asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the German Volkswagen interests, in selling their vehicles to sales organisations in the United States of America, have made it a condition that British vehicles shall not be displayed by the same organisations; and whether he will make representations to the German Government, with a view to ensuring the discontinuance of this unfair trading practice.

:Yes, I am aware of reports to this effect and I am informed that the United States Department of Justice have been considering these arrangements as a possible violation of United States anti-trust law.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, as a result of the further representations he has received, he will now consider the advisability of setting up an independent fact-finding inquiry to report upon the position in the motor industry.

I have considered the representations made to me on this subject and have come to the conclusion that it would not help to have a Government inquiry into the industry. Good consultative machinery already exists through which trade union representatives can make known their views, and the circumstances of the motor car industry have been very fully discussed at recent meetings of its National Advisory Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade his reasons for continuing the paper control now that manufacturers can buy as much raw material as they wish to make into paper.

The greater part of the raw materials required for paper-making is imported and these imports, as well as those of paper and board, are still subject to restriction for balance of payments reasons.Control over the distribution of paper inside this country is limited in practice to newsprint and is being continued for the present at the request of the newspapers themselves.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the possibility of keeping the Reading Room of the British Museum Library open until 10 o'clock on one or two nights a week even if the service of books has to be discontinued at a much earlier hour.

The Trustees of the British Museum have examined this possibility, but they consider that to keep the Reading Room open without a full service of books would not satisfy evening readers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what negotiations have taken place with the Czechoslovak Government for the discharge by the Czechoslovak Government of their obligations under the Anglo-Czechoslovak Compensation Agreement of 1949; and what is the present position.

Inconclusive negotiations took place in Prague in 1954; they were resumed in London in February this year, and are still in progress.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take the necessary steps to remove Purchase Tax from catalogues sent overseas by exporters and would be exporters.

Ordinary trade catalogues are not liable to Purchase Tax; but if the right hon. Gentleman will send me particulars of any case he has in mind I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Agricuture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the anxiety felt by the Government of Australia regarding their steadily falling exports of wheat to the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking in this matter.

Exports of wheat from Australia to the United Kingdom increased by nearly 200,000 tons in 1955, as compared with 1954, and I do not exclude the possibility of some further increase this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how soon he proposes to reduce his pest services from eight to two, as recommended in the White Paper embodying the Report of Sir Arton Wilson's Committee; and if he will meanwhile reduce the expenditure by the existing pest services by 80 per cent.

The Wilson Report covers a very wide field and no decisions will be taken until I have fully considered the views of my county executive committees and others directly concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the financial value of subsidies and grants to farmers in Wales during 1955–56; and if he will make a statement.

Though separate records of all subsidy payments made to farmers in Wales are not available it is estimated that the financial value of subsidies and grants to farmers in Wales during the financial year 1955–56 amounted to at least £12 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the deterioration in the state of the River Dee at Chester, and of the erosion of the banks near the Roodee and obstructions in the stream which seriously hamper the activities of the licensed fishermen who earn their livelihood by netting salmon; and what action he is taking.

I am aware of the fishermen's difficulties. They were invited some time ago to inform the Dee and Clwyd River Board and the Chester Corporation of their minimum requirements for reasonable mooring and landing facilities and I understand that their response is still awaited.

asked the Minister of Labour to what cause he attributes the short-time working in the ironfoundries in the Falkirk-Bonnybridge area.

The employers concerned attribute current short-time working partly to the seasonal fall in orders which has occurred in every recent year, and partly to the effect of credit restrictions.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men formerly employed on the Daer water scheme in the County of Lanark have not been reabsorbed in other employment.

No men formerly employed on this scheme are registered at employment exchanges in the vicinity, but I cannot be sure that some are not registered elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many medical officers of health in the East End of London have informed the police of the location of brothels; how many such brothels have been reported by medical officers of health in the last 12 months; and what action has been taken.

:During the twelve months ending 31st March last, the local authorities in East London reported to the police seven cases of suspected brothel keeping. My right hon. and gallant Friend cannot say whether the information originated from the medical officer of health. Observation was kept in all these cases but in none was sufficient evidence found to justify proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what directives are given to the Metropolitan Police with regard to action to be taken when the existence of brothels is reported.

The police are instructed that it is their duty to keep watch on suspected brothels. If evidence that the law is being broken is obtained, a report is sent to the appropriate local authority, for them to consider prosecution. It is the duty of the police to prosecute—where there is sufficient evidence, if the local authority do not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider his decision not to allow Mr. Enrique Taub, of 13, Belsize Avenue, London, N.W.3, to remain in this country.

I am making further inquiries into this case and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to introduce legislation on the closing hours of shops.

