asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the proposed efforts of the Rolls-Royce Company to seek orders from China for diesel engines, British manufacturers of diesel engines will now be permitted to export them to China.

The export of all diesel engines to China is subject to the embargo, but applications for licences are considered on their merits within the limitations of the exceptions procedure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what legislation regarding alteration of the laws concerning hire-purchase finance, as foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech, is now contemplated; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the statement which was made in the Gracious Speech on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to give a reply to the recent representations made on behalf of the gloving industry.

I hope to reply shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of imports into the United Kingdom in the years 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively, of goods which were subjected to the key industries duty; and how this total was divided between different products as classified officially in Lists 1-8, and between the areas of origin of the Messina Powers, other Organisation of European Economic Co-operation countries, sterling area countries, dollar area countries, and the remainder of the world, respectively.

The total value of these goods imported and retained for home use, including goods admitted to preference, was £11 million in 1954. Such details of the products making up this total as are available appear on pages 43-47 of the Supplement to Volume II of "The Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom with Commonwealth and Foreign Countries 1954". No analysis by areas of origin of these imports is available. Figures for 1955 and 1956 are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the official estimate of the value of the domestic production of all goods protected by the key industries duty for the years 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively; and how this total was divided among the different products as classified in the key industries duty Lists 1-8 inclusive.

Information is not available in sufficient detail to allow reliable estimates to be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of British imports in the years 1954, 1955 and 1956 which benefited from imperial preference; and how this total was divided according to country of origin, and according to category of product, respectively.

Much detailed information about net imports admitted to preference and retained for home use is published in the supplement to Volume II of "The Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Commonwealth and Foreign Countries 1954" and in the "Annual Report of the Commissioners of H.M. Customs & Excise for the years ended 31st March, 1954, and 1955," while Volume II of the Statement analyses total imports of each commodity by principal countries of consignment. I regret, however, that statistics in the form requested are not available, and could not be prepared without a disproportionate amount of labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many premium bonds have been sold in Scotland during each of the last six months.

Premium Bonds were sold in Scotland to the value of £3,075,321 in November, £385,498 in December. I will send the hon. Member the figure for January as soon as it is known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the cost, to the latest available date, of administering the Premium Bond Scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 5th February to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson).

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the annual cost of sending out the notices by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise in respect of Purchase Tax.

The cost of printing these notices last year was about £5,000. It is not possible to estimate the cost of distributing them since the work involved is done by the local staff of the Department as part of the general administration of the tax.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why notices in respect of Purchase Tax sent out by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise are so complicated; and what proposals he has for simplifying or abolishing them.

They are inevitably complicated because of the many different subjects with which they have to deal. They are essential to the traders concerned who are responsible for charging the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the 6s. 9d. per week or £17 11s. a year paid as contributions to National Insurance is free from Income Tax; and what would be the amount of tax relief in the case of a married man with £10 per week, and a married man with £40 per week arising from the insurance contribution.

The portion of the National Insurance contribution of 6s. 9d. payable by an adult male employee which is allowable as a deduction for tax purposes is 4s. 4d. per week or £11 6s. 8d. a year. The corresponding reduction in tax in the case of a married man without children with an income wholly earned, of £520 (£10 per week) is £2 2s. 9d. and for an earned income of £2,080 (£40 a week) is £6 6s. 0d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing, for each of the years from 1951 until the latest convenient stated date, the additional cost per annum to the nation which has resulted from the Government increasing the Bank Rate; and whether in such tables he will show the estimated increase on each occasion when the Bank Rate was increased.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state his present plans for continuing and extending the supply to Hungarian and other refugees of dehydrated food from his Department's experimental factory at Aberdeen.

I have no such plans. The small quantity recently given to the Women's Voluntary Service happened to be available from an experimental process which is now obsolete.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the approximate number of Norway spruce under the age of 15 years sold by the Forestry Commission during the last six months of 1956.

About 60,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern felt by the Warwickshire farming community regarding his intention to withdraw the seven pest destruction officers of their county; and, in view of the value of this service, particularly with respect to rat destruction, whether he will reconsider the matter.

