asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that recently fourteen bullocks were transported from York to Weston-Super-Mare, a distance of 233 miles, without provision for food and water; that it was necessary to unload these en route due to two being down and trampled; and if he will amend the Regulations so as to increase the penalties for this type of offence.

I understand that the driver of the lorry stopped at the nearest sizeable farm as soon as he suspected that an animal was down and obtained permission to unload. The animal got up and the lorry was reloaded without difficulty. The bullocks were fed and watered on arrival at their destination. The abattoir records indicate that, when slaughtered, the carcases were normal and showed no signs of bruising.I am always ready to consider proposals for improving the Regulations designed to prevent unnecessary suffering by animals during transit, but I am afraid that occasional incidents of this kind are unavoidable when animals are transported by road, and my inquiries do not suggest that any offence was committed in this case.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the selection of a site for the proposed new district hospital at St. Austell.

understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government that the matter of the site is still under consideration by him, but that a decision will soon be reached.

asked the Minister of Health which hospital management areas of the Birmingham Region are not covered by the services of a whole-time consultant dental surgeon.

Eleven of the twenty-seven hospital groups in the Birmingham Region are not served by whole-time consultant dental surgeons or senior hospital dental officers.Following is a list of these eleven groups.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has noted the high doses of radiation which may be sustained by the gonads of males and females and by the foetus of a pregnant woman, following diagnostic X-ray examination; and what action he intends to take so as to afford the maximum protection to patients.

I have noted the evidence and views on this subject in the Medical Research Council's Report on the Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations, and I am considering the matter.

asked the Minister of Health what procedure is used to obtain the consent of a patient before electric convulsant therapy is used; and what evidence he has from National Health Service hospitals about the dangers of injury to the spine and to other tissues.

The consent of a voluntary patient should be obtained in writing. In other cases it is normal practice for the consent of the nearest relative to be obtained if possible. On the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Dr. D. Johnson).

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take concerning the medical use of radio-active material in view of the conclusions of the Medical Research Council in its Report cn the Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations.

This will be dealt with in a revised "Code of practice" which I hope shortly to be able to send out to all hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a Polish chef has been ordered seventy-two bottles of whisky under the National Health Service; why steps were not taken to stop such an abuse of public money; and what action he is taking to ensure it cannot happen again.

The allegation to which my hon. Friend refers appears to be a case of wishful recollection. During the period of seven months in 1947 and 1948 when this patient was in Roehampton Hospital, 403½ bottles of whisky were used for medicinal purposes in the whole hospital of over 500 beds. Precautions have always been taken by the hospital to prevent abuse of the prescription of spirits. Since 1949 brandy has been used in place of whisky and last year thirteen bottles were used.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what, up to the latest return, was the total annual cost of whisky supplied to patients in hospitals under the National Health Scheme; and whether, if purchased as an essential prescription, it is free of tax;(2) whether hospital authorities are authorised as a normal practice to supply whisky to patients; and what advice he has received with regard to its curative value.

Hospital authorities may supply whisky or other alcoholic beverages to patients where this is medically necessary. I regret that no separate figures of cost are available. Excise duty is payable for whatever purpose whisky is purchased by hospital authorities.

asked the Minister of Health why 103 beds at St. Alfege's Hospital, Greenwich, have been unstaffed for a long period; and what steps he is taking to bring the beds into use.

These beds have been unoccupied since 1948 because the hospital management committee has so far been unable to recruit the necessary nursing staff. The Regional Hospital Board is now considering the whole future development of the hospital in relation to staffing needs and other factors.

asked the Minister of Health why out-patients at St. Alfege's Hospital, Greenwich, now have to take their prescriptions to chemists instead of having them made up by the hospital dispensary.

These arrangements have had to be made as a temporary measure because of a shortage of staff at the hospital.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the delays in accommodating patients awaiting beds in Newsham General Hospital, Liverpool, and of the complaints of medical practitioners in this regard; if he will review the average waiting time for beds in this hospital; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any undue delay in admission, and I know of only one complaint by a general practitioner, about which I have written to the hon. Member. Patients are admitted according to urgency, and the average waiting time is therefore no criterion.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps he is taking to extend research into mental illness.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) on 7th May.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will instruct the Medical Research Council to embark upon research for the purpose of manufacturing a continuous recording machine, of an automatic type, which will give both the total sulphur content and the sulphur trioxide in the atmosphere.

