asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that highly qualified but elderly persons are finding difficulty in securing employment owing to the high medical standards required for inclusion in superannuation schemes; and if he will hold consultations with all sections of industry with a view to overcoming this difficulty.

I am not aware of the particular difficulty to which the hon. Member has drawn attention. I understand that insurance companies are prepared to consider sympathetically requests for adjustments to pension schemes to meet the requirements of older workers.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the letter which he has sent to the Member for West Ham, North, whether he will now publish revised figures on unemployment and short-time in the furniture trade.

The following is a copy of my letter to the hon. Member about short-time working in the industry.

I promised to write to you when I knew the results of the inquiries that I was having made into the reasons for the difference between the figures of short-time working in the furniture industry which I gave in the debate on employment on 20th March and those collected by the National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives.

There are, I think, a number of reasons which go to account for the difference between the Union's figure of 12,146 on short time and the figure of under 7,000 which I gave and which, as I explained in the debate, was based on information received from my Local Offices.

(a)While every effort was made to make the latter information as complete as possible, not all cases of short-time working at some of the smaller firms in the industry may have come to the notice of the Local Offices.

(b)The Local Office information related only to workers who were losing one or more days a week. On the other hand, I understand that the Union's figures include workers who lost any time at all, however small, during the week ended 17th March. They may also include workers who worked less overtime or who suffered some loss of earnings on account of a reduction in production, although they worked their normal number of hours.

(c) Members of the Union work in other industries besides furniture, such as radio manufacture, car upholstery and ship repairing, and it is possible that some of these may have been included in the Union's figures.

The most comprehensive and reliable figures of short-time working are those which my Department collect every quarter from all firms in the manufacturing industries which employ more than ten workpeople. These figures include all workers who work less than their normal weekly hours. We now have the returns relating to the furniture industry for the week ended 25th February. These show that 7,300 workers lost some time during this week out of 103,000 workers employed by the firms making the return. It is true that there was some increase in short-time working in the first half of March, but if allowance is made for this and for short-time which may have been worked at firms employing less than eleven workers, the total number of workers in the furniture industry who were affected by short-time in the middle of March was probably something like 10,000. This represents 8 per cent. of the numbers employed in the industry. I am sorry that the figures which I gave in the debate should have understated the position, but I was anxious to give the House as much information as possible and the estimate was the best that could be made at the time.

The Union's statement says that 2,059 of its members have been discharged. I am unable to comment on this figure as no information is given as to the period to which it is supposed to relate.

The copy of the N.U.F.T.O Survey which you sent to me is enclosed.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the increase in valuation proposed under the Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1955, will increase the cost of living.

The combined effect of re-valuation and current changes in rate poundages on the Retail Prices Index will not be known until full inquiries have been made regarding the changes in the payments being made by householders. If rates in the aggregate remained unaltered the re-valuation would result, on average, in a smaller share of these rates falling upon dwelling houses, with a corresponding reduction in the Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of hardship imposed by the instruction to hardship tribunals that deferment of National Service be refused to applicants who are taking their final examinations in May but whose application is nine months or more after the date of registration, whether he will modify the regulations.

No such instructions exist. There are, however, decisions by the umpire, which provide guidance in determining individual cases. The umpire is an independent statutory authority, and I have no power to interfere with his decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the maintenance of last war surface air-raid shelters.

Local authorities have been advised for the time being to restrict maintenance work on air-raid shelters to measures which are necessary to keep the shelters in a safe and sanitary condition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the seven per cent. decline in the infliction of corporal punishment in approved schools last year as compared with the previous year is due to the smaller number of children in those schools.

As my right hon. and gallant Friend said in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 1st March, the number of occasions on which corporal punishment was given in remand homes and approved schools in 1955 was about 7 per cent. less than in 1954. In relation to the average number of children in the homes and schools in those years, there was a slight decrease in the incidence of corporal punishment in remand homes and a slight increase in approved schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement upon the affidavit made by Mancini's solicitor, a copy of which has been sent to him by the right honourable Member for Rochester and Chatham, to the effect that the Crown made a private offer to Mancini's defence counsel to reduce the charge to one of manslaughter; and why, in view of his recent announcement regarding mitigating circumstances, the reasons for the making of this offer did not result in a commutation of the death penalty, subsequently carried out, despite his knowledge of the private offer to reduce the charge.

