Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday, 9th February 1956

National Finance

Inland Revenue (Staff)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the new duties undertaken by the Board of Inland Revenue which at present require the employment of 52,200 civil servants compared with 25,000 in April, 1939; and if he will give the increased number employed under each category and the reduction he expects to make in the coming year.

The main increases in staff in the Inland Revenue are 18,000 in Income Tax offices, 2,000 in collection offices, and 5,000 in valuation offices. They are due chiefly to a fourfold increase in Income Tax payers, to new responsibilities for rating valuation and for valuation under the Town and Country Planning Acts, and to the increased volume of land transactions by public authorities. The Board's staff is kept to the minimum for the work required. To achieve substantial reductions, there would have to be changes in fiscal policy.

Licence Duty Receipts (Greyhound Racing)

14.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received by the revenue by way of bookmakers' licence duty paid by bookmakers operating on greyhound racecourses and horse racecourses during the months of January-December, 1955.

For receipts of bookmakers' licence duty paid by bookmakers on greyhound racecourses, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Hull, West (Capt. Hewitson). Bookmakers on horse racecourses are not liable to this duty.

Royal Commissions

18.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Royal Commissions were appointed in 1955; and what was their total cost.

One Royal Commission was appointed during 1955, the Royal Commission on Common Land, which was set up by Royal Warrant dated 1st December, 1955. The cost during that month for salaries, travelling and incidental expenses amounted to about £418.

Prices, Imports And Reserves

24.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that during last year retail prices rose one-and-a-half times as fast as in 1954; that the value of imports rose 15 per cent. which was three times as much as exports, and reserves fell by about a quarter; what was the reason for this; and whether he will make a statement on his proposals to prevent a recurrence of this problem in 1956.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is "Yes." In answer to the last part, I do not propose to embark on a discussion of these very wide issues in answer to a Parliamentary Question.

Nationalised Industries (Capital)

27.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of paragraph 351 of the Herbert Committee's Report, he will review the method of supplying capital to the nationalised industries with a view to ensuring some uniformity in the methods employed, as well as giving consideration to the advantages of some part of their capital being an equity.

The report is being considered by the Minister of Fuel and Power. Since this particular point involves other nationalised industries besides the C.E.A., it will of course need to be considered in consultation with other Ministers concerned.

Pensions (Increase) Bill

29.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will undertake to prescribe by regulation, 1st January, 1956, as the operative date for pension increases under the new Pensions (Increase) Bill.

I cannot give undertakings about particular aspects of matters which will be open to debate when the House comes to consider the Pensions (Increase) Bill.

Junior Ministers (Salaries)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the salary of a Junior Minister in 1938; what it is today; and how the purchasing value of the present day salary, after tax, compares with the purchasing value of the salary in 1938.

The salary of most Junior Ministers in 1938 was £1,500, leaving for the married man with two children £1,278 after tax. Most of these posts still carry a salary of £1,500, but if the Minister is in the House of Commons £500 salary as a Member may also be drawn, making £2,000 in all. Ignoring certain changes in the basis of claims for expenses the corresponding net amount after tax is £1,586. This has the same purchasing power as £602 in 1938.

Pool Betting Duty

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the amount of revenue received in 1954 and 1955 from any Pool Betting Duty levied upon fixed odds football pools.

None: bets at fixed odds do not attract pool betting duty.

Imperial College, South Kensington (Correspondence)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the representations that have been made by the Royal Fine Art Commission about the proposed scheme of development of Imperial College at South Kensington.

The views of the Royal Fine Art Commission were conveyed in a letter dated 11th June, 1955, which received careful consideration by the Government and to which a reply was sent on 20th January, 1956. I understand that the Commission, since receiving it, may wish to make further representations. The text of the correspondence which has passed is as follows:1.

Letter dated 11 th June, 1955, from the Secretary, Royal Fine Art Commission to the Secretary, H.M. Treasury.

