asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Executive Council for the County of Essex considers that the new prescription charges will cause hardship, and have asked for their amendment; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

The Executive Council has written to me on this subject. I do not consider that any action is required but, as indicated by my predecessor, the working of the new arrangements is being closely watched.

asked the Minister of Health what services exist for the provision of chiropody for old-age pensioners.

Services are available at hospitals for hospital patients, at foot clinics provided by a few local health authorities and a number of voluntary organisations, and at many homes for old people for the residents.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of hospital beds under the regional hospital boards for infirm old people; and if he will take steps to secure and provide sufficient money for hospital boards and hospital beds to meet this need.

In some areas there are shortages of beds, which are taken into account in planning the hospital building programme; but, in general, I do not think the provision of more hospital beds is the prime need for old people.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it is almost impossible to obtain admittance to hospital for the aged sick from the Chanctonbury Rural District Council area and other areas of West Sussex; and what action he proposes taking to rectify this state of affairs which led recently to the deaths of two old ladies, aged 97 and 84 years, living together but otherwise alone, at Steyning.

I am aware of the needs in this area, and as my hon. and gallant Friend knows I am making inquiries into the particular case he mentions. Steps are being taken to convert two wards at the Swandean Isolation Hospital to provide an additional 50 beds for chronic sick patients. The necessary works will be completed in a few weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Health to take steps immediately to set up machinery, both as a temporary expedient and as a permanent measure, to remedy the existing state of affairs in which it is almost impossible to obtain admittance to hospital in West Sussex of the aged sick; and if he will consider reintroducing personal responsibility and powers, such as were laid on the relieving officer in the days of the Poor Law, before the introduction of the welfare state and the National Health Service.

On the first part of this Question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave him today to another Question on the same subject; on the second part, I am not satisfied that difficulties of this kind can be met by the method he suggests.

asked the Minister of Health on what basis the salaries of senior nursing officers in mental institutions are fixed.

The salaries of both matrons and chief male nurses in mental and mental deficiency hospitals are determined, as agreed by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council, by both the status of the hospital—that is, whether it is or is not approved as a training school—and the number of staffed beds for which the officer is responsible. In addition, chief male nurses in training hospitals are divided into three categories with separate salary scales, according to the extent of their overall responsibilities. The classification of deputy matrons and deputy chief male nurses for salary purposes is governed by that of their chiefs.

asked the Minister of Health to arrange to have placed in the Library copies of communications which are sent to relatives of patients certified under the Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Acts subsequent to their admission to mental institutions, conveying guidance relative to procedure for discharge and any other information concerned with the interests of the patient.

As there are no standard forms, I am sending the hon. Member two specimen copies of communications sent to relatives upon the admission of a patient to a mental hospital and to a mental deficiency hospital respectively.

asked the Minister of Health to state the date on which Cathlene Murray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Murray, 22, Oswald Street, Carlisle, and now a patient in Moss Side Hospital, Liverpool, was certified as a mental defective; and who was the certifying doctor.

The Order under the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913–1938, in respect of this patient was made on 18th December, 1933, by a judicial authority who had before him two medical certificates that she was a feeble-minded person. It is not the practice to disclose the names of certifying doctors.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the parents of Cathlene Murray signed a document of consent for her detention in a mental-defective colony under the impression that this was for temporary treatment only; and, as she has now been an inmate of mental-defective homes for twenty-three years, what record he has of any explanation to them that the consent of her detention, which they signed, could not be withdrawn and was, in fact, for an indefinite period.

No. The father gave his written consent to his daughter being removed to a certified institution under the Acts and in the same document informed the local authority that she was in need of care and training which could not be provided in her home. The document contained no reference to temporary treatment or to any definite period of stay in the institution.

asked the Minister of Health what mental-defective colonies and hospitals Cathlene Murray has been in since the date of her certification as a defective; and what are the length and dates of her stay, respectively.

• Dovenby Hall Colony, Cockermouth, Cumberland. 18th December, 1933 to 8th September, 1936.
• Rampton Hospital, Retford, Nottinghamshire. 8th September, 1936, to 26th July, 1938.
• Moss Side Hospital, Maghull, near Liverpool. 26th July, 1938, to 24th April, 1939.
• Rampton Hospital. 24th April, 1939, to 1st February, 1945.
• Dovenby Hall Colony. 1st February, 1945, to 23rd August, 1945.
• Rampton Hospital. 23rd August, 1945, to 17th March, 1950.
• Moss Side Hospital. 17th March, 1950, to 14th December, 1954.
• Prudhoe and Monkton Hospital, Prudhoe-on-Tyne, Northumberland. 14th December, 1954, to 1st July, 1955.
• Moss Side Hospital. 1st July, 1955, to date.

asked the Minister of Health how often, during her detention in institutions, Cathlene Murray has been medically examined in regard to her mental state; what were the dates of such examinations; and what were the special qualifications in psychiatry of the doctors conducting the examination on each occasion.

In addition to the medical examinations required by statute, this patient has been under constant review by the hospital medical staff who are fully qualified for this work.

asked the Minister of Health the reasons for Cathlene Murray's continued detention in hospital at the present time.

She is considered to be still in need of the care and training provided in a mental deficiency hospital.

asked the Minister of Health when Cathlene Murray's next medical examination, as to mental fitness, is due; and under what conditions it is possible for the patient or her parents to apply for an independent medical examination.

The next medical examination required by statute is due in 1960, but such cases are constantly reviewed to assess their fitness for transfer, licence or discharge. The patient or her parents may at any time arrange with the medical superintendent for an independent medical examination. There is no provision whereby the cost of this can be borne by public funds.

asked the Minister of Health what medical treatment Cathlene Murray is receiving at Moss Side Hospital.

She is receiving treatment according to her needs and everything is being done for her rehabilitation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, in 1955, consequent on an escape from Prudhoe and Monkton Hospital, Cathlene Murray spent several days at home after travelling some fifty miles across country; that, while at home, she showed herself to be an apparently intelligent and well-behaved person; and whether these facts will be considered favourably when the next assessment comes to be made of her alleged mental defect.

This patient left hospital without permission on 20th June, 1955, and was returned from her home early the next day. The Board of Control has no information as to her behaviour whilst absent from hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what, at the time of their last medical examinations, were the intelligence quotients of Richard Maskill and Frank Ellis, who escaped from Rampton Hospital for the Treatment of Mental Defectives; how far above or below normal these are; and what were the dates of the examinations.

I do not think it would be right to give this information, which is confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when negotiations will be reopened with the Egyptian Government regarding the control of the Suez Canal; and to what extent Her Majesty's Government accepts the detailed proposals of the Government of India as a basis of agreement.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is endeavouring to promote early negotiations and Her Majesty's Government have informed him that they for their part are ready to engage in negotiations.The basis for these negotiations was described in my statement to the House on 3rd December. The starting point will be the Security Council's Resolution passed on 13th October and the Secretary-General's letter to the Egyptian Foreign Minister of 24th October.There are of course certain features of the Indian Government's proposals which are somewhat similar to the conditions set out in the Secretary-General's letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests the Government has made for payment from the United Nations organisation for the use of the British salvage fleet in the clearance of the Suez Canal.

On 23rd December, the Secretary-General of the United Nations circulated to all delegations a Note regarding interim advances to the Fund for the Clearance of the Suez Canal. In replying to this Note, Her Majesty's Government informed the Secretary-General that they regard the United Nations organisation as responsible in the first instance for the expenditure incurred by Her Majesty's Government in placing British salvage resources at the disposal of the United Nations, but that they are ready to treat this expenditure as an advance to the Fund for the Clearance of the Suez Canal on the understanding that it will be reimbursed on the same terms as the advances of other contributors to the Fund.At the same time, Her Majesty's Government informed the Secretary-General that they regard the expenditure they incurred on salvage work in Port Said prior to 21st December when the United Nations took over responsibility for clearance of the Canal as being work done for the benefit of Canal users in accordance with the terms of Resolution 411 adopted by the General Assembly on 25th November, 1956, and they therefore consider that this expenditure should rank equally with that incurred by the United Nations for eventual reimbursement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what Governments and public and private undertakings will receive payment from the United Nations organisation for salvage operations or for the use of salvage ships in the clearance of the Suez Canal.

It is the understanding of Her Majesty's Government that, as from the time when the United Nations took over the task of Canal clearance, all Governments and public and private undertakings which have carried out salvage operations or supplied salvage ships for the clearance of the Suez Canal are entitled to claim payment from the United Nations organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the reasons for the refusal by the United Nations organisation to use British salvage vessels in the clearance of the Suez Canal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in regard to the use of British ships for clearing the Suez Canal; and if he will make a statement.

Both before and after the United Nations assumed responsibility for clearing the Canal, British salvage vessels and their crews have played a major part in its clearance at Port Said and in the channels running southwards from the port. In company with the French team they have raised thirteen wrecks including the largest, the "Paul Solente".In addition certain foreign ships were released by us to the United Nations and these are continuing to work in the Canal.Other units of the Anglo-French salvage team were offered to the United Nations to help in clearance south of Kantara, but this offer was not accepted for reasons the validity of which I have never fully understood.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long the British prisoners, detained by the Egyptian authorities on charges of alleged espionage, have been in custody; what is now known of their treatment and circumstances; and what steps have been taken by his Department to urge that these British prisoners should either be brought to trial immediately or released forthwith.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and learned Member on 23rd January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the abrogation of the 1954 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty by Egypt unilaterally.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton) on 23rd January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now give an approximate estimate of the losses sustained by British nationals expelled from Egypt; and what action he has taken to help them in their difficulties.

I regret that I ant not in a position to give an accurate estimate of the total value of British assets in Egypt. Such an estimate at the present time would be largely guesswork. As the House will have noticed, British subjects with property in Egypt have been invited to submit details of their assets to my Department, which is engaged in compiling a register of such property. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Remnant) on 24th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government have not ratified the anti-slavery convention, signed at Geneva on 7th September, 1956.

