asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration has been given to regulating the growing practice of artificial insemination by donor.

As my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor announced in another place on 26th February, it is proposed to appoint a Committee of Inquiry. I am not yet in a position to add to that announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were in 1957 for plying for hire without a taxi-cab licence; and what was the maximum fine imposed.

I regret that this information is not available for England and Wales as a whole. There was one conviction in the Metropolitan Police District resulting in a fine of £2.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances, and in how many cases, police officers disabled on duty and retired on a disability pension were allowed the full benefit of the recent increase in benefit payable from the National Insurance Fund, without a corresponding reduction in the injury benefit from police funds.

A pensioner whose combined police and National Insurance injury awards already exceeded the minimum weekly income guaranteed to him by the police pensions scheme was eligible for the whole of the recent increase in National Insurance benefits without any reduction in his police award. Twenty-three of the thirty Metropolitan police pensioners concerned were in this position. I regret that information about other forces is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average net cost per week per prisoner of maintaining prisoners in His Majesty's Prisons during 1947.

Excluding the cost of new building, the average weekly cost per inmate was £3 3s. 3d. in the financial year 1946–47, and £3 5s. 1d. in 1947–48.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the 1957 average of gross weekly earnings for paid work by men serving prison sentences exceeding one year; and the comparable figure for women.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what proposals he has for the future establishment of a Legislative Council in Bechuanaland.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 20th March.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now sanction the rebuilding of St. Mary's School, Islington, on the site approved by the London County Council. in view of the fact that both the London Diocesan Board of Education and the London County Council regard the rebuilding of St. Mary's School as a priority.

In view of the many more pressing claims on our resources, my right hon. Friend cannot say when he will be able to approve a project of this kind.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that, owing to the unsuitable nature of the existing buildings, the sixth form of Tasker's High School for Girls is now having to meet in the Haverfordwest Liberal Club; and what steps he is taking to provide adequate new buildings for the school.

Yes. The Pembrokeshire Local Education Authority hopes to build some new classrooms this year, but I cannot say when it will be possible to replace the whole school.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent he proposes to encourage industry to admit additional apprentices over the next few years in order, eventually, to release trained personnel to be teachers in technical colleges.

If the recommendations of the Carr Committee are carried out, this should in the long run help to increase the number of people available for teaching in technical colleges, but my right hon. Friend doubts if there is any occasion for him to use this as an argument for industry to increase its intake of apprentices in view of the many more urgent reasons justifying such a policy.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent pre-apprenticeship courses exist in secondary schools; and to what extent it is his policy to encourage such courses.

A course closely related to a pupil's future work may sometimes be useful, but my right hon. Friend prefers to encourage the development of courses in general education which include substantial elements of English, mathematics, science and craft work. He considers that such courses are the best preparation for apprenticeship which the secondary schools can give and are giving.

asked the Minister of Education how he proposes to provide suitable day-release courses for young persons in employment in rural areas.

Experience shows that the need can be met by the provision of courses on one day a week or alternatively by continuous periods of equivalent length.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that in Circular 294, dated 4th October, 1957, entitled, "The Schools and Commonwealth and International Affairs," it is stated that the British Commonwealth is appropriately celebrated on 24th May, but that there is no reference to Empire Day, as such; and whether in view of the incongruity implied by this omission and the uncertainty of teachers in not knowing whether to emphasise Empire or Commonwealth, he will further encourage the conception of Commonwealth in an appropriate circular.

The answer to the first part of the Question is. "Yes." The circular referred to was carefully worded to indicate the importance of the term "Commonwealth" and its connotations and my right hon. Friend sees no reason at present to issue any further circular.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster at Luton on 23rd March relating to the provision of a new building to take the place of the Alexandra Children's Hospital. Luton, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

No statement of policy seems to be involved. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was dealing with the affairs of his constituency.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the United States Atomic Energy Commission has proposed to ration nuclear weapon tests on the basis of the amount of radioactivity released per year; to what extent the Medical Research Council has independently considered this idea; and what conclusions it has reached with regard to the eventual emergence of a safe workable system for atom and hydrogen bomb testing.

The hon. Gentleman is no doubt referring to Press reports of a statement before the Senate Disarmament Sub-Committee by Dr. Libby, who emphasised that he was speaking personally and not putting forward an official proposal. Her Majesty's Government devoted considerable study to this subject before proposing in the United Nations Disarmament Sub-Committee on 6th May last, that a committee of technical experts should be established to consider possible methods of limiting nuclear test explosions. The views of the Medical Research Council were taken into account.Unfortunately these proposals were rejected at the time by the Soviet Union.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD a list of the goods of strategic importance which should, therefore, not be exported to the eastern countries, which he intends to submit to the Paris Co-ordinating Committee, and the reasons why these items have been categorised as strategic.

No. Such lists are always confidential.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what consideration he has given to the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Swedish and Finnish butter;(2) whether Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will support Her Majesty's Government in New Zealand in their efforts, through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, or otherwise, to stop, or prevent, the dumping of foreign butter.

I am at present considering the evidence on applications for the imposition of anti-dumping or countervailing duties on imports of butter from Sweden, Finland, the Irish Republic and Austria. I am fully conscious of the importance attached to this matter in New Zealand, and the New Zealand Government know that I am dealing with it as rapidly as a thorough examination of the facts permits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of branch factories in the North Eastern Trading Estates that are attached to Scottish firms.

I am aware of two such cases and there may be others, but the business links of tenant firms are not always known to the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what rentals are received a year from the Government-owned factories in the North-East; how much the buildings have cost since the North Eastern Trading Estates were formed 21 years ago; and how much they have appreciated over this period.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Summary Statistical Statement published with the Trading Accounts and Balance Sheets 1956–57. The rent roll of Government factories in the North-East is there given as £840,471 for the year ended 31st March, 1957. The figure for the gross cost of these buildings, which include some built for war purposes and taken over from other Government Departments is not readily available, but the book value of the fixed assets at that date are shown as £16,437,225 after allowing for depreciation. No estimate is available of the current market value of these factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much capital has been spent in 1956–57, and 1957–58 in the North Eastern, Scottish and Welsh Development Areas, respectively.

In 1956–57 expenditure on all capital items by the Board of Trade was £773,637, £2,031,538 and £1,111,009 respectively. It is estimated that for 1957–58 the corresponding figures will be about £250,000, £940,000 and £530,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the latest figure of cotton yarn exported to East Germany.

In 1957, 213 tons valued at £295,135.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to provide an alternative user for the Llandaff North Light Engineering Company when the premises become vacant next month.

My Department is bringing this factory to the notice of suitable industrial concerns and several inquiries have already been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in finding an alternative user for the Birmingham Small Arms factory, Cardiff; and whether he will make a statement.

My Department has not yet received any inquiries about the premises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent increased imports of Argentine meat have been matched by increased exports to the Argentine.

Imports of meat and meat products from Argentina increased from £55·6 million in 1956 to £66 million in 1957, while exports to Argentina rose from £17·6 million to £33 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when was the last occasion on which a man without scientific qualification and without practical experience of patent practice was appointed to the position of Comptroller of the Patent Office.

The Comptroller appointed in 1909 who served until 1926.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas a case designed to contain scientific instruments is free of Purchase Tax, a case designed to contain a slide rule is chargeable at 60 per cent.; and what experts were consulted before the conclusion was reached that a slide rule was not a scientific instrument.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. Slide rules have always been accepted as scientific instruments. Cases for slide rules are not taxable if they are in fact specially designed for the purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that under present rulings, whereas loose covers for holding periodicals are not chargeable to Purchase Tax, catalogue covers to hold sales literature in special acetate envelopes and spirally bound, are subject to 30 per cent. Purchase Tax, as are also tender binders used exclusively for offers to overseas firms; and whether, in the interest of boosting the export trade, he will give consideration to exempting sales literature covers and export tender binders from Purchase Tax.

Stationery and office requisites are taxable under the law; covers for printed books are not. In reply to the last part of the Question, my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the damaging effect of high rates of Purchase Tax on goods which can contribute substantially to the export trade of the country; and whether he will call for a special review of this matter to be carried out at an early date.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 30th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he received a communication from the Radio Wholesalers Federation concerning Purchase Tax on television cathode ray tubes; on what date he acknowledged this communication; and what was the date and nature of his reply thereto.

The Federation wrote on 18th February and a reply was sent on 5th March saying that my right hon. Friend had noted the Federation's views and would bear them in mind. The Federation wrote again on 7th March and on the following day a reply was sent undertaking to lay these further representations before my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention to send a detailed reply to the memorandum which he received from the British Radio Valve Manufacturers on 27th January concerning Purchase Tax on television cathode ray tubes; and when he expects to dispatch this reply.

I do not think anything could usefully have been added to the reply already sent on behalf of my right hon. Friend. The Association has since written to me and I have assured it that its further representations will be brought to my right hon. Friend's notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cinema theatres in Scotland have closed during each of the last five years; what was the reduction in cinema seats available for public use thereby caused; what proportions each of these figures bears to those cinemas and those seats, respectively, remaining open and available for public use; and what was, during each of those five years, the reduction in the amount of entertainment tax paid in Scotland as a result of the closing of those cinemas and the reduction in the number of cinema seats available for public use.

The number of cinemas closed in Scotland during the last five years was:

1953	13
1954	5
1955	8
1956	14
1957	15
	55

Details about seating capacity are not available in the form required but after allowing for cinemas which have opened—or re-opened—there was during the period 1st January, 1952, to 31st December, 1957, a net reduction of 42 cinemas representing a reduction in seating capacity of some 37,000. The number of cinemas in Scotland was 7 per cent. less and the seating capacity available just over 6 per cent. less at the end of 1957 than at the beginning of 1952. No information is available as to the reduction in the revenue from the Entertainments Duty resulting from these closures.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer when he expects to be able to publish the Economic Survey and the White Papers on the National Income and the Balance of Payments.

