asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the value of pharmaceutical products, other than anti-biotics, imported into this country from the United States of America, in 1951 and 1956, respectively.

Imports, of drugs, medicines and medicinal preparations, excluding antibiotics, from the United States were valued at £1·1 million in 1956. These goods were not separately specified in the trade returns for 1951, but imports in that year are estimated to have been of the same order as in 1956.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations he has had with the French Government in connection with the new import compensation tax levied by France as from 18th March, 1957; and if he will make a statement.

INDEX NUMBERS OF THE VOLUME OF UNITED KINGDOM TRADE WITH CERTAIN AREAS (1948 = 100)
		Imports from			United Kingdom exports to
——		Sterling Area	Dollar Area	Non-sterling O.E.E.C. (excluding dependencies)	Sterling Area	Dollar Area	Non-sterling O.E.E.C. (excluding dependencies)
1952	…	125	94	153	124	139	127
1953	…	140	97	158	127	164	141
1954	…	138	98	169	138	155	150
1955	…	141	127	193	147	170	155
1956	…	137	126	196	144	216	167

NOTE: The area index numbers of United Kingdom external trade for 1948–50 were originally derived by valuing the trade at prices of the base year 1947, those for 1951–54 by valuing trade at 1950 prices and those for 1955 and 1956 by valuing trade at 1954 prices. These index numbers were then linked together and in the table above those for 1952–56 are expressed with 1948=100. The figures will not therefore always be consistent with the current series of index numbers of the volume of total United Kingdom external trade which are computed for all periods from 1947 onwards by valuing trade at 1954 prices. In particular the change in the volume of exports between 1950 and 1954 differs according to whether it is measured by the index computed on the 1954 or the 1950 base. (See Board of Trade Journal, 10th December, 1955.)

None. The French Government have undertaken to submit a full report to the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation. Before making a statement I must study this report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to arrange for his Department in future to be represented at the trade fairs held in Leipzig.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 31st January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state, taking 1948 as 100, the estimated volume of imports from the sterling area, the dollar area, and the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation area, respectively, and the export volumes to those areas for the years 1952 to 1956 inclusive.

Following is the answer:

asked the President of the Board of Trade to take steps, in accordance with the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, to stop the subsidising of the purchase of French lace in Cuba by certain French tobacco interests there.

My attention has been drawn to this matter and I am inquiring whether there are grounds for complaint to the Governments concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give the tonnage and value of butter imported from the United States of America in 1956 and 1938.

In 1938, nil; in 1956, six tons valued at £2,208.

asked the Prime Minister what was the nature of his agreement with President Eisenhower by which certain guided missiles will be made available by the United States of America for use by British Forces.

asked the Prime Minister what information he gave to President Eisenhower concerning the increased danger to Great Britain as a result of this country becoming a base for the discharge of guided missiles with nuclear warheads with a range of 1,500 miles.

I reached agreement in principle with the President at Bermuda that in the interests of mutual defence and mutual economy, certain guided missiles will be made available by the United States for use by the British Forces. Detailed arrangements for putting this agreement into effect will be worked out between the two Governments. I am sure that the agreement is greatly in the interests not only of this country but of the whole free world.

asked the Prime Minister on which reports of independent scientific organisations Her Majesty's Government have relied in confirmation of their view, expressed in the communiqué of the Bermuda Conference, that further testing of nuclear weapons, exercised with restraint, will not increase world radiation to harmful levels.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus).

asked the Prime Minister to what extent he reached agreement with President Eisenhower at Bermuda on the necessity for both the United States of America and the United Kingdom to accord primacy to the United Nations as the means of relieving international problems.

The President and I discussed this question in general terms, but it was not the subject of any formal agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Committee on Transactions in Seeds, sitting under Mr. B. Engholm, to report.

