asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations are being made by the Government to encourage non-dollar Commonwealth Governments to grow maize and barley for the United Kingdom market.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how far the campaign in Nottinghamshire to eliminate rabbits carrying the mild form of myxomatosis has been successful; and in which other districts the disease persists in this form.

No rabbits with the mild form of myxomatosis have been found in The Dukeries area in Nottinghamshire since the conclusion of the recent campaign, during which it is estimated that 95 per cent. of all the wild rabbits in the area were destroyed. The only other district in which a weakened strain of the disease has been found is in a small area near Micheldever, Hampshire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce the Government's long-term policy for British agriculture.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Gooch) on 26th April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent, on the basis of average yields in recent years, the 874,000 acres of potatoes grown in 1955 in the United Kingdom would meet the current market requirements, including those of the fish friers; and what consultations he has held with the Potato Marketing Board to ensure that the price guarantee arrangements give adequate cover to producers if the acreage of main-crop potatoes is increased again and a surplus to market requirements arises as in several recent years.

On the basis of the average yield for the preceding five years, the total production of potatoes in the United Kingdom in 1955 would have amounted to 6,905,000 instead of 6,278,000 tons. The additional supplies would certainly have gone a very substantial way towards meeting current consumer requirements.As regards the last part of the Question, I have no reason to think that the support prices fixed after discussions with the National Farmers' Union for the 1956 and 1957 potato crops, taken in conjunction with the regulatory powers of the Potato Marketing Board, do not give growers adequate protection in the event of a surplus.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total acreage of potatoes for 1956.

On the basis of forecasts made by occupiers at the March, 1956, census, the area of potatoes in England and Wales in 1956 is estimated to be 616,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give information regarding the experiments in the use of narcotics against wood-pigeons; the difficulties encountered; and the steps being taken to overcome them.

A number of large-scale field trials using various baits have been carried out in Lincolnshire this year, but very few pigeons have been narcotised. The main difficulty is to find baits that will attract the birds. Experiments are still proceeding and the feeding behaviour of the wood-pigeon is being studied.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give further consideration to a bonus scheme to help in the campaign against wood pigeons, as in the case of grey squirrels.

This was carefully considered at the end of last year and I am satisfied that the present cartridge scheme is to be preferred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to make a special appeal for increased production by the horticultural industry to help the country's economic position.

I am satisfied that the horticultural industry is vigorously striving for increased production and efficiency. In spite of the difficulties due to the bad weather early this year, I have no reason to doubt that their efforts are meeting with a considerable measure of success, and I doubt whether any special appeal is required.

asked the Minister of Health how many National Health Service doctors are still in practice who were over 61 years of age when the National Health Service Act came into practice; why they were not allowed to come into a pension scheme; and whether he will consider making some financial arrangement for them so that they can retire more easily.

About 800 on 1st January this year. These doctors cannot satisfy the ten-year qualifying period for a pension. Those with five years' service may, however, qualify for a lump sum retiring allowance. Under the Regulations I have no power to do anything for those with less.

asked the Minister of Health why he has forbidden Messrs. J. E. Hanger and Company Limited, of Roehampton, from reaching agreement with trades unions representing their workers about the rates of pay of such workers; and why he requires the unions to declare a dispute with the employers when, in fact, no dispute exists.

The statement made in the first part of the Question is not accurate. The fair wages clause in the contract between my Department and the company requires the contractor to pay the appropriate rates of wages established by negotiation or arbitration. I am aware, however, that, under the contract, increased wage rates cannot be reflected in the contract prices unless they are brought about by an industrial disputes tribunal or industrial court award and I have this requirement under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the Guillebaud Committee's recommendations regarding national grants for the upkeep of local authority residential accommodation for old people.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 25th January.

asked the Minister of Health the average cost per prescription as at the latest available date; and how this compares with twelve months previously.

The average cost in England and Wales was 4s. 4·87d. for February, 1956, as compared with 4s. 2·09d. for February, 1955.

asked the Minister of Health why the mental hospitals in the south-west region have no representative on the Regional Hospital Board.

