asked the President of the Board of Trade how many potato dealers have filed bankruptcy petitions since 1st April, 1956.

No separate records of petitions are kept, but there have been two receiving orders resulting from creditors' petitions, and none from debtors' petitions against wholesale distributors of market produce.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take the necessary action to ensure that his Department have either an official delegation or observers in attendance at the forthcoming Leipzig Fair.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the import of pit-props from Commonwealth countries with a dollar currency increased during the first six months of 1956 compared with the first six months of 1955, while it has decreased from those with a sterling currency; and why he authorised the expenditure of such additional dollars.

Imports of pit-props, as of softwood generally, are allowed under open individual licences. These impose no restriction on the source of supply, and the question of my authorising the expenditure of any particular currency does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission's Report on the supply of certain rubber footwear will be published; and if he will make a statement about its contents.

The Report was published today.The Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission find that the conditions to which the Monopolies and Restrictive

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what international agreements would require modification before free convertibility of sterling could be restored.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to accelerate the increase in the number of university students reading science or technology.

I would remind the hon. Member of the Lord Privy Seal's statement in the House on 21st June when he said that we could look forward to an increase over the next five years in the number of students of science and technology of the order of 60 per cent. This increase will be assisted by the provision of new and enlarged laboratories, and other buildings. The Government's special programme in this field, under which about £1 million worth of new building has been started annually since 1954 will receive a great impetus in 1957 when £4·3 million worth of starts will be put in hand. All this is in addition to the Imperial College Scheme with its target of 3,000 students within the next seven years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the worth is now of a 1945 15s. savings certificate; and what the purchasing power of that certificate is in terms of 1945 prices.

A National Savings certificate of the Seventh Issue bought for 15s. on 1st June, 1945, would be worth £1 1s. 1d. on 1st June, 1956. The Answer to the second part of the Question is 13s. This figure is based on the Consumer Price Index between 1945 and 1955 (the index figure for 1945 being estimated) and the Index of Retail Prices thereafter.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury to state the sum for which each of the pictures included in the bequest of the late Sir Hugh Lane are insured; with whom they are insured; and against what risks.

No insurance is carried on these pictures, or on any of the exhibits in any of the national collections. It is the Government's practice to carry its own insurance risks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities in England and Wales, respectively, have now resolved not to build any further houses or fiats for general needs.

Local authorities have been asked to submit information about their housing programmes. This information will not be available until after the end of August.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet issued his proposed circular to local authorities asking them what are their plans for building houses next year; when he expects to get their replies; and whether he will publish them.

Yes. I have made arrangements to obtain comprehensive information about future housebuilding by local authorities; and I hope to publish this in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the increase in new office accommodation in central London, he will take powers to require applications for planning consent when there is a change of occupier in a residential property now being used for office purposes, for which at present no consent is required under the established user dispensation.

The approved County of London Development Plan provides that when temporary permissions for the use of residential property for other purposes expire, they will not be renewed, and that property still capable of residential use is not to be turned over to office use even in those parts of London reserved for offices. Various other possible methods were considered of dealing with this problem, including the one suggested by the hon. Lady, to which there are, however, practical objections.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that a recent census revealed that there are 1,120 live applicants for housing accommodation in the county borough of West Hartlepool, in addition to 520 cases of slum clearance; and if he will therefore grant additional subsidies in this area in accordance with his powers under the Housing Subsidies Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the number of persons remaining on the housing lists, as being in need of accommodation, in the towns of Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and Southwold and in the rural districts of Lothingland and Wainford, whether he will use his powers under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956, to pay an increased subsidy to these authorities.

I have not received any application for additional subsidy under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956, from any of these councils.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the increased rates of interest announced by the building societies, he will make a statement on its probable effect on private house building and his future policy.

I am informed that the demand for mortgages for house purchase remains strong. It is too early to judge what, if any, will be the effect on the rate of private house building.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the widespread concern amongst householders in all parts of the country over the policy of water companies in increasing charges for water supplies following the recent general increase in assessments; and why he approved this increase.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." With regard to the second part, I have not approved any increases in the charges of water companies for this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the increasing number of evictions taking place in the city of Birmingham, rendering many families homeless, and of the large number of houses which are and have been vacant for long periods; and if he will now consider requisitioning such houses.

I am not aware that the number of evictions in Birmingham is increasing or that an abnormally large number of houses there is vacant. In any case, the Government have no power to requisition for housing purposes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now considered the wider implications of the housing project at Allhallows-on-Sea; and whether he will make a statement.

