asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) to what extent his Regulations provide for the granting of special allowances to diabetic persons in need of National Assistance to enable them to purchase special foods prescribed;(2) what steps he takes to bring to the attention of diabetic persons drawing National Assistance allowances their right to additional grants to enable them to purchase special foods.

The National Assistance Regulations empower the Board's local officers to increase the normal rate of Assistance where there are special circumstances, and this power is used where necessary to meet the special requirements of diabetics. The reference to special expenses in the Board's leaflet, together with the inquiries made by the Board's visiting officers, should bring such cases to light. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to ask the Board to look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, before confirming the proposed byelaw of the Severn River Board to prohibit any form of line fishing during the hours of darkness on the waters under its control, he will make it a condition that agreed and defined stretches of the Severn are to be free from prohibition and open at all times to the anglers of Dawley, Oakengates and Wellington.

My right hon. Friend will consider this request, together with any other objections that may be received when the Severn River Board's fishery byelaws are submitted to him for confirmation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment for the period from 1st March to 30th April, 1956, amounted to; and whether it has yet been paid.

The ascertained average price for about 7·8 million cwt. of mill-able wheat despatched on delivery during the fourth accounting period (1st March, to 30th April, 1956) is 25s. 2d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 32s. 2d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore, be 7s. per cwt. (£7 per ton). In addition, approximately 20,000 cwt. of wheat brought up to mill-able standard after sale will be included in the payment.Except for a few certificates which are under query the total payment of £2·7 million to about 24,000 growers will be completed by the end of June.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue a statement giving details of all farm land taken from the control of mental hospital committees; his general policy for the future administration of these lands; and if he will introduce legislation so that farm land is not to be taken from the control of that part of his Department which administers mental hospitals.

My policy is to dispose of farm land, the retention of which is not justified for hospital purposes. Out of the 26,500 acres of farm land at mental and mental deficiency hospitals on which a decision has so far been reached, about 15,000 acres will be disposed of by sale, lease or termination of lease. The farm land which remains will in many cases continue to be farmed by hospital authorities and in others will be used by them for market gardens for patients and other hospital purposes. In regard to the last part of the Question, I see no case for legislation.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors and dentists at present engaged in the National Health Service will be eligible for pensions on retirement in 1958 on the tenth anniversary of the scheme; and what proportions they are of the total numbers of doctors and dentists in the scheme.

About 3,500 doctors and 1,500 dentists representing approximately 14 per cent. and 17 per cent. respectively. These figures do not include doctors and dentists employed full-time in hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now amend the Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955.

Regulations will be laid next week deferring until 1st January, 1957, the operation of Regulation 7 in respect of the peeling by outworkers of shrimps, prawns and onions.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give details of the facilities for treatment available under the National Health Scheme for old people with corns and callosities who are prevented by these conditions from travelling to hospital or treatment centre.

In general, there are no facilities for patients who are unable to travel to a treatment centre but patients who require treatment at hospital, including treatment to the feet, may be taken there by ambulance if unable to travel by other means.

asked the Minister of Health what decision he has reached on the proposal of the North-East Regional Hospital Board to close the St. George-in-the-East Hospital, London, E.1, at the end of July, 1956.

I am considering the Board's proposal and the views expressed to it and to me about it, and hope to reach a decision shortly.

asked the hon. Member for Finchley, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether they will halt the proceedings for possession of thirteen houses now occupied by the International Language Club in view of the fact that the club provides homes for 140 students, half of them from overseas.

No. This matter has been fully considered over many years, and the proceedings must continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he agreed to the Anglo-French disarmament proposals in 1954 when no reference was made in this to President Eisenhower's open skies aerial inspection plan.

The Anglo-French Disarmament proposals of 11th June, 1954, contained no reference to President Eisenhower's proposal for aerial surveys since they were put forward more than a year before the President launched his proposal at Geneva on 21st July, 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent he took into account the consequent effect upon the structure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's forces when he put forward, with the French representative, the Anglo-French disarmament proposals in 1954 and at the beginning of the 1956 United Nations Sub-Committee meetings.

The effect on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of Her Majesty's Government's disarmament proposals has always been fully taken into account. In formulating their proposals Her Majesty's Government have always considered that the completion of a comprehensive disarmament programme must depend on a decisive improvement in the international situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that letters from British subjects in this country to persons in Israel, including their relations and friends, are being opened by the Israeli authorities; that this is in discrimination to letters received from other countries; and whether he will make representations to the Israeli Government with a view to having this practice stopped.

I am aware that the Government of Israel applies postal censorship under the defence regulations. Censorship does not cover all postal material but is applied selectively. I have no reason to believe that it is applied only to letters from this country. In the circumstances it would be inappropriate to make representations to the Government of Israel on the grounds of discrimination against mail from this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions regarding the Nile Waters Agreement of 1929 took place with Ethiopia during the recent visit to Addis Ababa of the Under-Secretary of State.

I had no specific discussions on this question during my visit to Addis Ababa. But the Ethiopian Government, who are naturally much interested in the general subject of Nile waters, informed me that they considered it important that all the riparian States should work together for the long-term development of the Nile Valley.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied that the present financial arrangements regarding money paid into court for the benefit of widows or infants ensures in every case that on the date when the money is taken out of court, the beneficiary receives at least the full amount of the capital sum paid in; and if he will make a statement.

The position differs according to whether the money is paid into the High Court or the county court. In the High Court, the money is invested in Government securities so that the amount taken out of court depends on the current market price of the investment. In the county court, the money is transferred to an investment account carrying a fixed rate of interest and ensuring capital security. Widows' and infants' funds paid into the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court are normally transferred to the county court unless the beneficiary, having had the risks explained, expressly asks for the money to be retained in the High Court and invested.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men from overseas are now working in the coal mining industry; and what steps he is taking to assist the National Coal Board, in consultation with the National Union of Mineworkers, in getting further labour from abroad.

I understand from the National Coal Board that its coal mining labour force includes some 10,200 foreign workers including 5,300 Poles, 3,800 European volunteer workers and 750 Italians. The Board is unable to take advantage of my Department's standing arrangements for recruitment of further foreign workers in the absence of agreement of the National Union of Mineworkers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now decided to release a prisoner, details of whom were sent to him on 22nd May last, who for some time received inadequate medical treatment and who is now dying from an incurable disease.

The prisoner in question was sentenced on 14th March, 1956, to three years' imprisonment for being an accessory before the fact to felony. I have carefully considered his case but I have been unable to find grounds on which I should be justified in recommending the remission of his sentence.The prisoner is suffering from a progressive disease, but I am informed that he is not thought to be in imminent danger of death. He has been under constant medical care in prison and has been referred to an outside hospital familiar with his case. He is at present in the prison hospital. I shall keep his case under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of British subjects who have been executed in the Tower of London in each year from 1939 to the present.

None.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now considered the advisability of making one Minister responsible for co-ordinating the Government litter campaign.

I have arranged for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government to assume this responsibility in respect of England and Wales. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is already similarly responsible in respect of Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the local concern felt at the number of recent accidents on the Cardiff—Newport Road, he will undertake a special investigation and propose remedies to reduce the accident rate.

I do not think that a special investigation is called for; my divisional road engineer and the other authorities concerned, including the police, are well aware of traffic conditions on this road and give constant consideration to such matters. Traffic islands have been provided at a number of points, and later on I hope to be able to authorise a widening of the road at the bottleneck at Castleton.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) if he will arrange for an experienced official to visit Maidstone any Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning, to observe the condition of the traffic caused by people from the rest of the country going through to the coast; and if he will then decide when this situation can be relieved;(2) when the official decision will be made regarding the Maidstone and Medway towns by-passes or the central road through Kent, with branches to Maidstone and the Medway towns, where every week the situation is getting more serious.

I am well aware of traffic conditions in Maidstone and in the Medway towns and I intend to take steps to relieve them. As my hon. Friend knows, I am now considering the future trunk road pattern in Kent, and will reach a decision as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the continual accidents at the junction of Grove Street and Oxford Street, Liverpool, he will speed up his decision regarding the request of the Liverpool City Council to have traffic lights installed at this junction.

I am waiting to receive from the Liverpool City Council details of the layout proposed and of the estimated cost. If these are satisfactory, I shall be prepared to agree to the scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Texas Company of the United States of America has made a bid for all of the issued capital of the British-owned Trinidad Oil Company; and the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to such transactions.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the Private Notice Question on 7th June by the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson), to which I have nothing to add.