Members of regional hospital boards are not appointed as representatives, but, in fact, four members of the South-Western Regional Hospital Board are also chairmen or members of management committees of mental hospitals in the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now publish the agreement with the United States Government on the reactivating of United States bases in the West Indies for guided missile purposes.

The only United States base in the West Indies, leased to the United States under the 1941 Agreement, which is being reactivated for guided missile purposes is Beane Field in St. Lucia. It is hoped that the Agreement between the United States Government and Her Majesty's Government to extend the Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground for guided missiles to St. Lucia will be signed shortly. It will then be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that all necessary steps have been taken to protect our oil interests in the Persian Gulf.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of Arab students taking courses at universities in this country; and how many of them receive grants from public funds.

There are about 2,100 Arab students taking courses at higher educational institutions in the United Kingdom. Of these, 13 have British Council scholarships.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the increase from 887,058 registered refugees in Jordan in 1954 to 906,000 in 1955 is due to natural increase or to additional refugees; what is the estimated calorific value per day in the ordinary rations distributed; how many, and what percentage, of the able-bodied men are employed; and what progress has been made in respect of projects providing agricultural or other employment.

The increase in the numbers of Palestine refugees in 1955 to approximately 906.000 was due to the natural increase (between 20,000 and 25,000 a year), modified by the removal from the ration rolls of refugees resettled and by deaths.The estimated calorific value per day of the ordinary (i.e. basic food) rations distributed is about 1,500 in summer and 1,600 in winter.The numbers of able-bodied men employed are not immediately available as the published statistical returns of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency refer to refugees irrespective of sex and to families. During 1954–55, the Agency's Placement Service found employment for 30,454 individuals. Furthermore, a total of 5,800 refugees were permanently removed from the ration rolls and 37,902 temporarily. These removals were in respect of refugees in receipt of employment.45,000 refugees were engaged in fundamental or adult education activities in the Agency's thirty-nine fundamental education centres. The significance of the foregoing should be assessed in the light of the fact that approximately 50 per cent. of the total numbers of registered refugees are children of 15 years of age and under.Major progress in resettlement awaits the outcome of technical and political discussions on two major irrigation projects. one for the Jordan Valley and the other for the Western Sinai Desert in Egypt. Over a period of years the two projects together might provide a livelihood for as many as 200,000 refugees.Among the current projects which should enable refugees to become self-supporting are:A tent factory near Jericho which provides a livelihood for about 750 people;Five small agricultural villages in the Jordan Valley, in which a total of 176 families have been established;Loans of nearly 1 million dollars through the Jordan Development Bank, largely financed by U.N.R.W.A., which in turn have financed 141 farmers or farm projects and 16 commercial projects;Many grants to individuals for their own small businesses;An experimental desert farm in Syria housing fifty families;Afforestation of part of the Gaza strip to protect potentially productive land;Rug weaving, sewing and embroidery projects in Gaza, to he duplicated in Syria, Jordan and the Lebanon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the expenditure to date, of the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency; in what manner this has in general, been spent; approximately, how many Koreans have been assisted and resettled; what part of this expenditure has been in North Korea; and whether there has been effective co-operation between North and South Korea in the task of rehabilitation.

A sum of 138·5 million dollars has been paid to the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency up to 30th June, 1955. Of this sum approximately 136 million dollars have been laid out on a number of reconstruction projects, the chief items of which are:

• Raw materials and equipment;
• Health, sanitation and welfare;
• Agriculture, forestry and fisheries;
• Power;
• Reconstruction of manufacturing plant;
• Mining reconstruction;
• Education and housing;
• Other special projects such as support for voluntary agencies;
• Wages and administrative costs.

Nearly every citizen of the Republic of Korea has benefited directly or indirectly from the Agency's activities. Resettlement of Koreans is not one of the Agency's duties. None of this expenditure has been incurred in North Korea. There has been no co-operation between the Republic of Korea and North Korea in the task of rehabilitation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the present labour force in the mines; and to what extent this is sufficient to meet estimated coal production requirements.

