asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of dismissals in the labour force of the Nigerian tin industry which have been caused by the decision of the International Tin Council to impose restrictions on tin production; and what steps are being taken to provide alternative employment for those dismissed.

About 4,000. Some of the men are being employed by farms or local companies. The provision of other employment is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Asian teachers are employed in African and coloured schools in Nyasaland.

There are no Asian teachers in African schools in Nyasaland. Coloured schools are the responsibility of the Federal Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether examination papers in schools in Nyasaland are based on South African history or on British history.

African students in Standards IX and X study the history of the British Commonwealth in accordance with the syllabus of the Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Legislative Council of the Bahamas have introduced new labour, health and welfare laws during their present period of office; and what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to encourage them to introduce such legislation.

The following are the details:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to investigate the foreign contacts, methods and organisation of the Porro Society in Sierra Leone, the existence of which is incompatible with the aspirations of the Colony; and if he will make a statement on the growth and influence of this Society since 1956.

This Society is one of a number of societies functioning in accordance with traditional law and custom. It has no known foreign contacts, and I am not aware of any recent change in its position which would warrant a special investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies from what sources dried milk is procured for distribution among young children in Uganda; and what steps have been taken by the Government to ensure that the costs involved are the lowest possible in view of the protein deficiency among young children,

Dried milk is procured commercially from Kenya and Australia. U.N.I.C.E.F. provide skimmed milk powder for use free of charge at medical centres and a pilot scheme for the distribution of milk powder to schoolchildren is under consideration. Dried milk provided by philanthropic agencies is admitted into Uganda duty free and distributed free of charge in selected areas by mission and other agencies in cooperation with the local authorities. Considerable quantities of dried milk have been purchased for use free of charge at maternity and general out-patient centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the work of the Library Service of the East African Literature Bureau he will consider granting under a colonial development and welfare scheme funds to enable this service not only to be maintained but also to expand.

The Library Service which was started with a colonial development and welfare grant of £63,000, is being maintained during the period 1956–60, together with other services of the East African Literature Bureau, from a grant of £55,925 from colonial development and welfare funds and from contributions totalling £101,709 from the East African Governments. Much as I appreciate the value of this Service, I am afraid that it is unlikely that funds will be available to enable it to be further expanded during the current colonial development and welfare period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on preventive detention in Her Majesty's prisons, who during each of the last 10 years have had part of their sentences remitted, have later been found guilty or have been acquitted of other crimes subsequently committed.

All prisoners serving sentences of preventive detention axe eligible for release before they have served the whole of their sentence, those who are admitted to third stage after serving two-thirds of the sentence, and those who remain in second stage after serving five-sixths. I regret that the rest of the information sought by the hon. Member is not available in the form requested, but I am circulating a table for the years 1952–56 giving information about prisoners reconvicted after discharge from second and third stage, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for the 12 months to the most recent convenient date the extent to which, by comparison with 1938, the increased prison population is due to increased length of sentences.

No precise statement is possible about the extent to which the increased prison population results from any single cause. A statistical investigation published in the Report of the Prison Commissioners for 1955 showed that the two significant factors in the increase were, in order of importance, the increased number of convictions and the increased average length of sentence imposed by the higher courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for the 12 months to the most recent convenient date the percentage of in creased sentences, by comparison with 1938, imposed by the Higher Courts for offences in the offence groups, breaking and entering, sexual offences, and violence against the person.

The average lengths of prison sentence imposed on persons convicted by the higher courts in 1956 were greater than in 1938 by the following percentages:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will state for the 12 months to the most recent convenient date and for the year 1938 the number of offences reported to the police in the offence groups, breaking and entering, sexual offences, and violence against the person.

The numbers of indictable offences known to the police in the three offence groups were in 1938 and 1956, respectively:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if in view of the fact that the average fine upon conviction for motoring offences during 1956 was only £2 7s. 4d. and in respect of offences against pedestrian crossings only £1 5s. 10d., he has specifically called the attention of magistrates to the maximum fines which can be imposed under the Road Traffic Acts.

In a circular addressed to Clerks of the Peace and Clerks to Justices in September, 1956, my predecessor drew attention to the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, which increased maximum penalties for certain motoring offences, including offences against regulations about pedestrian crossings, and to the suggestion made by the Lord Chancellor in the course of the debates on the Road Traffic Bill that magistrates' courts might be well advised to review the scale of penalties which they customarily impose in motoring cases in the light of the gravity of the problem of road safety and the fall in the value of money. I do not think that any further action on my part is called for at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the increased activity of the Metropolitan Police in enforcing motoring law has resulted from increases in manpower, police vehicles or scientific aids, respectively.

