asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations normally govern his refusal to extend the stay of aliens in this country beyond the six months' period in cases where they are financially independent and do not seek employment.

Each case is considered on its merits. It is not practicable to set out in a Parliamentary answer all the considerations that may arise, but the points to which the hon. Member refers are of course taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority action has been taken by officers in his Department to discourage aliens from approaching Members of Parliament for assistance, when in difficulty, over employment or other matters.

To the best of my knowledge, no such action has been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Miss Marianne Carnebo, particulars of whose case have been sent to him, was told on 3rd May that she should not have communicated with the Member of Parliament for Wood Green, in whose constituency she was at that time residing; and by what authority his Department took this action.

I have made inquiries and I am assured by the officer who interviewed Miss Carnebo on 3rd May that there is no foundation for this allegation. I have no hesitation in accepting the officer's assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the parents of Pentonville prisoner 9707 were not informed of the injuries suffered by their son; why he was kept waiting two hours before his head wound was stitched; and why he was punished for fighting despite the evidence of a fellow-prisoner that he was the victim of an assault.

The hon. Member has been misinformed. The prisoner, who received scalp lacerations in a fight with two other prisoners in their cell, was taken straight to hospital as soon as his condition was discovered. There his wounds were at once cleaned and he received treatment for shock. When the medical officer arrived he ordered the lacerations to be stitched. It is not the practice to notify relatives of sickness or injury except in serious cases; this prisoner's injuries were not serious. There was a conflict of evidence as to what took place in the cell and the Governor decided that all three prisoners were partly to blame. I see no reason to interfere with the finding.

asked the Minister of Education what provision is being made for educationally sub-normal children in the counties of Lincoln, Derby, Nottingham, Northampton, and Leicester.

In the five counties and their county boroughs there are nine day and ten boarding special schools for educationally sub-normal children, containing over 1,300 places. Work to provide 850 more places is in progress or will shortly be put in hand.

asked the Minister of Education how many full-time teachers were recruited to secondary schools, commercial, modern, technical, grammar and comprehensive, respectively, during the year ending March, 1955, who have been engaged in teaching the subjects for which training is given particularly in the three technical teacher training colleges, and what percentage of such teachers were trained in such colleges.

This information is not available, as teachers in secondary schools are not classified by the subjects that they teach.

asked the Minister of Education what have been the vacancies in institutions of further education for teachers in the specialist subjects of engineering and commerce and office arts, respectively, during the year ending March, 1956, and how they compare with the estimates of such vacancies made by the National Advisory Council for the 'Training and Supply of Teachers, and to what extent such vacancies were provided for by the output of the three technical teacher training colleges.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the needs of local education authorities for teachers of commerce and office arts have been made known to the three technical teacher training colleges and to what extent these colleges have been able to supply trained teachers to meet such demands.

As I have just told my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr. Pitman), I cannot relate the output of these colleges to a precise number of vacancies. The colleges are in close touch with many local education authorities and are able to plan their courses on the basis of information available to them in this way and in consultation with my Department.

asked the Minister of Education what is the annual rate of remuneration during the period of training, and what is the annual rate of remuneration on appointment to a typical post in an institution of further education, teaching engineering taking 100 as the average remuneration as disclosed on entry of a recruit in engineering in the 12 months prior to entering one of the three technical teacher training colleges.

I cannot make the simple comparison suggested in the Question, but I am writing to my hon. Friend to give him the best information I can.

asked the Minister of Education when the grant ceases at the end of training at one of the three technical teacher training colleges; and how long after the end of this training such a teacher may expect his first salary cheque on taking up a teaching appointment, teaching engineering.

Tuition and boarding grants are paid in respect of the actual college terms. The vacation and personal grants are related to the year's training as a whole, not to any specific dates. A trained teacher may be appointed to a post during the summer term, as soon as the course ends, or he may be appointed as from the following September. He would in either case receive his first salary cheque at the end of the month in which his appointment begins.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that his recent circular on cuts in the school-building programme will mean severe overcrowding in secondary schools; and if he will withdraw the circular.

No. The postponement of starting dates by a maximum of six months will, I hope, result in more efficient building.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that winceyette and raised cotton of a very flammable nature are distributed to schools under his control for the making up of nightdresses; and if he will instruct that nonflammable winceyette should now be used.

I am not aware of this and am looking into it urgently and will write to the hon. Lady.

asked the Prime Minister what inter-departmental organisation exists for the prevention of excessive demands by Departments for land and for the economic use of land already held by Departments but which may from time to time become surplus to requirements.

There is a procedure, operated by the Ministry of Works, for notification between Departments of land no longer needed. In order to avoid taking over fresh land, in certain cases arrangements can be made for a Department to take over land no longer needed. There are special limitations dating from 1954 on the transfer-of agricultural land from one Department to another.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement as to the date of Remembrance Sunday.

Her Majesty The Queen has approved an alteration in the rule for fixing the date of Remembrance Sunday. In future, Remembrance Sunday will always be observed on the second Sunday in November. This change is being made to avoid inconvenience resulting from the previous arrangement, under which Remembrance Sunday was observed sometimes on the first, and sometimes on the second. Sunday in November.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will include in the terms of reference of the proposed Select Committee on the Procedure of the House, the need to examine and report on the hours during which the House conducts its business, with a view to instituting a 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. working day.

No. As I informed the House on 14th June, the Select Committee's inquiry is not intended to be a general one and it is proposed that it should deal only with certain matters to which attention has been drawn recently.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the nature of the understanding arrived at with the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. when agreeing Britain's financial contribution to the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. concerning the proportion of African and European students to be admitted to the college.

When Her Majesty's Government decided to make a financial contribution, it had already been announced that the University College would provide education for students of all races. The numbers to be admitted are for the council of the college to decide, but the charter of the college provides that no test of race shall be imposed as a condition of admission.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what facilities exist in the Bechuanaland Protectorate for technical education; and what further developments are in mind.

At present, technical training for Bechuanaland students is provided at the Lerotholi technical school in the Basutoland. Protectorate is included in the development plan for the Protectorate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many Swaziland students will go to the Rhodesian University College in March, 1957.

If it is possible to obtain this information at this stage I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that imported goods which are required to be marked with an indication of origin under Section 10 of the Merchandise Marks Act. 1926, and are not so marked or are incorrectly marked may be seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on arrival, but that if they inadvertently escape, his Department has the option to refuse to prosecute the seller; if he will now make prosecution in such cases obligatory; and if he will give an estimate of how many foreign-made goods so incorrectly marked have found their way to United Kingdom retailers for sale.

I do not think that there should be any provision for obligatory prosecution without regard to the circumstances of each case. I am unable to estimate the extent to which the provisions of the Act are being evaded, but I have no reason to think that the evasion is substanial.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what items have contributed to the recent increase of exports to Egypt.

Machinery (notably textile machinery, excavators, diesel engines for commercial vehicles), manufactures of metals, aircraft, chemi-

1955
—	U.K. Imports	U.K. Exports	U.K. Re-exports	Total Exports
	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
	(c.i.f.)	(f.o.b.)	(f.o.b.)	(f.o.b.)
United Kingdon Trade with:—
(1) All countries	3,886·1	2,905·5	118·7	3,024·1
(2) Coal and Steel Community*	482·2	375·7	46·7	422·4
	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
(2) as a percentage of (1)	12·4	12·9	39·3	14·0

1955
United Kingdom Trade with the Coal and Steel Community, by classes of commodities	U.K. Imports	U.K. Exports
	£ million (c.i.f.)	£ million (f.o.b.)
Food, beverages and tobacco	137·6	16·4
Basic materials	60·1	29·3
Mineral fuels and lubricants	52·5	29·7
Manufactured goods	230–0	292·1
Postal packages, and live animals of a kind not normally used for food	2·0	8·2
TOTAL, all classes	482·2	375·7
* Belgium, France, Western Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it has been made known to him that the owners of the Velasquez painting, "St. John on the Island of Patmos," which has been on loan to the National Gallery, intend to sell that picture; and what steps are being

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of exports from the United Kingdom in 1955 to the Coal and Steel Community group of nations in Europe; what proportion this bore to total United Kingdom exports; what were the broad categories of the exports to that group of countries; and if he will give similar information regarding their imports into the United Kingdom.

The information is as follows:taken to ensure that that important work remains in the national collection.

By the generosity of the owners, this picture has been on loan to the National Gallery since 1946. Last year the owners indicated that they felt obliged to sell it, but they gave the Trustees an option to purchase the picture at £50,000 and, with great public spirit, have allowed time for the necessary arrangements to be made. The Trustees have been able to find £12,000 from their normal grant-in-aid and Trust Funds; the Pilgrim Trust are providing a further £10,000, and the National Art-Collections Fund £3,000. In view of the special circumstances and the undoubted importance of this painting, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed, subject to the approval of Parliament, to provide the remaining £25,000 as a special purchase grant. A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before the House in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give statistics showing, to the last convenient date, the number of persons with net relevant earnings of from £5,000 to £7,500 a year, in accordance with the definition of which he has been separately informed.

The estimated number of persons with earned incomes between £5,000 and £7,500 in 1955–56 was about 14,500. A further 7,500 had earned incomes in excess of £7,500. Of the total above £5,000, about half were self-employed and half were employees, but it is not possible to say how many of the latter were entitled to pensions.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is yet in a position to give any further information about the plans for the development of Imperial College.

Yes. When I last informed the House of the position, the plans prepared by the Imperial College for the development of the rectangle between Prince Consort Road and Imperial Institute Road had just been formally submitted by the College to the London County Council as planning authority. The Council gave its outline approval to the plans for the east and west blocks of the proposed buildings, and work can now proceed on these with the concurrence of the Royal Fine Art Commission.As regards the central part of the scheme. I understand that, quite apart from the wish of the Royal Fine Art Commission to preserve the Collcutt Building, the Council regarded the plans submitted by the College as somewhat overbuilding the site, and thought that a reduction in density might also enable the retention of at least the tower to be considered. The situation will, however, be eased as a result of the acquisition by the College of all the north, east and south sides of Princes Gardens, lying immediately to the east of the rectangle. Of this area, the east side and most of the south side are available for immediate development. These sites in Princes Gardens are reserved for residential development, and are being acquired primarily to enable the College to provide much needed residence for some of its students. They are not, therefore, in any sense a substitute for the rectangle. But the plans prepared by the College for the development of the rectangle provided there for certain facilities (common rooms and refectories) which the planning authority would be prepared to accept on the new sites. This will make it possible to transfer a portion of these facilities to Princes Gardens, and thus to reduce the density of the development of the rectangular site.The College has also considered with great care, in consultation with the L.C.C. and the Royal Fine Art Commission, whether, in the light of this ruling it would be possible to meet the Commission's wishes in regard to the Collcutt Building. The conclusion is that it is still not possible to meet its wishes in full without reducing the scale of the expansion at the Imperial College on which the Government have decided, and to which they attach great importance; but a revised plan has been prepared which not only gives a lower density of development, but would also enable the central tower of the Collcutt Building to be preserved by the College as a free standing campanile. Before a definite decision can be taken it will be necessary for expert advice to be obtained on the stability of the tower as a separate unit. The Royal Fine Art Commission has given its views on this proposal in a letter the text of which is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what profit or loss has been made by the Wissington Light Railway during each of the past five years; and what quantity of sugar beet and other farm produce has been carried by the railway during the same five years.

Following is the Answer:Over the past five years for which complete returns are available the surpluses or deficits on the operation of the railway after taking into account the administrator's fee of £500 per year, but with no allowance for depreciation or interest on capital have been as follows:

	£
To 30th June, 1951	192 deficit
To 30th June, 1952	170 surplus
To 30th June, 1953	429 deficit
To 30th June, 1954	617 surplus
To 30th June, 1955	496 surplus

Over the same period the tonnages carried have been:

—	Total	Beet	Other
	tons	tons	tons
1950–51	29,683	17,542	12,141
1951–52	28,654	16,611	12,043
1952–53	25,424	17,478	7,946
1953–54	24,177	17,170	7,007
1954–55	19,512	14,946	4,766

Figures for 1955–56 are not yet available, but present indications are that the tonnage carried will be very slightly above that for the previous year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to state the approximate cost of travelling expenses per head for 1955 of persons employed in his Department.

The cost of travelling expenses per head of the staff in the Department in the year from 1st April, 1955, to 31st March, 1956, is estimated at about £66.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive a further report from the Humane Traps Advisory Committee; and how many types of humane traps show promise of replacing the gin trap.

The second report of the Committee has now been received, and copies are available in the Vote Office. Eighteen traps have been tested in field trials, but in the Committee's opinion only three show any reasonable prospect of being developed as alternatives to the gin. All three are spring traps with choker arms designed to catch and kill the rabbit by the neck as it is entering or leaving the burrow.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the comments contained in paragraph 278 of the Medical Research Council's Report on the Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations, he will take steps to see that the risk from radiation to workers in the luminising industry is reduced to a minimum.

These workers are protected by the Factories (Luminising) Special Regulations, 1947, which include requirements for periodic medical examinations and periodic film tests of exposure to radiations. The precautions taken in the 35 factories concerned are kept under close supervision by the Factory Inspectorate, and clinical and haemotological examination of all luminising workers are carried out every year by a medical inspector. These show that the health of the workers is satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Health what provision there is in the counties of Lincoln, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Northampton, for mentally handicapped or retarded children and for occupying or training as useful citizens those over school age.

There are in these counties 23 occupation centres and 10 group training centres.

asked the Minister of Health from which firm the vaccine came which was used for the poliomyelitis vaccinations done at Tottenham and in Derbyshire.

Glaxo Laboratories Limited.

asked the Minister of Health whether the recent vaccinations against poliomyelitis were done with vaccine from both the firms commissioned to manufacture the vaccine; and how much vaccine came from each of them.

All vaccine so far used has been manufactured by one firm; approximately 333 litres have been issued to local health authorities in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients who attended psychiatric out-patient departments of hospitals annually for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The numbers of new out-patients attending mental illness and mental deficiency consultative clinics at hospitals were: 1952, 107,689; 1953, 111,326; 1954, 119,723. The figure for 1955 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with existing provision for out-patient care for sufferers from psychiatric disorders; and what are the number of consultant psychiatrists, other medical staff, and psychiatric social workers employed by hospitals in psychiatric out-patient departments and the number of consultant psychiatrists available for domiciliary consultations with general practitioners.

I consider that this service is developing satisfactorily. Hospital returns do not distinguish staff employed on out-patient services from those employed on in-patient services, but the numbers of consultant and senior hospital medical officer psychiatrists in contract with Regional Hospital Boards at the end of 1954 for domiciliary visits were 469 and 147.

asked the Minister of Supply if the recent series of atomic tests in the Monte Bello Isles have now been concluded; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. A second atomic device was successfully exploded in the Monte Bello Islands on Tuesday, 19th June. This concludes the present series of tests.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when a decision will be given on the Cardiff redevelopment plan.

The principle modifications I propose to make to the development plan have been discussed with representatives of the council and a further meeting is to take place in the next few weeks. It will then be necessary before my formal decision on the plan can be issued to prepare and print the modified maps.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to business houses in Rugby and Coventry, and the extra work entailed by postmen in the matter of surcharging, following the introduction of the dearer 2d. post on 1st June; and if he will take steps to suspend the surcharging of letters until he has taken further action to acquaint the public, either through the British Broadcasting Corporation or otherwise, of changes that have been made.

I am aware that the surcharging of underpaid correspondence has caused inconvenience to business houses and to the Post Office in Rugby, Coventry, and other places. I could not agree to suspend surcharging. The new rates have already been widely publicised in post offices, the Press, and through the B.B.C., and I think they are now generally well known.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for ensuring that the Post Office obtains the advice and opinion of responsible business and civil organisations throughout the country on its services and policies.

I am about to inaugurate a national campaign to encourage the activities of existing Post Office advisory committees, which perform valuable service to the Post Office and to the public in the two-way exchange of views and information, and to stimulate the appointment of further committees at suitable centres throughout the country. Local authorities, chambers of Commerce, and other bodies will be consulted, and invited to join in forming committees to which the Post Office will send representatives.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now reached a definite conclusion on the system of railway electrification which the British Transport Commission has submitted to him.

Yes. I have now completed consultation with my colleagues and have been glad to convey to the Commission my approval of their proposal to adopt the 50-cycle alternating current system, with overhead supply, as a general standard for the future electrification of British Railways, except where electrification is being extended in certain parts of the Southern Region, where circumstances require that the low voltage D.C. third rail system should be retained.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make available the report resulting from the meeting of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research to be held in Geneva in the middle of this month.

The Proceedings of the Symposium on "High Energy Physics," which is taking place from llth–23rd June in the Institute of Physics of the University of Geneva, are to be published; but owing to the work involved I understand that these will not be available until the end of the year.