asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Government's proposals concerning the European Free Trade Area, with special reference to the position of British agriculture therein.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) on 29th October.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the price of bread is due to be increased again, making the ordinary loaf 1s.; and whether, in view of this further price increase, he will now reintroduce price control.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to stabilise the price of bread by price control or other means.

None.

Month		To Holland	To Western Germany	To France	Total
August	…	3,810	2,385	Nil	6,195
September	…	2,642	1,489	Nil	4,131
October (up to 19th)	…	1,647	1,580	Nil	3,227
TOTAL	…	8,099	5,454	Nil	13,553

My veterinary officers keep a very close watch on this trade and no animal is allowed to be exported unless it is considered fit to travel and has been fully rested. Exports are permitted only to countries whose Governments have undertaken to comply with the conditions announced in my statement to the House on 1st July. These are at present Holland, Western Germany and France.These arrangements appear to be working well and should have removed any

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent old cattle have been shipped to Western European ports during recent weeks; what investigations he has carried out to ensure that cruelty no longer exists in connection with this traffic; and whether he will now take some additional action in this matter, either by imposing a minimum export price or by some other means, so as to ensure that the trade is beyond criticism.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what has been the situation with regard to the export of aged cattle to the Continent during the past three months; and whether, in the light of this experience, he will now reconsider the desirability of introducing some form of filter price with regard to the export of such cattle;(2) whether he is now satisfied that all inhumanity has been effectively eliminated from the export trade in cattle to the Continent as in the case of the export of horses; and what further action he proposes to take in the matter.

Exports of cattle from Great Britain to the Continent for slaughter since 1st August have been as follows:—reasonable grounds for complaint. I do not consider that any further action is called for, but I shall continue to watch the situation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what salaries will be paid to the Chairman and Members of the Pig Industry Development Authority whom he appoints.

The Authority are to pay their Chairman an annual salary of £2,500. The remuneration of the other members of the Authority has not yet been determined.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that many farmers are facing increasing financial difficulties owing to the combined effect of the credit squeeze and the long delay in receiving support payments; and what steps he will take to speed up such payments.

I am not aware that the restrictions on credit, which are an essential part of the Government's measures to control inflation, have given rise to any substantial financial difficulties among farmers generally. Bank advances to farmers are at a high level, as is agricultural production. The arrangements for implementing the price guarantees are working smoothly, and I do not know of any avoidable delay in making payments under those arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the recent gift of stallion shares to the National Stud.

I am very glad to say that Sir Victor Sassoon has presented the National Stud with two of his shares in the stallion Pinza and one share in Crepello. I am sure that Sir Victor's most generous and public spirited gesture will be welcomed by this House and by all who are interested in the bloodstock industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports have been received by the Government of Nigeria on the test productions of oil from the Oloibiri oilfield, 65 miles west of Port Harcourt, and from the well drilled at Afam near Port Harcourt.

I am now informed that test production is not expected to begin until early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the co-operative movement has been given financial and administrative assistance in the Western, Eastern and Northern Regions of Nigeria by the Federal Co-operative Office, respectively, for the years 1955 to 1957; on what basis the assistance is decided; what is the number of co-operative educational courses in each region; and what is the number of students at present studying co-operative methods in the United Kingdom.

Co-operation is a subject within the competence of the Regional Governments, and they have not asked for help from the Federation. The Western Region Co-operative Training College, Ibadan, trains junior Government and Co-operative Societies staff for the whole country, by arrangement with the respective Nigerian Governments. There are also annual courses in the East and North and, additionally, in 1956–57 fifteen other courses were arranged in the East and four in the North. Six Nigerians are at present studying co-operative methods in the U.K.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the desirability of enabling Africans to qualify in Africa as solicitors and advocates, he will recommend to the appropriate authorities the institution of law schools at the University Colleges of Ibadan and Makerere.

No. This is entirely a matter for the councils of the colleges, who are aware of the competing claims of the various fields of study for inclusion in the courses to be offered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of workers in Hong Kong who were killed or injured while at work for the years 1956, 1955, and 1952, respectively; and what is the present number of factory inspectors.

