asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the large number of prosecutions for failing to renew dog licences; and whether he will issue a circular to local licensing authorities advising them to send a postal reminder to licensees prior to the date of expiry.

My right hon. Friend has no information other than that given to the hon. Member on 12th April by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary. The issue of reminders is a matter for local discretion, and my right hon. Friend sees no need for the issue of a circular.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that it would be a very reasonable thing for the local authorities to send out reminders as they do at present for driving licences, which are valued only at 5s., whereas these are valued at 7s. 6d.?

Very many local authorities send out these reminders.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what garage accommodation is to be provided in the new office block now being built on the south side of Wigmore Street.

Provision will be made for parking 52 cars.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in London, in the most congested traffic area in this country, there are being built blocks of offices like this which either have no car parking accommodation or have only a lamentably small amount of such accommodation? Can my hon. Friend say what steps his Ministry is prepared to take to see that such accommodation is increased, or is my hon. Friend satisfied with the present level?

All these are factors which the local planning authority takes into account on each occasion when an application for permission goes before it, and it is not a matter in which my right hon. Friend can propertly interfere with the discretion of the local planning authority.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that local authorities are giving sufficient weight to what is becoming an increasingly urgent problem? There seems to be no point in building blocks of offices if the office workers cannot reach the buildings.

There is no doubt that the London County Council, which is the local planning authority concerned, has this matter very much in mind.

If there is this need for more garages, will the Minister cease refusing loan sanction for garages for council estates?

That does not arise on this Question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that small boarding-house keepers and shopkeepers in places like Cleethorpes that have a seasonal trade of about ten weeks only, are alarmed at the increases in their rating assessments, and fear it may mean bankruptcy to many of them; and if he will reconsider the position of the small seaside resorts with a view to easing the proposed increases in their rates.

I could not accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that property in certain towns should be valued differently from property in other parts of the country.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many men bought small boarding houses and small shops in little seaside places like this in the hope that they would keep them, but now they are having to go out to work in order to retain them? The extra burden that this involves will sink some of them. Is this not a special case which the Minister could look at again?

It is happening all over the country.

If the occupier of a boarding house considers that his assessment for rating does not sufficiently take into account the seasonal character of the trade and the length of the holiday period, that is a proper ground on which to make an appeal to the valuation courts.

Is it not true that it is not only Cleethorpes which is affected but that this sort of thing is happening throughout the length and breadth of the country? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Yes, that is so. Is not this another example of the Government efforts to reduce the cost of living?

Do I understand that the hon. Member is speaking on behalf of the seaside resort of West Ham?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of applications for grants towards water supplies and sewerage schemes which have been disallowed in Wales since 26th October, 1955.

Five, Sir; but only two of these were, in any case, eligible for grant.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind that the recent White Paper on rural Wales urged that encouragement should be given to district councils in rural mid-Wales and elsewhere by means of grants towards these schemes, and yet he is now disallowing these schemes altogether?

I think that my Answer is evidence that schemes are going forward.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many projects for capital developments, other than housing, put forward by local authorities, have been rejected or postponed since the beginning of 1956; and the total of capital expenditure involved.

I regret that information in this form is not readily available. In respect of services, other than housing, for which I am responsible, loans amounting to about £16½ million were sanctioned during the first quarter of this year. That is about 9 per cent. less than the figure for the correspondng period of last year.

Ought not the Government to have this information? Is the Minister aware that we are getting reports from all over the country about all kinds of comparatively small building schemes and all sorts of projects other than housing being rejected? Ought we not to be able to get information about that through his Ministry, if necessary in co-operation with any other Ministry which is involved? Will he make an effort in that direction?

Yes; it did involve considerable co-ordination of information from files in a number of different Departments at fairly short notice. That was the difficulty.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government Whether, in the case of local authorities in new and expanded towns, he is prepared to relax the present restrictions on capital expenditure to enable the provision of urgent social amenities.

All proposals will be carefully considered; but my idea of what is urgent may be rather different from that of the hon. Member.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman will agree that in new towns, where on average about a thousand families a year are coming into the town, there is a special case for the provision of social amenities, playing fields, swimming baths, etc. In one new town his Ministry is even refusing permission to build a public convenience.

If we are to win the fight against inflation, all local authorities, including local authorities in new towns and expanded towns, will have to make their contribution towards reducing public expenditure.

While the fight goes on, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what the inhabitants of Corby, the new town in question, who happen to need a public convenience, are to do?

I will leave that to the hon. and learned Gentleman's imagination.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will initiate discussions with the local authority associations on the anomalous and obsolescent state of the law on private street works, with a view to working out an agreed solution of the problems involved.

My right hon. Friend will consider this suggestion further if the hon. Member will let him have particulars of the problems to which he refers.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his Minister is producing a grave situation by his denial of loan sanction for private street works, and that this would be an appropriate moment for an inquiry? Is he further aware that practically every Private Bill coming before the House includes some Amendment to the law regarding particular local authority areas, thus making the law completely anomalous throughout the country? Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that I shall accept his invitation and provide him with particulars of the anomalies and obsolescences in the law in the hope that he will initiate discussions about them?

I am grateful to the hon. Member for accepting the invitation. The question of loan sanction, which seems to be worrying him, has nothing to do with any anomalous or obsolescent state of the law.

Is not the real difficulty that at present the increasing cost of repairs puts an undue burden on frontagers? Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that the legislation in this matter is out of date; that it is time it was reconsidered and that it is up to him and to his right hon. Friend to make suggestions and put forward proposals?

I hope that hon. Gentlemen opposite will also play their part.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will accept the suggestions put forward by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in the Town Clerk's letter of 9th April, regarding the proposed housing scheme for incoming mine workers.

I have informed the Council that I am studying its proposals, and I shall be writing to it again as soon as possible.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that Newcastle-under-Lyme Council is most anxious to co-operate in housing incoming mine workers needed for the coal industry but cannot do so by disregarding the needs of local mine workers already in the area who require housing? Therefore, may we hope that the Minister will approve the very constructive suggestions made by the council?

Within the limits of the law I shall try to be equally co-operative.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what, in each year since 1950, has been the number of dwellings in respect of which he has undertaken to make a contribution towards the losses incurred by local authorities in providing housing accommodation by means of conversion or improvement of existing dwellings or other buildings; and the cost of these contributions;

(2) what, in each year since 1950, has been the number of dwellings in respect of which he has undertaken to make a contribution towards improvement grants made by development corporations and local authorities, respectively; and what has been the cost of these contributions.

Since the Answers contain tables of figures, I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Minister indicate whether those local authorities and private applicants would appear from the figures to be making the maximum use of these improvement grants for relieving the acute shortage of housing accommodation that exists at present? Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the working of the regulations in both cases, particularly with the Ministry's co-operation in respect of the planning difficulties which are so often experienced in making conversions?

I entirely share the hon. Lady's desire to see the maximum use made of these facilities. She will see from the figures which I am circulating that there has been a steep rise in the number of grants made for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that his instructions in respect to Section 4 of the Requisitioned Houses Act were not received by local authorities until three months after the operation of the Act; and, in view of this delay, if he will take steps to extend by three months the period during which his Department will accept full responsibility for compensation paid to owners under Section 4.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 28th February to the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher).

Would the Minister agree that local authorities are most cooperative in this matter and do their best to carry out the regulations? Does he not agree that this delay means that they have not been given the time which was intended under the Act, and that this means an unexpected burden on the ratepayers? Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the matter again?

I do not agree about that. In fact, the results already obtained far exceed anything I had hoped for. Out of 37,000 owners to whom formal invitations were sent, 14,000 have already agreed to give statutory tenancies to their licensees.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a further statement on the housing of the elderly.

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, if the Answer is a slightly long one, but I should like to give it now, if the House will bear with me.

I have decided to inquire into the arrangements that are being made for housing elderly persons. My object is to see whether, having regard to the requirements of other sections of the population, old people are receiving a reasonable share of the accommodation provided and whether this is of the kind best suited to their physical needs and financial circumstances.

Accordingly, I propose to ask all focal authorities and certain voluntary organisations to be good enough to send me particulars of what they have done to deal with this problem. While this information is being collected, I shall arrange for a qualified official of my Department to go and see schemes of various kinds in different parts of the country and to make a report to me upon them. I also intend to seek the views of the Central Housing Advisory Committee.

The problem of housing elderly people is in many respects connected with that of providing for their health and welfare. My inquiries will therefore naturally be carried out in close collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

Will my right hon. Friend accept the appreciation of, I am sure, everybody for the action that he has taken? Will he also accept the appreciation of those social workers, knowledgeable people, throughout the country who have been struggling to deal with the problem of old age? Also, will my right hon. Friend speed the matter up as quickly as he possibly can?