Sir,

1. The Royal Fine Art Commission has learned with interest of the decision taken by H.M. Government in January, 1953, that the Imperial College should be expanded to twice its present size, and has recently been consulted by the College on the proposed redevelopment of the site in South Kensington bounded by Prince Consort Road, Exhibition Road, Imperial Institute Road and Queen's Gate, for these increased requirements.

2. The Commission has seen drawings and models, prepared by the Architects, Messrs. Norman and Dawbarn, illustrating their proposals which are understood to be acceptable to the College.

3. In the opinion of the Commission, these proposals do not pay enough regard to the importance to London architecturally and historically of some of the existing buildings on the site, particularly the main block of the Imperial Institute and No. 170, Queen's Gate, which the Commission considers should be retained in any redevelopment of the site.

4. As far as No. 170, Queen's Gate is concerned, the Commission understands from informal discussion with representatives of the College and of the University that there would be no great difficulty in modifying the plans to provide for its preservation.

5. As far as the Imperial Institute is concerned, its retention raises more serious problems which have also been discussed with the authorities. In the opinion of the Commission, this great work of Colcutt, with its fine craftsmanship, is of outstanding significance not only to South Kensington but to London as a whole, and should be preserved. It is understood that although the building has not been surveyed, the College Architects, before putting forward their present proposals, studied alternative schemes that might have enabled the building to be kept, but they did not think it possible to provide the volume of accommodation required without its demolition, except at the sacrifice of certain amenities in the way of open spaces required to give an appropriate collegiate atmosphere to the new buildings.

6. It is appreciated that the buildings of the Imperial Institute are not adaptable to the teaching requirements of the College, but it is suggested that the main block, facing Imperial Institute Road, might well house the Science Library and its accessories when these are removed from their present accommodation on the opposite side of the road. Although apparently wasteful of space, a close study of modern library requirements might show that the existing building would lend itself economically to a series of subject reading rooms with adjoining stacks, and perhaps common rooms.

7. It has been suggested that if the Imperial Institute building is retained and is surrounded by new buildings of contemporary design, the result would be architecturally unsatisfactory, but the Commission believes that the Victorian grandeur of the Imperial Institute, a scholarly and carefully considered design using materials and craftsmanship unobtainable today, would provide a valuable foil to the new buildings and would contribute to a sense of historical continuity appropriate to a collegiate group.

8. The Commission believes that the development of the rest of the site could be re-designed to provide for the bulk of the teaching requirements and that if necessary additional space should be found in the neighbourhood outside this rectangular site.

9. In any case it appears to the Commission that the difficulties are being increased unnecessarily by the proposal to provide fresh accommodation for the Imperial Institute within the rectangle and that it would be to the advantage of both the College and the Institute if such provision were made elsewhere in the neighbourhood.

10. Another source of difficulty is the presence on the site of the Royal College of Music Whose building is not of special architectural or historic interest. It is understood that a general agreement has been made with the Royal College of Music that they should not be disturbed, but the Commission believes that this aspect of the matter should be re-examined since again it might be in the long-term interests of both Colleges if the Royal College of Music weer rehoused elsewhere in the neighbourhood and the site of its building incorporated in the scheme for the Imperial College

11. The authorities concerned attach importance to full provision for their teaching requirements within this rectangle, although they are intending to provide residential accommodation on sites beyond the perimeter. It seems to the Commission that the long-term teaching requirements of the College cannot be so exactly calculated in advance and that at some later date further extension outside the rectangle is likely to be required. The Government would be severely blamed for the demolition of a building of architectural and historic interest, on the grounds that it prevented essential redevelopment within a defined area, if it were found at a later date that extension beyond the area was necessary in any case.

12. It seems clear that many of the factors involved in this problem are beyond the scope of the College and of the University. The Commission therefore hopes that the whole position may be reviewed by the Government in order to arrive at a more satisfactory provision for the long-term requirements of the several institutions concerned, while at the same time preserving for posterity those buildings which are part of the architectural history of London.