In 1956, 97 workers were reported killed and 4,504 injured. For 1955, the figures are 85 and 2,974, respectively, and for 1952, 40 and 540. Twenty-six officers of different grades are engaged in factory inspection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what alternative acommodation is being provided for the 200,000 inhabitants in the ten villages north of Kai Tak airfield whose homes are being demolished by the Hong Kong authorities; what compensation is being paid to the owners of the properties affected; and why the presence of large groups of armed Hong Kong policemen is necessary while the homes of these people are being destroyed.

The number of people affected is 10,900, and the area little more than 30 acres. The site is needed to build accommodation for 63,000 people at a cost to the Hong Kong Government of $H.K. 26 million. I have already dealt with accommodation and compensation in replying to the hon. Member for Govan. The police have taken no action in moving people out and there have been no incidents; their sole duly has been to prevent persons not concerned from entering the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Government of Northern Rhodesia to encourage Africans in the production of groundnuts and soya beans as alternatives to maize production; and to what extent soil erosion is being counteracted in the areas proposed for the cultivation of these crops.

On the first part of the Question, I am asking the Governor whether there is anything to add to my right hon. Friend's reply on 31st July. I have written to the hon. Member in reply to the second part of the Question, since it is difficult to give adequate information about soil erosion measures in these areas within the compass of an oral reply; and if the Governor has further useful information I will cover that also when I write again to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what loan facilities are available for experienced African farmers in Northern Rhodesia who are lessees of Crown land and who wish to apply for freehold titles but lack the required amount of capital to develop the land.

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member in his pursuant Reply on 2nd August, there are at present no African farmers who are lessees of Crown land. But, as he also stated in the House on 20th May, African farmers are entitled to benefit from the facilities afforded by the Agricultural Lands Board under the Agricultural Lands Ordinance. The Board can guarantee Land Bank settlement loans and can partially develop land prior to leasing, to the extent of £2 of assistance to £1 of capital on the part of the intending farmer. The Board has not yet received any applications from African farmers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the 250,000 acres of land in the Mkushi block in Northern Rhodesia which is being allocated as farms to ex-Service men and others is native trust land or Crown land.

Crown land

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been given by the Government of Tanganyika to the request of the Tanganyika African National Union for increased representation of Africans in the Legislative Council.

When the President of the Tanganyika African National Union raised this matter recently in the Legislative Council, the Minister concerned stated that there could be no question of a review of the existing system of parity representation before the elections which will be held in 1958 and 1959. The matter will, however, be among those to be examined by a committee of the Legislative Council which it is proposed to appoint after the elections to consider further steps in constitutional development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many beds there are at the Nkoaranga hospital in the Meru district of Tanganyika; and what is the medical staffing.

I am asking the Governer for this information and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals are being considered by the Government of Tanganyika for the establishment of community centres in each ward of Dar-es-Salaam; and if it is proposed that such centres shall be organised on a multi-racial basis.

The Government of Tanganyika plan to establish community centres in each of the five wards in Dar-es-Salaam. These centres, which have already been established in two wards, will be open to all on a multiracial basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are at present detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance in Singapore; how many of them are trade union officials; how many are member of the staff or students of the Chinese schools; and if he will make a statement on the position.

The numbers are 113, 49 and 29, respectively. No one regrets more than the Singapore Government the necessity to detain persons under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance; but it is convinced that this action is necessary to safeguard the orderly development of democratic government in Singapore against those who have used their position in the Trade Union movement, in education or elsewhere to further the ends of Communist subversion or who have knowingly permitted themselves to be used for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the constitutional crisis in St. Lucia.

The present constitutional arrangements in St. Lucia came into force in March, 1956. They provide for elected majorities in both the Legislative and Executive Councils, for the appointment of elected members as Ministers and for the recognition of the Executive Council as the principal instrument of policy; they also provide for the appointment by the Governor in his discretion of three nominated members to the Legislative Council and one to the Executive Council.Election under these constitutional arrangements took place in September. 1957, and the St. Lucia Labour Party secured seven of the eight elected seats in the Legislative Council. The Party has so far declined to co-operate in the formation of a Government on the grounds that the individuals nominated by the Governor are unacceptable to them, that the Party should have been consulted prior to their nomination and that only individuals not opposed to the Party's policies should be nominated.Representations by political parties in three of the Windward Islands seeking various constitutional changes, including changes affecting the nominated members, have already been considered earlier this year by my right hon. Friend. He concluded that a longer opportunity should be given for all concerned, not least the electorate, to see how the present arrangements work in the territories before further changes are considered. With regard to the point now raised by the St. Lucia Labour Party, my right hon. Friend attaches great importance, at the present stage, to the retention of nominated members. He also attaches importance to the nomination of individuals to serve as nominated members being left, as the Constitution provides, to the Governor's discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will put in the Library details of the medical and dental record of Miss Loulla Kokkinou.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on documents C604/R/54 and 12014/56 circulated by the Cyprus Government; and whether he will place copies in the Library.

