asked the Minister of Supply what public money has been spent on the new Hawker super-jet fighter on which work has recently been stopped.

Reports in the Press that work has recently been stopped on a Hawker fighter are incorrect. Hawkers have been developing a fighter aircraft of advanced design as a private venture, and I understand that work on this project is continuing. No public money has been spent on it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many original outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in the past six months ; the number of animals involved and compensation payable; in how many cases the infection appears to be attributable to frozen or chilled meat; and what stricter measures are being taken to prevent infected carcases being shipped here from South America.

Fifteen primary outbreaks have been confirmed, involving the slaughter of 1,610 cattle, 2,302 sheep, 1,054 pigs and 2 goats with compensation amounting to £121,000. Total outbreaks, including both primary and secondary, amounted to 120, involving the slaughter of 7,775 cattle, 11,589 sheep, 3,336 pigs and 37 goats in all. Total compensation amount to £610,000. Infection is attributed directly or indirectly to frozen or chilled meat in twelve of these cases. Two of my veterinary officers permanently stationed in South America co-operate closely with the authorities there to reduce so far as possible the risk of carcases infected with foot-and-mouth disease being shipped to this country. These arrangements are constantly under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has to suggest that foot-and-mouth disease is being brought into Great Britain in the marrow bone of imported carcase meat from the Argentine ; and what steps he proposes taking to control the sale of such infected bone.

In many of the primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in this country there is evidence that livestock have been in contact with raw meat or bones from South American carcases. It is known that the virus can survive for several months in chilled and frozen meat and in bone-marrow at cold-storage temperatures. My veterinary officers stationed in South America co-operate closely with the authorities there to reduce so far as possible the risk of infected carcases being sent to this country. Strict compliance with the requirements of the Boiling of Animal Foodstuffs Order would do much to prevent outbreaks of disease. I am considering further measures for the control of swill for feeding to animals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the future policy of the Forestry Commission in Wales about the recruitment of labour in view of the redundancy now taking place.

Recruitment will continue to be related to the programme of work which, in turn, largely depends on the rate at which land can be acquired for planting.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many forestry employees have been declared redundant by the Forestry Commission in Wales; the reasons for the redundancy ; and what steps are being taken to secure alternative employment for them elsewhere in the Commission's employ.

In the last three months eighteen (out of a total at present of 3,300) workers in Wales have been declared redundant because, at the forests at which they were employed, there was insufficient land available for planting and no other work for them. They will all be offered employment by the Commission elsewhere in Wales, where houses will be made available for them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he now has the information which will enable him to decide whether to introduce legislation to implement the recommendation made in paragraph 94 of the Report of the Land Drainage Legislation Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee.

I have completed my inquiries with regard to this recommendation.

asked the Minister of Health how many dental students have entered the training schools in each of the last three years ; and how many vacancies now exist.

On the first part of the Question, I cannot yet add to the reply I gave on 25th June ; comprehensive information on the number of vacancies in the schools for the current academic year will not be available before January, 1957.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what arrangements are made by hospitals to identify bodies of deceased persons in their mortuary ; and what steps are taken to ensure that the correct body is delivered to an undertaker ;(2) if he is aware of the recent case of mistaken identity at Black Notley Hospital mortuary, near Braintree; if a receipt was given and accepted for the body ; and what steps have been taken to ensure that such a mistake does not happen again.

Hospital authorities have been instructed that the bodies must be labelled and registered, and handed over to the undertakers' representative only in the presence of a mortuary attendant, both of whom are required to sign the register. In the case to which my hon. Friend refers, this procedure was followed but in error the label was not checked. The Hospital Management Committee has held a full inquiry and have taken steps to ensure that, so far as is humanly possible, a mistake of this sort will not occur again. I should like to express my own and the Committee's deep regret for the mistake and for the distress caused to the relatives.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent frozen eggs sampled at the ports have been found to be infected with germs likely to cause food poisoning; from which countries the infected consignments come ; whether frozen eggs in shell are suspect; and what action is being taken to safeguard consumers here more thoroughly.

Shipments of imported frozen egg are being sampled and only batches with negative samples have been released without conditions. During the last twelve months infected samples have been found in some of the shipments from China, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The degree of infection has varied widely from 1 to 30 per cent. of the samples.The sampling is continuing. My Department is in close touch with the importers and communicates with the authorities in the exporting countries as necessary. They are all concerned to maintain a high bacteriological standard. I have no knowledge of any import of frozen eggs in shell.

asked the Minister of Health what further progress has been made in the provision of adequate limb-fitting centre facilities at Wolverhampton.