No. The Kent County Council, which is the local planning authority, still has under consideration the application for planning permission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking because of past failure by local authorities to ensure that, when preparing plans for the redevelopment of slum clearance areas for housing purposes, local authorities follow the advice given to them concerning the adequate provision of children's playgrounds in the manual and circulars which have been distributed.

I am not aware that local authorities generally are failing to make adequate provision. The point is however watched by my Department when layout plans are considered for approval.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further consideration has been given to the means by which inducements can be offered to those with two or more unused rooms in urban houses to make them available for those needing accommodation; and what sample inquiries have been made to ascertain the approximate number of such unused rooms that could be occupied.

Information on sizes of households and numbers of rooms occupied is in the 1 per cent. sample tables of the 1951 Census. I should be glad if the hon. Member would let me know what inducements he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further study he has given to the question of housing London Airport employees, since 5th June, 1956; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 24th July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the urgent housing cases in the London County Council lists now number over 50,000 families; and, in view of the difficulty in finding sites in London, the increasing costs of building, and the urgency of this matter, whether he will take steps to enable the council to obtain additional sites outside the county and to reduce the costs of building.

I am in close touch with the London County Council on this matter. I should be happy to consider any suggestions of the hon. Member for bringing down building costs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consider legislation to amend the Rent Restrictions Acts by restricting the security of tenure provisions to the present tenant and spouse; by releasing a dwelling from the provisions of the Acts on change of tenancy; and by substituting a lower scale of rent and rateable values for the existing scale bringing a house within the Acts.

As I have already announced, the operation of the Rent Restrictions Acts in all its aspects is at present being reviewed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the increasing demands for water and the limited amounts available from rivers and lakes, he will authorise the construction of sea-water distillation plants to meet future needs.

No. The treatment of sea-water would at present cost a great deal more than the development of additional fresh-water sources.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he did not hold an inquiry before the erection of the Abbey Bookstall was approved in view of its important effect upon the western approach to Westminster Abbey.

The proposal of the Abbey authorities to convert part of the Chapter Office into a bookstall was approved by the London County Council, as the local planning authority. My predecessor did not think it necessary to call in the planning application for decision by himself. Only if he had done so would he have had power to hold an inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) on what date he sent his directive on caravan sites to the local authorities; and what has been the response to it;(2) if, as a result of his consultations with local authority associations, he will now state his policy in respect of caravan sites where families are permanently housed thus relieving the pressure on local authority housing lists.

I have sent no directive to local authorities about caravan sites. I shall shortly be consulting the local authority associations about possible changes in the law affecting caravans, and about caravan sites generally.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the difficulties that arise where money has been deposited with a local authority under the New Streets Act, 1951, for road and sewerage works, and subsequent events prevent construction being put in hand; that under the Act there is no apparent power to enable the local authority to repay deposits; what action he is taking in this matter either by legislation or by circulating advice to local authorities; and what particular assistance he is giving to Uxbridge Borough Council who have approached him in regard to their problem at Ickenham.

I am considering the particular case to which the hon. Member refers, and will write to him. I do not think that any general problem arises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consultation he has had with the Central Land Board on the question of the adequacy of compensation paid to owners of land compulsorily acquired, for loss of development rights.

I have had a report from the Central Land Board with regard to the particular case which my hon. Friend has in mind, and I have written to him about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to issue a report arising from the public inquiry into Chandless Street, compulsory purchase orders Nos. 1 and 2, Gateshead, or when the report will be available.

I hope to give my decision within the next two or three weeks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in which new towns negotiations are in progress or arrangements have been made for the leasing of the town centre or a substantial part of it to Ravenseft Properties Limited or other development companies; and what is his estimate of the effect of such leases on the revenues of the development corporations concerned and on the rents charged by them for houses.

Several of the new town corporations have it in mind to lease parts of their commercial centres for development by such companies. Small areas have already been leased to Ravenseft Properties Limited, in Aycliffe, Harlow and Peterlee. A satisfactory return is received from these leases, which have no effect on housing rents.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what response there has been to his appeal to local authorities to increase the amount of scrap metal recovered from household and trade refuse.

A considerable number of local authorities have still to inform me of the action they are taking in response to my circular on this subject. Most of those who have so far replied say that they are intensifying their efforts to recover ferrous scrap in so far as the available plant and labour allow. A few who did not already recover any scrap are now considering doing so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking to assist in the creation of a British regional planning organisation following the establishment of an International Regional Planning and Development Centre in Brussels.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether his Department was represented at the International Committee for Regional Planning and Development at Paris.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the White Paper on the Reform of Local Government will now be available before 2nd August, 1956.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he yet has any statement to make regarding the reform of local government.