An expression of appreciation from the hon. Lady is appreciation indeed. I can certainly assure my hon. Friend that there will be no avoidable delay.

While I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's present awareness of the problem, does his statement mean that he will reconsider his refusal to maintain housing subsidies for old people's dwellings, a refusal against which the hon. Lady the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) abstained from voting?

I thought that my reply was clear. The first thing to do is to ascertain what the facts are and what is being done, and then we can consider what improvements, if any, need to be made.

And the right hon. Gentleman will not rule out an increase in subsidy?

I think that the hon. and learned Gentleman is somewhat out of sympathy with the general feeling of the House.

Will my right hon. Friend give special consideration to a scheme run by the Salford Corporation in co-operation with the W.V.S. which has brought a great deal of happiness to many old people and has also meant considerable savings to the ratepayers?

I am glad that my hon. and gallant Friend has draw attention to that scheme. I will see that that is one of the schemes visited by the official from my Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of small flats and bungalows built for aged people in 1955 and for the months of January to March, 1956.

Figures are not available for the number of dwellings let to old people, but in 1955, 15,959 one-bedroom dwellings were built and 3,573 were built in the first quarter of 1956.

That seems to indicate that there will be an appreciable reduction in the numbers built this year. Judging by his previous Answers, the Minister regards this matter as very important, and I agree with him. Will he include in his inquiry an inquiry into the increase in the proportion of old people in the country who will have to be housed in the next ten or fifteen years, and will he include in his report a reference to that problem? Local authorities must build for this type of occupant many more houses than are now being built.

The number of old persons in the population is clearly a relevant factor in the investigation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet issued his guidance to local authorities on the subject of differential rents schemes; whether he will make a statement on its contents; and if he will publish its contents.

I believe that local authorities, who are considering the introduction of differential rent schemes, would welcome some guidance on this subject. I have, therefore, decided to issue a circular giving particulars of schemes already in operation, together with certain general information based on the experience of local authorities.

The circular will be issued in about a fortnight, and will be published.

Will the circular also deal with rent rebate schemes?

Primarily, Sir.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he is aware that the caravan-resident population is growing at the rate of at least 3,000 per year; and what his policy is for dealing with the consequent demand for land;

(2) whether he is aware of the need for more sites for residential caravans; and if he will make a statement.

I have no statistics of the number of caravans in use as permanent residences. For the rest, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) on 27th March.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that last year 20,000 caravans were produced and that it is probable that production will be at the same rate this year? If the population is deciding to seek this form of residence, surely his Department has some responsibility for providing the land on which the caravans may rest? As the Minister's legislation is presenting local authorities from building houses to let, will he at least find some place upon which a caravan can rest and a tent can be pitched?

The number of caravans going into use as permanent residences is purely a matter of conjecture. There are no statistics on the subject. With regard to sites, it is in the first instance for the local planning authority to decide what land shall and what land shall not be used for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities now operate the agreement under which loans advanced by building societies on house purchases are in part guaranteed by the local authority.

Nine hundred and fifty-seven.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that where these schemes have not been adopted increased difficulties are being experienced by young potential householders because under the credit squeeze proposals a larger deposit is needed before one can own a house? Will the hon. Gentleman ascertain what can be done in areas where nothing at all is being done?

This is a matter for the initiative of the local housing authority. The number of housing authorities using these powers is increasing rapidly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses built by private enterprise builders during the months of January to March, 1955; and the number for the same months in 1956.

During the first three months of this year 25,450 houses were built by private enterprise in England and Wales. That is about 4,000 more than in the corresponding period of last year.

May I take it from that reply that the number of houses built by local authorities for letting has gone down, or have they also maintained their numbers?

There is no connection between the two. All I would add is that the more people who own their homes, the better it will be for England.

How can the right hon. Gentleman say that there is no connection when the builders, building labour and the materials are required for both local authority and private enterprise houses?

The hon. and learned Gentleman is advancing a new argument. Previously he has been telling me all the time that it is purely the reduction in the subsidy which is causing some reduction in local authority house building. Now he says that it is a lack of building labour.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is making it more and more difficult for young couples to own their own house? Since he has been Minister house interest charges on a £2,000 house have increased by 15s. a week.

The last positive step taken by the Government in this connection was to reduce Stamp Duty on the purchase of new houses.

Will my right hon. Friend ask the hon. Gentleman opposite what steps the Socialist Government took to allow any married couples to own their own houses?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the decline in the provision of houses for general need by local authorities, what action he proposes to take to relieve the hardship arising to those families now on local authority housing waiting lists.