13. A copy of this letter has been sent to the Rector of the Imperial College.

2. Letter dated 20 th January, 1956, from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the Chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission.

The Government's plans for the expansion of the Imperial College of Science and Technology which were announced by my predecessor to Parliament entail, as you know, the redevelopment of the rectangular island site at South Kensington. The Royal Fine Art Commission was consulted and its views, set out in a letter dated 11th June, 1955, from the Secretary of the Commission, have been the subject of long and painstaking consideration by Ministers. I am writing to let you know of the conclusions to which they have come.

On receipt of the Commission's letter the whole position was thoroughly re-examined, to see if means could be found to reconcile the development of the College (which in itself, I think, everyone agrees to be desirable) with the Commission's recommendation that the Collcutt building ought to be preserved.

In particular, very careful and detailed consideration was given, in consultation with the Imperial Institute, the Imperial College and their architects, to the Commission's suggestions that new premises for the Imperial Institute and the Royal College of Music should be provided elsewhere, that the Collcutt building should be used to house the Science Library, and that additional space for the College should if necessary be found outside the island site. The Commisssion also urged that No. 170, Queen's Gate, should be preserved; this, I am happy to say, presents no difficulty.

The Commission's suggestions would involve the acquisition of up to three additional sites elsewhere—for the Imperial Institute, for the Royal College of Music, and for part of the Imperial College itself. Although there would be some freedom of choice about the location of a new Imperial Institute building, a site to compensate the Imperial College for the space lost through retaining the Collcutt building would have to be in the neighbourhood of the main site, if the College were not to lose efficiency through dispersion; nor could the Royal College of Music reasonably be required to make a completely fresh start right away from its traditional site.

In pursuance of the Commission's ideas, there has been a thorough search of the neighbourhood, but with scant success; unfortunately the possibilities of finding new sites there are severely restricted. All known sites which might be suitable are zoned for residential purposes, and acquisition could not proceed except by the use of compulsory powers, involving legislation, which it would be hard to justify. And the demolition of the Royal College of Music (which in fact would give poor advantage in terms of floor space) would seriously delay the development scheme, in that the College's teaching activities could not be suspended, and therefore a new building would have to be completed for the Royal College of Music before the demolition of its existing premises could make any contribution towards solving the Imperial College problem.

After all the possibilities, whether suggested by the Commission or otherwise, had been considered, it appeared that a solution of the Imperial College problem could in practice be found in only one of two ways: either by adhering generally to the plan announced to Parliament for the development by the College of the whole island site, including the premises now occupied by the Imperial Institute; or by retaining the Collcutt building and making it available for the use of the Imperial College. In either case it would be necessary, as the Commission had suggested, for the Imperial Institute to be moved to a new site elsewhere; and this we accept.

In the light of these considerations, the Government have carefully reviewed the whole matter yet again. They are advised that, even if the Collcutt building were adapted for academic use or for the Science Library, the consequent loss of space would make it necessary to reduce the intended number of students at Imperial College by 360, of whom 270 would be post-graduates; that is to say, about one-quarter of the whole planned expansion would be lost.

The main loss would be in post-graduate courses of instruction designed to train technologists of the highest quality. Such a curtailment would, in the Government's view, gravely damage the Imperial College development, by far the most important of the Government's nationally conceived plans for expanding higher technological education at the University level. In all the circumstances, the Government have decided that they must adhere to the scale of development for the College which they originally announced, and have regretfully concluded that this can only be achieved if the Collcutt building is demolished and its site utilised.

I am sure you will accept my assurances that, before we reached our decision, we gave long, careful and sympathetic consideration to the Commission's views, in an attempt to discover some means of reconciling with the

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF CANNED FISH CONSIGNED FROM ALL SOURCES IN THE CALENDAR YEARS 1953, 1954 AND 1955
Countries whence consigned	1953		1954		1955 (provisional)
	cwt.	£ c.i.f.	cwt.	£ c.i.f.	cwt.	£ c.i.f.
Union of South Africa	64,140	1,244,269	40,329	929,536	62,552	866,387
South West Africa	13,271	108,611	60,663	438,548	125,509	834,904
Australia	1,204	39,040	904	27,616	1,484	27,066
Canada	90,933	1,774,661	158,142	3,762,008	72,869	2,025,979
Soviet Union (including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)	41,987	945,040	28,650	533,660	78,178	2,360,151
Netherlands	272	3,137	1,606	54,326	5,589	175,503
Denmark	710	19,147	938	15,448	3,793	49,348
Norway	24,806	720,020	59,379	1,636,797	45,292	1,228,271
France	47	2,641	2,597	58,545	818	21,032
Portugal	1,742	40,617	149,125	2,080,994	133,333	1,876,242
Spain	5,124	68,612	3,539	45,223	9,730	90,809
Italy	22	839	1,052	14,734	3,839	48,548
Yugoslavia	367	8,777	3,167	27,784	95	1,283
French Morocco	34	635	8,089	111,108	94	1,378
Japan	9	91	93,683	2,420,442	36,379	1,017,150
United States of America	750	10,154	29,153	663,503	48,386	1,439,317
Peru	4,246	69,937	49,898	784,071	74,467	1,200,597
Chile	3,235	53,999	2,626	42,518	3,626	59,909
All other countries	714	14,874	3,693	65,034	3,007	48,351
TOTALS ALL SOURCES	253,613	5,125,101	697,233	13,711,895	709,040	13,372,225

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Canned Fish (Imports)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the chief countries of origin, and the quantities and values from each, of the canned fish imported into this country during 1953, 1954 and 1955.

The following is the information:purpose of the Supplementary Estimates, dated 6th February, 1956.

The following are particulars of the latest estimates of the cost of agricultural support in the financial year 1955–56 for which provisions have been made in the Civil Estimates, Class VIII, Votes 2 and 12.

			£ million Cash Subsidy
I.	Direct Subsidy Payments under Agricultural Price Guarantees
	(a) Cereals:—
	Wheat and Rye	25·4
	Barley	11·2
	Oats and Mixed Corn	—
			36·6
	(b) Home Produced Eggs		18·6
	(c) Fatstock:—
	Cattle	0·4
	Sheep	5·1
	Pigs	47·5
			53·0
	(d) Milk (excluding school and welfare milk)		37·1
	(e) Wool		—
	TOTAL I		145·3
II.	Agricultural Production Grants
	(a) General Fertilisers Subsidy		14·5
	(b) Lime Subsidy		10·0
	(c) Grants for Ploughing-up Grassland		5·2
	(d) Field Drainage and Water Supply Grants		2·7
	(e) Grants for Improvement of Livestock Rearing Land		1·4
	(f) Marginal Production Assistance Grants		1·7
	(g) Bonus Payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme		10·6
	(h) Livestock: Improvement of Breeding		0·1
	(i) Calf Subsidy		8·0
	(j) Hill Sheep and Hill Cattle		3·9
	(k) Remanet Payments		—
	TOTAL II		58·1
	Total Cash (I and II)		203·4	203·4
	Administrative overheads applicable to I and II above			5·5
	Total Subsidy (I and II)			208·9
III.	Trading Subsidies in Implementation of Agricultural Guarantees
	(a) Home Produced Shell Eggs and Egg Products		3·4	3·9
	(b) Potatoes		0·3	0·8
	TOTAL III		3·7	4·7
	Total Cost of Agricultural Support		207·1	213·6

Details of the original estimates of the cost of agricultural support were appended, in similar form, to the Supplementary Estimate of 5th July, 1955 (H.C. 27).

Kippers (Dyeing)

36.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a decision has yet been reached in respect to the banning of dyed kippers on health grounds; and what progress has been made in the experiments designed again to popularise the traditional smoked kipper.

A decision must depend on the action taken on the Food Standards Committee's recommendations on the use of colour in food, but I will see that no time is lost in dealing with kippers. As regards the second part of the Question, the hon. Member presumably has in mind the experiments at the Torry Research Station. I understand that there is at present nothing to add to the reply given to him on 11th July, 1955, by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Works.

Meat (Quality)

38.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement showing what progress has been made in the talks aimed at finding out what housewives want in relation to better quality meat; and what interests are represented at the talks.

Discussions have been taking place with representatives of producers and distributors about setting up a committee to advise on the identification of technical problems requiring investigation and to encourage desirable technical developments in the meat and livestock industries. All sections of these industries including farmers, importers, wholesalers and retailers, have been consulted and support the proposals. I hope to make an announcement shortly about the constitution of the committee and its terms of reference.

Slaughter Of Animals Regulations

44.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) (No. 2) Regulations, 1954, are obscurely drafted in not making it clear whether the police or the local authorities are enabled to institute proceedings in cases arising under them; and if he will amend the Regulations so as to make it clear that the police have a responsibility for enforcement.

I am advised that it would be inappropriate to declare in the Regulations that any particular persons or classes of persons may institute proceedings since as the law stands anybody may do so. I cannot make the amendment suggested in the second part of the Question as I have no power to place a responsibility for enforcement on the police, but I hope that this reply will help to remove any misunderstanding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the Provision for the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Regulations, 1954, are not being complied with by local authorities; and if he will take action in this regard.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 26th January to the hon. Member for Oldbury and Halesowen (Mr. Moyle).

Nationalised Industries (Salaries)

48.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the recommendations of both the Fleck and Herbert Committees, he will review the salaries of the members of the boards of the nationalised industries.

I have been asked to reply.The Government have these recommendations under consideration.

Employment

Strikes

63.

asked the Minister of Labour how many days were lost to the nation as a result of strikes in 1955 and 1954, respectively.

About 3,794,000 in 1955 and 2,457,000 in 1954.

Smithfield And Covent Garden (Earnings)

64.

asked the Minister of Labour the present average weekly receipts of porters and bummarees at Smithfield Market and of pitchers and porters at Covent Garden Market.

I regret that this information is not available.

Building Workers, Glenrothes

67.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trade workers were employed in the new township of Glenrothes, Fife, at the end of September, 1955; how many are now employed; and how many will become redundant consequent on the recently announced slowing down of the town's development.

The number employed at the end of September, 1955, was 373, and the number employed today is 352. I know of no likely redundancies in the near future.

Shipyards, Birkenhead (Dispute)

69.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the trade dispute which has arisen at the Cammell Laird shipyards at Birkenhead.

Yes. Last September members of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers employed by Messrs. Cammell Laird, Limited, Birkenhead, went on strike as a result of a dispute between the Society and the National Union of Sheet Metalworkers and Braziers as to who should perform certain operations in connection with the insulation of three fruit ships which were under construction.The strike was ended by two agreements made on 23rd October—one between the firm and the two unions and the other between the firm and the Woodworkers only. This second agreement related to the operation of drilling and was terminated shortly afterwards by the firm on the ground that if it were put into operation there would be a strike on the part of drillers, who are members of the Shipwrights Association and claimed the drilling work, and others who supported their claim. The Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers thereupon withdrew all their members in the Yard. The number on strike is about 450 whilst several hundred other workers have lost their employment as a result of the stoppage.My officers have been in touch with the parties throughout. Their efforts culminated in a meeting on 1st February under the Ministry's auspices between the firm and the Woodworkers' Society, but unfortunately it was not found possible to make any progress towards a settlement.Hon. Members will be aware that the Trades Union Congress has now had informal discussions with the unions concerned.

