asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the number of vacancies for men and women notified to the Coventry Employment Exchange in December and January were, respectively, 661 and 597; and if he will give the numbers for 6th February and for the latest convenient date in March.

The figures for December and January were as stated by the hon. Member. The corresponding figures for 6th February and 6th March were 564 and 618, respectively.

While I am very glad that the number of vacancies has slightly increased, is the Minister aware that it bears no resemblance to the numbers out of work, and could he give any general information in what categories those vacancies occur?

I think that Question No. 2 is more appropriate to those out of work. So far as categories are concerned, I have a list of them, and if the hon. Lady would like to put down a Question, I can circulate the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT; or I can let her know.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the unemployment figures in Coventry up to the latest convenient date in March; and what proportion this bears to the figure for February.

Two thousand and twenty-six males and 919 females were wholly unemployed on 11th March. The total of 2,945 showed a decrease of about 15 per cent. compared with 11th February. On 11th March the number of males and females registered as temporarily stopped was 2,994, compared with 74 on 11th February. The increase is due to a recent change in the guaranteed week provisions of the agreement between the two sides of the engineering industry, as a result of which workers on short time and previously not registered are now registering and able to receive unemployment benefit.

While being rather puzzled at but grateful for the length of that reply—because I asked purely for the unemployment figures—may I ask if the Minister is aware that the figures which I have for 11th March are 2,826 wholly unemployed? Could he tell the. House how he suggests that 2,826 workers should obtain work when we have only 618 vacancies?

The explanation of the length of the Answer, which is important, is that there has been a very welcome decrease of 15 per cent.—which, I am sure, the hon. Lady is delighted to see—in the number wholly unemployed, but if I gave a total figure the decrease would be obscured by a rise, which is purely because of a private agreement, which has now been recognised amongst the temporarily stopped. With regard to the question of how the unemployed fill the vacancies, I think one has to take into account, particularly in an area like Coventry, not only the immediate vacancies but those in the surrounding districts.

That is another story.

And a very good one, too.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that an analysis of wholly unemployed males in Coventry for June, September and December shows that, of the respective totals, 2·6 per cent., 4·2 per cent., and 11·4 per cent. have been wholly unemployed for more than six months; and if he will give the percentage for the last quarterly figures.

The figures for June, September and December, 1956, were as stated by the hon. Member. The corresponding figure for 11th March, 1957. was 16·3 per cent.

Is the Minister aware that we are really very concerned at this increasing trend as regards those out of work for more than six months, and further, is he aware that the actual number, which I believe is 319, is more than double the number last quarter? Could he tell us how he suggests that this matter might be dealt with?

The hon. Lady's information is very good. The figure is indeed 319. The increase in percentage of those wholly unemployed is, of course. serious, but I hope that that is a situation which is steadily going to improve now, because, as the House will hear from other Answers I am giving today, there is a substantial improvement in recent figures which are not yet published both in a decrease in unemployment and in an upswing in vacancies.

asked the Minister of Labour why the total number of bursts of abrasive wheels is listed on page 85 of the Chief Inspectors' Report for 1955 as being 184, whereas on page 268 it is listed as 110.

The figure of 184 given on page 85 of the Chief Inspectors' Report is the total number of bursts of abrasive wheels, whether causing a reportable accident or not. The figure of 110 given on page 268 refers to bursts not only of abrasive wheels but also of a variety of other revolving vessels and wheels, but includes only those bursts which did not result in a reportable accident. I appreciate that the form in which the figures are published may be misleading, and the question of changing it is being examined.

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply. May I assure him that any criticism I might have had does not in any way detract from the fact that this is one of the most wonderful Reports ever coming into our hands, and due regard ought to be paid to that and compliments conveyed to those who wrote the Report so well?

I thank the hon. Gentleman very much, and I will make sure that that is done.

asked the Minister of Labour what action is being taken to protect workers from the bursting of abrasive wheels and from other injuries sustained in their use.

Factories using abrasive wheels take various safety measures, including proper storage and periodical examination, control of running speeds, appropriate mounting, provision of effective guards, protection flanges, goggles, and screens. The Factory Inspectorate advises as to the measures appropriate in particular cases, and up-to-date advice on all these matters will be published shortly. Draft regulations on the fencing of abrasive wheels have been published, and the practicability of making regulations an other matters is being examined.

