asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to which local authorities he has given consent under the provisions of Section 136 of the Local Government Act, 1948, to the making of contributions to bodies established to improve safety or prevent accidents in the home.

Since the first application made in 1950, consents have been given to forty-five local authorities, whose names I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on his promotion and expressing the hope that he will seek an early opportunity to reverse the decisions made by his predecessor, may I ask him whether he does not think the number which he has given this afternoon is still rather disappointing, in view of the fact that more children are killed and injured in home accidents than are killed and injured in road accidents, and that the Government grants for the purpose of publicising methods of preserving safety in the home are woefully inadequate compared with those for publicising safety on the roads?

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his congratulations, though I shall not fulfil his hopes. With regard to the number, I think that the right hon. Gentleman's Question will very likely have the effect of drawing the attention of local authorities to this possibility, and I have no intention of refusing any application of this character if it is reasonably based.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of local authorities arrange for their sewage to be treated together with household and trade refuse and made into compost; and what steps are being taken to extend this practice in the interests both of economy and of public health.

Very few local authorities in England and Wales arrange for treatment of these materials together, although many utilise them separately. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of a report on the various methods of treating sewage sludge which was circulated to local authorities in 1954. It is for each local authority to decide what method best suits its own circumstances.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that a great deal of valuable material is wasted in this way, and would he give every encouragement to local authorities to erect plant to deal with it?

This is quite a difficult economic question. I hope that my hon. Friend will study this report which I am sending to him. Before any local authority reaches its decision, it is necessary to see what economic results may follow from a particular policy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what representations he has received concerning a town meeting convened by Liverpool City Corporation on Monday, 17th December, 1956, to consider the project affecting Treweryn, Merionethshire;

I have received letters from 17 individuals, and a telegram and a memorial from the Treweryn Defence Committee, complaining of arrangements alleged to have been made for Corporation employees to attend the Liverpool town meeting. I am advised that this meeting was held in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act, 1933.

While expressing my best wishes to my right hon. Friend in his new duties as Minister for Welsh Affairs, may I ask him whether, in view of the suggestions that corporation officials were cajoled or advised to attend this meeting, it would not be a good thing to clear the air by ordering an inquiry into the circumstances?

I am very grateful for good wishes from Wales, where I was given a very pleasant welcome yesterday. I do not think that I have any power to inquire into what happened on the occasion of the meeting to which my hon. Friend refers. I am merely concerned to see that the provisions of the Act were complied with, and I have received assurances of that.

Since, quite apart from the question of the ratepayers' meeting, I understand that the House itself may be called upon to make a decision on this important matter, will the Minister consider the suggestion made to his predecessor that, in order that the implications, not only for Merioneth but for the whole of North Wales, may be fully in possession of Members of the House, he will ask the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire to examine the matter and make a full report, which will be available to the House before we come to a decision on this matter?

I will certainly consider all these matters. I have, of course, to be careful of what I say in the case of a subject such as this which, I understand, is the subject of a Private Bill to be introduced in another place.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total number of protests and representations he has now received against the proposals of the Liverpool City Corporation affecting Treweryn in Merionethshire; and what action he has taken.

Up to yesterday, 65 letters had been received in my Department protesting against this proposal, which forms the subject of a Bill deposited by the Liverpool Corporation. I will certainly bear these representations in mind.

In considering the suggestion made by the right hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths), surely my right hon. Friend is not prevented from referring this matter to the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire simply because a Private Bill may or may not pass through this House on a future date.

I will consider that. All I was trying to say at an earlier stage was that, although I am new and inexperienced in my job, I fancy that I should be creating a rather had precedent if I made any kind of policy statement in this House about a Bill which was awaiting consideration in another place.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the supply of water ought to be made a national—or, shall I say, an international—responsibility?

At the moment, I am glad to say, I have no international water responsibilities.

Will my right hon. Friend be guided in all this by the needs of humanity and not by the selfishness of Welsh nationalism?

While bearing in mind the Minister's statement that he is new and inexperienced, may I ask him to remember that there is quite a depth of feeling on this matter in Wales, a great deal of it, possibly, without real information, and that if he would refer it for consideration by the advisory council, as suggested by my right hon. Friend the Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths), he might indeed render good service to Liverpool as well as to Wales?

I certainly assure the House that I understand the depth of feeling that exists in certain quarters about this matter. I am very anxious that the House should come to right decisions about it, and I am ready to make any contribution in my power to that end.

Would the Minister agree that most of the letters which he has received are from secretaries of organisations representing hundreds and even thousands of people?

