asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which counties he expects to produce the largest quantities of carrots; what effect upon them he anticipates will result from the coming into operation on 1st March of Statutory Instrument, 1958, No. 312; what warning of his intention to lay this order was given to the areas concerned; and what reactions he obtained from them.

The principal carrot-growing counties are Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The new order makes no change in respect of carrots without foliage, which form the great bulk of imports. The effect of the changes in respect of carrots with foliage is not expected to be great. It is not the practice to consult with producers or traders on orders such as this which are concerned solely with the administrative, technical and scientific problems of preventing the entry of pests and diseases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific proposals he has to help small farmers.

As my hon. Friend knows, small farmers receive substantial help from the agricultural guarantees and production grants. Their position is considered most carefully by the Govern-men at each Annual Review. It would be wrong for me to anticipate the outcome of the Annual Review now proceeding, and I must ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the Annual Review statement that I hope to make shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the present period of quarantine on dogs entering the United Kingdom was first fixed; what is the present purpose of continuing this abnormally long period of quarantine; and whether in view of the constant improvement and greater security of modern preventive medicine, he will consider shortening this period.

The general requirement of six months' quarantine for dogs entering Great Britain from abroad dates from at least the beginning of the century, but with some variations before 1918. This quarantine period is necessary because the incubation period for rabies can last as long as six months and symptoms of the disease may not appear until towards the end of it. Rabies is a terrible and fatal disease and, like his predecessors, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to take the risk involved in shortening the period. Inoculation of dogs does not confer complete immunity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the irregular voting procedure at the last annual General meeting of the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board on 19th March, 1957; and if he will appoint an independent person to act as chairman at the next annual general meeting.

I am aware that it has been alleged that a vote cast at the annual general meeting of the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board was not properly authorised. I am also aware that the Tomato and Cucumber Board say that, if this vote had not been cast, the result would have been the same. I have no power to appoint a chairman for the annual general meeting of the Board. The scheme provides that the chairman of every meeting of registered producrs shall be appointed by the Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the kind, quantity and value, specifying any subsidy paid thereon, of British agricultural and horticultural produce exported in the last three years, and the main countries of destination.

Particulars of the kinds, quantities, values and destinations of our agricultural and horticultural exports are published in the Trade and Navigation Accounts, and I would particularly refer my hon. Friend to pages 125–138 of the Accounts laid before the House on 24th January. No export subsidies are paid, but most agricultural products are subject to price support under the Agriculture Acts, 1947 and 1957. I regret that no information is available as to the production subsidy paid in respect of the small quantities of produce actually exported since not all categories of products exported are eligible for price support and many are processed. Horticultural products are not subject to price support.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to promote the destruction of sparrows which are becoming a serious menace to farmers, particularly in Kent.

My advice to farmers who are seriously troubled with sparrows is to shoot them or to put down sparrow traps.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest date on which a batch of records from his Department was transferred to the Public Record Office.

28th January, 1958.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the date of the last destruction schedule made under the Public Record Office Act, 1877, relating to non-current records in his Department.

19th April, 1952, for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and 14th May, 1953, for the Ministry of Food.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Guatemalan Consulate in Belize has recently offered twenty-five scholarships at various educational institutions in Guatemala to candidates in British Honduras; whether the Government of British Honduras were consulted by the Government of Guatemala on this subject; and what steps he is taking to see that adequate educational facilities within the British Commonwealth are available to students from British Honduras.

Yes. The Government of British Honduras were not formally consulted. I am indeed fully aware of the desirability of providing educational facilities within the British Commonwealth for students from British Honduras, and during the last three years a total of sixty scholarships have been made available from colonial development and welfare and other sources at institutions within the Commonwealth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why police armed with Thompson sub-machine guns, tear-gas bombs, and other arms, were ordered into the Hong Kong naval dockyards on 1st March.