My right hon. Friend understands that the Committee on Transactions in Seeds hopes to submit a Report on amendments to the Seeds Act and other seed control matters well before the end of this year. A further Report on plant breeders' rights will follow, but at this stage the Committee is unable to say when this might be.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the serious consequences to the British trawler industry that must follow the proposed increase in the cost of fuel oil; that this increase follows one of 40 per cent, on 13th January last which resulted in a large proportion of the trawler fleet operating at a loss; that a further increase will result in a large number of fishing vessels being laid up with consequent unemployment and falling off in supplies; and what steps he proposes to take, in this connection, to protect the interests of the trawl fishermen and the consuming public.

Bunker prices are necessarily determined in relation to world levels and were last altered in January this year. Since then the fleet has continued active fishing and adequate supplies of fish are available at reasonable prices. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland last month refused requests for an immediate increase in the White Fish Subsidy, but changes in oil costs and all other relevant factors will be taken into account in fixing the rates of subsidy to operate from 1st August next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount of fuel oil was used by the British trawler fleets in the months of January, February and March, respectively, this year; what was the cost to the industry of fuel oil in 1956; what increase is anticipated per month in respect of the last increase; and how the proposed new increase of £1 per ton will raise the price as compared with that of April, 1956.

About 43,000 tons of fuel oil in January, 40,000 tons in February and 44,000 tons in March. The cost to the fishing industry of fuel oil in 1956 was about £4 million. Assuming average yearly consumption per vessel is unchanged, it is estimated that the last increase in the price of bunker fuel oil, which took place in January this year, would add about £1½ million a year to fishing costs. I cannot speculate on the future level of prices. At present, the price of marine fuel oil is about £4 per ton higher than in April, 1956.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a system of supplementary grants from State funds towards the payment of the salaries of agricultural advisory officers similar to the system which works satisfactorily in Denmark, in order to supplement the National Agricultural Advisory Service.

In Denmark, agricultural advisory services are operated mainly by associations of farmers and smallholders with the aid of small State grants. In view of the extensive advisory services already provided at public expense in this country, my right hon. Friend does not consider that grants to other organisations for the same purpose would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that fish and other living marine organisms concentrate radioactive elements in their bodies; that this concentration may range from 1,000 to 100,000 times more than an equal amount of surrounding sea water; that the problems thereby created are serious; that Great Britain, the United States of America and other nations deposit radioactive waste in the sea; and what steps Great Britain, either alone or in conjunction with other nations, is taking to protect the fish-consuming public from the dangers thereby incurred.(2) if he is aware that marine plants and seaweeds accumulate radioactivity quickly; that fish and other animals which feed on such plant life take up the radioactive elements with food, even though the water they are swimming in is not radioactive itself; that there is danger that fish swimming through an area where radioactivity is high may become contaminated and may be eaten by and thus contaminate by radioactivity bigger fish hundreds of miles away; and what researches his Department has made and what steps he is taking to protect fish in and near British waters from being contaminated by the nuclear tests planned to take place in the future.

My right hon. Friend is well aware that fish and other marine organisms can absorb radioactive elements, though the effluents discharged from United Kingdom sources are not such as to give the levels of concentration the hon. Member mentions. All radioactive wastes that are put into the sea from United Kingdom sources are disposed of under rigid and exacting safety controls which ensure that no dangerous concentration of radioactive elements is allowed to build up. My right hon. Friend understands that no nuclear test which this country is undertaking entails any risk to the fish the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to make a statement on the experiments, present uses and results of helicopter tests with airborne echo-sounders for tracking and locating shoals of fish, their depth and range and also the methods of indicating by the helicopters to the fishing vessels the position, depth, size and nature of each shoal spotted.

An air charter firm and a manufacturer of electronic equipment have been conducting preliminary trials with a special echo-sounder towed from a helicopter. My right hon. Friend understands that if their experiments are successful these firms intend to provide a commercial service in the detection of fish shoals and that they are in contact with fishing interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Government's assessment of the average whole sale price likely to be realised for fresh hen eggs in the coming year and his disagreement with the National Farmers' Union.

The Government's estimate of the average wholesale price for fresh hen eggs in the coming year was reached after very careful assessment of all the relevant considerations. My right hon. Friend regrets that the representatives of the Farmers' Unions were unable to agree with the determination of 2s. l0d. per dozen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the import of bacon.