In fact, the great majority of the 65 letters have been sent by individuals, and reading them I can perfectly understand that many of them express feelings from the bottom of the writer's heart. I have also received a number, but a minority, of representations from local authorities and organised bodies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the concern felt by residents at Ostend, Walcot-on-Sea, Norfolk, whose property is seriously menaced by the continuing erosion of the cliffs; and if he will give his consent to the scheme prepared by the Smallburgh Rural District Council to protect the coast at Ostend.

Most of Walcot is now adequately protected by new works, and I hope that the additional groyne which is being constructed near Ostend House will reduce any danger that remains. I have not received detailed proposals for further works at this point; and I am doubtful whether further heavy expenditure from public funds could be justified here.

Is the Minister aware that the sea is continually eating away bits of old Britain; and in this case will he encourage the local authority to come forward with a really worthwhile protection scheme for Ostend?

I have been to Walcot, although not within the last week. I understand the position to be that outline plans have been drawn up by the council, but no formal application has been made in connection with any fresh works except those at Happisburgh, and the Happisburgh works are the only ones that I feel able to consider at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number and composition of the staff of the Alkali Inspectorate at the end of 1956; the salaries paid to the various grades; and the total cost of the inspectorate's salaries for 1956.

One Chief, one Deputy Chief and eight alkali inspectors. I will circulate their salary particulars in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The total cost in 1956 was £17,480.

Is the Minister aware that men of the type and with the qualifications required can demand higher salaries in other spheres?

That may or may not be the case, but should circumstances arise in which my right hon. Friend finds it difficult to recruit men of the right calibre for the work, the matter of salaries will be considered.

Can my hon. Friend say what steps are being taken to increase the force of this inspectorate, having regard to the provisions of last year's Clean Air Act?

At the moment, the strength of the Alkali Inspectorate is adequate for its present work but directly the need for a larger inspectorate is demonstrated, as we at present hope it will be, then additional men will be taken on.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has to increase the number of alkali inspectors; and by how many.

The increased number will depend on future decisions about the scheduling of further works under the Alkali Act.

Does the Minister really believe that ten inspectors for the whole country can deal adequately with the growing task involved, and if he is serious about the subject of clean air, will he consider a big expansion of the inspectorate?

Consultations with the various industries affected are taking place at the present time, and they are going satisfactorily. When those consultations have been completed, and the need for more inspectors is established, more inspectors will be taken on.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the reasons for the refusal to commence extensions to the Hanley sewage works, Stoke-on-Trent; and to what extent such refusal will affect housing development in the area of the eastern valley of the River Trent.

Sanction has been withheld because the work is not considered to be sufficiently urgent to warrant expenditure in present circumstances. I have no reason to believe that housing development will be affected.

Is the Minister aware that this continued refusal to give permission to extend these sewage works is giving great concern to the local authority; and that, along this eastern valley, housing development, particularly slum clearance work, will be considerably handicapped if permission is not granted, because we are fast arriving at the stage when these works will be unable to take any further sewage?

I can assure the hon. Lady that I have not overlooked that. According to my present judgment, this is not a work of the greatest priority, but if the council has any further information to give me in support of what the hon. Lady has said—that slum clearance will be held up—I will willingly examine it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he proposes to recommend to deal with the problem of increased amounts of gas liquor at the Etruria Works, Stoke-on-Trent; and to what extent has there been increased pollution of the River Trent.

The problem referred to is in the first instance for the West Midlands Gas Board to settle with the sewerage authority for the area and with the Trent River Board. So far as I am aware, there has not been any recent increase in pollution of the River Trent.

Is the Minister aware that the Gas Board has been negotiating with the sewerage committee about the taking of additional gas liquor by the sewage works, but that, at the present time, as a result of what was mentioned in my previous Question, the Hanley sewage works is unable to take any more gas liquor without serious damage to the plant? Is he further aware that, at present, the River Trent Board is negotiating with the sewage works and the Gas Board? Having regard to the serious pollution of the River Trent, can the right hon. Gentleman not look again at this Question?

I agree with the hon. Lady that this is a matter of considerable importance, but I am extremely anxious that the parties concerned should themselves bring matters to a definite conclusion.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this type of effluent is helping to turn what was a clean and beautiful river into a filthy one? Is he further aware that no type of animal organism can exist in the River Trent between Stoke-on-Trent and Burton-on-Trent; and is he not of the opinion that his longterm policy for dealing with effluent from the Black Country into the Tame and the Trent should be speeded up?

I think that I indicated, in reply to the original Question, that I did attach considerable importance to this matter. I am anxious not to take a line of my own at this stage because, in certain circumstances, appeal might be made to me, and I do not want to prejudice my own impartiality.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has considered the resolution, a copy of which was sent to him, passed by the Islington Borough Council on 21st December, 1956, protesting against the provisions of the Rent Bill which will add to the housing problems in Islington; and what reply he has made thereto.

Yes, Sir. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply sent to the Town Clerk.

Is the Minister aware that I have received a copy of that reply, and find it most unsatisfactory? Is the right hon. Gentleman not now convinced that there is mounting indignation throughout London and the country about the provisions of this Bill which will lead to hundreds of thousands of tenants being turned out of their homes on six months' notice, and will he say when he will announce a modification of those proposals?

I certainly want to do my best to satisfy everybody, if it is possible; but I feel some difficulty in answering detailed questions about a Bill which has already been referred by this House to a Standing Committee.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if he has any support whatever for the Bill except among members of the Government and certain special interests?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he hopes to be able to announce his decision on the Kent Development Plan, Part B.

A good deal of detailed work has still to be done, and although there will be no avoidable delay I cannot promise that I shall be able to announce my decision much before the end of the year.

Will the Minister bear in mind that this delay is causing great difficulty to planning authorities who want to look ahead in their consideration of submissions for the next review, and will he do his best to speed the matter up?

As I say, I am extremely anxious that there should be no delay. There were some 224 objections to the Plan, and I recognise the urgency.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now give permission to the Swanscombe Urban District Council to make up Betsham Road, Swanscombe, under the Private Street Works Act, 1875.

As the hon. Member has been informed, my right hon. Friend has felt it necessary to arrange for an inspection of this road before he comes to a decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much local authorities will have to increase the rate poundage to balance the loss of income due to the 20 per cent. reduction in shop assessments.

There are too many uncertainties and possible local variations to enable me to make an estimate in this form, but the reduction in rateable value proposed by the Bill amounts to about 7 per cent. of the total rateable value in the current lists.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Lambeth the rate will have to go up by 1s. on the basis of current requirements, and that that figure is likely to be operative in many other parts of the country? Would it not be better to ease the burden on the ratepayer by making industrialists pay the full rate and not just 25 per cent.?

The effects of this Bill will be debatable when it comes up for Second Reading in this House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what arrangements are being made to ensure that those who examine an approved development plan can readily tell what amendments to that plan have been approved by his Department; and what is the effect of such amendments.

I am considering whether there is any advice which I can usefully give to local planning authorities about ways of showing amendments to approved development plans so that the effect can be readily understood.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to resume publication of the Bulletin of Selected Appeals Decisions, or to initiate some similar publication to take its place.

A further bulletin is being printed and will be available shortly.

Whilst I am obliged to the Parliamentary Secretary for that Answer, may I ask whether he is aware that the former Minister of Housing and Local Government gave an assurance as long ago as 13th December, 1955, that the publication of this important document would be resumed? Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will be no further delay?

Yes. I can assure the hon. Member that it will be published within the next three weeks and that thereafter we shall issue an annual report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the continued shortage of housing in the northern region; and how this compares with that of other regions.

The housing conditions vary greatly in different parts of the region, so that it is not practicable to generalise about the region as a whole or its comparison with another.

Will my right hon. Friend accept my assurance that on the North-East Coast generally housing conditions are not such as to warrant the introduction of the full implications of the new Rent Bill—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—particularly having regard to the lack of security of tenure for tenants? May I also ask my right hon. Friend to accept the assurance that would much rather have him as Minister of Housing than a member of the party opposite?

I think that comparisons are odious, but I am always grateful to my hon. Friend. I am not unaware of the difficulty of housing conditions on the North-East Coast. As to the Rent Bill, I think that we shall probably have considerable debates on that subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of considering the representations which were made to his predecessor by industry, both employers and labour, and by local authorities in the northern region about the difficulty of attracting skilled labour to that expanding region, due to the shortage of housing?

That goes further than the Question on the Order Paper. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put down his question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what approach he has received from the Trades Union Congress concerning the Rent Bill; and the nature of his reply.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter which my predecessor received from the Trades Union Congress, and of his reply.

Can the Minister say whether the T.U.C. is in favour of this Bill or against it? And may I ask him whether the revolt of the Tory Members who went to see him during the Recess has been instigated by the T.U.C. and those Members who have been to see him are now speaking up on behalf of the workers for the first time in the history of this Parliament?

I have not met any revolting Tory Members.

Are we to understand that if the Minister does meet them he will withdraw the Bill?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he has sent to the protest against the provisions of the Rent Bill which was sent to him on 2nd January by the Finsbury Borough Council.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply sent to the Town Clerk.

Is the Minister aware that his reply ignores the fact that among privately rented houses in Finsbury one in three will be decontrolled under this Bill, and that the tenants of most of the remainder will have rent increases of more than £1 a week? Will he not look into the special position in the Metropolis and other large cities in order to avoid the unbelievable misery which his Bill will inflict upon the people?

I am a London Member myself, and I hope that I shall keep the special problems of London in my mind throughout the discussions in Standing Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this question of housing is of vital interest to every Member? Does he realise that this is the third occasion today on which he has, quite contrary to all principle, announced that he is sending a private communication to a Member about a matter on which every one of us would like to be informed? I do not know what the Minister has said to the Finsbury Borough Council, and I should like to know. Is he further aware that, in a previous statement, he has refused to give figures which he has in his possession, and that it has always been the practice up to now to give such figures as are available up to the date of asking the Question?

I can certainly inform the House that a letter was sent to the Town Clerk of Finsbury stating that

"The Government, however, believe that the measures provided in the Bill will prevent many thousands of houses from being allowed to decay before their time; and that the Bill will make far more houses available for letting which might otherwise, as at present, be held for sale with vacant possession."

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by how much he estimates the cost of a council house will rise as a result of the recent increase in building workers' wages.

Wages are only one of the items making up the cost of a council house. The recent award will add £8 or £9 to this particular item, but it is not possible to say what effect, if any, this increase will have on the actual cost.

Whilst appreciating that building workers are well entitled to an increase to offset to some extent the continued rise in the cost of living, may I ask the Minister whether he is not aware of the fact that all these increases directly result from the ineptitude and the maladministration of this Government, and particularly of his predecessors?

No, I am certainly not aware of that.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new dwellings will be provided by local authorities in the London County Council area in 1957, compared with 1956; and at what cost by way of Government subsidies.

The number of new dwellings completed in 1956 by local authorities will be published in the quarterly Housing Return on 1st February next. The amounts of the Exchequer subsidy payable on them have yet to be settled with the local authorities concerned. It is impossible to say how many dwellings will be completed during the present year.

As that is likely to show a disturbing decline in the accommodation provided, will the right hon. Gentleman now abandon the cruelly misleading pretence that the housing problem in London and elsewhere is going to be solved within the next twelve months?

I certainly am not one of those who maintain that all housing problems are now non-existent.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the London County Council has a housing list of over 160,000 cases, about 60,000 of which are really urgent, and that 2,000 cases in three years are all that the Council hopes to deal with?

Yes, I was until very recently a member of the London County Council, which is suffering severely from lack of sites.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have initiated, or have become associated with, a plan similar to that in which the borough of Leyton has co-operated with contigous local authorities in dealing with families needing housing accommodation, but who have heretofore suffered a disadvantage through removal from one area to another, and thus have lost long-period residential qualification.

I am not aware of any other scheme similar to that in South-West Essex, in which, I understand, eight local authorities are co-operating.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that this is an excellent plan? What is he doing to commend it to local authorities and encourage its adoption in other parts of the country, particularly in view of the very great hardship suffered by numbers of people who are at the moment on no housing list and who therefore feel hopeless?

This is a very interesting scheme. I would remind the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) that, in the Report on Residential Qualifications which was sent to them in 1955, local authorities were recommended to consult together and consider the transfer of applications from one list to another when an applicant leaves an area.

Will not the Minister draw attention to this particular venture in South-West Essex?

I think that the hon. Gentleman's Question will probably have a considerable effect in that direction.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the average percentage increase in the construction of working-class houses during each of the preceding five years; and also the percentage increased cost of maintenance of council houses and prefabricated houses, respectively.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my predecessor to a Question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 31st October last. The figures asked for in the second part of the Question are not available.

Will the Minister try to secure those figures, seeing that they are of great importance not only to Members of this House interested in this matter—which, no doubt, includes everyone—but also to local authorities?

The fact is that local authorities make no returns of maintenance costs. I am reluctant to add to their burdens, and, of course, local authorities take such different measures of responsibility for repairs in their council houses that I am not at all sure that any returns would actually be meaningful.

But cannot the right hon. Gentleman use the maintenance costs which are used for the national income and expenditure figures?

I have considered this matter from the point of view of local authorities, and I am bound to say that I do not think that any returns which we ask the local authorities to send in could be added together in such a way that conclusions could be drawn from them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement regarding the present Administration's policy on the decontrol of rents.

There will no doubt be opportunities for discussing these matters in the course of further consideration of the Rent Bill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the assurance given by the Vice-Chairman of the Hampstead Housing Committee, Councillor Mrs. Henry Brooke, to the effect that Amendments to this Bill will be made? In view of this knowledge, would it not be fair that the House should be informed at the earliest opportunity—now?

I notice that Councillor Mrs. Brooke, who is not Chairman of the Hampstead Housing Committee—

Vice-Chairman.

—but is Vice-Chairman, was incorrectly reported in the Press as saying that Amendments will be made. What she actually said in the course of debate was that this Bill has not yet reached the Statute Book, that it will be open to debate and that it may be that Amendments will be made before it receives the Royal Assent. I am prepared to endorse those very wise words.

As I have taken some trouble to check from those present at the debate the precise words used, may I ask whether it is not highly desirable that a statement should now be made to the House, at the first opportunity, as to the intentions of the Government with regard to this Bill?

I have checked with the lady in question, and I think that the statement that I have just made in answer to the hon. Member fulfils his request.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement regarding the future of rent tribunals.

I have nothing at present to add to the statement made by my hon. Friend who is now Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in debate on the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill on 20th November last.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the continued vacillation of both preceding Governments and, presumably, the present Government, with regard to this matter has made it almost impossible to get effective work done through the rent tribunals? Is is not high time that a statement should be made?

I do not agree at all. I am not vacillating. It was the party opposite which originally put the Act dealing with rent tribunals on the Statute Book, and it was the party opposite which made it temporary.

Is the Minister aware that his own party used rent tribunals for a new purpose under the 1954 Act? Is is not about time that he told us whether the Government's policy is to encourage the useful work that these cheap tribunals are doing, or the reverse?

As the work of rent tribunals may be affected by the Rent Bill itself, surely the right course of priorities is first to get the Rent Bill through.

In view of this very complex matter, will my right hon. Friend now consider the advisability of dealing with this whole problem by regions rather than by an overall policy, which seems to give rise to a great many additional complications?

That is a supplementary question which goes a long way beyond the Question on the Paper.

I wanted to ask it on Question No. 24.

asked the Minister of Labour when the hon. Member for Coat-bridge and Airdrie may expect a reply to her communication about the question of Scottish apprenticeships for school leavers and their relationship to the English figures.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 17th December, giving her this information.

If it takes five weeks to give me a simple answer to a simple question, how long will it take if I ask a supplementary question with regard to the regional position? Can the hon. Gentleman assure me that the Minister will still be there to give me the reply? If not, to whom can I look on the back benches as the person likely to be able to give me a reply?

In the midst of this changing world, in which my right hon. Friend and myself feel rather permanent, I think I can give the hon. Lady the assurance for which she asks. As to the time of five weeks, I told her when she asked her question that the reply would be a few weeks in coming, and she must admit that she has had it within that time limit.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to implement the Report on Staffing and Organisation of the Factory Inspectorate.

Action is proceeding on all the recommendations in the White Paper. Some additional staff have already been recruited and others will shortly be interviewed. The boundaries of the inspectorate are being adjusted in order to eliminate overlapping with the normal Government regional boundaries, and a new division has been established with headquarters at Newcastle-on-Tyne. New staff training arrangements are being introduced.

I appreciate the progress that is being made, but can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in particular, progress has been made with regard to the chemical engineering branch?

We have made most progress so far in the general inspectorate. So far as the engineering and chemical branch is concerned, there are a number of people in the general inspectorate who have the necessary qualifications, and I think it is only fair to offer them the opportunity of transfer first and that we are doing.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest position with regard to unemployment and short-time in the motor car industry; to what extent he estimates that this results from the shortage of petrol and the credit squeeze; and what are the future prospects in this respect.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers were unemployed or on short time in the motor industry at the latest convenient date, compared with a similar date last year.

On 10th December, 4,400 workers in the motor vehicle and accessories industries were registered as wholly unemployed. Last week 57,000 were reported to be working short time. It is not possible to determine the precise effect of the various factors causing unemployment or to make any estimate for the future, but most of the current short time is attributed to the shortage of petrol. Comparable figures for a year previously are 1,500 unemployed and about 7,000 on short time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my Question, which asks what are the future prospects in this respect? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the growing uneasiness about the situation and of the feeling that the Government are being too complacent about it? Will he say what is being done to deal with it should it worsen, as the signs at the present time are that it will?

If the hon. Gentleman reads my Answer, he will see that I dealt with the question he asks in the first part of his supplementary question. As to the rest of the supplementary question, I would refer him to either the debate which we had in the House on employment or to the Answers which I gave to Questions immediately before Christmas. He will see that I showed no complacency at all about the position. Indeed, I said that there was bound to be a worsening of the position in the New Year.

Quite apart from petrol rationing and the credit squeeze, there is a deep malaise in the motor industry. Will the right hon. Gentleman not now commend to the Government that the industry should be nationalized—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—on the pattern of the highly successful and flourishing Volkswagen and Renault enterprises?

asked the Minister of Labour what effect the shortage of petrol and oil has had on employment generally, giving details of the loss of employment as well as short-time working; and the future prospects.

asked the Minister of Labour to make a statement outlining the position of unemployment and part-time working and his estimate for the first quarter of the year.