It is intended to publish the National Income White Paper, the Economic Survey and the Balance of Payments White Paper on 31st March, 1st and 2nd April, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, on 1st March, he agreed to allow American Service men to have an annual ration of 8 million gallons of petrol tax free; whether he will extend this concession to cover British Service men; and whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will extend this concession to cover British taxpayers.

Because many members of the United States forces in this country are obliged to live considerable distances from their base and because we are doing no more in principle than other N.A.T.O. countries. On the rest of the Question I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 25th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to provide information on the association of the Trust Territories under the administration of the United Kingdom with the European Economic Community, and on the possible effects of the treaty on the development of these territories, for submission to the next session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The only Trust Territories associated with the European Economic Community are those administered by contracting parties to the Treaty of Rome. The first part of the Question does not therefore arise. The effects of the Treaty of Rome on the development of the trade of United Kingdom Trust Territories, and, indeed, of all the territories for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible, will be discussed during the examination of the Treaty which is being conducted in the G.A.T.T., the proper forum for such discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the wage rates for locomotive drivers and firemen on the East African railways, giving separate rates for Europeans, Asians and Africans; what differences there are in the qualifications prescribed for employees in these grades; and to what extent they vary according to race.

The following are the basic salary scales for locomotive drivers and firemen employed by the East African Railways and Harbours Administration. Employees are graded according to experience and skill and not to race.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Gambia Regiment who have joined the special auxiliary police force established after the disbandment of the Gambia Regiment.

Two warrant officers, 19 non-commissioned officers and 61 men of the Gambia Regiment have enlisted in the Special Police Force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the strength of the Gambia Regiment on the day of its disbandment and its establishment strength, officers and men being shown separately.

The Gambia Regiment is being progressively reduced during the period 1st January to 31st March, 1958, after which date it is to be placed in a state of "suspended animation". Its strength on the 31st December, 1957, was British officers five, British other ranks two, African other ranks 161, and its establishment on that date was British officers four, British other ranks two, African other ranks 167.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the opposition of the Lukiko to direct elections in Buganda, what arrangements will be made for Buganda's representation on the Legislative Council; and whether he will make a statement.

I am awaiting a full report from the Governor and have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the outcome of the discussions between the Governor of Uganda and the Uganda National Congress regarding arrangements for direct elections in Buganda.

This was one of a series of informal and confidential discussions which the Governor has from time to time with local political parties; I understand that direct elections in Buganda was among the subjects discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the under-production of basic food supplies in Northern Rhodesia; and what are his plans for stimulating rural industrial development to increase the purchasing power of Africans, particularly in the provinces centring upon Kasama and Fort Jameson, respectively.

I am not aware of any such under-production although there are occasional local shortages. As for the plans for development in the Northern Provinces including Kasama, I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. J. Hynd) on 24th January, 1957; I am not aware of anything similar in the Fort Jameson district but I will ask the Acting Governor and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will be in a position to state Her Majesty's Government's policy for the future of Cyprus before the Easter adjournment.

I cannot at present add to my recent promise that I will make a more definite statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now reached a decision on the scheme submitted to him by the White Fish Authority for the disposal of surplus white fish.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce a decision on this scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when, where and with whom, the Government's discussions are being held about their proposals for further assistance to the small full-time farmer.

As I have already indicated, we shall very soon start consultations with the Farmers' Unions. At a later stage the views of the organisations representing landowners and agricultural workers on our proposals will also be invited. Meetings between the three Agricultural Departments and those organisations will probably be held as necessary in London.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the review of the State pest destruction service recommended by the Wilson Committee has now been completed; and if he will make a statement.

While I appreciate that those farmers who have made use of this service for the destruction of rats and mice have found it a great convenience, I am satisfied that it should be possible for them to make alternative arrangements with private contractors, through local authorities, or by doing the work themselves. I have therefore decided that no further contracts for the destruction of rats and mice shall be entered into by the Ministry, and that the service should not continue after 1st April, 1959. This decision will enable staff economies of some 200 operators to be made in due course. Work on rabbit and mole destruction will continue and adequate staff for this purpose will be retained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how far the increased cost of the cereal guarantees in the current year is attributable to a fall in price; and to what extent this increased charge to the Exchequer is estimated to be balanced by a corresponding reduction in the cost of the pig and egg guarantees due to the operation of the feedingstuffs formula.

I regret that it is not practicable to make the comparison for which my hon. Friend asks. I am writing fully to him on the subject.

asked tile Minister of Health how many chiropodists who applied for inclusion in the list provided for by Section 3 (4) of the National Health Service (Medical Auxiliaries) Regulations, 1954, were not accepted in 1955, 1956, and 1957, respectively.

The numbers of applications rejected in each year were:

1955	17
1956	11
1957	9