asked the Minister of Works when the repairs to Chiswick House are expected to be completed; when the building will be open to the public; how it will be furnished; and what are his plans for its future use.

I hope that repairs will be completed in time for Chiswick House to be opened to the public this July. I propose that the building should be furnished as nearly as possible in its original style and that it should be simply a showplace. Prints, drawings and photographs of subjects connected with Chiswick House will also be on view, many of them by courtesy of the Royal Institute of British Architects and his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, whose generosity in giving some of the original fittings for the House I should also like to acknowledge.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, in view of recent legislation regarding thermal insulation of factories, what information the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has published to help factory owners to apply up-to-date methods of improving the heat insulation of their buildings.

Her Majesty's Stationery Office has published a handbook, "Thermal Insulation of Buildings," giving the results of heat transmission tests carried out over a number of years at the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. This publication gives full details of alternative methods of heat insulation and their cost for many different types of construction.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether Her Majesty's Government will report on the results of research to find new uses for steel.

The British Iron and Steel Research Association, in collaboration with steel companies, has already made a major contribution in the development of a process for manufacturing steel coated with a layer of polyvinyl chloride. This coating is extremely adherent and durable, and will enable steel to be used for a number of purposes for which it is not suited untreated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to ensure that so far as possible Welsh roofing slates are used in public and local authority building in Scotland.

Each authority must choose for itself the materials to be used for its building work. Where costs are satisfactory, my Departments raise no objection to the use of slates for roofing. I have no doubt that where there are not sufficient Scottish slates available, recourse will be had to the use of slates from Wales and other parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that many tenants are now faced with large rent increases and wishing to challenge such increases in the courts, find they cannot do so because of the high legal costs involved; and, in view of these facts, whether he will take immediate action additional to the present legal aid scheme to ensure that such people shall not be deprived of the right to the protection of the law.

Legal aid is available in civil actions in the Court of Session and the Sheriff Court, provided that the applicant's means are not above a certain level and that he has good grounds for taking or defending the action. I have no reason to think that the scheme is inadequate, in relation to cases such as the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that private landlords are increasing the rents of houses in Prinlaws, near Leslie, Fife, by as much as from 500 to 800 per cent., that many of these houses are over 100 years old, and that many are occupied by old-age pensioners who are unable and unwilling to pay such increases; and what steps he now intends to take to prevent this.

As has already been explained to the hon. Member. I have no standing to intervene in this matter. I can only repeat the suggestion that, if they have not already done so, the tenants concerned should take legal advice on the question whether the Rent Restrictions Acts apply to their tenancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the rate contribution per ratepayer and per head of population in the City of Dundee was in 1939 and in the most recent convenient year, respectively.

The rate contribution (excluding domestic water rate) per head of population in Dundee was £4 5s. 10d. in 1938–39 and £12 19s. 2d. in 1956–57. The estimated amount of assessments to be collected in 1957–58 is £13 2s. 4d. per head. The rate contribution per ratepayer is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that accommodation is provided for families threatened with eviction under the Rent Act, 1957; and what advice he can give to such families.

I do not accept the view that the Rent Act will result in widespread evictions. Tenants should seek professional advice and enter negotiations with the landlord.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what parts of Scotland are not yet covered by tuberculosis eradication orders; and how soon he expects Scotland's cattle to be completely free.

The only part of Scotland not yet covered by tuberculosis eradication area orders comprises the counties of Aberdeen, Angus, Banff (part) and Kincardine. I expect to declare this area to be an eradication area on 1st March, 1959, and an attested area before the end of 1959, when all Scotland would for practical purposes, be free of bovine tuberculosis.

asked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received protesting against stag hunting; and what was the nature of his replies.

I have received a small number of representations, but I prefer not to give details of my correspondence.

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech made by the Minister of Housing at Hampstead on Saturday, 22nd February, 1958, relating to the reletting of decontrolled houses, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal gave on my behalf on Wednesday last.

asked the Prime Minister on what date, in the week commencing 23rd February, he received a request to meet a deputation to discuss the effects of the Rent Act, 1957; and what was the nature of his reply.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on my behalf yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to provide alternative use for the building now occupied by the Cardiff, Birmingham Small Arms factory; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on 27th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recommendations he received from the Cinematograph Films Council before he decided to make no change in exhibitors' quota requirements for the year commencing 1st October, 1958.

None. My right hon. Friend consulted the Cinematograph Films Council but their view was that they should make no recommendation because of the uncertainties about the future of Government action affecting the volume of British film production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what advice or criticism he has received in respect of ensuring an increased demand for our motor cars to the United States of America.

