asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that the latest increase in the cost-of-living index has already absorbed the increase in National Assistance scales; and whether he will make a statement.

No. The increases in the assistance scales announced on 28th November last were of the order of 6½ per cent. Changes in the interim index of retail prices published since that date show a rise of 1·6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship caused to many officers' widows through their inability to obtain the rent allowance for widows, especially in the case of sub-lieutenants, subalterns, flying officers and pilot officers; and if he will extend this allowance to such officers' widows, subject, if necessary, to consultation in each case with his Department's welfare service.

While I sympathise with the point which my hon. Friend has raised, I do not think it is possible to consider this matter in isolation from the total pensions and allowances received by these and other war widows. As my hon. Friend knows, the standard rate of pension for all war widows and the allowances for their children were increased substantially last year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship caused to practically all Service widows of the 1914–18 war, who are excluded from receiving a rent grant; and if he will revise the regulations so as to include such widows.

Since 1943 widows of other ranks of both the 1914 and 1939 wars whose household includes a child have been eligible for consideration for a rent allowance, and I would not feel justified at this stage in extending this provision to widows without children.I share my hon. Friend's concern that elderly widows, particularly those living alone, should be helped in every way possible. Arrangements are already in hand to visit war widows of 70 years of age and over, subject to their wishes, to see what action can be taken for their welfare.

asked the Minister or Fuel and Power if, in view of the changes in the valuation of hereditaments for rating purposes, he will exercise his powers under the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act, 1950, to substitute a higher figure for that of £32.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now take action to increase the maximum figure of £32 rateable value which entitles a house-owner to compensation for damage to property arising from mining subsidence.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in assessing a suitable figure in substitution for the present limit of £32 rateable value as a qualification for mining subsidence compensation, he will ensure that the new figure will include all properties previously covered and all other similar properties which, owing to assessment anomalies, were previously omitted; and whether he will take steps to announce the new figure before 1st April, 1956.

I am in consultation with local authority associations about a new figure to take the place of the present limit of £32 per annum for England and Wales, and as soon as I am in a position to do so I shall ask Parliament to approve an Order under the 1950 Act to come into force on 1st April.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he intends to take to speed up capital investment in the coal industry and to expedite production of coal from developing mines in which large amounts of capital have already been invested.

I have indicated to the National Coal Board that I attach the greatest importance to accelerating mechanisation and to obtaining early results from schemes of reconstruction and development such as the hon. Member has in mind. With regard to the future level of investment, I am in consultation with the Board over a revision of its "Plan for Coal."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Yorkshire Electricity Board are supplying Pool - in - Wharfedale and Arthington with electricity the voltage of which falls below the statutory limit; how many users are affected; the cause; and what action he proposes to take.

I understand that, because of the overloading of the local high voltage system, the voltage of the supply in these districts falls slightly below the statutory limits during periods of peak demand and that 874 consumers are affected. The Yorkshire Electricity Board has planned a major reinforcement scheme for completion by next winter to improve the position.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is prepared to make a statement on the Report of the Herbert Committee into the electrical supply industry.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which I made on 30th January.

asked the Minister of Supply how much of the estimated loss of £700,000 made by Royal Ordnance factory's manufacture of hosiery machines arose prior to 1951; since the work was done on the basis of cost of manufacture plus an agreed profit margin not exceeding 10 per cent., how many contracts, and for what total amount he has on this cost-plus basis; and what steps he is taking to end this wasteful form of production.

Much of the expenditure under this contract was incurred in the manufacture of components before the beginning of 1951. But it is not possible to apportion the loss in the way suggested by my hon. Friend because most of the machines were completed and delivered after that date. As to the second part of the Question, the contract provided also for a fixed maximum price and in the event it was that price which applied. For such civil work as is still undertaken by the Royal Ordnance Factories it is the general rule to charge fixed prices.

asked the Minister of Supply what proportion of the contracts placed by his Department are for firm prices, and what percentage have an escape or escalator clause or are on a cost-plus basis; and what action he is taking to end the system of buying without firm prices.

The Department's policy is to make contracts at firm prices whenever practicable and to agree to materials or wages variation clauses only where these are justified by the circumstances. Some contracts, particularly those for research and development, have of necessity to be priced on ascertained costs, plus a fee fixed in relation to capital employed. It would take an unjustifiable amount of time to extract the information about the proportion of total contracts on each basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will order a public inquiry into the treatment meted out to Mr. Davison, Swanbridge, Glamorganshire, by the county agricultural executive committee.

