asked the Minister of Labour if he will review the case of 23168284 Private E. Stonehouse who in October, 1954, volunteered for the Army, was given grade IV and rejected; in January, 1955, was given grade II by National Service medical; was called up but discharged as medically unfit after seven weeks in the Army; in June, 1955, was called for another medical, was again passed grade II and called up on 18th August, 1955, and again discharged as medically unfit; and if he will undertake that this man will not be called to any further medicals by his Department.

Yes, Sir. I am now informed that Private Stonehouse has been examined by an Army Medical Board and owing to a deterioration in his condition is to be discharged permanently unfit for any form of Army service.

But does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the serious upsets which his Department has caused this young man in the matter of civilian employment? Is he aware that this man was discharged on 9th February, that he has not had any money and has had to borrow his way? Is not this a remarkable contrast with the case of the famous cricketer who was judged grade II on one occasion only and then left completely scot-free?

This is a difficult case. Although individually the stages might be justifiable, the total effect is absurd. I am quite willing to look into the matters which the hon. Member has now raised, and which are new to me, and, if necessary, bring them to the attention of the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men possessing a science degree have been called up in the last two years; and, in view of the fact that during their two years' National Service they lose touch with rapid science developments and the vitally important part they have to play in the export drive, if he will now grant all men possessing a science degree total exemption from National Service.

About 4,600 men with degrees or diplomas in science and engineering have been called up since 1st April, 1954. The answer to the second part of the question is "No, Sir."

In view of the fact that these men so soon lose touch with developments in science and can contribute such a great deal in relation to their number, which is only 2,800 in three years, will my right hon. Friend not look at this question again?

We review this matter constantly. There is, of course, a great distinction between, for example, coal miners, who are not needed in the Services in their ordinary occupation and scientists and engineers of whom it is necessary in our modern Services to have a substantial number. I recognise the importance of the question. It is one which the Government are reviewing.

In view of conflicting statements which we have had from the Prime Minister and three other Ministers about their intentions, and indeed their hopes, of ending conscription, would the Minister confer with the Prime Minister with a view to giving us an authoritative statement on the Government's intentions?

There is no confusion whatever in the statements that any Ministers have put before the House or the country. The position with respect to National Service is perfectly clear. We should like to see it go as soon as possible. That depends, amongst other things, on the response there is to the recent pay code.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the present arrangements of his Department for the deferment of call-up of men employed in the Merchant Navy, coal mining, agriculture, and as police cadets and for the deferment of call-up of apprentices, learners, pupils, and students are, in present national and international circumstances, not sufficiently extensive and that much national skill, training, time, and energy are thereby wasted; and if he will set up an authoritative committee to inquire into all matters relevant to such call-up arrangements and to report to Parliament.

No, Sir. The present arrangements for deferment of call-up for National Service are designed to meet the needs of the Forces and of certain vital industries, to enable young men to complete their education and training before call-up, and to maintain as far as possible the principle of universality of service. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by an inquiry on the lines suggested.

But does the Minister not agree that, as a matter of principle as well as expediency, the call-up arrangements should not be inflexibly rigid but should bear direct relation to economic and political and cultural criteria so that they can be adapted to the needs of the nation as time goes on?

These requirements are not inflexible and have been modified on a great number of occasions, as hon. Members know. But the body that should decide that kind of thing is clearly the Cabinet and not any inquiry or body such as suggested by the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to placing agricultural workers born in 1933 or later in the same category as those born before 1933 so that they may be free to change their employment provided that their new employment justified deferment on agricultural grounds so as to avoid the confusion there is at present in skilled workers being called-up through no fault of their own.

No, Sir, the present arrangements whereby agricultural workers born in 1933 or later are available for call-up ensure fairness with other sections of the community. Any such worker is available for call-up unless his employer applies for his deferment and establishes a case for it in respect of the contribution to food production made by him on the individual holding where he is employed.

Is not the Minister aware that this arrangement has been most unsatisfactory for the last two years and that it does not work in parts where agricultural labour is not available? Will he look at this again and consult the other people concerned in the industry?

