asked the Minister of Works when he will have the scaffolding removed from Big Ben tower.

It is hoped to start dismantling the scaffold early next month and to finish the work in June.

asked the Minister of Works how often the windows in the Palace of Westminster are cleaned.

The windows of occupied rooms are cleaned about every six weeks.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements have been made for opening the various parts of Osborne House, Cowes, to the public.

The Royal Apartments and the Swiss Cottage will be open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 am to 5 p.m. from Easter Monday, 22nd April, until 30th September, 1957. They will also be open at the same times on Thursdays from 20th June to the end of September.

asked the Minister of Works when work is to be done on cleaning the ceiling of the Painted Hall, at Greenwich.

The cleaning of the vestibule to the Painted Hall is in progress. Work on the hall itself is due to start at the beginning of this year's summer vacation of the Royal Naval College and will proceed as quickly as possible. The cleaning of the Upper Hall will follow immediately afterwards. The whole of the work should be completed in about two years from now.

asked the Minister of Works what action has been taken to renew the work of excavation and re-erections at the Temple at Avebury.

I hope that limited excavations may be resumed when the services of skilled archaeologists are available for supervising the work, but this is not likely to be before next year.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements are being made for the floodlighting of tourist attractions under his control during the coming season.

The arrangements for floodlighting public buildings in London for which my right hon. Friend is responsible will be on the same lines as in previous years. The list of buildings, etc. in London to be floodlit by the Ministry of Works will be:

• Admiralty Arch.
• Admiralty Old Building.
• Carlton House Terrace.
• Houses of Parliament Clock Tower and Terrace (during the Recess only).
• Horse Guards.
• Nelson's Column and Trafalgar Square.
• National Gallery.
• Tate Gallery.
• Tower of London.
• Somerset House.

asked the Minister of Works to give in the OFFICIAL REPORT for the three largest building contracts undertaken in the last five years, either for his own Department or on behalf of other Departments, the date when the contract to build was signed, the date stated in the contract or agreed before the work started when the undertaking should be completed, the date when the building was actually completed and accepted by the Department concerned, and the date when

asked the Secretary of State for War how many rewards of £5,000 have been paid for the capture of terrorists in Cyprus with such a sum on their heads; and what proportion of this money has been paid to serving soldiers during the last two years.

Cash rewards are not paid to members of the Security Forces whether soldiers or civil police.

asked the Secretary of State for War what will be the position of those watch repairers of the 36 Base Workshop who were granted medical reject terms under the provisions of Civilian Staff Regulations, 1950, paragraph 35, who lose their employment at Greenford because of the closing down of the base, who cannot for medical reasons make the journey to Woolwich, where the alternative employment is offered, and who are unable to find accommodation at Woolwich; what steps have been taken to find other suitable employment in north-west Middlesex; and what is their position as far as pension or gratuity is concerned if no suitable alternative employment is found.

Every effort has been made to find other suitable Government work in the Greenford area for the three watch the final payment was made to the contractors responsible for the building.

Details of the three largest building contracts started by my Department and for which final payment has been made in the last five years are as follows:repairers who were serving at this workshop on medical reject terms. I regret that we have not been successful. These men were therefore offered posts at Woolwich, and one has accepted. If the other two are unable or unwilling to accept these posts, I regret that the only alternative is for them to resign. Should they do so, they will be eligible for a gratuity under the Superannuation Acts if they have more than seven years' reckonable service.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many information officers are on the strength of his Department; and how many of them have had experience as journalists on national newspapers or news agencies.

There are ten members of the Information Officer class in the War Office and in commands of whom six have had journalistic experience.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the agreements, particulars of which had been delivered to the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements by mid-day on 28th February, 1957, were referable to each of the classes of agreement set out in the schedule to the Registration of Restrictive Trading Agreements Order, 1956.

The way in which agreements are classified is, under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956, a matter for the Registrar to decide. The Registrar is at present entering and classifying agreements and I cannot say whether when the register is open to the public next month he will be able to give the particulars for which the hon. Member asks. The public will be able to inspect the register on payment of a shilling a day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the approximate total value of exports to Europe for 1956; and the approximate total value of imports for that period.

I would refer the hon Member to the monthly "Report on Overseas Trade" for February, 1957, which concisely summarises our trade both by country and commodity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Monopolies Commission has yet been called upon to investigate and report upon any phases of the work in connection with the building industry.

The Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission reported on building in the Greater London area, and on the following building materials: cast iron rainwater goods, sand and gravel in Central Scotland and standard metal windows and doors. The Monopolies Commission has not so far been asked to report on any matters in connection with the building industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions are taking place at Ministerial level with the nationalised industries concerned to continue after June, 1957, the price stabilisation policy agreed last year; and, having regard to the importance of price stability in the fuel and power industries, notably coal, whether he will make a statement.

