asked the Secretary of State for War when the headstones are going to be erected on the graves at Vlieland cemetery off the Netherlands coast.

The Imperial War Graves Commission expects that these headstones will be erected by the end of May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the manufactured goods imported from the Irish Republic are sent to Northern Ireland; and what proportion of similar goods exported to the Irish Republic originate in Northern Ireland.

I regret that the information is not available as the trade of Northern Ireland is not separately distinguished in the Trade Returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that no annual company return of Steel Brothers (Carlisle) Limited has been filed since 1954; what action he proposes to take; and how soon up-to-date returns will be available for inspection at the Company Registration Office, Bush House;(2) whether he is aware that no annual company returns of the Carlisle Journal Limited have been filed since 1950; what action he proposes to take; and how soon up-to-date returns will be available for inspection at the Company Registration Office, Bush House.

The Registrar of Companies has asked the companies for the outstanding annual returns, and as soon as these are received, duly completed, they will be available for public inspection at Bush House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as a means of encouraging savings and thus combating inflation, he will allow all Post Office savings up to £500 to be free of tax and, for a stated period of time, all new savings placed into the Post Office up to a maximum of £2,000 to have the first year of interest thereon tax free.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Kirkdale (Mr. N. Pannell) and Malden (Mr. B. Harrison) on 15th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of the higher grades of the Civil Service have been dismissed or moved from their positions for Communist Party membership, Communist sympathies, association with Communists or Communist sympathisers, or character defects involving a security of risk in each of the last five years to the latest convenient date; and if he will give these figures in tabular form.

The Answer is as follows:

Year	Dismissed	Transferred	Resigned
1951	Nil	4	Nil
1952	Nil	Nil	1
1953	Nil	Nil	Nil
1954	Nil	2	Nil
1955	Nil	1	Nil
The figures relate to officers of the rank of higher executive officer and upwards, and comparable professional and technical grades.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give details of the proposals which have been officially announced that 14,000 civil servants are to be moved out of London to relieve congestion in the central area; the Departments affected; and the dates when it is proposed the moves shall take place.

The Answer is as follows:

MOVES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF LONDON
Department	Number of Staff	Destination
Ordnance Survey Office	3,300	Wellingborough
Post Office	2,250	Chesterfield
	3,500	Southport
Inland Revenue	1,900	Worthing
Customs and Excise	950	Southend
Air Ministry	800	Bracknell
H.M. Stationery Office	630	Basildon
Notes
(1) The above are moves involving more than 500 staff. There are a number of other smaller moves under consideration.
(2) No specific date has been fixed for these moves, which depend upon the provision of fresh building.
(3) The details of the moves are in several cases still the subject of discussion with representatives of the staff concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications have been received recently from local authorities for loan sanction to install machinery for extracting recoverable materials from their refuse; and how many have been refused on account of the credit squeeze.

No separate record is kept of applications of this kind; but I am not aware that any have been received.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when Mr. E. Wannacott, 48 Torwood Street, Torquay, can expect settlement of his outstanding claim under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1954, originally submitted on 19th February, 1955; and, in particular, when he can expect a reply to, or a formal acknowledgment of, his letters on the subject to the Department, dated 2nd January and 2nd February, 1956, respectively.

I understand that the claimant in question is Mr. E. Narracott. A letter has now been sent to Mr. Narracott explaining the reason for the delay in dealing with his claim, which will be settled as soon as possible. I am sending a copy of the letter to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will be able to give his decision on the development plan for the City of Plymouth, which was submitted to him in September, 1952.

Very soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the method under his regulations by which shopkeepers and other small businesses may appeal on the grounds of hardship against the revaluation of their premises for rating.

The method of appeal is provided in Part III of the Local Government Act, 1948, as amended by the Lands Tribunal Act, 1949, and the Rating and Valuation Act, 1955. Any person aggrieved by an entry in the list may make a proposal in writing for altering it by serving the proposal on the valuation officer. To be successful, an appellant must show that the entry is not in accordance with the rental value of the property.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give the reasons for his decision to reduce his regional organisations and transfer most of the professional executive and clerical staff into London.

