asked the Paymaster-General if he will make a statement regarding the accident at Agecroft Colliery on Thursday, 19th June.

One man was killed and three seriously injured at Agecroft Colliery, Lancashire, on 19th June when a quantity of stone was flung down a sinking shaft by shots fired in a tunnel which was being driven towards it. H.M. Inspectors are investigating the accident. The House will, I am sure, wish to join with me in expressing sympathy to the relatives of the man who lost his life.

asked the Paymaster-General why, since his staff has fallen from 7,202 in 1948–49 to 2,044 in 1958–59, his administrative expenses have fallen in the same period only from £3,518,994 to £2,381,450; what action he proposes to take to reduce his administrative expenses; and if he will make a statement.

The Department employed a higher proportion of lower-paid staff ten years ago to deal with the day-to-day work of various controls that have since been done away with. Moreover, salaries have risen appreciably in the meantime. Administrative expenditure is regularly reviewed and is being further examined in the light of the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates.

asked the Paymaster-General how many of his staff are on the permanent establishment; and what he estimates would be the saving in money and manpower if the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates were accepted and his Department closed down altogether.

The Select Committee on Estimates did not so recommend.

asked the Paymaster-General whether, in order to control their growth, he will institute a licensing system for new petrol stations.

No.

asked the Paymaster-General what arrangements are to be made for the military security of atomic plants of the Central Electricity Generating Board in which military plutonium is to be produced.

The product of these plants is useless for military purposes until it has been processed at the establishments of the Atomic Energy Authority which are already adequately protected.

asked the Minister of Supply what proposals are at present under consideration for the use of that part of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Thorp Arch not required by the Prison Commissioners.

I have nothing to add to the information which has already been given to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research is being carried out to ascertain the radiation risks to persons employed in hospitals.

Research on the risks of exposure to radiation and on means of protection forms part of the programme of radiobiological research being undertaken by the Medical Research Council and by other organisations. With regard to the protection of hospital staffs in particular, the Code of Practice issued last year takes account of the more recent researches in this field and recommends regular measurements to ensure that the amounts of radiation to which such persons are exposed are kept within safe limits.

asked the Minister of Health whether the clinical trials of the new Medresco transistor hearing aids are yet completed; whether, as yet, the instruments are proving satisfactory; how many are being tried; and what major faults have been discovered in the trials.

The full-scale clinical trials which were held last year with 400 patients showed that the aid was generally satisfactory but that the microphone should be improved and clothes rub reduced. These, together with a number of other minor improvements, were made and the production samples I referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross) on 12th May were found to be acceptable. Production has now started.

asked the Minister of Health if the supply of poliomyelitis vaccine is now sufficient to meet the requirements; and, in view of the doubt which exists in the minds of people with regard to the use of Salk vaccine, whether he is still satisfied that the vaccine coming from the United States of America and Canada which is not re-tested in this country is perfectly safe and can be used with confidence when the British vaccine is not readily available.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". In regard to the rest, I have always made it clear that no vaccine can be guaranteed to be wholly free from risk and so the question of absolute safety does not arise. I made a full statement about these matters to the House in the debate on 1st May last, which the hon. Member may care to study.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give details of tests applied to imports to Great Britain of Japanese tinned salmon and other fish caught in Pacific waters for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not they contain qualities derived from radioactivity or other qualities, poisonous, or otherwise dangerous to human beings.

These, like all imported foodstuffs, are liable to inspection by port health and other local authorities for fitness for human consumption. They are not tested for radioctivity. I am advised that the risk of such contamination from recent nuclear tests in the Pacific is negligible.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the lack of confidence created in the Whitley Councils as a result of his refusal to accept the recommendation regarding the hospital workers in November last; what representations he has received from the trade union seeking to abolish the veto of the Minister which over-rides such council decisions; and what steps are being taken to improve industrial relations and to restore confidence in the Whitley Council negotiating machinery.

I cannot accept the suggestion that the action taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself in the exercise of our express statutory duty was in derogation of the proper functions of the Whitley Council. The responsibilities of Ministers in this context have been fully explained and are now better understood and no specific steps in regard to the Whitley machinery in the Health Service are at present in contemplation. I have not yet received any representations of the kind referred to.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the numbers of young women who cannot secure places as student nurses in the London teaching hospitals; and what system there is whereby these may be allocated to the provincial hospitals.

I have no precise information about the numbers of these young women. They are, of course, free to apply for admission to any other training hospital, and they are commonly advised to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards British schools in Egypt; and if he will give an assurance that, pending the settlement of their claims against the Egyptian Government, no step will be taken towards dissipating their assets or preventing their reopening at some future date.

The assets of the British schools in Egypt are the responsibility of the governing bodies of those schools which are independent legal entities. In the absence of diplomatic relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United Arab Republic, I am not in a position to make a statement, but so far as I am aware there is no present intention to dissipate any of these assets.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that there are certain British refugees from Egypt who are unable to take advantage of opportunities to re-establish themselves in business because the loans available against their lost personal assets are not adequate; and whether he will allow the Resettlement Board in these cases to add to these loans further amounts against business assets to a total limit of, say, £3,000.

The ex-gratia loans made in relation to the personal assets of refugees from Egypt range up to 70 per cent. of the reckonable personal assets in the case of small owners, and up to a ceiling of £5,000. In addition to granting these ex-gratia loans, the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board has authority to make grants or loans not related to assets in Egypt to those whose most appropriate means of resettlement would be to establish themselves in a business in this country. The ceilings here are £750 for a grant and £2,000 for a loan. During the financial year 1957–58, the Board made grants of over £30,000 and loans of more than £21,000 under this authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to publish the report of the inquiries conducted by the Bonn Government into allegations that former Nazi judges and prosecutors have been appointed and re-appointed to judicial positions in Western Germany; and, as these investigations have been proceeding for over twelve months, whether he expects to get the report before the Summer Recess.

The Federal German authorities have informed us that the investigations into the allegations made against members of the Federal Judiciary have now been completed. In all these cases the allegations have been found to be baseless. The Laender Governments are still pursuing their investigations. I understand that these will not be completed before the Summer Recess.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Report of the Royal Commission on Common Land will be published.

I am informed that the Royal Commission on Common Land expects to present its Report within the next three weeks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement about the guarantee arrangements for potatoes.

The White Paper on the 1958 Annual Review stated that experience had shown the need for altering the system of implementing the guarantee for potatoes and that discussions were proceeding with representatives of the producers. It also stated that a further announcement would be made by 1st July, 1958.

In the Government's view, the present support price arrangements, which are essentially the same as those introduced in 1940 and administered by the Ministry of Food all through the war and post-war years of food shortage, are unsuited to present day conditions and can no longer be justified. They have concluded that a change in the system can no longer be postponed.

The Government have accordingly decided to introduce a new guarantee system for the 1959 crop which substitutes for the purchase of surplus potatoes on Government account arrangements that assure a minimum return to the industry as a whole related to the requirements of potatoes for human consumption. If in any crop year the actual return to the industry from the market for potatoes for human consumption falls below the guaranteed return, the deficiency will be made good from Exchequer funds.

In Great Britain the Government propose that the amount due should be paid to the Potato Marketing Board for the benefit of producers in Great Britain; separate arrangements would be necessary in Northern Ireland where there is no Board. It would be for the Board to decide how any such payment was used for the benefit of producers; the Board would be at liberty to use deficiency payment monies for buying potatoes. There will no longer be a minimum riddle prescribed by the Government and no schedule of support prices will be prescribed at the beginning of the season either by the Government or the Board.

The Government recognise that some variation in the potato crop is unavoidable, but they consider that by facilitating the use by the Potato Marketing Board of their statutory powers for regulating the market, the new system will promote a greater measure of stability for the industry. They also consider that the new system will give greater encouragement to the economic production and marketing of potatoes and considerably reduce the need to transport surplus potatoes about the country at heavy cost which is inevitable under the present system. In addition, it achieves the Government's object of eliminating the purchase of surplus potatoes on Government account and will, they believe, make for greater efficiency generally in the administration of the guarantee arrangements.

