asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement as to the progress being made in dealing with the unsightly deep shelter entrances in London.

Progress is being made on the work of improving the appearance of these shelter entrances. Work has been completed at The Avenue, Clapham South, and at Stockwell Green, and a start has been made on the two entrances to the Goodge Street shelter in Tottenham Court Road and Chenies Street. The rest will be dealt with as quickly as circumstances allow.

The Minister's Answer only proves the necessity for asking the Question. The work that he describes as having been completed does not consist of anything really worth while, except that some colour wash has been put over the sides of the very ugly buildings that are there. Will he reconsider this? Is he aware that when the Bill was passed that gave these buildings into the control of the Ministry of Works, we were given an undertaking that they would be quickly looked at with a view to removing their unsightliness; and that, so far, nothing really has been done in that direction except to chop off a few hoods at the top? Will he look again at the matter and really get something going?

I will certainly look at the point which the hon. Member makes. I cannot hold out any prospect of spending a great deal of money on this.

Will the Minister show a greater sense of urgency about this problem? Will he bear in mind that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Clapham (Mr. Gibson) says, when we agreed to the Bill going through many did so very reluctantly indeed, and then only on the assurance of his right hon. predecessor that the work would be done to improve the shelters, and that it would be done quickly; and that unless he makes rather more rapid progress than there has so far been, we shall feel we have been seriously let down by the right hon. Gentleman himself.

I am very sorry to hear that. I thought that I was showing a sense of urgency. I have undertaken to look again at the point raised by the hon. Member for Clapham (Mr. Gibson). I cannot hold out a prospect of spending a large sum of money on this at the present time.

asked the Minister of Works how many houses and parks have been bought by the National Trust with the aid of contributions from public funds; what was their total value at the time of acquisition; and in what circumstances these contributions were made.

Only Croft Castle, Herefordshire, which, together with some 1,370 acres of woodland and farmland, has recently been bought by the Trust for £40,000 with a grant which I made on the recommendation of the Historic Buildings Council for England. The Trust has obtained a substantial endowment for the upkeep of the property from the previous owner's family. I have made a further grant to the Trust towards the initial repairs necessary to the castle.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he has not answered my Question? I asked how many have been bought in all, not just recently. Would he agree that some possible practical use might be made of some of these houses by, for example, turning them into short-term accommodation for old people? Does he not think that we have by now acquired a sufficient stock of old houses, and could not we avoid spending any more of the taxpayers' money for this purpose?

In reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary, I would point out that he asked me how many houses and parks had been bought by the National Trust, and I replied that only one had been bought. As to his other point, there is in my Ministry a special bureau which is trying to find useful purposes for historic houses. I do not think that it would be the general view of the House that we should not go on preserving ancient and beautiful buildings which are part of the heritage of the country.

asked the Minister of Works how long it is intended that the post of Director-General of Works shall remain unfilled.

In the absence of a suitably qualified professional candidate, a non-professional general manager has been appointed, and will take control in March next. It is not possible to say how long this arrangement will last.

Is not it a very unsatisfactory state of affairs that simply because another properly-trained candidate is not available the Director-General of a very large and important Department should be replaced by someone not properly technically qualified? Is not this just a major instance of the big question on which an official policy has not been decided—how properly to integrate professionally and technically trained people into the Civil Service machine as a whole?

I was naturally disappointed that none of the professional candidates who came before the Selection Board was considered suitable for appointment to that particular post. I do not, however, see any reason to suppose that things will not be extremely well administered by the official whom I have appointed as general manager.

Can the Minister tell us whether he has studied the comments in the Architects' Journal and other architectural papers on the failure of the Department to find a suitable candidate? Is he aware that the view is widely held that, until the Minister shows that he realises that this is not just an administrative appointment but one of the most important architectural appointments in the country, he will lot find a suitable architect? Will he give an assurance that if anybody is appointed to this post as an architect, he will be given reasonable freedom to go ahead with the job, to show initiative, without being hampered by an obsolete administrative machine?

This is an administrative job. There is no need at all for a general manager to have professional qualifications. There is a chief architect in the Ministry, and he is responsible for architecture. I entirely disagree with the criticisms of my Department that have been made in various publications.

asked the Minister of Works if he is satisfied that Carlton House Terrace is in an adequate state of repair and decoration; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir.

