asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what regulations in the Seychelles govern the employment of visitors and immigrants.

The employment of visitors and immigrants in Seychelles is governed by Section 7 of the Immigration Ordinance and Regulations 19 to 25 of the Immigration Regulations made under that Ordinance. I am placing copies of these in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many posts in the Government service in the Seychelles are at present occupied by persons who had formerly retired.

Nine officers employed in established posts are pensioners of the Seychelles or another Government. Another two pensioners occupy temporary posts as labour foremen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Control of Rent and Tenancy Agreements Ordinance, 1955, which was passed by the Legislative Council of the Seychelles on 17th March, 1955, has not been brought into operation.

The purpose of the 1955 Control of Rent and Tenancy Agreements Ordinance was to consolidate and improve existing legislation and to make some changes in principle. Certain difficulties arose however particularly over the provisions raising minimum annual rents from 8 per cent. to 12 per cent. of the capital value of the property, and permitting "contracting out" from rent control. As there was no local demand for the Ordinance with the amendments which might have proved necessary, the existing legislation was allowed to remain in force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are made concerning mainland Chinese who apply for permits to enter Hong Kong and who wish to go on to Formosa; and to what extent Her Majesty's Government or the Hong Kong Government are in touch on this matter with United Nations officials or with Formosa.

No mainland Chinese has applied for transit facilities through Hong Kong with the stated object of going to Formosa. It has, therefore, not been necessary for the Hong Kong Government to make any arrangements, and there is no contact between Her Majesty's Government or the Hong Kong Government and United Nations officials or Formosa on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies approximately how many refugees in Hong Kong are of European origin, and of what nationality; and how many of that category of refugee have left Hong Kong during the past five years.

About 1,000 European refugees are known to be in Hong Kong. Most of them are Russians; some are Poles, Hungarians or Czechs. Just over 10,000 such refugees have passed through Hong Kong since February 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many girls or young women have come from Hong Kong to this country for training as nurses and for other training, respectively, during the past five years; how many have returned to Hong Kong; and how many have been sponsored for training as nurses in other countries than the United Kingdom during the same period.

During the past five years, 410 young women have come to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong for training as nurses and 271 for other forms of training. Of these, 23 nursing trainees are known to have returned and six presumed to have returned. Fifty-three other trainees or students are known to have returned and ten presumed to have done so. It is probable that many more will in fact have returned, but as most of these are private students the figures are not fully known. No young women have been sponsored by the Hong Kong Government for training as nurses in countries other than the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made during 1957 and 1958 in the provision of a university college in Tanganyika.

The Tanganyika Higher Education Trust Fund Board is taking steps to acquire a site at Morogoro which, subject to academic advice that it is hoped to obtain later this year, is thought to be suitable for the proposed university college.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what financial help Her Majesty's Government propose to give to the Kenya Government towards expenditure arising from the emergency in 1958–59.

In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have now reviewed the Colony's financial prospects for the coming financial year.On 13th February, 1957, I told the House that Her Majesty's Government had agreed to make available to the Kenya Government £3 million for the financial year 1957–58 towards expenditure arising from the emergency. Although the extreme phase of the emergency has passed, the Colony is now engaged on the long haul of rehabilitation and resettlement for the thousands of ex-detainees. Expenditure arising from the emergency will continue in the coming year to be too heavy for Kenya to bear wholly from her own resources.

asked the Attorney-General what are the fees normally paid to leading counsel appearing for the prosecution in a murder trial of two days' duration at assizes.

The fees vary according to the nature of the case.

asked the Minister of works the number of maintenance staff employed by him at Broadmoor in 1955, 1956 and 1957.

In the years ended on 31st March, 1955 to 1957, the numbers were 85, 80 and 85, respectively, including supervisory and clerical staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps immediately to amend and improve the Salmon and Fresh Waters Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act, 1951, in such a way as to make it more effective for conserving and increasing the stocks of fish in Scottish rivers and lochs.

Before deciding whether any amendment of the Act is needed, my right hon. Friend must consider the results of the investigation into the operation of its provisions relating to the weekly close time which, under the Act, falls to be carried out this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a general direction to the Crofters Commission not to delay serving notices under Section 16 (4) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1955, for a period longer than three months after the occurrence of the vacancy in question.

No. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that, where a demand exists for a vacant croft, the Commission can be relied upon to serve notice as soon as possible after the statutory period of one month has elapsed from the occurrence of the vacancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will consider convening a meeting of representatives of the local authorities in the north to study the problem of squatters in towns and villages and to formulate a common policy to provide accommodation for them and so avoid the hardship and suffering caused to these people by periodic evictions as recently happened in Inverness at the Milburn Crossing and Bunchrew;(2) what information he has received from local authorities about their proposals for provision of suitable houses for tinkers in the Highlands.