On 10th December, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 297,000 workers registered as unemployed in Great Britain, of whom 29,000 were temporarily stopped. In the week ended 19th January 130,000 workers were reported to be working short time, of whom about 70,000 were, it is estimated, affected in the main by the restrictions on oil and petrol supplies. Redundancies affecting about 14,000 workers have also been attributed to these restrictions.

A seasonal increase in the numbers unemployed is usual in the early part of the year and some additional unemployment is likely to arise this year from the shortage of oil and petrol, but I cannot estimate how many workers or which industries will be affected.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the situation is now much worse than it was when he made his statement before Christmas? Is he not aware that the statement that he then made is not satisfactory to many people who are worried about employment? Has he not anything more to add about what the Government are going to do about the situation? Or are they complacent?

No. I have invited the hon. Gentleman to consider what I said before Christmas. If he does he will find no trace of complacency in any single one of those statements. Of course I know that the position in the motor car industry gives rise to very considerable concern. This is a matter which the Chancellor, the President of the Board of Trade and I in particular are watching for the future. I announced some relaxations immediately before Christmas.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is now great anxiety in the country because there is a feeling that the Government are losing control of the position? Is he aware that, following the statement of the new Minister of Power yesterday, there is great apprehension whether the Government can maintain some of our vital industries in full production? I refer to the steel industry and to industries of that type. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any attempt is being made to get proper priorities of allocation which would enable industries such as the steel industry to maintain their production and thus help the manufacturing industries to maintain theirs?

Of course there is anxiety, but I think it is important for the country that we keep these difficulties in perspective. The figures which I have announced of unemployment are lower than they have been in any year except the last two, and lower for this time of the year than in any year of the Administration of right hon. Gentlemen opposite, though I say that without making any political point. As to the future, the main anxiety, as the hon. Member knows perfectly well, is the question of fuel oil for industry. If stocks can be maintained at their present level, and that depends on many factors not under the control of this Government, or by no means wholly under the control of this Government, I should not think that the position in relation to fuel oil would worsen appreciably.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply he has sent to the letter from the Scottish Furniture Manufacturers' Association concerning the threat of unemployment in the industry consequent on petrol rationing.

I have told the Scottish Furniture Manufacturers' Association that I have been in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation who is fully aware of the special problems of furniture transport and will ensure that, as far as circumstances allow, his regional transport commissioners will do all they can to help.

Can the Minister give any figures indicating what increase in unemployment there has been in this industry consequent upon petrol rationing? Can he give his assurance that should those figures show a tendency to increase his right hon. Friend will not be wayward in granting the necessary increase in the supply of petrol?

The latest available figures are for 24th November, and that is so long ago that they are out of date in the context of the hon. Member's Question. I will send him the latest up-to-date figures as soon as they are available.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what number of vacancies are registered for coal miners at employment exchanges; whether Hungarian immigrants are being considered; and how many Hungarian ex-coal miners are seeking employment in the United Kingdom;

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies for miners exist in the coal industry at present; how many applications to fill them have been received from Hungarian refugees; and how many Hungarians have been engaged.

There are 4,700 immediate vacancies in coal mining notified to employment exchanges at present but I understand that about 9,000 extra men could be usefully employed by the National Coal Board over the next few months if they could be recruited at a steady rate and in areas of need. Information is not available centrally of the number of Hungarians who have been identified on interview as ex-coal miners, but my Department and the National Coal Board are seeking to interest all suitable Hungarian immigrants in coal mining employment. About 2,500 have been accepted as potential coal miners. They must first undertake a 12-weeks' course in English. Their allocation to the various coal fields thereafter is a matter for the National Coal Board.

Can my right hon. Friend say to what extent the legitimate desires of many of these Hungarian immigrants to work in the pits are being frustrated by the attitude of the National Union of Mineworkers?

I think we should recognise first that a great number of people of foreign extraction work in the coal mines at the present time—indeed, no fewer than about 10,000 Poles, E.V.W.s and Italians. The attitude of the National Union of Mineworkers, indeed of all the trade unions, I know is intended to be helpful in this instance. There are, of course, local difficulties. I assure my hon. Friend that I am willing to intervene, but I am quite certain that in this matter it would do harm if I did.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not welcome the wholehearted welcome given by the President of the N.U.M. to any proposal to recruit Hungarians for the mines in this country? Will the right hon. Gentleman inform some of his back benchers how very essential it is, before Hungarians or any other foreigners work in our coal mines, that they should be taught basic English because of very important safety factors? As one with experience of this industry, I know that that is one of the difficulties.

I do not think that that is in dispute. I agree with my hon. Friend in very much hoping that these people will be accepted in the coal mines of this country, where there is immense need for their work, and where, I am sure, they will do excellent work.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the reductions in the price of second-hand cars were taken into account in calculating the November Index of Retail Prices.

The fall in the average prices of second-hand cars between mid-October and mid-November represented the equivalent of 0·04 points in the all-items index.

In that case would the Minister be kind enough to explain to the House why he claims credit in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for December for a fall in the price of second-hand cars and claims that that has helped to keep the cost of living steady?

I did not claim anything of the sort. I put that into the December issue of the Gazette because I thought that otherwise I should be asked a silly Question about it in the House of Commons.

asked the Minister of Labour to make a statement on the retail price index figure for January, 1957, as compared with that for January, 1956.

The retail prices index figure for 11th December, 1956, has only recently been announced and was 103, compared with 100 at 17th January, 1956. The figure for January, 1957, will not be known until about the third week in February.

In view of the fact that there has been a large increase in the general price level during the last few weeks, has the Minister taken any special steps to inquire how far that affects the cost of living today?

The calendar year 1956 is the best year, with the exception of 1953, so far as prices are concerned, and the index figure which I have given takes into account the increase in the price of petrol but not in subsequent fares increases which may conceivably flow from it.

I thought that the Government were going to bring the cost of living down. They said they would.

asked the Minister of Labour how many coal miners from the closed pit at Thorne are still unemployed; and what steps are being taken to find suitable employment for them.

There are 128 workers from Thorne colliery registered as unemployed. One hundred and fifteen of these are over 60 and 12 of the remaining 13 are registered disabled persons. My local officers will do what they can to help to find suitable employment, but there is a scarcity of light work in the area.

In view of the fact that this is a class of person, displaced from a job at a colliery which has been closed for two years, for whom it is most difficult to find employment, will the Minister take special steps to deal with these few men who have given a lifetime's service to a very dangerous industry, or are they now apparently to be thrown on the scrapheap?

It is not true to say that they are being thrown on the scrap-heap. The Answer covered 127 out of 128 and a great number are over 65 and will probably retire when redundancy pay expires. I agree that this is a special problem and I will call for a report on it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increased services now required from the staffs of local employment exchanges, he will review the policy of reducing their numbers.

I am satisfied that the staffing economies at local offices, due to changes in organisation, procedure and staffing standards, should go on. The general staffing position at local offices is, however, always under review and the numbers in post are adjusted as necessary to changes in the volume of work.

What is the extent of the economies which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind in view of the fact that there is not only an increase in unemployment but also increasing partial employment and that people might be required to go to other jobs? Would the Minister not reconsider the whole question of running down staff at this time?

The figures on which I have been working were given in the OFFICIAL REPORT in answer to Questions by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Redhead). As to the second part of the supplementary question, the review of standards takes place twice a year and the matter mainly taken into account is the trend of employment and unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the trade unions in Coventry concerning the notification of vacancies in the city; and if he will reconsider his decision not to reintroduce the Notification of Vacancies Order.

I have studied Press reports about dissatisfaction among trade unions in Coventry. The Notification of Vacancies Order, 1952, did not prohibit the operation of employment agencies, and I see no reason for departing from the view which I expressed to the hon. Member in answer to her Question on 23rd October, 1956.

Does the Minister ever intend to make any progress at all? Does he realise that in Coventry at present the trade unions believe very strongly that some of the officials in the car factories are receiving commission for giving private information to the private employment agencies about jobs that become vacant? Would it not be a good thing to have an inquiry to find out whether that is correct or not?

I have read all the Press reports. If the hon. Lady has any additional information, I should be very glad if she would come and talk to me about it. A Notification of Vacancies Order would not affect this problem, and the question of legislation to deal with fee-charging agencies was dealt with by the previous Home Secretary before Christmas.

But does the Minister not realise that I was asking him whether he is not aware that this is the feeling of the trade unions in Coventry and not merely the subject of Press reports? Is he prepared to look into that aspect?

Indeed, I said that I would do so.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware of the necessity of providing retraining for some of those workers unemployed in Coventry; and if, as a matter of urgency, he is now prepared to investigate the possibility of such courses being provided by the Government;

The need for training for skilled work in Government training centres has been kept under review but the number of applications for training from persons living in Coventry declined during 1956.

Is the Minister aware that I have in my possession figures supplied by the Confederation in Coventry on 17th January showing that up to date there are 3,510 workers unemployed in the car industry, and 20,000 on short time? Is he not prepared to look at this matter? Is he not going to do anything to ensure that these people get jobs? There are no jobs in Coventry.

The number of unemployed actually grew less in Coventry between September and December, when the percentage was only 1·4. I have not the January figure, which will be available officially in two or three days. The matter will be kept under close review.

Will the hon. Gentleman not tell the House about the big increase in part-time employment and is he aware that, judging by the way things are going, these people will soon become unemployed and will bring the figure to about half-a-million? Is he aware that this is a very important issue?

