asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education, which education authorities have dispensed with intelligence tests as part of the procedure in the selection for secondary education.

As far as my noble Friend's information goes, the following local education authorities are known not to use an intelligence test in selecting pupils for secondary schools:

• Essex.
• Hertfordshire.
• Rutland.
• Gloucester (C.B.).
• Leicester (C.B.).
• Southampton.
• Anglesey.
• Caernarvonshire.
• Cardiganshire.
• Carmarthenshire.
• Denbighshire.
• Flintshire.
• Glamorgan.
• Merionethshire.
• Radnorshire.

In some cases intelligence tests may still be used by primary schools in these areas in forming their own assessments of their pupils, which may be taken into account in the process of selection.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what conclusions have been reached on the representations which have been made to him about fees for lip-reading classes by the National Institute for the Deaf and the British Association for the Hard of Hearing.

Lip-reading classes meet a special need of handicapped people and merit exceptional treatment. My noble Friend has therefore decided that, with effect from next autumn, he will not expect local education authorities to charge higher fees for these classes than they were charging before the issue of Circular 307 last June.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the Sections of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, which have come into operation by Order made by him and the relevant dates and a list of the dates, where determined, for the coming into operation of other Sections.

The dates of coming into operation of provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, under the relevant Commencement Orders Nos. 1 and 2 of 1956 and Nos. 3 and 4 of 1957, are as follows:—

Section	Date of coming into operation
4—subsection (1)	1st October, 1956
4—subsection (2)	1st July, 1957
4—latter part of subsection (6)	1st March, 1957
4—subsections (8), (9) and (10)	1st July, 1957
5	1st January, 1957
6	1st January, 1957
7	1st November, 1956
8	1st November, 1956
9	1st November, 1956
10	1st November, 1956
11	1st November, 1956
12	1st November, 1956
14	1st November, 1956
15	1st January, 1957
16	1st October, 1956
17	1st March, 1957
19	1st January, 1957
20	1st January, 1957
21	1st January, 1957
22	1st January, 1957
23	1st January, 1957
24	1st January, 1957
26 (excluding that part of subsection (1) which relates to section 46 (2) of Road Traffic Act, 1930)	1st November, 1956
27	1st November, 1956
28	1st November, 1956
29	1st November, 1956
30	1st November, 1956
31	1st November, 1956
32	1st November, 1956
35	1st March, 1957
36	1st April, 1957
37	1st March, 1957
38	1st March, 1957
39	1st October, 1956
40	1st October, 1956
41	1st January, 1957
42	1st April, 1957
43	1st November, 1956
44	1st November, 1956
45	1st October 1956

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will authorise in this financial year the new Marden Bridge, Whitley Bay, which has top priority on the list of Northumberland County Council projects requiring his assent.

I regret that I cannot authorise this project in the current financial year. I am aware, however, of the importance which the Northumberland County Council attach to it, and I will give it full consideration in drawing up the programme for the coming year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to ensure that local authorities carrying out demolition work approved by him shall be compelled also to carry out site clearance on completion of demolition.

I am not aware of any failure on the part of local authorities to carry out site clearance following demolition.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date he received a communication from the town clerk of West Ham concerning.the Government's Rent Bill; and whether he will publish in HANSARD this letter and the nature of his reply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in HANSARD a copy of the letter he has received from the town clerk of West Ham, regarding the Government's Rent Bill and his reply thereto.

A letter from the town clerk of West Ham, dated 5th February, was received on the following day, and a reply has been sent. I do not propose to publish the correspondence, but have no objection to its being published by the town clerk if so desired.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments have been investigated and reported on by the Treasury's Organisation and Methods Department; which of their recommendations have been put into practice; and what savings in manpower, paper and other consumable stores, floor space, and money, have resulted.

The Treasury Organisation and Methods Division has existed under that name since 1941 and is responsible for advising upwards of 50 Departments. I am afraid that I cannot attempt in reply to a Parliamentary Question to summarise the results of their work or put a figure to the savings they have effected in all these years over so wide a field.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the rates of interest chargeable to local authorities borrowing from the Local Loans Fund.

A Treasury Minute made today provides that loans advanced to local authorities from the Local Loans Fund on and after 16th February, 1957, until further notice shall carry the following rates of interest:

	Per cent.
Loans for not more than 5 years	5¼
Loans for more than 5 years but not more than 15 years	5½
Loans for more than 15 years	5½

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the concern felt by outdoor and cold-house growers of tomatoes in the county of Kent at the prospect of an increased importation of tomatoes from Spain, particularly the Alicante district; and if he will take steps to ensure that these imports will not be allowed to spoil the market for our growers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my predecessor gave to him on 21st December last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the totals of betting upon horse racing for the year ended 31st December, 1956, conducted by the totalisator.

£25,632,252.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will name the companies to whom licences have been granted to search for oil in the British Caribbean.

The companies to whom licences have been granted to search for oil in British Territories in the Caribbean area and the Territories in which they are operating are, according to my information: