asked the President of the Board of Trade what orders for tractors have been received from China and submitted to him for approval; and how many have been refused for security reasons.

Since 1st January, 1956, 12 applications by eight manufacturers for licences to export agricultural tractors to China have been approved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the general grounds, under his regulations, on which enemy aliens are allowed to retain their property, and have it confiscated, respectively.

No control by the Custodian of Enemy Property or the Board of Trade was exercised over the property of enemy aliens (that is, German enemy subjects resident in this country during the war), in cases where the owner was not the subject of special restrictive measures, or internment, by the authorities. In some cases, where the owner was interned, his property was vested at an early date by the Board in the Custodian to prevent any possible advantage to the enemy.After hostilities ceased, the property of interned aliens who were allowed to remain in the United Kingdom was restored to them. About 1,200 were, however, repatriated to Germany and their property then became subject to control to the same extent as the property of all those German nationals who had been resident in Germany during the war. If, however, a repatriated German reached Germany after the 11th March, 1946, and also had not been in internment after the 8th November, 1945, his property was exempted by a Statutory Rule & Order (No. 331 of 1946, dated the 11th March, 1946), from the general provisions.In a very small number of cases a released internee who was to be sent back to Germany could not be repatriated, but was ordered to leave the United Kingdom. In such a case the vested property is being treated in the same way as that of the repatriated internees who were outside the exemption I have mentioned, or as that of a German always resident in Germany. All such property is Germany Enemy Property available for the purposes of the Distribution of German Enemy Property Act, 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the urgent need of an early decision, he will make a statement on the future of the British Film Production Fund before the House rises for the summer Recess.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the importance to film producers of an early statement on future film policy, and for that reason he will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in percentage of men's earnings and women's earnings, separately, from 1938 to October, 1955.

Average weekly wage earnings increased by 223 per cent. for men and 255 per cent. for women between October, 1938, and October, 1955.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer what improvement has recently been made in the economic situation by the operation of the credit squeeze.

The so-called "credit squeeze", together with other measures, has contributed to an improvement in the general economic situation. In order to overcome inflation these measures must continue to be applied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of blocked sterling balances; and how soon they are due for release.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which the Economic Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) on 4th July, and to the various published inter-Government agreements.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what action he now intends to take or has already taken on the Service Estimates in order to minimise the Treasury use of virement in the future.

Action is always taken to see that Estimates are as accurate as possible, in order to minimise the need for virement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many Statutory Instruments were issued between August, 1945, and January, 1951; at what number per week were new regulations issued: and how these figures compare in both respects with those for the period 1951 to 1956.

In the two periods referred to, the total numbers of Statutory Instruments of all classes issued were 12,692 and 11,356, respectively, representing weekly averages of about 45 and 40. I regret that in the time available it has not been possible to ascertain just how many of these were new regulations. The hon. Member will appreciate that in any comparison it is important to distinguish between regulations of national and purely local significance.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many of the Lane Bequest pictures are now hanging in the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery: how many are in storage and how long they have been in storage; and how many other works of the painters included in the Lane Bequest are to be found now in the National Gallery and Tate Gallery.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) yesterday.Most of the 15 paintings at present in storage at the National Gallery were transferred there some six months ago from the Tate Gallery. They had been exhibited at the Tate from time to time since the war, and on at least one occasion were shown as a complete group. The 8 pictures not at present on exhibition at the Tate have been in store there for about a year.Other works by painters represented in the Lane Bequest are as follows:

I. At the National Gallery
Bonvin	…	…	1
Boudin	…	…	3
Corot	…	…	12
Courbet	…	…	3
Daubigny	…	…	4
Daumier	…	…	Nil
Degas	…	…	4
Diaz	…	…	4
Fromentin	…	…	1
Gerome	…	…	Nil
Ingres	…	…	5
Jongkind	…	…	1
Manet	…	…	4
Maris	…	…	4
Monet	…	…	Nil
Monticelli	…	…	12
Pissarro	…	…	2
Puvis de Chavannes	…	…	1
Renoir	…	…	1
Rousseau	…	…	5
Stevens	…	…	1
II. At the Tate Gallery
J. L. Brown	…	…	Nil
Fantin-Latour	…	…	6
Forain	…	…	3
Madrazo	…	…	1
Mancini	…	…	1
Morisot	…	…	Nil
Vuillard	…	…	3

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities regarding the advantages of double windows in public buildings or housing estates for which they are responsible, both in the interest of the comfort of the people working or living in such buildings and because of the substantial savings in fuel which would be possible.

