asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what economies are being made in the functioning of the National Assistance Board in so far as Scotland is concerned.

The Board informs me that it is reviewing its staffing needs in Scotland, as in England and Wales, with a view to some administrative economy, which it assures me will not affect Assistance policy and its application to grants of allowances. Small savings will also be effected by closing some little-used reception centres for casuals.

Does not the Minister agree that the economies which could be obtained in this direction are in any event marginal? Would he agree that it is the very depth of meanness to look in this field for economies which the Government are seeking to make?

I agree with the hon. Member that in this field the economies are necessarily small, but I would not say that it was either mean—to use the phrase used by the hon. Member—or inappropriate to look for administrative economies in any directions where they can be effected without alterations in policy.

Could we have an assurance from the Minister that when the economies are considered the Government will not propose to do the same here as in the matter of pensions, where, I understand, welfare officers are being dispensed with and the Government are asking the W.V.S. to do that work?

As the hon. Member will realise, that is a question quite different from the Question on the Order Paper. If he will put it down I will do my best to answer it, but I must not be taken as accepting what the hon. Member says.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that earnings have risen by 85 per cent. from October, 1946, to October, 1955; and by how much he estimates that pensions would have to rise above the present level to correspond with the earnings increase over the same period.

The percentage quoted by the hon. Member relates to men only, and is based on figures which include bonus and overtime payments. A corresponding rise in the pension rate of 40s. would involve an increase of 8s.

I quite agree that the 85 per cent. is for men only, but I take it that a rise of 12s. 8d. would be needed to provide the same percentage of 85 to married pensioners. I think it is also true that all this time—

Order. This is Question Time. The hon. Member must ask a question.

The point is, ought there not to be a relationship between pensions rise and a general rise of income within the nation?

I thought that that was the point the hon. Member was coming to. I would say with respect that there are many other matters besides the rise in male gross earnings, which is the figure with which the hon. Member is concerned. There are many other factors, such as the appropriate rate of contribution, which affect this question, and I do not think that the particular factor to which the hon. Member has referred necessarily has very much weight.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that salaries rose by 90 per cent. from 1946 to 1954 and increased by approximately 105 per cent. from 1946 to 1955; and how much less was the rise in the benefits paid to National Insurance married retired pensioners over the same periods.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member relate to total amounts paid in salaries, and so must exaggerate the percentage increase in salary rates. But the total amounts paid to National Insurance retirement pensioners rose proportionately more over the same periods, with the result that the last part of the hon. Member's Question does not arise.

Is it not true that when total salaries are rising from one year to another one gets no idea what the individual salaries are in value, and therefore the figures are useless for comparisons?

The figures which the hon. Member put in his Question are the figures which I understand he is indicating are useless for this purpose, and with that I quite agree.

Do not the figures show a substantial increase in the standard of living in recent years?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the amount paid to retired National Insurance pensioners for the years 1950 to 1955 separately; and what percentage of the national domestic income was the amount each year.

As the Answer contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it correct that the actual figure for 1950 was 2·08 and in 1955 it was 2·08 also, and that it has been going down for the last two or three years? Is it not true that the pensioners could be given about 10 per cent. extra and it would not change the ultimate percentage compared with the national income?

The answer to the first two parts of the supplementary question is, "No sir." It may reassure the hon. Member if I tell him that when he sees the table published in HANSARD he will see that for 1954–55—the last figure for which he asked—both the percentage and the absolute amount are substantially above those of 1950–51.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the reason for the delay in payment of benefit for short-time working to employees in the motor industry and for dates between 9th and 30th March; and when this money will be paid.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is not aware of any delay in paying benefit due to motor car workers who claimed benefit during the period mentioned. Delayed claims for these days are, I understand, still coming in, and are being dealt with in the ordinary way.

Is the Minister aware that the men are to some extent under a misunderstanding? They understand that' benefit between these two dates is a disputed claim and that the National Insurance office is turning them down. Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the contrary?

The Question relates to payment of benefits for short-time worked by employees in the motor industry generally, that is, I understand, in respect of all firms in all towns. Certainly I could not answer "off the cuff" the wider question which the hon. Member has asked, but I think the confusion which has arisen in the district with which he is particularly concerned is that advance notice of claim was quite properly given by the union at an earlier stage but the actual claims by the men on which payment is made are in many cases only coming in since the Birmingham tribunal decision.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will reintroduce the pre-war facilities for a disabled ex-Service man to commute his pension for a lump sum.

I have recently been carefully into this proposal, which has superficial attractions. Actual experience, however, clearly shows that the practice when operated before the war did not on balance work out to the advantage of war pensioners. I have, therefore, come to the conclusion that I should follow the line taken by my predecessors for the last sixteen years, and not re-introduce commutation.

If the practice does not work out to the benefit of those who wish to take advantage of the facilities, nevertheless if they still wish to take advantage of it why should they not be allowed to do so?

I think that that state of affairs, in human terms, is not an uncommon one, but it does not relieve my Department of responsibility for their welfare.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rule to which he referred has not been an absolute rule? There has been to my certain knowledge at least one case—a very exceptional one—in which it was found better to allow commutation of the pension.

I have not got that case in mind but no doubt it was during the term of office of the right hon. Member. I think he will not quarrel with me that generally the principle since 1940 has been to refuse commutation, and although it is sometimes attractive to look at individual cases, I think the rule generally followed is sound.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the prospect of obtaining power from the sun; what Government-sponsored experiments are taking place, either by his Department or by private concerns working in conjunction with his Department or the nationalised industries; and what preparations are being made for the manufacture of solar batteries and utilisation of chemical energy with the injection of hydrogen gas.

There is little prospect of obtaining power from the sun on a useful scale in this country because there is not enough sunshine and Britain is far from the tropics. No Government sponsored experiments are taking place at present, although Government scientists keep in touch with work in other countries.

American scientists have recently discovered a means of using sunlight to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen gases but the process is still in its infancy and its development presents many difficult problems.

Is the Minister aware that, while the politicians are laughing, the scientists are continuing their experiments for the obtaining of power from the sun?

Yes, but in this country even the scientists are handicapped by the fact that heat and light are not intense, and their staying power not very great.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the expenditure falling upon the National Coal Board in consequence of the importation of coal, he will undertake to promote increased consumption of oil in industry.

The extra cost of supplying imported coal is reflected in coal prices. This, with other factors, has already resulted in a considerable expansion of oil consumption.

Does the Minister realise that the loss on imported coal is causing some lack of inducement in the mining industry, and will he take steps to see whether this burden cannot be eased in the near future?

I should have thought that the loss on imported coal constitutes a most effective inducement to everyone in the coal mining industry to endeavour to improve output.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on his proposals for the development of hydro-electric power in Britain.

The chief scope for hydro-electric schemes is in Scotland, and they are the responsibility of the Secretary of State. So far as England and Wales are concerned, there are no proposals other than those in the North Wales Hydro-Electric Power Act, 1955. Hydroelectric power is at present supplying energy equivalent to a little over 1 million tons of coal, and on present plans this will increase to close on 2 million tons by the early 1960s.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now make a statement on the study that is being made on the prospects of harnessing the Severn estuary and river for hydro-electric power; and what similar prospects there are for other bays or rivers on the coast of Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

The results of recent research into the Severn Barrage project are discouraging, and as far as we know no other tidal inlet in the country offers any better prospects.

I make no reflection at all upon the present Ministers, but is not the Minister aware that this is considered to be a terrible indictment of the inaction of past Governments in this regard? Is he aware that my interest in this subject was stimulated by a very fine experience I had before the war, when I spent a day poring over drawings with Mr. Stubbs, a director of Fodens and adviser to Metropolitan-Vickers, and one of the finest authorities in the world, on hydro-electrification; and has not the time arrived for action in this matter?

I fully appreciate all that the hon. Gentleman says, but I would ask him to bear in mind that the physical difficulties of the Severn Barrage project are immense, owing to the tremendous amount of silting which takes place with each incoming tide.

Is not the Minister aware that France is now to take action in respect of the use of the tides? After the reports which we have had from the world's greatest authorities, surely some action should be taken.

Yes, but France has managed to find two suitable sites, where silting does not present the same problem.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is yet in a position to make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the recommendations of the Herbert Committee.

No, Sir.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be able to make such a statement? This Report was presented in January, and the following month he said that he was asking for comments from the industry on the recommendations of the Report.

I will certainly endeavour to make a statement as soon as I can.

To ask the Minister of Fuel and Power, why it was decided to build a nuclear power station at Bradwell, Essex, rather than at Holywell Point, which Central Electricity Authority witnesses at the public inquiry admitted to be a suitable site, and which is a site free from many of the objections that have been made to the Bradwell site.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood.

As my hon. Friend is not here, and notwithstanding your previous Rulings, Mr. Speaker, that Questions which are not asked are the responsibility of the Member who is absent, I wonder whether, in the case of Question No. 21, you could make an exception, in view of the scandalous conduct of the public inquiry in question?

If the hon. Member is not here to ask his Question, I cannot help that.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will review the programme of the Atomic Energy Authority with a view to accelerating the contribution that it can make to Britain's fuel requirements.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, following the publication of the Second Report of the Atomic Energy Authority, he will now state what revisions have been made in the plan of nuclear power announced in February, 1955.

As I indicated in the Second Reading debate on the Coal Industry Bill, the nuclear power programme set out in the White Paper of February, 1955, is a minimum programme, and I attach the highest importance to expanding and accelerating that programme as much as we practically can. I have no doubt that we shall be able to achieve more than was first thought possible, but exactly how much more cannot be determined until, as I informed the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 4th June, the plans for the first stations, which are due to be submitted this autumn, have been examined and the appropriate conclusions drawn.

Does not the action of Egypt this week-end add point to the implications of my Question? Does the Minister not realise that there is a growing feeling that the atomic energy programme is moving along too slowly, and that even on the basis of present knowledge and of the present operations at Calder Hall, there is already a case for substantially speeding up what the Government propose to do?

I fully accept that there is a case for speeding up the nuclear power programme, but it is not true that the programme is in any way being held up. Clearly it is premature to do anything until the plans of the first stations have been received and the costs and designs fully examined.

Is it not possible to authorise more than the three stations which are now projected, so that the preliminaries can be got out of the way before the designs are ready?

No. With all respect, I submit that that is an answer which I can properly give only when the designs have been examined.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the extra amount of coal that would be needed to abolish domestic fuel rationing.

Any estimate must, of course, be extremely speculative, but I do not think that it would be safe to take a lower figure than two million tons.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total annual tonnage of concessionary coal now being allowed in the coal industry; to what total number of people it is being allowed; and to what total annual tonnage those people would be entitled as ordinary members of the community.

About 5 million tons, issued to some 630,000 employees of the Board and to certain pensioners, miners' widows, etc. If these people were ordinary members of the community, their total permitted quantity of house coal and boiler fuel would amount to nearly three million tons. In addition many of them would be entitled to the extra allowances available to ordinary members of the public for cooking and other special circumstances; they could also increase their indirect use of coal by greater consumption of electricity, coke and gas.

Is the Minister aware that among other concessions which are granted are luncheon vouchers to typists in the City of London, cheap cigarettes to tobacco workers, motors cars at reduced prices to motor car workers, country houses to directors of B.S.A., Daimlers and mink to Sir Bernard Docker, and is he aware that we are getting tired of this constant nagging from the benches opposite about miners' concessionary coal?

Does my right hon. Friend agree that he is not responsible for most of the articles mentioned by the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan), but that I should be quite pleased to put down Questions about them to the appropriate Ministers?

Does not the Minister deprecate such Questions as this, knowing full well that they are calculated to frustrate the efforts of the National Coal Board in recruiting miners?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to arrange that widows and other dependants of its employees receiving a concessionary coal allowance, resulting from the voluntary surrender of a part of their entitlement by the employees of a particular colliery or area, may, if they leave that district, continue to receive this allowance from the nearest colliery, thus avoiding the heavy charges for transport that they will otherwise have to meet.

This is a matter for negotiation between the National Coal Board and the trade unions representing its employees, but I am sure that the Board and the unions will take note of my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that that is much the same reply as that which I have received over the last four months from two successive Chairmen of the National Coal Board? Is he further aware that a lady who, when living at Bolsover, paid 4s. for the transport of a load of coal from the Bolsover colliery, is paying £2 6s. for a load from the same colliery now that she has moved to Nottingham? Is it really beyond the wit of the National Coal Board to make the necessary adjustments in the books of the colliery concerned so that this lady can have her coal from the nearest colliery? Further, is it not a waste of manpower that a lorry should have to go over 40 miles from Bolsover to Nottingham and back when the lady could have her coal from the colliery nearest to where she now lives, instead of from the original colliery?

As I have said, this is a matter for the Board and for the unions, and it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene. But I am sure that they will take note of what my hon. and gallant Friend has said.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the current annual cost of coal rationing.

Approximately £1 million.

Would not my right hon. Friend take the action which the Answers to these three Questions really indicates to be desirable?

I would not admit that the Answers to these three Questions make it clearly desirable to abolish rationing at this stage. I agree that it must be an aim of the Government to abolish coal rationing as soon as they possibly can, but I cannot admit that this moment is yet, and to do it at this juncture might entail the risk of heavy imports, the cost of which would be far greater than the cost of rationing.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the estimated reserves of coal in the opencast project now being started near Kinglossie, Fife; and how soon coal will be produced.

The Westfield opencast site contains at least 20 million tons of coal, and production will start in 1958.

Can the Minister, at this juncture, say whether this project will be an economic proposition? Further, can he give an assurance that, when the coal has been extracted, the Coal Board will not leave the site in the same disgusting condition as that in which it left one in nearly the same area?

Certainly it will be an economic proposition; otherwise it would not have been undertaken. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would say that certainly the land will be restored as completely as modern methods make possible.

Can my right hon. Friend say by how much food production will be reduced in this area by the bulldozing of crops at the present time?

No, Sir, but, ordinarily, the value of opencast coal to be extracted from a particular site is more than twenty times the value of the agricultural produce which that site would otherwise produce.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now able to make a statement regarding improved terms of compensation payable to occupiers of land requisitioned for opencast mining operations.

No, Sir. The Government's examination of this question is not yet completed, but it is my intention to make a statement as soon as I am in a position to do so.

Does the Minister realise that the victims of these opencast operations suffer very severe inconvenience and financial loss, and, surely, should receive generous and prompt treatment?

It is my wish to improve the terms of compensation as soon as possible, and in due course I shall certainly make a statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many prosecutions last year were brought against coal merchants for describing coal as a superior grade to that actually received from the colliery, and for charging the price for a grade superior to that actually delivered.

In 1955 there were, in all, 165 prosecutions for overcharging of various kinds, including those mentioned by the hon. Lady.

Can the hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the prosecutions were restricted to Bradford and Glasgow, where the weights and measures inspectors have power to check that the grade charged for is the grade delivered?

No, Sir. These prosecutions took place in different parts of the country, and were not confined to those two cities.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to try to get the Bradford and Glasgow system extended throughout Great Britain, as that system is greatly appreciated by housewives in those cities?

That is a matter for consideration, but I should tell the hon. Lady that the methods of detection are improving all the time.

asked the Minister of Supply what consultations take place between his Department and the British aircraft manufacturers with regard to the production of aircraft to meet the requirements of the airline corporations.

There is consultation between the Ministry of Supply and the manufacturers, ranging from informal technical discussions to formal contractual negotiations, but it would not be practicable within the limits of a Parliamentary Answer to give details of all the consultations which take place.

Is the Minister aware that there is great uneasiness in the industry about the manner in which these consultations, take place? If these consultations took place, why is the Chairman of B.O.A.C. obliged to go to America to buy American jet airliners?

On the general question of consultation, I was not aware of any such uneasiness. I think that the next Question on the Order Paper refers to the question of B.O.A.C.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is satisfied that the British aircraft industry will be able to meet the present and future need of aircraft for the British Overseas Airways Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

The position is as stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for Govan (Mr. Rankin) and Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 25th July, and it would be premature for me to make a statement.

Is the Minister aware that the British aircraft industry has failed to meet the present and future needs of B.O.A.C.? If the industry fails to manufacture airliners for the North Atlantic routes, this country will be involved in the expenditure of millions of pounds and dollars.

I cannot accept that. The aircraft industry at the moment is exporting at an annual rate of more than £100 million, and we cannot expect to export aircraft at that rate and refuse as a matter of principle to import any aircraft at all.

asked the Minister of Supply what inquiry was held after the crash of the Javelin fighter aircraft in which Mr. P. Lawrence, the Gloster Aircraft Company's test pilot, was killed: what was the cause of that accident; and what criticisms had been made to him of the controls of that aircraft before the accident.

The circumstances of the accident were fully investigated by an officer representing the Chief Inspector of Accidents. It was attributed to the aircraft encountering a condition known as the stabilised superstall. This condition had not previously been experienced. In earliest test reports some criticisms of the controls had been made and improvements were devised, but the reports did not suggest the possible occurrence of a superstalled condition and were not such as to indicate that the aircraft would be dangerous in the hands of an experienced test pilot.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is satisfied that all revelant reports made by aircraft company test pilots of prototype aircraft ordered by his Department are received and studied by his Department; and if, in view of public disquiet aroused by recent evidence on this point, he will cause an appropriate inquiry to be made.

In Government contracts for prototype aircraft the aircraft companies have an obligation to provide the Department with copies of every test report, together with copies of any records obtained from recording instruments and reports of any preliminary tests. These are carefully scrutinised both at headquarters and at the experimental establishments. In view of this, I see no justification for holding a special inquiry.

In view of the difficulties that have been experienced both with the Javelin aircraft and with other fighter machines, and in view of the quite definite allegations that are being made by Squadron-Leader Waterton, does not the Minister agree that he is being a little too complacent about this business? Ought he not to look into it more seriously?

I do not think that it is for me to intervene in any discussions which may take place between Squadron-Leader Waterton and his previous employers. I have been concerned to give the House the facts in this matter, which seem to me not to warrant any special inquiry.

Is it not a fact that in the case of the Javelin and the Hunter aircraft, machines were put into production when faults were still embodied in their design? I refer, for example, to the dive brakes which had to be put in after a number of Hunter aircraft had actually been built. In those circumstances, when the test pilots have submitted reports, does the Minister think that there is a proper liaison between his Department and the aircraft companies concerned? Ought he not to be taking a much closer look into the reports which are made in the course of development?

I have looked into this matter very carefully and I am satisfied that full reports are submitted at all times by the aircraft companies. In particular, it has always been the practice of the Gloster Company to give us full reports of what its test pilots have to say.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he has taken to test the efficiency of the new 100-octane grades of petrol for use in Government vehicles.

None, Sir. Government vehicles are not designed for this grade of fuel.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that very considerable claims are made for these types of petrol, which may or may not be valid? In the public interest, will my right hon. Friend not use his resources to have this kind of test made and the results published, so that we may all know what is really happening?

I understand that these fuels are expressly declared to be suitable for engines with high compression ratios, and those types of engines are not used in Government vehicles.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what improvements have now been carried out in the 15 horse slaughterhouses and 45 knackers' yards which in the early part of the year, were found to be unsatisfactory under the slaughter Regulations; and how the figures stand today.

Better arrangements have been made for feeding and watering horses, and in some cases there have been structural alterations. As a result, well over half these premises now comply with the Regulations. Four of the horse slaughterhouses and 15 of the knackers' yards have minor technical defects. In these and in the case of two others which officers of my Department consider more unsatisfactory, we are urging the local authorities to expedite action under their powers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many horse slaughterhouses and knackers' yards it is still the practice to kill horses in the sight of carcases.

No incidents have been reported to my Department since the hon. Member asked a similar Question on 12th April.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that we have been asking Questions on this subject for about eighteen months, and still he tells us that the slaughterhouses and knackers' yards have not been cleared up, let alone at a satisfactory pace? If we put down some more Questions, will the hon. Gentleman be able to say that the matter will be cleared up by the autumn?

The hon. Gentleman can be assured that his questioning has helped. We are trying to urge the local authorities who have failed in this matter to make use of their powers under the Regulations. The Answers which have already been given to the hon. Member show that we are getting local authorities to recognise the urgency of this matter, and that we are making progress. If the hon. Member knows of any specific cases, we will see that the attention of the local authority concerned is drawn to the matter.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is not very satisfactory to hear that only about half of the knackers' yards and slaughterhouses have come into compliance with the Regulations? My hon. Friend must be a bit tougher with them.

My hon. Friend did not quite follow the purport of the Question and Answer. It was half of a specific number in an Answer which has already been given to the hon. Member. Half has already been cleared up. Most of the others have now got only technical defects which are being looked at, and we are down to two cases which we are looking at rather more urgently.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to increase during the year 1956–57 the number of smallholdings provided under the smallholdings legislation.

It would be inconsistent with the Government's general economic policy to encourage county councils to promote smallholding schemes involving heavy capital expenditure, and for the time being only schemes of special urgency are being approved.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this appears to be a betrayal of Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947, and that his failure, or the failure of his Ministry, to transfer 650 acres at Yeldham from his possession to the Essex County Council for smallholding purposes definitely points to the fact that the Ministry is not doing enough in this connection?

No, Sir; I do not think it is in any way inconsistent with the spirit of the 1947 Act. With reference to the Essex proposal at Yeldham, the land concerned was not of very good quality, and the expenditure concerned was excessively high.

Is the Minister aware that there is a great shortage of, and a great demand for, smallholdings? Is he aware that in my county, for example, every time the county council has a vacant smallholding there are never fewer than about 50 or 60 well qualified young couples begging for that smallholding, of whom only one can be satisfied? What does he propose to do?

Yes, Sir. Of course, it is a fact that the vast majority of our farms in this country are smallholdings, so that in fact hundreds of thousands of smallholdings already exist. But before turning existing large holdings into smallholdings, we must be satisfied that the nation's resources will be well used in that particular way. At the present time, it would be wrong to proceed in that direction.

In view of my hon. Friend's remarks about the need for some economy in capital expenditure, will he bear in mind that, certainly in the Fens, there is a greater demand for part-time holdings, which would require no such capital expenditure, than for full-time holdings, and that, if it were not for the policy initiated by right hon. Gentlemen opposite, these part-time holdings would have been supplied in far greater numbers?

The need for part-time holdings in the Fens is always kept well before us by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke.)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to create an inspectorate to enforce the provisions of the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act.

My right hon. Friend has invited, and has received, from within the Department, applications for the posts of one chief and two deputy chief inspectors under the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act, and it is hoped to fill those three posts very soon. Arrangements are being made to fill other posts, partly by recruitment and partly by training inspectors who are at present employed under the Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) Act and the Agricultural Wages Act.

Whilst congratulating the Minister on his early start, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to assure the House that this establishment will not suffer under any guise of economy? Secondly, can he tell the House whether the establishment will contain people suitably qualified in chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.?

This establishment certainly will not be curtailed in any way in the interests of special economy, only just reasonable economy. We are proceeding forthwith to what we think is a sound administration, and we think that the inspectors will be suitably trained to cover the range of work which they have to undertake.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that "reasonable economy" does not ring very well?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what qualifications will be required for the appointment of chief inspector and inspectors responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act.

The chief inspector must be technically qualified and experienced in agricultural engineering. He and the other inspectors should be good all-round men, with a wide knowledge of agricultural operations and risks.

Whilst appreciating the need for an all-rounder, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary appreciates also the need to get someone suitably qualified, and that a person holding this position ought to be comparable with a person holding a similar position in the Factory Inspectorate, where qualifications are required? Will he look at this matter again?

I think we have fully in mind the qualifications needed for this man, and we do intend to engage somebody fully comparable with the senior officers in the Factory Inspectorate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the recently published National Food Survey, reprint 1955, relates to 1952; why these are so outdated; and when more recent surveys made by his Department will be available.

The 1952 Report was actually published in November, 1954, and, as the hon. Lady states, the edition to which she refers is a reprint. In addition, the 1953 Report was published in September, 1955, and the 1954 Report will be published in August.

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether his right hon. Friend reads his own Reports? Is he aware that he gave me a misleading and inaccurate reply last week regarding these Reports, in which he said that in respect of only two of the main nutrients were children below the standard set by the British Medical Association? His Report shows that on the eight main items these children were well below the standard set by the British Medical Association. His right hon. Friend said that in six of the items they were higher. Will he promise to read this Report, and read it without standing on his head?

The hon. Lady has switched her supplementary question from what she asked in her main Question. In her main Question, she asks for the time taken to issue the Report. On that, we have a very good record indeed. She will see that the Report is now published after nineteen months, and in 1951 it took twenty-four months. If she wants further answers on the contents of the Report, perhaps she will put down Questions to my right hon. Friend.

It was he who gave me the misleading reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the value of the milk and welfare foods to families of four children in 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955.

The estimated values of the subsidies on milk and welfare foods for an average family of four or more children during the past four years were:

The 1952 Report gives the value of welfare and milk subsidies at 14s. 9d. for a family of four. Does the hon. Gentleman read these Reports standing on his head?

The hon. Lady is the one who really has not been careful in her reading. She will see that the original Question she put to my right hon. Friend, which elicited the Answer giving 14s. 9d. related to milk and all welfare foods. On this occasion, she asked particularly about milk, and the Answer is as I have given it. [HON. MEMBERS: "NO."] The hon. Lady asked the value of milk and welfare foods for families of four children in 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955. The answer of 8s. 11d. for 1955 is the correct answer to that.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that, however one reads these Reports, the recent economy made at the expense of little children attending nursery schools is particularly mean?

However one reads the Report, one discovers that in 1950 they got 8s. 4½d. value, where today they get 8s. 11d.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will continue the negotiations to obtain possession of County School, North Elmham, Norfolk, for the purpose of accommodating high-grade mental deficients, or any other class of patients, in view of the fact that this large and substantial building is at present unused.

I propose shortly to publish a draft compulsory purchase order.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer will give great satisfaction to people in Norfolk?

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the recent death of a patient in the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Greenbank, Plymouth, which was found to be due to infection caused by inadequate and dangerous conditions in the operating theatre.

I have asked the Regional Hospital Board for a full report on this case.

Can my right hon. Friend ascertain and confirm that at regular intervals for the last five years since June, 1951, the consulting surgeon has warned the hospital management committee that this operating theatre was dangerous and that sooner or later a patient would die of gangrene, which has happened, and that these warnings have been passed to his Ministry and to the South-West Regional Hospital Board, but have gone unheeded?

That is, I think, the next Question on the Order Paper.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is an example of the danger of cuts in capital and other expenditure, and shows that had the work been carried out earlier, life might have been saved?

It would be most improper to prejudge this issue until I have received the report.

asked the Minister of Health what representations have been received by the South West Regional Hospital Board over the last eight years from the hospital management committee and medical staff about the inadequate and dangerous conditions in the operating theatre at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Greenbank, Plymouth.

The Board received five representations from the hospital management committee about the condition of this operating theatre; the earliest was in April, 1950, and the most recent in January, 1955. The committee, however, recommended higher priority for two other capital schemes in their group.

In view of the unfortunate circumstances in this case, will my right hon. Friend, in other similar cases, consider intervening when medical opinion is in conflict with that of the hospital management committee? Can he ensure that the hospital management committee publishes the reasons why it did not give priority for the rebuilding of this operating theatre?

It is quite clear that the hospital management committee took the view that the maternity unit was even worse than the operating theatre. That is why the maternity unit is already being attended to. I have now received a proposal for a new operating theatre. It was submitted to me on 19th June, and I approved the preparations of sketch plans on 23rd July. The work will go forward in due course.

When continuous adverse reports of this nature from a surgeon or physician are made to a regional hospital board, are they subsequently brought to the Minister's attention through the report of the hospital board; and what action does the Minister then take?

If the right hon. Lady will put down a general Question, I will answer it.

asked the Minister of Health the number of new hospitals planned to be built for the south-west area of Middlesex during the next five years.

None, Sir.

Will the hon. Lady watch the needs of that area, where, because of the increased population, people sometimes have difficulty in getting beds in hospital?

As the hon. Member knows, the planning of hospital and specialist services is a matter entirely for regional hospital boards, and we have received no recommendation for a new hospital in that area. The nearest major scheme is the rebuilding of Hillingdon Hospital, just north of the area which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give guidance in his "Notes to Prescribes" to general practitioners as to the cost of tranquilliser drugs.

My right hon. Friend will certainly consider whether there is any information which general practitioners might find useful if circulated to them in this way.

Could the hon. Lady encourage her right hon. Friend at least to make it quite clear that these drugs may cost anything up to 30s. or 35s. for a bottle of fifty of doubtful value, and that it is about time something was done about it?

As the hon. Member knows very well, "Prescribers' Notes" is supervised by an editorial committee on which the British Medical Association is represented. I agree that this might well be a matter that that committee could consider, but for the most part these drugs have only recently been introduced into this country and it is too early yet to say what effect they are having on prescribing.

Is the hon. Lady aware that because these drugs have been recently introduced from the United States, they are probably being widely advertised among doctors, and that the matter will soon become out of hand, and she should take action forthwith?

My reply to the first supplementary question indicated that we would refer it to the editorial committee.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the neglected persons whose cases have been reviewed are still retained in mental institutions and under what authority.

Of the cases reviewed, 2,172 are still detained in mental deficiency institutions on the authority of orders made by judicial authorities under the provisions of the Mental Deficiency Acts.

