asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of Mr. Justice Hilbery's recent judicial comment at Maidstone, if he will reintroduce flogging for crimes of violence.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer which I gave on 30th January to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) and for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to restrict or discourage the advertisement for sale by auction of Nazi daggers, with particular reference to the advertisement, details of which have been supplied to him by the honourable Member for Cardiff, North.

None. I have no power to ban or restrict advertisements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) under what legislative authority greyhound race track promoters are limited to charging 6 per cent. of the totalisator takings for administrative costs; and, on the basis of a promoter receiving at that date an annual return of £60,000 for administration, what would be the present figure necessary to ensure the same return, after allowing for the depreciation of the purchasing value of the £ sterling;(2) whether he is aware that since his department limited greyhound race track promoters to a maximum of six per cent. of the totalisator for administrative costs prices have risen, cost of living has risen and wage rates for the staffs employed in administering these greyhound tracks have risen; and whether he will increase the present six per cent. to off-set in some part these higher costs.

The amount which the operator of a totalisator on a dog racecourse may deduct from the moneys staked is limited to 6 per cent. by the First Schedule to the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934, and I have no power to alter it. The equivalent in purchasing power of £60,000 in 1934 is now £187,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of children being kept in institutions in this country whose parents are not normally resident in the United Kingdom and whose fathers, although able bodied, do not contribute to the cost of such children; what is the aggregate cost to the taxpayers of this country for keeping such children; and whether he will consider deporting such families if the father continues to refuse to work after being warned.

I regret that the information asked for in the first and second parts of the Question is not available. The question of deportation would not arise except in the case of an alien. When deportation is under consideration, work record and the discharge of family responsibilities are among the factors taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the changes in the defence programme have reduced, or will reduce, the amount of work being done in Her Majesty's Prisons; and whether he will make a statement on the kind of alternative work available for prisoners in the event of reduction in orders from Service Departments.

The changes in the defence programme are likely to reduce the work done for the Service Departments, but I cannot at the moment forecast the extent of the reduction. The industrial adviser whom I have recently appointed to assist the Prison Commissioners is paying particular attention to the need for more varied and better quality work in prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the provisions of the Criminal Law Act, 1826, making payments out of public funds to compensate citizens injured by criminal assault or endeavouring to apprehend wrong doers, are out of date; and whether he will take steps to amend the law or set up a committee of inquiry.

The case for compensating the victims of crimes of violence is one which I am studying. It raises a number of difficult problems, and I am not satisfied that they can most suitably be considered by a committee of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking in respect of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce in so far as they affect the orders which may be made by a magistrates' court in matrimonial proceedings.

The Royal Commission recommended that the law with regard to the jurisdiction and powers of magistrates' courts in matrimonial proceedings should be codified. A Consolidation Bill—the Matrimonial Proceedings (Magistrates' Courts) Bill—has been introduced and has been under consideration by the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. Unfortunately doubts have been raised on a number of points as to the proper interpretation of certain of the complicated and scattered statutory provisions which constitute the existing law. In these circumstances, it is not practicable to proceed with the Consolidation Bill.I therefore propose to set up an expert committee to advise me on the steps which should be taken to replace the existing provisions on this subject by a single up-to-date enactment. I shall also seek the advice on the committee on the best method of incorporating into any new Measure certain recommendations of the Royal Commission affecting the orders which may be made by magistrates' courts in matrimonial proceedings.

asked the Under secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the measures which Her Majesty's Government have taken to provide relief for the victims of the floods in Ceylon.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the House yesterday on the Motion for the Adjournment. This contains the detailed information required by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Under secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is now in a position to make a further statement regarding the proposed Legislative Council for Basutoland.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 14th November, 1957, about constitutional changes in Basutoland.

asked the Under secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many Basuto have been appointed to the senior service of that Protectorate; and what steps are being taken to train and advance Basuto in the administration.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 9th April, 1957.

asked the Under secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what efforts are made by the Government of the Basutoland Protectorate to secure increased rates of pay for Basuto who are employed with mines affiliated to the Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines and who are procured by these mines, under recruiting agencies approved by the Government by contract attested before a Government officer.

