asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to state the number of Government subsidies given to each branch of the fishing industry since 1939 up to the last convenient date, setting out the nature, date, and value in money, of each.

Government subsidies provided for fishermen in near and middle waters, including inshore fishermen, since 1939 are as follows:

	£
1. Grants under the Herring Industry Act, 1944, for the provision of boats and equipment (United Kingdom) for1946 to 1953	0·4 million
2. Grants under the Inshore Fishing Industry Act, 1945, for the provision of boats and equipment (Great Britain) from1946 to 1952	0·8 million
3. Grants under the White Fish and Herring Industries Act, 1953, for the acquisition of boats and engines (Great Britain) from 1953 to date (including estimate for 1956–57)
(a) through the White Fish Authority	3·3 million
(b) through the Herring Industry Board	0·2 million
4. Subsidy to the White Fish Industry (United Kingdom) from 1950 to date (including estimate for 1956–57)	13·6 million
[Paid from 1st August, 1953, under the White Fish and Herring Industries Act, 1953.]
5. Grants to the Herring Industry Board in respect of the Herring Oil and Meal Scheme under the White Fish and Herring Industries Acts, 1948 and 1953, and the Fisheries Act, 1955 (United Kingdom) from 1948 to date(including estimate for 1956–57)	2·6 million
Total subsidies	£20·9 million

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 7d. by February, 1953, and 17s. 8d. by February, 1955; and what was the comparable figure for February, 1957.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". The Answer to the second part is 16s. 1d. These calculations are based on the Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to announce his decision in the matter of the recent inquiry into certain aspects of the administration of Southlands Hospital, Shoreham-by-Sea, with special reference to relations between a member of the hospital administration and a firm of undertakers.

I expect to receive shortly the Report of the Committee of Inquiry appointed by the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to look into this matter, and I will then write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health to give a list of independent doctors who, having examined Miss Mary Betteridge whilst a patient at St. Margaret's Hospital, confirmed she is a mental defective; on what dates the examinations took place; and when it is contemplated that the next examination will take place.

In addition to examinations by three medical superintendents and other doctors on the staff of this hospital, this patient was examined by a doctor, who was also a visitor, on 28th August, 1952, 28th August, 1953, and 21st May, 1954. She was also seen by a senior medical commissioner of the Board of Control on 27th November, 1956. On the last part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer of 25th March.

asked the Paymaster-General what has been the cost of the arrangements for the valuation and payment of compensation to the colliery companies under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946.

Approximately £6,500,000, including about £4,500,000, for costs of former owners under Section 15.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give an estimate of the possible increase in the sickness, unemployment, widows' and pension benefits if the present National Insurance contributions were replaced by a payment of five per cent. of income; employers paying the same as workmen; the minimum contribution being 7s. 6d. from employees aged 18 years and over; the Exchequer contribution remaining in the same pro

——				Mastrick	Northfield	Woodside
Outstanding applications	…	…	…	202	14	6
Analysis:
Outstanding for less than 1 year	…	…	…	63	11	6
Outstanding for 1–2 years	…	…	…	55	2	—
Outstanding for over 2 years	…	…	…	84	1	—

There is a steady new demand, but all existing applications in Northfield and Woodside will be met shortly: those in the Mastrick district will be met later this year when a cabling scheme, which is already in hand, is completed.

asked the Postmaster-General to state the income and expenditure now expected on postal, telephone and telegraph accounts, respectively, for

——		Postal	Telegraph	Telephone	Total
£m.
Income	…	177·3	18·0	173·2	368·5
Expenditure	…	175·3	20·0	168·5	363·8
Surplus (+), Deficit (-)	…	+2·0	-2·0	+4·7	+4·7

I am afraid that it is not possible for my right hon. Friend to produce a useful calculation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General to state the number of unsatisfied applicants on the waiting lists for telephones in each of the Aberdeen districts of Mastrick, Northfield, and Woodside, respectively; how long each of these applicants have been waiting for telephones; the rate at which they are being given telephones; and when he estimates that the need for telephones in each of these districts will be fully supplied.

The figures are as follows:the year 1957–58 on the basis used in Table IV of the Report on Post Office Development and Finance, Command Paper No. 9576; and what are the assumptions with regard to the level of wages and the level of raw material and other prices on which the estimate is based.

The commercial forecast for 1957–58, as presented with the Post Office Estimate, is summarised below. Expenditure is based on current wage and price levels.

asked the Postmaster-General to provide at post offices slot machines for the sale of letter cards, similar to the slot machines now in use for the sale of stamps; and if he will place them so that they can be used by the public after, as well as during, the ordinary post office business hours.

Letter-card machines, placed as suggested by the hon. Member, are already on trial in several towns. The provision of more machines will be considered in the light of the trial.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what ceilings he has placed on salaries payable to the staff of the British Productivity Council; and if he requires reasonable increases in emoluments to be referred to him for sanction.

I explained the degree to which the Board of Trade controls these salaries in the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend on 25th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of cadmium and copper, respectively, were bought by his Department in 1951 for stockpiling; what was the average price paid for each metal; how much of these stocks has now been liquidated; what was the average price received; and what is the total loss to the Exchequer in respect of each metal.

It is not the practice to disclose details of strategic reserve transactions. Moreover, the concept of profit and loss is inappropriate in this connection since these holdings were purchased, and their disposal decided upon, for strategic, not commercial, reasons. Purchases were, however, made at the market prices ruling at the time and sales are at the best prices which can be obtained. The total expenditure on the strategic reserve out of money voted for it, and the receipts taken into the Exchequer, are available in the annual Appropriation Accounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that his imposition of the 60 per cent. Purchase Tax and 50 per cent. hire-purchase deposit on domestic refrigerators has so narrowed home market sales that manufacturers are unable to produce in sufficient quantity to bring down production costs, with the result that it is impossible to export large quantities of refrigerators to Canada, at competitive prices, without incurring the high Canadian antidumping duty which operates if the manufacturers' list price, less allowed discounts, is any lower than the British list price: and if he will make a statement on his policy in regard to export of refrigerators.

I am aware of the arguments put forward, by this as well as by other industries, against these measures. The relaxation of existing restraints must, however, depend on our success in improving our general economic position. Meanwhile, I am glad to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that the industry has succeeded in maintaining a high level of exports. In particular, there has been no marked fall in exports to Canada. The figures are:

Exports of domestic refrigerators to Canada
1955	…	…	…	£87,222
1956	…	…	…	£85,498
Total Exports of domestic refrigerators
1955	…	…	…	£7,610,000
1956	…	…	…	£6,756,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what international agreement trade restrictions with North Vietnam were imposed.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my noble Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Scotland, gave to the hon. Member for Paddington, North (Mr. Parkin) on 30th November, 1955.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he decided that trade restrictions with North Vietnam be subject to the same Regulations as those for China.

I have been asked to reply.Export licensing controls over trade with North Vietnam were introduced in the United Kingdom by an amendment to the Export of Goods (Control) (Consolidation) Order made on 1st March, 1955.