Her Majesty's Government are unable to ratify this Convention until certified copies in all the five official languages of the United Nations have been received from the United Nations Secretariat. I can assure the hon. Member that immediately they are received the formalities of ratification will be completed as speedily as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Great Britain will be represented, and by whom, at the United Nations Legal Committee to be held in Rome next March to study the question of free access to the sea of landlocked countries as established by international practice or treaties; if he will state its scope; to what extent it will deal with the legal, technical, biological and political aspects of the problems involved; and if he will report its progress periodically to the House.

Her Majesty's Government will be represented at the conference which it is proposed that the Secretary-General of the United Nations should convene in Rome in March, 1958, to examine the law of the sea and in particular the recommendations of the International Law Commission on this subject. It is proposed that the conference should take account not only of the legal but also of the technical, biological, economic and political aspects of the problem, and should embody the results of its work in one or more international conventions or such other instruments as it may deem appropriate. The conference is also to study the question of free access to the sea by landlocked countries, as established by international practice or treaties.It has not yet been decided who should represent Her Majesty's Government at this conference, but my right hon. and learned Friend will be glad to inform the House in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assurances had been received by Her Majesty's Government that Egypt would neither be allowed to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and use it as a base for raids against Israel nor to occupy and fortify the islands and mainland at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba so as to be able to interfere with shipping wishing to enter or leave the Gulf before our representative at the United Nations voted in favour of a Resolution ordering Israel to withdraw immediately from Egyptian territory.

I would remind my hon. Friend that our position has always been that Israel should withdraw from Egyptian territory and from the Gaza Strip. But, as my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State told the United Nations General Assembly on 18th January, we recognise that the withdrawal of the Israeli forces will leave certain serious problems which demand a solution, and that by insisting on the withdrawal of those forces the United Nations has inevitably assumed a responsibility for dealing with those problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government that Israel should be required to evacuate the Gaza Strip and that this area should become the responsibility of the United Nations.

My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that the United Kingdom Delegate voted in favour of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 19th January repeating the call on Israel to withdraw to behind the armistice demarcation lines. Her Majesty's Government's view is that the Gaza Strip should be made a United Nations responsibility, as I said in my statement of 3rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations took before he voted for the Resolution calling upon Israel to evacuate Gaza and islands in the Gulf of Aqaba, to satisfy himself that Israeli ships would be allowed free passage through the Suez Canal and be protected by the United Nations against frontier raids by Egypt.

The Resolution in question requested the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to secure the complete withdrawal of Israel in pursuance of previous General Assembly Resolutions and to report to the General Assembly within five days. In his speech to the Assembly on this Resolution my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State put on record Her Majesty's Government's views on Gaza and freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Aqaba. He also pointed out that the United Nations must inevitably assume a responsibility for solving the problems which Israel's withdrawal will leave. Her Majesty's Government will certainly do all they can to ensure that that responsibility is discharged. The Assembly is due to discuss the question again today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward within the United Nations regarding the control of the Gaza Strip and the safeguarding of free navigation in the Gulf of Aqaba.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the suggestions in the speech made by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State in the General Assembly on 18th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the many demands made upon the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, he will agree to an increase in the contribution to be made by Great Britain for the next three years.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 22nd January in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) Her Majesty's Government propose to increase their contribution to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund by £20,000, making a total of £220,000 for 1957. My right hon. and learned Friend is not in a position to make any commitment about our contributions in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken regarding the Special Committee established by the United Nations General Assembly's Resolution on the situation in Hungary adopted on 10th January.

As the United Kingdom is not a member of the Committee, there is no action that Her Majesty's Government can take regarding it other than to provide such information as the Committee may ask for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications he has had with the Government of Jordan since their announcement on 27th November that they intended to terminate their Treaty with the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement about the position in regard to that Treaty.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. Members for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Philips Price) and Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) on 5th December, and to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. J. Hynd) on 23rd January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the recent plot to assassinate the British Resident in Bahrain and the Sheikh of Bahrain.

I know of no plot to assassinate the Political Resident. Evidence of a plot to assassinate the Ruler of Bahrain and his Adviser, Sir Charles Belgrave, was found after the arrest of the five members of the Committee of National Union, described in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 12th November. The proceedings of the Court of the Ruler of Bahrain are a matter for the Ruler and do not come within the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Government. I understand, however, that among the evidence was a document in the possession of one of the prisoners stating that the Ruler, members of his family, and his Adviser were to be assassinated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now take further steps to relax the embargo on strategic goods exported by the United Kingdom to China.

The China trade controls are applied not only by the United Kingdom, but also by all the other members of the Consultative Group. Any action to relax those controls must therefore be taken in consultation with our friends and allies, not all of whom share our views. Meantime, as the House will be aware, the exceptions procedure gives us some latitude.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Marseilles British Consulate is taking to serve the fresh area of the Riviera now under its jurisdiction; what increase in staff it has entailed; how often a consular official will visit Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo, respectively; and how the British community and especially the British business interests in Monaco and in the Onassis organisation are to be informed of these visits.

