asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much in money value and weight of dehydrated food from his Department's experimental factory at Aberdeen was sent for the use of Hungarian refugees; what varieties of food were sent; how many meal-portions that dehydrated food provided when prepared for human consumption; where it was sent; how many Hungarian refugees were so fed; and in what places.

Seven hundred and twenty-five pounds of dehydrated meat and fish, representing about 9,300 meal portions, to an original value of £400, were given to the Women's

POSTAGE RATES FOR CORRESPONDENCE AND PARCELS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO H.M. FORCES OVERSEAS WITH CORRESPONDING CIVILIAN RATES
EUROPE
—	H.M. Forces		Civilians
By Air:
"All-up services":			Foreign countries			Commonwealth countries
Letters (limit 4 lb.):
Not exceeding 1 oz.	2½d.		4d.			2½d.
Each additional oz.	1d.		2½d.			1d.
Postcards	2d.		2½d.			2d.
Air Parcels (limit 22 lb.)	No concessionary rates but letter packets up to 4 lb. may be sent at above rates.		Various rates according to destination.
			Examples:—
			First lb.
			Germany		Gibraltar		Malta
			s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
			3	3	3	6	4	0
			Each additional lb.
			Germany		Gibraltar		Malta
			s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
			1	9	3	0	3	6
By Surface Route:			Newspapers and Periodicals				Other Printed Papers
Printed Papers (limit 6½ lb.):
Up to 2 oz.	1d.		1d.				1½d.
Each additional 2 oz.	1d		½d.				½d.
Small Packets (limit 2 lb.):
Each 2 oz	1d.		1½d.
	(minimum charge 5d.)		(minimum charge 7½d.)
Parcels:			Various rates according to destination.
			Examples:—
			Germany		Gibraltar		Malta
Not exceeding:			s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
2 lb	1s.	3d.	4	6	3	9	4	9
3 lb	1s.	3d.	6	6	3	9	4	9
7 lb	2s.	3d.	6	6	6	3	7	0
11 lb	3s.	6d.	8	9	9	3	10	3
22 lb	5s.	6d.	14	0	14	0	15	0

asked the Minister of Defence if he will tabulate the postal concessions for parcels and letters by air and otherwise to members of Her Majesty's Forces serving in each area abroad.

The following is the reply:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the continued emigration of West Indians to the United Kingdom and the critical situation which will arise in the event of mass unemployment in Britain, he will make preparations to consult with and invite the forthcoming Government of Ghana to assist in finding gainful employment for indigent inhabitants of the embryo Caribbean Federation.

Opportunities for West Indians in the Gold Coast are likely to be few, and I do not think that the consultation suggested would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, since negotiations for compensating British subjects and companies for wrongs they have suffered, and are still suffering, in Egypt are likely to be contentious and protracted, he will now officially propose the appointment of an arbitrator in the person of the President of Liberia, or some other disinterested party, to adjudicate between the claims of Egypt and the United Nations Secretariat on the one hand, and those of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth on the other.

No. Her Majesty's Government consider that a settlement of claims between Egypt and this country should first be sought in direct negotiations with the Egyptian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who represented the interests of the British Adviser in Bahrein at the recent trial of Bahreini nationals on a charge of plotting to assassinate the Adviser.

Sir Charles Belgrave, the Adviser to the Ruler of Bahrain, is not in the service of Her Majesty's Government. He did not request the assistance of Her Majesty's Representative, and I am not aware whether be made arrangements to be represented at the recent trial of the inhabitants of Bahrain convicted recently, amongst other things, of plotting his assassination.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the ignorance of the mass of the American people in regard to the British Commonwealth, and, in particular, those territories which have not yet thrown off the shackles of colonialism, he will, in co-operation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, seek the aid of the Institute of Public Relations in deciding what positive action should be taken to enlighten United States public opinion on these questions.

It is already part of the duty of the British Information Services in the United States to make available information about the British Commonwealth and Colonies, and there is a considerable body of informed opinion in the United States which is aware of what Her Majesty's Government are doing to promote the evolution of British dependent overseas territories towards self-Government.A number of people working with the Government Information Services are members of the Public Relations Institute; but my right hon. and learned Friend would not wish to preclude consultation with the Institute at a suitable stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Suez Canal Users' Association is still in being; what is its present purpose; and what has been its cost to public funds to date.

Yes. The Council of the Association is still in being. It met on 10th January and 21st January, and the Executive Group has met frequently. The purpose of the Association is to represent the interests of the members, who are the most important users of the Canal. The Administrator of the Association is at present engaged in a study of economic and transport changes resulting from the closure of the Canal, including the question of what arrangements may be necessary to ensure the orderly flow of traffic through the Canal when it is re-opened. Her Majesty's Government have made a contribution of £3,333 towards the Association's current administrative expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the identity of the head of the Foreign Office Security Department; and what are his intelligence and/or security qualifications for this post.

The head of the Foreign Office Security Department is Mr. A. C. I. Samuel. Details of his' career will be found in the Foreign Office list, a copy of which is available to my hon. and gallant Friend in the Library. My right hon. and learned Friend has the fullest confidence in him and he is satisfied that he possesses the necessary qualifications for his post.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the purpose of the recent promotion of Her Majesty's legation at Costa Rica to embassy status; what was the immediate cost to public funds of this promotion; and what will be the estimated rise in the expenditure of and allowances to this mission in its first year as an embassy.

Following an inquiry made by the Costa Rican Government, it was mutually agreed that the status of the missions in the two countries should be raised to that of embassy. This will serve to strengthen still further the already excellent relations existing between the United Kingdom and Costa Rica. The change in status will cause no increase in allowances or expenditure of the mission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what salary and expenses were paid to Her Majesty's Minister at Costa Rica before the elevation of his mission to embassy status; and what is his salary and allowances in his new rank of ambassador.

Her Majesty's Minister at Costa Rica receives a salary of £2,600 a year and frais de representation of £2,710. On elevation to the rank of ambassador, his salary and allowances remain the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British information centres there are in Yugoslavia; how many copies of the periodical Tribune are sent to Yugoslavia; and in which information centres they are available.

There are information offices with reading rooms at Her Majesty's Embassy in Belgrade and at Her Majesty's Consulate-General in Zagreb. Four copies of Tribune are sent to Belgrade and one to Zagreb, and visitors may see the periodical in the reading room in each of these places

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contributions Her Majesty's Government made during 1956 to the United Nations, its subsidiary and voluntary funds, and to the Specialised Agencies; and what proportion these contributions bore to the respective total budgets.

The contributions of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, its Specialised Agencies and voluntary relief funds, for the calendar year 1956, are shown in the following table. Contributions to the United Nations and the major Specialised Agencies are assessed on the principle of capacity to pay, based on national income. Contributions to Extended Technical Assistance Programme and to the relief funds are entirely at the discretion of contributing Governments.

(1)	(2)	(3)
Organisation	U.K. Contribution	Percentage of total
	£	%
United Nations	1,261,000	8·55
International Labour Organisation	245,000	10·60
Food and Agriculture Organisation	251,000	10·87
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation	299,000	7·96
International Civil Aviation Organisation	100,000	10·46
Universal Postal Union	4,000	2·73
World Health Organisation	386,000	1·02
International Telecommunications Union	34,000	4·88
World Meteorological Organisation	8,000	5·79
Expanded Technical Assistance Programme	800,000	7·97
United Nations Children's Emergency Fund	200,000	3·29
United Nations Refugee Fund	100,000	6·66*
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees	l,965,000†	23·00
* Provisional figures.
† For financial year 1st July, 1955, to 30th June, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that equal prominence is given in the United States of America to the truth about Cyprus as is being given to the distorted story being circulated by the Cyprus Federation of America through advertisements in the Press and elsewhere.

A considerable amount of time and effort has been devoted over the last year by Her Majesty's Embassy in Washington and the British Information Services in the United States to explaining to American opinion the problem of Cyprus and Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the future of the island.In particular:

asked the Minister of Health what is the scale of pocket money to patients in mental institutions who have been certified under the Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Acts; on what date the present scale was fixed; how it is paid; and under what circumstances it is withheld.

Pocket money is payable to patients in mental and mental deficiency hospitals who have no other resources as laid down in circulars issued in 1949 and 1951, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member. I am at present considering the amount of the allowance. The precise method of payment varies, but it is normally made by senior nursing staff in accordance with the advice of the medical staff.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for an investigation to ascertain how many old people have been certified as insane under the Lunacy Act, 1890, for social rather than medical reasons.

No. A reception order can only be made if the justice is satisfied that the person is of unsound mind and a proper person to be detained.

asked the Minister of Health, under what circumstances a young person under the care of a local authority on reaching 16 years of age can be deemed to be in need of care and attention and be certified under the Mental Deficiency Acts and detained in a mental hospital.

If he is mentally defective and subject to be dealt with in the circumstances set out in Section 2 (1, b) of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, as amended.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the large number of young people who have in the past been certified under the Mental Deficiency Acts because of being in need of care and attention rather than being mentally defective, and because of the difficulties that such patients have in invoking the law to have the certification set aside, what action he is taking to have a thorough investigation made of each case with a view to enabling as many as possible to lead normal and useful lives.

I am not aware of any such persons.

asked the Minister of Health in the case of a child certified under the Mental Deficiency Acts with the concurrence of the mother because of domestic problems, what procedure is necessary to secure the release from a mental institution on the request of the mother or by the detainee when an adult.

Requests for discharge, written or oral, can be made to the Board of Control without formality at any time by a parent or by a patient. It is also open to the Visitors of such institutions to discharge a patient within three months after the patient attains twenty-one. The Visitors are obliged by law to afford a parent or guardian an opportunity of being heard or making written representation before they give their decision, from which the parent or guardian or the patient may appeal to the Board of Control within fourteen days.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average number of times per year that the Commissioners of the Board of Control visit each mental institution to grant interviews to patients; how many Commissioners are usually in attendance for this purpose; and what is the average time usually taken up by such visits at institutions where the number of patients is 1.000 or more.

Once a year. The larger mental hospitals are usually visited by two Commissioners and the larger mental deficiency hospitals by one or two Commissioners and an Inspector. Visits to hospitals of 1,000 beds or more take, on the average, two days.

asked the Minister of Health what are the names and qualifications of the members of the Board of Control.

The following is the reply:

Chairman—Sir Frederick Armer, K.B.E., C.B., M.C. (until recently, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Health);

Members—H. R. Green. M.A., Barrister-at-Law; The Hon. W. S. Maclay, C.B., O.B.E., M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.M.; W. Rees-Thomas, C.B., M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.M.; Isabel O. H. Wilson, M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.M.

asked the Minister of Health in respect to the Board of Control how many are full-time and how many part-time members.

Three and two, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what is the procedure laid down in respect to a patient of a mental institution under the Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Acts writing letters to people outside of the institution; and what are the prohibitions in this respect.

Every patient has the right to have any letter sent unopened to:

(a) the Management Committee of the hospital or any member of the Committee;

(b) the Board of Control or any one of the Commissioners of the Board;

(c) the Lord Chancellor;

(d) the Minister of Health;

(e) any Judge in Lunacy;

(f) the Chancery Visitors or any Chancery Visitor:

(g) the person who signed the order for the patient's reception into the hospital or who placed the patient there;

(h) if a patient is resident under an order made on petition, the person on whose petition the order was made;

(i) in the case of a temporary patient the person who made the application for the patient's reception or, if such person is not a relative, to the relative named therein or to the person having authority to direct discharge.

Apart from these letters, other letters before being posted may be examined by a medical officer or other responsible official. When there is a doubt as to the propriety of their despatch, the decision is a matter for the discretion of the Superintendent.

asked the Minister of Health what are the regulations in respect to posting prominently in mental institutions details of the rights of patients; how they can complain, or make application to receive advice to have their outside affairs looked after, as well as the procedure necessary in respect to applications for release; and if he will place copies of such notices in the Library.

The regulations in this matter formed the subject of a Circular issued by the Board of Control (No. 1005 of 1950) a copy of which will be placed in the Library. In addition to his rights with regard to correspondence and to requesting a private interview with a Commissioner visiting the hospital, it is always open to a patient to complain to, or request advice from, a medical officer or a nurse or members of the Management Committee at their visits, or to make formal application to the latter for discharge. The visiting of patients by relatives and friends is encouraged, and patients can speak freely to such visitors about themselves or their affairs.

asked the Minister of Health (1) under what circumstances a husband can be asked to contribute towards the maintenance of his wife as a National Health Service patient whilst certified and detained as insane under the Lunacy Act, 1890; and by what authority this demand is made;(2) under what circumstances a person certified as insane and detained in a mental home or undergoing after-care can be required to pay towards maintenance costs: and by what authority this is done;(3) under what circumstances a person certified as insane and detained in a mental institution as a National Health Service patient can be deemed to cease to be a National Health Service patient whilst still certified as insane; and by what authority this is done.

Unless accommodation is provided under Section 4 or 5 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, or unless contributions are recovered under Section 28 of the National Health Service (Amendment) Act, 1949, from patients going outside the hospital to work, maintenance of a certified patient while he is a hospital in-patient under the National Health Service is the financial responsibility of the hospital management committee and the patient or his relatives cannot be asked to contribute towards it. So far as maintenance is concerned, the committee's responsibility under the National Health Service Acts is for the maintenance of in-patients, and when a certified patient leaves hospital on trial under the provisions of the Lunacy Act, 1890, he ceases to be a hospital in-patient. But the hospital management committee may make him an allowance under Section 55 (2) of the Lunacy Act. The National Health Service, in accordance with the needs and requirements of the patient is, of course, always available and no question can arise of the National Health Service in general being deemed to cease to be available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of persons detained under the Mental Deficiency Acts on 31st December, 1945, 1950, 1952, 1955 and 1956.

The following are the figures:

• On 31st December, 1945–55,336
• On 31st December, 1950–59,417
• On 31st December, 1952–61,211
• On 31st December, 1955–63,255

I regret the figures for 1956 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons detained under the Lunacy Acts on 31st December 1945, 1950, 1952, 1955 and 1956.

The following is the reply:

• On 31st December, 1945–130,462
• On 31st December, 1950–120,698
• On 31st December, 1952–117,948
• On 31st December, 1955–110,788

I regret the figures for 1956 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons in mental institutions, up to the latest convenient date, were detained under the Mental Deficiency Acts for other reasons than being mentally defective.

I am not aware of any such persons.

asked the Minister of Health how many voluntary patients in mental institutions giving the necessary 72 hours notice, during the latest convenient 12 monthly period, were not allowed to leave in accordance with the terms of admission; and in how many instances the voluntary basis of patients was changed by certification to compulsory detention.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. With regard to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Dr. D. Johnson), on 19th November. 1956.

asked the Minister of Health why Mrs. Harriett Thornton was accepted into the Cane Hill Mental Hospital in view of the Summary Reception Order not giving the names of informants with addresses and descriptions as required by the Lunacy Law; and if he will see that this omission is rectified.

These particulars are not required by law.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of patients in the Cane Hill Mental Hospital in 1956; how many received pocket money at 5s. a week from public sources; how many received less than this, and for what reason; and if those patients capable of giving signatures were required to do so.

The average number of patients in Cane Hill Hospital during 1956 was 2,332, of whom 67 received pocket money of 5s. per week and a further 149 received lesser sums. Where less than 5s. per week was paid it was because a smaller sum was sufficient to meet the patient's needs. Patients capable of signing receipts for these sums were required to do so.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Great Britain is the only Commonwealth country that any immigrant can enter without producing a certificate of good health; and what steps he proposes taking to safeguard Great Britain from imported communicable diseases.

The existing Public Health (Ships) and (Aircraft) Regulations, 1952, give wide powers to port medical officers to deal with any case or suspected case of communicable disease arriving in this country. In addition, alien immigrants may be medically examined under the Aliens Order, 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry into the use, by certain subscribers, of British Monomarks Ltd., BM/London and/or BCM/London, as a means of distributing obscence photographs and books and other dubious schemes.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan Police do from time to time inquire into complaints of the alleged use of monomarks for such purposes, and prosecutions are instituted whenever the evidence justifies this course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give in detail his reasons for considering that it would not be in the public interest to allow Dr. Otto Strasser to visit this country.

I am not prepared to add anything to the reply which was sent to my hon. Friend by my predecessor's direction on the 2nd instant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hunts of the mounted-chase-after-the-fox variety are now registered under the Small Lotteries Act.