Is it not a fact that the Department has been advising on this matter for many years, and issued a pamphlet. I think, as far back as 1927, yet in these cases we find in the Report that a number of wheels were not guarded when they should have been, and in other cases the guards are made of brittle metal which breaks and does not contain the bursting wheel. May we have an assurance that real regard will be had to ensuring that the advice now being offered will be adhered to?

Yes, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, this is a difficult subject, though there is much truth in what he says. We are doing the best we can to solve the problem.

When the hon. Gentleman goes into this matter, will he also raise the question of stock to which an abrasive wheel is applied while being held magnetically on a table, having particularly in mind the danger arising from breakdown in the magnet, the metal being caused to fly off and result in a serious accident? I myself have seen many accidents of that kind.

I will make sure that that is taken into account.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of engineering workers who were unemployed in the Wembley area at the latest available date; and the total number of vacancies for engineering workers at the same date.

The numbers of persons from the engineering and electrical goods industries registered as unemployed at the Wembley Employment Exchange at 11th March were 30 males and 14 females. The numbers of vacancies notified to the Wembley Employment Exchange by employers in those industries and remaining unfilled at 6th March were 149 for males and 94 for females.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that there is not much danger of redundancy in the engineering industry in that area?

Yes, indeed; the picture there is one of labour shortage.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to find employment for the unemployed in the Burgh of Clydebank.

New industrial development has been fostered in this part of the Scottish Development Area by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and will provide additional employment in the course of this year. My local officers are doing all they can to put those who are unemployed in touch with employers requiring workers.

Is the Minister aware that we have redundancy in Dumbarton at the Blackburn Company and redundancy at another company on Clydebank, and we have a fall in employment at the Scotstoun factory of Leyland, the old Albion Motors, and the situation on the Clyde has become very serious? Will he consult his right hon. Friends to see whether some employment could be brought not only to Blackburn's in Dumbarton but to other factories in the neighbourhood where production is falling off?

Yes, I will certainly consult in order to see what we can do. I agree that it is an area with special problems. There are some hopes of improvement there; the hon. Gentleman probably knows that the Goodyear Tyre factory will make an important contribution in Cydebank in the course of the year.

Does not the inference from the Minister's answers to previous Questions and to this Question show that the decontrol of industrial building is having the effect of providing unwanted or unneeded factories in some areas to the detriment of factory building in Development Areas, and will he reimpose industrial building control in order to make sure that factories are built in the Development Areas and not outside?

I do not think that, even from those two figures, one can draw such a wide generalisation as that.

Will the Minister bear in mind that unemployment and employment prospects are so bad in Scotland that there are four times as many unemployed as unfilled vacancies? Will he bear that in mind?

Yes, I will; but it is fair also to say, as the hon. Gentleman knows, because I have pointed this out to him before, that the trends in Scotland have been steadily improving for a long time, which I am delighted to see, and even in the slight recession we had last year the rate of increase in unemployment in Scotland was very much less than it was for Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes taking to end the dispute between the National Union of Bank Employees and the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the British Linen Bank.

My industrial relations officer in Scotland has had discussions with the banks and the union. The banks are not prepared to negotiate directly with the union outside the Joint Conciliation Council of the Scottish Banking Industry, and the union is not prepared to seek representation on that Council. There does not appear to be any further action which my officer can usefully take at present.

Does not the Minister realise that many branches of these banks in Scotland have no other trade union organisation except this, and that therefore there can be no negotiation. Will he not look into this again, because many bank employees throughout Scotland are quite unrepresented except for staff organisations, which are really just company organisations through which the men have no representation whatever?

The hon. Gentleman must remember that all I can do in this matter is in conciliation, because it is, of course, within an employer's discretion which organisation he will recognise, and the Ministry of Labour has no standing in the matter.

But throughout the whole of Scotland there are hundreds of branches with only this one organisation. Cannot the Minister bring his high office to influence the bank employers that, as this is the only organisation existing throughout hundreds of branches, they should agree to use it as the negotiating body?

Even if those facts were true, the hon. Gentleman is avoiding the dilemma which I put to him. All I can do in this matter is limited to conciliation, and that, through my officers, I have tried to do.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he has for amending the Industrial Disputes Order.

This subject is still in an early stage of consideration and I have no statement to make at present.

My right hon. Friend will bear in mind, will he not, that his predecessor gave a pledge to amend the Order, but that it has been a long time under consideration?