These documents were circulated to certain officials of the Cyprus Government for their own confidential information to assist them in dealing with matters concerning various aspects of Her Majesty's Government's policy and intentions, particularly their public presentation. Where there are differences of approach to policy between the Government and Opposition, it is inevitable that documents of this kind should take account of such differences, though this should, of course, be done in as objective a manner as possible. I am satisfied that action was taken in good faith and with the sincere intention of being helpful. However, I will certainly consider placing the documents in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the Athens broadcasts to Cyprus; and whether these broadcasts are still being jammed.

Her Majesty's Government's policy was explained by my right hon. Friend in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Major Wall). Propaganda broadcasts to Cyprus containing incitements to violence are jammed. Other broadcasts from Athens Radio are not jammed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the latest estimate of the extent and proportion of land in Cyprus owned by Turks, and the date on which this calculation was made.

I regret that I have no precise official estimate, but I am asking the Governor for information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the names of the two people who were murdered at the Lanarca Lyceum.

Odysseus Wideson and Thomas Milrea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how many convictions there have been for assault on prisoners at Gathigiriri Works Camp, Kenya; how many prisoners have died as a consequence of ill-treatment; what members of the staff were involved in these convictions; and what was the sentence in each case;(2) on whose authority orders were given by Jasiel Njau Kariuki, a rehabilitation assistant at Gathigiriri Works Camp, Kenya, for a detainee to be beaten and hung up by his wrists from a beam.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement on the case of Njau Kariuki.

, pursuant to Mr. LennoxBoyd's replies, [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th July, 1957; Vol. 573, c. 936; OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st August, 1957; Vol. 574, c. 1504], supplied the following further information:No detainees have died as a consequence of ill-treatment at Gathigiriri Camp. (As stated by the Secretary of State on 16th July, medical evidence at the trial showed that the death of Jasiel Macheri Githuma could not be proved to be due to the assault on him. There were no other deaths).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the cause of the riots at the Buganda Government prison in the Kampala region of Uganda; and what steps have been taken by the authorities to prevent further disorders.

The disturbances at the Buganda Government prison at Mengo were due to overcrowding, inadequate provision of food, clothing, bedding and medical care for prisoners and the poor morale and training of prison staffOver half the prisoners have since been moved elsewhere, and accommodation in Protectorate Government prisons is being increased, which will make room for more prisoners transferred from Buganda and African local government prisons. The Kabaka's Government has improved remission rates and ration scales and better training for their prisons staff is being provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in finding a site for a new international airport near to Freetown.

No suitable site for an international airport has been found anywhere on the south side of the Sierra Leone river, but the search continues. Meanwhile, the Sierra Leone Government has asked a consultant to advise on a vehicle ferry across the river to improve access between Lungi Airport and Freetown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Sierra Leone Government have yet decided to appoint a commission of inquiry into the salaries and conditions of service of public servants.

Yes. A Commission was appointed last June, and its recommendations are now being considered by the Sierra Leone Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many, and what proportion, of the teachers in schools in the Seychelles are uncertificated.

I am consulting the Governor and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when a new Chief Justice will be appointed to the Seychelles.

I am not yet in a position to make an announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why only four unofficial members have been appointed to the Legislative Council in the Seychelles when the constitution provides for five.

The hon. Member is misinformed. There are six unofficial members of the Seychelles Legislative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which colonial and trust territories the provision of family allowances or other means of State assistance to families is taken into account in assessing minimum wage rates.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Royal Air Force has closed the skies above Christmas Island.

In April this year the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, under whose administration Christmas Island falls, temporarily prohibited flying by unauthorised aircraft over Christmas Island and its territorial waters. This prohibition was made in connection with the United Kingdom's nuclear tests in that area and terminated on the 1st August. It will be re-introduced when further tests are held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities are available in Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia, to enable Africans to purchase books; and what proposals are being considered by the Governments of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland for travelling libraries and other means of encouraging self-education amongst Africans.

Both Governments maintain organisations for the supply of books to the general African public. I have asked the Governors for further information about the Barotseland Protectorate and about any proposals which may be under consideration, and I will write to the hon. Member when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours a day, and for what purpose, a Metropolitan policeman is stationed outside or in the immediate vicinity of his house in Smith Square.

The Commissioner of Police considers it desirable—and the practice is one of long standing—that a policeman should be continuously available near the house of the Home Secretary, when he is in residence, to afford him such protection as may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many different types of motor cars and motor cycles are in use by the various police forces of the country; and if he has considered the use of a standard car and cycle for police purposes in order to effect a saving both to the Exchequer and local authorities.

I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not readily available. The police need vehicles for a wide variety of purposes and I am advised that standardisation would be impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount of Purchase Tax paid on bicycles used by the Metropolitan Police force; and what is the average life of these machines.

No new bicycles are purchased from public funds for use by the Metropolitan Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Report of the committee on the laws affecting homosexuality and prostitution.

Her Majesty's Government welcome this logical and clear Report and are grateful to Sir John Wolfenden and his colleagues for the manner in which they have performed a most difficult task.We are giving consideration to the reactions to the Report. In view of the nature of the problem involved it is important to take account of public opinion and particularly of any views that may be expressed by hon. Members of this House, before coming to any final conclusions on the Committee's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of public anxiety about the number of assaults committed on police officers and the public; and whether he will introduce legislation to increase the penalties for such offences.

The continuing increase in crimes of violence naturally gives rise to anxiety, but I have no reason to think that the existing maximum penalties are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has been able to consider the Report of the Advisory Council on alternatives to short terms of imprisonment; and what action he proposes to take on the Council's recommendations.

I am anxious to implement as soon as possible the Council's recommendation that an experimental attendance centre should be set up for male 17–21-year-olds; and inquiries are now being made to see where one could most usefully be established. The provision of a remand centre is also high among our priorities. Clerks to justices have been asked to bring to the justices' attention those proposals which concern the practice of the courts. The other proposals are receiving attention, but they involve legislation, about which I cannot at present make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limits he imposes as to the explosive contents of fireworks sold to the public.

There is no statutory limit, but in the case of bangers the manufacturers, under an agreement with my Department, voluntarily limit the amount of explosive. The information in my possession does not indicate that any firework now sold to the public is unsafe if used according to the directions and with suitable precautions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the statement by Air Marshal Sir Lawrence Pendred, Midland Regional Director of Civil Defence, on 25th September, that the Government was planning to evacuate 40 per cent. to 45 per cent. of the population of the highly industrialised areas in case of war, and that the Government expected to get five minutes' notice of an atomic attack, was made with his authority; and if he will make a statement.

The statement in question was made at a Conference of Industrial Civil Defence Officers which the Regional Director attended under my authority. On 28th February, 1956, the then Minister of Defence informed the House that a revised evacuation scheme was to be discussed with the local authority associations. This might, on the average, involve 45 per cent. of the population of the most densely populated areas. It is, of course, contemplated that any evacuation scheme would have been carried out in advance of the outbreak of hostilities. The short notice applies to the local warning of the approach of an actual attack.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the contents of the letter sent to himself, the Lord Chancellor, and the hon. Members for Baron's Court (Mr. W. T. Williams) and Liverpool, Exchange, by Mr. D. R. Tulloch, of 7, Cromwell Avenue, London, W.6, complaining about the conduct of the inquest on 7th August on Patrick James Cunningham, Borstal boy, who hanged himself at Wormwood Scrubbs Prison, also the reply sent to Mr. Tulloch.

Mr. Tulloch's letter related to the conduct of the proceedings at the inquest. This was entirely a matter for the coroner, who, as was explained in the reply to Mr. Tulloch, is an independent judicial officer and is not answerable to any Minister of the Crown in the discharge of the responsibilities vested in him by law. I do not, therefore, propose to publish this correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the reasons for the removal during 1956 of 15 addresses from the register of places at which experiments on animals might be performed.

Experiments on living animals were no longer being performed at these places.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders known to the police in England and Wales took place in the months of July, August, and September 1957.

The numbers of murders which became known to the police in July, August and September, 1957, were respectively 15, 20 and 11.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to give information to show how the number of sexually motivated child murders has varied since capital punishment was abolished for this crime.

Murders of children between the ages of 1 and 14 during the period 21st March to 30th September, 1957, have been compared with those during the corresponding period in 1955. In the 1955 period 34 children were murdered; in 1957 32. In both periods the large majority were murdered by parents. In each period there were three murders the motive of which appears to have been sexual. In 1957 there was, in addition, a case in which two children were killed for motives which have not been established. No conclusions as to the effect of the Homicide Act can be based on so short a period.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is satisfied with the number held and distribution made by the United Kingdom Information Office in the Union of South Africa of films which would promote trade between the Union and the United Kingdom.

I am sending my hon. Friend a list of one hundred trade promotion films held by the United Kingdom Information Office in the Union of South Africa together with a note explaining how the various types of films have been distributed and used in the Union.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations have been made by the African Affairs Board of the Federal Assembly of Rhodesia and Nyasaland regarding the Constitution Amendment Bill and the proposed changes in the franchise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what are the Government's intentions with regard to the Constitutional Amendment Bill of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

The African Affairs Board laid a report before the Federal Assembly, in terms of Article 74 of the Federal Constitution, giving its reasons for considering the Constitution Amendment Bill to be a differentiating measure. On the passing of the Bill by the Federal Assembly, the Board, by a majority, made a request under Article 75 that the Acting Governor-General should reserve it for Her Majesty's pleasure. The Acting Governor-General forwarded the text of the Board's request, and the Federal Government have since forwarded a statement of the reasons why they consider that the Royal Assent should be given to the Bill.The African Affairs Board were entitled under the Constitution to request the reservation of the Bill, but, after full and careful consideration of their reasons, and of the Federal Government's statement, and after making personal enquiries on the spot while he was in the Federation earlier this month, my noble Friend is satisfied that it would be right to advise that the Royal Assent should be given. Under the Federal Constitution, this may only be done by Order in Council, the draft of which must lie before Parliament for 40 days. A draft of an Order in Council for this purpose is being laid today.In order that Parliament may be fully informed on the matter, the request by the African Affairs Board for the reservation of the Bill, and the statement by the Federal Government, will be presented to Parliament.So far as I am aware, the Board has not laid any report on the Electoral Bill, which has been published but not yet introduced into the Federal Assembly.

asked the Minister of Education what alteration is to be made in the programme for technical education, Command Paper No. 9703.

None.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will include the Marks Gate Junior School in the 1958–59 Essex building programme owing to the large child population on the new Marks Gate Estate.

No. I understand that there is room for the junior children from this estate in existing primary schools in Dagenham.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the difficulties created by the increase of the Bank Rate for local education authorities anxious to proceed with building projects in the field of technical education; and what steps he will take to help them overcome these difficulties.

No representations have been made to me by local education authorities on this subject.

asked the Minister of Education to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and positions held of all the Members of the Committee recently appointed to consider and Report upon the redistribution of Library functions, showing the population of all the authorities represented; why the Committee only includes one member of a small local authority; and, in view of the importance of these matters to smaller local authorities, if he will either add suitably to the membership of this Committee, or give an assurance that the views of the smaller authorities will be given the full weight that they deserve.

I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend in thinking it important that the Committee should include members with relevant experience and with this in mind I am appointing an additional member from a non-county borough.The Answer to the first part of the Question is as follows:

asked the Minister of Education to state the numbers of classes of over 40, and over 50, pupils, respectively, in the primary and secondary schools of England and Wales at the latest dates for which these figures are available; and how they compare with the figures for each of the last five years.

I will send the hon. Member the information for which he asks as soon as the figures for January, 1957, have been analysed.

asked the Minister of Education the number of courses in advanced science and technology at present being conducted in technical colleges.