Registration under Section 1 of the Small Lotteries and Gaming Act, 1956, is made with local authorities. I have no information about the types and numbers of societies which have registered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the conditions of service of prison staffs.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to appoint a Departmental Committee to review these matters. The membership of the Committee will be announced in due course.The following are the terms of reference:—

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men and women registered at the Feltham and Hounslow employment exchanges at the latest convenient date.

The following Table gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE FELTHAM AND HOUNSLOW EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT 14TH JANUARY, 1957
Employment Exchange		Men	Women	Total
Feltham	…	104	69	173
Hounslow	…	226	194	420

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered unemployed there are at the Dartford Employment Exchange and what relation this figure bears to the number registered a year ago.

226 at 14th January, 1957, compared with 193 at 16th January, 1956.

asked the Prime Minister if, in accordance with precedent, he will now recommend the issue of a suitable medal to all ranks who took part in the recent operations in Egypt, to be named the 1956 Police Action Star.

I would refer to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on Friday, 14th December.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the inability of the United Nations to prevent Colonel Nasser from carrying out acts in contravention of international law, he will give notice of the United Kingdom's intention to cease financing the United Nations organisation unless it obtains a similar standard of compliance with law from both democracies and dictatorships.

I have been asked to reply.No. Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to default on their international obligations in this respect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many visits to the Continent by British industrial teams have been sponsored by the British Productivity Council in the past two years; and what action is being taken to follow up the visits of British teams to the United States of America under the sponsorship of the former Anglo-American Council on Productivity.

The Council has, during the period mentioned, sponsored one visit by a British industrial team to the Continent.As regards the second part of the Question, all the British teams to the United States have issued reports, the last one being published in September, 1954. The follow-up action taken by the British Productivity Council has included organising a large number of conferences throughout the country on the subject of these reports. Further, the Council is publishing Reviews of Productivity in the majority of the industries which sent teams to the United States; twenty-seven such Reviews have appeared to date. In their work generally the Council are making use of the knowledge of American practice and outlook gained by these team visits to the United States.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to increase purchases of good quality Rhodesian leaf tobacco and to reduce purchases of United States tobacco.

United Kingdom and other manufacturers in the sterling area buy almost all the Rhodesian leaf tobacco of good quality that is available. Purchases from last season's United States crop are complete, and the question of purchases from the next crop will not arise for some time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the grant-aided bodies for which he is responsible; what control he exercises over the appointment of staff for these bodies; what account he takes of qualifications for employment; and what account he takes of the possession of private means or pensions by applicants which may serve to reduce the salary bill and the call on public funds.

The Board of Trade, in the current financial year, are making contributions to the British Travel and Holidays Association, the Council of Industrial Design, the British Productivity Council, the British Institute of Management, the British Standards Institution, the Dollar Exports Council and three Design Centres.In the case of the first three, which depend substantially on public funds, it is a condition of the grant-in-aid that the standards of remuneration and conditions of service of their staff should be broadly comparable to those in the Civil Service and that they should consult the Board of Trade about the salaries, complement and, for certain posts, the appointment of their higher staff. In considering salaries, my Department take into consideration all relevant factors and, in considering appointments, the qualifications of the prospective employee.The answer to the last part of the Question is "none." The salary paid to an employee, so long as it does not exceed the agreed maximum, is a matter for agreement between him and the employing body.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost of revenue accruing from the imposition of a tax on cyclists; and what is the estimated cost of enforcement and collection.

A rough estimate of the number of cyclists on the road would be 10–12 million. Experience with road vehicles suggests that the average cost of issuing a licence is about 4s. I see nothing in these figures to disturb the conclusion which has been reached whenever the matter has been considered in the past, that the revenue likely to be secured would not justify the cost of enforcement and collection.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he proposes to present a Supplementary Estimate for the £80,000 cost of supplies and services provided for French forces recently engaged in Middle Eastern operations, in view of the fact that the application of this sum has not yet been authorised by Parliament; and how he proposes to set off the refund from the French Government.

An Army Supplementary Estimate, which includes provision for extra expenditure as a result of the Suez emergency, was presented on 22nd January. This takes account of supplies and services to the French forces and the consequential recoveries.