asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what part of his time is devoted to co-ordinating the overseas information services and what part to improving the Government's public relations at home.

Such time to one or the other as is needed.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give a detailed list of the countries with which official arrangements have been made for the supply to them of television films and material; and which of these arrangements are on the basis of a reciprocal exchange of material.

Arrangements have been made through official channels for the supply on a regular basis of information films to television stations in the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentine Republic, Colombia, San Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Iraq, Bermuda, Cyprus and Hong Kong. In addition, the following countries frequently televise information films under official arrangements: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France and Algeria, West Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland. None of the arrangements so far made is on a basis of reciprocity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the Irish Republic has recently found it necessary to subsidise the exports of Grade A bacon to Great Britain to the extent of £5 to £6 per cwt., and that the cost of this is estimated at £1,325,000 per year; and whether, in view of the fact that the subsidising of Irish bacon exports to Great Britain is partially responsible for increasing the amount of subsidy which has to be paid to British producers of bacon pigs, he will arrange for this matter to be discussed at an early date with the Irish Government with a view to mutually beneficial action.

My right hon. Friend is aware of these arrangements, but imports of bacon from the Republic are well below pre-war level and as they form a very small part of our total supply—less than 3 per cent. in 1957—their effect on the subsidy to British producers is marginal. In the circumstances my right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary to discuss the matter with the Irish Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what authority Mr. Vernon Gattie and Mr. M. A. L. Cripps, D.S.O., sat as Chairmen of the Disciplinary Committee of the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board and fined growers for alleged offences under the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Scheme, 1950, before they had been appointed as required by the Agricultural Marketing Acts, 1931 to 1949.

Under the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Scheme, 1950, the Board is authorised to appoint Chairmen of Disciplinary Committees. It has so appointed Mr. Gattie and Mr. Cripps. The Scheme also empowers the Disciplinary Committees to impose penalties on producers who contravene provisions of the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that, under present conditions, the pork market in this country is supplied almost entirely by home-produced pigs, whereas the bacon market is supplied more by Continental than by home pigs, he will take steps to introduce a separate calculation for the subsidy on bacon pigs to operate when bacon prices fall below a stated level, such level being based on the price of imported bacon.

The reasons which I gave in my letter of 21st February to Sir James Turner, circulated with my reply to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann) on 27th February, for not accepting the proposal for a separate guaranteed price for bacon pigs and other pigs apply equally to the suggestion made by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the number of bacon carcases put into cure during the five weeks of December were 47,541 as against 51,153 for the same period in 1956–57, whilst during the four weeks of January the numbers were 45,365 as against 48,644 for the same period in 1956–57; and on what grounds the recent deputation to him from the farming industry was informed that the bacon-curing industry is obtaining a larger number of pigs than it did a year ago.

The weekly average numbers of pigs put into cure by bacon factories in Great Britain during December, 1956, and 1957, and January, 1957, and 1958, are as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend except that the figure for December, 1956, is 46,900 pigs and not 51,153 pigs.The figures referred to at the meeting with representatives of the farming and bacon curing industries, however, related to the total numbers of pigs delivered to bacon factories in Great Britain during these periods. The weekly average figures are:

	1956–57	1957–58
December	66,000	74,800
January	65,000	69,700

A substantial proportion of the pigs obtained by bacon factories are used for purposes other than the production of bacon, and these cannot be ignored in any discussion of the state of the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken in the endeavour to control infection spreading from the Continent of foot-and-mouth disease.

Collaboration between European countries is maintained through the Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease set up by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and also the International Office of Epizootics in Paris. The United Kingdom plays a full part in the deliberations of both bodies. Any steps designed to reduce the weight of infection on the Continent lessen the risk of spread to this country. Measures taken here include the prohibition or regulation of the import of live animals, meat and other animal products, hay and straw, and therapeutic substances. The disposal of hay and straw used in packing imported goods, and of imported meat wrappers and containers, is also regulated. Reminders are given to farmers of the special need to be on the alert for the arrival of the virus from the Continent through factors that are in themselves uncontrollable, such as bird or wind-borne infection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to permit greater agricultural representation on river boards, so that the farmers' interests may be fully safeguarded.