Advice to local authorities has been confined to thermal insulation of roof space, floors and walls, since this gives greater heat savings for the expenditure than double-glazing and involves no additional maintenance cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet received plans for a green belt for the Poole-Bournemouth area.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now in a position to announce his decision in respect of the compulsory purchase order for Field Farm, near Dorchester-on-Thames.

I hope to issue a decision very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what application he has received from the Manchester Corporation for an order under the Water Act, 1948, to vary their charges for water as a result of revaluation.

None. The corporation operate their water undertaking under local Acts which prescribe maximum rates and charges. They would apply to me for an order to vary their charges only if they wished to exceed these maxima.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to call the attention of local authorities to the Government's policy of stabilisation of prices and wages, with particular reference to pending rent increases under rent differential schemes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 26th June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the housing of London Airport workers, following the conference held last January with the local authorities concerned.

At the meeting in January, it was made clear that the problem of housing London Airport employees is primarily one for the local authorities and the Airport Staff Housing Associations.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to arrange for the transfer of labour by his Department with the least possible friction between the employers and employees in view of the possibility of a large changeover in the near future from the less essential industries to those of more importance to the economy of the country.

I do not accept the view that a large scale movement of workers from industry to industry is to be expected in the near future. When employers are faced with a prospective redundancy, it is most desirable, as I have frequently said, that they should have early consultations with their workers' representatives and give my local offices as long warning as possible of the numbers likely to be discharged.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now state by what measures he expects to secure a total reduction of about 2,000 of the staff of his Department; and whether he will furnish details of the numbers involved in each of the affected sections and branches of the Department.

A reduction in the staff of my Department is being planned to take place by December, 1957, as a result of the following measures:

(1) The three appointments offices in London, Manchester and Glasgow are to be closed and the services of some of the larger employment exchanges are to be developed to deal with placings and vacancies previously dealt with at the appointments offices. It is estimated that this will result in a net saving of 250 staff.

(2) There will be some reduction in the staff employed on the following services—the Technical and Scientific Register, the Training Within Industry service and the Personnel Management Advisory service with a saving of some 50 staff.

(3) The revocation of the Notification of Vacancies Order is estimated to result in a saving of 150 staff.

(4) Changes are to be made in the organisation and procedures of certain aspects of the Department's work, e.g., deferment and call-up under the National Service Acts, statistics, the issue of permits for the employment of aliens, finance, etc. It is estimated that these items will together result in a staff saving of 230.

(5) A review of the standards of staffing at Headquarters, regional and local offices is being carried out. It is estimated that savings of 100, 150 and 850, respectively, will result.

(6) Certain changes are to be made in the organisation of work at outstations, with an estimated saving of 100.

(7) A review of the existing network of local offices of the Ministry is also being carried out. The resulting staff saving is provisionally estimated at 150.

The estimated total staff saving from the above measures is 2,040.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, before giving effect to the staffing economies he has in contemplation in his Department, he will afford an opportunity for consideration of any representations he may receive upon the matter through his National Joint Advisory Committee.

I have already circulated for the information of the National Joint Advisory Council the statement I made on 12th July in reply to the hon. Member for Shoreditch and Finsbury (Mr. Collins). My Council is meeting tomorrow, and I should of course consider any comments it might wish to make.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men were employed in collieries in the Central East Area, Scotland, on 1st January, 1947; how many are now employed in this area; and how many he expects to be employed in this area by July, 1957.

I understand that there were 13,200 wage earners on colliery books in this area on 1st January, 1947, and 12,200 at the beginning of this month. The number for July, 1957, cannot be precisely estimated, but the employment tendency is downwards.

asked the Minister of Labour how many British subjects holding degrees or diplomas in technical, scientific or engineering subjects have left this country in each of the last three years for which statistics are available; and how many immigrants have entered the country with similar qualifications.

