asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the continuing unfair competition which the British shipowners have to meet from merchant shipping registered under flags of convenience; that it is estimated that the Cunard Line would have saved £14 million in taxation between 1949 and 1954 if their ships had been registered under such flags ; and if he will now give further consideration to taxation relief.

lam well aware of this problem, and its complexities. Meanwhile, I have helped British shipping companies in the Finance Act by allowing them to retain investment allowances in respect of expenditure on new ships.

While acknowledging all that my right hon. Friend has done, to which he has referred, does he not realise that this present crushing burden of taxation on shipping companies is such as is likely to cripple their competitive power, and, with it, to diminish the vastly important prestige of this industry?

As I have said, this is a very difficult problem, to which I am giving careful study.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average time taken before claims by individuals for repayments of Income Tax are met.

No statistics are kept, but the average is believed to be about two to three weeks for straightforward cases. Claims lodged during the busy period immediately following the end of the Income Tax year naturally take longer than those lodged at other times of the year.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that there are many cases which are not straightforward, and that, owing to the credit squeeze, many citizens are finding themselves hurt financially by this time-lag? Will he do his best to reduce the time-lag as much as possible?

Of course, and I am satisfied that the Inland Revenue officials do everything in their power to achieve this purpose.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as far as manual workers are concerned, this problem could be simplified by having 53 weeks in the code table, so that if a man got a rebate, having earned less than he would have done in the normal week, it would be known by the people in the office what amount they should repay the worker?

I remember a great row about "Give us back our 11 days," and I do not think I should like to make a 53-week year without notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the new arrangements proposed by certain companies for the hiring of cars to business firms; and how far the hiring charges involved will rank under the regulations as a 100 per cent. tax exemption charge in the calculation of Income Tax and Profits Tax.

The Control of Hiring (Vehicles) Order, 1956, came into operation on 1st October. Revenue expenditure incurred by traders on hiring cars for business purposes will, as hitherto, rank as an admissible deduction in computing trading profits for taxation purposes.

Since the Chancellor is no doubt aware of the strong feeling on the subject of initial allowances—I think on both sides of the House—will he have a very careful look at this before the next Budget, in order that he can satisfy himself whether these new proposals, as the sponsors claim, are a means of getting certain tax concessions which are not available on the basis of buying cars and using them for business purposes?

Of course I will look at it, but I should have thought they would have had rather the opposite effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of income left after Income Tax and Surtax to a single man, a married man, and a married man with two children on incomes of £180 in 1938, £314 in 1946, £359 in 1948, and £580 in 1955–56.

as the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Defence Departments have already overspent on their Estimates in the current financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how current expenditure compares with the Estimates in respect of the Defence Departments.

There are indications that some Votes of the Defence Departments may be overspent by the end of the financial year, but it is too early to attempt a very accurate forecast.

Does that mean that the Chancellor has no idea of what the bill will be for the Suez manoeuvres? Does it also mean that he has put no limit on the extra military spending which the Service Departments undertake?

No, Sir. Out of my natural courtesy, I answered the Question on what I thought it was intended to mean. If I had chosen to answer it precisely, the answer would have been that no Defence Department has already overspent its Estimates for the current year.

Is the Chancellor aware that whatever has been spent so far has only resulted in an awful muddle, including disgruntled reservists who seem to be on the verge of mutiny? Is it not the duty of the Treasury to ensure that some degree of administrative efficiency exists in all other Government Departments?

Will the Chancellor say, out of his natural courtesy, whether we are to expect any Supplementary Estimates this autumn on the Defence Estimates, and will he further say whether any of the overspending at present going on has been met by virement between the Service Departments?

That is a rather complicated question, of which I should prefer to have notice. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, there may have to be Supplementary Estimates sometimes because of the rules about the different Votes, but on the total result it is too early to tell.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now reintroduce the system of Treasury deposit receipts.

No, Sir. I have, of course, examined this possibility, but I have decided against it.

Without in any way endorsing what we consider to be the over-reliance of the Government on monetary methods, I would ask the Chancellor whether he is aware that, as is widely recognised in the City and in the great debate which has taken place in the financial journals recently, there is great concern about the operation of these financial controls, and does he not think that, in relation to the liquidity argument, something should be done to sterilise some of the excess liquidity, perferably by Treasury deposit receipts?

I was asked the Question, and I have done my best to answer it. I do not think this method would be suitable. First of all, it was used during the very different conditions of war, and they are really very different from those of peace ; also, it is specially bound up with a period of deficit financing, and we have exactly the opposite now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made with the opening of a separate tax office for Dagenham.

A separate office to serve the Dagenham area will be opened in a building in Ilford early next year. I am sorry that the location of a tax office in Dagenham itself is not likely to prove possible in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give an estimate of the extra amount per week each would receive if the total amount distributed annually in net ordinary dividends were distributed amongst the 23,989,000 total working population.

The total amount distributed as ordinary dividends by all companies in 1955 is estimated at £652 million before tax (excluding payments by one company to another). After deduction of Income Tax at the standard rate of 8s. 6d., this represents £375 million, or 6s. per head per week of the working population at June, 1956.

Did I understand the figure to be 6d. or 6s.?

Six shillings.

Would my right hon. Friend please send this Answer to his shadow so that his shadow may see that Sir Stafford Cripps was right—that there is not a lot to be gained by further redistribution?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his discussions at the meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers, and elsewhere, on Her Majesty's Government's attitude to proposals for a free trade area in Western Europe.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I took the opportunity of the presence of representatives of other Commonwealth countries in Washington in September for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank to discuss with them the possibility of the United Kingdom associating herself with other members of O.E.E.C. in a free trade area in order to establish a large-scale European market for manufactured goods.

Such an area would comprise the proposed Customs Union of the six Messina Powers and any other O.E.E.C. countries that wished to join. It would be a condition of the United Kingdom joining such an area that raw and manufactured foodstuffs, feedingstuffs, drink and tobacco would be excluded from the arrangements.

Her Majesty's Government will take their decision on these questions in the light of any views which other Commonwealth Governments may express, as well as the consultations which they are having with representatives of employers and employed at home. I hope to be able to make a statement soon.

Since the Chancellor will, I am sure, understand that hon. Members on this side of the House, and, indeed, in all parts of the House, will want to give the most careful study to these proposals, which are of very great importance to the economic future of this country, will he agree to make more information available to the House, preferably in the form of a White Paper, including all the documents in relation to the Messina Powers' proposals and such information as he feels he can make available in relation to his discussions with the Commonwealth Ministers? I hope he will answer that point very clearly.

Secondly, would he give the House some idea of the timetable in this matter? Is it not the case that the Government intend to give instructions to their representatives to the O.E.E.C. meeting some time next month, and would he say when is the deadline for this information, and when he expects to be able to make a statement to the House?

Perhaps I might take the second part of the question first. The position is that a good deal of technical inquiry is going on between the various officials of O.E.E.C. as to the technical possibilities of such a plan—not as to whether it is desirable, but whether it is actually possible. There are problems about Customs, ports, and all the rest, which will take a considerable time to elucidate.

Then as to the question of policy, it will be necessary for Her Majesty's Government to give some instructions in the reasonably near future—I have said probably in the course of next month—to our representatives, for it would be not, I think, honest on our part if we did not give some preliminary instructions, at least for further elucidation. That we shall try to do.

With regard to the publishing of a White Paper, I will certainly bear that in mind. I do not think this moment would be quite the right moment; I should like to be able to add a little more to it. I hope that something might be publishable before the period of any large-scale debate which might well take place in the middle of next month.

I was not clear what my right hon. Friend said in his last sentence, but would he bear in mind the desirability of representing to the Leader of the House that we have the debate in this House at a reasonably early date?

Yes, certainly; but I think at this time of year the timetable actually makes that fairly convenient.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum has been collected in the first six months in duty on cider and perry over 15 degrees proof under Section 2 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1956.

I regret that this information is not available. Duty paid on strengthened ciders and perries, which are charged with duty as British wine, is aggregated with other receipts of that duty and separate figures are not maintained.

Is the Chancellor aware that, as was warned on both sides of the House, the effect of this duty is harming this very important cider industry in this country?

I have no evidence of that, but, of course, I will watch it carefully.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total for wages and salaries paid by the companies and public corporations trading in the United Kingdom for the year 1955 ; what was the undistributed income, after taxation, of such companies and public corporations for the same year ; and what percentage is this sum of the total wages and salaries paid by them.

Total wages and salaries paid by companies and public corporations in 1955 are estimated at approximately £7,150 million and their undistributed profits after tax at £1,655 million. The latter figure is 23 per cent. of the former. It is worth noticing that the £1,655 million of undistributed profits was more than offset by the amount spent by these concerns on investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid by industry in taxation for each of the last five years ; and what were the social services it paid for.

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

If industry ceases to make profits over the next five years, what alternative source of taxation has my right hon. Friend in mind to maintain the welfare services?

If industry ceased to make profits, it would be a very bad day for this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, now that the cost-of-living figure has been stabilised and the country has overcome its economic difficulties, he will increase the salaries of Members of Parliament to compensate them for the rise in the cost of living during the past few years.

I am naturally grateful for the hon. Gentleman's generous praise of the Government's economic performance. But, while we have achieved for the present a steady Retail Price Index, I would not claim more than that the country is in process of overcoming its economic difficulties. For the reasons which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the House on 12th July, it would be an error of judgment for the Government to prejudice that process by moving to increase the salaries of hon. Members now.

Whilst, naturally, expecting the Chancellor of the Exchequer to disagree with his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, I would ask him whether he is not aware that at Llandudno the Leader of the House said that all the Election promises had now been fulfilled, and one of those was that the cost of living would be reduced and the £ sterling would again be worth something ; and if, in fact, the Leader of the House is right, surely, then, should not the Chancellor of the Exchequer implement this promise which he gave, namely, that when the cost of living was stable he would deal with the admitted grievance of M.Ps., or is this another promise which is going to be broken?

I think the hon. Member is rather complicating an issue which he made particularly simple in the form of his Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the British representative on the Board of the World Bank has taken in relation to the negotiations between the President and the Indian Government regarding India's second five-year plan.

None, Sir. The Indian Government is in direct negotiation with the Management of the International Bank in this matter. No report on the negotiations has yet been made to the Executive Board of the Bank.

In view of the implications of these negotiations, particularly in the letter which Mr. Eugene Black, the President of the Bank, sent to the Indian Government on 5th September, will Her Majesty's Government indicate that we are opposed to any political strings being attached to the aid given by this Bank?

The measure of the good will of the International Bank towards the Government of India lies in the fact that over the past seven years it has approved loans to India worth over 200 million dollars. There is no country, I think—except, perhaps, one—that has borrowed as much from the Bank during that period. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that when this matter comes to the Board from the Executive, the British representative will play a sympathetic rôle.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer bear in mind that it is important for this country, as the head of the Commonwealth, in which in the near future countries will attain their independence, that we should dissociate ourselves from the statement in which political strings are attached to economic aid?

Yes, but it would be quite inappropriate in the case of this Bank, which is managed by the Executive, for me to instruct our director to take any line until the proper moment. The last people who would wish us to do so would be the Government of India.

Do I gather that at the proper moment the Government will make the view of this country clear?

This Bank is run on business lines—

Not like the Government.

—but like the excellent capitalist business of the right hon. Gentleman opposite—and the management is now in the hands of Mr. Black and his advisers. When the matter comes to the Board, that is the moment when we shall properly state our position.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what publications of other Commonwealth and of Colonial Governments are supplied by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

Apart from Annual Reports of the Colonial Governments and occasionally other publications of wide general interest, the Stationery Office does not sell the publications of other Commonwealth and of Colonial Governments.

All Colonial Government publications are sold in this country by the Crown Agents. Commonwealth Government publications are available from the respective High Commissioners' Offices in London.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before his next Budget, he will hold a comprehensive review as to what can be done to help the small fixed income groups to meet the high cost of living.

