asked the Minister of Health, in view of the growing need for chiropody treatment to be given to old people, if he will now bring forward amending legislation to the National Health Service Act, 1946, to make this possible.

Statutory powers are already in existence but the current financial situation makes it impossible for me to approve any extension of their use at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health the present cost of the National Health Service; and to what extent this is paid for by national health contributions.

The gross expenditure on the Service for England and Wales provided for in the current year's Estimates as submitted to Parliament is £515,225,225. There are no national health contributions but an estimated £36,370,000 will be defrayed by a transfer from the National Insurance Fund.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the estimated annual cost to a diabetic patient of insulin, cotton wool, spirit, syringes and needles on the basis of a payment of one shilling for each item prescribed.

The cost will depend on the number of occasions on which the doctor considers it necessary to see the patient and to order medicaments, and might vary between 17s. and £1 7s. a year in the case of the stabilised patient.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue medical prescription forms of a different colour to old-age pensioners so that their prescriptions become free and so avoid the hardship of their having to pay the extra fee and the additional work of repaying the fee to the two-thirds of the old-age pensioners who are in receipt of National Assistance, and who are therefore entitled to reclaim prescription fees.

While it is the Government's intention that the charge should be refunded to all to whom it would be a hardship on the standards adopted by the National Assistance Board, many old-age pensioners do not fall into this category. Moreover it is impracticable to identify in advance those entitled to reclaim the charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government are making to fulfil their obligations under the peace treaty with Hungary with reference to the maintenance of human rights and the deportation of Hungarians.

The House will recall that on 14th November, Mr. Kadar, in a broadcast speech, accepted the principle of free and honest elections with a multi-party system. But I fear that little reliance can be placed on such statements. Repression and deportations continue. Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly made clear their abhorrence of the ruthless oppression which has taken place in Hungary; but Soviet armed forces remain in occupation and individual action by Her Majesty's Government under the peace treaty is not possible. Her Majesty's Government have given their full support to the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations of 4th November which called for the restoration of human rights in Hungary and the admission of United Nations observers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total financial and medical aid offered by the United Kingdom to Hungary at the latest convenient date; and whether he will double this free gift.

The House is aware that sums of £50,000 for distribution through the International Red Cross and £10,000 specifically for aid to refugees have been made available by Her Majesty's Government. In addition, the principal appeals by the Lord Mayor, the Red Cross and other voluntary bodies have raised over £450,000. Her Majesty's Government will contribute to the fund for Hungarian relief set up by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I cannot yet say what the amount of this contribution will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have now been made for the withdrawal of British and French forces from Egypt in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly; when the withdrawal will commence; and when it will be completed.

As the Prime Minister stated in the House on 9th November, Her Majesty's Government are willing to hand over to a United Nations force

"As soon as the force is in a position effectively to discharge its tasks,…—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th Nov., 1956; Vol. 560, c. 422.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information is now available regarding the activities in Egypt of German army officers, advisers, instructors, and technicians.

For several years there have been some German military and other advisers in Egypt. These men are free lances, who have no connection with the German Government. They have been mainly concerned with the technical training of the Egyptian armed forces.There is no reason to doubt that in the Egyptian Propaganda Ministry there is a former employee of Dr. Goebbels, a Professor von Leers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish as a White Paper, or in some other convenient form, the whole of the instructions and advice sent to Sir Pierson Dixon, the British delegate to the United Nations, by Her Majesty's Government, in connection with the recent discussion in the United Nations organisation of the British Government's action in Egypt.

No, it would be neither desirable nor feasible to depart from normal practice in this matter. The record of the action taken by Sir Peirson Dixon on these instructions, and the texts of the speeches he delivered at the United Nations, are available in the Library of the House

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make calculations amongst old-age pensioners to determine what increase in their weekly expenditure has been caused by rises in the prices of essential foodstuffs since the Budget.

I would remind the hon. Member that the food items in the Retail Prices Index show a fall in the cost of food since April.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why he refused to receive a deputation from the National Federation of Old-Age Pensions Associations.

I received a deputation from this organisation on 2nd March. On 7th September, in reply to a request for a further deputation, I suggested to them that they might do as they had done in the last two years and see the Joint Parliamentary Secretary in the early autumn. This invitation was at first declined. However a deputation was received by my hon. Friend on 14th November. I was also able to be present for a large part of the time, and a useful discussion took place.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, as the increase in the price of bread, milk and rents, and the increased National Health prescription charges will still further reduce the purchasing power of old-age pensioners, he will arrange to make the present minimum National Assistance grant payable to all old-age pensioners, in addition to their retirement pensions.

No. National Assistance grants are and always have been payable in accordance with need, and consequently retirement pensions, like other income, has to be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many applications have been received for National Service grants; how many have been approved; and what steps he is taking to reduce the delay in dealing with applications.