After discharge notices had been given to twelve employees in the dockyard, a group of workers forced their way into the room of a civilian officer and demanded that the notices be torn up. A large crowd surrounded the office outside. The officer refused and was detained in a threatening manner. When the crowd persistently ignored requests to disperse, the dockyard authorities asked for police assistance. This was given and order was restored without the use of force. The police carried no Thompson submachine guns or other automatic weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to ensure that the provisions of Clause 53 of the Malta Constitution of 1947 with regard to religious freedom are being observed.

The observance in Malta of the principle of religious freedom, which is enshrined in Section 53 of the Constitution Letters Patent, is broadly the same as it has been in the 150 years of the British connection. Throughout this period the question has from time to time arisen whether these principles were being fully observed. I have recently received new representations on this subject which I am considering in the light of the assurances given, with the support of all sides of this House, about the position of the Roman Catholic Church in Malta and the need to ensure that the rights of members of the Protestant Churches are properly safeguarded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Lord Hives' Commission has reported yet on industrial possibilities in Malta; what other commissions on economic matters have been sent out to Malta since Mr. Mintoff became Prime Minister; and how many of their recommendations have been made public.

I understand that the Industrial Advisory Committee of which Lord Hives is Chairman has not drawn up a formal report, though I believe that certain recommendations have been discussed in correspondence between the Committee and the Maltese Government, within whose responsibility this matter lies. The only Commission on economic matters with whose appointment the United Kingdom Government has been concerned was the Economic Commission composed of Sir George Schuster and Sir William Scott which visited Malta in 1956 and 1957 to report on the Maltese budgets for 1956–57 and 1957–58. Their reports were published as Command Papers Nos. 329 and 332.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports he has received from the Imperial Government in Malta, or from reliable business sources, as to the possibility of oil being produced in any quantity in Malta in the reasonably near future.

It is known that the terms of a prospecting licence have now been agreed between the Maltese Government and the British Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the average weekly wage paid to agricultural labourers in the Kikuyu areas of Kenya; and what is the average weekly wage paid to African industrial workers in the Nairobi district.

Since most Africans are paid monthly, I will, if I may, give the figures on that basis. The average monthly wage of Africans employed on European farms in the Kikuyu areas is 62 shillings 50 cents. In Nairobi City the average wage of African industrial workers is 115 shillings and in Nairobi District outside the City 83 shillings 50 cents per month. These figures include an element for housing and also for rations where these are supplied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the recent announcement by the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya to growers that licences for growing this crop will be reduced in the coming year, whether he will make a statement.

I should prefer not to make any statement without consulting the Governor of Kenya. I will do this and then circulate any relevant information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a crowd of Somalis stoned the District Commissioner's car when he took the hon. Members for Edmonton and Billericay to Berbera on 4th March and that a number of arrests were made by the police; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. A crowd of some 500 Somalis, mainly young men, but including some women and children, attempted to stop the passage of the District Commissioner's car, in which the two hon. Members were travelling, by lying in the roadway. The police intervened and some stones were thrown at the car. The police dispersed the crowd using seven tear gas grenades. No casualties or damage to property occurred and the situation in the town returned to normal within two hours. The known ringleaders have been arrested and criminal prosecutions are being instituted. The hon. Members continued successfully with their programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the outcome of discussions between the Governor of Uganda and the Buganda Lukiko regarding the arrangements for the direct elections in Buganda; and what methods the Uganda Government now propose to secure the fullest possible registration of electors.

The Governor met a delegation from the Lukiko last Thursday and is having further discussions with them today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many detainees in Cyprus have been released since 1st December; how many are still in detention; and how many of those released have been rearrested.

Between the 3rd December and 10th March, 168 detainees were released, leaving about 650 still in detention. I am asking the Governor for the information requested in the third part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what number of volunteers from Turkey and Greece, respectively, have entered Cyprus in the last six months to take part in propaganda; and whether he will take steps to prevent any further infiltration.

I do not know of any such persons having entered Cyprus in the last six months. The Governor, of course, has powers to control the entry and secure the departure of persons whose activities are judged likely to be prejudicial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether African secondary schools in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland receive a grant for library books; and what was the amount of these grants last year.