Inverness Town Council has suggested that a meeting of representatives of the local authorities in the north who are affected by this problem should be convened with the object which my hon. Friend has in mind. To enable my right hon. Friend to consider whether such a meeting would be profitable, he is making inquiries about the location and extent of the problem and the steps which have so far been taken to deal with it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the number of rabbits is steadily increasing in the Highlands and elsewhere; and whether he will sanction the payment of a grant towards the cost of approved rabbit eradication schemes in order to encourage the formation of similar schemes and thus prevent a recurrence of the waste and damage to agriculture caused by rabbits before the outbreak of myxomatosis in this country.

On 7th February, my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced the Government's decision to make grants to approved rabbit clearance societies. Details of the grants have been made public, and my right hon. Friend hopes that occupiers of land will take full advantage of this opportunity to organise societies and to reduce the numbers of rabbits in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the aggregate numer of prescriptions dispensed under the National Health Service in Scotland in 1957 to the latest available date; and what was the aggregate number for the comparable period of 1956.

In the first eight months of 1957, the aggregate number of prescriptions dispensed was 13·2 million, compared with 14·4 million in the corresponding period in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average total cost of each prescription dispensed under the National Health Service in Scotland in 1957 up to the latest available date; and what was the average total cost of each prescription in the comparable period of 1956.

In the first eight months of 1957, the average total cost was 81·04 pence, as compared with 67·8 pence in the corresponding period in 1956. The net cost after deducting the charges payable by patients was 68·26 pence in 1957 and 58·84 pence in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider representations for the provision of a general practitioners' ward at Hairmyres Hospital in view of the rapidly growing needs of the new town of East Kilbride nearby.

The Western Regional Hospital Board, whose duty it is to deal with these matters, would no doubt be prepared to give consideration to representations of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses have been built by Lanark County Council in Carluke since 1951; and what steps he is prepared to take to hasten the closure of Burnwood Camp.

Since 1st January, 1952, 576 houses have been completed by Lanark County Council in the Carluke area. The question of closing the temporary houses at Burnwood is a matter for the county council in the light of the housing situation in the area generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet replied to the memorandum on the reduction in defence work sent to him by the Scottish Council, Development and Industry; and in what terms.

Yes. A reply was sent to the Scottish Council on 23rd January, and with their agreement I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the substantial unemployment in the Burgh of Greenock, he will take action to secure new industry for the town.

We are doing our best to encourage new industrial development at Greenock. As the hon. Member knows, we have recently arranged for a large extension to a factory there to be built at Government expense.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total attendances at cinemas for the quarter ended 31st December, 1957; what were the total attendances for the year 1957; and how these figures compare with the same periods in 1956.

Figures for cinema admissions for the fourth quarter of 1957 are not yet available. Preliminary estimates suggest that they were about 25 per cent. lower than in the fourth quarter of 1956 and that for the year 1957 they were about 18 per cent. lower than 1956.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, although under Group 23 goods subjected to Purchase Tax provision is made for the exclusion of articles primarily used for the purpose of any profession, attaché cases are still subjected to tax; and what is the present ruling with regard to Ministers' dispatch boxes in this connection.

By the terms of the Tax Schedule only receptacles specially designed for these purposes are excluded. Ordinary attaché cases are not so designed; Ministers' dispatch boxes are.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the exemption from Purchase Tax extended to trivets, false hobs and hearth stools may now be extended to hearth companion stands which incorporate a trivet; and what was the amount of revenue received from the Purchase Tax on hearth companion stands which incorporate a trivet, during each of the past three years.

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement. As regards revenue, I would refer him to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) on 17th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why book-ends, book troughs, log boxes, fire screens, hat racks, hall stands, trouser presses and table bells have been specifically excluded from the category of furniture of a kind used for domestic purposes which has the benefit of the low Purchase Tax rate of 5 per cent.

The 5 per cent. rate is limited to the more important articles of domestic furniture which had for long enjoyed favourable treatment under the Utility and D schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how far under his regulations an individual taxpayer is allowed to claim expenses and Income Tax allowance on monies spent in supporting or opposing the declared objectives of political parties;(2) how far under his regulations monies expended by public companies for political purposes, such as propaganda expenses against the declared objectives of political parties, are allowable as deductions from company profits and as deductions for Income Tax purposes; and what limit is imposed on such allowable expenses.

An allowance is only made where the expenditure can be shown to have been incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the taxpayer's trade, whether the taxpayer is a company or an individual.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received a letter of recent date from the Brandon and Byshottles Urban District Council concerning the social services; if he has noted the terms of the four clauses of the resolution accompanying it; and what reply he has sent.

I have received and noted the contents of this letter. I have replied that, while I sympathise with any difficulties which local authorities may be experiencing, I could not agree to a preferential rate of interest on loans from the Public Works Loan Board. I have sent the hon. Member a copy of my letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the Estimates for 1958–59 will exceed the total Estimates for the current year.

By £45·8 million as shown below if the Post Office Estimate (which covers self-balancing expenditure) is excluded.

	Net Estimates, 1958–59	Total Net Estimates, 1957–58
	£ million	£ million
Civil Estimates	2,972·7	2,897·6
Estimates for Revenue Departments (excluding Post Office)	61·8	58·5
Estimates for Ministry of Defence	16·8	17·6
Navy Estimates	339·4	351·0
Army Estimates	401·9	401·4
Air Estimates	467·0	487·7
TOTAL	4,259·6	4,213·8
	Difference 45·8

The Post Office Estimate for 1958–59 is made up on a different basis from that for 1957–58. If the Post Office Estimate is included and the 1957–58 figure is adjusted to the same basis as that for 1958–59 there would be added:

Post Office	…	…	367·7	369·2
TOTAL	…	…	4,627·3	4,583·0
			Difference 44·3

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an estimate of what will have been the total consumption of hydrocarbon oils subject to Excise duty in the present fiscal year; and what proportion of that total has been used by the private motorist.

On the basis of the estimate made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) at the time of his 1957 Budget, nearly 2,900 million gallons of hydrocarbon oils would be subject to duties of Customs and Excise in the present financial year, of which about 140 million gallons would be subject to the Excise duty chargeable on hydrocarbon oils produced in the United Kingdom from indigenous materials. It is estimated that about one-third of the total is used in private cars (including those used for business purposes). Oils subject to Excise duty of a kind suitable for use in private cars lose their identity in the course of distribution and it is impossible to say whether the proportion of these oils so used differs from that of the total amount of dutiable oils.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of abolishing the Excise duty on hydrocarbon oils.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) estimated at the time of his 1957 Budget that the revenue from the Customs and Excise duties on hydrocarbon oils in the current financial year would be £340 million of which £9 million related to the Excise duty (on hydrocarbon oils produced in the United Kingdom from indigenous materials).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the unanimous opinion of the Liverpool City Council, of which an account has been given him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange, with reference to his refusal to consider Kirkby, Liverpool, as a new town in order to attract subsidy under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956, and his further decision to grant the status of an urban district to Kirkby; and whether he intends to reconsider his decision regarding the granting of the subsidy.

I was unable to accept Liverpool's application for the special rate of subsidy mainly because so much of the work at Kirkby was done before the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956, took effect. I came to that conclusion after careful consideration, and after I had received a deputation from the council. There are no grounds on which I could alter my decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of his refusal to grant a subsidy on certain houses built by Liverpool Corporation in Kirkby, what was the amount of the subsidy involved.

The Liverpool Corporation wanted the "overspill" subsidy provided by the 1956 Act for these houses; that would amount to £24 per annum for 60 years. Though I could not agree that that was appropriate, my opinion does not necessarily mean that the houses will attract no subsidy at all. Any of the houses used to replace slum houses will be eligible for the slum clearance subsidy of £22 1s. per annum, while all one-bedroom dwellings will in any event be entitled to the general needs subsidy of £10 per annum.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has received a fresh communication from the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Development Corporation in connection with the gale damage at Hatfield; and whether he will make a statement as to his intentions.

At the request of the corporation, I am arranging under my statutory powers to hold a public local inquiry into the causes of the damage.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the further flooding of houses in Templeton Avenue, Llanishen; and whether he will consult with the Cardiff Corporation with a view to preventing a recurrence.

My right hon. Friend has been informed by the Cardiff City Corporation that measures to prevent a recurrence are being taken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will ascertain the number of householders in Rochdale who are liable to eviction in October, 1958, under the Rent Act, 1957; and whether he will publish this information in HANSARD.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11th February.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has yet considered the letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning the hardships resulting from the Rent Act, 1957, together with eighteen letters from various parts of the country; and whether he will make a statement.

The hon. Member has forwarded to me 17 letters from persons who appear to be constituents of other hon. Members. I have considered them, and have written to the hon. Member on some of them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that many aged people who have been given notice to quit under the Rent Act, 1957, are being refused mortgages by building societies and local councils, because of their age; and whether he will take action to assist these people to purchase alternative accommodation.

