asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are now being taken to arrange for suitable institutional accommodation for the mental defectives at present at Westfield Park Home, Dalkeith.

The number of mental defectives at Westfield Park Home, Dalkeith, has been reduced from seven to four. These four are on the waiting list, but they cannot take priority over other defectives, including some in Midlothian, whose admission is more urgently necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the present inadequate state of the water supply in Portree; and if he will now state when work will start on the proposed Storr Loch water supply scheme for Portree and the surrounding region.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the reasons for the continuing delay in starting work on the Loch Storr water scheme for Portree and the surrounding region, about which the hon. Member for Inverness has written to him; and what steps are being taken to overcome the legal difficulties involved.

Yes. The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Scheme is now formally before my right hon. Friend for confirmation. Thereafter it must lie before both Houses of Parliament for forty days and, if not objected to, will then become operative and the way will then be clear for work on the water scheme to begin.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far he is using his powers to show by example how land in the Highlands can be restored to agriculture; and what schemes of development exist showing the possibility of complementary developments of forestry and farming.

Advisory and demonstration work on land improvement is undertaken by the College Advisory Services and grants to assist landowners and farmers to reclaim and improve land are available under a number of schemes. With regard to the complementary development of forestry and farming, the joint surveys carried out by the Forestry Commission and the Department of Agriculture, which have now covered some 3 million acres of land in the Highlands, will help to further such development.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is aware of the continuing tendency for developments in industry and commerce to concentrate in London and other already overpopulated areas; and what overall policy the Government Departments concerned have for the better distribution of new enterprises throughout the country;

(2) whether he will ask all Government ordering Ministries and those establishing direct and indirect Government-financed research and development enterprises to prepare a plan for their distribution throughout the country, with a view to greater diversity and dispersal of population and vital activities.

It is the policy of the Government to use their powers, including the issue of Industrial Development Certificates, to reduce congestion in these areas. While the Government bear these general considerations in mind, in the placing of Government orders and in the finance of research and development, the right hon. Gentleman will understand that other factors must be taken into account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the rise in real average weekly wages, weekly earnings, and directors' remuneration since 1946.

I shall give the information with respect to changes since 1947 instead of since 1946 since the statistics are more accurate for the later period. Average weekly money wage rates rose by 76 per cent. between June, 1947 and May, 1958, while the Index of Retail Prices rose over the same period by 68 per cent. Average weekly earnings rose by 96 per cent. between October, 1947 and October, 1957, compared with a rise of 63 per cent. in the Index of Retail Prices. I regret that no information in the aggregate is available about the remuneration of directors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women students are waiting to obtain places in universities at the nearest convenient date; and whether he will state the proportion of women to the total number of candidates waiting for a place.

According to a report on Applications for Admission to Universities, which was commissioned by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and published in 1957, of the 36,003 persons who applied for admission in 1955–56, 9,557, or roughly one-quarter, were women, of whom 6,325 were admitted in 1955–56 out of a total of 22,462 admissions. I understand there is no information about the present position.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many petrol filling stations have been built between 1952 and the present date; what number are being built; what number of further applications have been approved; and what number of these have lapsed.

I regret that this information is not available. My right hon. Friend's responsibility in this matter is limited to appeals and certain allied matters, and I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Enfield, East (Mr. Ernest Davies) on 24th June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that many tenants are ignorant of the fact that, if they have continued to pay rent increases despite the non-completion of repairs within the statutory period of six months, they can recover not only all the increases thus wrongly paid, but also the amounts that would normally be recoverable at the expiration of the six-months period; and if he will use the resources of his Department to give the widest publicity to this fact in order to ensure the just implementation of the Rent Act, 1957.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that there is widespread difficulty on this point. The tenant's rights, if the landlord does not honour his undertakings to do repairs within six months, are briefly set out in Questions 47 and 49 and Example C of "The Rent Act and You", of which 1¼ million copies have been sold.

At the end of the six months, the tenant can stop paying any increase until the work is done, and can get back at any time within two years any such increases which he has paid. In addition, he has the right to get back increases he paid during the six months by withholding a further weekly amount equal to the increase. He can exercise this second right until he has withheld an amount equal to all the increases paid during the six months or the work is done, whichever is the earlier.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what advice on the supply of, and demand for, water he has now received from the Central Advisory Water Committee or either of its sub-committees appointed in October, 1955; what progress is being made by those sub-committees; and when he expects to receive and publish any report.

I understand that reports from both the sub-committees which have been considering these questions are likely to be ready for a meeting of the Central Advisory Water Committee in the early autumn. The reports will be published after they have been adopted by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he can yet say whether he will make available to the parties concerned copies of the reports of his officers who attend accompanied visits under the Control of Advertisements Regulations.

My right hon. Friend has decided that, in view of the special nature of the accompanied visits made in connection with appeals under these Regulations, it would be right for the reports of the officers taking these visits to be made available on request to the parties concerned. This decision will take effect very soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress is being made with the reorganisation of Bevan's Works, Swanscombe, to allow the installation of four electrostatic precipitators; and when the whole project is likely to be completed.

All the piles for the new 350 ft. chimney have been driven and construction of the chimney has begun. This should be finished in a year; but it is likely to be two years before the whole project is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied with the wages paid to labourers in the sugar industry of Mauritius; and whether he will recommend to the Government of Mauritius the establishment of a Minimum Wages Board.

Since 1951 wages in the sugar industry have been fixed by collective agreements between the Amalgamated Labourers Associaton and the Mauritius Sugar Producers Association. I am informed by the Governor that the Minister of Labour is at present considering both the question of wage levels in the sugar industry and the possible need for the establishment of a minimum wages agreement advisory board for the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals the Government of Mauritius have in mind for instituting a system of National Insurance in that Colony.

The Government of Mauritius is awaiting the report of a committee appointed by the Minister of Health and Social Services to study this question; the report is a preliminary study, and expert advice will have to be obtained before a scheme is introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of primary co-operative societies in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda, respectively, marketing coffee, the total number of members and details of turnover of coffee in value and volume, in the various grades, and the total reserves, deposits, shares and borrowings, respectively, in each territory for each of the years 1950 to 1957, inclusive.

I will obtain this information and circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a further statement concerning the letter of the Town Clerk of Manchester in connection with the purchase of Ardwick cemetery.

A full inquiry has been made by the police in order to ascertain whether there is evidence that an offence against the Prevention of Frauds (Investment) Act, 1939, was committed in connection with the sending of the letter. The results of this inquiry show that there is no ground for concluding that the letter contained any false, misleading or deceptive statement or that there was any dishonest concealment of material facts. Consequently there are no grounds for a prosecution for an offence against Section 12 of the Act.

Section 13 of the Act prohibits, subject to the exceptions specified in subsections (2) and (3) of the Section, the distribution of a circular inviting persons to sell securities. Neither subsection (2) nor subsection (3) seems to me to apply to this case, and it would, therefore, appear that there was an infringement of this Section. Offences against the Section may be prosecuted only by or with the consent of the Board of Trade or the Director of Public Prosecutions, to whom the case was referred by the Board. In the Director's opinion, with which I agree, the public interest does not require him to prosecute in this case, and he has accordingly decided not to institute proceedings.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will raise with the United States authorities the need to formulate a common policy concerning merchant shipping in view of the continued financing of foreign shipping under tax-free flags of convenience.

This is one of several aspects of the problems of British shipping which I am considering at the present time.

asked the Minister of Education (1) what percentage of secondary pupils is receiving grammar school education under the following local education authorities, Gloucester city, Bradford, Wallasey, Nottinghamshire, Sunderland, and Dudley; and if he will state the national average percentage;

(2) if he will state the names of county local education authorities with 15 per cent., or over, of secondary school children still in all-age primary schools, with their respective percentages; and if he will give an estimate of the approximate figure when new schools, already authorised by him, are completed.

(3) what percentage of secondary pupils is being educated in all-age primary schools under the following local education authorities, Gateshead, Preston, Salford, Huntingdonshire, Herefordshire, and Norfolk; and how these compare with the national average.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of List 69. I cannot estimate what the percentage of seniors in all-age schools will be when new schools aready authorised are completed, but it is likely to be below 15 in all counties with the possible exception of two.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish a list of grammar schools in Hampshire which do not belong to any of the four local education authorities, but which receive financial aid either from the local education authority or his Department, showing in each case the total cost of maintenance last year, the amount provided by the local education authority, the amount provided by his Department, the amount provided by school fees, and the amount provided by the endowments of the school.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of grammar schools wholly maintained by the local education authorities, the number partially financed either by local education authorities or his Department, and the number which receive no money at all from public funds, together with the approximate number of pupils in each group.

The numbers are as follows: England and Wales January, 1957 Number of schools Number of pupils 1. Grammar schools maintained or assisted by local education authorities:— ( a ) county 870 417,526 ( b ) voluntary controlled 173 69,612 *( c ) voluntary aided 145 63,990 *( d ) transitionally assisted 18 7,517 Total 1,206 558,645 2. Grammar schools receiving direct grants from the Ministry 164 ‡76,955 †3. Independent schools recognised by the Minister as efficient secondary or primary and secondary schools 662 ‡151,238 * Certain expenses at these schools are met by the governors. † Separate figures for grammar schools are not available. ‡ Number of pupils of 11 and over.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the number of grammar school places that are available in Willesden to students who have just taken the 11-plus examination, the number of students who sat for the examination, and the number who attained the standard but for whom places were not available.

2,863 pupils took the authority's tests, including 301 who were either above or below the normal age. Grammar school places, but not necessarily in Willesden, are available for all who attained the standard.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities provide free places at public schools for some of their children; and what is the approximate number of children being educated in this way.

In January, 1957, 48 local education authorities were financially responsible for 14,512 children attending independent schools. Most of these were day pupils for whom the authorities had taken places to augment those available in grant-aided secondary schools. I do not know how many were in schools which might be described as "public schools".

asked the Postmaster-General how many new telephones have been installed in the Edinburgh area since 1st January, 1958; how many cancellations there have been from the same date; and what is the size of the waiting list.

In the area served by the Edinburgh automatic system 1,226 telephones were installed between 1st January and 1st June, 1958. Fifty orders were cancelled during that period. One hundred and six applications were on the waiting list on 1st June and, in addition, 276 were in course of provision or under inquiry.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the unemployment figures in the Edinburgh area at the latest convenient date; how these compare with the figures at this time last year; and how many vacancies there at at present on the books of the local employment exchanges.

4,480 at 16th June, 1958, compared with 3,278 at 17th June, 1957. At 11th June, 1958, there were 2,245 vacancies notified to employment exchanges in Edinburgh and remaining unfilled