asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the exceptional circumstances in which he will accept financial responsibility for defects inherent in the design of types of nontraditional houses whose construction his Department has authorised.

Such exceptional circumstances would arise only in the early stages of the introduction of a new type of non-traditional house. Otherwise local housing authorities are held to be fully responsible for the maintenance of their non-traditional no less than of their traditional houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government approximately how many families and persons within local authority areas in the County of Essex are now in half-way houses pending transference to suitable accommodation; and what record he has of those who have been residing in such accommodation for six months, one year and two years and over, respectively.

One hundred and fifty-eight families comprising 512 persons are in half-way houses set up by housing authorities in the County of Essex. My right hon. Friend has no record of the length of stay of individual families.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the further increase in the Bank Rate, he will now introduce further legislation to increase the housing subsidies paid to local authorities.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that many housing authorities, when allocating tenancies, are now giving preference to non-slum tenants because of the expectation of a reduced subsidy for such tenancies in the near future; and if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that housing authorities receive the full rate of subsidy for an equivalent number of houses for general need to the number they allocate to applicants in slum properties between now and the date of the reduction of the subsidy.

I am not aware that local authorities are showing any such preference, but the administrative arrangements which I propose to make for the payment of the slum clearance subsidy if the Housing Subsidies Bill becomes law will meet the point which the hon. Member has in mind.I propose that entitlement to the slum clearance subsidy shall depend on two things: first, on the number of families rehoused by the local authority from unfit houses after the 3rd November, 1955, and, second, on the building by the local authority, within a reasonable period, of an equivalent number of new houses. This means that it will not be necessary for displaced families to be rehoused in the actual houses which attract the special subsidy. They may be given new homes either in existing houses or in houses now being built with subsidy under the Housing Act, 1946. Thus the local authority may carry forward their entitlement to the higher rate of subsidy for an equivalent number of houses which they may later use for housing people from their general waiting list.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by local authorities in obtaining labour for housebuilding, in view of the competition of commercial building; and what action he proposes to take to assist local councils to fulfil their housing programmes.

I am aware that in a few areas, including the hon. Member's constituency, housing contracts are short of skilled labour. This is not necessarily due to commercial building. The measures which are being taken by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer should help to reduce any excessive pressure on the building industry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the fact that Circular No. 39/55, relating to the payments to landlords under Section 4 (2) (c) of the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment) Act, 1955, for loss of vacant possession upon accepting licensees as statutory tenants, was not issued until several months after the Act came into force, and that consequently effective action cannot be taken to complete all such arrangements with landlords by 31st March, he will extend by six months from such date the time for full reimbursement to local authorities of payments they incur on requisitioned premises.

I have no power to vary the financial provisions of the Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether before approving a slum-clearance scheme, he will assure himself that individual householders including widows, widowers, bachelors and spinsters, will be adequately rehoused in accordance with Section 45 of the Housing Act, 1936.

I do not confirm a compulsory purchase or clearance order unless I am first satisfied that the local authority is able and willing to provide suitable accommodation, in so far as it does not already exist, for all persons displaced by the clearance of the area. The detailed arrangements for rehousing them must, of course, be left to the local authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in making payment to local authorities for repair of damage to coastal works caused by the North Sea storms and floods of January, 1953, he will allow for the cost of their own labour employed directly by the local authorities on the same basis as that allowed for contract or other labour brought in from outside.

No. These grants are based on the additional expenditure incurred on account of the floods or storms. Normal wages of council employees cannot be included.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further progress has been made towards the revision of local government boundaries and allocation of administrative functions.

I propose to issue a White Paper on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the overriding need to achieve the most effective deployment of our scientific manpower, he will now reconsider his decision to call up engineering graduates of a recognised engineering institution.

The present arrangements for the indefinite deferment of engineers and scientists for certain designated work are limited, and cover, with very few exceptions, only men with university degrees. I cannot see my way to extending this scheme in the way the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the facilities now available in Remploy factories are sufficient for all types of disabled men and women; and what further facilities he is contemplating.

Apart from the blind, Remploy Limited provide employment facilities for all types of severely disabled persons. It is expected that about seventy workers will be recruited each month to existing Remploy factories, but in present conditions I cannot hold out hope of further factories being provided.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are now employed in Remploy factories; the present waiting list; and how those figures compare with those of a year and two years ago.

The number of severely disabled persons employed in Remploy factories in January, 1956, was 6,006 compared with 6,540 in January, 1955, and 6,396 in January, 1954. The numbers registered as unemployed at these respective dates were 3,950 compared with 4,575 in January, 1955, and 5,592 in January, 1954. Some of the registered live beyond daily travelling distance of the nearest Remploy factory and others would be unsuitable for the particular work available. Waiting lists are not maintained vacancies being filled as they arise from the severely disabled on the registers of Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the Lowestoft area in the categories of building, engineering and shipbuilding; and how the numbers unemployed in the building industry compare with the corresponding periods for 1953, and 1950, respectively.

At 13th February, 1956, the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of Lowestoft Employment Exchange whose last employment was in the building, engineering and shipbuilding industries were 161, 16 and 20 respectively. The corresponding figures for the building industry were 69 at 16th February, 1953, and 90 at 13th February, 1950.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the workers employed at the Daer Water Scheme, Lanark, have been discharged through redundancy, and have left; and how many have found alternative employment.

Since last June, the number employed has fallen by about a hundred, of which sixty were redundancies. Only four of the redundant workers are at present registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in the vicinity.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to deal with the relatively high rate of unemployment in certain districts in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my predecessor in opening the debate on Industry and Employment in Scotland on 14th July last in which he describes the steps being taken to deal with unemployment in Scotland. In January of this year, the total number unemployed was 59,155 (2·7 per cent.) which was 7,000 less than at the same date in the previous year.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for a number of British and Australian Members of Parliament to be invited to watch the fourth series of atom-bomb tests at Maralinga in Central Australia at the end of this year.

It will be hard enough to accommodate all the staff needed at Maralinga. I cannot at this stage say whether it will be possible for others to watch the tests.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects Burnwood Camp, Carluke, to he closed.

The huts at this camp were converted into fifty-nine temporary houses of which forty-six are still occupied. It is not possible to forecast when circumstances will permit all of the houses to be vacated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of teachers in Glasgow, due to an outbreak of influenza; that many children are being deprived of education; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of children who are getting part-time education in Glasgow; the average period of schooling per week; what are the schools so affected; and what action is being taken to ensure that children will get full-time schooling.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Spring-burn (Mr. Forman) on 21st February. The position yesterday was that 1,127 pupils in seven secondary schools and 256 pupils in four primary schools were receiving part-time instruction which varied from half to over three-quarters of the normal amount. The schools affected were Albert, Hyndland and Whitehill Senior Secondary Schools, Colston, Gartcraig, Sir John Maxwell and Wellshot Junior Secondary Schools and Gadsburn, Grove Street, Peelglen Road and Ruchill Primary Schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the programme of rural electrification in southern Scotland will be affected by restriction on capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to make a statement on the restrictions on rural electrification in Scotland this year, in view of the importance of electricity to farming;(2) to give a general direction to the electricity boards in Scotland to continue to give priority to farms in the distribution of electricity.

The South of Scotland Electricity Board hopes to connect 900 farms and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board 1,600 farms and 900 crofts in 1956. The corresponding figures for 1955 were 1,023, 1,896 and 1,099. Both Boards are fully alive to the importance of electricity to farming, and I see no reason to issue any general directions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what stops he will take to guard against imported French potatoes introducing disease into Scotland.

The terms of the Importation of Plants (Scotland) Order, 1955, with which imports of potatoes from France and other countries into Scotland must conform, already provide adequate safeguards against the likelihood of any plant diseases being introduced. I am satisfied that no further action is required.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will provide facilities for members of the Home Guard on the Reserve Roll to hold an annual reunion.

Yes. Territorial Army Centres will be made available for these reunions and travelling expenses will be paid for members on the Reserve Roll. It is felt that these reunions will be of considerable use in helping Home Guard Reservists to maintain contact. In the event of war the Home Guard would have an important part to play in the defence of this country and we attach great value to their being able to mobilise rapidly and carry out efficiently the tasks allotted to them.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what authority portions of the Territorial Army have, in 1954 and 1955, done their annual summer training at the public expense outside the United Kingdom.

These men were all volunteers and no special authority was necessary for the expenditure involved.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to implement the provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949, that their study shall be part of the military instruction given to all members of the land forces.

