asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the report of the Commonwealth Economic Committee inquiry into Commonwealth raw materials is likely to be available.

The Report is now at an advanced stage of preparation, but it is not yet possible to say when it will be available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is to be the future policy regarding the employment of British troops in Ghana.

I would refer to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the course of the debate on the Second Reading of the Ghana Independence Bill on 11th December last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, before Britain joins a European Common Market, Her Majesty's Government will insist on no Government participating in the common market giving any special advantages to exporting firms, such as export subsidies or tax concessions, unless equal advantages are given by general agreement by all the other Governments in the common market to their own exporting firms.

It will be the aim of Her Majesty's Government in negotiations for a free trade area to secure that all member countries agree not to grant export subsidies or other artificial aids designed to give unfair advantage to their exporters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that substantial business has been booked by a West German firm, and sanctioned by the West German Government, for the supply of power shovels to China, and that a number of British firms were interested in obtaining this order but were prevented from doing so by the complexities of the export licensing procedure; and whether he will take steps to simplify the procedure.

I am aware that in conformity with the exceptions procedure of the Consultative Group a substantial export of power shovels from West Germany to China was recently authorised by the Federal German Government. Since 14th May last, when our present policy was announced to the House, exports to China from the United Kingdom of power shovels of comparable size have been authorised in the case of all applications received, and I cannot agree that our export licensing procedure has caused suppliers in this country to lose orders to their competitors. The procedure could not be simplified consistently with obligations accepted by all countries in the Group.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which are the types of machine tools in respect of which exceptions have been made to the embargo on exports to China.

Export licences have been issued for particular consignments, approved within the limitations of the exceptions procedure, of machine tools within the following types:

• Centre lathes.
• Universal and vertical milling machines.
• Tool and cutter grinding machines.
• Surface grinding machines.
• Shaping machines.
• Hydraulic presses.
• Band-sawing machines.
• Hacksawing machines.
• Filing and sawing machines.
• Chain forming machinery.
• Brake drum turning and grinding machines.
• Cylinder boring bar machines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent economic relations with Britain have been suspended, or seriously impaired, by Jordan and other Middle East countries including Egypt since the signing of the recent Arab solidarity agreements.

The Arab Solidarity Agreement signed on 19th January deals with military aid for Jordan. By itself it has had no direct effect on our economic relations with Middle East countries. It is too early to assess whether it will have any indirect effects in this field.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have recently been made to him by representatives of the glove makers regarding the importation of knitted woollen gloves from Hong Kong; and what steps he intends to take to restrict such imports which are seriously affecting the trade in Leicester and elsewhere.

As regards the first part of the Question, my predecessor heard from a deputation representing the National Association of Glove Manufacturers on 9th January, of the difficulties caused to their trade by imports of all types of gloves from Hong Kong. As regards the second part, it was explained to the delegation that it is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to restrict imports of Colonial goods either by quota restrictions or by a tariff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he ordered an investigation into the affairs of the Gordon Hotels Limited; why these investigations have taken so long; and when he expects to publish the report on these investigations.

My predecessor appointed inspectors to investigate this matter on 1st March last. I am sure that they have conducted their inquiries as expeditiously as possible. I expect to receive their report very shortly and shall study it first before deciding about publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for an observer from his Department to visit the forthcoming Leipzig Fair.

No. Officials from British staffs in Germany will attend the Fair, but in an informal capacity as Her Majesty's Government do not recognise the German authorities in the Soviet zone.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is prepared to reconsider the claim of the National Staff Side that all the temporary service of civil servants should count towards pension; and what would be the cost to the Exchequer if this concession were granted.

The National Staff Side have made representations on this matter to my right hon. Friend in the last 24 hours; he has not yet had time to consider them. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Croydon, North-East (Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett) on 19th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of contrary decisions in the courts, he will introduce legislation declaring, for the avoidance of doubt, whether a licence to keep a dog applies to the owner or not, and whether his agent, servant or gamekeeper is expected to get an additional licence if he looks after the dog for him as occasion demands.

The law requires any person who keeps a dog to have a licence. I am advised that if the owner of a dog normally houses and feeds it, an agent, servant or gamekeeper would not be required to hold a licence in addition if his custody of the dog were temporary only; but that is a matter for the courts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to the desirability of making the scale of cinema entertainments duty more flexible, particularly in the lower range of admission price, so that cinema owners may vary admission prices without increasing the incidence of tax out of all proportion to the yield to themselves.

My right hon. Friend will, of course, consider this, but my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's decision to mint golden sovereigns; how much in £ sterling is to be minted into sovereigns; and why, in view of the fact that these are not to be put into circulation, the Government are going to the expense and trouble of having these sovereigns minted.

I have nothing to add to the statement issued on 14th January, which is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give an estimate of the total cost, both direct and indirect, of the British Government's armed intervention in Egypt; and by how much the standard rate of Income Tax could be reduced by the application of an equivalent total sum for that purpose.

I estimate the direct cost at £35 to £40 million. It is not possible to estimate indirect cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the drawing and stand-by arrangement approved by the International Monetary Fund and announced by the then Chancellor on 4th December was conditional on the terms of that announcement concerning external controls and credit and fiscal policies.

None. But as the Prime Minister said when Chancellor in reply to a Question on 18th December, the International Monetary Fund took note of the declared policies of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government have been represented by Ministers or by officials at innumerable international meetings during the past five years, on what principle he decides whether the United Kingdom should or should not be represented at conferences on matters of common interest called and attended by other Governments.

The decision whether Her Majesty's Government should be represented at an international conference called by another Government rests with the Minister responsible. The principle governing the decision is whether the matters to be discussed are of sufficient importance to justify the use of public funds in official representation.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is now responsible for relationships with the Government of Bahrain.

The Minister responsible for Her Majesty's Government's relations with the Government of Bahrain is my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary.

asked the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy with regard to the relinquishment by Members of Parliament and businessmen on appointment to Ministerial office of all financial interests in private business.

The general principles governing these matters have been well known for many years. They were last formulated by my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) in this House on 25th February, 1952.

asked the Prime Minister why the Press were given prior information by his office of Ministerial appointments before the official announcement from his office.

It was through the Press that the official announcement was made. I am afraid therefore that the hon. Gentleman's Question does not make sense.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount has been paid this financial year by way of home-grown cereal deficiency payments; how much it is now estimated will be paid this financial year; what amount has been paid this financial year by way of deficiency payments for fat-stock; and how much it is now estimated will be paid this financial year.

From the beginning of the current financial year until 18th January, 1957, deficiency payments for the United Kingdom on home-grown cereals amounted to £20·3 million and on fat-stock £57·7 million. My right hon. Friend cannot give a revised estimate for the whole year until the publication shortly of the Supplementary Estimates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to state the subjects discussed and conclusions reached at the meetings held by him in London in October, 1956, with representatives of the British fishing industry relating to the Icelandic fisheries dispute with the British fishing industry; and if he will now disclose his relevant plans for the future of the British fishing industry.

The purpose of these talks was to assist by exchanges of views in finding a solution to the dispute, the settlement of which was eventually reached on 14th November last and announced to the House the following day. The problems of the fisheries which underlay this dispute will fall for consideration at the forthcoming world conference on the law of the sea. As the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs informed the hon. and learned Member on 28th January, it is proposed that the Secretary-General of the United Nations should convene this conference, at which Her Majesty's Government will be represented, in Rome in March, 1958.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which recently ended its annual meeting in Copenhagen at which the British Government was represented, expressed concern about the overfishing of the North Sea and the view that fishing there should be limited and rationalised; and if he will make a statement on the subjects considered and conclusions reached by that meeting.

The recommendations to which the hon. and learned Member refers are presumably those relating to the herring fisheries. They were to the effect that the attention of countries fishing the southern North Sea should be drawn to the concern and apprehension of the Council at the state of the herring stocks; that adequate statistics of catches and of the fleets employed in the fishing should be provided by these countries; and that Governments should co-operate in a coordinated scientific programme designed to assess the various factors affecting the yield from the herring fisheries. Her Majesty's Government have readily agreed to participate in that programme which the Council is now preparing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his policy with regard to encouragement of river boards in their proposals for the trapping of migrating fish.

