asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that his predecessor made a statement in this House on 22nd July, 1953, that the cost of the first stage of Gatwick Airport would not exceed £6 million; and why it is now estimated to cost over £7 million.

What my predecessor actually said was that he thought that the cost would be about £6 million. This was a fair estimate some five years ago. Since then costs of labour and materials have risen substantially. Modifications have also been introduced in the interests of greater safety and efficiency and to provide more revenue earning accommodation. Site conditions proved more difficult than was expected and this factor was aggravated by the need to continue work in bad weather to ensure that the airport would be ready for this summer's services.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the transport difficulties which will confront the road passengers on public transport in the coming weeks; and what plans he has prepared to prevent a disturbance in the road passenger industry or overcome transport difficulties arising from such disturbances.

I have no intention of anticipating what would be done in circumstances which I am sure we all hope will not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the fact that a person who took out a road driving licence before the introduction of road driving tests is permitted to drive any vehicle on the road, even though he may never have been in a vehicle driving seat at any time, if he will introduce legislation to ensure that such persons shall produce satisfactory evidence of their ability to drive before having their driving licences renewed.

The Road Traffic Act, 1956, provides that applicants for a full driving licence who have not held one for the preceding 10 years must undergo a driving test. To require all drivers who held licences before the introduction of the driving test to undergo a test before having their licences renewed would not, in my opinion, be justified by its results, and would impose an impossible burden on the driving test system.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of prosecutions and convictions, respectively, of operators of C-licensed vehicles for carrying for hire or reward contrary to the provisions of their licences during the last quarter of 1957; and in how many cases licences have been revoked or suspended.

During the quarter ended 31st December, 1957, there were 76 prosecutions of operators of C-licensed vehicles for carrying goods for hire or reward and in every case there was a conviction.In one case the carrier's licence was revoked.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will have the pavements on each side of Knightsbridge between Hyde Park Corner and Wilton Place made narrower so as to ease the flow of traffic, in conjunction with the Park Lane improvement scheme.

The widening of Knightsbridge already provided for in the scheme is designed to accommodate the approach to the under-pass and two lanes of traffic in each direction on the surface. Any further increase in the width of the carriageway at the expense of the footpaths would not help.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will initiate a systematic survey of the road bottlenecks on the main routes through London, with a view to finding out those places where the carriageway could be widened and where the pavements take up a disproportionate part of the total width of the street.

As I have said in answer to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) during the past two years, my divisional road engineer has made a survey of this subject in conjunction with the London County Council and the Metropolitan boroughs, and as a result a number of schemes have been, or are being carried out.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proportion of the fatal road accidents during the last five years involved cars in which provisional licensed drivers were carrying other passengers than themselves or an instructor.

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimate he has made of how much more it cost proportionately to carry on road repairs, alterations and changes during the full 24 hours of the day instead of only during the normal working time of eight hours a day as is frequently the case.

Working day and night, as opposed to normal day working, tends to add from 15 per cent. to 25 per cent. to the cost of road works.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) if he will make a statement about his talks with representatives of the Italian Government;

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I have given to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) today.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that when compassionate leave is granted to a Service man stationed overseas, it is customary to set this against his normal leave entitlement; and whether he will reconsider this procedure to allow compassionate leave to be granted without regard to normal annual leave.

This Question is at present being looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals were made at the Accra Conference of the Foundation for Mutual Assistance in Africa regarding the stabilisation of world prices of commodities produced in Africa; and what are the proposals of Her Majesty's Government in this matter.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None." As I have pointed out on a number of occasions, the Acra Conference was concerned with the establishment of a Foundation for Mutual Assistance in Africa south of the Sahara, details of which were given in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Col. Beamish) on 10th March. The second half of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions and conclusions reached at the conference of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation's representatives at Manila.

