asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent discussions in the Security Council on the Suez problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the result of the consideration by the Security Council of the question of free passage for ships of all nationalities through the Suez Canal; and whether Egypt has yet given an assurance to the Security Council that she will comply with the request made upon her in 1951 to lift restrictions on all ships passing through the Suez Canal.

Discussions took place in the Security Council on 20th and 21st May. It was the virtually unanimous view that the present Egyptian Declaration could not constitute a final settlement. Continuing responsibility of the United Nations was clearly emphasised. The French and United Kingdom delegates, with others, formulated a number of specific questions about the Egyptian Declaration. These points were taken up and developed by the United States representative in his summing up from the Chair. The Egyptian delegate did not go further in his assurances about freedom of passage through the Canal than the terms of the Declaration of 24th April itself.

Would the Foreign Secretary say whether the question of Israeli shipping using the Suez Canal peacefully is likely to be considered by the Security Council as part of the Suez problem?

The position in regard to that is that the Egyptian Government have said in their declaration that

" It remains the unaltered policy and firm purpose of the Government of Egypt to respect the terms and spirit of the Constantinople Convention of 1888 and the rights and obligations arising therefrom."

In addition to the Convention, to which the Foreign Secretary has referred, is it not a fact that under Article 25 of the Charter Egypt is under an obligation to accept the declaration of the Security Council in respect of passage of Israeli ships through the Canal? Will he and those who are interested with him continue to emphasise the fact that Egypt has no right whatsoever to go behind that Article?

I agree that the argument is reinforced by that point. We should start again from the Declaration of 24th April this year by the Egyptian Government, which I think, covers the point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now instruct his representative at the United Nations to propose that the General Assembly or the Security Council should consider the establishment of a United Nations permanent force and the strengthening of the Peace Observation Commission as part of the United Nations machinery for settling disputes between nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conclusion he has reached on the organisation of a permanent United Nations force which could be readily on call

While Her Majesty's Government hope that some- thing of a permanent nature may develop from the present United Nations Emergency Force, they think it would be premature to take an initiative for the establishment of a United Nations permanent force or the strengthening of the Peace Observation Commission. In present circumstances, such an initiative would be more likely to cause the disruption of the United Nations Emergency Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the United Kingdom's annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency will be paid.

My right hon. and learned Friend gave this information to the House in detail in the course of his speech on 16th May.

Is the Minister aware that the funds of the organisation which is looking after Arab refugees in Jordan are said to be almost exhausted? Will he give an assurance that the organisation will receive funds in sufficient time to enable it to continue its work and avoid consequences which otherwise might be disastrous?

I can only draw attention to the assurance given by my right hon. and learned Friend. Of course, we cannot give any assurance on the part of other Governments about their contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the forthcoming United Nations Charter Review Conference, he will make a statement on the proposals of Her Majesty's Government for strengthening the authority of the United Nations.

It has not yet been decided when a conference to review the Charter will be held. Her Majesty's Government favour the holding of such a conference and on 3rd June the Committee appointed by the Tenth Session of the General Assembly in 1955 will meet to consider the question of fixing a time and place for a Charter Review Conference, and its organisation and procedures.

As the Foreign Secretary has repeatedly criticised the United Nations for not possessing sufficient authority to deal with many international crises, can we take it that the Government are at least considering positive proposals which they may put forward in the event of the Conference being held?

We are certainly considering positive proposals for improving the Charter. My complaint has been not so much of the lack of the power to do things as of the lack of a common will to do things.

May we assume that the proposals for improving the Charter are for strengthening the United Nations and that it is not improvement by way of weakening it? It is an ambiguous situation. and we should like to know which of the two it is.

I should think that we should seek measures which will make it easier for the United Nations to exercise a common will.

Has not the Foreign Secretary repeatedly said that all that the General Assembly could do was to make recommendations? If that is the position, surely the Government will seek to strengthen the powers of the General Assembly?

There comes into the matter the very difficult question of voting procedure, whether there should be weighted voting, and so on. At the moment, it is possible for a majority to be found from very small countries which have little responsibility, and this majority may overrule other more responsible countries.