In 1955–56, the latest session for which figures are at present available, the number of courses in advanced science and technology in technical colleges in England and Wales was full-time 454, part-time day 1,509.

asked the Minister of Education the number of students at present enrolled in the first and second years of courses for the diploma in technology.

The number of students in the first and second years of courses for the Diploma in Technology in colleges in England and Wales is first year 532, second year 291.

asked the Minister of Education what is the number of technical colleges at present conducting courses for the diploma in technology and the total number of such courses.

Thirty-seven courses at eleven colleges.

asked the Minister of Education how many all-age schools still existed at the latest date for which figures are available; how many of these schools provide courses for the General Certificate of Education; how many children are on the registers of such schools; and what proportion they form of the total number of children in all-age schools.

There were about 2,800 all-age schools in England and Wales at the beginning of this year, containing about 170,000 senior pupils. I have no record of the number of these schools that provided courses leading to the General Certificate of Education.

asked the Minister of Education how many secondary modern schools entered candidates for the General Certificate of Education this year; how many such candidates sat for the examination; and to what extent they were successful.

This information will be available early next year.

asked the Minister of Education what is the fall in the number of children taking school dinners since the latest increase of twopence per meal, both nationally and for Salford in particular, including, if possible, the October figures.

Many local education authorities, including Salford, have had to postpone the submission of their October returns on account of the influenza epidemic. It will therefore be at least another month before I can add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 1st August.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is taking to improve Anglo-Canadian trade.

The recent talks which my right hon. Friends had with Canadian Ministers greatly encouraged us and strengthened our faith in the prospects for Anglo-Canadian trade. The communiqué issued at the end of those talks describes a number of ways in which it is hoped to improve trade with Canada. In particular, we look forward to welcoming next month Mr. Gordon Churchill, the Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce, who will be leading a high-level Canadian Trade Mission to this country. In conjunction with the Canadian High Commissioner and the Dollar Exports Council we are arranging for this Mission to make extensive visits to our industrial centres and to inform themselves at first hand of the developments made by United Kingdom industry since the war.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on the recent visit of officials from his Department to Peiping; and what action he now intends to take to extend trade between Britain and China.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary is not expected back from the Far East until next week. I am therefore unable to make a statement now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on the results of the efforts of his Department to attract new industries to the Dundee area.

The Board of Trade, with other Departments, are keeping in close touch with the position at Dundee and are making every effort to attract new industries to this area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to set up a Performing Right Tribunal provided for under the Copyright Act, 1956, and to bring Part IV of that Act into force.

This Tribunal was appointed last May. As my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary told the House on 17th May, the whole of the Copyright Act, 1956, came into operation on 1st June of this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his conversations with the Finance Minister of India concerning India's need for financial aid.

During Mr. Krishnamachari's visit to this country as the guest of the Government the opportunity was taken to discuss financial and economic matters of mutual interest, including the financial requirements of the Indian second five-year plan. Her Majesty's Government emphasised their goodwill towards, and deep interest in, India's great undertakings. They explained, however, the limitations placed upon them by the economic situation of this country and our many existing commitments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now completed his review of Purchase Tax anomalies; and if he will make a statement.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "No."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of serving civil servants whose temporary or unestablished service does not count for superannuation; and what would be the cost in a full year if such service was counted in full.

There are about 475,000 serving civil servants whose unestablished service does not reckon in full for pension purposes. If such service were reckoned in full, the extra cost would be £5½ million in 1958–59, rising to £10 million in 1973–74 and continuing at least at that level until about the end of the century.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for relieving the financial difficulties of universities.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's announcement on 14th March last of increased annual grants to the universities. In addition, the universities are receiving supplementary grants to cover the cost of recent salary increases.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to ensure that vehicles subject to a speed limit of 30 miles per hour as goods vehicles are only subject to the appropriate rate of Purchase Tax for this type of vehicle.

No. The considerations which govern classification for speed limit and for taxation are completely different.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will give further details of Her Majesty's Government's majority shareholding in British Petroleum Ltd., and state the percentage which this holding bears to the total issued capital; and whether he will indicate the circumstances in which the voting rights attaching to the preference shares become operative.

I have been asked to reply.Her Majesty's Government hold £56,250,000 ordinary stock and £1,000 preference stock. This represents 49·5 per cent. of the total issued capital of British Petroleum Limited and carries with it 55 per cent. of the total voting rights. The voting rights attaching to preference stock become operative in the event of a poll.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing the monthly revenue received from the greyhound totalisator tax, since May, 1957, and similar figures for the calendar year of 1956.

The following are the monthly receipts since May, 1957, from the duty on totalisator betting at grey- hound race courses: for the monthly figures for 1956, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to his Question on 22nd February:

1957				£
May	…	…	…	637,072
June	…	…	…	553,759
July	…	…	…	581,115
August	…	…	…	674,272
September	…	…	…	*516,043
*This figure is provisonal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of still light wine and still heavy wine, respectively, cleared for consumption in this country in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the amount of customs duty paid in each case.

The quantity of imported still wine cleared for consumption in this country, and the duty paid in respect of it, during the 12 months ending 31st August, 1957, were as follows:—

——		Quantity in gallons	Duty £
Still Light Wine	…	6,716,575	4,395,675
Still Heavy Wine	…	6,655,752	15,874,902

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to relieve local authorities from the obligation to pay Purchase Tax on bicycles used by the police, since they are used for public purposes and not by private individuals.

No. Articles bought by local authorities are not, as such, exempt from Purchase Tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that many British personnel are still suffering hardship consequent on action in Egypt in 1951 and in 1956; and what steps he intends to take in the matter.

The Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board was set up to deal with cases of hardship amongst those who left Egypt as a result of the events of last autumn. It has assisted many of these unfortunate people for whom we have great sympathy. The Board makes pension payments, including arrears, for those whose Egyptian pensions were cut off; it pays maintenance allowances in case of hardship, and makes ex gratia loans against personal assets in Egypt; it also pays special educational allowances. The position of the former British officials of the Egyptian Government dismissed in 1951, to whom I assume the hon. Member's Question refers, was fully explained in reply to Questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) and the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 30th October. These officials too are entitled to apply for relief in case of hardship to the Resettlement Board.At present Her Majesty's Government are again attempting in the Anglo-Egyptian financial talks, which were resumed on 9th October, to obtain the desequestration of British property in Egypt and the lifting of restrictive legislation against British subjects and assets.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the plight of the former British officials of the Egyptian Government; and if he is now prepared to make a statement regarding their claims for compensation.

I have nothing to add to the replies given yesterday by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) and the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds).

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange to make it optional for nurses in general hospitals to be paid monthly or weekly, as desired, in view of the difficulties sometimes encountered by nurses living out in the case of monthly payments only being made.

This is a matter for the hospital authorities, and it is open to any individual or any body of staff to make representations to their employing authority for weekly payment.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the current British financial contribution to the World Health Organisation was spent in financing the World Health Organisation South Pacfic Commission to study the methods of witch doctors; and how many copies of the Commission's report he proposes to circulate in the United Kingdom.

I regret that I am unable so far to identify the study to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) which River Boards have made a survey under Section 5 (1) of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951, and in respect of which streams or parts of streams, with a view to making by-laws under paragraph (a) of that subsection for the purpose of determining when matter is to be treated as poisonous, noxious or polluting;

So far as I am aware, two such surveys have been carried out —one by the Mersey River Board in respect of the River Bollin and its tributaries, and the other by the Devon River Board in respect of their whole area. No by-laws have yet been made under Section 5 (1) (a) of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent representations have been made to him concerning the desirability of amending the law relating to tents and caravans and camping sites; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received memoranda on this subject from some of the interested organisations, including the Town and Country Planning Association. I am studying these, but as I stated in my reply to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Chertsey (Sir L. Heald) on 30th July last, I cannot hold out any early prospect of amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to revise the factory regulations to bring them up to date to meet the rapid changes now taking place in manufacturing establishments and the growing dangers of radioactivity, particularly in our atom-explosive factories.

A preliminary draft of regulations dealing with the use of sealed sources of radioactive substances in industry was published in July. Comments on this draft are now being considered. Work has started on the preparation of regulations dealing generally with open sources.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement upon the situation arising from the closure of certain old-type tinplate works in western South Wales; and the steps being taken to find alternative employment for those affected.