I have already taken action in suggesting to local authorities how they can help old people.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many

Type of Advertisement		Total number of appeals decided	Number dealt with by hearing		Number dealt with by correspondence (a)
			Dismissed	Allowed	Dismissed	Allowed
Posters	…	1,293	35	6	947	305
Public Information Panels	…	249	—	—	116	133
Trade Signs (b)	…	541	16	11	300	214
		(76)	(2)	(—)	(52)	(22)
TOTALS	…	2,083	68		2,015
NOTES:
(a) Including cases in which the site was visited by an officer of the Department accompanied by representatives of both parties to the appeal.
(b) The figures shown in brackets relate to appeals regarding direction signs not on the traders premises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the estimated working population in Central London now, as compared with prewar; and what are the comparable figures for the residential population.

I am not able to add to the information I gave to the hon. Member in reply to a similar Question on 2nd July, 1957.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will give details of the number of appeals by advertising interests dealt with during 1957 under the Control of Advertisements Regulations, 1948; how many of these appeals were dealt with at public hearings and by correspondence, respectively; how many in each group referred, respectively, to posters, including bulletin boards but not trade signs, public information panels, and to trade signs on the premises of the occupiers concerned; and how many of each separate category were rejected or allowed.

The total number of appeals decided during 1957 was 2,083. Details are as follows:

The only comparable pre-war and post-war figures which are available are those given in the 1921 and 1951 censuses. For what is generally regarded as the Central London area (that is the City of London, the City of Westminster, the Boroughs of Finsbury and Holborn and the southern portions of the Boroughs of St. Marylebone and St. Pancras) the 1921 census showed a residential population of 368,000, and for a somewhat larger area including the whole of the Boroughs of St. Marylebone and St. Pancras a working population of 1,176,000. The comparable figures in the 1951 census were 225,000 and 1,252,000, respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why he disposed of 30 or more frigates of the "River" class in view of the successful conversion of Canadian Navy ships of this class to meet modern anti-submarine requirements.

The Admiralty's programme for poducing modern antisubmarine frigates by conversion has been completed. "River" class frigates were not the most suitable ones available to us for conversion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the anti-aircraft frigate "Panther" and the aircraft-direction-frigate "Coventry", ordered under the 1956–57 Estimates, have yet been laid down.

No. My noble Friend has decided not to build these frigates for the roles originally intended. He intends to build, instead, two more anti-submarine frigates. The change of class of ship will involve a change of name.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will convert one of the modern "Albion" class light-fleet-carriers for use as a helicopter carrier rather than one of the slower war-constructed carriers of the "Glory" or "Majestic" types now in reserve, in view of the fact that two of the former class proved highly successful in the Suez police operation.

Yes. H.M.S. "Bulwark" has been selected for conversion to a Commando Carrier.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give an assurance that at least three of H.M. "Loch" class frigates, now in the Persian Gulf, will at all times be available for the defence of Aden.

A number of frigates will be kept in the Persian Gulf. At present these are "Loch" class. There is no intention at the moment to replace them by any other class. The number and type may, of course, vary according to circumstances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many civil servants were employed by his Department in 1937, 1947 and 1957.

101,000, 191,000 and 170,900 on 31st December in each year, respectively. The numbers of United Kingdom based non-industrial civilians included in these numbers were 11,000, 32,600 and 32,450, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the progress made in improving station administration as a result of the Benson experiment.

The general aim of the Benson experiment was to raise morale by simplifying and liberalising administration wherever possible without undermining discipline or efficiency. As a result of the experiment, a number of improvements in station administration have been introduced.The number of parades has been greatly reduced. Regular morning station parades have been abolished, and colours are now hoisted by sections in rotation. Central pay parades have for the most part been replaced by an arrangement under which airmen are paid in their sections. Clothing parades have been almost eliminated; airmen can normally obtain clothing from stores.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that under the Road Traffic Act, 1956, Section 48, a motor driving licence is now issued for three years instead of, as previously, for one year, and that public service vehicle drivers who are attaining the retirement age when a renewal of the driving licence is due are compelled to pay a renewal fee of 15s. when their retirement from employment may, at the most, be within 12 months; and whether he will consider whether in such cases a pro rata payment can be made for the unexpired portion of the licence.

The hon. Member's suggestion would require legislation; I will review the matter when a suitable opportunity offers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many road fatalities occurred during the years 1955, 1956, 1957 which were attributable to inadequate street lighting.

The information for which the hon. Member asks is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General how many post office workers have declined to handle Premium Bonds on moral grounds in England, Wales, Caernarvon, Glamorgan and Cardiff, respectively.

The figures (including Sub-Postmasters and Sub-Postmistresses) are:

England	33
Wales	4
Caernarvon	0
Glamorgan	2
(included in the figure for Wales)
Cardiff	0