A White Paper is being published today.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the emission of fumes from the burning slag-heap at Baddesley Colliery in the Warwickshire coalfield; and whether he will take steps to secure the abatement of this nuisance.

Yes. I have no statutory responsibility in this matter, but at the request of the local authority concerned one of my inspectors has made an investigation and has suggested remedial measures.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the large quantity of water pumped to waste from the Severn Tunnel daily; and if, in view of the shortage of water in the surrounding districts, he will inquire into the possibility of utilising this water for domestic or industrial purposes.

I understand that all water which is surplus to the needs of British Railways and other present users, is likely to be taken up by industrial firms with whom negotiations are going on or are in prospect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that, owing to an error made and admitted by the Registrar General, the population of the urban district of Corby was under-estimated as at 30th June, 1954, with the result that the council will lose a substantial sum which, on a correct estimate, they would have received by way of Exchequer Equalisation Grant; and whether he will made good that loss, by a special grant or otherwise.

I am aware of the circumstances of this case. The payment affected is not an Exchequer Equalisation Grant, but a payment by the county council under Section 9 of the Local Government Act, 1948. I have no statutory power which would enable me to follow the course which the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the decision not to move the Ordnance Survey Department to Wellingborough, he is now prepared to approve the agreement made between the London County Council and the Wellingborough Urban District Council in regard to London overspill.

In view of the decision about the Ordnance Survey, I am looking into this matter again and will get into touch with the two councils as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will send a circular to local authorities regarding the desirability, in the interests of food hygiene, of collecting and disposing of trade refuse.

I do not think that authorities need to be reminded by me of the importance of food hygiene in this connection.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why loan sanction for the provision of a playing field at Friar Park, West Bromwich, is precluded by the terms of the financial restrictions now in operation; and why it has taken him more than two months to discover that it was so precluded.

In a circular to local authorities last February, I explained that, apart from urgent schemes or ones involving health, safety or other vital interests, it was unfortunately necessary to defer sanction for new loans for capital expenditure. In the event, I felt unable to regard this particular proposal as one of special urgency.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to expedite the promised inquiry into local government, and call for an early interim report upon the recent revaluations of properties, the charges levied for water rate upon the basis of the new valuations, and the early abolition of the derating of industrial premises.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Sir A. Spearman) on 8th May and to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd), on 28th February, of which I am sending him copies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now agree to loan sanction for the proposal by the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company to provide a supply of piped water for the village of Rochester within the area of the Bellingham Rural District Council.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Labour when the new pay scales for the Factory Inspectorate will be announced; how far they will be consequential rates only, based on the general recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service; and how far they will be based on the need to improve the quality of entrants into the service.

I hope to be in a position to make an offer to the Association concerned shortly; meanwhile, I cannot say what the basis of the offer will be.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to settle the dispute at Briggs Bodies, Dagenham, over recent dismissals.

There is agreed procedure between the Ford Motor Company and the unions for dealing with disputes, which has not, I understand, been fully used, and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene at this stage. The hon. Member will no doubt have seen that the company has withdrawn the dismissal notices issued on 23rd July.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are unemployed in Swindon and how many vacancies have been notified to his office there.

At 16th July, there were 317 unemployed persons on the registers of Swindon Employment Exchange. Statistics of the total numbers of notified vacancies are not available, but the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at 27th June was 802.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to hold an inquiry into the allegations made against a hospital, details of which have been given to him by the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North.

If the hon. Lady has in mind the case about which she last wrote to me on 26th June, I see no need for any further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he proposes to develop a separate road research station in Scotland.

Road research in the United Kingdom is carried out by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research whose Road Research Laboratory has already a Scottish station at Thorntonhall near East Kilbride. No extension of this Scottish laboratory is at present planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the age at which, under his regulations, a president of the Scottish Land Court becomes eligible for a pension; and to what extent the amount of pension is dependent on years of service.

The Chairman of the Land Court may be awarded a pension on resignation after fifteen years' service or on becoming disabled by ill-health. There is no age qualification and the amount of pension does not depend on the number of years of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce that provision should be made to facilitate the enforcement in other Commonwealth countries of orders for aliment made by the Scottish courts and the enforcement in Scotland of orders for maintenance made by the courts of those countries.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has asked the Scottish Law Reform Committee to consider the views expressed by the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that, owing to the state of diligence in Caithness and Sutherland, these counties have become a sanctuary for defaulting debtors; and if he will remove this matter from consideration by further committees and state what action he is taking.

