asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress so far made by the committee he has set up to inquire into the fishing industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) on 23rd January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to ensure that the spending of his Department in the financial year 1958–59 will not exceed that for the current financial year.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the presentation to Parliament of my Department's Estimates for 1958–59.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement concerning Mr. J. M. Davidson of Swanbridge, Glamorgan, in view of Mr. Davidson's claim to hold a receipt for an account stated to be owing to his Department; and whether he will make a statement.

No. Mr. Davidson's case was exhaustively reviewed in the Adjournment Debate on 20th November, 1957, and no useful purpose would be served by a further statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many rent arbitrators he has appointed in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire, respectively, during the two year period, 1956 and 1957; and if he will give the numbers of cases there upon which they adjudicated, and the maximum and minimum amount that was granted.

In the two year period ended 28th February, 1957, six arbitrators were appointed to deal with seven cases concerning rental matters under section 8 of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948, in Warwickshire; similarly, one arbitrator was appointed to deal with four cases in Leicestershire; and five arbitrators were appointed to deal with six cases in Northamptonshire.The highest rent awarded was £3 14s. per acre, and the lowest was one guinea per acre.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take, under the Defence Regulations, to improve the quality and reduce the price of potatoes.

None. Regulation of the quality of home-produced potatoes sold in Great Britain is a matter for the Potato Marketing Board under its Scheme. My right hon. Friend does not propose to control the price of potatoes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet decided whether improvement grants under the Agriculture Act, 1957, should be available for county council smallholdings.

I have now decided in principle that county council smallholdings shall be eligible for these grants and my Department will shortly be discussing with the County Council's Association the effect of this decision on the contributions towards losses that are payable in certain circumstances under Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has to show whether the new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Beaminster, West Dorset, is a primary one or whether it is related to other recent outbreaks in the area.

No connection has been traced between the outbreak at Beaminster and other recent outbreaks in Dorset, and it is therefore considered to be a primary outbreak.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the concern caused to British farmers by the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease resulting from imports of Argentine beef; and what steps he is taking to minimise the risk of these outbreaks.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Sir A. Bossom) on 23rd January. My veterinary officers in the Argentine are in constant and close touch with the authorities there.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to the effect that railways liability of £200 under the Fires Act, 1905, as amended, may be increased to a figure more in keeping with present-day values.

I cannot say when it might be possible to introduce legislation on this matter. Meanwhile I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation that the British Transport Commission has told him that in respect of fires occurring from now on it will, as an administrative arrangement, meet claims up to £400 without proof of negligence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will institute research into the question of producing hops suitable for the making of lager beer; and, in the event of English hops proving unsuitable, if the breeding of suitable varieties may be instituted, subject to safeguards from pests and diseases.

Research on the breeding of suitable hops for brewing lager beer has just been started in the Hop Department of Wye College. Standard hops for lager brewing come mainly from the foreign varieties Hallertau and Saag. Wye College already has Hallertau breeding material and has arranged to import a Saag variety in the spring.

asked the Minister of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to make the regulations regarding destruction of rabbits more effective, as not all occupiers of land are as fully co-operative in this problem as they might be, and some are not likely to do anything unless an example is made.

My county agricultural executive committees have been reminded of the need for making the fullest use, whenever necessary, of default powers under the Pests Act, 1954, and have been asked to let me know of cases where prosecution should be considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether building bases for pea viners rank for a grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme.

No. This is not the type of equipment that a landlord would normally provide.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period 1st. October to 30th November, 1957; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 10·9 million cwts. of millable wheat despatched on delivery during the second accounting period (1st October to 30th November, 1957) of the cereal year 1957–58 is 19s. 2·8d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 27s. 7d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore be 8s. 4·2d. per cwt. (£8 7s. 0d. per ton). In addition, approximately 300,000 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 £4,700,000 to about 37,000 growers will be completed in February.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will provide a display of his Department's activities at the Dagenham Town Show in 1958, to widen interest in its work.

As the hon. Member has already been informed by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, I do not think I could justify the expenditure of staff time and public money for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in what percentage of disability pensions cases the original disability assessment is subsequently reduced.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the capital value of a retirement pension for a single man of normal health who reaches the age of 65 years on 1st February, 1958.

£1,300.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the capital value of the retirement pension of a married couple who come into pension on 1st February, 1958; and what is the total maximum value of the contributions which could have been paid to obtain it.

The capital value of the retirement pension for a married man, with a wife five years younger than himself, who qualifies for pension on 1st February, 1958, is £2,650. The maximum value of the contributions for this which could have been paid jointly by him and his employer would be £200.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what increase in the standard rate of Income Tax in the financial year 1957–58 is estimated as required to increase retirement pensions to £3 a week; and what increase in the rate of National Insurance contributions, divided equally between employers and employees without adding to the Exchequer contribution, is estimated as required to achieve the same object.