The arrangements have, of course, been drawn up in consultation with both sides of the industry and with the Ministry of Agriculture. The basic difficulty is that whereas before there was a blanket deferment, it has been agreed that this should not be continued. If we were to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman, we should have blanket deferment again, because a man could go from job to job until he found an employer who was readily prepared to apply for his deferment.

asked the Minister of Labour the specific conditions of National Service deferment of agricultural workers, referred to in the current Ministry of Labour Gazette.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on 1st November, 1955, of which I am sending him a copy.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not consider that in these specific conditions to which I have referred it is laid down that certain agricultural workers are tied not to the industry, but to the farmer or individual farm? Is he not aware that that very often creates embarrassing situations to both sides, and would he not simplify the procedure?

I am always prepared to look at procedure again, but these specific instances were, of course, relaxations and, as a result, a number of people have been deferred, at any rate for a period, from National Service.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest available figures of short-time working and total unemployment in Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will give similar figures for the pottery industry only.

The total number of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Stoke-on-Trent at 13th February was 2,698, of whom 1,414 were registered as temporarily stopped. The corresponding figures for the pottery industry were 1,796 and 1,363.

Does the Minister realise that this is a very rapid deterioration and that it is due to a combination of factors which I need not now mention? Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any evidence that those who are absorbed in other industries after losing their work in the pottery industry are working in the type of occupation which is useful for our export drive or whether it is mostly for home consumption?

I do not think that any statistics are held which would enable me to answer that supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the research that is being conducted by his factory inspectorate on the industrial hazards associated with the process of welding, and in particular, into the composition of the electrode coatings.

Members of the factory inspectorate published in 1951 a Report of an investigation into the health of welders, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The conclusions of the Report were, in general, reassuring, but the Factory Department is considering the question of possible health risks from low hydrogen basic coated electrodes.

May I thank the Minister for his reply, especially the first part, and can he say whether his inspectorate is fully conscious of the specific dangers of welding when fumes are emitted, as from cadmium in particular?

Yes, that matter is well recognised, and I noted the Question put by the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance a week or two ago.

Is the Minister satisfied that the total number of the factory inspectorate is sufficient to deal with all the cases as they should be dealt with?

Yes, I think so. It is a matter which I look at from time to time, and I shall be glad to look at it again.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women, respectively, who are at present unemployed in the Shettleston Division of Glasgow; the numbers under fifty-five years of age; and the numbers over fifty-five years of age.

The total numbers registered as wholly unemployed at the Parkhead Employment Exchange at 12th December, 1955, were 1,047 males and 470 females, of whom 833 and 448 were under fifty-five years of age and 214 and twenty-two respectively were aged fifty-five and over. Later figures analysed by age are not available.

In view of the difficulty of obtaining employment for people over fifty-five years of age, would the Minister instruct the employment exchange managers to see that special attention is given to people over that age?

We have given a great deal of attention to this problem in the Ministry under my predecessor and the present Minister of Transport. It is one to which I attach great importance, and anything I can do in that respect I will do.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the radio industry at the latest convenient date.

The manufacture of radio and television sets is included in a classification which also covers gramophones, radar equipment, etc., and the manufacture of valves is included in the classification entitled "Wireless Valves and Electric Lamps." For these two classifications the numbers registered as unemployed at 13th February were 1,548 and 348 respectively.

Arising out of that reply, may I ask the Minister if he will watch carefully the position in the radio industry in which there are signs of a great slump developing similar to that in the motorcar industry? Will the Minister also pay special attention to some areas in my own district of south-west Middlesex where there are large radio factories, as my constituency is specially interested in this matter?

Yes, indeed, we will watch this carefully. There is one general point I want to make in fairness to the House. The figures I have quoted for 13th February are the latest available and they will not be published for a day or two yet. These show the position of unemployment at 13th February which, the House will remember, was a few days before the Chancellor announced his measures.

Is the Minister aware that there is a threat of redundancy involving some 1,800 workers at the E.M.I. factory at Hayes? Further, could he say what steps his Ministry are taking to deal with that situation should it develop?

If redundancy involves people in registering at the employment exchanges, as it does not always do, particularly in this industry, then all the services of the Ministry are available to them. Again, however, there are sometimes great discrepancies in the figures, because although one reads, and knows, of considerable redundancies created in this industry, not a very large percentage of those register at the employment exchanges.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he thinks that a majority of these people can be successfully absorbed into other businesses?

