asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why, despite promises, a National Assistance Board office has not yet been provided in the borough of Stoke Newington; and when he proposes to provide the same.

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that it considers it desirable to provide an office in Stoke Newington but has not so far been successful in its efforts to find suitable premises. No promise, however, as suggested in the Question, has been given that an office would be opened by any particular time, nor is it possible to do so.

Is the Minister aware that this matter was raised nearly four years ago and that various offers of premises were made by the borough council in order to assist the Board? Does he appreciate that this is a matter of the greatest possible urgency, because it entails long and expensive journeys by Stoke Newington residents who are in need?

The National Assistance Board recognises that it would be desirable to provide an office there, but it has so far not found or been offered suitable accommodation. But the hon. and learned Member will be reassured to know that the ordinary personal inquiry work is being undertaken by my Department's own office at 191, Stoke Newington High Street; and, of course, in any event, a good deal of National Assistance work can be, and is. carried out by post.

Is the Minister aware that the present arrangement is entirely unsatisfactory and that there is a very great need for this office, which, I am told, has been repeatedly promised in the past?

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will take steps to co-opt representatives of the British Legion, British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association and other representative ex-Service organisations on to the local committees set up under the National Insurance Act.

In accordance with the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1946, members of these committees are appointed as representing employers and insured persons and there is no provision for the appointment of members specifically representing ex-Service organisations. While, however, the majority of the members are appointed on the nomination of organisations of employers and employed persons, local branches of other organisations, including those mentioned in the Question, can also put forward names for consideration.

Should not the Minister move with the times? After all, the fact is that one of the arguments used when the Ministries were merged was that these committees would be available for the ex-Service man. Could he not look at the constitution of the committees in order to see whether it could be altered to bring ex-Service men on to them?

I do not think that has anything to do with the merger, because, of course, the war pensions committees—with which, I know, the hon. Gentleman is very familiar—are still very much alive and functioning. So far as these committees are concerned, the broad provision is made, of course, by Statute.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what economies he proposes to effect in the administration of his Department.

I am concentrating the issue of pension books for National Insurance pensioners in Scotland and Wales with the issue of those for England at Newcastle, thus permitting of a higher degree of mechanisation of this work. I am also concentrating the work of some of my local offices into larger units. In general, there is a constant search for administrative economies throughout the Department wherever they can be achieved without impairing the Department's service to the public.

While, of course, welcoming any administrative economies which can be effected anywhere, may I ask whether it would be possible for the Minister to review carefully the complaints which he has received, particularly those from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Stoke Newington and Hackney, North (Mr. Weitzman) about the inaccessibility of several of the remoter offices, and will he ensure that where there happens to be a large number of people requiring the services of his Department they will not be denied a local office?

I will always consider any suggestion which is put forward, but I am bound to say that the proposal of the hon. and learned Member for Stoke Newington and Hackney, North relates to the National Assistance Board and not to my Department, and relates to an increase in expenditure and not to economies.

Does the latter part of the Minister's original Answer in connection with the concentration of work in some of the larger offices mean the closing down or making into caller stations of some of the outlying offices?

It means that for some of the outlying offices caller offices will be substituted.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what changes he has made in the administrative arrangements of his Department for dealing with approaches by Members of Parliament on pensions cases brought to their notice; and what arrangements there are for liaison with the British Legion.

No changes have been made or are contemplated. My hon. Friend and I are, and remain, at the disposal of hon. Members with respect to these cases. Our contacts with the British Legion similarly remain excellent, and from our point of view most helpful.

Can the Minister explain why the British Legion has sent to hon. Members a long circular, highly impertinent in tone, attempting to interpose itself and its services between hon. Members and the right hon. Gentleman's Department?

It is not for me to answer questions as to circulars sent by the British Legion. Having seen the document which I think the hon. Member has in mind, however, it seems to me to be purely intended to be helpful and to enable the Legion, which has assisted many hon. Members, as I know from my own experience, to give assistance in the future.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that 120 Members of all parties have welcomed the circular?

I did not know the figure but it does not surprise me, because I know very well that the Legion does a great deal about this subject and can be extremely helpful in individual cases.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the percentage increase given to a married couple when the National Assistance rates were raised on 18th November, 1955.

The current scale came into effect on 23rd January, 1956. For a married couple it provided an increase of 6·3 per cent. over the previous rate.

Is the Minister aware that the cost of living has gone up by 9 per cent. since he gave the last increase to pensioners? Is it not time, therefore, to raise the aged people's pensions?

As far as I understood the hon. Member's supplementary question, it related to pensioners. The Question relates to Assistance payments. As far as they are concerned, the figure I gave was of an increase of 6·3 per cent., since when the cost of living has moved by 2 per cent.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he can now make a statement as to the reasons for the delay in making a further payment to Far Eastern prisoners of war from the Japanese assets.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware of the disappointment of ex-prisoners of the Japanese and their next of kin at the long delay that has occurred in the distribution on a per capita basis of the money available under Article 16 of the Japanese Peace Treaty; when the British claim was submitted to the International Red Cross; when it was agreed; and on what basis he hopes to make this further distribution.