On a point of order. May I not have an answer to my Question?

I am sorry, I am afraid I omitted to call the hon. Lady. I believe that the right hon. Gentleman has left the House. I will see if I can get an answer.

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will answer this Question—I understand, rather out of its order. As I have indicated on several occasions, I am very conscious of the difficulties facing many such people and we have introduced a number of specific measures to help them. I will, of course, continue to study this problem, and am very ready to consider any concrete proposals which the hon. Lady may make.

In view of the fact that my right hon. Friend is not now in purdah for the Budget and it is possible to put down a Question early, may I ask whether, after the statements made by the Government leaders at Llandudno, I may expect a comprehensive review? I am not asking for decisions but am asking my right hon. Friend to give an assurance that there will be a comprehensive review. He has already had dozens of suggestions from me, and I will give him dozens more if he would like them.

Yes, of course, we shall review this, together with other questions. It is just because at the moment neither I nor the hon. Lady are in purdah that I look forward to having further discussions.

Is the Chancellor aware that some people who retired during the war or thereabouts on a pension which seemed to guarantee them honourable security in old age now find that pension about one-third of its value, and that these are the real victims of the rise in the cost of living? Will the right hon. Gentleman not do something about this special case?

As I say, a good deal has been done, and, of course, it would be gratifying if we could do more : that must depend partly on the proposals which I shall make in next year's Budget.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that a brewers' trust has offered to the Welwyn and Hatfield Development Corporation to provide a community hall as part of a block with a public house, the Corporation, on account of the credit squeeze, having been unable to build a community centre ; and whether he will refuse his approval of this project as long as the Government's present credit policy is in operation.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason for interposing to prevent this project.

Does this not indicate a departure from the general credit policy laid down by the Government?

No, not at all.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the general response of the authorities concerned to his White Paper on Local Government Reorganisation ; and if he will make a statement.

Very few councils have as yet expressed opinions on the proposals in the White Paper. However, I expect to receive their views in due course through the local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the reorganisation of local government finance with particular reference to the rate burden falling upon occupiers of shops and offices and other premises to which industrial derating does not apply.

Yes, Sir ; as soon as possible.

May I understand from the Minister whether, pending a decision on the wider, complicated subject of local government reorganisation, any remedy will be introduced to alleviate the hardship of shopkeepers and others who are adversely affected by the present assessments and do not benefit from derating?

That would, of course, involve legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has received of the cost of a tunnel under the proposed road through Christ Church Meadows, Oxford.

I am advised that the capital cost of such a tunnel would be upwards of £7 million. Ventilation and pumping might cost about £100,000 a year.

Why has not the right hon. Gentleman available for the House a firmer estimate than that of a method which will avoid the proposed appalling damage to Oxford? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that estimates have been made of a figure under £2 million, which have not been entirely guesswork, but which have been based upon careful preliminary investigation which has taken into account the character of the soil and other relevant factors?

I am assured that the latest technical information has been taken into account in arriving at the estimate which I have given, but I shall be very happy to arrange for the hon. Gentleman's figure to be checked by the experts.

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that he will countenance no prodigal expenditure on tunnels in Oxford, and stick to his present proposals, which are by far the best?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, having regard to the national importance of the site, no directive was issued re quiring planning applications affecting Westminster Abbey to be referred to him, thereby ensuring that the proposal for the erection of the Abbey bookstall came to him for decision.

It was thought that this was a question which could properly be left to the Dean and Chapter and the London County Council.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the unsightly bookstall which has been constructed, very regrettably with the approval and the sponsorship of the Abbey authorities? With that in mind and in view, will he reconsider the question whether he has sufficient powers to protect buildings of national importance?

I explained the circumstances in which this application was not called in. I know many people have expressed the view, which I personally share, that shop windows are out of place at the entrance to the Abbey, and I have no doubt that the Dean and Chapter will take into account the views which have been expressed. I am afraid I have no further power in the matter, the decision having been taken by the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent those parts of London Wall, excavated since the war, are to be preserved in the rebuilding of the City.

