asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is to be taken consequent upon the investigation into fish price costings.

Although co-operation has in general been good the response from a minority of traders has been slower than was hoped, and some have had difficulty in answering the White Fish Authority's questions clearly and fully. I am concerned at the time this inquiry is taking but it would be a mistake to spoil a carefully thought-out sample by closing the inquiry prematurely.

asked the Minister of Education (1) to give, for the latest convenient date, the number of children, ascertained as deaf and partially deaf, respectively, who are under 5 years of age and not attending schools appropriate to their disability;(2) to give, for the latest convenient date, the number of children, ascertained as deaf and partially deaf, respectively, who are under 5 years of age and are attending schools appropriate to their disability;(3) to give, for the latest convenient date, the number of children, ascertained as deaf and partially deaf, respectively, who are over 5 years of age and not attending schools of the kind appropriate to their disability.

In January. 1956, the numbers were as follows:

Attending special schools		Awaiting places in special schools
Deaf	3,923	Under five	95
		Over five	68
Partially deaf	1,435	Under five	21
		Over five	160

The numbers attending school in 1956 have not yet been analysed by age; but in January, 1955, of the 3,915 deaf and the 1,291 partially deaf children attending special schools 305 and 6 respectively were under five.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the need for economy in all sections of industry and the losses which have been incurred by the National Coal Board, if he will give a general direction to the nationalised industries for which he is responsible to discontinue letting any contracts or subcontracts without full competition, and under no circumstances on a cost-plus or on an agreed price basis.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) on 6th February.

asked the Minister of Labour the terms of reference and composition of the committee which is investigating the supply and utilisation of scientific and technical manpower.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the inquiry which, as stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on 17th April, is now being carried out into the numbers and distribution of scientists and engineers employed in industry and in other fields of work. This inquiry is being undertaken by the Social Survey on behalf of my Department and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The results will be considered by my Technical Personnel Committee and by the Committee on Scientific Manpower of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, which reports to my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the need for economies in all sections of industry and the losses incurred by the British Transport Commission, if he will give a general direction to the Commission to discontinue letting contracts or sub-contracts without full competition, and under no circumstances to let contracts on a cost-plus or an agreed price basis.

No. The letting of contracts is essentially a function of management in which the Commission should be left free to exercise its commercial judgment in the particular circumstances of each case.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what damage was done to the Varne Lightship on 8th or 9th April by a Belgian fishing vessel; and if a claim will be made by the appropriate authority.

One plate in the stern was slightly damaged. I understand that the Trinity House proposes to make a claim against the owners of the Belgian vessel.

asked the Minister of Works whether a day has yet been fixed for the opening to the public of the fourteenth-century Jewel Tower of the Palace of Westminster.

Yes. The Jewel Tower will be open to the public from Monday next, 23rd April. With the exception of Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday the Tower will be open from March to September between 10.30 a.m.—6.30 p.m.: and from October to February between 10.30–4.0 p.m. Admission will be free.

asked the Minister of Works whether a decision has yet been reached regarding the use to be made of the former Woodlands Hostel, Chorley.

I am examining proposals for the adaptation of a part of the accommodation to meet outstanding storage demands. It is proposed to use two bungalows as R.A.F. married quarters for the nearby fire training establishment at Washington Hall. However, I would be willing to consider other proposals for using the hostel as a whole.

asked the Minister of Works the estimated capital cost of the new National Library in Bloomsbury.

The cost of acquiring the site and erecting buildings has been put, as a working basis, at about £10 million; but as the project will extend over a great many years, this cannot be regarded as a reliable estimate.