The Boards of the nationalised industries are under statutory obligation to pay their way, taking one year with another. It is for them to decide how this obligation is to be discharged. My right hon. Friends the Ministers concerned are in consultation with the chairmen of the Boards about their capital expenditure and borrowing requirements in the corning year I am not in a position to make a further statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total amounts of tax payable on hydrocarbon oils in the months of January and February in 1956 and 1957, respectively.

£45·6 million in 1956; the provisional figure for 1957 is £49·0 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increased cost to the Exchequer in annual interest charges on all its financial transactions since 1954, giving the figures for 1955 and 1956 separately; and how much this extra cost for 1955 and 1956 would have increased the standard rate of Income Tax for each of these two years if the total increased interest and other related charges had been met by this means alone in those two years.

The increased cost to the Budget Revenue of interest and management of the National Debt in 1955–56, as compared with 1954–55, was £68 million; figures for the current financial year will not be available before 30th March. The increase of £68 million is equivalent to about 3d. in the standard rate of Income Tax, with corresponding adjustments in the reduced rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent, as a result of the increased interest charges in this country, our payments due to overseas debt have been enlarged in 1955 and 1956 separately; and what effect these additional payments have had upon our balance of payments.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind our interest liability on the overseas sterling holdings. Interest payments on these holdings increased by about £30 million in 1955 and £20 million in 1956.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken to improve the salary scales of university teachers in view of the mounting dissatisfaction among university staff and the increasing difficulty in filling university appointments.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies of 12th March to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) and of 18th March to the hon. Member for Stafford and Stone (Mr. H. Fraser).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a statement of the activities of the Development Commission in Wales since February, 1954, and what assistance it has given to industries in rural Wales.

Since February, 1954, direct assistance has been sanctioned from the Development Fund to industries in Wales by way of loan for the erection of two factories at Llangefni. Grants have been made in aid of the work

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the result of the survey of Essex water supplies will be made known.

I regret that it has taken longer than was expected to prepare the summary of the survey report but it should be available by the middle of the year. Meanwhile, officers of my Department are ready to discuss the water supply problems of the county with the authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what basis he assesses the capacity of a local authority to contribute towards the cost of its coast-protection works.

Each application for Exchequer grant is considered individually, having regard to the cost of the scheme and the financial resources of the local authority concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether temporary coast-protection works, designed to save a stretch of cliff from collapse until permanent works can be undertaken, will qualify for Exchequer grants to the same degree as the permanent works.

This would depend on the circumstances. Exchequer contributions are not normally given to help temporary works, but where these can be incorporated later in a more pemanent scheme I would certainly consider an application for grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what principles he defines the area which benefits from a coast-protection scheme, and so becomes liable to contribute towards its cost.

It is in the first instance for the coast protection authority to define the land which is likely to benefit from the coast protection scheme, and in respect of which contributions may therefore be payable. Local circumstances vary so much that it has not been possible to lay down any general principles for the guidance of coast protect ion authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the average rent charged by local authori- ties in England and Wales to tenants of houses built for, and occupied by, agricultural workers.

I have no information showing what rents are charged by local authorities for particular classes of tenants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to state the approximate number of old people's dwellings that have been built by local authorities in London and Middlesex since 1945 to the latest convenient date.

Precise figures from 1945 onwards are not available, but the approximate totals up to June, 1956, are 7,500 for the County of London and 2,400 for Middlesex.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when Mr. John Harris of 108, Ladyshot, Harlow, may expect to have a reply to the letter sent to his Department on 5th February, 1957, concerning the operation of the Rent Bill.

A reply was sent to Mr. Harris on 11th March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will instruct new town development corporations to consult with the local authority in their area before arriving finally at any decision to increase rents.

No.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what grant is being made to assist in the speedy production of an atom-powered tanker.

As my hon. Friend informed the House on 5th March the Admiralty has taken the initiative in bringing together all the interests concerned with the commercial possibilities of nuclear propulsion for shipping. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that Her Majesty's Government is keenly aware of the importance of making rapid progress, but there is nothing I can usefully add at present to what the House has already been told.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many information officers are on the strength of his Department; and how many of them have had experience as journalists on national newspapers or news agencies.

In the Admiralty the duties of Information Officers include the production of professional technical literature for use within the Service. I presume, however, that my hon. Friend is referring to those members of the class who are engaged in public relations. There are nine of these of whom six have had experience of newspapers or news agencies. The other three have had specialist experience relevant to the duties they perform.

asked the Minister of Defence what plans he has for arming British Forces in South-East Asia with nuclear weapons.

I have no statement to make on this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many information officers are on the strength of his Department; and how many of them have had experience as journalists on national newspapers or news agencies.

Five, of whom two have had experience as journalists.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give the payments made in respect of hill sheep subsidy for each of the counties of Wales for the last financial year.