The following is the text of the final communiqué of the Fourth Meeting of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Council.SOUTH-EAST ASIA TREATY ORGANISATIONFourth Meeting of the SEATO Council, Manila, 11th–13th March, 1958FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ13th March, 1958The Fourth Annual Meeting of the SEATO Council was held in Manila from 11th to 13th March, 1958, under the Chairmanship of the Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs, of the Philippines, the Honourable Felixberto M. Serrano.

asked the Secretary of of State for Foreign Affairs what recent consultations he has had with the countries controlling the oil pipelines concerned with the purpose of ensuring the free passage to the Mediterannean of oil produced by the Iraq Petroleum Company, in view of the British commercial interests involved.

Wayleave rights for the pipelines and payments for these rights are regulated by Agreements negotiated between the Government concerned and the Iraq Petroleum Company. Her Majesty's Government have had no recent consultations about the pipelines with the Governments of the countries through which the pipelines pass.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals have been made to the Soviet authorities for the purpose of widening exchanges of cultural, scientific, and technical personnel between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and what response the Soviet authorities have made.

Specific proposals have been made over the last few months by the Soviet Relations Committee of the British Council to the Soviet authorities for exchanges of students, teachers, scientists and specialist delegations. Invitations have also been issued to a number of prominent Soviet individuals to visit this country. These proposals and some additional ones have all been included in a comprehensive draft programme of exchanges for the financial year 1958–59 which has been submitted to the Soviet authorities. On some of these proposals the Soviet Relations Committee are still awaiting a definite answer from the Soviet side.As to the invitation to three hundred Soviet students and young people, the proposal for an annual exchange of twenty language students and the offer of two British Council scholarships, the position is still as stated in my reply to the right honourable and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 17th March. Owing to the difficulty of finding places at universities, a reply on both these points is urgently necessary if the proposals are to be proceeded with in the coming academic year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Roumanian authorities in support of an application made by Mr. Albert German, a British subject, for a visa to enable him to visit his 82-year-old mother in Roumania; and what were the results of these representations.

Her Majesty's Legation in Bucharest first approached the Roumanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about this case in July, 1957, when the latter promised to consider it and give a decision. The Legation made a further approach last February, but I regret to say that Mr. German has still received no reply to his application. We shall continue to do what we can to help him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct his representative to propose at the Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea that the high seas outside territorial waters should be designated the property of the United Nations.

Her Majesty's Government uphold the accepted principle of the freedom of the high seas. No one has property in or sovereignty over them. Therefore, the answer to my hon. Friend is, "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make a report upon the results of the discussions that have been going on on the future of Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is yet in a position to state with what foreign Governments he is carrying on discussions about the future of Cyprus.

I cannot yet add anything to the answers given by my right hon. and gallant Friend to the hon. Members for Swindon (Mr. F. Noel-Baker) and Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 17th March and by my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being considered by Her Majesty's Government to establish seminars on the status of women, especially in Colonial and Dependent Territories under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights in accordance with the resolution passed on 26th November, 1957, in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

It is for the Secretary General of the United Nations to consider in the first instance to what extent, and in what regions, seminars on the Status of Women can usefully be organised within the limited resources available. Her Majesty's Government will naturally give careful consideration to any approach the Secretary General may make to them on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will request the Economic Division of the United Nations to issue an up-to-date estimate of the income per capita of its various members similar to the one published in 1949 which showed the United States of America at 1,453 dollars, the United Kingdom at 773 dollars, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics at 308 dollars, Japan at 100 dollars, India at 57 dollars, and China at 27 dollars.

It is the intention of the United Nations Statistical Office to publish estimates of national per capita income at approximately three-year intervals. The most recent edition entitled "Per Capita National Product of 55 Countries: 1952 to 1954" was published in 1957 and is available in the Library of the House. Since annual changes in these estimates are, relatively small, more frequent publication would scarcely be justified in view of the trouble and expense involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent, during the visit of the United Nations Secretary-General to London, plans were considered for a resumption of meetings of the Disarmament Committee.