British car makers are themselves responsible for stimulating the overseas demand for their products. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 12th December, 1957, they have been very successful in the United States market. Exports in January 1958, achieved the highest monthly level ever recorded. In accordance with normal practice, any points of interest made to the Board of Trade are passed on either to individual manufacturers or the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders as appropriate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the importation of umbrellas from Hong Kong has varied during the last three years and our export of these goods to all markets has expanded; and how far the importation of umbrellas and similar articles has adversely affected British production.

Statistics of the current production of umbrellas in this country are not available, but my information is that the industry is running smoothly at present. The following are the figures of imports from Hong Kong and United Kingdom total exports:

asked the President of the Board of Trade why front axles for four-wheel-drive vehicles cannot be exported to the Soviet bloc and China when they are required as replacements for vehicles previously supplied to those countries; and when he proposes to simplify the embargo list by removing such anomalies.

We are not refusing to licence components for light four-wheel drive vehicles of the type which United Kingdom firms have latterly been exporting to the Soviet bloc and to China. The applications which we have rejected concerned axles for more powerful vehicles of a type which is still subject to embargo.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, under the rules relating to Purchase Tax on Group 20 goods, false beards and moustaches are liable to tax at 30 per cent., whereas if each hair of such beards or moustaches is separately waved or shaped and separately threaded to a backing designed to be gummed to the face, they become not chargeable; whether he will consider putting an end to this anomaly at an early date; and what has been the revenue for each of the past three years in respect of Purchase Tax on false beards and moustaches.

From his study of Notice No. 78, my hon. Friend must be aware that the articles ruled to be not chargeable are those used by the theatrical profession. It is in no way anomalous to distinguish them from toys and requisites for amusements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that, whereas stockings are only subject to Purchase Tax at 5 per cent., stocking substitute liquids are chargeable at 90 per cent.; whether arrangements can be made to reduce the taxation on the latter to the same rate as for stockings at an early date; and what has been the revenue from Purchase Tax on stocking substitute liquids in each of the past three years.

I am aware of the differential in rates, but I cannot satisfy my right hon. Friend's requests for information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Purchase Tax exemptions given in the case of such items as finger stalls, wrist and ankle supports cannot be extended to caps for projecting ears, at present chargeable as items of haberdashery, and to chin straps for correcting double chins, which are chargeable at 90 per cent. under Group 31; whether he will now consider permitting greater latitude in this matter; and what has been the amount of revenue received from Purchase Tax during the last year for which figures are available on caps for projecting ears and chin straps for correcting double chins.

Surgical appliances have been exempted, but I see no reason why this should be extended to articles designed merely as beauty aids or to improve the appearance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for the financial year 1956–57, the estimated total amount of monies allowed for Income Tax and company tax reliefs for advertisement expenses; what amount he estimates would accrue to the Treasury if he instituted a 5 per cent., 10 per cent. and 20 per cent. advertisement tax, respectively, on all these claims for advertisement expenses; what would be the estimated increase in the Treasury revenue if all claims for tax reliefs on advertisement expenses were disallowed; and whether he will consider adopting one of these proposals in his forthcoming Budget.

I regret that the information sought in the first three parts of the Question is not available. As to the final part, I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce the necessary legislation to prohibit industrial companies from using public money in furtherance of, or against, a political party's activities.

I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take steps to end the discrimination which occurs under present planning legislation which imposes stricter limits on the size of posters which may be displayed outside church premises than those imposed on other commercial premises; and whether he will introduce amending legislation so that churches shall have the same rights as other persons.

My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the church authorities are dissatisfied with the limits of size placed on advertisements which may be displayed on church premises without express consent. There are no limits of size on posters which may be displayed with the express consent of the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that a number of research institutes and industrial establishments in the Thames Valley use radio isotopes; and what precautions are taken to avoid a dangerous load of contamination coming from disposal of contaminated material in the river.

Discharges from the Atomic Energy establishments at Harwell, Aldermaston and Amersham are restricted by authorisations to a level at which a lifetime consumption of drinking water would not exceed the permissible limits recommended by the Medical Research Council. Other discharges are relatively small, but they are subject to control under the Public Health Acts and the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951. The authorities administering these Acts locally have access to expert advice from my Department. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that these precautions are adequate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has yet received the result of the survey conducted by his regional officers to assess what has already been done to rid the coal-mining areas of colliery spoil-heaps and what they think could now be done; to what extent he is now prepared to consider a number of the large heaps to be tackled under planning control as a pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement

The survey has been completed and outline schemes have been suggested for improving the appearance of twelve spoil heaps selected from coalfields other than the West Riding. Similar schemes are being suggested by the West Riding County Council. The improvements include levelling of prominent features, grading of slopes and planting. My right hon. Friend is arranging to discuss the schemes with his noble Friend the Minister of Power and the National Coal Board and he hopes to make a statement after these discussions

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many building preservation orders made under Section 29 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, have been confirmed.

One hundred and eleven orders made by local authorities have been confirmed by my right hon. Friend or his predecessors; six or these are no longer effective. The 105 orders in force cover 341 buildings.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the Government's new policy in regard to the harsh employment by certain landlords of their right to give notice to quit under the Rent Act, 1957, what action he will take to safeguard the position of Mrs. McNamee, of 165, Islington, Liverpool 3, who has been given notice to quit after living 57 of her 70 years in the house, and details of whose case have been sent to him.

The correspondence sent me by the hon. Member shows that the landlords wish to obtain possession in order to convert the premises to industrial or business purposes. Such a change of use would require the permission of the planning authority, which, I understand, has not yet been sought. In Circular 94/52 planning authorities were reminded of the importance of preventing the loss of housing accommodation and were advised that planning permission could be refused for the conversion of housing accommodation to another use even when that use is fully in accord with the plan.I am sure that Liverpool Corporation as planning authority will bear this in mind in dealing with any application for change of use in the present case; and I am sending to them a copy of the hon. Member's Question and of this reply. Any landlord who has given or is thinking of giving notice to quit with change of use in mind would be well advised to consider again the offer of a new tenancy to the sitting tenant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) now that he has had experience of the use being made of the power given to landlords by the Rent Act and which has called for a rebuke from him, if he will give a clearer explanation of what he has in mind if they ignore his appeal condemning the abuse of the Act;

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has now been taken by landlords in response to the new Government policy regarding the reletting of decontrolled premises; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Members to my statement in the debate yesterday.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what financial assistance he proposes to give to local authorities who decide to acquire by purchase houses where tenants are faced with eviction under the Rent Act, 1957.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what additional financial assistance he is prepared to give to the Corporation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to rehouse families who are to be evicted in October, 1958, under the Rent Act, 1957.

I do not think that local authorities need additional financial assistance for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what provision is available in London for homeless families; how many such families are now being care for; and what plans he has for increasing this accommodation.

This is a matter which also affects my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, whom I have consulted. Homeless families in the County of London who fail to solve their housing problem by their own efforts may get temporary help in one of two ways. The L.C.C. and the Metropolitan Borough Councils, as housing authorities, between them hold 39 properties to provide short-stay accommodation for such families, 739 families can be accommodated, and on 31st December last there were 391 families in occupation. The L.C.C. as welfare authority also provide temporary accommodation for 26 families and for about 110 mothers with their children. At present I understand that 26 families and 90 mothers are in occupation. It is for the housing and welfare authorities to keep the position under review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a full statement about the progress of slum clearance in Wales, giving particulars of the number of slum or condemned houses already demolished, the number demolished in the past year, and his estimate of the number to be demolished in the next twelve months.

8,075 houses were demolished or closed in Wales up to the end of 1957 under the local authority slum clearance programme. The number for 1957 was 1,363. I cannot give a firm estimate for 1958, but the number will exceed that for 1957.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses have been erected by Welsh local authorities for occupation by old people in each of the last three years; and what is his estimate of the number to be erected in Wales during the next twelve months.

During the last three years Welsh local authorities have built 400, 199 and 243 one-bedroom bungalows. These are not provided exclusively for old people, but are, of course, especially suitable for them. I cannot give a firm estimate for 1958, but the number is likely to show a considerable increase over 1957.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) on what dates he last invited the Central Housing Advisory Committee to advise him on under-occupation and vacancies; and what were the dates of the reports on these matters;(2) on what dates he last invited the Central Housing Advisory Committee to advise him on overcrowding and closing and demolition orders; and what were the dates of the reports on these matters;(3) if he will state the date on which he last invited the Central Housing Advisory Committee to advise him on any matter in connection with the execution of the enactments relating to housing and the terms of reference of such inquiry.

The Central Housing Advisory Committee has in recent years made a number of reports which refer in part to all of these matters, although no report was limited to these subjects alone. I am sending the hon. Member a note of the relevant reports. In addition, the discussions at the regular meetings of the Committee cover many aspects of housing and often bear on these problems.A sub-committee is at present inquiring into the general problems of housing management. Its terms of reference are:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give the date and the number of the most recent Statutory Instrument making provision with respect to the constitution and/or procedure of the Central Housing Advisory Committee.

S.R. and 0. No. 1240 of 1945, dated 2nd October of that year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which British Colonies, Protectorates or Trusteeship Territories have the services of experts from the United Nations Technical Assistance Board; and how many experts are serving in each Colony, Protectorate and Trusteeship Territory.

Under the expanded programme of technical assistance United Nations experts are serving in British dependent territories as shown in the table below. The figures in the third column show the number of World Health Organisation experts provided for in the approved Technical Assistance Board Programme for 1958, some of whom are not yet in post.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of voters in each community registered for the forthcoming elections in Tanganyika.