My right hon. Friend has not received any specific proposals from river boards. If proposals are made he will consider them on their merits, taking the local circumstances into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the inadequate washing out and disinfecting arrangements at abattoirs and private slaughterhouses in Warwickshire, where swine fever suspects and contact pigs are sent; and whether he will take steps to ensure the improvement of these facilities at the markets of this county, and particularly of Birmingham, Coventry and Stratford-on-Avon abattoirs.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the arrangements to which the hon. Member refers are inadequate, but if any particular incidents are brought to his notice, he will be glad to have them investigated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement on the Report of the Reorganisation Commission for Pigs and Bacon.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the statement of the Government's policy for the development of the pig industry in the United Kingdom, which was published as a White Paper on 26th November last. The necessary legislation is in preparation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to state the total number and value of butchers' cattle exported to the Continent of Europe since June last; the numbers that have qualified for the fatstock guarantees; and the amount paid.

No precise figures are available, but it is estimated that just over 50,000 head of cattle were exported in the six months 1st June to 30th November last year. The number which qualified for the fatstock guarantee is not known, but it was probably less than a third of the total number. On this basis, the subsidy payment was between £300,000 and 050,000; against this has to be set the removal from the market of certain cattle in little demand, which tends to improve the general level of prices to the benefit of the Exchequer. We have no details as yet for December and January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now decided to make an inquiry into the export of live cattle for slaughter on the Continent; and what immediate measures he is taking to strengthen the rules to ensure humane treatment of these cattle in transit.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland are giving urgent consideration to these matters. They expect to be able to make an announcement very soon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the reduction of the milk subsidy, on 1st January, has had on retail milk sales; and if he will state the rate of subsidy remaining on ordinary milk sales.

It is too early to say how retail milk sales have been affected. The milk subsidy for the year to 31st March, 1957, is estimated at about£d a pint.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that during the past year the bankruptcy rate of farmers rose more steeply than that of any other profession or business; and what plans he has for developing a more prosperous and efficient agricultural industry.

The latest published figures are for 1955 and show a greater proportionate increase among farmers, as compared with the previous year, than in other major industrial groups. But the rate of bankruptcies among farmers fortunately remains low—less than one per thousand. The Government's proposals for promoting the development of a prosperous and efficient agricultural industry were stated in the White Paper entitled "Long Term Assurances for Agriculture" issued in November of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what newspapers he has directed the British Egg Marketing Board to publish forms of application for registration as producers of eggs.

The Board has been directed to publish forms of application for registration in the following newspapers:

• Aberdeen Press & Journal.
• Dundee Courier & Advertiser.
• Glasgow Herald.
• The Scotsman.
• Belfast News Letter.
• Belfast Telegraph.
• Irish News.
• Birmingham Post.
• East Anglian Times.
• Eastern Daily Press.
• Liverpool Daily Post.
• Newcastle Journal.
• Nottingham Guardian.
• Preston Guardian.
• Southern Daily Echo.
• Western Mail.
• Western Morning News.
• Yorkshire Post.
• Farming News.
• Farmer & Stockbreeder.
• Farmers Weekly.
• Modern Poultry Keeping.
• Poultry Farmer.
• Poultry Field.
• Poultry World.
• Scottish Farmer
• Smallholder.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how great is the loan made to the British Egg Marketing Board to finance the initial poll of producers.

No such loan has yet been made to the British Egg Marketing Board, but an application from the Board is being considered.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Catering Wages Commission urged in 1955 that a wages board should be set up for the protection of the workers in unlicensed hotels and hostels and boarding houses; and when he proposes to carry out this recommendation.

This question is receiving consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour what further provision he is making to safeguard workers using radioactive substances.

The drafting of the proposed Code of Ionising Radiations Regulations is taking longer than was expected, in part because of the need to take into account recent recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, but the work is being done as rapidly as possible. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Mr. Neave) on 30th October, 1956, as regards the work of the Factory Inspectorate in relation to radiation hazards, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made with the provision of employment for British subjects expelled from Egypt, and by what means; and whether he will make a statement.

1,100 of these British subjects have so far been registered for employment. My local officers have placed 200 of them with various employers, some others have found jobs through friends and relations, and 770 are still awaiting suitable employment. The full facilities of the employment exchange service have been made available to these people, and, in addition, I have made a personal appeal to employers on their behalf which is being followed up in many areas by special approaches from Employment Exchange managers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now improve the grading of the post of Senior Medical Inspector, so that it reflects more accurately the importance attached to industrial health organisations and equates with the grading of the chief medical officer of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and of the Colonial Office as well as with the Treasury medical adviser.

No. The present grading of the post of Her Majesty's Senior Medical Inspector of Factories is based upon the recommendations of the Howitt Committee which reported in 1951. The salary has been adjusted in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his present estimate of the annual expenditure of the public on beer, wines and spirits; and what weight is given to this expenditure in the cost-of-living index.

In 1955, the latest year for which annual figures are available, the estimated total expenditure on alcoholic drink, excluding expenditure by businesses, was £859 million, representing about 6·7 per cent. of the aggregate of all personal expenditure. The weight assigned to alcoholic drink in the Index of Retail Prices is 71 out of a total of 1,000 for all items, or 7·1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the amount of Government grant made, up to date, to aid the Hungarian refugees and to assist British subjects who have been expelled from Egypt, respectively.

£10,000 has been paid to the British Council for Aid to Refugees as a grant in aid of administrative expenses incurred in connection with the re-settlement of Hungarian refugees in this country. As the Council, at the request of the Government, have undertaken to be responsible for a much higher number of refugees than when the grant of £10,000 was announced, it is proposed to increase the grant in aid up to £30,000 for the current financial year and to make no charge to the Council for operational help in kind (estimated at £200,000) given by Government Departments to the Council.The cost falling on Her Majesty's Government for providing for British subjects from Egypt is estimated to be £475,000 in the current financial year, including the grant of £100,000 announced to the House on 6th December (of which £20,000 has already been paid to the Anglo-Egyptian Aid Society). A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before Parliament seeking approval to this expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the arrangements made to assist British subjects expelled from Egypt.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister hopes to make a statement at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to inform Hungarian refugees of what is going on in the world, thereby reducing the dangers of rumour and misunderstanding that exist for people isolated from the rest of the community by language and life in camp.

I am glad to be able to tell the House that the first issue of a weekly news bulletin in the Hungarian language will be distributed in the hostels and camps tomorrow. I am placing a copy in the Library, with an English translation of its contents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of murders known to the police in England and Wales in October, November and December, 1956.

The numbers of murders recorded as known to the police in October, November and December, 1956, were, respectively, 24, 14 and 19. These figures may include some cases that will be found not to be murders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juvenile delinquents detained in remand homes were found on examination to be mentally deficient during the last year of which a record is available; and what was the average time before a place could be found for them.

No orders were made by the Secretary of State in 1956 under Section 9 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, in respect of juveniles detained in remand homes. The remand home statistics are not kept in a form which would enable me to give particulars of cases dealt with by the courts under Section 8 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the representations he has received from trade organisations supporting the implementation of the Gowers Report with regard to the Shops Act, he will carry out an investigation among small independent shopkepers to ascertain their views before implementing the Report.

A great deal of trouble has been taken to get every point of view on the proposals for legislation based on the Gowers Committee's Report on the Closing Hours of Shops. Altogether, excluding Scottish organisations, 66 bodies representing shopkeepers were consulted. A list of these associations, which include in their membership a large number of small independent shopkeepers, is given below. I do not think any further investigation is necessary, but I am willing to consider any further representations from interested persons or associations.

• Amalgamated Master Dairymen Ltd.
• Amusement Caterers' Association.
• Association of Retail Chambers of Trade.
• Booksellers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland.
• British Council of Retail Distributors.
• British Federation of Hotels and Boarding
• House Associations.
• British Herbalists Union.
• British Hotels and Restaurants Association.
• Caterers' Association of Great Britain.
• Central Milk Distributive Committee.
• Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association.
• Cocoa Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance, Ltd.
• Commercial Libraries Association Ltd. (London).
• Company Chemists' Association Ltd.
• Cooked Meats National Trade Association.
• Co-operative Congress (Parliamentary Committee).
• Drapers' Chamber of Trade.
• Early Closing Association.
• Federation of Street Traders Unions.
• Federation of Wholesale and Multiple Bakers, Ltd.
• Ice Cream Alliance Ltd.
• Incorporated Guild of Hairdressers, Wig Makers and Perfumers.
• Incorporated National Federation of Boot
• Trades Associations Ltd.
• Independent Traders' Alliance.
• Industrial Catering Association.
• London Master Bakers and Confectioners Federation.
• Metropolitan Association of Grocery, Provision and Allied Trades.
• Milk Bars Association of Great Britain and Ireland Ltd.
• Motor Agents Federation.
• Multiple Shops Federation.
• Multiple Wine Merchants Association.
• National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain and Ireland.
• National Association of Master Bakers, Confectioners and Caterers.
• National Association of Multiple Grocers.
• National Association of Outfitters.
• National Association of Retail Furnishers.
• National Caterers Federation.
• National Chamber of Trade.
• National Check Traders' Federation.
• National Consultative Council of Retail Liquor Trade.
• National Dairymen's Association Incorporated.
• National Federated Electrical Association.
• National Federation of Credit Traders.
• National Federation of Fish Friers Ltd.
• National Federation of Fishmongers (Incorporating Poultry, Game and Rabbit Traders) Ltd.
• National Federation of Grocers and Provision Dealers' Associations.
• National Federation of Ironmongers.
• National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations (Inc.).
• National Federation of Merchant Tailors (Inc.).
• National Federation of Off-Licence Holders' Associations.
• National Federation of Retail Newsagents, Booksellers and Stationers.
• National Federation of Saddlers and Leather Goods Retailers.
• National Federation of Small Shopkeepers.
• National Hairdressers' Federation.
• National Market Traders' Federation.
• National Pawnbrokers' Association (Inc.).
• National Pharmaceutical Union.
• National Union of Retail Confectioners.
• National Union of Retail Tobacconists.
• National Union of Small Shopkeepers.
• Photographic Dealers Association.
• Radio and Television Retailers' Association (R.T.R.A.) Ltd.
• Retail Book, Stationery and Allied Trades' Employees' Association.
• Retail Distributors' Association.
• Retail Fruit Trade Federation.
• Stationers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police were stationed daily near Briggs Bodies factory, Dagenham, during the past week; why they were so posted and by what authority; and what proportion of the cost of these police activities was paid by Messrs. Briggs.

During the week ending on Sunday, 27th January, two police officers were on duty near the factory at all times, except between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunday, when one officer was withdrawn. Since then two officers have been on duty at night and the number on duty in the day-time has varied from four to twenty-seven. These men have been posted on the authority of the Commissioner of Police in order to ensure the maintenance of public order and prevent obstruction of the highway. No part of the cost has been met by the firm.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to amend the British Nationality Act, 1948, to enable him to exclude from British nationality British subjects who publicly renounce it.

No. I do not think it would be desirable to encourage British subjects to renounce their citizenship.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what arrangements are made to supply free milk to school children in holidays when the parents are on short-time, unemployed or on public assistance.

There are no such arrangements under the milk in schools scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the average age at which men and women teachers, respectively, retire on pension and on breakdown allowance.

In recent years there has been a steady increase in the median age of retirement of teachers on age grounds:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he is in a position to make a statement on the suggestions submitted to the conference on staffing, held in October last, that intending teachers who have completed their professional training should be released from National Service; and that deferment from National Service should be granted to intending teachers who satisfactorily complete their professional training and to all who have been accepted for training as teachers.

It has not been found possible to accept the suggestions to which my hon. Friend refers. Only graduate teachers receive their professional training before National Service, and the Armed Services depend very largely on these men for the maintenance of their educational and other specialist services. Also, as was explained to the Conference, to grant deferment to non-graduates who have been accepted for training would not increase the number of teachers available for service in the schools in the near future, and would provide no increase at all without a corresponding increase in the number of training college places.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the number of voluntary schools the erection of which has been completed in each year since 1947, giving the numbers for each denomination and the number of school places provided.

:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education to state the number of schools in respect of which retention of part of Government grant is continuing notwithstanding that the schools have been completed for a period exceeding twelve months, showing how many of these schools are voluntary schools.

The Minister's grant in respect of voluntary school building is paid by instalments on the evidence of successive architects' certificates of work done, up to a limit of 90 per cent. of the full estimated entitlement. The balance of 10 per cent. is paid on receipt of a final statement of cost. This is now awaited in respect of 81 voluntary schools which had been completed by the end of 1955. So far as county schools are concerned, separate grants are not paid to local education authorities in relation to individual projects.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the total number of art schools already closed or under notice of closure by local education authorities.

In the last three years one art school has been closed. Another is under notice to close.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (1) the most recent figures available for the number of full-time art students;

In 1955–56 there were 11,515 full-time students attending art schools and colleges maintained or aided by local education authorities. The corn' parable figure for 1949–50 was 14,577, of whom 2,843 were receiving grants under the Further Education and Training Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what basis compensation will be awarded to British subjects who have been expelled from and have sustained loss in Egypt.

The Prime Minister hopes to make a full statement in the course of the next few days. I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement concerning progress in clearing the Suez Canal; and what steps are being taken to ensure freedom of passage for British ships, after clearance, in accordance with the Treaty of 1888.

The latest information I have from the United Nations, who are responsible for clearing the Canal, is that work on stage 1 for ships up to 10,000 tons is up to schedule, and should therefore be completed at the beginning of March.Freedom of passage for all ships without discrimination, as provided by the 1888 Convention, and insulation of the Canal from the politics of any country, are two of the six principles adopted by the Security Council on 13th October and accepted by Egypt. It is our aim and expectation, and that of the United Nations, that the Canal should be so operated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date the State of Bahrain became a part of Her Majesty's Dominions; what is now the status of its ruler and its legislative and judicial organs; and what is their relationship to the Crown and to Her Majesty's Government.

Bahrain has never been a part of Her Majesty's Dominions, and its status remains that of an independent, protected State. His Highness the Ruler of Bahrain has treaty relations with Her Majesty's Government which date to the early nineteenth century. The most important of the treaties are dated 1880 and 1892. By usage and agreement, cases concerning certain classes of persons are heard in Her Majesty's courts. The law which is applied in these courts is prescribed by Orders-in-Council and Queen's Regulations made thereunder. Jurisdiction and legislative powers over all other persons are vested in the Ruler.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the names of the three Bahraini nationals now in course of transfer to St. Helena for detention; on what date they left Bahrain; on what date they arrived, or will arrive, in St. Helena; what is the nature of their sentence; of what crimes they have been convicted; and by whose judgment.

The names of the three persons concerned are Abdul Rahman Al Bakir, Abdul Aziz Shemlan and Abdul Ali Alaiwat. They left Bahrain on 28th December and arrived in St. Helena on 27th January. They were all sentenced by His Highness the Ruler's Court to terms of 14 years' imprisonment, after being found guilty on charges connected with their activities in the self-constituted body, the former Bahrain Committee of National Union. The main charges were that the members of the Committee did various unlawful acts with intent

asked the Paymaster-General to make a statement on the supplies of small sizes of iron and mild steel normally used by rural craftsmen; and what steps he is taking to see that these supplies will be maintained.

An inquiry made towards the end of 1956 showed that production of small sizes of iron and steel had increased by 20 per cent. over the level of production a year earlier when prices for these products were increased. The Iron and Steel Board consider that no special measures are needed at present to maintain supplies of these small sizes.

asked the Minister of Health when the Royal Commission on Mental Illness was set up; what is the final date on which evidence was taken; and when the Report can be expected.

It was appointed on 20th February, 1954. It last took oral evidence on 27th July, 1955. I cannot say when it will report, but it will be as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health from what sources he inquired about the effect of moulded rubber footwear in respect of foot ailments; and what advice he received on the use of synthetic materials in this connection.

Advice was sought from consultants in dermatology and orthopaedic surgery. No distinction was made in this advice between synthetic materials and natural rubber, or a mixture of the two.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the public health inspector of the Lowestoft Borough Council has recently condemned a quantity of cake as being unfit for human consumption by reason of the fact that Chinese frozen eggs used in the preparation of the cake had indicated a potential danger to public health; and what steps he proposes to take to control the import of Chinese eggs in order to safeguard health.

I understand the cake had a tainted flavour from the egg used but was not examined for infection. My Department keeps in touch with the importers of egg products from abroad and port health and other local authorities, who have powers to deal with unsound food, have been asked to pay particular attention to these products.

asked the Minister of Health how many students at present in British dental schools are from the Commonwealth and how many from foreign countries; and how many he estimates will practise in this country after qualifying.

The number from Commonwealth and foreign countries in English dental schools are 109 and 113, respectively. I cannot estimate how many will practise in this country after qualifying.

asked the Minister of Health the number of mental defectives detained in hospitals and colonies at the appropriately convenient date in each year over the past ten years, and then at five-yearly intervals prior to that as far back as the inception of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Air the date on which No. 61 Squadron, Royal Air Force, arrived in Cyprus; and what were the dates on which pilots serving in that squadron were first briefed on the carrying out of attacks on targets situated on Egyptian territory and on Israeli territory, respectively.

The squadron arrived in Cyprus in the latter half of October. Pilots were first briefed to carry out attacks on military targets in Egypt on 31st October. The question of briefing for attacks on Israeli targets did not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of primary, secondary and technical schools in the Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone and the number of African students from the Colony and Protectorate, respectively, at present studying in the United Kingdom.

There are 88 primary schools, 12 secondary schools and two technical schools in the Colony of Sierra Leone, and 377, 11 and two, respectively, in the protectorate. Figures are not available of the domicile of all the 765 Sierra Leonean students in the United Kingdom, but of those awarded Government Scholarships 91 come from the Colony and 37 from the Protectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Prisoners Removal (Bahrain and St. Helena) Order, 1956, will be laid before Parliament.

I have been asked to reply.The Prisoners Removal (Bahrain and St. Helena) Order, 1956, was made under Section 4 of the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1869. Orders made under this Act do not require to be laid before Parliament. But copies of the Order were available within 48 hours of its being made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities have made application to him under Section 5 of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956; in which cases, when, and for what increases, he has given directions under that Section; and what is the total amount of additional Exchequer subsidy involved, to the latest convenient date.

Fourteen have applied. They are: Barrow-in-Furness, Bootle and Smethwick County Borough Councils; Aylesbury Borough Council; Ashby Woulds, Canvey Island, Cwmamman, Dawley, Guisborough, Machynlleth and Mynyddislwyn Urban District Councils; Hay, Newcastle Emlyn and Upton-uponSevern Rural District Councils. The applications from Ashby Woulds Urban District Council and Upton-upon-Severn Rural District Council have been rejected. The remainder are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much of the new total rateable value for England and Wales classified as miscellaneous in Command Paper No. 9718 will be subject to the reduction proposed in Clause 1 of the Rating and Valuation Bill.

About £137 millions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in what proportion the reduction of rateable value proposed by Clause 1 of the Rating and Valuation Bill will be distributed among the classes of hereditaments tabulated in Command Paper No. 9718.

About three-eighths of the total to the "Shops" class, and five-eighths to the "Miscellaneous".

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what progress has been made with the distribution of the proceeds of Japanese assets announced on 26th November last.

The United Kingdom's share under Article 16 of the Peace Treaty with Japan amounting to £1,439,870 was received from the International Committee of the Red Cross shortly after the announcement on 26th November last. Immediate steps were taken to distribute the money and payable orders have been despatched in 57,366 cases, most of them before Christmas.In order to save the beneficiaries from having to apply personally, and to save time, the payable orders were sent to them at the last address they had given. In 1,275 cases where they have apparently changed their addresses without notifying the Department it is not possible at present to redirect the orders. There may also be some eligible people who had not applied for their shares under the earlier distributions. It is important that any ex-prisoner or civilian internee who has not yet received his share should write (if he has not already done so) to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, Thames House, Mill-bank, S.W.1, as soon as possible, and in any event not later than the 30th June next.