My discussions with Mr. Hammarskjold have been confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, although 20 months have elapsed since the agreement with Hungary on compensation for dispossessed British nationals, no Order in Council has yet been made instructing the Foreign Compensation Commission to assess and investigate claims; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

My right hon. and learned Friend regrets the delay in drafting this Order, which was due to a number of very complicated legal problems. it is now complete, and the draft is to be submitted to Her Majesty in Council tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish the draft proposals submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the allied Governments concerned for an agreement with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the limitation of armaments in Europe.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent representations have been made to the United States Government urging a repeal of the McMahon Act; and with what result.

The repeal of the United States Atomic Energy Act is a domestic matter for the United States Government. It would not be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to make representations on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the concern felt by the people of Germany, Yugoslavia, Poland and Great Britain at the decision of the West German Government to equip the German Army with nuclear weapons; and whether he will support the Yugoslav Government's decision to raise this matter at the United Nations and, if need be, table a suitable resolution at the United Nations on behalf of Her Majesty's Government deploring the action now being taken by the Bonn Government.

The German Government's decision is that their Army should be equipped with nuclear weapons if the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council thinks it desirable after taking the advice of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military authorities. If and when this happens the warheads would not be under German control. I am aware that widely different views are held on this subject in the countries to which the hon. Member refers.The answer to the second part of the Question is that I am not aware of any such Yugoslav decision. The answer to the third part is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made by the Ministers' Deputies at their meeting on 24th March with regard to the setting up of a committee of experts to draft a European Convention on Arbitration in accordance with Recommendation 156 of the Council of Europe.

At their meeting on 25th March the Ministers' Deputies decided to set up a Committee of Experts to advise on the practicability of such a Convention.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the rise in unemployment in Scotland during the last twelve months is larger than can be accounted for on seasonal grounds alone; if he will investigate and state the reasons for this rise; and what steps he is taking to mitigate it.

The main causes for the increase over the past year are a reduced building programme, temporary stoppages due to weather conditions in fishing and building, and marketing difficulties in several manufacturing industries. I am in close and constant consultation with my right hon. Friends, the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for Scotland on Scottish employment problems.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of engineers are unemployed or on part-time in the South-Western Region; and what steps are being taken to prevent this number increasing.

Percentage rates of unemployment can be computed for industries but not for occupations. At 17th February the rate of unemployment in the engineering and vehicle and aircraft industries in the South-Western Region was 1·0 per cent. The maintenance of employment in the industry is primarily a matter for the industry itself.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations he has received from co-operative and other trade interests in West Wales, concerning the impact of prevailing unemployment in the area upon the economic and social life of the community; and whether he will make a statement of Government policy for this area.

Although I have received no recent representations of the kind indicated, I am, as I have already told the House, conscious of the present difficulties of West South Wales, and am in consultation with my right hon. Friends on the needs of the area. Our readiness to assist suitable new industries to establish themselves in the area is already well known.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to find employment for the boys who will leave school at the end of the mid-summer term in the West Wales area; and whether he is aware of the difficulties facing the local youth employment officers.

I am aware that the increase in the number of school leavers is making the work of the youth employment officers more difficult in parts of West Wales. Youth employment officers will be approaching employers well before the end of the summer term with a view to finding employment for boys leaving at the end of the term. Special efforts are being made by youth employment officers in some parts of the area to persuade employers to provide more apprenticeships for these boys.

asked the Minister of Labour the present figures for unemployment in the Bristol area; what percentage this represents of the employed population; and how this compares with the national average.

At 17th March there were 4,621 unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in the Bristol area. The figures for Great Britain for 17th March are not yet ready. At 17th February the number unemployed in the Bristol area was 4,441 representing 1·9 per cent. of the total number of employees in the area, the same rate as the national average.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies exist in the Bristol area; and what is the average delay in placing redundant workers from the Bristol Aircraft Company in fresh employment.

At 12th March there were 1,717 vacancies notified to employment exchanges in the Bristol area and remaining unfilled. Sixty-six workers under retiring age left the firm on 21st March. Thanks to close co-operation between the firm and my local office all but ten of them went to other jobs without any interval of unemployment, and only seven were registered as unemployed on 26th March. Information is not available about five men under retiring age who were to be discharged on 28th March.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of insured workers in Cardiff who are registered as unemployed; and what is the comparative percentage for the whole country.