I am informed that the available statistics of emigration and immigration do not provide the information asked for.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the rise in percentage between the average retail price index figure for the three months prior to 1st December, 1954, and the average retail price index figure for the three months prior to 18th November, 1955.

Taking prices at 17th June, 1947, as 100, the average of the retail price index figures for September, October and November, 1955, was 151·9 or about 5½ per cent. higher than the average of the index figures, on the same basis, for September, October and November, 1954.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the rise in percentage between the average retail price index figure for the three months prior to 1st December, 1954, and the average retail price index figure for the three months March, April, and May, 1956.

Taking prices at 17th June, 1947, as 100, the average of the retail price index figures for March, April and May, 1956, was 156·7 or about 9 per cent. above the average of the index figures on the same basis, for September, October and November, 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now state the policy of Her Majesty's Government on slaughterhouses.

As I indicated in answer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Angus (Captain Duncan), on 1st May, the associations of local authorities saw difficulties about the proposals made by the Interdepartmental Committee on Slaughterhouses for the creation of new slaughterhouse authorities. I subsequently asked the associations to consider other proposals designed to serve as the basis of the long-term improvement of the slaughterhouse service, but so far I cannot claim to have achieved that measure of agreement which I had hoped for. I shall continue my consultations with the associations, and shall make a statement on the results as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the heavy catches of salmon during the last two seasons, he will use his powers under Section 14 of the Salmon and Fresh Water Fisheries Protection (Scotland) Act, 1951, to extend the weekly close time to 48 hours per week.

Section 14 of the Act requires an investigation to be made by 1958 into the operation of the provisions of the Act relating to the weekly close time, but does not enable me to extend it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now announce his decisions on the outcome of his discussions with local authorities on the finance of local authority housing and subsidies.

I had a preliminary meeting with the three associations of local authorities on 20th April when a Working Party of Departmental and local authority officials was set up to ascertain the facts affecting the review. The Working Party reported on 16th June, and I discussed proposals for changes in the subsidies with the associations at another meeting on 6th July. I have not yet received the views of all the associations on these proposals, and I regret that I shall not be able to make a statement before the beginning of next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the Government's request for an increase in beef production, he will encourage local authorities to operate the provisions of the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955, as a matter of urgency.

I regret that, in view of the need to limit capital expenditure, I cannot offer grants for this purpose at present. I am prepared, however, to consider any schemes submitted to me by local authorities with a view to the offer of grants as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Report of the Hill Lands (North of Scotland) Commission.

The Government accept the main conclusions of this Report, and are greatly indebted to Lord Balfour of Burleigh and his colleagues for the very useful and realistic appraisal of all the various physical and economic factors affecting cattle rearing on the hill lands of the North of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has intervened in the matter of applications by the farm workers of Scotland for higher wages by writing officially to the National Farmers' Union.

The hon. Member may have in mind the letters of 7th February and 21st June from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to the President of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales which are printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 19th July and which expressed the Government's views on special reviews. I would refer him to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to Questions asked by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Faversham (Mr. P. Wells) and others on that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in view of the action of Edinburgh Corporation, in response to his circular about economies, by which they are increasing the charge for meals in nursery schools from 4d. to 10d., he will issue a further circular specifying in detail the matters in respect of which economies axe not to be made.

The increase in the charge for meals in nursery schools in Edinburgh is in accordance with the Government's decision that the charges to nursery school pupils should be the same as those to pupils of school age. Education authorities were informed of this decision in a circular sent to them on 27th June, and I see no need to issue a further circular on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had, and with which bodies, concerning the problems in Lanarkshire caused by the closure of collieries, the closure of a cotton mill and the redundancy which has arisen in other factories.

I am in frequent consultation with my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Labour and National Service about employment in this area, and we have received and replied to a memorandum from the Lanarkshire Joint Consultative Committee through the Scottish Board for Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the concern of local education authorities about the contents of Circular No. 332, Fees For Further Education; and, in view of the increasing importance of extending further educational facilities, if he will consider the immediate withdrawal of the circular.

