asked the Minister of Labour how many pottery workers were totally and partially unemployed in Stoke-on-Trent in October, 1955, and at the last available date.

The number of pottery workers in Stoke-on-Trent registered as wholly unemployed on 10th October, 1955, was 287 and on 10th December, 1956, was 610. According to returns received from employers the number working short-time in Midland Region, the great majority of whom were in Stoke-on-Trent, was 966 in the week ended 26th November, 1955, and 4,711 in the week ended 24th November, 1956. More recent figures of the numbers wholly unemployed and working short-time will be available shortly, and I will write to the hon. Member about them as soon as they are ready.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken to secure the assistance of an adequate number of interpreters to facilitate the work of placing Hungarian refugees in employment in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the size of the labour force in the pottery industry in October, 1955, and at the last available date, giving the figures for males and females.

The estimated numbers of employees in the pottery industry in Great Britain at the end of November, 1956, were 31,500 males and 38,500 females compared with 33,600 males and 43,300 females at the end of October, 1955.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, to the latest convenient date, the number of persons, male and female, respectively, unemployed in the city of Aberdeen; and in which trades and businesses.

The following is the reply:

My officers have recently had discussions with the British Council for Aid to Refugees and other organisations concerned about the need to strengthen the interpreter service for Hungarian refugees. It has been arranged that my Ministry will take steps to recruit a sufficient number of additional interpreters to meet estimated requirements, both for placing work and other purposes.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give details of the numbers of Hungarian refugees and deportees from Egypt, respectively, who have been found employment in this country; and what proportion these figures represent, in each category, of those available for employment;

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of British refugees from Egypt have been absorbed into employment in this country; how many are in serious difficulties; and what is being done to help them.

Some 3,200 Hungarian refugees have been placed by my local officers, representing nearly half of those who have been registered for employment. About 100 British subjects from Egypt have also been placed, representing about one-tenth of those registered for employment. A number of other persons in both categories have found work through friends and relations. Employment exchange managers are making special approaches to leading employers in many parts of the country on behalf of British subjects from Egypt.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in HANSARD a list of those commodity prices which are taken into account in compiling the retail prices index and which have risen since the date of the commencement of Anglo-French military operations against Egypt.

A large number of the items priced for the index show minor prices changes from month to month and these are not significant. The most important price increases between 16th October and 11th December, the date of the latest published figure, were those for petrol, bread and flour, tea, sugar, some kinds of fruit, and cauliflower, together with the increase in National Health prescription charges and a seasonal rise in the price of coal. These were largely offset by lower prices for eggs, butter, beef, mutton and bacon, tomatoes and brussel sprouts. Fuller details are published in the monthly issues of the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present labour position with regard to the motor car industry in Dagenham.

About 10,000 are working a three-day week and just over 5,000 a four-day week. Since short-time working began early in December, it is understood that a number of workpeople have left voluntarily to take jobs in other industries. About 300 workpeople were discharged as redundant in the week ending 11th January and just over 1,400 in the week ending 18th January.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken to place labour displaced in the motor car industry in Dagenham in other jobs.

Notices have been displayed within the works for some weeks describing typical vacancies and advising workers needing other jobs to register at an employment exchange near to their homes or to their place of work. Everything possible will be done to help those who register at the exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement about strike action taken by employees of the Southern Electricity Board at Reading.

I am informed that work has been resumed following a meeting between the union and the board.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications by adults without previous experience in coal mining have been made at employment exchanges in the Parliamentary Division of Easington for employment in pits in that area; and how many have been placed in work within the most recent convenient period.

One inexperienced man has been placed in coal mining employment in the Easington area in the past six months. Vacancies in coal mining for inexperienced men are extremely rare in this area and my local offices keep no records of any casual inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government will now reconsider the decision to maintain a British Army in Western Germany; and whether he will make a statement.

No. I am not yet in a position to make a full statement on this question.

asked the Prime Minister what consultations he has had with the heads of Governments of France, the United States of America, and the Republic of India regarding a meeting between them and the heads of the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom with the object of reaching agreement regarding issues in the Middle East, Europe and the Far East.

None. I do not consider that the time is ripe for such a meeting.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now take the initiative in calling a conference of heads of Governments of the great Powers to discuss the limitation and eventual abolition of hydrogen bomb tests.

Disarmament questions, including nuclear disarmament, are as I have said, being discussed in the General Assembly of the United Nations. The United Kingdom delegate has expressed the view that the Disarmament Sub-Committee should study these problems afresh taking into consideration the various new proposals which have been made. We believe that in prevailing circumstances this is the best way to try to tackle disarmament.

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation for the purpose of ensuring that no war or armed conflict may be commenced by the United Kingdom without the prior formal consent of the Cabinet and Parliament, respectively.

No. Her Majesty The Queen, by virtue of Her Royal Prerogative, makes war and peace acting on the advice of Her Ministers, who are responsible to Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister if, to avoid confusion and for the period of petrol rationing, he will appoint one Minister to take charge of all affairs connected with the import, supply, and distribution of oil and oil products.

No. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Power is the one Minister responsible for all matters concerning supplies of oil. As to distribution, it is right that the Ministers who are concerned with different aspects of the problem should remain responsible.

asked the Prime Minister what co-ordinating instructions he has given to the Departments concerned with the developing crisis in the motor industry.

While I am fully aware of the difficulties now facing the motor industry, I do not think any special instructions from me to the Departments concerned are required. Consultation and discussions between Departments are going on all the time.

asked the Prime Minister the policy of Her Majesty's present advisers regarding full recognition of, and to an exchange of Ambassadors with, the Government of China and to the representation of China on the United Nations Organisation.

His Majesty's Government recognised the People's Government of China on the 6th of January, 1950.His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires arrived in Peking in February, 1950, and His Majesty's Government would have been prepared to exchange Ambassadors forthwith. It was not, however, until 1954 that the Chinese Government sent Chargé d'Affaires to London, making it clear that they did not want to raise the status of representation to ambassadorial level.The question of representation of the Chinese People's Government in the United Nations creates deep divisions of opinion in that Organisation. The General Assembly therefore decided in November, 1956, not to consider the question during the present session. Her Majesty's Government supported this decision, but the United Kingdom representative made it clear that in their opinion this question was one of the issues which would have to be settled before normal relations could be re-established in the Far East.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to introduce legislation for the purpose of integrating Malta with the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary proposes to have talks with the Prime Minister of Malta on the scheme for integration early next month. Legislation will be introduced as soon as possible after agreement has been reached on the scheme.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the need for national unity and a reduction in the cost of living, what action he proposes to take in regard to controversial legislation now pending, such as the Rent Bill, introduced by the previous administration.

Subject to the exigencies of the Parliamentary timetable, the Government hope to go forward with their legislative programme.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will follow the precedent set by his predecessor when he assumed office, and advise Her Majesty to dissolve Parliament immediately.

No. This is not a matter which is regulated by precedent.

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the President of the United States of America to visit this country as soon as possible for high level talks.

asked the Prime Minister if he will personally consult the United States President in the near future with a view to removing existing misunderstandings and tensions, particularly in respect of the situation in Egypt and the Middle East.

I share the views of my hon. and gallant Friend and the hon. Gentleman the Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) as to the value of these meetings and consultations, but I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the recent discussions with the Prime Minister of India.

The discussions which my predecessor had with Mr. Nehru covered a wide range of topics. They were private and informal and I have no statement to make on them.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister will answer Questions in this House relating to atomic energy and other research matters within the responsibility of the Lord President of the Council.

Questions relating to atomic energy matters within the responsibility of the Lord President of the Council should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General as representing the Lord President of the Council. My right hon. Friend will reply to these Questions on Wednesdays.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the practice of applicants for houses to rent offering large sums of money for alleged fittings and advertising these offers before seeing such fittings; and, as key money and fittings comprise a contravention of the Housing Acts, what steps he will take to end this practice.

The hon. Lady drew my predecessor's attention to examples of this practice.Already there are provisions in the Rent Acts prohibiting the exaction of premiums, which include excessive charges for furniture and fittings, as a condition of grant of a tenancy of a controlled house. To require a premium is made a punishable offence and the sums paid may be ordered by the court to be repaid. There is nothing in the Rent Acts which specifically prohibits a tenant from making an offer, of his own free will, to pay a premium but the existence of the statutory provisions should deter landlords from taking advantage of any such offers by tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the loss of the Government fishery protection vessel "Vaila" off the Outer Hebrides early this January with serious loss of life; what protective and life-saving apparatus she carried; and whether she carried and used rubber life-rafts.

Yes. In the early hours of Sunday, January 6, the Fishery Cruiser "Vaila" while on patrol in the Minch struck Iuvard Island at the mouth of Loch Shell, Lewis, and sank with the loss of five of the twenty men on board. She remained afloat long enough for her commander to send two distress messages and for three boats to be launched and manned. Two of these got away successfully. The third was fouled by the ship as she went down and capsized with the loss of all its occupants but three who were picked up by "Vaila's" motor boat. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with the relatives of the five men who lost their lives in this tragic accident.Prompt assistance was given by Stornoway lifeboat which brought in the 15 survivors and by 8 fishing vessels and a crofter's boat which joined the search for survivors and recovered the five bodies.The vessel had just completed an annual overhaul during which her lifesaving equipment was examined by a surveyor of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. Fishery cruisers are not registered under the Merchant Shipping Acts and are therefore not subject to the Lifesaving Appliances Rules but the lifesaving equipment carried by "Vaila" was in full accordance with the rules for ships of her size and class. The rules do not prescribe, and she did not carry, inflatable rubber rafts.Steps have, I understand, been taken by the Crown authorities to initiate a public inquiry under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1895, which should take place in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the interdict concerning marriages in Scotland of parties usually resident out-with Scotland and especially those where there is objection in the usual place of domicile, he will give an assurance that registrars will not now perform the marriage ceremony.

This interim interdict relates to a single proposed marriage between two persons of Belgian nationality and domicile. As the case is still sub judice I can make no further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the complaint in the Annual Report of the Aberdeen and North-East of Scotland Regional Advisory Council for Technical Education under the jurisdiction of his Department that they have been unable to obtain the necessary cooperation required to organise any system of training young people beginning in the fishing industry; and what steps he is taking to rectify this.

Since the publication of the Report a working party representing the interests concerned has presented to the education authority a scheme of training. The education authority is now considering the scheme and will, I hope, submit it to me shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet able to make a further statement about the Forth Road Bridge.

I hope to make a further announcement shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made with the geological survey of the United Kingdom; and what is the number of the field staff at present engaged on the survey.

During 19 56, 347 square miles of primary geological survey were completed; an additional 320 square miles were covered by re-survey. There are at present 53 field staff on the survey.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how many scientific staff are employed at the National Physical Laboratory on the application of electronic computers to clerical and administrative work.

Two scientific staff full-time with one other giving part-time supervision.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated extra cost to his Department of the increased price of motor fuel.

The direct extra cost will be about £80,000 during this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are now in force for enabling relatives to visit the British Military Cemetery in the neutral zone of Jerusalem.

This cemetery is in the enclave placed under United Nations protection by the cease-fire agreement of 7th July, 1948. Paragraph 4 of that agreement permits the United Nations Commander to arrange for visits to the area including the cemetery. British subjects can apply through Her Majesty's Consul-General in Jerusalem.

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the countries of origin of the arms and ammunition captured on 7th December from persons attempting to smuggle it into Port Said.

They were a mixture of British and Czech, Middle East and other foreign manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for War what charges have fallen on his Department's Estimates for the current financial year in respect of supplies and services made available to French forces during and preceding the Middle Eastern operations; and what arrangements have been made for recovery.

The value of supplies and services provided for the French forces is about £80,000. The extra cost of accommodation is still being worked out. The French authorities have agreed to refund our costs.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the total value of Army stores in Egypt is represented by petrol, oil, lubricants, ammunition, and tentage, respectively;(2) what is the value of British stores and equipment in Egypt; what was the date of the valuation; and when it is proposed to revalue.

In a Written Answer to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Renfrew, East (Sir G. Lloyd) on 19th December, I explained that we estimated the value of British stores and equipment, excluding buildings, in the Suez Base at between £40 million and £50 million. That estimate was approximate. More detailed and accurate calculations based on the most recent stock figures available indicate that the figure will be somewhat more than £60 million. The Army held no stocks of petrol, oil and lubricants in the Base; in value, ammunition and tentage represented very roughly 13 per cent, and 2 per cent. respectively of the total stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made to maintain effective protection against theft and looting at the British military establishments in Egypt.

Before leaving Egypt, the British Embassy in Cairo asked the Swiss Legation, as the Protecting Power, to request the Egyptian Government to appoint a custodian of the Service installations, who would ensure that stores and equipment were not removed from them, and also to permit a Swiss representative to make periodical inspections of the installations to see that they were being properly maintained. The Swiss Legation met our request by a note to the Egyptian Government on 14th November. They have received no reply and have not been allowed to make the necessary visits.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the progress made in releasing recalled reservists and retained Regular soldiers from the Army.

Because of the Suez crisis, over 25,000 reservists were recalled and over 10,000 Regulars, who would otherwise have completed their Colour service, were retained in the Army. In accordance with my statement in the House on 20th November, the release of these reservists and retained Regulars began on 22nd November.I am glad to say that my forecast that 6,000 men would be released within three weeks was easily exceeded, and by 25th January all but about 500 will have left the Army. Of these, 350 are retained Regulars who will arrive by sea from the Far East on about 10th February. The remainder are temporarily retained in the Army for disciplinary, medical or other reasons.It is a tribute to the efficiency of those who planned and executed the scheme that over 12,000 men, that is practically all those serving in this country and Germany, were released in the first ten days. The remaining reservists from the Middle East and retained Regulars from the Far East and elsewhere have been brought home as quickly as the political situation in the Middle East and availability of transport have allowed. I am grateful to the shipping and aircraft companies and the railways who, apart from their normal commitments, have provided the means of carrying over 20,000 reservists and retained Regulars from overseas in little more than a month.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated cost of sending reservist No. 23031973 Sapper S. Woodward, 174 I.W.T. Squadron, Royal Engineers, to Cyprus and bringing him back again; for how many days he served; how soon after arriving in Cyprus he was sent to hospital; and how many days he spent in hospital before he was sent back to England.

This reservist remained in the Army for 112 days. He arrived in Cyprus on 28th September and was admitted to hospital 53 days later. He remained in hospital for three days before being sent back to this country. The approximate cost of sending him to Cyprus and back was about £47.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the circumstances of the death of Second Lieutenant Anthony Moorhouse of the West Yorkshire Regiment in Port Said.

On the morning of 11th December, Second Lieutenant A. G. Moorhouse of 1st Battalion The West Yorkshire Regiment, visited the area in which a patrol had been carried out in Port Said on the previous evening. According to an Egyptian witness, he was alone in a vehicle and stopped to speak to an Egyptian; a crowd assembled and one man seized the officer's pistol. Moorhouse was then abducted in a civilian car. He was not again seen alive by any member of the British forces, but there was a report on 22nd December that Major Wiks, a Norwegian officer of the United Nations Force, had been taken blindfolded to a house and had seen him alive and well.On receipt of the contradictory information that Second Lieutenant Moorhouse was dead, urgent representations were made to the United Nations to obtain the true facts, and on 31st December, the Secretary-General of the United Nations received a report, originating from the Egyptian Army authorities, that Moorhouse after capture by Egyptians was kept with the intention of exchanging him for some Egyptian "resistance" prisoners. The report continued that when British troops began combing the area he was locked in a small metal cupboard; his captors returned once to feed him but, as the search intensified, they felt it unsafe to return and he was left for two days; on return they found him dead, apparently from suffocation, and buried him in the house where he had been kept prisoner.On 4th January, a representative of the United Nations organisation handed over at Naples a body which was said to be that of the officer. An examination of teeth, scars, measurements, etc., established beyond doubt that the body was that of Second Lieutenant Moorhouse.I know that I speak for the whole House in expressing sincere sympathy for the family of this young officer in their loss. In particular, I regret the uncertainty about his fate which continued for so long in spite of all our efforts to obtain the true facts from the Egyptian authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of recent precedents in Cyprus, he will now agree to bringing home without charge the body of any British Service man dying in Germany or other home posting or in Cyprus, whose next of kin desire it.

Lack of local facilities has for some months precluded the bringing home of the bodies of Service men from Cyprus even at private expense. The bodies of men who died in the recent operations at Port Said were brought home because of the risk that their graves might be desecrated. It remains our long-standing policy that soldiers who die abroad should normally be buried where they die. For reasons that have frequently been given in the House, I am satisfied that there are strong objections to any change such as that proposed by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the number of men who enlisted on Regular engagements of three years with the Colours and four years with the Reserve during the period 1st January to 31st December, 1953; the number of such men transferred to the Army Reserve during the period 1st January to 31st December, 1956; and the percentage who prolonged their Colour service.

