asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) the average weekly cost of keeping children in remand homes;(2) the number of places available and occupied in remand homes.

The number of places available in local authority remand homes on 30th June, 1957, was 1,178. The average daily population during the first six months of the year was 728. The average weekly cost per child in the current financial year is estimated to be £12 11s. 10d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the increasing numbers of automatic machines offering cigarettes for sale is offsetting the efforts to reduce smoking amongst children in the interests of their health; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

Section 7 (2) of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, enables a summary court, if satisfied on complaint that any automatic machine for the sale of tobacco is being extensively used by persons apparently under the age of sixteen, to order precautions to be taken to prevent the machine being so used or, if necessary, its removal. I doubt whether any further provision to restrict the sale of tobacco from automatic machines would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he proposes to exercise his powers this year to suspend the operation of the general closing hour for shops prior to Christmas; and for what days.

I do not propose to exercise this power this year and have already so informed the local authorities concerned. They have a similar power which it is open to them to use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far he accepts the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders in its Report on Alternatives to Short Terms of Imprisonment that when the opportunity of amending legislation arises the present limit of twelve hours' attendance at an attendance centre should be increased.

The recommendation in the Report to which my hon. Friend refers related to the 17–21 age group, for whom an experimental attendance centre is being established as soon as accommodation can be found. I shall consider this recommendation very carefully in the light of the experience of the working of the centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far he accepts the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders in their Report on Alternatives to Short Terms of Imprisonment that Section 17 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, should be extended to adult first offenders.

I am giving careful thought to this recommendation, but I cannot yet make any further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions, known to the Metropolitan Police, during a convenient period of recent months, persons transporting wages in cash from a bank to the premises where the wages were payable have been attacked.

There have been four cases in the Metropolitan Police District since 1st August, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of recruits, the number of resignations, and the number of retirements with

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made, since his statement in the House on 6th May, towards granting certain legislative powers to the National Council of Basutoland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 14th November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether the Commonwealth Economic Committee's inquiry into the natural resources and development potential of the Commonwealth has now been completed.

I understand that, in order to expedite the production of its Report on Commonwealth Raw Materials, the Committee has decided to prepare it in two volumes, The draft of the first volume has been completed. After it has been finally considered by the Committee it will be sent by it, in accordance with established practice, to all Commonwealth Governments for their consideration and for their agreement to publication.

The following table gives the required information:

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have already dispensed with the 11-plus qualifying examination for secondary grammar school places.

One.

asked the Minister of Education how many children are being taught in all-age schools; and what proportion of them are in rural areas.

In January of this year 530,126, of whom 37 per cent. in rural areas.

asked the Minister of Education for how many deaf children in Wales no special school facilities are available.

None.

asked the Minister of Education why the figures for the size of classes in England and Wales in January, 1957, are not yet available.

The reason is that the Government have regarded economy of staff and saving of expenditure as more important than the maintenance of a fixed time-table.

asked the Minister of Education for how long he intends to continue the system of assessing maintenance grants for students at universities on the income of their parents.

I am bound by the terms of the Statute.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of secondary modern schools in the six North Wales counties; how many of these have playing fields up to the requirements of the Education Act, 1944; how many have no satisfactory playing fields at all; and how the secondary modern schools compare in this respect with the grammar and comprehensive schools in North Wales.

In January, 1957, there were thirty-three secondary modern schools in North Wales. The information available in my Department does not enable me to answer the other parts of the Question.

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to send military radar equipment to Egypt as part of a grant for educational assistance; what instructions the British representatives at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation have been given in regard to this decision; and what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to prevent future infringements of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's terms of reference.

I have instructed the United Kingdom representative on the Executive Board, to make inquiries. Until I have his report I am unable to make any further comment.

asked the Minister of Education if he will allay the fears of those who suspect that the system of block grants will lead to a reduction in educational standards by making a firm undertaking to exercise his statutory powers to ensure that local authorities do not permit education in their area to fall below proper national standards.

I can assure the hon. Member that I shall retain adequate powers to ensure the observance of the standards laid down in my Regulations, and I shall not hesitate to use them if occasion arises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of his proposal to implement by means of Regulations a number of recommendations of the Committee on Weights and Measures Legislation, what steps will be taken to consult the appropriate trade associations about the changes proposed, before any final decision is taken as to the drafting of such Regulations.

The Board will consult all the interests that appear to it to be concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to implement his promise to introduce new legislation dealing with cinematograph film quotas.