The extra cost of an increase in retirement pensions to £3 a week, including pensions for married women on their husband's insurance, would be about £180 millions in 1958–59, which is approximately equal to the product of just over 8d. on the standard rate of Income Tax in the current financial year, or of an extra 3s. 7d. a week on the joint contribution in respect of employed men, with proportionate increases in other rates in both cases. The extra cost of a £3 pension would increase progressively, and would rise to about £280 millions a year by 1979–80, which would then require an addition of 5s. 8d. a week to the joint contribution for employed men. If corresponding increases in the rates of other National Insurance benefits were made, the cost would be further increased to nearly £260 millions in 1958–59, which is the product of about 1s. on the standard rate of Income Tax or 5s. 2d. on the joint contribution for an employed man.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why those widows in receipt of a pension less than the full amount will not receive the full increase of 10s.; and why, in these cases, the amount of increase is related to an earlier deficiency in contributions.

Because this is a contributory pension, and it has always been thought fair on the occasion of previous increases that pensions based on deficient contribution records should be increased in a way which preserves their proportionate relationship to the standard pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of widows in receipt of widows' pension at less than the full rate by virtue of a deficiency in contributions by the late husband.

About 5,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many cases there were in the year 1957 or latest convenient period of rights to payment of benefit under the National Insurance Act, 1946, being extinguished through delay in obtaining payment; whether he is satisfied that the time limit of six months does not operate harshly in the cases of persons who by incapacity or other special circumstances find it difficult to obtain prompt payment; and if he will make a statement.

No general statistics of such cases are kept, but such information as is available suggests that they are very few indeed. The present provisions are based on recommendations of the National Insurance Advisory Committee and I am satisfied that they are reasonable and do not operate unfairly.

asked the Paymaster-General when the regulations required to be made by the Minister of Power for compensation to members and officials of the Central Electricity Authority and the Area Boards under Section 27 of the Electricity Act, 1957, will be laid before Parliament.

The drafting of the regulations is well advanced and my noble Friend expects that the draft can be referred to both sides of the industry during February. The regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as that consultation is complete.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will give a list of members of nationalised boards appointed by him who also serve on the boards of public companies, listing the companies concerned.

No. The information is readily available in published works of reference.

asked the Paymaster-General how many employees of his Department are permitted to use their private cars on official business at authorised users' rates: and how much was paid to such employees in respect of such use during the latest convenient 12 months.

325 Officers and approximately £82,000 during the year ended 31st March, 1957. Of this sum, some £22,000 is recoverable from various sources, leaving a net charge on the Exchequer of about £60,000.

asked the Paymaster-General what control he has under Defence Regulations over the oil companies in the fixing of petrol prices.

Defence Regulation 55AB provides my noble Friend with statutory power to control petrol prices should he consider it necessary.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) how many complaints and how many suggestions for improvement were considered by the area consultative councils for the gas industry in the years 1950 and 1956; and how many of these were referred for consideration by the appropriate area gas board;(2) how many complaints and how many suggestions for improvement were considered by the area consultative councils for the electricity industry in the years 1950 and 1956: and how many of these were referred for consideration by the appropriate area electricity board;(3) how many complaints and how many suggestions for improvement were considered by the Industrial Coal Consumers' Council in the years 1950 and 1956; and how many of these were referred for consideration by the National Coal Board;(4) how many complaints and how many suggestions for improvement were

Council	Year	Number of complaints received	Number of suggestions received	Number referred to Area Boards
The 12 Gas Consultative Councils	1950–1	419	71	446
	1956–7	624	140	657
The 12 Electricity Consultative Councils in England and Wales	1950–1	375	102	284
	1956–7	587	89	316

NOTE.—The above numbers exclude cases settled through local representatives and Committees of the Councils after consulting the appropriate local officers of the Boards.

Council		Year	Number of complaints received	Number of suggestions received	Number referred N.C.B.
Industrial Coal Consumers' Council	…	1950	3	Nil	1
		1956	5	Nil	3
Domestic Coal Consumers' Council	…	1950	52	3	2
		1956	53	2	1

NOTE.—The National Coal Board is not usually in direct relationship with the consumer. Most complaints relating to house coal supplies are taken up with the supplying merchant or with the Local Fuel Overseer.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) if he will state the loss in coal production from the beginning of 1948 to the end of 1953, when fire-resistant belting was introduced generally into the pits, arising from fires in conveyor systems, as compared with the position from the beginning of 1954 until the end of 1956, on the basis of figures supplied to him for the purpose of compiling Table 15 in the Ministry of Power Statistical Digest;(2) he will state the number of fires in British mines which were reported for the five years prior to 1953 when non-inflammable conveyor belting was introduced, and the number of fires arising from the same source in the subsequent period to date.

In giving the required information, I should make it clear that consideration of individual complaints and suggestions is only one aspect of the Councils' duties. The figures asked for are:—

Seventy-three fires in conveyor systems were reported in the five years 1948 to 1952 inclusive, compared with 58 in the five years 1953 to 1957. I regret that separate figures of losses in coal production from such fires are not available. These losses are included in column 3 of Table 15 in the Ministry's Digest.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the legal protections in his regulations available to the housewife on the delivery of household fuel; and whether he will take steps, by means of a national publicity campaign, to ensure that all are aware of such protection.

The effect of the Retail Coal Prices Order, 1941, is that coal can be sold retail only at a price within the maximum prescribed for each grade by the Minister. Where the quantity supplied is more than 2 cwts the merchant must provide his customer with a delivery note showing the grade and price of the coal supplied.Copies of the relevant schedule of prices and grades must be exhibited in the Local Fuel Overseer's and merchants' offices, and a coal deliveryman must produce to the purchaser, on request, a copy of the schedule of prices, or that part of it which relates to the coal he is supplying.These provisions have been in force since the early days of the war, and I do not think they need to be given any further publicity than they will no doubt receive through this reply to the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) how many people are fully or part-time employed in administering the rationing of solid fuels;(2) what is the total cost of administering the rationing of solid fuels.

The number of people employed in administering the solid fuel control is about 1,900, including 1,600 local authority staff in local fuel overseers' offices, of whom over 500 are part-time. The cost of the Scheme is approximately £1 million per annum.

asked the Paymaster-General what guidance is being offered by his Department on the usage of the growing stocks of small coal now totalling more than 28 million tons; whether he will institute a survey of national fuel consumption to ascertain what annual tonnage of small coal is required; and if he will, with a view to allaying anxiety in the coal-mining industry, make a statement on this matter.

At 11th January, total stocks of all grades of coal amounted to 26 million tons, of which consumers hold two-thirds. The National Coal Board hold 8 million tons, mainly small coal. Pithead stocks were certainly higher than usual partly because of mild weather last year, but higher stocks are a useful insurance against changes of circumstance.My noble Friend, in consultation with the National Coal Board, keeps consumption under continuous review, and the hon. Member will be aware that recent changes in the nuclear power programme and in oil contracts mean that the power stations will during the next decade be taking more small coal. There is nevertheless a need to reduce the proportion of small coal mined and the Board has launched a new drive to increase the proportion of large coal.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will state the duties of local fuel overseers and define their responsibilities to local coal consumers.

Their main duties are first to licence coal merchants and register consumers with specified merchants and, secondly, to issue licences for extra supplies where these are justified. In cases of extreme urgency, the local fuel overseers may direct any merchant to supply coal to any premises if the registered merchant cannot supply. They are also required to circulate to all the licensed merchants in their districts schedules showing the maximum prices at which the various grades of coal may be sold retail, and they deal with complaints on any matters arising from their statutory duties. They are not empowered to investigate complaints about the quality of coal supplies but are able to give guidance to consumers making representations on this subject.

asked the Minister of Supply how many employees of his Department are permitted to use their private cars on official business at authorised users' rates; and how much was paid to such employees in respect of such use during the latest convenient twelve months.

Seven hundred and ninety-one officers of the Ministry of Supply are authorised to use their private cars for official duty journeys. The cost of car mileage allowances for such use in 1957 was approximately £30,000.

asked the Minister of Supply why he sanctioned the sale of machine tools by direct private negotiation with individual members of the British Association of Machine Tool Merchants instead of by auction sales.

The machine tools, or similar ones, had been offered previously by auction or tender and the prices obtainable in direct negotiation were higher.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has yet reached a decision regarding the future of the Princess flying boats.

No.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he has taken to ensure that the expenditure of his Department during the current financial year does not exceed that of 1956–57; and what actual reductions he has made or contemplates making to ensure that the expenditure of his Department in the financial year 1958–59 is not in excess of that spent during the last two years.

The expenditure in the current financial year will be substantially less than it would have been but for the changes in defence policy announced in the White Paper of last April, but it was not planned to be less than in 1956–57. As to the second part of the Question, I would ask the hon. Member to await the presentation of the Ministry's Estimates for 1958–59.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the research department of Short Bros. and Harland Limited at Castlereagh, is now engaged in the development and investigation of aeronautical design and of specialised products of commercial application; and whether he is satisfied that such work is not at present being handicapped through lack of financial support.

About 70 per cent. of the work being done by the research department at Castlereagh is being undertaken on my Department's account and the remainder on commercial account. I have no reason to believe that the work of the department has hitherto been handicapped through lack of financial support. Unless the company gets more orders in the future, however, it may not be able to maintain its present labour force. As my hon. Friend knows, I cannot place orders without some form of requirement merely in order to provide employment. As regards the commercial work, this is a matter for the company's commercial judgment.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of persons formerly employed by Short Bros. and Harland Limited at Castlereagh, and at Newtownards, who have been declared to be redundant, and who have been dismissed and/or have resigned, respectively, from their employment with that firm since the month of October, 1957.

Twenty-two clerical and shop floor workers at Newtownards, some of whom have been given employment at the firm's main factory. At Castlereagh the number employed has risen by three.

asked the Minister of Supply whether Short Bros. and Harland Limited have submitted tenders for the modification of British Overseas Airways Corporation's aircraft engineers' panels, and for the Canberra Drone contract; whether the firm is willing to submit tenders for drawing office sub-contract work; and whether Her Majesty's Government, as majority shareholder, will take steps to increase the prospect of employment for technical and shop-floor workers at Castlereagh and at Newtownards by ensuring that the firm undertakes work of that or a similar nature.

Short Brothers and Harland Limited did not submit tenders for the modification of the British Overseas Airways Corporation's aircraft engineers' panels because they were not invited to do so. They are at present negotiating a contract with my Department for Canberra Drone aircraft. The Company is willing and anxious to undertake design work on a sub-contract basis for other companies as it has done in the past. The last part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will state the number of persons employed by Short Brothers and Harland Limited at their Altona factory in Lisburn and their Bally-dare factory who have been declared to be redundant or have been dismissed or resigned from their employment at these factories since July, 1957.

Short Brothers and Harland are in process of closing both factories and transferring the work to their main factory at Queens Island. It is expected that about 75 per cent. of those employed at Altona and Ballyclare will be offered work at Queens Island. Between July, 1957, and January 19th, the labour force at Altona fell by 19 and that at Ballyclare by 57.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of men who have been declared redundant at Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland Limited, since September, 1957; and what are the prospects of these persons being re-employed by Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland in the near future.

On 1st January, 1957, the firm employed 8,996 people. By August, 1957, the total had risen to 9,136 and the latest available figure for 19th January, 1958, is 8,640. The prospects of re-engagement are dependent on any additional contracts that the firm may be able to secure.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to improve the overall position for hospital accommodation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Friday, 6th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Sir K. Joseph).

asked the Minister of Health what conclusions have now been reached with regard to the future of senior registrars who have completed four years' service in the grade.

The problem is to be further discussed with the Joint Consultants Committee on 11th February.

asked the Minister of Health what special arrangements have been made for the hospitals in the southern counties to be prepared to deal with patients suffering from plutonium poisoning; to what extent research has been conducted in the field of specialised treatment; and if all the hospitals are adequately equipped with the necessary medical supplies to deal with such an emergency.

Hospitals generally are equipped to deal with the toxic effects of exposure to ionising radiations in the light of present knowledge, and research into the effects of such exposure from both internal and external sources is being actively pursued by the Medical Research Council's Radiobiological Research Unit at Harwell and in other places in this country and abroad. I know of no reason to make special arrangements to deal with cases of plutonium poisoning in the southern counties.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dilapidation existing in the out-patients' department building at the Manchester Royal Infirmary; what is the nature of the structural defect; how long it is since the defects were first discovered; what remedy is proposed; when he expects to authorise work of reconstruction to commence; and what is the estimated cost.

Yes; the structural defects consist of roof and wall movement; they were first discovered in 1953; it is proposed to rebuild both wings of the out-patients' department and to repair the dispensary; the work was authorised on 24th January, 1958; the estimated cost is £65,080 exclusive of fees.

asked the Minister of Health the capital projects authorised at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester, in each of the last five years, and the sum involved in each case.

Following are the details:

CAPITAL PROJECTS APPPROVED FROM 1ST APRIL 1953, TO DATE EXCLUDING THOSE COSTING UNDER £2,000.
1953–54
	Cost
Manchester Royal Infirmary	£
Post-mortem room alterations	6,286
Renovations at 132 High Street	3,742
Major repairs to out-patient department	3,000
St. Mary's Hospitals
Covered way	4,590
1954–55
Manchester Royal Infirmary	£
Heating of Teaching and Administrative Block	6,660
Erection and Servicing of Nurse Training Hut	2,140
St. Mary's Hospitals
Laundry conversion	3,079
Royal Eye Hospital
Alterations to First Men's Centre Ward	2,724
1955–56
Manchester Royal Infirmary	£
Gaskell Nursing Home	13,211
Major repairs to Kitchen	12,415
X-ray-Angiocardiography equipment	6,380
Oxford Road Lodge reconstruction	4,777
St. Mary's Hospitals
Pathological Laboratory Extension	3,377
1956–57
Manchester Royal Infirmary	£
X-ray Department in Teaching Block	24,054
Central Workshop and Store	8,758
Automatic Stokers	2,562
Orthopaedic Building repairs	9,358
Central Records Department	12,717
X-ray Equipment	5,000
Royal Eye Hospital
Reconstruction of University Theatre	8,086
1957–58
Manchester Royal Infirmary	£
Union Chapel House—adaption for Sterile Products Laboratory	2,507
X-ray Department Waiting Room and Mass Miniature Radiography Room	3,780
Clinical Pathology Department extension	21,174
Visitors lavatory accommodation	3,000

	Cost
	£
Main Stores re-organisation	31,860
Out-patients' Department rebuilding of wings and repairs to dispensary	65,080
	(excluding fees)
St. Mary's Hospitals
Extension over Dispensary	9,850
Sanitary Annexe (North Block)	17,941
Passenger Lift	5,626
Sanitary Annexe (Centre Block)	7,532
Royal Eye Hospital
Modernisation of Kitchen and various stores attached thereto	2,991
Lister House	9,535
Alterations to Basement including Laboratory	2,000

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now state the amounts allocated for maintenance purposes for 1956–57, and in the current financial year, in the Manchester Ear Hospital, the Withington Hospital, the Wythenshawe Hospital, the Christie Hospital, the Baguley Hospital, the Duchess of York Children's Hospital, the Crumpsall Hospital, the Ancoats Hospital, the Northern Hospital, the Manchester Royal Infirmary, the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and St. Mary's Hospital, respectively.

I understand that the information required is as follows:

Hospital		Revenue Allocation 1956–57	Revenue Allocation 1957–58
(1)		(2)	(3)
		£	£
1.	Manchester Ear Hospital	29,225*	31,570*
2.	Withington Hospital	737,215*	793,660*
3.	Wythenshawe Hospital	216,315*	230,550*
4.	Christie Hospital	308,985*	312,550*
5.	Baguley Hospital	223,310*	236,275*
6.	Duchess of York Children's Hospital	114,255*	119,780*
7.	Crumpsall Hospital	722,245*	763,172*
8.	Ancoats Hospital	192,505*	205,164*
9.	Northern Hospital	107,320*	112,666*
10.	Manchester Royal Infirmary	1,131,297	1,183,050†
11.	Manchester Royal Eye Hospital	192,455	216,837†
12.	St. Mary's Hospital	408,912	430,128†
* These allocations do not include additional amounts made available by the R.H.B. in the last few months of 1956–57, or still to be made available in 1957–58, to meet special maintenance work, replacement of plant or X-ray equipment and certain other permissible increases.
† These figures may be increased by further small allocations by the Board of Governors.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the report made on the reasons why five patients developed clinical signs of tetanus, and why two patients died while in the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent; what further action he intends taking; and if he will consider the need for an independent investigation.

