asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, due to the oil and petrol shortage and the increased tax of 1s. per gallon on petrol, there are less cars, lorries and vehicles on the roads; and what instructions he has therefore given, or intends to give, to the Metropolitan Police to cut down their motor and other vehicle patrols, and thus save petrol and fuel.

The use of cars and motor cycles for traffic patrols has been restricted to the essential minimum. The Commissioner is keeping the position under constant review and motor patrol duties will be adjusted from day to day in the light of the prevailing traffic conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to keep Hungarian refugees in this country informed of such news as may become available of friends, relatives and conditions at home.

I am informed that the British Red Cross Society, in agreement with the British Council for Aid to Refugees, is dealing with inquiries from refugees here for missing relatives, and the International Committee of the Red Cross proposes to set up a central index of all Hungarian refugees which should assist in dealing with inquiries of this kind. The dissemination of general information about conditions in Hungary is most suitably carried out by the normal machinery of a free Press and radio broadcasting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Return of Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles on 20th November shows the police districts in the county of Monmouth under England and not Wales.

Because the First Schedule to the Local Government Act, 1933, includes the county of Monmouth and the county borough of Newport amongst English administrative counties and county boroughs, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education what are the results of the inquiries by his Department into the problems arising from the need for parents to provide school uniforms for their children: what progress has been made in securing the most efficient co-operation from manufacturers; and if he will now give education authorities advice in regard to colour range, materials and monopolistic selling points with the object of eliminating the present widespread wasteful procedure and so provide uniforms of a high standard at reasonable prices.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in the Adjournment debate on 4th December.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the substantial inaccuracy of selection of children at 11-plus; and what steps he is taking to improve the present methods of selection.

I do not accept the hon. Member's description of existing selection procedures, but it is the constant concern of local education authorities to make them as fair as they can. I shall continue to encourage practical experiments and to offer advice when I see occasion to do so.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of the population aged 15, 16, 17 and 18 years, respectively, is in receipt of full-time and part-time education, respectively, giving both overall figures and separate figures for male and female persons.

Following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that, owing to the high proportion of early leavers from secondary grammar schools, there is a substantial loss of sixth-form mathematics and science students; and what steps he is taking to encourage pupils to continue their education.

The number and proportion of early leavers from grammar schools have been falling steadily. The best way to encourage children to stay on is to make the schools better and to give their pupils better opportunities of continuing their education after they have left school.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total industrial trucks or motor lorries exported to China since January, 1956; and what restrictions on these exports now exist.

95 up to the end of November. These vehicles are embargoed, but individual applications for exceptional licences may be granted on their merits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been granted month by month since January, 1956, for the export of galvanised sheet to China; and what is the total value of these exports to date.

The numbers of licences issued were January, 1; March, 2; April, 5; May, 5; June, 7; July, 4; August, 1; September, 2; total 27. The value of exports to the end of November was £1,078,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are ample tobacco stocks, both United States and Empire, in this country; and if he will require the disposal of available surplus stocks at present in the hands of manufacturers before assisting any new purchases of tobacco which necessitate the transfer of dollars.

We take stock levels into account when allocating dollars for tobacco purchases. Tobacco from this year's dollar crop has already been bought and paid for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what conclusion he has reached on the application for increased import duties on certain dried and dehydrated vegetables reported in the Board of Trade Journal on 13th February, 1954.

After full consideration, Her Majesty's Government have come to the conclusion that a case has not been made out for increased protection for these goods.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state, in addition to writing to the President of the United States of America, on or about 6th September, 1956, suggesting that Great Britain intended to use force against Egypt, what other action he took in furtherance of this policy, at or about that time, to resolve the Suez Canal crisis.

In accordance with long-established practice, I am not prepared to make public communications with other Heads of Governments. As to the solution of the Suez Canal problem, the hon. Gentleman must know well the numerous efforts that were made by Her Majesty's Government with other Powers to try to find a solution.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet appointed his new Public Relations Officer.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what records exist of his discussions with the French Prime Minister on 16th October.

A full communiqué was issued at the time giving an account of the subjects discussed at the meeting.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many experimental husbandry farms have been set up in England and Wales; and what is the total expenditure of his Department to date on new buildings and improvements.