No decision has been made to withdraw these officers, and any future decision would be reached only after consultation with local agricultural interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amounts are allocated from the Exchequer in respect of research projects for agriculture and fisheries, respectively, during the present financial year; and what were the corresponding amounts for the previous year.

I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix A to the Memorandum by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, published in the Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments for the years ending 31st March, 1956 and 1957, respectively, which include details of the provision made from Government funds for agricultural and fisheries research and development in these years. For convenience, I am sending the hon. Member appropriate extracts from these documents.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of officers in his Department who are concerned with the licensing of bulls; what other work these officers perform; and what is the estimated annual cost of bull licensing in salaries and other expenses.

Eighty livestock husbandry advisory officers of my Department inspect bulls for licensing. They also undertake a wide variety of other work connected with the improvement of livestock and advise farmers on livestock husbandry matters. The estimated annual cost of bull licensing after allowing for receipts from fees is £39,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number and proportion of bulls rejected to bulls inspected by licensing officers in recent years.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to make a statement on the Report of the Heneage Committee on Land Drainage; and which of the recommendations Her Majesty's Government accept.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce his plans to improve agricultural drainage.

My right hon. Friend is not yet able to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes) on 6th December last, but he will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is still his intention to close the Wissington Light Railway in July next; and whether an adequate public highway will be provided in time to take the sugar beet to the Wissington sugar factory for next season's crop.

Yes. My right hon. Friend understands that road facilities are adequate to deal with the extra traffic to the sugar beet factory: and that the British Sugar Corporation propose to build an elevated roadway at their Wissington factory to enable them to receive additional beet by road before the next campaign begins.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is estimated the rabbit population is becoming immune to the effect of myxomatosis; what reports he has now received of areas in which rabbits have reappeared after having been apparently eliminated.

While there is no evidence that the rabbit population is developing an inherent resistance to myxomatosis, I must stress that myxomatosis alone can never get rid of this pest. Rabbits are reappearing in small numbers in most areas of the country, and I would urge all concerned to intensify their drive against rabbits during the next few weeks before cover has grown again.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to implement his policy on slaughterhouses presented in May, 1956.

A Bill is being drafted to give effect to the proposals in the White Paper (Cmd. 9761) and will be introduced as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement in respect to the sugar situation and the prospects for the remainder of the year.

Home prices have been affected recently by fluctuations in the world price of sugar due mainly to the disappearance of the surpluses which have existed in recent years. Supplies of sugar for home consumption in 1957 should be ample: there has been a good beet crop and our Commonwealth supplies are assured under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what action he is taking to promote research into the design and reconstruction of farm buildings.

The Agricultural Research Council are at present giving this matter close attention. In consultation with my own Department and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, they are setting up a Committee, consisting mainly of persons with technical qualifications, to co-ordinate the work already in progress at various research centres and to recommend further new lines of investigation. It is hoped that this Committee will hold its first meeting early next month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what means the post of secretary to the provisional Egg Marketing Board was publicly advertised before an appointment was made; and what terms, as to length of contract, were offered to the appointed secretary.

This is entirely a domestic matter for the Board and is not one on which my right hon. Friend could give the hon. Member any information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the leaflets issued on behalf of the Egg Marketing Board in connection with the proposed ballot state that the Government scheme for guaranteed markets will shortly end and that the scheme on which they will be invited to vote is the only alternative; and what action he took to make it clear that if the producers do not accept the present scheme, it does not necessarily follow that another proposal, also guaranteeing markets at stable prices, is not possible.

The N.F.U.s have been informed that a guarantee through a deficiency payments scheme is practicable; and this alternative is mentioned in leaflets issued by the Egg Marketing Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that in the statement issued by the Egg Marketing Board it is stated that producers with under 51 head of poultry must register if they wish in the future to sell any eggs at the packing stations; if he is satisfied that this is in accordance with the assurances given by his Department when the scheme was agreed; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the statement issued by the Egg Marketing Board about the registration of producers with less than 51 head of poultry. The conditions under which the guarantee is to be made available to these small producers have been the subject of discussion with the Board and it has now been agreed in principle that they will be included in a separate section of the register if they wish to send eggs to packing stations and obtain the guarantee.Arrangements will however be made for their exemption from the main marketing provisions of the Scheme, excepting any levy that may be payable on eggs sent to packing stations.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now introduce legislation to amend the Truck Acts so that employers can pay wages by cheque.

I am still considering what should be done in the light of the views expressed by the National Joint Advisory Council on 23rd January.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the prospects of maintaining the present level of employment among aircraft workers in Coventry.

One firm has already announced that a reduction of its labour force will be necessary. So far as I know, no other substantial decreases in employment are in prospect.

asked the Minister of Labour the present figure of unemployment in Dundee; what percentage change this represents compared with the same period a year ago; and in which trades the changes in unemployment have taken place.

3,024 at 14th January, 1957, an increase of 22 per cent. compared with 16th January, 1956. The industries showing the largest increases were printing, engineering, batteries and accumulators, distribution, preserving of fruit and vegetables and jute. There was a reduction in the ship-building and ship-repairing industry.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent unemployment or short time has increased in the Leyton area due to petrol rationing and the Dagenham industrial dispute, respectively.

About 150 men and women registered at Leyton Employment Exchange are thought to be unemployed as a result of petrol rationing, and short-time working affecting 140 is attributed to the same cause. Men and women unemployed as a result of the industrial dispute at Dagenham have registered at the Dagenham Employment Exchange and it is not possible to identify the Leyton residents amongst them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will appoint a court of inquiry into the present dispute at Messrs. Briggs, Dagenham, with powers to consider the causes of the continual disputes there.

I do not rule out the possibility of such an inquiry but it would not be appropriate at the moment because the dispute which led to the recent strike is still being dealt with under the procedure agreed between the management and the trade unions. I will keep the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to receive the Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexuality and Prostitution.

I am informed that the Committee are making progress in the drafting of their report, but I cannot at present say with any certainty when it will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will simplify the procedure and official requirements for no-passport pleasure trips to the Continent in 1957.

It has recently been agreed, in consultation with the operating companies, that arrangements for no-passport excursions in 1957 should be on the same lines as in 1956. I do not know what measures of simplification my hon. Friend has in mind, but I am willing to consider any suggestions that are consistent with adequate control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the air-raid shelter at Long Lawford is situated at a road junction, causing congestion of traffic at times, and occupies a good building site; and whether he will give permission for its demolition.

I am informed that this shelter stands on the highway verge and does not hinder traffic. I would agree to the demolition of the shelter if specific plans for the development of the land behind it would otherwise be prejudiced, but I understand that there are at present no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to enable the banning of smoking in cinemas, theatres and public transport.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the Metropolitan Police, in civilian dress, stop people in daylight and challenge them as to the contents of any bags or parcels they may be carrying.

Under Section 66 of the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839, a constable has power within the Metropolitan Police District to stop, search and detain a person reasonably suspected of having or conveying anything stolen or unlawfully obtained. This power is not restricted to constables in uniform or to the hours of darkness.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from trade organisations complaining about the proposal in the Shops Bill to advance the closing-time of shops by one hour.

I have received a number of representations that a later hour should be allowed for the sale of confectionery. Two trade organisations—the National Federation of Off-Licence Holders Associations and the Slough Chamber of Commerce—have protested against the proposal to advance the general closing time of shops by one hour. Ten national trade organisations have represented that the general closing time should be advanced by two hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the particulars supplied to him by the hon. Member for Carlisle, he will appoint an inquiry to consider the complaints of the public house managers of the Carlisle State Management Scheme.

Yes. I have appointed Mr. C. S. S. Burt, Q.C., to hold an inquiry at Carlisle into certain allegations made by the Civil Service Union.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the Carlisle State Management Scheme started as an experiment in 1919 and has had no review of a general nature since that made by the Southborough Committee in 1926, he will arrange for a general review of the scheme to be made at an early date.

The last general review of the scheme was by the Royal Commission on Licensing 1929-31 which reported favourably on it. I do not think there are any grounds for any further general review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce legislation to implement the Gowers Report in respect of office workers.

I am not in a position to say when it will be possible to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many comprehensive schools are now in existence; how many are in course of erection; and in which local authority areas they are.

On 31st December, 1956, there were 37 comprehensive schools in existence and 11 under construction. The following is the Answer to the last part of the Question:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many new primary and secondary schools were under construction at the latest date for which figures are available; and how these figures compare with those for one year and two years ago, respectively.

The following is the Answer:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many new school places were provided in primary and secondary schools in 1956.

107,600 primary places and 130,600 secondary places were taken into use in 1956. These totals included 39,700 primary and 20,400 secondary places provided by "minor works", i.e., extensions costing less than £10,000 each.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if he is satisfied that the necessary increases in the numbers of mathematics and science graduates on the teaching staff of secondary maintained schools between now and 1961 will be achieved; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend is by no means satisfied on this point. He will wish to consider how the rate of increase can be improved in consultation with the local education authorities, the universities and other employers of science graduates; but he is not yet in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the number of new places brought into use in secondary schools in Wales during 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively; and whether he will make a statement.

The figures for the four years in question were 3,400, 7,170, 2,710 and 3,790 respectively. These totals included 320, 1,050, 970 and 1,210 places respectively provided by "minor works", i.e. extensions costing less than £10,000 each.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether arrangements can be made to provide school children in Dagenham with free milk during school holidays when their parents are in receipt of unemployment insurance or similar assistance.

No. Under the current Regulations it is not open to local education authorities to make such arrangements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what steps have been taken to obtain the participation of the Welsh National Folk Museum in the National Museum of Wales Schools Service; and whether he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Museum Schools Service Committee which I understand has in fact had this point under consideration. It has not yet found it possible to do what the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many places for art students there are in technical schools, colleges and universities; how many there were a year ago; and how many are planned for the future.

In the academic year 1955-56 there were 11,515 full-time students in art schools and colleges and art departments in technical colleges. The figures for this year are not yet available. There is spare accommodation in a number of areas, but I have no precise details. Projects for ten art colleges and a number of art departments of technical colleges have been approved for starting in the period 1955-59. Some will replace existing premises and others will provide additional facilities for industrial design, printing and architecture. Corresponding information for the universities is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he has yet considered the report presented by the Liverpool City Architect and Director of Housing, and of the City Building Surveyor, to the Liverpool Housing Committee on 17th January, 1957, a copy of which has been sent to him, on the standard of construction on the corporation housing estates; and, in view of the admission contained in it of bad workmanship on current contracts, what action he proposes to take to protect the public interest in regard to such contracts, which have been the subject of Exchequer grants on the authority of his Department;(2) whether, in view of the anxiety caused by the report presented by the Liverpool City Architect and Director of Housing to the Liverpool Housing Committee on 17th January, 1957, he will order an inquiry into the allegations of bad workmanship in the construction of corporation dwellings under the authority of his department.

I have read the reports which were sent to me by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland (Mr. Logan). The matters raised appear to be entirely the business of the Liverpool Corporation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give details of the deputations received by him, or his Department, on the Rent Bill; and if he will state the nature of his replies.

I have received no deputation. One from the Key Flats (Maida Vale) Tenants' Association was received by officers of my Department on 9th January. It was informed that its views would be conveyed to the Minister, and that has been done. It was also given an assurance, subsequently confirmed in writing, that the intention of the Bill was not to interfere with the present right of a statutory successor to succeed to the tenancy of a house remaining in control.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recommendations have been received from the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire about water supplies in Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

In response to an invitation from my predecessor as Minister of Housing and Local Government, the Council submitted to him the following conclusions reached by its Rural Development Panel:

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to ensure that cuts in arms expenditure are so carried out as to take effect in areas where the minimum of unemployment is likely to be caused.

When cuts in arms expenditure are under consideration, regard is paid to the effect which they will have on employment and my right hon. Friend keeps in close contact with his right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and President of the Board of Trade in this connection. If, however, particular cuts must be made, there is often limited choice as to where they will fall.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement on his recent visit to Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my reply on 6th February to a Question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson).

asked the Minister of Health what payment has been made out of Government funds for the poliomyelitis vaccine used in May and June, 1956, and in December, 1956; and whether payment is based on the number of doses issued, or how is it calculated.

Poliomyelitis vaccine is supplied under contract, and payment is based on the amount, in litres, of acceptable vaccine supplied. I regret that it would not be in accord with normal practice to furnish the figures of payments desired by the hon. Member.