As I understand that legal proceedings have been started on behalf of one of the patients in this case it would not be proper for me to comment at this stage.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the date upon which the outbreaks of tetanus occurred at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent; the dates upon which undertakings were given in letters that the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South would receive a copy of the investigation; why this has not been done; why the Press received copies of the report, or extracts from it, contrary to his letter dated 10th January, 1958, to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South; whether the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board considered the report prior to it being issued to the Press; and whether he will make a full explanatory statement.

The symptoms appeared in the first case on 26th February last. So far as I can trace no undertaking has been given to the hon. Member other than the statement in the letter of 10th January that arrangements were being made with the Board to send him a copy of the report on the day they approved it. Subsequently the Board decided—as it was entitled to do—to send a copy in advance of its meeting on 22nd January both to the hon. Member and to the Press, and did so on 16th January.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the investigation and researches into the outbreak of tetanus at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary have failed to establish how the tetanus spores came to contaminate the operating theatres and infect some of the operated cases; and whether he will state as fully as possible how the investigation was carried out.

The investigation included extensive bacteriological investigations of the plaster, dust and fittings of the operating theatre suite and of all items of equipment, dressings, catgut and gloves which had been in use in the theatre suite; inspection and check of all sterilising procedures in the hospital; an appraisal of all theatre techniques and discipline; and epidemiological research into all possible circumstances which it was considered might account for the occurrence of tetanus. These measures were taken by the appropriate medical staff of the hospital in consultation with Medical Officers of my Department, the Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service, Stafford, the Medical Officer of Health for Stoke-on-Trent, and officers of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the risks, increased anxiety and work at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent, through operations having to be carried out at other hospitals; what action he intends taking, in view of the fact that the urgently required new accident department will not be available until 1963; and if he will take steps to expedite the work and consult the city council and the North Staffordshire Miners Union on the matter.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the difficulties inevitably arising from the present temporary arrangements, and everything possible is being done to provide a new operating-theatre suite at the Infirmary urgently. It is anticipated that building will begin in March and will be completed next year. In these circumstances I doubt whether further consultations would be advantageous.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in north Staffordshire the population is, by nature of the principal industries, exposed to accidents and respiratory disease in excess of such exposure in many parts of the country; and whether he will take action to improve and enlarge the facilities for orthopaedic treatment and provide such hospital extensions as will make available extra beds for the acute medical and surgical services.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the needs of this area, and a new accident and casualty unit is to be provided as soon as possible. It has already reached an advanced stage of planning.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will list the number of cases in which hospital operating theatres have become contaminated by tetanus spores, during the past 20 years, and the reasons which on investigation were given as the cause of the contamination.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, according to figures recently supplied, there is the approximate proportion of one clerical and administrative officer to every one doctor employed in the National Health Service; and whether he will keep this fact under consideration in examining the future trends of the service, particularly in view of the fact that there are a considerable number of doctors who are unable to find employment in the service at the present time.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that the numbers are in the approximate proportion stated and he will continue to give to this fact such consideration as may be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Health how many domiciliary midwives have been trained to use trilene; and how many have been supplied with the necessary equipment.

At 31st December, 1956, the latest date for which the figures are available, 7,070 domiciliary midwives in the National Health Service were trained in the use of inhalational analgesics. If this training has not included trilene only a short further demonstration is needed. At 31st December, 1957, 1,259 sets of trilene apparatus were in use in the domiciliary service.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to make Regulations under Section 21 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, for the licensing by local authorities of stalls and other places where food is sold; and what representations he has had on the matter from local authorities.

My right hon. and learned Friend is not satisfied that such Regulations are at present required. Three local authorities and the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee have written to my right hon. and learned Friend on this matter.

asked the Minister of Health the average cost of spectacle frames and pairs of lenses supplied under the National Health Service in the latest convenient year.

I regret that information as to the average cost of frames is not available. The average cost of pairs of lenses provided in the year ended 31st March, 1957, was 15s. 8d.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the glasses supplied under the National Health Service in the latest convenient period were fitted with frames bought under private arrangements and how many with National Health Service frames; and what estimate he makes of this ratio today.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the present position regarding the radiographers' claim for an increase in salary submitted to the Whitley Council in September last; and when he expects to announce a decision.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering what instructions he will give his representatives on the Council and he is not yet in a position to answer the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health what procedures are adopted by his Department to persuade general practitioners to prescribe substitutes of proprietary preparations for their National Health Service patients.

Letters and other communications are sent at intervals to all general practitioners and visits are made as necessary, inviting them to prescribe with due regard both to the therapeutic merit and to the cost of the chosen preparation. Information in various forms is provided to assist them in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are taken by his Department to make certain that preparations which doctors are recommended to prescribe instead of proprietary articles do in fact contain drugs of good quality in the right proportion.

The British Pharmacopoeia, the British Pharmaceutical Codex and the British National Formulary lay down standards with which all the standard drugs and preparations referred to by the hon. Member are expected to comply.

asked the Minister of Health the intake last year into the nursing profession; how many left in the same period; how many of the latter left for reasons other than that of marriage; and what steps are being taken to retain these trained nurses.

In the twelve months ended 30th November, 1957, the latest period for which figures are available, about 13,000 persons were admitted to the nursing profession by registration or enrolment with the General Nursing Council. The number of those who gave up nursing in that period on marriage or for other reasons is not known. Employing authorities do what they can to prevent avoidable wastage and by and large the numbers of trained nursing staff in the various services are being maintained.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons known to be suffering from tuberculosis in the County Borough of Sunderland on the latest available date.

There were 1,966 cases of tuberculosis on the chest clinic register for the county borough on 31st December, 1957.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what was the total sum expended on psychiatric research by the Medical Research Council and other Government sources in the United Kingdom for the last available year.

During the year 1956–57 the Medical Research Council expended £58,000 from Exchequer funds on psychiatric research and a further sum estimated at £25,000 was spent within the National Health Service. Additional research was supported by universities and medical schools, but the financial details are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the deterioration which has taken place within the machine-tool industry, particularly in the Coventry area; and what steps he is taking in order to sustain this industry, in view of its national importance.

Yes. But the reduction is not serious and should lead to speedier deliveries. My right hon. Friend is in close touch with the industry through the Machine Tool Advisory Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the concern in Scotland about the establishment of ballistic-missile sites in Scotland, he will consult with the Minister for Welsh Affairs with a view to their construction in Wales in areas afflicted with unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether a decision has yet been reached to establish rocket sites in the County of Northumberland.

As was explained by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton) on 22nd January, the location of rocket sites must be determined in accordance with operational considerations. No decisions have yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the total sum paid to civilian medical practitioners for treatment provided for Royal Air Force personnel when on leave, for the year 1st April, 1955, to 31st March, 1956.

Approximately £5,600 was paid directly to civilian practitioners in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic in 1955–56. This figure includes payments for dental treatment, which are not recorded separately. It also includes late claims for treatment given earlier. In the main officers and airmen sick on leave in the United Kingdom obtain treatment under the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present position with regard to the sale by his Department of the old barracks at Dunbar.

An offer has been made to buy part of Castle Park Barracks, Dunbar. It is being considered and I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the disposal of the Admiralty buildings at Tantallon.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received against the practice of local authorities refusing to consider any applications for improvement grants in respect of improvements to cottages under the Housing Acts, 1949 and 1954.

I have recently received representations to this effect from the National Farmers' Union.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rating authorities received for the financial year beginning in April, 1956, grants under paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of Section 25 of the Tithe Act, 1936; and if he will list such authorities as received more than £1,000 in that way, stating how much each received.

These grants are paid in respect of years commencing 1st October, and the following information therefore relates to the year October, 1956, to September, 1957. In that year 1,215 rating authorities received a grant. The authorities who received more than £1,000 are listed below. All except Thurrock Urban District Council (Essex) are rural district councils.Following is the list:

ENGLAND
Berks.			£
Bradfield	…	…	1518
Faringdon	…	…	1186
Hungerford	…	…	1499
Newbury	…	…	1163
Wantage	…	…	2661
Wokingham	…	…	1232
Cambridge
Chesterton	…	…	1737
Newmarket	…	…	1829
South Cambridgeshire	…	…	2850

Chester			£
Nantwich	…	…	1408
Tarvin	…	…	1051
Cornwall
Kerrier	…	…	2021
Liskeard	…	…	2106
St. Austell	…	…	1863
St. Germans	…	…	1066
Truro	…	…	2799
Wadebridge	…	…	2186
West Penwith	…	…	1707
Cumberland
Border	…	…	1151
Penrith	…	…	1014
Derby
Ashbourne	…	…	1233
Devon
Axminster	…	…	1240
Barnstaple	…	…	2284
Crediton	…	…	1906
Honiton	…	…	1210
Kingsbridge	…	…	1869
Newton Abbot	…	…	1723
Okehampton	…	…	1599
Plympton St. Mary	…	…	1563
St. Thomas	…	…	2333
South Molton	…	…	1317
Tiverton	…	…	2461
Totnes	…	…	1677
Dorset
Beaminster	…	…	1619
Blandford	…	…	1363
Dorchester	…	…	2869
Shaftesbury	…	…	1441
Sherborne	…	…	1154
Sturminster	…	…	1699
Wimborne and Cranborne	…	…	1511
Durham
Darlington	…	…	1010
Essex	…	…
Braintree	…	…	2622
Chelmsford	…	…	3934
Dunmow	…	…	3771
Epping and Ongar	…	…	3827
Halstead	…	…	3707
Lexden and Winstree	…	…	2952
Maldon	…	…	3181
Rochford	…	…	1268
Saffron Walden	…	…	2693
Tendring	…	…	2863
Thurrock U.D.C.	…	…	1916
Gloucester
Cheltenham	…	…	1134
Gloucester	…	…	1525
Newent	…	…	1502
Sodbury	…	…	2081
Thornbury	…	…	1898
Hereford
Bromyard	…	…	1374
Dore and Bredwardine	…	…	1472
Hereford	…	…	1827
Ledbury	…	…	1193
Leominster and Wigmore	…	…	1383
Ross and Whitchurch	…	…	2689
Weobley	…	…	1271

Hertford			£
Braughing	…	…	1301
Hitchin	…	…	1696
Ware	…	…	1075
Isle of Ely
Ely	…	…	2087
Wisbech	…	…	2630
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight	…	…	1133
Kent
Bridge-Blean	…	…	2432
Dartford	…	…	1371
East Ashford	…	…	1662
Eastry	…	…	3332
Elham	…	…	1107
Hollingbourn	…	…	2236
Maidstone	…	…	1793
Mailing	…	…	1950
Sevenoaks	…	…	1788
Strood	…	…	2437
Swale	…	…	4048
Tonbridge	…	…	1096
West Ashford	…	…	1276
Lancaster
West Lancashire	…	…	1581
Leicester
Melton and Belvoir	…	…	1238
Lincoln, Parts of Holland
East Elloe	…	…	3443
Lincoln, Parts of Kesteven
East Kesteven	…	…	1053
West Kesteven	…	…	1420
Lincoln, Parts of Lindsey
Caistor	…	…	1457
Glanford Brigg	…	…	1025
Horncastle	…	…	1018
Louth	…	…	3048
Spilsby	…	…	1900
Welton	…	…	1186
Norfolk	…	…
Blofield and Flegg	…	…	4408
Depwade	…	…	5396
Docking	…	…	3761
Downham	…	…	4947
Erpingham	…	…	3104
Forehoe and Henstead	…	…	4080
Freebridge Lynn	…	…	1989
Loddon	…	…	2867
Marshland	…	…	3456
Mitford and Launditch	…	…	5108
St. Faiths and Aylsham	…	…	4200
Smallburgh	…	…	4201
Swaffham	…	…	2715
Walsingham	…	…	3619
Wayland	…	…	4084
Northumberland
Alnwick	…	…	1478
Glendale	…	…	1689
Hexham	…	…	1034
Norham and Islandshires	…	…	1066
Nottingham
Southwell	…	…	1270

Oxford		£
Bullingdon	…	2330
Chipping Norton	…	1278
Henley	…	1586
Ploughley	…	1121
Witney	…	1024
Salop
Atcham	…	2694
Bridgnorth	…	2093
Clun	…	1865
Drayton	…	1128
Ludlow	…	2033
Oswestry	…	1528
Shifnal	…	1072
Wellington	…	1563
Wem	…	1167
Somerset
Axbridge	…	2381
Bathavon	…	1252
Bridgwater	…	2147
Chard	…	2071
Clutton	…	1238
Frome	…	1329
Langport	…	1589
Long Ashton	…	1186
Shepton Mallet	…	1201
Taunton	…	1957
Wellington	…	1365
Williton	…	1794
Wincanton	…	2229
Yeovil	…	2707
Southampton
Alton	…	1678
Andover	…	2067
Basingstoke	…	2415
Droxford	…	1285
Hartley Wintney	…	1515
Kingsclere and Whitchurch	…	2757
Petersfield	…	1222
Ringwood and Fordingbridge	…	1587
Romsey and Stock bridge	…	2430
Winchester	…	2616
Stafford
Cannock	…	1226
Lichfield	…	1523
Stafford	…	1349
Suffolk, East
Blyth	…	3439
Deben	…	3060
Gipping	…	2842
Hartismere	…	4313
Lothingland	…	1560
Samford	…	1983
Wainford	…	1664
Suffolk, West
Clare	…	1958
Cosford	…	2810
Melford	…	2214
Mildenhall	…	1039
Thedwastre	…	1546
Thingoe	…	3282
Surrey
Guildford	…	1013

Sussex, East		£
Battle	…	1974
Chailey	…	1466
Cuckfield	…	1099
Hailsham	…	2523
Uckfield	…	1789
Sussex, West
Chanctonbury	…	1800
Chichester	…	3245
Horsham	…	1100
Midhurst	…	1085
Petworth	…	1170
Warwick
Meriden	…	1073
Wilts.
Amesbury	…	1100
Bradford and Melksham	…	1087
Calne and Chippenham	…	2792
Cricklade and Wootton Bassett	…	1070
Devizes	…	1979
Malmesbury	…	1502
Marlborough and Ramsbury	…	1606
Mere and Tisbury	…	2175
Pewsey	…	1602
Salisbury and Wilton	…	3106
Warminster and Westbury	…	1926
Worcester
Bromsgrove	…	1209
Droitwich	…	1422
Martley	…	1686
Upton-upon-Severn	…	1134
York, North Riding
Easingwold	…	1123
Northallerton	…	1084
Thirsk	…	1863

WALES
Anglesey
Aethwy	…	…	…	…	1169
Twrcelyn	…	…	…	…	1087
Valley	…	…	…	…	1563
Brecknock
Brecknock	…	…	…	…	1972
Caernarvon
Lleyn	…	…	…	…	1435
Cardigan
Aberayron	…	…	…	…	1222
Aberystwyth	…	…	…	…	1431
Teifiside	…	…	…	…	1390
Carmarthen
Carmarthen	…	…	…	…	3750
Llandeilo	…	…	…	…	2317
Denbigh
Aled	…	…	…	…	1429
Ceiriog	…	…	…	…	1010
Ruthin	…	…	…	…	2147
Wrexham	…	…	…	…	2074
Flint
Holywell	…	…	…	…	1594

Glamorgan			£
Cardiff	…	…	1462
Cowbridge	…	…	1361
Monmouth
Abergavenny	…	…	1647
Monmouth	…	…	1147
Montgomery
Llanfyllin	…	…	1780
Newtown and Llandiloes	…	…	1310
Pembroke
Cemaes	…	…	1192
Haverfordwest	…	…	2950
Narberth	…	…	1226
Pembroke	…	…	1093

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the negotiations with the Federal German Government on the question of payment for British forces in Germany.

The matter of the local defence costs of the British forces in Germany is under consideration by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It would be inappropriate to say more at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the number of teachers in training in Northern Rhodesia in the years 1955, 1956 and 1957, respectively; and to what extent college accommodation is taken up for the current academic session.

African teachers in training:1955, 1,068; 1956, 1,192; 1957, 1,306.There are 35 vacancies spread over several colleges due to selected candidates not taking up places at the beginning of the session; but other colleges are filled to over-capacity because all selected candidates took up their places and candidates on the reserve lists who presented themselves in case of vacancies were also accepted.

asked the Secretary of State 1647 for the Colonies in which areas of the Northern Province of Nyasaland there are coffee co-operative societies; and what 1780 steps are being taken by the Government 1510 of Nyasaland to develop and encourage similar societies in other areas.

There are two cooperative societies of coffee producers in the Northern Province of Nyasaland, one in Rumpi and one in Karonga. The Agricultural and Co-operative Departments of the Nyasaland Government are working closely together in pursuance of the Government's policy to encourage, where practicable, the expansion of coffee-growing in the Northern Province and also the introduction of the crop in the Central Province, where trials will be held during the coming season.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give, in carats and value, the quantity of diamonds exported legally from Sierra Leone in 1957; and if he will give an estimate of illicit diamond digging and smuggling out of the Colony for the same year, for 1956, 1955, 1954 and 1953.

I am asking the Governor of Sierra Leone for this information, so far as it is available, and I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from the Chigwell Urban District Council about dangers caused to the public by airguns used by young persons;(2) what new evidence he has received regarding dangers to the public resulting from the use of airguns by young persons which might call for an amendment to the existing law.

The Council has urged the need for increased restrictions on the use of airguns by young persons and the collection of statistics of injuries resulting from the use of airguns. I have received no evidence which would seem to call for an amendment of the existing law, but, at my request, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is seeking to obtain information as to the number of cases of injuries caused by airguns treated at eye hospitals in recent years. The returns for which he has asked are not yet complete and it is too early to draw any conclusions from those received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Report of the Departmental inquiry on the distribution of seats on the Northumberland County Council will be made.

I have received the inspector's Report and hope to announce my decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications from ex-officers recently retired or soon to be retired from Her Majesty's Forces he has received during the last year for the purpose of arranging for their resettlement in other branches of Her Majesty's service or in industry; and how he determines and will determine the fitness of such officers for spheres of constructive activity other than those in which they gained experience while in Her Majesty's Forces.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available but 449 ex-Regular officers were placed in employment by my Department during the year ended 9th October, 1957, the latest date for which figures are yet available. Information and advice on employment matters are available to officers before they leave the Forces and this helps them to decide what kind of employment they want. It is for prospective employers to decide whether candidates submitted to them meet their requirements, but in selecting officers for submission to vacancies my officers are guided by the nature of the employment, the availability of training, the information obtained from the officer himself and their own knowledge and experience in vacancy work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accidents there were at the site of the roundabout at Beansburn outside Kilmarnock on the Kilmarnock-Glasgow road in the three years before the roundabout was built, and how many since it was built.

Between 1st September, 1953, and 19th February, 1957, two accidents were reported at this junction: both involved collisions between vehicles without causing personal injury.Since 20th February, 1957, when the roundabout was first used, eight accidents have been reported. One involved injuries to three persons and in the others vehicles were involved with no personal injuries. In four of these accidents icy conditions on the road were the main contributory factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the roundabout at Beansburn outside Kilmarnock on the Kilmarnock—Glasgow road cost; and what is its purpose in view of the fact that the by-pass which joins the road is incomplete, useless as a by-pass and carries little traffic.

I have not yet received details of the final cost of the scheme from the highway authority, Kilmarnock Town Council, but the estimated cost on which grant of 75 per cent. was authorised was £16,791. This included the lighting of the roundabout and its immediate approaches.The roundabout is the first stage of a scheme, included in the approved Kilmarnock Development Plan, for extending the Western Road southwards from its junction with Bonnyton Road, across the Irvine Road (A.71), to the Troon Road (A.759). The purpose of this scheme is to provide a road which will carry traffic from the Glasgow direction to Irvine and Troon, and thus ease congestion in the town centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland from whom he has had representations, and with whom he has had interviews, in opposition to the proposal by Aberdeen Town Council to discontinue the primary departments of Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen High School for Girls; when and where those representations were made and those interviews took place; and why he did not invite Aberdeen Town Council to be present or represented at any such interviews.