asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in all cases before granting permission for boxers who are aliens to enter this country to box for a purse prize in transferable sterling or dollars, he will discuss with the British Board of Boxing Control and the boxing promoters concerned the advisability of hard currency being made available for this purpose.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider abolishing Purchase Tax and replacing it by a progressively increasing advertisement tax based upon a 5 per cent. tax for all monies spent on advertising up to £100 per annum and an additional cumulative 5 per cent. tax for every £100 above the first £100.

My right hon. Friend will consider any suggestions made to him, but I cannot anticipate his Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now inform the House of the arrangements made with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for payment by the Federal German Government of the support costs of the British forces in Germany.

This matter is still under consideration by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and I have as yet nothing to add to my reply on 27th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will restore the £50,000 limit for the Capital Issues Committee's permission for investment.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the conclusions of the Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Council is an independent body, and the views it expresses are its own. Its conclusions cover a wide field, on which statements of Government policy are made from time to time in the ordinary course of business.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total amount so far authorised for improvement grants; and how much of this figure relates to farm buildings.

Up to 31st January the estimated cost of improvements formally approved in England and Wales was £3,949,000, of which £3,341,000 or 85 per cent. relates to farm buildings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will increase the annual amount spent on research on farm buildings above £3,226 to ensure that the best possible use is made of grants under the Agriculture Act, 1957.

The annual amount spent on research specifically directed to the problems of farm buildings depends mainly on the number and type of worthwhile projects coming forward. The estimated outcome for 1957–58 is £5,750; the estimate for 1958–59, £6,795. But of course my hon. Friend will realise that the figures relate only to problems of special interest to agriculture financed by my Department. Certain other specialised work is carried out at the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering and elsewhere; and agriculture also benefits from building research of a general character sponsored by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent developments during the present epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, taking account of the ever increasing use of artificial insemination or as a result of recent research, led the Government to different conclusions from those of the Departmental Committee on Foot-and-Mouth Disease, 1952–54, Command Paper No. 9214.

The main policy recommendations of the Gowers Committee were accepted by the Government. They endorsed the measures which have been taken in this country since 1892 to stamp out foot-and-mouth disease whenever it occurs. The Committee also made many detailed recommendations about the arrangements to control the situation following an outbreak of disease. Most of these recommendations have been adopted, but a few were not found to be practicable and some require legislation. There have been no recent developments which have led the Government to conclusions different from those set out in the Committee's Report. I made a very full statement on this subject in the House yesterday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the average consumption per head of population of meat, fish, bacon, butter, and tea has varied as between the years 1951 and 1957.

Only provisional estimates are as yet available for 1957. These indicate that the average consumption per head of population has risen since 1951 by about 75 per cent. for carcase meat; 26 per cent. for bacon and ham; 14 per cent. for butter and 21 per cent. for tea, while the consumption of fish has declined by about 15 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote a knowledge and understanding of work study in agriculture; and what facilities he intends to make available for training the agricultural community in work study.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking in conjunction with the National Farmers' Union to encourage work study schemes in the industry.

My Department and other agricultural organisations are taking part in arrangements for training in the application of work study techniques. Those bodies and the agricultural departments have been glad to take advantage of facilities generously provided by a large commercial concern for an intensive course now being held to train a limited number of specialists. I wish to develop work study activities in close association with the National Farmers' Union and other agricultural organisations within the limits of the resources available to the advisory services.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a protest to the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia against the proposed ban on the importation of livestock into Australia from the United Kingdom in view of the fact that there is no record of blue-tongue disease in this country.

I understand that the proposal is to impose a total prohibition of imports of ruminant animals from all sources so as to give Australia complete protection against blue tongue. This matter has now been taken up with the Australian authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he had with the agricultural and horticultural interests concerned before making the Importation of New Potatoes and Raw Vegetables Order, Statutory Instrument, 1958, No. 312.

None. This annual Order, made under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, is concerned solely with preventing the introduction of pests and diseases and differs only in minor respects from the corresponding Order made last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the recent severe climatic conditions have caused a rise in food prices.