Hotel Industry (Barbados Staff)

71.

asked the Minister of Labour what success was achieved by the plan sponsored by the Barbados Government and the British Hotels and Restaurants Association whereby some 200 workers from Barbados were brought to this country for jobs in hotels and restaurants during 1955; and to what extent it is proposed to continue or extend this scheme.

This arrangement is between the Barbados Government and the British Hotels and Restaurants Association. I am informed that 95 men and 91 women were recruited in Barbados for posts in 66 hotels in this country during 1955. At the end of the year 65 men and 80 women were still employed in the jobs found for them. I understand that the Association is reviewing the working of the scheme and hopes that it will be possible to continue it.

Meat Porterage (Smithfield Market)

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the trade dispute which has arisen at Smithfield Market arising out of the refusal of the union concerned to allow meat to be carried away except by bummarees; and what action he is taking.

I am of course aware of recent events in Smithfield Market, but I am not aware of any trade dispute between employers and their employees. I shall continue to watch the position and, if a situation arises in which my Department can give assistance, it will be ready to do so.

Cost Of Living

65.

asked the Minister of Labour by how much has the cost-of-living index risen since the coal mining industry was nationalised; and how far is the increase in the price of coal directly and indirectly responsible for the increased cost of living.

The Retail Prices Index now in use was started in June, 1947, and cannot be carried back to January, 1947, when the coal mining industry was nationalised. Between June, 1947, and December, 1955, the Retail Prices Index rose from 100 to 154, about 3½ of the 54 points rise being due to higher prices of domestic coal and coke. I am unable to estimate how the index has been affected indirectly by increases in the price of coal.

asked the Minister of Labour the average increase in the price of electricity and gas as taken in account for the Index of Retail Prices over the last 12 months in relation to the increase in the general level of retail prices over the same period.

As measured by the Interim Index of Retail Prices, there was an increase of 6 per cent. in the average level of retail prices during 1955. I cannot give corresponding figures for individual items included in the index, but for the sub-group which covers prices of electricity, gas, oil and candles the average rise over the same period was about 10 per cent.

Home Department

Convicted Persons (Pardon)

74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were the facts and matters that weighed with him in deciding upon the release of the three men imprisoned for the attack upon Police Constable Pye; and upon what considerations the compensation paid to them was determined.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the Answer which I gave on 26th January to a Question by the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his inquiries have satisfied him that in the preparation of the prosecution of the three men, Emery, Powers and Thompson, every precaution was taken to prevent such a miscarriage of justice as occurred; and what action he proposes to prevent such a miscarriage occurring again.

While I have no direct responsibility for a police force other than the Metropolitan Police, the inquiries which were made by my direction do not indicate that there was any mistake in the preparation of the prosecution of these three men, and no further action seems to be called for on my part.

Prisoners (Identification)

76.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will require rules to be drafted for use in the Metropolitan Police area in cases where conviction depends upon identification to ensure that safeguards exist against the possibility of mistaken identification.

The existing instructions issued by the Commissioner of Police provide all possible safeguards and no action on my part is necessary.

Licensed Premises (Billiards)

77.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action to allow licensing justices to permit the playing of bar billiards on Sundays in licensed premises.

I have no authority to allow licensing justices to permit the playing of billiards in licensed premises on Sundays, which would require legislation.

Spirit Sales, Carlisle (Small Quantities)

83.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to either him, his management or his advisory committees in regard to the abolition of the sale of small quantities, of less than a full bottle, of spirits at his State Management Scheme off-licences in the city of Carlisle.

The sale of quarter bottles of spirits at the State Management off-sales shops was stopped on my instructions in order to bring them into line with the restrictions applying under the ordinary law to those private enterprise off-sales shops which have no connection with on-licensed premises. The sale of half bottles continues. Complaints have been made by some customers to the General Manager at Carlisle, who has also received representations from the Carlisle and District Licensing Reform League. I much regret any inconvenience to customers who have been used to obtaining quarter bottles from the Scheme's off-sales shops, but quarter bottles can still be obtained from the Scheme's public houses, eighteen of which have separate off-sales departments, and will also be available at the new off-sales department connected with the Citadel Tavern in the Lowther Arcade which will be opened in about six weeks.

