asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many recipients of retirement pensions, old-age pensions, service pensions and National Assistance, respectively, in Great Britain receive extra allowances for dependants; and how many recipients of National Assistance are not already in receipt of pensions.

The Answer to the second part of the Question is that 560,000 recipients of National Assistance are not receiving National Insurance retirement or non-contributory old-age pensions. The Answer to the first part of the Question is as follows:

	Beneficiaries receiving extra allowances for dependants
Retirement pensioners	90,000*
Non - contributory old - age pensioners	Not applicable†
War pensioners (including widow pensioners)	510,000‡
National Assistance	390,000‡ §
* In addition, some 760,000 wives receive retirement pensions through their husband's insurance.
† A separate pension is provided for wives in appropriate cases and about 20,000 are in payment.
‡ Estimated.
§ Overlaps other groups.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will consult with the information divisions of all Government Departments concerned with domestic policy to ensure that adequate information about such matters as pensions, health, and education is readily available to Her Majesty's Welsh-speaking subjects in all parts of the Principality.

It is the practice of my right hon. Friends the Minister of Education, the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance and the Minister of Health to issue in Welsh a wide range of information on these matters. Information material in Welsh is also prepared by the Central Office of Information. If the hon. Gentleman has in mind a particular need for additional material. I will see that it is examined.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will now announce his plans to extend and develop the programme for electricity from nuclear power.64. Mr. Chetwynd asked the Paymaster-General when the expanded atomic energy programme will be announced.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 6th February to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart)

asked the Paymaster-General what consideration is being given to the allocation of petrol for motor racing during the present period of rationing.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to Questions on this subject last Monday.

asked the Paymaster-General what arrangements have been made for the allocation of supplementary petrol for officials and instructors in Civil Defence.

Civil Defence is included in the services for which block allowances are issued to local authorities. The responsibility for apportioning its block allowance rests with the authority.

asked the Paymaster. General why the Regional Petroleum Officer at Kew has ignored the application of Mr. J. Dunlop, Hove, taxi-proprietor, for supplementary petrol; and when an acknowledgement may be expected of receipt of the application submitted on 5th January last.

asked the Paymaster-General why Mr. Bruce V. Sudweeks, of 29 Redcross Street, Brighton, who sent by registered post on 14th January his application form, log book and taxi hire licence, three weeks later a reminder, and ten days later a further reminder, has so far not received his supplementary allowance nor any reply.

These cases were dealt with on 18th and 20th February. I regret the delay and have written to my hon. Friends about the circumstances.

asked the Paymaster-General what steps are contemplated to help taxis and private hire cars in holiday resorts such as Brighton to cope with the Easter and summer holiday rush, especially in the conveying of passengers with luggage to and from the railway stations.

Taxi and private hire car operators should benefit from the recently announced decision that first period vehicle coupons may be used throughout April. A decision about extra petrol for the summer period depends on further information about supplies.

asked the Paymaster-General by how much monthly shipments of oil from the United States of America have fallen short of the amounts originally expected by the Government in the event of a failure of Middle East supplies.

In assessing the effect on Europe's oil supplies of the closure of the Suez Canal nad of the trans-Syria pipelines the Government estimated that it would be possible, with the assistance of additional imports from the United States and other Western Hemisphere sources, to meet about 75 per cent. of normal consumption after the initial period of reorganisation. Supplies have reached this level and are expected to average about 80 per cent. in the first quarter of this year.

asked the Paymaster-General how the total supplies of oil entering this country during the last three months compare in quantity and cost with imports during the same period a year ago.

Over the period November, 1956—January, 1957, inclusive, 7½ million tons of oil were imported into the united Kingdom, as compared with nearly 9½ million tons in the corresponding period a year ago. The c.i.f. values were £81 m. and £87 m. respectively.

asked the Paymaster-General why oil is permitted to be exported from this country when many transport workers are on short time or out of employment as a result of the shortage of fuel supplies.

British companies import and export oil as part of their worldwide trade, and it is agreed policy between the seventeen countries (of which the United Kingdom is one) represented on the Oil Committee of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation that such exchanges between member countries are of mutual benefit and should continue. Proper allowance is made by the Committee for these exchanges in arranging for the equitable distribution of oil supplies, and they do not therefore reduce the total available to this country.

asked the Paymaster-General to make a statement on the reasons for not approving the comprehensive scheme for pension improvements in the electricity supply industry submitted by the Central Electricity Authority last autumn, and the approval instead of only a partial improvement limited to ex-local authority pensioners.

My noble Friend approved the pension increases for ex-municipal employees in the industry because they would have benefited under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956, if the industry had not been nationalised. No such consideration affects the position of ex-company pensioners in the industry.

asked the Paymaster-General, in view of the fact that the price of creosote pitch oil produced by the Gas Council has been increased by 3d. a gallon, if he will take powers to control the price of this commodity.

The price of this material is normally linked with that of fuel oil and this increase is therefore consistent with the normal practice of the trade. I am, however, considering in consultation with the producers whether the present abnormal circumstances call for a modification of this practice. Under Defence Regulations my noble Friend already has powers to make orders controlling the price of this commodity.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will give a rough estimate of the amount of benzole that would be produced annually if two-thirds of the United Kingdom coal output was carbonised and the resulting tar distilled.

I regret that no such estimate is available or could readily be made.

asked the Paymaster-General whether, in view of the disparity between British and Continental prices for steel plate, he is satisfied that the level of prices fixed by the Iron and Steel Board is high enough to provide the necessary economic incentive to expand the production of this scarce commodity; and, in view of the fact that the low level, compared with foreign prices, at which British prices are fixed, may itself be a contributory cause of the current shortage of steel plate, if he will exercise his powers under Section 10 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1953, with a view to fixing a higher maximum price.

Last December the Iron and Steel Board increased the maximum prices for steel plates by nearly £4 a ton on average, or more than 10 per cent. This was appreciably more than the average increase in steel prices of 6 per cent. The Board has informed me that the greater increase in plate prices had special regard to the cost of production and reasonable capital charges at modern plant. The matter will be kept under review.

asked the Paymaster-General to give the number of his staff who have not received an increase in their wages and salaries since the date when the salaries of Members of Parliament were last increased.

None.

asked the Paymaster-General what further progress he can now report in the diversion of coal transport from road to rail.

The National Coal Board reports a slight fall to a weekly rate of 57,000 tons. This was due to a local shortage of railway wagons, which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport informs me was only temporary.

asked the Paymaster-General when the Report of the Departmental Committee on Coal Distribution Costs will be made available to the House.

I cannot yet say when my noble Friend will receive this Report. A large volume of written evidence has been considered and I understand that oral evidence will be taken during the next few months.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) whether he has noted that in 1955 eleven miners in north Staffordshire were found to be suffering from pneumoconiosis accompanied by lung tuberculosis, as compared with eight in the rest of the West Midlands Division; and whether he will make a statement on the comparatively high north Staffordshire figure;(2) whether he has noted that the number of cases of pneumoconiosis in north Staffordshire miners, diagnosed for the first time in 1955, is higher than in 1954; and whether he will make a statement on this increase and the high total figure of 458 cases for the year.

The figures for pneumoconiosis quoted by the hon. Member appear in the Digest of Pneumoconiosis Statistics for 1955, together with an explanation of the reasons why they provide no guide to the present risks of contracting the disease. This explanation, which applies equally to the figures for tuberculosis was accepted by the National Joint Pneumoconiosis Committee and I do not think that I can usefully add to it.

asked the Paymaster-General to give the output per manshift of deep-mined coal for the first six weeks of 1955, 1956 and 1957.

1·236, 1·252, and 1·256 tons overall, respectively.

asked the Paymaster-General to give the global tonnage figures for deep-mined coal for the first six weeks of 1955, 1956 and 1957.

25·84, 25·44 and 25·94 million tons, respectively.

asked the Paymaster-General how coal stocks in the United Kingdom compare with the figure of a year ago.

Distributed stocks amounted to 15·9 million tons on 9th February against 15·6 million tons a year earlier.

asked the Paymaster-General how coal stocks in Scotland compare with the figure of a year ago.

Total distributed stocks in Scotland were 1,216,000 tons on the 9th February, 1957, compared with 1,240,000 tons a year ago.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent progress has been made towards collaboration with other European countries, particularly France, in combating foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

The European Foot-and-Mouth Disease Commission and the International Epizootics Office are the principal organisations for collaboration on this problem. The United Kingdom is an active member of both, and we are always ready to give any help we can. A veterinary mission from France recently visited this country to study the system of control practised here and the research going on into foot-and-mouth disease.

asked the Minister of Supply what are the arrangements for the disposal of tanks and other vehicles now stored between Doncaster and Selby.

Vehicles declared surplus by the War Office will be sold by auction or tender.

asked the Minister of Supply, when disposing of surplus stores at the Ruddington Depot, and in view of the low prices paid recently for these goods, to what extent it is customary, as in most public auction sales, to impose reserve prices and the right of withdrawal of the goods, when the price becomes unreasonably low.

The Ministry of Supply places reserves on some lots and reserves the right to withdraw any lot.

asked the Minister of Surely to what extent the difficulties experienced with the Beverley Transport aircraft have now been overcome; and when a significant number of these aircraft can be expected to come into service.

Development work is continuing on the Beverley to overcome difficulties which came to light during the intensive Royal Air Force flying trials on the aircraft, and improvements are being effected. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air said in the Defence debate on 13th February, 1957, the development of this aircraft has not been more difficult than expected for a completely new engine and airframe combination. Nineteen of the aircraft have already been delivered to the Royal Air Force and further deliveries are being made.

asked the Minister of Supply to make a statement on the development of the English Electric P.1, fighter; what production orders have been placed; and when it is expected this aircraft will come into service.

Development of the P.1 is proceeding satisfactorily. Delivery of the development batch aircraft will begin this year and an intensive programme of development flying will follow. As was announced in reply to a Question by the right hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) on 26th November, 1956, a production order has been placed, but it would not be in the public interest either to disclose its size, or to state when the aircraft is expected to conic into service.

asked the Minister of Health on what date hospital nurses were last granted an increase in salary; what claims for salary increases or higher allowances have been made on their behalf since that date; and how long these claims have been under negotiation.

1st April, 1956. I understand there have been no subsequent claims.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the cost of treatment in hospitals arising out of accidents in the home during 1954, 1955, and 1956.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue regulations enabling a disabled person who is at present issued with a motor tricycle by the State plus a petrol allowance to use, instead, his own vehicle with a similar allowance of petrol.

If a disabled person who is eligible for a Ministry tricycle wishes to use one which he has bought privately I am prepared to consider maintaining it at Government expense, and when private tricycles are so maintained the allowance for petrol duty is made. But the arrangements for petrol duty allowances are not extended to cars bought privately, unless the owners are eligible for Ministry cars under the war pensioners car scheme.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from accidents in the home in England and Wales during 1954, 1955, and 1956; and the number of deaths from accidents on the roads during the same period.

The number of deaths registered in England and Wales from accidents in the home and residential institutions was 6,617 in 1954 and 6,651 in 1955. The corresponding numbers for road vehicle accidents were 4,705 and 5,055. Comparable figures for 1956 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the Report of the Royal Commission on Mental Illness and Mental Deficiency; and when it will be published.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply given to hon. Member for Erith and Crayford on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has sent to the Lindsey Local Dental Committee's request for him to arrange for an extra petrol allowance for its members who live in a widely scattered area, and who find it impossible to do their work on the basic allowance.

I have advised them to get in touch with the regional petroleum officer.

asked the Minister of Health what communication he has received from the Standing Medical Advisory Committee or the Central Health Services Council as to the relationship between cigarette smoking and cancer of the lung and as to any action to be taken accordingly; and whether he will make a statement.

At their meetings in December last these bodies repeated the advice already given to my predecessor. Like him I propose to ensure that the public are kept informed of all relevant information as and when it becomes available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total cost of the National Health Service in 1950 and at the latest convenient stated date, respectively; and, taking the £ sterling as having a purchasing value of 20s. in 1950, what is the relative purchasing value of the current National Health charge compared with 1950, after allowing for the depreciation of the purchasing value of the £ sterling.

The total cost of the National Health Service for Great Britain in 1949–50 was about £450 million of which £345 million was met by the Exchequer. The corresponding figures estimated for 1957–58 are about £690 million and £550 million respectively. The equivalent of these latter figures in terms of the purchasing value of the £ in 1949–50 (measured by the estimated change in the Consumer Price Index between 1949–50 and December, 1956) are about £515 million and £410 million.

asked the Minister of Health how many retirement pensioners are resident in Part 3 Homes.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what was the total amount spent in 1956 on medical research into the cause of arthritis and rheumatism; and what plans he has for enlarging this research work.

It is not possible to give separate figures for research on the cost of these diseases. During the financial year 1956–1957 the estimated cost of research on arthritis and rheumatism by the Medical Research Council is £28,700. Plans for the establishment of at least one new research unit are under consideration by the Council. A substantial amount of research on these conditions is undertaken by voluntary organisations.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what was the total amount spent in the last financial year on cancer research; and what plans his Department has for future developments of this work.

The total estimated expenditure by the Medical Research Council on cancer research in the financial year ending 31st March, 1957, is £364,000. Every effort is being made by the Council to develop and extend their programme in this important field, and to ensure that any promising new approach to the problem is actively explored In addition large sums are spent by voluntary bodies. The total amount spent on cancer research from all sources during the current financial year will be approximately £1 million

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protests have been made by the United Kingdom to the United Nations organisation concerning the refusal by Egypt to permit the United Nations salvage fleet in the Suez Canal to remove the tug "Edgar Bonnet" from the navigable waters of the canal.

Mr. Katzin, of the United Nations Secretary General's staff, is visiting Egypt to discuss the progress of clearance work. In the absence of a full report from the United Nations a protest would not be appropriate.Meanwhile, I am informed by the United Nations that General Wheeler has not modified his estimate of 10th March for the opening date of the Canal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what request he has made to the United States Government, since the blockage of the Suez Canal, that the Texas Railroad Commission should be required to increase the production of Texan oil in order to meet the oil requirements of this country and the rest of Western Europe.

Her Majesty's Government have been in close touch with the United States Administration on this subject and have found them fully aware of the desirability of increasing Texas production. My hon. Friend will have noted the decision of the Texas Railroad Commission on 19th February to increase the allowables for March to 18 days, which represents an increase of just over 200,000 barrels a day.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the purpose of his recent visit to Portugal.

My right hon. and learned Friend's visit to Portugal was made in pursuance of the Queen's commands as Minister in attendance upon Her Majesty on the occasion of her State visit to that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he is aware that British broadcasts and information services to China are inadequate; and if he will see that these services are extended and improved without unnecessary delay;(2) whether he will examine the reduction in rebroadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporations' Latin-American programmes and transcriptions as a matter of urgency, and take steps to restore the Latin-American service to its former level without waiting for the completion of the wider inquiries into overseas services.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend does not wish to anticipate the conclusions of the review of all the overseas information services which is being undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that many Nazi propagandists, whose activities in the Hitler régime were directed towards millions of Jewish victims, are at present in the public service of Egypt as propagandists of racial attack and that amongst these are such persons as Johannes Von Leers, Otto Ernst Remer, S.S. General Moser, now known as Nalisman, Leopold Gleim, now known as Colonel Alnacher; and whether he will ask the United Nations organisation to inquire into this propaganda so that it may have information of the violation of the United Nations organisation Charter and the Declaration of Human Rights by Egypt before coming to a decision in respect of what guarantees will be available to Israel for her security against fedayeen and others who are trained and indoctrinated by Egypt.

I have seen public reports stating that some of those named by the hon. Gentleman have worked or are now working in the Egyptian Propaganda Department. As my hon. Friend the then Joint Under-Secretary of State informed the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 19th November last, in regard to Professor von Leers, there is no reason to doubt these reports.My right hon. and learned Friend does not consider that any useful purpose would be served by a special inquiry, by the United Nations organisation or any other body. I am sure that the considerations advanced by the hon. Member are in the minds of all those now engaged in the debates in the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Arabic translations of Hitler's "Mein Kampf" have been used by the Egyptian Government for indoctrination of their armed forces in racial attack; that this is a violation of the Declaration of Human Rights and of the Convention of Genocide; and whether he will direct Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations organisation to bring these factors to their attention while the discussions on the question of guarantees for Israel's security are taking place.

In reply to the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War to my hon. Friend the Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. R. Bell), on 12th February.I would agree that such use of a book like "Mein Kampf" is entirely contrary to the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the Genocide Convention. But I do not think it necessary for special instructions to be sent to the permanent Delegate of the United Kingdom to the United Nations. He will certainly have these factors in mind and make appropriate use of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the estimated cost of clearing the Suez Canal.

In his second report to the United Nations on clearing the Canal the Secretary-General said he was not yet in a position to submit to the General Assembly a complete estimate of the cost of clearing the Canal. Meanwhile he had approached Member Governments for advances to finance the initial stages of the United Nations clearance operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs upon what information he based his estimate that a channel could be cleared through the Suez canal, if all the Anglo-French and other resources collected by the Admiralty were used, within seven weeks of 17th December, 1956.

My right hon. and learned Friend's estimate was based on reports from our salvage experts on the spot at Port Said.

asked the Attorney-General why the Lands Tribunal does not keep the newspapers of Sussex informed of the dates of hearings in Sussex and Tunbridge Wells and of the results of decisions taken, in view of the fact that these hearings are open to the public and the Press.

It is not practicable to keep all newspapers informed and, as the Lands Tribunal holds sittings in many parts of the country, it would not be right to give this information to newspapers in only one area. My noble Friend is investigating the possibility of making information about sittings, available through the regional offices of the Central Office of Information to newspapers in any areas concerned. Decisions of the Tribunal cannot be publicised in this way owing to the expense involved.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what order of priority is given for the supply of supplementary petrol in the Midlands area for haulage contractors supplying material for building operations and for pleasure coach travel operators.

Except for a limited list of commodities and activities which are essential to the life of the community there is no general order of priority for goods vehicles. Pleasure coach travel operators have been given 50 per cent. of their normal fuel consumption in the current rationing period, and will get 75 per cent. in the next.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to publicise the social, political and economic progress of each of the Colonies in the British Empire during the last ten years; and if he will take steps to issue a White Paper setting out the social, political and economic progress during the last ten years of each of the Colonies in the British Empire.

Information about social, political and economic progress in the Colonial Territories continues to be regularly disseminated by the official information services at home and overseas.I think that the hon. and learned Member's suggestion is met by existing publications, particularly the annual Report which my right hon. Friend and his predecessors have presented to Parliament and the series of annual and biennial Colonial Reports for individual territories published by H.M. Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what conditions African candidates for the legislative council may hold election meetings in Kenya.

All meetings are governed by Section 30 of the Police Ordinance, as amended by Emergency Regulations published in the Gazette of 1st January, 1957, of which a copy has been placed in the Library, together with a statement by the Kenya Government on the significance of these amendments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) the present maximum rates of payment, weekly, made to male and female prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons for work performed; and if he will state, for male and female prisoners, the numbers qualifying for payment at the most recent convenient date and the numbers who, at that date, received the maximum payment;(2) if he will state, at the most recent convenient date, the number of male and female prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons entitled to weekly payment for work performed; and the total amount of weekly payment issued at the relevant date.

All convicted prisoners who are fit for work are required to work. All untried prisoners may work if they so wish. Payment is made for all work satisfactorily performed except that a prisoner's earnings may be temporarily stopped for an offence against prison discipline. During the week ended 15th January, 1957, the number of male prisoners entitled to weekly payment for work performed was 17,434 and of female prisoners 654. The total amount paid in earnings was £2,050. A prisoner on flat rate payments may earn up to 4s. a week. There is no maximum for piece rates. The average for piece rate workers ranges from 2s. 9d. to 3s. a week. I regret that the number of prisoners qualifying for maximum payments is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of male prisoners received into Her Majesty's Prisons in 1926, 1936, and 1956, respectively, ordered to serve sentences, whether single or consecutive, of imprisonment for a period of seven years or more.

In 1926, the number of men so sentenced to imprisonment (including penal servitude, and penal servitude followed by preventive detention) was 45. In 1936 it was 39. The information requested in respect of the year 1956 is not yet available but in 1955, 292 men received sentences of imprisonment or preventive detention of this length.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not carried out the undertaking given on Thursday, 13th December, to lend to the solicitors of Joseph Grech, for the purpose of preparing a petition, a copy of the transcript of the proceedings of the trial of Canter and Robertson.

The transcript was ordered from the shorthand writers on 20th December last, but I understand that they have found the transcription of the proceedings, which lasted from 16th November—29th November, 1955, a matter of some difficulty. I am assured, however, that the transcript will be available within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what moneys have been spent and what action has been taken on research into the causes of delinquency pursuant to Section 77 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948.

In 1949 and 1950 the Home Office and the Prison Commission gave encouragement to and facilities for a number of research studies on the causes of delinquency and the treatment of offenders and in each financial year from 1951–52 onwards grants have been made to assist approved research studies at various universities. Recently, research of this kind has also been undertaken by Home Office staff.The total amount paid from the Home Office Vote for research under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, is £10,934 and a further £1,000 has still to be paid during the year ending 31st March, 1957. In addition, £2,488 has been spent by the Social Survey as an allied service on behalf of the Home Office for research on delinquency and the treatment of offenders.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the present position in regard to the supply of steel to shipbuilding and ship repair establishments in the port of Lowestoft.

Firms in Lowestoft engaged in shipbuilding and ship repairing have had difficulty in obtaining their requirements of steel plate and heavy sections; one firm imported a substantial proportion of its supplies during 1956.There is a world shortage of plate and the shipbuilding and ship repairing industries have shared in the difficulties this creates.

asked the Secretary of State for War the date on which cubicle sleeping accommodation was introduced at Harper Barracks, Ripon; the number of cubicles eventually provided; the total cost of such provision; and the number of cubicles which now remain.

Partitioning to form 143 cubicles each to accommodate four or six men was erected in 1948 at a cost of about £8,000. 74 of these remain.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will now make a statement about the contribution to be made by the German Federal Government towards the cost of British forces in Germany.

ANALYSIS OF ACTIVE STRENGTHS
—		1st April, 1956 (actual)				1st April, 1957 (estimate)
		Navy	Army	R.A.F.	Total	Navy	Army	R.A.F.	Total
Regular	…	106·6	198·9	161·7	467·2	102·0	194·8	155·1	451·9
National Service	…	11·6	202·6	74·8	289·0	9·8	172·3	69·6	251·7
Women	…	3·9	6·5	6·1	16·5	3·7	6·2	5·3	15·2
Total	…	122·1	408·0	242·6	772·7	115·5	373·3	230·0	718·8
(Figures in thousands)

RECRUITING
—				1955–56 (actual)	1956–57 (estimate)
Navy	…	…	…	7,214	7,800
Army	…	…	…	34,732	40,000
R.A.F.	…	…	…	20,079	23,700
Total	…	…	…	62,025	71,500

NATIONAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS IN 1956 1957
(including men undertaking Regular engagements in)
Navy	…	…	…	…	6,200
Army	…	…	…	…	103,000
R.A.F.	…	…	…	…	43,800
Total	…	…	…	…	153,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that American tourists are cancelling their trips to the United Kingdom for the coming summer because they fear a lack of

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 20th February.

asked the Minister of Defence to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the estimated figures shown in paragraphs 53, 54, 60 and 61, and Annex I of the Statement on Defence, 1956, Command Paper No. 9691, revised in the light of the latest information available.

The information is contained in the following tables:petrol; and, since the tourist industry is the biggest dollar earner, if he will make a reassuring statement on this point.

American and other overseas visitors can be assured that Britain will welcome them and that special arrangements have been made to give them petrol to enable them to enjoy a touring holiday here.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulty of extracting information from the published statistics which are at present available, he will publish in a simple form a complete list of all physical import quotas in a single document.

I have carefully considered my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I do not think that the demand would justify a publication of this kind which would need constant revision if it was to be kept up to date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Japanese Government, at the request of the United States administration, have agreed voluntarily to restrict the export of cloth and made-up garments manufactured in Japan to the United States of America; and what representations of a similar nature he has made to the Japanese Government so as to restrict the import of similar Japanese goods to British Colonies, such as Hong Kong.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." As regards the second part, it is not the policy of the Government, in the absence of balance of payments reasons, to interfere with the freedom of Colonial Territories to obtain their requirements from whatever source suits them best.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) when the Director of the British Productivity Council reached the maximum salary of £2,500 which that post attracts; what is the present salary of the Deputy-Director; with what Civil Service grade that post broadly compares; and what security of tenure is offered to the senior staff, by contract or otherwise;(2) to what extent the general increase in salaries, awarded to the Civil Service as a result of the Royal Commission's Report in July, 1956, applied to the staff of the British Productivity Council and was made retrospective to 1st April, 1956;

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Answers given on previous occasions. As regards the present Questions:

(1) I understand that the present Director at his own request does not receive the maximum salary for his post; the maximum salary of the Deputy-Director is to be increased to £2,500, which compares broadly with that of an Assistant Secretary in the Civil Service;

(2) the increase in salaries recommended by the Royal Commission applied only to the Civil Service.

The British Productivity Council is composed of highly responsible people, drawn from all sides of industry, in whom I have complete confidence, and I do not require them to consult me on matters of detail.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of Japanese merchandise imported into Hong Kong during 1956; and how much of this merchandise was reimported to this country as British, thus obtaining duty-free import under Imperial Preference into the United Kingdom.

Total imports of merchandise into Hong Kong from Japan in 1956 amounted to £50·7 million. Re-exports to the United Kingdom of such imports would not qualify for duty-free entry under Imperial Preference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that nylon shirts on sale at one of the biggest chain-stores in this country are being offered as Empire goods from Hong Kong, whereas in fact they are made from fabric manufactured in Japan; and what action he intends taking to put a stop to this deception.

I have no evidence of this. If nylon shirts are being so offered, it would in the last resort be for a court to decide whether any infringement of the Merchandise Marks Act has taken place. Any person may bring an action under the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to make it easier for information to be obtained about the cost of Government Departments and agencies, he will issue a regular guide to the various information services available.

A statement showing the estimated expenditure on the Government information services has, for some years, been published annually as a White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling, based on the Interim Index of Retail Prices in December, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, and 1956 taking the value in October, 1951, as 20s.

I would refer the hon. Member to the table given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 14th February, which included the figures for which he now asks.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if the Paramount Chief of Swaziland has now presented a memorandum on the reversion to the Swazi nation of lapsed mineral concessiouns; and if decisions have been reached on the matter.

The Paramount Chief has forwarded a memorandum on this subject to the High Commissioner, who has sent a copy to my noble Friend. The memorandum is being considered. No decisions have been reached on it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the level of rents fixed as reasonable by rent tribunals for various classes of house property in January, 1957, and indicate how these compare with those fixed for similar properties a year ago.

I have no information on which such a comparison could be made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications were made to rent tribunals in each of the last twelve months to have a reasonable rent fixed, and how many of these remain to be dealt with.

Figures are available only for quarterly periods, and are given below for applications under the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, and under Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act, 1949.

—	1946 Act	1949 Act
Applications outstanding 1st January, 1956	591	470
Applications during quarter ended March, 1956	1,868	773
Applications during quarter ended June, 1956	1,898	902
Applications during quarter ended September, 1956	1,719	769
Applications during quarter ended December, 1956	1,470	650
Applications outstanding 1st January, 1957	510	356

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many houses have been built by co-operative housing societies in the past five years; and whether he will make a statement on his Department's policy in regard to such societies;(2) how many houses have been built by self-build housing associations in the past five years; and whether he will make a statement on his Department's policy in regard to such associations.

No separate figures are available for the two groups mentioned. Between 1st January, 1952, and 31st December, 1956, 31,298 houses were completed by all housing associations in England and Wales. My policy, like that of my predecessors, is always to encourage the work of housing associations.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons, including epileptics, are registered at the Faversham, Sittingbourne and Sheerness employment exchanges; and how many of these have remainded unemployed for a period of twelve months or more.

The number on the disabled persons register at these exchanges is 1,034, of whom 26 are epileptics. 56 of these, including two epileptics, are unemployed, and four, including one epileptic, have remained so for twelve months or more.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research will investigate the economic possibilities of manufacture and use of borazon, or a similar hard substance, in this country.

The only information so far available to the Department of Sceintific and Industrial Research is contained in Press reports of a statement issued by an American company. When further information is obtainable it will be studied by the Department.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone installations are outstanding in the Sheerness, Sittingbourne and Faversham districts, respectively; and how these numbers compare with a year ago.

The figures are:

—			Outstanding at
			1st January, 1956	1st January, 1957
Sheerness	…	…	29	27
Sittingbourne	…	…	70	43
Faversham	…	…	19	12

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now state when it is proposed to change to automatic control at the Sittingbourne telephone exchange.

I cannot say. The manual exchange continues to give good service, and in present circumstances, when is limited, I could not justify giving priority to its replacement.