asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration is being given to amending the standard of ice cream.

This matter is being reviewed by the Food Standards Committee in consultation with the trade, local authority associations and representatives of other interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Health the wording of the additional regulation of 1955 of the International Sanitary Regulations in regard to yellow fever and the wording of the additional regulation of 1956 relating to vaccination against smallpox, as indicated regarding yellow fever and smallpox, respectively, in the table on page 2 of Weekly Epidemiological Record No. 41, 1956.

The World Health Organisation has not yet published these additional regulations as separate documents, but their text is contained in the copies of the Weekly Epidemiological Record which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 2,538 cases of poliomyelitis recorded this year occurred in the age classes two and nine years ; how many of them, and at what ages, occurred after 30th April; in which areas the 2,538 cases were notified ; in how many of the 2,538 cases the diagnosis of poliomyelitis was confirmed ; how many of the cases developed paralysis, and at what ages ; and how many proved fatal, and at what ages.

I regret that figures of corrected notifications, ages and deaths for the September quarter are not yet available. Statistics for the first six months of the year are as follows :

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Report of the Council of Wales and Monmouthshire upon Government administration in Wales will be published.

This important report, which is part of the Council's Third Memorandum on its activities, was submitted to me earlier this month. I am making arrangements for its printing,

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons for his intention to allow the import of 80,000 tons of synthetic rubber in 1957 as against 70,000 tons in 1956 ; what representations he has received from Malaya expressing dissatisfaction with this intention; and whether reconsideration will be given to it.

The level of imports of synthetic rubber authorised for 1957 takes account of our manufacturers' estimate of increased requirements of the general purpose type. This follows the Government's policy towards imports of synthetic rubber, which as my right hon. Friend the Minister of State explained in his reply to the right hon. Member for but it is a long document and I cannot yet say when it will be ready for publication.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of men and women, respectively, at the most recent convenient date, unemployed in the city of Lincoln, showing their trades ; and how the numbers compare with those for the same date in 1954 and 1955.

The following table gives the information desired :Rochester and Chatham (Mr. Bottomley) on 13th December, 1955, is to allow our manufacturers a free choice of materials so far as the balance of payments permits. The restrictions on imports of synthetic rubber are imposed for balance of payments reasons and cannot be used for protective purposes. The proportion of synthetic rubber used in this country is still below that of our major competitors in export markets but it is increasing.The Government of Malaya, who were consulted in advance, expressed the views that the programme should not be increased beyond the level for 1956. The arguments they advanced were fully considered before a decision was taken. Representations which have been received subsequently from the Rubber Producers Council of Malaya have not, in Her Majesty's Government's view, added any further arguments which would justify reconsidering their decision.