asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the position regarding the new Catholic schools for infants and juniors in the Southwick parish of Sunderland.

My noble Friend has agreed that work on a two-form entry Roman Catholic Infants School in this area may start at any time after 30th September, 1957.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what recent occasions, and in connection with what commodities, Her Majesty's Government has received recommendations from Commonwealth Governments to increase imports from Commonwealth countries; and what replies have been given.

In the trade negotiations last year the Australian Government asked us to increase the opportunities for the sale of their wheat and the arrangements recorded in the Trade Agreement should have this result. This year in the trade talks with New Zealand and subsequently with Australia, we discussed requests by them that we should restrict imports of foreign meat. We were unable to agree to this, but we have agreed that if circumstances should arise which threaten serious injury to the trade we will be ready to consult and to consider sympathetically any request for the application of such remedial measures as may be appropriate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the marking of imports of men's wear as "Empire made" when, in fact, they have been manufactured outside the Empire, being merely finished in Empire countries; and to what extent under his Regulations such imports qualify for Imperial Preference.

I shall be glad to examine any evidence that imported goods are being marked "Empire" contrary to the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. Goods marked "Empire" do not necessarily secure the benefit of Imperial Preference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the sale of imported men's hosiery described as "Empire made" at prices with which the home trade cannot compete is having a detrimental effect on employment, particularly in the East Midlands; and what action he is taking.

There is a general shortage of skilled labour in the hosiery industry and I am not aware of any unemployment in the East Midlands which could be attributed to imports of men's hosiery.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will provide that casualty animals shall only be used for food purposes if a meat inspector is in attendance at the time of slaughter and certifies that the animal is suitable for such purposes.

Casualty animals must often be slaughtered without delay if suffering is to be avoided. If, however, the animal is intended for food, the responsible local authority must be informed as soon as possible, unless slaughter takes place at a slaughterhouse within fixed hours of which the authority has previously been notified. I am advised that meat inspectors take special care with meat from casualty animals. I am, however, reviewing the Regulations and will consider whether any further provision is needed for the protection of the public.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement about the leasing of the national grain silos.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works invited competitive tenders for leases of the thirteen silos and of the one depot drying plant that were operated during the 1956 harvest by Re-Commissioned Mills Ltd., the Government silo company. Bids were received and accepted for nine silos. The other four silos and the depot drying plant have been let by private treaty.Following is a list of the units which have been leased, together with the names and addresses of the prospective tenants:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a further statement on the establishment of a farm buildings research station.

The Farm Building Research Committee set up by the Agricultural Research Council has decided that further information is needed before a conclusion can be reached about the desirability of establishing a farm buildings research station.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for a school crossing patrol to be stationed at the foot of the railway bridge, Whitton Road, Hounslow, for the benefit of children going to and from Chatsworth School; and what are the reasons for the Metropolitan Police refusing requests for such a patrol already made by the Heston and Isleworth Borough Council.

It is for the Commissioner of Police to decide where school crossing patrols shall be stationed in the Metropolitan Police District. After careful consideration of all the relevant circumstances, including the views expressed by the Heston and Isleworth Road Safety Committee, the Commissioner has decided that he would not be justified in stationing a patrol in Whitton Road, Hounslow; but he will keep the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Miss May Huang, a citizen of Formosa, in England on a two-year fellowship awarded by the World Health Organisation, was refused a re-entry permit to this country if she went to the six-day International Congress of Midwives in Stockholm, although the British Council were sponsoring her and had already obtained the Swedish visa necessary, and although the College of Midwives had requested this to be allowed; and why there was a delay in returning her passport from 17th May until 11th June.

The rule, which is a necessary one, is to grant a return visa to the United Kingdom only if the foreign visitor has a passport or travel document effectively valid for return to his own country for a period longer than two months, and as Miss Huang had not got this she was refused a return visa until her document was extended. I much regret that, owing to great pressure of work, the reply to the inquiry, which was received on 20th May, was not dispatched until 6th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the 55 deaths by electrocution in the home in 1956, he will introduce the necessary legislation to ensure the annual inspection of all hired electrical equipment.

No. My information is that few accidents are caused by faulty electrical appliances, and that hired appliances are regularly maintained by the owners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Romeo Colantonio, aged three years, was refused admission to this country; and whether permission can now be granted for this sick child to join its parents in Swansea.

Romeo Colantonio was refused leave to land in view of a certificate furnished by the medical inspector at the port, but I am making further inquiries and will communicate shortly with the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of psychiatrists employed by his Department.

One part-time medical inspector in the Children's Department specialises in psychiatric matters. In addition the Prison Commissioners engage psychiatric consultants on a sessional basis as required.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the hardship that is being caused to over 200 established Government servants by reason of the decision to close the No. 31 Base Workshops, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Ashford, Middlesex; if he is aware that the established persons who are entitled to pensions only are in a more difficult position than the non-established persons by reason of the fact that the latter can claim a lump sum gratuity on leaving Government service; and whether he will arrange for the established persons to be able to claim a gratuity instead of a pension, and also compensation for loss of career prospects.

The established employees from Ashford will be offered other vacancies. Some will be found work near their present homes, but most of them will have to be offered employment elsewhere. The liability to transfer is made known to all staff who accept establishment. The non-effective benefits which may be given to these men are governed by the Superannuation Acts. and I have no power to alter them, but within the terms of these Acts I shall certainly do as much as possible for them. Since transfer will be offered to all established staff, there is no question of loss of career prospects.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many British ships have called at ports in North Vietnam since the Geneva Agreements.

Since 20th July, 1954, ten calls have been made at North Vietnam ports by nine different ships registered in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent recommendations he has received from the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee on traffic restrictions in the London traffic area.

As part of the plan to improve traffic conditions, the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee has, at my request, been considering the whole framework of restrictions on waiting vehicles within the Metropolitan Police District. After consulting all the local authorities concerned, it has now submitted its Report. It recommends that certain general changes should be brought into force as early as possible, and that it should later consider with the appropriate local authorities what further alterations may be desirable in particular localities or streets.The principal general change recommended is that with minor exceptions all restrictions on waiting vehicles should start at 8.30 a.m. instead of at 11.30 a.m. as at present. In Central London, where the restrictions do not operate on Saturdays, the Committee recommends that they should now be extended to Saturdays, from 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. in most streets, but to 6.30 p.m. in some of the busiest shopping streets. It has further recommended that in a limited number of streets in the West End theatre district the restrictions should continue until 10.0 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays. In a few streets in Outer London it believes that a break could be allowed in the middle of the day; it recommends that the restrictions should operate in such streets from 8.30 a.m. to 11.0 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, but that the break should not be allowed on Saturdays.In "Unilateral Waiting" streets it recommends that the hours of restriction should as far as possible be the same as for the "No Waiting" restrictions in neighbouring streets, and that the permitted waiting time during the day should in all cases be one hour. This is double the present waiting time of thirty minutes and I hope will prove a useful concession to the motorist.The Committee has suggested that the flow of traffic would be considerably eased if the existing exemptions for street traders were reduced, and it recommends that in future exemption should be given only for traders who hold a licence from a local authority to trade from a stationary pitch. This is in accordance with the recommendations of the Samuels Committee in its interim Parking Survey Report.The Committee has also reviewed a large number of miscellaneous Regulations dealing with such matters as slow-moving traffic and the lighting of street-works, and has made certain detailed recommendations.I have decided to accept the Committee's recommendations, and I propose to bring them into effect on 1st January, 1958, which should allow time for the authorities concerned to erect the necessary signs.The Committee has also considered proposals for prohibiting the loading and unloading of vehicles during the morning peak traffic period in a number of the most congested streets in London. In view of the very large number of objections received the Committee tells me that it proposes to hold a public inquiry into this matter in the autumn before making any firm recommendation.The Committee has also completed its detailed examination of the lengths of main road proposed for the first experiment in speed limits of 40 m.p.h. in the London traffic area. The lengths which it recommends for this purpose are listed below. I have already announced, in Answer to a Question on 9th May, 1956, by my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Partridge) my acceptance in principle of an experiment with speed limits of 40 m.p.h. and I now accept this further advice as to the initial lengths.A special and distinctive sign has been devised. I shall make the necessary regulations, and the experiment will begin as soon as the signs can be erected, not later, I hope, than 1st January, 1958. The results will be kept under careful observation and in due course will be reported to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee and to the Departmental Road Safety Committee.These developments in the regulation of waiting vehicles and the flexible application of speed limits in the London traffic area are of course only part of a comprehensive plan for facilitating the free movement of traffic in the streets of London, which includes the proposals for the installation of parking meters and other measures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what basis an officer authorised by the Labour Commissioner in Uganda authorises the wives and minor children of labour recruits to accompany the recruits and to remain with them at their place of employment.

They may accompany recruits provided they are free from communicable disease and that suitable arrangements for return transport and accommodation are provided by the employer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an out-line of the procedure laid down in his Regulations which those who are disturbed about the possible treatment of the surround to St. Paul's Cathedral must take to ensure that their views are fully considered at the coming public inquiry.

The procedure to be adopted at the public local inquiry into the proposed amendment to the Administrative County of London Development Plan so far as it relates to the area immediately around St. Paul's Cathedral will be that defined in Circular No. 95 issued by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning to all local planning authorities in England and Wales on 23rd September, 1950. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.This procedure comprises three main stages, as follows:—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will exhibit the model of the alternative scheme for the area around St. Paul's which was considered by the Royal Fine Art Commission in October. 1956; and whether he will make available a model of Sir William Holford's scheme at the same time for purposes of comparison in the House of Commons or some other readily accessible place and before the opening of the public inquiry.

The model of Sir William Holford's scheme for the St. Paul's area has been exhibited both at Guildhall and in the House of Commons and will be further exhibited at the public inquiry which opens at Gresham College on Monday next. The other model referred to by my hon. Friend illustrates certain ideas which among many others were suggested to my predecessor: but I do not propose to put on exhibition that or any other model or plan which at some stage has been under consideration. All persons or bodies who wish to give evidence at the public inquiry will have opportunity to put forward and exhibit whatever scheme they themselves favour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what actual expenditure was incurred on the Dumbuck to Barloan Crescent Scheme at Dumbarton during each financial year from 1946–47 to date.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the actual expenditure as at 31st March, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957, on the major improvement on the Glasgow—Stirling road from Cardowan Road Stepps to Mollinsburn.

The following is the information: