asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the Wheat Deficiency Payment will be for the period from 1st July to 30th September, 1957; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 13 million cwt. of millable wheat dispatched on delivery during the first accounting period (1st July to 30th September, 1957) of the cereal year 1957–58 is 18s. 4·4d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 26s. 1d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore, be 7s. 8·6d. per cwt. (£7 14s. 4d. per ton). In addition, approximately 0·6 million cwt. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment.Except for a few certificates which are under query, the total payment of £5·25 million to about 34,000 growers will begin at once and will be completed by the end of November.

asked the Prime Minister the arrangements for the answering of Questions on the European Free Trade Area.

General Questions on the European Free Trade Area should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. When these Questions concern international negotiations or the co-ordination of policy in this respect they will normally be answered by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General in the course of the Chancellor's list. Questions solely affecting particular Departments, however, should continue to be addressed to the Ministers responsible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Committee on Weights and Measures Legislation about foodstuffs.

My right hon. Friend proposes to implement a number of these recommendations by means of regulations under the Board's existing powers, since it is unlikely that time can be found in the present Session for general weights and measures legislation. Certain improvements in the law have just been effected by the Pre-Packed Food Marking Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been sent by Her Majesty's Government to the request of the Sub-Commission on Human Rights of the Council of Europe for facilities to enable it to carry out an investigation in Cyprus.

The rule of secrecy referred to in my right hon. Friend's Answer on 31st October makes it improper for me at this stage to go beyond what my right hon. Friend said on that occasion.