asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether, in connection with the present talks with the National Farmers' Union on longer-term assurances to farming, he will give at least a three-year assurance to producers of beef with an agreed standard price and an up or down variation only to alter if costs alter;(2) whether, in his negotiations for longer-term assurances for milk, he will agree to give at least three years' notice of any change in the standard quantities of milk to be produced, in view of the long-term nature of the milk-producing industry.

The Government will carefully consider all practicable suggestions in their search for satisfactory solutions to the complicated problems involved, but I am afraid I cannot anticipate the results of the discussions now in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that Lady Garbett was dispossessed of her house and farm at Horham, Sussex, for growing too little food, why the growing crops on that farm are being ploughed up.

A nine-acre field of barley which was almost a complete failure was ploughed in order to prepared it for autumn sowing. No other crops have been ploughed in.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the economies now being made within his Department affect Scotland.

Out of a total staff in Scotland of 2,553 in January this year it is estimated that there will be a saving of 230 by the end of 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies exist in the Kirkcaldy-Leslie-Markinch area of Fife; and how the figures compare with those of five years ago.

524 at 27th June, 1956, compared with 832 at 4th July, 1951.

asked the Minister of Labour if, with a view to improving industrial relations and preventing injustice and resentment on both sides of industry, he will introduce legislation which will provide that, except in the case of casual labour, no contract of employment shall be able to be terminated by either side on less than one month's notice, without the agreement of the other party.

I think these questions are better dealt with by agreement than by legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been sent on to him in respect of requests that increases in police pay may be made retrospective; what further consideration he has given to the matter; and what progress has been made.

As regards the first part of the Question, I have received letters on this subject from 140 hon. Members. Many of them forwarded to me letters from their constituents, but no record was kept of the number of such letters, which were largely in stereotyped terms. As regards the second and third part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 12th July. I am in consultation with the associations of police authorities and cannot at present add anything further to that statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that traffic in Edgware Road, W.1, is frequently brought to a standstill across intersecting streets, thus rendering traffic signals useless; and if he will arrange for mobile police patrols to direct it as is done in Oxford Street.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that police officers assist in the control of traffic in the section of Edgware Road between Harrow Road and Marble Arch when the volume of traffic is heavy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that traffic often gets congested at the junction of Pall Mall and Marlborough Gate; and if he will arrange for a mobile police patrol to be sent to direct it whenever this occurs.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no special difficulties arise at this junction. Police officers are sent to control the traffic there when it seems likely that there will be heavy congestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tasks have been allocated to the Women's Voluntary Services within Civil Defence.

W.V.S., as the women's auxiliary service to the Civil Defence Corps, undertakes:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the widespread infringement of the Shops Act, 1950, what consideration has been given, or what progress has been made, in making the necessary changes to deal with the present unsatisfactory situation.

As I have indicated in reply to previous Questions, I hope to introduce amending legislation on this subject as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the capital projects in Her Majesty's prisons which are to be deferred under the Government's economy programme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 5th July to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Report of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire on administrative devolution in Wales will be published.

I have not yet received the Report.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will reassemble the Committee of Privy Councillors on security questions so that they may consider framing rules of procedure for cases brought to the notice of the Three Advisers with particular reference to the advisability of providing the suspected person with a statement of the case against him in writing, and to investigate the practicability of an appeal to a High Court judge sitting in camera.

No. As is clear from the statement on the findings of the Conference of Privy Councillors, the Conference specifically considered the appeals machinery, approved the present Tribunal and, subject to certain changes in their terms of reference, recommended that it should continue.

asked the Prime Minister if he has now considered the correspondence between the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the President of the National Farmers' Union, dated 21st and 25th June, 1956, referring to Special Reviews under the Agriculture Act, 1947; and, since these letters were sent after a wage claim had been lodged, if he will issue instructions to Ministers to prevent further such constitutional improprieties taking place.

My right hon. Friend has already explained the purpose of the letters and the circumstances in which they were written. They were sent on the authority of the Government and there is no question of any constitutional impropriety.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that in some areas with a critical shortage of teachers the teachers' training colleges are having to refuse applicants owing to shortage of accommodation; and whether he will consider a scheme for emergency temporary accommodation.

I have asked the training colleges to take more students by greater use of lodgings and the admission of more day students.

asked the Minister of Education how many vacancies there are for next September in teachers' training colleges, indicating the figures for men and women, separately.

On 2nd July enough women students had been offered admission to fill the places ordinarily available. There were about 140 vacancies for men, but I expect these to be filled in July and August by men returning from National Service. The colleges have been asked to find room for additional students in lodgings or as day students, so that places can be provided for as many suitable candidates as possible.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will consider the possibility of allowing one year of pupil teachers' service to be served prior to entry to a teachers' training college in the present difficulty in the teaching profession in Birmingham;(2) how many Birmingham scholars, desirous of entering a teachers' training college, had been unable to obtain a place during each of the past five years.