I am asking the two Governors for this information and, when I have it, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what financial help the Government of Northern Rhodesia are giving to the three teaching centres of the Copperbelt Technical Foundation; how many students have been enrolled in 1957; and how many of these are Europeans and how many Africans.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "None." Higher education in the Federation is the responsibility of the Federal Government and I am not therefore in a position to answer the last two parts of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number of workers from the Pongwe Sisal Estate in the Tanga province of Tanganyika who have been tried; what were the charges against them; and what is the number who have been imprisoned.

Police investigations into allegations of intimidation by leaders during a strike on the Pongwe Sisal Estate resulted in five arrests on 19th September last year. Charges against one man were withdrawn, however, and two others were later acquitted. Two were found guilty on charges of unlawful assembly, common assault, intimidation and besetting and were imprisoned.A further strike followed the arrests, and some 700 men from the Estate attempted to march to Tanga. About 400 strikers, who reached the boundary of Tanga Township, there ignored repeated requests to disperse and warnings that otherwise they would constitute an unlawful assembly. The police were eventually obliged to use tear gas and make baton charges. In the course of this action 48 men were arrested, but charges against 21 were subsequently withdrawn. The remainder were found guilty on charges of unlawful assembly; of these 25 were imprisoned and two fined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the large number of private colleges in Mauritius; what powers are vested in the Director of Education to inspect the conditions of these colleges with particular reference to their teaching staff and the fees charged; and how far it is his intention to institute a system of registration.

Yes. Detailed provision for the control and inspection of schools and for the compulsory registration of all schools, school managers, teachers and fees is made in Part III and the Second Schedule of the Education Ordinance, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the provisions which are now made to enable prisoners on their release from Her Majesty's prisons to find employment to be relieved of the stigma of prison sentence and to gain or regain the positions of useful citizens.

The responsibility for helping ex-prisoners to reinstate themselves in society as useful citizens rests primarily with the Central After-Care Association, the National Association of Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies and Local Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies. In finding employment for discharged prisoners the prison and aftercare authorities work closely with the Ministry of Labour, whose placing officers visit prisons regularly to interview prisoners who need their help. Both in finding employment and in dealing with other resettlement problems the after-care authorities receive great assistance from probation officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to ensure that disabled police officers who are paid an element of their disability pension under the National Insurance Scheme are allowed the benefit of the recent increase in pension in the same way as other contributors to the insurance scheme.

It has been the policy of successive Governments that the amount of injury awards under public service pensions schemes must take account of any National Insurance benefits for which the pensioner is eligible in respect of the same injury. Police officers' pension contributions have been reduced to take account of this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate legislation to amend Section 12 of the Licensing Act, 1872, so that magistrates may be empowered to impose fines greater than the maximum fine of 10s. for drunkenness and £2 for drunken and disorderly behaviour.

I am examining small statutory fines, including those to which my hon. Friend refers, with a view to bringing them into line with the present-day value of money. I cannot say, however, when legislation on the subject will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been made of the possible effects of an attack upon Great Britain by means of thermo-nuclear bombs; and whether he will have these published.

Comprehensive and continuing studies of this problem have been in progress since the results of the Bikini tests became available. Preliminary conclusions were published in the Statement on Defence, 1955 (Cmd. 9391). The results of later work have been and will continue to be incorporated in training material for the Civil Defence Services and information has been published in popular form, in the pamphlet "The Hydrogen Bomb". These reinforce the conclusion that in spite of the unprecedented destruction that would be caused by thermo-nuclear weapons much could be done to mitigate their effects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds he has refused the application of Joaquim Perez-Selles for political asylum in this country; and whether he is aware that if Selles, who is a Spanish anti-Fascist, is required to return to Spain he will almost certainly be exposed to most serious persecution for political reasons.

