asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations Her Majesty's Government has made concerning the increasing delay over remittances on account of sale proceeds of British assets in India, as well as the increasing reluctance on the part of the Government of India to sanction such sales.

None. I have no knowledge of cases in either category having recently occurred.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the number of Indian citizens resident in the United Kingdom at the time of the census in 1951; and the number of arrivals and departures since.

I regret that these figures are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that firms are still experiencing difficulty in obtaining steel for direct export work; and whether he will consult with steel suppliers, and ask them where they are fully satisfied that material is required for direct export production, to give a measure of preference.

I am aware that some difficulties in steel supplies still exist. I am sure that steel producers fully appreciate the needs of export industries and do their best to satisfy their requirements, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case of difficulty in mind and would let me know of it, I will ask the Iron and Steel Board to look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the continued shortage on Merseyside of steel, especially of the types required by the ship repair industry; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware of difficulties about steel supplies on Merseyside and if my hon. Friend will let me know of any particular case I will ask the Iron and Steel Board to investigate it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the United State tariff on imports of certain types of linen towelling is to be increased from 10 per cent. ad valorem to 40 per cent.; and what representations he is making in the interest of our export trade.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have made representations to the United States Government, and I am now considering what form of compensation we should seek.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal by the United States of America of a concession previously granted under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which has the effect of increasing the tariff on imports of linen towelling from 10 per cent. ad valorem to 40 per cent.; how far this is the result of agreement he reached at Geneva; whether he is aware of serious effects this will have on the linen industry and on employment in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he took before agreeing to the present import quotas, to satisfy himself that neither the United States of America nor Israel subsidises the export of citrus fruits, either directly or indirectly.

Citrus fruits are at present imported from the United States under Mutual Aid arrangements from which imports of subsidised fruits are specifically excluded. Imports of citrus fruits from Israel are admitted without restriction under open general licence. I am satisfied from inquiries made that they are not subsidised directly or indirectly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of potatoes has been imported through the Bristol and Cardiff docks since April; and what quantity has been re-exported to Holland in the same period.

Three hundred and nine thousand cwt. and 1,460 cwt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what food is bought from Great Britain by the Argentine in exchange for the food bought from them by this country.

United Kingdom exports of food and beverages to Argentina during 1955 were as follows:

	£
Live animals chiefly for food of which—	376,604
Bulls for breeding	342,973
Fish and fish preparations	9,676
Sugar and sugar preparations of which—	39,840
Lactose (sugar of milk)	39,760
Coffee, cocoa and cocoa preparations, tea and spices	5,849
Feeding stuff for animals and food wastes	1,002
Miscellaneous food preparations	13,984
Beverages of which—	219,918
Whisky, Scotch or Irish	218,056
All other foods	426
	£667,299

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in the recent General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations, which countries reduced tariffs on cotton or rayon textiles by an amount greater than or equal to the reduction granted by the United Kingdom on continuous filament rayon fibres and fabrics containing 75 per cent. man-made fibres.

It is not possible to show the comparison suggested by my hon. Friend. Our duties on man-made yarns and tissues, like a number of foreign textile duties, are combinations of specific and ad valorem duties whose incidence varies considerably according to the weight and price of the material. I will, however, send to my hon. Friend particulars of the concessions made on man-made textile yarns and tissues by the United Kingdom and by other countries. Particulars of concessions on cotton textiles were given in reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 12th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in his present discussions with the Prime Minister of Australia, he will press him to avoid further cuts in imports of British motor cars into Australia, in the interests of the British export trade.

I have been asked to reply.The discussions will cover all aspects of our trade with Australia, including the effect of import restrictions on our exports.

asked the Prime Minister why he has not yet recommended the award of a general service medal to those members of Her Majesty's forces on active service in Cyprus.

I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the total production of fresh milk for March, April and May of this year compared with the production during the same months last year.

Sales off farms in England and Wales for the months of March, April and May of this year are estimated at 490 million gallons compared with 445 million gallons last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the standard quantity of milk production on which the guaranteed payments operate.

One thousand six hundred and fifty-one million gallons in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that fines have been imposed by the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board upon growers who have failed to furnish their production returns to the Board; and if he will introduce legislation to take away from the Board the power to inflict fines in such cases.

My right hon. Friend is aware that a very small number of registered producers have failed to render the production returns required by the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board, and that they have been fined for failing to do so. Such returns are essential for the proper functioning of the Board. The present arrangements have been approved by Parliament, and I see no need to change them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that during the late spring potato growers withheld stored potatoes from the Potato Board in order to secure higher prices; that the Board is now compelled to buy these potatoes at the guaranteed price in a time of plenty; and if he will introduce legislation to give powers to the Board to requisition potatoes in times of scarcity.

My right hon. Friend is aware that a small number of growers kept potatoes for sale until late in the season and that, owing to a change in market conditions, they have now offered them to the Potato Marketing Board under the terms of the guarantee arrangements. These arrangements are intended to provide a minimum return to producers. I see no reason to interfere with the free market by extending the powers of the Board to include a power to requisition potatoes.

asked the Minister of Labour whether local employment exchanges are informed as soon as a possible redundancy is foreseen in a Government factory or establishment; how long a period of warning is usually given; and what steps are then taken.

In general, advance notice is given to my Department by Government establishments, sometimes months beforehand. My officers then discuss the proposed redundancy with the management, and interview and advise the redundant workers in advance of their discharge.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people are unemployed as a result of the closure of the cotton mill at Shotts; and what he proposes to do to find alternative employment for them.

One hundred and sixty-six workers, mainly women and girls, who were previously employed by this firm are registered as unemployed. I am afraid that the present prospects of placing them in other employment are not good as there are no suitable vacancies in Shotts or in the neighbouring employment exchange areas.

asked the Minister of Labour what effect this week's increases in the prices of milk and beer will have on the cost-of-living index figure.

If all other prices remained unaltered, the increase of ½d. a pint in the maximum retail price of milk would raise the Retail Prices Index for 17th July by nearly one-fifth of a point. Prices of beer are not controlled and the extent of recent increases and their effect on the Index will not be known until the usual monthly inquiries are made in mid-July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to specify the capital works on prisons provided for in 1956–57 Estimates that are now to be deferred.

There will be a deferment to some extent of the following projects; the second new prison which is planned; the East-Hubert Psychiatric Institution; two new detention centres; two Borstal Institutions; a number of officers' quarters and a small number of miscellaneous capital works, mainly improvement of existing buildings. I hope that it will nevertheless be possible to complete within the current financial year the purchase of the site for the new prison and to make a start on site works in connection with the East-Hubert Institution. The adaptation of premises for a fourth detention centre will not be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what respects the evidence disclosed at the Messina trial at Tournai, of which he is aware, is insufficient to enable him to close the four brothels belonging to the Messina brothers, the addresses of which have already been communicated to him.

A full record of the evidence given at Tournai is not yet available, but I am not aware of any disclosure which affects the Answer I gave to a similar Question by the right hon. Gentleman on 28th June. As I explained during the debate on 2nd instant, the mere use of premises for immoral purposes does not in law convert the premises into brothels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact, confirmed by Sergeant Gentle of Scotland Yard at the recent trial of two of the Messina brothers at Tournai, that they had influence over 250 to 300 girls in London, what steps he proposes to take to close the premises which belong to them and are still used for immoral purposes.

I am informed that Sergeant Gentle gave no such evidence. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer to the Answer I gave to a similar Question by the right hon. Gentleman on 28th June. I would only add that I have no power to close premises on the ground that they are used for immoral purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority an officer of the Metropolitan Police stated in evidence in the courts at Tournai last week that reports had been received from Scotland Yard that four premises, 39, Curzon Street, 12, Chesterfield Street, 7, Stafford Street and the upper floors of 36, Shepherd Market, were still being used for improper purposes.

This officer gave evidence from his own knowledge that these premises had been used for prostitution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the five persons with criminal records to whom reference was made by Sergeant Gentle, of Scotland Yard, recently in the courts at Tournai are still resident in the United Kingdom; and how many of the premises owned by them, to which reference also was made by Sergeant Gentle, are still used for prostitution.

Two of the persons about whom Sergeant Gentle was questioned are at present in the United Kingdom. The police have no proof that any of the premises to which reference was made is in the ownership of any of these persons. The use of these or any other premises for prostitution does not necessarily constitute any offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution.

I do not yet know when the Committee will be able to present its Report. I doubt if it will be before the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state the number of murders in England and Wales known to the police for each month from January, 1955, to the latest month for which figures are available.

The numbers of murders recorded as known to the police during the months in question were as follows:

1955, January	…	…	…	8
February	…	…	…	19
March	…	…	…	22
April	…	…	…	15
May	…	…	…	15
June	…	…	…	7
July	…	…	…	12
August	…	…	…	13
September	…	…	…	14
October	…	…	…	6
November	…	…	…	13
December	…	…	…	8
1956, January	…	…	…	10
February	…	…	…	13
March	…	…	…	17
April	…	…	…	12
May	…	…	…	16

These figures include some cases in which the offender was ultimately found guilty of manslaughter or infanticide, and not of murder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances temporary release on parole is granted to persons serving a sentence; and by whom, in particular cases, the decision is made.

Temporary release on parole may be granted for the purpose of visiting a near relative who is dying, or attending the funeral of a near relative, or, as respects certain

—	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
(a) Orders made under section 62 (1) of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933	249	298	238	213	224
(b) Orders made under section 40 (3) of the Education Act, 1944	61	43	37	32	29

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Police Act, 1949, so that pay increases may be awarded retrospectively to police sergeants and below in the same classes of prisoners, for home leave near the end of their sentence for the purpose of assisting resettlement after discharge. Governors have authority to grant parole in suitable cases for all three purposes. Parole is occasionally granted for other reasons, but only on the authority of the Prison Commissioners or, in exceptional cases, of myself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been sent to approved schools in the last five years, on orders of juvenile courts, on the ground that they failed to attend school and/or that they were in need of care and protection.

The courts have power to send children and young persons to approved schools on several grounds besides the commission of an offence. Particulars of orders made under each of the relevant provisions of the law are given at the end of Table XII of the Criminal Statistics.The following table shows the numbers of approved school orders made by juvenile courts in each of the last five years in respect of children and young persons on the grounds (

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making in his consideration of legislation to enable the pay increment of the police force, granted by the recent arbitration award, to date from 8th September, 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction at the failure to implement the arbitrator's award to make the new scales of police pay for ranks between chief inspector and constable retrospective to 8th September, 1955; and whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Police Act, 1919, to permit the award to be made retrospective in view of the fact that such amending legislation was promised in 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has completed his consideration of the difficulties which arise from the present state of the law and which prevent the implementation of the award of the Police Arbitration Tribunal of 31st May, 1956; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now completed his consideration of the legal difficulties involved in implementing the award of the Police Arbitration Tribunal of 31st May, 1956; and if he will make a statement.

As I indicated in reply to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) on 21st June, Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to introduce legislation to give effect to the recent award of the arbitrators. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are, however, exploring the possibility of amending legislation to remove the present difficulties in relation to any future agreements or awards. This raises difficult issues, which we hope we shall be able to resolve in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he estimates his Department saved by the failure to back-date the police arbitration pay award to September, 1955 instead of 16th December, 1955; and whether he will make a statement.

It is estimated that the cost of giving effect to the December award from 8th September, 1955, would in England and Wales be £1,840,000, of which half would fall on the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average number of hours worked per day by members of the Criminal Investigation Department in the ordinary course of duty; and the average number of hours worked on additional rest days.

The number of hours worked in the ordinary course of duty by members of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police Force varies from 9 to 11 a day according to rank. On additional rest days they should not ordinarily work more than eight hours, though owing to the nature of the duty this is inevitably sometimes exceeded.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities in England and Wales do not now make major awards at the rates recommended in his Circular A.M. 502 to students attending full-time degree and degree-equivalent courses and to those over 18 years attending full-time diploma courses which do not entitle the holder to graduate status under the Burnham Report; and what arrangements he is making to ensure that all students, who do not receive an industrial wage at the recently designated colleges of advanced technology, get awards from their local education authority at the county major rate.

135 out of 146 local education authorities have accepted my recommendation to pay major award rates to full-time students attending all courses leading to a degree or other qualification carrying graduate status under the Burnham Report. I cannot say how many authorities give major awards for full-time diploma courses not carrying that status. In answer to the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 4 and 5 of Administrative Memorandum No. 530, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Education the amount allocated to the Bradford Technical College under the programme of capital development for technical colleges amounting to £70 million for the next five years as set out in the White Paper, Command No. 9703, 26th February, 1956.

New buildings costing about £400,000 for the Rosemount Technical Institute are included in the 1956–57 building programme and I hope that these will help to remove much of the lower level work from the College. I have approved, as part of the 1957–58 programme, four minor projects costing about £90,000 and I shall be considering in due course with the authority and the governing body whether further projects are needed in order to enable the College to fulfil the conditions required of a college of advanced technology.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion the sums spent by his Department and by local authorities on public education formed of the total national income in 1938 and 1955, respectively.

1·897 per cent. and 2·664 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Education the average sum, measured in 1938 money values, spent from national and local revenues on the education of each child in maintained schools, in the last financial year and in the financial year 1937–38, respectively.

The average expenditure per pupil in maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools in 1955–56 was £44, excluding the cost of school milk and meals. The corresponding figure for 1937–38 is estimated at £15. Since there is no index suitably constructed to measure changes in the prices of the goods and services used in education, I cannot express last year's figure in terms of 1938 values.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will receive a deputation from the Cornwall Education Committee on the implications of Circular 306, which discriminates against Cornwall, because of the restraint exercised in capital expenditure in response to the joint appeal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Housing and Local Government in October, 1955.

A deputation from the Cornwall local education authority is to be received on 12th July.

asked the Minister of Education the number of retired teachers who are excluded from benefiting under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956, because they were under 60 years of age.

None. Teachers cannot receive pensions under the Teachers (Superannuation) Acts before they reach the age of 60 years except on the ground of ill-health, and ill-health pensioners can receive pensions increase at any age.

asked the Minister of Education whether his Regulations permit a Member of Parliament, who was formerly employed full-time as a teacher or headmaster, to return to this appointment whilst, at the same time, holding his position and salary as a Member of Parliament.

My Regulations do not deal with this possibility.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will give the comparative cost of maintaining all the British troops at present in Germany and a similar number in the United Kingdom, respectively.

The additional cost of maintaining all the British Forces at present in Germany, as compared with the United Kingdom, is about £10 million a year. This figure excludes capital expenditure and civilian labour.

asked the Minister of Defence the number of retired officers of the three Armed Services, including officers of the Indian Armed Services, who were excluded from benefiting under the Royal Warrant of 24th May, 1956, and corresponding instruments because they were under 60 years of age.

About 22,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of murders in Scotland known to the police for each month from January, 1955, to the latest month for which figures are available.

The figures of murders made known to the police in Scotland are as follows:

—			1955	1956
January	…	…	1	2
February	…	…	1	—
March	…	…	—	1
April	…	…	2	2
May	…	…	1	1
June	…	…	1
July	…	…	—
August	…	…	1
September	…	…	1
October	…	…	2
November	…	…	1
December	…	…	2
NOTE: Two of these cases in 1955 originally reported as murders were later judicially determined to be cases of culpable homicide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far arrangements recently concluded for the encouragement of citrus fruit exports from the West Indies to this country are having the desired effect; and how the exports since the arrangements came into effect compare with the figures for the corresponding period in the preceding year.

I assume that the hon. Gentleman has in mind the price assistance scheme, a note about which was placed in the Library of the House following my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on the 26th October, 1955.The main purpose of this scheme is to afford a reasonable stability of price to the grower rather than to encourage a greater volume of exports to the United Kingdom from the territories concerned. It may well have the latter effect as well, but an increase in the volume of exports will depend essentially on increased production from the trees planted in recent years and now coming into bearing.Full export figures are not yet available for the 1955–56 crop year which would enable a comparison to be drawn with the previous season.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the opportunities for increasing our earning of dollars by making available increased hotel facilities in this country for Canadian and United States visitors; and if he will have a survey made of all hotel accommodation in London and other centres which is now in the hands of Government Departments or local government departments, with a view to action being taken to return these buildings to their proper use.

Government Departments own or hold on long lease a number of former hotels which have been converted for use for offices and other purposes. Only part of one hotel in the London area and three outside, involving in all some 244 bedrooms, are still held on requisition. It is the Government's policy to cease holding property on requisition as soon as possible.Any question in respect of hotels held by local authorities should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his estimate of the further deficit that the British Transport Commission will incur owing to the freezing of transport costs at the request of Her Majesty's Government; and how it is proposed to deal with this deficit.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave yesterday to Questions by the right hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. G. R. Strauss) and the hon. Member for Enfield, East (Mr. Ernest Davies), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that rabbits are now multiplying again at a great rate in woodlands and scrub on property controlled by his Department; and if he will ensure that his Department comply with the regulations applying to farmers and take effective measures to destroy these rabbits before they seriously increase further.

Measures are taken, where necessary, to keep down rabbits on trunk road land and on aerodromes controlled by my Department, and I am not aware that they are ineffective; but if my hon. Friend knows of any particular site under my control where rabbits are multiplying again I should be glad to investigate it.

asked the Minister of Health to enumerate the officials who, in connection with the child welfare responsibilities of his Department, whether direct or by delegation to local authority, are empowered to visit homes and advise parents and, either by court action or otherwise, to separate children from their parents.

None.

asked the Minister of Health why examination of the teeth of school children required for statistics of the pre-fluoridation condition continued at Watford after fluorides were added to the water; and whether only the teeth of school children are being examined in connection with the fluoridation of the water supplies.

The examinations were undertaken to provide base line statistics of the condition of children's teeth for later comparison; the teeth of children, both of school age and younger, are to be examined at the same time each year to enable comparisons to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated number of working people with weekly incomes of £5 or less, between £5 and £10, between £10 and £15, between £15 and £20, and over £20, respectively, after reduction of tax and Insurance contributions, on the latest date for which figures are available.

The table below gives the estimated distribution of net incomes, after tax, for 1955:

Range of net annual income		Number of persons (millions)
Under £250	…	8·1
£250–£499	…	8·7
£500–£749	…	6·5
£750–£999	…	1·9
£1,000 and over	…	1·0
Notes:—
(1) The figures refer to all incomes, whether earned or investment. Separate figures for earned income are not available.
(2) The group with net incomes below £250 consists mainly of pensioners and juveniles.
(3) The deduction for National Insurance contributions has been limited to that part of the contribution which qualifies for Income Tax relief.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will arrange for Her Majesty's Stationery Office to publish periodically a directory of the members of all consultative committees and consumers' councils established for the nationalised industries, showing their respective periods of appointment and remuneration.

I do not think the preparation of such a directory would be justified by the use likely to be made of it, as the membership of these committees and councils is already published in the Press and in the annual reports of these committees and councils or of the nationalised industries concerned. It is also readily supplied by the relevant Ministry to any inquirer.Appointments are normally made up to a maximum period of five years. In most cases members receive no remuneration, but are granted travelling and subsistence allowances at the same rates as members of Government committees.

—		Five years or less	Over five but less than 15 years	Over 15 years
		Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
From 1st April to 8th July, 1955	…	3⅛	3¾	4
From 9th July to 12th August, 1955	…	3¾	4¼	4¼
From 13th August to 6th September, 1955	…	4⅛	4½	4½
From 7th September, 1955 to 13th January, 1956	…	4½	5	5
From 14th January to 23rd March, 1956	…	5½	5⅜	5¼
From 24th March to 22nd June, 1956	…	5⅝	5½	5½
From 23rd June to the present time	…	5¼	5½	5½

For loans for any period up to 50 years to housing associations as defined by the Housing Act, 1936, and the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950, for loans for any period up to 40 years under the Housing Acts to companies and private persons limiting their profits to the rate for the time being prescribed, and for loans for any period up to 50 years under the Harbours and Passing Tolls, etc., Act, 1861, will collateral security, the rates charged have been the same as those currently charged to local authorities for loans for periods of more than 15 years.For loans for any period up to 40 years under the Housing Acts to companies and private persons not limiting their profits, for loans for any period up to 50 years under the Harbours and Passing Tolls, etc., Act, 1861, without collateral security, and for all other loans for any period, the rates charged have been ¼ per cent. more than those currently charged to local authorities for loans for periods of more than 15 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total amounts have been issued under the Public Works Loans Act, 1955, up to 31st March, 1956, and, since then, up to the latest convenient date; and how much of those amounts has been borrowed, respectively, for education, for public health, for housing, for other local authority purposes, and for repayment of maturing debt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made in the rates of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board to local authorities and to bodies other than local authorities since 31st March, 1955.

The rates charged by the Public Works Loan Board to local authorities have been these:

The total of advances made under the Public Works Loans Act, 1955, up to 31st March, 1956, was £364·3 million. The purposes for which these advances were issued are shown in detail on page 6 of the Eighty-first Annual Report of the Public Works Loan Board, 1955–56, which is available in the Vote Office today.The total of advances issued since 31st March, 1956, up to the end of last week was £37·5 million, for the following purposes:

	£ million
Education	1·3
Public health	2·4
Housing	28·5
Re-borrowing	0·4
Other purposes	4·9
	37·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will classify by rates of interest and by methods of repayment the amounts advanced to local authorities out of moneys issued under the Public Works Loans Act, 1955, up to 31st March, 1956, and, since then, up to the latest convenient date.

The classification of the amounts issued under the Public Works Loans Act, 1955, up to 31st March, 1956, by rates of interest and method of repayment is shown on page 6 of the Eighty-first Annual Report of the Public Works Loan Board, 1955–56, which is available in the Vote Office today.I regret that without a very great deal of labour it would not be possible so to classify the amounts issued since 31st March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give the purchasing power of the £ for each of the years 1942 to date.

I regret that figures are not available between 1939 and 1945. Using 1946 as a base, however, the figures, based on the Consumer Price Index up to 1955, and the Index of Retail Prices thereafter, are as follows:

					s.	d.
1946	…	…	…	…	20	0
1947	…	…	…	…	18	9
1948	…	…	…	…	17	5
1949	…	…	…	…	17	0
1950	…	…	…	…	16	5
1951	…	…	…	…	15	2
1952	…	…	…	…	14	5
1953	…	…	…	…	14	1
1954	…	…	…	…	13	10
1955	…	…	…	…	13	5
1956	…	…	…	…	12	8*
* Derived from Retail Price Index for May, 1956.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of allowing spinsters and bachelors who are incapacitated from earning their living to claim the housekeeper allowance at the same rate as is now allowed to widows and widowers irrespective of whether they are disabled or not.

No such estimate has been made, nor is there sufficient information about the employment of housekeepers by incapacitated bachelors and spinsters to enable a reliable figure to be calculated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent economic developments have led him to modify his policy in regard to restrictions on bank advances.

This is not the time to relax, and I rely on the banks to continue their co-operation, since the Government are anxious that the full force of the credit restrictions should continue to be maintained.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a statement on the economies proposed to be effected on the approved Estimate for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for 1956–57.

In the statement circulated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the OFFICIAL REPORT (26th June, 1956, c. 280) the reduction to be made in the published Estimate for the D.S.I.R. is given as £150,000. This reduction in the net Estimate is to be attained by the following means:

(1) Staff—reduction of £33,000, resulting from a slowing up in the rate of recruitment.

(2) Grants for industrial research—reduction of £20,000.

(3) Capital and general expenses of Departmental establishments—reduction of £49,000, mainly to be found by economies in purchases of equipment and consumable stores.

(4) Extra-Departmental research—reduction of £20,000, to be achieved by delaying commencement of a new borehole for the Geological Survey.

(5) Receipts—increase of £70,000 (thus reducing the net Estimate) resulting from increases in test fees and other similar charges

The economies above total £192,000; this total must be offset by increased expenditure of £42,000 on scientific grants (£37,000 for nuclear physics and £5,000 for other grants) which give the announced total of £150,000.