asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that rabbits are now multiplying again at a great rate on property controlled by his Department; and if he will comply with the regulations applying to farmers and take effective measures to destroy these rabbits as quickly as possible.

Instructions are being issued to ensure that quick and effective measures continue to be taken to exterminate rabbits whenever and wherever they appear on Admiralty land. There is full collaboration with local agricultural executive committees in any measures taken to exterminate this pest. If my hon. Friend has any particular property in mind perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether, under his regulations, Royal Air Force personnel serving in Cyprus who return to Great Britain on leave by civilian transport at their own expense require passports for the journey and to enter Great Britain;(2) if he is aware that Royal Air Force personnel serving in Cyprus and who return to Great Britain on leave at their own expense in civilian transport are being held up by Royal Air Force authority, and impeded from so doing, on the grounds that passports are required; and if he will take steps to terminate any such difficulties.

My hon. and learned Friend will now have received my letter on this subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when it is proposed to introduce the necessary legislation required to transfer the functions of the Imperial Institute to a new site from the present building.

The Government hopes to introduce this legislation next Session.

asked the Minister of Health to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT detailed figures of the economy cut of £573,000 in the National Health Service under the heading of Civil Defence.

The detailed reductions are as follows:—

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of eligible children were registered for poliomyelitis vaccination in the counties and county boroughs, respectively.

Thirty and 27 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Health who the candidates for appointment were to the surgical sessions advertised by the West Dorset Group Hospitals interviewed by the selection committee of the South-West Metropolitan Region Hospital Board in August, 1955; what length of time each of the latter had practised surgery in Dorset; and who was the selected candidate.

The successful candidate was Mr. G. Krafft, M.S. (Lond.), F.R.C.S. (Eng.), M.B., B.S. (Lond.), L.R.C.P. (Lond.). Six other candidates were interviewed, of whom three had practised surgery in Dorset for five, seven and 20 years respectively. It is not the normal practice to publish the names of unsuccessful candidates.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in Lincoln hospitals there are only 40 maternity beds, of which 14 are private; and what is being done to increase the number of non-private maternity beds to bring the figure up to at least the average per head of the population for the country as a whole.

Yes. The private beds are, however, used for non-paying patients whenever necessary. The development of St. Georges Hospital, Lincoln, which is already in progress, will bring the number of non-private maternity beds in the area well up to the national average.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now completed his consideration of the possible steps which might be taken to back-date the pay award recently made to police officers.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to Questions by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) and others.

asked the Minister of Labour the average rise in the cost-of-living index figure, based on the 17th June, 1947, index, for 1956 up to the latest date above that of the average index figure of 149 in 1955; what rise this represents in actual per cent.; and how much he estimates such a rise in per cent. gives on the average earnings of the workers of 222s. 11d. in October, 1955.

With prices at 17th June, 1947, taken as 100 the average of the index figures for January to May of this year was 155. This was about 4 per cent. above the average index figure for the whole of 1955, but only 2 per cent. above the index figure for October, 1955, the date to which the earnings figure of 222s. 11d. for adult males relates. Increases of 4 per cent. and 2 per cent. on a sum of 222s. 11d. would amount to about 9s. and 4s. 6d., respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now give the dates during which the call-up of agricultural workers for the forces will be suspended in order to help with the harvest.

The dates of the 14-week period during which the call-up of agricultural workers will be suspended during this year's harvest time vary according to the needs of the different areas and are set out below:—

Wales—2nd July to 6th October.

London and South Eastern, Southern and South Western Regions—30th July to 3rd November.

Northern Region—6th August to 10th November.

Midland, North Midland, East and West Ridings and North Western Regions—13th August to 17th November.

Scotland—13th August to 17th November.

Eastern Region—20th August to 24th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of eligible children were registered for poliomyelitis vaccination in the counties and county burghs, respectively.

57·2 per cent. of the eligible children were registered in the counties and 28·6 per cent. in the large burghs.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the large number of accidents that have taken place at the junction of Brentfield Road and the North Circular Road and the anxiety of the residents at the delay regarding the installation of traffic lights; and when the installation of these lights will be effected.

I hope that the traffic control signals which are to be installed will be in operation by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now announce the amended terms of reference to the three advisers who deal with security cases in the public service, as proposed by the Conference of Privy Councillors.

Discussions are still in progress with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council, and I am not therefore yet able to make this announcement. I should like however to inform the House that Sir Alexander Little, former Director-General of the Post Office, has succeeded Sir Thomas Gardiner as Chairman of the Three Advisers, and to take this opportunity of thanking Sir Thomas Gardiner for the service which he has rendered in presiding over this body since its first appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that rabbits are now multiplying again at a great rate on property controlled by his Department; and if he will take effective measures to destroy these rabbits as quickly as possible.

Where rabbits are discovered on War Department lands steps are at once taken to destroy them. If my hon. Friend will let me know the particular areas he has in mind, I will have any action taken that may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will remit the sentence of collective punishment imposed on men of the 4147 Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery, Plymouth, for hanging a stove on the regimental flagpole.

No such sentence was imposed.