asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list in tabular form all the items of Government expenditure on the arts, both direct and indirect, in the last financial year.

Some of this information, especially the amount of local authority expenditure on the arts attracting Exchequer grant, is not available or available only with disproportionate effort and delay. The principal items of direct Government expenditure on the arts in 1957–58 were as follows:

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the strain on nurses working in mental hospitals; and when he will agree to these nurses working an 88 hour fortnight instead of the 96 hours as at present.

Yes. I received a letter from the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council on 1st May recommending the introduction of an 88 hour fortnight for all hospital nursing staff as soon as circumstances permit. I am hoping to communicate with hospital authorities in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as the other nations showing in the Brussels Exhibition have broken the regulations and keep their pavilions open to 10 or 11 p.m., he will arrange that the British Pavilion should also be kept open until 10 o'clock, to enable visitors to see the fine industrial exhibits that Britain has put on display, as well as those symbolic of our historic background and traditions.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Mr. M Lindsay) on 2nd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average cost per pupil per annum at direct grant-aided schools and at local authority senior and junior secondary schools.

The estimated average cost per pupil at the grant-aided secondary schools for the year 1956–57 was approximately £81. It is not possible to give with accuracy the cost per pupil at senior and junior secondary schools conducted by education authorities, as their financial returns deal with all types of schools together and do not include detailed analyses from which the figures for senior and junior secondary schools could be extracted.

asked the Secretary State for Scotland which schools in

The information which of is given in the following table is based on estimates for 1956–57:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities make grants to grant-aided schools; what are the sums involved and the pro-

asked the Secretary of State for War the maximum number of military personnel which has been accommodated at any one time at Ranikhet Camp, Tilehurst, since 1940; and the number so accommodated today.

The numbers are 287; and 221.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that the European and African Members of the Bechuanaland Protectorate Advisory Council gave unanimous support to the resolution of Mr. Russell England that a Legislative Council should be formed in Bechuanaland; and whether he will make a further portion of the cost of running the schools met from such grants.

The information is given in the following table which is based on estimates for 1956–57:statement concerning his policy in this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement about the recent resolution in the Joint Advisory Council on the subject of a Legislative Council for Bechuanaland.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply of 8th May, 1958, to Questions by the hon. Members for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) and for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Wade).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, in tabular form, the imports of potatoes for the years 1955, 1956, and 1957, showing from which countries the imports have come, and whether the imports are of ware or new potatoes.

Details of United Kingdom imports of fresh potatoes in the years 1955 and 1956 are published in Volume II of the "Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom with Commonwealth and Foreign countries, 1956" to which I would refer my hon. Friend. The figures for 1957 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the membership of the local valuation panel submitted to and approved by him under Sections 45 and 46 of the Local Government Act, 1948, in respect of metropolitan Essex; how many local

The Essex Local Valuation Panels Scheme, 1957, provides for the South-Western Panel to have 26 members, including a Chairman and three Deputy Chairmen. The members are appointed by the Essex County Council, and the appointments do not require my approval. Courts are convened by the Chairman as often as may be necessary. I understand that 194 were convened in the year 1957–58. I am satisfied that the scheme of arrangements laid down in the Act, of which this is a part, adequately provides for uniformity in valuation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many appeals have been made under Section 48 of the Local Government Act, 1948, to the local valuation court and under Section 49 to the County Court in the past four years, respectively, in respect of valuations of dwelling houses in Ilford and neighbouring boroughs in metropolitan Essex; and what proportion of appeals to such courts have been successful.

The following are particulars of ratepayers' appeal's heard by local valuation courts and the Lands Tribunal—which now exercises the functions conferred on the County Court by the Act of 1948—in the past four years. The figures of "successful appeals" include those where the appeal was only partially successful, e.g., where, a smaller reduction was obtained than had been sought.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will institute an inquiry to ascertain how far the object of the Valuation for Rating Act, 1953, namely, the uniform valuation of comparable dwelling houses, is being achieved in metropolitan Essex, by the basis of valuation and the machinery for valuation and appeal provided by that Act and the Local Government Act, 1948.

No. I do not think there is any reason for doing this.