The Hill Sheep Subsidy payments made for each of the counties of Wales and Monmouthshire in the financial year ended 31st March, 1956, are set out in the following table. Payments however, relate to eligible flocks on a specified date in December and the Payments in respect of a particular "subsidy year" are spread over more than one financial year: in fact, a further sum of £916† was paid on the 1954–5 Scheme after the financial year to which the table relates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the estimated annual cost of Johne's disease in deaths and loss of production in cattle herds; whether research has given any promising results; and if he will state his Department's policy in testing and vaccinating cattle to check losses from this disease.

Johne's disease is not notifiable under the Diseases of Animals Act, and there is no information readily available on which to assess the loss of production by reason of death or unthriftiness. A small-scale inquiry carried out a few years ago indicated that about 1 per cent. of the cows in the dairy herds surveyed showed clinical symptoms. Research and investigation are going on into certain aspects of the problem, including the practicability of successful vaccination and use of the complement fixation test to identify infected animals, but no definite conclusions have yet been reached It is clear, however, that sound hygiene and good management play an important part in keeping herds free from the disease.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will review the case of a farmer in Kenya named Kagombo who was sentenced to prison in August, 1956; and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th February, 1957; Vol 565, c 177] supplied the following information:Kagombo s/o Kalu, a Giriama who claims to have powers of healing and to be guided by God through dreams, was arrested and charged last August on three counts of holding public meetings without permission. In view of the fact that he had previously spent three months under observation in the Mental Hospital, Zanzibar he was examined again at Mathari Mental Hospital, Nairobi before being sent for trial but was discharged as fit to plead. He was convicted on all three charges, but has appealed, and as his appeal has not yet been heard the case is

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to state the number of Africans from each Colonial, Trusteeship, and Protectorate territory, respectively, who are enrolled as students at the University of Salisbury for the years 1957–60; the proportion of African to European students; and the extent to which it is proposed to increase the number of African students.

The university authorities state that eight African, one Asian and sixty-five European students are enrolled at the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Salisbury, and that one of the Africans is from Northern Rhodesia and two from Nyasaland, as well as five from Southern Rhodesia. The admission of students is a matter for the College Council.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will direct an investigation into the costings on which the contracts for the building of atomic power stations are based, in view of the wide disparity between the cost of approximately £145 per kilowatt installed capacity for the two stations ordered by the Central Electricity Authority and the station ordered by the South Scotland Electricity Board.

No. Nor can I accept the implication contained in the latter part of the Question In their consideration of tenders the Electricity Authorities can be relied on to carry out any cost investigations required.

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent the 19 atomic power stations to be constructed under the new programme will be in place of coal or oil-fired stations which had formed part of the pre-existing programme of the Central Electricity Authority and the Scottish electricity boards.

The construction of the 19 nuclear power stations, as announced in the revised nuclear power programme, will not result in the cancellation of any contracts relating to the pre-existing development programmes of the electricity authorities for the next five years.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations have been received by his Department about the inadequate provision of public telephone kiosks at Mardley Hill and at Broad-field Road, Woolmer Green; and what action he intends to take to provide adequate facilities.

The Hertford branch of the Rural District Councils Association has asked for a kiosk to be provided on Mardley Hill and this will be provided when a suitable site can be found in the neighbourhood. No representations have been received about public telephone facilities at Woolmer Green, but there is a telephone kiosk about 500 yards from Broadfield Road and the provision of another cannot be justified at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to persons living in the neighbourhood of Roe Green Close, Hatfield, as a result of there being no public telephone kiosk nearby; and whether he will cause a telephone kiosk to be erected there

Two new kiosks have recently been provided in districts of Hatfield adjacent to Roe Green Close. I regret that the other urgent claims on our resources are such that I would not feel justified in providing another. I wish it were otherwise, but this situation seems likely to continue until next year when new plant will be ready for service. I will however, keep the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been received from local authorities on development corporations to obtain extra powers to restrain the operators of mobile sales vans on which no rates are paid in sales competition with rate-paying shopkeepers.

Perth Town Council has suggested that street trading should be prohibited except under licence from the appropriate local authority. No similar representations have recently been made to me by other local authorities, or by any development corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects work to start on the Crawford by-pass on the main Carlisle-Glasgow road.

The Crawford By-Pass forms part of the Abington and Crawford Diversions Scheme which I hope to authorise in 1958–59 and to start in the spring of 1959.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the concern felt locally, he will reconsider his refusal to allow the halt sign to be erected at the junctions of Windsor Drive and Bramfield Road, Hertford.

A halt sign was not applied for at this site until a few days ago. I shall consult the police and will arrange for the site to be inspected before I come to any decision. At the same time, I have been asked to reconsider my refusal in January of this year to agree to a halt sign at the other end of Windsor Drive, at the junction with the Hertford-Welwyn Road, B.1000. I am arranging for this application to be re-examined and I will write to my hon. Friend about both cases as soon as possible.