Regulations for the application of the 1949 Geneva Convention regarding Prisoners of War have been issued to all units and orders have been given that periods of instruction based on the relevant parts of the Regulations should be included in unit training programmes and additional instructions given to all units going to an operational theatre.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 69393 Captain J. M. Allison, Royal Army Education Corps, despite frequent complaints through the proper channels, has been denied his proper entitlement of pay for over three years; and when he proposes to authorise the issue to this officer of over £500 back pay.

This officer is claiming more pay than the Regulations prescribe on the ground that he was led to believe that he would receive a higher rate of pay on joining the Royal Army Educational Corps. I hope that a decision on this claim will be reached shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many gallons of paint have recently been offered for sale by auction by his Department; what steps were previously taken to ascertain the needs of other Government Departments; what quantity had been taken into stock after 1st January, 1955; how much has been sold; how the auction proceeds compare with the purchase price; and the reason for this large surplus of high-grade paint of popular colours.

TRAINING AREAS, RANGES AND TRAINING RIGHTS, 1939 AND 1956
Command		31st January, 1956				31st December, 1939
		Freehold	Leasehold	Training rights	Total	Freehold	Leasehold	Training rights	Total
Northern	…	95,000	3,000	14,500	112,500	35,500	1,000	—	36,500
Southern	…	98,500	2,500	24,000	125,000	96,500	2,000	18,000	116,500
Eastern	…	23,500	2,000	14,000	39,500	12,500	2,000	11,500	26,000
Western	…	46,000	1,000	1,500	48,500	9,000	500	—	9,500
Scotland	…	35,000	500	2,500	38,000	9,500	1,000	—	10,500
Northern Ireland District		1,000	2,000	—	3,000	1,000	1,000	—	2,000
Total	…	299,000	11,000	56,500	366,500	164,000	7,500	29,500	201,000

38,032 gallons of paint and 14 tons of dry paint were put up for sale and all but 6,900 gallons were sold. The catalogues of the items for auction were circulated to other Government Departments before the sale. The original cost of the paint sold was £26,046 and the proceeds of the auction were £13,400. Paint and dry paint equivalent to about 1,100,000 gallons have been taken into stock since 1st January, 1955. Most of this was ordered during 1953 or early in 1954.The Army's requirement for paint has recently been considerably reduced for several reasons, the principal of which are the abolition of Anti-Aircraft Command, redeployment in the Middle East, the reduction of forces in Korea and Kenya and the reduction and re-organisation of the Reserve Army. Because of the time lag between ordering and delivery these reduced requirements could not be foreseen at the time orders were placed. Sufficient stocks of all types of paint needed are being retained to meet future requirements, and this and other surpluses are being disposed of while they are still in a saleable condition. Paint has a short shelf-life, and deteriorates in a few years.

asked the Secretary of State for War the acreage of land held by his Department, freehold and leasehold, in 1939 and today, for training areas and ranges, in each of the Home Commands.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities will be given to Home Guard rifle clubs for a supply of ammunition.

We are anxious to encourage members to continue to make full use of Home Guard rifle clubs. Arrangements will be made for units to retain competition and o22 rifles and to use War Department and Territorial Association rifle ranges and targets. Units will also be eligible for a free issue of ammunition, and facilities will be provided for rifle meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that £7,000 has been spent during 1955 on destruction of rabbits in Wiltshire on land owned by his Department, he will state the number of rabbits destroyed.

Underground gas was used and, therefore, no estimate can be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, under the auspices of the European Productivity Agency of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation a group of European technicians, sociologists, and trade unionists have been investigating the use of automatic production control processes in a number of countries; and if he will set up a similar group under his Department for investigations in Britain.

I am aware that a number of countries have agreed to make factual surveys and case studies of the application of automatic processes in their territories and will be discussing the results at a conference to be organised in due course by the European Productivity Agency. The United Kingdom will take part in this conference and my right hon. Friend sees no need to set up any separate group in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the thoroughbred horses imported into, and exported from, the United Kingdom in the years 1954 and 1955, respectively, and of the total exports, what was the value of those to the United States.

Thoroughbreds are not separately distinguished in the Trade Returns.Following are the figures of our trade in horses, which I understand are nearly all thoroughbreds:

—	1954	1955
	£	£
Total imports into U.K.	5,287,000	5,779,000
Total U.K. Exports*	5,018,000	5,579,000
Exports to U.S.A.*	772,000	768,000
* Re-exports of horses are included in the figures for exports owing to the difficulty of separate classification.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the proposed sale of National Studios to a firm outside the film industry; and if he will request the Cinematograph Films Council to investigate, and report to him on, any further sale of film studios which might undermine the capacity of the film-producing industry to supply films for the British quotas and ensure the predominantly British character of recorded material on television.

I understand that Associated Television Ltd. confirm that. in order to facilitate internal administration, National Studios are being transferred to an associated company under the same chairmanship and with a largely similar board. The studios will continue to be used for the production of films for the cinema and television. As my right hon. Friend has previously informed the hon. Member, the purchase, sale, lease or erection of film studios is a matter for the parties concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on his recent official talks with the Cotton Board on the import of cheap cotton goods into this country.

My right hon. Friend discussed with the delegation from the cotton industry the memorandum on imports of cotton goods in which they had submitted their case for Governmental action and which he had carefully studied. He informed them that the general considerations which were set out in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3rd May, 1955, still govern our policy towards imports of cotton goods from the Commonwealth and that we are not prepared at this time, and in existing circumstances, to depart from the long established arrangement for duty-free entry from the Commonwealth. My right hon. Friend asked the industry to keep in close touch with him about all developments in the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to visit Blaenavon to see the exceptional facilities for industry which are available there and to discuss with the hon. Member for Pontypool and local representatives the future prospects of the town.

A Board of Trade Minister will visit South Wales during the summer Recess and will, in the course of the visit, look forward to discussing the future prospects of Blaenavon as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve the general appearance of the Hirwaun Trading Estate, in view of the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales being held at Aberdare in August of this year.

I cannot regard the holding of the Royal National Eisteddfod in the neighbourhood as justifying special expenditure to improve the appearance of the Hirwaun Estate. As the hon. Member will no doubt be aware, however, the appearance of the estate has been greatly improved in recent years through the building of several well-designed factory extensions, the demolition of temporary bungalows and substantial expenditures on new roads and footpaths, road widening and other necessary improvements. A large new factory and a bus park are being built, and the laying of a new drainage system has recently been approved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to make a statement about the negotiations with the Danish Government on the conditions which should govern the import of bacon after the expiry of the present long-term purchase contract on 30th September next.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made after Questions today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Purchase Tax is attached to fireguards; when this tax was first imposed; and whether he will now remove it.

Fireguards are not chargeable with Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cinemas are in process of building; and where they are located.

I have knowledge of three small new cinemas under construction in Easington, Sacriston and Hull. I understand there are also three rebuilding projects in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Workington and Gloucester respectively, and one just completed in Barnsley; and a cinema in Sheffield already under construction at the outbreak of war is being completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the possible extinction of many of the smaller football clubs, he is prepared to consider a variation in the method of levy of the entertainments tax, basing the tax on the size of the gate, no tax being levied on gates up to 5,000.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider any proposals in regard to taxation. But I cannot anticipate his Budget statement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury to consider the possibility of creating a customs-free area at London Airport, so as to facilitate the handling of freight from abroad intended for other overseas destinations.

The Customs have to control entrepôt freight for security, statistical and other purposes, but the procedures have been adapted to the needs of air traffic and they work smoothly. The question whether any practicable alternative arrangements would be advantageous is being considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for the reintroduction of import controls and licensing restrictions on building and the reintroduction of building licences.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) on 21st February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the wide disparity between the figures for visible trade quoted in the balance of payments and those quoted in the Trade and Navigation Accounts, and in view of the explanation given on pages 36 to 38 of Command Paper No. 9585, he will state which figures provide the more accurate statement of the United Kingdom's physical trade gap; and what was the physical trade gap for 1955.

The figures given in the Trade and Navigation Accounts measure the value of imports and exports on arrival and departure; and for many purposes this is the more useful series. It does however include certain elements of freight and insurance paid to residents of the United Kingdom, which are excluded from the balance of payments figures. For this reason, and because of the other differences set out on pages 36 to 38 of Cmd. 9585, the balance of payments figures are a better measure of the flow of overseas payments and receipts in respect of visible trade. I regret that the figures for 1955 as a whole are not yet available. They will be published, with the other balance of payments estimates in about six weeks time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the increase in the Bank Rate, he will now take steps to increase the rate of interest on Post Office Savings Bank deposits.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Bullus) on 30th January.

asked the Minister of Supply the total number of motor car tyres and inner tubes sold by his Department at auction sales since 1st January, 1955, up to the latest convenient date; and the major reasons for disposing of them.