Might I ask my right hon. Friend to be good enough to take a walk around this very beautiful building? Does not he really think, from his observations of the building so far, that it presents an appearance of seedy decay which gives the worst possible impression to foreign visitors? I hope that my right hon. Friend will take the matter seriously because, at the moment, the appearance of the building is very bad.

It is the intention to build a new Foreign Office behind Nash's facade, but when it will be possible to undertake that is not apparent at the present time. It is intended that the present building shall last, at any rate, until 1963. Some £30,000 was spent on reconditioning in 1955, and £18,000 a year has been spent on maintenance over the last four years. I hope that it will be possible to repaint the façade during the next financial year, but that depends on whether money is available.

asked the Minister of Works what plans he has for rebuilding on the site of the old British Embassy in Rome near the Porta Pia; and whether he has chosen an architect.

Providing the Italian authorities agree, I propose to sell about half of the site and erect Embassy offices on the remainder. I am not yet able to make a statement about the appointment of an architect.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is not every day that a British architect has the chance of designing a building in Rome alongside a work by Michelangelo? Does he not consider that this is a case for a very special competition?

I am fully aware of the importance of this site and of the great opportunity that it provides for the erection of a worthy building. It is for that reason that I am not yet in a position to name an architect for appointment for this job. I am doubtful about holding a competition, since that is not popular with architects, as was found in the case of the Nash Terraces.

From where will the right hon. Gentleman get the money for this purpose? He could not find the money to remove the unsightly deep shelters.

If the right hon. Gentleman had listened to my original Answer, he would be aware that I was proposing to sell half of the site, and with the proceeds of that sale I hope to be able to pay for the erection of a building on the other half.

asked the Minister of Works what inquiries were made about the means of the owners before a grant of £4,500 was given towards the cost of repairs to Longleat House and a grant of £5,000 for a gatehouse at Scrivelsby Court.

The Historic Buildings Council for England satisfied itself that the owners needed a grant to enable the necessary work to be done.

How is it determined whether these owners need a grant of this kind? I do not want to mention names—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—but I will do so if hon. Members want me to. These are obviously people who are not in need of financial aid. How can the Minister reconcile grants of this kind with the fact that he and his hon. Friends object, for example, to grants towards subsidising rented property?

That is an argument which might have been put forward when the Historic Buildings Act was being passed. It was passed with the support of hon. Members on both sides of the House, and the purpose of the Act is to enable grants to be made in respect of the buildings and not primarily for the benefit of the owners.

asked the Minister of Works if he has considered the renewed expressions of dissatisfaction in the electrical contracting industry concerning his decision to discontinue the facilities afforded to the National Apprenticeship Scheme, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central; and, in view of the urgent need for technicians and the training of these young men in electronics and in the technique of new mechanical devices, if he will now reconsider his decision and restore these facilities.

The representations which I have received have not led me to revise the replies given recently to the hon. Members for Fulham (Mr. M. Stewart), West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) and Itchen (Dr. King).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the union concerned is getting very perturbed about the reduced number of apprentices? In view of recent scientific and technological developments, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision and restore the grant that was made for apprentices?

I think the hon. Gentleman and perhaps the trade unions concerned rather misunderstand the situation. This council has been concerned only with registration. It is not proposed to reduce in any way the facilities for training apprentices.

Is it not the case that the Minister is withdrawing his support from this scheme at a time when it is reaching an important stage in its work, which would have avoided the employment of juvenile labour in unsatisfactory ways?

No, Sir; I do not think it will have that effect at all. In fact, in all other industries councils of this kind are run and financed by the industries themselves. I see no reason why my Department should undertake this cost if the electrical contracting industry is unwilling to pay for the cost itself.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is co-operating in research into the liquification of methane or natural gas.

The D.S.I.R. is not concerned with this work, as research in this field comes under the Gas Council.

Is it a fact that the Gas Council is doing this on its own without Government support?

It comes under the heading of the Gas Council. If the right hon. Gentleman would put a Question to the Paymaster-General, who answers for that body, perhaps he would get a bitter answer.