Such research is a matter for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research rather than the Medical Research Council. I understand that the Atmospheric Pollution Research Committee of the Fuel Research Board is at present examining the problem of the continuous recording of sulphur compounds in the atmosphere.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors who are licentiates of Apothecaries' Hall are employed in the National Health Service in England.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulties British subjects find themselves in when they are taken ill or sustain accidents while travelling abroad otherwise than for employment; and what progress he has made in negotiations to extend the full benefits of the National Health Insurance Act to such persons when travelling in countries with comparable health services.

Very few countries have health services sufficiently comparable with our own to make full reciprocity possible. United Kingdom citizens in New Zealand receive medical treatment on the same terms as New Zealand citizens; and an agreement with Sweden signed on 9th June will, when ratified, enable United Kingdom citizens visiting Sweden to make full use of the health services there.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the present condition of the midwifery service at Rugeley, Staffordshire.

I understand that there are two midwives in this area and a vacancy for a third which the county council is trying to fill.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to accept the recommendation of the Guillebaud Report on financial support for the provision of accommodation for elderly persons under the National Assistance Act.

No. The considerations to which I drew attention in the statement I made on 25th January still apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund has at its recent sessions approved important projects for saving child life in the British Colonies involving an expenditure of over £1 million sterling; and whether he will reconsider the current grant from United Kingdom funds of £200,000 a year to this international fund.

No. The sums allocated at the recent session of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Executive Board for expenditure in the British Colonies amounted to £135,815. The figure of over £1 million quoted by the hon. Member is not in accordance with the allocations shown in the latest Report of the Executive Board.I explained in my speech in the Adjournment debate on 28th. February the reasons for the decision of Her Majesty's Government to maintain their contribution to U.N.I.C.E.F. at £200,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conversations he is having with allied and other friendly Governments with a view to obtaining concerted international action to combat the present Arab boycott of firms legitimately trading with Israel.

Her Majesty's Government have been and remain in touch with allied and other friendly Governments on this matter

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet had a reply from the Spanish Government to his representations concerning the seizure of the Holy Scriptures from the depot of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Madrid.

I regret that I am unable to report any developments. Her Majesty's Ambassador made further representations to the Spanish Government on 21st May and was informed that the matter was still under consideration. We are in touch with the British and Foreign Bible Society's representatives in London, and will continue to do all that we can to help them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why his Department have officially approved the visit of General Sir Brian Robertson to Egypt for the celebrations following British evacuation.

The 18th of June has been officially proclaimed the National Day of Egypt. It marks the fulfilment of the first stage of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement. Representatives of many foreign countries have accepted invitations. My right hon. and learned Friend considers it appropriate that a distinguished former Commander - in - Chief should accept the Egyptian Prime Minister's invitation on this occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of changes that are imminent in the international regime of Tangier, Her Majesty's Government will take measures to safeguard the persons and property of British subjects in Tangier, in the future.

If the need should arise, Her Majesty's Government would certainly take appropriate steps to safeguard the persons and property of British subjects in Tangier.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the Government's policy relating to the special interest of coastal States in the zone of the high seas contiguous to each of their respective territorial seas; to the question as to how deep each such zone should be; to the right of each coastal State to regulate and enforce unilateral measures for the conservation of fisheries; and what steps the British representative on the International Law Commission at Geneva is taking to present and carry out that policy.

The full answer to this Question is contained in the comments of Her Majesty's Government on the draft Articles prepared by the International Law Commission. I have made copies of the relevant documents available in the Library.Briefly, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to recognise jurisdiction for Customs, fiscal and sanitary purposes only, in a contiguous zone bounded by a line not more than twelve miles from the coast, in association with territorial waters of not more than three miles' breadth.The Commission has recommended that coastal States should have the right, subject to certain safeguards, to enforce fishery conservation measures in areas of the high seas in which they have a special interest. This proposal should not, in our opinion, be adopted without further study, since it introduces fundamentally new principles such as the unilateral application of sanctions in areas of the high seas.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to state the total number of doctors serving on pneumoconiosis medical panels and medical boards in the United Kingdom; and the numbers who are serving full-time and part-time respectively.

Twenty-nine full-time and 65 part-time.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to state, for each area of the country, the numbers of doctors serving on pneumoconiosis medical panels and medical boards who are serving full-time and part-time, respectively.

The Answer is as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he intends to refer to an independent referee the appeal by Mr. S. D. Lewis, 31 Splott Road, Cardiff, which he informed the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East on 28th February, 1956, he had decided to do.

A draft statement of the case to be submitted to the referee was sent to Mr. Lewis on 6th June and I am awaiting his comments before sending it to the referee.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what sound baffle barriers have been erected at London Airport; what others are planned; and what consideration he has given to the proposal to plant a screen of trees around the airport, or parts of the airport, in order to help reduce the impact of aircraft engine noise.

An experimental brick acoustic wall was erected three years ago to serve as a shield south of the B.O.A.C. headquarters building, but its use had to be discontinued late last year because of work on the erection of a new B.O.A.C. wing hangar. Earth from the excavations for this hangar has been used to form a new bank south of the experimental wall and this will come into use as soon as the wing hangar area is ready.Some of the most effective screening has been obtained from hangars or other large buildings and the development of both No. 1 maintenance area and No. 2 area in the south will take full advantage of this. The new B.E.A. hangar, and a number of older hangars, are already being used as shields for night engine running whenever practicable.A programme of tree planting was begun last year but a number of the trees failed to survive the very dry summer, and in any case it will be some years before there is sufficient growth to produce an effect. There are few areas within the airport which can be used for this purpose without creating operational impediments.

asked the Minister of Labour how soon he expects to publish the analysis of the expenditure of old-age pensioners and persons in receipt of National Assistance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 12th April in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Wade).

asked the Secretary of State for Air what changes he will make in the Royal Air Force representation in the United States of America as a result of the agreement announced on 14th June between the United Kingdom

asked the Minister of Defence what types of nuclear test explosions cannot be detected.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 28th February, 1956, to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Nigerian Union of Teachers has given strike notice to expire on 8th June, following the Eastern Nigerian Government's rejection of the Ibiam Committee salary

We shall make any changes which experience of the working of the agreement may show to be necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the receipts, in cash, for the three months March, April, and May, 1956, from the taxes on football pools, greyhound racing, and bookmakers, respectively.

The receipts of pool betting duty and of bookmakers' licence duty for these months were as follows:scales for teachers; and whether he will take action in the matter.

I understand from the Governer's preliminary report that only a small number of teachers went on strike and that the Minister of Education broadcast to the teachers on 12th June.Local machinery exists for consultation between the teachers and the Government as well as conciliation machinery for handling trade disputes: this machinery should be fully adequate to deal with the present situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans were executed in Kenya in 1955; how many have already been executed in 1956; and when was the latest execution for a crime other than murder.

In 1955, 230 Africans were executed in Kenya. In 1956, up to the 25th May—the date for which total figures are available—57 were executed. The latest execution for a crime other than murder was on 7th June when a male African was executed for the capital offence of unlawful possession of firearms under Emergency Regulation 8A (1).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to give the number of wage earners on colliery books in 1946 and 1955, respectively; and what percentage increase is represented by the 1955 figure over 1946.

Six hundred and ninety-two thousand, two hundred at the end of 1946 and 699,900 at the end of September, 1955. Allowing for a change in definition between those years, the percentage increase was 1·7.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to amend the laws of treason.

This matter is being considered, but I am not in a position to say whether legislation will be introduced.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has considered the application of the National League of the Blind for exemption from the recent increase in telephone charges for registered blind telephone subscribers; and with what result.

Several hon. Members have sent me copies of a letter they have received from the Edinburgh Branch of the League. I regret that for the reason given in my reply of 21st December last to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen), I could not justify exemption from the standard charges for telephone service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take the necessary steps to improve the existing facilities at the sub-post office in Church Lane, Kingsbury, N.W.9.

Following complaints some years ago, additional accommodation was made available for Post Office work. Although the space is still somewhat restricted, the facilities provided are reasonably adequate and there have been no recent complaints about them. But if my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular point in mind and will let me know, I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the 142 brigadiers shown on the Active List in the 1956 Army List are commanding brigades; what relevant changes have occurred since publication of that List; how many officers hold the rank of temporary brigadier; how many of these command brigades; how many substantive or temporary brigadiers hold the appointment of brigadier general staff on corps or higher formation headquarters; how many other appointments are there which carry the rank of substantive or temporary brigadier; the total cost of the pay and allowances of all these officers; and what would be the cost of pensioning off those of them who have no prospect of further promotion.