I fully appreciate the importance of developing further education and am anxious to encourage it. The circular contains nothing which should impede that development, and I cannot agree to withdraw it.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent the credit squeeze has now resulted in a fall in the volume of private building.

It is too early as yet for any reduction to have shown itself in the volume of private building work actually being carried out. Nevertheless there are indications that but for the credit squeeze appreciably more new private building would be coming forward.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, why, having regard to the responsibilities of the Atomic Energy Authority, the Chemical Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research occupies the time of nearly one-quarter of its staff on radio-chemical work.

The radio-chemical work at the Chemical Research Laboratory is carried out under contract for and at the cost of the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority because it is mutually agreed that this is the most convenient and economical arrangement. The staff of the Chemical Research Laboratory has been augmented specifically for this purpose from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the four houses in Mayfair, particulars of which he already has, are still being used wholly for illegal immoral purposes, some of them with a madame who collects the fees and passes them on to the house owner, he will take steps to have them closed.

As I have previously informed the right hon. Gentleman, the police have no evidence that these premises are being used illegally. I have no power to have them closed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the interests of the farming community, he will represent to the British Broadcasting Corporation that the weather news on television should be given at about 10 p.m., which is a more convenient time for farmers than 7 p.m., which is too early and 11 p.m. which is too late for them.

I understand the B.B.C. has already examined this suggestion sympathetically but feels unable to adopt it owing to the real difficulties it would involve in re-arranging evening programmes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will call a conference of manufacturers of tractors, farmers' organisations and other interested parties to give consideration to the design of tractors so as to make it easier and cheaper for satisfactory cabs to be fitted.

Cabs of generally satisfactory design are now available for all the more popular makes of tractor and can be readily fitted. I will, however, convey my hon. Friend's suggestion to the Joint Consultative Machinery Committee of the Agricultural Engineers Association and the National Farmers' Union, which can consider any points of design which may need further attention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what detailed services will be affected by the Proposed economies in Government expenditure relating to Class II, Vote 5, Commonwealth Relations Office; Vote 6, Commonwealth Services; and Vote 11, Development and Welfare, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, &c.

The proposed economies in expenditure for which the Commonwealth Relations Office is responsible are to be effected as follows:(i)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what detailed services will be affected by the proposed economies in Government expenditure relating to Class II, Vote 9, Colonial Services; and Vote 10, Development and Welfare, Colonies, etc.

The economy proposed in Class II, Vote 9, Colonial Services, is a reduction of £1 million in the provision for loan assistance towards expenditure arising out of the emergency in Kenya. After a review of its latest financial situation and having regard to the assistance which Her Majesty's Government has given and is continuing to give to Kenya, the Kenya Government decided that it could and should accept a reduction of £1 million in the loan element out of a total of £4 million grant and £2 million loan which Her Majesty's Government orginally agreed to provide, should the need for it arise.The proposed economies in Vote 10 do not represent a reduction in the total sum which Parliament has made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts for Colonial development up till 1960, nor do they mean that there will be any slowing down in the rate of Colonial development. The effect will be to restrict demands on the Exchequer in the current financial year to not more than £17¼ millions, but it is not expected that this will affect individual projects.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now make a statement about the arrangements for regional co-ordination of courses in further education and inter-authority payments.

I met representatives of the London County Council and of the Associations of Local Authorities and Education Committees on 17th July and they agreed to make the following recommendations to their constituents:

In the light of the White Paper on Technical Education and Circular 305, the local education authorities should invite regional advisory councils:

(a) to examine urgently the existing provision of vocational courses, particularly above the level of O.N.C. or its equivalent;

(b) to consider how far industry, and employers generally, are aware of the provision already made for technical education;

(c) to consider how industry and the technical colleges can be better informed of any decisions resulting from advice given by the council which may affect the pattern of future development and in particular the planning of new advanced vocational courses.