While there are at present no resident sheriff officers in Caithness and Sutherland, I understand that diligence in these counties is being done by officers of court from Inverness. The problems connected with diligence are not confined to Caithness and Sutherland and, as indicated in a reply that I am giving today to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Sir I. Clark Hutchison), I have therefore appointed a committee to undertake a complete review of the law on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, having regard to the views of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce and to other representations, he will appoint a committee to review the law of diligence.

Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I have decided that such a review is desirable, and I have appointed a committee to inquire into the operation of the present law and practice of diligence in Scotland and to make recommendations for its improvement, having regard, inter alia, to (1) the difficulties in remote areas, (2) the views expressed by the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce about machinery for enforcement of alimentary decrees of the Sheriff Court, and (3) the provisions of the Civil Imprisonment (Scotland) Act, 1882. Mr. Hector McKechnie, Q.C., L.L.D., Sheriff of Inverness, Moray, Nairn and Ross and Cromarty, has agreed to act as chairman and the other members are:

• Professor John Boyd, M.A., L.L.B.,
• Mr. A. L. Bushnell, B.L.,
• Mr. W. Ramsay Gemmill, L.L.B.,
• Miss C. G. Haldane.
• Mr. A. Leslie Hay, M.A., L.L.B.,
• Mr. P. Henderson,
• Mr. N. Leitch,
• Mr. T. Muirhead, B.L.

I am greatly indebted to the chairman and members of the committee for agreeing to serve.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now received the Report of the Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands on the petition of the North Isles of Orkney Association; what recommendations the panel make; and what action he proposes to take.

I have placed a copy of the Report in the Library. The Panel make various suggestions in regard to shipping services, transport charges, basic services and movements of population. Some of these they propose themselves to follow up; in regard to the others, I am in communication with the County Council and the other interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Works what economies he expects to accrue by the closing of the Nottingham regional office of his Department and transferring it to Birmingham.

asked the Minister of Works why it has been decided to close the Nottingham and Newcastle regional offices of his Department and to merge them with the Birmingham and Leeds offices, respectively; what economies it is hoped to achieve by these mergers; whether this decision was preceded by a detailed investigation within the regions; and what steps were taken to consult the affected staff interests before the decision was taken.

The main reason for closing my Department's office at Nottingham and Newcastle is to adapt its regional organisation to the present load of work. The present regional organisation has been under continuous review for some time, and it has become apparent that the concentration of more work in my regional offices at Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds will effect substantial economies in staff and in office accommodation. As detailed

PRIVATE BUILDING WORK: VALUE OF WORK DONE
Year	Month	Quarter	New Housing	Industrial	Other new work	Maintenance excluding housing	New Starts
							Area of industrial building m. sq. ft.	Houses thousands
			£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.
1955	April	2nd	53	52	30	28	17·3	13·0
	May							12·9
	June							12·2
	July	3rd	61	56	33	30	19·8	11·8
	August							11·5
	September							11·5
	October	4th	57	61	35	30	12·2	11·4
	November							10·6
	December							7·4
1956	January	1st	57	59	36	29	13·2*	8·5
	February							7·0
	March							11·1
	April	2nd						12·8
	May							12·5
	June				Not available
* Subject to revision.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will take steps to remove the dead and dying trees from Richmond Park this autumn and to

asked the Minister of Works whether he will give figures showing the volume and the new starts of private building of different kinds in the months before and since the beginning of the credit squeeze.

Monthly figures are available for new houses started, but figures for other new building are collected quarterly. The following are the figures:replace them by new trees of the largest possible size capable of being moved.

Dead trees and branches are removed as resources permit. The size of new trees is governed by what is possible on practical and financial grounds. I hope to plant another 1,000–1,200 trees this year.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will state the approximate cost of the work in the garden between the Victoria Tower and Lambeth Bridge over the last twelve months, or other convenient period; how much of this cost represents normal maintenance of a public garden of this size; and how much represents exceptional expenditure such as erecting statues and new fencing.

The work carried out in the Victoria Tower Gardens during the last twelve months falls into three categories, namely, new work costing £7,000 covering the removal and re-erection of statues and the laying out of new paths and shrubberies; special repairs and replacements costing about £12,000 for the replacement of railings and fences which had reached the end of their useful life; and the repair of existing footpaths. The normal day-to-day maintenance, such as grass cutting, costs about £600 a year.The scheme for the new lay-out of Victoria Tower Gardens was announced in the House of Commons by my right hon. Friend the present Secretary of State for Air on 15th November, 1955, and a model and drawings were exhibited in the Library of the House of Commons.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider establishing some machinery of appeal for soldiers whose discharge is proposed on security grounds.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War the result of his further inquiries into the incidents which led to the placing of an extra guard on the ramparts of the Citadel at Plymouth.