Apart from affecting the price of some home-grown vegetables for a day or two, the recent cold spell has not had any noticeable effect on food prices generally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals alternative to the main recommendations of the Heneage Committee have now been agreed by the associations concerned with land drainage; and, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction in north Lincolnshire over drainage rates, if he will now make a statement on the Government's proposals in this matter.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any statement on the discussions now proceeding with the associations concerned with land drainage on possible alternatives to the main recommendations of the Heneage Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now able to make a further statement of Government policy in relation to the marketing of horticultural produce.

I had hoped to be able to make a further statement on this subject this month, but consideration of this complicated matter is taking longer than I expected. I am as anxious as hon. Members that the Government's decisions should be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what periodical steps are taken by the Nature Conservancy to check that areas scheduled by the conservancy as Nature Reserves or as being of special scientific interest still harbour the flora or fauna or both that originally prompted such scheduling.

Nature Reserves declared under Section 19 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, are inspected at frequent intervals by the Nature Conservancy's Wardens and Regional Officers. It is not at present practicable for the Conservancy to undertake a periodical check of all sites which have been notified as being of special scientific interest—except for sites which are under negotiation as additional Nature Reserves or which come up for review over the quinquennial revision of County Development Plans. Investigation is, however, made when any special need for it is brought to notice, and if the hon. and gallant Member has any particular instance in mind, the Nature Conservancy will be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent Treasury sanction is sought when authorising grants made by the Nature Conservancy to other bodies such as the Wildfowl Trust.

As a grant-aided body he Nature Conservancy is not required to obtain Treasury sanction for individual research grants made to other bodies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether his attention has been called to the statement in the latest Annual Report of the Nature Conservancy that it has no financial margin available for dealing with accumulated arrears of work or to meet adequately the expenditure needed for proper maintenance and management of its Reserves; and whether he will advise the Conservancy that it should curtail its expenditure in other directions in order to achieve these ends.

The Nature Conservancy has already agreed to do this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he is satisfied that the Nature Conservancy is not engaged in activities which are outside its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend is satisfied that the Nature Conservancy is not engaged in activities which are outside its terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how many acres of woodland are owned by the Nature Conservancy; and how many of these are managed on a plan which has the approval of the Forestry Commission.

Just under 3,000 acres of woodland are owned by the Nature Conservancy. The answer to the second part of the Question is "None, Sir".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent the study of the trend in the rabbit population undertaken under the auspices of the Nature Conservancy duplicates the work of other Government Departments.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the need in Nigeria for large sums of capital to finance schemes of slum demolition, rebuilding, irrigation and industrial development; and what steps he is taking to assist in the financing of such schemes there.

I am aware that large sums are required for this and indeed for many other purposes. In the five-year period 1955–60, in addition to some £3 million invested by the Colonial Development Corporation, over £18 million of Colonial Development and Welfare money has been made available to the Nigerian Governments to supplement their own resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what conclusions have been reached by the Committees set up at the Nigerian constitutional conference to make recommendations on the federal electoral law, minorities, finance and other subjects; and when the constitutional conference will be resumed to consider the reports of the Committees.

The Committees on Federal Electoral Law and the Central Marketing Board reported to an ad hoc meeting of the Conference which met in Lagos from 4th to 6th February. The report of the meeting is now being prepared and should be published before very long. The Minorities, Boundaries and Fiscal Commissions are not likely to submit their reports for some months, and until they are received no date for the resumed Conference can be fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations for the integration of Malta with the United Kingdom including the provisions for financial aid.

Following correspondence with the Prime Minister of Malta, my right hon. Friend will be resuming discussions with him in London in a day or two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will define the powers and duties of Mr. R. Robertson, the superintendent of the Port of Pepel in Sierra Leone, in relation to the giving or refusing of leave to ships' officers, crews and passengers to go ashore and to visitors to come aboard ships calling there.