Representation on river boards was carefully considered when the River Boards Act was introduced in 1948 and I have no reason to believe that agricultural interests are not taken fully into account by boards as now constituted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to speed up the rate of dealing with and approving applications for grants under the Farm Improvement Scheme, in view of the present considerable delays which are holding up the farmers at the time of year when it is most convenient for them to get ahead with actual improvements.

In England and Wales, up to the end of February, just over two-thirds of the 24,500 applications received had either been formally decided or were ready for approval subject, in some cases, to the production of satisfactory plans, specifications and tenders by the applicants. This shows that no unreasonable delay is occurring. I am, however, taking steps to speed up action in those counties where the volume of work is greater than had been expected.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows drawing the 10s. basic pension have qualified for the National Insurance widow's pension as a result of the reduction in the length of marriage qualification under the Family Allowances and National Insurance Act, 1956.

About 1,700.

asked the Paymaster-General the approximate amount of new capital investment made in the coal industry since nationalisation.

During the eleven years from nationalisation to the end of 1957 the National Coal Board invested about £661 million.

asked the Paymaster-General in view of the fact that coal stocks are now around 24 million tons and that disused quarries are being used to store coal, if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that coal shuld be sold at a price reduced by the estimated amount of the cost of storage in order to encourage greater domestic sales.

No. The increase in stocks has been almost entirely in coal of sizes too small for domestic use.

asked the Paymaster-General his estimate of the effect that the development in the next five years of the atom as a new cheap source of home-produced power will have on employment in the coal mines and the further large-scale capital investment in that industry.

The contribution of nuclear energy and oil is essential towards meeting our growing needs of energy but coal will remain the foundation of our fuel economy. We must therefore have an efficient coal industry producing the grades required in the appropriate quantities and at reasonable prices, and large-scale capital investment will continue to be needed for this purpose. As for employment, I have no reason to disagree with the long-term estimates of the Board in its programme "Investing in Coal" although these must, of course, be kept under review.

asked the Minister of Supply how many men and women are now engaged at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole; how many will have to leave each month; how long warning they will get; how many have established status and will be offered alternative Government work; what arrangements, in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour, are now being made for the future employment of the others in anticipation of their dismissal; and what is to happen to the factory.

The numbers are 660 and 110, respectively. Of these, 310 men and 50 women are established. The factory is to be closed in the autumn of this year and the detailed plan for its run-down will be notified to the workpeople's representatives in the near future. The formal period of notice will be two weeks, but the warning period will be much longer. There is already close liaison between the factory management and the local Ministry of Labour officials, who will set up an office in the factory in order that the workpeople affected may be given advice and help about other employment.A number of commercial firms have expressed an interest in the factory and negotiations for its disposal are proceeding satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is fully satisfied that all possible steps are taken by his Department to guard against rings operating to corner surplus stores, and also to minimise the possibilities of selling at give-away prices; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is fully satisfied with the precautions taken but disclosure of their nature might impair their efficacy.

asked the Minister of Supply if the principal recommendations contained in the Prime Minister's statement of May, 1956, regarding disposal of surplus stores have now been fully accepted by his Department; and to what extent he is satisfied with the present method.

Yes; and my right hon. Friend is fully satisfied with the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he received the report made by the Council of Europe Study Group for the Development of Africa; by whom the United Kingdom was represented in this Group; what consideration has been given to the suggestions that a Bank for African Development and an African Investment Fund should be set up; to what extent these specific suggestions were considered in Accra last month; and on what lines it is proposed that further urgent consideration of these and kindred proposals should proceed.

The report was received in October last. The study group was composed of independent experts serving in a purely personal capacity. One member, Mr. Arthur Gaitskell, was from the United Kingdom.As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 19th February, the Committee of Ministers has not yet received any recommendations for consideration by Governments. The report is still under consideration by a Committee of the Consultative Assembly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the arrangements made by the Government of the Republic of Ireland to subsidise bacon exports to Great Britain; and whether he will investigate the possibility of taking action in this matter under the provisions of the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957.

I am aware of these arrangements. If an application for a countervailing duty on Irish bacon is made to the Board of Trade it will be considered in the usual way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that certain personal credit firms in Scotland are selling goods on 80-weeks' credit; how far this is contrary to the provisions of paragraph 7 (1) (a) of Statutory Instrument, 1947, No. 430, the Hire-Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1957; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

The Board of Trade has completed investigations into the personal credit trading carried on in Scotland. The papers have been passed to the Scottish criminal authorities who are considering them.

asked the Minister of Defence the broad classification of weapons with a nuclear capability under development or in service on 1st January, 1958, and those that will be in development or service on 1st January, 1959, 1960, 1962, and 1965, respectively, separate classifications being shown for weapons under development and those in service.

I have been asked to reply. It would not be in the public interest to disclose this information.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of continued misunderstanding, he will make a further statement with regard to the manning and operation of the sites in this country to be used for the rockets supplied to us by the United States of America.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me this further opportunity to explain that the missiles will be manned and operated by units of the Royal Air Force. The Agreement with the Government of the United States provides that missiles shall not be launched except by a joint positive decision of both Governments. The nuclear warheads which will, in accordance with the provisions of United States law, remain in American custody, will be kept in an unarmed condition so that there can be no risk of a nuclear explosion; and the weapon is designed in such a way that it would be impossible for it to be launched accidentally.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the annual educational expenditure per European child and per African child, respectively, in Basutoland and in Swaziland.

Following is the information asked for in respect of the year 1957:

—	Basutoland	Swaziland
(a) Total Government expenditure on education of European children	£5,150	£50,535
(b) Number of European pupils	158	1,087
(c) Expenditure on education of European children per head	£32	£46·6
(d) Total expenditure (including Government and Missions) on education of African children	£470,000	£106,329
(e) Number of African pupils	117,000	26,583
(f) Expenditure (including Government and Missions) on education of African children per head	£4	£4

The numbers of European children in Basutoland and Swaziland being so much smaller than the numbers of African children the overheads for educating a European child are necessarily higher than those for educating an African child.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, how many squadrons of Canberra B(I)8 are in service with the Royal Air Force.

It would not be in the public interest to give these details about the composition of the front line.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what Royal Air Force aircraft, other than the Canberra Mark B(I)8, has a nuclear capability at present.

In addition to the Valiant and Vulcan, a substantial number of Canberras of different marks now in service have a nuclear capability.

asked the Minister of Health how many health visitors were in the service of the Northern Hospital Regional Board, in 1950, and in 1958 at the nearest convenient date.

None. Health visitors are employed in the service of local health authorities.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what sites within the Borough of Hastings are owned by the Crown Commissioners; and what plans and steps they are taking to develop them.

The only vacant sites in Hastings owned by the Crown Estate Commissioners are those formerly occupied by the Albany Hotel and the Gilder Sleeves Hotel. Negotiations are proceeding for the development of both these sites by the erection of new buildings.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the cost of a telephone call from London to the leading European cities.

The charges for telephone calls from London to various European cities are as follows:

—	Call of 3 minutes (minimum)		Each additional minute
	s.	d.	s.	d.
Amsterdam	7	0	2	4
Bonn	10	0	3	4
Brussels	7	0	2	4
Copenhagen	12	6	4	2
Lisbon	22	0	7	4
Madrid	18	6	6	2
Marseilles	9	0	3	0
Milan	12	6	4	2
Moscow	21	0	7	0
Oslo	16	0	5	4
Paris	6	0	2	0
Rome	18	6	6	2
Stockholm	16	0	5	4
Vienna	18	0	6	0
Zurich	10	0	3	4

These charges relate to ordinary calls, that is, calls booked to a telephone number abroad. If a personal call, or a call at a fixed time, is required, there is an additional charge equal to the charge for one minute of conversation in the service concerned, A personal call of three minutes is thus charged as for four minutes, a personal call of four minutes is charged as for five minutes, and so on. A personal call can be made in any service, but fixed time calls are allowed in certain services only.There are no periods in the day during which cheap rates apply.A complete list of Post Office charges for telephone calls from the United Kingdom to countries in Europe is contained in the "Post Office Guide".

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the latest times for posting letters in leading European cities so as to ensure delivery by first post in London on the following weekday morning and vice versa.

The latest times for posting letters at London Chief Office—King Edward Street, E.C.1—in order to secure first delivery on the following weekday morning in some of the more important European cities are shown in the schedule below. They are naturally subject to variation.

SCHEDULE
LATEST POSTING TIMES
		To secure first delivery next day in major European city centres
City			Latest posting time at London Chief Office, E.C.1
			1st-19th April	From 20th April
Amsterdam		…	8.30 p.m.	9.30 p.m.
Athens	…	…	5.0 a.m.	6.0 a.m.
Berlin	…	…	10.0 a.m.	11.30 a.m.
Brussels	…	…	9.30 p.m.	9.30 p.m
Copenhagen		…	12.15 p.m	1.15 p.m.
Frankfurt		…	1.15–6.0 p.m. according to the day	2.0–7.0 p.m. according to the day
Helsinki	…	…	12.15 p.m.	1.15 p.m.
Istanbul	…	…	5.0 a.m.	6.0 a.m.
Lisbon	…	…	5.0 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday,	6.0 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
			Sunday	Sunday
			10.0 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	11.30 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Madrid	…	…	6.0 a.m. excluding Tuesday, Thursday	6.0 a.m. excluding Tuesday, Thursday
			11.0 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday	12.15 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday
Oslo	…	…	12.15 p.m.	1.15 p.m.
Paris	…	…	9.30 p.m.	9.30 p.m.
Rome	…	…	5.0 a.m.	6.0 a.m.
Stockholm		…	12.15 p.m.	1.15 p.m.
Vienna	…	…	5.0 a.m.	6.0 a.m.
Zurich	…	…	12.15 p.m. Thursday	12.15 p.m. Thursday
			1.15 p.m. excluding Thursday	2.0 p.m. excluding Thursday

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements whereby television sets in recognised deaf and dumb missions, clubs, and institutes may be used on payment of a licence fee of £3 in lieu of the fee at present charged of £4.

The present charge of £4 for a combined television and sound licence comprises a licence fee of £3 plus a duty of £1. I regret that I cannot agree to reduce the licence fee from £3 to £2 in the cases mentioned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the deaf and dumb are unable to derive any benefit from sound radio, he will make arrangements whereby they may obtain licences for the use of television sets only at a reduced fee.

I regret that I cannot make the concession for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which maritime nations have informed Her Majesty's Government that they are using systems of cargo preferences to foster or maintain their national fleets; and what representations have been made to them by his Department.

Her Majesty's Government are not usually notified of cargo preference arrangements by the countries which operate them. Representations have been made to the Governments of the following countries, in which such arrangements are known to exist: Argentina, Brazil, Ceylon, Chile, Colombia. Egypt, India, Poland, Roumania, Spain, Turkey, United States of America and Uruguay.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations have been made to the United States Government about the application of the 50 per cent. rule to shipping cargo movements arising under the operation of the Export Import Bank of Washington.

Her Majesty's Government have made clear to the United States Government their opposition to all forms of cargo preference, especially those extending into the field of normal international trade.