Eleven experimental husbandry farms have been established. The total expenditure to date on new buildings and improvements is about £500,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the approximate expenditure of his Department on experimental husbandry farms during the current financial year; and how this figure compares with expenditure during the previous year.

The capital and current expenditure on experimental husbandry farms during the year ending 31st March, 1957, is likely to be about £530,000. The sum spent during the previous year was £494,964.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to issue details at the earliest possible date of the proposed scheme to provide grants for the improvement of old agricultural buildings and for the provision of new ones.

The final form of the proposals must await the introduction of the necessary legislation. In the meantime, fuller details of the scheme described in the recent White Paper are being worked out urgently. When further talks have been held with landowners and farmers we shall consider making a further statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the first result of his present proposals to introduce legislation to enable grants to be made for the provision or improvement of farm buildings will be to halt normal development, to disorganise country building firms and to create delay and congestion when the scheme finally becomes law; and what action he proposes to overcome this difficulty and to maintain a steady flow of work in agricultural building.

My right hon. Friend is well aware that pending legislation there must be some uncertainty in the minds of landowners and farmers who have plans for modernisation. We are considering whether there is anything we can do to ease the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend has called attention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if in view of the evidence that birds migrating from the Continent are bringing foot-and-mouth disease to this country, he will ensure that all possible help, by way of technical advice, is given to Continental countries in stamping out the disease; and from which countries the migratory birds carrying the infection originate.

Technical advice and other help in combating foot-and-mouth disease are available to Continental countries from the European Foot-and-Mouth Disease Commission and from the International Epizootics office. The United Kingdom is an active member of both organisations and we are always ready to give any help we can. It is not possible to be precise about the origin of infection carried by migratory birds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can yet give any details of his proposed survey of total milk production and yields per cow.

A small scale voluntary sample survey of milk production has just started which should also provide information about the utilisation of milk supplies and yields per cow. The results of the survey which will cover a period of twelve months will not be available, at the earliest, until November, 1957.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether advance payments will be made on account of deficiency payments for the cereal year 1956–57 in respect of barley, oats, mixed corn and rye.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount was payable to the Potato Marketing Board in the year ended 30th June, 1956, as a contribution to its administrative expenses.

Subject to final confirmation of the accounts, about £421,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give the membership figures of each of the woodland societies in Wales; and the acreage under their control, with figures as to work already accomplished.

The following information has been supplied to the Forestry Commission by the Societies concerned:

Advance payments on barley, oats, mixed corn and rye have been considered in consultation with the Cereals Deficiency Payments Advisory Committees on which the principal interests concerned with the production and marketing of these crops are represented. The deficiency payment on these crops cannot be calculated until after the end of the cereal year, but advance payments may be made if they seem justified. It has been decided to make an advance payment for barley at the rate of £2 15s. 0d. per acre. Only a small proportion of the oat crop has yet been marketed and present United Kingdom average prices are approaching the standard price of 25s. 0d. per cwt. The present average price of rye is above the standard price of 23s. 3d. per cwt. A decision as to an advance payment on oats, mixed corn and rye has therefore been deferred until February. The barley payments will begin shortly and are expected to total £6 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the report of the Runciman Committee to be available.

I have today received the Report of Lord Runciman's Committee. It will be printed and published as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the continuing difficulties experienced by farmers and horticultural producers owing to the credit restrictions; and what further steps he is taking, in consultation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to ease these difficulties.

I am not able to add to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 29th October and to the hon. Member for Sunderland. North (Mr. Willey) on 5th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what quantities of crude oil have been offered to the United Kingdom by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; what quantities have been accepted and what refused; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no offers of crude oil.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will arrange for an investigation to be held to ascertain why, on the eve of the introduction of the petrol rationing scheme, many businesses and local authorities had not been informed about their petrol allocation, with a view to ensuring that there will be no repetition of the difficulties thus created.

No. Applications by businesses and local authorities for allowances of petrol for industrial plant and for certain vehicles for which no basic ration was available were given priority by my regional petroleum officers and were dealt with by 17th December. Applications for supplementary allowances for vehicles for which a basic ration was issued are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible but in the meantime the full four months basic ration is available in case of need.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many firms have completed and returned his questionnaire on the use of diesel oil in their undertakings; what is the general nature of the replies; what his intentions are for the period after 1st January when supplies are cut by 20 per cent.; and if he will make a statement, or when he is likely to be in a position to make one.