Of the 140 Regular and 2 Territorial substantive brigadiers shown in the Army List for December, 1955, 31 have since retired, one has died, one is temporarily unemployed and 44 have been promoted substantive or temporary major-generals. Seventy officers have been promoted to fill the vacancies. Two hundred and forty-six officers hold the rank of temporary brigadier. These substantive and temporary brigadiers either command brigades or hold general staff, arms, services and miscellaneous staff appointments. It is not in the public interest to disclose the number of brigadiers commanding brigades.The full pay and allowances of brigadiers amount to about £1 million a year. The extra cost of retiring now, instead of at the end of their appointments, those who are in their last appointment and known to have no further chance of employment would be about £90,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state in table form the cost, per head, for the last financial year for which figures are available, of administering a member of the Territorial Forces in each Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association.

The following table covers the financial year 1954–55:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether, in view of the numerous changes which have been made during recent years, he will now arrange for the publication of a revised issue of the memorandum relating to Government scientific organisation in the civilian field, which was prepared by the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy and issued by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in July, 1951.

My noble Friend will certainly consider revising the publication when a suitable opportunity occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations were made by the proprietor of the Ardochy Estate before the confirmation of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Construction Scheme No. 23; whether, before the approval of that scheme, the provisions of Section 5 (4) of the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act, 1943, were complied with; and what is the present position regarding work on that project.

The proprietor of the Ardochy Estate objected to this Scheme on the ground of its effect on the Estate. As indicated in the White Paper (Command 7617), of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, the provisions of the Act of 1943 were complied with before the scheme was confirmed and laid before Parliament. The main works in the upper section of the Scheme are now largely completed; those in the lower section are still under construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the total sums already expended by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board on the existing road work No. 26 running from the bridge at Allt Daingean to Tomdoun, and on resurfacing and widening, in parts, the existing road from Tomdoun to Cluanie Inn.

£58,700 has been spent by the Board on the road work (No. 16 of Constructional Scheme No. 24) between the Bridge at Allt Daingean and Tomdoun. The Board has spent nothing on the road between Tomdoun and Cluanie Inn; but some resurfacing and widening of this section was done by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation at a cost of about £30,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the total estimated cost of a new proposed road to be constructed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board under Construction Scheme No. 23c, to run from the east of Ardochy House by Loch Garry to the River Loyne.

The total estimated cost is £365,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentages of candidates for the 1956 Scottish Higher Leaving Certificate took higher and lower mathematics, respectively, as one of their subjects.

34 per cent. took mathematics on the higher grade and 33 per cent. took mathematics on the lower grade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of candidates for the 1956 Scottish Higher Leaving Certificate took higher and lower science, respectively, as one of their subjects.

28 per cent. took science on the higher grade and 17 per cent. took science on the lower grade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers of mathematics and science he expects to recruit from the training colleges for the opening of the 1956–57 school session.

The total new staff available for teaching these subjects will be approximately 200. Nineteen men and seven women from the training colleges with first or second class Honours degrees in mathematics or science will be available for service in the schools at the beginning of session 1956–57. The men concerned will be exempted from National Service. About 25 other similarly qualified men, who will finish their National Service by the beginning of next session will also be available. In addition, 64 women, whose university courses included two years of mathematics or science and who are regarded as qualified to teach these subjects to junior secondary pupils, will be leaving the training colleges and entering teaching service. Most of the 87 similarly qualified men who will finish their teacher training this year will have to do National Service, but a corresponding number of men will finish their National Service and begin teaching next session.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vacancies for teachers of mathematics and science occurred owing to death, retirement, promotion, or departure from the teaching profession during 1955–56 and how many of these vacancies have been filled by qualified teachers.

According to the annual staffing returns made by education authorities in October, 1955, they had in their employment at that time 4,514 certificated teachers of mathematics or science, excluding retired re-employed teachers. No precise figures are yet available, but it is estimated on past experience that in the current year the number of vacancies due to the causes mentioned will be 190. There is no reason to suppose that the vacancies that have arisen have not been filled by qualified teachers, though some posts to which the authorities would have wished to appoint honours graduates will have been filled by ordinary graduates whose university courses have included two years' study of mathematics or science.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average cost per place in new secondary schools of furniture and equipment; and whether his Department lays down any limit to local authorities.

The average cost per pupil place of furniture and equipment in new secondary schools completed during the last five years is £31. Specific limits of cost have not so far been laid down pending the completion of a detailed study of the problem. It is hoped that this study will be completed in time to enable cost limits to be announced before the end of the year.