The total number of these applications which had reached my Department by 16th November was 5,770 of which 4,055 had been approved for awards in accordance with the regulations of the Service Departments. The number outstanding was 169 of which 139 had been received in the last three days.As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister indicated in the House on 23rd October steps have already been taken to reduce to a minimum the time taken to deal with applications. My right hon. Friends and I are, however, keeping a close watch on the position.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what were the average wages of men, women and youths in October, 1946; what percentage of such wages was paid to single man pensioners in 1946; what were the average wages of men, women and youths in April, 1956; what percentage rise this represents over the 1946 wages; what would the single man's contributory pension under National Insurance be today if the pension had the same percentage relationship to the 1956 wages; and what would the married couples pension be if related in the same way to the wages rise.

Figures for average wages are not available. The wages index, however, shows an increase of 65 per cent. between October, 1946, and April, 1956, and a similar increase in retirement pensions would give a rate of 42s. 11d. for a single person and 69s. 4d. for a married couple.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that £95 million is being lost in revenue to the Exchequer arising out of employers' contributions to private company pensions schemes being recognised as a cost of production and workers' contributions to these schemes being tax free; what has been the average contribution by the Exchequer to the National Insurance Fund during the four calendar years 1952 to 1955, inclusive; and what it was on an average from 1948 to 1951.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1st November. As regards the Exchequer contribution to the National Insurance Fund, the average figures for the financial years 1952–56 and 1948–52 are respectively £74½ million and £126 million.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many pensioners applied for National Assistance in 1949 and in 1950, respectively; what percentage this was of the total number receiving pensions; and what was the percentage of pensioners receiving National Assistance in 1953, 1954 and at the latest possible date.

The number of retirement pensioner households receiving National Assistance allowances in December, 1949, and December, 1950, was about 560,000 and 675,000 respectively. This was about 18 per cent. and 21 per cent. respectively of all retirement pensioner households. The percentage in December, 1953, was 26 per cent.; in December, 1954, it was 27 per cent.; and in June, 1956, it was 23½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that his area officers are sending letters to firms inviting them to make loans to their employees in cases where on new engagements a week's wages are held by the firm; whether he is also aware that it is contrary to good trade union practice that employees should be in debt to their employers; and if he will ensure that workers in such temporary need should be assisted by the National Assistance Board.

The arrangement which I think the hon. Member has in mind relates to applicants for National Assistance and the National Assistance Board informs me that it operates only in cases where the men concerned have wages already due to them. No question of a debt therefore arises.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in the proposed legislation on compensation for mining subsidence, he will include provision for compensating victims of subsidence for additional expenditure in which they are involved as a result of having to vacate seriously damaged houses.

I cannot add to the reply which I gave to hon. Member on 14th May.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a further statement on the disruption in our oil supplies as a result of the Middle East crisis; and what further conversations he has had with the oil industry on the problem.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the continuing disruption of our oil supplies from the Middle East, if he will make a further statement on the present position; and what further steps he is taking to make sure that industry and public services are maintained.

In 1955 about two-thirds of our oil imports came direct through the Suez Canal or the Iraq Petroleum Company pipelines. Taking account of imports from countries which themselves draw supplies from the Middle East, about three-quarters of our oil imports depend directly or indirectly on the Suez Canal and Middle East pipelines. As the House is aware, the Saudi Arabian Government have cut off supplies of crude oil to the Bahrein refinery and prohibited the loading of British and French' Flag' tankers at Saudi ports.I am in constant touch with representatives of the oil industry which is taking every possible step to make good deficiencies in supplies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent plans for rationing petrol will provide for priorities on the same lines as during war-time rationing.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 14th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much fuel oil is used in the pottery industry per year; and what arrangements he is making to maintain these essential supplies.

About 35,000 tons of gas oil and fuel oil were used for burning by the pottery trades in 1955. No exception has been made for the pottery industry under the present 10 per cent. restrictions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the disruption of our oil supplies from the Middle East, if he will consult the oil companies concerned, with a view to controlling prices, to prevent a rise in the cost of living.

I have already been in consultation with the oil companies and they have agreed to consult me before raising prices in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of the country's normal supplies of oil have been cut by the closing of the Suez Canal and damage to the Iraq Petroleum Company's oil pipe lines being cut in Syria; and what other loss of oil has occurred either directly or indirectly since the Government's armed conflict in Egypt.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answer today to the hon. Members for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies) and Feltham (Mr. Hunter).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he has informed petroleum companies of the Government's intention to ration petrol in January, 1957, whilst refusing to give this information to the House of Commons; whether he will give details of the instructions sent by him to the petrol companies concerning petrol rationing; and on what date in January, 1957, he anticipates the commencement of petrol rationing.

I have not informed oil companies of any Government decision to ration petrol in January, 1957, or on any other date, and I have issued no instructions to them on this question. I will inform the House at the earliest possible opportunity if petrol has to be rationed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements he is making to increase imports of coal this winter, in view of the reduction of oil imports.

Coal stocks are good and it is too early to assess what effect the reduction of oil imports will have on coal import requirements; but I shall continue to keep the position under close review.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that, as a result of fuel economies, 1 in 10 of all British Road Services lorries is being taken off the roads; and, in view of the fact that fuel is still obtainable for purposes less essential to the country's needs, if he will take steps to ease this restriction.

The fuel used by British Road Services lorries is nearly all diesel fuel which, broadly speaking, is used only for essential purposes.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give a general direction to the Central Electricity Authority to convert coal-fired and oil-fired generating plants to gas turbine propulsion, using producer gas where-ever this is practicable.

No. Gas turbines have not yet proved themselves efficient generators of electricity on a large scale.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many pit ponies were employed in the mines of this country at the latest available date; and when he expects it will be possible to dispense with their use.

11,876 on 30th June, 1956, in mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911. The number of ponies employed is falling steadily but they still perform a very useful function in the industry and it will not be possible to dispense with them for a long time to come.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement of the results of consultations with trade union representatives at the Royal Ordnance factory at Radway Green concerning his proposals to make workers redundant in the next few months.

Agreement has been reached on all the arrangements for the redundancy, except on one minor point. That point has now been taken up with the Ministry by the headquarters of the trade union concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the increased importance of home food production, he would consider a higher priority for the four schemes of land drainage which are pending in Lincolnshire.

Schemes for land drainage improvement can be approved in present circumstances only where public health and safety are involved. If the four schemes to which my hon. Friend refers fall into either of these categories we shall be ready to give them further consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state his future plans and what steps he proposes to take in view of the recommendations made recently by the international Council for the Exploration of the Sea upon which Great Britain is represented.

The Council has appointed a committee of scientists to prepare detailed plans for submission to the Governments concerned. My right hon. Friend, together with my right, hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, will consider these proposals urgently as soon as they are received.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total number of staff, male and female employees, the total annual salaries and wages, and the total travelling expenses of the North Riding Agricultural Executive Committee for the previous 12 months.

The non-industrial staff attached to the North Riding Agricultural Executive Committee totals 124 (75 male and 49 female). The annual cost of salaries and wages for the financial year ended 31st March, 1956, was £63,594 and of travelling and subsistence expenses £9,262.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has recently increased the price of bread and milk, in view of the Government's policy of keeping prices and the cost of living steady.

In conditions of full employment and a high level of earnings these general subsidies cannot be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the possibility of local authorities being encouraged, by circular, to license more private caravan sites, where these would not seriously affect local amenities, in areas which still have a shortage of housing accommodation.

I am at present discussing the whole question of caravan sites with the local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rent-controlled dwellings in England and Wales are let on a letting beginning after 1st September, 1939, or at a standard rent of an amount ascertainable by apportionment of the rent at which a property of which the dwelling formed part is or was let on such a letting.

I have no information on this point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of retirement benefit schemes which have been approved by the Inland Revenue in each of the following categories, namely, schemes approved under Section 379, Income Tax Act, 1952, group schemes and schemes relating to named individuals of the funded type to which Section 386 (1) of the Income Tax Act, 1952, relates, and unfunded arrangements to which Section 386 (2) of the Income Tax Act, 1952, relates, during each of the months of August, September and October of this year, or to the latest convenient date.

The Answer is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make available to hon. Members the preliminary results of his household expenditure inquiry made in 1953 and 1954 referred to on page 114 of National Income Statistics, Sources and Methods, 1956.

A full account of the 1953 household expenditure inquiry is now in course of preparation and will, I hope, be ready for publication early next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that, because of the closing of the Suez Canal, a number of British industries have had to re-route the transport of their exports around the Cape of Good Hope, and that firms having imports which previously travelled via the Suez Canal are having to await for these to be transported around the Cape of Good Hope; what is his estimate of the additional cost of this re-routing on the price of our imports and exports, and the additional time on deliveries; and what action he proposes to take to assist British manufacturers to overcome these difficulties;(2) if he will state for the latest convenient date, the total amount of British exports and foreign imports into Great Britain which normally were transported through the Suez Canal; and to what extent he anticipates the closing of the Canal will lose us export markets, due to the increased transport costs of our exports and the delay in these goods reaching their destination.

I am aware of the facts to which the hon. Member refers and I would refer him to the Answer which I gave on 15th November to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin).About one-quarter by value of our exports went through the Suez Canal in the first nine months of 1956. It is not practicable to make a general estimate of the additional cost of re-routing our exports nor of the delays which will be involved. But these disadvantages we shall share with many of our competitors in the export markets affected.

asked the Postmaster-General why he has eliminated the term Christian name from certain documents issued from the Post Office and substituted "Forename"; and whether, in deference to public opinion, he will revert to the old style as soon as possible.

I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the form of application for Premium Savings Bonds. The word "Forenames" was used as the shortest possible expression applicable to all members of the community. The words "Christian names" will, however, be introduced when the forms are reprinted.