asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate amount paid annually in taxation of all kinds by private enterprise companies and partnerships; and which welfare services cost about the same amount.

I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate amount paid annually in taxation by the nationalised industries; and what contribution they made to the national Exchequer in the years immediately prior to nationalisation.

I cannot give figures from Inland Revenue records about the tax paid by particular taxpayers, but I would invite my hon. Friend's attention to Tables 33 and 35 in the Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure, which includes some figures of tax provisions extracted from the published accounts of the industries concerned. I regret that comparable figures for periods before nationalisation are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there is a shortage of shillings for meters in the Midlands; that they are being supplied to applicants at some gas boards; whether he is aware that schoolboys and others are selling these shillings for Is. 3d.; and whether he will look into the position with a view to seeing that enough shillings are available.

The Royal Mint supplies coins in the denominations and quantities asked for by the banks. If local shortages of shillings arise during cold spells, the local banks should apply to their head offices for additional supplies. Gas and electricity boards can also help by quickly paying over some of the supplies of shillings which they collect from prepayment meters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of Government surplus stocks disposed of since 1st January, 1946, where full payment has not been made as agreed by purchasers; in respect of which sales the main defaults arose; and what was the nature of the goods concerned.

Losses of this kind were incurred by the Service Departments and the Ministry of Supply during the nine years from 1st April, 1946, to 31st March, 1955, to a total of £461,911. The bulk of the losses were incurred in quite small amounts over a wide range of stores with the exception of one of £101,114 arising from the sale in 1946 to a private individual of nearly 50 small vessels, lying mainly in Egypt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present value of £1 in purchasing power compared with 8th April, 1955.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in April, 1955, the corresponding figure for January, 1956, is 19s. 2d. This estimate is based on the Ministry of Labour's Interim Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase he has authorised in tuition fees at the universities in connection with the Government grant; what consultations he has had with the University Grants Committee and the university authorities; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has received for the increase of university tuition fees.

The University Grants Committee has not made an increase of fees a condition of continuance of grant, though it was intimated to the universities 18 months ago that this matter might well receive consideration. Proposals have been framed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, and are now being considered by the universities. These proposals aim at a greater uniformity of fees, and at producing additional revenue of between £500,000 and £600,000 a year. The University Grants Committee had been informed of these proposals, and had informed my right hon. Friend of them, before they were transmitted to the universities. The decision whether effect is to be given to them rests with the governing bodies of the various universities. My right hon. Friend's approval is not required, but he saw no reason to dissent from the proposals when he was informed of them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage reduction in capital investment he is aiming at as a result of the economy measures taken in February, 1956.

The object of the Government's policy is to restore a satisfactory surplus on the balance of payments. I cannot lay down the precise reduction in capital investment needed, as other factors are involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the figures of the capital development by nationalised industries in 1956, published in February, still represent the programmes of those industries; and what further figures he has to announce.

There has been no change since my right hon. Friend's statement of 17th February as regards the plans for fixed investment by the nationalised industries in 1956. Further figures have been given by the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Minister of Fuel and Power.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury to what extent the rates of salaries of non-industrial civil servants employed at London Airport differ from the industrial civil servants employed at the same airport, as regards the payment of London area rates.

The payment of London area rates for industrial and for non-industrial staffs are determined by different agreements. For non-industrial staff there are three rates—London, Intermediate, and Provincial; for industrial staff there are only two rates, London and Provincial, but the London area is more widely defined. As a result of these differences of system, London Airport falls in the London area for industrial employees but in the Intermediate area for non-industrial.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the functions of the Training and Education Division of the Treasury; on what date this Division was established; and what improvements have resulted from its work.

This Division is concerned with the oversight of Civil Service training and with running certain central courses. It was established in 1945, following the Report of the Committee on the Training of Civil Servants (Cmd. 6525), of which Lord Clitheroe was Chairman. Its work in promoting the training of civil servants contributes materially to the efficiency of the Service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the functions of the Treasury Medical Service; the approximate date on which this service was established and what improvements have resulted from its work.