In accordance with the London Development Plan the principal remains of the Roman Wall now exposed are to be preserved in open settings.

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

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many of the housing programmes submitted to him by local authorities indicate an intention to cut down building for general need.

In a circular sent out in July, I asked housing authorities to let me know the number of tenders they proposed to let in the current financial year. I am still awaiting replies from a third of these authorities. I will publish the figures as soon as the returns are complete.

Is the Minister aware that a serious situation is arising because many little authorities have resolved not to continue building houses for the general need? Is he further aware that many more local authorities will cease to build houses for general need when the £10 subsidy is done away with and that thus many thousands of people will be deprived of the hope of homes? Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that his entire attitude towards housing is antisocial and harsh?

It is the Government's deliberate policy to encourage local authorities to give higher priority to slum clearance, and that policy is succeeding.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement on the housing of the elderly arising from the recent inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to increase the provision of old people's bungalows.

About 1,300 local authorities and several important voluntary organisations, have given me information about the accommodation which they are providing for elderly persons. In addition, officials of my Department, and of the Ministry of Health, have visited and reported upon 25 selected housing schemes of different kinds. I have also discussed this whole problem with the Central Housing Advisory Committee.

Local authorities must, of course, decide for themselves what proportion of their house-building effort should be devoted to each section of their population. However, as a result of the inquiry, I have decided to draw their attention to the importance of catering for the special requirements of elderly persons. A circular embodying a number of specific suggestions is being prepared and will be issued shortly.

While thanking my right hon. Friend very warmly for the inquiry he has carried out and the decision he has taken, may I ask, in view of the fact that local authorities always assert that finance is part of their difficulty in building for the elderly, whether before producing his rent control policy my right hon. Friend will take steps to ensure that local authorities have the finance to enable them to build for elderly people, thus helping the release of houses? What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to deal with the financial situation which, I am sure, was disclosed in the discussions with local authorities?

The question of rent control does not, of course, affect council houses. We discussed the question of the housing subsidy and my hon. Friend put forward various suggestions, which were debated fully, during the passage of the Housing Subsidies Bill earlier in the year.

Whilst appreciating the sentiment that the right hon. Gentleman has expressed, both today and when this matter was last discussed, may I ask how it is possible for local authorities, under present financial conditions, to extend the building of bungalows for the aged? Is it not the case that the higher interest rates are making it impossible to carry out this building and, in some cases, are causing local authorities to increase the rents of the aged? Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore consider making a grant for this purpose?

There are certain suggestions regarding the provision of bungalows for elderly people in the circular which I am in process of preparing.

Will the right hon. Gentleman now withdraw the cut he made in the housing subsidies in these cases?

That is not at present in contemplation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement as to the progress of slum clearance in England and Wales.

During the first half of this year, some 17,000 slum dwellings were demolished or closed, and about 46,000 people were rehoused. This is an increase of about 50 per cent. over the figures for the corresponding period of last year. During the first nine months of this year local authorities have designated clearance areas involving over 33,000 houses and over 100,000 people, which is double the rate for last year. All these figures show that the slum clearance drive is steadily gathering momentum.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for those most encouraging figures, may I ask him whether they do not indicate that his decision to give a higher subsidy was a correct one and that that policy is paying?

If the Minister is so anxious to promote slum clearance, why is it that the Ministry has refused to confirm four orders made under the slum clearance legislation by Birmingham Corporation?

I cannot answer questions about individual slum clearance orders. All I can say is that we are confirming orders at an ever accelerating rate.

Are not the figures now given by the right hon. Gentleman rather less than what the local authorities proposed to do before the Government embarked on what they called their slum clearance programme?

Whatever the local authorities may have said they were going to do, it was the result of being asked by the Government to make a review of their slum clearance problems and to draw up programmes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) by how much he proposes to permit an increase in restricted rents ;

(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that increases in restricted rents are spent on repairing or improving the houses concerned before amending the Rent Restriction Acts to permit such increases.

A year ago I informed the House that the Government had decided to review the provisions of the Rent Acts. This review is now completed, and we have come to the conclusion that, subject to necessary safeguards, rent control should be progressively abolished. Our detailed proposals will be submitted to Parliament in due course.

Is the Minister aware that, since his Llandudno speech and up to this morning, the shares of eight leading housing property companies have risen by £2,400,000 in anticipation of higher rents and higher dividends, and does the Minister admit that the present tragic housing shortage is bound to be exploited by very many landlords if he makes them this unconditional gift of unrestricted rents?

I do not follow the movement of these shares as closely as the hon. Member. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] We shall, no doubt, have plenty of opportunities of discussing all these matters together before very long.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he has taken in connection with the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy concerning the deferment of National Service for science graduates.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Council's recommendation in its Eighth Annual Report that science graduates who take up school teaching should have their National Service deferred. Since the beginning of this year graduates with first or second class honours in mathematics or science who teach in a secondary school, in which advanced or senior secondary courses are provided, have been granted indefinite deferment of National Service.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that information, may I ask whether he ought not to consider the extension of this arrangement to science graduates engaged on research as well as those engaged on certain types of teaching?

This is a useful beginning and, under this arrangement, 200 have been deferred this year. It is quite true, as the hon. Member indicates, that there are a number of linked proposals, some of which are in front of me now.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish a table showing the average weekly earnings of adult male workers in manufacturing industries during the last week of April, 1952, and the same week in subsequent years ; and how this figure has increased as a percentage, counting the first year as 100, in comparison with the percentage rise in the cost of living since the same time.

Yes, Sir. I will, if I may, include the table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among unemployed workers in Coventry concerning the notification of vacancies in the city; and if, therefore, he will consider reintroducing the Notification of Vacancies Order.

I understand that the dissatisfaction to which the hon. Member refers is caused by the belief that available jobs are filled without notification of a vacancy to the employment exchange and that employers give preference to workers who are known to them. The reintroduction of the Order would not prevent employers nominating workers nor interfere with the employer's right to determine whom he will engage. I see no justification for reintroducing the Order.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at another angle of the matter? Is he aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction in Coventry about the existence, of private employment agencies? Is he aware that workers who go to these agencies have to pay a fee and a certain proportion of their first week's wages if they get the job? From the point of view of psychological benefit to the workers in Coventry, will the right hon. Gentleman consider looking at the matter and trying to find out why particular jobs which should go to the local employment exchanges are going to these private employment agencies?

The reintroduction of the Notification of Vacancies Order, which the hon. Lady puts forward as a solution, would do very little to meet the problem which she has in mind. The question of fee-charging agencies is under consideration by the Government in the light of the international convention on that subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in Coventry men and women applying for jobs are told by some employers that there is an upper age limit of 45 for men and 35 for women ; that such an attitude causes anxiety among those looking for work ; and if he will make a statement outlining the policy of his Department on this matter.

I am informed that for a time the General Post Office in Coventry who had a great number of applications gave preference to men under 45, but they are once more recruiting up to the age of 60. I know of no other instances of such age limits for men, but I understand that for certain types of vacancies for women there are some employers who specify an upper age limit. I can assure the hon. Member that it is the policy of my Department to encourage employers to consider the most suitable applicants regardless of their age.

I am glad to have that information about the Post Office, but does the hon. Gentleman realise that when I was in Coventry ten days ago I checked up on this matter and I was told that there was a definite age limit of 45 years? Would the hon. Gentleman give what publicity he can to this matter as far as it affects both men and women?

I understand that the Post Office has now removed that limit. It was purely temporary, and I think that the Question and Answer will give it the necessary publicity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that some of the vacancies in Coventry could be filled by those out of work if some re-training were possible ; and if he will investigate, as a matter of urgency, the possibility of such courses being provided by the Government.

It is accepted by both sides of industry that any training that may be required for unskilled or semi-skilled work is best given by the employer concerned. In suitable cases training can be given in Government training centres for certain types of skilled work.

But that takes so long. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a good many women who are out of work in Coventry today have told me that there are jobs in factories which they could fill if they had a little more additional training? If that is not being given, will the hon. Gentleman look at the matter, because it is really urgent?

We are keeping this matter under review, but Government training centres, by their very nature, must be confined to skilled workers because in unskilled and semi-skilled occupations it is very often essential that the training should be given on the job.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated total effect on the Retail Prices Index of the recent increases in the prices of bread and milk.

The increase of ½d. a pint in the price of milk on 1st July was the equivalent of about one-fifth of a point in the Retail Prices Index, but there was in fact no rise in the Index figure for July because this increase was more than counterbalanced by price decreases for other items. Full information has not yet been collected regarding the increased prices for bread, but it seems likely that in the absence of other price changes these increases would raise the Index by about one-half of a point.

Whilst these increases might seem negligible to the right hon. Gentleman, is he aware that they are not negligible to families, particularly where there are a number of children? Is this what the Government call their contribution to the policy of stability for which they are working? How can the Government expect workers to co-operate in that respect when they, by their deliberate policy, are forcing up the prices of necessities?

As to the question of stability, the Index stands at a lower figure than it did when the Chancellor made his much derided "plateau" speech six or seven months ago. The Index shows this year an increase of two points, but as it is the first day of term, I will spare the hon. Member the usual comparison with 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the problems arising from the termination on 30th April of the rejection scheme of the Herring Industry Board ; and if he will indicate his present plans in this matter.

A new rule, with the same effect in regard to rejection as the pre- vious one, came into operation on the 1st May. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the recent statement by the Chairman of the Herring Industry Board expressing the need to work out some system whereby fair shares would be accorded to a large section of the industry? What is he doing about that?

That is another question. I have no doubt that the Herring Industry Board will do its best in all these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet considered the recent Report of the Working Party on Health Visitors; and if he will state the policy of the Government in relation to the recommendations in that Report, particularly those recommending an immediate review of salary scales.

All the recommendations in the Report will be considered carefully in consultation with the local authorities and the other interests concerned.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that this is an important matter? Does he realise that health visitors have to pass more examinations than have nurses and are paid smaller salaries? Does he realise that there is an urgent grievance awaiting urgent treatment? What is the right hon. Gentleman doing about it?

I agree that it is important, but this is a long and very detailed Report, and it takes time to consider it. As to the salaries, the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council will no doubt have to be consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a comprehensive statement on the incidence in Scotland of poliomyelitis, indicating age groups and areas, and on the results which have followed the tests and application of the new anti-poliomyelitis vaccine recommended by the Department of Health for Scotland, to the latest convenient date.

In the four weeks to 13th October, 1956, there were 57 provisional notifications of poliomyelitis, of which I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. About 34,000 children were vaccinated during May and June last, but it is too early to assess the results of these vaccinations. A detailed

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have set up home safety committees.

I understand that there are four local home safety committees in Scotland, with which the local authorities are associated; and that many of the local accident prevention committees set up by other Scottish local authorities are concerning themselves increasingly with home accidents.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to give an assurance that results indicated are due to this particular vaccine and not to some other cause?

As I said, it is too early to assess results, but that will be done.

Will my right hon. Friend do his best to encourage local authorities to pay more attention to home safety?

Yes, Sir, I will.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many areas in Scotland has the help of the local fire brigades been enlisted to make known the dangers from fire in the home to school children.

In two, Lanarkshire and Aberdeen City.

Will my right hon. Friend encourage other local authorities to take more interest in the matter?

I have no objection whatsoever, but it is for education authorities to decide whether to invite the help of fire masters, and it is for the fire authorities to decide whether they can render the type of help needed.

Is there any reason why the "Mind that Child" propaganda as applied to road accidents cannot be linked with deaths in the home?

I personally agree with the hon. Lady. Advice on this subject is being issued.

Would the right hon. Gentleman pay tribute to those teachers who are doing a tremendous lot in this respect and not leave the impression that nothing is being done? Splendid work is being done by the school teachers.

I willingly do that, but as a matter of fact I was endeavouring to answer the Question on the Order Paper.