Am I to understand that if we put a Question to the Paymaster-General it will be answered and not referred to as a matter of day-to-day administration by the Gas Council?

The right hon. Gentleman asked me about the D.S.I.R. for which I am responsible, and this matter does not come within the purview of the D.S.I.R.

The hon. Gentleman said that I could put a Question to the Paymaster-General. If that is done, will the Paymaster-General answer the Question?

I can only suggest that the right hon. Gentleman should put the Question down and see what the Answer is.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, when it is proposed to appoint a scientific attaché at the British Embassy in Moscow.

An appointment of this kind has been considered from time to time and is now being considered again.

Will the hon. Gentleman say when the consideration will have been completed and a decision made? Is he aware of the debate which took place in this House on the problem of the extraction of scientific information from Russian journals? As the Russian Embassy has a scientific attaché here, is not it time that we had a scientific attaché in Moscow in order that we might have proper access to information which it is highly desirable we should have?

The right hon. Gentleman will remember that I replied to the debate to which he has referred, so that I have a vivid recollection of it. It is not absolutely accurate to say that the Russians have a scientific attaché here. It may well be that they have on their staff people who have certain scientific qualifications, but not in the sense that they are scientific attachés. I recognise the importance and the urgency of what the right hon. Gentleman has in mind, but it is rather premature to give any definite answers at this stage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how many persons are employed by Government scientific and technical research establishments on translating published Russian scientific and technical data into English; and whether he is satisfied that our present translating service and organisation is giving an adequate picture to British scientists and technologists of progress and achievements in Russia.

It is normally found that the best translations of scientific and technical papers are produced by working scientists with a knowledge of Russian. A large number of individuals are employed part-time on this work, and a small number full-time, in Government scientific and technical research establishments. In addition, Government Departments make use, on a contract basis, of panels of translators outside the Government services.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that according to the New York Times of 25th November, the Soviet Union employs 2,300 full-time and 20,000 part-time translators and abstractors? Is he aware that the United States Administration and Congress are paying keen attention to this problem, and is it not a fact that the progress of the Soviet Union has been due mainly to their organisation in disseminating existing knowledge on scientific matters?

The hon. Gentleman will have noticed from the recent debate that we have been paying a lot of attention to improving the service in this country. As is set out in the Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy,

"The Scientific Library and Technical Information Committee are considering with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research ways of improving the arrangements for abstracting and translating Russian technical literature."

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider co-operating with the United States with a view to getting translations into English of these important matters? There is no doubt that there is a shocking delay in making available to both British and American scientists the latest information about Russian developments. Could not there be some much closer co-operation in these translations?

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate the problem involved in transferring scientists from carrying out research to actually translating the reports on research which has been carried out. We have a shortage under both heads and it is a matter of using both to the best advantage.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that his reply to this Question would be made much easier if a scientist of sufficient standing were appointed as a scientific attaché to the British Embassy in Moscow, so that he could in his own right have access to Russian scientists and prevent the need for a good deal of abstraction which is now not being done?

If the right hon. Gentleman could guarantee that any such appointment from this country to Russia would enable the person concerned to have special rights to do anything in Russia without voluntary co-operation at that end, perhaps it would help to speed up our decision.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that there are not some people in the Services who could be drawn out for this purpose? Has he made any inquiries?

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the importance behind this Question is fully understood and we are trying as far as we can to fill this breach and to make the system effective when it is filled.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer my question? A large number of people have been drawn into the Services in recent years, who might not be as usefully employed today as they thought they might be when they were drawn in. Will the hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of extracting someone for this work?

The right hon. Gentleman is suggesting that some translators are not at present engaged in translating. I should like to leave the point; it has been well made, and we are apprised of its importance. We are looking at the practical problems to see whether they can be overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he authorised the letter of 23rd August addressed to the Secretary of Scottish Inshore White Fish Producers' Association Limited. Aberdeen, by the Scottish Home Department, acknowledging that legislation should be introduced to consolidate the Fisheries Acts and bring them up to date and expressing the view that other demands on the time of parliamentary draftsmen make it unlikely that consolidation could be undertaken in the near future.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen. South (Lady Tweedsmuir) on 18th November.

