asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the expenditure on wheat of Canadian or United States origin during the first six months of 1957 compares with purchases from each country during 1956.

The information is as follows:

IMPORTS OF WHEAT CONSIGNED FROM CANADA AND U.S.A.
Values £m. c.i.f.
	Canada	U.S.A.	Canada and U.S.A.
Jan.—June 1956	39·8	11·4	51·2
July—Dec. 1956	37·7	14·6	52·2
Jan.—Dec. 1956	77·5	25·9	103·4
Jan.—June 1957	26·5	16·0	42·6

These figures relate to the country of consignment, not origin. Figures for wheat of Canadian origin would probably be greater and that of U.S. origin less, since some Canadian wheat is consigned from the U.S.A.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Llanrug district of Caernarvonshire; its causes and extent so far; and the measures taken to control and end the epidemic.

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Llanrug district of Caernarvonshire was first confirmed in pigs on 7th October. There is some evidence that the disease had by then been present in the animals for several days. Early local spread was rapid and unavoidable. The source of infection of the original outbreak is thought to have been raw bones from imported meat.The disease spread south-east towards Llanberis, and up to 30th October 39 secondary outbreaks had been confirmed within the general area. The full range of operations including the slaughter of susceptible animals on contiguous premises was put into effect at once, and particular efforts were made to protect mountain sheep, which I am glad to say seem to be unaffected so far. While I am hopeful that there will be no further spread, it is too early to come to any firm conclusions.I would like to place on record my appreciation of the co-operation my officers have received from the farming community and the police in the affected area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the police forces of Northern Rhodesia to counteract the incidence of road accidents on the Copper Belt.

I am asking the Governor of Northern Rhodesia for this information and when I have his reply I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of South Africans who are and have been employed by the Government of Northern Rhodesia during years 1955 and 1957, respectively, the number who hold or have held executive positions, and the proportion of South Africans to others in Governmental service and holding executive appointments.

I am asking the Governor of Northern Rhodesia for this information and when I have his reply I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Defence how many National Service men were flown out to Christmas Island during 1957; what was the cost per return flight; and what is the object of their journey to the Pacific Ocean.

397 National Service men have been flown to Christmas Island during 1957 to participate in the nuclear weapons test programme, at an average cost of about £210 each. So far, only 94 have returned, and some of these have come back by sea. It is not yet certain by what method the remainder will be making the return journey.

asked the Minister of Defence how many British officers have attended the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence College since its inauguration; how many of these officers have since retired from the service; and how many are currently serving in posts connected with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

61, 3, and 13. The last figure does not include serving officers who, after holding such posts, have returned to normal duties.

asked the Minister of Defence what is the British contribution towards the cost of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence College.

The British government contribute 19 per cent. of the College's budget and pay the emoluments of British officers serving on the Directing and Instructional Staff.In the current year, these two items amount to about £18,000 and £19,000 respectively, making a total contribution of about £37,000.

asked the Minister of Education how many places are at present provided in primary schools, secondary schools, and grammar schools, respectively, which were erected by denominational bodies, and wholly at public expense, respectively.

It is not possible to give details of the number of places which existing schools were designed to provide or of how their erection was financed, but the following table shows the number of pupils attending different types of primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in January, 1956.

Number of pupils attending
Status of Schools	Primary and all age	Secondary
		Grammar	Other
County	3,255,281	405,708	1,392,540
Controlled	477,820	68,378	20,003
Aided, Special Agreement and Status not determined (including transitionally assisted)	859,115	70,033	100,208
Total	4,592,216	544,119	1,512,751

asked the Minister of Education how many places have been provided since 1945 in primary schools, and secondary schools which have been erected by denominational bodies and wholly at public expense, respectively.

The information available is as follows:

NEW PLACES TAKEN INTO USE FROM 1945 TO 30TH JUNE, 1957, AT PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND AND WALES (SEE FOOTNOTE).
Status of schools	Number of places
	Primary	Secondary
County and controlled	732,740	445,150
Aided, Special Agreement and status not determined (including transitionally assisted)	47,730	30,495

asked the Minister of Education how many places will be provided upon the completion of those schools in the course of erection and for which the commencement of building has been approved in primary schools and secondary schools by denominational bodies, and wholly at public expense, respectively.