Between 1st January and 30th November, 1953, 19,754 men enlisted on Regular engagements of three years with the Colours and four with the Reserve. 4·9 per cent. of them prolonged their service. Those who did not prolong their service will, with few exceptions, have been transferred to the Reserve. I will write to the hon. Member giving figures for the last month of the period as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the proposed reduction in the size of Her Majesty's forces, he will review arrangements for the compassionate release of serving soldiers, including the cases referred to him by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East.

Our rules are already as generous as circumstances permit. Care must be taken to ensure that individual concessions do not render injustice to the majority who are doing their National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present practice with regard to charging troops for admission to entertainments overseas which are given by professional British artistes who have voluntarily agreed to accept less than their normal salaries when appearing before the troops; and whether he can give an assurance that no profit is made out of such charges.

Admission charges are made for all Combined Services Entertainment shows sent out from this country, except to patients in Service hospitals and men in certain active service areas such as Korea, and recently Port Said. No profit is made from these charges which cover only about half the cost of providing the entertainment (details are given on page 161 of Army Estimates, 1956–57).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take on the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission Report on the supply of certain industrial and medical gases.

My right hon. Friend will decide what action to take when he has considered the Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will extend to heavy commercial vehicles the reduction from 50 per cent. to 20 per cent. of hire-purchase deposits at present applicable to motor cars, light vans, and motor cycles.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the total cinema attendances for the first three quarters of the present financial year; and what were the attendances for the corresponding period in the previous financial year.

Cinema attendances for the first two quarters of the present financial year totalled 573 million compared with 596 million in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. No figures are yet available for attendance in the third quarter of the present financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the growing shortage of dollars available for anything but the import of necessities, what help he is now prepared to give to ensure that less United States tobacco is imported to the advantage of Empire imports.

I have nothing to add to the Answer my predecessor gave to my hon. Friend on 18th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation to provide for a moratorium for all workers on long-period short-time working on payments for house purchase or other large hire-purchase commitments.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling, based on the Interim Index of Retail Prices in November, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956, taking the value in October, 1951, as 20s.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the greater proportion of petrol consumed on the roads of the country is for commercial and business purposes, what he estimates to be the amount by which the total yield he anticipated from the additional 1s. per gallon tax on petrol will be offset by the reduced yield from Income Tax on account of business expenses being increased through the said petrol tax.

The yield of the additional duty on hydrocarbon oils is little more than sufficient to make good the fall in yield of the duty at the old rate as a result of the reduction in supplies. The total amount of the duty entering into business expenses is, therefore, unlikely to show any substantial change and the probable yield of Income Tax will accordingly not be appreciably affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the value of our pre-war food imports was paid for by interest received on our then foreign investments; what is today's cost of the same volume of imports; and how much interest we are paying today on our foreign debts.

In 1938 we received about £250 million gross in property income from abroad. This was equivalent to about 60 per cent. of c.i.f. food and drink imports in that year, which cost about £400 million. At postwar prices this would have cost about four times as much. While our gross property income rather more than doubled, averaging £550 million in the five years 1951–55, payments to foreign countries on this account rose from £60 million in 1938 to £390 million in 1951–55.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the difficulties which Purchase Tax on sports goods is causing the small clubs; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware of the representations which the hon. Member transmitted to my predecessor on this subject, but I do not consider that any action would be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated consumption of beer in 1935, 1938 and 1956, respectively; and what was the total cost to the consumer in each case.

The following is the Answer:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for a rebate on motor vehicle licence fees during petrol rationing.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the special difficulties of the motor industry, he will make an early statement on Purchase Tax on motor vehicles.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour said on this subject in the debate on the economic situation on 20th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding Her Majesty's Government's investigations into the possible exploitation of the oil-bearing tar sands of Alberta.

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the Canadian Department of Mines is conducting experiments on the extraction of oil from these sands; in addition, commercial interests have been carrying out investigations. My information is that it has not yet been established that oil can be recovered at an economic price.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what were the total numbers of civil servants of the equivalent rank of Principal or above employed in or by the Departments which deal with defence, including the Ministry of Supply, at the end of the financial years 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952–53 and 1955–56, respectively.

The information required is not readily available in this form, but I am writing to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now state the major building works at each university intended to be started in the next three years.

The attached list of major schemes has been supplied by the University Grants Committee. The programmes for the last two years may still be subject to some alteration.Certain very large projects are authorised in successive stages. Each stage constitutes a virtually self-contained section which can be used independently of the remainder of the project.MAJOR BUILDING SCHEMES TO BE STARTED IN THE YEARS 1957–59 IN ADDITION TO BUILDINGS FOR THE EXPANSION OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE, LONDON1957BIRMINGHAM:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultations he has had with the United States Administration concerning Marshal Bulganin's disarmament proposals.

Her Majesty's Government have discussed the Soviet disarmament proposals of 17th November with the United States Government and, indeed, with all their fellow members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the increasing needs of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, both for the special campaign against malaria and for numerous approved projects in the Colonial

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the approximate dates in each of the last five years on which the Annual Statement of Trade was published; and how these dates compare with those of pre-war years.

The dates of publication of the four volumes I, II, III and IV respectively of the Annual Statement of Trade for the years 1950–54 were as follows:Territories; and whether he will make a substantial increase of Government grant for the current year.

I am happy to announce that the United Kingdom annual contribution to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund will be increased by £20,000 this year. Subject to the approval of Parliament, Her Majesty's Government propose to contribute £220,000 to the Fund in 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the United Nations Special Emergency Fund for Economic Development; and whether he will introduce proposals for substantial economic support.

I have nothing to add to the full statement of Her Majesty's Government's policy given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Reeves) on 7th May, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what circumstances Her Majesty's Government consented to the appointment of General Spiedel as Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation land forces; and what were the instructions to our representative on that body when the matter was under consideration.

No announcement of the appointment of a new Commander Land Forces Central Europe (COMLANDCENT) has yet been made by the Supreme Allied Commander. SACEUR consulted Her Majesty's Government, who indicated that they were in favour of the appointment of a German officer. It is understood that the German authorities are nominating General Speidel, who in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government would be a good choice. As the Federal Republic will shortly have a substantial and increasing national contingent on the Central front, it is reasonable and desirable that this post should be filled by a German officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the Council of Western European Union has approved the resolution taken by the Brussels Treaty Council in December, 1950, handing over the defence responsibilities of that latter organisation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if, since the obligations undertaken in Article V of the amended Brussels Treaty go further in guaranteeing automatic assistance against aggression than the provisions of Article V of the Atlantic Treaty, he will take steps to constitute the military command structure to implement the provisions of Article V of the amended Brussels Treaty.

These questions arise on Western European Union Assembly's Recommendation No. 6 of 12th October, 1956. The Council's reply will be included in their Annual Report, which will be transmitted to the Assembly next month, and I would ask the hon. Member to await its publication.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power whether he will make a further statement regarding the petrol allowance for overseas tourists in 1957, in view of the fact that many overseas visitors are unable to finalise their plans until such a statement is made.

Arrangements have been made to give generous allowances of petrol to overseas visitors who either bring a car with them on an International Circulation Permit, buy a new car here for subsequent re-export or hire a car from an established car-hire firm.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power if he will make a statement in respect to the petrol and oil situation; the prospects for the next few months; and how long he estimates rationing will continue.

The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation has made arrangements for periodic reviews of the oil situation in Western Europe as a whole and for all available oil supplies to be shared fairly among Member countries. The first review, which has just been completed, confirms the broad assumption on which United Kingdom planning has been based that only about 75 per cent. of normal oil supplies will become available. There is therefore no immediate prospect of relaxing the present restrictions which, in fact, involve some running down of stocks of all the major oil products.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power what arrangements have been made for racehorse owners to obtain supplementary allowances of petrol for travelling to race meetings and to studs; and whether similar allowances will be made available to owners and officials who apply for supplementary petrol for the purpose of attending greyhound race meetings and training establishments.

Applications from the owners of racehorses and greyhounds are treated in the same way as those from other business applicants.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of major road improvements completed in the City of Stoke-on-Trent since 1939.

Twenty-three, which come within the term major improvements as used in the Estimates. They include seven traffic light signal schemes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will arrange for a White Paper to be issued setting forth the details of the blocking by Egypt of the Suez Canal, the various official estimates produced of the time within which it was technically possible to clear the Canal of serious obstruction to navigation and the work done by the Anglo-French and United Nations salvage forces, respectively.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the present situation on the Aden-Yemen frontiers.

Recent incidents on the frontier between the Aden Protectorate and the Yemen have been a continuation of trouble that has persisted for a considerable time. These incidents have taken the form of raids and attacks by Yemeni tribesmen, supported in some cases by Yemeni troops, on two sections of the frontier—the territories of the Amir of Dhala and of the Amir of Beihan. In Dhala border raids have been accompanied by subversion and incitement to armed revolt by means of bribes of arms and money and by blatant radio propaganda; and in Beihan attacks have been made on Beihan tribesmen.The incidents have been slight in themselves, involving few casualties on either side, but have been greatly exaggerated by false Yemeni propaganda, reinforced by the Cairo and Communist Press and radio. These aggressions have been met by Protectorate security forces acting in support of local Protectorate Rulers and reinforced, when necessary, by British troops from Aden Colony and by the Royal Air ForceRecently the Government of the Yemen have adopted a policy of accusing British forces in the Protectorate of aggression in the Yemen and of attacks on Yemeni towns. These charges are untrue and have been repeatedly denied by Her Majesty's Government: they are deliberate distortions of the defensive measures in the Protectorate which Yemeni aggression and subversion have compelled us to take to protect friendly Rulers and tribes-people.I am glad to say that a proposal has now been made that British and Yemeni officers should meet on the frontier to discuss the situation. This proposal has, after consultation by the Governor of Aden with the local Protectorate Rulers, been accepted by Her Majesty's Government, on condition of Yemeni withdrawal from positions occupied by them in Beihan and to the restoration of customary Beihani water rights with which the Yemenis have interfered. I hope that these talks will soon take place, and lead to peaceful relations between Yemeni and British protected tribes in these frontier regions, and that the Yemeni authorities will cease instigation of raids and subversion and incitement of rebellion in the territories of our friends the Protectorate Rulers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under whose authority the First Permanent Building Society is operating in Tanganyika, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Zanzibar and Uganda; and to what extent the building undertaken by this Society is coordinated with the building plans of the Governments of the territories concerned.

The Governors of the territories concerned and the British Resident, Zanzibar are being asked for information on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give particulars of the rates of income tax levied in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, respectively, for 1955–56; to which races the tax is applied; and what is the amount of the Poll Tax levied in each of the territories, respectively, on individual Africans.

The rates of income tax levied on individuals in 1955–56 were the same in all three territories, namely:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the commission appointed to inquire into income tax in East Africa has published its report; and if the report is to be made available to the public.

The Commission is expected to submit its report to East African Governments in the near future. The report will be published in East Africa and will be on sale to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent to the request of the Council of Ministers of Nigeria, that a mid-west State should be created before the granting of self-government to the Western Region.

My right hon. Friend has received no such request.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered on account of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks and the compensation paid in 1956: and what proportions of the outbreaks were attributed to infection introduced from South America and the European Continent, respectively.

10,547 cattle, 13,123 sheep, 4,793 pigs and 42 goats were slaughtered in 1956 on account of foot-and-mouth disease. Compensation amounted to £825,000. The number of primary outbreaks confirmed was 32. Of these, 17 (53 per cent.) were attributed directly or indirectly to frozen or chilled meat from South America and 9 (28 per cent.) to infection brought from European countries, probably by birds. In the other 6 cases the origin was obscure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the percentages in 1956, compared with pre-war years, of total supplies of wheat and flour, sugar, carcase meat, bacon and ham, butter, cheese, and shell eggs which were home produced.

The following table shows the percentage by weight of the total supplies of these foods provided by home production in the year 1956, compared with the pre-war average:

asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the similarity of the conditions regarding voluntary service in the Army and the Royal Air Force, if he will recommend the conferring upon those giving voluntary service in the Royal Air Force a decoration similar to that of the Territorial Decoration now conferred upon those who give such service in the Army.

Members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force or the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve are eligible for the Air Efficiency Award. This is comparable to the Territorial Decoration and the Territorial Efficiency Medal.

asked the Minister of Health how many general practitioners are on the medical list of the Sunderland Executive Council.

There are 86 general medical practitioners on this list.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now in a position to make a full statement on local authority finance, rating and valuation, with particular reference to industrial derating.

I am sure the House will allow me a little time to carry through my own study of these important matters.