I hope to introduce legislation on this subject as soon as Parliamentary time can be found for it.

the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the police have taken to secure the capture of Alfred Hinds, an escaped convict; with what success such action has been attended; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) on 23rd February, 1956.

asked the Minister of Education what advice he proposes to give to local education authorities in regard to serving potatoes for school meals when the Cornish new potato crop becomes available in mid-May.

I understand that potato supplies will not be materially affected this month by the early home grown crop.

asked the Minister of Education if he will name the 20 projects included in the 1955–56 school building programme for Staffordshire which had not been started by 31st March; and what progress has now been made with them.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion the 330 schools, which he approved for the 1955–56 school building programme and which had not been started by 31st March, form of the total number of schools included in that year's programme.

There were 941 major primary and secondary school projects in the 1955–56 programme, of which 330 had not been started by 31st March last.

asked the Minister of Education how many projects have been struck out of the original 1956–57 school building programme as a result of the inability of local education authorities to start, during 1955–56, 330 schools included in that year's programme.

None, but some must be delayed. My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to tell local education authorities which projects in the 1956–57 school building programme will have to have their starting dates postponed.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a full statement on his proposal to peg the costs in Britain's school building programme; and whether he will include in this statement an indication of his policy relating to the replacing of out-of-date and insanitary schools, showing how long the present restrictions upon such building are expected to continue.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular 301. As to the second, my right hon. Friend cannot contemplate at present any relaxation of the policy set out in Circular 283.

asked the Minister of Education what are the economies likely to result in a full year from the proposed withdrawal of the supply of milk to children at weekends and in the holidays, respectively, and from the reduction to one-third of a pint a day to most children.

:The annual savings from the withdrawal of weekend and holiday milk are likely to be respectively about £60,000 and £40,000 and will affect about 66,000 children out of more than 5 million who take school milk. The only children affected by the reduction to one-third of a pint will be the 24,000 children in nursery schools. This will save about £40,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement about the Chairmanship of the National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce.

Lieutenant-General Sir Ronald Weeks, who has given distinguished service as Chairman of the Council since it was established in 1948, has said that he would now like to retire. Sir Harry Pilkington has accepted my right hon. Friend's invitation to succeed him, and his appointment will take effect from 1st July.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent X-ray tests are a condition of employment for nurses or teachers in nursery schools.

All teachers entering service for the first time as qualified or temporary teachers in maintained schools, including nursery schools, are required to undergo an X-ray test as part of their medical examination. Local education authorities have been asked to consider how far they can require members of their non-teaching staffs, such as attendants in nursery schools, whose work brings them into close contact with children, to undergo this test on entering their employment. They have also been urged to encourage both their teaching and non-teaching staffs to take advantage of the facilities provided for periodic X-ray examinations.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers, trained as specialist teachers in technological subjects, shorthand typewriting, book-keeping, and other clerical subjects, and accountancy, banking, and other higher commercial subjects, respectively, have proceeded to such teaching posts during the last five years in technical secondary schools, modern secondary schools, and technical colleges, respectively, in England and Wales on leaving each of the three teacher training colleges now training such specialist teachers.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will make a statement on the political situation in the Gold Coast.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mr. Page) yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the dispute which has arisen in the rubber industry in Malaya.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to a Question by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery).

asked the Minister of Health if he will give particulars of areas designated as under-doctored, stating the population in each area, the number of doctors practising as principals in general practice. and the number practising as assistants.

I am sending the hon. Member such particulars as are available.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the possibility of providing a mobile telephone exchange for the Brierley Hill, Staffordshire, area as requested by the urban district council in their letter to him dated 26th April, 1956.

As the cable network is full, the provision of a mobile telephone exchange would not, I am afraid, solve the problem. It is expected that the permanent exchange will be ready about the same time as the new cables.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the new town centre at East Kilbride to be finished.

I cannot forecast when the new town centre will be complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates that Burnwood Camp, Carluke, can be closed and demolished.

The number of temporary houses in this camp still occupied has been reduced from the original 59 to 44 as at this date. It is not possible to forecast when all of the houses will be vacated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing for each local authority the number of schools included in the 1955–56 school building programme which had not been started by 31st March.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement regarding the prospective redundancy at Birtley Royal Ordnance factory.

There has been a decline in orders for shells and cartridge cases placed on the Ministry of Supply both by Service Departments and by other customers. The industrial strength at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Birtley, which was greatly increased during the period of rearmament, is now considerably greater than can be supported by the future level of business and it has become necessary to discharge 350 work-people during May and June. Every effort will be made in collaboration with the local Ministry of Labour and National Service officers to help those discharged to find other work.