During the last three years the number of Metropolitan Police officers engaged mainly on the enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts has increased by 32, and the number of motor vehicles has increased by 20. During the same period the number of summonses and written cautions for offences under these Acts has risen by about 25 per cent.; but it is not possible to say how far this increase is due to changes in the law, to the deployment of more officers and vehicles on road traffic duties or to other factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received from the Fire Brigade Union concerning advice to be given to firemen attending a crash of an aircraft carrying a hydrogen bomb; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received a communication from the Fire Brigades Union asking for guidance as to the appropriate action to be taken by firemen in the event of the crash of an aircraft carrying a nuclear weapon. I have sent the Union a copy of the reply which I gave on 28th January to the hon. Members for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) and Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that on 27th December, 1957, on returning to his residence, Dr. J. G. Fairer left his car outside his residence in Wimpole Street, and, in spite of the car bearing a label "Charing Cross Hospital Staff," a British Medical Association badge, and a notice under the windscreen wiper saying where Dr. Fairer was, the police towed his car away without reference to the receptionist at Dr. Fairer's house, thus causing him to be nearly an hour late for his next appointment at Charing Cross Hospital; and if he will issue instructions to the police not to remove cars in this area bearing such labels without first communicating with the owner.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that on 17th December Dr. Fairer's car was parked opposite a bombed site next to No. 42, Wimpole Street, in such a way as to cause serious obstruction. There were continuous lines of parked cars down both sides of the street and Dr. Fairer's car was one of three forming a third line. As the roadway is 27 ft. 3 in. wide, traffic was reduced to a single line and heavy goods vehicles could not pass at all. The label and badge displayed on Dr. Fairer's car indicated that it was a doctor's car, but a small piece of paper bearing Dr. Fairer's name and address which was wrapped around the arm of the windscreen wiper was not noticed. The police, in accordance with their usual practice, tried to find the owner before deciding to remove the car.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the police prevented Dr. Jerome Sturridge from collecting his car for one and a half hours at Paddington Green Police Station on 1st January, 1958, after they had towed it away.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that Dr. Sturridge arrived at the police station to collect his car at about 12.50 p.m. and left with it at about 1.15 p.m. He was therefore at the station for about twenty-five minutes only. This time, which was spent in checking the car and its contents and in taking action in relation to the alleged offence of obstruction of the highway, could, if the owner had willed, have been reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now consider amending the existing legislation regarding fire arms to make it illegal for a young person under 16 years of age to use an air-gun.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 27th January to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the comments of Mr. Justice Hilbery at Maidstone recently, when trying a case of robbery with violence, that corporal punishment was the only way to deal with such offences; and whether he will accordingly now reconsider his decision not to reintroduce this form of punishment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in the number of crimes of violence and to the frequent cases of assaults by gangs on peaceful citizens; and if, in view of the recent observations of Mr. Justice Hilbery at Maidstone, he will introduce legislation to make these crimes punishable by flogging.

I have seen a report in the Press of Mr. Justice Hilbery's remarks. The Departmental Committee on Corporal Punishment, which reported in 1938, considered very carefully whether corporal punishment was an especially

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases of sexual assault on children and young persons in the past year the offender has been previously convicted;(2) how many cases of assault on children and young persons have been reported in each of the last three years.

I regret that except where the age of the victim is an element in the definition of the offence the statistics in my possession do not enable me to distinguish sexual offences against children and young persons from similar offences against adults. I am circulating tables showing such information as is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by local authorities in securing payment from parents for the maintenance of children taken into care, especially as regards sums accruing prior to a court order; and whether he will make a statement as to the Government's intention in the matter.

I am aware of the difficulty which has caused local authorities to suggest that courts should be enabled to make contribution orders with retrospective effect in respect of children received into or committed to the care of local authorities, or committed to approved schools. The matter is noted for consideration when a suitable opportunity for amending legislation occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Married Women's Maintenance Act, 1949, to enable courts to increase the maximum weekly maintenance payments of £5 for wives and 30s. for children, in view of the diminished value of the £ sterling since these limits were fixed.

