asked the Minister of Health the number of organisations represented on the Nurses and Midwives Council; and the number of each representing each profession, separately.

There are 12 organisations on the Staff Side.The full Staff Side of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council consists of 41 representatives as follows:

Association of Hospital Matrons	2
Association of Scottish Hospital Matrons	1
Association of Supervisors of Midwives	1
Confederation of Health Service Employees	4
Association of Hospital and Welfare Administrators	1
National and Local Government Officers Association	4
National Union of General and Municipal Workers	3
National Union of Public Employees	4
Royal College of Midwives	6
Royal College of Nursing	12
Scottish Health Visitors Association	1
Women Public Health Officers Association	2

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish a table showing the basic retail price of all types of single-seater invalid carriages that have been provided for disabled persons by his Department during the last 12 months.

I will make inquiries about the prices charged by manufacturers for machines sold privately and will write to my hon. and gallant Fried.

asked the Minister of Health the number of resident dentists in Wednesfield, Staffordshire.

There are no dentists resident in Wednesfield but 39 dentists are available in Wolverhampton which is about two miles away.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent reciprocal arrangements have now been made for British citizens temporarily resident in the Dominions and United States of America in respect of health insurance hospital benefits and welfare schemes comparable to those in the United Kingdom.

Medical and hospital treatment in the United States are on a private footing, and there is thus no suitable common basis for a reciprocal agreement with that country. As regards the Commonwealth, there are arrangements with Australia and New Zealand as follows:

asked the Minister of Health the annual money value to the individual citizen of the hospital services and health insurance benefits.

The cost per head of civilian population in England and Wales met from all sources of income, other than payments by persons using the services, is estimated for 1956–57 as £7 4s. 0d. for hospital and specialist services only and £12 2s. 0d. for all services provided as part of the National Health Service. Any question relating to expenditure on National Insurance benefits should be addressed to the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance.

asked the Minister of Health the annual cost in respect of the individual child of the welfare milk scheme for infants and school children.

The cost to my Department of a full year's supply of welfare milk to an individual child is £8 7s. 3½d. at present and will increase to £9 2s. 6d. from 1st July next, when the retail price > of liquid milk is increased. Questions relating to the cost of the Milk in Schools Scheme should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education.

asked the Minister of Health the ages of the diphtheria cases

DIPHTHERIA: NUMBER OF CASES NOTIFIED AND DEATHS REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1950–54
Table I
	1950		1951		1952		1953		1954
Age group	Cases notified	Deaths	Cases notified	Deaths	Cases notified	Deaths	Cases notified	Deaths	Cases notified	Deaths
0-	262	19	169	6	74	9	63	11	36	4
5-	245	11	213	11	135	8	84	6	46	1
10-	146	5	98	7	46	—	33	1	22	1
15-	143	5	102	1	52	5	34	—	26	—
25 and over	158	9	71	8	65	10	51	5	36	3
Age unknown	5	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

IMMUNISED STATE OF CASES AND DEATHS IN CHILDREN UNDER AGE 15, 1950–54
Table II
Year	Cases notified	Number immunised	Deaths	Number immunised
1950	653	202	35	7
1951	480	124	24	1
1952	255	89	17	1
1953	180	64	18	1
1954	104	36	6	—

NOTES:

asked the Minister of Health what expenditure on administrative offices he has approved for each of the regional hospital boards for the current year.

The only capital expenditure included in approved capital estimates and deaths recorded in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955; how many in each year of those under 15 years of age and how many 15 and over had been immunised at any time in their lives; and how many had been immunised within five years of contracting the disease.

The following tables give the information available:on office accommodation for regional hospital boards during 1956–57 is £1,000 in Sheffield and £7,350 in the South Western Region.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates the old Heswall nautical school building will be ready to receive its first group of mental patients; and, having regard to the urgent Birkenhead cases needing institutional accommodation, if he will do everything possible to hasten its opening.

