asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the approximate value of electric power stations being built in Britain at the present time.

Excluding private plants, about which no precise information is available, the total capital cost of stations now being built will be approximately £970 million.

asked the Minister of Health the cost to the National Health Service of medicine bottles and containers for which no charge is made, or deposit taken.

The approximate cost for the twelve months ended November, 1955, was £1,181,000.

asked the Minister of Health why doctors are not allowed to prescribe such relatively inexpensive articles as arch-supports, which can be obtained only after attendance at hospital and on the prescription of a specialist; and, in view of the amount of time which is wasted by both specialist and patients through this regulation, if he will now amend it.

The appliances which may be prescribed by a general practitioner are those which are considered, after discussion with representatives of the medical profession, to be suitable for use in general practice. The treatment of conditions for which arch-supports may be necessary is considered to be more appropriate for hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that no provision is made in the National Health Service to cover the sudden incapacity of a doctor, through illness or accident, who nevertheless remains responsible for his list of State patients; that deputies cannot be found at a moment's notice; that this problem is a source of concern to doctors; and if he will take steps to provide a solution.

After discussion with representatives of the profession, I am proposing to amend the Regulations to make it clear that an executive council has power to make any arrangements necessary to continue general medical services to patients, including the provision of a deputy for a doctor taken ill.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give an estimate of the annual cost of extending the full benefits of National Insurance retirement pensions to all women over 60 and to all men over 65, irrespective of their current eligibility or of their previous contributions.

The annual cost of retirement pensions would be increased immediately from £450 million to about £750 million; in twenty-five years' time it is estimated the annual cost would be increased from £800 million to £1,000 million.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give an estimate of the annual cost of raising the level of all National Insurance retirement pensions to a minimum rate of £4 a week for a single person.

The annual cost of retirement pensions would be increased immediately from £450 million to nearly £890 million; in twenty-five years' time the annual cost would be increased from £800 million to £1,550 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons, adults and children, per 1,000 of the population in Scotland 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, both paralytic and non-paralytic, expressed as a rate per 1,000 of the population of Scotland, are as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consultations he has now had with the manufacturers of high-speed sports cars regarding the silencing of exhaust noise; whether he is aware that the noise caused by certain particular makes of that type of car, the details of which have been sent to his Department, tends to increase rather than decrease; whether he is aware that for those living beside a highway such as the Great West Road this noise amounts to a public nuisance; and what steps are being taken in the public interest to reduce this inconvenience.

When my hon. Friend wrote to me he referred particularly to two specified makes of car of the sports type. My technical officers have had consultations with the manufacturers concerned and arranged some tests and the manufacturers are considering the matter further. As soon as I have sufficient information I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War when his Department served a notice to treat on the owner of the property known as Robertson Training Ground, Lanark; and when he expects the transaction to be completed.

The notice to treat was served on 24th February, 1954. I regret that I cannot yet say how much longer the legal and other procedures will take.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that since 1st January, 1956, it has not been possible for many units of Her Majesty's Services stationed in Germany to listen to the British Broadcasting Corporation's Light programmes through the British Forces Network unless they have a wireless set capable of receiving very high frequency transmissions; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this.

Very high frequency receivers have been provided free for unit messes, recreation rooms, etc., in Germany, in replacement of medium frequency sets, on the scale of one to seventy men.