I will consider this matter, but the court must have regard to the means and circumstances of the defendant in fixing the amount of a maintenance order, and at present I have no evidence that orders are commonly made for the maximum amounts allowed by the 1949 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Paddington, North may expect a reply to his letter of 18th December containing a factual inquiry about a prisoner who completed a sentence in Brixton Prison and the legality of whose subsequent detention is challenged.

I have written to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department have taken to disseminate as widely as possible the texts of the Geneva Conventions, 1949.

The texts of these Conventions were set out in the Schedules to the Geneva Conventions Act which was passed by Parliament in the last Session, and have, therefore, been widely distributed in this form. My Department and other interested Departments are taking steps to bring the requirements of the Conventions to the notice of those authorities to whom they are of special concern.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent his records show that the number of domestic and other fires are increasing; whether each fire is investigated and its cause established; and whether he will consider instituting a propaganda campaign to draw the attention of the public to the need for more care.

From 1952 to 1956, the number of fires, other than chimney fires, attended by brigades in the United Kingdom rose from 92,000 to 123,000, and fires in houses and flats from 22,000 to 24,000. All were investigated and reports, including the supposed cause, sent to the Joint Fire Research Organisation for analysis. A good deal of propaganda about the need for fire prevention is already undertaken by fire authorities, the Fire Prevention Association, the Home Office and other bodies; but my Department, and the others concerned, will lost no opportunity of emphasising that a little more care on everyone's part would reduce the growing number of fires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he still intends to enforce the deportation of Eloisa Carbajo, in view of the fact that she refuses to take her infant, a British subject, with her; that, at present, she is able to support her child, and that her employer is anxious to continue to provide her and her infant with accommodation; and whether he is aware that, if the child is left in this country, she will be a charge on the State and that the London County Council, on his Department's directions, do not normally take into care a child whose mother is willing and able to care for it.

As has been explained to my hon. Friend in correspondence, the circumstances of Miss Carbajo's present employment do not provide a sufficient ground for allowing her to remain in this country, and there is no alternative to insisting on her departure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to make a decision about the return of the alleged diaries of Sir Roger Casement to Ireland.

I am unable to add to the reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member on the 2nd May last, when I said that I was not prepared to hand over to the National Library of Ireland certain confidential documents relating to the case of Roger Casement which are among my Department's papers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new recruits enlisted for Civil Defence in December, 1957.

21,570 recruits joined the Civil Defence Corps in the three months ending 31st December, 1957. A separate figure for the month of December is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which British and Irish citizens are obliged to have their fingerprints taken by the police or any Government official.

The fingerprints of any person over the age of fourteen who is detained in police custody and charged with an offence before a magistrates' court may be taken compulsorily by order of the court. In the case of convicted criminal prisoners they may be taken compulsorily at any time during their imprisonment, and in the case of untried criminal prisoners they may be taken compulsorily where an application by a senior police officer has been approved by a justice of the peace or by order of the Secretary of State. There are no other circumstances in which the police or officials for whom I am responsible have authority to take the fingerprints of British subjects or citizens of the Irish Republic compulsorily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of murders known to the police in England and Wales for the months of October, November and December, 1957.

The number of murders recorded as known to the police in England and Wales in October, November and December, 1957, were, respectively, 18, 13 and 17. These figures include cases that may later be found not to be murders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made during the last three years in the principles applied by the Preventive Detention Advisory Board and the method of their administration to prisoners under preventive detention in Her Majesty's prisons; how many such prisoners there are now in Her Majesty's prisons; and how many such prisoners during the last ten years, have had the respective balances of their sentences remitted, and to what extent, in duration of the respective sentences and in the respective number of years remitted.

A prisoner serving a sentence of preventive detention may qualify for release after serving two-thirds of his sentence if he is admitted to third stage, and after serving five-sixths of his sentence if he remains in second stage. The criteria by which Preventive Detention Advisory Boards decide whether to admit a prisoner to third stage are laid down in the Prison Rules and have remained unchanged since the present system of preventive detention was introduced in 1949. On 14th January, 1958, there were 1,326 prisoners serving a sentence of preventive detention. I regret that the rest of the information sought is not available in the form requested, but the hon. Member may like to know that out of 446 prisoners discharged in the period from 1952 to 1956 inclusive 84 had been admitted to third stage.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the report on Swaziland for 1956 will be ready.

I hope the Swaziland Report for 1956 will be published in this country during April.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that, in Ghana, before independence was achieved, many obligations of the British Government were neglected, and that Ghana then needed, and still needs, more and better roads, railways, and industries; and if he will introduce legislation to extend the scope of the Overseas Resources Development Acts to provide finance and facilities to meet such pre-existing obligations of the British Government and such needs of Ghana.

I cannot accept the imputation that the United Kingdom Government have failed in their obligations towards Ghana. The Government's policy regarding the scope of the Overseas Resources Development Acts was set forth in the White Paper on the United Kingdom's role in Commonwealth Development (Cmnd. 237), and a Bill to implement this policy is now before the House.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many officers, recently retired from Her Majesty's forces, have, during each of the last five years, been given appointments in Her Majesty's Commonwealth Service; what arrangements are made by the British Government with other Commonwealth Governments for making such appointments; how are the educational and other qualifications of such retired officers tested for such appointments; how many such appointments have been made during each of the last five years; to which territories; and with what results.

With the exception of two officers appointed to specialist posts, no officers recently retired from Her Majesty's Forces have been given appointments in the Commonwealth Relations Office during the last five years. There are no arrangements with other Commonwealth Governments for making such appointments. Recruitment to established posts in the Commonwealth Relations Office at home or overseas is effected through the normal machinery of the Civil Service Commission.

asked the Minister of Education how many primary and secondary schools are now under construction; and how these figures compare with those for 12 months, and two years, ago, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Education what was the number and percentage of children taking school meals at the latest recorded date; and how this compares with the position a year earlier.

Last autumn the school dinner was being taken by 2,847,493 children, representing 45·9 per cent. of those present. The corresponding figures for 1956 were 3,058,702 and 47·9 per cent.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures, giving the number of schoolchildren in Rochdale who were in receipt of school milk and school dinners, on a stated date, for each of the months from October, 1951 to 1957; and what were the prices charged to the recipients on these dates.

The available figures are those for a selected day in the autumn of each year. They are as follows:—

asked the Minister of Education what plans he has to secure the net increase of about 5,000 teachers in 1958 necessary to meet the increased numbers of children in secondary schools.

Precise information is not yet available, but the net increase in the number of teachers in 1957 appears to have been just over 5,000. There is every reason to think that this rate of increase will at least be maintained, since 900 more students will complete their training in 1958 than in 1957.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the better distribution of teachers in accordance with Circular 318.

A final assessment of the scheme announced in Circular 318 is not yet possible, but there was undoubtedly a marked improvement in the distribution of teachers in 1957. I am continuing the scheme in 1958 for the reasons explained in Circular 333, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Education how many education authorities have decided, since 21st November, 1957, to discontinue the eleven-plus examination; and what advice he has given them on the subject.

None, so far as I know.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent, and from what sources, he receives regular information and advice about teaching methods and school curricula in other countries; and what action he takes to enable local education authorities to receive the benefit of this expert advice.

I am writing to the hon. Member. It is not possible to describe within the limits of a Parliamentary answer all the ways in which my Department receives and handles information about education in other countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration has been given in the interests of consumers to see that all pre-packed foods and soap powders are sold in pounds or simple fractions of a pound.

My right hon. Friend is now consulting the interests concerned about his proposal to add certain foodstuffs to those which must be sold only in specified weights. It would not be practicable to extend this to all pre-packed foodstuffs. There is no power under existing legislation to apply such a provision to soap powders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that British trade and commerce with Nigeria is confronted with growing competition there from Western Germany, Italy, Japan, Holland, India and other countries; and what steps he is taking to maintain and develop Birtish trade and commerce in and with Nigeria.

Yes. Our exporters have to contend with keen competition in Nigeria and indeed in most markets nowadays. I intend to visit Nigeria in March to see for myself what further steps can be taken to expand our trade there.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, at the present time, whereas a lady's shopping bag is free of Purchase Tax, it becomes liable to 60 per cent. duty if a zip fastener is fitted at the top to safe guard the contents; what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that shop ping bags sold without zip fasteners are not so fitted by the purchaser at a later date; and in how many cases preventive action has been taken in this connection during the past three years.

Shopping bags are free of Purchase Tax only when they are not fitted with a means of closing. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the methods of combating tax evasion; but I have no evidence of it in this connection.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many manufacturers, particularly in the business of making leather and travel goods, are discouraged from bringing out new merchandise for the export trade be cause of the complications of Purchase Tax and the fact that they cannot produce such goods for export unless there is an adequate home market; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into this matter at any early date, with a view to ensuring that the leather goods industry will be given a better opportunity to develop their important potential export trade.

The interest of the export trade is one of the factors which, as my predecessor explained to my hon. Friend on 10th December, is always taken into account in decisions on the rates and incidence of Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason a child's music case is subjected to Purchase Tax at 60 per cent. whereas a child's school bag is tax-free; when this matter was last given consideration by the Customs and Excise authorities; what is the present approximate annual revenue from children's music cases, and whether, under his regulations, this particular anomaly can be disposed of without a new regulation.

Because school satchels, which are distinctive articles, were statutorily exempted in 1951. My information is that there is no separate category of music cases specifically for children. Legislative authority would be required for any change in the position. As to revenue yield, I would refer my hon. Friend to my predecessor's reply to him on 17th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the tribunal appointed to inquire into allegations of improper disclosure of information relating to the Bank Rate.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Colonel R. H. Glyn) and my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) on 28th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give, for the latest convenient stated date, the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling, as compared with the £ sterling of October, 1951, having a spending value of 20s., using as the basis the Index of Retail Prices; and when he expect to restore the purchasing value of the £ sterling to its October, 1951, level.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 15s. 6d. in December, 1957. The answer to the second part is that I cannot make forecasts of future movements of prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that of the employers' contributions of £304 millions to the National Insurance funds in 1956 £95 millions additional revenue would be collectible if the £304 million did not rank as a trading expense for tax purposes, what will be the total amount of the employers' contributions to the National Insurance funds in 1958–59, based on the Actuary's Report on the National Insurance funds; and what the estimated increase in collectible revenue would be in that year if the amount contributed by the employers did not rank as a trading expense.

About £405 million attracting tax relief (mainly in 1959–60) of about £127 million at existing rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase or decrease in the purchasing value of average industrial earnings between April, 1945, and April, 1951, and between April, 1951, and April, 1957.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what in his estimate would need to be the value of estates today to equal in net purchasing power after payment of Estate Duty the net.

Figures for April, 1945, are not available, but between July, 1945, and April, 1951, the estimated increase in the purchasing power of average weekly earnings of manual wage earners in manufacturing and certain other industries was 7 per cent. Between April, 1951, and April, 1957, the corresponding increase was about 20 per cent. These estimates relate to the gross earnings of all operatives combined, before deduction of Income Tax or insurance contributions, as shown in the half-yearly inquiries by the Ministry of Labour and National Service; the change in the purchasing power has been based on the movement in the Consumer Price Index, brought up to date by reference to the Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of money owned by the United Kingdom to the United States of America; and in what years, and for what reasons in each instance it was incurred.

The following table gives details of loans from the United States to the United Kingdom Government during the years 1945 to 1957:yield in 1938, also after payment of Estate Duty, of estates valued at £5,000, £10,000, £25,000 and £50,000 respectively.

£14,850; £34,232: £128,174; £346,089, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the present-day purchasing value of £100 worth of post-war credits, assuming that £100 had a purchasing value of 2,000 shillings in 1945, allowing for the depreciation in the purchasing value of the £ sterling since 1945, using as the basis the Index of Retail Prices; and what action he proposes to take to restore the purchasing value of post-war credits to their 1945 level.

About 1,090s. This estimate is based on the Consumer Price Index from 1945 to 1948 and the Index of Retail Prices since then. The Government's policy is directed to halting the rise in prices and thus stabilising purchasing power.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, under the Pests Act, 1954, the use of gin traps for catching rabbits will be prohibited as from 31st July next; and what provision is being made for the supply of other traps that will be effective and convenient in use and not unduly costly.

It will be illegal to use gin traps to catch rabbits or other animals after 31st July next. Five approved humane traps, one of which is suitable for use against rabbits, are already on sale at reasonable prices. Two other approved traps suitable for use against rabbits should be on sale by early summer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount has been paid this financial year by way of home grown cereal deficiency payments and deficiency payments for fatstock, respectively.

From the beginning of the current financial year until 17th January, 1958, deficiency payments for the United Kingdom on home grown cereals amounted to £36·6 million and on fatstock £67·6 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the quantity and value of animal feedingstuffs imported during 1957 from dollar sources and the quantity and value for the previous year.

In 1957 2,293,000 tons of animal feedingstuffs valued at £56·6 million c.i.f. were imported from dollar sources. For 1956 the corresponding figures are 2,475,000 tons and £67·2 million, c.i.f.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a further statement about a farm buildings research station.

As the hon. Member was informed on 11th July, 1957, by my right hon. Friend's predecessor, the Committee appointed by the Agricultural Research Council to make recommendations about research into farm buildings needs further information before a conclusion can be reached about the desirability of establishing a farm buildings research station. To provide this information, a unit has now been set up, located for convenience at the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, and staff have been appointed. It will, however, take some time to collect and analyse the required information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been granted to small farmers of 100 acres or less under the Agriculture Act, 1957.

The estimated cost of work approved to date for farm improvement grant in respect of farms of 100 acres or less in England and Wales is £828,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what sum he expects to expend during the current 12 months in grants under the Agriculture Act, 1957.

For the financial year to 31st March, 1958, the Estimates provide for £100,000 for farm improvement grants in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. As regards the next financial year, I must ask my hon. Friend to await publication of the Estimates for the Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been received in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, respectively, for grants for improvements under the Agriculture Act, 1957; how many have been approved; and what is the cost involved in each county.

The following are the figures up to the end of December, 1957:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the specialisation nowadays forced more and more on the small farmer tends to make him ineligible for grants under the farm improvements scheme on the grounds that his proposed improvement is considered a factory type development and not for the benefit of the land; and if he will give consideration to this problem to see whether it can be put right.

My hon. Friend will have gathered from the reply given to him on 23rd January that, under the terms of the Act, it is not open to me to accept any proposal for an improvement which is not for the long-term benefit of the land or is not such as a prudent landlord would provide.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the guarantee of 5,000 tons per year for 10 years from 1950 given to the producers of oranges in Jamaica and British Honduras is affected by the decision of Her Majesty's Government to discontinue the issue of concentrated orange juke to all children over two years of age in this country.

Not at all.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Morpeth rural district area, in the county of Northumberland, is a designated area for milk production.

I have been asked to reply. Morpeth rural district has not yet been specified as an area in which only specially designated milk may be sold by retail. But a draft Order providing for this was laid before the House on 28th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will withdraw his approval to act as chairmen of disciplinary committees of agricultural marketing boards from those persons who so acted before they had been approved in the manner laid down by Parliament.

I cannot accept that there are any grounds for withdrawing my approval.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby Bridge have been completed.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will study the reports of the accidents on the recently-opened Borrowash by-pass road with a view to modifications which will lessen the dangers caused by the fast-moving traffic.

Yes. I will have a careful analysis made of the accidents on this road, which was only opened to traffic on 10th December last. It is too early to decide whether any modifications are required.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement with regard to the future use of the Royal Ordnance factory, Thorp Arch.

The West Riding County Council are the planning authority for the area, and I am in touch with them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what intimations he has received from Government Departments expressing an intention to make use of H.M.S. "Ceres" subsequent to May, 1958.

The Prison Commissioners have made a provisional application for the premises, and are now considering their suitability.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty in view of the fact that an extensive scheme for the erection of underground oil storage tanks is being undertaken in Malta to store oil for the Services and the civil government, if he will take steps to convert the dockyards to civilian use to accommodate the tankers bringing the oil to the island and those passing to and from the oilfields in the East.

The technical implications of converting the facilities of Malta Dockyard for commercial use are at present being examined by certain British firms.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty at what sea training centre will Lincoln members of the former Humber Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, in future do their training.

Members of the Humber Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve living in Lincoln will, if they join the new Unified Reserve, be transferred to the London Reserve Training Centre. The most that will be required for officers and pre-National Service ratings will be annual training. This will be given in any H.M. Ship or training establishment as at present. The other ratings will have no training obligations except for Postal ratings who, as in the past, will do their annual training at various establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that certain persons, since approved by him to act as chairmen of disciplinary committees of agricultural marketing boards, had, before he gave his approval, so acted without his approval, contrary to the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Acts, 1931 to 1949; and whether he will therefore withdraw his approval from them.

I assume that the gentlemen referred to are those who were approved on 20th December, 1956, by the then Secretary of State for appointment by the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board as chairmen of a disciplinary committee. I know of no reason why that approval should now be withdrawn.