asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what amount he estimates will be payable to retirement pensioners in each of the years 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1980, assuming that the present provisions of the law remain unchanged, in respect of increments carried by continuing at work between the ages of 65 and 70 years in the case of men, and between the ages of 60 and 65 years in the case of women.

The estimated amounts are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the improvement works projected at the bridge at Old Bridgend, Carluke, will be started; and when they are likely to be finished.

This bridge is on an unclassified road and its improvement is a matter for Lanarkshire County Council, subject to my consent to the capital borrowing involved, which has been given. I understand that the County Council hopes that work will start this year and be completed in 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accidents involving injury have occurred at Old Bridgend and Old Lanark Road, Carluke, since 1945.

I am informed that only one accident involving injury at this place has been reported to the police since 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which States signed the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Authority within the 90 days' period prescribed in Articles IV and XXI of the Statute.

The Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency was signed on 26th October, 1956, by the following seventy countries:—

asked the Minister of Health the number of nurses employed in the hospital service under the National Health Service on a convenient date in each year since its inception; and if he will give similar details of those employed in administration.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement of his policy for the maintenance and replacement of motor cars supplied to certain severely disabled war pensioners.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I are now beginning special inspections of these cars with a view to replacing those which, in spite of reasonable use and proper maintenance, are most in need of replacement. If a motor tricycle has to be issued for temporary use in place of a car which we are satisfied ought to be replaced, a replacement car will be supplied as soon as is practicable.We have also decided to increase by £8 a year, from 1st April next, the basic annual grant of £57 (excluding the present temporary increase announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 11th December, 1956), now paid towards the cost of maintenance of the cars. But for all cars issued after that date, whether as replacements or as new issues, the grant will be paid on the basis of a rising scale. For new cars this will be at the rate of £45 a year for the first two years, £65 a year for the next two years and £75 a year thereafter. For reconditioned cars it will be at the rate of £50 a year for the first two years and £75 a year thereafter. The present temporary increase will, so long as it is paid, be additional to these rates. In addition from 1st April a new grant of £20 towards the cost of replacing the engine will be payable to users of Government cars. This grant will not be paid more than once during a war pensioner's use of a car, and instructions about apply for it will be issued to users.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the future level of the maximum retail price of milk.

The maximum retail prices of all grades of liquid milk will be reduced by ½d. a pint on 1st April. This seasonal reduction will continue until 1st July when the maximum retail prices will revert to the present levels.It is not intended to make any further retail price changes during the financial year apart from the usual seasonal increase of ½d. a pint in England and Wales in the price of Channel Islands and South Devon milks (other than farm bottled grades) for the months of September, October and November.

asked the Paymaster-General the estimated quantity of coal needed to supply the country's anticipated electricity requirements in 1965 and 1970 but for the projected development of atomic energy.

About 70 and 85 million tons respectively, including the coal equivalent of any oil used.

asked the Paymaster-General the estimated quantity of coal needed to supply the country's anticipated electricity requirements in 1965 and 1970 when allowance has been made for the projected development of atomic energy.

In 1965 about 56 million tons, including the coal equivalent of any oil used, since it is hoped that during that year the revised nuclear programme will save some 14 million tons of coal equivalent, whether in the form of coal or oil, compared with the 18 million tons to be saved from a full year's operation of 6,000 MW of nuclear capacity commissioned by the end of 1965. It is too early to predict the subsequent development of atomic energy.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will reconcile the total number of non-industrial Government employees shown in Command Paper No. 90 with the number given for 1st January, 1957, in Command Paper No. 89.

Broadly speaking the difference is explained by the exclusion from Command 90 of staff employed overseas and in Northern Ireland (some 17,000) and the use of a different basis of definition of part-time staff. In both returns two part-time staff are reckoned as one full-time. But for the purposes of Command 90 part-time staff are defined as those working more than 10 but less than 30 hours per week, whereas for the purposes of Command 89 part-time staff are defined as those working more than 10 hours per week but less than the full hours of the grade to which they belong. These differences are related to the terms of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944. A general explanation of these differences is given in Note 3 of Command 90.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he had with the Bank of England prior to the issue of the new £5 note.

The issue of notes of £5 denomination was approved by the Treasury under the terms of the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1954. The Bank of England are responsible for the size and design of their notes; but it is their practice to keep in touch on this subject with Treasury Ministers, who were consequently fully informed throughout the preparatory stages of the new £5 note.