Last month complaints were made by members of the public that stones were being thrown from the ramparts of the Citadel at Plymouth. Most of these incidents occurred at weekends, and there was evidence to show that on at least one occasion soldiers were involved. The commanding officer therefore decided to place a guard on the ramparts to stop any repetition of such incidents. There was no further trouble and the guard was discontinued after a fortnight.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to inform Army pensioners whether or not they will benefit under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956.

This scheme has received wide publicity, and practically all Army Service pensioners will benefit by it either immediately or in the future. Preliminary notices have not been sent to individual pensioners because the issue of these would delay the automatic review of all pensions which is being carried out. Pensioners will be given details of their new entitlement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision is being made to allow relatives of those killed in action during the war in Italy to be present at the institution of the war memorial at Cassino on the 30th September, and particularly what assistance he is prepared to give to war widows who wish to be present on the occasion.

Financial assistance from Service funds to enable relatives to attend such ceremonies has not been given in the past, and my right hon. Friend regrets that he does not feel justified in making special arrangements on this occasion. The Imperial War Graves Commission, who are responsible for the ceremony, are, however, doing everything possible for the comfort and convenience of those who will be able to be present.The British Legion have organised a number of pilgrimages to past unveiling ceremonies, and I understand that in certain circumstances they have given special assistance to relatives to enable them to take part. They are organising a similar pilgrimage to the ceremony at Cassino which is due to take place on 30th September.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in regard to Press advertisements in the current recruiting campaign which quote £7 7s. a week as the pay which a man can earn in his first three years in the Regular Army, what is his estimate of the value of the board and lodging, clothing and marriage allowances provided.

Marriage allowance for a Regular soldier below the rank of sergeant is £110 a year. The cost of board, lodging and clothing depend upon many factors, such as the station in which a soldier is serving and the type of accommodation he occupies, and it is not practicable to give a realistic average figure.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that married National Insurance retired pensioners were paid 42s. per week in 1946; what percentage this sum was of the earnings of industrial workers in October, 1946; and what percentage the corresponding 65s. pensions benefit in 1955 was of the earnings of such workers in April, 1956.

The 42s. pension for married retirement pensioners represented 35 per cent. of the average earnings of men industrial workers in 1946. Figures for earnings in April, 1956, are not yet available, but the 65s. pension for married retirement pensioners represented 29 per cent. of the average earnings of men industrial workers in October, 1955. Both earnings figures include overtime and bonus payments.

asked the Minister of Defence whether the statement made by General Sir Richard Gale, the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine, on 24th July, relating to the necessity of retaining our commitments of ground forces in Western Germany, a copy of which has been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Bassetlaw, was made with his authority.

It is not the customary practice for my authority to be sought for what is to be said at interviews of the kind referred to by the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Defence the number of retired officers of the three Armed Services, including officers of the Indian armed Services, who had retired before 1st September, 1939, and were recalled to the Services for the Second World War.

I am writing to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what revised estimates he has made of the sums needed to meet the fatstock price guarantees on cattle, sheep and pigs in the current year.

The Revised Estimates published on 5th July, 1956 (H.C. 316) contain a figure of £634 million for the fatstock guarantees for the United Kingdom divided up as follows:

					£m.
Cattle	…	…	…	…	11·9
Sheep	…	…	…	…	10·2
Pigs	…	…	…	…	41·3

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent beef prices in the United Kingdom are now affected by subsidies direct or indirect, given on chilled beef exported from Argentina to the United Kingdom; and what estimate he has made of the consequent extra cost to the United Kingdom Treasury of maintaining the price guarantees for home-killed and Australian beef.

Chilled beef exported from Argentina to the United Kingdom is not subsidised. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the subsidies to be paid in the current financial year to farmers to improve land fertility, encourage production and improve qualities of farm produce.

The subsidies to be paid to farmers for these purposes in the current financial year are as follows:

(1) General fertiliser subsidy.

(2) Lime subsidy.

(3) Grants for ploughing up grassland.

(4) Field drainage and water supply grants.

(5) Grants for the improvement of livestock rearing land.

(6) Marginal production assistance grants.

(7) Bonus payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme, 1950.

(8) Grants for the improvement of livestock breeding.

(9) Calf subsidy.

(10) Hill sheep and hill cattle subsidies.

(11) Payments in implementation of agricultural price guarantees:

(a) Cereals:—

• Wheat and rye.
• Barley.
• Oats and mixed corn.

(b) Eggs.

(c) Fatstock:—

• Cattle.
• Sheep.
• Pigs.

(d) Milk.

(e) Wool.

(f) Potatoes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce the names of the members appointed to the Committee to look into the problems of the Meat and Livestock Industry.

Yes. I am glad to be able to inform the House that the following persons have agreed to act as members of the Technical Advisory Committee on Meat Research.

• Sir George Wilson (Chairman).
• The Earl of Antrim, Member of the Council of the Ulster Farmers' Union.
• Mr. A. J. Austin, Butchery Manager, London Co-operative Society.
• Mr. E. J. Baldwin, O.B.E., Ex-President of the Institute of Meat.
• Colonel L. B. Bennett, O.B.E., M.C., President of the Imported Meat Trade Association.
• Dr. B. K. Blount, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• Mr. T. C. Brechin, Past President of the Scottish Federation of Retail Meat Trades' Associations.
• Mr. E. C. Conn, Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.
• Mr. H. R. Davidson, Farmer and agricultural journalist.
• Mr. David Galloway, Vice-Chairman of Multiple Meat Traders' Association.
• Mr. Frank Gerrard, National College of Food Technology.
• Dr. John Hammond, C.B.E., Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Agricultural Research Council.
• Mr. George Hedley, Ex-President, Scottish National Farmers' Union.
• Mr. Maurice Passmore, Producer and meat expert.
• Professor Alex Robertson, Professor of Veterinary Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
• Mr. J. H. Rodmell, President of the English Federation of Retail Meat Traders' Associations.
• Mr. E. Roll, C.B., C.M.G., Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
• Mr. T. J. Shaw, M.C., Managing Director
• (Marketing), Fatstock Marketing Corporation.
• Mr. H. Shilleto, Chairman of Livestock and Wool Committee of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales.
• Mr. W. Shubert Jones, J.P., Chairman of the Welsh Committee of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales.
• Sir William Slater, K.B.E., Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council.
• The Viscount Trenchard, M.C., Director, T. Wall and Sons Limited.
• Mr. H. Whitby, Department of Agriculture for Scotland.
• Mrs. Hilda Whitlow, Housewife and journalist.
• Mr. James Williams, President of the Federation of Wholesale Fresh Meat Traders.

Professor H. G. Sanders and Dr. N. C. Wright, the Chief Scientific Advisers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for agriculture and food respectively, will assist the Committee as assessors.The terms of reference of this Committee were given in my reply on 23rd April to a Question by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many visits have been made by his inspectors in the past three months to the nine horse slaughterhouses and knackers' yards which were found in the spring to be very unsatisfactory premises.

Nine visits have been made, one to each slaughterhouse.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what point it was decided that the economic advantages to Egypt of the Aswan High Dam were not such as to justify British financial assistance.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. As I think my right hon. and learned Friend made clear in the course of the debate on Foreign Affairs on 24th July, it was not the economic advantages of the Dam to Egypt that was in question, but whether the Egyptian Government's economic policy would leave her in a position to devote to the project the priority necessary for its success.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the annual cost of medical attention per patient for patients of different races in each of the Colonies, Protectorates and Trusteeship territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonies, Protectorates and Trusteeship Territories there is discrimination on the grounds of race in the use of hospitals and medical clinics, including separation in different hospitals and clinics; and the extent of this discrimination.

pursuant to his replies [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th December, 1955; Vol. 547, c. 306 and 308], gave the following information:—Inquiries show that so far as hospitals and clinics provided or maintained out of public funds are concerned, such separation of patients as occurs is effected on financial, dietary or other grounds which are not those of race. I have no reason to believe that the position as regards private hospitals is very different, though in certain cases private nursing homes and hospitals are provided by various racial or religious groups for members of their own community. Hospitals and clinics in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland are the responsibility of the Federal Government. No figures for cost per patient are kept in any Colonial Territory on a racial basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now consider proceeding with the Lake Victoria project to supply water to territories in East Africa.