Fifty thousand, eight hundred and forty tyres and 23,310 inner tubes of all kinds and 344 tons of tyre and tube scrap have been sold since 1st January, 1955. Decisions to sell were taken in the light of age and condition and the foreseeable future needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been advanced to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to conduct home-safety propaganda, including formation of home safety groups, in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955; and what is his policy in relation to the future of the grant.

Grants were made of £2,000 in the financial year 1951–52 and of £1,500 in 1953–54. A grant of £1,500 is to be made in the current financial year and, subject to Parliamentary approval, in each of the two following years. When the Society was told in 1954 of the intention to resume an annual grant of £1,500 for three years, it was informed that it was made in order to enable the Society to extend the scope of its work so that it could be wholly maintained by voluntary subscriptions, and that in no circumstances would the grant be renewed after the end of the three-year period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to give, for the twelve months ending at the most convenient date, the numbers of convictions for motor driving offences in England and Wales and the County of Surrey, respectively, in which a period of suspension of the driving licence was recorded as part of the penalty imposed; in how many of such cases there was an appeal against the suspension of the licence; and, of that number, how many had the suspension of the licence removed.

During the twelve months ended 31st December, 1954, there were 21,262 disqualifications in England and Wales of which 415 were in the County of Surrey (excluding those parts in the Metropolitan Police district). Information as to appeals in England and Wales is not available, but I am informed that in Surrey there were ten, of which one was successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether having regard to the special nature of her war-time services to the British and Allied cause, he will reconsider his Department's decision not to allow Mrs. A. B. Charise, at present at 73, Church Hill, Loughton,

—	Metropolitan Police District		City of London
	1954	1955	1954	1955
Proceedings for Drunkenness	19,861	20,462	119	132
Convictions	19,321*	19,904	116	131
*Revised figures.

I have received further representations about this case. I am considering these representations and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions for attempted rape occurred in each of the years since the passing of the Attempted Rape Act, 1948; and how these figures compare with similar convictions in the years immediately prior to the passing of the Act;(2) how many persons convicted of attempted rape in each year since the passing of the Attempted Rape Act, 1948, have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment in excess of the maximum penalty laid down prior to the passing of that Act.

I regret that the information in my possession does not enable me to distinguish between convictions of attempted rape and convictions for rape.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state the number of proceedings and convictions for drunkenness in the Metropolitan Police district, and/or the County of London, and in the City of London, respectively, during the calendar year 1955; and the comparable figures for 1954.

The numbers for the County of London are not yet available. Those for the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement on constitutional changes in Mauritius.

No, but my right hon. Friend hopes to do so in two or three weeks' time, when printed copies of the dispatches exchanged between the Governor and himself should be available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by many administrative officers in the Colonial Territories, particularly in Nigeria and the Gold Coast, about their future: and what consideration he has given to the establishment of an overseas Civil Service.

Yes. I am very conscious of this anxiety. I am giving the matter earnest thought, but can make no statement at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what he estimates will be the cost to his Department of establishing an overseas Civil Service.

Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service is financed from the funds of the Governments by which its officers are employed, and therefore costs the Exchequer nothing, except for such grants as are made from Colonial development and welfare funds towards general schemes for training, etc. If any changes were made in this system, the cost would naturally depend upon the extent and nature of such changes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the United States base at Beau Field, St. Lucia, has been reactivated for guided missile operations; what will be the use to which the base will be put; and what steps have been taken to meet the demands made in the Legislative Council for adequate protection for the civilian population.

The United States authorities have made it clear that they intend only to operate a station from which they can track the flight of guided missiles.An assurance was given to the St. Lucia Legislative Council in February, 1955, that this would in no way compromise the security of St. Lucia. The matter has not been raised since in the Council.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, taking the cost-of-living index as 153, he will increase the basic rate of public assistance by the amount of any increase on this figure.