Seven hundred and six thousand men which is 7,000 less than the coal industry's immediate manpower requirements.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal was imported during the years 1947 to 1955, inclusive; what was the average loss per ton on resale of this coal; and how much of the accumulated loss of the National Coal Board, £37 million at 31st December, 1955, may be attributed to losses on resale of imported coal.

17·2 million tons were imported and supplied by the Board at an average cost of about 48s. per ton more than the proceeds of resale. These extra costs were more than balanced by the premium obtained during the same period on exported coal. Thus, if the Board's overseas trading is considered as a whole, it has reduced rather than increased the accumulated loss.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will state in tabulated form, correct to the nearest £1 million annually, the annual capital investment sums expended by each of the coal, gas and electricity industries during the period 1950 to 1955, inclusive; and the sums authorised for each industry, respectively, for the years 1956 and 1957.

Following is the answer:

INVESTMENT AND FIXED ASSEDS £ million
Coal		Gas		Electricity(a)
1950	29	1950–51	36	129
1951	32	1951–52	45	142
1952	49	1952–53	46	154
1953	79	1953–54	50	170
1954	100	1954–55	55	203
1955(b)	95	1955–56	61	199
1956(c)	107	1956–57	52	195
(a) These figures represent investment by the Central Electricity Authority (British Electricity Authority before 1st April, 1955) and area electricity boards.
(b) Provisional.
(c) Sums authorised.
NOTE: Authorisations in respect of 1957 have not yet been made.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to make available details of the pension increases now approved by him for ex-company pensioners in the electricity and gas industries; and whether he intends to give these increases retrospective effect as from 1st April, 1954.

The information for which the hon. Member asks has been sent to him.My right hon. Friend has agreed that the gas industry's proposals should take effect from 1st April, 1956, and is still considering this aspect of the electricity industry's proposals.

asked the Minister of Supply how far it is the practice of his Department to place a reserve on surplus supplies offered for sale by auction; and what reserve was placed on the Fordson tractors recently sold by his Department for £17 10s. each.

In consultation with the auctioneers, reserve prices are fixed for suitable lots. No reserve was placed on the Fordson trucks, to which I understand the right hon. Gentleman refers.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will compile and issue a list of cars, vehicles and eight-wheeled Scammels, sold by his Department since 1946; the prices obtained; and to whom they were sold.

No. Since the war ended several hundred thousand surplus vehicles of all kinds have been sold at home and abroad and the cost to public funds of attempting to compile the list requested by the hon. Member would not be justifiable.

asked the Minister of Supply how long Mr. Teakle was Deputy Director in his Department, when he left and why.

REGIONAL STAFFS
Department			1st April, 1955	1st April, 1956	Increase
Home Office	…	…	190	206	16
Labour and National Service	…	…	2,657	2,724	67
National Assistance Board	…	…	356	381	25
Pensions and National Insurance	…	…	2,318	2,330	12
Post Office	…	…	4,457	4,530	73

Department			1st April, 1955	1st April, 1 956	Decrease
Admiralty	…	…	35	33	2
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	…	993	985	8
Central Land Board	…	…	1,165	1,023	142
Fuel and Power	…	…	486	481	5
Housing and Local Government	…	…	762	327	435
Central Office of Information	…	…	87	86	1
Supply	…	…	73	51	22
Board of Trade	…	…	568	546	22
Works	…	…	1,716	1599	117

The late Mr. N. H. Teakle was a temporary officer serving in the grade of Deputy Director in the Ministry of Supply from 1st September, 1942, to 30th June, 1947, when he left the Department on resignation.

asked the Minister of Supply what price has been paid for two Comet aircraft taken back from Air France.

Two Comet aircraft taken back by the manufacturers from Air France and the shell of another have been ordered by my Department at a total price of £560,000. This includes the cost of overhaul and substantial modifications necessary to make them suitable for Ministry purposes, which could not be met in any other way save at even greater cost.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury which Ministries have increased or decreased regional staffs over the last twelve months; and whether he will show the numbers of such staff changes.

The following table gives the information required: