asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce the use of larger medicine bottles and instruct doctors to prescribe larger quantities of drugs, dressings and medicines in order to obviate the extra cost to those who cannot afford to pay the extra charges and who are anxious to avoid a means test.

The quantity prescribed is a matter for the doctor's decision, in accordance with his view of the treatment needed. The charge will be made for each quantity prescribed at any one time notwithstanding that it may be dispensed in more than one container.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an estimate of the number of persons who are eligible on the ground of economic circumstances to receive medically prescribed items free of charge and of the number of these who are old-age pensioners.

The prescription charge will be refunded without further inquiry to persons already receiving National Assistance, who on 25th September numbered 1,628,000 of whom 1,065,000 were receiving retirement or non-contributory old-age pensions. I am afraid I am not able to form any reliable estimate of the number of other people who may apply and be found eligible for a refund.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the capital allocation to the Welsh Regional Hospital Board for the last five years; and how this compares on a percentage basis in relation to population with the capital allocation for the rest of Great Britain.

About £2·6 million in the five years ended March, 1956, or 6·8 per cent. of the allocation to all regional hospital boards in England and Wales. The comparable figure of population is 5·9 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health how many voluntary patients are now in the mental hospitals of Wales; how many certified patients; and the present staff shortage.

The numbers are at present 2,784 voluntary and 5,734 certified patients. Hospital management committees report staff shortages of 181 nursing staff, five occupational therapists, four psychiatric social workers, two medical staff, four domestics and eleven others.

asked the Minister of Health whether plans for a new dental hospital have now been approved by him; and when is building likely to commence.

I shall shortly be suggesting modifications to the plans which the Board of Governors of the United Birmingham Hospitals has sent me. I am unable at present to estimate when work might commence.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what extent the increase in pensions granted in 1955, under the Act of 1954, is payable to British contributory pensioners overseas and if he will take steps to ensure that the whole of such increase is payable to all such pensioners.

The increase is payable to pensioners living abroad if they left this country after the date of the increase or if they first qualified for pension after that date or if they are living in a country with which we have a reciprocal agreement which provides for the payment of pension at the full current rate. This is the practice which has been followed each time pension rates have been increased. The answer to the second part of the Question is, therefore, "No."

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, as the increase in retirement pensions made in April, 1955, did not then compensate for the arrears of reduced purchasing power of pensioners, due to the fall in the value of the £, he will, before Christmas take the necessary action to improve the present retirement pensions.

The rates of retirement pensions which came into operation in April, 1955 more than compensated for the rise in prices up to that date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any additional allocation of licences for the importation of canned fruit from the United States of America under the annual mutual security aid programme is now proposed.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period from 1st July to 30th September, 1956; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 7·1 million cwt. of millable wheat despatched on delivery during the first accounting period (1st July to 30th September, 1956) of the cereal year 1956–57 is 22s. 11·7d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 27s. 6d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore, be 4s. 6·3d. per cwt. (£4 10s. 6d. per ton). In addition, approximately 1·3 million cwt. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment.Except for a few certificates which are under query, the total payment of £1·9 million to about 21,000 growers will begin at once and will be completed by the end of November.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give statistics showing the percentage and number of applications for deferment of National Service made and granted in horticulture as compared with agriculture during the last twelve months in the County of Norfolk and in the country generally.

I regret that this information is not available as separate statistics for horticulture are not kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenants of the East Kilbride Development Corporation have left to live elsewhere; and what has been the average number of tenancies falling in in this way per month during the past year.

At 28th August, 1956, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers were 348 and 11 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been or are being made to provide allotments in the new town of East Kilbride.

No such arrangements have been or are being made at present.