312	306	302	300	298	306	300
24th August	C	308	302	—	296	—	—	296
25th August	A	328	322	318	316	314	322	316
to	B	324	318	314	312	310	318	312
12th November	C	320	314	—	308	—	—	308
13th November	A	328	318	314	310	308	—	306
to	B	324	310	306	300	298	—	296
19th November	C	314	298	—	288	—	—	284
20th November	A	310	300	296	292	290	—	288
to	B	306	292	288	282	280	—	278
3rd December	C	296	280	—	270	—	—	266
4th December	A	296	284	280	274	272	—	268
to	B	286	274	270	264	262	—	258
31st December	C	272	260	—	250	—	—	244

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of guarantee payments included in the price of 46s. 2d. a score which farmers are being paid this week for Grade A bacon pigs; and what was the amount when the price was 55s. a score in August and September.

I am unable to say what guarantee payments are included in the price of 46s. 2d. a score, which is an inclusive price for Grade A bacon pigs in

The following is the information:the weight range 7 score to 8 score 15 lb. deadweight quoted by the Fatstock Marketing Corporation for the week beginning 5th December. Guarantee payments in this week for this grade will be the collective guarantee of 3s. 6d. a score deadweight, the quality premium of is. 0d. a score and any deadweight guarantee which may become payable. The price of 55s. 0d. a score was also an inclusive price for Grade A bacon pigs fixed by the Corporation during August and

September. Guarantees payable during those months varied from week to week and were as follows:

Week ended	Collective guarantee		Quality premium		Deadweight guarantee		Total
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
7th August	3	11	1	0	8	1	13	0
14th August	3	11	1	0	8	1	13	0
21st August	4	2	1	0	5	5	10	7
28th August	4	2	1	0	5	5	10	7
4th September	4	2	1	0	4	1	9	3
11th September	4	2	1	0	4	1	9	3
18th September	4	4	1	0	4	1	9	5
25th September	4	4	1	0	4	1	9	5
2nd October	4	4	1	0	Nil		5	4

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the monthly average number of pigs sold through auction marts in the United Kingdom during the period from July, 1954, to the latest month for which figures are available.

The following are the four-weekly numbers of pigs certified under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme at auction marts in the United Kingdom:

Four-week period ended		U.K. Nos. of pigs certified
1954
18th July*	…	69,900
15th August	…	122,000
12th September	…	173,200
10th October	…	290,800
7th November	…	320,000
5th December 1955	…	337,200
2nd January	…	358,000
30th January	…	295,600
27th February	…	282,000
27th March	…	323,600
24th April	…	320,400
22nd May	…	327,500
19th June	…	284,000
17th July	…	216,400
14th August	…	178,000
11th September	…	197,200
9th October	…	230,800
6th November	…	216,400	(provisional)
4th December	…	211,900	(provisional)
* Three-week period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total number of men and women em- ployed at the present time by the Cumberland Agricultural Executive Committee and by the National Agricultural Advisory Service in Cumberland; and how this figure compares with the similar one in 1945.

The following is the information:

CUMBERLAND AGRICULTURAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
—	At 1st December, 1955		At 1st December, 1945
	Men	Women	Men	Women
Officers in post	65	51	64	103
N.A.A.S. included in above	12	4	15*	3*
Agricultural workers and industrial staff	16		533
Total	132		700
* There was no N.A.A.S. in 1945. These were War Agricultural Executive Committee Advisory Staff of whom 15 became members of the National Agricultural Advisory Service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total cost in the last full year of administering the Cumberland Agricultural Executive Committee and the National Agricultural Advisory Service in Cumberland.

The estimated net cost of administration for the financial year 1954–55 was £89,996 of which £31,637 was attributable to N.A.A.S.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the Forestry Commission have during the last two years allowed a free gift of a Christmas tree to the town of Brecon; why this has been stopped; and whether he will ask for this decision to be reviewed in view of the excellent co-operation the Commission receives from the authorities in the county and the town of Brecon.

The gifts to Brecon were contrary to the Commission's approved policy which is to confine gifts of Christmas trees to hospitals, charitable institutions and the like. In these circumstances there are no grounds on which I could interfere with the Commission's decision in this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Forestry Commission have for planting in the Llithfaen district of Caernarvonshire, in view of the suitability of the land in the district and the availability of local labour.

In the next five years the Forestry Commission hopes to plant about 400 acres within a radius of five miles of Llithfaen and a further 200 acres in the remainder of the Lleyn Peninsula.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increase there has been in the acreage of dessert apples in the United Kingdom since 1939; what extra tonnage this additional acreage represents, assuming a normal average yield; and what further increase of home-grown dessert apples he anticipates will be marketed when the additional orchard acreage recently planted comes into full bearing.

There are no figures for dessert apple acreages before the war. The special 1951 fruit census showed that there were then 62,000 acres in England and Wales, of which 41,000 acres were trees of 7 years old and over. The 1955 acreage is estimated to be about 65,000. Average production over the 5 years from 1951 has been estimated at about 190,000 tons a year. When the present area is in full production, by about 1960, there might be a further 60,000 tons of home grown dessert apples under average conditions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of seals now breeding on the Fame Islands; and how this figure compares with the figures for 1945 and 1935.

The latest estimates are for 1953, when the total number of adult and young Atlantic grey seals in the Farne Islands was put at approximately 1,600. The corresponding figures for 1950, 1947 and 1938 were 1,300, 300 and 200 respectively. There are no figures available for 1945 and 1935.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings there are in Northern Ireland which attract subsidy from United Kingdom public funds, excluding holdings of under five acres; what is their average size; how many persons, including their families and employees, are dependent on the prosperity of this industry; what percentage this is of the total population; and what is the corresponding percentage in Great Britain.

I regret that the information asked for is not available. Subsidies in general—and therefore records—are related to produce and not to agricultural holdings as such. Nor is there up-to-date information about the size of the families of those dependent upon agriculture.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of pottery operatives in Stoke-on-Trent who are registered as working short-time, giving the date at which the information is available.

Precise statistics of short-time working are compiled for quarterly dates only and the figures for 26th November are not yet available. I have made inquiries, however, and I understand that the number of work-people in the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent who were affected by short-time working at the end of last week was probably in the region of 600.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of loans raised by each colonial Government for each year from 1945 to 1955; and the colonial welfare and development grants made to each Colony for each of these years.

I understand that in the first part of the Question the hon. Member is referring to loans raised on

Year	Colony				Total stock issued (a)	Portion of column (a) which was reserved for local subscription (b)	Portion of column (a) which represents conversions from previous loan issues (c)
					£	£	£
1946
	Kenya	…	…	…	1,820,000	—	1,820,000
	Nigeria	…	…	…	1,250,000	—	1,250,000
1947
	Kenya	…	…	…	3,710,000	—	282,527
1948
	Trinidad	…	…	…	3,168,000	—	—
1949
	British Guiana	…	…	…	2,090,000	—	1,168,500
	Federation of Malaya		…	…	8,050,000	—	—
	Nigeria	…	…	…	3,000,000	—	3,000,000
	Northern Rhodesia	…	…	…	3,540,000	100,000	667,500
	St. Lucia	…	…	…	408,000	—	—
1950
	Jamaica	…	…	…	3,250,000	—	—
	East Africa High Commission			…	12,600,000	500,000	3,762,500
	Uganda	…	…	…	3,100,000	—	—
	Sierra Leone	…	…	…	2,030,000	30,000	—
	Cyprus	…	…	…	2,540,000	—	—
	Tanganyika	…	…	…	1,750,000	—	1,750,000
1951
	Kenya	…	…	…	6,070,000	2,250,000	—
	Northern Rhodesia	…	…	…	7,730,000	100,000	—
	Mauritius	…	…	…	2,615,000	—	60,000
	British Guiana	…	…	…	2,180,000	—	—
	Nigeria	…	…	…	6,800,000	—	—
	Trinidad	…	…	…	2,500,000	—	—
1952
	Uganda	…	…	…	5,983,000	250,000	—
	Tanganyika	…	…	…	2,280,000	500,000	—
	Kenya	…	…	…	6,115,000	1,000,000	—
	Nyasaland	…	…	…	2,060,000	—	—
	Grenada	…	…	…	321,000	—	—
	East Africa High Commission			…	9,885,000	1,250,000	—
	Northern Rhodesia	…	…	…	2,540,000	500,000	—
	Cyprus	…	…	…	1,700,000	—	—
1953
	Jamaica	…	…	…	3,590,000	—	—
	Tanganyika	…	…	…	4,410,000	750,000	—
	St. Lucia	…	…	…	230,000	—	—
	East Africa High Commission			…	5,709,000	250,000	—
	Sierra Leone	…	…	…	1,680,000	530,000	—
	Kenya	…	…	…	6,510,000	625,000	—
	Aden	…	…	…	1,330,000	100,000	—
1954
	East Africa High Commission			…	7,045,000	500,000	—
	Trinidad	…	…	…	4,245,000	—	—
	Federation of Malaya	…	…	…	4,795,000	—	—
1955
	Uganda	…	…	…	4,000,000	250,000	—
	Mauritius	…	…	…	2,090,000	—	—
	Cyprus	…	…	…	3,608,000	—	—

The information asked for in the second part of the Question is conveniently set out in the annual returns of

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware of the growing tendency of serving officers in Her Majesty's Forces to comment publicly on speeches made in Parliament; and if he will give instructions that this practice must cease.