He is empowered, under Section 4 of the Marampa Railway and Harbour Works Construction Ordinance, to forbid any person to use or enter upon the jetty and shipping installations at Pepel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the regulations prohibiting the holding of African political meetings in Kenya have now been relaxed.

The temporary ban on African political meetings in Nairobi was raised on 20th February. It will still be necessary to obtain the usual permit under the regulations governing any public meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now repeal the Aden Clubs Registration Ordinance, 1949.

The Governor has not informed my right hon. Friend of any movement in the Aden Legislative Council towards repealing this Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about application to publish Al Ettihad in Aden; and if he will also lift the ban on Al Ba'ath.

The Governor of Aden has refused both applications he received for licences to publish a newspaper named Al Ettihad.Concerning

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Zanzibaris are being held in prison on St. Helena for offences committed elsewhere; what offences these were; how lone the sentences are in each case; when and where they were sentenced; and why they are serving their sentences on St. Helena.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of civil servants employed at the Colonial Office in 1937, 1947 and 1957, respectively.

The figures are 422, 1,245 and 1247.Three factors have been chiefly responsible for the increase in staff since before the war:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to increase the number of inter-denominational schools in Uganda to enable children to attend the school nearest their homes rather than travel long distances to the nearest appropriate denominational school.

All grant-aided schools in the Protectorate are inter-denominational and it is Government policy to establish inter-denominational schools where there are good reasons for doing so. It is left to local education authorities to decide in the light of local circumstances what type of primary school is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action the Governor of Uganda proposes to take to secure the fullest registration of voters in Buganda, in view of the refusal of some chiefs to act as registration officers.

On 4th March the Lukiko passed a resolution in which the view is expressed that there should be discussions on certain constitutional issues before preparations are resumed in Buganda for direct elections to Legislative Council. The Governor is discussing the situation thus created with a delegation from the Lukiko today and I await his report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further action is contemplated, arising from the suggestions by the Governors of British North Borneo and Sarawak for closer association of those territories and Brunei; and whether any draft proposals have yet been made for preliminary consideration.

No further action is contemplated until local opinion has had time to express itself. Action will depend on that opinion. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to be able to make a statement about constitutional progress in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

I do not expect to be able to make a statement for some time. The Government of Nyasaland is not likely to formulate its proposals before the late summer. The Government of Northern Rhodesia hopes to be able to keep to the timetable requested by the Legislative Council and to make a statement towards the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement upon the recent meeting held between Sir Arthur Benson, Governor of Northern Rhodesia, and Harry Nkumbula, President of the African National Congress, regarding the Congress plan for proposed constitutional advance in the Protectorate.

This meeting was one of a series of confidential consultations which the Governor has been holding locally with representatives of all groups in Northern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now remove the uncertainty about the future constitutional position of the Bahamas by recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission to make an early investigation of such constitutional and other changes as may be needed.

I have nothing to add at this stage to my reply to the hon. Member on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many pounds of fruit are imported annually by the Government of Nyasaland; what fruit crops are at present grown by European farmers; and what encouragement is given by the Government to African farmers to grow fruit for commercial purposes.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th February, 1958; Vol. 582, c. 29], supplied the following information:Imports into Nyasaland are controlled by the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and accordingly statistics are not kept by the Nyasaland Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what encouragement or instruction is given by the Government of Nyasaland to African farmers and peasants to practise water control in order to prevent excessive flooding of rice crops.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th February, 1958, Vol. 582, c. 29–30], supplied the following information:All African rice growers in Nyasaland are given advice on water control. They are generally encouraged to adopt a method which involves the construction of surface bunds so as to exclude flash floods from the area of cultivation while allowing late application of water to extend the season.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonies and/or Protectorates are key points in the defence of the Commonwealth and whose inhabitants cannot therefore anticipate full self-government without adequate safeguards for British and Commonwealth interests.

It is the declared policy of Her Majesty's Government to promote the greatest practicable measure of self-government in each of the Colonial Territories. Defence is one of many matters which would have to be taken into account when measures of self-government for any particular Colonial Territory were under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the growing unemployment in Northern Ireland; what consultations he has had with the Northern Ireland Government with a view to preventing a further decrease in employment there; and if he will make a statement as to his future plans for increasing employment in this area.

The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland recently discussed with me the employment situation in Northern Ireland and I am in consultation with my colleagues about any ways in which it may be possible to assist the Government of Northern Ireland in dealing with it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of prosecutions and convictions, respectively, in the Metropolitan area during 1957 for larceny of goods and parcels traffic conveyed by British Railways; and if he will in future include these figures with his published statistics.

I regret that the information in my possession does not enable me to distinguish between larcenies of this kind and others. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to distinguish these particular offences in future volumes of the Criminal Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department upon what date regulations prohibiting a person who has served a prison sentence from visiting or corresponding with a convicted prisoner were made; and whether he will make a statement regarding revision of these regulations.

The relevant Standing Order, the present form of which dates back to 1933, is one of a series noted for review in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to amend the law with a view to excluding from the electoral roll the members of all communities within the United Kingdom which are exempt from the operation of taxation, local taxation and licensing laws.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants were admitted last year respectively from Malta, Cyprus, India, Pakistan, Southern Ireland and the Caribbean countries.

Precise figures cannot be given because British subjects are free to enter and leave this country without formality, but the net inward movement is roughly estimated to be as follows:—Malta 500, Cyprus 1,500, India 6,500, Pakistan 5,000, Caribbean countries 23,000. As regards the Irish Republic, I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of 'Trade on the 27th February to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance and criteria are given to the Metropolitan Police in determining when a vehicle is, or is not, causing an obstruction.

The question of what constitutes an obstruction is one of law, and falls to be determined by the courts. The Commissioner of Police is responsible for enforcing the law and the instructions he issues, in this as in other operational matters, are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tests are applied to refugees from Communist countries before they are accorded asylum in this country.

Applications for political asylum are dealt with on their merits in the light of the facts of the particular case. If it is reasonable to suppose that the result of refusing admission to a foreigner would be his return to a country in which, on grounds of political opinion, race or religion, he would face danger to life or liberty, or persecution of such a kind and extent as to render life insupportable, he would normally be admitted unless there were positive grounds for considering him undesirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is on his instructions that police dogs have recently been brought in to control crowds and public assemblies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) and others on 27th February.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what African women hold the post of assistant education officer in Bechuanaland Protectorate; what are their wage scales; and what is their avenue of promotion.

The post of Assistant Education Officer, either male or female, does not now exist in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has considered the statement by Sir Reginald Huish, a copy of which has been supplied to him, made at the recent conference of the British Commonwealth Ex-Service League in Canberra, to the effect that the attitude of Her Majesty's Government on migration was embarrassing the Australian Government; and what steps the High Commissioner is taking to remove misunderstandings and publicise the active and constructive assistance on the problems of migration which his Department is giving.

I have seen the statements made by Sir Reginald Huish, and have no reason to suppose that they represent the attitude of the Australian Government.The High Commissioner is continuing to take all appropriate steps to ensure that Her Majesty's Government in Australia and the Australian people are fully informed of the migration policy of Her Majesty's Government in the United. Kingdom and of the steps which are taken to assist migration between the United Kingdom and Australia.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, while in Australia, on many ocasions assured the Press and public that it is the wish of the Government and people of this country to help Australia to remain British in blood and in tradition. Certain suggestions were made to him during his tour and these are being carefully examined.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action he is taking to improve secondary education in Bechuanaland Protectorate with particular reference to the supply of specialist teachers and to their rates of pay.