I am unaware of that Answer; but may I ask my right hon. Friend whether anyone has noticed the congestion in this place which would bring about the situation referred to in my Question? If there is a shortage of Parliamentary draftsmen, have not senior draftsmen in the service of the Government the right to employ Parliamentary draftsmen from outside and pay them an adequate fee?

The position is that a number of consolidation propositions are being considered at the moment; it is very technical work. As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South, the task of consolidation of these Acts would be a formidable one which would certainly take some time. I am, however, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the question of consolidating the Fisheries Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much maize has been imported into Scotland during the past year; and how much of it has been purchased for the purpose of distilling whisky.

The Official statistics of imports relate to the United Kingdom as a whole, and I am, therefore, unable to say how much maize was imported into Scotland; nor am I in a position to answer the second part of the Question.

Will my right hon. Friend remind the distillers of Scotland that the importation of dollar feeding-stuffs unnecessarily is not desirable, that they built up their fame and fortunes on Scottish barley, and that they would be well advised to stick to it?

I understand that the National Farmers' Unions are pursuing with the distillers the question whether in future more home-grown barley could be bought by the distillers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what improvements have been made by hospital boards of management in the organisation of outpatient departments since the issue of his circular; and, in particular, how many appointments systems have been introduced as a result of his recommendations.

A survey made in 1956 of arrangements for out-patients at 163 hospitals showed that, since 1954, an appointments system had been introduced at 49 additional clinics, and also showed many other improvements in organisation. Almost all the larger hospitals have appointments in the majority of their clinics, and 106 hospitals have them for all clinics.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there is great room for improvement in the use of appointment systems in hospitals in order to cope with the substantial increase in attendances, which now run at a rate of over 7 million annually? Will he take all the steps he can to ensure that more of these systems are inaugurated in order to save patients' waiting time at hospital?

I am very conscious of the importance of this matter. My Department is in constant touch with the regional hospital boards on the subject, and there is steady improvement going on.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the interested organisations have now conveyed to him their views in respect of Command Paper No. 9623 relating to mental illness, and mental deficiency in Scotland and also on the application to Scotland of the Report of the Royal Commission on Mental Health and Mental Deficiency in England and Wales; and what action he is proposing to take.

A number of the interested organisations have sent in memoranda, and the remainder expect to do so shortly. I am also consulting the Scottish Health Services Council, which hopes to complete its consideration of the matter early in the New Year.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that this Command Paper was published two years ago? In view of the increasing incidence of mental illness in Scotland, will he give added interest and push to this business in order to get some result?

We are very interested in it, of course, and, as I say, early in the New Year we hope to receive the replies from the interested bodies which have been consulted. I hope that that will happen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effects of the Rent Act in Scotland; and which of the objectives for which the Act was designed have been, or are being, achieved.

It is too early yet to draw any firm conclusion about the effect in Scotland of the 1957 Rent Act.

But it is surely not too early for the right hon. Gentleman to appreciate the reprehensible effect of anxiety and misery caused particularly to very many aged people. Since many of his hon. Friends are now showing some sign of realising the enormity of the great injustice which they have perpetrated in passing the Act, will the right hon. Gentleman now introduce an amending Bill to restore control to houses in Scotland?

The hon. Gentleman will realise that the main object of the Rent Act is to maintain and make the best use of our stock of houses. What is more, although a change such as this after so many years of complete control may, I accept, produce some temporary hardship, however much we try to avoid it, I remain convinced that the Act is in the general interest.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that people who have occupied these houses for years are finding themselves threatened with eviction, with no possibility of finding another home? Does he not realise that this will cause widespread distress throughout many of the towns of Scotland?

I do not accept that the evidence available at the moment bears out what the right hon. Gentleman has said. No one can be certain what will happen until October of next year.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, while not all landlords and factors in Glasgow have put ridiculously high increases on these houses which have become decontrolled, quite a number have imposed quite unreasonable increases in respect of many of them? Will he bear in mind also that there are 105,000 houses controlled by the Corporation of Glasgow which are not affected by the Act, so that not only do these people whose homes or houses have now been directly affected have these additional increases—as much as 100 per cent.—to face, but they have also to pay towards the rents of the people who are staying in the 105,000 uneconomic and subsidised houses in the City of Glasgow? Is not this grossly unfair?

In reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, I would say that I know that occasional cases of apparent hardship have been reported; but, as I have said in public before now, I sincerely hope that all landlords in Scotland will act with humanity and intelligence, as I understand they are doing in the great majority of cases.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman does not accept the truth of the facts given by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. George) in his interview with the Glasgow Herald a few days ago?

That is not on the Order Paper, and I am not fully conversant with what was stated at that time. I repeat that there are cases where there is, I think, hardship, and I sincerely hope that the landlords concerned will behave in their own best interests and the interests of the tenants.

If the right hon. Gentleman accepts that there are cases of hardship, does he propose to do something about it and bring in an amending Bill?

No. As I said before, after so many years of complete control—which, I believe, everybody in the House knows has produced a very difficult position in the country—there is bound to be some disruption when even an element of decontrol is introduced. But one sincerely hopes—as I believe it will—that the general effect of the Act will be in the interests of everybody in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if, in view of the widespread hardships due to lack of alternative accommodation for those evicted under the Rent Act, he will initiate legislation to establish a Scottish tribunal to report to him and advise on interchangeability of houses to rent;

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to mitigate the hardship caused to tenants of rented houses by the implementing of the provisions of the Rent Act.

No, Sir. The Government do not accept the suggestion that there will be widespread hardship and have announced that they do not contemplate amendment of the Rent Act. As regards interchangeability of houses to rent, one of the underlying objects of the Act is to enable better use than hitherto to be made of the pool of rented accommodation, but exchange of tenancies is a matter for mutual arrangement between landlords and tenants.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is the first time in Scotland's history that a change like this has taken place in a Rent Act without a previous survey by a commission, and particularly a survey into the houses available to let, before decontrol was introduced? In regard to interchangeability, the right hon. Gentleman talks about hoping that there will be houses to let. Surely, there is no justification here for the triumph of hope over experience. Has experience not taught us that during the past 20 years every vacant house has been put up for sale and not to let?

In reply to the first part of the question, I should have to make a check to discover about past surveys. Concerning the second part, it is much too early to be certain what will happen about the availability of houses to let. I do not think one should make the assumption that the hon. Lady is making.

Are we, then, to assume that the right hon. Gentleman is wholly satisfied with the workings of the Act? Are we further to assume that he desires to be known as the Panglossian Secretary of State for Scotland?

There is very good reason to believe that the Rent Act is functioning already in relation to getting more repair work done and reducing the extreme inflexibility of movement. I should have to consult my dictionary before risking a reply to the second part of the question.

May I suggest that rather than consult his dictionary, the right hon. Gentleman should consult Voltaire? Does not he realise that there is a growing body of evidence, spoken to by Members on both sides, showing that the Act is working most harshly and that many people are suffering great hardship?

No. I am by no means convinced that there is widespread distress. I agreed in answer to an earlier question that there are some cases of hardship, and I have stated my views.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take immediate steps to amend Section 9 of the Rent Act.

No, Sir. I have, in any case had no representations related particularly to Section 9, which deals with the amount of the repairs increase under the 1954 Act.

In view of the representations to the right hon. Gentleman upon the whole of the Act and what he has said, may we take it from him that later he may consider amending it?

No, I would ask that no such thing should be taken from what I said, but I hope there may be a proper study of the remarks I made earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a committee to inquire and report on the working of the Rent Act in Scotland.

No, Sir.

Has the Secretary of State read the statement made in the Glasgow Herald on 2nd December by his hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. George), in which he says that he has found hundreds of cases of hardship in Glasgow and that the Act is being sabotaged? Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to study that report?

I do not think it would be appropriate for me to go over the replies which I have made already to similar Questions today.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how much distress has to be caused in Scotland before he will be shaken out of his present complacency?

I am not convinced, as I said before, that there is any widespread measure of hardship because of this Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to co-ordinate the activities of all agencies, voluntary and statutory, which are at present dealing with the problems of the aged in Scotland.

Hospital boards and local authorities have been urged to ensure the fullest collaboration with voluntary agencies so that in each area old people may receive the full benefit of available services. I shall continue to stress the need for this.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do nothing more than this? The matter has been pointed out as not only important but very urgent. Should he not be doing something more than he told us he was doing two years ago?

