asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he reversed his previous decision given in 1955 not to allow agricultural land at Mitton Farm, near Tewkesbury, to be developed for house building.

The earlier decision was based on the view that the land ought to be kept in agricultural use if at all possible; but, in the light of the most recent evidence of the housing need of the neighbourhood, I decided that this was no longer practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make available to the general public Form T which concerns the right of the tenant to give notice to the landlord of the tenant's improvements affecting gross or rateable value.

This form is already on sale to the public at law stationers and the principal booksellers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made by the small Standing Committee of Departments set up in Wales in accordance with Command Paper No. 9809 of July, 1956.

The Committee has met frequently and is doing valuable work along the lines foreshadowed in the Command Paper. I intend to set out at length an appraisal of its work in the annual report on developments in Wales, which will be published as usual in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent reports he has as to the state of the River Anker; if he is aware of the destruction of fish between Polesworth and Grendon in the county of Warwick; and what action is being taken to ascertain the cause and seek a remedy.

No one has made any recent report to me about the state of the River Anker or about the destruction of fish between Polesworth and Grendon. Any action necessary would be a matter for the Trent River Board, which is the body responsible for the River Anker.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the fact that his consultations, to date, upon the reorganisation proposals for local government have been limited to the associations of local authorities, he will ensure that in all future discussions the Local Authority Staff Association is consulted as a principal prior to reorganization, since the Staff Association is one of the interested organisations in these proposals and the only association which can safeguard the interests of its members.

I do not think it would be appropriate for me to consult organisations representing the staffs employed by local authorities on the general policy to be adopted by the Government in relation to local government reorganisation. Questions affecting the interests of local government staff will no doubt arise, and these will call for separate handling at the proper time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total share of sterling balances held by the Colonies; what amount stands to the credit of Malaya; and how much of this will be returned to the Federation to be used for its development when it attains independence next month.

The Colonies and other dependent territories hold about one-third of the sterling holdings in overseas hands. I am unable to give figures for individual territories, but about a quarter of the colonial holdings are held by the Malayan area which includes Singapore and the Borneo territories. The Federation of Malaya will, of course, continue to own and control its sterling holdings as it has done hitherto.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the result of the discussions between the University College of the West Indies and the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture on the question of providing a first degree in agriculture in the Caribbean.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Royle) on 27th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the electoral roll for the direct elections to the Uganda Legislative Council in 1958 will be prepared; and what is the anticipated number of Africans expected to qualify under the new franchise.

The electoral rolls will not be prepared until some time after legislation has been enacted giving effect to the election proposals which are themselves to be considered by the Legislative Council later this month or early in August. At a very rough guess some 70 to 80 per cent. of adult men and 10 to 20 per cent. of adult women would be enfranchised in Buganda, and a somewhat smaller proportion elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) to what extent the Bill recently passed by the Uganda Legislative Council to permit growers to rough-hull their own coffee and to establish their own factories in which to process their coffee represents a change of policy in regard to producer marketing boards in Colonial Territories; and what effect this Bill is intended to have on the marketing functions of the Coffee Board;

My right hon. Friend is consulting the Governor and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Governor of Gibraltar.

The Governor paid a short visit to this country from 11th to 20th June for routine consultations, mainly about the development of the port of Gibraltar.

asked the Minister of Works what proposals he has to provide air conditioning in the Members' Library.

An air conditioning system would be very expensive, and my right hon. Friend has no proposals for installing one.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements he has now made for floodlighting the hammer-beam roof in Westminster Hall.

The switches which control the floodlighting will be labelled to that Members can turn the lights on and off themselves. The switches are on the switchboard opposite the entrance to the Crypt.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent the decision of the Government that in future all Government Departments should invite tenders on a fixed price basis for works of building and civil engineering has been implemented by the Departments.

The decision announced on 30th April applied only to projects which have been thoroughly planned in advance and which can be completed within two years. Departments concerned have made arrangements for fixed price tenders to be invited for suitable jobs as they reach the appropriate stage of full planning. The results in my own Department over a year's experimental period have been very satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take immediate steps to consult Scottish technical college staff associations for the purpose of establishing a joint negotiating body comprising representatives of relevant governing bodies, staff associations and the Scottish Education Department; if he will arrange for this body to have an independent chairman, and to be a permanent body recognised for the settlement of all revisions of technical college salary scales; and, after consultation with the relevant staff associations, if he will define with precision the construction and functions of the body so to be established.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the Answer I gave to his Question on this matter on 8th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state his present plans for dealing with air-raid shelters in Scotland; if he is aware that many of them are a danger to health and morals, that they take up what might be useful space in small gardens and deprive occupiers of drying greens, and that many occupiers desire to use or adapt them for use as workshops, store rooms and other purposes; and if he will, when requested, give permission for such use and adaptation.

It is the policy of the Government to preserve sound air-raid shelters unless there are compelling grounds for removing them; and the Civil Defence (Shelters) (Maintenance) (Scotland) Regulations, 1956, make it a function of local authorities to maintain them. I am always prepared to consider whether in particular cases—because of the effects on health or amenity or for other reasons —such grounds exist and to consider giving permission for a shelter to be used for other purposes where the alterations are of such a minor character that the structure could readily be restored at short notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the prospect of getting new houses built in the burgh of Cuirass.

I am informed Chat the town council has decided to proceed with the development of three sites which it owns and has appointed the Scottish Special Housing Association to act as its agents to build a total of 24 houses on these sites. The Association is at present engaged in preparing the final layout plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Scottish police seek information from private persons concerning the political affiliations and activities of other private citizens; and whether he will introduce legislation to stop this practice.

As the hon. Member was informed on 9th February, 1954, the police do not act on my instructions, and in any case it is not their function to investigate the political convictions of individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the pay, allowances and emoluments of the health visitors for the elderly sick in Scotland are out of proportion to their educational qualifications and duties; and if he will take steps to rectify this.

A claim for an increase in pay for health visitors has been considered by the Nurses' and Midwives' Whitley Council. I understand that the Council having been unable to reach agreement the dispute is to be referred to the Industrial Court for arbitration. I must await the Court's finding.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet considered the resolution adopted unanimously by the annual general Meeting of the Educational Institute of Scotland, and forwarded to him, protesting against the Government proposal to include the grant for education in a block general grant to local authorities, and urging the Government to retain the percentage grant system for educational expenditure; and if he will now agree to the Institute's request.

I have noted the terms of this resolution and, at the request of the Institute, arrangements are being made for a meeting with them this month at which it will have an opportunity of enlarging on the view expressed in the resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average payment made to each doctor on its medical list by the National Health Service Executive for the City of Glasgow.

Excluding the Exchequer superannuation contribution of £72,829, the total payments made by the Glasgow Council to the 688 doctors on its medical list in the year ended 31st March, 1957, amounted to £1,380,694. This represents an average of £2,007 per doctor. The majority of these doctors are also on the medical lists of adjacent councils and receive payments from them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future prospects of industrial development in Glenrothes.

Since my reply of 26th February to the hon. Member on this subject, the main events have been the start of production at the Rothes Pit, which will eventually employ some 2,300 men; and the decision of a firm manufacturing mining machinery to extend their activities to Glenrothes, affording potential employment for 400 persons. Negotiations about other projects are in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the latest position with regard to the provision of a fire station at the new town of East Kilbride.

I am informed that the Joint Fire Brigade Committee is not prepared to proceed with the erection of a new fire station until the terms on which it can acquire a site for one have been settled. So far as I am concerned, I am ready to approve its immediate provision on the understanding that the cost of the site will be decided in the light of general discussions now in progress about the terms on which land may be transferred from new town corporations to local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to incidents when a fire broke out at the new town centre at East Kilbride, on 23rd May; and whether the available fire-fighting equipment proved to be satisfactory.

Yes. I am satisfied that the fire brigade equipment proved to be satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of drunkenness and similar offences leading to breaches of the peace have been made known to the police on Sunday evenings in Lesmahagow, Lanark, since the new year.

Thirteen persons were reported by the police for offences attributable to drunkenness committed in Lesmahagow on Sunday evenings in the first six months of this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what protests he has received from Commonwealth Governments regarding the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning agricultural imports from the Commonwealth and from the Continent.

We are, of course, in constant touch with other Commonwealth Governments in regard to their trade with us and from time to time we receive requests and suggestions from them, but we have not received any representations which would appropriately be described as protests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now give instructions for the payment to British subjects, whose property has been sequestrated by the Egyptian Government, of sums of money equivalent in value to the property they have lost.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 3rd July, 1957.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the national campaign for road safety, if he will now make a contribution towards its effectiveness by making a Statutory Instrument to remove the Purchase Tax on crash helmets.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what means, other than fiscal, he proposes to assist the Scottish shale oil industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary said in Committee on the Finance Bill on 2nd July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the total cost to the Revenue of exempting diesel oil used for road transport from the duty on hydrocarbon oils and of exempting from duty diesel oil used in public service vehicles.

About £63 million and £30 million, respectively, in the first full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware that in many other countries art galleries and museums are open in the evenings; and if he will make similar arrangements in respect of galleries and museums under his control in the United Kingdom;(2) in view of the value of the contents of the museums and art galleries under his control, much of which has been acquired by public funds or donations from the public at different times, if he will examine the arrangements regarding hours of opening in the light of conditions prevailing today to enable the public to make full use of these exhibitions;(3) to what extent the governing bodies of museums and art galleries under Government control in London are given a discretion in fixing the hours of opening and closing.

The hours of opening of State museums and galleries are a matter for the trustees concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is ware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 4d. by May, 1953, 17s. 7d. by May, 1955, and 16s. 5d. by May, 1956; and what was the comparable figure for May, 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 Defence what facilities are made available, if needed, to United Kingdom and colonial forces at the United States naval and air bases in the British West Indies.

No formal arrangements exist for the provision of facilities for United Kingdom and colonial forces at these bases, except that staging facilities for R.A.F. aircraft are made available at the air bases if required. I am sure, however, that if the need for other facilities for our forces should arise, the United States would be very willing to meet this if it were practicable for them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet ready to introduce legislation to limit the number of foreign royalty who can claim British nationality by reason of descent from the Electress Sophia of Hanover.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 4th July to the hon. Member for Paddington, North (Mr. Parkin).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase has taken place in recent months in the number of police attached to Cannon Row Police Station; and what increase in strength there has been over the same period in the Metropolitan Police area as a whole, excluding the City of Westminster.

Since 1st January, 1957, the increase in the strength of the Metropolitan Police, excluding the City of Westminster, has been a little less than 300. An exact estimate cannot be given as the area of the City does not coincide with that of a Police Division. During the same period the number of officers attached to Cannon Row Police Station has increased by 39.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will reconsider his Department's recommendation that the road surfaces in the reconstructed Elephant and Castle area in Southwark shall be of rolled ashphalte as against the opinion of the London County Council and Southwark Borough Council in favour of mastic granite, in view of the fact that rolled ashphalte will last only for five to seven years against twelve to fifteen years for mastic granite and that in addition to the ultimate economy there will be less interference with traffic if the granite is used.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the outcome of the discussions between the United Kingdom and Danish Governments which took place in Copenhagen last week about the export of eggs from the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom representatives explained the export licensing arrangements which Her Majesty's Government propose to intro-

I have agreed to the use of mastic asphalt at bus stops, but elsewhere I am advised that rolled asphalt will be satisfactory. It can reasonably be expected to have a life of not less than ten to fifteen years even under heavy traffic. The application for grant received from the London County Council provides for rolled asphalt, but I have just learned that the council wish to give further consideration to this question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the volume of Channel Islands and foreign tomatoes, respectively, landed at English and Scottish ports and airfields each week since the beginning of June and what was the volume of home-grown tomatoes marketed in England and Scotland each week since the beginning of June.

Official statistics are not available, but the following estimates have been published or provided by the Commonwealth Economic Committee and the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board.duce to give effect to their undertaking of 21st May to take early action to prevent serious damage being caused to normal Danish export markets as a result of the export of eggs which have benefited from the subsidy on home production. The Danish Government considered that these proposals would safeguard their interests as exporters of eggs. Similar discussions will be held later this week with representatives of the Dutch Government. A further announcement will be made after those discussions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the cost to a local education authority of taking up a place at the Alice Ottley School and at St. Mary's Convent School, Worcester, respectively, for children of age 11 plus.

When tuition fees are paid in full by the authority, the cost is about £120 a year at Alice Ottley School, and £63 at St. Mary's Convent School.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients in England and Wales certified as being of unsound mind due to alcoholic psychosis in 1954; and how this figure compares with that for 1955.

Ninety-nine certified patients were admitted to mental hospitals in 1954 on account of alcoholic psychosis or alcoholism. The corresponding number in 1955 was 114. I regret that the figure of 1,053 which was given in answer to the hon. Member on 8th May last, was the total number of patients, including voluntary patients, admitted to hospital for this reason.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of poliomyelitis have been registered in Kent this year; how many of these were from Maidstone and district; and how many were of the paralytic and how many of the non-paralytic variety.

Sixty cases (35 paralytic, 25 non-paralytic) were notified up to 29th June this year; seventeen were from the borough of Maidstone (5 paralytic, 12 non-paralytic); no cases have been notified in either Maidstone or Hollingbourne Rural Districts.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in the Sedgefield parliamentary constituency were in receipt of National Assistance on 1st June, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957.

The National Assistance Board regrets that the information asked for is not available. The Sedgefield parliamentary constituency is served by five of the Board's local offices, each of which also serves areas in other constituencies.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what basic retirement pension would be needed today to be equivalent to the purchasing power of the 26s. basic retirement pension when granted in 1946; and what would be needed if the pension had increased proportionately, since that date, with average earnings.

On the basis of the Cost of Living Index for the period up to June, 1947, and the Retail Prices Index thereafter, 41s. 9d. would give the same purchasing power now as 26s. in October, 1946; 45s. 5d. would give an increase in value corresponding to the increase in wage rates shown by the Index of Rates of Wages; and 51s. 8d. would give the same increase as has been shown in the level of the average earnings—including overtime and bonus payments—of manual workers in manufacturing and the principal non-manufacturing industries, between October, 1946, and October, 1956, which is the latest date for which figures are available.