Yes, I will. We have now started these discussions, and I hope to make progress in them.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the arrangements agreed upon for the mobility of workers between the five Brussels Treaty Powers will be modified by the conditions for the setting up of a Common Market in Western Europe.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Western European Union scheme for the exchange of information on employment available in member States. I cannot anticipate whether any modification in the scheme may be necessitated by the setting up of a Free Trade Area in Western Europe.

In the discussions which the Government are having about the Free Trade Area, are they pointing out that we do not envisage the possibility of the large-scale transfer or bringing into this country of foreign labour at a time when it may well be that we will not have sufficient work for our own people?

Yes, indeed. The Trades Union Congress in its representations to the Government brought that and many other points into the statements it made, and they are all taken into account in the discussions that are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that 304 registered disabled persons are unemployed in the Wrexham district; and what steps he is taking to place these persons in suitable employment.

I realise that there is a difficult problem in this district, though I am glad to say that the number of registered disabled unemployed has now fallen to 284. My local officers placed 81 registered disabled persons in employment during the last six months, and will continue to do all they can to help

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the openings in Lanarkshire for apprenticeships for school leavers have improved following the representations made to the appropriate Ministers in a deputation, and the memorandum submitted, on 13th July, 1955.

There has been no significant change in the position. Nevertheless, a considerable number of new industrial projects have been approved for Lanarkshire since 1955, and I hope that in due course these will result in an increased number of progressive openings for young people.

Is the Minister aware that the number of new projects opened up in the industrial estates throughout Lanarkshire provide a pitifully small number of apprenticeship openings? Is there any assurance that such new projects will present more openings in the future?

The first stage is the new projects; that is the basis of an expansion in the opportunities which the hon. Lady wants to see. She may be aware that I am chairman of a sub-committee set up by the National Joint Advisory Council last year to study the adequacy in both numbers and quality of apprenticeships and training opportunities generally throughout the country; and, of course, we shall not forget Scotland in our considerations.

asked the Minister of Labour how much greater in Scotland than in England is the cost of those items of food represented in his Index of Retail Prices; and if he will indicate the differences in cost of living between Scotland and England in his monthly Gazette.

The Index of Retail Prices measures the relative changes as between various dates in the average level of retail prices in the United Kingdom as a whole and does not provide a basis for measuring differences in the cost of living between different areas.

Scotland is a different country from England, as the right hon. Gentleman probably knows, and the prices are definitely higher than in England and wages are lower. Does the Minister not think it time that we had this revealed in the index figures?

Let me concede straight away and apologise to the hon. Lady for the first part of her supplementary questions. The difficulty is that the index is a measure of percentage change and it would not be possible to calculate either for countries or for areas, without an enormous amount of extra work, the sort of comparison that the hon. Lady requires. It will be to some extent helpful to her that when we publish, as we shall do shortly, the household expenditure inquiry, special and separate figures will be given for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent petrol restrictions are still causing unemployment.

During the four weeks ending 15th March, the discharge of about 1,000 workers was reported as being wholly or partly due to petrol restrictions. This compares with a figure of about 3,000 during the previous four weeks. On 15th March, some 22,000 workers were estimated to be working short time wholly or partly on account of petrol restrictions. The corresponding figure for 15th February was 36,000.

Now that rationing is openly flouted everywhere and is no longer a problem, will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to end the shilling extra duty and so keep down rising costs which adversely affect employment and may even cause strikes?

I cannot think that that arises very much from the Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour if his inspection of all textile mills in Keighley is now complete.

I presume the hon. Member has in mind the special survey of fire alarm arrangements. This was completed last October.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his Answer is very satisfactory indeed in view of the promises he made when this disastrous fire was debated in the House?

I appreciate what the hon. Member says. He may like to know that there is now only one outstanding case of a textile mill in Keighley where the installation of a fire alarm is either not complete or pending.

asked the Minister of Labour how many textile mills in the Keighley area are still without fire certificates.

Thirty-six, of which all but eight have been surveyed by the local authority preparatory to the issue of certificates.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the progress that has been made in the issue of these fire certificates? Is he aware that he has overriding powers under the 1937 Act? In view of the fact that it is now more than a year since the fire took place, with eight deaths, does he not think it is time that he used those overriding powers?

I am satisfied that the local authority has been making really strenuous efforts in recent months and that progress is now being made in the right direction. The local authority is, quite properly, requiring to be satisfied that a number of measures are properly carried out before granting certificates. As I have said, I am satisfied that it is pressing on with the matter now.

Will the hon. Gentleman watch the position very carefully indeed? I still think that progress is somewhat slow.

Indeed, I will give that assurance, and we will not hesitate to use any powers should we be dissatisfied.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has completed his review of the policy under the Factory Acts relating to fire.

Yes, Sir, and as a result some action has already been taken and lines of policy for further action have been laid down. All factories where fire alarms are required have been surveyed and follow-up action is being taken. An advisory leaflet has been issued to all employers on this subject. Local authorities have been asked to speed up the work of examining means of escape.

An advisory leaflet on fire drills is about to be sent to employers and advice on fire prevention is being prepared in collaboration with the Home Office. In agreement with the Home Office, revised instructions have been issued providing for closer co-operation between the Factory Inspectorate and fire authorities.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his reply is quite satisfactory and that perhaps we can now say that these people did not die in vain?

I thank the hon. Member for the interest he has taken in this matter throughout. We will do our best to see that his satisfaction is maintained.

Can the hon. Gentleman enlarge a little on the latter part of his Answer? Is he now considering permitting the factory inspector to invite the fire prevention officer to visit such a factory with him? As the hon. Gentleman knows, at the moment it is dependent upon the employer giving his permission. Is the hon. Gentleman getting a closer liaison between the two authorities in order that the fire prevention officer can help in determining the progress which is being made in regard to fire prevention?

I think I am right in saying that the powers still remain, but we cannot compel an employer to accept one of the fire officers. The degree of co-operation between our Inspectorate and the fire officers is certainly being intensified. Unless we have any trouble in getting the fire officers admitted where it is necessary to do so, I think it is better to leave the powers as they are.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average time between the discharge of a National Service man from one Service and his call-up for another to complete the period of two years.

The average time taken is about three months, but National Service men discharged on compassionate grounds are not considered for recall until at least six months have elapsed since discharge.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the case with which I was concerned there were six months between discharge from the Navy and the man's call-up for the Air Force? Is it is not entirely wrong that, through no fault of his own, a man should have to spend two and a half years of his life connected with National Service rather than the two years laid down, and will my right hon. Friend please examine the matter to see whether this interval cannot be curtailed to a minimum?

We do try to keep it as low as possible. Of course, the figure of three months which I gave is an average, and it follows that there are some cases in the neighbourhood of five months, such as the one to which my hon. Friend refers. We recognise that such a gap can be extremely inconvenient if it is followed by recall, and we do try to keep it as small as possible.

Would my right hon. Friend consider whether part of the gap might not be included in the term "National Service"?

It is an interesting idea, which I thought of, as a matter of fact, when I saw the Question on the Order Paper but there are no powers under which I could do that.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will exempt from National Service all men who are the main breadwinners for a widowed mother and one or more young children

(2) whether he will have printed on the registration form for National Service a notice that exemption can now he obtained for a man who has a relative physically dependent on him or who is the mainstay of an orphaned family, a widow with a child or children to look after, and a man living alone with a widowed mother.

The National Service Acts make no provision for the exemption from National Service of men with heavy domestic responsibilities. What they do provide is that call-up may be postponed on grounds of exceptional hardship. This is explained in a leaflet (N.L.2) which is handed to all men who register. The leaflet is being revised in the light of the amended Regulations. If a man applies for postponement in the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member, his application will certainly be most sympathetically considered.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he could not save much unnecessary anxiety by automatic exemption of such cases? On 4th March, he told the House that exemption could be applied for in cases of less hardship, such as that of a man living alone with his widowed mother. As many men are not aware of these new important concessions, could not the Minister bring them to their attention in the way I have suggested?

I am doing that by revising the leaflet to which I have referred. If the hon. Member studies his Question No. 11, for example, he will see, however, that it would not be inconsistent for the man to whom he refers to be a millionaire. It is necessary for all the authorised officers and then for the hardship committees to consider individual cases, but I have sent the most special instructions to the authorised officers to deal with all these cases most sympathetically, and that will be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to ensure that farming subsidies are paid only to those farmers who need them.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Question which the hon. Member put to him on this subject on 11th March, with which I entirely agree.

Is the right hon Gentleman aware that Scotland ought to take a lead in matters of this kind? Is it not the case that in the last six years the subsidies paid to Scottish farmers have quadrupled, from just over £6 million to over £27 million? If he is not prepared to take legislative action, will not the right hon. Gentleman ask farmers as a patriotic gesture, while they can afford to do without subsidies, whether in the face of our extreme economic difficulties they will forgo them?

The hon. Member will realise that the policy on farm subsidies has been debated very fully in the House. I, as well as my right hon. Friend, believe that we are on the right lines.

Would the right hon. Gentleman get the Government to make up their mind on what they believe in connection with subsidies? When it comes to housing, we are told that subsidies ought to be given only in case of need. if that is the principle that the Government have adopted, surely it must be adopted all round. If it is not sauce for the goose it cannot be sauce for the gander.

If the right hon. Gentleman reflects very carefully, he will realise that a comparison between housing and agriculture in this matter is not appropriate.

:Oh.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Wick Town Council have rejected the application for a house by Flight Sergeant A. G. Flett, Royal Air Force, Henlow, a Regular airman with 24 years' Colour and eight years' Reserve service; that the airman was born, brought up and apprenticed, and worked for seven years before the war, in Wick; that his application is in accordance with Air Ministry instructions based on Government directions to local authorities; and if he will take immediate steps to have this airman, his wife and four unmarried children provided with a council house when he retires from military service next year.

The Town Council, with whom I have been in touch, say that they have not rejected this application. They are aware of my recommendations about the housing of ex-Service men, but it is their practice to postpone consideration of such applications until the applicants have returned from service and found work in the burgh. In the meantime, they have noted the facts of this particular case.

Is not that reply wholly unsatisfactory? Is it not the case that I sent all the correspondence on this matter to the Minister over three weeks ago? Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have in my hand a letter from the factor to Wick Council stating that he regrets that,

"… at present Wick Town Council are not accepting housing applications from anyone other than persons resident in the town. When you come to live in Wick on discharge perhaps you will then come and see me and complete the final form of application."

How can this man, who has done such grand service and who has a wife and four children, in addition to one who was recently married, come to Wick and wait? Where will he live?

I can assure my hon. Friend that I have the greatest sympathy with ex-Service men in their search for houses, but their position is exactly as I set out in my original Answer. I should make it clear that I have no powers by which to insist upon a local authority taking any particular action in this matter. It rests entirely with the local authority, but, of course, I have been in communication with this local authority and the reply that I have already given is the result of an exchange of letters.

If the right hon. Gentleman has so much sympathy with these ex-Service men, why is he increasing their rent?

:Answer

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his latest proposals to free Scotland of bovine tuberculosis.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 12th March to the right hon. Member for East Stirlingshire (Mr. Woodburn).

Would my right hon. Friend not agree with me in saying that the fact that we in Scotland will be 100 per cent. T. T. in two years' time—[HON. MEMBERS: "What?"]—is a great feather in the cap of Scottish farmers and a tribute to their efficiency and keenness?

I most certainly agree with that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is making to ensure an adequate supply of Irish tuberculin-tested feeding cattle for those farmers in Scotland who have traditionally bought this type of store, when Scotland becomes a 100 per cent. free testing area in two years' time.

I understand that the Irish Republican authorities are aware that in about 2½ years' time Scotland will become a fully attested area, and that they are now taking steps to expedite the eradication of tuberculosis from their own herds. These should result in the provision of tubercular-free stores in greater numbers in the future.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a trickle of once-tested cattle coming over from Eire at present and that this is unsatisfactory because they have to be isolated for at least 60 days on the farmer's farm when they are bought from the dealer? Will he arrange with his area authorities that it will be T. T. cattle and not once-tested that will come over in two years' time, otherwise there will be a great lack of stores for the Scottish farmer?

My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that in my original reply I said that the Eire authorities are fully aware of this problem and, I believe, are taking very effective steps to expedite the eradication of tuberculosis so that what we desire will be achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish Special Housing Association have now completed their technical investigation into the flooding of access paths to houses erected by them at Cadder Scheme, Maryhill; and when the necessary remedial work will commence.

Remedial work, which I hope will prevent a recurrence of the flooding of the access paths to these houses, has been completed.

Whilst appreciating that reply, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that representations in this matter have been made over the past three years? Since there has been such a delay in the matter, will he take steps to see that no such delays occur in similar cases in future?

I regret that there has been a delay. I know that there was a little delay because there had to be consultation between the Scottish Special Housing Association and the Glasgow Corporation's Parks Department, but I doubt whether the delay has been quite as long as is indicated in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the doctors' pay claim as regards doctors in Scotland and indicate what steps he is taking to make an interim settlement of that claim pending its consideration by a Royal Commission.

This is essentially a United Kingdom matter, and I cannot add anything to what has already been said by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12th March.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that Scottish doctors have special conditions and that those should be taken into account? What about an interim settlement pending the ultimate decision?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said that he would make a further statement on this matter in due course, and I am not prepared to add to what he said.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotand if he has considered the representations made by the deputation from Lanarkshire on 13th July, 1955, regarding lack of openings for apprenticeships for school leavers throughout Lanarkshire and comparisons made with conditions in England; and what action has been taken in fulfilment of the promise made to that deputation and the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie.

I have seen the reply that my predecessor sent the hon. Member on 23rd September, 1955. In accordance with the assurances then given, the Board of Trade have continued, with some success, to encourage new industrial development in Lanarkshire.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what are the actual results'?

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour indicated in his reply earlier this afternoon, there has been substantial success in attracting new projects. I am informed that there have been twenty-seven new projects since July, 1955, which should give, in total, employment to over 3,000 people.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the resentment caused in hospitals in Scotland by the decision to impose a charge for board and lodging on resident medical and dental staff while absent on annual leave; under what authority this decision was made retrospective from August, 1956; and if he will cancel this decision.

This matter is under consideration by the Whitley Committee concerned. I expect to have their decision very soon, and I shall then write to the hon. Member. The original decision followed an agreement between the two sides of the Whitley Committee.

Do I understand from what the right hon. Gentleman is saying that this is now to be reconsidered?

Yes, Sir. At this moment the subject matter of the Question is under reconsideration by the appropriate committee.

Can we take it from the right hon. Gentleman, then, that these doctors will not be charged until a settlement has been reached?

I cannot possibly prejudge the results of the discussions now going on in the Whitley Committee.

If this is being negotiated at the present time, surely the right hon. Gentleman could give the House an assurance that at least the doctors will not be charged until a settlement is reached?

I really prefer to wait until the Whitley Committee has reported.

My hon. Friend has asked a question about a change that has been made. I gather that the right hon. Gentleman has now imposed this charge; in other words, that he has changed the conditions of the doctors in the midst of a discussion as to what the final settlement is to be. Could not the existing position be continued until the matter is settled?

I should like notice of the precise detail of that question. I have not examined that point, but obviously, if the matter is being reconsidered, the question of retrospective action must be involved.

asked the Secertary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the difficulties arising for pharmaceutical chemists in Scotland in obtaining exemption from jury service; and whether he is prepared to amend the law to give them at least equality with chemists in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the present procedure whereby pharmacists may secure exemption from jury service in Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take.

I understand that a pharmacist may be excused attendance as a juror if a qualified substitute is not available. I am aware of the view of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain that pharmacists in Scotland should be exempt by statute from jury service, but I cannot at present hold out any prospect of legislation.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that all we are asking for in this respect is to bring the Scottish chemists into line with the chemists in England and Wales, and that it can be very inconvenient indeed if the only qualified chemist in charge of a shop is called up for jury service? Would he not look into it with a view to expediting a decision?

I am advised that we have no knowledge of actual hardship being caused by call-up for jury service. I appreciate that there is inconvenience in the present procedure, but as I have said, I cannot at present hold out the prospect of legislation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there have been complaints inside Scotland itself, apart from those coming from the Pharmaceutical Society, and surely he can do something about this matter much quicker than he suggests? What he seems to be suggesting is that he cannot see his way to do everything.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the planning of roads in Fife leading to and from the Forth road bridge, consideration will be given to the road requirements necessary when a road bridge is built over the River Tay.

The Forth Road Bridge Order, 1947, provides for extensive approach roads to link the bridge with the existing roads on both sides of the river. I am advised that the roads provided for in the Order would not require to be altered in the event of a bridge being built across the Tay.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that there will be quite a big increase in the traffic on these roads, and on the existing roads between North Queensferry and Dundee, that this is in the middle of a coal developing area where extensive coal development is going on, and that it would be imprudent to spend any money unless one takes into consideration the increased volume of traffic?

I think my reply covers the hon. Gentleman's point.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the public inquiry into the Dundee Development Plan, which has been going on, has shown how impossible it is to plan the future development of Dundee without a decision by the Secretary of State on roads over the Tay?

That is another question, I think.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that in normal processes of law all ex- penses, including those of the successful party, are borne by the unsuccessful party, why his Department has invited the education authority for the county of Fife to pay his expenses in connection with the compulsory acquisition of land at Buckhaven High School.

It is the normal practice to require expenses incurred by me in connection with a compulsory purchase order to be paid by the education authority who promoted the order unless the objections which have given rise to the inquiry are considered to be frivolous. I can find no special circumstances in this case to warrant exceptional treatment.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a case where a local authority, which is responsible for education and the provision of playing fields and the building of a high school in my constituency, has been compelled to take certain legal steps in order to carry out the wishes of the Government, and, having taken those legal steps, the county council not only has to meet its own expenses but also the expenses of the Secretary of State? Is not this another case where the Secretary of State is making things more difficult for the finances of the local authorities?

I have studied this case, and, on all available precedents, it seems to be fair and just.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when all severely disabled persons who require invalid cars to get them to and from their work will be supplied with one.

Cars are supplied to severely disabled war pensioners who are receiving pension at the 100 per cent. rate and are accepted as coming within certain medical categories of disablement. I am advised that all war pensioners qualified to receive cars have them. All other equally disabled persons are qualified to receive motor tricycles.

Is the Minister aware that on two occasions I have taken up with him a case of one of my constituents, and that on both occasions I have been informed by the Ministers at the Scottish Office that this constituent cannot get a car until all those who need cars for work have got them? Is he also aware that this answer does not line up with previous replies I have received?

The information I have given is correct as far as I can possibly check, but I would be glad to look at these cases again.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the provision of now accommodation and equipment for radiotherapy treatment at Glasgow Western Infirmary.

Tenders have been invited and work will start shortly on an extension to house two additional radiotherapy units to meet immediate needs. The long-term requirements of the Infirmary are at present being examined by the regional hospital board and the board of management with a view to an early decision about the additional provision to be made.

Whilst appreciating the first part of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that in an earlier reply to me his predecessor said that he was expecting a report from the Cancer Committee of the Scottish Health Services Council? Has he yet received that report, and can he say what are its contents?

I would prefer the hon. Gentleman to put that down as a separate Question if he would do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new proposals he has for improving civil defence arrangements in Scotland.

Within the limits imposed by economic considerations, practical measures are being continued to increase the efficiency of civil defence arrangements.

Would the right hon. Gentleman mind translating that into English? Does he not think that the establishment of a rocket range on the west coast of Scotland will make huge areas of Scotland less safe than they would otherwise have been, and will he revise his evacuation proposals in the light of that?

I think the hon. Gentleman is going a little wide of his original Question by bringing in another subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the First Report of the Law Reform Committee for Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take.

I am considering this report in consultation with my right hon. and learned friend the Lord Advocate, and I shall, of course, take into account any representations which are received about its recommendations. I can, however, hold out no prospect of immediate legislation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that a very eminent member of the Scottish Bench has already said that the recommendations regarding the liability of occupiers are urgent and not to be delayed for two or three years?

There are many very urgent matters which come into our affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reorganisation schemes have so far been prepared under Section 19 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1955; and how many have so far been completed.

Two schemes have so far been submitted for my approval and both are under consideration.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he can tell us when we can expect the first annual Report of the Crofters Commission?

I am afraid that that is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the Government's proposals for the future financing of local government in England and Wales, any change is being considered in the method of calculating the grant for Scottish education.

The proposals envisage that both in Scotland and in England and Wales, the specific grant for education should he largely merged in a general grant. The considerations which should be taken into account in fixing the total of the Scottish general grant both initially and in subsequent periods will be discussed with the local authorities.

Is the Secretary of State aware that this raises very important implications for Scottish education? At present, the Scottish education grant is a fixed fraction of the Ministry grant. In future, is Scottish education to have its grant decided by the amount of money spent by the English local authorities?

The amount of grant hitherto available for education authorities in Scotland will, of course, obviously be a consideration in determining the amount of general grant and one to which I shall have regard in considering the amount of grant for Scotland.

When this new grant is fixed, will it be fixed no matter what the increased cost on the local authority? Will the Government contribution be fixed for a given time, and what time win that be? Will it be for five years, two years or one year? Does this mean that all extra cost will be borne by the local authority and not by the Government, as it is today?

It would not be appropriate for me to go into detail about this complicated subject, on which discussions are about to take place with the local authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it is important that, before the discussions are fixed, the House should make its mind felt about this matter? Is he aware that there will be considerable trouble if there is to be a reduction and local authorities are made to bear all extra cost from now on?

Can my right hon. Friend indicate roughly when these discussions with the local authorities may take place?

Certain talks are going on, but I should like notice of that question so as to be able to be more precise in my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what protests he has received from local authorities or other associations expressing concern at the Government's proposal to institute a block grant system in respect of certain local services; and what reply he has made.

The Education Institute of Scotland and the Ayrshire local association of the Institute have written expressing concern about the inclusion of the Education main grant in the proposed general grant; and it is intended to discuss the matter with the Institute at a convenient opportunity. I do not think it right at this stage to indicate what questions have been raised in the discussion with the Local Authority Associations, which are continuing.

Surely the Secretary of State is aware of the concern throughout Scotland that the inevitable result of this change will be to stultify progress in education as well as other local services and that he is shutting his eyes to what is happening financially to local authorities and telling them to make the best of it while he is safeguarding the central Government?

I believe that to be a quite wrong assumption.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current cost of education in Scotland.

For the current financial year the Public Education, Scotland, Vote makes provision for the expenditure of £44·9 million and education authorities estimate that in the year ending May, 1957, they will spend on education £21·3 million from rates and from grants under the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1954.

Would the Minister consider making a statement for Scotland similar to that recently made by the Minister of Education for England? Is he aware that the Minister of Education for England was so horrified and disgusted when he arrived at his office and discovered that we were spending less on education than the U.S.A. and the U. S. S. R. that he is spoiling for a fight with someone? On whose side will the right hon. Gentleman be in that fight?

In my enthusiasm for education I yield nothing to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education.

Further to that point, could the Minister give us two assurances? First, that in the changes which are to be made Scotland will not suffer in its relative position to England and, secondly, that the local authorities will not suffer relatively to the Government as a whole in their respective proportion of contribution to education?

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that, as long as I have anything to do with it, I will fight fully and strongly for Scotland's relative position in all things. On the second part, I am not prepared to enter into details at Question Time. The matter is too complicated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for a Scottish Contribution to an expanded programme of national educational expenditure.

The Public Education, Scotland, Vote will be published later this month. In the meantime, I can inform the hon. Member that whereas the Scottish School Building Programme for 1956–57 is £11·1 million, that proposed for 1957–58 is £13·2 million.

Since the Secretary of State has told my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) that he does not yield to the Minister of Education, will he tell the House, as the Scottish Minister of Education, that he agrees that we are not spending enough nationally on education?

There are always a great many subjects on which we should like to spend more money, but I think that Scotland is doing fairly well with education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, as a percentage of the respective school populations, the number of places available in senior secondary schools in Scotland and in Ayrshire.

The number of places that are or could be made available in any particular area depends on both the accommodation and staff available and it would be difficult to give the hon. Member a precise estimate in answer to his Question, but I have no evidence that in Ayrshire or in Scotland as a whole there are not sufficient for all the children who could derive full benefit from senior secondary education. I should add that of the total number of pupils in secondary classes in public and grant-aided schools in January, 1957, in Scotland as a whole 42 per cent. and in Ayrshire 43 per cent. were following senior secondary courses.

If we are to consider the matter properly, surely it is necessary for the Secretary of State to obtain this information? It has been available in England, and there is no reason why it should not be available in Scotland. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in certain areas children who are capable of benefiting from senior secondary education are not receiving it because of the limitation on places?

I agree that the important thing is that no children considered by education authorities to be fit for senior secondary courses should be kept from such courses. I am informed that they are not being kept from them, although some of the classes are rather large.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase the number of girl students studying for the higher technological qualifications.

It is our aim to ensure that facilities are provided for the training of all the technologists that industry needs. Existing facilities are open equally to boys and girls. We shall continue, as occasion affords, to urge parents, teachers and industry to encourage girls to train and to take up work in the applied sciences.

Is the Secretary of State aware that this is one of the principal untapped sources of technologists? Can he say how many girls are taking higher technological courses in Scotland?

I am afraid that I should want notice of that question on a matter of detail, but I am very well aware of the importance of the subject.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that some very notable technological advances are taking place in Dundee?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools for technical education are established in the Highlands.

Five, Sir. In addition, technical courses are provided in several evening institutes, and most secondary schools have courses which include technical subjects.

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind the immense distances, and also that courses which can be run at local schools—particularly in subjects like agriculture and fishing, which are local industries—are of immense importance? Will he try to increase the numbers available?

I have noted very carefully what the hon. Member has said.