No. In any event the Statute places the responsibility for initiating changes in the scales of assistance on the National Assistance Board and it has never been the practice to alter the scales of National Assistance by reference to minor or temporary fluctuations in the Index of Retail Prices. As the hon. Member will be aware, the higher scales which came into effect on 23rd January provided a margin of purchasing power over that of the original scales of Assistance.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware of the widespread disappointment that steps have not yet been taken to raise the age limit for schoolchildren for family allowances purposes; what is the cause of this delay; and when he expects to be able to take the steps foreshadowed in the Queen's Speech.

I am not yet able to say when the necessary legislation will be introduced.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to break down his estimate of 400 awards of disablement pensions in 1955 to men whose National Service was of less than six months' duration, to show how many got pensions for injuries sustained during training and how many for illness.

It is estimated that approximately thirty received awards for injuries and 370 for illnesses.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of people over 18 years of age who have, during the last five years, requested facilities under his control for a basic training in reading, writing and arithmetic; what numbers were so provided; and what were the methods adopted in making such provision.

Date			Occasion			Denominations
23rd April, 1924	…	…	British Empire Exhibition, 1924–25		…	1d., 1½d.
10th May, 1929	…	…	Postal Union Congress London	…	…	½d., 1d., 1½d., 2½d., £1
7th May, 1935	…	…	King George V Silver Jubilee	…	…	½d., 1d., 1½d., 2½d.,
13th May, 1937	…	…	King George VI Coronation	…	…	1½d.
6th May, 1940	…	…	Penny Post Centenary	…	…	½d., 1d., 1½d., 2d., 2½d., 3d.
11th June, 1946	…	…	Peace Issue ………	…	…	2½d., 3d.
26th April, 1948	…	…	King George VI Silver Wedding	…	…	2½d., £1
10th May, 1948	…	…	Channel Islands Liberation…	…	…	1d., 2½d.
29th July, 1948	…	…	Olympic Games	…	…	2½d" 3d., 6d., 1s.
10th October, 1949		…	75th Anniversary Universal Postal Union			2½d., 3d., 6d., 1s.
3rd May, 1951	…	…	Festival of Britain	…	…	2½d., 4d.
3rd June, 1953	…	…	Queen Elizabeth II Coronation	…	…	2½d., 4d., 1s. 3d., 1s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will instruct the War Office, Admiralty, and Air Ministry that they are on no account to release the news of the death or injury of any Service personnel until they are absolutely satisfied that the next-of-kin have been fully informed.

Arrangements for the notification of casualties are necessarily determined for each Service by the Service Minister concerned. The existing instructions were summarised in a Written Answer given by my predecessor on 7th December last to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Walton (Mr. K. Thompson). I am satisfied that

I regret that I cannot answer the first two parts of the Question. I am writing to the hon. Member to give him some information about one interesting example of the ways in which local authorities are meeting the need to which he refers.

asked the Postmaster-General to give a list in tabular form of the occasions since 1924 when special postage stamps have been issued, showing which denominations were sold on each respective occasion.

Special issues of postage stamps have been made on twelve occasions since 1924, as follows:these instructions go as far as is reasonably practicable to meet my hon. Friend's request.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to list the chief traffic bottlenecks in London thoroughfares, and give the priority in which it is proposed that these should be corrected.

One of the chief traffic bottlenecks is at Hammersmith Broadway, where conditions will be improved by the construction of the Cromwell Road Extension, which is already in hand.In the City of London there are a number of bottlenecks, some of which will be relieved by the construction of the section of Route 11, from Aldersgate Street to Moorgate, which has already been authorised.Some of the more important of the other bottlenecks are listed below, the first part of the list showing those for which remedial schemes were announced by my predecessor on 2nd February, 1955, as proposed to be authorised between 1955 and 1959, and the second part those for which it is not yet possible to forecast the priority of the schemes:PART I

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to give a list of the sites in London where widening of the carriageway, at the expense of existing wide pavements, will assist traffic on congested roads.