I share my hon. Friends' concern about this delay. As my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary told my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Norwood (Sir J. Smyth) on 15th June, the Peace Treaty provided that the International Committee of the Red Cross should distribute the money to the countries concerned. I understand that that Committee has had some difficulty—which is understandable—in checking the lists put in by certain countries, and that we are unlikely to receive the money due to us for several months. We will distribute the money as quickly as possible when wet get it.

Is it, therefore, clear that the delay is due not to the Ministry but to international affairs? Will my right hon. Friend ask his right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary to bring pressure to bear upon the International Red Cross so that if there are countries which cannot make up their minds who were ex-Service men and who were not, they may be urged to make a settlement, because thousands of men are waiting for the money?

My hon. Friend is quite right inasmuch as we have not yet received the money and, therefore, cannot distribute it. As regards the last part of his supplementary question, the phrase I used was that, "My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary is drawing the attention of the International Committee to our desire.…" That is possibly a more decorous way to phrase it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable disappointment at the delays which have occurred in the distribution of the money under Article 16, but that this is tempered to a large extent by the fact that the sums, when paid, will be substanial? Is my right hon. Friend aware of the widespread feeling that the Government have done their very best in this problem and have shown considerable understanding?

I share my hon. and gallant Friend's disappointment that we have not yet been able to get this money. Certainly, as soon as we get it we will distribute it. It has been overdue for some time.

Have the Government not considered the possibility of themselves making payments in advance? Why should not the Government take up this balance, since the delay is not due in any way to the pensioners themselves?

The understanding was that it was to be these Japanese assets which were used for this particular and specific purpose relating solely to Far East prisoners of war. Until the International Committee has finished its work, we shall not know precisely how much we are to get.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total amount distributed on a per capita basis to ex-prisoners of the Japanese or their next of kin under Article 14 of the Japanese Peace Treaty; what sums were given to charitable organisations to give extra help to the most deserving cases; how much of the Article 14 money remains available for distribution; and on what basis, and when, he hopes to distribute this small sum.

A total of about £2,645,000 has been distributed on a per capita basis in respect of ex-prisoners of war and civilian internees of the Japanese. In addition, £27,000 has been divided between the King's Fund, the Far Eastern Prisoners of War Central Welfare Fund, and the Returned British Prisoners of War Association. A sum of about £200,000 remains. Arrangements for its distribution have so far awaited further information as to when we are likely to receive the money due to us under Article 16.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps have been taken to ensure that disabled ex-Service men are fully acquainted with their entitlements under the pensions schemes.

A leaflet setting out the various entitlements is sent with each notification of a first award of war disablement pension. In 1948 and 1952 special leaflets, with up-to-date information, were sent to all disablement pensioners of both world wars inquiring whether they were sure they were receiving all the allowances to which they were entitled. Following discussion with my Central Advisory Committee earlier this year, I am proposing to send to all pensioners a letter enclosing up-to-date particulars of what is now available under the war pensions provisions.

Do I take it, therefore, that the Minister refutes the accusation by the secretary of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association that the Ministry has done nothing to bring these entitlements to the notice of ex-Service men? In view of the fact that the general secretary of that organisation explained recently that it had discovered hundreds of cases of ex-Service men who were not receiving their full entitlements, can the Minister tell the House whether the association has drawn those cases to the notice of his Department and that they are being dealt with?

It is our desire that every war pensioner should know what he is entitled to. The steps I outlined in my main Answer indicate how, under successive Ministers, this has been done. I would not say that as a result of that every war pensioner necessarily will know every detail of these somewhat complex provisions. For that reason, ex-Service organisations can play a very useful part in bringing individual cases to light. If they refer with justifiable pride to cases which they have succeeded in bringing to light, I am sure that they are perfectly entitled to do so.

Is there not a difficulty with those who have not received a pension? Are steps being taken to acquaint men leaving the Forces with their rights under the Acts governing pensions?

As the documents that go to a man prior to demobilisation are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends of the Service Departments, I would prefer not to answer a question about that off the cuff, although I think that the fact that pensions are paid for war disabilities is fairly widely known in the Forces.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will set up a committee to inquire into the economic possibilities of combined electricity generation and district heating by the use of small power stations sited near large new housing estates or new towns.

No, Sir. Progress in this field is not limited by lack of knowledge but by the high cost to the consumer even in areas where there is a concentrated demand for heat as well as electricity.

Is the Minister aware that the economics of separate electricity generation and district heating schemes are very different from those of combined schemes using back-pressure steam? Is he not aware that we are much behind other European countries in trying out schemes of this kind, which are extremely saving of fuel?

I am aware that the economics of this matter are rather complicated. The fact remains that, rightly or wrongly, we in this country have gone in for large power stations, with consequent low operating costs. That means, however, that if we attempt to distribute the heat, the consequent distributing costs are all the higher; and this increase is more than can be offset by the reduced operating costs at these large stations.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the present position with regard to the giving or withholding of consent for the building of a nuclear power station at Berkeley in Gloucestershire; whether he is aware that steps have already been taken to construct the approach road and water supply; and on what date formal approval was given for these initial proceedings.

My consent to the Berkeley Power Station was given on 18th July. I am aware that the Central Electricity Authority had, on its own initiative, already made arrangements with the highway authority to improve the road to the site and with the water undertakers to provide the site with adequate water. I understand that, in making these arrangements, which did not require approval by Her Majesty's Government, the Authority took the view that the need to bring the new power station into operation at the earliest possible moment justified it running the risk that I might refuse my consent to the station.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of Lord Citrine's support in his official capacity for certain restrictive trade practices, and his inability thereby to safeguard the interests of the Central Electricity Authority and the users of electricity, if he will terminate his appointment as chairman of the Central Electricity Authority.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the speech which Lord Citrine made recently at a study conference, all the speakers at which spoke as private individuals rather than in their official capacity, and were enjoined by the chair to be provocative, and even heretical. I am satisfied that Lord Citrine's response to this injunction will in no way bear the interpretation that he is unfitted to safeguard the interests of the Central Electricity Authority.

Has the Minister inquired whether the views that Lord Citrine expressed are the official views and policy of the Authority of which he is the chairman, because that was certainly the indication given to those who heard the speech and reported it? If that is so, does the Minister not feel any alarm that a nationalised industry spending huge sums of money should not be at all concerned about level tendering?

I think the best way of settling this matter is to see exactly what Lord Citrine said, and if the hon. Gentleman will bear with me I will give two quotations from his speech. The first is this:

"It is very interesting to me, when we ask for tenders, to find that on orders involving, perhaps, £600,000 or £700,000, the estimating is so accurate on the part of each firm that we get a tender even to the shillings and pence which is identical."

"I have a very high regard for the mathematicians who can bring about that result."

"I do not want it to be assumed I regard this as necessarily wrong."

"The real question is, are the prices they fix fair prices, and that does involve, it seems to me, some investigation of their costs."

"That means employing an instrument … whereby assurance can be given."

Would my right hon. Friend apply himself to the fact that it is the declared policy of the Government to curb monopoly and to smash price rings? If that be the case, whether Lord Citrine was speaking in a personal capacity or in his capacity as chairman of the Central Electricity Authority, surely what he said is absolutely inimical to the objectives of my right hon. Friends?

The declared policy of the Government about price rings is enshrined in the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill. The words which I have quoted from Lord Citrine's speech are entirely consistent with the Bill. In other words, level tendering or collusion may be justifiable in certain cases carefully set out in Clause 16 of the Bill. This is no more and no less than that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Liberal Party professes to have a high regard for individual liberty, and that all that Lord Citrine has done is to express a personal opinion? Is he also aware that Lord Citrine has rendered better service to the community than the whole of the Liberal Party put together?

I think we have heard quite enough on this Question.

The right hon. Gentleman is all frozen up, as usual.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the existence of restrictive trade practices in the nationalised industries for which he is responsible; and if he will give a general direction to those industries to assist the Government in its policy of bringing to an end restrictive trade practices which are against the public interest.

In so far as the nationalised industries enter into restrictive agreements, they will be subject, like other industries, to the provisions of the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill except, of course, in the case of agreements expressly authorised by statute. In these circumstances, I do not think that the question of issuing a general direction arises.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Liberal Party has no objection whatever to people expressing their opinions but is concerned when the implication is the carrying out in a nationalised industry of a policy which is quite contrary to the avowed policy of the Government, and does he not agree that this kind of thing is a subject on which a general direction should be given? If he does not agree on this or on detailed control, would he say exactly what control he is having over nationalised industries?

As a non-Liberal but as a member of the Government, I would dispute the implication of the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what sum he has authorised to the Central Electricity Authority, including all area boards, for capital investment during 1956; and when giving such authorisation what regard he had to the effect on their estimate of the practice of level price tendering by the authority's contractors offering supplies of plant and equipment, and soliciting building contracts.

The investment programme of the Central Electricity Authority for the financial year 1956–57 was authorised at £195 million. It is the task of the Authority to ensure that the resources made available to it are used to the best possible advantage.

As it is the policy of the Government to curb monopoly, may I ask my right hon. Friend what steps he took, when authorising this huge figure of £195 million, to ascertain what part of it was subject to these level price tendering practices which most of my hon. Friends and I regard as so offensive?

I would refer my hon. Friend to a comparison of the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill and Lord Citrine's speech, and I will challenge him—

I am very flattered, I am sure.

to find any essential difference. For the rest, certainly I did not put this question to the Central Electricity Authority, and to put to it a detailed question of the kind asked by my hon. Friend would, it seems to me, be inconsistent with the broad supervision which a Minister ought to exercise and with the sense of responsibility which he ought to endeavour to inculcate in a nationalised board. Naturally, in making these capital allocations, I had a look at the trend of capital costs in the nationalised industries concerned. It is a fact that the trend of capital costs in the electricity supply industry is lower than the trend of costs in general and of capital costs in general.

A very poor answer, if I may say so.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimate he has made of the effect which the policy of an electricity price standstill, announced by the Central Electricity Authority in response to the Government appeal, will have on the financial stability of the area electricity boards; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given on 26th June by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. J. Paton).

Bearing in mind that reply, is it not a fact that a number of the area electricity boards will be forced to have an adverse financial balance as a result of this policy? Is it wise or fair that hitherto prosperous national undertakings may be forced into a bankrupt position by pressure from above?

It is a fact that individual boards will be involved in deficits, but it would be quite wrong to suggest that these deficits were enforced by influence from above. Despite the widespread impression to the contrary, this action on the part of the Central Electricity Authority was entirely on its own initiative and was not the result of any prompting or suggestion by me or by the Government. What it did is compatible with statutory requirement, which is not that individual boards should be in balance but that the gross revenues of the undertaking as a whole should match its gross outgoings.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what reply he has sent to protests against the proposal to develop opencast mining at Gawthorpe.

As I told the hon. Lady in a recent letter, I recognise the strong objections to the working of the Gawthorpe Hall opencast site but, as the site contains 1 million tons of coal, I have decided that it must be worked. My authorisation to the National Coal Board is subject to stringent conditions designed to ensure the safety of Gawthorpe Hall itself, minimise the damage to other amenities, and secure early and careful restoration.

In view of the fact that the Minister himself has admitted, in the letter which he has sent me, that this scheme will involve blasting operations very near to Gawthorpe Hall, which contains valuable plaster and glasswork, and that it will mean the felling of trees and the diversion of the River Calder, all of which will help to devastate an area which has very few amenities, will he not look at this matter again?

Due precautions are being taken to ensure that the blasting does not affect the hall. The fact with which I am confronted is that the demand for coal is high. The deep-mined output is insufficient to meet the demand. I am, there-force, left with very limited freedom of choice, but, within that limited freedom, I have taken all the precautions that seem to me practicable to ensure the safety of the Hall and the least possible destruction of the amenities.

Has my right hon. Friend made this clear to Padiham Urban District Council, which has represented to him the strong feelings felt in Padiham about it? What reactions has my right hon. Friend had to his explanation?

The conditions which I mentioned to the House have certainly been conveyed to the local council. I am not as yet aware of any response from the council.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what further steps he has now taken to inquire into British African coal resources with a view to meeting Britain's coal import requirements.

This is a question which concerns other Departments besides my own, and it has been arranged that there shall be an inter-Departmental investigation of the issues involved so far as the United Kingdom is concerned.

Yes, it may be an inter-Departmental question, but it is also a very important one, and can my right hon. Friend say when he hopes to publish this report? In what form will it be published? Shall we all have an opportunity to scrutinise my right hon. Friend's views in the matter?

My hon. Friend will, in due course, have my decisions on the conclusions reached by the inter-Departmental investigation and of my reasons for reaching them.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement upon prospects for next winter's coal supplies with special reference to householders' needs.

The present stock position is favourable, total distributed stocks being 18 million tons as against 14 million tons at this time last year. These high stocks, however, are largely the result of imports on a scale which we cannot afford to repeat. To reduce this dependence on imports and see us safely through the winter we need to increase home production and, in particular, to minimise losses through absenteeism and disputes. To ease the task of producers and distributors in coping with the uncertainties of winter, I would urge all householders who can to lay in stocks during the remainder of the summer, when they have the advantage of lower prices.

While congratulating my right hon. Friend upon the able administration which has produced this higher stock figure this year, may I ask him to consider the position of householders who are still doomed to a mere pittance of 34 cwt. of house coal per annum in the south of England and only 50 cwt. in the North of England? In view of the satisfactory stock position, why should not the householders have a little more coal this winter?

They cannot afford it.

I do not consider that my answer lends itself to the complacency which my hon. Friend reads into it. My Answer, I hope, made it clear that the high stocks have been purchased at extremely heavy cost in the shape of foreign exchange. I cannot risk a repetition of such a high cost.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a general direction in the national interest to area gas boards to accept surplus gas from the carbonisation plants of the National Coal Board.

I am satisfied that there is already sufficiently close and continuous consultation between area gas boards and the National Coal Board to ensure the maximum possible use of gas made at the National Coal Board's carbonisation plants.

What kind of muddle is the Minister attempting to justify? Is he aware that last week the East Midlands Gas Board, in defiance of the price freeze, announced increases of prices and, on the very same day, the carbonisation officer of the National Coal Board announced that £120,000 worth of gas was being turned to waste because the East Midlands Gas Board would not accept it?

I am not justifying any muddle. What has happened in the East Midlands is the teething trouble which often arises when a new plant is started. Even so, with this teething trouble, the amount of gas lost in the months of May and June in the East Midlands area was 4½ per cent. of the total gas supplied by the National Coal Board in that area and less than 1 per cent. of the Board's average sale in the summer.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied with the methods of co-operation that exist between his Department and the aircraft manufacturers in this country in providing aircraft for the British Overseas Airways Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that there is good co-operation in these matters, but he always welcomes suggestions for improvements.

Is the Minister aware that there is great disappointment in the aircraft industry at the fact that B.O.A.C. is being forced to buy American yet airliners, whereas if there had been greater co-operation between the Ministry of Supply and aircraft manufacturers the airliners could have been made in this country?

B.O.A.C. is already buying a number of British aircraft, both Britannias and Comets, and it is too early to anticipate the result of the recent visit to America by executives of B.O.A.C.

Will my hon. Friend say when B.O.A.C. last placed an order for a large type of aircraft to meet its requirements? Is it not a fact that the V.1000 did not have the blessing of B.O.A.C. and that aircraft cannot be produced unless they are ordered?

I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that requirements must be stated in good time if they are to be fulfilled by the British aircraft industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of single outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and the number of outbreaks at five or more farms in the same area, during the last twelve months; and the number in each group in the same period three years earlier.

There were nine primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the twelve months July, 1955, to June, 1956, and 27 during the corresponding period three years earlier. In no infected area were there outbreaks at five or more farms between July, 1955, and June, 1956. In 1952–53, there were five, but the size of an infected area then was larger than it is now.

Does my hon. Friend ascribe the diminution of the primary outbreaks to myxomatosis amongst rabbits? Does he think that rabbits spread foot-and-mouth disease and that it is as a result of having fewer rabbits that we have fortunately had such a small number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease?

No, Sir. All the evidence is that myxomatosis affects only rabbits and, very occasionally, hares.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the cost of erecting one acre of glasshouses for each year since 1938; and what steps he is taking to implement a policy for providing cheaper glass for horticultural purposes.

I regret that yearly figures are not available. It is estimated that the cost of timber-framed glasshouses without heating equipment was about £2,500 an acre in 1938, and is now about £8,500. The cost of glass for horticultural purposes does not appear to have risen in the same proportion, and there seems no reason for intervention.

Will the Minister answer directly how much it now costs, at the present price of timber and glass? Will he look at the document, produced by his own party, entitled "All the Answers"? Is it not a fact that his party at the last Election deprecated the fact that greenhouses cost £12,000 per acre and that horticulturists were unable to enter the industry because of the terrific price of glass? What is the Minister doing to produce cheaper glass?

The best answer is that in 1938 there were 2,770 acres of glasshouses in the country and in 1956 there were 4,571 acres.

What is happening about the development of cheap plastic substitutes? There were some promising experiments.

I am afraid that I cannot answer that question. The hon. and learned Member should place a Question on the Order Paper to one of my right hon. Friends.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres of farm land are unavailable for farming because they are occupied by derelict sites of the Fighting Services.

I regret that this information is not available.

If it is not available to the House, how is it that the Minister's own party could give the acreage in the document "All the Answers" during the last Election? If the Conservative Party, for personal party propaganda, could put forward fictitious figures at the General Election, can we not now, when the party is in power, have accurate figures?

Answer.

I do not think the Minister is responsible for the figures that were quoted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what rate of acreage per year Britain is losing agricultural land for development; and what acreage of farm land is now used for building or other uses of the Fighting Services.

Precise figures of the loss of agricultural land are not available. The only information is by inference from the agricultural returns which are collected for other purposes and which exclude holdings of one acre or less and those parts of agricultural holdings not used for agricultural production. Subject to these reservations, the agricultural returns suggest that agricultural land in England and Wales has been lost to building development, mineral working and sports grounds at an average rate of about 37,000 acres a year over the last five years. As regards the last part of the Question, I regret that statistics are not available.

Whilst thanking the Minister for that answer, may I ask whether he realises that the document "All the Answers" used at the General Election gave a figure of 50,000 acres? Can we have some really accurate figures? Now that we are embarking upon a disarmament programme, will the Minister fight harder on behalf of the small farmer to prevent his land being retained as derelict sites, as it is in my constituency and in others at present?

I can assure the hon. Member that the information which I have given him in this answer is correct.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he asked the National Farmers' Union to forward his views on agricultural wages to the farmers in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend has not expressed any views on agricultural wages. The letter he sent to the President of the National Farmers' Union dealt with agricultural prices, which is a matter of common concern to the three farmers' unions in the United Kingdom. It referred to previous correspondence between my right hon. Friend and the President writing on behalf of the three farmers' unions.

Since when has the Minister been responsible for agricultural conditions in Scotland? Is he aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland would not dream of issuing such an indiscreet letter to the farmers of Scotland, and does he not think that he ought to apologise both to the Scottish farmers and to the Secretary of State for Scotland for issuing such a reactionary circular?

I think that my right hon. Friend has nothing to apologise for in the matter. His letter was a plain statement to the President of the National Farmers' Union of what might be the effect on agricultural prices, which would be a matter of general concern to the farmers in Scotland as well as to the farmers in England and Wales.

May I say a word for England? In view of the harmful effect this letter has already had, and in view of the harmful effects it is likely to cause to industrial relations in the agricultural industry, will the Joint Parliamentary Secretary advise his right hon. Friend to withdraw the letter as soon as possible?

What about Wales?

I cannot agree that this letter has had harmful effects. It is a perfectly straightforward, honest statement, and it leaves the three farmers' unions in no doubt where they stand in the matter.

If his right hon. Friend has nothing to apologise for about the letter, would the Minister not agree that his right hon. Friend certainly has something to apologise for when he interferes with the work of another Minister, since his right hon. Friend has nothing whatever to do with Scottish agriculture?

No, Sir. I think that my answer explained the point. The guaranteed prices for farm products affects the farmers in Scotland just as much as they do the farmers in England.

asked the Minister of Health what special conditions he attached to his permission for the erection of a new kitchen block at West Heath Hospital, Birmingham; and when he anticipates that erection will begin.

My right hon. Friend has asked the regional hospital board to seek to reduce the cost substantially below the estimate they made to him. In answer to the second part of the Question, I am unable to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 4th June.

Is this not rather urgent? Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the hospital is right on the edge of the city and that it cannot provide canteen facilities for visitors out there until it gets this new block? Will she, therefore, do her best to prevent anything being put in the way of something speedy being done.

There is no controversy between us on the need for this building. However, the original estimates were extravagant ones and, if we allow an extravagant scheme in one area, we deprive another area of something which it should have. The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that authority to invite tenders was given on 26th May.

asked the Minister of Health what considerations are taken into account in the selection of consultants for merit awards; and whether there is a lower age limit.

Selection is on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards who base their recommendations on professional distinction. There is no lower age limit.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the feeling that the Committee which makes these recommendations is apt to equate merit with age? Is he personally satisfied that the arrangements are working well and that younger consultants get a fair share of these awards?

Replying to the second part of the question, I think this is working reasonably well. Consultants over the age of 70 are not eligible for merit awards. I find that the lowest age at which an award has been given is 33. The average age for A awards is 51 and for B awards 47, which is reasonably satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, despite the salary award of May, 1955, the pharmaceutical staffs of hospitals are 30 per cent. under establishment; that the position is deteriorating with consequent harmful effect to the service which hospitals are able to give to patients; and what steps he will take to effect an improvement.

I am aware that there is a shortage of pharmacists in hospitals, as elsewhere, but precise details are not available. I am considering what action can be taken.

Is the Minister aware that whilst he is considering this action, and for the past twelve months, hospitals have had to pay from 14 to 16 guineas a week for locum pharmacists because they cannot now recruit permanent staff at £550 a year? Is not that the crux of the matter, and will he deal with that quickly?

I answered a Question a fortnight ago about locum pharmacists. Their remuneration is a matter in the first instance for the Pharmaceutical Whitley Council.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether the dispensing services in some hospitals have had to be closed down because of the lack of staff?

It is known that in two hospitals the chief pharmacists have recently left the hospital service for outside employment. This is a general difficulty throughout the country. There is a shortage of pharmacists, not only in the hospital service but in our other services, and I am certainly perturbed about it.

asked the Minister of Health on what dates Mrs. Harriet Thornton was given an independent medical examination; who is responsible for the expense involved; on what date the doctor's report was received by the Board of Control; and what decision has been reached as to whether Mrs. Thornton is to be discharged or to remain in a mental home.

I am not aware, neither is the Board of Control, on what dates Mrs. Harriet Thornton was given an independent medical examination. The responsibility for the expense involved rests with the applicant for the independent medical examination. No certificates or reports from the two doctors authorised to examine Mrs. Thornton have yet been received by the Board of Control, and no decision has, therefore, been reached as to her discharge.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state that if my client pays for the independent medical examination that same person gets either the medical report or a copy of it? Is he not aware that the doctors made their final examination ten days ago, and does he not think it is time that something was done, or is it felt that this woman should stay longer?

I do not know when the examination took place, but I take it that the hon. Gentleman is correct in his facts. If the reports do not come in, the question will then arise as to what is to happen to this lady. At the present moment she is absent from the Cane Hill Mental Hospital on a three months' trial period. If the hospital management committee or the Board do not exercise their statutory power to direct the patient's discharge, the question of her future care will be a matter for consideration by the hospital authorities in the light of reports received upon her progress while on trial.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now make a statement regarding proposed building extensions to St. Luke's Hospital. Rugby.