In spite of an intensive search—in which the hon. Member has assisted—suitable alternative accommodation has not yet been found. My right hon. Friend will continue his efforts.

asked the Minister of Health if he will exclude from the proposed charge of 1s. per item on prescriptions, any article which costs 1s. or less.

There is no need for this, since where an article costs less than 1s. 0d. it would no doubt be bought for cash without using the prescription.

asked the Minister of Health if all the motor propelled tricycles now in use by war disabled are of the all-weather type.

1,675 out of 1,930 machines in use by war pensioners are all-weather, or weather protected. In a review of cases of war pensioners with open machines last year all those who expressed a preference for full weather protection were provided with a suitable machine. The offer to exchange in suitable cases is still open.

asked the Minister of Health what is the current waiting time for repairs to artificial limbs for war disabled amputees.

Repairs can frequently be done immediately at the limb centre, but if the limb has to be sent for major repairs the waiting time varies according to the complexity of the job and the priority accorded to the order. The current average is 31 days.

asked the Minister of Health the latest date on which doctors' practice expenses were reassessed; the total increase resulting from that reassessment ; and how much it represented per doctor per year.

The latest year for which doctors' practice expenses have been reassessed is that ending on 31st March, 1955, when for Great Britain they are estimated to have been £23,549,227, or £1,114 per doctor, an increase of £2,891,797, or £114 per doctor over the preceding year.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, is founded on a theory of eugenics, now proved to be fallacious, intended to provide segregation for those who were said to be a danger to the fitness of the race ; that there appears to have been a tendency to detain female prisoners throughout the whole of the 25 to 30 years of their child-bearing life ; and if he will now take steps which will permit detainees under this Act to marry when released on licence.

No. The fact that a woman detained under the Act is of child-bearing age has not prevented her licence upon trial and eventual discharge. Defective women and girls on licence are not prevented from marrying if it is thought likely that they will be properly cared for.

asked the Minister of Health the number of young girls who, since 1930, detained originally for one year on a court order in an institution under Sections 2, 8 or 9 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, for an offence punishable in the case of an adult by imprisonment only, have had their periods of detention prolonged by subsequent terms of five years so as to cover the whole period of their childbearing life.

I regret that information in the form requested is not available. The period of detention of a patient in a mental deficiency hospital is related only to the need for care and training in the patient's own interests and not to any other consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will cause such amendments as are necessary to the Lunacy Act of 1890, as amended by the National Health Service Act, 1946, to ensure that no person believed to be of unsound mind can be detained in a mental hospital upon the signature of a single medical practitioner counter-signed by a single magistrate, without the patient having undergone a minimum period of observation beforehand.

No. I prefer to await the report of the Royal Commission on the Law relating to Mental Illness and Mental Deficiency.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent there is a shortage of radiographers at the present time; and what steps are being taken to improve the prospects in this profession.

The number of radiographers employed in the hospital service has increased by over 1,000 since 31st December, 1949: notwithstanding this, a recent sample enquiry in four hospital regions revealed an overall shortage of 16 per cent. of establishment. A claim for revised salaries and gradings which would improve the prospects of radiographers has been referred to arbitration and will be heard by the Industrial Court tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will hold an inquiry into the effects on the lungs of the dense noxious diesel smoke fumes emitted from vehicles on the highway using crude oil ; and to what extent it is a contributory cause of lung cancer.

Investigations are already being made, under the auspices of the Medical Research Council, into the nature of the exhaust products of diesel engines under different running conditions, and the extent to which they may contain cancer-producing substances or other harmful constituents.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions at the United Nations conference at Geneva on the proposed supplementary convention on the abolition of slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Representative of Her Majesty's Government at the conference held at Geneva to consider supplementing the 1926 Convention on slavery was instructed to withdraw his own proposals for the international control of the trade in slaves.

As my hon. Friend said on 24th October, Her Majesty's Government regard the Convention as generally satisfactory. The United Kingdom Representative at the Slavery Conference was instructed to withdraw our original proposals for the international control of the slave trade because it was clear that the majority of the States attending the Conference would not accept them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will follow the example recently given by the Governments of the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Roumania, which announced during the Twenty-Second Session of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Organisation that they were organising seminars in their respective countries to consider certain aspects of human rights, by holding similar seminars in Great Britain.

Her Majesty's Government do not propose to organise seminars on this subject at the present time. The programme of seminars on human rights under United Nations auspices has only recently been instituted, and Her Majesty's Government prefer to see how it progresses before considering further the question of their participation in it. They have already offered to do their best to meet any requests for the services of experts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the problem of 70,000 refugees who remain in camps in Austria, Greece, Germany, and Italy, Her Majesty's Gov ernment will increase their contribution towards United Nations funds for the resettlement of refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consideration is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the plight of the 70,000 men, women and children still living in the 157 refugee camps in Europe and the even greater number outside the camps who are awaiting settlement ; and if an increased contribution can now be made by this country towards the cost of the United Nations programme for the relief and resettlement of these refugees.

Her Majesty's Government contributed £80,000 both in 1955 and in 1956 to the United Nations Refugee Fund. They have also promised in each year to contribute a further £20,000 if the total of Governmental contributions reaches the sum of 325 million dollars. For the reasons given by my hon. Friend in the Adjournment debate on 2nd Angust, Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to increase this contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative on the Security Council to propose that a United Nations Commission of Inquiry be appointed to investigate the problem of border incidents in the Middle East.

I do not consider such a commission is called for in view of the existence of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, and of the special mandate given to the United Nations Secretary-General in the Security Council resolutions of 4th April and 4th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assurances he gave to the Israeli Government regarding the proposed entry of Iraqi troops into Jordan.

I am not prepared to divulge the substance of confidential diplomatic exchanges with another Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultations he has had with the other parties to the Tripartite Declaration of May, 1950, concerning the proposed supply of jet fighters to Israel by the Canadian Government; and whether he will make a statement.

None. I have nothing to add to the clear statement of 21st September by the Canadian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions have been given to the British Government representatives on the Suez Maritime Canal Company in regard to the abandonment by the Company of all claims against ships which pay canal tolls to the Suez Canal Users' Association.

As I informed the hon. Member on 14th September, it has never been the practice of Her Majesty's Government to disclose confidential instructions or advice given to the Government directors of the Suez Canal Company.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made for the continuation of the negotiations with the Egyptian Government on the Suez Canal issue which were commenced during the recent sittings of the United Nations Security Council.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement which my right hon. and learned Friend made to the House on 23rd October and to his Answers to supplementary questions, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals have been made by the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France, respectively, regarding the proportion of the tolls paid to the Suez Canal Users' Association which should be transferred to the Egyptian Government for the maintenance of the Canal.

Paragraph II (4) of the Declaration of 21st September states that one of the purposes of the Suez Canal Users' Association is "to receive, hold and disburse the revenues accruing from dues and other sums which any user of the Canal may pay to the Suez Canal Users' Association, without prejudice to existing rights, pending a final settlement". The Declaration gives no guidance as to the proportion of dues to be paid to the Egyptian Government. This question is being discussed between Her Majesty's Government and other governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions with the Government of Egypt are to take place on the proposals put forward by the Government of India on the Suez Canal question.

I would refer the right hon. and learned Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the Leader of the Opposition on 23rd October. Until we learn the basis on which the Egyptian Government would be prepared to talk I cannot say what discussions might take place with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of Ethiopian actions against Habr Awal tribesmen from the Somaliland Protectorate on 11th, 12th, 13th, 20th and 21st September at Gabrebaya and Kidiyeli in the Ogaden; and what representations he has made regarding this in Addis Ababa to the Ethiopian Government.

Yes, Sir. Her Majesty's Government received full reports of the incidents from the Governor of the Somaliland Protectorate. Her Majesty's Embassy at Addis Ababa made immediate representations to the Ethiopian Government, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies also spoke to the Ethiopian Minister for Foreign Affairs who was in London at the time.Her Majesty's Ambassador has since received assurances from the Ethiopian Government that instructions have been given to their officials on the ground that all actions affecting tribes grazing in Ethiopia under the 1954 Agreement are to be taken through, and in consultation with, the liaison officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent discussions have taken place in the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as to the circumstances in which nuclear weapons would be used in the future.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) on 24th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent discussions have taken place on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the circumstances in which military officers of the Organisation can make public speeches on matter of political policy.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will reconsider the decision to close the centre for promoting Anglo-German relations at Wilton Park, Steyning, Sussex, in view of the value of the work that has been done there and especially in view of the efforts now being made by the West German Government to raise funds to contribute towards the cost of the maintenance of this work.

No. Her Majesty's Government recognise the value of the work done by Wilton Park and are indebted to its staff and to all others who have in various ways contributed to its success. In deciding to close Wilton Park they have borne in mind not only the need for economy but also the way in which Anglo-German relationships have evolved since the centre was established ten years ago.Today there is a growing pattern of exchanges between the two countries, thanks to the interest taken in them by the German authorities, for which we are very grateful. The German Federal Government have expressed complete understanding of our decision and share our view that the aims which we and they have in common should in future be pursued by the widest possible exchanges between our two peoples.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the definitions of aggression which Her Majesty's Government have agreed with the Government of Jordan which would justify the participation of this country in a war in which Jordan is involved.

No definition of aggression as such has been agreed with the Jordan Government. According to the Anglo-Jordan Treaty, 1948, either party will come to the aid of the other as a measure of collective defence if the latter becomes engaged in war after efforts to settle a dispute by peaceful means have failed. This is without prejudice to the rights and obligations of either party under the United Nations Charter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a foreign embassy in London refuses to legalise the seal and signature of the Foreign Office or of Her Majesty's Embassy in the people's republic in question ; what representations he has made to the republic concerned about this breach of international diplomatic usage ; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. A foreign embassy is, however, under no obligation to legalise the seal and signature of the Foreign Office or of Her Majesty's Missions abroad. The second and third parts of the Question do not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the future status and treatment of non-Germans who suffered Nazi persecution, saying what progress has been made towards getting the German Federal Government to amend the existing legislation so as to ensure that the compensation of persons of Allied nationality who were victims of National Socialism is satisfactorily settled.

Her Majesty's Government have not yet received the reply of the Federal Government to the proposal that a Working Group be set up to see how satisfactory provision might be made for compensation to those victims of Nazi persecution whose cases are not apparently covered by the new German legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the decision of the West German Defence Ministry to reinstate former officers of the Schutz-Staffel in their old ranks in the new German Army; and, in view of the war records of these officers, if he will take steps to prevent their obtaining secret information through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

I am informed that the decision to which the first part of the Question refers, does not apply to the former S.S. as a whole, but only to that part of it which was known as the Waffen S.S. Since October, 1955, it has been possible for members of these formations to join the new German Army as private soldiers. Now they may do so in their former ranks up to and including lieutenant-colonel. Former generals and colonels of the Waffen S.S., whose appointment required the express authority of Himmler, are still excluded, and junior officers may only be admitted to commissions in the new German Army after a full examination of their past record and present attitude. I am assured that this examination is severe enough to eliminate candidates whose records are doubtful or who have not sincerely rejected National Socialist ideas. In these circumstances the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the impracticability of maintaining the present restrictions on trade with China, what further action he is taking on the China Committee of the Paris Consultative Group concerning the review of the embargo list.

This matter is under continuous review. Meanwhile I can assure the House that Her Majesty's Government will continue their policy of making appropriate use of the exceptions procedure in relation to trade with China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as a token of friendship between the people of Britain and those of Poland and Hungary, he will propose an exchange of Parliamentary delegations between Poland and Hungary and this country.

Exchanges of Parliamentary delegations are not for my right hon. and learned Friend to arrange. They are arranged, and invitations are issued, by Mr. Speaker and the Lord Chancellor, who, I understand, normally consult the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on such matters.

asked the Attorney-General if he will amend, in view of the substantial fall in the value of the £ since 1949, the income level at which legal aid may be granted from £420 to the level equivalent to the 1949 value.

No.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if the United Kingdom has yet received its allocation from the International Committee of the Red Cross under Article 16 of the Japanese Peace Treaty ; whether a distribution has been made to ex-war prisoners, dependants or next of kin ; how much each person has received ; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he now anticipates that the International Committee of the Red Cross will distribute the funds handed to it under Article 16 of the Japanese Peace Treaty.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has not yet made any allocations to beneficiary countries under Article 16 of the Peace Treaty with Japan and no distribution to individuals has therefore been possible. The Committee has been made fully aware of our concern about the delay, and I understand that a meeting which will consider our proposal that whatever amount will be unquestionably due to us shall be paid over immediately is being held on November 8th.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will repeal the restriction contained in Regulation 13 (1) of the National Insurance (Determination of Claims and Questions) Regulations, 1948, upon representation of a claimant by a barrister, advocate, or solicitor.

My hon. Friend will be aware that the question of legal representation before the tribunals concerned and other bodies is among the matters now before the Franks Committee. I must await their Report.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of claims made by recalled reservists for National Service grants; how many of these claims have yet to be settled; and the average amount of the grant made.

The total number of these applications which had reached my Department by 26th October was 5,197. Of these 4,953 have been settled. Of the number outstanding 204 have been received within the last 3 working days. In the case of the remainder it has been necessary to obtain further information in order to establish whether the reservist is entitled to a grant. The average amount of the grants so far made is £2 5s. 2d. a week.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the amount paid to retired pensioners for the year ended 31st March, 1956 ; and what percentage it was of the national domestic income for the same period.

Figures for the financial year ending 31st March, 1956, are not yet available, but it is estimated that expenditure on retirement pensions by the National Insurance Fund in the calendar year 1955 was about £409 millions, and that this was 2·59 per cent. of total personal income in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the present cost of increasing retirement pensions from the present rate of £2 a week, to £3 a week.

About £220 million a year. This would increase in

The following is the information :the course of the next 25 years to £370 million a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much the present retirement pension of £2 a week would have to be raised in order to have the same purchasing power as the 26s. a week pension had in 1946.

On the basis of the retail prices index, 9d.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what extent the present retirement pension would have to be increased to grant recipients a 60 per cent. increase, as has recently been the case with Her Majesty's judges ; and whether he will take the necessary action to increase retirement pensions by this percentage.

I am not aware of any recent increases in the pensions of Her Majesty's judges such as the hon. Member appears to have in mind.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what extent the present retirement pension of £2 per week would have to be increased to enable retired persons to receive the same percentage increase in their retirement pensions as that received by the average worker in industry, using, as the basis, the increase in wage rates quoted by the Ministry of Labour for male and female adult workers, since the date when retirement pensions were last increased.

About 3s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what has been the approximate percentage rise in the pensions of those for whom his Department is responsible who retired in 1946 ; and in which categories those still working had to pay extra contributions to meet the increased pensions for those who retired in 1946.

55 per cent. There has been no addition to contributions specifically to pay for increases in the pensions of those who retired in 1946.

the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much the present retirement pension has fallen in purchasing power since the date of the last increase, taking the £ as having a spending value of 20s. at that date ; and what action he proposes to take to restore the purchasing power of retirement pensions.

The present pension has fallen in purchasing power by 2s. 6d. for a single person since April, 1955.In reply to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 23rd October.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much the Treasury contributed to the National Insurance Fund in the year 1950–51 ; how much in 1955–56 ; and what proportion of the total fund these two contributions represent.

£145 million and £92 million. Percentages are 25 per cent. and 13 per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why he permitted heavy increases in charges to residents in the Freeman Road Hostel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, during the last 12 months without giving time for a full examination of existing costs and possible methods of saving.

These charges, even as recently increased, do not fully cover the cost of running this hostel. They were made after full discussion with the Staff side. Further examination is being given to points recently raised with respect to costs and methods of saving, and it is hoped that these may result in measures which will further reduce the deficit.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many men in receipt of compensation at the full rate have been refused benefit under the Workmen's Compensation and Benefit (Supplementation) Act, 1956.

I am afraid this information is not available but I can say that up to 30th September, 1956, the total number of awards was 8,398 and the total number of claims disallowed 271.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) what, in tabular form, was the number of claims made, the number of claims allowed, and the number of claims disallowed for disablement benefits, the number of claims made for death benefits, the number of claims allowed, the number disallowed, the amount of money paid out to each case during the period from 10th March, 1952, up to and including 30th September, 1956, under the Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis Scheme, which became operative on 10th March, 1952, and the total amounts of benefits paid out;(2) what was the number of claims made, the number of claims allowed, the number of claims disallowed under the Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis Scheme, 1954, which became operative on 8th November, 1954, up to and including 30th September, 1956.PNEUMOCONIOSIS AND BYSSINOSIS BENEFIT SCHEME(1) NUMBER OF CLAIMS ANALYSED BY RESULT

The following is the Answer :

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will take steps to extend pensions for disability from the date of application to the date from which the applicant is unable to earn the standard rate for the job because of his disability.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the award of war disablement pensions from a date before the date of application. In cases where a man is invalided from the Forces his entitlement to pension is considered automatically. Where however the claim for the disability is made at a later date, payment cannot be made earlier than the date of the claim unless there are circumstances which justify exceptional treatment. These arrangements have operated since 1920, and I think have operated fairly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many Governmental and non-governmental bodies are engaged on fuel research; the total of their fuel research budgets; how the work is divided between them; and how their separate activities are co-ordinated.

The major research bodies engaged mainly on fuel research are : Ministry of Fuel and Power; Department of Scientific and Industrial Research ; National Coal Board ; Central Electricity Authority ; Gas Council; British Coal Utilisation Research Association ; British Coke Research Association ; British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association; Coal Tar Research Association. The research budgets for these institutions amounted to £3¼ millions for the year 1954–55.Co-ordination between the work of the two Government Departments mentioned and of the three nationalised industries is secured through frequent consultation and through the examination of their research programmes by my Scientific Advisory Council upon which all of them are represented. The Government supported research associations are autonomous bodies whose programmes are determined by their councils; these, however, contain representatives of the Government Departments and the nationalised industries concerned.As for oil research, my Scientific Advisory Council includes a distinguished oil scientist and from time to time invites the major oil companies to furnish a qualitative statement of their research effort where this does not vitally affect their competitive position.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is intended to indicate the policy of the Government with regard to the recommendation of the Herbert Committee on the Electricity Supply Industry.

I cannot add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Holt) on 30th July last.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he proposes to introduce the promised legislation dealing with compensation for mining subsidence.

I cannot add to the statement which I made on 16th April in reply to the hon. Members for Newcastle-under-lyme (Mr. Swingler), Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) and Leigh (Mr. Boardman).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the price per ton de livered in London of best household coal when the coal mines were nationalised in 1947 ; and the corresponding price today.

89s. 6d. and 184s. 7d. respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the transfer of Aberdeen fishing vessels from coal burning to oil burning increasingly necessitates increased sup plies to and storage of oil in Aberdeen; and what steps he is taking to make pro vision for this.

The provision of supplies and storage facilities in any particular area is entirely a matter for the oil companies. I am informed that the facilities at Aberdeen are more than sufficient to meet all likely demands.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement on the fall of stone at Walsall Wood Colliery and the fatal accidents caused thereby.

On 9th October last there was a large fall of roof at a road junction in mechanised Bord and Pillar workings of this colliery, as a result of which five men were buried of whom, I regret to say, four lost their lives. Another man had a leg fractured when a further fall occurred during attempts to recover the bodies. The causes of the fall are being investigated by Her Majesty's Inspectors.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is now the revised estimate of the coal equivalent of the atomic power which will be available in 1965 as a result of recent progress in the research, design and construction of nuclear reactors.

As I indicated to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on 30th July last an exact revision of the nuclear power programme must necessarily await the examination of the tenders for the first stations. These were received by the Central Electricity Authority at the beginning of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for the further development of nuclear power for industrial and domestic purposes in Scotland.

Apart from the electricity to be supplied from the Atomic Energy Authority's Scottish establishments, the development of nuclear power for industrial and for domestic purposes in Scotland is primarily the responsibility of the Scottish Electricity Boards. The South of Scotland Electricity Board have applied for my consent to the construction of a nuclear power station in Ayrshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost to public funds of the treatment, accorded under the National Health Service at Dundee Dental Hospital in September, to a number of Egyptian educationists who spent 11 days in Scotland as guests of the British Council; how many of these aliens took advantage of this free treatment ; and what reciprocal arrangements exist for free dental treatment of British subjects visiting the Republic of Egypt.

Four members of the party received temporary fillings, and one permanent fillings under the normal arrangements for temporary residents in this country. The treatments were given by university dental students working under supervision. The precise cost to public funds is not readily identifiable but was very small. There are no reciprocal arrangements for dental care for British subjects visiting Egypt.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the new bridge across the Clyde, at Kirkfieldbank, to be finished.

I am informed that the completion date under the contract is March, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for War what special steps he has taken to provide facilities for welfare, entertainment, and education for reservists called up.

Such facilities were already available in existing units and reservists have made full use of them. Additional welfare funds have been provided to allow for increased numbers. Newly formed units have received welfare grants, and special attention has been given to providing them with opportunities for sport, education and entertainment in areas where these were not already available.

asked the Secretary of State for War the length of time that elapsed between the call-up of T/19046638 Driver E. Scudder under the Emergency Regulations and the payment of the National Service grant to his wife ; what was the reason for the delay; and, in view of the hardship suffered by this reservist's family, what action has been taken to remedy this state of affairs.

Forty-seven days. As I explained to the hon. Member in my letter of 10th October, Driver Scudder delayed making his application for over three weeks in spite of having been told that he was entitled to apply on the day after he was called up and again a week later. This was the main cause of the delay. The time taken to examine the application and make the necessary grant was about 3½ weeks. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in an Answer to the hon. Member on 23rd October, the procedure for making National Service grants has already been speeded up.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce a special subsidy for small dwellings, whether provided by local authorities or by non-profit-making associations, which can be offered to old-age pensioners at rents low enough to encourage them to leave dwellings larger than they need.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 23rd October.

asked the Secretary of State for Air his estimate of the cost of the new rocket range in South Uist.

Tenders for the work have now been invited. It would be contrary to established Government practice to disclose the estimated order of costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made for taking evidence from members of the African Mineworkers Union in Northern Rhodesia on behalf of the Union before the Commission of Inquiry into working conditions in the copper-mines, as a result of the arrest of members of the Supreme Council of the Union.

By Gazette Notice members of the public were invited to state if they desired to give evidence before the Commission of Enquiry either orally or in writing. Members of the Supreme Council who have been detained stated publicly, before their detention, that they would not give evidence or appear before the Commission. None the less at the request of the Chairman they have been asked if they wish to give evidence or to appear and the Chairman is awaiting their reply. Mr. Katilungu, the President of the Supreme Council, has been conducting the case for the Mineworkers' Union since the start of the inquiry. He is calling three witnesses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru tribes in Kenya have obtained from the District Commissioners the Certificate of Character and Loyalty required before they can register as electors.

By 30th September, which is the latest date for which total figures are available, 12,748 Loyalty Certificates had been issued to members of the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru tribes in Nairobi and the Central Province of Kenya. Figures for the other districts are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds many members of the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru tribes in Kenya have been prevented from attending meetings of the Nairobi African Congress.

The first step in the return of the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru to political life is participation in it by those who have received certificates of loyalty and are registered as voters. Every Kikuyu, Embu or Meru who has been so registered may attend meetings of any district political association, and as more and more are registered, more and more will be able to attend meetings of these associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the European and Asian candidates elected to the Kenya Legislative Council are pledged to support the multiracial principle in representation in the Council of Ministers.

Both the European and the Asian elected groups have supported a statement recommending modifications to the Constitution, but expressing a desire to keep within the framework of the Lyttelton Plan.

asked the Postmaster-General what postal arrangements are in force for the dispatch of mail from the United Kingdom to British Forces in Cyprus.

Surface letters are dispatched twice weekly and take about sixteen days (parcels take a little longer): the charge is 2½d. for the first 1 oz. and 1d. for each additional 1 oz. Air mail is dispatched daily and delivered normally within three to four days : the charge for letters sent by air is 6d. for the first 1½ oz. and 6d. for each additional ½ oz. "Forces Letter" forms, which are obtainable at post offices, go by air for 2½d.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of shirts made in Hong Kong which were imported into the United Kingdom in 1955, and to the latest convenient date in 1956, respectively; what proportion of normal United Kingdom output this represents; and how the price compares with the home product.

The numbers of woven shirts imported from Hong Kong during 1955 and in the period January-August, 1956, were 484,155 dozen and 479,657 dozen respectively. I have no reason to believe that these shirts were not made in Hong Kong. Precise figures of United Kingdom current output are not available but in the year ending June, 1956, these imports are estimated on the basis of Census of Production to have represented between 10 and 20 per cent. of home production in quantity and less than 5 per cent. in value.Average prices of shirts sold by United Kingdom manufacturers are currently about four times the c.i.f. prices of shirts imported from Hong Kong, but all the indications are that the sizes and quality of the garments are not comparable. Whilst imports of shirts from Hong Kong have been rising, sales of shirts by United Kingdom manufacturers have increased substantially since 1954.

asked the President of the Board fo Trade what amount of trade has been done with Eastern Germany during the past twelve months, to the most convenient date ; and what were the principal commodities exported and imported.

Following is the information: