asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many voluntary schemes of improvement works in land drainage have qualified for grant aid under Section 15 of the Agriculture Act, 1937; and if he will list the various county councils who have acted as the statutory land drainage authority in this way.

Since 1937 3,452 land drainage improvement schemes, the majority of which were voluntary, have been submitted by county councils and approved for grant. During this period all county councils, with the exception of Somerset, Brecon, Denbigh and Radnor, have at some time submitted schemes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many voluntary schemes for improvement works have qualified for aid under Section 15 of the Agriculture Act, 1936, in respect of land drainage, giving such information by counties.

To date 12,703 schemes have been approved for grant aid under Section 15 of the Agriculture Act, 1937. Of these 9,251 schemes, estimated to cost £11·34 million, were submitted by internal drainage authorities; and 3,452, estimated to cost £1·18 million, by county councils, Departmental records do not distinguish voluntary schemes from others; nor is it possible to break down all these figures on a county basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pending the report of the inquiry into the export of cattle to the Continent, he will state what further action has been taken to ensure the humane treatment of live cattle in transit; and whether his information shows any present diminution in this traffic and a corresponding increase of the export of slaughtered carcases.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have made the Exported Cattle Protection Order, 1957, which comes into operation on 26th February. This requires cattle being exported to the Continent to be rested for at least 10 hours and to be provided with food and water on approved premises at or near the place of embarkation. The Order will be strictly enforced, and every effort will be made to ensure that no unfit animal is exported. There are indications of a reduction in exports of cattle since the peak last November and December, but not of a further increase in exports of carcase meat, which also reached their peak then.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet entered into an agreement with Lady Garbett, as provided for by Section 18 (2) of the Agriculture Act, 1947; and what payments have been made to her in respect of rent.

Lady Garbett recently brought an action seeking to establish that my occupation of her land was unlawful. This necessarily held up negotiations for a tenancy agreement under Section 18 of the Agriculture Act. The court having now dismissed Lady Garbett's claim, negotiations for an agreement will be pursued. Meanwhile no payment by way of rent has been asked for or tendered.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest number of people unemployed at Rugby; and how this figure compares with figures twelve months ago for men and women, respectively.

127 males and 83 females at 11th February, compared with 116 males and 38 females at 13th February, 1956.

asked the Minister of Labour by what amount he anticipates that the number of deferments of military service will be increased during the next three years as a result of the regulations laid before Parliament on 12th February. 1957.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his statement on 12th February, his intention in amending the Postponement Regulations was to liberalise their operation, but he cannot anticipate how many men will apply for postponement or what effect the revised Regulations will have on the number of men whose call up is postponed on grounds of exceptional hardship.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as several years have now passed since the Select Committee reported on Members' salaries, and many changes have taken place in the cost of living and the expenses incurred by Members in carrying out their duties to the State, he will now move to appoint a Select Committee to see to what extent the previous Report should be amended or brought up to date.

No. I do not think a Select Committee would help us in finding the right answer to this problem.

—				1952	1953	1954	1955	1956
Approved schools
Abscondings	…	…	…	2,018	1,779	1,491	1,900	2,273
Corporal punishments	…	…	…	3,417	3,552	3,312	3,082	3,078
Average population	…	…	…	9,333	9,068	8,091	7,254	6,823
Remand homes
Abscondings	…	…	…	637	457	367	297	278
Corporal punishments	…	…	…	403	405	281	266	276
Average population	…	…	…	992	766	645	628	624

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendation contained in paragraph 19 of the Boundary Commission's Report, Command Paper No. 9311.

Consultations on this matter have not been completed and I regret that I am not in a position to say when it will be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Act of 1928 for regulating the date of Easter Day will be brought into operation.

The Government could not consider bringing into force this Act, which fixes Easter Day as the first Sunday after the second Saturday in April, until they were satisfied that the general body of Christian opinion favours it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many abscondings from remand homes and approved schools occurred during 1956; in how many instances corporal punishment was inflicted in those institutions during that year; and whether, in both instances, this shows an increase or decrease on previous years.

The following is a table giving these figures for each of the years 1952 to 1956, together with figures of the average populations of approved schools and remand homes in each year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by members of the Prison Officers' Association at the delay in settling a pay claim made by the Association on 31st October last; and if he will take steps to ensure that negotiations are conducted at a reasonable pace.

Yes. I am sorry that on this occasion the negotiations have been somewhat protracted. This was largely due to the decision of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself to appoint a Departmental Committee to review not only the pay but all other conditions of service of the staffs concerned. Meanwhile negotiations have been proceeding on an interim offer of a 3 per cent. increase of pay on purely economic grounds, on which the Prison Officers' Association have now received a final offer from the Prison Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds Her Majesty's Government have decided not to admit Hungarian refugees who escaped to Yugoslavia as the nearest border country, in contrast to its policy with regard to Hungarian refugees now in Austria.

The United Kingdom is not an immigration country and had already made, before the Hungarian uprising, a considerable contribution towards the liquidation of the refugee problem in Europe. In agreeing nevertheless to the reception of a large number of Hungarian refugees from Austria, Her Majesty's Government had regard not only to the plight of refugees but also to the intolerable burden that the enormous influx from Hungary was placing upon the Austrian authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance Scotland Yard is giving in response to the request of the local police in their investigations into the theft of 800 sticks of gelignite from a quarry near Plymouth.

It would not be in the public interest to give details of any assistance given by the Metropolitan Police Force to another police force in the investigation of crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending the law to increase the deposit which has to be made by Parliamentary candidates from £150 to £1,000.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of employees of his Department, including the Metropolitan Police, working in the House of Commons, who have not received an increase in their wages or salaries since the date when Members of Parliament commenced to receive sessional allowances.

The Home Office has no staff employed in the House of Commons. All ranks of the Metropolitan Police have received an increase in pay since July, 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was spent on civil defence in the financial years 1952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, and 1956–57, respectively.

Expenditure on civil defence falling on the Votes of the Home Departments in the years in question was as follows:

			£
1952–53	…	…	13,445,802
1953–54	…	…	15,226,302
1954–55	…	…	14,610,044
1955–56	…	…	10,859,236
1956–57	…	…	9,829,689 (estimated)

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what steps he intends to take to encourage the appreciation of poetry in schools.

:"The honourable Gentleman should knowPoetry's garden must untended grow.Though precept's good, example's better stillFor those who climb Parnassus' stony hill.So let the example of my noble FriendTo English verse fresh inspiration lend."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he will make a statement on the proposed pension scheme for widows and children and dependants of teachers.

My noble Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on this matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education, when he intends to invite proposals from local education authorities for building programmes for 1958.

Letters were sent to local education authorities last Friday.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what instruction is given to children for the purpose of teaching them what sort of food is good for them; whether he will issue a circular encouraging the promotion of such instruction; and whether he will recommend that any such instruction shall bring to their attention the nourishing qualities of herrings, both fresh and kippered.

The handbook on Health Education which has just been published by my Department includes a chapter on nutrition and food designed to help teachers in dealing with this matter. There is a reference to herrings on page 117, but not to kippers. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the handbook.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what advice he has issued to schools in regard to instructing children on the relationship between cigarette smoking and cancer of the lung and warning them of possible dangers.

Chapter 13 of the revised edition of my Department's handbook on Health Education contains a section on this matter. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has now collected the replies from Commonwealth countries in regard to the Commonwealth investments; and whether he proposes to publish these replies in the form of a White Paper.

Replies from other Commonwealth Governments have not yet been received. Exchanges of views between Commonwealth Governments are normally confidential and their publication would detract from the frankness desirable in such exchanges. But the conclusions which the United Kingdom Government reach on the financing of economic development in the Commonwealth, in the light of the views of other Commonwealth Governments, will be communicated to the House.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that the Carnegie Corporation of New York has recently allocated the sum of $350,000 to provide books on the American way of life for public libraries in Commonwealth countries; and whether he will arrange in consultation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies for a comparable service of books illustrating the British way of life.

Yes. I am aware of the Carnegie Corporation's project. I understand that of the $350,000 allocated for 1955–56 half has already been spent and the balance is being carried forward into this year.In the majority of Commonwealth and Colonial countries libraries are already well stocked with British books. In certain Asian Commonwealth countries, however, where the public library system is less well developed, the British Council presents selections of books from time to time and in addition runs its own excellent and widely-used lending libraries. Assistance in particular is given both by the British Council and under the Colombo Plan to libraries in universities, colleges and schools. In Colonial Territories, where the cost of public libraries is met from local funds, financial assistance is, where appropriate, given through Colonial Development and Welfare grants. Circulation in Commonwealth countries of books dealing with the British way of life and British technical achievements is an important factor in maintaining the links between the United Kingdom and the peoples of our fellow Commonwealth countries, and my Department is always anxious to give such practical assistance as may be possible within the compass of the existing resources and opportunities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what percentage of United Kingdom imports are subject to physical quotas; what main categories of products are involved; and what would be the estimated increase in imports if these quotas were abolished;(2) what quantitative restrictions remain on imports from the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation countries; and what main categories of products are involved.

It is estimated that about one-eighth of our total imports are subject to quantitative control. For O.E.E.C. countries the proportion is

BRITISH FILMS—QUOTA FAILURES AND PROSECUTIONS
Year(a)		First Features			Supporting Programme
		Total failures	Total prosecutions	Average quota achievement	Total failures	Total prosecutions	Average quota achievement
				per cent.			per cent.
1951–52	…	1,042	15	27	1,901	11	24
1952–53	…	884	5	28	1,626	4	26
1953–54	…	734	9	29	1,116	8	28
1954–55	…	529	(b)	29	642	(b)	31
(a) The film quota year runs from 1st October-30th September.
(b) Proceedings have not yet been instituted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what particulars have to be given in applications for the registration of films as British films for quota purposes concerning the nature of the British labour employed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the numbers of prosecutions of film quota defaulters, and the proportions of film quota defaulters who were prosecuted, in each of the last five years.

The table below shows for the last four years the number of defaults and prosecutions. I have also included the average quota achievement. I will send the hon. Member details for the year 1955–56 as soon as they are available. The Cinematograph Films Acts, 1938 and 1948, recognise that some exhibitors will be unable to achieve their quota but will not be guilty of a quota offence.

The relevant provisions of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1938, are long and complicated. I am therefore sending the hon. Member copies of the application form and regulations prescribing the information which has to be given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the United Kingdom will ratify the Brussels Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention.

Neither ratification can take place until our copyright laws are changed by the coming into operation of the Copyright Act, 1956. It is the Government's intention to ratify these Conventions as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the necessary regulations will be made bringing into force the several parts of the Copyright Act, 1956.

I hope that, within the next few months, the necessary preliminary work on Regulations, Rules and Orders in Council will be completed. I propose to bring the Act into operation immediately thereafter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what physical quotas remain on the importation of fruit and vegetables from Europe; how such quotas are determined; and to what extent they vary from year to year.

There are quotas for imports of apples and pears from Western Europe and certain other non-dollar countries. The amounts, which were determined by balance of payments considerations, have remained at the following levels since 1954:

—		Quotas c.i.f.
		July to December	January to June
		£	£
Apples	…	500,000	2,500,000
Pears	…	1,175,000	230,000

Though not subject to any quota, imports of main crop potatoes have been limited to certain periods. In the past two years they were allowed without restriction on quantity in May and June, 1955, and from November, 1955, to June, 1956.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the latest purchasing value of the £ sterling in comparison with the £ having a purchasing value of £20s. on 1st October, 1951.

16s. 11d. in January, 1957. This estimate is based on the consumer price index brought up-to-date by reference to the Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the strictures passed by Mr. Justice Wynn-Parry when delivering judgment in the cases of Nagley v. Spilsbury, Inspector of Taxes, and Evans, Inspector of Taxes, v. Richardson; and whether he now proposes to amend the provisions of Schedule E of the Income Tax law to avoid the hardships to which attention has been drawn.

I have seen a report of these cases, which mentions some observations about the Schedule E expenses rule, but I cannot anticipate the outcome of my right hon. Friend's consideration of that Rule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, following the decision in the Chancery Division of the High Court in the cases Nagley v. Spilsbury and Evans v. Richardson, payments to civil servants in respect of subsistence allowance whilst on detached duty will be charged to Income Tax under Schedule E without allowances for expenses.

No. Different considerations apply. The tax factor has been taken into account in determining the amount of the liable allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the amount of dollars used for each of the last three years, to the latest convenient date, in purchasing United States drawings for use in periodicals, advertisements, and for other similar use.

I regret that separate figures of dollar expenditure on transactions of this sort are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of staff employed in the Prime Minister's office who have not received an increase in their salary since the date when the sessional allowance was introduced for Members of Parliament.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider calling a Commonwealth Conference to discuss the implications of a Common Market in Europe and its effect on the Commonwealth generally.

No. There is a continuing exchange of information and views on this subject between the United Kingdom Government and other Commonwealth Governments. There will be no lack of opportunity for further consultation as the situation develops.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will summarise the most recent views expressed to him by Dominion Governments on the desirability, so far as they are concerned, of Britain joining in the European Free Trade plan.

In the debate on 26th November last the Prime Minister, when Chancellor, informed the House that the initial reactions of other Commonwealth Governments had been friendly and sympathetic and that this had been confirmed by their more considered judgments. We have continued to exchange views with these Governments, and their attitudes have in general remained as described.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD a table showing the number and grades of civil servants, together with their present salary scale, who have not received an increase in their salaries since the stated date when Members of Parliament commenced to receive their sessional allowance; and on what date, and by what amounts, these civil servants last had their salaries increased.

To the best of my knowledge and belief there are no civil servants in this position. The date referred to is 24th May, 1954.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, arising out of the award of the new age allowance to war pensioners, he will introduce legislation to end the discrimination whereby National Assistance payments are reduced accordingly, thus denying the age benefit to the less well off.

I think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. There is no such discrimination as she suggests. My right hon. Friend has no proposals at present for legislation on the subject of National Assistance disregards, which at present, I think properly, give an appreciable preference to war pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has made to representations from the National Institute for the Deaf and the British Association for the Hard of Hearing, with regard to the charging of fees for lip-reading classes.

No such representations have been made to me. It was not intended that the Circular about changes in further education fees issued in June, 1956, should affect classes of this kind and I have no reason to suppose that it has done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of Government subsidies paid towards the building of local authority housing in each of the last eight financial years.

The total subsidies paid in these years to local authorities for houses built by them were as follows:

				To the nearest
				£1,000
1948–49	…	…	…	4,552,000
1949–50	…	…	…	5,388,000
1950–51	…	…	…	5,060,000
1951–52	…	…	…	5,447,000
1952–53	…	…	…	5,580,000
1953–54	…	…	…	6,993,000
1954–55	…	…	…	8,280,000
1955–56	…	…	…	9,327,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of subsidies paid to farmers in each of the last eight financial years.

The total amount of subsidies, including production grants, paid to farmers in Scotland in each of the last eight financial years was as follows:

Year				Amount
				£
1948–49	…	…	…	9,141,000
1949–50	…	…	…	9,462,000
1950–51	…	…	…	7,824,000
1951–52	…	…	…	6,816,000
1952–53	…	…	…	10,444,000
1953–54	…	…	…	12,415,000
1954–55	…	…	…	27,918,000
1955–56	…	…	…	27,358,000

The figures for 1954–55 and 1955–56 include payments in implementation of agricultural price guarantees in respect of cereals, fatstock, milk, eggs and potatoes. In the years prior to 1954–55 these commodities were accounted for by the Ministry of Food through a net Trading Account, and for these years it is not possible to provide separate figures for Scotland or to identify the element of subsidy to farmers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of prisoners convicted of offences in the Colonies who have in the last twelve months been brought to the United Kingdom to serve their sentences.

Twenty-six.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances, for what reason, and by virtue of what enactment, persons convicted in the Colonies of offences against emergency regulations in such Colonies have been brought to the United Kingdom to serve their sentences of imprisonment.

The only such persons brought to this country are certain convicted terrorists from Cyprus. In regard to the circumstances and relevant enactment, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) on 22nd November, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of children entitled to education at Government schools in Cyprus; and the number actually attending such schools during each month since April, 1955.

All children of elementary school age are so entitled. Monthly figures of attendance since April, 1955, are not readily available. Figures at various dates commencing 1st January, 1956, are supplied below:

1st January, 1956	…	…	73,500
1st March	…	…	30,300
1st June	…	…	45,800
1st October	…	…	74,000
1st December	…	…	73,850
1st February, 1957	…	…	69,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the security forces have been punished or discharged for ill treating Cypriot civilians since April, 1955; and if he will list the penalty awarded in each case.

Five. The penalties imposed were as follows:—

(1) £10 fine or one year's imprisonment. Required to resign from Police Force.

(2) 3 years' imprisonment.

(3) £25 fine. Required to resign from Police Force.

(4) and (5) Cashiered: reduced on appeal to dismissal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the security forces have been punished or discharged for indiscipline for showing sympathy with Cypriot civilians who complained of ill treatment.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Cypriote have been transferred from Cyprus to prisons in the United Kingdom

Name	Date of arrival	Offence	Sentence
H.M. Prison, Wormwood Scrubs
Georghios Thoma Ioannou	28.8.56	Possessing a revolver without a permit	Five years imprisonment
Renos Themistokli Kyriakides	28.8.56	Carrying a firearm	Twelve years imprisonment
Petros Savva Stylianou	28.8.56	Carrying a firearm, ammunition and grenades	Fifteen years imprisonment
Georghios Haralambos Skotinos	28.8.56	Carrying a firearm and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Loizos Evangelou Hji Loizou	28.8.56	Carrying a firearm and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Demetris Andoniou Philiastides—alias Kikis	28.8.56	Carrying a firearm and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Epifanios Ioannou Papandoniou	7.2.57	Carrying firearms and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Gregoris Louka	7.2.57	Possessing grenades, bombs, firearms and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Vias Ioannou Livadas	7.2.57	Possessing a bomb	Life imprisonment
Andreas Savva	7.2.57	Possessing bombs, grenades, firearms and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Athanasios Costa Sofocleous	7.2.57	Possessing bombs, grenades, firearms and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Nicolas Loizou	7.2.57	Possessing bombs, grenades, firearms and ammunition	Life imprisonment
Photis Christofi	7.2.57	Possessing bombs, grenades, firearms and ammunition	Life imprisonment
H.M. Prison, Wandsworth
Petros Nicou Hadjimitsis	9.3.56	(a) Theft	(a) Two years imprisonment
		(b) Attempted murder	(b) Life imprisonment

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Africans from each territory, respectively, who have been invited to take part in the Inter-African Labour Conference to be held at Lusaka in August; and how many Africans have taken part in the last four conferences.

The reason was given in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for St. Pancras. North (Mr. K. Robinson) on 22nd November last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in the United Kingdom in which Cypriote are now serving sentences; the names of the prisoners; the dates of their arrival; the length of the sentence; and the offence committed in each case.

I have been asked to reply. The information requested is as follows:

It is expected that the United Kingdom delegation will include employer and worker representatives from five African territories, but I cannot say at present how many Africans will be invited. As my right hon. Friend explained to the hon. Member in reply to a Question on 5th February, the composition of delegations from Member Governments other than the United Kingdom is entirely a matter for those Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish the terms of the ultimatum addressed by His Majesty's Government to Israel in 1949.

I would refer to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. G. Longden) on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the United Nations were consulted by His Majesty's Government before it addressed its ultimatum to Israel in 1949.

The United Nations were not consulted before His Majesty's Government communicated with the United States Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why an aircraft of the Royal Air Force was used to carry the Chief Justice of Cyprus to Malta in December last; what was the cost of this journey; and by what authority it was made.

The Chief Justice of Cyprus travelled to Malta at his own expense in a spare seat in a civil aircraft on regular charter to the Air Ministry. There was no scheduled civil flight at a time when he was free from his legal duties.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal in Regina versus Sharp and Regina versus Johnson, he will introduce legislation to enable the courts to deal effectively with those convicted of making an affray, instead of having to reply upon a Statute of Edward III enabling the courts to do no more than bind over the offenders as blemishers of the peace.

I have been asked to reply. In this case an appeal against conviction of making an affray succeeded on the ground of misdirection of the jury and the conviction was quashed. The members of the Court of Criminal Appeal then exercised their powers as justices of the peace to bind the appellants over to keep the peace. The case affords no ground for thinking that the powers of courts to deal with persons convicted of making an affray are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the cost of the Advisory Council for Wales and Monmouthshire for each year since its inception, with particular reference to secretarial expenses, travelling and subsistence allowances.

The secretarial expenditure on salaries includes that of the secretary to the conference of heads of Government Departments in Wales, but it is not possible to apportion the cost. No allowance has been made for common services, such as typing.The detailed cost is as follows:

—		Secretarial expenses		Members' expenses
		Salaries	Travelling etc.
		£	£	£
1949–50	…	873	22	569
1950–51	…	916	25	645
1951–52	…	1,008	76	1,094
1952–53	…	1,633	82	938
1953–54	…	1,914	10	359
1954–55	…	1,412	35	520
1955–56	…	1,767	130	737
1956–57 (estimated)	…	1,800	76	572

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to improve the status and recruitment of skilled radiographers, having regard to the preponderant rôle of diagnostic X-rays in causing background radiation, revealed by Command Paper No. 9780, and to the fact that it is on the skill of trained radiographers in adequate numbers that the reduction of unnecessary radiation from X-rays most depends.

The salaries of radiographers have recently been increased and their grading structure improved following an award of the Industrial Court. I am asking hospital boards for up-to-date information about the staffing of radiography departments and the annual intake of students to radiography schools. In the light of this information, I shall consider what further steps may be necessary to improve the recruitment of radiographers.