asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the twenty-one horse slaughterhouses and knacker's yards which, three months ago, were still below the standards fixed by the 1954 Regulations, now comply fully with the regulations.

Of twenty-one premises known three months ago to be sub-standard fourteen now comply fully with the regulations and three have closed. The local authorities concerned are taking action about the remaining four.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that a considerable number of Scottish herring drifters have left the East Anglian herring fishing grounds early in the season; what is the reason for this; and whether he will make a statement on the results and prospects of the herring fishing in these waters to date.

Yes. The season came to an early close because after fairly good fishing in October which was interrupted by bad weather at the end of the month the early November catches were very disappointing. Total landings at Lowestoft and Yarmouth up to 24th November have been 106,063 crans valued at £516,506 compared with 106,084 crans valued at £500,962 in the corresponding period last year when the fleet was larger.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an account of public funds expended on Horam Manor Farm, Sussex, since the eviction of Lady Garbett on 16th May, 1956, to the latest convenient date.

The justices' warrant requiring Lady Garbett to give vacant possession of Horeham Manor Farm was enforced on 28th May, 1956, and since then £1,080 has been spent on the farm. Of this £518 has been spent on remedying dilapidations and deteriorations for example, cleaning foul land, fencing, and rabbit destruction, and £562 on haymaking, cultivations, seeds and fertilisers, and providing a water supply to a field. In addition, £36 has been paid for wages of a part-time caretaker.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the works of cultivation, etc., authorised by his Department at Horam Manor Farm, Sussex, were put to tender.

Tenders were not obtained for this urgent work, much of which had to be carried out when the weather permitted. The most economical method in the circumstances was to fix a price for the cultivations and find a contractor who would carry them out efficiently for that figure. I am satisfied that the cost of the work was reasonable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the continued anxiety felt by large sections of the public over the increasingly large traffic in live cattle from the United Kingdom to the Continent; whether he is aware that, in spite of regulations and the efforts of animal societies, many animals suffer considerable hardship; and whether he will have special inquiries made into the position with a view, if necessary, to seeking powers to enable him to have such animals slaughtered here and the carcasses sent abroad.

I am aware that this traffic is arousing some public anxiety, and I am having it closely watched. In addition to the investigation at Richborough, to which I referred in my reply to the right hon. Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mr. Bottomley) on 22nd November, I arranged for one of my senior veterinary officers to travel recently with a consignment of cattle from this country to Holland. He found on the whole that the cattle were well and sympathetically handled, they travelled in reasonable comfort, and were none the worse for the crossing. There were satisfactory arrangements for feeding and watering at both ends of the voyage, and food and water were also available on board. I am grateful to the Dutch authorities for allowing my officer to visit some abattoirs where British cattle are slaughtered; he found the conditions and equipment there very good.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give figures showing the numbers of workers placed by his Department in various types of industry, occupation and trade after their dismissal by the British Motor Corporation in June.

Of the workers discharged by the British Motor Corporation in June, local offices of my Department have placed 1,357 in employment in the following industries:

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many employees in the motor car industry are now unemployed and on short time, respectively; and what information he has received of the numbers under notice of discharge and short time in the near future;(2) what arrangements are being made for the absorption of workers who are now being declared redundant in the motor car industry.

The number of workers in the motor car and accessories industries who were registered as wholly unemployed on 15th October was 4,167. The number working short-time last week is estimated to have been 18,000. My local officers have received reports from employers that 1,000 workers are to be declared redundant and about 20,000 are to be put on short-time in the next few weeks. The redundant workers will be given every help in finding other employment, and where possible those seeking new employment are being registered in advance.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of vacancies for men now known to his Department within daily travel of Birmingham and a rough analysis of the total figure by industries.

The latest available figures are for mid-October. Within daily travelling distance of Birmingham there were 8,500 vacancies outstanding for men at the employment exchanges. These vacancies included 2,700 in the engineering and allied industries, 1,600 in railways and road transport, 900 in building and contracting, and 800 in national and local government service. The remaining vacancies were spread in smaller numbers over a wide variety of industries.

asked the Minister of Labour how many dismissals for redundancy have occurred in Crawley during October; whether these have been reabsorbed in other employment within the town; and if he will make a statement upon the security of employment in that area in the reasonable future.

According to my information seven workers were made redundant in Crawley during October, but none of them is at present registered as unemployed. Outstanding vacancies are considerably greater than the number unemployed in Crawley, and the prospects of stable employment in the area are good.

asked the Minister of Labour the average time which elapses after a serious factory accident before the inspector visits the factory to inspect the scene of the accident; and if he has sufficient factory inspectors to meet the growing requirements.

Such an average period cannot be calculated. Fatal accidents are investigated at once and other serious accidents as soon as possible. As to the number of inspectors, I would refer the hon. Member to the recent White Paper on the Staffing and Organisation of the Factory Inspectorate.

asked the Minister of Labour why, for the week ending 10th November, there was an average daily surplus of labour in the dock industry of 8·828; and, as this is an average daily surplus of 11·4 per cent. of the workers' register, what action he proposes to take to reduce this percentage of unemployment.

The average daily surplus of labour in the dock industry fluctuates with the work available. I am not aware of any special circumstances in the week referred to. The National Dock Labour Board controls the size of the registered dock labour force and it has the position constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on 30th October, 1948, Mr. John James of Stone-house, Little Aston Park, Sutton Cold-field, was sentenced to three months imprisonment at Birmingham Central Police Court and did not regain his liberty until five years later when he escaped from St. Andrew's Mental Hospital. Northampton; and if he will state the particulars of his offence and give the authority under which Mr. James was detained for so disproportionate a time to that of his sentence.

Mr. James was bound over to be of good behaviour for twelve months in the sum of £50 and ordered to find sureties in £25 each with the alternative of three months' imprisonment. He was unable to find the requisite sureties and was committed to prison, where on 8th December, 1948, he was certified insane by two legally qualified medical practitioners and was removed to Winson Green Mental Hospital under a warrant of removal made under Section 2 of the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1884. On 3rd January, 1949, an order was made by a justice of the peace under Section 7 (2) of the Act for his detention as a Health Service patient on the expiry of his sentence. On the application of his father an order was made on 4th March, 1949, under Section 59 of the Lunacy Act, 1890. for his transfer to St. Andrew's Hospital, Northampton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any decision has yet been reached to prohibit the import of flick-knives from Italy.

In the reply I gave to Questions on the subject of spring-clip knives on 25th October, I said that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I were in consultation with the representative trade associations about the possibility of cutting off the supply of these knives to young persons by voluntary action on the part of traders. As a result of these consultations we have decided that the problem can best be dealt with in this way rather than by legislation or prohibition of imports. I am confident that all traders, including manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and retailers, whether members of trade associations or not, will co-operate by refusing to handle these knives, except to the extent that they are supplying them to customers known to have some legitimate use for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detention centres it is proposed shall be opened by the end of 1957 and 1958, respectively.

Three detention centres are now in use, two for junior boys at Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and Foston Hall, Derbyshire, respectively, and one for senior boys at Goudhurst, Kent. A second senior centre is expected to be opened at Werrington, Staffordshire, by the end of March. 1957. I intend to provide a junior and a senior centre in the North of England, but I am not at present in a position to say what funds will be available for this purpose in the financial year 1957–58.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limit has been imposed on the number of immigrants from Hungary that will be allowed to enter this country.

As announced on 23rd November, Her Majesty's Government have decided to waive the limit on the number of Hungarian refugees admitted to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, without any obvious neglect of duty of any officer of a local authority, cases have occurred in which children appear to have been starved to death in their homes; and whether he will appoint a committee to inquire how such cases may be recognised and dealt with before it is too late.

I am aware of one recent case. It is the subject of inquiry by the local authority and I am not at present in a position to comment on it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow Mr. Kukemezey, a Hungarian subject, who arrived in this country on 31st October, to remain as a refugee, in view of the impossibility of his returning to Hungary in the present situation.

Mr. Kukemezey came to this country from France for medical treatment and is being given an extension of his stay for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have died at Parkhurst Prison since 1951; and how many have been permitted to the outside prison.

Since 1st January, 1951, 37 prisoners have died in custody at Parkhurst prison. Early release would invariably be authorised if it appeared that continued imprisonment would endanger the prisoner's life or reason, but no prisoner has been released from Parkhurst Prison on these grounds during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had with representatives of industry and agriculture before determining the date for the ending of Summer Time this year; whether he will consider extending the period in another year until the first Sunday in November to enable greater use to be made of the favourable autumn weather usually experienced; and if, as a special case in the present circumstances of fuel shortage, he will consider the reintroduction of double summer time as a measure to assist in fuel economy as operated during the last war.

The period of Summer Time in 1956 was determined by the automatic operation of the Summer Time Acts, 1922 and 1925, and consultation with representatives of industry and agriculture was, therefore, not needed. I have looked into the possibility of permanently extending the period, but have decided that the introduction by the Government of legislation for this purpose would not be justified. I have taken note of the suggestion contained in the third part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the accumulation of evidence about the prevalence of smoking among children of school age, he will recommend to local education authorities that they emphasise to children the dangers inherent in this habit.

A new edition of my Department's handbook on Health Education, containing suggestions for teachers, will be published in January, and will include a passage on this matter.

asked the Minister of Education whether a new edition is contemplated of the handbook for Health Education in Schools; and whether he will give an approximate date of publication.

I hope that the new edition of this handbook will be published in January.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement about oil exploration in Bechuanaland.

A geological survey of the Territory is taking place at the present time, but so far no oil has been found.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the New Zealand Government expressing concern at the increasing imports of Argentine meat into the United Kingdom.

The New Zealand Government have expressed anxiety lest increasing imports of Argentine meat might adversely affect New Zealand's sales of meat here. This was among the subjects discussed last month by the New Zealand Minister of Finance with United Kingdom Ministers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action is being taken to assist the British motor car industry to meet the growing competition in export markets from German cars.

My Department is in regular contact with the industry about its export problems and these were discussed with particular reference to Germany in the National Advisory Council on 31st October. The services of advice and information provided by the Board of Trade and overseas officers for exporters generally and also the services of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, are of course available to the motor industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the export of motor cars is being held up by the absence of available shipping.

It is not possible to give any estimate of the effect which shipping difficulties may be having on exports of motor cars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance and encouragement is being offered by his Department to foster the participation by British firms in the New York World Fair next April.

All the usual facilities of information and advice are at the disposal of firms considering participation. The Board of Trade will itself have a stand at the Fair.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultations took place between the three parties to the Tripartite Declaration about the supply of arms to Israel in the period 1st July to date; on what date these consultations occurred; what steps the French Government took to keep Her Majesty's Government fully informed; and what degree of consultation with the United States Government took place throughout this period.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 26th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date the United States Government warned Her Majesty's Government of the possibility of an Israeli attack on Egypt; and what action Her Majesty's Government took on this to consult with the United States and French Governments under the provisions of the Tripartite Declaration.

Her Majesty's Government received no advance warning from the United States Government of the possibility of an Israel attack on Egypt. The United States Government did, however, call for Tripartite consultations on 28th October in view of the Israel mobilisation. On the result of these I have nothing to add to what my right hon. and learned Friend told the House on 31st October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations concerning the length of time it is proposed to keep United Nations forces in Egypt.

In the aide mémoire annexed to his report to the General Assembly of 20th November, the Secretary-General of the United Nations stated that

"the United Nations, understanding this to correspond to the wishes of the Government of Egypt, reaffirms its willingness to maintain the United Nations Emergency Force until its task is completed."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement estimating the total British assets in Egypt that have been impounded by the Egyptian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what he estimates to be the total loss in British assets in Egypt as a result of the measures taken, up to date, by the Egyptian Government.

Her Majesty's Government are informed that by a decree of 1st November the Egyptian Government have sequestrated all British property in Egypt. It is not yet clear how this sequestration order is being applied and it is therefore not possible as yet to estimate its financial effect.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that public service vehicles in London do not comply with the new regulations requiring the installation of twin rear lights; and what action he has taken to enforce the law.

Under the regulations to which the hon. Member refers, two rear lights are not obligatory on public-services vehicles which were registered for the first time before the 1st October, 1954. Since buses are normally internally illuminated we thought that to impose on those already registered this new obligation and thereby cause them to be withdrawn from service would unnecessarily dislocate services and cause hardship to the public. I have no evidence of failure by public service vehicles in London to comply with the regulations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, during the present petrol rationing period, he will cancel restrictions on C licence holders so as to enable them to carry return loads and thus help to save fuel.

The Government have had under examination the question of how during the period of fuel rationing vehicles operating under C licences could make the maximum contribution to the saving of motor fuels. They have considered whether a general relaxation of the provisions of C licences should be made, but have come to the conclusion that at present this complete departure from the licensing system would not be justified.The Government is, however, most anxious that C licensed vehicles should be enabled to carry full loads and that pooling arrangements between groups of firms should be made possible. The Government is therefore asking the licensing authorities for goods vehicles to consider sympathetically the issue of a short-term B licence to the holder of a C licence to enable him to carry in addition to his own goods the goods of another person or persons which would otherwise have been carried in a C licensed vehicle belonging to that other person. To obtain such a B licence it will, of course, be necessary to show that there will be a material saving in fuel.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that some Electricity Boards make the same basic charge for identical houses for the use of electricity, both where basement and attic are wired for electricity and where they are not; and if he will give a general direction that charges must be more fairly assessed.

I do not consider that this is a fit subject for a general direction. The Electricity Boards are responsible for their own tariffs and are statutorily bound to avoid both undue preference and undue discrimination. If any consumer believes that the Board is not assessing him fairly he should bring the circumstances to the notice of the electricity consultative council for the area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of retired civil servants, of administrative and executive grades, now in receipt of pensions; and how many of these retired before 1936.

I regret that this information could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the shortage of petrol and the resultant petrol rationing has reduced attendances at football matches, and other forms of outdoor entertainments, at theatres and cinemas; and to what extent he estimates this will reduce his revenue from Entertainments Duty.

I am not aware from the official returns that there has yet been any substantial net reduction in attendances at entertainments because of shortage of petrol. It would be premature to conjecture that the revenue from Entertainments Duty will be materially affected by petrol rationing.