I assure the hon. Gentleman that I meant what I said when I assured the House that we would keep the matter under close review, but I was asked about the present position, and that is the Question that I have answered.

asked the Minister of Labour how many grades of people are now being deferred from National Service; the numbers involved; and what effect their deferment is having on the length of service required from others.

As the Answer to the first two parts of the Question contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Answer to the last part of the Question is "None, Sir".

Is it not a fact that we now have something which begins to look like a selective call-up and we even have a threat that we may have a sort of Premium Bonds gamble in connection with the remainder? Will the Minister say whether it is the Government's intention to inaugurate a selective call-up or not?

It is true that already more young men are becoming available than the Services need, but that has been dealt with by not calling up or registering the full number of the age groups. Obviously, I have no statement to make, in answer to a Question, on the future of National Service.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the recent statement by the President of the United States concerning hydrogen bomb tests; and whether he will make a statement on Government policy in this regard.

asked the Prime Minister what recent consultations he has had with President Eisenhower concerning hydrogen bomb tests; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the Governments of the United States of America and of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regarding their recent disarmament proposals; and particularly regarding the proposals made by the President of the United States of America concerning hydrogen bomb tests.

As my predecessor explained on 20th December, Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any new statement or proposals by President Eisenhower personally about nuclear tests. On 14th January the United States Representative at the General Assembly outlined new disarmament proposals for both nuclear and conventional disarmament. These proposals cover both limitation and eventual prohibition of nuclear tests. Her Majesty's Government hope that the Disarmament Sub-Committee will study the new United States proposals most carefully at its next meeting. We are in close touch with the United States Government on these matters.

As regards the Soviet proposals of 17th November, we have informed the Soviet Government that we consider they could most appropriately be studied in the Disarmament Sub-Committee.

Her Majesty's Government are following the present debate in the United Nations General Assembly with the closest attention and look forward to taking an active part in the Disarmament Sub-Committee when it meets. Meanwhile, Her Majesty's Government still consider that the Anglo-French comprehensive plan offers a satisfactory way of dealing with the problem of nuclear disarmament, and as the House is aware, we are also ready to consider separately The possibility of limiting nuclear test explosions.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the voices of Norway and of Western Germany have recently been added to the universal plea for a cessation of nuclear explosions? Is he also aware of the growing public anxiety here at home, and will he not take the intitiative in convening a conference in order that this matter may have the earliest possible consideration of the Powers concerned?

I, of course, am only just receiving the telegrams describing yesterday's meeting, and they are being carefully studied. They seem to me to give one ground for hope—the general tenor of the discussion yesterday. I observe that the Norwegian Government, for instance, suggested that there might be a system of registration of these explosions, and that is certainly, in our view, a point of view which ought to be carefully studied.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen a report to the effect that the United States Government are having private conversations with Soviet representatives on this and allied subjects, and are Her Majesty's Government privy to these conversations?

We have had very close contact with the United States Government and private discussions with the United States Government, but I am not prepared, and I am sure that I shall not be pressed, to say what has taken place in those private discussions.

I did not ask that question. I asked whether Her Majesty's Government were aware of the nature of the conversations taking place.

The right hon. Gentleman asked me whether I had seen a Press report. I do not know whether that Press report is accurate or not.

Will the right hon. Gentleman try to be frank with the House? Is he aware that there are reports to the effect that private conversations on this and allied subjects—[H0N. MEMBERS: "When?"]—are taking place between the United States Government and the Soviet Government, and are Her Majesty's Government privy to these conversations?

I understand that there have been discussions on purely procedural matters with regard to the meeting of this committee between the Soviet Government and the United States Government. To those discussions we have been privy.

Is the Prime Minister aware that, whatever other discussions take place, the rest of the world which does not possess the hydrogen bomb, but which is menaced by these tests, would welcome a moral lead from this country on such an issue?

As I have said, I think that the discussion at New York has been hopeful, and I am confident that the work of the Disarmament Sub-Committee will be assisted by the nature of the discussions at yesterday's meeting of the General Assembly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my question, which he has answered with others, refers to general disarmament as well as to any action regarding the atomic or hydrogen bombs? Will the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the closer approach of the American and the Soviet proposals, take steps to try to bring about the reduction in defence costs which he desires by the most effective method, which is international disarmament?

Yes, Sir. It was in reference to the hon. Gentleman's Question that I said, and I repeat, that Her Majesty's Government still believe that the Anglo-French comprehensive plan offers the most satisfactory method of advance for dealing with the whole question of disarmament, conventional and unconventional.

The Prime Minister will recall that his predecessor assured us that his Government would be prepared to negotiate separately on the question of hydrogen bomb tests, apart from general disarmament. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the intention of the present Government to treat this matter in that way in the Disarmament Sub-Committee?