Surveys of the requirements of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika for water from the Nile system will soon be completed. When the results of these surveys are available, my right hon. Friend will consider, in consultation with the East African Governments, what action, if any, it is desirable to take to safeguard those requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present restrictions imposed on the growing of coffee by European, Asian and African planters, respectively, in Kenya; and when these restrictions were imposed.

pursuant to Mr. Hare's reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th June, 1956; Vol. 555, c. 474–5], supplied the following information:Since 1934, planters of all races have been required to obtain a licence to grow coffee. With the object of maintaining good marketable quality, planting is restricted to areas suitable for growing coffee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the fact that he has now interviewed the Attorney-General of Kenya Colony and in addition had a meeting with Miss Eileen Fletcher, when he intends to publish his statement regarding conditions in Kamiti Camp.

Copies of a memorandum setting out the results of investigations completed to date into Miss Fletcher's allegations will be placed in the Library on Wednesday, 1st August. Since the memorandum was prepared, I have received a statutory declaration by Miss Fletcher. Copies of this declaration will be placed in the Library on Thursday, 2nd August, and, when Parliament reassembles, I will make available comments on those parts of the statutory declaration which are not covered in the first memorandum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Report of the Principal Auditor for the Seychelles Colony Accounts for the year ended 31st December, 1954 was not issued until 24th January, 1956, and that the tardiness of issue was due to the fact that the auditor found difficulty in obtaining from most Government Departments the requisite information and documents, and that the auditor was obliged to issue 726 queries some going back to 1951 with no action being taken; and whether he will make a statement.

I know that the report of the Principal Auditor on the accounts for 1954 was submitted to the Governor on the 24th January, 1956. I am inquiring into the reasons which made it impossible for the report to be submitted earlier, and will write to the hon. Member when the necessary information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to publish figures showing the number of members of the Armed Forces and police from the United Kingdom killed and wounded in Cyprus during each month from April, 1955, until now.

The following are the figures requested:

Month			Killed	Injured
1955—
April	…	…	Nil	1
June	…	…	Nil	4
September	…	…	Nil	5
October	…	…	1	6
November	…	…	5	23
December	…	…	6	36
1956—
January	…	…	3	11
February	…	…	2	11
March	…	…	6	26
April	…	…	3	23
May	…	…	9	60
June	…	…	6	26
July (to 27th)	…	…	2	3

The figures for injured include all minor casualties. The total number admitted to hospital is 166.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to publish figures showing the number of Cypriots, men, women and children shown separately, who have been killed and wounded during each month from April, 1955, until now.

The figures requested are as follows:

Month			Men		Women		Children
			Killed	Wounded	Killed	Wounded	Killed	Wounded
1955—
April	…	…	Nil	1	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
June	…	…	2	15	Nil	1	Nil	Nil
July	…	…	Nil	1	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
August	…	…	2	3	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
September	…	…	1	3	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
October	…	…	1	8	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
November	…	…	1	7	1	2	Nil	Nil
December	…	…	10	10	1	1	Nil	Nil
1956—
January	…	…	5	8	Nil	2	Nil	Nil
February	…	…	8	7	1	1	Nil	Nil
March	…	…	11	13	Nil	1	1	2
April	…	…	10	17	Nil	2	1	Nil
May	…	…	11	31	Nil	1	Nil	3
June	…	…	13	25	2	2	Nil	Nil
July (to 27th)	…	…	1	3	Nil	Nil	Nil	1
(Terrorists are not included in the figures given above.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to publish figures showing the number of British civilians from the United Kingdom killed and wounded in Cyprus during each month from April, 1955, until now.

The following are the figures requested:

Month			Killed	Wounded
1955—
June	…	…	Nil	2
September	…	…	Nil	1
October	…	…	Nil	1
November	…	…	Nil	7
December	…	…	Nil	6
1956—
January	…	…	Nil	2
February	…	…	Nil	1
March	…	…	Nil	4
April	…	…	2	4
May	…	…	2	3
June	…	…	1	2
July (to 27th)	…	…	2	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to give figures showing, respectively, the number of Cypriot men, women and children under the age of 18 years who are now in prison having been convicted, who are awaiting trial and who are in detention.

The following are the figures requested:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many acres of forest have recently been burnt in Cyprus; and what was the cause of the fires.

Twenty thousand acres of forest have been wholly or partially burned since the middle of May. It has not been possible to ascertain the cause with absolute certainty in every instance, but it is possible that some fires were started deliberately by fugitive terrorists. Others—as happens each summer—started accidentally.

asked the Minister of Education if he will investigate the payment by many local education authorities of minor awards of greatly varying value to students in technical colleges, to whose full-time courses the classifications of graduate status under the Burnham Report do not apply; and if he will urge all authorities to pay the rates recommended in his administrative memorandum 502 to all full-time students over the age of 18 attending courses of further education.

I already have information about rates of grant paid by local education authorities to students in technical colleges attending the courses to which the hon. Member refers. These courses vary greatly in character and duration, and it would not in my view be appropriate for them all to carry university rates of grant. This is a matter in which I think local education authorities should be allowed discretion.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in approving the placing of contracts for new schools, he will recommend that a small sum shall be made available for decorative art, sculpture, etc.

Works of art may be provided in any new educational building so long as the expenditure involved is reasonable and within the normal limits of cost for the building as a whole. A number of local authorities have been both willing and able to take advantage of this arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will supply details of expenditure from public funds on cancer research for each year between 1948 and 1956, inclusive.

Expenditure by the Medical Research Council on cancer research during the years 1948 to 1956 was as follows:

				£
1947–48	…	…	…	24,000
1948–49	…	…	…	90,000
1949–50	…	…	…	175,000
1950–51	…	…	…	157,000
1951–52	…	…	…	200,000
1952–53	…	…	…	395,000
1953–54	…	…	…	335,000
1954–55	…	…	…	289,000
1955–56	…	…	…	327,000

Cancer research is also carried out in the National Health Service in the course of the treatment of patients, but it is not possible to make a separate estimate for expenditure on such work.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, from what United. States laboratory the supply of Salk vaccine was received with which the Medical Research Council intended to carry out trials in six areas last year; and what happened to these supplies.

The Medical Research Council received limited supplies of Salk vaccine in the spring of 1955 from two firms in the United States, Parke Davis and Company and Elli Lilley and Company. Some of these supplies were used for laboratory investigations and the remainder is still in the possession of the Council. No portion of this vaccine has been used for immunising human beings.

asked the Minister of Health the establishment for medical officers in mental hospitals in England and Wales; and to what extent these posts are filled.

Up-to-date figures are not available, but inquiries made in 1954 indicated that there was a shortage of about 20 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of arrests for soliciting in the Paddington area in each of the last five years;(2) what was the number of arrests for indecency in the Paddington area in each of the last five years.

—				Soliciting	Number of persons arrested in the Paddington area
					Outraging public decency (male and female)	Male persons outraging public decency with males
1951	…	…	…	477	28	9
1952	…	…	…	557	68	5
1953	…	…	…	813	126	3
1954	…	…	…	1,758	298	6
1955	…	…	…	2,139	306	7

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) the number of prosecutions for living on immoral earnings in the Paddington area in each of the last five years:(2) what was the number of prosecutions for the use of premises as brothels, and for permitting premises to be used for purposes of habitual prostitution in the Paddington area in each of the last five years.

The number of prosecutions in the Paddington area for living on immoral earnings and for brothel-keeping or permitting premises to be used for purposes of habitual prostitution respectively in the last five years were as follows:

NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS IN THE PADDINGTON AREA
—		Living on immoral earnings	Brothel-keeping or permitting premises to be used for habitual prostitution
1951	…	7	10
1952	…	4	16
1953	…	5	16
1954	…	13	44
1955	…	13	30

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the speed of the Hunter and Swift are reduced in effective

The number of persons arrested in the Paddington area for soliciting, or outraging public decency with males, or by males outraging public decency with males, respectively, in the last five years was as follows:flying speed by carrying two Fireflashes; and how far this affects their capability in bringing down enemy bomber aircraft.

There is a slight reduction in the speed of these aircraft when carrying the Fireflash guided weapon, but this is more than counterbalanced by the superior effectiveness of the weapon compared with a gun.

asked the Minister of Supply how much was paid for military aircraft in each of the four year periods 1947–51 and 1952–56; and what figures he can supply of sums paid to individual aircraft firms in each of those periods.

The amounts paid for the production of military aircraft, including spares, were about £281 million and £857 million, respectively. It is not the practice to give details of payments to individual firms.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement about the regional organisation of his Department.

Yes. For some time there has been a decline in the amount of work falling upon the Ministry of Supply components of the regional offices in England, which for the past three years have been merged with those of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I have therefore been able to reduce the number of my staff in these offices from 157 on 1st March, 1954, to 37 at the present time. As a further measure of economy, I have now decided to disband the Ministry of Supply component in these offices as from today, and to arrange for the remaining work to be carried out in future either by my Headquarters staff or (where appropriate) by the Board of Trade regional offices acting as agents on my behalf. As from today, therefore, the joint title of the regional offices in England will be abandoned, and they will be known as the Board of Trade Regional Offices.I propose, however, to retain staff in Scotland and in Wales, and the controllers there will continue as at present to be jointly responsible to my right hon. Friend and myself.