No proposals for the extension of this hospital have been submitted to my right hon. Friend.

Has the hon. Lady forgotten that a short while ago she invited me to put down a Question upon this matter? This is a most disappointing answer to me, and also to my constituents.

I may have invited the hon. Gentleman to put down a Question on his own area, but I am now giving him the information. The regional hospital boards are responsible for the planning in their areas, and, as the hon. Gentleman will know, the main problem here is less to provide extra beds than to staff the many existing closed beds. The regional hospital board is considering the general problem, but it has not submitted to my right hon. Friend any suggestions for the rebuilding of St. Luke's Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. B. Palmer, 7, Napton Grove, Birmingham, 29, returned to work under the National Health Service after his retirement, acting in the national interest and looking forward to an improved pension; that he has now been discovered to be ineligible for re-entry to the superannuation scheme; that his contributions were wrongly deducted for two-and-a-half years and have now been returned without apology or payment of interest; whether he will not make an ex gratia payment for the loss and distress involved; and whether he will amend the regulations to encourage elderly people to resume work in the National Health Service.

I am sorry that Mr. Palmer was wrongly required to make superannuation contributions on being reemployed; these have been returned and I do not consider that any question of an ex gratia payment arises. The Superannuation Regulations already enable re-employed pensioners to add to their pensions except where a pension has been commuted. I do not consider that an amendment of the Regulations is called for.

But is not this most unfair? Would it not be the decent thing to do to offer this man at least an ex gratia payment to cover the interest on the money which the Ministry has illegally collected from him for no less than two years? Would it not be the decent thing to do something about that aspect of the matter?

There is no statutory power to pay interest on returned contributions made in these circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health why treatment available outside the Service for curing or alleviating blindness in small children is not available through the National Health Service.

I am aware that a doctor who does not practise in the National Health Service claims to be able to treat some of these children successfully. I have had repeated inquiries made for the evidence on which his claims are based and have been unable to obtain any evidence at all or even, latterly, any reply to inquiries. I regret to say that I am advised by the most distinguished eye surgeons that there is no known effective treatment for the type of blindness in question. The claims made can do nothing but raise false hopes and lead to fruitless expenditure of considerable sums of money.

How does my right hon. Friend explain the fact that the parents of these children have noticed an improvement in their sight after they have been treated by this doctor?

The type of blindness in question is retrolental fibroplasia. I am advised that some of the children have a small remnant of sight left, enough just to perceive light. A very young baby cannot demonstrate that, but as his mental capacity develops he becomes able to appreciate and follow light and to show others that he can do so. This gives the impression that the sight has improved when it may not really have done so. Spontaneous improvement occurs in some cases during the first few weeks of the disease.

Am I right in concluding that the most distinguished ophthalmic surgeons are engaged in the National Health Service and that better treatment cannot be obtained outside the Service than in it?

That is perfectly true. The point here is that these parents are being asked to pay £500 for the treatment when we can find no evidence of any advantage received by the children.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he has made for the discharge of duties formerly carried out by the Adviser in Parentcraft to his Department.

Any necessary work in this field is now fully covered by medical officers specialising in maternity and child welfare and by public health nursing officers of my Department.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that he still regards this work as of first importance, as it has got about in some areas that the termination of the appointment means that the Minister is no longer interested?

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for putting down the Question. The work on the advisory side is going on as strongly as ever.

asked the Minister of Heath what action he is taking to prevent the excessive prescribing of tranquillisers in view of recent medical information.

Responsibility for what is prescribed must rest with the doctors concerned, but I have no doubt they are well aware of the desirability of restricting quantities of these and other drugs to the minimum necessary for the treatment of the patient.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that a very strong advertising campaign about this specific type of drug is being started, and that doubts are expressed in medical circles about the value of the drug? Could he not say that the prescribing of it will be restricted to hospitals until we have further information about it?

No, Sir. Doctors must be free to prescribe. It is not advisable, in my view, for Ministers to interfere with the right of doctors to prescribe. However, if the medical profession has doubts about the advisability of these drugs, then I feel sure there will be a drop in the number of such prescriptions.

As these so-called tranquillisers are, for the most part, proprietary drugs, and as the Minister in the debate on the Guillebaud Report showed some concern about the excessive prescribing of proprietary drugs, can the right hon. Gentleman say what he is doing to prevent this excessive prescribing and what the exploitation of the public is?

I have been in communication with the British Medical Association on this point.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the 176 accidental deaths of infants under one year of age that occurred through suffocation in bed or cradle and the uncertainty as to the causation of many such deaths, he will institute an inquiry as to how they can be prevented.

An inquiry designed to gain more exact information is already proceeding under the general direction of Professor Banks of Cambridge.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise what extraordinary distress the death of these healthy children causes the parents, and that the deaths occur even with the most careful mothers, and even in hospitals? Can he say when the inquiry is likely to report, so that something can be done to prevent such terrible disasters?

I understand that an interim report is at present in preparation. The hon. Gentleman will remember that in the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report for 1954, on page 73, there was a certain amount of detail about the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct our representative at the United Nations Disarmament Commission lo press all nations to agree to the limitation of atom and hydrogen bomb tests pending the discussions of the disarmament proposals now before the United Nations Disarmament Commission.

The Disarmament Commission has just adjourned, having given instructions to its Sub-Committee that it should continue its search for agreement and that all the various proposals made in the Commission are to be studied in the Sub-Committee. Included among them are proposals for the limitation of nuclear test explosions.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there will be great disappointment in this country, and throughout the world, if the Soviet Government's offer to negotiate about the stopping of hydrogen bomb tests is not accepted? Public opinion is against the testing of these terrible weapons of destruction.

I am certain that public opinion in this country, in so far as I can speak for it, would be against a unilateral acceptance of such an offer without proper control over the other factors involved.

As a warning has been given by the Medical Research Council that if the rate of tests increases there will be a positive danger to people now living, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the rate of testing is increasing, particularly in the United States?

No, Sir, not without notice. The matter was dealt with fully by the Minister of Health in a debate last week.

asked the Secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, in view of the official announcement that the Soviet Government are ready to start talks immediately on the banning of atom and hydrogen bomb tests, if he will take steps to convene a conference of the Powers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government has considered the official Soviet proposal to ban all further nuclear tests; and whether a favourable response will be made, so that the first step in international disarmament can be made.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 19th July.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Soviet Foreign Secretary's offer is in respect of international agreement between the three major Powers, there being three Powers making nuclear weapons? Surely, he can take a lead in calling a conference of the three Powers?

The Prime Minister dealt with the matter on 19th July. If the hon. Member will look at that reply and listen to the debate today and tomorrow, he may learn something.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer he has given to the Israeli Government's request for anti-aircraft equipment.

Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to disclose the details of particular requests or deliveries.

Is the Minister aware that I did not ask him to do so? I asked him what reply he had given. Is he aware that the Israelis are menacing nobody? Also, is he aware that the peace of the world depends upon tranquillity in the Middle East? Why do the Government refuse to give defensive weapons such as anti-aircraft guns to Israel in her pursuit of peace and her defence?

It is not the custom to disclose confidential diplomatic exchanges. With regard to the rest of the hon. Gentleman's questions, I have nothing to add to my original answer.

Has not discretion been exercised about giving information? As anti-aircraft weapons can be of no interest to anybody except a possible aggressor, what is the objection to telling us whether a request has been made, and, if so, whether the Government are willing to supply the weapons?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to his right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), who, I think, originally gave this reply in 1950.

Has time stood still since 1950?

Since the hon. Gentleman has referred to me, is he aware that I regard his answer as completely unsatisfactory?

I am delighted that at last the right hon. Gentleman is so dissatisfied with himself.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to supply such arms to Israel as are calculated to keep Israel on a basis of not less than equality with the Arab States? Can he tell us that without divulging any great secrets?

On numerous occasions, almost weekly, the policy of Her Majesty's Government has been laid down from this Dispatch Box—in line with the Tripartite Declaration of 1950, when, I think, the right hon. Gentleman was Foreign Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that Israel still has qualitative equality in arms with the Arab countries; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Younger) on 18th July.

Altogether apart from that, will the Joint Under-Secretary make clear what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to help Israel to counter the Centurion tanks which Her Majesty's Government are supplying to the Arab States? Will he tell us what efforts Her Majesty's Government are making to see that Israel is put into no more than a strong defensive situation, which demands qualitative equality with the Arab States?

It is not possible to go into details of the quality and quantity of supplies, logistics and communications and all the other factors involved.

While there may be sound reasons for not disclosing details, will not the hon. Member agree on behalf of Her Majesty's Government that the present arms position between the State of Israel and the Egyptian Government is one of unbalance and that Egypt has an overwhelming superiority in arms?

No, I do not agree, and if the right hon. Gentleman will look at the replies given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary over the last few weeks he will see why.

Is my hon. Friend aware that recently Mr. Ben-Gurion said that Israeli forces had more than doubled in the last eight years and that he did not think anything of the sort was true of the Arabs?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Foreign Secretary's statement that the balance of arms was in favour of Israel has been strongly challenged by the Israeli Government and that they have given chapter and verse for their views? We are awaiting from the Foreign Secretary some further comment on the situation so that we might really know what the situation is.

I am aware that the Israeli Government gave a Press conference and presented Israel's case. The Arabs, on the other hand, have justified large purchases from the Soviet bloc on the grounds that they were necessary to balance Israeli superiority.

Does not all that show the necessity for giving a really objective statement of Her Majesty's Government's opinion of the details of the balance of arms?

I suggest that the right hon. Gentleman should consult his hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, East (Mr. Crossman), who knew a great deal about this in our last debate on the matter.