This case occurred when the right hon. Member for Lewisham, South was Home Secretary.It is the case that discussions took place between counsel for the prosecution and counsel for the defence on the question whether a plea of guilty of manslaughter should be accepted. Discussions of this character are informal and "off the record," and acceptance of a plea to a reduced charge is subject to the approval of the trial judge. The Judge was consulted in this case but, in view of the lethal nature of the weapon used, he considered that it would not be right for the prosecution to accept a plea of guilty to manslaughter.These facts were subsequently before the then Secretary of State, but he did not consider they afforded sufficient grounds for recommending the exercise of the Royal Prerogative. The grounds for a decision on whether or not to advise the exercise of the Royal Prerogative in a particular case are not disclosed, but there was nothing in this case to support the view that the prosecution was doubtful whether Mancini could properly be convicted of murder. The issue of manslaughter was left to the jury, but they brought in a verdict of murder. The Court of Criminal Appeal and the House of Lords found no reason to interfere with the verdict of the jury. My right hon. and gallant Friend does not think that the decision of his predecessor in this case was inconsistent with what he himself stated in the House on 16th February, 1956, to be the practice, namely, to recommend a reprieve if there is a scintilla of doubt as to the prisoner's guilt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminals have been sentenced to preventive detention in each of the last five years; and what has been the average period to which they have been so sentenced during each of these years.

The numbers of persons received into prison during the years 1951 to 1955 after sentence of preventive detention (excluding those whose sentences were subsequently varied, on appeal, to sentences of imprisonment or otherwise) were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in each of the last five years have criminals been sentenced to the maximum period of preventive detention.

One in 1951, one in 1953, three in 1954 and two in 1955. In three cases the sentence was reduced on appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the report of the Committee on Homosexuality and Prostitution.

I understand that the Committee has now completed the hearing of oral evidence and that the drafting of the Report is now in its preliminary stages. I regret, however, that I cannot yet say when the Report is likely to be presented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when action may be expected to implement the findings of the Hurst Report on Adoption Law.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 7th March to the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. Mallalieu).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposed multi-lateral trade agreement officially suggested to him by the Argentine Government.

The Argentine Government have notified us and a number of other Governments of their desire to put their external trade and payments relations on a broader basis. Last week representatives of eleven European countries had exploratory talks together in Paris. These talks were attended also by a representative of the Argentine Government who is now visiting a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, for separate talks; and it seems likely that we and the other European countries will want to come together again shortly for a further exchange of views.We welcome the Argentine Government's initiative in this matter and we very much hope that, as a result of these talks, it will be possible for Argentina to introduce a satisfactory system of trade and payments.

asked the Minister of Education what guidance he has given to local education authorities about the need for a better distribution of teachers, with especial reference to the problem of shortage of teachers in certain parts of the Midlands.

I am sending the hon. Member copies of a memorandum and a letter which my right hon. Friend has recently sent to local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the serious difficulties arising in the county of Essex due to lack of adequate and suitable school accommodation to meet the increase in the child population, whether his Department is still insisting on the deferment of part of the county's school building programme.

My right hon. Friend recognises the problems facing the Essex Authority and has approved a school building programme of £2½ million for 1956–57, together with a reserve list of half that value. The Authority has been encouraged to press ahead with the planning of the new schools in both the main and reserve programmes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement as to the present position of myxomatosis infection of rabbits; and to what extent rabbits are returning to areas previously decimated by the disease.

Myxomatosis still persists in small pockets of rabbits in some parts of Cheshire, Cumberland, Hampshire, Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire while odd rabbits with the disease are occasionally appearing in other areas. A sprinkling of healthy rabbits is now being found in most areas previously cleared by the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the total acreage of England and Wales has now been scheduled as a rabbit-free area; how this position compares with that of a year ago; and to what extent the freedom from these pests is being maintained in such areas.

Seven-eighths of England and Wales has now been designated as rabbit clearance areas under the Pests Act, 1954; a year ago only Anglesey had been so designated. A sprinkling of rabbits is now being found in most areas, but farmers generally are co-operating with county agricultural executive committees to keep their numbers down.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of milk sold to the public is heat-treated in England and Wales, the county of London, English and Welsh counties, and county boroughs, respectively; and how these figures compare with a year ago.

90 per cent. of the milk sold for liquid consumption in England and Wales during 1955 was heat-treated, compared with 88 per cent. in 1954. No figures are available of the proportion in counties and county boroughs, but it is known that in London the proportion of milk heat-treated has been almost 100 per cent. for some years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the 5,697 veterinary surgeons registered at the end of 1954 are engaged in full-time private practice in England, Wales and Scotland; and how many are engaged or retained by Government Departments, local authorities, research institutes, schools or similar bodies.

I understand from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons that in the United Kingdom, approximately 2,800 veterinary surgeons are in private practice and 1,100 in the whole-time employment of Government Departments, local authorities, research institutes and similar bodies. Many of the veterinary surgeons in private practice are employed by Government Departments from time to time on a fee-basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amounts and proportion of the total fat-stock deficiency payments for pigs, sheep and cattle that were attributable to the operation of the individual price guarantee.

The estimated amounts of the Fatstock Deficiency Payments in 1955–56 were: Cattle, £463,000; Sheep, £5,118,000; Pigs, £44,300,000. The amounts estimated to be attributable to the operation of the individual price Guarantee were: Cattle, £83,000; Sheep, £363,000; Pigs, £20,000,000. These amounts represent 18 per cent., 7 per cent. and 45 per cent., respectively, of the total guarantees paid on each class of stock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the Government's decision to abolish the bread subsidy at the end of September, the price control of National bread will also then come to an end.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the amount paid to young National Service men when they go on leave is not enough to cover their keep at home; and whether as this is particularly a hardship for parents who are widows, he will increase the grant.

The minimum rate of pay for a National Service soldier is now 4s. 6d. a day, and whilst on privilege leave he receives a ration allowance of 4s. 10d., making 9s. 4d. a day in all. Some provision is also made for free travel. In these circumstances, I cannot accept the hon. Member's contention that it is impossible for National Service men to pay for their keep whilst at home.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, as a consequence of the removal of Scottish Command Headquarters from Edinburgh to premises only a few yards outside the city boundary, about 200 employees of Scottish Command will this month be subject to wage and salary reductions varying from £60 per year to 4s. per week; and if he will take steps to prevent this, as practically all those affected still live in the city of Edinburgh.

The effects of the move are that about half the employees concerned will suffer no immediate drop in pay and the rest will receive from £7 10s. to, in a few cases only, £20 a year less. The reductions result from a general agreement with the National Whitley Council which cannot be varied to meet particular cases, though they will be borne in mind when the agreement is reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what date was taken as the datum line in deciding whether a man, who was the product of the Government vocational training programme before the late war, and who had no other engineering or industrial background, was to be registered as a dilutee, or recognised as a craftsman, under the Temporary Relaxation of Existing Customs Agreement between his Department and the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

I cannot add to the reply which I gave my hon. and gallant Friend on the question of the effective date of the Agreement on 27th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what trade union agreements permitted his Department to employ as skilled aircraft fitters, at No. 1 Flying Training School, Netheravon, Wiltshire, in 1938, men who had no other engineering background than a vocational training course at Park Royal Government Training Centre; and why it was thought necessary to replace these agreements by the Temporary Relaxation of Customs Agreement dated 21st October, 1939.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None". The second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air which part of the Temporary Relaxation of Existing Customs Agreement between his Department and the Amalgamated Engineering Union requires or permits his Department to register as dilutees those employees who were, previous to the outbreak of the late war, employed by his Department as skilled men.

No part of the Agreement specifically requires this, but, in accordance with its spirit and intention, any man who at the time it was signed was employed on work which came within its terms and whose industrial history did not entitle him to recognition as a skilled craftsman was registered as a dilutee.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what further information he can now give in regard to the number of Service men likely to be stationed in Benbecula and South Uist in connection with the proposed guided missile range.