No. My right hon. Friend has previously examined this case at the request of my hon. Friend the Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) and concluded that there were no grounds for ordering a public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why great increases have been allowed in the quantities and value of margarine and lard imported from foreign countries, especially the dollar area, during the past three years, and decreases in the imports from Commonwealth countries.

Since about the middle of 1954, imports of margarine and lard have been in the hands of private traders who are now free to decide in which markets to buy supplies best suited to meet their customers' requirements, having regard to quality and price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the present estimated cost of the 50 per cent. grant for scrub clearance.

For the twelve months ended 31st December, 1955, the cost of the 50 per cent. grant for the clearance of scrub providing harbourage for rabbits was approximately £4,830.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the purpose and estimated cost of the mouse-breeding establishment at Rougham Airfield, near Bury St. Edmunds.

The purpose of the mouse-watching station at Rougham Airfield is to study the behaviour and other biological aspects of house mice in conditions similar to those in grain stores and ricks, with a view to improving methods of control in such places. The total cost of this establishment over four years, including an apportionment of the remuneration of the two research workers employed part-time there, has been about £5,400.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern felt in the agricultural industry, especially amongst small farmers, as to the future of pig production and marketing; and if he will make a statement of the Government's policy.

Government policy is to provide pig producers with a system of price guarantees giving a fair level of return and reasonable stability. During the current fatstock year guarantee payments have averaged about 14s. per score deadweight and fluctuations in the industry's average weekly returns have been less than 10 per cent. above or below the guaranteed standard price. Discussions are now however taking place with the N.F.U. on possible ways of improving and simplifying the guarantee arrangements for the next fatstock year. As regards pigs marketing, we are awaiting the Report of the Reorganisation Commission.

asked the Minister of Health why it is proposed to dissolve the medical committees at the Royal Eye Hospital, Southwark, and the Belgrave Children's Hospital; and whether this action has his approval.

I am informed that the decision to dissolve these medical subcommittees was taken by the board of governors as part of a plan to reduce committee work. This is not a matter requiring my approval.

asked the Minister of Health why hospitals in London have curtains to separate beds when desired in the wards for the purpose of privacy when provincial hospitals are denied this amenity; and if he will take steps towards establishing uniformity.

The cost and not geography is the factor limiting the division of wards into cubicles by curtaining.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as a result of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the undesirability of allowing buildings on which public money has been spent since the introduction of the National Health Service to remain empty, he will ensure that the Prudhoe Memorial Home, which was acquired under the original Act with a considerable endowment and which is deteriorating, is put into use without delay.

This building was not bought, but passed into the hospital service under the National Health Service Acts. It presents problems as it will require considerable capital expenditure before it can be used for hospital purposes: I understand that the regional hospital board cannot at present, in view of its other commitments, include the work in its building programme.

asked the Minister of Health if he will proceed to set up a committee of inquiry into the working of the maternity services of the National Health Service, as recommended by the Gillebaud Committee.

My right hon. Friend hopes to do this. He is considering the recommendation in detail and intends to make a further statement before very long.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made towards providing under the National Health Service hearing aids of the Mono-pack type for children.

Since the clinical field trials of the Monopack aid using thermionic valves it has recently become possible to accelerate the development of transistor aids. I have, therefore, decided to wait until they are available for issue to children. These aids will be smaller than the valve Monopack, more economical in use and even more convenient for children. To wait for them will mean some delay, but everything possible is being done to reduce it to a minimum.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the Report of the Chronic Sick Survey of his Department; and whether this report will be made available to the public.

My officers have been conducting surveys of services for the chronic sick in all parts of the country. I am at present studying their reports, but it would not be appropriate to publish them.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons, adults and children, per 1,000 of the population in England and Wales have had paralytic or non-paralytic poliomyelitis, fatal or otherwise, in the last five years.

The numbers of persons of all ages notified as suffering from poliomyelitis, expressed as a rate per 1,000 of the population in England and Wales are as follows:

asked the Minister of Health to give an estimate of the increased cost of the National Health Service if all the improvements recommended by the Guillebaud Committee when financial considerations permit were put into operation at once.

It is impossible to make such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the importance of the National Health Service to the community generally, he will arrange for the publication of a popular edition of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the cost of the National Health Service, Command Paper No. 9663, giving the main conclusions and recommendations together with other salient points likely to be of general interest, as at its present price the full report is out of reach of those most affected.

One section of this Report contains a summary of the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee. As the Press has already given wide publicity to this section, I do not consider that I should be justified in undertaking the expense of publishing this section as a pamphlet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the series of recent cases of miscarriages of justice occasioned by apparent failure to make proper inquiry and investigation, by false or mistaken identification and by other causes whereby public confidence in the administration of justice has been impaired; and whether it is proposed to set up a judicial or other public inquiry to ascertain what further safeguards are required to ensure that the traditional safeguards of British justice against the conviction and punishment of innocent persons are maintained or strengthened.

No. I do not accept the hon. Member's assertion that there has been a series of recent miscarriages of justice nor do I accept the statement that public confidence in the administration of justice has been impaired. I cause inquiries to be made into any case where it is alleged that a miscarriage of justice has taken place and appropriate action is taken where there is sufficient reason to think that a person convicted of a crime did not in fact commit it. Moreover, our law provides that any citizen who has been convicted because of misconduct on the part of the police may seek redress from the courts. Appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against any police officer whose conduct in the discharge of his duties has been blameworthy. The traditional safeguards of British justice do not appear to me to stand in need of strengthening.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what period of training is given to a recruit to the Metropolitan Police force before that police officer is sent out on street patrol duty on his own.

A probationary constable in the Metropolitan Police force has thirteen weeks' training at the force training school, followed by two weeks attending magistrates' courts, and four weeks' patrol duty in the company of an experienced officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reprieved murderers have been released since 1930 after serving a term of imprisonment; and how many of them have been subsequently convicted of a second murder.

Between 1st January, 1931, and 31st December, 1955, two hundred and ten persons who had been convicted of murder, sentenced to death, and later reprieved, were released on licence from prison. Of these, one has since been convicted of murder.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will initiate legislation to require the registration, as newspapers, of periodicals published regularly at less frequent intervals than a week.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will delete from subsequent issues of the form "P.O. Wireless Records," the word "because" in the second part of the reply.

I am looking into the matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, as regards public paths in the county of Northamptonshire, how many diversion orders and how many extinguishment orders, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, he confirmed; how many such orders of each kind he refused to confirm during the period between 1st January, 1951, and 31st December, 1954; and how many new rights of way were created by order in that county during that period.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, as regards public paths in each county, how many diversion orders and how many extinguishment orders, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, he confirmed; how many such orders, of each kind, he refused to confirm during the year 1955; how many such orders of each kind were submitted during that year and have not yet been confirmed; and how many new rights of way were created by order in each county during that year.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many public paths, shown as such in the definitive map prepared by the county council of Northamptonshire, have been the subject of extinguishment orders confirmed during the year 1955; how many such paths have been the subject of diversion orders confirmed during that year; and how many such paths are the subject of extinguishment orders or diversion orders submitted during that year and not yet confirmed.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has studied the evidence which has been sent to him that rain-making experiments in the south of France caused serious and destructive hail storms; and, in view of this, if he will make a further statement on the rainmaking experiments which he proposes to make in the coming months.

The information which I have had from my hon. Friend does not enable me to add to the Answer given to him on the 20th December.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to be able to say work will start on the road diversion, near Hart-hope Viaduct on the Carlisle—Glasgow road.

I cannot at present add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 25th January.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what instructions he has issued regarding the use of London Airport by privately-owned and company-owned aircraft which are suitably equipped; and whether he will make a statement.

A Notice to Airmen has been issued which amends the local flying restrictions applying to London Airport, which are set out in the Air Pilot. The amendment states that London Airport is normally restricted to aircraft operated on scheduled services, but that the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation is prepared to consider individual applications from operators who are unable to use other aerodromes in the London area or who have a special reason for wishing to use London Airport.Applications under the above clause should be made to the Airport Commandant during normal working hours and at other times to Air Traffic Control. Except in special circumstances, at least 24 hours' notice should be given. Applications in respect of single-engined aircraft or for flights for recreational purposes will not normally be granted.The earlier, more restrictive instructions were designed to ensure that during the time when extensive construction was proceeding at the airport only those aircraft which were scheduled into the airport should use it and that only in exceptional cases should operators not familiar with the aerodrome be permitted to land. Now that all the main runways have been completed and the new tower and radio facilities are in operation, I am glad to be able to make it easier for bona fide commercial flights to make use of the airport. Nevertheless, in view of the intense use made of the airport at certain times of the day I have still considered it necessary to ensure that permission is sought on each occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Army bands exist at present; and what was their total cost in 1955.

There are 117 Regular and 156 Territorial Army bands. Apart from the maintenance, etc., of the personnel, the cost to public funds is rather under £100,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the complaints made by Service men in respect of the unsuitability of accommodation at Woolwich Barracks, if he will appoint a committee of inquiry.

No. We know the state of these barracks and are going to rebuild them.