asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the deteriorating employment position in Birmingham; and what steps Her Majesty's Government intend taking to improve the situation.

I am aware that there has been an increase in unemployment in Birmingham: the rate of unemployment is, however, still less than in the rest of the country. Much of the present unemployment in Birmingham is due to the temporary difficulties experienced by the motor-car industry.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies at the Fulwell trolley-bus depot, Twickenham, have been notified to his employment exchange there.

All vacancies in London Transport are notified to the Employment Exchange at Edgware Road, but I am informed that of these 43 are for conductors at the Fulwell depot.

asked the Minister of Labour to make a further statement on the industrial troubles now pertaining in Briggs Bodies and Fords.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, with or without mining experience, have applied for employment in the pits in the Easington Parliamentary constituency within the last six months; and, of these, how many have been informed that no vacancies exist.

About 90 men with coalmining experience have applied for coalmining employment in Easington during the last six months. Eleven of them were submitted to vacancies and seven were accepted for employment. The remainder were interviewed and invited, as no local vacancies existed, to consider vacancies away from home, but all of them refused to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour by how much he estimates his cost of living index figure will rise as a result of the Government's proposal to increase National Insurance contributions and Welfare Food charges.

The increase in the price of welfare milk is likely to raise the index of retail prices by about one-eighth of a point. The index is not directly affected by changes in the prices of school meals and National Insurance contributions but, if it were, the effect on the index of the changes recently announced would be very small.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of Hungarian refugees who have been admitted to this country since the rising in Hungary; and the number who have since emigrated from this country to Commonwealth countries.

The numbers are approximately 18,500 and 142, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the widespread infringement of the Shops Act, 1950, when the present situation is to be dealt with by amending legislation.

The Shops Bill was introduced last November into another place where the Committee stage has been nearly completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is the intention of the Government to implement the unanimous recommendations in paragraph 330 of the Report of the Select Committee on Divorce and set up a suitably qualified body to review the marriage laws and the existing arrangements for pre-marital education and training.

The Government are continuing to give careful consideration to these recommendations, but as at present advised are not satisfied that a further inquiry of the kind suggested by the noble Lady is necessary. Guidance on some general aspects of pre-marital education and training is contained in Ministry of Education pamphlet No. 31 (Health Education), of which I am sending the noble Lady a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what duties are laid by his Regulations upon the Metropolitan Police in cases of the eviction of tenants from their houses; and what responsibility is imposed by those Regulations for the protection of furniture placed upon the streets.

The Metropolitan police intervene in eviction cases only so far as may be necessary to prevent a breach of the peace, except in rare cases under the Small Tenements Recovery Act, 1838, when they may be authorised by the court to enter the premises. They would be responsible for furniture only if it were abandoned by the owner, when it would be removed to a place of safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in consultations on amendments to the Representation of the People Acts to render less frequent the large-scale changes in constituency boundaries; and when he proposes to introduce legislation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 21st February to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Remnant).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has refused permission to Mr. Anthony Frisch, of Brampton, Ontario, to collect and publish verse and prose written by persons serving sentences in Her Majesty's prisons, in view of the fact that such permission has been granted to Mr. Frisch by the authorities in Canada, Australia, South Africa, the United States of America and the Republic of Ireland; and whether he will now reconsider this matter.

It is not the practice in this country to allow prisoners to send out matter written for publication during their sentences, and I see no reason for making an exception in favour of the work projected by Mr. Frisch. I am still considering an alternative suggestion he has made about prison magazines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the terms of reference and the nature of the inquiry to be held into the allegations of the managers of the public houses of the Carlisle State Management Scheme.

The terms of reference of Mr. Burt's inquiry are:

"To inquire into and report on allegations made by the Civil Service Union that

(a) pressure is applied to managers of public houses in the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme to produce greater profits; and

(b) managers have been given demonstrations how to 'make' one pint out of every ten."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Wolfenden Committee on Homosexuality and Prostitution; and when it will be published.

I am sorry that I am not yet in a position to add anything to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Sydney Irving) on 7th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for examining justices to hold committal hearings not in open court.

No. Examining justices are not required to sit in public, and while they normally do so, it is open to them to sit in private if, for example, they believe that to sit in public in a particular case will prejudice the ends of justice. I appreciate that the publicity which proceedings before examining justices receive in certain cases may make it difficult to find twelve jurors who come to the case with fresh minds, but it is not necessarily impossible for them to consider the case, as they are required to do, solely on the evidence placed before them. My predecessors have taken the view that there are strong objections in principle to all proceedings before examining justices taking place in private, and I share that view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what part his officers have played in investigating and establishing causes of the recent fire at the Jaguar car factory at Coventry; what form his report will take; and when it will be published.

The Chief Constable of Coventry, after consulting the Chief Fire Officer, asked Dr. J. B. Firth, the Director of the Home Office North Western Forensic Science Laboratory, to investigate the cause of this fire. Dr. Firth's report was submitted to the Chief Constable yesterday and I am informed it is to the effect that there is no evidence of arson. Dr. Firth thinks it probable that the fire, which started in the tyre store, was caused by some such means as a carelessly dropped match or cigarette end; but this cannot be established with certainty, because of the extent of the damage. It would be contrary to practice to publish a report of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, arising out of his inquiry, what information he has about the communication which the Chief Fire Officer in the city of Coventry addressed to the Jaguar Motor Company in connection with the fire hazard of the insulating lining of the roof of the Jaguar factory.

I am informed that in November, 1956, the Chief Fire Officer of Coventry gave to the Jaguar Motor Company, at its request, a comprehensive report about fire risks and precautions in the factory and that this report referred to the fire hazard of the roof, which was partly attributed to the nature of the roof lining.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many conscientious objectors have been sent to detention centres in the past twelve months.

During the twelve months ended 31st January, 1957, sixteen persons who claimed to be conscientious objectors were sent to a detention centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been made available by Government contributions to assist British nationals expelled from Egypt and now resident in Great Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Major Wall) on 31st January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to secure agreement by Church representatives to enable the Act of 1928 for regulating the date of Easter Day to be brought into operation.

All the available information suggests that the necessary concord could not be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures of safety he has recommended to builders and engineers engaged in factory construction following the fire at the Nash-Kelvinator Works at Crewe in September, 1956, where bituminous roof coverings undercovered with fibre insulating board caught fire in circumstances similar to those at the Jaguar factory recently.

I am informed that no advice was issued by Government Departments to builders and engineers as a direct result of the fire at the NashKelvinator Works. A great deal of guidance, both about fibreboard and about roof coverings, has been made available by various Departments in their publications, by fire brigades, and by voluntary bodies such as the Fire Protection Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to announce the Government's proposals concerning the implementation of its promise to the House of Commons on the revision of the laws on betting and lotteries; and what action he proposes to take to implement either in part or in toto the recommendations and decisions of the Royal Commission on Betting and Lotteries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given today to the hon. Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson).

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his conference with seven Ministers of Her Majesty's Government held at Chequers on Saturday, 23rd February.

No.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if he will give the cost of journeys made to Chequers on Saturday, 23rd February by seven Ministers in separate official cars, including the cost of the petrol used and the drivers' time; and what would be the estimated cost if only one car and driver had been used for this excursion;(2) if he is aware that on Saturday, 23rd February, seven of Her Majesty's Ministers travelled by car to Chequers in seven separate official cars; why this journey was not made in one car so as to save petrol and the expenses involved in using seven cars; and whether he will instruct Ministers to so arrange their travel in future as to avoid this waste of petrol and the taxpayers' money.

The statements made in the hon. Gentleman's Questions are not accurate, but I do not propose to waste the time of the House in correcting them.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the rising incidence of leukaemia in many parts of the world where reliable statistics are available; and whether, in view of the increasing risks from this and other diseases which closely follow the explosion of nuclear weapons, he will suggest to General Eisenhower and Marshal Bulganin that a meeting be called for further discussions on the abolition of the tests.

I am aware that there has been an increase in the death rate from leukaemia over at least the last 25 years, but I understand that while it would be generally agreed that exposure to radiation is probably one factor causing this, the amount of external radiation due to fall out from nuclear test explosions forms a very small proportion of the radiation to which man is exposed from all sources. The House will be aware that various proposals on nuclear and conventional disarmament will be considered when the Disarmament Sub-Committee meets on 18th March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on departmental responsibility for settling claims for damage caused by aircraft.

In order to simplify administration all future claims for damage by aircraft flying under Her Majesty's Government's responsibility will be handled by the Air Ministry, which already deals with the majority of them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education why a retired teacher cannot earn more by way of part-time earnings after retirement than would bring his pension up to what he earned in his last year as a teacher; and if the upper limit of earnings can be raised commensurately with increases granted to the teaching profession subsequent to the teacher's retirement.

The Teachers Superannuation Act, 1925, requires that a teacher's pension for any quarter shall be reduced by the amount, if any, by which his salary and his pension for the quarter taken together exceed the quarterly rate of his pensionable salary when he retired. Similar provisions apply to other public service superannuation schemes and the suggestion made by my hon. Friend was considered and rejected, so far as civil servants are concerned, by the Royal Commission on the Civil Service. The Government do not consider that it would be possible or just to give teachers exceptional treatment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he is aware of the hardship being imposed upon retired teachers who return to part-time teaching service by the operation of the rule that the pension for any quarter is limited to the amount required to bring the amount earned, together with the pension, up to the quarterly rate of salary at date of retirement; whether he is aware that the recent increases in the salaries of teachers penalise such pensioners, who are now worse off than they were before the increases; and if he will introduce amending legislation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. R. Harris). No teacher is now worse off than before the recent salary changes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what consultations he has had with the Independent Television Authority regarding television programmes in schools.

None. My noble Friend has been kept informed by the Independent Television Authority about the proposal by Associated-Rediffusion Limited to undertake an experimental series of television programmes for schools. These arrangements do not require my noble Friend's formal approval, but he is of course concerned that any television programmes designed for schools should be of a kind which he and the school authorities can regard as acceptable on educational grounds.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many local authorities include in their contracts with teachers a clause prohibiting corporal punishment in their schools.

I know of no local education authority which forbids corporal punishment in its schools. Any rules that may be made about corporal punishment are normally embodied in the authority's general regulations and are unlikely to be included in teachers' contracts of service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if, in view of the anomalies existing in connection with the conveyance of pupils from the Harps Estate, Minster-on-Sea, to Sheerness schools, he will permit some relaxation in the application of the three mile rule.

It is for the local education authority to consider whether exceptions should be made to the general rule and to submit for my noble Friend's approval any proposals they may wish to make. No such proposals have as yet been received in respect of the pupils to whom the Question refers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if he will state the average pupil-teacher ratio for grammar schools and for secondary modern schools, respectively, in 1955 and 1956.

The average pupil-teacher ratio for maintained modern schools increased from 21·7 in 1955 to 22·3 in 1956; during the same period the ration for maintained and assisted grammar schools remained constant at 18·1.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education which local education authorities, other than the West Riding of Yorkshire, refuse to consider for university awards students who are studying for diploma courses, such as the L.D.S., and limit their scholarships to students taking degree courses.

I am not aware that any local education authority refuses as a matter of policy to consider for an award all students who are studying for diploma courses at universities. Applications for such awards are considered on their merits, and practice differs as regards particular courses and individual cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education to what scheme of major awards submitted by the West Riding of Yorkshire, limited entirely to students reading for degree courses, he has given approval.

Under the West Riding Authority's approved scheme major awards are not limited to students reading for degree courses. The scheme covers some university diploma courses but not others.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he is now prepared to reconsider the refusal of planning permission for two denominational schools in Oldham.

My noble Friend has no new information which would bring these two schools within the scope of his building policy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many deaf and partially deaf children, respectively, are awaiting admission to schools appropriate to their disability; and what plans he has for their accommodation.

The hon. Member was given the figures for January, 1956, on the 20th April last. When later figures are available, my noble Friend will consider whether further action needs to be taken to relieve any particular difficulties. But, over the country as a whole, there is no longer a shortage of special school places either for the deaf or the partially deaf.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the total number of children under five who are deaf and partially deaf, respectively; and how many of these are attending either school classes or audiology centres.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how he proposes, when implementing Part III of the Education Act, 1944, to ensure that unsuitable persons are not employed as teachers in independent schools.

The Minister's powers in this matter are set out in Section 71 of the Education Act, 1944. Information as to the teachers employed in independent schools will be available through inspection and by the requirement of a regular staff return. What further action can be taken to prevent unsuitable teachers from being appointed in the first instance is being considered. Perhaps the hon. Member will let me know if he has any suggestions in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if he will make such adjustments as may be necessary to A.M. No. 502 of 27th April, 1955, to exclude the value of college exhibitions from the parental contribution towards the standard figure of maintenance payable in respect of State university scholarships.

No. Whatever his parent's income may be, no State scholar can receive less than £50 a year. This may be paid either from an award such as a university or college scholarship or exhibition, or by the Minister. Section 100 of the Education Act, 1944 and the Regulations made thereunder require my noble Friend to relate the total value of a State scholarship to the financial circumstances of the scholar and his family with the object of avoiding hardship.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he has yet received the report of the working party on maintenance grants for those staying at school beyond the compulsory school-leaving age; and whether he will make a statement.

My noble Friend has received this report, but he is not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps have been taken to consult Commonwealth Governments as to the best way of improving and extending the exchange and publication of economic information of general interest and of making an up-to-date appraisal of Commonwealth resources and development potential.

As my hon. Friend is aware, other Commonwealth Governments have been consulted on the various suggestions made in our debate on Commonwealth development on 30th November last. The aspects mentioned by my hon. Friend were covered in this approach, to which replies are awaited.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent British subjects of Maltese origin who have been expelled from Egypt and who wish to emigrate to Australia can obtain assisted passages.

The Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board will be able to help British subjects expelled from Egypt who wish to emigrate from this country, by paying for their passage in whole or in part. The decision whether or not to admit such persons to Australia (or any other country) rests, of course, with the Government of that country. The Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board have the matter well in hand and have already circulated leaflets explaining how the Board can help those wishing to emigrate, but warning them that any arrangements will necessarily take some little time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what discussions he has had with Central African Airways with a view to Government assistance to help them in providing air communication in the territories of eastern and central Africa.

Civil aviation in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is a responsibility of the Federal Government and not of the United Kingdom Government. No communications on this subject have been received from the Federal Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what Acts have been reserved under Clauses 27 to 32 in the Letters Patent for the Constitution of Responsible Government in the Colony of Southern Rhodesia, 1st September, 1923; and what proposed legislation has been substantially modified after consultation with the Governor or Secretary of State.

As the hon. Member was informed by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble) on 2nd August, 1956, the Government of Southern Rhodesia invariably consult the Secretary of State before introducing any legislation which might fall within the scope of Articles 27 to 32 of the Constitution Letters Patent. The question of reservation has therefore not arisen. Consultations between the Governor and the Secretary of State are confidential and it would not be proper to disclose their content.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the number of nationals of the Union of South Africa who are employed in the Administration in Basutoland.

Out of a total of 197 European officers in the Basutoland Administration, 72 are citizens of the Union of South Africa and 31 are citizens both of the Union and of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportions of the payments out of the British Film Production Fund in each of the last five years have been made to Anglo-American companies financed from the blocked sterling assets of United States companies.

This information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many films accepted for registration as British films for quota purposes in each of the last five years have been made with less than 50 per cent. United Kingdom labour.

This information is not available. Film makers are required in the returns which they render under the Cinematograph Films Acts to distinguish only between British and foreign labour. It is not possible therefore to say what proportion was United Kingdom labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of post-war credits owing at the latest convenient date; and what is the present day purchasing power of £100 of post-war credits owing from 1942, 1943 and 1944, respectively.

The total amount of postwar credits outstanding is now about £467 million. The present purchasing power of £100 is equivalent to that of about £55, £57 and £59 in 1942, 1943 and 1944, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to give details of the arrangements under which payments to civil servants in respect of subsistence allowance are not charged to Income Tax under Schedule E, the tax factor having been taken into account in determining the amount of the liable allowances; and whether he will publish this information and encourage local authorities and other employers to follow this procedure in making similar payments to persons in their employ;(2) what considerations apply to payments to civil servants in respect of subsistence allowance whilst on detached duty which vary from the circumstances in the cases of Nagley

The payment of reasonable subsistence allowances to employees in respect of additional expense incurred while serving temporarily away from their normal station is not regarded as giving rise to tax liability. This applies not only to civil servants, but to employees generally. The lodging allowance referred to in the cases of Nagley v. Spilsbury and Evans v. Richardson is an allowance paid to members of the Forces in lieu of the provision of accommodation. It is liable to income tax, but in determining its amount the tax factor has been taken into account. The tea money referred to in the case of Sanderson v. Durbidge was paid to an employee serving in his normal place of employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the liability to Income Tax in respect of payments to civil servants for subsistence allowance whilst on detached duty, being emoluments under Schedule E, has yet been tested before the Commissioners or the courts to ascertain whether such receipts are in fact assessable.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to publish a table showing the duty per gallon on heavy wines of foreign origin each year since 1938, together with the annual revenue collected and the approximate annual domestic consumption of such wines; and whether, in view of the strongly held view that these wines that used to be widely enjoyed have been over-taxed and thus largely priced out of the home market, he will review these duties.

The figures are shown in the following table. These duties will be covered by my general review of indirect taxation before the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what dates the salaries of Ministers and Junior Ministers were fixed at their present stated level; and, taking the £ as having the purchasing value of 20s. at that date, what is the present relative purchasing value of these salaries, after allowing for the depreciation in the purchasing value of the £, since that date.

The salaries of some Ministers were fixed at their present level over 100 years ago, but it was not until 1937 that Parliament first legislated comprehensively on Ministers' salaries. Under the Ministers of the Crown Act, 1937, Ministers of Cabinet rank receive, in general, a salary of £5,000, which in terms of purchasing power is now equivalent to £1,810.Under the same Act other Ministers and Junior Ministers receive salaries of £3,000, £2,000 or £1,500, which are now equivalent to £1,086, £724 and £543 respectively. Since 1946, Ministers not of Cabinet rank have been entitled to draw in addition £500 of their Parliamentary salary; in terms of purchasing power this £500 is now equivalent to £310. These Ministerial salary figures take no account of the effect of taxation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the area eradication plan for tuberculosis to be applied to Berkshire on 1st March will have on the collection at Reading of cattle destined for shipment to the Continent.

In a tuberculosis eradication area licences permitting the entry of non-attested cattle are normally granted only for animals moved to a slaughterhouse or fatstock market. Movements of non-attested cattle without licences are allowed only for the purpose of transit through the area. The collection within an eradication area of non-attested cattle from outside it for shipment to the Continent would not satisfy either condition and would not be permissible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amendments have been made to the financial agreement with the Potato Marketing Board.

The Agreement in respect of the 1956 crop differed in a few minor particulars from that for the previous year. My right hon. Friend has arranged for copies of the Agreement to be put in the Library of the House, and I am writing to the hon. Gentleman giving him precise details of the amendments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he is aware that of the 11,548 registered producers entitled to vote at the initial poll of the Tomato and Cucumber Board only 5,433 producers did so; and, in view of the fact that this number was less than 50 per cent. of the registered producers, and consequently that the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board was irregularly constituted, if he will now take steps to suspend the Board's operations pending an inquiry;(2) what is the reason for the discrepancy between his announced figures of 8,582 registered producers entitled to vote at the initial poll of the Tomato and Cucumber Board and of 5,433 actually doing so, and the figure of 11,548 producers entitled to vote given in Table 21, page 140, of the Report on Agricultural Marketing Schemes 1938 to 1955.

All producers of tomatoes and cucumbers are entitled to register with the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board, but only those not exempted from the Scheme were entitled to vote at the initial poll. The figure of 11,548 is not that of the number of registered producers entitled to vote at the initial poll, but is the total number of producers registered with the Board on 31st December, 1950, including producers exempted from the Scheme who nevertheless registered. As I said in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) on 21st November last year, the Board has informed me that the number of registered producers entitled to vote on the initial poll was 8,582. There is, therefore, no question of irregular constitution of the Board.

asked the Minister of Health what are the pay arrangements when patients from mental hospitals are allowed out for normal employment.

Employment of this kind is essentially a part of treatment and its nature and remuneration therefore depend on individual circumstances. Many patients earn the normal wage, but any special arrangement is a matter for discussion with the appropriate wages board or committee, or with the local representatives of the trade unions concerned. The patient pays to the hospital that part of the cost of his maintenance which is recoverable under Section 28 of the National Health Service (Amendment) Act, 1949, and he retains the balance or places it for safe keeping in his account at the hospital.

asked the Minister of Works how many building workers were employed on municipal housing schemes in 1954 and 1955; and how many are so engaged at present.

It is estimated that on average 238,000 workers were employed on local authority housing schemes in 1955 and 218,000 in 1956. The figures collected in 1954 do not separate public from private housing.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the date on which his Department first agreed to the principle of replacement of cars issued to seriously disabled war pensioners when the cars reached a state beyond economical repair and maintenance; when the first replacements are likely to commence; and whether the men whose cars are now beyond repair and who accept his Department's offer of a singleseater motor tricycle in lieu will receive early consideration for the issue of a new car when the replacement issue commences.

I regret I am not yet ready to make a statement on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent proposals for petrol concessions for British tourists using private cars have been put forward to him by the Scottish Tourist Board; and if he will make a statement.

The Scottish Tourist Board has just submitted to me a proposal under which, on the assumption that the present basic ration of 200 miles motoring per month is continued beyond the present rationing period, motorists would be allowed to use the ration for the period from May to October at any time during those months and would also be given a supplementary holiday allowance of 400 miles. I am in touch with my noble Friend the Minister of Power about these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what delegations or representations he has received about the adverse effect of the present scale of petrol restrictions on this year's tourist season in the Highlands and islands from responsible organisations and associations directly concerned with the tourist industry.

I have received representations on this subject from five organisations directly connected with the tourist industry, including the Scottish Tourist Board, and I have brought them to the attention of my noble Friend the Minister of Power.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children are on the waiting list for admission to Gogarburn Institution; what is its capacity; and what alternative he can offer for children who cannot get in.

The common waiting list for children for Gogarburn and Strathore Institutions stands at 112. These institu- tions have, respectively, 143 and 99 beds for children. It is the duty of local authorities to provide training and occupation for defective children not resident in institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to all Governments concerned the conclusion of a convention defining the maximum area outside territorial waters which can be notified in peace-time for gunnery and bombing practice as dangerous to shipping and the length of time for which such notification may have validity without infringing the principle of the freedom of the seas.

No. Her Majesty's Government do not consider that a Convention as suggested is necessary in order to safeguard shipping from gunnery and bombing practice in peace time. So far as I am aware the precautions normally taken are sufficient.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the cost of keeping H.M.S. "Vanguard" in reserve.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my predecessor on 7th March, 1956, to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what ships of the Royal Navy are held in reserve; and for what purpose.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the list given in my right hon. and noble Friend's Explanatory Statement on Navy Estimates, 1956–57 (Cmd. 9697). Revised figures of ships in reserve will be published in the Explanatory Statement on the Navy Estimates for 1957–58 which is not yet completed. The Reserve Fleet is maintained for the normal purpose of replacing ships of the Active Fleet which for any reason become casualties and for augmenting the naval forces in emergency.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will call for a special report under Section 121 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, on the accident at Sutton Colliery, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on 21st February, in which 23 miners were injured, of whom one has since died; and whether he will publish the report when received.

Yes. My noble Friend proposes to direct, under Section 121 of the Act, that a special report should be prepared and published.

asked the Paymaster-General on how many occasions and on what dates during the past three years visits have been paid to Sutton Colliery, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Mines.

Her Majesty's Inspectors made underground inspections at this colliery on the following dates:

asked the Paymaster-General how many mines inspectors are at present employed by him in the East Midlands Division; and what is the establishment for this Division.

There are at present 19 Inspectors of Mines employed in the East Midlands Division out of an authorised establishment of 22.