Letters have been received recently from four of my hon. Friends conveying the views of two branches of the National Farmers' Union on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the progress of the committee on the law relating to homosexuality and prostitution.

I regret that I am not yet able 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 in what circumstances, on discharge, a prisoner is given a railway warrant to his home town or district.

When a prisoner is discharged from prison the cost of his fare home, or to any other destination within the British Isles to which it is desirable he should go in the interests of his resettlement, is met from public funds, though not necessarily by the issue of a railway warrant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the general desire in the House of Commons for him to introduce the necessary legislation to deal with betting, lotteries, and gaming; and whether, in view of the disturbance recently caused at Aintree Racecourse, he will now state when the Government intend to introduce legislation to deal with anomalies in our betting laws.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to his Question on 28th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for loans have been received by the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board from British citizens who were forced to leave Egypt and whose possessions are still withheld; and how many such applications have been granted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to make a statement on progress made by the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board.

The Board took over from the Anglo-Egyptian Aid Society on 25th February the making of payments to meet the needs of British subjects from Egypt resident outside hostels; in addition, they are maintaining in hostels some 3,000 British subjects. To assist the resettlement of these British subjects the Board is authorised, in addition to paying allowances, to make both grants and loans in appropriate cases. It is not one of the functions of the Board to make loans or advances against sequestrated assets in Egypt, but to meet the individual needs of people now in this country, and for that purpose the Board has paid grants for a variety of purposes, including the emigration costs of 115 people, and is now beginning to receive and consider applications for the payment of resettlement grants for accommodation, furnishing and similar objects. The Board has also taken over from the Anglo-Egyptian Aid Society the responsibility of making loans to meet educational commitments in this country incurred by these British subjects before the recent events in Egypt, and is making advances to about 350 former pensioners of the Egyptian Government. The Board is in close consultation with the Ministry of Labour and National Service about employment, and work has been found for about 500 of these British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds parking has been prohibited in Wellington Street, in the Borough of Woolwich.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that parking has not been prohibited in Wellington Street. In the interests of all road users, however, the police have found it necessary to take steps to prevent long-term parking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further information he can give about the overnight parking of cars in the Borough of Woolwich.

There is nothing which I can usefully add to the letter which I wrote to the hon. Member on 25th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that spring- clip knives are sometimes carried by delinquent boys, he will give instructions that such children should be searched by the police before being sent to remand homes for custody.

I am making enquiries about the practice of searching young persons before they are sent to remand homes for custody and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that when prosecutions are brought against individuals for shooting game birds out of season the excuse is frequently made that the dates of the close season were not known; by what methods the close season dates are made as widely known as possible; and whether he will consider printing all the close season dates on the backs of game and gun licences.

The close seasons for game birds have remained unaltered for a great many years. As to sporting birds, such as certain wild duck and wild geese, the close seasons for which were fixed by the Protection of Birds Act, 1954, copies of a poster summarising the main provisions of the Act, including the close seasons, have recently been sent to chief constables, county councils and county borough councils for local display. The backs of the latest issues of gun and game licences have already been taken up by advice on clean killing which was inserted at the suggestion of the British Field Sports Society.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education to publish the names of the two projects in Staffordshire which were included in the 1955–56 schoolbuilding programme and have not yet been started.

The Barley Mow Primary School at Rowley Regis is the only such project that has not yet been started. It has been postponed because of site difficulties and because, owing to changed circumstances, it is no longer urgently needed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education to make a detailed statement of the reasons why 65 school projects which were included in the schoolbuilding programme for 1955–56 have not yet been started.

Fifteen of these projects have now been started. Of the remaining 50, 21 have been delayed in planning, 18 have been delayed because of legal or site difficulties, and nine because the tenders were above the cost limits. The other two have been dropped from the 1955–56 programme because, owing to changed circumstances, they are no longer urgently needed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what are his estimates of the value of the schoolbuilding programme for Staffordshire for 1957–58 and 1958–59, respectively; and how these figures com pare with those for 1955–56 and 1956–57.

The value of major primary and secondary school projects started by the Staffordshire Local Education Authority in the financial years 1955–56 and 1956–57, and the value of similar work authorised to be started in 1957–58, are as follows:

				£
1955–56	…	…	…	237,255
1956–57	…	…	…	1,978,361
1957–58	…	…	…	2,139,139

The authority has not yet submitted proposals for the 1958–59 schoolbuilding programme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education to what extent secondary modern schools in the County of Warwick are being encouraged to develop preliminary courses in anticipation of the courses pro vided in technical colleges; and whether he will urge local education authorities to arrange consultations between schools and colleges with this end in view.

The Warwickshire Local Education Authority is encouraging pilot courses of this kind in its secondary schools in Nuneaton and mid-Warwickshire in consultation with the technical colleges and local employers. My noble Friend warmly welcomes experiments of this and other kinds that are designed to link the secondary schools more closely with the technical colleges. He is considering how best he can stimulate further thought and action on this topic.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many pupils are taught in all-age schools in the county of Warwick; to what extent the number has been reduced since the issue of Circular No. 283 in November, 1954; and when he expects that all children of secondary age will be taught in secondary schools.

Between January, 1955, and January, 1957, the number of pupils in senior classes in all-age schools in Warwickshire fell from 2,500 to about 2,000. Places for most of these pupils will be provided in eight new secondary schools to be opened in 1957, and for nearly all the remainder in two which will be started in the next few months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if he will give for the past three years the numbers of State scholarship holders who entered on degree courses in classics, English, history, modern languages, mathematics, medicine, or science subjects.

The numbers, which include State scholarships awarded on the results of the General Certificate of Education examination, technical State scholarships, awards to mature students and awards made in supplementation of open university scholarships, are as follows:

——	1954–55	1955–56	1956–57 (provisional)
Classics	215	239	263
English	246	248	203
History	268	301	314
Modern languages	384	378	408
Mathematics	270	273	296
Medicine	258	243	207
Pure science	746	772	809
Technology	351	353	383

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (1) in view of the fact that 7,500 ceiling panels were used in the Beacon Hill School, Cleethorpes, at a cost of about £1 per panel, and that they have been found unsatisfactory only a few weeks after the school was opened, why their use was approved; what tests were applied to decide their suitability; what guarantee was given by the suppliers; and to what extent the fault is due to the panels themselves or to the method of fixing them;(2) if he is aware that the Beacon Hill Secondary Modern School, Cleethorpes, which he opened officially earlier this month, has had to be closed owing to feared faulty construction; that pupils at the High Holme School, Louth, have been moved out of rooms with suspected ceilings, and other north Lincolnshire schools closed, and nearly 2,000 school children sent home whilst the county architects are making inspections; if he will make a statement indicating the reasons for this faulty construction; how much public money is likely to have been lost; and what action he proposes to take.

This type of ceiling has several advantages. It has good sound absorbent properties. It has been proved under test to provide valuable fire resistance and it allows easy access to services. In certain of the schools mentioned, however, a longer hanger than usual was used to suspend the panels from the beams, and officers of the Ministry and the local authority consider that, in these circumstances, panels might be dislodged by normal vibration. The authorities concerned are taking immediate steps to obviate this risk, and I understand that only about 350 children are now out of school. My officers have brought these facts to the notice of other authorities likely to be concerned. The cost of the additional work and the liability for meeting the cost have not yet been determined.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he is aware of the anxiety among those living in rural areas over the difficulty of obtaining teachers for rural schools, primarily due to the lack of accommodation; and whether, in view of the fact that accommodation is provided for other sections of Government employment, such as the police, etc., he will consider making it obligatory for houses or other accommodation to be provided by local education authorities in rural areas where this is necessary to fill a vacancy.

My noble Friend is prepared to consider sympathetically proposals by local education authorities for the provision of houses for teachers. He would not, however, feel justified in seeking the power to require local education authorities to make such provision.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the decision to charge a fee of 10s. per member for training in the subject of first-aid; and whether he will reconsider this decision.

My noble Friend does not feel able to exempt first-aid classes from the operation of Circular 307. In view, however, of the value of this training, he will not object to the refunding of half the fee to any student who successfully completes the course and is, or then becomes, a member of a voluntary ambulance or nursing society.

asked the Under secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations he has received from the Prime Minister of Ghana on the question of a price insurance scheme for cocoa.

It is not the practice to disclose particulars of communications from other Commonwealth Governments. But on 5th March in the course of a General Policy Review in Parliament in Accra, Dr. Nkrumah mentioned in the context of Ghana's need for money for development a possible scheme whereby Ghana would, in his own words, be "insured against any prolonged depression in the price of cocoa and other dollar-producing commodities."Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are willing to consider with the Government of Ghana her problems of development, as soon as the present general review, which will include the rôle of the United Kingdom in the development of newly independent territories, is concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the report from his officials visiting the Leipzig Fair is considered confidential; and whether he will reconsider this decision and make the report available to Members of Parliament.

It is not the practice that reports such as this which are made by British representatives abroad for my right hon. and learned Friend's confidential information, should be made public. The Answer to the second part of the Question is therefore "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's proposals regarding the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, dated 26th October, 1956; and whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to ratify this Statute.

The hon. Member will be aware that the United Kingdom played a leading part in drawing up the Statute, and in the negotiations which culminated in its signature on 26th October, 1956. In their capacity as member of the Preparatory Commission, Her Majesty's Government are continuing to take an active interest in the practical arrangements for setting up the Agency. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to he hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 18th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the answer he received from Archbishop Makarios to the communications he has addressed to him.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I am making today on this and other aspects of the Cyprus question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the 8,989 Africans arrested for offences connected with the emergency in Kenya between 8th January and 7th March were released without penalty; how many were fined; how many were sentenced to periods of imprisonment up to one month; how many were sentenced or detained for longer periods; and how many were sentenced to death.

1,353 have been released without penalty. Of these 527 were acquitted, 817 were discharged, and nine were placed on probation. Of the remainder 4,800 were fined, 1,655 were sentenced to less and 709 to more than one month's imprisonment. None has been sentenced to death. 472 cases are still pending.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent trade in British Honduras and the British West Indies will be affected by the common market treaty which has recently been agreed between Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.

Very little, as trade between the territories and the area is so small.

1. R.N. BASES
1.	Harwich	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1957.
II. R.N. AIR STATIONS
2.	Anthorn	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1958.

III. TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS
3.	Vicarage Road Camp, Plymouth (Educational and Vocational Training Camp).	1957.
4.	The R.M. Small Arms School, Browndown	1957.
5.	Chatham Gunnery School	1958.
6.	H.M.S. CERES (Supply and Secretariat School)	To be absorbed in the R.N. Barracks Chatham, 1958.
7.	The R.N. Medical School, Alverstoke, Hants	To be moved into R.N. Hospital, Haslar (Portsmouth) early in 1958.
8.	H.M.S. DEFIANCE (Torpedo Anti-Submarine and Electrical School Devonport).	To close—date not yet decided.
9.	H.M.S. HARRIER (Navigational and Directional Training establishment, Kete, Pembrokeshire).	To be paid off. It may be necessary to retain some minor facilities at Kete—date not yet decided.

IV. R.N. HOSPITALS
10.	Portland	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	To close as a naval establishment— 1957.

V. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
11.	The Admiralty Experimental Establishment, Perranporth	1959.

VI. STORAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
12.	Naval Store Depots
	1957	1958	1959
	Old Brompton, Chatham.	Frater, Hants., (improvised covered storage only).	Medway Barracks, Chatham.
	Waterlooville, Hants.		Tipnor, Portsmouth.
	1957	1958	1959
	Fort Southwick, Hants.	—	Collaton Cross, Devon.
	Haslar, Portsmouth.	Titchfield, Hants.	—
	Londonderry.	Manadon, Devon.	—
	Lisahally.	Fearn, Invergordon.	—
13.	Naval Armament Depots
	1957	1958	1959
	R.N. Mine Depot, Longtown (near Carlisle).	R.N.A.D. Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright.	R.N.A.D. Woolwich.
	R.N. Armament Depot, Lisahally, N.I.	R.N.A.D. Titchfield, Hants.	R.N.A.D. Bridgend, Glam.
	R.N.A.D. Toome, N.I.	R.N.A.D. Beacon Hill, Kent.	R.N.A.D. Minworth, Birmingham.
		R.N.A.D. Army Barracks, Bull Point, Plymouth.	R.N. Torpedo Depot, Portsmouth.
			R.N.T.D. Devonport.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the schedule of the closing down of unnecessary Admiralty shore establishments in the course of the next three years.

The following is a list of R.N. Shore Establishments in the United Kingdom which it has so far been decided to close within the next three years:

asked the Minister of Labour how many Hungarian refugees have passed through the centre at Skegness; how many have been placed in permanent employment in this country; and how many are awaiting employment.

Two hundred and ninety-six Hungarian refugees have passed through the centre at Skegness, of whom twenty-one have been placed in permanent employment and eight are awaiting employment in this country. The remainder consists of those who are awaiting emigration to Canada and other countries, and their dependants and three ex-students.

asked the Minister of Labour how many trained or skilled Hungarian refugees or ex-students are awaiting employment in Skegness; and under what categories these people are listed.

Five trained or skilled Hungarian refugees are awaiting employment in Skegness in the following categories: one upholsterer; one aero engine fitter; one art teacher; one dynamo fitter and repairer; and one grinder (toolroom). There are also three ex-students who are registered with World University Service, which is endeavouring to arrange for them to resume their studies.

asked the Minister of Labour what service will in future be provided for men and women seeking posts of the types hitherto dealt with at the appointments office and for employers seeking to fill such posts.

The three appointments offices will be closed on 29th March. In their place, at about fifty of the larger employment exchanges, a specialised service will be maintained for persons seeking professional or senior executive posts, and for employers seeking persons in these categories. At these employment exchanges information about careers in the professions and allied occupations will be available to enquirers. The arrangements for the Technical and Scientific Register and the nursing appointments offices will not be changed. I am satisfied that these new arrangements will achieve a necessary economy and that they will provide an efficient service which is readily accessible to registrants and employers.

asked the Minister of Labour to state the separate numbers of men, women, boys, and girls registered as unemployed at the Borough Employment Exchange at the most recent date in

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE BOROUGH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AT 11TH MARCH, 1957
——		Total number on registers (excluding persons included in Col. (4))	Registered disabled persons unemployed
			Suitable for ordinary employment (included in Col. (2))	Severely disabled persons classified as unlikely to obtain employment other than under special conditions (excluded from Col. (2))
(1)		(2)	(3)	(4)
Men aged 18 and over	…	865	104	5
Boys aged under 18	…	33	—	—
Women aged 18 and over	…	137	30	2
Girls aged under 18	…	7	—	—
TOTAL	…	1,042	134	7

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now revise his policy concerning the deferment of call-up for National Service of men who are taking a course of study or training.

I am considering the possibility of some revision of the existing policy about deferment for the purpose of study or training, and I hope to announce some changes shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in spite of the Regulations whereby visitors to this country may purchase motor cars with accessories free of Purchase Tax for purposes of export within the prescribed period, Customs and Excise officers are causing difficulties when purchasers include fitted suitcases with their orders; and if he will take steps to remove this impediment to legitimate and desirable business.

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of

The following Table gives the information desired.any case he has in mind I will inquire into the matter and communicate with him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to a recent statement made by the Lord Chief Justice in the Court of Appeal that the Income Tax Act, 1918, relating to Schedule A tax urgently required reconsideration in the light of modern conditions; and what action he proposes to take.

As the time limit for appeal has not expired, this case is still sub judice and I cannot therefore comment.

asked the Minister of Supply how many Britannia aircraft are on order for his Department.

In addition to one Britannia 100 prototype and one Britannia 300 which have been delivered to my Department for development work, I have orders outstanding for thirteen Britannia 253 aircraft on behalf of the Royal Air Force Transport Command and three Britannia 252 aircraft which are intended for trooping.