It is true that local authorities are likely to build a larger number of houses than hitherto for slum clearance, and that this may result in their building fewer for general needs. But I am confident that they will maintain a fair balance between families living in slums and others on the housing lists.

While not entering into a discussion about dealing with slums and general housing needs, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that local authority slum clearance varies from one end of the country to another? Many authorities have no slums, and in those areas, because of interest rates, local authorities are refusing to, or cannot, proceed with further schemes. Is he not prepared to deal with the problem?

So far I have received no evidence to show that local authorities in areas where there is an acute housing shortage are, for financial reasons, cutting their house building programmes.

The right hon. Gentleman is making an inquiry into the question of houses for old people. Will he at the same time make an inquiry into general housing needs? In my limited experience, in my own constituency and the suburbs of London, there are many local authorities which have refused to go on with further contracts when present contracts are completed.

I should be glad to have particulars of individual cases from the hon. Member. All I can say is that so far as the country as a whole is concerned the number of tenders approved during the last quarter was slightly higher than that of a year ago.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the effect of the increase of 2½ per cent. in interest charges since November, 1951, on the weekly economic rent of a local authority house costing £1,800 to build.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much the economic rent of a corporation house costing £1,800 will be increased by the raising of interest rates on housing loans since October, 1951, and by the proposed abolition of housing subsidies in the case of the type of house at present receiving the £22 1s. per annum subsidy from which subsidy is to be completely removed.

Since the effect of these changes will usually be spread over the whole, or part, of the local authority's existing houses, the figure asked for will vary from area to area.

Why is the right hon. Gentleman so "cagey" and unwilling to admit that 1 per cent. on £1,800 means 6s. a week on the rent, and that, as a result of Government administration, interest charges alone have increased by 15s. a week per house?

The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that no local authority will, in practice, allow this increase in costs to fall exclusively on its new houses. If the hon. Gentleman, who seems to have worked it out for himself already, wants a purely theoretical and entirely misleading calculation, I must leave him to do his own arithmetic.

As the Minister is so reluctant to give the figure himself, will he not agree that the extra cost is 23s. 11d. a week? May I accuse him—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—may I ask him, before forcing through his Measures, to reconsider them, in view of the gross breach of the Government's Election pledge to cut the cost of living?

What I am anxious to avoid doing is to publicise a wholly misleading figure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from individual local authorities and local authority associations concerning the increased rates of interest on housing loans and the cuts in the housing subsidies.

The gist of these representations was that they would like the rates of interest to be lower and the subsidy to be higher.

Would not the decent thing for the Minister to do be to tell the public that the main blame for this and for the rent increases lies, not on the local authorities, but on the Conservative Government?

I am sure that the hon. Member will make good any deficiency on my part in making that point widely known.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from the Manchester and Salford area and other areas of the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives and other building unions seeking housing loans at 2½ per cent. interest and the annulling of the cuts in the housing subsidies.

The representations were on the lines indicated in the hon. Member's Question.

Is the Minister aware that leaders of the building unions believe that the Government are consciously proposing to reduce the total building programme to a figure of 200,000 houses a year, with the consequence that the hopes of the homeless will be dashed and unemployment caused within the building industry?

I think that the hon. Member must have been reading up the Labour Government's building programme.

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain why, when interest rates changed from 3 per cent. to 3¾ per cent., his predecessor increased the subsidy from £16 10s. to £26 14s. whereas, now, when the interest rate is 5½ per cent. he has abolished the subsidy?

I can assure the hon. Member that the changes which I introduced were made in full accord with my predecessor.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what complaint he has received, under Section 171 of the Housing Act, 1936, regarding 207 Lanark Road, Paddington, which is unfit for human habitation and where the responsibilities under the Housing Acts are divided between the Paddington Borough Council and the London County Council in such a way that it has not been possible to assign the ultimate responsibility; and what steps he is taking to obtain the rehousing of the tenants who, at present, have no protection from the weather.

I have received no such complaint. But in view of the hon. Member's Question, I have asked the two authorities concerned to let me have a report on the position.

Is the Minister aware that this is a non-controversial Question about an apparently insoluble problem, and that his help will be greatly appreciated?

asked the Minister of Labour the authorised complement of Class 2 factory inspectors; the number, excluding temporary inspectors, actually in post; and how many of these hold university degrees in engineering, physics and chemistry, respectively.