None. But the Basutoland Government satisfies itself as to conditions in the places of employment, scrutinises contracts to confirm that conditions of service are not diminished in any way from those laid down by the Chambers of Mines, and ensures that facilities are provided for remittances to be made for maintenance of the families of labourers during their absence.

asked the Minister of Education if he will set up a special committee to study the development and experience of comprehensive schools and schemes of comprehensive education in England and Wales and make recommendations so as to assist his Department and local education authorities in considering new proposals.

No.

asked the Minister of Education how many comprehensive schools are now in existence in England and Wales; and how many were under construction at the latest date for which figures are available.

Forty-four and ten.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered or will consider the effect of increasing numbers of school-leavers reaching a peak of 929,000 in 1962 upon secondary schools which provide courses for pupils over the present school-leaving age, upon other further education institutions, and upon the Youth Service, respectively; and whether he will make his conclusions generally available.

In England and Wales about 830,000 children will reach the age of 15 in 1962. I very much hope that many of them will continue their education beyond that age, and that is one reason why we are improving and extending our secondary schools and technical colleges. Expenditure on the Youth Service is not at present being increased, but I cannot say what will be possible in 1962.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied that the provisions in the Education Act, 1946, for avoiding broken terms do not operate harshly in cases of children whose birthdays occur very shortly after the commencement of a school term and whose parents have good reasons, in particular circumstances, for thinking it in the best interests of the children for them to leave school; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Since 1919, the law has provided that a child's full-time education at school should continue up to the end of the term in which he reaches compulsory school age. I am sure that: this is in the best interests of the children.

asked the Minister of Education if he has yet received the report of the University of Durham School Examinations Board on the award of an ordinary level pass in the General Certificate of Education for 1957; and what proposals he has for securing a more uniform system of awards.

Not yet. I am satisfied with the existing arrangements for ensuring reasonable comparability between the standards of the nine examining bodies.

asked the Minister of Education what would be the estimated cost arising from training and supplying extra teachers to ensure that no class in State schools had more than 30 pupils.

About £125 million for training and about £75 million a year thereafter for salaries.

asked the Minister of Education what representations he has received in respect of hardship arising from the necessity of pupils and students over 18 years of age having to pay full fares on London omnibuses; and what consultations he has had with the London Transport Executive on this matter.

Very few. I have not pressed the London Transport Executive on this matter.

asked the Minister of Education what was the total of capital expenditure from revenue by local education authorities on capital projects for main grant services in the year 1956–57; and what is his estimate of that expenditure for the year 1957–58.

The latest available figures are £3·1 million for 1956–57 and £4·4 for 1957–58.

asked the Minister of Education in how many instances, in the last three years, local education authorities have made, to students at universities or similar institutions, awards which could not be justified by reference both to the standing of the institution concerned and to the merits of the student.

No precise figures are available.

asked the Minister of Education which education authorities provide housing accommodation for their teachers.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many students were admitted to teacher training colleges in September, 1957, with less than the normal academic qualification of five passes at ordinary level in the General Certificate of Education; and how many of these students were men.

About 150, of whom about 70 were men. These figures exclude students admitted to technical training colleges.

asked the Minister of Education how many students were admitted to teacher training colleges in September, 1957, as older students for a shortened one-year course of training; and how many of these students were women.

205 students, of whom 103 were women, were admitted to shortened one-year courses of training in September, 1957. Such students are usually older than the average.

asked the Minister of Education how many women students have been unable to secure admission to training colleges for teachers during each of the years 1949 to 1957.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many male students over the ages of 25 years, 30 years, 35 years, and 40 years, respectively, were admitted to teacher training colleges in September, 1957, for a two-year course of training.

I regret that I cannot give the information for all these ages, but in September, 1956, 328 men over 25 were admitted to two-year courses of general teacher training. I will write to my hon. Friend when later figures are available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of worked and partly-worked granite were imported from India and Africa during the last three years.

Imports of granite, wholly or mainly manufactured, from India and South Africa in the three years 1955–57 were 2,282 tons and 973 tons respectively. Imports from other African countries were negligible.The following are the figures:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is only one British trade commissioner resident in Nigeria who has to administer the whole of British trade interests in the three regions of Nigeria; that this involves long journeys away from his office, and that the development of British trade interests requires the whole-time attention in each of the three regions of a whole-time British trade commissioner; and if he will take immediate steps to rectify this by making the necessary extra appointments.

No. There are two trade commissioners and an assistant trade commissioner in Lagos. A third trade commissioner has been appointed and will arrive in March. I am considering a proposal that trade commissioners should be appointed in the Regions of Nigeria.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards the achievement of free trade between the United Kingdom and Canada.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the then Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. J. Harrison) on 19th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give details of his statement in Vancouver regarding free trade between the United Kingdom, Canada and other Commonwealth countries.

When I was in Vancouver I referred in a speech to the proposal made by Her Majesty's Government for an Anglo-Canadian free trade area. A summary of this speech was given in the Board of Trade Journal of 3rd January, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that although it is provided that tea-strainers shall be exempt from Purchase Tax under Group 11 (a), the Customs and Excise authorities have ruled that this can only apply to a tea-strainer which is also a vessel and that a tea-strainer consisting of a wire mesh device, designed to fit into the spout of a tea pot, cannot be regarded as a strainer; and if he will arrange for this anomaly to be dealt with by immediate administrative action.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Since the autumn Budget of 1955 all types of tea-strainer have been chargeable with tax at the same rate, now 15 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a child's coat under 42 inches in length, with a matching hood, is at pre sent free of Purchase Tax, but that if the child loses the hood and it has to be replaced, 10 per cent. Purchase Tax is charged on the substitute hood; and what steps are taken at the present time by officers of the Customs and Excise to ensure that this provision is duly enforced.

Complete garments for young children are free of tax but headgear as such is taxable at 10 per cent. The tax returns of registered traders are subject to official checks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the confusion and expense caused to leather goods manufacturers by reason of the fact that in respect of a man's fitted travelling case, the containers for soap, tooth-brush and shaving brushes are chargeable to Purchase Tax at 90 per cent., the case and mirror at 60 per cent., the brushes at 30 per cent. and the scissors at 15 per cent.; and whether he will now make arrangements to charge one single low rate of tax for all those items involved which are now subject to Purchase Tax in any way.

No. The present arrangements were introduced in response to trade representations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total national income for the years 1951 and 1956; and what was the percentage of total wages to that figure in those years.

£11,637 million and £16,465 million, respectively. Wages and salaries (which include the pay of many directly comparable to wage earners, e.g. clerical workers, as well as managers) together represented 66·1 per cent. of the national income in 1951 and 674 per cent. in 1956. For wages alone the proportions were 43·9 per cent. and 44·8 per cent., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that £100 of post-war credits in 1945 are only worth £54 10s. at today's purchasing values; and whether he will take the necessary action, either in his forthcoming Budget or by special legislation, to restore these post-war credits to their original purchasing value together with a 2½ per cent. cumulative interest rate from date of origin to repayment date.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes." The answer to the second part is that I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of milk, giving also the percentage of all milk produced, was used for manufacturing purposes in 1957 up to the latest convenient date; and what are the prospects for 1958.

The quantity of milk sold for manufacture by the United Kingdom Milk Marketing Boards in 1957 is provisionally estimated at 695 million gallons, or about 32 per cent. of total sales. The prospects for 1958 will depend on conditions for milk production and on demand for liquid consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the consumption of full price fresh milk for the years 1956 and 1957, respectively.

Sales of milk in the United Kingdom for liquid consumption, excluding school and welfare milk, during 1956 and 1957 were 1,292·6 million and 1,272·1 million gallons, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the basis of his calculation of £12,800,000 as the direct subsidy payment for milk, excluding school and welfare milk, for the present financial year.

£12·8 million is the amount which it is estimated will be paid to the milk marketing boards during 1957–58 in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Milk (Guaranteed Prices) Order, 1956.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm improvement schemes have still to be approved in the Parts of Lindsey.

Out of 349 applications received in the Parts of Lindsey by the end of January, 94 had been approved, 69 had been withdrawn or rejected and of the 186 still under consideration 123 were ready for approval subject to the provision of certain information by the applicants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate the number of applications which have been received in Wales for grants under the farm improvement schemes and the number of those rejected, indicating so far as posible in the case of the latter the reasons for their rejection, in particular when the failure of the income of the holding to meet the requirements laid down constituted one of those reasons.