A working party of officers of the Ministry, H.M. Inspectors and representatives of local authorities and education committees (including representatives of technical colleges) industry and officers of regional advisory councils should be set up under the chairmanship of a senior officer of the Ministry to consider the procedure for examining and approving courses in further education. In the first instance, the working party should examine technical education courses.

On the question of authorities giving consent to the attendance of students at courses outside the area in which they reside, consent should be given automatically in respect of attendance at any advanced courses at a designated college of advanced technology. Similar automatic consent should be given in respect of attendance at any other course, full-time or part-time, in a designated college or elsewhere, except where an authority finds it desirable to require prior consent. It is expected that when the proposed review of courses has been satisfactorily completed the number of exceptions will be very small. The Minister and the regional advisory council concerned should be informed of the exceptions.

In all cases where automatic consent is given an authority may reserve the right to withdraw consent if in its opinion the student's attendance or progress is unsatisfactory.

Local education authorities should review the composition of governing bodies of technical colleges in order to ensure that they include appropriate representation of authorities from whose areas substantial numbers of out-county students are drawn.

asked the Minister of Education what reductions he has called for in courses at art schools; and how much money he expects to save thereby.

The number of full-time students in art schools has declined from the post-war peak of nearly 15,000 in 1949–50 to under 11,000. These are spread over some 170 art schools. This distribution deprives many students of the benefits of working in groups of reasonable size and tends to be uneconomical and wasteful of staff. As a result of a careful review by Her Majesty's Inspectors last winter, I am proposing to local education authorities that about one-quarter of the 164 schools running courses leading to the Intermediate Certificate in Art and Crafts and about one-third of the 139 schools running National diploma in design courses should cease to do so after existing students have completed their courses. Most of the courses which it is proposed to discontinue have attracted a negligible number of students or none at all during the last three years. I have not yet received the authorities' estimates of their expected savings in staff.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent his recent estimate of 300 tons of steel a mile required per mile of motorway could be reduced if the maximum use is made of modern pre-stressing technique; and whether he is satisfied that full advantage is being taken of such methods in all appropriate cases.

Experiments on the behaviour of pre-stressed concrete when used for carriageway construction are still proceeding and until more experience is available I shall not authorise its use on motorways. If pre-stressed concrete were used it might mean a saving of 50 per cent. in the amount of steel required, but the cost of the work would be greater because of its specialised nature.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the approximate value of wreck taken into the possession of receivers of wreck in Scotland during each of the past 15 years, respectively.

For the 15 years 1939–40 to 1953–54 the figures are as follows:

Year				Approximate value of wreck
				£
1939–40	…	…	…	3,543
1940–41	…	…	…	22,553
1941–42	…	…	…	14,560
1942–43	…	…	…	9,460
1943–44	…	…	…	19,588
1944–45	…	…	…	21,071
1945–46	…	…	…	13,493
1946–47	…	…	…	4,083
1947–48	…	…	…	973
1948–49	…	…	…	728
1949–50	…	…	…	490
1950–51	…	…	…	3,277
1951–52	…	…	…	2,286
1952–53	…	…	…	915
1953–54	…	…	…	805

These figures do not include the value of property returned to owners, the value of Government property salvaged, the full value of wreck sold to salvors free of salvage award or the value of wreck abandoned to salvors in lieu of salvage. The year 1953–54 is the latest complete year for which figures are available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the approximate value of wreck delivered by receivers of wreck in Scotland to owners of such wreck during each of the past 15 years, respectively.

I regret that this information, which in any event is not available for the years before 1944–45, could only be assembled by an undue expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the approximate value of wreck delivered by receivers of wreck in Scotland to the persons entitled to receive such wreck as set out in Section 525 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, during each of the past 15 years, respectively.

I regret that this information, which in any event is not available for the years before 1944–45, could only be assembled by an undue expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the number of persons who have delivered to receivers of wreck in Scotland statements containing particulars of title and an address to which notices may be sent as required by Section 524 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.

Seven persons whose claims have been admitted. No record is kept of the number of persons whose claims were not substantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the Army is now serving overseas.

Certain information about the distribution of the Army is given each year in Vote A of Army Estimates, and it is the post-war practice for security reasons not to give further details.