I do not know how many qualified Birmingham applicants have not been able to get a place in training college. Women over 18 and eligible for admission to training college may however, be employed as temporary teachers for not more than two years in the first instance. So may men who have received an offer of admission to a course of teacher training or to a degree course.

asked the Minister of Education why horses and hounds of the Braes of Derwent Hunt were permitted to enter the premises of a Durham school in April and to kill a fox in the presence of a large number of schoolchildren.

As far as I am aware neither the fox nor the hunt obtained permission to enter the school. The incident occurred over three months ago and the master of the hunt has apologised.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that an order from his Department that full-time education in art shall, in Gloucestershire, be confined to only one centre, namely, Cheltenham, will make it impossible for parents in more outlying parts of the county to send their children to these courses; and whether he will reconsider this decision.

No such order has been given. I have made certain recommendations to the local education authority and am awaiting its considered views.

asked the Minister of Education why he proposes to close down the full-time art classes of the School of Art, Woolwich Polytechnic; and what financial economies he expects to result.

This proposal from the London County Council results from a recommendation made last year by H.M. Inspectors that the concentration of full-time art courses in London in six art schools would be the best way of meeting the demand. I cannot at present estimate the financial saving.

asked the Minister of Education the number of full-time and part-time students at the School of Art, Woolwich Polytechnic in 1938 and today; and what his estimates are for future years.

I have not got the figures for 1938. The figures for 1954–55 were 36 full-time, 44 part-time day and 264 evening students. As the hon. Member knows, the London County Council has proposed that the full-time courses should be discontinued. The number of part-time enrolments will depend on local demand.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the importance of decentralising art education in this country as a means of stimulating local pride and interest in artistic achievement, he will make grants to local bodies for this purpose.

There are nearly 200 grant-aided art schools, as well as many evening institutes in which art and craft classes are held. I welcome this widespread interest, but it is also important to concentrate the provision, especially of full-time classes, if we are to maintain a high standard of work.

asked the Minister of Education how far, as a result of his recent circular, deaf, partially deaf and hard-of-hearing persons will be required to pay increased fees for lessons in lip-reading at evening classes; and if, in view of the fact that these lessons are a form of rehabilitation so that such persons shall be able to take a more effective part in social intercourse, he will give them a specific exemption from the new charges.

The new minimum fee of 10s. a term will apply to students aged 21 and over attending lip-reading classes. I do not feel justified in asking local education authorities to exempt these classes from this modest fee, but the normal arrangements will apply for remissions in cases of hardship.

asked the Minister of Education if he will amend his regulations so as to reduce the minimum number required for the opening of a class on lip reading for deaf and hard of hearing pupils, having regard to the individual character of the teaching if it is to be effective.

I have no regulations dealing with minimum numbers for such classes. This is a matter for each local education authority to decide.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the increase in the number of teachers at the latest convenient date was attributable to buoyant recruitment, later retirement, or the continued willingness of married women to remain in or return to teaching, respectively, referred to in paragraph 24 of Education in 1955.

It is not possible, without very detailed research, to attribute exact figures to the contribution made by the different factors to the net increase in the teacher force.

asked the Minister of Education how the number of teachers referred to in the table in paragraph 18 of Education in 1955 are distributed between primary and secondary schools.

I am sending the figures to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that a four-day week for schoolchildren because of shortage of teachers is imminent in the schools of Hull; how many other local education authorities have informed him of a similar predicament; and what action he is proposing in the matter.

I have heard that the position in Hull is likely to be particularly difficult in September, and I have also met representatives of eight other local education authorities who have indicated that their staffing position is deteriorating. But none of them has told me that part-time education will be necessary. As to the action I am taking, I would refer the hon. Member to what I said in the debate yesterday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the reason for excluding from the benefit of the Pensions Increase Acts those ex-Indian Government servants who are British subjects but who still live in India, Pakistan, Burma or Aden and if he will give the numbers of those so excluded.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to European members of the former Indian services. The question of any increases for pensioners living in India, Pakistan or Burma is one for the respective Governments, who find the money for and pay these pensions. Pensioners living in Aden draw their pensions from one of those Governments. No information is available as to the numbers living in India, Pakistan, Burma or Aden.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent limitations have been placed on the importation into France of finished pharmaceutical products from England; and what reciprocal action he will take.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the ban imposed last January on imports into France of certain made-up pharmaceutical goods. After consultation with the French authorities, I am satisfied that the ban was imposed for reasons of public health and safety, and not as a deliberately protective or discriminatory measure. The question of reciprocal action does not therefore arise. I am, however, considering an approach to the French authorities to find out by what means imports from the United Kingdom could be brought within their health requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the value to this country in pounds sterling of the Census of Production and also of its cost in pounds sterling including therein the labour expended in answering the questions and in conveying the forms in both directions by post; and whether he is satisfied that the former figure exceeds the latter.

I am content with the view recently expressed by an independent committee which included representatives of industry and commerce that the Census of Production serves a useful purpose and should be continued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to appoint tripartite investigation commissions, with appropriate terms of reference, to suit each industry, and, in particular, to examine and investigate each industry, its prospects and the contribution it is making, or could make, in our economy and export trade, and to report as to the steps that should be taken in the national interests to strengthen the industry, improve its prospects, its output and plan for the future.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it a condition of grant that public funds are not to be used through the Arts Council to support organisations which discriminate against eminent artists merely on the ground that they are foreign.

No. I am not aware of any need for such a condition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of surviving retired civil servants of the executive and administrative grades in receipt of pensions who retired before 4th August, 1914; between 5th August, 1914 and 31st March, 1939; between 1st April, 1939 and 31st December, 1947; between 1st January, 1948 and 30th June, 1950; and also between 1st July, 1950 and today.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be supplied without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the names of the pictures with the names of the artists who painted them now in the custody of or belonging to the National Gallery which are not on public exhibition; why they are not on public exhibition; where they are; and how long they have not been on public exhibition.

There are about 1,960 pictures at the National Gallery of which about 855 are exhibited at present. I regret I cannot supply a complete list of the remaining 1,105. These can be viewed on application and at 24 hours' notice; they are displayed on screens on the ground floor, except for those on loan to official Government residences or to provincial and other galleries, and those which are being treated.There is not enough space to exhibit the entire collection at the same time. The best 200 or so pictures have been exhibited continuously since the war, and there is a constant movement of pictures in and out of the exhibition for cleaning, restoration and other purposes. I cannot say how long particular pictures have been withdrawn from exhibition, since individual records of the movements of each picture are not kept.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if the Government will introduce legislation to give effect to some alteration or supplementation of unemployment pay, for instance, by insurance for loss of employment by skilled workers, or the payment of a lump sum, or increased benefits during the first fortnight of unemployment.

No. My right hon. Friend has no proposals of this nature to bring forward, and it would appear that what the hon. Member has in mind is inconsistent with the main principles of the National Insurance scheme.

asked the Minister of Health the number of males at age 18 for the years 1950 to 1955, both dates inclusive, compared with the estimated numbers for the years 1956 to 1960, both dates inclusive.

The following are the estimated numbers:

asked the Minister of Health to publish figures showing for each of the last two years how many tests for sight were carried out in the area of the London Executive Council; and in how many cases spectacles were prescribed.

Under the supplementary ophthalmic services about 415,200 tests were made in 1954 and 443,200 in 1955. Spectacles were prescribed in about 359,600 cases in 1954 and in 385,100 cases in 1955.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the oil-pipeline system now being laid in this country, showing starting-points, routes, intermediate depots and pumping stations and terminals;(2) the capacity of the oil-pipeline system now being laid in this country; and the average cost per mile.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what staging facilities are available in Pakistan to the Royal Air Force.

The Governments of the United Kingdom and of Pakistan have agreed that the Royal Air Force staging post, at Mauripur should be closed down on 31st December, 1956, in order to enable the Pakistan Air Force to have full use of the airfield. It has been agreed by the Pakistan Government that the Karachi civil airport may thereafter be used by the Royal Air Force under arrangements to be made with a civil contractor for the maintenance and servicing of Royal Air Force aircraft and for the handling of personnel in transit.

asked the Minister of Supply the total development and other costs borne by his Department in respect of the Viscount, Ambassador, and Britannia aircraft, respectively.

The total costs borne by the Ministry of Supply in respect of the development of the Viscount and Ambassador are £1·8 million and £1·5 million, respectively. Expenditure to date on the development of the Britannia series is £5·8 million. This expenditure is recovered wholly or partly by levies imposed on the sales of production aircraft and spares.

asked the Minister of Defence to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the male recruiting by engagements for the periods April to June, 1955 and 1956, in the same form as set out in Parts A and B of his periodical return entitled "Quarterly Armed Forces Recruiting, Prolongations of Service and Structure by Length of Engagement. (Other Ranks-only.)"

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th July, 1956; Vol. 556, c. 113], gave the following information:

asked the Postmaster-General to give the figures for new orders for telephones in Rugby for the years 1955 and 1956 to date; and how many new telephones have been installed in these two periods, respectively.

In 1955, 371 telephones were ordered and 188 installed; during the first six months of this year, 173 were ordered and 215 installed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an estimate of the cost of sending out reminders to holders of licences to drive motor vehicles that they should renew their licences.

The estimated cost is about £80,000 a year at present. Precise figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for war what representations he made to the Press Council on behalf of Mrs. Monica Shipman; and with what result.

The facts of this case, as known to the War Office, were submitted to the Press Council on Mrs. Shipman's behalf last February. As a result, the Council issued statements on 2nd May and 17th July which have received wide publicity.