asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations have taken place during the past five years with members of the Commonwealth in respect of procedure to determine the recognition of new members; and in what manner is the distinction drawn between Dominion status and Commonwealth membership.

None. The position, which I think is well understood, is that the admission of a new member to the Commonwealth is a matter for consultation between the existing members as and when the occasion arises. The term "Commonwealth membership" of course covers what was once known as "Dominion status."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what assistance he has offered to the Government of India towards the execution of their Second Five-Year Plan.

The Government of India's Second Five-Year Plan is at present in draft and the final form has not yet been approved. United Kingdom interest in India's plans, as in Commonwealth economic development as a whole, is, however, a continuing interest not confined to any one particular period.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made towards the conclusion of an extradition treaty between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Republic so as to cover offences committed in Northern Ireland.

Her Majesty's Government have this matter under careful consideration, but I have nothing to add to the replies given to my hon. Friend on 3rd November, 1955.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what volume and value of synthetic rubber is being produced in this country for home consumption and export, respectively; and to what extent this has replaced the importation of natural rubber for the manufacture of tyres and for any other purpose.

Synthetic rubber is not yet produced in the United Kingdom on a commercial scale, although pilot plants are in existence and certain companies have announced plans for commercial production in the future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give a list of those firms which have informed him that they will not raise their prices during the next six months;(2) whether he will make a statement on the response made by private firms to the Government's appeal to stabilise prices.

I am aware from the Press that a considerable number of firms have recently stated that they do not intend to increase their prices during the next six months or longer. As the Prime Minister said last week, the Government welcome their action. Very few of them have notified me of their intentions, nor is there any reason why they should do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on the number of bankruptcies during 1955.

In 1955 there were 2,163 bankruptcies, as compared with 2,176 and 2,222 in 1954 and 1953 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bankruptcies in the clothing industry during 1955.

Thirty-two: comprising:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many instances have been reported of physical attacks by taxpayers on tax collectors during the past five years.

Two.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many local authorities have written to him protesting against Purchase Tax on dustbins.

Twenty-two.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the financial difficulties which Purchase Tax on dustbins will impose on the poorer local authorities which provide dustbins from the rates; and whether, in view of the cumulative difficulties which local authorities are experiencing as a result of Government policy, he will now take steps to remove this tax.

I realise the extra charge on local authorities, but I cannot on that account except dustbins from the provisions of the last Finance Act.

asked the Chancellor of of the Exchequer the principal underlying causes of the increase in the cost of living represented by a 25 point raising of the Index of Retail Prices since October, 1951; and what effect the changed terms of trade since 1950 have had upon our economy.

About two-thirds of the increase since October, 1951, is due to rises in food prices and one-third to the rise in prices of other items.The terms of trade varied within the period but at the end of 1955 were slightly worse than in 1950. When they occurred, increases in import prices stimulated in- creases in wages and other home costs which, together with subsequent increases, continue to be reflected in prices today. In the result higher costs in the United Kingdom account for a larger part of the increase in prices over the period than do higher import prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Her Majesty's Government have not provided for a lower rate of Profits Tax to be imposed upon trading companies' profits derived from export trade than upon such profits derived from home trade.

Her Majesty's Government are not satisfied that such a step would be in the national interest. I would refer the hon. Member to the observations of my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Board of Trade, in the debate on 18th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how far the autumn Budget has had the effect of reducing the cost of living and curbing inflation.

It is not practicable to assess the effects of the autumn Budget so soon.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the fact that restrictive practices by organised employees raise different problems from those raised by restrictive practices on the part of trade associations, he will now set up a commission parallel to the Monopolies Commission to inquire into the restrictive practices of trades unions.

No. The removal of obstacles to production is one aspect of the general problem of increasing industrial productivity. This question is best dealt with by the two sides of the industries concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies there were in the coal-mining industry in North Staffordshire at the latest date for which figures are available.

There were 454 vacancies for men and boys in the coal-mining industry notified to employment exchanges in North Staffordshire and remaining unfilled at 11th January, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation to give effect to recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Summary Trial of Minor Offences.

I regret that I cannot hold out hope that it will be possible to find time for legislation on this matter in the near future, but I am proceeding with the preliminary consideration of the legislation which will be required and I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to ban the manufacture of heroin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now decided to introduce legislation in the current session to legalise the banning of the manufacture of heroin.

The Government's aim in deciding to ban the manufacture of heroin was to co-operate in a widespread international effort, to which more than fifty countries have subscribed, to help to eliminate the abuse of the drug in various parts of the world. Before reaching the decision the Government had taken the advice of the statutory advisory bodies, namely the standing medical advisory Committees in England and Wales and in Scotland.The Government have, however, been advised that it is not possible under the present law of this country to prohibit the manufacture of heroin. There is no similar legal abstacle in the way of prohibiting the export and import of heroin, and the Government have accordingly decided to prohibit entirely as from the 1st of this month exports of this drug to countries outside the British Islands, except for such small amounts as may be necessary for scientific purposes only, and all imports. As regards manufacture, the Government have decided to restrict the manufacture of heroin in this country to the quantities actually required for home medical consumption and scientific use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to make a statement on the experiment undertaken by his Department whereby there would be a speeding up of passport formalities for British holidaymakers returning with their cars from the Continent to this country.

I have regretfully come to the conclusion that in view of the pressing need for economy in the use of staff I cannot undertake to arrange for immigration officers to travel on the cross-Channel car ferries as a regular procedure. I am writing to my hon. and gallant Friend to explain more fully the considerations involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the resolution passed by the Magistrates' Association on 21st October, 1955, calling for reform of the law relating to abortion, a copy of which is in his possession; and what action he proposes to take.

I have noted the views of the Magistrates' Association, but I can hold out no hope of legislation on this controversial subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to give effect to the recommendation contained in paragraph 19 of the Boundary Commission's Report, Command Paper No. 9311.

Yes, but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to introduce the necessary legislation. Consultation with the leaders of the Opposition parties on the substance of the proposals will be desirable before a Bill is introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available to hon. Members a copy of the transcript of the evidence and summing-up in the case of R. v. Richard Emery, Arthur Joseph Thompson and John Edmund Powers, by placing it in the Library of the House of Commons.

Section 16 of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907, prescribes the persons who may obtain copies of transcripts and they are not available for study by the public. While it is true that the Home Secretary may obtain a copy "for his use," the general restriction imposed by the Act normally prohibits the Secretary of State from placing a copy in the Library or making one available to individual members, save in the most exceptional circumstances. Such circumstances do not appear to me to exist in the present case. This is not a matter of administrative practice but of the provisions of the law. There is no question of attempting to conceal what took place at the trial, which of course was held in public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department upon what basis the compensation paid to Richard Emery, Arthur Joseph Thompson and John Edmund Powers was assessed.

My decision to recommend the grant of free pardons to the men in question was taken in the circumstances indicated in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) on 24th January. Among the factors which have to be taken into account in deciding what ex gratia payment to make in a case of this kind are the length of the imprisonment undergone in respect of the conviction in question, whether the character of the persons concerned is such that there has been any loss of reputation, whether they contributed by giving untruthful evidence or otherwise to their own conviction, and their probable earning capacity in honest employment. My decision was based on consideration of all these matters and of the amounts given in roughly comparable cases in the past.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why free pardons have been granted Messrs. Leonard Richard Emery, James Edmund Powers and Arthur Thompson for crimes which they did not commit; and whether, in these and similar cases in future, he will employ official phraseology designed to make it clear that the accused have been wrongfully convicted.

The only power that the Home Secretary has to undo a conviction and its effects is to recommend the exercise of the Royal Prerogative by way of free pardon. The name "free pardon" has the sanction of long usage and it would be difficult to find another form of words which would be appropriate in the various circumstances in which the grant of a free pardon may be recommended. The document in which Her Majesty signifies Her Pleasure is so worded as to avoid the implication that the pardon is of an offence. It states that the pardon is of a conviction and remits its legal consequences. Pardon in this sense does not mean forgiveness but the remission of the penal consequences of a conviction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiry he proposes to institute into the causes which led to the miscarriage of justice whereby three innocent men were convicted of grave crimes and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, of which they served two years, although they gave a full and true account of their movements when first charged; and on what basis he arrived at the sums of money which he has offered them as compensation.

As to the first part of the Question, I do not propose to make any further inquiries into this case; as to the second part I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he arrives at the decision as to the amount of compensation to be paid to a person released from prison on the grounds of wrongful conviction.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I have given today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Metropolitan Police have been prosecuted for offences during the past five years to the latest available date; how many have been convicted; and of what offences.

During the period 1st January, 1951, to 21st January, 1956, 140 members of the Metropolitan Police were prosecuted and 87 were convicted. The Answer to the last part of the Question is contained in the following table.The following are the offences of which the officers were convicted:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities have provided special reception centres for the temporary reception of delinquent children under 12 years of age in place of remand homes under Section 3 of the Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Act, 1952; and what steps he is taking to recommend this course of action to such authorities.

Twenty. In view of the deceasing demand for these facilities I should not feel justified in recommending further action to local authorities at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to investigate deportations from this country made without extradition proceedings solely at the request of foreign Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will have inquiries made into the deportation from this country, at the request of foreign Governments, of aliens who have not been charged with any criminal offence.

No. I know of no deportations made in the circumstances described.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign students and from what countries have been refused extensions of permits to study in this country or had their permits withdrawn during the last twelve months; and for what reasons.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances it is his practice to allow the release from prison on bail of prisoners the validity of whose conviction is being officially investigated or reviewed.

I have no power to release convicted prisoners on bail. The Question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority he requires the surrender to his Department of a passport issued by a foreign Government.

An alien is not required to surrender his passport to the Home Office, but when the conditions endorsed on a passport by the immigration officer are subsequently varied by the Secretary of State, it is the practice to ask that the passport be sent to the Home Office where the amendment is formally noted in the passport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what warning system within our Civil Defence organisation has been evolved to alert built-up areas of pending radio-active fallout following thermo-nuclear explosions during war time.

Arrangements are being made for the Air Raid Warning Organisation to give warnings of radioactive fall-out from information supplied by the Royal Observer Corps and from other sources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the estimated cost of building work for Civil Defence for the financial year 1956–57.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind local authority building for Civil Defence purposes. I shall not be in a position to make a statement about this until after the publication of the Home Office Estimates for 1956–57.

asked the Minister of Education how many new primary and secondary schools, respectively, have been built since 1945; in how many cases building commenced before October, 1951; and how the total figure compares with that for the ten years preceding 1939.

Up to October last year, 2,108 new primary schools and 595 new secondary schools. Work started before October, 1951, on 1,457 of these primary and 416 of the secondary schools. No figures are available for the period before 1939.

asked the Minister of Education how many comprehensive schools are now in existence, and how many are in course of erection, and in which local authority areas.

On 30th September last there were 26 comprehensive schools open and 16 under construction. The details are as follows:

asked the Minister of Education the total number of teachers on the staffs of primary and secondary schools at the latest date for which figures are available; and how this figure compares with those for 1951, 1946, and 1939.

Following are the figures for maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools, other than nursery and special schools:

asked the Minister of Education the total numbers of children on the primary and secondary school rolls at the latest date for which figures are available; and how these figures compare with those for 1951 and 1946.

Following are the figures for maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools, other than nursery and special schools:

asked the Minister of Education in how many cases he has still not approved secondary school development plans; and if he will publish a list of the local authorities concerned.

The plans for the following six local education authorities have not yet been approved: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire, Glamorgan and Swansea.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the Burnham Committee are empowered under his regulations to take into account superannuation contributions when considering teachers' salary scales.

I would refer to the-reply I gave on 15th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford-Holt).

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement concerning teachers' salaries.

I have nothing to add to the statement which I issued on 6th January, in which I said that if a new salary settlement were to be reached and agreed by all parties, which could be introduced from a date earlier than 1st April, 1957, the Government would sympathetically consider it.

asked the Minister of Education how many technical schools for girls exist in this country; and, in view of the neglect of scientific and technical education in the past, what steps are being taken to increase the number of these schools.

There are forty-seven girls' and 113 mixed secondary technical schools in England and Wales. Five girls' and twenty-nine mixed schools of this type are under construction or in approved building programmes.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the need for increasing the facilities for technical training, what consideration is being given to the problem, and what proposals to improve the situation have been approved.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a further statement on his proposals for the future development of technical colleges.

The plans for technical education which the Secretary of State for Scotland and I propose to put into effect during the next five years will be described in a White Paper which the Government intends to publish before the end of next month.

asked the Minister of Education what would be the additional cost of paying teachers' pensions monthly instead of quarterly.

Apart from the additional office accommodation, equipment and printing, the extra cost in salaries would be about £27,000.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes to amend the Training of Teachers Grant Regulations 1950, Section 17 (e); and what effect the proposed amendment will have on those students who have signed Form 3 (a) R.T.C. and not yet completed their teacher training.

The amended Regulations came into operation on 1st January. I hope that students who have declared their intention to teach in grant-aided schools and have received grants on that condition will, in fact, do so; but I shall not bring pressure to bear in individual cases.

asked the Minister of Health when he now intends to introduce legislation to extend the cheap milk period from five years and one month to five and a half years so as to eliminate the gap just before children start regular attendance at school.

The number of children in whose case there is a gap between the end of the cheap milk scheme and entitlement to school milk is small; I do not consider that I would be justified in incurring the heavy administrative expenditure that would become necessary in order to secure that all children of these ages received either welfare milk or school milk.

asked the Minister of Health what action he has taken to safeguard the public against the danger from the importation of contaminated egg powders.

At the suggestion of my Department the port health authorities, who are responsible for checking the soundness of imported feed, have agreed to increase the rate of sampling of imported dried egg products. My Department is keeping in touch with them and the trade, and, in the case of one particular type of dried egg albumen, has drawn the attention of the authorities in the country of origin to unsatisfactory bacteriological findings.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the information made available to him by the Medical Research Council on the effectiveness and safety of vaccination against poliomyelitis; and if he will give his plans for the vaccination of young persons in Great Britain up to July, 1956, and from October, 1956.

I am advised that the British vaccine against poliomyelitis which is now being manufactured should confer a degree of protection against paralytic poliomyelitis and that, with the stringent safety tests to be passed, it will be free from danger in use.Substantial quantities of the vaccine will not be available until the end of the year, but meanwhile proposals have been made to local health authorities for the use of the limited quantity which it is hoped will be available in May and June. Vaccination will be offered as part of the National Health Service to children born between 1947 and 1954. A selection from those who accept the offer will be made on a central plan to determine those who can actually be vaccinated in view of the amount of vaccine then available. Priority for vaccination will be given later in the year to the children not selected, when I hope it will also be possible to extend the age groups.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an appeal to the owners of private woodlands to allow access to their woods for the purpose of killing pigeons which are harmful to the crops on adjoining land.

I thank my hon. Friend for giving me this opportunity of appealing to owners of private woodlands to give permission for the organised shooting of wood-pigeons on their property. I hope that this appeal will receive wide publicity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress had been made in the experiments with the use of poisonous or stupefying substances for killing pigeons or other bird pests.

Preliminary field trials have shown that it is possible to catch rooks, jackdaws and feral pigeons with narcotised baits. Trials against wood-pigeons have been less successful but efforts to find effective baits for these birds are continuing.