I am not aware of any such tendency. I am satisfied that the present instructions on public announcements by serving officers are adequate.

asked the Minister of Health what decision the Darlington Town Council have now reached with regard to plans for the fluoridation of the public water supply.

The town council on 1st December decided not to accept a tender for the supply and installation of apparatus for the fluoridation of their water supplies.

asked the Minister of Health what anti-virus infection vaccine is being used in the National Health Service on contacts with cases of poliomyelitis.

None, but some use is being made of gamma globulin deried form human blood plasma.

asked the Minister of Supply the full cost, including development expenditure, and cost of prototypes, etc., expended on Saunders Roe Cierva W.9; Armstrong Whitworth Glider 52G; Vickers Dumbo; Avro Athena; Armstrong Whitworth AW-52; Heston A2/45; Fairey Firefly trainer; de Havilland D.H.108; Miles Marathon; Westland Welkin; Short Sturgeon; Blackburn and Gen. Aircraft GAL TT Mosquito; Hawker N7/46; Hawker P.1040; Auster A2/45; Saunders Roe SR.A.1; Vickers Nene-Viking; Vickers Seagull; Short SA/4; Hawker Hunter (60°); Blackburn and Gen. Aircraft YB-1; Handley Page HPR-2; Short SB-3; Fairey FD-1; Boulton Paul BP-120; Vickers Tay-Viscount; Handley Page HP-88; Vickers 535; de Havilland DH.110 (F4/48); Vickers 508; B. Paul BP-111/111A; Fairey Rotodyne; Bristol 173 / 173Mk.3; Firth helicopter; Blackburn YA-5; Blackburn and General Aircraft GAL-56; Blackburn and General Aircraft GAL-61; Fairey Vertical Takeoff; Fairey Stooge; Rolls-Royce RR.TMR; Bristol Buckmaster; Cierva Skeeter; Avro 707; Miles Marathon, Mark 2; Hawker P.1052; Vickers 510 Vickers Swift; DH N.14/49; Short SB.5; Short Sherpa; Vickers 525; Fairey Jet Gyrodyne; Fairey FD-2; Percival P.74; Percival Jet Provost; Short PD11, aircraft respectively; how many of each type were ordered; the dates on which orders were placed for each; how many of each type were delivered; how long they were in service; how many of each type crashed; and how many of each type are still capable of flying.

The majority of the fifty-six aircraft listed in the Question were prototypes ordered for research purposes and never intended to go into service. I do not consider that the work involved in collating the detailed information asked for in the last six parts of the Question would be justified. On the question of expenditure, it would be contrary to established practice to disclose the cost of individual research projects, but a rough estimate of the total airframe cost involved in the development of these types is £40 million.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the land required for the by-pass round Greenham Common Airfield was requisitioned from the owners; when payment for this land was completed; how the compensation has been calculated; and how far the same procedure is to be followed when land is acquired for the purposes of the new roads now to be constructed elsewhere.

In this case it was thought necessary to extend Greenham Common Airfield, which was urgently wanted for the purposes of the United States Air Force. Accordingly, land was requisitioned in the summer of 1951 to enable substitute roads to be provided in place of roads which had to be closed as a result of the extension of the airfield.An Order has now been made under the powers of Section 2 (5) of the Supplies and Services (Defence Purposes) Act, 1951, which will enable the land to be bought. I regret the delay which has occurred in the making of the Order. To a large extent this was due to the policy of avoiding the purchase of requisitioned land save in exceptional circumstances, but some time was also necessary for negotiation with those whose interests will be affected by the Order.The compensation to be pad will be in accordance with the basis laid down in the Requisitioned Land and War Works Act, 1945, and the Town and Country Planning Acts, and I will do my best to ensure that payment is completed as soon as possible. Preliminary negotiations are already in hand. The arrangements made at the time of requisitioning provide that accrued interest will be paid on the purchase price of the land. In my view the powers of requisitioning should be used only where it is impracticable to do what is required by more normal procedure, and I do not intend to use these powers in respect of new roads to be constructed elsewhere.