The Treasury Medical Service was inaugurated simultaneously with the introduction of the National Health Service on 5th July, 1948. This made it necessary to review the medical responsibilities of Departments: the general practitioner services hitherto afforded to certain categories of staff (notably in the Post Office) were naturally discontinued and the opportunity was taken of uniting in a single Service the occupational medical supervision which was still required, owing particularly to the sick pay and pensions regulations.The Service gives medical advice to nearly all Government Departments and a number of other Government bodies, with particular reference to the sanction of sick leave, retirement or transfer on medical grounds, suitability for foreign service and the medical aspects of disciplinary cases. It is consulted on questions of recruitment and superannuation, the design and layout of buildings and working conditions generally. A large part of its work is concerned with the staff of the General Post Office and part of the Service is housed in the G.P.O. Headquarters.It is not easy to demonstrate in statistical terms the improvements which have resulted from its work, though there is reason to believe that it has had a markedly beneficial effect on sick absence. In general, the close liaison with hospitals, private doctors and the establishment authorities in Departments which it has been able to develop has made it possible to administer the regulations with greater efficiency and regard to the individual case. The evidence of this is that there are few successful appeals against the decisions based on its advice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what instructions in relation to capital works he has issued to the Gwynedd River Board; and if he will make a statement.

Following on the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th February last about the measures required to meet the present economic situation, the Gwynedd River Board, in common with other river boards and catchment boards, has been informed that it is intended drastically to restrict capital expenditure on new work except where considerations of health and safety, or other public interest, render such a course impracticable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are in hand or in contemplation to ensure that agriculture benefits from the advances planned for technical education.

The facilities for agricultural education have already been considerably expanded since the war and the number of agricultural students at universities, colleges and farm institutes is about double the pre-war figure. In general there are enough places at the present time, but I hope to see an increasing demand and, as stated in the recent White Paper, facilities will be extended as necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been instituted by his Department for alleged contravention of the Slaughter of Animal- (Prevention of Cruelty) Regulations, 1954

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now announce changes in the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Regulations, 1954, so as to vary the powers of enforcement in cases where local authorities are owners of the slaughterhouses.

No. I am satisfied that the duty of ensuring that these Regulations are observed in the case slaughterhouses owned by local authorities ought to remain with those authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the outcome of the representations made to him by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and others concerning the transit, marketing and slaughtering of newly-born calves.

There is already legislation to prevent unnecessary suffering to animals at all times, and detailed Regulations have been made to control their transit and slaughter. These are enforceable by local authorities and the police, who are aware of the need for vigilance in the matter.In the case of young calves it is preferable that they should be slaughtered under proper control in licensed slaughterhouses, since slaughtering animals in a humane manner is a highly skilled and specialised trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to make a statement on the plans of the Forestry Commission for new planting development in Wales; and if he will indicate where major plantings are projected.

The Forestry Commission hopes to plant about 8,000 acres of bare land and 5,000 acres of felled woodland annually in Wales during the next four or five years. As far as can be foreseen the programme will be spread over the majority of the Commission's forests without special concentration on any particular area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to prevent the wastage of agricultural land by flooding and to restore flooded land to cultivation.

Apart from field drainage, which is a matter for the owner or occupier, the responsibility rests with the land drainage authorities, who are locally elected autonomous bodies. All this land drainage work is aided by grants from my Department estimated to cost about £41 million in the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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.

No purchases of paint have been made by my Department since 1st January, 1954, from surpluses offered by the Ministry of Supply or the War Department. No central record is available of the occasional very small purchases of paint which have been made by my Department's local stations according to their requirements.

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

Lists of surplus stocks for disposal notified by the Ministry of Supply are examined in my Department. The Department's requirements in this field are, however, very limited, and no purchases have been made in the period mentioned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to him to suspend import tariffs on broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce, cabbage and new potatoes.

I have received requests from two sources for the suspension for a limited period of duties on these vegetables.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement about the report of Sir Arton Wilson's Committee on the regional organisation of his Department.

Yes, I have received the Committee's report and arrangements are being made for its early publication. The Committee recommend a number of changes in the Department's provincial and county organisation, all of which I shall consider most carefully in consultation with county agricultural executive committees and others directly concerned.Sir Arton Wilson and his colleagues have carried out their investigation in an extremely thorough and able manner and I am greatly indebted to them for their valuable help on this very complicated subject.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women unemployed or on short time in the pottery industry.

The latest available figures of unemployment relate to 13th February, when the number of female pottery workers registered as wholly unemployed was 289. Comprehensive statistics of the total number of women workers on short-time are not available, but it is estimated that some 1,700 pottery workers, most of whom are women, are at present on short-time.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to safeguard the employment of blind worker in Sunderland.

If the hon. Member is referring particularly to the workshop for the blind at Sunderland, I am not aware that any workers are in danger of losing their employment, though I believe that work has slackened off in one department of the workshop.

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

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his Questions on 6th and 13th March. Figures for 12th March will become available in about a week, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the concern felt in Cardiff and Barry about the short-time working of coal trimmers during the past two weeks; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. There has been a drop in the volume of coal passing through these ports as a result of the fall in exports. Coal trimmers are registered dock workers under the Dock Labour Scheme and eligible both for employment on general dock work and receive the guaranteed minimum wage payable under the scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour his estimate of the number of workers likely to be dismissed at the Dialoy Foundry Works, Colchester Avenue, Cardiff, due to redundancy; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that some redundancy is expected. My local officers are visiting the firm today to help these workers to find other employment.

asked the Minister of Labour the circumstances in which Mr. Norchi, of 66, Manor Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, was medically graded I prior to National Service in spite of the fact that he has lost the top joint of his trigger finger and was obliged to leave face work at the pit owing to bad eye-sight.

I am having inquiries made about the medical examination of Mr. Norchi and I will write to the hon. Member. Mr. Norchi has now indicated that he hopes to resume below ground work on 26th March, and if he does so he will not be called up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Barbed Wire Act, 1893, between 1930 and 1940, 1940 and 1950, and 1950 to the present date.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what application he has received from the authorities in the Isle of Man for his concurrence in an increase in police pay in the island corresponding to the increase recently awarded in England.

I have not received such an application. I am informed that the question of increasing the rates of pay of the Isle of Man police is being examined by the Lieutenant-Governor in consultation with his advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not deported a Cuban, Moto Mendel Weis, of no fixed address, who has been sent to prison for ten months for obtaining money under false pretences, thereby saving the country the expense of maintaining him in prison.

Save in exceptional circumstances, I should not feel justified, in order to expedite the deportation of an alien, in recommending the special remission of the sentence which a court has thought fit to impose. I am not aware of any such circumstances in the present case, but the question of the prisoner's deportation will be considered near the completion of his term of imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents caused by fires in homes which resulted in injury or death to children have occurred since the passing of legislation to make more secure gas, electricity and coal fires; and how these accidents compare with a similar period when such precautions were not compulsory.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952, which prohibits the sale or letting of unguarded electric fires, gas fires or oil heaters. The first full year during which this Act was in force was 1955, and the figures for fatal accidents in the home for that year are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are being made by the Metropolitan Police to apprehend the persons responsible for the shattering of windscreens on the Esher section of the London-Portsmouth Road; and how many such incidents have been reported to them and over what period.

The police make immediate inquiries into any case where it is alleged that the use of a weapon or missile caused the damage to the windscreen. One hundred and twenty-four incidents of windscreens having been shattered have been reported from this section of the Portsmouth Road since 17th January, 1954. The police have found no evidence that the damage is due to malicious action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state the number of new on-licences granted in England and Wales during the last ten years.

The figures for 1955 are not yet available. The total number of new on-licences granted and confirmed in the years 1945–1954 was 9,777. Most of these were regrants of existing licences. The number of new premises licensed during the period was 1,912. The figures for 1954 included in these totals are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new club licences have been granted in England and Wales during the last ten years.

The figures for 1955 are not yet available, nor are figures as to the actual number of new registrations, but between 31st December, 1944, and 30th June, 1954, the net increase in the number of clubs registered in England and Wales was 5,094. The figure for 1954 included in this total is provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evidence the Departmental Committee on Homosexuality and Prostitution has asked for or received, other than police evidence, on the operation of the Vagrancy Act, 1898, Section 1, subsections (1), (2), and (3), which deal with male persons knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution wholly or in part; and what fines were imposed on the five brothel keepers convicted in 1955 in West London.

I understand that the Committee has received information on the matter referred to in the first part of the Question from police, magistrates, lawyers, social workers and others. Of the five persons referred to in the second part of the Question, one was conditionally discharged, two were fined £30 each and two were fined £25 each; all four of those fined were ordered to pay costs.

asked the Minister of Education if he is satisfied that the present secondary school building programme makes adequate provision for the increase in the size of the secondary school population in the next few years; and if he will make a statement.

At the peak of the secondary school population there is bound to be some overcrowding in some areas, but present and future programmes agreed with local authorities will, if carried out on time, meet essential needs.

asked the Minister of Education to state, for each local education authority in England 4nd Wales, the numbers of primary and secondary schools, respectively, included in the 1955–56 programme which will not have been started by 31st March.

I will send the hon. Member this information when it becomes available.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the school building programme is in arrears in Durham County; and if he will state the reason for this.

I understand that by 31st March next the Durham authority will not be able to start building six of the twelve primary and secondary schools in its 1955–56 programme. The main reasons are the shortage of professional staff and difficulty in obtaining satisfactory tenders.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the present increase in numbers of overcrowded classes in secondary schools is due to shortage of teachers; and to what extent to shortage of buildings.

The relative importance of these two factors varies from one area to another.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of student places in scientific and technical subjects at present available in Durham County; and to what extent the number will be raised within the period 1956–57.

Last year some 26,000 students followed full-time or part-time courses at technical and mining colleges in the County of Durham. New accommodation likely to be completed during the next year will provide a further 2,000 places, but many more students than this may well benefit because the additional places will be used for part-time as well as for full-time courses.

asked the Minister of Education how many additional teachers will be required in Wales to implement the recently announced programme for technical education; and what plans he has for recruitment.

I cannot say until the details of the programme for the expansion of technical education in Wales have been worked out with the Welsh authorities; when these are known, plans for the recruitment of teachers can be settled.

asked the Minister of Education, with regard to the 24 colleges listed in paragraph 68 of Command Paper No. 9703, Technical Education, how many of their students, in total, were taking degree courses in the sessions 1953–54 and 1954–55, respectively; and how many are taking such courses in the present session.

For the 1953–54 and 1954–55 sessions the numbers, including students taking the intermediate degree courses, were 7,489 and 6,845, respectively. Figures for the present session are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Education what decision has been reached on the provision of a special school of grammar school type for physically handicapped pupils.

I am glad to be able to report that the Trustees of the Lord Mayor Treloar College, Froyle, near Alton, Hants, have generously provided buildings and equipment for a special school suited to the needs of able and gifted physically handicapped boys, which will open in September next. Facilities which will be available at the school and at the training establishment for the further education and training of physically handicapped boys, also provided by the College, are described in my Department's memorandum which will be issued tomorrow.

asked the Minister of of Education what guidance he has given to school authorities on the improvement of facilities for spastics in special schools for the physically handicapped.

My Department will be issuing tomorrow a Circular giving advice on the improvement of facilities within special schools, where required, both for spastics and other physically handicapped children.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken, and what results he has achieved since December, 1955, in resolving the fisheries dispute between Great Britain and Iceland.

The confidential discussions at the Organisation of European Economic Co-operation are continuing. I cannot make any further statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that China has a substantial credit trade balance, both with the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, and is prepared to spend this surplus sterling on heavy lorries and heavier agricultural equipment, such as heavy tractors, he will now take immediate steps to lift these items from the embargo list, and so help to maintain full employment at home through greater exports.

I have nothing further to add to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend to the hon. Member for Northfield (Mr. Chapman), on 19th March.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is yet able to say when he will introduce legislation to raise the upper age limit of 16 years for children still at school to enable them to have family allowances.

It is hoped to introduce a Bill this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now prepared to take action on misleading advertisements regarding slimming bread, copies of which have been sent to him.

The enforcement of the law relating to the advertising of food rests with local authorities, and I understand that Glasgow Corporation now have this case under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to use his powers under Section 10 of the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act, 1943, as amended by later legislation, to ensure that the Scottish Electricity Boards do not charge smallholders on the basis of the farm tariff.

Under Section 10A of the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act, 1943, as amended by the Electricity Reorganisation (Scotland) Act, 1954, the fixing of tariffs is a matter for the Electricity Board concerned and I have no authority to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the ages of teacher-pensioners at the last convenient date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the delay in reaching settlement of salary claims on behalf of probation officers in Scotland; if he is satisfied with the present negotiating machinery; and if he is prepared to discuss its revision.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I understand that the present negotiating machinery has hitherto worked satisfactorily. Its revision would be a matter for negotiation between the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what financial arrangements will apply when National Service reservists, belonging to reserve flights, are called upon to carry out more than one period of annual training in accordance with paragraph 62 of Command Paper No. 9696.

The following table sets out the facts. In comparing the number of pensioners between 60 and 74 with the number over 74 it should be borne in mind that the number of teachers, particularly women teachers, who have retired on pension in the period since 1946 has been considerably higher than the number who retired in the previous ten years.

National Service reservists of the technical and operating trades called up for a second and third period of training will in future receive during these training periods the rates of pay appropriate to Regular airmen of their rank and trade on engagements of less than five years. In addition, they will receives a gratuity of £5 if they are required to do one extra period of training and a gratuity of £10 if they are required to do two extra periods.National Service reserve officers will similarly receive Regular rates of pay when called upon to undertake a second and third period of training.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has yet made a decision on the papers relating to the Chinese Mining and Engineering Company Limited and Barclays Bank Limited.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to take no action in this case.