I have nothing to add to what I said in the debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on 6th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what evidence he bases the view that amending legislation to remove suicide and attempted suicide from the list of criminal offences would not be generally acceptable to public opinion.

What I said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 6th February was that I had no evidence that legislation for these purposes would be generally acceptable. Experience suggests that changes in the law on matters which involve religious and moral issues are likely to be contentious. But I have not closed my mind on this Question and am continuing to study it carefully and sympathetically. No doubt the hon. Member's Question will enable me to consider further the public reactions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to deal with the use of television in general elections and in by-elections so that a clear code is established and the spirit and intentions of the Representation of the People Act are maintained.

I understand that the television authorities have this matter under consideration, and they will no doubt in due course consult the main political parties according to custom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the £150 parliamentary election deposit, which was first introduced in 1918, needs to be increased to £325 to restore its purchasing value to the 1918 figure, he will introduce the necessary legislation to give effect to this proposal.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to introduce legislation, based upon the White Paper, Command Paper No. 9538, 1955, giving effect to the recommendations of the Nathan Report on Charitable Trusts, published in December, 1952.

I have this important matter under consideration, but I am not at present able to make any statement on the introduction of legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest date on which a batch of records from his Department was transferred to the Public Record Office.

The last transfer of Home Office records to the Public Record Office was made in June, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the date of the last destruction schedule made under the Public Record Office Act, 1877, relating to non-current records in his Department.

The last Home Office destruction schedule made under the Public Record Office Act, 1877, is the Home Office Eighth Schedule which was laid before Parliament on 26th January, 1955. It supplements and amends schedules submitted in 1944 and 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to chief constables with regard to police action in cases of attempted suicide; and when this guidance was given.

The practice of the Metropolitan Police, which was adopted in 1916 with the approval of the Secretary of State, is that where a person who has attempted suicide is brought to a police station and is fit to be temporarily detained the police ascertain whether he has any friends or relations willing and able to accept responsibility for him. If he has, a charge is not preferred unless there are special reasons for doing so, such as the commission of another crime, a previous attempt to commit suicide, definite indications of insanity, threats to renew the act or habitual intemperance. The Metropolitan practice was brought to the notice of chief officers of police in 1921.

asked the Minister of Education when he received the detailed proposals of the Middlesex County Council for a technical college at Uxbridge; and when he expects to give his decision upon them.

The schedule of accommodation for the first instalment of this project was received on 4th December last and approved on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Education what regulations made by him are now in force regarding the entry of secondary modern school pupils for external examinations.

The Schools Grant Amending Regulations No. 3, 1952, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied that research facilities in technical colleges are adequate as regards time, equipment, and laboratory space, to attract advance-level teaching staff; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think that all the 200 or more technical colleges engaged in advanced work need offer facilities for research, but there should be more which do, and the facilities could often be better. I have in Circular No. 336 drawn the attention of local education authorities to the recommendations of the Willis Jackson Committee on this point.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that apprentices and young men generally are able to attend evening classes and educational sandwich courses but that these are not available to young men and apprentices who go to sea; and if he will consider establishing a special correspondence course for these men who desire it and whose occupation precludes them from taking advantage of present facilities.

A number of correspondence courses, and also refresher courses to be taken between voyages, have for some time been available for young men entering or serving in the Merchant Navy.

asked the Minister of Education in how many schools expenditure allowed in respect of meals at schools has been recently cut; and what protests he has received from education authorities that this cut means that meals which have suffered from the cut are not adequate for growing boys and girls.

In none, so far as I am aware; the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what percentage the volume of United Kingdom exports has increased or decreased as between the two periods from July, 1945, to October, 1951, and from November, 1951, to 31st December, 1957, respectively.

The annual average rate of exports in terms of volume was approximately 40 per cent. greater in the second of these periods than in the first.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what communication he has received from the Canadian Government on the subject of joint negotiations with China for the resumption of greater trade; and, since unemployment is growing on both sides of the Atlantic, what steps he is proposing to take, by means of such joint negotiations, to increase Anglo-Chinese trade and so provide more work in Great Britain.

