asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to clarify or amend the law so as to define or establish the criminal liability of promoters of prize fights in cases in which one of the participants has been killed.

I see no need for legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the police estimate of the number of prostitutes operating in the West. End of London; and how many of these are believed to be organised on a commercial basis.

The Commissioner of Police informs me that he estimates the number of prostitutes operating in the West End at about 780. The number organised on a commercial basis is believed to be very small.

asked the Minister of Education which firms in the aircraft industry have made direct financial grants to the College of Aeronautics

None so far, as distinct from help for students and gifts of equipment; but the governors are now approaching firms in the industry asking for direct financial support.

asked the Minister of Education what are the latest figures of primary and secondary schools under construction; to what extent these figures are below the estimates made by his Department at the beginning of the school building year; and what steps are being taken by his Department to speed up the programme.

The value of primary and secondary projects under construction on 30th September, 1955, was £100 million. I made no estimate with which this can be compared, as I am more concerned to see schools completed. One of the objects of a circular which I am sending to local authorities is to secure the more rapid completion of school building work.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the Staffordshire school building programme is in arrears; and what steps are being taken by his Department to assist the Staffordshire authority to bring it up to date.

I understand that by 31st March next the Staffordshire Authority will not be able to start building five of the 31 primary and secondary schools in their 1955–56 programme, although they should be ready to do so not very long after that date.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a detailed statement on the effects of Her Majesty's Government's latest programme of capital cuts on the school building programme.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular on the educational building programme which is being sent to the local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools under his Department are now 80 years old or more; and how many modern schools have been built since 1945.

I have not the information needed to answer the first part of the Question. Up to October of last year 2,108 new primary schools and 595 new secondary schools (of which 485 were "secondary modern") had been completed since 1945.

asked the Minister of Education how many supply teachers were employed in the primary, secondary-modern, and grammar schools under the auspices of his Department at the nearest convenient date; and how many of these were uncertificated teachers.

I hope to have shortly figures showing the number of full-time teachers employed on visiting and relief work in March, 1955. I will send them to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish the names of the 12 teachers' training colleges whose costs, in total, per student per year were the least and those 12 whose costs were the greatest, together with such costs, out of those to which attention was recently drawn in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General upon the Civil Appropriation Accounts, Class IV, Vote I.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Education how many schools under his Department had 40 or more pupils per class at the nearest convenient date; and whether he will give the figures showing the position in the primary, secondary-modern, and grammar schools.

In January, 1955, the number of classes with more than 40 pupils on the register was as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents have occurred on the A.1 Edinburgh to London road between Berwick-on-Tweed and Cockburnspath during each of the last three years; and how many of these were fatal.

The numbers of accidents reported to the police in the years ended 31st January, 1954, 1955 and 1956 were 33, 52 and 63, respectively. Of these, 1, 2 and 1, respectively, were fatal.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he expects to receive a Report from the Brabazon Committee on the Reorganisation of the Meteorological Office.

A considerable amount of evidence has been submitted, and it is impossible, as yet, to say when the Committee will report.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will publish in HANSARD a list of the types, names and manufacturers of aircraft at present in Service use together with similar details about their engines.

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reduction in the volume of exports he estimates will result from the recent increases in overseas parcel post rates.

I do not agree that there will necessarily be any reduction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade under what heading imports of fishery salt are included in the

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of accidents, per 1,000 deck landings, due to pilot error on aircraft carriers before and since the introduction of the angled deck.

It would be contrary to long-established practice to give the figures for which the hon. Member asks, but I am glad to say that, since the introduction of the angled deck and the mirror deck landing aid, the deck landing accident rate due to pilot error has been reduced to less than one-fifth of the previous figure.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 23263555 Gunner Painting, D.E., who holds a first

Imports of fishery salt are included under the heading "Crude minerals (excluding fuels and fertilisers)—All other" in Class B, Division 10 of the Trade and Navigation Accounts. Imports in 1953 to 1955 are shown in the table below. Statistics of exports are not available as fishery salt is not separately distinguished in the Export Returns.class honours degree, has for the past month been employed in scrubbing swill bins, carrying coal, polishing floors and as a batman; when this soldier was called up; and how it is proposed to utilise his ability in the future.

I am aware that this soldier, like all others, has since he was called up on 24th November, 1955, been employed at various times on fatigues. He is now doing his basic training and will later be trained as a clerk.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, since it is the practice of his Department to allow relatives to bring the bodies of deceased National Service men home for burial from most overseas stations, he will, by grant or otherwise, reduce the cost of £460–£500 for this purpose which is at present charged to relatives of National Service men killed in Malaya.

As I informed the hon. Lady in my letter of 7th February, it has for many years been the customer the Services for those who are killed or die abroad to be buried where they die. In war-time no exceptions are made to that rule. In peace-time relatives may have a body brought home for burial from most overseas stations if they are willing to meet the expense themselves. I regret that public funds can meet no part of the considerable cost involved. Relatives and their agents are, however, given every other assistance possible and considerable concessions are granted by both British Railways and British European Airways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been given by the Government of Kenya to the memorandum of the Kenya Federation of Labour proposing constitutional reforms for the enfranchisement of Africans and their adequate representation on all governing bodies, the abolition of colour discrimination, the prohibition of the further immigration of settlers, and compulsory free education.

The Kenya Federation of Labour has indicated to the Government of Kenya that it intends to submit a memorandum on these subjects. It has not yet done so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the new road now under construction from Deux Branche is being linked up with the Carib quarter at Solybia; and whether it is intended to link up Castle Bruce Bay with the projected road to the Rosalie.

I regret that this information is not available. I am however consulting the Governor and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when his senior educational adviser will be visiting the Somaliland Protectorate.

Plans are being made with the Governor for the visit to take place as early as possible. The Protectorate Government is collecting information which my educational adviser needs to study before his visit; and his other important commitments have also to be considered. It may be necessary to send another adviser at an earlier date, but the wishes of the Somali leaders will be sought before such a decision is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when Professor Wheare's report on the problem of minority representation in Cyprus will be available.

In the debate of 5th December, 1955, my right hon. Friend indicated that he will consider the desirability of making available details of Professor Wheare's proposals when circumstances permit. He has nothing to add to that statement.

asked the Minister of Health what intimations in regard to the new polio vaccine were sent from his Department to medical officers of health prior to the issue of the circular, dated 19th January, 1956.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the price paid by Her Majesty's Government for the purchase of Penninghame House, and grounds, Wigtownshire; and the amount of money expended on the conversion of this mansion house into a prison without bars.

The purchase price was £11,000. Adaptations have cost £17,931 to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision has been reached on the rate of hill-sheep breeding ewe subsidy for the current year; and on what basis it is to be paid.

I shall lay before the House shortly a Statutory Instrument fixing a rate of 5s. per breeding ewe. In terms of the Hill Sheep (Scotland) No. 2 Scheme, payment will be calculated on the number of eligible sheep in the flock at 3rd December, 1955. The 5s. rate will apply to England and Wales as the standard rate, and also to Northern Ireland.