Do I understand from that Answer that in these cases fresh legal powers have been obtained for continued detention, and that the Minister is no longer relying on powers which he considered adequate in the past but which court action has proved not to be adequate?

No. The order of the judicial authority constitutes proper legal authority for the detention of the patient, unless and until it is set aside by a court of law. It should not be assumed that all the orders made by judicial authorities would necessarily be set aside if challenged. The review is, however, continuing.

asked the Minister of Health what decision he has now reached on the proposal by the North-East Regional Hospital Board to close down the St. George-in-the-East Hospital, Wapping, E.1.

I am today approving the proposal, subject to the proviso that the hospital shall not be closed before 30th September, 1956.

In view of this disgraceful decision of the Minister as a result of a recommendation by the North-East Regional Hospital Board, supported by the Stepney Hospital Management Committee, will the Minister undertake in future to ensure that there will be representation upon these two bodies which can be left to put the case for the people of Stepney, Poplar and Bethnal Green when there is a question of closing down their hospitals for the first time under the National Health Service?

Before reaching this decision, I received a deputation from all those interested in the matter. I gave very careful consideration to it. I do not think any body can claim that its view has not been very fully put.

Why pick on the East End?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a regulation under Section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, forbidding shop assistants from licking their fingers when picking up paper in which to wrap food.

No, Sir. The powers already given by the Regulations should be adequate.

Will the hon. Lady at least condemn this disgusting and much too prevalent habit?

I am quite prepared to condemn the habit; but I am sure the hon. Member appreciates that to specify any particular offence might well provide leaks for those unspecified. Regulations 8 and 9 are phrased generally so as to cover all such unpleasant practices.

asked the Minister of Health the average net earnings of a general medical practitioner in the National Health Service; what they were in 1939; and by what percentage they have risen.

The present average net earnings of a general medical practitioner after meeting his practice expenses are £2,222 a year. The corresponding figure for 1939 was £938 and the percentage increase is therefore 136·9 per cent.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree that as money has fallen to one-third of its purchasing power since 1939, doctors are therefore no better off in real purchasing power than at that-time? Secondly, would he not agree that those working in rural areas, who are "on tap" seven days a week, fully earn what they get?

I certainly agree that doctors working in both rural and urban areas deserve well of the community.

Will the right hon. Gentleman admit that but for the difficult economic circumstances of the country, he would consider that the doctors have a good case for an increase?

My reply to the claim was on the basis that in present circumstances it would not be right to give consideration to a claim for a general increase in remuneration.

How does the Minister reconcile that Answer with the recommendations of the Spens Committee?

The Spens Committee did not lay down any contractual obligation in this matter. It based its recommendation on what should be the level at which doctors entered the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health whether British firms were invited to tender for the supply of 21,390 rear lamps for invalid cars; and why German lamps or parts of lamps are being issued.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on his policy of distributing free of charge to war disabled persons red rear lights for their invalid tricycles; and why, in view of the need to conserve foreign currency, these were purchased from Germany.

asked the Minister of Health why he is supplying lamps made in Germany to be fitted to invalids' motor chairs to conform with the new lighting regulations.

Four British firms were invited to quote on equal terms for rear lamps to be fitted to motor cars and power-propelled tricycles on loan to disabled persons. The lowest satisfactory quotations were accepted. I understand that the lamps supplied are imported by the contractor from Germany under open general licence.

Were the four firms selected firms or was the tender advertised? Is any precaution taken to ensure that British materials are used in a case like this?

The four firms, who were invited, were the four leading firms who would be likely to provide adequate lamps to be fitted to the tricycles. In fact, these lamps are already fitted to the Harper tricycle, and have been for many years.

Will my right hon. Friend inform the House whether one of the factors taken into consideration in deciding where the contract should go was the sense of outrage which some of these men feel at bearing the "Made in Germany" mark before them, when they lost their limbs fighting against the Germans?

The primary consideration was whether these lamps and fittings would suit the tricycles. In fact, these were the most suitable lamps for the purpose, and they have been used for many years on Harper tricycles.

Did the four tenders from British firms all quote the same price? Did the tender which was accepted indicate that the lamps would not be made in this country?

The four tenders did not all ask the same price. This was, as I said, the lowest satisfactory quotation. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would put the second question down.