A series of circulars have been sent out, as the hon. Gentleman knows. I am constantly in touch with this very urgent matter and will do what I can to speed it on.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to assist local authorities in Scotland to meet the large need for laundry services for the aged that has been shown to exist.

Local health authorities have power to provide facilities for laundry services as part of their arrangements for domestic help or as part of their services for the prevention of illness, care and after care, both of which attract grant under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will support local authorities in this work? Will he, in particular, support Edinburgh in the endeavours it is making; and may we be assured that the grants will be forthcoming in spite of the present Treasury policy?

I have just approved a pilot scheme, submitted by the Corporation of Edinburgh, for providing a laundry service for old people, which, I understand, will be closely linked with the home-help service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many protests he has received against the introduction of the block grant proposals from local authorities, local authority associations, and other bodies in Scotland, respectively.

I have received representations against the proposed general grant from the local authority associations, 15 individual local authorities, and 21 educational organisations, including 11 local associations of the Educational Institute for Scotland, and two other bodies.

In view of the overwhelming opposition to the proposals in Scotland, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he ought to try now to govern Scotland in accordance with Scottish needs and drop the Bill?

I can only reply that I am convinced that it will be realised in time that the proposals are in the best interests of local government as a whole and of the services concerned.

Can the Secretary of State say how many letters or resolutions he has received in favour of the Government's proposals?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has of university students being forced by insufficient grants to abandon their studies; and what steps he will take to stop such wastage;

I have no information which suggests that inadequacy of grants or delays by education authorities in paying such grants have compelled Scottish university students to abandon their studies. Nor have I any information at present which suggests that any persons qualified for admission to Scottish universities do not go forward for these reasons.

Is the Secretary of State aware that Scottish students say that this information exists and that I have myself checked with local authorities, who say that such cases exist? Is he prepared to inquire and find out whether that is the position?

That question might more easily be answered on the next Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish students about difficulties arising from insufficient grants; and whether he will investigate all the circumstances in conjunction with the local authorities.

I have received no representations that the improved grants which have been payable since 1st July are inadequate. The Scottish Union of Students has asked for an inquiry into the problems of higher education, including grants to students, and this is being considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that because they have to lay out their money until the grants are paid, although they cannot afford to do so, some parents hesitate to allow their children to accept university training?

That is a question of delay in the making of the payments. I understand that while there may very occasionally be delays, there is no reason for the delays and I hope that they will disappear.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the authorised establishment for the police force, male, in Scotland; and how far short it is of this figure.

At 30th November, 1957, the authorised male establishment of the Scottish police force was 8,499, and the actual strength was 7,919.

Since that shows that we need many more policemen in Scotland to give us the correct establishment, what further steps will the Secretary of State take to attract more men into the force?

The figures are better than those at the same time last year—they have improved by 78—and fairly strenuous campaigns are, of course, being conducted to bring to people's attention the advantages of the police force as a career.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now accede to the request of the Lanark County Council to have installation of street lighting at Dewshill, Salsburgh, accepted for contribution purposes.

I do not think that the scheme proposed by the county council would add to the safety of the road, but I should be prepared to consider a scheme which would provide group A standard of lighting between Dewshill and either of the existing installations at Harthill or Salsburgh.

In thanking the Minister for that reply, may I express the hope that he will consider very carefully the need for lighting in this area? Is he aware that this is now the black spot between Salsburgh and Harthill, which was considered to be the most dangerous road in the whole of Scotland? Will the right hon. Gentleman make certain that when the local authority does apply for this new type of grant, it will be given it?

As I said, I will certainly consider it; but it is a hypothetical matter until I receive the request. I know this stretch of road personally and I can understand the hon. Lady's concern about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish draft slaughterhouse regulations for Scotland in advance of the publication of the Scottish Slaughterhouses Bill, as has been done in England and Wales.

