asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total number of houses authorised to be built by the Leeds Corporation; and what was the number of houses actually completed by the Leeds Corporation for each of the financial years ended 31st March, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956.

The Answer is as follows:

	Allocation	Starts	Completions
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
1950	1,120	1,020	1,215
1951	1,645	1,117	833
1952	—	1,684	1,056
1953	—	2,384	2,442
1954	2,846	2,136	2,575
1955	2,500	1,972	1,659

The allocations for 1950 and 1951 included houses to be built privately on licence. In 1952 and 1953 no limit was placed on the number of houses to be built by the Corporation.Completions cannot be directly related to allocations. Houses in the allocation for one year normally fall to be completed in the following year, though there will be exceptions, e.g. blocks of flats which take more than a year to build. On the other hand, the number of houses started in a year is fairly closely related to the allocation for that year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the delays which take place between the public inquiries into objections against proposals for slum clearance and the announcement of a Ministerial decision have held up building work unduly; what has been the average period between the one and the other during the last year; and if he will take steps to speed up decisions.

On the average it now takes about three months. I am at present examining what can be done to speed up slum clearance procedure generally‒both locally and in Whitehall.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the number of persons needing rehousing who are unable to be put on any municipal housing list because they have not resided locally for a required period or for other reasons, whether he will advise local authorities to accept the application of such persons if they have resided in their respective areas for the preceding six months or where they can show they have at some time resided for three years or more.

Local authorities have already been given a good deal of advice on this subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the capital costs of a three-bedroomed council house for the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953. 1954, and 1955.

The average cost of three-bedroomed council houses for which tenders were approved in the fourth quarter of each year was £1,310, £1,396, £1,380, £1,383, £1,381 and £1,442.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to state the causes of delay in procuring a piped water supply for the Pateley Bridge rural district and Nidderdale; and what steps he intends to take to overcome these obstacles.

My right hon. Friend held up the application for compulsory powers to acquire the land needed for this scheme as it appeared that there was some prospect of purchasing it by agreement. The negotiations to purchase it have not, however, succeeded, and he will now make an order granting compulsory powers to acquire the necessary land and to take the water.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number and cost of rural water and sewerage schemes for which grant approval has been postponed since 1st January, 1956; and if he will give a revised estimate of the total grant allocation for these purposes in the current year compared with the previous five years.

One hundred and fifty-six schemes to the value of £5·8 million have been postponed since 1st January, 1956. For the time being authorisations are being severely curtailed, except where risk to health, safety or other vital interests renders it impracticable to do so. Each scheme submitted is scrutinised in the light of these considerations and I cannot estimate how much work I shall authorise in the current year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to state a provisional date by which he hopes to have completed his review of the effects of revaluation.

:I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary last Friday.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the approximate figures for the numbers of workers engaged upon the manufacture of armaments and in ancillary activities.

It is estimated that at the end of last year the number so employed was about 770,000. This figure includes persons engaged on defence orders placed by Government Departments on behalf of countries overseas.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are now being trained in his Department's establishments in Scotland; what courses are available; and to what extent they are used.

The Government Training Centre at Hillington, Glasgow, is the only training establishment run by my Department in Scotland. There arc 141 places available at this Centre. On 23rd April there were 92 in training.Courses are available in the following trades:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a number of men employed at No. 12 Maintenance Unit, Kirkbride, as aircraft fitters accepted training from his Department for this work on the assurance that they would be fully recognised as skilled men and that these include ex-trainees of his Department who have given satisfactory service for over 16 years in skilled employment; and if he will make a statement.

No; such an assurance would not have been given to any man who accepted a Ministry of Labour vocational training course in engineering. I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 23rd March to the Written Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Capt. Kerby) concerning the general conditions under which these training courses were offered before the war.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of men and women, respectively, up to the latest convenient date, unemployed in the city of Aberdeen, indicating their respective trades and how these figures compare with the corresponding figures for the years 1950 to 1955 for the similar periods.