As my hon. Friend was informed on 12th December last, periodic visits will be paid to the Riviera by a member of the staff of Her Majesty's Consul-General at Marseilles. These visits will not take place on a regular schedule but rather in accordance with the requirements of the work.In consideration of the extra load to be imposed upon his post, Her Majesty's Consul-General at Marseilles is being spared any cuts in staff. My right hon. and learned Friend will of course consider sympathetically any requests for additions which he may make after experience of this extra work.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has considered the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Lister v. Romford Ice Co., Ltd.; and whether, having regard to the conflict of judicial opinion, to the admittedly far-reaching consequences of that decision and to the fact that, as a result, most drivers of motor vehicles owned by their employers are virtually deprived of the benefit of insurance and are thus committing daily offences against the Road Traffic Act, he will introduce remedial legislation.

The implications of the judgments in this case are being studied by the Government. I am not yet in a position to make a statement, but I think I should say now that I do not accept that the decision has, in relation to the Road Traffic Acts, the effect stated in the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a statement on the discussions he held recently with the National Federation of Old-Age Pensioners.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) on 19th November.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the further rises in food prices and fares, if he will now urgently consider the question of raising the basic rates of old-age pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the representations made by the Old Age Pensioners Association, the continuing rise in the cost of living and the hardship caused to old-age pensioners by not increasing the basic rate of pension and assistance rates, if he will take action as a matter of urgency to raise the rates of benefit.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the fact that there has been a gradual increase in the prices of the essential foodstuffs and that further increases are likely in rents, rates and transport, and as these increases bear most heavily on persons living on old-age pensions, if he will increase the pension in the near future.

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to similar Questions on 3rd and 10th December except that the allegations contained in the Questions of the hon. Members for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) and Pontefract (Mr. Sylvester) are not confirmed by the items in respect of food contained in the last published index of retail prices.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what representations he has received from local authorities urging an increase in old-age pensions.

During the last twelve months I have received representations from three local authorities, and from two local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total number of old-age pensioners who claimed a refund from the National Assistance Board for the payment of prescriptions for the month of December, 1956; and what was the number of such claims allowed.

The National Assistance Board regrets that this information is not available.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will now arrange for the allocation to Wales of part of the enlarged atomic power programme recently approved by him; and if he will make a statement.

The siting of power stations in England and Wales is primarily a matter for the Central Electricity Authority and must chiefly depend on the availability of suitable sites and the pattern of demand for electricity, but I am sure that the Authority will give every consideration to possible sites for nuclear stations in Wales. No revised nuclear power programme has yet been approved.

asked the Paymaster-General what extra cost has been incurred by his Department as a result of petrol rationing.

Up to 17th January, 1957, approximately £157,500 including £100,000 payable to other Government Departments in respect of seconded staff.

asked the Paymaster-General what reduction he proposes to make in the basic petrol ration for motorists resident in urban areas or other places well served by public transport.

None.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will make a statement as to the further period for which it is anticipated that petrol rationing will continue.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 22nd January in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds).

asked the Paymaster-General why it has been decided that all existing petrol coupons will become invalid after 16th April, thus inevitably speeding up the consumption of petrol during the period ending on that date.

asked the Paymaster-General what plans he has made for petrol rationing in the summer holiday period; and if he will amend the present scheme to allow car owners to save up their basic ration for the current rationing period, in order to have extra petrol to use for their holidays.

The period of validity of the present coupon issue was prescribed in the Motor Fuel (No. 3) Order made on 12th December, 1956. My noble Friend must await more information about future supply prospects before deciding whether it would be practicable to allow any coupons to be carried over beyond the present rationing period.

asked the Paymaster-General what special arrangements he proposes to make for Service personnel and others on leave from British territories overseas to obtain a supplementary petrol allowance for use while in this country.

British subjects who live permanently abroad may claim the same allowances of petrol when they visit this country as foreign visitors. British subjects, including Service men who reside abroad temporarily may claim basic and supplementary rations on the same conditions as other United Kingdom residents.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will authorise a supplementary issue of petrol coupons to Service men arriving in this country on leave who wish to collect their cars from an address different from the station to which they have been posted.

Service men who, as a result of posting, need to move their cars from one station to another can apply to the Service authority concerned for a special allowance of petrol.

asked the Paymaster-General, in view of the hardship caused to commercial travellers by petrol rationing, if he will take steps to increase their supplementary allowance.

As announced on 2nd January, self-employed persons whose livelihood is seriously threatened and firms whose production or turnover would be severely affected by shortage of petrol for their private vehicles may apply for an additional allowance.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will publish the amount of supplementary petrol rations issued to his regional petroleum officers, the names of the officers to whom they were issued, and the date of issue.

Although it is not the practice to publish details of supplementary petrol allowances issued to individuals my noble Friend has asked me to state that only one of his regional petroleum officers has a supplementary allowance and that this amounts to one gallon a month and is in respect of his duties as a justice of the peace.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power (1) whether he will state, for the guidance of commercial travellers and food distributing concerns, how their supplementary petrol allowances will be calculated, in relation to the amount of petrol they used before rationing, so that they can make the best provision possible to carry on their work;(2) how the amount of petrol available to architects per week or month is decided, to permit them to supervise the construction of the buildings for which they are professionally responsible, in relation to the amount of petrol they had to use to perform this task satisfactorily before petrol rationing was introduced.

The rationing scheme is based on a basic ration, and standard supplementary allowances which are augmented only in cases where loss of livelihood or other serious hardship would otherwise result. Applications for allowances on these grounds will continue to be treated on their merits.

asked the Paymaster-General what steps he is taking to make a reasonable amount of petrol available for young Service men, colonial civil servants, planters and others, returning to Great Britain for a short period on leave, who have no car of their own but who can have one placed at their disposal by relatives or friends for the period of their leave.

No special steps are contemplated but regional petroleum officers have general discretion to grant supplementary allowances where hardship is involved.

asked the Paymaster-General how many outstanding applications for extra petrol still remain undealt with.

The regional petroleum officers have received and dealt with the bulk of the initial applications for supplementary allowances and are now dealing with a steady flow of applications for increases in the allowances on grounds of hardship.

asked the Paymaster-General the estimated number of gallons of petrol extracted from a ton of crude oil; and how many tons of crude oil are normally carried in a 20,000-ton tanker.

65 gallons on average and 18,500 tons, respectively.

asked the Paymaster-General what petrol allocation has been made to self-drive car firms.

asked the Paymaster-General if he is aware that self-drive hire-car services have an insufficient petrol allowance for their requirements to run on an economic basis; and if he will make a statement as to the prospects for such services obtaining sufficient petrol for the holiday season, so that those people desiring motoring holidays at home can be accommodated by such services rather than be forced to go abroad, where holiday allocations are ample for requirements.

The initial monthly allowance for a self-drive hire car is worth about 300 miles, and the regional petroleum officers have been authorised to augment it where necessary to avoid hardship. It is too early to give a forecast of what the position will be in the holiday season.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will now make a statement on the inquiry regarding the supply of electricity to Holy Island.

My noble Friend is still in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government about this case but hopes to reach a decision shortly.

asked the Paymaster-General how much capital expenditure has been incurred in the British mines since nationalisation.

By the end of 1956 the National Coal Board had invested about £560 million, of which some £425 million was in collieries.

asked the Paymaster-General what approaches he has received from representatives of oil interests in Texas; and whether he will publish in HANSARD the communications he has received and his reply thereto.

None, but the hon. Member may have in mind a message recently addressed to Sir Anthony Eden by the President of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, the text of which is given below, together with a Press statement issued on 9th January dealing with the points raised in it.

asked the Paymaster-General what further approach he has received from the oil and petrol companies for permission again to increase oil and petrol prices; and whether he will make a statement.

My noble Friend has not received any such approach.

asked the Paymaster-General why prospective Parliamentary candidates are being given a much greater petrol allocation than Members of Parliament.

The requirements of prospective candidates must be met out of the block allowance issued to constituency agents for party political purposes. The unanimous advice of the three main political party organisations was that the maximum allowance issued for all constituency purposes to the agent of a party with a prospective candidate should be higher than that issued to the agent of a party with a sitting Member.

asked the Paymaster-General how much petrol has been allocated to Members of Parliament and to political parties, both collectively and as far as the average individual allotment is concerned.

Supplementary allowances for Members of Parliament are issued by the Fees Office on a monthly basis. For the first month of rationing 471 Members have received allowances totalling 5,661 gallons for all purposes, including constituency and Parliamentary activities and business and professional requirements. The average issue is thus about 12 gallons.Final allowances for political party purposes remain to be decided in the light of a review by constituency agents of their applications, which is now being made at the request of the Department.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) how many constituencies are regarded as qualifying for the maximum petrol allowance of 3,750 miles each month; what limit is placed on the number of applications per constituency; and how the basis of 25 miles to the gallon compares with the usual calculation for doctors, nurses and business people in these constituencies;(2) in how many constituencies the prospective candidate has claimed the 2,500 miles per month petrol allowance; and what limit has been set to the number of prospective candidates in such constituencies;(3) how many constituency parties without a prospective candidate have claimed their petrol allowances up to 1,750 miles per month for use by agents and other officers; and what limit has been set to the number of such parties in any one constituency.

Constituency agents of the three main political parties may apply for a block allowance for political purposes based on minimum essential requirements, subject to an upper limit which depends on the nature of the constituency and whether or not the party concerned has a prospective candidate. Applications on behalf of other parties are treated on their merits. The same conversion factor regarding miles to the gallon is applied to these block allowances as to all others. The actual amounts of the allowances will be decided in the light of a review which the Department has requested constituency agents to make of their applications.

asked the Paymaster-General when the increases in payment of pensions to pensioners of former local authority electricity undertakings are to begin.

asked the Paymaster-General if he is now in a position to approve the proposals submitted to him by the Central Electricity Authority for increasing the pensions of all those in the industry, including ex-local authority pensioners, who retired before 1st April, 1952.

My noble Friend is giving careful consideration to the Central Electricity Authority's proposals and will give his decision as soon as possible.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will give figures to show the extent to which coal transport has been switched from road to rail; and what further steps are being taken in this direction.

The National Coal Board reports that by 21st January diversions at the pithead from road to rail transport had increased to a rate of 64,000 tons a week. Further steps in this direction are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Paymaster-General what developments within the steel industry are being undertaken to overcome the chronic shortage of steel supplies to the shipbuilding industry.

Supplies of all steel from steelworks to shipbuilders were 14 per cent. higher in 1956 than in 1955. The Iron and Steel Board informs me that production of the steel plates and heavy sections which the shipbuilders require will increase year by year from steel making projects now in hand, and that other major projects have been approved or are in the planning stage. I regret to say, however, that it seems unlikely that the shipbuilders will be able to obtain their full needs of plate for some time to come without resort to imports.

asked the Paymaster-General what proportions of the ingot output of the British steel industry were produced during the last quarter of 1956 by companies whose equity capital has been returned to private ownership and by companies the whole of whose capital stock is still in the hands of the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency, respectively.

I am informed by the Iron and Steel Board that the proportions were 74·5 per cent. and 23·5 per cent. respectively. The remaining 2 per cent. was produced by companies which were not nationalized under the Iron and Steel Act, 1949.

asked the Paymaster-General the additional amount received by the petrol companies as the result of the 5d. increase per gallon of petrol approved by him, in respect of the normal load of oil caried in a 20,000-ton tanker; and what proportion of this amount is attributable to production and distribution charges, respectively.

Of the surcharge of 5d. per gallon the oil companies receive 3½d. On the basis of an average yield of 65 gallons of petrol per ton of crude oil this would amount to £17,000 on the 18,500 tons of crude normally carried by a 20,000 ton tanker. The hon. Member will find details of the additional charges approved by my right hon. Friend in the Answer he gave on 17th December, 1956.

asked the Paymaster-General what extra oil supplies have been obtained from the United States of America since the Suez incident; and the prospects for the next few months.

Our imports of oil from the United States rose from a monthly average of 117,000 tons in the first 10 months of 1956 to 210,000 tons in November and 670,000 tons in December. For shipping and other reasons the proportion of our future imports which will be drawn from the United States as distinct from other sources of supply cannot be forecast accurately, but in the next few months we would expect them to be lower than imports in December which included large liftings from stock.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will furnish the names of his regional petroleum officers who are, and have been, responsible for the current rationing system, together with their salaries, expenses, and qualifications for their posts.

Twelve regional petroleum officers are employed by the Ministry of Power and administer the current rationing scheme under general directions from the Ministry's headquarters. They are:

• Mr. E. J. Wright, M.B.E., Edinburgh.
• Mr. A. D. Hampson. Newcastle-on-Tyne.
• Mr. R. A. French, Lytham St. Annes.
• Mr. E. Schofield, Leeds.
• Mr. H. Burris, Nottingham.
• Mr. K. Ladds, Birmingham.
• Mr. W. T. Collins, Cardiff.
• Mr. G. A. Pillinger, M.B.E., Bristol.
• Mr. G. W. Izard, Reading.
• Mr. A. R. D. Murray, Stanmore.
• Mr. R. H. Willmott, Kew.
• Mr. J. C. Cliffe, Cambridge.

The salary scale for these posts is £1,285-£1,530 (approximately £1,200-£1,450 outside London). Travelling and subsistence expenses are payable at normal Civil Service rates appropriate to the grade. These officers have either held similar posts in connection with the previous petrol rationing scheme or have had the necessary experience in other executive posts in the Ministry.

asked the Paymaster-General why Glasgow taxi-cab owners are to get an increase of only 84 gallons of petrol a month, after a decision was reached that the mileage done by provincial taxi-cabs justified an increase in the maximum provincial allowance to 100 gallons per month.

100 gallons per month is the maximum allowance for provincial taxi-cabs of 20 horse-power and over. Taxi-cabs of lower horse-power merit lower allowances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how much public money is spent each year on research into the prevention and cure of disease in pigs.

At present about £160,000 a year is spent on pig research by the Agricultural Research Council and my Department. I regret that it is not possible to say how much of this sum represents work on the prevention and cure of disease, since subjects such as, for example, nutrition, housing and breeding have all an important bearing on animal health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what encouragement is given by his Department to farmers, market gardeners and allotment holders to use compost made from sewage and municipal refuse, wherever this is obtainable, as a means of restoring fertility to the soil.

The composting of sorted household refuse with sewage sludge can provide a useful bulky organic manure. Through its advisory staff and one of its publications my Department advocates the use of this compost where it is available and suitable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the eradication of sheep scab, there having been no outbreaks of sheep scab in Great Britain since 1952, if he will relax the statutory requirements for dipping and allow farmers to use the more economical sprays developed in Australia and New Zealand for treating sheep rather than baths which take more labour and time.

Sheep scab is still found occasionally in sheep imported into Great Britain, and the dipping regulations made by many local authorities are a precaution against the re-establishment of the disease in this country. Dipping is more effective against sheep scab than spraying and my right hon. Friend could not agree that the regulations should be amended to permit spraying instead of dipping.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the amount of oil now allowed to oil-driven fishing vessels.

Fishing vessels are at present receiving normal supplies of fuel oil and paraffin and 90 per cent. of normal supplies of diesel oil. Sufficient petrol is being made available to meet the needs of all who depend on fishing for a livelihood.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the uncertainty in the agricultural industry concerning the construction of buildings suitable for the storage of grain; and if he will make an early statement as to the eligibility of such buildings for grants under the projected capital grants scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in order to secure an even flow of orders and production in the agricultural building industry, he will allow certain urgent works, such as grain storage for next harvest, to be put in hand forthwith and still be eligible for later consideration and inclusion in a farm improvement scheme.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fox destruction societies are registered in the United Kingdom; what form of subsidy his Department pays them; and how many foxes were killed in 1954 by such societies.