The Government have given an assurance that the change in the system of guarantee will not reduce its value to the industry. Discussions on the financial arrangements required to secure this are continuing. The producers' representatives have indicated that they would be prepared to accept in principle the introduction of the new system subject to agreement on these financial arrangements which are of crucial importance to the industry if the new system is to work satisfactorily.

The details of the new arrangements will be worked out in consultation with the producers' representatives and announced as soon as possible.

Special arrangements will be necessary to fit Northern Ireland into the new scheme. These arrangements will allow Northern Ireland producers to continue to have a fair share of the Great Britain market but without adversely affecting the efforts of the Potato Marketing Board to maintain a satisfactory level of prices in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date the abolition of the gin trap becomes effective; what steps he is taking to make this known to trappers, farmers, gamekeepers, and others; and what schemes for the collection of such traps have been considered.

After 31st July, 1958, it will be an offence to use or sell in England and Wales any spring trap that has not been approved by Order. The gin has not been so approved. This has been given wide publicity in the farming and sporting Press, and is being given further publicity at demonstrations of the approved traps now being given to trappers, farmers, gamekeepers and others throughout England and Wales. I have no authority to arrange for the collection of unapproved traps.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the difficulties that will arise regarding the uncontrolled imports of livestock once the whole of the United Kingdom becomes an attested area; and if he will make a statement.

Imports into Great Britain of cattle, sheep, goats, all other ruminating animals and swine otherwise than for immediate slaughter are, in general, prohibited under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950. There are certain exceptions, and I presume my hon. Friend has in mind imports of store cattle from the Irish Republic. The future of this trade when the whole of Great Britain becomes an attested area is under active discussion between the authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will issue, for the benefit of the agricultural community in the United Kingdom, a list of the laws and regulations that control the import into European countries of cattle from other countries.

I am afraid that any such publication would rapidly become obsolete and misleading because of the constant changes in the laws and regulations of foreign countries. I am advised by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that authoritative guidance could best be secured through the Embassies in London of the countries concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will advise farmers who are farming in areas where foot-and-mouth disease breaks out what precautions they should take when their milk is collected to avoid any risk of the infection spreading more widely in their own area.

The main risk involved in the collection of milk in an infected area is that disease may be spread by contamination on the outside of the churns. The leaflet we issue on foot-and-mouth disease advises stock owners in an infected area to sterilise churns as soon as they are received from the dairies and it describes the way to do it. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give consideration to continuing the existing Calf Subsidy Scheme after October of this year on the present basis, as its curtailment would introduce considerable hardship to a large section of the agricultural industry of Great Britain.

Subject to the approval of Parliament, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to continue the subsidy on its present basis for calves born within three years from 30th October, 1958. Draft schemes for this purpose will be laid before Parliament within the next few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since Harris Tweed is a cloth of distinctive character which does not compete with any class of Canadian textiles, he will make representations to the Canadian Government to consider exempting it from the increased Canadian import duties.

My Department is in touch with the Harris Tweed Association on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has sent to the representative deputation of mayors of Lancashire towns asking for a new statement of Government policy with reference to the cotton textile industry in Lancashire.

My right hon. Friend informed the mayors that the cotton industry was in touch with the Indian and Pakistan industries about the question of a voluntary limitation on their cotton textiles exports to this country; and that he could say nothing further at the present stage of the discussions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken during the past few months to promote industry and employment in the Western Isles in view of the high level of unemployment there.

My Department keeps constant watch for any new projects which would be suitable for the area. It is very difficult to find likely starters and any suggestion will be carefully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has drawn the attention of textiles manufacturers and others in the Western Isles to the facilities offered under the Distribution of Industry Bill; and with what response.

We must wait until the Bill becomes law.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether a decision has yet been taken to order a modified version of the N.A.39 for the Royal Air Force.

I cannot at present add to the statement made on this subject by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in the course of the adjournment debate on the future of manned aircraft on 23rd May.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the numbers of firms and local authorities known to his Department to be running schemes for the full or part-time employment of older workers separate from the channels of employment open to other workers.

About a dozen firms are known by my Department to have inaugurated special workshops or schemes for employing elderly workers who wish to continue in employment after the normal retirement age. In addition, about 20 special workshops for the elderly are being run by local authorities and voluntary organisations.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made in the further discussions on the question of negotiating machinery between the managements of The Royal Bank of Scotland and The British Linen Bank and their staffs; and if he will make a statement.

Since my reply to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 30th April and a subsequent discussion between my officers and representatives of the National Union of Bank Employees, talks have been taking place between representatives of that union and of the Central Council of Scottish Bank Staff Associations. The purpose of the talks has been to explore the possibility of the union becoming a party to the existing negotiating machinery in Scotland. My Industrial Relations Officer for Scotland is keeping in touch with the parties and I understand that some progress has been made.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the significance to the national economy of passenger transport charges and the effect of recent wage increases granted to transport workers in London, what general direction he proposes to give to the British Transport Commission regarding the fares to be charged in the London area.

No direction is necessary. The Chairman of the British Transport Commission told me on 2nd May that there is not at present scope for obtaining a large increase in receipts by raising fares. The Commission intend to find the bulk of the cost of current wage increases in London, as on British Railways, from economies in working expenses. They do not propose to make any fare increases in London in the near future except, as has already been announced, by raising some scattered sub-standard fares.

The intention of the Commission to make limited increases on certain passenger fares (of which I told my noble Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) in answer to a Question on 21st May) also applies to London, where specially heavy costs arise in providing services for peak traffic. The Commission at present have no authority to raise fares as their present powers are exhausted. In order that the Commission may have headroom in charging powers to make any future adjustments, they intend to apply to the Transport Tribunal for the necessary authority later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests have been received within the last twelve months from citizens of Czechoslovakia for permission to enter and reside in the United Kingdom; and how many have been accepted and how many rejected, respectively.

According to the record of visa applications kept by the Visa Officer in Prague, the figures for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1958, which are the latest figures readily available, are 13, eight and five, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with the building extension to the Dartford Exchange; and when he hopes this will be completed.

A start was made last March, and the building work should be completed towards the end of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures are taken by the Factory Inspectorate in Uganda to ensure that machinery is fitted with adequate safety guards before being put into use.

Vendors of new machinery for use in factories are required by law to ensure that specified dangerous parts are properly safeguarded before sale. The Factory Inspectorate staff of the Labour Department are responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Uganda Factories Ordinance relating to the safeguarding of machinery. These provisions are similar to those of the United Kingdom Factories Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions are imposed on chiefs and village headmen in Nyasaland with regard to attendance at meetings of the Nyasaland African National Congress.

None. I should perhaps add that Government may from time to time find it necessary to remind a Chief that in his capacity as leader of his people and in exercise of his statutory obligation as a Native Authority to assist the Government, he is expected to be above party politics and not encourage his people to support the Congress campaign against the fundamental policies of the Nyasaland Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what purpose circular No. AS/6/11/11, dated 21st May, 1958, was distributed by the District Commissioner, Zomba, Nyasaland; and to whom it was circulated.

The purpose of the circular was to make it clear that Government was in no way sponsoring certain Nyasaland African Congress meetings, for the summoning of which Congress had improperly used Government stationery. The circular was sent to all village headmen in the Zomba district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what banking facilities exist in the Seychelles Islands and Tonga, respectively.

In the Seychelles there is a Government Savings Bank, and though there are no commercial banks Barclays Bank (DCO) and The Standard Bank of South Africa have local agents. Both the Seychelles Government and the local agents of the commercial banks provide facilities for telegraphic transfers, etc. In Tonga there is a Government Savings Bank, and the Treasury remits funds abroad on payment of a commission. There are no commercial banks operating in Tonga.