Ten hand tinplate works are in process of closing or are expected to close. Although employment in the industry fell by just over 2,400 between January and the end of September this year, only 255 former tinplate workers were registered as wholly unemployed on 14th October. Since then, just over 700 impending discharges have been reported and there may be further redundancies at establishments supplying steel to the tinplate works. It is, however, not yet possible to say how many workers affected by the latest developments will register as unemployed. Total unemployment in the tinplate area of Western South Wales was just over 4,400—representing a percentage rate of 2·2—on 14th October. The increase of 800 since September is entirely due to an increase in those temporarily stopped, more than half of whom are tinplate

——		Exempt from Income Tax	Not exempt from Income Tax
1.	War Pensions	Disablement pensions and allowances.	Pensions for widows (except child's allowance and rent supplementation), parents and other dependents.
2.	Pensions under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts.	Disablement pensions and allowances.	Pensions for widows, widowers, parents and other dependants.
3.	Pensions under the National Insurance Acts.	—	Retirement pensions, widow's pensions (including widowed mothers' allowances and widow's basic 10s. pensions), contributory old age pensions.
4.	Pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1936.	—	Non-contributory old age pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he is taking to have free transport provided for old-age pensioners in the Western Isles to and from their homes and the pension issuing offices, in view of the long distances and high omnibus fares and, in some areas, the lack of regular transport services at suitable times.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to publish a list of all types of pensions for which he is responsible, indicating which types are exempt from Income Tax.

In regard to pensions which are not exempt from tax, the pensioner's liability to tax would, of course, depend on his total income bringing him within the Income Tax range. The following table gives the information for which the hon. Member asks:

My right hon. Friend does not think that there is need for any such arrangement. Any pensioner who does not live within easy reach of one of the 98 post offices and sub-post offices in the Isles and who would suffer hardship by having to attend at a post office can appoint someone to cash his pension orders for him. But my right hon. Friend would be glad to look into any particular case in which the hon. Member thinks any practical difficulty has arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what circumstances persons who lose or break spectacles or dentures, obtained under the National Health Service, are entitled to free replacement or concession rates; and if he will give wider publicity to this information.

Dentures obtained under the National Health Service may be replaced without charge, and spectacles on payment of the cost of the frame only, where the need for replacement as a result of loss or damage does not arise from lack of care on the part of the patient. Where the need for replacement appears to be due to loss or damage the Executive Council initiate inquiries as to the circumstances so that they may determine whether the patient is entitled to any concession. Executive Councils will, of course, explain the position to anyone interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken by the Northern Regional Hospitals Board in respect of each of the hospitals under its control in the Western Isles to put into full operation the code of practice for the protection of persons exposed to ionizing radiation, which was commended to all National Health Service hospital authorities this summer; and if he is satisfied with the steps taken.

The Code of Practice has been brought to the attention of those concerned in the three hospitals in the Western Isles using X-rays, i.e., Lewis Hospital, Lewis Infectious Diseases Hospital, and the Bute Hospital, Daliburgh. I shall be asking all regional hospital boards shortly about progress made by individual hospitals in putting the Code into effect. In the meantime, if the hon. Member has any particular problem in mind I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of staffed beds now available in hospitals under the Northern Regional Hospitals Board; and if he will give figures for dates in or about October, 1955, and 1956.

2,512 staffed beds were available in the area of the Northern Regional Hospital Board at 30th June, 1957—the latest date for which figures are available. The numbers at 30th September, 1955, and 30th September, 1956, were 2,525 and 2,470 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received to increase the number of councillors elected to the Lanark County Council to represent the area of the new town of East Kilbride; and whether he has agreed to them.

No representations for an increase in the number of county councillors for East Kilbride have been made to me since the electoral division was divided into two in 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of electors in each of the local government constituencies of East Kilbride; and what is the average number of electors in constituencies throughout the County of Lanark.

I am informed that the electorate of the electoral division of East Kilbride (North) is 6,397 and of East Kilbride (South) 5,210. The average number of electors for the 57 electoral divisions of the County of Lanark is 3,574.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has reached on the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Education in Scotland that a retired teacher who returns to teaching employment should receive his full pension and full salary for the post.