asked the Minister of Health the average amount spent per annum on maintenance and capital, respectively, by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board since 1948; and also the same figures for the two hospitals within the region with the highest amounts and for Salford Royal Hospital.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Health the number of beds in M.S.4 Ward at Salford Royal Hospital, the number of toilets available for the ward, the number of baths, and the amount of floor space in which the nurses can prepare the service for the ward; and what proposals he has for improving these arrangements.

Twenty-one beds, including one in a side ward; there is one toilet and one bath; the nurses' preparation space is 50 square feet. The Regional Hospital Board proposes to provide additional sanitary accommodation as soon as funds permit.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to implement the Code of Practice recommendation that regular measurements be made to ensure that the amounts of radiation to which hospital staffs are exposed are kept within safe limits.

In all regions monitoring by the use of film badges is widespread, and plans for further extension of it are in hand.

asked the Minister of Health what is to be the future of the Royal National Hospital for Tuberculosis, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

The Regional Hospital Board has recommended to me that this hospital should be disposed of, on the ground that it is no longer required, and I am considering its recommendation.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have so far been taken to dispose of the Langdon Hills Hospital, near Billericay; and what representations have been made to him to have it used as an old people's home.

In accordance with usual practice, Langdon Hills Hospital has been offered first to other Government Departments and then to the West Ham County Borough Council, which owned the property before July, 1948. If the County Borough Council does not wish to purchase the property, it will be offered for sale to the Essex County Council, which has expressed interest in using it for accommodation under Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948.I have had representations from the Essex Area Council of the National Federation of Old-Age Pensions Associations in the sense mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made with the distribution of transistor hearing aids for children of school age, particularly in the north-eastern counties of England.

The first supply of these aids will be issued to hearing aid centres this week, including those centres in the north-east. I have suggested that young children should be given priority, but issue to schoolchildren will follow thereafter.

asked the Minister of Health the number of coal miners and agricultural workers, respectively, whose deaths were due to bronchitis in the last full year recorded.

These figures are not prepared for individual years.The total number of deaths attributed to bronchitis in the five-year period 1949–1953 among men aged 20–64 in the groups in question was:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will request the Federal German authorities to provide him with a copy of the report of their investigation into the allegations made against members of the Federal Judiciary, and have this placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

No. The question of publishing a report is a matter for the Federal German authorities. But I naturally accept what they have told us about the results of their investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the latest intelligence about the safety or otherwise of British subjects and British property in the Lebanon; how many British subjects have been evacuated from the country since the outbreak of the rebellion, and how many remain; and what guarantees have been given, or arrangements made, for the protection of British lives and property.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the situation in the Lebanon with particular reference to the safety of British subjects there.

My latest information is that all British subjects in the Lebanon are safe and that with the exception of damage early in the crisis to the Iraq Petroleum Company pipeline, which has now been repaired, there has been only slight damage to British property.Although all the families of Iraq Petroleum Company personnel in Tripoli, where the heaviest fighting has taken place, have left the Lebanon, there has been no general evacuation of British subjects and in the view of Her Majesty's Government none is at present necessary. Our Ambassador in Beirut has suggested to the British community that, in view of the uncertain situation, and since the present situation makes it unlikely that the community will be able to avail themselves of the normal hot season amenities, it would be sensible to send wives and children away from the country if they want to go.The responsibility for the protection of British lives and property is in the first place that of the Lebanese Government, but Her Majesty's Government have however taken certain routine precautions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the deliveries of Russian arms to the Yemen, in view of the attacks by the Yemen on British protected territory.

The Soviet bloc arms which were delivered to the Yemen last year were far in excess of those required for self-defence or internal security. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the supplies were intended to aggravate the already tense situation on the frontier. The British and the local Protectorate forces are fully capable of dealing with any threat which may arise and they will continue to take whatever action is necessary to repel attacks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will state the dates during the last four years on which changes have been made in the Bank Rate; the new rates introduced on each of those dates; and on those same dates

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of persons arriving from the Irish Republic who applied for National Insurance cards during 1956 and 1957 and during the current year to the latest available date, respectively; and the numbers who surrendered their cards during these periods.

The number of people arriving from the Irish Republic who applied for a National Insurance card for

The following is the information.the first time during the periods quoted are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by whom the chiefs in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland are appointed; and whether they have Civil Service status.

The position of chiefs is not a matter of appointment. Chiefs owe their position to local native custom which normally confines the choice to members of the chiefly family and involves the agreement of their people. Chiefs also require recognition by the Governor and when so recognised along with their councils under the respective Native Authority Ordinances they are constituted statutory Native Authorities. Their status is thus distinguishable from that of members of the Civil Service, though they have certain features in common.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received a report on the recent investigation into labour problems in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate; and what were its main conclusions and recommendations.

I have received a copy of this report. Its main conclusion is that it should be possible to meet future labour requirements in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate from within the territory itself but that additional labour could be obtained from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony if required. Its main recommendations are the establishment of a Labour Department and Labour Advisory Board, the introduction of a new Labour Regulation and an amendment to the Workmen's Compensation Regulation, improved pay and conditions of employment and better methods of recruiting labour. The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific is now considering these recommendations.