One hundred and one. Excluding temporaries, there are 84 in post. Of these, 3, 1 and 4 hold university degrees in engineering, physics and chemistry respectively.

Am I right in assuming that the Minister would welcome into the service a much greater percentage of entrants who hold the degrees mentioned in the Question? Does he not agree that the real difficulty is that he is not able to offer a suitable salary scale? Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he is doing in order to bring about such a change so that these men and women are fully and properly qualified?

In respect of numbers, the position is getting slightly better. We were thirteen down two years ago and seven down last year. Now, including those just joining and temporaries, we are three down. The question of qualifications and how far they are necessary is one of the main points of the Departmental inquiry which the hon. Member will know about, and which is on the point of reporting to me.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the inquiry being carried out by the social survey into the numbers and distribution of scientists and engineers includes those employed by Government Departments, the Atomic Energy Authority and the Armed Services.

The inquiry carried out by the Social Survey is confined to the employment of scientists and engineers in private industry, but a similar inquiry covering those employed by Government Departments, the Atomic Energy Authority, the nationalised industries and other main users of scientific manpower is being conducted by my Ministry. Information about the number and types of scientists and engineers called up for National Service is already available.

Is the Minister quite certain that this inquiry is being taken seriously in his Department? Is he aware of the great concern in the country as a whole about the employment of our scientific manpower and its possible dispersion over a number of projects? Is the right hon. Gentleman in close relation with the D.S.I.R. in these matters?

The proper balance between scientists and engineers in the Forces and civilian industry is one of the most important aspects of the whole call-up. I welcome the interest in this matter displayed by the hon. Gentleman, the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) and other hon. Members.

May I ask the Minister whether, when he receives the survey, he will make the information available to us in some form so that we may draw up a balance sheet to show where the scientific and technological manpower is being distributed.

I will publish the results of the inquiry, subject to the reservation that some matters regarding the Atomic Energy Authority and other establishments may be governed by security considerations.

asked the Minister of Labour how many citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have applied, during the last ten years, for labour permits to work in this country.

Permits which are granted to employers were issued for the employment of 179 citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the ten years to the end of 1955. Of these 166 were issued in the last two years.

Does the Minister think that nowadays there may be an opportunity for developing some form of exchange by which we might have more U.S.S.R. citizens here and send over there some of the categories in this country with distinct Communist leanings, so that they might live in their own paradise?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what action he is taking to find alternative employment for the staff of the Gwynedd River Board who have been rendered redundant;

(2) what consultation his branch office have had with the Gwynedd River Board regarding the phasing of redundancy which will arise as a result of curtailment of capital works; and what information his branch office have been given in this regard.

The river board has informed my local offices that all work in hand, which is spread over five counties, will be completed and that no redundancies are expected for some months to come.

Is the Minister aware that, according to my information, within a few weeks, and as a direct result of the Government's policy, two-thirds of the labour force of this river board will be out of work? Could he say what steps he is taking to provide alternative employment for these men and for the other men who will be unemployed?

The information which I have and which comes direct from the board is that this process will take about four to six months. The total number of people involved is about 60, spread over five counties. At that distance of time, it is a difficult problem to make special arrangements, but so far as we can help locally, we shall do so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to issue regulations to safeguard the health of those using radio-active materials in industry.

I would refer the hon Member to the reply to his Question on this subject on 20th December last. The preparation of regulations is proceeding as a matter of urgency.

In view of that reply, will the hon. Gentleman's Department try to get these regulations out quickly? Radio-active materials are being used increasingly in industry, and many countries have already issued regulations. Can the hon. Gentleman suggest a date?

It is still hoped that they will be published this year, but there is a complicated statutory procedure to go through, and this is a complicated subject. In the meantime, the hon. Member should realise that all the radio-isotope deliveries from the Atomic Energy Authority are notified to the Factory Department, which is able to follow them through to the places where they are used and ensure that proper safety measures are put into operation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement with regard to his discussions with the National Joint Advisory Council on restrictive practices in industry.

The Council considered the question of restrictive labour practices on 25th April. There was general agreement that this is one aspect of the wider problem of increasing productive efficiency and making the most effective use in all industries of the manpower available. It was also recognised, however, that this is not a subject which can usefully be dealt with by broad generalisations, but is one to be examined by each individual industry in the context of its own special needs and circumstances.

