asked the Minister of Education in view of the need for more teachers to reduce the size of classes and of the increasing number of applications to enter training colleges, what steps he is taking to enlarge teachers' training establishments.

Having regard to the expected changes in the school population, it would not be wise to expand the provision for teacher training. My policy is to fill the training colleges with the best available candidates, and to continue to add some six or seven thousand to the number of teachers in service each year.

asked the Minister of Education what action he is taking as a result of the report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the Milk in Schools Scheme.

Just over a year ago, when local authorities took over the responsibility for providing milk for maintained schools, my right hon. Friend made it clear that it should be purchased at competitive prices. A letter was sent to all authorities on 12th December, 1955, re-affirming this policy and assuring them of the Government's support in pursuing it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there are 60,000 unfilled vacancies in the Birmingham area; that engineering wages of over £13 a week are causing a shortage of school teachers and railway workers; and, since this overfull employment and excessive prosperity is due largely to the protection afforded by the McKenna duties, if he will appoint a committee to consider how far these duties could be reduced and used to obtain more favourable treatment to the Lancashire textile industry where there is both short-time working and unemployment.

Whilst I do not accept all the implications of the first part of the Question, I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall not overlook any possibility of securing tariff concessions for the textile industries in the negotiations which are to be held at Geneva early next year. I do not think, however, that the appointment of a committee on the line proposed would assist the Government or our negotiators in their efforts to secure such concessions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of additional cinemas acquired by film circuits under the policy announced by him in February last.

Since 15th February, 1955, in the case of the Circuits Management Association Limited, twenty-five additional cinemas have been licensed and one has been closed. The figures for Associated British Cinemas Limited are five and three.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the correspondence and notes of meetings between his Department and the principal cinema circuits which led up to his decision to allow the circuits to add to the numbers of cinemas they controlled.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that more than 50 cotton mills have closed during this year, and more than 20,000 workers have been on short-time, and that a weekly average of 540 have left the industry; and if he can now make a statement of Government policy on the cotton industry.

I am well aware of the problems of the cotton textile industry and am keeping in close touch with its representatives. I am glad to say that the situation has shown some improvement in recent weeks. The industry's problems are due to a number of causes, not least the harmful effects of the uncertainty about American cotton policy. We are continuing to emphasise these harmful effects to the United States Government. I am also examining with the industry on a regular basis what can be done to improve the export prospects for cotton textiles. These are both problems fundamental to the industry's present difficulties. There are signs that the abolition of the D Scheme in the Budget is assisting the production of high quality textiles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of industrial development certificates granted for factories in the London and Home Counties area and the Greater Birmingham area, respectively, in 1954 and in 1955 distinguishing new projects and extensions, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

—	1954		1955 (first three-quarters)
	New	Extension	New	Extension
London and the Home Counties	247	550	221	565
Greater Birmingham Area	55	212	50	194

The figures relate to new industrial buildings and extensions to existing buildings, over 5,000 square feet, for manufacturing industry in London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey; and in the West Midlands Conurbation as defined in Table IV of the Preliminary Report of the 1951 Population Census. The figures include projects for the replacement of buildings destroyed by fire or enemy action, or otherwise demolished. "New" includes detached buildings not on the same site as the existing works, as well as entirely new undertakings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the failure of the Fatstock Marketing Corporation to publish accounts or to render an annual return to the Registrar of Companies, what steps he proposes to take to protect the interests of the members of the corporation and the public interest.

There has been no failure in either respect to comply with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act, 1948. The Board of Trade, in the exercise of their power in the proviso to Section 148 (1) of the Act, extended the period for laying the company's first accounts before the members in general meeting; and I am informed that the accounts will be laid at the adjourned annual general meeting on 9th Jannuary, 1956. I understand that copies of the accounts are being sent to the members this week. A copy of the annual return for 1955 was lodged with the Registrar of Companies on the 8th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the sample survey of distribution has been postponed this year, contrary to the programme recommended by the Committee on Censuses of Production and Distribution.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15th November in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Clitheroe (Mr. Fort).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage increase of ordinary share dividends and undistributed profits combined from October, 1946, to October, 1954.

I regret that no figures are available which would enable a valid answer to be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average amount of Income Tax paid in 1946 by those in the range of income between £250 and £500 per year; and the average Income Tax paid by those in the range between £500 and £750 per year in 1954.

About £26 and £36, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give, in tabular form, the amounts paid in, withdrawn, and remaining invested in the National Savings Movement for each of the last

NATIONAL SAVINGS—YEARS ENDING 31ST MARCH
£ million
—	1945–6	1946–7	1947–8	1948–9	1949–50	1950–1	1951–2	1952–3	1953–4	1954–5
Receipts*	1201·4	1240·2	1119·8	942·1	902·3	948·8	1062·4	1108·4	1159·8	1297·2
Withdrawals†	633·4	849·5	938·0	864·6	874·1	944·4	1096·1	1187·7	1169·6	1176·8
Amount outstanding at end of financial year‡	5585·1	5997·1	6069·2	6101·9	6126·7	6130·8	6094·3	6020·9	6008·7	6126·2
NOTES: * Including accrued interest;
† Including Defence Bond redemptions and interest paid out on National Savings Certificates;
‡ Including marketable securities on the Post Office register.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many British firms have opened businesses abroad during the past year; and what is the amount of invested capital involved.

I regret that precise information is not available. But it has been estimated that in recent years United Kingdom net long term investment abroad, which includes investment in both new and existing businesses, has been running at about £180 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Excise Duty received on sugar produced from home-grown sugar beet in 1954–55.

£2,830,896 in the year ended 31st March, 1955.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the arrangements with building societies authorised by Section 445 of the Income Tax Act, 1952,

The figures in reply to the first part of the Question are given below. I think that a revaluation as suggested in the second part of the Question would present a misleading picture; but if my hon. Friend wishes to make a calculation based on 1946 prices, he can do so by using the index numbers in Table 23 of the Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure, 1955.apply under his regulations to a society which does not genuinely carry on the business of a building society, namely, that of granting loans primarily for the purpose of encouraging owner occupation.

These arrangements are not in any way dependent on conditions as to the purposes to which loans granted by societies may be put. Their sole purpose is to avoid the excessive amount of work and inconvenience which would fall upon small investors and the Inland Revenue Department otherwise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Registrar of Friendly Societies takes to satisfy himself that a building society, registered under and enjoying the benefits of the provisions of the Building Societies Acts, does in practice carry on the recognised business and functions of a building society in the encouragement of homeownership.

The law does not forbid building societies to lend for purposes other than home ownership, and it is not the Registrar's duty to question any legitimate lending where the investor's interests are properly safeguarded. If, however, a society acts so as to imperil its investors the Registrar of Building Societies has power, after inquiry, to forbid it to invite further capital from the public. The accounts of all building societies are examined for any sign of activity of this sort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total value of postwar credits owing on 1st November; and what is the approximate value of yearly repayments.

The estimated total of post-war credits still outstanding at 1st November, 1955, was £530 million. The annual rate of repayment is at present between £17 and £18 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend Section 4 (5) of the Finance Act, 1952, in order to exclude from its scope the amount of weekly contributions paid by members of a club or society, the membership of which entitles them to take part in a pool betting scheme.

This Section was introduced to close loopholes for avoidance of pool betting duty. It does not render liable to duty genuine voluntary contributions to the club or society made independently of the pool betting scheme. I do not think there is any reason to amend it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet reached decisions on the recommendations of the Inter-departmental Committee on Slaughterhouses.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in plant breeding establishments in this country towards developing a variety of sugar beet with a higher yielding sugar content; and how this compares with other countries which have made progress in this respect.

Certain commercial strains of sugar beet have been improved in recent years to yield a higher output of sugar, but there has been little change in the performance of the best strains. Comparison with progress in other countries is difficult, but I have no evidence that foreign strains tested here have shown greater improvement than strains being developed in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the total available supplies of bacon during the past six weeks from home-produced and imported sources.

I regret that details of supplies in November are not yet complete. But in October total disposals were 10,400 tons a week and my Department's records indicate that in November total disposals were about 10,900 tons a week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what agreement there is with Poland as to the amount of bacon they shall send each week; and if he will make immediate arrangements for the importations to be controlled so as to take into account the availability of home-produced bacon.

The agreement permits of variation in the flow of supplies, and, subject to factors such as communications and transport, my Department seeks to regulate supplies in the light of the market situation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instruct his Department that, when arranging imports of bacon, account should be taken of the likely available supplies which will be available of home-produced pigs from month to month.

The contracts with Denmark and Holland for the supply of bacon allow the market situation in the United Kingdom to influence the flow of

	North Shields	Grimsby	Lowestoft	Brixham	Newlyn	Cardiff	Swansea	Milford Haven	Fleetwood	Other Ports	Total
Motor Vessels
(Excl. Seiners)
Not exceeding 70 ft.	12	9	11	39	29	2	10	5	34	1,712	1,863
Seiners:
Not exceeding 70 ft.	5	64	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	70	143
Over 70 ft.	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5
Motor Vessels
(Excl. Seiners)
70 ft.–79·9 ft.	—	—	6	—	10	—	—	—	—	2	18
80 ft.–89·9 ft.	—	—	24	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	28
90 ft.–99·9 ft.	—	—	22	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	28
100 ft.–119·9 ft.	—	1	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	22
120 ft.–140 ft.	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	19	—	20
Steam Vessels
70ft.–89·9 ft.	—	1	10	—	—	—	—	3	—	1	15
90 ft.–99·9 ft.	—	—	3	—	—	—	—	11	1	1	16
100 ft.–109·9 ft.	—	3	3	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	8
110 ft.–119·9 ft.	26	48	3	—	—	—	—	8	9	6	100
120 ft.–129·9 ft.	2	53	—	—	—	2	6	22	22	—	107
130 ft.–140 ft.	—	3	—	—	—	8	2	6	9	—	28

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reduction or increase in the annual total of subsidies by way of day and voyage grants and also by way of landings payments is expected to result as regards motor fishing vessels not exceeding 70 feet in length overall, other motor fishing vessels using seine nets, other motor fishing vessels not using seine nets and

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many motor fishing vessels to which the proposed White Fish Subsidy (United Kingdom) No. 2 Scheme would apply, of each of the categories shown in the Schedule to that scheme as motor fishing vessels not exceeding 70 feet in length overall, other motor vessels using seine nets, other motor fishing vessels and steam fishing vessels, were at the latest available date fishing from each port or group of ports in England and Wales.

The following table shows the number of vessels in England and Wales at 13th December, 1955 (including any temporarily laid up), which are eligible for white fish subsidy:steam fishing vessels, respectively, from the proposed substitution of the White Fish Subsidy (United Kingdom) No. 2 Scheme, 1955, for the present Scheme in England and Wales.

The payments made in any year depend on the amount of fish landed and its price and the number of vessels fishing. The effect of the Scheme in England and Wales may be broadly estimated to be that payments will be reduced by about £40,000 a year to motor vessels not exceeding 70 feet in length, by £30,000 to motor vessels over 70 feet in length and by less than £1,000 to the few motor seining vessels over 70 feet in length. The landings payment to steam vessels will be reduced by £120,000 and their voyage payments increased by £330,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the inquiry he is holding into the case of Leonard Richard Emery, who was convicted of an offence to which another person, Jeffrey Joseph, has since made a confession of guilt.

No. Very thorough inquiries are being made and, of necessity, take a considerable time. I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the officer of the Metropolitan Police authorised for that purpose under Section 5 of the London Traffic Act, 1924, to report to the road authority that the pile of bricks and sand stored in the middle of the roadway in Trafalgar Square outside South Africa House has caused an obstruction in the street for a longer period than is reasonably necessary.

I am informed that this obstruction has now been removed. It consisted of materials required for work on a sewer; the job was scheduled to take eight weeks and was completed within that period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints he has received about the sale to children of imported chewing gum containing near-nude pictures; and what action he will take in this matter.

Several hon. Members and others complained to me, and the matter was reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions who found no grounds for taking legal proceedings. However, I understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that the cards were not covered by the import licence for confectionery held by the importer, who is not bringing any more of these cards into the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reduction or increase in the annual total of subsidies by way of day and voyage grants and also by way of landings payments is expected to result, as regards motor fishing vessels not exceeding 70 feet in length overall, other motor fishing vessels using seine nets, other motor fishing vessels not using seine nets, and steam fishing vessels, respectively, from the proposed substitution of the White Fish Subsidy (United Kingdom) No. 2 Scheme, 1955, for the present Scheme in Scotland.

Payments to Scottish motor vessels are expected to be reduced by approximately £90,000 a year in the case of vessels not exceeding 70 feet in length, £7,500 for seine net vessels between 70 and 140 feet in length, and £4,000 for other motor vessels between these lengths. Flat rate payments for steam vessels are expected to be reduced by approximately £107,000 and voyage payments increased by about £220,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many motor fishing vessels to which the proposed White Fish Subsidy (United Kingdom) No. 2 Scheme would apply, of each of the categories shown in the Schedule to that scheme as motor fishing vessels not exceeding 70 feet in length overall, other motor vessels using seine nets, other motor fishing vessels and steam fishing vessels, were at the latest available date fishing from each port or group of ports in Scotland.

The following is the information required:

NUMBER OF VESSELS IN SCOTTISH FISHERY DISTRICTS FISHING MAINLY FOR WHITE FISH
Fishery District		Motor Fishing Vessels not exceeding 70 ft. in length (as at 31st August, 1955)	Motor Fishing Vessels using Seine Nets 70ft.–140ft. in length (as at 31st October, 1955)	Other Motor Fishing Vessels 70 ft.–140 ft. in length (as at 31st October, 1955)	Steam Fishing Vessels 70 ft.–140 ft. in length (as at 31st October, 1955)
Eyemouth	…	19	1	—	—
Leith	…	33	—	—	33
Anstruther	…	69	—	—	4
Arbroath	…	63	—	—	—
Aberdeen	…	72	2	6	181
Peterhead	…	82	1	3	—
Fraserburgh	…	115	1	1	—
Macduff	…	132	—	—	—
Buckie	…	89	—	—	—
Lossiemouth	…	104	—	—	—
Helmsdale	…	22	—	—	—
Wick	…	83	—	—	—
Orkney/Shetland		169	8	—	—
Stornoway	…	283	—	—	—
Lochbroom	…	49	—	—	—
Kyle	…	64	—	—	—
Oban	…	23	—	—	—
Campbeltown	…	41	—	—	—
Tarbert	…	18	—	—	—
Ayr	…	128	—	—	—
TOTAL	…	1,658	13	10	218
The figures given in the above Table do not include vessels mainly engaged in herring fishing but fishing for white fish during part of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what estimate he has made of the effect which the proposed restriction upon local authority spending will have upon the work of river purification boards;(2) if he will instruct river purification boards not to press local authorities to incur heavy additional expenditure on old sewage disposal systems for the purposes of the board while credit restrictions remain.

I have no power to give such instructions to river purification boards, whose duties are laid down in the Statute. Copies of the message sent by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself to local authorities on 26th October, 1955, asking them to review their capital expenditure were also sent to the river purification boards for their information. It is not possible to estimate the effect on the work of the boards of any decisions which local authorities may reach as a result of the message.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many female teachers were employed in Scotland during the years 1952, 1953 and 1954; and how many left each year for the purpose of marriage.

22,525 certificated women teachers (including 4,947 married women) were employed in October, 1952, 22,813 (including 5,357 married women) in October, 1953, and 22,954 (including 5.746 married women) in October, 1954. The records of teachers leaving service do not show precisely how many women leave each year for the purpose of marriage, but it has been estimated that about 1·7 per cent. of the total number employed do so.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider setting up a road board with authority to raise loans for road construction and plan the country's highway system on a national basis, including the problem of parking in cities with its consequential financial losses.

No. This would delay rather than accelerate progress.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if his attention has been called to the Lodge Moor Hospital air crash; and if he will restrict or prohibit aircraft flying over Britain from carrying live ammunition.

I learned of this accident with deep regret. I am sure that the House will wish to join with me in expressing sympathy with the relatives of the deceased, and with the injured. Hon. Members will already be aware of the message of sympathy which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has received from the United States Ambassador.None of the casualties in the accident at Lodge Moor Hospital resulted from the explosion of ammunition. It would be wrong to forbid the carriage of live ammunition by operational aircraft flying from bases in the United Kingdom as this must interfere with necessary operational training.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will take steps to implement the proposals in the Turner Report on Mining Subsidence, paragraph 72, in so far as they apply to local authority reservoirs.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 1st November in reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler). The comprehensive review of the Turner Report foreshadowed in that statement is now under way.