At 17th March, there were 3,015 unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Cardiff. It is not possible to compute a percentage rate of unemployment for Cardiff, but for the combined area of Barry, Bute Docks, Cardiff, Llantwit Major and Penarth the percentage rate of unemployment at that date was 2·7. The figures for Great Britain for 17th March are not yet available. At 17th February the percentage rate of unemployment in the combined area was 2·8, compared with 1·9 per cent. for Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men over 45 years of age who are registered as unemployed in Cardiff; and what proportion of these have been unemployed for three months or longer.

A detailed analysis according to age and duration of unemployment is only obtained every six months. At 9th December, 1957, the number of men aged 50 years and over registered as wholly unemployed at employment exchanges in the Cardiff area was 720, of whom 444 had been continuously unemployed for over three months.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people registered as unemployed in Cardiff at the most recent convenient date; and what were the comparative figures for 1957 and 1956, respectively.

Three thousand and fifteen at 17th March, compared with 2,370 at 11th March, 1957, and 1,663 at 12th March, 1956.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present percentage of unemployment in the development areas in north-east England, west Cumberland, South Wales and Monmouth. Wrexham, south Lancashire, Merseyside. north-east Lancashire, and Scotland; and how this percentage compares with the national average.

Three point one per cent. at 17th February, compared with 1·9 per cent. for Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to secure an improvement in working conditions in factories, following the recent report of the advisory committee.

The report of the survey in Halifax to which the hon. Member no doubt refers was published on 26th March. It contains recommendations on many aspects of industrial health all of which my right hon. Friend has accepted. Action is already proceeding in some of the recommendations and will be taken on others as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Labour what factors have caused the increase of 287 in the number of unemployed in Sunderland.

About half the increase was in the shipbuilding and repair industries and the building industry where workers were temporarily stopped by weather conditions. The increase in those wholly unemployed was mainly in ship-repairing, which has been affected by the laying-up of vessels.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied with the existing arrangements for employment exchanges in the new town of Basildon; and whether he will make a statement.

The population of the new town of Basildon is at present served by Laindon and the Pitsea Employment Exchanges which are approximately one mile to a mile and a half from the new town centre. I am satisfied that the existing arrangements are adequate for the present, but I propose to review the situation as the new town develops.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many workers have been dismissed at the Hong Kong naval dockyards since the end of last November; on what principle these dismissals are made; and to what extent previous negotiation is held with the appropriate trade union.

One hundred and eleven workmen have been issued with discharge notices on the grounds of redundancy since 28th November, 1957. A further 25 have been invalided or retired and three men have been dismissed for misconduct. In addition 378 have been allowed to resign voluntarily to take up other employment. The total rundown so far has therefore been 517 men.The underlying principle determining the order of discharges is similar to that adopted by the Admiralty in the United Kingdom, that is, after those who are not efficient at their job, then "last in, first out"; but subject, in the special circumstances of Hong Kong to a readiness to adjust the order of discharge, when the needs of the work permit, so as to suit the convenience of individuals in obtaining fresh employment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, since 1948, the Royal Navy has only commissioned one new ocean-going armed submarine, H.M.S. "Porpoise"; and if he will make a statement.

At the end of the Second World War there was a large surplus of submarines, many of them with a long remaining life, and all capable of being modernised at far less than the cost of comparable new construction. These have met our submarine requirements until now and have enabled us to time the start of our new construction programme in order to take full advantage of the rapid developments in submarine design since the war. The Porpoise Class has been designed as a result of these developments and submarines of this class are now coming into Service as the older submarines approach the end of their useful lives.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many shipbuilding and ship-repairing orders are now on hand in Aberdeen shipyards; and how many such orders there have been cancelled during the last twelve months.

I regret that it would not be proper for me to give this information from which orders, on the books of the four firms concerned, might be deduced.

asked the Secretary of State for War what subjects the Chief of the Imperial General Staff is discussing with the Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

In the course of a tour of the Middle East and East Africa Commands, the C.I.G.S. paid a visit of goodwill to the Army of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. He paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of the Federation but there have been no official discussions between them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a further statement concerning the handing over of the La Salle College in Hong Kong to its owners.

I am not yet in a position to add to the statement I made on 26th February in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue all troops with a suitable raincoat instead of a groundsheet.

We have this in mind and have consulted Commands at home and overseas about designs and materials.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state, county by county, or in other appropriate form, the area of land which it is proposed to retain and the area to be surrendered.

Fifty thousand acres are to be given up during the next two or three years. As I explained on 6th March, the release of land will be gradual and I cannot yet give full details. I can tell the hon. Member, however, that the remainder of the Fylingdales training area, amounting to some 13,000 acres, will be released as part of this programme.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent it is proposed to derequisition the military training range in north Northumberland; how many acres will be released; and at what possible date.

The anti-tank range of Ross Links will be given up in its entirety of 1,300 acres as soon as its lease has been terminated and the land cleared of unexploded missiles. I cannot give more than a rough estimate of how long this will take, but it may be about a year. Redesdale and Alnwick ranges are to be retained.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many acres of land are under the control of his Department in the areas of the Basildon Urban District Council and Brentwood Urban District Council, respectively; and whether he will make a statement about his Department's need for this land.

In Basildon is Vange Camp, of about 40 acres, which is used as a week-end training centre for antiaircraft units. In Brentwood, Warley Barracks, of about 120 acres, are at present used as the depot of the Essex Regiment. The future of these areas has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for War the cost of educating a student at Welbeck College and the average contribution required from the parents of students; and whether he will make a statement.

The latest figures available are those for the financial year 1956–57 when the cost was about £590 for each boy, allowing for an average contribution of £60 from parents.

asked the Secretary of State for War what academic qualifications are required by entrants to Welbeck College; and how long is the ordinary course undertaken there.

Candidates must be up to the ordinary level of the General Certificate of Education in mathematics and physics and in one or more other subjects. English and a foreign language are desirable. The length of the course is two years.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of students at Welbeck College; and what proposals he has for increasing this number.

The College is at present full with 150 students. I have no proposals for expansion at present.

asked the Postmaster-General to what proportion of the Welsh population the British Broadcasting Corporation's television service is now available; and what prospect exists of extending the service to the remainder of Wales.

About 92 per cent. are within range of B.B.C. television. The B.B.C. continues to study the problem of supplementing its present wide coverage both in Wales and elsewhere, but it cannot yet say what its financial resources and available frequencies may make possible.

asked the Postmaster-General how many licences were issued during last year for the sale of postage stamps by shopkeepers in the Barry, Whitchurch, and Rhiwbina areas of Glamorgan, respectively; and how many applications from shopkeepers in new residential estates in those areas were refused.

Two, none and one respectively; no application was refused.

asked the Postmaster-General whether all post offices are now selling the new 3s. and 5s. books of stamps.

All post offices are selling the 3s. book of stamps. The new 5s. book is being put on sale at individual offices as stocks of the old issue are used up, but these are being sold off first to avoid waste.

asked the Postmaster-General when it will be possible to dial from London directly to a Knockholt telephone subscriber in accordance with the code instructions issued last January.

Within three months. I am sorry about the delay in providing the facility, but certain rearrangements of plant are required, and these have presented a more complicated technical problem than we expected when a code for Knockholt was included in the dialling list issued last January to London subscribers.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the future use of Biggin Hill airfield and his Department's housing in the vicinity.

R.A.F. Station Biggin Hill is at present used by a communication flight and by London University Air Squadron. We are considering its use for certain ground units. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation is in touch with us on the possibility of making the airfield available to civil operators and to flying clubs from Croydon. The married quarters at Biggin Hill will continue to be required by the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many officers, who have completed fifteen years' service and over, have become redundant since 1st September, 1957; and how many of these will not benefit by a pension and a terminal grant.

About 560 officers have left the Service on redundancy since 1st September. Just under 500 of those holding permanent commissions had completed fifteen years' service. All of these will receive retired pay and terminal grant, as well as the special capital payments payable under the redundancy scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what arrangements are being made for bases in the Maldive Islands; and what objections have been received regarding the resettlement of the Gan inhabitants in neighbouring islands.

As explained by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 28th November, 1957, there are no proposals for the establishment of military bases, in the accepted sense, in the Maldives. The war-time airfield on Gan Island is being rebuilt for the Royal Air Force as an air staging post. Arrangements for the resettlement of the remaining inhabitants of Gan are being discussed with the Maldivian authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason a preparation used to black out teeth for theatrical purposes is free of Purchase Tax whereas a similar preparation used to brighten and whiten teeth for stage purposes is taxed at 90 per cent.

The latter preparation is a cosmetic and is taxed as such; the former preparation is not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the recent development in Australia of a process for putting permanent pleats or creases into woollen textile materials by the use of thioglycollic acid; and whether, in view of the fact that this material is at present subjected to a 90 per cent. Purchase Tax in this country on the ground that it can he used for the permanent waving of hair he will take action in the matter with a view to ensuring that the development of this new process for the textile industry is not handicapped.

I am aware of this development. Registered clothing manufacturers can obtain thioglycollic acid for the use my hon. Friend mentions tax free under their registration certificate; processors in the textile industry are eligible for registration if they use taxable goods in appreciable quantities as materials.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increased difficulties in the way of exporting British bicycles to the United States of America following the increased United States tariff imposed upon them, he will give every possible encouragement to schemes under which American tourists visiting this country can purchase bicycles for their use here free of Purchase Tax on the understanding they will take them back to the United States of America or elsewhere when they leave.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 31st March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the comments of Mr. Justice Roxburgh in the Chancery Division, during a case concerned with the liability or otherwise to Purchase Tax of a rotary stencil duplicator, with regard to the drafting of Schedule 8 of the Finance Act, 1948; and whether he will make arrangements to redraft that part of the Schedule which deals with duplicators in the light of these comments.

It has; but my hon Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the estimated university population of 124,000 in 1965 will be students in science and technology, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and agriculture, arts, and the social sciences, respectively.

The proportion of students in the different faculties in October, 1957, was as follows:

Pure science and technology … 37 per cent.

Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and agriculture … 20 per cent.

Arts, including social sciences 43 per cent.

As I said in answer to questions on my statement on university expansion of 20th February, it is expected that about two-thirds of the increase in the total number of students will study science or technology, and one-third arts and other subjects. It is not possible to be more precise at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of postgraduate places are proposed for science and technology in 1965.

In the academic year 1956–57 there were 5,325 full-time students undertaking advanced work in pure science and technology—a proportion of 16·4 per cent. of the total number of full-time students in those faculties. This proportion has been increasing in recent years and may be expected to continue to do so, but it is not possible to estimate what the precise figure will be in 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of graduations in science and technology is anticipated for the years 1965, 1966, and 1967.

I regret that it is impossible to give estimates for individual years from seven to nine years hence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the 18 year age group in 1965 is expected to enter the universities; and what is the corresponding figure for 1957.

In 1957 the proportion of the 18 year age group entering the universities was about one in 26. As my announcement on the 20th February on future university expansion indicated, the Government is alive to the need to provide mor university places in the mid-1960s, when the age group in question will, for a short period, be nearly 50 per cent. greater than in 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can yet state a date for the commencement of work on the A.1 road by-passing Dunbar; and when he estimates that the improvements of this stretch of road should be completed.

I regret that I cannot at present forecast when I shall be able to authorise this scheme, the timing of which will depend on progress with the preparatory work and on other commitments in the Scottish road programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) in how many cases appeals to the Secretary of State against a refusal of planning permission by the planning authority in the Counties of Lanark, Glasgow, Renfrew, Dunbar-ton, and Fife, in the past three years have been sustained;

The information requested is as follows:

—	Applications* to authority	Granted* by authority	Appeals sustained against refusal by authority
Lanark County Council
1955	1,129	1,003	8
1956	1,150	996	18
1957	1,287	1,088	7
Corporation of Glasgow
1955	1,677	1,398	18
1956	1,748	1,386	16
1957	1,768	1,402	12
Renfrew County Council
1955	589	565	2
1956	597	574	3
1957	628	598	2
Dunbarton County Council
1955	443	388	3
1956	443	397	5
1957	511	456	5
Fife County Council
1955	1,302	1,222	—
1956	1,439	1,386	3
1957	1,433	1,355	1
*These figures have been supplied by the individual authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy with regard to liberal studies in advanced technical courses.

I am assisting the efforts being made by the institutions concerned in Scotland to give effect to the views of the Government on this matter as stated in paragraph 11 of the White Paper on Technical Education. (Cmd. 9703 of February, 1956.) These efforts include the broadening of the treatment of technical and scientific subjects, the introduction of additional subjects, the development of library facilities and the encouragement of extra-curricular activities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations have been made by his Department into alleged price rings amongst industrial purchasers of milk.

My Department has made no such investigations. Prices of milk for manufacturing purposes are determined as a result of negotiations between the Milk Marketing Board and representatives of the manufacturers.Price rings are the concern of the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements, and the Restrictive Practices Court.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what directions he gives to the Milk Marketing Board concerning the sale of milk surplus to requirements for liquid consumption; to what extent such milk is currently sold at a loss; and what proportion of this loss is made up by his Department.

The Milk Marketing Board undertakes the sale of milk surplus to the requirements of the liquid market without directions from my right hon. Friend. All milk for manufacturing purposes is currently being sold at less than the price paid to the producer. Payment to the Milk Marketing Board by my Department to fulfil the guarantee under the Agriculture Ad represents less than 10 per cent. of the difference between the average selling price for manufacturing milk and the producers' price. The arrangements under which these payment are made are set out in the Milk (Guaranteed Prices) Order, 1956, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the consumer should benefit from the reduction of 1d. a gallon in the guaranteed price for milk to producers, following the Annual Price Review.

The Government have decided that maximum retail prices for milk shall be reduced by a ½d. a pint from 1st May to 30th September, 1958.

asked the Paymaster-General, for the latest convenient date, how many pits were uneconomic; what is the annual output of such pits; how many men were employed in them; what was the average loss per ton; what was the highest loss per ton; and, in view of the anticipated loss this year of £30 to £40 million by the National Coal Board, whether he will give a general direction to the Board to close any pit as soon as its working is found to be uneconomic.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 3rd March to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason). A general direction on the lines suggested in the last part of the Question would be quite impracticable.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that radio-active loads have been taken by road through the heart of Manchester, Salford and other north-west cities on their way for treatment at Windscale; and if he will give instructions that such built-up areas be avoided to lessen the possibilities of a serious accident.

The Atomic Energy Authority transports radioactive loads by road between Windscale and their other establishments. Routes are chosen to avoid congested areas as far as possible and are agreed beforehand with the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. Radioactive loads have never been taken by lorry through the middle of Manchester or Salford, though it has sometimes been necessary to take them through the outskirts. Every care is taken both in the design of containers and in the method of loading to ensure that if a serious traffic accident did occur there would be no release of radioactivity. Each consignment is accompanied by an escorting official in a separate vehicle.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied that no serious accident can result from carrying uranium by road through built-up areas between atomic power stations and Windscale; and what further precautions he proposes to lay down.

The methods which will be used to transport radioactive materials between the atomic power stations now under construction and Windscale are being discussed by the Atomic Energy Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board. I am satisfied that they will observe the same high standard of safety precautions as the Atomic Energy Authority do now in the transport of their own radioactive materials.

asked the Prime Minister the names of the delegates from the United Kingdom Parliament to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe will be meeting in Strasbourg from 28th April to 3rd May, and I have appointed eighteen delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The distribution of the appointments between the parties is the same as in the previous delegation, that is, nine members of the Conservative Party, eight members of the Labour Party and a representative of the Liberal Party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.The appointments of the Labour and Liberal representatives and substitutes have, of course, been made on the basis of nominations by the Leaders of those parties.The same delegation will represent the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of Western European Union which is expected to meet in Strasbourg early in July.Representatives from the Government benches will be the right hon. Members for Richmond, Yorks (Sir T. Dugdale), Moss Side (Dame Florence Horsbrugh); the hon. Members for Rutherglen (Mr. Brooman-White), Antrim, South (Mr. Knox Cunningham), Henley (Mr. Hay), Croydon, North-East (Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallett), Scotstoun (Sir J. Hutchison), Gravesend (Mr. Kirk), and Viscount Stonehaven.

asked the Minister of Education the figures for illiteracy in this country at all ages and at school-leaving age, respectively; and how these figures compare with those of 1938.

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend copies of my Department's pamphlets "Reading Ability" and "Standards of Reading, 1948–1956", which deal with standards of reading among young people. I have no information about other ages.

asked the Minister of Health what is now the medical establishment in respect of mental hospitals; and to what extent it is adequate for carrying out treatment which modern medical science makes possible.

For the number of medical staff in mental illness departments in whole-time equivalents I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) on 10th March. This number represents an increase of about 30 per cent. in five years. It seems likely that some increase in medical staffing of mental hospitals may be necessary to secure the full benefits of modern advances in medical science.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to start the building of the hospital in Basildon new town.

I regret that I cannot yet say when it will be possible to include this scheme in the capital programme.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will publish as a Command Paper the Report of a Committee of the Medical Research Council which appeared in the British Medical Journal for 15th December. 1956, in view of the fact that that issue of the British Medical Journal is now out of print; and what principle governs the place of publication of Reports of Government Committees for which he is responsible, who get the cost of their investigations out of public funds and whose Reports may he needed for many years.

No. It is assumed that the report referred to is that on Poliomyelitis and Prophylactic Inoculation prepared by the Medical Research Council's Committee on Inoculation Procedures and Neurological Lesions and published in the Lancet on 15th December, 1956. My noble Friend understands that a limited number of copies of the particular issue of this journal are still available for sale; it is, of course, also freely available in most scientific reference libraries.It has always been the Medical Research Council's policy that the detailed results of research under its auspices should

normally be published by the investigators themselves—either as individuals, research teams or committees—as papers in the scientific journals. The Council itself issues, through Her Majesty's Stationery Office, a series of Special Reports giving the results of more extensive investigations. It also issues another series of Memoranda, describing the results of certain

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs his estimate of the number of parsonage houses, rectories, and vicarages in England and Wales from which rent restriction is removed by the Rent Act, 1957.

Parsonage houses of the Church of Engand have never been subject to the Rent Acts. Those of other denominations are, I understand. generally occupied by ministers on conditions similar to service occupation and therefore also outside rent control.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take the necessary action to collate information as to the number of persons who have received eviction notices under the Rent Act, 1957, by making all notices of eviction compulsorily registrable with local authorities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke Newington and Hackney, North (Mr. Weitzman) on 1st April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs at what stage he will take the necessary action to ascertain the approximate number of families who will be evicted in consequence of the Rent Act. 1957. from 6th October, 1958, onwards; and what method he then intends to employ in obtaining this information.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Brixton (Mr. Lipton), and Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 1st April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will consider advising local authorities that in future they should require tenants to whom they let subsidised council houses or flats to state whether the total income of the occupants of each letting does not exceed £25 a week, and that, should the collective incomes from the tenants rise for a period of more than three months to over £25, they should notify the local authority of that fact.

Local authorities are responsible by Statute for fixing the rents of the houses they own. My predecessor and I have consistently encouraged local authorities to adopt differential rent schemes so as to ensure that subsidies are used to help only those tenants who really need help. I am glad to say that a large and growing number of authorities are doing this. I do not think that any fresh advice is called for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate site area that would have been required by the foreign chemical firm which has recently made inquiries about a factory site in Wales.

Details of the site area, as of all other matters contained in an application for an Industrial Development Certificate, are confidential between the applicants and the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the name of the foreign chemical firm which recently felt unable to establish a factory in Wales.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to Question No. 104 on this subject yesterday.