No suggestion has been received from the Canadian Government that we should undertake joint negotiations with China of the kind my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance he gave to British businessmen to exhibit at the Leipzig Fair; what observers were present from his Department; and what was the nature of the report he has received on this fair.

My Department is always ready to make available to interested businessmen any information it has about the Leipzig or other trade fairs. No officials attended the recent Fair, as the Soviet authorities did not grant the necessary visas, and I have not received a report on the Fair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing the type and value of goods imported and exported to the German Democratic Republic during the past year; and now these figures compare with the previous twelve months.

Yes. I presume the hon. Member is referring to Eastern Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the latest date on which a batch of records from his Department was transferred to the Public Record Office.

On the 4th March, 1958.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the date of the last destruction schedule made under the Public Record Office Act, 1877, relating to non-current records in his Department.

On the 26th February, 1952.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the fur of the Australasian red opossum, if undyed and in strips measuring not more than nine inches in length or one inch in width, is exempt from the 50 per cent. Purchase Tax charged on other furs; whether he will consider extending this exemption to the fur of other animals from other parts of the Commonwealth; and what is the approximate annual cost of the current exemption for Australasian red opossum fur.

Because the use of these strips is as shuttle-linings in the textile industry. On present information my right hon. Friend sees no need to extend this exemption. Its cost is negligible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason crucifixes and rosaries are subject to 60 per cent. Purchase Tax on jewellery; whether arrangements can be made for their exemption at an early date; and what is the present annual amount received in respect of purchase tax on such items.

Crucifixes and rosaries of the kind taxable under Group 26 of the Tax Schedule are not exclusively devotional articles. To exempt them would create unacceptable anomalies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason insoles made of fur skin are chargeable to Purchase Tax at 30 per cent. whereas if the fur has been removed from the skin the insole is exempt from such tax; and whether he will investigate this matter with a view to immediate action.

Because as a general rule fur articles have always been taxed at a higher rate than those not made of fur. But my right hon. Friend will bear this case in mind in his review of Purchase Tax anomalies.

asked the Chancellor or the Exchequer how far the £45 million European Payments Union surplus for February is due to the Royal Dutch capital issue and to other temporary financial factors; and how far this figure reflects the United Kingdom's real trading position with Europe.

The February surplus in European Payments Union was materially helped by capital movements from Holland associated with the Royal Dutch issue, and to that extent is exceptional. But the United Kingdom's monthly surplus or deficit in European Payments Union does not in general describe our trading position in Europe. It is affected by many other factors as well: in particular, the trade of the rest of the sterling area with O.E.E.C. countries and transfers to or from countries which are not members of O.E.E.C. are important. Details are shown in the relevant table and notes in the Balance of Payments White Papers. Figures down to the end of 1957 will be published in the White Paper to be issued shortly.

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 the reply given on 6th March by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost of exempting from the oil duties motor fuel consumed by United States forces stationed in Great Britain in a full year.

It is not possible to make such an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many golden sovereigns have been minted in 1957 and since; for what purpose; and at what profit.

As regards the first and second parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) on 11th March; no sovereigns have been minted so far this year. The minting of sovereigns does not yield a profit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of Schedule A Income Tax rebate allowed in respect of maintenance and repair claims for single owner-occupied houses for the fiscal year 1956–57.

About £6 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the composition of every £ of tax paid by building societies as between Income Tax, Profits Tax, and Income Tax paid on shareholder's interest payments.

For 1956 about 3s. 3d. for Income Tax on undistributed profits, 1s. 3d. for Profits Tax and 15s. 6d. for Income Tax on interest paid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will abolish Profits Tax on building societies.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed persons in the area covered by his local offices in Lowestoft, Southwold, Beccles, Bungay, and Hales-worth, tabulated as to men, women, and adolescents, respectively.

1,231 men, 484 women and 203 young persons at 17th February, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the estimated number of employees in employment in Wales at mid-1950 and mid-1957, showing these figures as a percentage of the total figures for Great Britain.