I am not satisfied that the acquisition of these premises would be justified. The building is at present unsuitable for a mental deficiency hospital and would require extensive alterations before it could be brought into use. It could not offer any substantial early relief for the urgent cases the hon. Member has in mind, and 1 am instead examining other possibilities which are likely to produce additional mental deficiency beds more quickly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement on the recommendation of the Council of Europe that procedure be established whereby individual petitions about human rights and freedom may be considered even when they are against a member State, such as this country, that has not yet accepted the clause about the right of individual petition;(2) which members of the Council of Europe have now accepted the clause about the right of individual petition in the Convention about Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; and whether Her Majesty's Government have yet decided to accept this clause.

Belgium, Denmark, the Federal German Republic, Iceland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden have made declarations accepting the competence of the European Human Rights Commission to investigate individual petitions. Her Majesty's Government do not propose to make such a declaration, nor are they prepared to accept the recommendation to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what offers of assistance in the development of atomic energy have been made to the Federal German Foreign Minister.

In his talks with the Federal German Foreign Minister my right hon. and learned Friend made no specific offers of assistance in the development of atomic energy. He said, however, that Her Majesty's Government were very willing that a bilateral agreement on the civil uses of atomic energy should he concluded with the German atomic energy authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the talks recently held with the German Foreign Minister, with particular reference to the contribution of the German Federal Government towards Western defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the German Foreign Secretary.

Her Majesty's Government were very glad to have the opportunity of welcoming the Federal German Foreign Minister in this country. A most valuable part of the visit was the general exchange of views which we had on international problems. On these there was a close identity of views between us.Negotiations on the subject of support costs for the Allied forces in Germany are taking place in Bonn. The opportunity was, however, taken to explain fully to Dr. von Brentano Her Majesty's Government's attitude on this problem and the great importance which they attach to reaching an early settlement in the interests of Anglo-German relations. Meanwhile agreement has been reached with the Federal German Government on arrangements to cover an interim period while negotiations continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will use the opportunity of the visit of the United States Secretary of State to Europe further to discuss the question of modifying or abolishing strategic controls on trade with the Soviet bloc and China.

My right hon. and learned Friend discussed the question of China controls with Mr. Dulles during the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position regarding the maintenance of the balance of arms in the Middle East in the light of the Tripartite Declaration.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 25th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will have a study made of the constitution and operation of the Coal and Steel Community with a view to finding out what features would help in the establishment of a Middle East oil authority with a membership drawn from the oil-producing countries in that region as well as from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other countries which are consumers of oil.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement in regard to his representations to the Argentine Government about the exchange rate of pensions remitted to British pensioners of Argentine companies.

Prior to October, 1955, the Argentine Government remitted pensions to British pensioners of Argentine companies at a fixed exchange rate of about 39 pesos to the £. In October, 1955, however, the Argentine Government devalued their currency and established a fluctuating rate of exchange for all remittances. The application of this exchange rate, which is at present running at about 106 pesos to the £, meant that pensions remitted to British pensioners of Argentine companies would be cut by over 60 per cent. Her Majesty's Government accordingly made representations to the Argentine Government asking them to provide an equitable solution to this problem.I am glad to say that on 19th April the Argentine Government decided to remit pensions to British pensioners of Argentine companies at the rate of approximately 50 pesos to the £, at least until the end of 1956. Her Majesty's Government have expressed their thanks to the Argentine Government for this very welcome decision.The question of the exchange rate to be applied to pension remittances after the end of the current year will be discussed in due course with the Argentine Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions on the question of Russian bonded indebtedness took place with the Soviet leaders on their recent visit.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 1st May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet replied to the invitation from the Chinese People's Republic for Her Majesty's Government to arrange for an all-party delegation of Members of Parliament to visit China; and what was the nature of his answer.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China invited a Parliamentary delegation to visit China. I understand that Mr. Speaker and the Lord Chancellor replied that, while they would have been glad had it proved feasible to arrange for a delegation to visit China in response to this kind invitation, they regretted that they had had to come to the conclusion that on practical grounds it would not be possible to do so at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to the Spanish Government about the recent raid by Government officials on the premises of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Madrid.

The Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been requested to investigate the matter with a view to the restoration of the property seized.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the articles recently published in the Press by a retired hangman, details of which have been sent to him, constitute a breach of the Official Secrets Act; and what action he proposes to take.

I have carefully considered these articles. The evidence available does not in my opinion justify the institution of criminal proceedings against those responsible for their publication.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he intends to introduce legislation to increase the retirement pension by the amount which it has lost in purchasing power since the last increase was granted.

I have no statement to make about legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many of the 647 cases which were examined by the pneumoconiosis medical panels in 1954 and found not to be suffering from the disease of pneumoconiosis, but found to be suffering from emphysema, were coal-mine workers.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the steep rise in the number of cases found to be suffering from emphysema, if he will now consider bringing the disease within the ambit of the Industrial Injuries Act, 1954, for the payment of compensation.

I am afraid that this complaint, which is fairly widespread after middle age, would not on present evidence satisfy the statutory conditions for prescription as an occupational disease under the Industrial Injuries Act. Nor have I any evidence to confirm the statement made in the first part of the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many pottery workers were examined for suspected pneumoconiosis in 1955, when 382 claims were allowed; and how many cases were found to be suffering from emphysema, where pneumoconiosis was not diagnosed.

In 1955 406 pottery workers were examined by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panels following claims for benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act. Information as to the number of cases found to be suffering from emphysema in which pneumoconiosis was not diagnosed is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give details of the 25 additional staff employed in the National Assistance Department of his Ministry between 1st April, 1955, and 1st April, 1956; the work undertaken by these 25 employees; and the salary or wage scale in each instance.

National Assistance is the responsibility of the National Assistance Board which informs me that so far from its staff being increased during the period stated it was reduced by 392 posts.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give details of the 12 additional staff employed by his Department between 1st April, 1955, and 1st April, 1956; the work undertaken by these 12 employees; and the salary or wage scale in each instance.

During the period in question there was a reduction of 917 in the staff of my Department. The latter part of the hon. Member's Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in view of the hardship caused to widows when they lose the children's allowance at the age of 16 years when the child is still attending school, he will consider introducing legislation to change this.

I would refer the hon. Member to the proposals in the Bill that I shall be presenting today.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give an estimate of the cost of increasing old-age pensions all round by 2s. 6d. a week, allowing for the consequent saving in National Assistance grants and at the same time abolishing the tobacco tokens provided for some old-age pensioners.

In the first year the estimated additional cost to the National Insurance Fund would be about £30 million and the saving to the Exchequer in respect of National Assistance and tobacco tokens would be nearly £22 million.

asked he Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of retirement pensioners in receipt of supplementary assistance at 1st May, 1955, 1st August, 1955, 1st December, 1955, 1st February, 1956, and 1st May, 1956, respectively.

Information of the kind asked for is available only from quarterly analyses. The numbers (to the nearest thousand) of regular weekly National Assistance grants in supplementation of retirement pensions at the time of the analysis in March, 1955, and subsequently were:

29th March, 1955	1,005,000
28th June, 1955	895,000
27th September, 1955	884,000
20th December, 1955	888,000
27th March, 1956	899,000

Some of the grants provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a statement about the allowances for war widows' children.

Yes. Amendments will be made to the Royal Warrants to provide that the allowance for each child of a war widow will be increased from 16s. 6d. to 21s. 6d. a week and by £13 to £63 10s. 0d. a year in the case of officers' children. There will be a corresponding increase in the payments for war orphans. In addition, the maximum rent allowance for widows of other ranks with children will be raised from 15s. to 20s. a week. The estimated cost of these improvements, which will have effect from 6th August, 1956, is about £820,000 in the first full year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what decisions have now been taken regarding an expansion and acceleration of the atomic power programme beyond the limits of the plan set out in the White Paper of February, 1955.

None.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what consideration he has given to the objections raised to the proposed power station at Bradwell, Essex.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to consider objections to this proposal as the public inquiry regarding it has not been concluded.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will open negotiations with the National Coal Board for pensions increases for employees on the lines carried out by the Gas Board, the Central Electricity Board and the British Transport Commission.

I understand that the National Coal Board will shortly be submitting for my right hon. Friend's consideration proposals far certain staff pension increase.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the completed named projects involving capital expenditure approved by him in 1952, 1953. 1954 and 1955.

My right hon. Friend's approval is related only to the general programmes of capital development proposed by the nationalised fuel and power industries. Information on individual schemes and projects is available in the industries' Annual Reports which are presented to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Supply why permission to explode a hydrogen bomb on Australian soil was not sought before the official announcement of plans for such an explosion was made.

No such announcement has been made. We have in any case agreed with the Australian Government that no hydrogen weapon will be tested in Australia.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent precautions are being taken to ensure that, following the forthcoming hydrogen-bomb experiment, human life will not be endangered by the radio-active fall-out.

I can assure the hon. Member that should hydrogen bomb tests be undertaken by Her Majesty's Government, the fullest precautions would be taken to avoid danger to human life.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what trading services are included in "Miscellaneous" for the purposes of his Department's Estimate for 1956–57.

The item of miscellaneous receipts included in trading services in my Department's Estimate for 1956–57 provides for recoveries to be made under marine insurance policies in respect of past years' trading.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amounts of the agricultural and food grants and subsidies provided during the financial year 1955–56.

My Department's Accounts for the financial year 1955–56 will not be available for some time, but revised estimates of the subsidies were made for the purpose of the Supplementary Estimate dated 6th February, 1956. For details of the estimated cost of agricultural grants and subsidies totalling £213·6 million I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Dance) on 9th February. The comparable figures for food subsidies are welfare milk £30·8 million, welfare foods £5·0 million and bread £38·5 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the trading losses incurred by his Department, given separately for each commodity on the sale of foodstuffs during the financial year 1955–56.

Following is the latest available estimate, made for the purpose of the Supplementary Estimate dated 6th February, 1956, of the trading losses incurred during the financial year 1955–56.

Commodity	Loss £ million
Home produced shell eggs and egg products	3·9
Potatoes	0·8
Imported egg products	1·5
Imported meat	2·4
Imported butter	0·1
Imported oils and oilseeds	2·6
Imported sugar	1·0
	12·3

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reasons for the delay in completing the pig progeny testing stations needed to improve the breeding standards; and if he will give an assurance that financial considerations will not be allowed to cause any further delay.

Progress has been slower than had been hoped for various reasons, including the need to consult all sections of the industry about the siting and design of these stations. Financial considerations have not contributed to the delay and we have no reason to suppose that they will cause any delay in the future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it has been with his approval that there have been several recent instances under the scheme for eradicating rabbits of the burning of gorseland and scrubland with the object of trying to kill a small number of rabbits; whether he is aware that this burning has resulted in the destruction of numerous wild birds with their nests and eggs, most of which are protected by the Wild Birds Protection Act; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend's approval is not required for burning gorse and scrub except where this is undertaken by officers of my Department. The only case where approval has been given was for the burning of eighteen acres by the East Sussex A.E.C. on a common at The Hide, Arlington. Instructions have now been given that burning is not to be undertaken during the nesting season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any decision has yet been taken on the future of the drying and storage service of Re-Commissioned Mills Limited.

The loss on this service in the 1954–55 cereal year was £190,000 and it is estimated that there will be a loss of £300,000 in 1955–56. 4,419 growers used the service in 1954–55, and 1,383 have used it in 1955–56. The total number of growers of cereals in Great Britain who are registered under the Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme is about 160,000. Thus only comparatively few farmers have made use of the scheme at a proportionately high cost to public funds.The 22 silos and 2 bulk depot driers which are available for the service were used to only 49 per cent. of their intake capacity in 1954–55 and 26 per cent. in 1955–56. The rate of usage as between the individual units has varied widely but even if the scheme were concentrated on those of which most use has been made substantial loss of money would still be inevitable.After full consideration of all the circumstances, and of representations by the National Farmers' Union, the Government are of opinion that, at a time when economy in public expenditure is an overriding consideration, they would not be justified in continuing to incur the loss which this service entails. Accordingly, it has been decided that the service shall be terminated on 30th June, 1956, and that thereafter the drying plant shall be put on a care and maintenance basis. The storage capacity will be kept available for use by the Government in its warehousing programme.

asked the Minister of Labour the incidence of lung cancer among workers in the nickel industry; and if he will have an inquiry made with a view to reducing it and diminishing the industrial causes as far as possible.

I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available. The possibility of this disease being associated with certain nickel refining processes was first investigated by the medical inspectorate in 1933 and the question has been kept under close review ever since. I am advised that this hazard is controlled as far as present knowledge permits, and that no special inquiry is necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what degree of competition, between Government training centre trainees and apprentice-trained engineering craftsmen, was envisaged by his Department prior to the late war; how far it was envisaged that such competition would be fair enough to allow the ex-trainees to benefit fully from their vocational training; and if it was intended that such trainees should enter into industry as permanent or merely temporary craftsmen;(2) when his Department commenced sending trainees from vocational training centres for employment by the Air Ministry as aircraft fitters; and what understanding existed for ensuring that these ex-trainees acquired status as skilled men.

For some time before the war, engineering fitters were being trained by my Department in the Government training centres, and a limited number of aero fitters was also being trained for certain private aircraft manufacturing firms. My Department first began the large-scale training of aircraft fitters for the Air Ministry in the early part of 1939, when it became necessary to man up some of that Department's newly opened aircraft maintenance units and repair depots.All pre-war engineering trainees would have been told at the time of entering on a course that if they completed it satisfactorily there was every prospect of obtaining work in their training trade alongside apprenticeship-trained craftsmen. No guarantee respecting either the permanency of their employment or of their future status would have been given to any Government trainee since it has always been the practice of my Department to regard questions of that kind as being matters for negotiation between the two sides of industry.According to the Department's records the ex-trainee aircraft fitters in Air Ministry establishments started in 1939 at a wage of 10s. per week below the full trade rate for apprentice-trained aircraft fitters, and all of them who passed an Air Ministry trade test at the end of three months proceeded at once to the full trade rate for the job. Though all ex-trainees still in Air Ministry employment after nearly seventeen years are registered as dilutees, they are paid at exactly the same rates as apprentice-trained craftsmen.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of the air trooping of the last two years was undertaken by the Royal Air Force, the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation, private firms on long-term contracts, and private firms on ad hoc charter, respectively.

Transport Command carried just under 10 per cent. of the passengers. Of the contracts awarded to civil operators, 7 per cent. in terms of value, went to B.O.A.C.; a negligible proportion to B.E.A.; 74 per cent. to independent companies on long-term contracts; and 19 per cent. to independent companies on ad hoc charter.

asked the Minister of Education the capitation grants made, respectively, by the Middlesex and Buckinghamshire education authorities to nursery schools, primary schools, secondary modern schools and secondary grammar schools.

Since this information is detailed and contains many figures, I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education to give, for the session ending 1955, the final examination results of State scholars and of State supplemental scholars, respectively, at Oxford and Cambridge.

The tables below give this information for those who took their

Oxford University
	New entrant award holders								Mid-course recipients of awards
	Col. 1		Col. 2		Col. 3		Col. 4		Col. 5
Result	State (G.C.E.) only		State supplemental only		State G.C.E. and supplemental		Total of cols. 1 2 and 3		State supplemental
	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W
1st Class Honours	10	2	33	4	15	2	58	8	—	—
2nd class Honours	78	85	121	15	38	18	237	118	2	—
Other Honours	13	6	49	3	2	—	64	9	1	—
Pass degree	5	2	11	3	—	—	16	5	—	—
Failed	3	—	3	—	—	—	6	—	—	—
Premature termination	4	3	3	1	—	1	7	5	—	—
Result not known	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	—	—
Total	113	98	220	26	56	21	389	145	3	—

Cambridge University
	New entrant award holders								Mid-course recipients of awards
	Col. 1		Col. 2		Col. 3		Col. 4		Col. 5
Result	State (G.C.E.) only		State supplemental only		State G.C.E. and supplemental		Total of cols. 1 2 and 3		State supplemental
	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W
1st Class Honours	18	2	26	1	42	6	86	9	3	—
2nd Class Honou rs	81	34	150	8	97	15	328	57	10	—
Other Honours	42	9	35	—	28	1	105	10	2	—
Pass degree	11	6	17	2	4	1	32	9	1	—
Failed	3	—	3	—	2	1	8	1	—	—
Premature termination	6	—	7	1	1	—	14	1	1	—
Result not known>—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	161	51	238	12	174	24	573	87	17	—

Scholars known to have accepted both State (G.C.E.) and State (Supplemental) awards have been entered in the appropriate column; this information was not always available. Scholars entering in 1953 and subsequently were not entitled to accept both awards.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools in rural areas in Buckinghamshire collect and sell salvaged waste paper or use other first degree in the academic year ending in 1955.methods to raise funds for the purchase of necessary books and small equipment.

I am not aware that any school in Buckinghamshire is obliged to do this so as to be able to purchase necessary books and equipment.

asked the Minister of Education when he intends to publish the Report of the National Advisory Committee upon Industry and Commerce appointed by him.

The National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce has reported on sandwich training and education. Its Report is published as Appendix B to the White Paper on Technical Education (Cmd. 9703. If the hon. Gentleman has in mind the National Council for Technological Awards, I would refer him to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Albu) on 1st May.

asked the Minister of Education how many new school projects included in the school building programme for 1955–56 were not started during that year.

330. I gave further details to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 3rd May.

asked the Minister of Education whether it will be possible to include a building project for the Welwyn Garden City Technical College in the 1957–58 building programme; and if he will give the details of this project.

I have included a project for a complete technical college at Welwyn in the building programme approved for the Hertfordshire local education authority for 1957–58. This will cost about £250,000, and will provide laboratories, workshops and classrooms for science and engineering, as well as rooms for craft, commerce, non-specialist, administrative and communal purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate of the annual amount spent on research by British in- dustry, apart from grant-aided research associations.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his Question by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 3rd May.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Government proposals regarding the issue of Premium Bonds will add to the Post Office's requirements in staff and premises; and whether he will make use of the facilities which exist in the Borough of Hastings.

I am studying this problem now and hope to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now restore the pre-war practice of sending out telephone subscriber's accounts quarterly instead of half-yearly; and if he will announce when the change will be made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 9th November last to my hon. Friend the Member for Antrim, South (Mr. Knox Cunningham).

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of civil servants and other personnel now employed in connection with the paper control; and the annual charge to the nation.

The Control of Paper (No. 29) Order, 1940, as amended, is maintained at present only for the purpose of controlling the delivery and use of newsprint. Eight officers are employed full-time by my Department on this work, at an annual cost of about £7.000.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made since October, 1951, in releasing requisitioned accommodation held by his Department.

Of about 11 million square feet of space held in requisitioned buildings at 1st October, 1951, 91 million square feet had been released by 31st March this year. My Department issues quarterly statements giving particulars of current releases and the next statement will be issued shortly.