The following is the Table:

asked the Minister of Labour approximately how many persons employed in the furniture and cabinet making trades in the borough of Leyton and neighbourhood have registered as having taken up other employment.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent unemployment or short-time has increased in recent months among men and women employed in making broadcasting and television sets in respect of the whole country and in the borough of Leyton and in adjacent areas; and what 1s the approximate number so employed.

The registered number of wholly unemployed persons in Great Britain whose last employment was in the manufacture of wireless apparatus and valves rose from 1,138 on 14th November, 1955, to 2,573 on 12th March. The number on short time in the week ended 26th November, 1955, was 540 and the latest estimated total for the week ended 28th April was 4,500. In Leyton and adjacent areas there has been no short time working recorded, but the number of unemployed increased from 42 on 14th November to 132 on 16th April. The number employed in these industries at the end of February was 192,000, of whom about 20,000 were in Leyton and adjacent areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet reached a decision on the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Slaughterhouses in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

When I discussed the terms of the Report with the three local authority associations, they saw difficulties over the Committee's proposals for the creation of new slaughterhouse authorities by the combination of existing authorities. I have therefore asked the associations to consider other administrative arrangements which I have suggested as a possible basis for the long-term improvement of the slaughterhouse service in Scotland. I shall make a statement on this subject as soon as my consultations are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the interim report of the panel of experts examining the Forth tube crossing; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot yet add to the replies which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend and to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. J. Taylor) on 12th and 17th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider taking further steps to keep the main road over Soutra Hill free from being blocked by snow; and, in particular, whether he will consider planting substantial shelter belts for this purpose.

Additional snow fences are being provided. I am considering my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion about shelter belts in consultation with the Road Research Laboratory and the Forestry Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the number and positions of factories in Scotland for the production of fish meal and fish oil; how many processing plants there are; how many are needed; and what steps are now being taken by him to extend and encourage these industries.

There are twelve fish meal and oil factories in Scotland including five at Aberdeen and one each at Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Falkirk, Stornoway, Wick, Thurso and Shetland. Two more factories are planned, one by the Herring Industry Board at Mallaig and one by a private concern in Ayrshire. I have no evidence that more are needed, but the Herring Industry Board and White Fish Authority would consider any specific proposals on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Northern Hospital, Dunfermline, has only 47 nurses as against the national average per 100 patients of 64; that a similar unfavourable comparison is seen in administrative and clerical staff; and whether he will take immediate action to improve the situation.

This hospital does not deal with surgical patients, and has a considerable proportion of chronic sick patients; accordingly a ratio of nurse staffing below the Scottish average for general hospitals of comparable size is natural. As regards administrative and clerical staff, local differences in organisation of hospital groups invalidate comparisons of this kind. I do not consider that any action on my part is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what appeals he has so far considered against the unanimous decision of the Dunbarton County Council Planning Committee not to permit the farmland of Mid Ross, on the banks of Loch Lomond, being turned into a sand and gravel quarry; and in view of the national attraction and the natural beauty of this area if he will uphold the decision of the council.

I have received one appeal against the refusal of the Dunbarton County Council to grant permission for the working of sand and gravel at Mid Ross Farm, Arden, Loch Lomondside. The appeal has not yet been heard, and I can make no comment at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet considered the proposals of the Dunbarton County Council for the provision of shops at the Mill of Haldane Housing Scheme, Balloch; and if he will ensure there is no delay in granting permission.

I have approved in principle the county council's proposal to provide six shops at this site, and formal approval will be considered as soon as the council submits details of cost which I have asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the six families living in Hillhead Quarry, Wick, have now been temporarily accommodated in decent conditions; and, as some of them have been waiting for years for a council house, when they are likely to be permanently rehoused.

Caithness County Council and Wick Town Council are urgently considering the rehousing of these families in other temporary accommodation. The rehousing of any of the families in permanent accommodation is a matter for the local authorities, both of which have substantial waiting lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the danger of loss of population in Fair Isle and other Scottish islands, leading to complete evacuation of populations to the mainland; and whether he is prepared to instigate an inquiry into the causes and possible methods of rehabilitating economic and social life in such areas.

I have asked the Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands to examine the representations I have received about the Fair Isle. Discussions have already been held and representatives of the Panel and of my Departments will attend a conference regarding the future of the island which the Zetland County Council propose to convene in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take the necessary steps to permit tickets for the Irish Sweep and other similar lotteries to be sold freely in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to what was said by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary in replying to a similar Question on 26th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the British Carpet Federation has recently forced a Glasgow wholesaler to break a contract for the supply of rugs to the Western Regional Hospitals Board on the ground that wholesalers must only supply traders, and that the Board is not a trader; whether rugs are supplied on wholesale or on retail terms to his Department, and to other authorities under his control; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure the provision of rugs as cheaply as possible for the public service in hospitals and elsewhere.

Yes. The firm concerned was informed by the Regional Hospital Board that it would have to indemnify it in respect of any additional expenditure to which it might be put as a result of non-fulfilment of the contract. I am not aware of any similar difficulty elsewhere. Rugs required for the hospital service are normally purchased on the basis of competitive tenders, the price to be paid being fixed by the contract and not by reference to wholesale or retail pricing. Supplies for services directly under the control of the Scottish Departments are obtained through the Ministry of Works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland his estimate of the reduction in profitability in milk production in Scotland likely to result from the operation of the new milk prices; and to what extent the small farmer will be affected.

I estimate that the initial effect will be a small reduction in profitability of approximately.½d. per gallon on average or 30s. per cow per year. In the long run I would hope that farmers would be able to reduce their costs particularly by substituting home-grown for imported feeding stuffs. The effect on the income of the small dairy farmer will tend to be less in so far as he does not employ paid labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to list the Scottish mental and mental deficiency hospitals with a ratio of less than one nurse to five mental patients and one nurse to six mental deficiency patients; and what percentage of the total number of mental and mental deficiency beds they contain.

At 30th September, 1955, the ratio of nurses to patients was less than 1 to 5 in twelve of Scotland's 29 mental hospitals, accommodating 42 per cent. of all patients in mental hospitals. At the same date this ratio was less than l to 6 in two of the twelve mental deficiency institutions, accommodating 18 per cent. of all patients in such institutions. Details are as follows:

Mental Hospitals	Percentage of Scottish Patients	Nurse/Patient ratio
Bilbohall Hospital, Elgin	0·9	1 to 5·4
Westgreen Mental Hospital, Dundee	3·1	1 to 5·8
Murthly Mental Hospital, Perthshire	2·3	1 to 6·4
Montrose Royal Mental Hospital	3·8	1 to 5·2
Dingleton Mental Hospital, Melrose	2·2	1 to 6·9
East Lothian Mental Hospital, Haddington	1·1	1 to 5·8
Rosslynlee Mental Hospital, Midlothian	2·3	1 to 5·7
Stratheden Mental Hospital, Cupar	5·1	1 to 5·8
Bangour Mental Hospital, Broxburn	5·1	1 to 5·7
Glengall Mental Hospital, Ayr	2·9	1 to 6·0
Hartwood Mental Hospital, Shotts	8·5	1 to 5·9
Glasgow Royal Mental Hospital	4·7	1 to 5·2
	41·7
Mental Deficiency Institutions
Gogarburn Mental Deficiency Institution, Edinburgh	14·0	1 to 6·1
Birkwood Institution, Lesmahagow	4·4	1 to 21·3*
	18·4
*In addition to nurses, this institution employs ward orderlies on a considerably greater scale than is usual.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the cut from £122,000 to £113,000 by the Department of Health in Scotland in the amount to be spent on the new admission unit for Aberdeen Royal Mental Hospital, what diminution in the work and public service this will involve; and if he will countermand this cut so that this essential work as planned can be carried out in its entirety.

There will be no reduction in the accommodation or in the working effectiveness of the unit, on which a total expenditure of about £120,000 is being authorised. The original plan is to be carried out in its entirety, except that certain economies are being effected by the use of alternative materials and simpler fittings.

asked the Lord Advocate the reason for the delay in remedying the state of diligence in Caithness, which has been under active consideration since November, 1953.

This is part of a wider problem which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are now considering with particular reference to what is said about diligence in the Report of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce which was published in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the plan of the British Transport Commission for the modernisation and re-equipment of British Railways, in particular to the aim to exploit the great advantages of railways as bulk transporters of passengers and goods; and if he will consult the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the British Transport Commission with a view to utilising this plan for the more efficient and cheaper bulk transport of fish from the North of Scotland to the large consuming centres of south Britain.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." As regards the second part, one of the main objects of the modernisation plan is to speed up long-distance transits of all types of freight, including fish, and I am assured that the British Transport Commission will continue to seek any practicable improvement in the service for fish traffic from the North of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Works if he is yet able to state when the explanatory pamphlet concerning Monk Bretton Priory will be ready.

A pamphlet is in fact now on sale at Monk Bretton Priory.

asked the Minister of Works when the work of restoration and furnishing of Deal Castle is to be completed.

The work of repairing Deal Castle should be completed before the end of 1957. Apart from the Chapel, it is not the intention to furnish the Castle at least for the present, apart from a few pieces of armour and weapons appropriate to its period.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 23016679 Private W. A. Smith, 12th Company, Royal Army Service Corps, The Dale, Chester, with an excellent Army record, was refused the final signature for discharge on 18th April, 1956, by a Captain Taylor, until he had his hair cut; if he is aware that no barber was on duty; that a police corporal cut his hair in a fashion which made the private a laughing stock, details and photographs of which have been sent to the War Office; and if he will have a full investigation made and make a statement.

This soldier was ordered to get his hair cut on 18th April when a barber was available in the camp. He failed to do so. He was due for discharge on the following day, and was told that his discharge documents would not be completed until he had had his hair cut. No barber was available in the camp at that time and he was therefore advised to go to Chester. Instead he asked the Regimental Police N.C.O. to cut his hair so that he could get away from camp without delay. Although Private Smith was at fault in failing to get his hair cut when first ordered to do so, I agree that his case was not well handled. I have had this made clear to all concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for the Annual Reports of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to be made available to hon. Members.

Copies are already available in the Library of the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will raise in the current negotiations for the revision of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade the question of the permissibility of discriminatory tax relief in favour of the exhibition of British films in British cinemas.

No. The negotiations now being conducted in Geneva are concerned with tariffs and not with the revision of the General Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the report submitted to him by the Cotton Board on the cotton industry and the consequences of unlimited imports; and if he will make a statement.

The statement which I made in reply to the hon. Lady the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle) on 28th February was made after a full study of the report from the Cotton Board and after a full discussion with delegates from the cotton industry. I have nothing to add.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much new factory space has been completed during each of five years ended 31st March. 1956; and, when issuing industrial certificates for this new factory space, what minimum standards of structural thermal insulation he required in the interests of coal conservation.

The answer to the first part of the Question is given below. As to the second part of the Question, the Board of Trade has no power to prescribe such standards as a condition of the issue of an industrial development certificate which relates solely to the distribution of industry.

AREA OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS* COMPLETED IN GREAT BRITAIN IN THE PERIODS SPECIFIED
Year ended 31st March	'000 square feet
1951	24,535
1952	37,008
1953	29,625
1954	30,774
1955	37,558
Nine months ended 31st December, 1955†	31,594
Note

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give instructions to keep separate records of each variety of animals imported into this country for the purpose of experimentation under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1911.

No. I am not satisfied that such records would be of any value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention that in the event of trust funds purchasing Premium Bonds any prizes which may accrue can be enjoyed tax-free by the life tenant, or whether it will be necessary for the prize to be treated as capital and revert to the trust.

I agree that there is a point here to be considered. But it would be premature to express an opinion at the present stage when the terms of the security have yet to be decided. In any particular case the terms of the particular trust in question would, of course, also be relevant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Income Tax concession made to those earning £15 a year interest in the Post Office savings accounts and Trustee Savings Banks will be extended to those with similar savings in joint stock banks; and whether he will consider giving a similar concession in this connection.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "No".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the changes in rates of interest charged to local councils for building purposes from 1950 to the last convenient date.

There is no separate scale of rates for loans for building purposes. The rates of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board on all loans to local authorities were these:

—	For loans for over 5 years or less	For loans for over 5 years but not over 15 years	For loans for over 15 years
In force on 1st January, 1950	2	2½	3
With effect from—
10.11.51	2	3	3¾
9.2.52	2¾	3¾	4¼
20.10.53	2⅝	3½	4
4.6.54	2¼	3¼	3¾
1.3.55	3⅛	3¾	4
9.7.55	3¾	4¼	4¼
13.8.55	4⅛	4½	4½
7.9.55	4½	5	5
14.1.56	5½	5⅜	5¼
24.3.56	5⅝	5½	5½

The last mentioned rates are still in force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the future of the Excess Profits Tax Refunds Advisory Panel.

Yes. The Panel was set up on 2nd September, 1946, under Section 42 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1945, to approve the arrangements for the use of the refund in cases where it was not to be used in the original trade or business by the person who carried on that trade or business, or where there had been a change of ownership, and to inquire, after the event, in such cases as it thought fit into how the net amount of the refund had been dealt with, so as to ensure that all statutory undertakings had been observed.Section 32 of the Finance Act, 1953, in effect abolished all functions of the Panel except inquiry into the use to which refunds had been put, and that was restricted to cases where breaches of undertakings had been committed before the commencement of the Act.The Panel has now reported to me that its work is completed, and has recommended that the Panel should be dissolved. I have accepted this recommendation, and the Panel is formally dissolved today.I wish to record my appreciation of the valuable work done by the Panel during its period of office and to express my thanks to the Chairman, Sir William Coates, and to all its members for the generosity with which they have given their servicese whenever called upon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent stable and peaceful conditions prevail in Aden; and whether he will make a statement.

In the Colony there were some instances of violence in the early stages of the recent strikes, but the police were able to deal with them and, in general, law and order have been maintained. I am glad to say that all these strikes have now ended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the progress made towards federation in the Aden Protectorate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 18th April to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) about the conversation which the Governor of Aden has recently held with the Aden Protectorate Rulers and to the copies that I then circulated of statements by the Governor and the Rulers. As I then explained, no immediate constitutional changes are proposed. The Rulers arc discussing the question, and their consideration of it may take some time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the composition of the Courts of Emergency Assize established by the new regulations in Kenya; what rights of appeal sentenced persons have from these courts; and why these new courts have been set up.

The Emergency (Emergency Assizes) Regulations were made as long ago as 1953 to provide for the speedier trial of certain offences committed in areas declared by the Governor to be emergency zones. A court of emergency assize consists of a judge, assigned by the Chief Justice, holding a sitting of the Supreme Court for the trial of scheduled offences. At present the scheduled offences are those punishable with death, and those against Emergency Regulations which are punishable with ten or more years' imprisonment.A convicted person may appeal to the Eastern African Court of Appeal on a question of law; with the certificate of the trial judge, on a question of fact or of mixed law and fact; and with the leave of the Appeal Court, against the sentence passed upon him unless it is one fixed by law.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the capital outlay on each of the experimental husbandry farms established in England and Wales and their net running costs.

Details of the cost of capital development and running of each experimental husbandry farm in England and Wales are given in the following table. Column I shows the total capital outlay including the cost of acquisition and subsequent improvements, machinery and equipment, etc., from the date of establishment to 31st March, 1955. Column II shows the net surplus (+) or deficit (-) for the financial year ended 31st March, 1955, including the pay and expenses of technical and other staffs before providing for capital depreciation and other notional charges.

Experimental Farm	Column I	Column II
	£	£
Bridget's, Winchester, Hants	142,552	+5,830
Cuckoo Pastures, Boxworth, Cambs.	68,557	—6,445
Gleadthorpe, Mansfield, Notts	75,838	—4,905
Great House, Rossendale, Lanes	40,880	—10,750
High Mowthorpe, Malton, Yorks	108,086	+2,730
*Kirton (Lines) and Terrington (Norfolk)	116,788	—5,272
Rosemaund, Hereford	123,254	—8,182
Trawscoed, Aberystwyth, Cards	85,223	—11,198
Total	761,178	—38,192
*Operated as one farm.

In addition, capital development is just beginning on sites acquired for three further Experimental Farms:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Australian Government concerning the delay in making the payments, due to the Australian Dried Fruit Growers in 1954, under the price-support scheme for 1954; and if he will make a statement.

None. A final settlement of the accounts is now under discussion with the Australian Government.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of existing factories which have been equipped, and the number in process of being built, to use oil instead of coal in the northeastern area, particularly in the Team Valley Trading Estate, East Anglia and the West Country.

The full information asked for is not available, but returns collected from the larger industrial undertakings, accounting for about 90 per cent, of the total fuel consumption by industry, show that 22 per cent. of them in the Northern Region, 38 per cent. in the Eastern Region and 35 per cent. in the South Western Region use oil for burning to a greater or less extent.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal and coal equivalent was consumed during five years ended 31st March, 1956, for space-heating of factories in Britain; and, in the interests of coal conservation, what steps he is taking to require structural thermal insulation of factory buildings.

Exact figures are not available, but it is esimated that some 30 million tons were consumed for this purpose. I am glad to say that industrialists are increasingly aware of the economic advantage of proper insulation in their factories. The Government for their part are restoring the investment allowance for such purposes as the insulation of existing factories and the loan scheme is available in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal was imported into Britain during 12 months ended 31st March, 1956, and at what landed cost; what tonnage of that coal during that period was of United States origin; and what was its landed cost.

10·7 million tons at a landed cost of £73·3 million, of which 5·7 million tons at a landed cost of £41·2 million came from the United States.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now say what the recently foreshadowed new parcel-post charges will be; and whether he has now decided to increase the maximum compensation payable for unregistered parcels lost or damaged in the post.

Yes. The new charges which will start on 1st June, are shown in the following table. From the same date, the maximum compensation payable for the loss or damage in the post of an inland unregistered parcel will be increased from £3 to £5.

—	(1) Weight steps	(2) Present charges	(3) New charges
		s. d.
Inland	Up to 2 lb.	1 3	1 4
	3 lb.	1 5	1 6
	4 lb.	1 8	1 9
	5 lb.	1 11	2 0
	6 lb.	2 1	2 3
	7 lb.	2 3	2 6
	8 lb.	2 6	2 9
	11 lb.	2 8	3 0
	15 lb.	2 9
To the Irish	Up to 2 lb.	1 3	1 4
Republic	5 lb.	1 9	1 10
	8 lb.	2 4	2 7
	11 lb.	2 8	3 0
	15 lb.	2 11	3 3

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many Grade III men are serving in the Royal Navy at the present time.

Men of this medical category are below the standard required for Regular engagements in the Royal Navy. Information about the number of National Service men in the grade is not readily available, but approximately twenty have been entered during the last two years.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects to receive the report of the National Council for Technological Awards; and whether he intends to publish it.

The National Council is an independent body and is not required to report to me. I understand that it proposes to issue shortly a memorandum setting out the conditions on which it will recognise courses in technical colleges leading to the Diploma in Technology.