The information is as follows:

NEW PLACES TO BE PROVIDED AT PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND AND WALES BY MAJOR PROJECTS EITHER UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON 30TH JUNE, 1957, OR APPROVED BUT NOT STARTED ON THAT DATE.
Status of Schools	Number of Places
	Primary	Secondary
County and Controlled	90,590	321,350
Aided, Special Agreement and status not determined (including transitionally assisted)	10,810	28,045

asked the Minister of Education how many places he estimates will be provided in schools included in development plans other than schools already erected or in the course of erection or for which the commencement of building has been approved distinguishing between primary and secondary schools to be erected by denominational bodies and wholly at public expense, respectively.

This information could not be made available without a quite disproportionate expenditure of labour; in any case, owing to the changes in circumstances since development plans were first prepared, it would have no significance today.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement as to the relative salaries of health visitors and district nurses, indicating what recent increases they have had.

The present salary scales of health visitors and district nurses are £555—£690 and £467—£598 respectively. The former received increases of £75 to £80 by an award of the Industrial Court on 19th August and the latter a 5 per cent. increase by an agreement of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council on 23rd July. Both increases were given with effect from 1st July.

asked the Minister of Health whether a decision has now been taken with regard to the steps which are necessary to implement the recommendations in paragraph 102 of the Report of the Joint Sub-Committee on Welfare Foods that national cod liver oil should continue to be provided for children up to the age of 5 years; and whether action has now been taken with regard to paragraph 99 and the proposed request by him to local authorities to examine the possibility of improving present distribution arrangements.

Cod liver oil will continue to be provided for children up to the age of 5 years, but arrangements have been made to reduce the vitamin D content, as advised by the Joint Sub-Committee. The attention of local health authorities has been drawn to paragraph 99 of the Report in a circular issued on 4th October and they have been requested to consider whether any improvements can be made in their arrangements for distributing welfare foods, particularly with regard to the siting of centres, the hours of opening and the arrangements for payment.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will make a statement on the siting of a new steel works which has been projected for South Wales.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why there was no official British Pavilion at the Twenty-Second International Trade Fair at Thessalonica, at which 15 foreign nations were represented.

The Government do not normally organise British pavilions at overseas trade fairs. In any event, inquiries showed that there would not have been enough support from United Kingdom manufacturers or their Greek agents to justify a separate national pavilion at this year's Fair. The products of a number of British manufacturers were, however, shown in the commercial sections of the Fair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a general statement on the steps being taken to provide alternative industries in the areas of western South Wales affected by the closure of certain old-type tinplate works.

It is too soon to say how many of those affected by these closures will be reabsorbed in existing industry, but my right hon. Friend is watching the situation closely in conjunction with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.Meanwhile, the Board of Trade will do all they can to interest in the area such industrialists as are looking for new premises and to bring to their attention the facilities provided by the tinplate works concerned, some of which, I understand, have been specially maintained with a view to their disposal for other industrial purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when further classes of agreements will be called up for registration under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act. 1956.

The Board has made an Order (the Registration of Restrictive Trading Agreements Order, 1957), calling up for registration all restrictive trading agreements not covered by the Registration of Restrictive Trading Agreements Order, 1956. The agreements in question are, broadly, those which involve restrictions on the quantity or type of goods that may be produced or sold or which involve the division or sharing of markets or areas between suppliers.It is intended to seek Parliamentary approval of the Order in the new Session and, if it is given, the Order will come into force on the 31st December, 1957. During the three months following that date, particulars of the classes of agreements covered by the Order must be furnished to the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements.Agreements which contain restrictions affecting exports but which do not affect the home market must, under section 31 of the Act, be notified to the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the result of his discussion with the British Transport Commission regarding the use of railway station taxi ranks.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the results of his discussion with the British Transport Commission regarding the use of station taxi-ranks.

In addition to the Answer I gave on 30th October to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway), I have written full letters to the hon. Members on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now able to announce the results of his discussion with the British Transport Commission regarding the use of the taxi-rank at the Exchange Station, Manchester.

On the position at the Exchange Station at Manchester, I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's Oral Question on 30th October.On the general question of taxicabs at railway stations, I have, in addition to the Answer I gave on 30th October to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway), written a full letter to the hon. Member on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which members of the Ilford Borough Council were invited to attend inspection of the sites of omnibus stops in the neighbourhood of 245, Clayhall Avenue, Ilford; which members actually attended; and what was the date on which the inspection took place.

The inspection took place on 14th May, 1957. The Council was invited to be represented and the Chief Assistant (Civil Engineering) was present.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation who represents the interests of road users on the Stopping Places Advisory Committee which is responsible for siting the omni-bus stops in the neighbourhood of 245, Clayhall Avenue, Ilford; how this person was selected; and by what process he or she is answerable to the public.

The siting of bus stops is generally fixed in informal consultation between the London Transport Executive, the police and the local authorities, but the advice of the Stopping Places Advisory Committee is sought in the more difficult cases. By Statute the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner has permissive powers to fix stops and normally accepts the Committee's advice.The Advisory Committee is a co-ordinating committee consisting of representatives of the Metropolitan and City Police, the London Transport Executive, the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner, my Divisional Road Engineer and the Transport and General Workers Union. Meetings and site inspections are attended by representatives of the county and borough councils concerned. The interests and safety of all classes of road users are taken into account.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the danger to residents of Clayhall Avenue caused by the siting of omnibus stops in the neighbourhood of 245, Clayhall Avenue, Ilford; what representations he has received to this effect; and what steps he has taken to inquire into the recommendations of the Stopping Places Advisory Committee in this matter.

The Stopping Places Advisory Committee has consistently and unanimously recommended that there is no justification on grounds of road safety for moving the site of the omnibus request stop outside No. 245, Clayhall Avenue, Ilford. The Committee has considered repeated representations from the occupant of this house, and, in addition to a site inspection, the matter has been before the Committee on four occasions within the last year.The siting of bus stops is usually determined on an informal basis by agreement between the authorities concerned. I am only involved if there is a statutory appeal to me by the police or by the London Transport Executive from any formal decision of the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to accept Scottish Banknotes as legal tender at all places in the United Kingdom.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that as a general rule these notes are accepted at the booking offices of British Railways and the railway booking offices of London Transport.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations of principle govern the differentiation in his Department's policy between the extension retrospectively to 1919 of the reckoning of unestablished service in the Civil Service as to half, which was made by the Superannuation Act, 1946, on the one hand, and the extension retrospectively to 1919 of the reckoning as to the whole, which later extension was not made by the Act of 1949, on the other.

The main consideration is that the community as a whole should not be asked, in the economic circumstances which now exist and may for some time continue, to finance additional expenditure of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual cost would have been in 1949 and would be today and in five, 10,15 and 25 years' time or extending retrospectively the pre-1949 service of unestablished civil servants which is reckonable in full for pension; whether the majority of superannuated civil servants affected have served in lower or higher grades; and whether, in view of the opinion expressed by his predecessor in the report stage of the 1949 Superannuation Bill that the only reason for failing to make this extension was the cost, he is now prepared to introduce legislation.

(1) If the law had been changed in 1949 so as to allow service before that year to reckon in full for pension, the first-year cost would have been about £3½ million. If the change were made now, the cost would be as follows:

1958–59				£5¼ million
1962–63	…	…	…	£6¾ million
1967–68	…	…	…	£8¼ million
1972–73	…	…	…	£9¾ million
1982–83	…	…	…	£11 million

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances he would be prepared to introduce legislation to extend retrospectively to 1919 the pre-1949 service of unestablished civil servants which is reckonable in full for pension; and what parts of the recommendations of the Priestley Commission remain unimplemented today.

(1) In no circumstances that I can foresee.(2) The recommendations of the Priestley Commission which have not been fully put into effect are those that relate to Departmental entertainment funds (paragraph 374 of the Report), use of official cars (paragraph 375) and the granting of "added years" for superannuation purposes (paragraphs 716–7).

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now consider if the time has arrived to revise Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, so far as it affects the Civil Service, with a view to bringing the provisions of that section up to date so far as modern conditions are concerned.

I do not consider that any amendment of Section 20 is necessary.I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on 1st August, 1957.