Distribution of the questionnaire is still in progress and the number of forms returned so far is insufficient for any general conclusions to be drawn.In view of the inescapable need to reduce substantially the consumption of diesel oil, it will not be possible to give special relaxation from the 20 per cent. cut at all freely. In general, it will be given only where the effect of the cut on output would be wholly disproportionate.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the difficulties created for profesional men, such as architects, surveyors, and accountants, working in rural areas by the shortage of petrol; and whether he will review the appropriate scale of supplementary allowances in order to ensure that their clients shall not be entirely deprived of their services, which are essential to so many productive industries.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Sir A. Bossom), on Monday, 17th December.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what exchange of information he contemplates with the forthcoming Government of Ghana on fissionable material and thermonuclear reactors.

I have been asked to reply. At present there are no plans for such an exchange; but at appropriate times the Government and the Atomic Energy Authority are prepared to consider suitable arrangements with any Commonwealth country for the exchange of information on nuclear energy.The Authority, in collaboration with the Geological Survey and Museum of Great Britain and the local Geological Survey are sending a Geological Mission to the territory early in 1957 to obtain information regarding possible uranium and thorium deposits.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that one of the most effective methods of helping our economy would be a substantial increase in the production of coal from British pits, he will now give a general direction to the National Coal Board to arrange for a greatly increased intake of foreign labour into our mines as a matter of urgency.

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, this is a matter for the two sides of the industry. As announced in the Press, the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers are co-operating in measures to assist Hungarian refugees.

asked the Minister of Defence who were the Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Anglo-French forces which conducted the air and land operations against Egypt from 31st October to 6th November; and who commanded the Anglo-French naval forces.

I have been asked to reply. These Allied operations were under the overall control of General Keightley, the Allied Commander-in-Chief whose deputy was Admiral Barjot. Under them the Anglo-French air forces were commanded by Air Marshal Barnett with General Brohon of the French air force as his deputy. The land forces were commanded by General Stockwell, whose deputy was General Beaufre of the French Army. The naval forces were commanded by Admiral Durnford-Slater, whose deputy was Admiral Lancelot of the French Navy.

asked the Minister of Defence what consultations he has had with the Government of Northern Ireland as to the possible effect on defence policy of the closure of sections of the railways in that territory, and the threatened break-up of road freight transport controlled by the Ulster Transport Authority; and whether he will make a statement on the matter.

I have had no consultations and have no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what hour of what day Her Majesty's Ambassador in Tel Aviv dispatched his message saying that Israeli troops were within 18 miles of the Suez Canal at 9.40 p.m. on 30th October; and from what source Her Majesty's Ambassador received this information.

At 11.10 p.m. on 30th October, 1956. I am not prepared to reveal the source of the Ambassador's information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what hour Egypt agreed to a cease-fire on 2nd November, provided that Israel, France and Britain also agreed; at what hour Israel agreed on 3rd November; at what hour all fighting between Israeli and Egyptian forces had ceased on the morning of 5th November; at what hour French and British troops made their landing al Port Fuad and Port Said on 5th November; and at what hour Her Majesty's Government accepted a ceasefire on 6th November.

The Israeli and Egyptian Government's communications concerning the cease-fire were made to the Secretary-General, and Her Majesty's Government have no knowledge of the precise hour of the day at which they were made. Nor do we know at what hour hostilities between Israeli and Egyptian forces ceased. Our own landings on 5th December were made at 05.15 hours local time (03.15 hours Greenwich Mean Time). On 6th December, Sir Pierson Dixon informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations at 5.45 p.m. of Her Majesty's Government's intention to order a cease-fire at midnight.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to provide for the security and safety of British pilgrims to the Holy Places, in and around Jerusalem, especially during the Christmas season.

The security and safety of British and other foreign pilgrims in and around Jerusalem during the Christmas season is a matter for the local authorities. Her Majesty's Government have, however, no reason to suppose that they will not carry out this duty satisfactorily as in past years. Her Majesty's Consular Officers will afford British visitors the usual degree of assistance if required. Prospective visitors will no doubt take into account the present international situation in deciding whether or not to go there at this time.

asked the Minister of Labour which of the non-metropolitan territories for which Her Majesty's Government have direct or indirect responsibility have been approached for their consent to the ratification of the Convention on the abolition of slavery, the slave trade nd institutions and practices similar to slavery signed by Her Majesty's Government on 7th September, 1956, at Geneva; and which have replied, and in what terms.

I have been asked to reply.I think that the hon. Member may be confusing ratification of the Convention with its application to the non-metropolitan territories for whose international relations Her Majesty's Government are responsible.As regards the application of the Convention to these territories, all have been, or shortly will be, asked whether they consent to the application of the Convention. No replies have yet been received, but the Convention initially allows twelve months for consultation with non-metropolitan territories. As the Convention requires, Her Majesty's Government will inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the results of those consultations: application of the Convention to those non-metropolitan territories who accept it takes effect from the date of notification of their agreement by Her Majesty's Government to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This process does not affect ratification of the Convention by the United Kingdom, and we are pressing on with the necessary arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has obtained, in conformity with his obligations under the Tripartite Declaration, regarding the supply of arms to Syria and Iraq, respectively, during the past twelve months, and by which countries the arms have been supplied in each case.

The Tripartite Declaration refers to applications for arms made to the three signatories, sets out the principles in the light of which they intend to consider such applications and expresses the opposition of the three Governments to the development of an arms race. As has frequently been made clear in the House, Her Majesty's Government are in close and constant touch with their co-signatories and other friendly Powers with regard to the question of arms supplies to the area. Her Majesty's Government are not accountable for supplies by other countries. As far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, no arms are being supplied to Syria at present, while supplies to Iraq continue in accordance with the principles set out in the Tripartite Declaration. I am not prepared to supply details.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has obtained, in conformity with his obligations under the Tripartite Declaration, of Soviet arms deliveries to Syria during the past three months in excess of those previously arranged; and whether he will give details.

The Tripartite Declaration imposes no obligation on Her Majesty's Government with regard to information on Soviet arms deliveries to Syria. Contracts entered into between the Soviet Government and Syria and the Soviet Government's default or excess in any such contracts are hardly matters for which Her Majesty's Government can be held responsible. With regard to information about arms actually delivered by the Soviet Union, I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on 28th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions have been given to the Central Office of Information to ensure that the London Press Service circulates a balanced report of the editorial comment from British newspapers; and if he will arrange for these reports to be placed in the Library of the House regularly.

Summaries of editorial comment from British newspapers are communicated daily, as part of the London Press Service, to information officers in Her Majesty's Missions abroad. The national newspapers are also sent to them by the fastest available means. No special instructions have been given to the Central Office of Information recently, but there are regular meetings between that office and the Foreign Office at which the preparation of material for the London Press Service is discussed. Since the London Press Service is not a public news service but one for the benefit of information officers abroad, who use it in widely different forms depending on local circumstances, I do not propose to place copies in the Library.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the purpose of the recent visit of the First Lord of the Admiralty to the Mediterranean.

My right hon. and noble Friend was paying his first official visit to the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. The principal objects of such visits are to meet senior naval officers and discuss local problems, to inspect ships and establishments and to speak to ships' companies, units of the Royal Marines, and civilian employees. In this instance, there was the additional object of looking at the progress of the salvage work at Port Said, and saying a word of well-earned praise and encouragement to the crews of the naval and civilian-manned salvage vessels.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Retainer" was fully loaded with ammunition when she left Malta on 30th October to take part in the Combined Communications Exercise planned for the Cyprus area.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Retainer" was fully loaded in the United Kingdom and sailed to the Mediterranean Fleet as an ammunition supply ship in August, 1956. In view of the political situation in the Mediterranean at that time, the Commander-in-Chief naturally ensured that her cargo was not disturbed.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now grant a compassionate discharge to W/220456 Sergeant J. Bremmler, Women's Royal Army Corps, 323 Staffordshire Territorial Army, Booth Street, Stoke-on-Trent, who applied, submitting medical certificates in support, on 1st October.

As I explained to the hon. Member in my letter of yesterday, I do not consider that a free discharge is justified. Sergeant Bremmler will, however, be permitted to purchase her discharge at a reduced rate if she so wishes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reply has been received from the Belgian Government to the request made through Her Majesty's Embassy in Brussels with regard to the date of the international conference to consider the 1955 draft convention relating to the limitation of liability of owners of seagoing vessels; and if he will now state whether such a conference will take place in 1957.

No reply has yet been received. In view of my hon. Friend's interest in this matter, I will write to him as soon as we hear from the Belgian Government.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps are being taken to ensure that navigating officers of merchant ships are familiar with the use of radar.

Radar observer courses have been available for some years and I have now decided that from 1st June, 1957, candidates for a certificate of competency as second mate (foreign going) or mate (home trade) must have attended one of these courses and obtained a certificate of proficiency as radar observer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present position of the 1958–59 road scheme so far as the acquisition and replacement of Selby toll bridge is concerned; whether he is still intending to proceed with this scheme; and what is the prospective timetable.

An approach has been made to the bridge proprietors to reopen negotiations for the acquisition of the bridge and toll rights. Subject to a satisfactory settlement of this question, I hope to authorise the scheme for the replacement of the bridge before the end of the financial year 1958–59.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now decided to publish in full Dr. Touche's report on certain aspects of the Vulcan bomber crash at London Airport.

As the hon. Member will know from the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air, Dr. Touche has now reported. I propose to publish the Report in full as soon as it can be printed. Dr. Touche's general conclusions have been summarised in my right hon. Friend's statement. They are, of course, set out in full detail in the Report which includes the results of a rigorous examination of the functioning of the G.C.A. system Dr. Touche specifically points out that the record of the G.C.A. at London Airport is very good and that the system as at present used does not require any radical change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement setting out the Government's proposals for Cyprus.

I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the statement which I made on the 19th December.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of paralytic and non-paralytic poliomyelitis at ages two to nine years were recorded in May and June, 1956, in children who had had one or two doses of poliomyelitis vaccine, and in children who remained uninoculated, and in what towns or villages the cases were notified, with the number in each case.

In the quarter ended 30th June, the corrected numbers of cases of poliomyelitis notified at ages 2 to 9 inclusive were 101 paralytic and 76 non-paralytic. I am sending the hon. Member details of the administrative areas concerned.Vaccination against poliomyelitis began on 4th May. No case of poliomyelitis among vaccinated children at those ages was reported in that month. In June, Medical Officers of Health reported three cases: one paralytic, in Tottenham, and two non-paralytic, in Blackwell and Cheadle.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to deliver parcels addressed to troops engaged in the lighting in Egypt which were not delivered before the troops were withdrawn.

I have been asked to reply. Special arrangements have been made to fly back to this country all Christmas mail which could not be delivered in Egypt, Cyprus or Malta before the Service men concerned were withdrawn. All practicable steps have been taken to have this mail delivered by Christmas.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to extend the telephone weather service to the north-west area and other parts of the United Kingdom.

In conjunction with the Meteorological Office. I am arranging to introduce telephone weather services for Manchester. Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast during the early part of 1957. Whether weather forecasts will be provided elsewhere depends on the success of these new Services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of goods and services produced by public corporations and companies in 1955; and what is the relation of wages and salaries to the value of such output expressed as a percentage.

I regret that information about the total output of public corporations and companies in 1955 is not available. Their contribution to the gross national product, representing value added and excluding goods and services bought from outside, was approximately £10,850 million, of which wages and salaries were 66 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the quantities of malt whisky and grain whisky, respectively, distilled in Scotland for the year ended 30th September, 1956; and what were the quantities of both distilled in the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The quantities of malt spirit and of grain spirit distilled in the United Kingdom as a whole and in Scotland in the year ended 30th September, 1956, were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will pay into the fund created for the benefit of claimants under the Foreign Compensation (Czechoslovakia) Order in Council, 1950, the sum of £430,000 which was paid to Her Majesty's Government by the Czechoslovak Government in January, 1954.

Yes. All but £1,071 of this sum was paid into the Exchequer when it was originally received from the Czechoslovak Government, because it was assumed to have been paid in respect of Intergovernmental debt. During the financial negotiations with the Czechoslovak Government which terminated on 22nd October, the Czechoslovak Government stated that the sum of £430,000 should be deemed to have been a payment on account of the compensation payable under the Anglo-Czechoslovak Nationalisation Compensation Agreement of 28th September, 1949.A Supplementary Estimate to authorise the payment of £428,929 out of the Exchequer will be laid before the House in due course. In the meantime an advance of the latter amount will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund to the Foreign Compensation Commission to enable the immediate investment of the total sum of £430,000 for the benefit of the claimants, pending a distribution to them.