The reason is that, with the experience they have gained in recent years, local authorities no longer need the same constant and detailed advice from my Department in relation to housing and planning.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to state, to the latest convenient date, in respect of each Metropolitan borough council, the total number of separate dwellings held on requisition; the number of families

REQUISITIONED HOUSES AND HOUSING (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1955
Metropolitan borough council					Number of separate* dwellings held on requisition	Invitations under Section 4 to accept licensees as statutory tenants
						Issued to owners	Accepted by owners
Battersea	…	…	…	…	1,926	1,613	958
Bermondsey	…	…	…	…	274	52	26
Bethnal Green	…	…	…	…	482	359	57
Camberwell	…	…	…	…	4,453	759	191
Chelsea	…	…	…	…	1,321	378	5
Deptford	…	…	…	…	1,881	1,458	75
Finsbury	…	…	…	…	686	184	15
Fulham	…	…	…	…	1,300	446	78
Greenwich	…	…	…	…	1,516	556	39
Hackney	…	…	…	…	3,169	1,150	248
Hammersmith	…	…	…	…	1,392	801	83
Hampstead	…	…	…	…	1,322	219	21
Holborn	…	…	…	…	886	540	5
Islington	…	…	…	…	2,010	850	145
Kensington	…	…	…	…	1,223	558	42
Lambeth	…	…	…	…	3,284	1,814	640
Lewisham	…	…	…	…	2,696	2,744	338
Paddington	…	…	…	…	2,243	(Deferred—pending introduction of differential rent scheme.)
Poplar	…	…	…	…	1,107	600	120
St. Marylebone	…	…	…	…	857	337	79
St. Pancras	…	…	…	…	1,265	470	85
Shoreditch	…	…	…	…	986	415	250
Southwark	…	…	…	…	1,092	475	90
Stepney	…	…	…	…	1,751	524	276
Stoke Newington		…	…	…	1,009	17	9
Wandsworth	…	…	…	…	4,313	4,050	805
Westminster	…	…	…	…	1,536	1,213	3
Woolwich	…	…	…	…	680	399	60
TOTALS		…	…	…	46,660	22,981	4,743
* The number of vacant dwellings is not known.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to state the number of improvement and conversion grants made under the Housing Act, 1949, as amended, to the latest convenient date; and how many of these grants have been made since the passing of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.

The latest information available—at 31st January, 1956—is set out in the following table.

At the 31st January, 1956, grants had been approved under Part II of the Housing Act, 1949, for 58,723 dwellings made up of 53,979 improvements and 4,744 conversions. Of these, 43,312 improvement and 3,538 conversion grants had been approved since the coming into force of the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list the projects for technical education by local education autho-

EDUCATION AUTHORITY PROJECTS FOR LOCAL TECHNICAL COLLEGES
In preparation	Schedule of accommodation approved	Started
Aberdeen—local technical college	Glasgow—College of Building and Printing.	Renfrewshire: Paisley—local technical college
Dundee—local technical college	Glasgow—Commercial and Distributive Trades College.	Fife: Lauder Technical College, Dunfermline.
Edinburgh—three local technical colleges.	Ayr—local technical college.	Glasgow—Stow College of Printing.
Ayrshire: Kilmarnock—local technical college.	Stirlingshire: Falkirk—local technical college	Ross and Cromarty: Less Castle College.
Dunbartonshire: Clydebank—local technical college.
Inverness—local technical college
Lanarkshire: Motherwell—local technical college.
West Lothian: Bathgate—local technical college.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the 1,150 full-time and 6,100 part-time teachers of technical subjects referred to in paragraph 146 of Command Paper No. 9703, Technical Education, are divided between central institutions and other institutions; and, of those in central institutions, how many are doing work of approximately university level.

In central institutions there are about 500 full-time and 1,000 part-time teachers of technical subjects. The corresponding figures for other institutions of further education are 650 and 5,100 respectively. Of those in central institutions, some 300 full-time and 20 part-time teachers are doing work of approximately university level.

All the projects listed below are under consideration at present by education authorities but in some cases the stage of preparation of schedules of accommodation and of plans has not yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which central institutions are concerned in the expenditure of about £3,000,000 in connection with technical education which it is expected to start within the next two years; and the nature of the specific projects on which the expenditure is to take place.

The list of projects at Central (Technical) Institutions is as follows:

• Royal Technical College, Glasgow—(1) internal adaptations.
• Royal Technical College, Glasgow—(2) new premises for school of navigation.
• Paisley Technical College—extension to provide additional laboratories, workshops, etc.
• Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh—extension to pharmacy department.
• Robert Gordon's Technical College, Aberdeen—extension to engineering department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children and of what ages, in Scotland, have had, and now have, paralytic and non-paralytic poliomyelitis, respectively; in how many such cases the disease has proved fatal; and what progress has been, and is being, made towards cure in such cases.

Statistics in the form sought are not available. Annual notifications and deaths among children in the fifteen years from 1941 to 1955 have varied as follows:

Notifications	Highest	Lowest	Average
Under 1 year of age	96	1	24
From 1 to 4 years	572	11	140
From 5 to 14 years	505	7	116
Deaths
Under 1 year of age	9	—	1
From 1 to 4 years	24	—	5
From 5 to 14 years	39	1	7

It is estimated that about 65 per cent. of notifications, and practically all deaths, relate to the paralytic form of the disease. As regards treatment, I cannot add to the replies I have given to the hon. and learned Member on 21st February and previous occasions; unfortunately, paralytic poliomyelitis often causes damage for which there is at present no known cure.NOTE: The years of highest incidence in the period were 1947 and 1950. The figures shown in the "Highest" column relate to 1947, with the exception of notifications between the ages of one and four where the highest figure was recorded in 1950. The figures in the "Lowest" column relate to years up to 1945, except that there were no deaths below the age of one in the years 1948 and 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what water supply and sewerage, school building, marine works, bridge building, road construction or reconstruction, and hospital extension schemes, for which his Department has a responsibility, already started or approved, have been, or are about to be, postponed in each of the islands of the Outer Hebrides; the estimated cost of each of those projects; and what, in each case, is the estimated period of postponement.

No such works already started or approved have been or are about to be postponed at the instance of my Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the Guillebaud Committee that the organisation of the maternity services under the National Health Service should be reviewed.

I am asking the Scottish Health Services Council to arrange for an expert review on the lines envisaged by the Committee, and to furnish me with advice on the subject in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now state the Government's policy in connection with Jordan.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to Jordan continues to be the maintenance of "friendship, cordial understanding and goods relations" in accordance with the Anglo-Jordan Treaty of Alliance of 1948. From assurances which Her Majesty's Government have received from the Jordan Government they understand that this is also the policy of the Jordan Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what direct or indirect help Her Majesty's Government have agreed to give to the French Government in their Algerian policy.

None. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a Question by the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) on 15th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further steps he has taken to secure consideration by the United Nations, Israel and the Arab States of the proposal to establish a neutral guard along the Israel frontier.

I have nothing to add to the Answer on this subject which my right hon. and learned Friend gave to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) yesterday.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why the Coventry and Birmingham motor car workers who are working a short week have been refused unemployment pay, while Hinckley hosiery workers who for a three-day week are earning approximately £12 are permitted to receive unemployment pay; and if he will investigate the injustice to agricultural workers who for a 5½ day week receive a basic wage of under £7 and are compelled to pay unemployment contributions to provide unemployment benefits to other workers who already receive a much higher wage for a much shorter working period.

The decisions in these cases rest with the independent statutory adjudicating authorities who have held that unemployment benefit is not payable to claimants for days when they are not working if they are entitled to a wage in respect of the week. The whole question of unemployment benefit for workers on short time has recently been examined by the National Insurance Advisory Committee in its Report on benefit for very short spells of unemployment or sickness, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, with a view to encouraging increased production by hill farmers he will now make a statement regarding the Government's intentions about the prolongation of the expiring Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Watkins) on 15th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decision has been made about an advance payment during the present crop year on account of the deficiency payments for oats and mixed corn.

The difference between the weighted average market price of home-grown oats and the standard price of 23s. 3d. per hundredweight is narrow. After consulting the Oats and Barley Deficiency Payments Advisory Committee, on which the principal interests concerned with the production and marketing of oats are represented, I have deckled that no advance payment would be justified this season. But, unless there is a marked upward swing in prices over the remainder of the crop year, there will be a small deficiency payment to be made after the average market price for the year is known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is taken by his Department on receiving notification by the Ministry of Supply of public auctions of Government surplus stocks; the extent of purchases made by his Department from these surplus stocks since 1st January, 1954; and the date of the last order to be placed.

The Colonial Office does not make purchases of stores either on its own behalf or for Colonial Territories, and consequently no action is taken on receiving notification of Government surplus stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what quantity of paint his Department has purchased from Government surplus stocks offered by the Ministry of Supply or the War Department since 1st January, 1954; on what dates orders were placed; and how many gallons of paint have been purchased by his Department during the same period from other than Government sources.

The Answer to the first and third parts of the Question is "None"; the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the report issued by the French Government's Scientific Commission of the Logone and Chad, concerning the navigability of the upper Benue river; and whether, since the Port of Burutu in Nigeria is involved, he will indicate what collaboration exists between the Governments concerned in the matter of the Escravos Bar project.

Yes. The Report is primarily for local consideration. It was made available some time ago to the Federal and regional Governments, who collaborate closely with the French in such matters. I am asking the Governor-General for specific information about collaboration in the Escravos Bar project and will write to the hon. Member when I have the reply.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of the student nurses, who commenced training in the period from 1st January, 1950, to 31st December, 1952, have been admitted to the register of nurses.

Approximately 58 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health the number of beds at Staincliffe General Hospital, Dewsbury; how many were in use; and how many were closed owing to a shortage of nursing staff, at the latest convenient date.

311, 241 and 70 on 15th March.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the beds that have been closed in Staincliffe General Hospital, Dewsbury, owing to a shortage of nursing staff and sickness among nurses, to be brought into use again.

I am unable to say, but am glad to learn that the sickness position is beginning to improve.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients are on the waiting list for admission to Staincliffe General Hospital, Dewsbury.

About 160.

asked the Minister of Health the establishment of trained nurses at the Dewsbury General Infirmary; and to what extent this establishment is filled.

28 and 27 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider giving directions to the South-West Regional Hospital Board to make increased financial provision for bringing the accommodation in the mental hospitals in the region more into line with that of the general hospitals.

No. In its ordinary expenditure on capital improvements the Board has shown its realisation of the needs of mental and mental deficiency hospitals, and in addition it has been allocated £350,000 for the next two years out of the sums specially set aside for their improvement and modernisation.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the large area to be served and the present urgent need, he will consider appointing a full-time consultant physician for Barnsley.

Consultants are appointed by hospital boards but my approval is required when an increase is proposed in a board's total consultant establishment. I have recently approved such an increase, to enable the Sheffield Regional Board to appoint an additional consultant physician for part-time work at Barnsley and Rotherham.

asked the Minister of Health the average cost per week to maintain a patient in the Bristol Mental Hospital, compared with that in the general hospitals of Bristol.

The average cost per week in 1954–55, as shown in the published costing returns, of maintaining a patient in the main mental and acute hospitals in Bristol was:

Mental hospitals	£	s.	d.
Fishponds	4	17	10
Acute* hospitals
Southmead (non-teaching)	18	17	2
Frenchay (non-teaching)	19	5	8
Bristol Royal (teaching)	22	11	1
*The term "general" is no longer used to denote a hospital type. The new "acute" class corresponds most nearly with the former "general" class.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed and the number on short-time at the latest available date.

At 13th February the number of persons registered as wholly unemployed in Great Britain was 247,303; the number registered as temporarily stopped was 28,325.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present position with regard to the construction of Newbury Park Station Bridge which was authorised on 18th January, 1955; and whether it is yet possible to give an estimated date of completion.

A contract for this work has recently been signed. Work will begin in April and is expected to be completed by the end of 1957

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the Order in Council, dated 7th April, 1864, S.R. and O. Rev. 1904 IV, page 1196, in relation to salvage of life from Prussian ships is still in force; and to which States it at present applies.

I am advised that, although the Order in Council is technically still in force, it is no longer effective. There is some doubt whether the agreement upon which the Order in Council is based survived the various constitutional changes which Prussia underwent after 1864. If the agreement was in force in 1939, it was certainly then suspended on the outbreak of war. No steps were taken after the end of the war to secure the re-application of the agreement, since the State of Prussia had ceased to exist.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent the experimental roundabout at Victoria Gate has speeded the flow of traffic; how long the experiment is to continue and what further proposals he has to improve conditions here or at Alexandra Gate.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation that a material improvement in traffic conditions has resulted from the experimental roundabout inside the Park near the Victoria Gate. He has asked me to consider making the experimental arrangements permanent, possibly in a slightly modified form, and also widening the gates. I am now examining these proposals.The proposed rearrangement of roads at Alexandra Gate is still under consideration.