Will the Foreign Secretary give an assurance that the Government will not again put forward the ill-judged proposal which they made to the Americans and Canadians at Bermuda, that the "Uniting for peace" resolution should be rescinded?

I am not at all aware of the premise upon which the right hon. Gentleman bases his supplementary question. I am not aware of any such thing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards proposals made to them by the German Federal Government to waive the allied post-war deconcentration measures agreed upon in respect of Krupps.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken to implement the agreement signed in 1953 by Herr Alfred Krupp von Bohlen with the British, French and United States Governments to sell off his coal and steel interests in five years, and that signed the following year by Chancellor Adenauer with the Western Powers committing his Government to the destruction of the pre-war cartels; what recent discussions or negotiations with Her Majesty's Government have ensued for the alteration or abrogation of these agreements; and whether he will give an assurance that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain these agreements without amendment.

In the Convention on the settlement of Matters Arising out of the War and Occupation, signed at Bonn in 1952 and amended at Paris in 1954, the Federal Government have agreed to complete the programme of deconcentration of the German heavy industry undertaken under Allied High Commission legislation. This programme includes the coal and steel holdings of the firm of Krupp.

Do those difficulties affect the substance of these deconcentration measures?

As I indicated in my Answer, I have not yet got information as to the extent to which deconcentration has already been carried out, but I think we shall find that it has been to a considerable extent in this matter.

Before agreeing with the West German Government on any alteration to the agreements which they may suggest, will the Foreign Secretary give the House an assurance that he will consult the House, or at least inform the House, before taking any irrevocable steps?.

I certainly think I can give an undertaking to inform the House, but I should like to consider the other question the hon. Member has put. Of course, the first step must be consultation with the other signatories to the Bonn Conventions.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman press on the German Government that, in our view, the Krupp family and the Krupp firm are a very dangerous influence in German affairs? Before the war, they purchased the German Press and financed the organisation by which the Weimar Republic was undermined.

I think the Federal German Government are fully conscious of all the facts about this matter. I think it is a question of practical difficulty. Considerable assets of the Krupp firm, I understand, have been sold.

Is the undertaking given by the West German Government absolute for all time? Is it not the case that in decartelisation or deconcentration, or whatever one calls it, there is nothing to prevent any of the firms from coming together again, now that Germany is a sovereign Power, after the German Federal Government have observed their obligations?

If the right hon. Gentleman will allow me to do so, I should like to consider that question. I cannot, without refreshing my memory, say whether there was any provision to prevent the re-integration of the parts which have been disposed of.

Will the Foreign Secretary emphasise that the agreement was one not on decartelisation but on the de-concentration of heavy industry, and that, whatever merits it may have had at that time, it has now been outdated by events? Is it not true that the question of cartelisation is already adequately looked after by the European Coal and Steel Community, and that, whatever we may think about the Krupp family, the agreement does not prevent it from re-investing in other industries, including atomic energy, the money it has obtained from selling its coal and steel shares? Would it not be better to cancel the arrangement? Would it not be better if Herr Krupp invested his money in coal and steel instead of atomic energy?

The matters raised by the hon. Gentleman are certainly among those which we shall consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he will not permit the German Democratic Republic to establish a commercial and trade office in this country; and by what authority he claims the right to prevent a trade office representing this Government being established in Great Britain.

Her Majesty's Government do not recognise the so-called German Democratic Republic. The refusal to allow the establishment in this country of a commercial or trade office claiming to represent the East German regime is a consequence of this.

asked the Minister of Supply what sum of money has been donated by his Department, since August, 1955, to firms employed on the production of armaments and other war materials in the 1939–45 war, including donations made to the firms' sports clubs and benevolent funds, in recognition of contributions made to final victory.

None, Sir. Payments are made only in settlement of valid claims. In one case a claim for the war-time use of a group of inventions was settled, at the claimant's request, by payment to the firm's sports and benevolent funds.

Were not the manufacturers of arms very well paid during the war? If the Government are to distribute largesse in this manner, would it not be better to give it to the men who fought in the front line, or, better still, to the war disabled?

There is no question of any distribution of largesse. This was a valid claim, and it was settled on terms which were extremely favourable to the public purse.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement upon the policy of his Department in so far as research and development work at Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Coventry, is concerned.

My policy is to consider the capacity of this company to meet the requirements of my Ministry along with the capacity of other companies. Military requirements are, however, decreasing, and I am therefore very glad to see that this company is actively seeking work in other fields to supplement the military work they are still doing.

The Minister may be satisfied, but nobody else is. As the Ministry of Supply considers the company to be one of the most technically competent in the country, as it has factory space amounting to 2¾million square ft., plus valuable equipment, and as a most advanced technical team has had to be built up because of a contract secured in competition with all the aeroengine companies in the country, but the contract has now been cancelled, will the right hon. Gentleman say what steps he proposes to take?

Regardless of the technical competence of the company, it is a fact that some contraction of the aircraft industry is inevitable. I hope the hon. Lady will not think it unfair of me if I remind her that only a short time ago she was the chairman of a committee which recommended a contraction in the number of military aircraft projects. I hope she is not running away from that recommendation now that she sees her constituency is affected.

Will my right hon. Friend carefully consider the future of these companies, which have scientific teams built up over a period of years, to see that the effort is not wasted, but that there is some coordination with other Ministries to ensure that the work is done to the best advantage of the economy of the country?

Yes, Sir. The future of these factories is very much in my mind, and I am in constant consultation with other Departments in this connection.

Is the Minister aware that in Coventry we never run away from anything, much less from the Ministry of Supply? Furthermore, is he aware that I stand by every word in that report, which suggested that the less efficient companies, not the outstanding ones in the country, should have work taken from them?

I only hope that the hon. Lady is not expecting me to run away from her.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will now give details of the effects of defence cuts upon employment and production at the Royal Ordnance factories at Radway Green and Swynnerton; and what steps he is taking to transfer to civil work where alternative employment does not exist in the locality.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the future of the Maltby Royal Ordnance factory.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement concerning the future of Radway Green Ordnance factory, Cheshire.

An immediate effect has been the redundancy just announced of 610 industrial and 47 non-industrial employees at Radway Green, 350 part-time industrials at Swynnerton, and 150 women industrials at Maltby. These factories still have a considerable amount of defence work in hand and, as their plant is specialised, there is little or no present scope for introducing civil work.

Is the Minister aware that that is a most reactionary and unimaginative decision? Has he not studied the figure for unemployment in North Staffordshire. which is already considerably higher than the national average, because alternative employment does not exist? Will he not listen to the pleas that we have made for conversion to civil work of these very well-equipped factories, on which millions of pounds have been spent, instead of creating additional redundancy and unemployment?

I am afraid that the hon. Member is smelling reaction where there is none. There is no question of principle here, but a question of practical difficulty. These factories are still engaged on defence work, and the machinery is too specialised to allow the introduction of civil work at the same time.

Can my right hon. Friend say what discussions he has had, and the result, with the Minister of Labour as to the future employment of these men?

I have, Sir, indicated to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour the likely level of redundancies.

Is the Minister aware of the serious position likely to arise at Maltby? The factory there is very efficient, the machinery is probably the most efficient we have in any Royal Ordnance factory in the country, and the relationships between employees and employers have been remarkably good. If, as is rumoured, that factory is to be handed over to civil authorities and private firms, will the Minister see that the machinery that can be adapted is used for these purposes?

Yes, Sir. I am very well aware of all these considerations. I would only ask hon. Members not to blind themselves to the necessity for some contraction of defence work.

But this is a very important matter. If that is so, what constructive proposals have the Government in contemplation? If we are to have partial disarmament and cutting of defence production, surely the Government must be ready to deal with the new situation as it arises?

I think that this matter was dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour in the defence debate some weeks ago. As things now stand, the general prospects for industry are such that men displaced from defence ought to be absorbed into civil work without difficulty.

asked the Minister of Supply how many rocket fighters SR.53 have been ordered for the Royal Air Force; and whether it has now been decided to continue with supersonic fighter projects.

None, Sir. The SR.53 has not yet reached the state of development at which a production order would be appropriate.