It was, therefore, agreed to draw the attention of the employers and trade unions concerned in individual industries to the urgent need for a new and positive examination of practices which impede the full and efficient use of manpower resources. The detailed implementation of the Council's decision is to be worked out by the Joint Consultative Committee.

I am glad to say that our discussions of this subject were characterised by a constructive and co-operative approach from all sides of the Council, who were united in their wish to secure the most effective use of our labour resources. I am sure that if the spirit in the Council can be conveyed to those who actually have to tackle the problem in the factory and on the shop floor, we shall have taken an important step forward in the direction of greater efficiency and productivity.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how this is to be done? Is the N.J.A.C. to take each industry separately? If so, can we then have a report of its findings upon each industry?

The N.J.A.C., having taken the broad decision which is outlined in my reply, have remitted the problem to the J.C.C.—which is a subcommittee—for a detailed examination of how it is to be implemented. The J.C.C. is to meet on 9th May, in a few days' time, so that there will be no delay in this matter. That Committee is to consider how best the two sides of industry can approach the different industries in which such practices take place.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of us feel that these restrictive practices in labour are a very great obstacle to national production? Is he confident that merely calling the attention of the employers and unions to the problem will be at all effective?

I am hopeful that this approach is a good deal more than just calling the attention of employers and unions to the problem. We all recognise that this problem exists, and that it is an important one, but the only way in which it can be tackled is by an industry-by-industry approach, and that is what we are setting out to do.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that on the last occasion when my right hon. Friend, the Member for Southwark (Mr. Isaacs) was Minister of Labour, when this question was referred to the N.J.A.C., it was not the trade unions who backed out of it at the last moment?

The main thing that went wrong last time—so far as I can gather from the papers—is that the problem was bogged down in definition. I am a good deal more interested in results than in definition. That is why I think that this approach has a reasonable chance of success.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that unemployment among disabled persons in the City of Birmingham has increased by 50 per cent. since December last; and what action he is taking to find employment for these persons.

Yes, Sir. The number of unemployed registered disabled persons in the City of Birmingham has increased from 35 on 19th December, 1955, to 75 on 19th March, 1956. My local officers are doing all they can to help these people find suitable work and I think that their sympathy and efficiency in carrying out this service are widely known and appreciated.

Is the Minister aware that the city's committee concerned with this matter is very disturbed about this increase in unemployment among disabled in a great industrial city like Birmingham? Would it not be better to spend the money on training these men for useful service rather than on unemployment pay? Cannot something be done for these persons?

I assure the hon. Member that we look at this matter with great sympathy but the number represents only 1·2 per cent. of the total registered disabled persons in the city. There are two Remploy factories actively recruiting at the moment. However, I will keep the matter under review.

asked the Minister of Labour to give figures at the nearest available date of short-time working in the carpet industry generally, and for Kilmarnock in particular.

It is estimated that in the week ended 28th April there were about 6,000 on short-time in the carpet industry, of whom 570 were in Kilmarnock.

Is the Minister aware that this is rather a serious matter, and will he tell us what he and his colleague, the President of the Board of Trade, are doing, particularly in reference to the serious fall in demand from the Commonwealth countries? Might not this be a point which could be taken up by the Prime Minister when we have the Commonwealth Conference?

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will note the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. As far as figures are concerned, this is apt to be a quiet period of the year, but I do not pretend that the figures are not very much higher than one could expect from any seasonal causes. Where the services of my Ministry are required, we are doing everything we possibly can to help, but there is no question that there has been a considerable amount of short-time working in the consumer durable industries, of which the carpet industry is an example.

asked the Minister of Labour how the call-up for National Service of science graduates and analogous classes in this country compares with the call-up of these classes in the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and France.

I am assembling such information as is available and will write to the hon. Member.

Will the Minister bear in mind and appreciate the importance of getting young scientists into their practical jobs as soon as possible, in order to strengthen the application of science to industry because of its importance to the national welfare generally, without having their careers broken into by National Service?

I am conscious of that need, but we must also not forget the demands on scientists and engineers which modern services and modern forces are bound to make.

While appreciating the Minister's reply, may I ask if he is in a position to answer a supplementary question asked recently about the use of personnel in the Services?

No, not yet.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the difference in basis as between the new index of retail prices and the old one will cause variations between them in recording fluctuations in living costs; and, during such periods, which reading he proposes to use for official purposes.

Only one calculation is made, and all price changes after January, 1956, are measured only on the basis of the new official index, which now stands at 101. This index, however, records only the percentage change in prices since January, 1956, and, in order to give a comparison with the level of prices in June, 1947, is linked with the earlier series which terminated in that month. The basis of the mathematical calculation is given in the April issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that there has already been a discrepancy between the two indices, and that where 2 million or 3 million people have their wage rates determined by the alteration in the retail index we may certainly have trade unions insisting upon wage advances when the old index records the appropriate amount of advance, unless we can clarify their position in relation to the index that is being used? Will the right hon. Gentleman discuss this matter with the N.J.A.C.

I am quite ready to discuss the matter with the N.J.A.C. I have made it clear that there is only one official index—that is the one which started upon a new and obviously better basis in January, 1956. Clearly, as the two have different bases, it is possible that the same movement of prices could affect the two differently. That is what has happened in the last few months. I am continuing to publish the linking series until the adjustments in wage negotiations—to which the hon. Member has referred—are completed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the recent visit of Mr. Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the importance of saving humanity from the threat of nuclear warfare, what proposals he has made to the leaders of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during their recent visit, with a view to discontinuing further nuclear explosions.

A full statement was published at the conclusion of the talks. I do not think it would be helpful for me to add to this at the present time.

A wide range of topics of common concern or of concern to one or other party was raised and discussed. We had long and searching discussions from which we all want to see the most valuable results develop. I am convinced that any attempt to deal in detail and in public with the topics which were dealt with would not lead to the results we all desire.

Is the Prime Minister aware that hon. Members on this side of the House share his belief that the visit of the Russian leaders will result in better understanding and closer co-operation—[Laughter.]—between the two countries in the interests of world peace, in spite of the levity expressed by hon. Members opposite? May I ask him one question with regard to the reference by Mr. Bulganin to the Disarmament Sub-Committee discussions, when he said that the problem of disarmament was in a bad state? Is that the view of Her Majesty's Government?

I agree with the right hon. and learned Gentleman that we all hope that the beginning of an understanding—which we think we have made possible in these talks—will grow in strength and importance for the peace of the world. That is the whole object which we have had in mind since the beginning of this business. As regards the second question, about disarmament, I do not know that I would go quite so far as Mr. Bulganin's statement about the Disarmament Sub-Committee, but I admit that its discussions are in a certain tangled state, and there are many difficulties still to be overcome. I suggest to the House that this is just the kind of question which we all have to consider and examine in the light of the discussions which we have had, and we should be wise to do that for the purpose of getting results rather than for any other purpose.

Will not the Prime Minister tell us whether there was any discussion about future nuclear experiments? Does not he think that if these were ended it would be a sign that the beginning of the beginning had actually begun? Does not he also think that it would be an appropriate moment for him to line himself up alongside Mr. Nehru and Mr. Adlai Stevenson in saying that these experiments should be discontinued?

I should have to give a little more consideration to the question of exactly what it is that I have to line myself up with. In view of the exceptional character of these quite remarkable discussions—the longest international discussions between two Powers in which I, personally, have ever taken part—and their pretty full documentation at the end, I doubt whether I should be serving the cause of peace or understanding between the two countries if I were to pick out individual items and say that this, that or the other was discussed. If one does that one gets an inevitable reaction from the other side—"But we raised this and that." If I were to catalogue everything discussed I should be keeping the House a long time and doing no good to anybody.

Do I gather from the right hon. Gentleman's original Answer that he felt it would not be quite proper to have a debate on the White Paper which has been issued? He will probably recollect that in response to a Question he said there might be a White Paper, and he added that it might be useful to have a debate, or words to that effect. Does the Prime Minister now not take that view, in view of the negotiations?

No, Sir, I have had no request for a debate. I have no personal view. If a request were made, and if the House thought it desirable to have a debate, we could do so. I should not wish to put ourselves in the position of saying "No" in the matter. I think that a debate could take place having regard to what I said, but I do not want to debate individual items of the discussion. I do not want to be asked "Did you raise this and did you raise that, and what was the result of your raising them?" I have a feeling that that procedure would not be wise, as I think the right hon. Gentleman would agree.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he has indeed earned the gratitude of the whole world for the way in which he has conducted these discussions?

On disarmament, the Prime Minister will be aware that we have had the advantage of the verbatim record of the discussions at Lancaster House of the United Nations Sub-Committee meetings. Some of us have tried to follow these matters. Would it not be advantageous to have more information on the exchanges which took place on these subjects during the recent negotiations?

The Foreign Secretary made a statement a short time ago. I think that the position of the Governments concerned is well known. The discussions were limited to the position of two Powers of a five-Power conference, and the position of the others is very relevant. What we have to do now is, knowing more clearly, as I think we do, each other's points of view as two Powers, to take the opportunity to talk over the position with the others who were not in the two-Power discussions, and see whether any fresh approach is possible.

While I appreciate that this arises only incidentally out of the talks, would the Prime Minister make clear one thing: has the Sub-Committee on disarmament now finished its labours for the time being? Is it reporting back or are there to be further discussions in the Sub-Committee? If not, would the Prime Minister, from the point of view of enlightening public opinion on the matter, consider publishing a White Paper setting out the different views of the different parties?

I will gladly consider the point in the last part of that supplementary question. There is the Anglo-French plan, the Soviet plan and the American plan. I understand that the Disarmament Sub-Committee is continuing with its deliberations. I very much hope that it will do so. Then we shall see whether we can make progress, perhaps from slightly different angles of approach.

In the White Paper there are references to specific matters being discussed during the visit. Would it be so terrible if the Prime Minister said whether the question of bringing the experimental explosions to an end by international agreement was discussed and give some indication whether agreement was reached or whether that was not possible, because there is great worldwide interest.

I do not think that matter would be at all terrible. If there were a debate I could consider it, and see whether something could be done, but I want the House to face up to the fact that that was only one of a very wide range of topics discussed, and that others might think other topics more important. If I talked about them now I would not be helping a solution. There have been discussions, and the right hon. Gentleman has had the experience to know that, if over a period one has confidential discussions, if one gives any indication of what one has said one will be liable to prevent the solution one wants from emerging.

From what the Prime Minister has said—I see his point—he will find it rather difficult to deal in detail with individual matters. He said that one person might pick out one topic and another another. On matters such as European security, where the White Paper indicates there was agreement on principle although disagreement on ends, is that not a matter that he could discuss? Would the Prime Minister feel it difficult or embarrassing to have a debate on such a matter?

I do not want there to be misunderstanding. I am perfectly ready to have a debate on the published document at any time, and I do not want to depart from it, if it is the desire of the House. I am at the disposal of the House, but I hope that the House will not ask me to go into detail on matters which are not raised in the White Paper. We all have certain considerations in mind about which we want results to be achieved but I am perfectly certain that that would not be the way to do it.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of transferring the control and supervision of the Greenwich Research Station to the Ministry of Fuel and Power.

Certain changes in the administration of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are being proposed in a Bill which has recently come to this House from another place. Matters such as this will no doubt be considered when the new Executive Council is set up.

Does not the Prime Minister agree that more impetus and direction would be given in this field if it were brought under the direction of the Ministry of Fuel and Power?

There is a Bill from another place which deals with this topic and proposes to set up an executive council. We ought to give it a chance to pronounce upon the matter before we attempt to define our position.

Has the right hon. Gentleman not noticed that the principal achievement of this research station in the last twenty years been to discover how to produce oil from coal, and would it not advance matters if it were to reverse the process and show us how to produce coal from oil?

They are burnt in about equal measure.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now prepared to revoke the Notification of Vacancies Orders, 1952.

Yes, Sir. I have come to the conclusion that the present usefulness of the Orders is not sufficient to justify the restrictions which they place on the engagement of workers and after consultation with the National Joint Advisory Council, I have decided to revoke them with effect from Monday, 7th May, inclusive. The Employment Exchanges will remain freely at the service of employers and workers and I hope that they will, for their own advantage, make the fullest use of this service.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that much time and trouble will be saved both to employers and to trade unions by this welcome step? Can he give any idea how much manpower and money will be saved in the Ministry as the result?

I hope the revocation of these Orders will save employers, trade unions and my Ministry a good deal of work. I have not completed my own sums, but I would hope to save 150 staff as a result of the revocation.

The original purpose of the Orders has never been fulfilled and they were a useless gesture. Will it affect the ability of the Ministry to record accurate figures of the change from one employment to another, which under present conditions is vital?

I would not agree with the assertion made by the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. Lee). These Orders have had a value in relation to the defence programme, at the time they were made. There was no sanction. They relied entirely upon persuasion, but they have progressively and inevitably lost their efficiency. In regard to the second part of this question, there may be a certain sag in the notification of vacancies, but we shall have a more accurate figure, and the trend will re-establish itself very soon.