I have invited the views of trade bodies on the form which new legislation should take, but it is too early to say when a Bill can be introduced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the price of manila seine net ropes has risen continuously since December, 1955, while the price of sisal seine net ropes has remained comparatively steady, that manila seine net ropes are much used by fishermen, and that the continuous increase is without apparent reason and is prejudicial to the fishing industry; and if he will institute an authoritative and expert committee to investigate this anomaly and make recommendations for its removal in the public interest by price control or otherwise.

The wholesale price of manila hemp rose considerably between December, 1955, and September, 1957, whereas the price of East African sisal fell during this period. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent instruction or advice he has issued to those concerned that any increase in wage and salary scales must be met from a reduction in the Civil Service; how far these instructions were discussed with the Civil Service unions; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend told the House on 29th October that if costs, including wage costs, went up, activity would have to be reduced. The cost of Civil Service pay increases must therefore be offset by economies, which will in some cases inevitably mean staff reductions. The instructions announcing pay increases, which are shown to the appropriate Staff Associations before issue, remind Departments of this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would cost to keep the Reading Room of the British Museum open until 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively.

I am informed that the cost would be approximately £47,000 per annum in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what facilities there are for micro-filming orders to be accepted by the British Museum and whether there is adequate staff and equipment to deal speedily with requests, especially from overseas.

The British Museum accepts orders for micro-filming newspapers, printed books and manuscripts in its collections on payment. The relevant staff and equipment are reasonably adequate for all normal demands.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will so amend the Pay As You Earn Regulations as to enable maintenance orders to be enforced through regular Pay As You Earn deductions.

I am afraid this would be impracticable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, for the first year of the Premium Bond Savings Scheme, the gross sales of bonds, the amount spent on advertising, the amount distributed in prizes, the administration costs, the withdrawals, and the net gain to national savings over the financial year.

During the first year of the Premium Savings Bonds Scheme—1st November, 1956, to 31st October, 1957—sales of bonds totalled £114·2m., repayments amounted to £2·5m., prizes were distributed to a total value of £2,060,000, and it is estimated that £400,000 was spent on advertising and £1,150,000 on other administrative costs. During the first seven months of the current financial year sales have exceeded repayments by £47·4m.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the Post Office pensions, in view of the rising cost of living.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 19th November to a Question from the right hon. Member for East Stirlingshire (Mr. Woodburn).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all Government Departments which erect buildings or give permission for the erection of buildings, by other authorities.

The main Government Departments which erect buildings are:

Admiralty, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Agriculture for Scotland, Air Ministry, Forestry Commission, Post Office, Prison Commission, Ministry of Supply, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, War Office, Ministry of Works.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing the amounts staked on totalisators at individual licensed greyhound racing tracks for each of the months from January, 1956, until the latest convenient stated date.

No. It would be contrary to practice to publish information about individual traders taken from their Revenue returns.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the main sources of the principal foods and animal feedingstuffs for each of the past five years; and what was the average prices of such foods and feedingstuffs for each of those years.

As this would involve many hundreds of figures, most of which require fresh calculations, I am writing to the hon. Member to see whether something simpler might meet his need.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of bacon, pork, eggs, beef, mutton, and lamb, respectively, was home-produced in 1955 and 1956; from which countries the balance was imported; and what percentage of the total was from each country.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cost of sugar purchased from Cuba, Commonwealth and domestic suppliers, the prices to be inclusive of all transport and other costs, and expressed per lb.

A comparison of the cost of sugar from these three different sources of supply is best made at the first-hand selling point, that is, ex-refiners' premises. At the beginning of this week the list price of refined sugar at this point was approximately 6d. per lb. after eliminating the distribution payment from the Sugar Board, and this would be the current cost of foreign sugar at that point. My right hon. Friend is informed by the Sugar Board that it estimates that the comparable figure for Commonwealth sugar bought at the 1957 negotiated price would be about 7d. per lb. on current freight rates. The British Sugar Corporation has estimated that the equivalent figure for sugar produced from home-grown beet in the 1956–57 season would be about 6⅝d. per lb.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern felt and expressed by the London and Home Counties Fish Friers' Association at the ever-increasing prices which fish friers all over the country are having to pay for fish and potatoes; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the prices of fish and potatoes to see whether any action is called for on the part of his Department to reduce the price of these commodities.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the views of the representative bodies of fish friers, but for the reasons given in replies to the hon. Members for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) and Durham (Mr. Grey) on 18th November he does not propose to arrange for an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which detention camps in Kenya have been closed during the past twelve months; how many are still in use; and how many detainees and Mau Mau convicts, respectively, are still in confinement.

During the twelve months ending 31st October 17 emergency detention camps in Kenya were closed and 33 were still in use at that date. There were 16,385 detainees and 4,497 Mau Mau convicts then in custody.Following is a list of the detention camps closed between 1st November, 1956, and 31st October, 1957:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances persons going abroad from Kenya are required to leave a deposit; what is the reason for this requirement; and whether it applies to all races.