In the five constituencies where elections are to be held this year 28,629 voters have been registered. In the other five, where elections are due in 1959, 8,204 voters have so far been registered. As the elections are on a common roll, the registration form makes no provision for recording the race of an applicant. The most that can be said is that Africans greatly outnumber all other communities together.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now initiate discussions with representatives of the Cypriot people about the future of Cyprus.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) on 19th December last. The hon. Member will also recall the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 18th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what proportion of the originally appointed scientifically qualified staff is still with the Nature Conservancy.

Almost three-fifths.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what sporting rent was received by the Nature Conservancy in their last financial year.

£21 15s.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, in view of the recognition by the Treasury of reserve wardens as a departmental class peculiar to the Nature Conservancy, what increase in staff of the conservancy he expects during the current year; and what will be the estimated cost of this increase.

The pay and conditions of service of reserve wardens of the Nature Conservancy have recently been reviewed. Owing to the staffing requirements of reserves recently acquired, the number of full-time wardens will have increased by five during the current financial year 1957–58. Taking account of the new salary scales, the estimated increase in the total cost of wardens? pay, etc. as compared with 1956–57, is £4,109.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the general lack of knowledge and control of the solids-not-fat milk test, if he will arrange that milk quality and rejection should be on butter-fat standard only, the freezing test being used to cover adulteration.

I am advised that representatives of both milk producers and distributors on the Joint Milk Quality Control Committee are generally satisfied with the present arrangements for ascertaining the percentage of solids-not-fat in milk. It would not be in the interest of human nutrition to ignore the solids-not-fat content of milk and to test only for butterfat.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the figures showing the number of men employed in the brick-making industry in North Staffordshire in 1956 and at the latest available date.

Statistics of employment in local areas are obtained in respect of the end of May only in each year. At end-May, 1956, the estimated total number of male employees in employment in the bricks and fireclay goods industry in North Staffordshire was 3,600. The corresponding figure for end-May, 1957, was 3,300.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building workers are now unemployed in Swindon.

Seventy-six at 17th February, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the numbers of men and women, respectively, up to the latest convenient date, unemployed in the County of West Sussex, indicating their respective trades; and how these figures

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that regional hospital boards have had serious cuts in their estimates for 1958–59, and that it has created a crisis in so far that many hospital management committees may have to reduce their services to the public; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

The sums made available to the boards—subject to the approval of Parliament—for hospital running costs in 1958–59, while falling well short of the boards' own requests, are substantially higher than their probable expenditure this year. My right hon. and learned Friend has asked them, in planning the most economical use of the sums available, to avoid curtailment of, or serious detriment to, services for patients; and he is satisfied that he can rely on their co-operation in achieving this result.

In view of the large amount of work involved in extracting the figures, I have given figures for February, 1953, and February, 1953, and February, 1958, only in the table below.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that as a result of his veto on the pay increase to radiographers a crisis has arisen affecting the future of the Whitley Council machinery for hospital staffs' salaries and conditions; and what action he proposes to solve this problem.

No. I am not aware of any crisis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made in carrying into effect the agreement between Herr Krupp and Great Britain, the United States of America and France, under which Herr Krupp agreed to dispose of certain coal and steel undertakings by 4th March. 1959.

As my right hon. Friend informed the House on 16th December, holdings worth some £5·3 million have been disposed of. Information about the other Krupp holdings subject to disposal procedures is expected to be included in the information about outstanding deconcentration measures which the Federal Government have undertaken to provide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have taken place under Section 66 of the Post Office Act, 1953;(2) how many convictions have been secured in prosecutions under Section 66 of the Post Office Act, 1953.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will state the nature of his Department's contribution to the International Geophysical Year.

Firstly, Skylark rockets are being launched, which carry up to 150 lb. of instruments to heights of 100 miles, or more. In this way, condi? tions in the upper atmosphere will be studied, and in addition measurements made of radiation from the night sky, the earth's magnetic field and other physical phenomena. The firing programme has started and four successful launches have already been made at Woomera; future firings will also include launches from our range in Wales. This work is being done in collaboration with university research groups, through the Royal Society.Secondly, our scientists have played a prominent part in tracking the Russian Sputniks and recording the signals from them. From this information, we have established an orbit prediction service on the second Sputnik.All the data we obtain will be transmitted to the International Geophysical Year authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now state when the construction of the Staines by-pass is likely to commence.

I hope to publish before the end of this month a draft order setting out my proposals for alterations to side roads affected by this by-pass. If there are no serious objections to this order and no special difficulties in the acquisition of land, construction could begin towards the end of this year and be completed before the end of 1960.