It is thought that widening of the carriageway at the expense of existing wide pavements would assist traffic on the following roads:

• Kingsway (A.4200)—both sides.
• Great George Street, Westminster (A.3214)—north side.
• Trafalgar Square (A.400)—east side.
• Finchley Road (A.41)—parts north of Swiss Cottage.
• Brompton Road (A.308)—north side.
• Kensington Church Street (A.4206)—north side near Vicarage Gate.
• Earls Court Road (B.316)—parts on both sides.
• Sloane Street (A.3216)—west side.
• Kings Road, Chelsea (A.3217)—Shawfield Street to Oakley Street.
• Bloomsbury Street (B.522)—Great Russell Street to New Oxford Street.
• Shaftesbury Avenue (A.40)—near junction with New Oxford Street.
• Theobalds Road (A.401)—east of Southampton Row.
• Uxbridge Road, Hammersmith (A.4020).
• New Bridge Street, Blackfriars (A.201)—east side.
• Streatham Hill (A.23)—Brixton Hill to Downton Avenue.
• Streatham High Road (A.23)—South of Streatham Hill Station.
• Clapham Common South Side (A.24) and Balham High Road (A.24)—Cavendish Road to Cathies Road.
• Mitcham Road (A.217)—south of Church Lane.
• Norwood Road, Lambeth (A.215)—Dulwich Road to Croxted Road and North of York Hill.
• South Lambeth Road (A.203)—north of Benfield Road.
• Kennington Park Road (A.3)—Hanover Gardens to Kennington Road.

This list covers the chief traffic routes and is not exhaustive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the proposed new arrangements relating to Danish imports will have on the policy of State trading in bacon.

The arrangements announced today will have the effect of enabling trade in imported bacon to be restored to private hands as from 1st October next. When, in November, 1953, the Government announced its policy for the Decontrol of Food and Marketing of Agricultural Produce (Cmd. 8989), it stated that rationing, allocation and price control of meat and bacon would be ended in the summer of 1954 and that the import of meat would be restored to private traders. It added that the Ministry of Food would "continue for some time to come to import bacon."The long-term contracts with our over-seas suppliers end on September 30th, and, thereafter, the trade will be free to import bacon on its own account. Apart from sugar for which legislation is now pending and certain minor contracts with the Colonies, bacon is the last of the imported foodstuffs traded in by my Department. The new arrangements will, therefore, virtually complete the process of ending State trading in food.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the hospitals, within the area of the Welsh Regional Hospital Board, whose farms he has decided are to be sold and leased; and the approximate acreage to be disposed of and retained.

It has been decided to discontinue full-scale farming activities at the following hospitals:

• South Wales Sanatorium, Talgarth.
• Llangwyfan Hospital, Denbigh.
• St. Cadoc's Hospital, Caerleon.
• Abergele Chest Hospital, Abergele.
• Cefn Coed Hospital, Swansea.
• Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff.
• Mid Wales Hospital, Talgarth.
• Penyval Hospital, Abergavenny.
• North Wales Hospital, Denbigh.
• Glanrhyd Hospital, Bridgend.
• Parc Hospital, Bridgend.
• Aberdare General Hospital, Aberdare.

At the first six of these hospitals the total amount of farmland to be disposed of is approximately 1,050 acres and the amount to be retained approximately 100 acres.At the six remaining hospitals, final decisions on acreage have not yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Health to indicate the profit or loss of each of the hospital farms in Wales, which he has decided to dispose of, for the last three financial years.

In 1954–55 profits or loss were as follows:

Profit	£
North Wales Hospital, Denbigh	4,400
South Wales Sanatorium, Talgarth	4,403
Penyval Hospital, Abergavenny	1,917
Mid Wales Hospital, Talgarth	1,149
Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff	157
Llangwyfan Hospital, Denbigh	2,671
Cefn Coed Hospital, Swansea	196
Loss
St. Cadoc's Hospital, Caerleon	1,033
Abergele Chest Hospital, Abergele	2,711
Glanrhyd Hospital, Bridgend	3,052
Pare Hospital, Bridgend
Aberdare General Hospital, Aberdare	57

Comparable figures for the two previous financial years are not available as the present form of farm trading accounts was not introduced until 1954–55.

asked the Minister of Health the number of domiciliary visits paid by psychiatrists called in by general practitioners under National Health Service arrangements during 1953, 1954 and 1955; and the total amount of fees paid for such visits.

The number of visits paid by hospital psychiatrists under the domiciliary specialist service were 8,426 in 1953 and 9,408 in 1954. The figures for 1955 are not yet available. The cost of these visits is not separately recorded.