This is done where the Kenya Government considers that there is a risk of an applicant for a passport becoming destitute abroad, and having to be repatriated at Government expense. The sole purpose is to safeguard public funds; the system applies to all races.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities there are in Government schools in Nyasaland for tuition up to University of London entrance examination.

At present there are no such facilities in Nyasaland itself, but African secondary schools there prepare pupils for the Cambridge School Certificate examination. After this, those pupils who are considered capable of proceeding to the Cambridge Higher School Certificate go either to Munali Secondary School in Northern Rhodesia or to Goromonzi Secondary School in Southern Rhodesia for tuition up to University of London entrance standard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why faulty assessments of customs duties are still continuing in the Seychelles, as reported by the Principal Auditor in his latest Report; and what urgent action is being taken to ensure proper collections of these duties.

I should like to put the hon. Member's question in perspective. In 1956, the year to which he refers, there was no faulty assessment of export duties. Faulty assessments on bills of entry involved a total underassessment of £86, all of which was recovered.The Principal Auditor has recently informed the Acting Governor that there has been a substantial improvement in the collection of these duties in the first half of 1957 and that he now regards the situation as satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as well as consulting with the Archbishop of Malta on proposals for integration in so far as such proposals concern the Roman Catholic Church, he will consult with the heads of the other churches in the United Kingdom in so far as such proposals for integration concern such churches.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the views of the Churches in the United Kingdom on these matters and will always be ready to consider any representations they may wish to offer. He has given an assurance of his intention to include, in any new Constitution for Malta, the same provision for religious toleration as is contained in the present Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he proposes to reopen negotiations with Archbishop Makarios and other representatives of the Cypriot people about the constitutional future of Cyprus.

There is nothing I can usefully add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on the 31st October.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will list the properties presently occupied by the Ministry of Education in Central London together with the period left for the leases to run.

The principal properties in central London occupied as headquarters offices by the Ministry of Education are Curzon Street House, which is Government property, and Berger House, Berkeley Square which is leased. It would not be in the public interest to give details of this lease.

asked the Minister of Health the number of qualified opticians working in the National Health Service at the nearest convenient date, and the number of unqualified opticians so employed.

At the end of 1956 the number in England and Wales was about 7,300, all of them qualified in accordance with the National Health Service (Supplementary Ophthalmic Services) Regulations. In addition, about 200 students were working under supervision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many local authorities have made application for financial assistance under Section 5 of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956; and how many of this number are still being considered for financial assistance;(2) on what date Bootle County Borough Council applied for consideration under Section 5 of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956; and when that council may expect his decision;(3) what action he has taken to determine the financial needs of those authorities who have applied for assistance under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956; and when some of these authorities may hope for a reply to their requests for financial assistance to house the people on their long waiting lists.

Eighteen local authorities have applied for subsidy under Section 5 of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956. Six of these applications are still under consideration, including that submitted by the Bootle County Borough Council in September, 1956. Examination of these cases brought to light

asked the Secretary of State for War his expenditure on recruiting in Scotland for the first ten months of 1957.

About £50,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring up to date the information he gave on 29th July about recruitment to, and resignations from, the Scottish police forces.

Following is the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to announce the appointment of the Clean Air Council for Scotland as required under the Clean Air Act, 1956.

The constitution of the Clean Air Council for Scotland is set out in an Order which I have laid before Parliament today. Sir David Anderson, Ph.D., A.R.T.C., F.R.S.E., M.I.Mech.E., Director of the Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow, has agreed to be Chairman of the Council, and the following is a list of the members of the Council whom I have appointed:—

• J. Alistair Anderson, Esq.
• T. M. Ashford, Esq.
• I. G. Brackenridge, Esq.
• C. R. Campbell, Esq.
• J. Collins, Esq., C.A.
• W. H. Craig, Esq.
• Bailie W. Drummond, C.B.E., M.C., D.L
• Councillor J. R. Duncan.
• J. W. S. Edmundson, Esq.
• H. H. Grattidge, Esq.
• John Innes, Esq.
• E. Hywel Jones, Esq., M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech.E.
• J. D. Kennedy, Esq., M.A., LL.B.
• Dr. I. A. G. MacQueen, M.A., M.D., D.P.H.
• Provost James Paterson.
• A. R. Phillip, Esq.
• T. S. Ricketts, Esq., M.Inst.Gas.E.
• Councillor Mrs. J. Saggar.
• P. M. Thomas, Esq., D.S.O.
• R. P. Towndrow, Esq., M.Sc.