It is still planned to house on Benbecula most of the Service men connected with the Hebrides Guided Weapons Establishment. The total strength on Benbecula will probably be over 2,000, including the airfield staff, the fighter squadrons, and the men under training at the rangehead on South Uist, but the number of permanent staff likely to be required for operational, technical, administrative and other duties at the rangehead now seems likely to be about 600.In these circumstances, it is clearly desirable from the operational and administrative point of view that these men should not be brought in every day from Benbecula but that they and their wives and families should be housed as near as possible to their work. A site for their accommodation on South Uist will be sought which will affect the crofting communities as little as possible. The north end of Loch Bee seems to be the most convenient locality, but the site will need to be surveyed and discussed with the county council and others concerned before a final decision is made. A new road will probably be constructed between the site and the rangehead and the main island road.

asked the Minister of Defence the number of Service officers, including those of the Indian Armed Services, below and above the age of 60 years, respectively, who retired under the 1919 Code and whose retired pay was reassessed for war service.

I have been asked to reply.About 6,500 Service officers 60 years old and over, and 1,080 under the age of 60, who retired under the 1919 Code, had their retired pay re-assessed for war service. These figures include former members of the Indian Armed Forces.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate circulation of the Post Office Magazine; and what efforts have been made to obtain more advertisements in order to offset the cost of printing.

During the past six months net sales have averaged 130,369 copies a month. Advertisement revenue has been increased nearly three times in the past four years, by the acceptance of loose insets which neither increase printing costs nor restrict editorial space. I am, however, examining the position again to see whether further improvement is possible.

asked the Postmaster-General the amounts accounted for by laundry and casual hospitality which are included in the incidental expenses of £187,000 contained in his Estimates for 1956–57; and if he will give some indication of the way the money for casual hospitality is expended.

The amount included in respect of casual hospitality is £4,000. This relates to hospitality offered to visitors, for example, from overseas ad ministrations and in connection with conferences. The expenditure on laundry is included with other expenditure at some 600 offices and is not distinguishable in the central accounts.

asked the Postmaster-General when the underground cable required for the provision of additional telephones at St. Fagans, Glamorgan, will be provided.

About the middle of next month. The telephones will be connected within the following two months.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that Mr. Francis McGrath National Insurance Number HL 262820D, a resident of Bootle County Borough, was ill from 24th December, 1955, was paid sickness benefit until 30th January, 1956, and that on this date a doctor certified that in his opinion he would be fit to resume work the next day; that Mr. McGrath was unable to return to work and died from chronic bronchitis on 4th March, 1956; that no sickness benefit was paid to Mr. McGrath from 30th January, 1956, to 4th March, 1956; and if he will examine written evidence from Mr. Joseph McGrath, the son of the deceased, and the hon. Member for Bootle, particulars of which have been sent to him, and make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has looked into the matter and has asked the local office at Bootle to get in touch with Mr. Joseph McGrath with a view to his making a claim for benefit in respect of the period from 31st January to 4th March, 1956. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is writing separately to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the amounts of the collective guarantee payments on fatstock were not known in Forfar on Friday, 6th April, in respect of sales on that day.

I regret any misunderstanding that may have arisen locally. The amounts of the guarantee payments for fatstock are determined as provided in the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme, 1956–57 and announced before the beginning of the four-week guarantee period to which they relate. For the period in question the rates of guarantee were announced on 16th March. A stabilising adjustment may be applied increasing or decreasing the amount of the guarantee payment for any class of stock in any week of a guarantee period according to the average level of return to producers for that class of stock in that week. The average return in any week is calculated normally on Friday, and any adjustments to the guarantee payments are announced in the Press on Saturday.

asked the Minister of Works the current maintenance grant to the British Museum Library.

During 1954–55, the latest year for which the information is available, £59,000 was spent by my Department on the maintenance of the British Museum building. It would take a very great deal of work to separate even approximately the expenditure on the Library alone, from that on the rest of the building.