There are 222 approved societies in the United Kingdom. Most of them receive contributions varying in amount up to 50 per cent. of the cost of the bonuses they pay to members for destroying foxes, subject to a maximum contribution of 10s. a fox. About 16,000 foxes were killed by the societies in 1954.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the continuing concern felt by many people over the conditions under which live cattle are shipped from this country for slaughter on the Continent; and if he will now inquire into the feasibility of prohibiting this trade entirely and requiring that the slaughtering shall be done in this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 24th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the recent increases in the prices of refined sugar have been affected by an increase in the refiners' margin.

The refining margin is computed in accordance with the undertaking given to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exechequer under Section 27 of the Sugar Act and is therefore unaffected by changes in the price of raw sugar.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Report of the Runciman Committee on Horticultural Marketing will be published; and whether he will make a statement.

The Report will be published on Tuesday, 29th January. My colleagues and I are extremely grateful to Lord Runciman and the members of his Committee for the thoroughness with which they have carried out their inquiry.Their Report, which is the result of the most comprehensive independent investigation into the marketing of horticultural produce which has ever been carried out in this country, contains important proposals which will need careful examination not only by Her Majesty's Government but also by the many associations representing the interests affected by them. This is bound to take some considerable time, and consultations between the Government, and the other interests concerned will also be necessary before it will be possible for me to make any statement about the Government's conclusions. I will make sure that no time is lost, however, and I hope I shall be able to indicate to the House the Government's views on the principal conclusions and recommendations of the Report before the summer Recess.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken to compensate British nationals expelled from Egypt out of Egyptian sterling funds in this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 24th January to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty under what authority he accepted three Bahraini convicts on to a naval frigate for transportation to St. Helena.

The commanding officer of the frigate accepted them on a warrant issued by the Ruler of Bahrain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what was the cost of transporting three Bahraini convicts on a naval frigate from Bahrain to St. Helena; and by whom the costs will be paid.

The extra cost incurred by the frigate is not yet known, but is expected to be small. It will be borne by the Bahrain Government.

asked the Minister of Defence what financial arrangements have been made for a contribution by the West German Government to the cost of maintaining British military forces in Germany during the current year.

As announced some months ago, the Federal German Government are contributing about £34 million during the current financial year 1956–57 towards the cost of maintaining our forces in Germany.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) how many serving officers of Her Majesty's Regular Forces were refused permission during 1956 to broadcast over the British Broadcasting Corporation or to appear upon television;(2) how many serving officers of Her Majesty's Regular Forces were permitted to broadcast over the British Broadcasting Corporation or to appear upon television during 1956.

Ninety-eight officers of the three Services were given permission to broadcast or to appear on television in 1956. I know of only two occasions when officers were refused permission.

asked the Minister of Defence the estimated amount to be spent on defence during the current year, including the supplementary costs arising from the conflict with Egypt and the maintenance of armed forces in Cyprus.

Defence expenditure in 1956–57 is expected to be approximately £1,540 million of which about £35 million is extra expenditure due to the Suez crisis.^*

asked the Minister of Deefnce the amount to be spent in the current year on the construction of new strategic bases overseas and the reconstruction of previous wartime bases.

About £7 million is expected to be spent in 1956–57 on the construction of strategic bases overseas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consult with local authorities and seek an assurance that persons vacating houses under the new Rent Bill will, if they desire, be placed on their housing lists.

I do not think that there is any need for me to remind local authorities of their housing responsibilities, nor indeed is it the case that the Rent Bill is bound to increase the demands that must be made on them. Its effect will be to encourage better use of existing accommodation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in the provision by local authorities of one-bedroomed houses or flats; and if he will send a circular to all authorities drawing their attention to the desirability of stepping up this class of accommodation.

In the third quarter of 1956 14·5 per cent. of the dwellings put into tender were of one bedroom. The average for the whole period since the end of the war is 7.9 per cent. There has therefore been a welcome increase in the number of smaller dwellings. I have in mind to send a further circular to local authorities about the housing needs of old people.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will break down the national figures relating to the housing position, on which the provisions of the Rent Bill are based, to figures for each region.

I am afraid it is not possible to break down for the different regions the statistical information on a national basis recently published as a White Paper (Cmd. 17).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will order an appropriate inquiry into the circumstances of an electors' meeting held at St. George's Hall, Liverpool, on 17th December, 1956, in connection with the proposals of the Liverpool City Corporation affecting Treweryn in Merionethshire; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers I gave to the Questions which he asked on 22nd January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present African population of Nyasaland; and what is the number of illiterates.

The latest estimate of the African population of Nyasaland, June, 1956, is 2,580,000.On the occasion of the last census, taken in 1945, questions on literacy were asked. Out of the total African population then enumerated of 2,044,707, 133,863, or 6·6 per cent., stated that they could read and write. It is possible to provide information on educational developments, but not on the growth of literacy since 1945, because statistics of this kind can normally be obtained only by a full census.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further proposals he has for granting independence to Colonial Territories.

Her Majesty's Government's policy as regards the independence of the Gold Coast and the Federation of Malaya within the Commonwealth has already been announced. I have no statement to make at present regarding other territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what authority he has admitted, or proposes to admit, three Bahraini convicts to St. Helena for detention in the prison there; for how long the convicts will be kept in custody in St. Helena; and by whom the costs of their maintenance will be paid.

The prisoners are being removed to St. Helena at the request of the Ruler of Bahrain, under an agreement made between the Ruler and the Governor of St. Helena in accordance with Section 4 of the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1869.The prisoners will be kept in custody in St. Helena until the expiration of their sentences or for such shorter period as may be agreed upon between the two territories concerned. All costs will be borne by the Bahrain Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a full statement on the effects of the reduction of the deposit required of buyers of new and second-hand motor cars, in so far as sales are concerned.

I understand from the trade that, in the first three weeks of January this year, hire purchase contracts for new cars were running at a rate some 80 per cent. above the rate for the month of December, and for second-hand cars were running at over twice the December level. Compared with the month of January a year ago, hire purchase contracts for second-hand cars in the first three weeks of January this year were at a rate about 40 per cent. higher, although for new cars they were still some 30 to 40 per cent. lower.

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM
—	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956
Cotton yarn (million 1b.):
Total	14·5	31·7	7·3	3·4	10·7	14·0	16·8
India	9·3	4·0	0·2	0·8	1·3	1·6	4·3
Hong Kong	0·1	0·3	neg.	neg.	neg.	2·1	4·4
Netherlands	neg.	0·7	0·7	0·3	1·2	1·2	0·7
Belgium	0·2	11·0	4·4	0·4	1·7	2·2	0·9
Italy	4·2	9·1	0·7	1·4	2·1	2·3	2·4
Portugal	neg.	nil	nil	neg.	1·8	1·1	0·3
Egypt	neg.	3·0	neg.	neg.	1·5	2·2	0·3
Pakistan	nil	nil	neg.	nil	neg.	0·1	2·5
Cotton piece goods—grey (million square yards):
Total	245·4	340·0	144·3	76·2	236·4	268·2	267·7
India	71·0	105·6	10·1	15·9	127·8	130·3	128·1
Hong Kong	3·2	12·4	1·6	0·7	18·1	48·8	55·9
Japan	91·0	85·0	68·5	38·3	52·0	63·9	32·1
Cotton piece goods—other than grey (million square yards):
Total	41·4	35·5	35·4	22·5	30·9	31·3	38·5
India	5·1	2·8	0·5	0·6	4·9	6·1	4·9
Hong Kong	1·6	4·6	0·7	1·3	1·8	2·6	1·9
Germany (Western)*	3·4	3·5	8·4	3·7	3·7	3·5	5·3
Netherlands	5·7	3·1	2·0	3·7	3·7	3·0	3·8
Belgium	3·8	7·9	10·3	7·8	11·8	12·5	13·8
Bleached	4·6	4·4	1·2	0·8	1·6	2·2	0·9
Printed—
Cretonnes and chintzes	0·7	0·3	0·1	0·4	0·1	0·1	0·1
Other	10·0	4·4	3·2	2·9	4·2	4·3	9·7
Dyed in the piece—
Pile fabrics	2·9	4·1	2·2	2·9	2·1	1·4	2·5
Other	10·6	8·0	22·0	5·5	5·5	4·1	4·9
Wholly or in part of dyed yarn and commonly known as coloured cottons—
Damasks, tapestries, brocades and the like	6·5	5·9	3·3	5·2	5·9	6·5	7·1
Other	6·0	8·3	3·4	4·9	11·4	12·6	13·1
* Including Eastern Germany in 1950.					neg. = negligible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the quantity of cotton yarn and cotton piece goods, distinguishing between grey and other than grey, imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1950 to 1956, inclusive, from each principal country; and the total figures for imports of the bleached, printed, piece-dyed and yarn-dyed cloths for the same period.

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the imports of cotton piece-goods, in million square yards, from India, Hong Kong, and

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM
	million square yards
—	From India		From Hong Kong		From Japan		From all countries
	1955	1956	1955	1956	1955	1956	1955	1956
Woven cotton fabrics of standard type (i.e. excluding lace, ribbons, smallwares, embroidery and special fabrics)	136·4	132·9	51·4	57·7	64·0	32·2	299·5	306·2

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the quantity of cotton piece goods, in million square yards, exported from the United Kingdom to India and from India to the United Kingdom, respectively, in 1954, 1955, and 1956.

Following are the figures:

—	million square yards
	1954	1955	1956
Imports from India of woven cotton fabrics of standard type	132·7	136·4	132·9
Exports to India of woven cotton fabrics of standard type (excluding fents)	3·3	6·5	9·4

asked the Postmaster-General to state the number of letters and the numbers of parcels delivered at Christmas in England and Wales; and if he will give the figures for the previous year.

It is estimated that 735 million letters and cards were posted in England and Wales during the busy period from 13th December to 2nd January compared with 722 million the year before. No reliable estimate can be

Following are the figures:given for parcels but the figure for both years is probably about 24 million.