Two schools in the Bechuanaland Protectorate offer full secondary education. These are Moeng College and St. Joseph's College, Khale. At present both have vacancies for pupils. Each school receives an annual grant from the Government and benefits generally from the Colonial Development and Welfare expenditure on education in the Protectorate.Moeng College has, in the past, experienced difficulty in obtaining specialist secondary staff but I understand that the staff position is reasonable at present. St. Joseph's College employs Mission staff. At Moeng College professionally qualified graduate teachers are paid on a scale which compares favourably with that paid in the Union of South Africa to teachers similarly qualified.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that British African leaders from the Bechuanaland Protectorate must carry passes by order of the South African Government when going on official business to their own High Commissioner in Mafeking, and that this practice has been in force since 1st July, 1957; and whether he will take the matter up forthwith with the Union Government with a view to ending this state of affairs.

Section 12 of the Union of South Africa Natives (Urban Areas) Consolidated Act, as amended in 1955, and in force from 6th May, 1955, requires all Africans, other than those born in the Union or in South-West Africa, to obtain permission from the Union authorities before entering an urban area in the Union. The Native Commissioner, Mafeking, grants permits for visits to Mafeking by Chiefs and leading Africans from the Bechuanaland Protectorate. The Native Commissioner co-operates with the Resident Commissioner in doing this. The procedure is well understood by the Chiefs and is working smoothly.Occasions for official visits to Mafeking by Protectorate Africans are greatly reduced now that meetings of the African Advisory Council and Standing Committee are held in Lobatsi.

asked the Minister of Education the number of teachers seconded by each Welsh education authority separately, for a third-year course of training of any kind during the years 1956–57 and 1957–58 respectively.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to reduce the size of classes in primary schools.

Since 1953 the average size of classes in primary schools has fallen each year. Our policy is to continue this trend, but also to see that staffing standards in the primary schools are not disproportionately improved at the expense of the secondary schools, where the number of pupils is increasing rapidly. That is why I have found it necessary to encourage the transfer of teachers from primary to secondary schools.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes to issue rules to local education authorities to enable them to decide whether or not students should be treated as dependent on their parents, or as independent, for grant assessment.

I am considering the need for giving local education authorities further guidance on this matter.

asked the Minister of Education the general principles operative in his sanction or rejection of proposals by local education authorities to make maintenance allowances for school pupils over the compulsory school age; and, in particular, to what extent net parental income is allowable in assessment for that purpose.

The principles are fully set out in the Report of the Working Party on Educational Mainten-

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools were built and how many additional school places provided in Manchester between July, 1945, and 31st October, 1951; and what were the corresponding figures between 1st November, 1951 and 31st December, 1957.

The information is as follows:ance Allowances and in Circular No. 327. I am sending the hon. Member copies.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if his attention has been drawn to the burden which will fall on agricultural workers as a result of the increased National Insurance contribution, bearing in mind the amount of their average weekly wage; and if he will make such provision as will ensure that the contributions payable by any employed person shall not exceed a stated percentage of the weekly wage.

The increased National Insurance and National Health Service contribution represents a rather smaller proportion of average earnings of men agricultural workers than the 1946 Act contribution did of such earnings in 1946. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said on the Second Reading of the National Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1957. I would in particular invite the hon. Member's attention to the references which my right hon. Friend made to the value of the benefits to which these contributions entitle the contributor.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated cost of the nationalised hospital service prior to the introduction of the National Health Service Act, 1946; what was its cost in the first complete year of the working of the Act; and the cost in the latest available year.

Complete information about the revenue expenditure on hospitals in England and Wales before the introduction of the National Health Service is not available; an approximate estimate, based on such information as is available, of the cost shortly before 1948 is that it may have been of the order of £110–£120 million per annum. Capital expenditure is not known but, as it was affected by post-war restrictions, it was not large.The actual expenditure in the years 1949–50 and 1956–57 was:—

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish information as to the number of cases of injuries caused by airguns treated in eye hospitals in recent years.

I regret that it has not been possible to obtain comprehensive information about this, as most eye hospitals do not keep separate records of injuries caused by airguns. What figures there are suggest that the number of such injuries has not changed significantly in the last three years.

asked the Minister of Health the cost of drugs used in hospitals during the first complete year of the operation of the National Health Service, and in the latest available year.

Expenditure on drugs and dressings in hospitals in England and Wales in the financial years ended 31st March, 1950, and 31st March, 1957, was £7·4 million and £11·7 million respectively. Information is not separately available about drugs but for the year ended 31st March, 1957, expenditure is estimated to have been about £8·7 million.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the Royal Commission on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration to submit its Report.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. L. Jeger) on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reports he has received from his inspectors regarding the looting of the wreckage of the Bristol Wayfarer which crashed on Winter Hill, near Horwich; and if he will make a statement.

The examination of the wreckage is proceeding but so far no evidence of looting has come to the notice of the inspector of accidents. A police guard was placed on the wreckage as soon as practicable and has not yet been removed. Police inquiries have found no evidence of looting.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is proposed to supply the air station at Stretton, near Warrington, with up-to-date radar equipment, so that low-flying aircraft can be spotted and warned of their danger in time to prevent crashing.

The Air Traffic Control and radar station at Stretton is due to be transferred during the next two years to a new site in the Manchester area, where it will be operated with entirely new equipment.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet received the report on the Dagenham rail disaster.

No. The inspecting officer's investigations are not yet completed.

asked the Attorney-General when the next Statute Law Revision Bill will be introduced.

It is hoped to introduce a Statute Law Revision Bill shortly.

asked the Attorney-General if, in the next Statute Law Revision Bill, he will propose the repeal of the Blasphemy Act, 1697, Sections 1 to 7 of the Sacrament Act, 1547, and of those portions of the Acts of Uniformity of 1548 and 1558, and of the Criminal Libel Act, 1819, particulars of which have been sent him by the hon. Member for Greenwich.

No. It would not be appropriate to deal with these Acts in a Statute Law Revision Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that apprentices in the building industry in North Staffordshire now find it almost impossible, after their training is completed, to find employment as craftsmen; and what advice he proposes to give the local education committee in Stoke-on-Trent on the advisability of continuing this apprenticeship training scheme.

Building trade apprentices are normally liable for National Service on completion of their training, and have the right to subsequent reinstatement. I am, however, aware that there is at present unemployment among building craftsmen in North Staffordshire. As regards the second part of the Question, the responsibility for the operation of the apprenticeship scheme rests with the building industry itself and it would not be appropriate for me to give advice about it to the local education authority.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many men were employed as woodworkers on house building in Stoke-on-Trent on 1st February or nearest date, in the years 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957, respectively;(2) how many men were employed in the roofing tile industry in Stoke-on-Trent on 1st February, or nearest date, in 1955, 1956 and 1957, respectively;(3) how many men were employed as bricklayers in Stoke-on-Trent on 1st February, or nearest date, in 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957, respectively.

Statistics of the numbers in different occupations in the building industry are not available for any date after end-May, 1955. The following table shows (a) the numbers of carpenters and bricklayers in employment in the building industry in Stoke-on-Trent at end-May, 1954, and 1955, together with the total numbers in all occupations in the building industry at those dates and in 1956 and 1957, and (b) the numbers in the bricks and fireclay goods industry in the area at the same dates. The former figures relate to the building industry as a whole and it is not possible to say how many were engaged on house building. The manufacture of roofing tiles is not distinguished separately in the statistics and the figures for the whole of the brick, etc. industry—including tiles—are therefore given. Figures are not available for any date other than end-May in each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made for British observers to attend meetings of the new Joint Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community, the Common Market and Euratom; and who will represent this country.

No special arrangements have yet been made. Until the new Assembly has adopted its rules of procedure it will not be known to what extent its meetings will permit the attendance of observers.The head of the United Kingdom Delegation to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community will be attending those parts of the Assembly's inaugural session on 19th March which are open to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of recent developments in connection with closer working between the European Coal and Steel Community, the Common Market and Euratom, whether the British representative to the European Coal and Steel Community will also be accredited to the other two organisations.

No site has yet been chosen for the institutions of the European Economic Community and of Euratom, and until this question is settled any decision by Her Majesty's Government on how relations with these Communities may best be conducted would be premature. Meanwhile, Her Majesty's Embassies in the European capitals where meetings of the institutions of the European Economic Community and of Euratom are taking place are naturally in touch with these organisations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many premises and what acreage of land were held by his Department on requisition at the latest convenient date and one year previously.

The information is as follows:

31st December, 1957, 13 premises, 630 acres of land.

31st December, 1956, 15 premises, 850 acres of land.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many men in the Royal Air Force are trained to drive vehicles towing hydrogen bombs; and what is the special character of such training.

Vehicles for carrying nuclear weapons can be driven by any suitably qualified M.T. driver after short local familiarisation training on the specialist vehicle concerned. There is a considerable number of drivers in the R.A.F. with these basic skills though there are relatively few at any one station. I should like to make it clear that movement of nuclear weapons or their components by road is kept to a minimum and never involves the movement of completely assembled weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what instructions are given to officers and men of the Royal Air Force as to disclosing to the public the location of stocks of hydrogen bombs.

Officers and airmen have standing instructions not to disclose to unauthorised persons information on official matters; this naturally includes the location of stocks of nuclear weapons

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present balance of payments position as between Great Britain and Benelux; and to what extent this position has varied since the percentage of trade between the United Kingdom and Benelux countries has been further liberalised.

So far as our visible balance of trade is concerned, the value c.i.f. of our imports exceeded the value f.o.b. of our exports and re-exports in 1956 by £12 million. In 1957 there was a corresponding excess of exports and re-exports over imports of £10 million. The difference in the position between these two years was, however, due for the most part to changes in the level of imports and exports of goods other than those which were liberalised in this period. I regret that statistics of our balance of payments as a whole with the Benelux countries, which depend not only on our balance of trade but also on invisible transactions, are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what space is given at the Brussels World Fair to illustrating the nature of Zero Energy Thermonuclear Assembly and to indicating the benefits which could flow from this achievement.

The British Government pavilion, for which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is responsible, will contain a model of the Zero Energy Thermonuclear Assembly. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is arranging an exposition of the ZETA experiment in the International Hall of Science. The Board of Trade stand in the British Industrial pavilion will contain an exhibit describing United Kingdom research and development for the use of atomic energy for power generation, one section of which will deal with ZETA.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what financial contribution his Department is making towards the cost of British exhibits at the Brussels World Fair; and what proportion this is of the total estimated cost.

My Department's direct financial contribution consists of the provision, at an estimated cost of £40,000, of a display staged in association with the Atomic Energy Authority. No complete figures are available of the amount being spent by private exhibitors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total area occupied by British exhibits at the Brussels World Fair; what is the area for which his Department is responsible; and what has been given over to other exhibitors.

The area of the British Government section, for which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is responsible, is about 70,000 sq. ft. In addition there will be a British industry section of 140,000 sq. ft., including a pavilion providing over 60,000 sq. ft. of indoor exhibition space. Within this pavilion my Department is responsible for 2,333 sq. ft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of his policy that Great Britain are prepared to provide Mexico with some capital investment, what is the nature of the proposed investment; and if he will make a statement.

During my visit to Mexico I told the Mexicans that we hoped commercial and industrial interests would explore the opportunities for investment in Mexico. There would be no Exchange Control objection to the transfer of funds for suitable projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the concern felt by shareholders in the public company Canadian and English Stores Limited; and whether he will appoint a committee of inquiry to investigate matters affecting this company.

The shareholders have not approached the Board of Trade, and I understand that there is a shareholders' committee which is in touch with the directors. I see no reason to intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the Article or Articles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade under which this country is permitted to impose quantitative restrictions on the imports into this country of flower bulbs from the Benelux countries for balance of payments reasons but not to take similar action with regard to imports of bacon.

Article XII permits quantitative restrictions on imports so far as they are necessary to safeguard the balance of payments. At present the re-imposition of restrictions on imports of bacon could not be justified from those countries which are members of the G.A.T.T.