At mid-1957 the estimated number of employees in employment in Wales was 936,000, representing 4·3 per cent, of the total figure for Great Britain. A precisely comparable figure is not available for mid-1950, but it is estimated that it was in the region of 907,000, representing 4·5 per cent. of the total figure for Great Britain at the same date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what Algerine Class minesweepers comprised the Fishery Protection Squadron at 31st March, 1956, 31st March, 1957, and what is expected to be the composition on 31st March, 1958; on which dates each ship was relieved by another ship; and on what dates it is expected the present ships of the squadron will pay off into Reserve.

The answer to the first part of the Question is as follows:Algerine Class Ocean Minesweepers in service with the Fishery Protection Squadron:(

asked the Minister of Health (1) under what Statutory Instrument or regulation it is authorised for the administration of a mental hospital to arrange for sickness benefit, due to a certified patient who is an inmate of that hospital, to be paid direct to the hospital instead of either to the patient himself or to the person nominated by him in accordance with the prescribed procedure for nominating such a person to whom benefit should be paid in respect of persons unable to act;(2) under what Statutory Instrument or regulations it is authorised for the administration of a mental hospital to arrange for sickness benefit due to a voluntary patient, who is an inmate of that hospital, to be paid direct to the hospital instead of to the patient himself.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to similar Questions addressed to him.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the average size of the hospital waiting list in England and Wales in each year since the National Health Service began.

I regret that average figures are not available. For the numbers on the waiting list at the end of each year, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wythenshawe (Mrs. Hill) on 28th January.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of his letter to M. Maroselli with regard to his decision not to accept the French poliomyelitis vaccine offered to him by the Institut Pasteur last autumn.

The text is as follows:26

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the net loss or gain of population in Wales due to migration for the years 1929 to 1938, and the years 1948 to 1957.

It is estimated that in the period from 30th June, 1929, to 30th June, 1938, the population of Wales and Monmouthshire decreased by some 210,000; allowing for a natural increase of some 70,000, the net loss due to migration was therefore of the order of 280,000 persons. In the period from 30th June, 1948, to 30th June, 1957, the population increased by some 40,000; allowing for a natural increase of about 80,000, the net loss by migration was therefore of the order of 40,000 persons.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) under what Statutory Instrument or regulation he is authorised to pay sickness benefit, due to a certified patient in a mental hospital, to the administration of such hospital instead of the beneficiary himself, or to the person who has been nominated by him in accordance with the prescribed procedure for nominating a person to whom benefit should be paid in respect of persons unable to act;(2) under what Statutory Instrument or regulation he is authorised to pay sickness benefit, due to a voluntary patient in a mental hospital, to the administration of such hospital instead of to the beneficiary himself.

In the case of a certified or a voluntary patient who is unable to act, and for whom the court has not already made an appointment, Regulation 17 of the National Insurance (Claims and Payments) Regulations, 1948 (S.I. 1948, No. 1041), authorises the Minister, upon receipt of a written application, to appoint a person to receive and deal with any benefit due on his behalf. A hospital management committee may constitute a person for this purpose. The Regulation does not prescribe any procedure for a beneficiary who is unable to act to nominate some- one to be appointed to act on his behalf, but where the wishes of a beneficiary are known, or there is a suitable relative willing to act, the Minister will normally make his appointment accordingly. In the case of a voluntary mental patient who is able to act, the sickness benefit is paid to him or to some other person at his request.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the latest date on which a batch of records from his Department was transferred to the Public Record Office.

27th February, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the date of the last destruction schedule made under the Public Record Office Act, 1877, relating to non-current records in his Department.

25th July, 1953.

asked the Minister of Works what is the latest date on which a batch of records from his Department was transferred to the Public Record Office.

27th September, 1955.

asked the Minister of Works what is the date of the last destruction schedule made under the Public Record Office Act, 1877, relating to non-current records in his Department.

12th October, 1955.