Is the Minister aware that, whereas the White Paper on Defence recently accepted by the House was quite specific on the question of non-requirement by the R.A.F. for an advanced supersonic fighter, there was silence on the subject of any requirements by the Royal Navy? If it is even intended to issue an order to the Royal Navy, will a formal statement be made to that effect?

Yes, Sir. Paragraph 62 of the White Paper specifically referred to the R.A.F. It did not exclude a supersonic fighter for the Navy, and this fighter might well, in fact, be the one to be determined on. If that is the case, then certainly a statement will be made.

asked the Minister of Supply the cost of the weapon "Corporal" recently supplied to the Army.

The United States Government are supplying the "Corporal" missiles as part of their military assistance to this country.

Are we paying the United States anything for them? Has the Minister any idea of what they cost?

No, Sir. The implication of my Answer is that we pay nothing for them.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the manifest disadvantages of court action for cases of this nature, he will introduce legislation to establish suitable independent committees of appeal for the ready access of those who consider themselves to have been unjustly certified and detained under the Lunacy Act and have substantive evidence to produce to that effect, and whose primary object is to show a clean bill of health.

I think that we should await consideration of the Report of the Royal Commission on the law relating to mental illness, which is expected to be published on Wednesday.

While welcoming the imminence of this Report, may I ask my hon. Friend if he is fully aware of how any threat of legislation in cases of certification of this kind does colour the outlook of all concerned, and in the event of there being any recommendation in this respect in the Royal Commission's Report, will my hon. Friend look upon its implementation as a matter of urgency?

I would rather have a look at the Report before I answer that Question.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, as a consequence of the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board experiment in domiciliary psychiatry in the Worthing area, the admissions to mental hospital in that area have decreased from 166 in the first quarter of 1956 to 64 in the first quarter of 1957; and, in view of the urgent need to relieve the present overcrowding in mental hospitals throughout the country, how soon he will be extending a similar service to the remainder of the country.

I am aware of this experimental scheme, which resembles other schemes in operation elsewhere in this country in reducing the number of admissions to mental hospitals. Its early results are promising, and I will watch its progress with interest, but it is too early to come to a final conclusion about it.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this is the simplest and most effective way of curing the overcrowding in mental hospitals, and will he, when coming to a conclusion on the subject, expedite matters so as to introduce these experiments on the widest base possible?

I have studied this scheme. I think it is most promising, but I am sure that its authors would be the first to agree that it needs more time before we can be quite certain as to its results.

Can the Minister say whether there are enough psychiatrists in the country to provide a domiciliary psychiatric service?

It would not be possible to establish a scheme like this in every area of the country immediately, but, if successful, and if the Royal Commission recommends an extension, most certainly we will do what we can about it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in 1956, in the City of Manchester, deaths of infants under the age of one year increased in number for the first time in ten years; and what information he has as to the causes of this.

I am aware of the small increase to which the hon. Member refers. As, however, the figures for related live births are still only provisional, the 1956 infant mortality rate cannot yet be determined, and it would be premature to look for causes.

Is the Minister aware that the Medical Officer of Health of the City of Manchester—who, after all, is on the spot—is of the opinion that this deplorable trend is due to shortage of ante-natal and obstetric beds and to bad housing? On the first point, is he aware that there is not the slightest chance of improving that position if he carries on cutting the financial allocations to regional hospital beds? On the second point, will he lend the support to his Department to the plea of the City of Manchester that some decision he taken by the Government about land for Manchester's housing programme?

As the hon. Gentleman probably knows, every year for the last five years the figure for the infantile death rate in Manchester has shown a decrease, from 37 in 1950 to 28 in 1955. Should there be an increase such as the hon. Member has in mind, it will be an increase of only one point—still a great improvement. I do not think there is cause for undue alarm.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the recorded effects of the public provision of orange juice and cod liver oil on the health of infants and young children since the inception of the scheme.

I am afraid it is not possible for these effects to be isolated from those of other nutritional and health factors.

While it may well be true that they cannot be scientifically isolated, has the Parliamentary Secretary noted the expression of opinion in some quarters that all the work that was done to help children in this way has been useless? Does the Department concur with that opinion, or does he agree with me, for example, that it is nonsense to say so?

As the hon. Member probably knows, my right hon. Friend has recently received and is now considering an expert report on welfare foods from a joint committee of the English and Scottish Standing Medical Advisory Committees, and I think my right hon. Friend would like to have time to consider that.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that on 1st July, 1956, there were in England and Wales 2,989 doctors with lists of over 3,500 providing general medical service under the National Health Service Act as principals and 1,914 as assistants and trainee assistants; and what progress has been made in reducing the lists of over 3,500 of the 1,075 doctors without assistants.

I think that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. A single-handed general practitioner may not have more than 3,500 patients, or 5,500 if he has an assistant. A doctor in a partnership may, however, have a list of more than 3,500 patients, even though he has no assistant, but the average for the partnership must not exceed 3,500.

asked the Minister of Health what precautions are taken to prevent sufferers from tuberculosis entering this country, particularly from the West Indies.

An alien can be medically examined and refused permission to land. There is no such restriction on British subjects, but investigations have failed to show any unusual incidence of tuberculosis among West Indians in this country.

Does my hon. Friend not agree that, but for outside sources of infection coming into this country, this scourge can be eradicated comparatively simply, and, from whatever source it is coming, will he take steps to see that the time for eradicating the disease is not postponed?

My hon. Friend ought to be aware of several factors in considering this situation. There have been in the last few years some vigorous campaigns for vaccination in the West Indian territories from which these immigrants come, and there have been investigations recently in London, Birmingham and West Bromwich, where there are considerable numbers of West Indians, which have, frankly, shown no cause for alarm.

Is it not a fact that the essential problem here is not in people from the West Indies who are infected coming here, but that so many of them are negative reactors who have never been in contact with tuberculosis and run a very serious risk of infection when they come into our big cities? Is not the right attitude to take to give them protection as soon as they come here, and make certain that they have it?

That is a very helpful question. Of course, West Indians may be susceptible on arrival, and, for that reason, those concerned in mass radiography units have been directing attention to where the West Indians are living.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now received a further report from the Medical Research Council on the connection between smoking and lung cancer; and what action he is taking thereon.

I understand from my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord President of the Council that the result of the Medical Research Council's review of this subject should be available within a few weeks.

Although this report will be a big blow to the tobacco companies and the Chancellor of the Exchequer—[HON. MEMBERS: "How do you know?"]—hon. Members will see—may we have an assurance that this time the Minister will not flout the weight of medical opinion but will take the most vigorous action to publicise the undoubted danger of lung cancer arising from cigarettes, since the time has now come when the evidence is overwhelming—and it will be reinforced, that action by the Government must be taken?

I am not aware that either I or any of my predecessors have flouted the weight of public opinion on this issue. I think we had better await publication of the report.

In view of the interest in this matter, can my right hon. Friend inform the House whether his Department has yet made up its mind to underwrite the International Cancer Congress which is to be held in this country?

That is a separate issue which hardly arises on this Question.

asked the Minister of Health why doctors in general practice who vaccinate their patients going overseas against smallpox are not permitted to stock the official international certificates of vaccination.

I think that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Any general medical practitioner who requires the forms for the international certificate of vaccination against smallpox is supplied with them on request.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what is the overall shortage of radiographers in England and Wales in the National Health Service; and what is the total number employed at the present time;

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give an estimate of the number of radiographers under training at the present time; and whether this number will be sufficient to make good the present shortage in the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what was the overall shortage of radiographers in England and Wales in the National Health Service in November. 1956, expressed as a percentage of establishment; and what are the comparative figures to the nearest convenient date;

asked the Minister of Health what were the numbers of radiographers employed in the National Health Service in 1952; what is the number today; and whether he is satisfied that the hospitals are satisfactorily staffed with radiographers.

asked the Minister of Health what further steps he is taking to improve the recruitment of radiographers.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage of radiographers in the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated shortage of radiographers in the hospital services; to what reason he ascribes this shortage; and what special steps are being taken to overcome it.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent there is a shortage of radiographers; how far this is due to the conditions of service and low remuneration; and whether he will have a full inquiry made on all aspects of their employment and remuneration.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the shortage of radiographers is due to inadequacy in their salary scales; and what other circumstances have contributed to the shortage.

The number of radiographers in the hospital service in England and Wales at the end of 1952 was 2,652 whole-time and 199 part-time. The provisional figures at the end of 1956 were 3,087 and 289, respectively. There has been, therefore, a marked increase, but there is evidence to suggest that it has not been enough to meet the increased demand for X-ray services. A sample inquiry in four hospital regions a year ago indicated that there was a shortage of 16 per cent. on establishment, and that not more than half the annual loss was due to reasons other than retirement, marriage, or domestic reasons.

Does the Minister agree that the situation at present as revealed by his Answer is completely unsatisfactory? Is he aware that the number of X-ray examinations taking place today is roughly twice as many as compared with those that took place before the National Health Service was instituted? Does he not agree that the present grades of remuneration that he has quoted—for example, the£420 minimum scale—should be£650 if it were evaluated with the minimum grade before the war and brought up to that standard in accordance with the cost of living?

The situation is unsatisfactory, but the existence of a gap between demand and supply is not confined to radiography. On the other hand, there has been an increase of no less than 50 per cent. since 1949. As for remuneration, this is not fixed by me but by the Whitley machinery, and in this case was settled by the Industrial Court only six months ago.

While I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for the fact that he is investigating an up-to-date assessment of the position, may I ask whether he is not aware that there is a serious wastage of trained personnel in this service, and does he not agree that it is a very serious matter when trained personnel leave this service to take up positions with higher remuneration? Will he take that factor into consideration when assessing the position?

It is true that there is a wastage, and I hope that one of the results of my inquiry may be to determine more closely the reasons for it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind also the very considerable wastage of all kinds of other professional workers in hospitals, as well as radiographers?

It is true that both the deficiency and the wastage apply to all medical auxiliaries and to many classes of people employed in the hospital service.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the position is getting progressively worse, because more and more are leaving to get better paid jobs, which in its turn throws an increased burden on those who remain, so that they leave too?

At the moment, I have no evidence to corroborate what my hon. Friend says, that more and more are leaving; in fact, the numbers in the service are increasing.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that in view of the responsibility involved and the danger of the work in which these people are engaged, with the consequent necessity for very careful training, the salaries they receive are miserable and entirely out of proportion? Can the right hon. Gentleman say when this report which he is proposing to make will be ready, or can he give some estimate? Will he report his conclusions to the House and say whether something more can be done for the radiographers and to increase the number entering the profession and undertaking training?

I do not want to disown responsibility for remuneration, but these salaries were fixed by the Industrial Court only six months ago. It is as yet too early to judge the result of the increase, but most certainly I will inform the House of the result of my inquiry, which should be available in a few weeks' time.

In view of the increased importance of radiography and the obvious anxiety of those employed in this service, will my right hon. Friend give every possible consideration to this matter?

Yes, Sir. One other factor which the House must bear in mind is that this matter may be affected by the Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Adrian which is investigating radiological hazards. Therefore, the demand in future may not be as great as it is today. But I will certainly do as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Lewisham doctors have been informed of the shortage of radiology facilities and have been warned that patients cannot be taken or, at any rate, must be restricted? This is a very serious state of affairs which is worrying the doctors. Can the right hon. Gentleman make any statement about that?

I do not think I can add to my original reply. The inquiry will include relative shortages in various parts of the country. My present information is that London is better off generally than elsewhere.

Apart from inadequacy of remuneration, can my right hon. Friend say whether any other circumstances have been brought to his attention which may militate against an improvement in the situation?

There are many factors to be taken into account. The age of entry for training, financial assistance for training and various requirements stipulated by the Society of Radiographers are all factors other than remuneration which affect the position.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the very existence of so many Questions from so many different parts of the country is evidence of great concern about this matter? Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to indicate whether any immediate steps are to be taken to increase the training of radiographers so that the increased number of training schools can be fully staffed and can provide more well-trained people for this work later on?

The number of Questions on the Order Paper is, I think, mainly evidence of a fairly highly organised campaign. Questions relating to training have been under discussion for some considerable time, and as soon as the result of my inquiry is complete I hope to enter into further discussions about arrangements for training, which are important in this respect.

In view of the urgency of this problem and the fact that the training of these girls takes some time, would the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is wrong for him to say that he will delay taking action at this stage?

I did not say that. There has always been a deficiency of radiographers. I do not believe the gap today is very much wider than it was five years ago. In fact, I set this inquiry on foot some ten weeks ago, and it is now nearly completed.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the present shortage of radiographers in National Health Service hospitals has resulted in overtime working; and if he is satisfied that this will not be deleterious to the health of those concerned.

I regret that the information is not available. Health hazards do not necessarily depend on the number of hours worked, but on the protection arrangements made by hospitals. If evidence is produced that radiographers are suffering excessive exposure, I shall be glad to investigate the matter.

Is the Minister not aware that when people are overworked they are liable to be careless, and that carelessness may react very adversely upon both radiographer and patient? Will he bear that important matter in mind in carrying out the inquiry on which he is at present engaged?

I accept that, but I am quite certain that hospital authorities are conscious of their responsibility in this matter. It may be that my inquiry will enable me to provide further information which I cannot at present give to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Health how many people in Wales were waiting to enter hospital, at the latest convenient date; and how many had been waiting for more than six months.

There were 30,456 and 15,293 on 31st March last.

Would my hon. Friend anticipate that there may be some improvement in the position in the foreseeable future?

Yes, Sir; there has been an improvement steadily going on over the last year or two, as my hon. Friend knows.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the premises of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases at Bath are in a state of decrepitude and danger by risk of fire; and, in view of the national service and importance of this hospital as a centre for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, what steps he intends to take to expedite the necessary work of reconstruction.

I am aware that this hospital falls short of modern standards, and I am at present examining the proposal of the South Western Regional Hospital Board that the project to restore it should be included in the programme of major building projects which are financed centrally.

I thank the Minister for that reply, but I ask him to urge the national need in serving the whole country upon the Regional Hospital Board whose responsibility is primarily regional.

I have that in mind. Of course, this is not by any means the only hospital which draws its patients from all over the country.

Is the Minister aware that this particular hospital received donations to the extent of nearly£90,000 to rebuild the hospital before the war, and that it is really more national than regional, being the oldest hospital of its kind in the country dealing exclusively with rheumatism? While we agree with the policy of the right hon. Gentleman's Department for more rheumatic units at all hospitals in the country, does he not agree that there is an absolutely first-class case for this particular hospital, and ought we not to stop bandying it about first from the Ministry of Health to the Regional Hospital Board and then back again?

I do not think that that point is particularly material; the money has to come out of the same pocket, whichever way the financing is done. The difficulty is that priorities have changed since this hospital was first put down for rebuilding and more urgent needs have arisen; but I am doing what I can to meet the right hon. Gentleman's point.

asked the Minister of Health how many mentally defective children are on the waiting list for admission to residential hospital care in the area of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board.

Three hundred and fifty-four on 31st December, 1956.

is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the position is extremely serious and that there are very sad cases indeed in the homes? Is he aware that as far back as 15th June his Ministry informed a person in Leicester that the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board was aware of the case and that he would be informed by the Board as soon as there was a suitable vacancy; and has he any idea when these cases are likely to be accommodated?

The hon. Member ought to know that there has been a reduction from 402 in the last two years. The Regional Board hopes to provide eighty-two more beds this year and a further 190 beds in the course of the next three years in two major building schemes.

asked the Minister of Health if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the proposed new hospital at Crawley.

I have not yet received a recommendation from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government following the public inquiry held on 30th April into the choice of a site for the new hospital. When this recommendation is received I hope to make an early decision.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind the extreme anxiety felt by every section of the community in Crawley over the grave delays which have taken place, and will he do everything in his power to expedite the decision of this matter?

I assure my hon. Friend that I am as anxious as he is to get an early decision about this hospital, but he will, of course, understand that the delay has been caused by a clash of local opinion.