To the 31st December, 1957, 2,722 applications from Wales and Monmouthshire had been received for grants under the farm improvement scheme, and, of these, 369 applications had been rejected. In 131 cases the proposals did not satisfy the test in Section 12 of the Agricuture Act, 1957, which requires that the land which a proposed improvement is intended to benefit is, or after improvement will be capable of yielding a sufficient livelihood to a reasonably skilled occupier. In 73 other cases the proposals did not satisfy the statutory test, which requires that a prudent landlord would be willing to make the improvement himself or to pay compensation to a tenant for making it. The remaining 165 cases were rejected for various other reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the need for slum clearance and reconstruction in Lagos, Ibadan, and other Nigerian cities and towns; what representations he has received from the Federal Government and the Regional Governments for financial assistance in solving these problems; and what reply he has given in each case.

I have received no such representations. Measures that are being carried out or planned in certain areas will be financed from local and other resources which are already available for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that British information services in, Nigeria have only one information officer for the whole of Nigeria; that this involves for him long journeys in each of the three regions, and that the increasing development of each of the three regions requires the whole time attention in each of the three regions of at least one information officer; and if he will take immediate steps to appoint extra information officers each with an office and staff in each of the three regions of Eastern, Western, and Northern Nigeria, respectively.

Yes, there are at present two United Kingdom infomation officers based on Lagos, and I hope that an additional officer will shortly be posted to each of the Regions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that sun-powered furnaces, mounted on surplus military searchlights, are now available in the United States of America on a mass production basis at a price which can be afforded by low budget colleges; and what steps he is taking to make such equipment available to universities in the Colonies situated in places geographically suitable to the use of such equipment.

Yes. The demand by University or Government research establishments in Colonial Territories for this particular equipment is bound to be relatively small, but I shall bring developments in this field to the notice of those concerned so that they can consider whether they could profitably acquire equipment of this type.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a further statement on the Government's policy in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of widespread anxiety, he will announce the Government's plans for the future of Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement on the future of the Colony of Cyprus.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement on his discussions with representatives of the Government of British Honduras.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the delegation from British Honduras.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to provide British Honduras with a grant-in-aid amounting to B.H. $1¼ million (£312,500) to cover the deficit on the budget for 1958. This is the same amount of grant-in-aid as was approved last year.For development and welfare, funds have been provided which, together with the balances in hand, will provide British Honduras with about £1 million to spend in the two years up to March, 1960. Although the Colony's development plan has been found to be sound and well balanced, there is some doubt whether, irrespective of finance, they would have the physical capacity to carry out the whole of the projected development within two years. The funds now available to them will enable them to proceed with their development at an accelerated rate, and Her Majesty's Government have agreed that the position shall be reviewed in about a year's time. We shall then consider whether they will require further funds to carry on with the plan up to March, 1960.

asked the Minister of Health what is the gross value of bandages and first-aid equipment issued to hospitals as earmarked for civil defence in the last 12 months; what is the total value issued to date; and how much of this was issued to hospitals in the county borough of Oldham.

The figures, which relate to equipment issued for the purpose of training, are respectively £164, £13,737 and £56.

asked the Minister of Health what are the total numbers of amenity, full fee private and public beds, respectively, available in hospitals within the High Wycombe and District Hospital Group.

Eight amenity, 15 private, and 512 other beds.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the county borough of Oldham and the urban district of Chadderton are now scheduled as reception areas or evacuation areas in case of war; and what is the estimated number of the population to be evacuated or received.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26th November to the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) in view of the fact that France and Italy will shortly be in possession of cruisers armed with guided missiles, whilst our Tiger class cruisers, laid down in 1941–42 and due to be completed in 1959–60, will not be so fitted, and that no provision has been made in their design for similar types of guided missiles, if he will take steps to construct vessels which are capable of being armed with guided missiles;(2) in view of the shortage of antisubmarine craft available for the defence of our ocean lifelines, as revealed in 1957 by Admiral Eccles, what active measures are being taken to remedy this deficiency.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the First Lord's Explanatory Statement on the Navy Estimates, 1958–59, which will be published very shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will take steps to ensure that the guided-weapon super-destroyer type vessels projected for Venezuela by Messrs. Vickers will be available to the Royal Navy, in an emergency, until such time as they are actually delivered to that Republic.

No contracts for vessels of the type indicated have ben placed with British shipbuilders for delivery to Venezuela.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the fact that we have disposed of some 175 warships since October, 1956, on grounds of their obsolescence, and that several of these ships have been transferred to our allies, if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government in transferring ships to other Powers.

Disregarding small craft, harbour craft and the like, 16 warships have been disposed of to other Governments and 44 have been scrapped since October, 1956. When a warship becomes surplus to the requirements of the Royal Navy, her potential value to Commonwealth, Allied and other friendly navies is immediately examined to see whether their requirements could be matched by the ships available. Transfer terms are settled on the merits of the particular case. No ship is scrapped until the Board of Admiralty is satisfied that she cannot be disposed of to better advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the terms of reference of the Flying Personnel Research Committee and the composition and the qualifications of its members.

The Committee was appointed to advise the Secretary of State for Air on the medical aspects of all research affecting safety and efficiency in flying, including problems associated with the scientific selection and training of personnel, measures designed to maintain their physiological and psychological efficiency, the human problems associated with the use of guided missiles; and to advise similarly, when called upon, the Admiralty, the War Office, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Supply.

• The Chairman is Air Marshal Sir Harold Whittingham, K.C.B., K.B.E., LL.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.S.(E), lately Director of Medical Services, British Overseas Airways Corporation (Chairman).
• The Members are:
• Sir Frederic Bartlett, C.B.E., M.A., Fellow of St. Jonh's College, Cambridge; Member, Medical Research Council.
• Dr. E. A. Carmichael, C.B.E., D.R.C.P., Director of the Medical Research Council's neurological research unit, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London.
• Professor A. Bradford Hill, C.B.E., D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S., Professor of medical statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Hon. director, Medical Research Council's statistical research unit. Consultant in medical statistics to the Royal Air Force.
• Professor Sir Bryan Matthews, C.B.E., Sc.D., F.R.S., Professor of physiology, Cambridge. Consultant in applied physiology to the Royal Air Force.
• Surgeon Captain C. B. Nicholson, M.B., B.S., D.L.O., R.N., representing the Medical Director-General of the Navy, Admiralty.
• Air Marshal, P. B. Lee Potter, K.B.E., M.D., B.Ch., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H., Q.H.S., Director-General of Medical Services, Royal Air Force.
• Group Captain H. L. Roxburgh, O.B.E., Ph.D., B.Sc., M.B., Ch.B., Commanding Officer, Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine.
• Sir Charles Symonds, K.B.E., C.B., M.D., F.R.C.P., Honorary consultant in neurology to the Royal Air Force.
• Air Commodore J. S. Wilson, M.D., Ch.B., D.P.H., Director of Hygiene and Research, Air Ministry (Chief Executive Officer).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) how many railway accidents occurred in Great

The information is set out in the following tables. A great many of the accidents caused only minor injuries. An analysis of the causes of all train accidents is at Apendix IV of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the fact that British European Airways has now chosen the de Havilland DH 121 medium jet-airliner, he is now prepared to allow British European Airways its freedom of choice in this matter, having regard not only to the new company set up by de Havillands, but also to the fact that it is difficult to secure orders for a transport aircraft from overseas before it has been ordered in adequate numbers by customers at home.

This matter is still under consideration and my right hon. Friend will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many copies of "Commonwealth Today" are produced at each issue; how frequently it is published and by whom; to whom it is distributed; what advertising or other revenue is received from its publication; and what is the cost to public funds of each issue or series of issues.

283,250 copies of the last issue of "Commonwealth Today" were produced and it is proposed to increase this figure to 340,000 in the new financial year. It is issued eight times a year by the Central Office of Information on behalf of the Colonial, Commonwealth Relations and Foreign Offices. Through the official Overseas Information Services it is distributed free of charge to selected groups of readers in Commonwealth, colonial and foreign countries. A small revenue of about £450 per annum is derived from yearly subscription sales. No advertising revenue is received. The cost of the last issue, No. 56, was £11,000 approximately, without allowing for subscription revenue.