Traffic Congestion, London

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the wastage of the working time of all workers in London arising from traffic bottle necks; and if he will take action to get traffic moving faster.

So far as police action can help, I can only say that this problem, on which the valuable advice of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee is available, is the subject of constant study and new methods of relieving traffic congestion within the existing road system are continually being tried.

Pool Promoters

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pool promoters were registered in 1955 under the Pool Betting Act of 1954; and if he will state the types of competitions catered for by the registered pool promoters.

The number of pool promoters who registered in England and Wales in 1955 under the Pool Betting Act, 1954, was 220. Of these, twenty-three cancelled their registrations during the year, and a further twenty-three ceased to operate without cancelling their registrations. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

Metropolitan Police Fund

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate of the additional expenditure incurred by the Metropolitan Police Fund in the financial year 1955–56 as a result of the railway strike, and in the financial years 1955–56 and 1956–57 in respect of overtime payments arising out of the reduced police working hours introduced in September, 1955, and in consequence of the recent police pay awards.

In the financial year 1955–56, the additional expenditure incurred by the Metropolitan Police Fund as a result of the railway strike is estimated at £360,000, the cost of overtime in consequence of the introduction of the reduced working hours at £529,000, and the cost of the pay awards at £430,000. In the financial year 1956–57, it is estimated that the cost of overtime in consequence of the reduced working hours will be £1,057,000 and the increased cost of pay £1,523,000.

Education

Ministry Visitors (Passes)

84.

asked the Minister of Education why all visitors to his Department at Curzon Street are required to possess a pass before being admitted; and whether he will take steps to end this practice.

Visitors to my Department are not required to possess a pass; but they are asked on entering to sign their names on a visitor's form.

Trade And Commerce

Softwoods

88.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an indication of the present volume of the strategic reserve of softwoods; and what the Government propose to do with it.

No. It has never been the practice to disclose this type of information. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) on 2nd February.

Motor Industry (Capital Expenditure)

89.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates to have been the fixed capital expenditure made in 1955 by the industries supplying components to the motor industry comparable to the figure published in the Board of Trade, Journal for the motor industry itself of £52 million; and what are the amounts forecast for 1956.

I regret that this information is not available, as the inquiry shows changes in fixed capital expenditure in broad groups of industries only.

Bulgarian And Hungarian Assets (Dividends)

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the administrators of Bulgarian and Hungarian property propose to pay a dividend to claimants in the distribution of Bulgarian and Hungarian assets.

The Administrator of Bulgarian Property will start payment later this month of a first and final dividend of 8d. in the £ to applicants whose claims are established in the Distribution of Bulgarian Property. This dividend will use up the proceeds of the assets available for distribution. The claims made to the Administrator of Hungarian Property have proved to be unexpectedly numerous and complex, and it is unlikely, therefore, that the Administrator will be able to calculate his first and final dividend for two or three months.

Ministry Of Health

Mentally Defective Children, Cheshire

90.

asked the Minister of Health how many mentally defective children are waiting for a place in a suitable institution in Cheshire; what is the average time of waiting; and whether, in view of the effect on the health of the rest of the family who have to look after these children, he will make strenuous efforts to catch up on the waiting list by giving priority to the provision of institutions for such children.

Eighty-seven, with an average waiting time of nearly two years. The regional hospital boards are aware of the urgency of the need and about 600 further beds for children are being provided in the Manchester and Liverpool regions in building schemes already in progress or to be started in the next financial year.

Post Office

Letter Boxes (Clearances)

91.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the growing practice in some districts of emptying letter boxes earlier than the advertised time, especially before the last collection of the day, and failing to change the indicator, thus misleading the public and delaying the delivery of mail; and if he will take steps to stop this practice.

Where there are heavy postings, relief collections are made from letter boxes earlier than the advertised time. In such instances the indicator is not changed, because the main collection follows al the proper time. I am not aware of any other instances of early collections, but if my hon. Friend has any case in mind I will gladly look into it.

Colonial Territories (Governors' Broadcasts)

92.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what instructions are in force regarding broadcasts by Governors of Colonies either in this country or in the territories to which they are posted; whether he is aware that in a broadcast the Governor of Malta showed bias towards a particular party; and, in view of the fact that in the Colonies Governors represent the Crown, if he will instruct them to refrain from broadcasting during elections, referendums or other times of crisis.

Broadcasting by Governors within their territories is a matter for their discretion, but they have been asked to consult me before accepting any invitation to broadcast in the United Kingdom. I assume that the second part of the Question refers to the broadcast made in London by the Governor of Malta on 28th January, which I am satisfied was proper and fair and, indeed, an excellent performance altogether. The answer to the third part of the Question is "No."

Roads

Pedestrian Crossings (Lights)

93.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has completed the examination of the new device submitted to his Department which combines the lighting of pedestrian crossings with the flashing beacon; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the hon. and gallant Member refers to certain experiments conducted in Croydon. The principle involved was examined and rejected as unsound before the present form of pedestrian crossing was adopted, and examination of the experiments in Croydon has not altered this conclusion.

Commonwealth Countries (Antarctic Interests)

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient consultation with other Commonwealth Governments with a view to the maintenance of British and other Commonwealth interests in Antarctica and the sovereignty claimed over parts thereof by the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. We are in constant touch with other interested Commonwealth Governments over the whole field of our and their Antarctic interests. In recent months there have been additional consultations on the programme of the privately organised Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition.

Local Government

Advertisement Regulations (Appeals)

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give details of the number of appeals by advertising interests dealt with during 1955 under the Control of Advertisements Regulations, 1948; how many of these appeals were dealt with at public hearings and by correspondence, respectively; how many, in each group referred, respectively, to posters, including bulletin boards but not trade signs, public information panels, and to trade signs on the premises of the occupiers concerned; and how many of

Type of advertisement		Total number of appeals decided	Number dealt with by hearing		Number dealt with by correspondence (a)
Type of advertisement		Total number of appeals decided	Dismissed	Allowed	Dismissed	Allowed
Posters	…	1,410	59	19	987	345
Public Information Panels	…	126	—	—	49	77
Trade Signs (b)	…	493	12	14	263	204
		(26)		(1)	(10)	(15)
TOTALS	…	2,029	104		1,925
NOTES:
(a) Including cases in which the site was visited by an officer of the Department accompanied by representatives of both parties to the appeal.
(b) The figures shown in brackets relate to appeals regarding direction signs not on the trader's premises.

Bechuanaland (Finance)

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the present financial position of the Bechuanaland Protectorate

In March, 1954, Her Majesty's Government agreed to the grant of additional financial assistance to the Bechuanaland Protectorate to enable a general improvement in the standard of services to be made. It was agreed that assistance should be given on the basis of detailed examination and approval of the Bechuanaland Protectorate annual estimates of revenue and expenditure. An estimated deficit in 1955–56 which could

each separate category were rejected or allowed.

The total number of appeals decided during 1955 was 2,029. Details are as follows:not be met from the general revenue balance was of the order of £50,000, and this was provided in the current estimates. This money will, however, not be required as it is now expected that the Protectorate will be able to meet the current year's deficit from its general revenue balance.There will, however, be a temporary shortage of funds pending the receipt of a large item of revenue in late March, 1956, and it is proposed to grant an interest-free loan of £50,000, repayable in 1956–57, to provide the territory with a working balance. Should the territory require an advance before the Supplementary Estimate is available, it may be necessary to obtain an advance from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

Volume 548: debated on Thursday 9 February 1956