There is no prospect of a Scottish Slaughterhouses Bill being tabled in the current Session. It is, therefore, rather too early to be specific about the arrangements to be made in advance. I shall, however, consider this matter nearer the appropriate time.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of Command Paper 243, which applies to England and Wales and which was published by the Minister of Agriculture for England four months before the introduction of the Slaughterhouses Bill, thus giving prior notice to those who wish to put their slaughterhouses in order in England and Wales what the conditions would be? Would it not be very helpful to those interested in slaughterhouses—mainly local authorities—in Scotland to know what the standards will be?

I think it would be unwise to give any undertaking such as my hon. Friend suggests so far ahead. I would, however, add that any slaughterhouse owner, whether public or private, can communicate with me and I will arrange for him in due course to be given such guidance, if possible, in advance of legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the continued and growing dissatisfaction in Fife concerning the provision of hospital beds of all kinds; and if he will take immediate steps to ensure that this county is treated on the same basis as all others in this matter.

The hon. Gentleman will realise, that in the past Fife relied mainly for its general hospital beds on Edinburgh and Dundee. But capital expenditure on hospitals in Fife itself is now well above the average level for Scotland as a whole.

Is the Minister aware that Fife is by no means satisfied with the answer that is continually given that it must depend on Dundee and Edinburgh for its hospital facilities? Is the Secretary of State not shaken out of his complacency by the figures which he himself supplied to every Member of Parliament representing Fife constituencies? People are getting more and more alarmed about the position.

The hon. Member will realise from my original reply that I am not suggesting that Fife should be dependent on Edinburgh and Dundee, because a big share of capital investment is now going into Fife. Fife is getting £691 per thousand of the population as against £486 per thousand of the population in Scotland as a whole. This represents a very fair share.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the prospect of building a health clinic in Glenrothes;

My Department is in touch with both the local health and hospital authorities about the health and welfare services and I am awaiting plans from the county council for a proposed new clinic. They have already been given authority to borrow for the purchase of the site.

Although that is quite satisfactory as far as it goes, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will speed things up in view of the very disturbing figures of the stillbirth rate in Glenrothes as compared with the rest of Fife?

I realise there has been some concern about this matter. I hope that the decision about the clinic will make a big difference.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the amount paid to Scottish local authorities under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, for each year from 1946 to 1956.

As the Answer involves a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what proportion local government expenditure was met by Exchequer grants, local rates, and other sources, for the years 1954, 1955, and 1956.

As the Answer contains a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in accordance with Section 298 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947, he is under a statutory obligation to lay before both Houses of Parliament every year an annual summary of the Scottish local authorities' financial returns? Is he further aware that this Question would not have appeared on the Paper had he not been in default on the statutory provisions in so far as he has not laid a summary of the statements for the last six years?

That does not arise evidently out of the Question on the Paper. I would ask the hon. Gentleman to put down another Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for introducing legislation to restrict the payment of subsidies in Scotland to those whose relevant needs are established.

None, Sir.

Does the right hon. Gentleman approve the recent speech made in my constituency by the Minister of State in which he said that to pay subsidies to people who should not have them was not only wrong but immoral? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is widespread immorality of this kind in Scotland, and does he countenance and condone immorality?

The hon. Member should read the extract of the report of my noble Friend's speech more carefully. He has completely misrepresented what my noble Friend said. What he said was that it was wrong that anyone should be forced to subsidise any person if that person could afford to pay for himself. He did not say that housing subsidies as such are wrong or immoral. What is more, he went on to say what has never been mentioned by the hon. Member, that a family needing a house should be housed according to its need and pay rent in accordance with its means.

As the right hon. Gentleman himself told us in this House, when commending to the House financial provision for housing, that subsidies should be given only to those who need them, may I ask him when he proposes to take his own advice and provide subsidies only for those who need them?

I am afraid I do not completely follow the question. The answer is simply the one I have given. As an expression of view the Government have always said that with a rebate scheme we can get over the problem of need every time.

If the right hon. Gentleman does not understand what I mean, may I make the position quite clear? The right hon. Gentleman has introduced many subsidies, including agricultural subsidies, and quite recently he provided that an owner of agricultural land could have a subsidy for building a pigsty whether he needed the subsidy or not. What I was asking was when he would take his own advice about subsidies.

The principle involved in housing subsidies is obviously completely different from the principle involved in other subsidies.

In view of the grossly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter again on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.