It is difficult to generalise about that. What one can say is that the number of vacancies in general over the country are still very much greater than the number of unemployed.

Can the Minister say what proportion of these people who are unemployed are in Lancashire?

No, Sir, not without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the rising redundancy of motor workers in Coventry; and what action he is taking to maintain these men in employment.

Fifty workers have been discharged by a firm making accessories, sixty workers are to be discharged this week by another firm and the employment exchange is available to help them find other employment. The only other redundancy among motor car workers in Coventry of which I am aware is that projected during the summer by the Standard Motor Company. There has, however, been an increase in short-time working in the last three weeks and over 8,000 workers were affected last week, most of whom lost one day. Another 2,000 are expected to be affected this week.

Is this not a grim and threatening picture? Is it not the case that, although the Minister speaks of vacancies, these are for relatively unskilled men, whereas the men made redundant are highly skilled engineers? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that although the Chancellor of the Exchequer pays lip-service to full employment, through his policy of deflation he is deliberately and wilfully creating unemployment in the motor industry?

Speech.

It would be a pity to comment on that carefully prepared and inaccurate supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many motor car and motor accessory workers are unemployed in Birmingham; how many are working short time; what estimate has been supplied to him regarding increases in redundancy expected within the near future in the city; and what action he proposes to take.

On 13th February there were 388 workers last employed in the manufacture of motor vehicles, cycles and their accessories registered as wholly unemployed and 18 as temporarily stopped in Birmingham. Last week over 7,000 workers in these industries are reported to have worked short time, most of them losing one day, and a further 1,500 are expected to be affected this week. About 300 workers have been discharged since the beginning of February and I understand that about another 300 are due to be discharged this week. I have no information about any further redundancies. The employment exchange service is available to help these workers to find other work.

In view of the last part of the Minister's statement, may I ask whether he is aware that statements made by employers last week have given considerable alarm in the city and elsewhere—including the statement to which trade union officials referred, that the Austin motor works was thinking of discharging thousands of workers? Will he undertake to see that he is kept in close touch with these matters? If there were a crack in full employment in Birmingham, the city of a thousand trades, as would appear to be the case, there would be a very serious situation in the whole of the Midlands.

I am in daily touch with my regional controller about this situation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the supplementary questions asked by my hon. Friends the Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) and the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mr. V. Yates) represent the considered views of Her Majesty's Opposition—that we are most alarmed at the tendencies in the car and other industries? It seems to us fantastic that at a time when we are told that there is such a great need for labour, hundreds of thousands of working hours should be thrown away in this sort of way. Will the Minister tell the Chancellor of the Exchequer that we put quite a large part of this down to his policies?

The hon. Gentleman is, of course, raising matters of economic policy which are wider than my immediate responsibility, and I can only refer him to the explanation given by the Chancellor and other leaders of the Government in the recent economic debate.

Can my right hon. Friend say what facilities are available to workers on part-time and therefore engaged in industry which does not require their full-time services, at least for the moment, to find full-time employment in other industries which have lists of vacancies which they seek to fill?

My employment exchange services are available to all people, whether they want to change their jobs or whether they are seeking a new job because they have become redundant. The information is at the local exchanges.

Does the Minister propose, in the very near future, to make a considered statement on behalf of Her Majesty's Government about what action, if any, they propose to take in view of the seriousness of the situation, which grows worse every day in this industry in the whole of the Midlands?

As I have said, I have been in daily touch with my regional controller on all these aspects. The reasons for the Government's policy, which is directed solely to beat inflation, have been carefully explained to the House and the country.

Does my right hon. Friend not consider that it is time that the motor trade employers and employees together took considered action and conferred together to overcome the problems which face them today, rather than have irresponsible statements emanating from unhelpful sections of the trade union movement, as at the moment? I refer particularly to the shop steward at Coventry.

Will the Minister try to consider and understand the feelings of these men? Does he not know that they went into the motor industry to fulfil the country's export needs? Does he not further realise that in Coventry we see this as deliberate policy on the part of the Government and have no faith whatsoever in their being able to cure the situation?

Will the Minister answer just one question? Is it his view that too many men are employed in the motor car industry who should go somewhere else; or is it his view that we have a motor car industry which will do its job? If it will do its job, will he take some measures to see that men have a full week's work?

The general responsibility for creating the climate in which there can be, as there is, full employment in this country is a matter for the Government, of which, of course, I am a member. Within that field there is particular responsibility on myself as Minister of Labour, through employment exchanges, to make facilities available to those seeking work. It is that which is covered by my Ministry.

rose—

Order. Hon. Members have asked a lot of supplementary questions on this topic.

On a point of order. In view of the Minister's unsatisfactory replies, both to this Question and to my Question about redundancy in Coventry, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many adult male wage earners were getting less than £10 17s. 5d. per week in April, 1955.

I regret that the information is not available.

Can the Minister tell us how an average is prepared if the Minister and the people who prepare the average do not know the figures to add up in order to get the average? Surely the figure that was trotted out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in answer to a Question on 21st February was completely misleading the House?

Not at all, Sir. The explanation is simple. First we collect information from employers about the aggregate wage bills, and, secondly, the number of employees covered by them. It is fairly simple, therefore, to deduce the average wage. What I cannot do, which the hon. Gentleman asked me to do, is to say into which brackets various numbers of people fall.

In view of that unsatisfactory Answer, I beg to give notice that I shall try to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount by which wages have been increased so far this year; and whether he will make an estimate of the effect of this on the cost of living.

Changes in rates of wages reported to have come into operation during January resulted in an aggregate increase estimated at about £731,000 in the weekly full-time wages of about 1,992,000 workers. Fuller details of these increases will be found in the February issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette. Figures of increases since January are not yet available. I regret that I have no means of estimating how these increases will affect the cost of living.

Can my right hon. Friend see any end to this vicious spiral of higher wages increasing the cost of living and an increasing cost of living leading to higher wages?

It is largely the chicken and the egg argument, but most people realise that the two are very closely related and that a period of stability in both would be of enormous help to the country.

Would the right hon. Gentleman inform his hon. and gallant Friend that this is a rather theoretical reply, and that in fact the Government have succeeded in reducing wages for many thousands of people in the Midlands in the course of the last few months?

Can the Minister say whether the figures he has quoted in referring to wages were of wage rates or actual earnings made up by extra hours worked?

Changes in rates of wages.

asked the Minister of Labour when he proposes to establish a Remploy factory in Scotland for persons suffering from tuberculosis.

The provision of a Remploy factory in Glasgow for tuberculous persons will have high priority in any future expansion programme. But as I told the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Hastings), on 28th February, 1956, I cannot, in present conditions, hold out hope of further factories being provided.

As it is a very long time since the Minister's predecessor gave almost exactly the same answer to this Question when I put it down before, that is, "Leev aul horse and ye'll get corn," can we possibly be told this afternoon when it is likely that work will be provided for these very deserving people, particularly in Glasgow and the West of Scotland?

I recognise the need and I have indicated the high priority which I attach to this particular provision of a Remploy factory for these purposes in a future programme, but I cannot go beyond the announcement that I gave to the House in reply to the hon. Member for Barking.

Is the Minister not aware that to talk about high priority when nothing is being done brings no comfort to those people who have been waiting a very long time for this type of employment? Surely this hopelessly incompetent Government can at least give some thought to these people.

When the hon. Lady talks about an incompetent Government, it may be as well to explain why seven Remploy factories for this purpose were built in England and, under her Government, none was provided in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Rejection Scheme of the Herring Industry Board as now framed precludes fish merchants on the East Coast of Scotland from its benefits in respect of West Coast landings; that this scheme cannot be rectified or amended without his concurrence; and if he will now take steps in conjunction with the Herring Industry Board to have it amended in such a way as to give East Coast fish merchants its benefits in respect of West Coast landings.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the affirmative. The Herring Industry Board rule governing this matter expires on 30th April and the Board has advertised its intention, subject to the approval of Ministers, of making a new rule, with effect from 1st May. My right hon. Friends and I will consider any representations made to us in accordance with the statutory procedure before deciding whether or not to approve the rule.

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. Will he expedite matters as quickly as possible?

It will take effect from 1st May. It is now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the disquiet in Scotland about the new anti-poliomyelitis vaccine recently recommended there by the Department of Health for Scotland; and if he will now make a full statement upon it, indicating its nature, the tests to which it has been subjected, and their results.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the doubts of parents regarding new vaccine for poliomyelitis, arising out of the fear that the virulent strain of the polio germ, which caused disaster in the United States of America, may still be present; and if he will take steps to reassure parents regarding this new vaccine.

The particular virus strain to which the hon. Lady refers is not used in making the British vaccine. The nature of this vaccine and the tests applied to it were described in reply to the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Peter Freeman) on 30th January, and parents can have every confidence in its safety. A memorandum with technical particulars is in course of issue to doctors throughout the country to assist them in advising any parents who may still be in doubt.

Does not the Secretary of State agree that when a new vaccine of this kind is recommended there rests a heavy burden on the Department of Health to satisfy the doctors and the public that it is a good vaccine and not dangerous? As the right hon. Gentleman has not answered the part of my Question dealing with public disquiet on this head in Scotland, will he please do so?

I am not aware of growing public disquiet, because no authority is known to have decided against the vaccination scheme which it is proposed to carry out. I think that every precaution has been taken.

In view of the campaign which the Press seems to be running against recommendations of the Department, would it not have been wise to have taken medical officers of health into consultation and made them aware of what was to happen?

Actually, the medical officers are well aware. I am sorry if there was any mistake made, though I do not think there has been, and I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for suggestion that this is—as I think he more or less indicated—in the nature of a scare.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a feeling of apprehension in the minds of a great many parents in view of what happened with the Salk vaccine experiments in the U.S.A.? As at the moment there are so many advertisements in every newspaper urging parents to come forward, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a word of reassurance to parents put into these advertisements might have been very valuable?

I can assure the hon. Lady that I do not think there is the slightest danger of accidents such as the one to which she referred.

I have not any children now to have vaccinated. It is parents with young children who should be assured.

As one of the parents concerned, and as one who has already agreed that his children should be vaccinated, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can give us any figures about how the matter is going and what response he is getting from local authorities, and about parents who are refusing to allow their children to be vaccinated?

If the hon. Member will put down a Question, I will see whether I can give him any information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Finance Acts, 1942 and 1946, empower licensing authorities to grant certificates in suspense for the transfer of licences from one part of a district to another, without giving notice to enable objections to such transfers to be heard; and, in view of the fact that this power conflicts with long established Scottish practice, if he will amend the law so as to make the giving of notice necessary.

A licensing certificate may be placed in suspense only if the premises for which it was granted suffer war damage or are compulsorily acquired. If the licensing court subsequently authorises its removal to other premises in the district, the certificate is valid only until the following spring; and the usual provisions about advertisement and objection then apply. I have received no evidence that this procedure is working unsatisfactorily.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of what happened in Glasgow at the licensing court last October, when two licences were transferred from one district to another and the objectors were not allowed to state their objections at the court? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that that might happen in any city or town in Scotland where there is substantial development, and that the Scottish Temperance Alliance takes a very serious view of this development?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that objections may be lodged by owners or occupiers of property in the neighbourhood of the premises, by the Procurator-Fiscal or by the police, and these will be heard in the Spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how he defines the term fresh egg for the purpose of egg marketing schemes in Scotland.

For this purpose, fresh eggs are eggs which are not preserved—[Laughter.] I have not finished yet—and the Eggs Order at present in force contains a definition of "first quality" hen eggs which covers the question of freshness.

Are we to assume that there is really no such thing as a genuine fresh egg under any marketing scheme?

I do not think that is correct. Great care is given to this question. Freshness is defined in the Order to which I refer my hon. and gallant Friend.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that any fresh egg is potentially "fowl".

I would not know about that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what salary is to be paid to the chairman of the Cumbernauld New Town Development Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what particular knowledge of town planning and local government is possessed by the newly-appointed chairman of Cumbernauld Development Corporation; what is his salary and the salary, or emoluments, of the appointed members.

The chairmen of new town corporations are selected with particular regard to their administrative experience, initiative and organising ability, qualities which I am satisfied the chairman of the Cumbernauld Corporation possesses to an outstanding degree. The salaries attaching to the posts of chairman, vice-chairman and members are £1,500, £750 and £400 per annum respectively.

How can the Secretary of State justify the payment of such a salary to a person whose knowledge of building houses is confined solely to the building of barracks? Is he aware that on the confession of General MacMillan himself he is entirely ignorant of the functions and activities of local government? Even at this late hour, will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this disastrous appointment?

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman is being very fair to General MacMillan. I saw General MacMillan in Gibraltar where he was Governor and he had many functions to carry out which were functions of a local authority. He has considerable knowledge of them.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the opinion that since there is a preponderance of local authority knowledge on this committee, he might at least have chosen someone who has some knowledge of town planning? Is he aware that there is no town planner on the whole corporation and that since, unfortunately, we have lost the services of one of our very best officials, the late Mr. Smith, it is all the more necessary that we should have someone on the corporation with some knowledge of planning?

I do not know whether the hon. Lady has studied the list of members, but Sir Robert Russell was assistant secretary in the Town and Country Planning Division of the Department of Health from 1947 to 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can make a statement on his policy regarding the proposed new town at Cumbernauld; and what approaches he has undertaken to get industry into Cumbernauld.

The general policy underlying the establishment of Cumbernauld new town is explained in the Memorandum which I published with the draft designation Order. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. The attraction of industry to the new town is resognised by the Government and the Development Corporation to be of outstanding importance, and the Chairman of the Corporation informs me that contact has already been made by his board with an important industrial concern interested in the potentialities of the area.

Is the Minister aware that if we build a new town employment must go with the population? Is he bearing that fact in mind?

We shall certainly endeavour to do our best in that respect.

Can the Secretary of State say whether the factories which are being made available at Cumbernauld for the industry which we all hope will go there will be made available at rents comparable with those of factories let by the Scottish Industrial Estates Limited, or whether they will have to be let at full economic rents?

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to put down a Question on that matter.

In view of the importance of attracting industry to Cumbernauld, can the Secretary of State tell us what industrial associations General MacMillan had before he took over the appointment?

General MacMillan may not have had industrial associations: one man cannot have everything. He has many good qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of nurses at present required in Glasgow: and what proposals are made to overcome the shortage.

The total number of additional nurses in all grades currently sought by Glasgow hospitals is about 530. Recruitment to the nursing profession is stimulated by propaganda, and other measures undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, in consultation with hospital authorities, directed particularly to fields such as mental nursing, where the need is specially great.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the advisability of the recruitment of foreign labour? Is he aware that a very large number of young Italian girls could be recruited for this work?

I must confess that I have not contemplated that idea, but I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in his report on industry in Scotland, he is able to record any progress in getting new industries into the Development Areas of Stirlingshire and Ross-shire, respectively.

In the small part of Stirlingshire which has been scheduled as a Development Area there were two small industrial developments near Campsie in 1955; and there have, of course, been very substantial developments in the adjoining Falkirk-Grangemouth district. There were no fresh factory developments in the Ross and Cromarty part of the Highland Development Area in that year. The Forestry Commission is negotiating for the acquisition of further land for planting in both Stirlingshire and Ross and Cromarty.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these are probably the two Development Areas which have had least success in this policy? Is he keeping both areas under his attention in order to see what can be done? It is true that Stirlingshire has had some development, but Ross and Cromarty have had practically none at all. It looks as if private enterprise were quite incapable of making a success of anything there. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider taking State action?

The right hon. Gentleman will probably recollect that the Highland Development Area produces special difficulties owing to the small pockets of unemployment which are scattered throughout a wide area. I assure him that we keep these matters under constant review and will do our best.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in condoning the action of the Herring Industry Board, which refused to support a private firm which wished to go to Avoch in the Ross-shire Development Area to build a fishmeal factory, he has turned down a very necessary industry for that area? If he had agreed to that proposal he would have had some progress to report now. It is deplorable that no industry has developed in that area since it was scheduled.

My hon. Friend will be well aware that although the Herring Industry Board wished to build this factory, the unfortunate fact is that the Fortrose Town Council is very much opposed to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the handicap to the development of new towns because of the relatively abnormal burden of rent and rates necessarily involved under present law; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to make it possible for houses and other premises in new towns to be let at an annual cost commensurate with other areas.

I am aware that at present rents are inflated by the element of owners' rates and that the actual rent passing must be taken as the rateable value. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Government propose, in the Bill now before the House, that rateable value should be dissociated from actual rent and that owners' rates should be abolished.

Even if that were so, is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that no advantage would accrue to the new towns from that Bill for five years? It would frustrate the whole policy of the development of new towns if, for the next five years, they were to be handicapped by having these anomalies and contradictions in rents within their areas. When promoting another new town, will he not take special steps to see that something is done to set it free from the contradictions which exist inside the areas of existing new towns?

It would really mean the duplication of legislation to some extent, because, when the Bill which we are, and were this morning, considering upstairs passes through this House—if it ever gets through the Standing Committee—both the new town houses and the council houses should be valued at the same figure, and tenants should pay the same rates, which is what the right hon. Gentleman wants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to make a statement on the loss of timber in Scotland due to the gale on the night of 1st January, 1956.

It is estimated that about a quarter of a million cubic feet of timber was blown down in Scotland, mainly on private estates in Perthshire and Angus, during the gale of 1st January, 1956. There should not be difficulty in disposing of the timber in the normal way at reasonable prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many herrings landed at Ullapool, Gairloch, Kyle and Inverness from October, 1955, to the latest available date were sold for human consumption, and how many for processing.

As the reply involves a table of figures I shall, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether more herrings are landed for processing than for human consumption, or vice versa?

For human consumption, 39,213 crans were sold and for oil and meal, 30,000 crans were sold, so that human consumption wins, unless we add in what is sold for pet food, which is 26.557 crans.

Do not those figures show that there should be a processing factory in Ross-shire, where so many of these herrings are landed? Do they not also show that the Herring Industry Board is quite wrong in not designating one of the mainland ports as an A port, because the fisherman will go there anyway? Why should they be denied the maximum price for standard herrings?

That is not the Question which appears on the Order Paper, but I shall be very glad to supply my hon. Friend with any further information which he may require.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mentally-defective persons are awaiting admission to an institution in each of the areas covered by a regional board; and what is the extent of shortage of staff in each area.

There are 900 names on waiting lists in the Western Region, 302 in the South-East, 192 in the East, eighty in the North-East, and seven in the North. Admissions are limited by staff shortage only in the South-East, where a 40-bed ward at Gogarburn has not been in use for many years.

Since in most instances admission is not limited because of the lack of beds, what steps are being taken at present to provide accommodation for these children and young people? Is the Secretary of Slate aware that in every case this represents tragedy not only for the young persons affected, but also for the families?

I admit that the basic need is for more accommodation. During 1955 we achieved an increase of 200 staffed beds, and in 1956 extensions are to be started at Banff, Dundee, and Larbert, which will make a further 850 places available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of overseas visitors to Scotland last summer; and the principal countries from which they came.

I am informed by the Scottish Tourist Board that from June to September, 1955, both months included, about 212,000 people from overseas visited Scotland. About 79,000 came from European countries; 75,000 from the United States; 14,000 from Canada and 37,000 from the Commonwealth.

Should we not congratulate the Scottish Tourist Board on these very good figures? This total of 212,000 going to Scotland is a very high proportion of the 760,000 who came to Great Britain in the same period.

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. The Scottish Tourist Board made great efforts, and I am very glad that they have been successful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the terms of the reply which he is sending to warders who have protested to him against the abolition of the death penalty.

I have not received written representations from the Scottish Branch of the Prison Officers' Association but I am informed that it associates itself fully with the representations which, as my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, the Association has made to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary.

May we take it that my right hon. Friend is working in close co-operation with the Secretary of State for the Home Department in his reception of these representations?

If it were not for the fact that I am so fond of the Home Secretary, I might almost say that I see almost too much of him.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the South of Scotland Electricity Board's programme of rural electrification will be affected by recently announced cuts in capital expenditure.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. and gallant Members for Berwick and East Lothian (Major Austruther-Gray) and South Angus (Captain Duncan) on 28th February.

Does that mean that we are to have a diminution of the good work that has been done by the electricity authority over the past years in regard to rural electrification?

The Answer gave the figures. I believe that the Board hopes to make many new connections in the coming year. They are all given in that Answer.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Answer which he gave on the occasion referred to was very satisfactory?

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that any answer that would be satisfactory to the hon. and gallant Member for South Angus (Captain Duncan) would scarcely be likely to be satisfactory to me?

The hon. Member had better read it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now given consideration to a proposal put forward by Dunbar and certain other burghs for the staggering of school holidays.

I have considered this proposal, but I do not think that staggering of school holidays would be an effective way of attaining the object which the holiday resorts have in mind.

But is my right hon. Friend aware that this was purely a tentative suggestion, and that it is worth exploring every possible way to relieve the congestion during the short holiday period?

I see the point made by my hon. and gallant Friend. I think that the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. T. Fraser) has some experience in these matters. I am afraid that it is not very easy to alter these old habits and customs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which education authorities are in arrears in their school-building programmes; what is the extent of arrears in each case; and what are the causes for the arrears.

I shall, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing to what extent projects which education authorities included in the building programmes submitted a year ago are unlikely to start during 1955–56. The main reason for the delays in planning these projects has been the shortage of professional staff.

Can the Secretary of State tell me how many areas are affected, without giving names?

Twenty-four.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect the recently announced proposals to deal with inflation will have on the school-building programme in Ayrshire; and if he can state what specific projects will be affected.

It is not possible to say which, if any, projects will be affected until the authority has supplied the list of forthcoming starting dates which it was asked for in the Circular of 27th February on educational building. But, as stated in the Circular, it is not the intention to postpone the start of any project which is essential to provide for the increase in the school roll, the movement of population to new housing areas or the development of technical education.

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the financial condition of Scottish local authorities is such that they are not likely to embark on inessential school building, and that every project is necessary? Can the right hon. Gentleman give a promise that the advance in technical education scheduled for Ayrshire will not be at the expense of new primary and secondary schools?

I have answered that point. I said that we were not delaying works which were necessary for the increase in the school roll, and so on. There have been delays which were due in the main to the shortage of architects, etc., but we are doing our best to overcome them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he estimates recent rises in the rate of interest will affect house building in Scotland.

If, as I assume, the hon. Member has in mind the effect on the rate of house building, I regret that it is not possible to make any forecast of the intentions of the local authorities and other house builders concerned.

Does not the Minister realise that the high rates of interest are likely to send up rates very high? Can he tell the House whether it is the deliberate policy of the Government to cut down house building in Scotland?

That is not our deliberate intention, and I trust that in those areas where there is urgent need for more housing local authorities will continue their efforts which have been so successful in recent years. I hope that perhaps, with luck, on the next occasion the interest rates may be reduced, and then the Questions by the hon. Member on the subject may also be reduced.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the rise in interest rates resulted in the loss of 5,000 houses in Scotland last year?

No, I do not agree with that. Certain local authorities in certain areas are more or less overtaking their housing arrears, and there has been a decline for that reason.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total interest charges charges paid on a municipal house costing £1,500 in October, 1951, interest over 40 years; and what would be the interest charges on the same house at present interest rates.

The total interest charges for post-war houses are spread over 60 years. For a house costing £1,500, they would amount to £1,743 at the interest rate in October, 1951, and to £3,446 at the present rate.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman must be aware that because of Government action every municipal house built in Scotland is now costing £1,700 more in interest rates. Does he not think that this must deter local authorities from undertaking housing schemes? Did the right hon. Gentleman mean to intimate, in reply to an earlier Question, that there was likely to be a reduction in these interest rates in the near future?

My reply to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is that I never suggested that raising interest rates is an incentive to building. Nobody would do such a thing. To give a lower rate of interest to house building, however, would open the door to many other applications and would be a concealed subsidy. As to the second part of the supplementary question, I can only express the hope that the next move in interest rates might perhaps be a downward one, in which case I might perhaps not get this sort of question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons have been killed or injured by the collapse of dwellinghouses in Glasgow in each year since 1945.

As the Answer involves a number of figures I shall, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.