asked the Paymaster-General to what extent he estimates that the export tonnage of small coal will be increased when the new overseas contracts are made.

Any continued improvement in supplies of small coal will be taken into account when the National Coal Board concludes its new overseas contracts later in the year, but it is too early to estimate what the level of exports will be.

asked the Paymaster-General if natural gas of commercial quantity has now been located by recent borings in Yorkshire. Mr. Maudling: Natural gas has been found in relatively small amounts in Yorkshire and other parts of the country during the past few years but not in sufficient quantity for commercial exploitation. A recent show at Trumfleet, Yorkshire, requires further investigation before the quantity available can be determined. The search is continuing.

asked the Paymaster-General the cost of printing a further issue of petrol ration books, to be held in reserve against a future emergency.

About £50,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the further hardships suffered by old-age pensioners owing to the increased cost of living and the disparities between the incomes of old-age pensioners and other citizens; and if he will now take steps to make some improvement in the rate of old-age pensions.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to what my right hon. Friend said on this question during the debate on 25th February.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what progress he has made in his negotiations with the Belgian Government for a reciprocal agreement on social security.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he anticipates that the reciprocal agreement with Belgium on social security will be completed.

I am glad to be able to inform the House that a Convention on Social Security with Belgium was signed in Brussels today. This Convention covers all National Insurance and industrial injuries benefits and family allowances. It also provides a measure of reciprocity for the Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to develop departments in hospitals for the practice of preventive medicine; and what progress has been made in this regard since the inception of the National Health Service.

Certain aspects of preventive medicine may require, and will obtain, the collaboration of any department of a hospital but I do not think the establishment of special departments would be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many publicly-controlled convalescent homes refuse to accept patients over 65 or 70 years of age; and, in view of the increasing number of patients over these years who need convalescent treatment, what consideration has been given to the necessity of providing this accommodation.

I regret this information is not available. I am aware that there is some difficulty in obtaining places for elderly patients, and this is one of the matters which will be considered by the Working Party on convalescent treatment under the National Health Service which was set up last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now permit county councils to proceed with works under the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955; and whether he will indicate which county councils in Wales have already submitted schemes.

In answer to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Conway (Mr. P. Thomas) on 11th March last. I shall be communicating very shortly with the authorities concerned regarding those of their proposals which I am ready to approve. In answer to the second part, all county councils responsible for highways in livestock rearing areas in Wales and Monmouth have put forward proposals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Egg Marketing Board is to begin to operate the guarantee arrangements for eggs.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Home Department and for Scotland and I have agreed with the Egg Marketing Board that it should operate the guarantee arrangements for eggs on and after 1st July next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards implementing the recommendation of the Working Party on Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture, that manufacturers and distributors should notify Ministers of proposals for the use of new toxic chemicals in agriculture or for new uses of existing products.

A scheme for the voluntary notification of such proposals has now been agreed between representatives of the industry and the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage, and has been approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself. I should like to express my appreciation of the co-operation given by the associations representing the industry and also of the contribution made by Sir Sally Zuckerman and his Working Party and Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet appointed a Chairman to the British Sugar Corporation in succession to the late Sir Alan Saunders.

I am glad to say that Sir Edmund Bacon, Bt., O.B.E., T.D., J.P., has accepted the invitation of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself to become Chairman of the British Sugar Corporation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the defects in the British type of reactors which have been criticised at the Tokio Atomic Energy Conference, details of which have been sent to him; and, in view of the effect of such criticism on potential customers, what action he is taking to counteract these statements

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the recent criticisms of defects in the British type of reactor, what action he proposes to take to counteract the effect of such criticism on this country's overseas trade.

I have been asked to reply.I have received reports of remarks made about the Calder Hall type of reactor at a conference in Tokio, organised jointly by the American and Japanese Atomic Energy Forum which are organisations of industrial firms concerned with atomic energy. The reactors at Calder Hall have gone into operation more smoothly and with far less trouble than is normally experienced in starting up a conventional power plant; and the reactor system continues to show great potentialities for further development. We shall be glad to show any customers both the limitations and potentialities of Calder Hall, which is the only nuclear power station in the world producing electricity on an industrial scale.The best answer to criticism is to show what we have already achieved—and the critics have not.

asked the Minister of Defence what information the United States Government have conveyed to his Department as to the result of the four years' survey carried out by the United States Air Force for the purpose of re-charting the North Atlantic

I have been asked to reply.I understand that the results of this survey are not yet complete. We expect to receive, in due course, such information as is of interest to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures have been devised to ensure the speedy issuance of visas to commercial representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the countries of Eastern Europe wishing to visit this country for the purpose of attending trade fairs.

There is a reciprocal understanding between this country and the U.S.S.R. that application should be made to the visa officer at least fourteen days before the person wishes to travel. Similar arrangements apply to the other countries in question. Such applications are always dealt with in this country as a matter of urgency and it would be unusual for a visa not to be granted within this period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of recent deaths and injuries at prize fights, he will now consider framing legislation to make such activities illegal, or as a first step, to control the promoter, both in the interests of the young boxer and the public.

I have considered the right hon. Lady's request but do not think that there is any legislation which I can usefully introduce on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received regarding the nuisance caused by the parking of cars in the neighbourhood of Dukes Meadows, Chiswick, W.4, during the hours of darkness; what action the police authorities propose to take in this regard; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the police have not received any complaints of nuisance caused by the parking of cars in Dukes Meadows. Police action would be taken in any case in which it was appropriate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many factory inspectors are in the service covering industry in the East End of London; the numbers for 1939, 1949 and 1956, respectively; and what steps are now being taken for recruitment.

The number at the present time is seven and for 1939, 1949 and 1956, six, four and seven respec tively. Recruitment to the General Inspectorate is from continuing open competitions which are advertised in the national Press.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the cost to the revenue in a full year of the proposals in Clause 12 (1) of the Finance Bill, 1957.

I would refer the right hon. Member to Table X on page 20 of the Financial Statement (1957–58).