asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement on the prospects of trade with China;

The prospects depend mainly on the trading policies of the Chinese authorities. Recent trade confirms the forecast made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary during the Adjournment Debate on 3rd December last, that we may expect to see a steady but not a sudden or spectacular increase. I am not sure what mutual arrangements the hon. Member has in mind.

While accepting that that is an encouraging reply, may I ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now consider taking further steps so that Britain may benefit from the prospects of trade with China? Does he accept that other countries are getting in before us? Does he also agree that there is enormous good will for Britain in China? Has not the time arrived when we should capitalise upon that good will?

I have no information that other countries are getting in front of us. We are exchanging purchasing missions. The Chinese have sent a mission here which I believe has been successful, and we are arranging an exhibition of British goods in Pekin in 1960.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken, since the meeting he had with a deputation on the subject of Swynnerton, to encourage manufacturing concerns to open in the City of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

We have continued to bring to the attention of suitable firms the facilities available in North Staffordshire, including Stoke-on-Trent. A number of them have visited the area, but none has yet agreed to set up there.

Has the President of the Board of Trade made a personal study of the Board of Trade Journal of 11th July, 1958, from which he will see the industrial building that has taken place in Great Britain? Has not the time arrived when the national interests, especially productive cost interests, should be put first? Also, was not it suicidal economic policy to allow the expansion of the great Michelin Tyre Company Limited's works to be taken away from Stoke-on-Trent, and may we have a guarantee that in future that sort of thing will not happen?

I always read the Board of Trade Journal. I shall certainly consider the second point that the hon. Gentleman made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the estimated cost in dollars during the last financial year of the import of photographic positives of greeting cards from the United States of America.

Photographic positives of greeting cards are not separately distinguished in the trade returns, but the value of licences in the last financial year to import them from the United States of America was about £40,000.

Does not the President of the Board of Trade think that it might be wiser to save some dollars here and safeguard the jobs and opportunities of British artists?

I am told by the trade that these positives from America are useful to them technically and for "know-how," not only for the home trade but for the export trade, which likes these designs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions regarding the future of the United Kingdom jute industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the course of the debate on Industry and Employment in Scotland on Thursday, 10th July.

Can the President of the Board of Trade say on what grounds he has rejected the proposals that the jute industry has put to him, after painstaking negotiation among its various interests, to maintain employment in the industry? Since he has declared that he himself dislikes the present State trading, does not he feel the responsibility to put forward some alternatives of his own to safeguard employment in the jute industry?

I studied very carefully the Federal Council's proposals—those to which, I believe, the hon. Member referred—and we are still thinking about them. Whether we shall have an alternative proposal, I cannot yet say.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of his official announcement on 1st July, 1958, that many British exports would be easier to sell if they were better packed, he will make a special investigation into the difficulties which at present face the important export trade of the toilet preparations industry in this connection, having special regard to the incidence of Purchase Tax on the packages of cosmetics and toilet preparations including notably aerosols, as well as the contents.

The toilet preparations industry which maintains a high standard of packaging has done well in exports. The question of Purchase Tax on the packages is for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In my field I am not aware of any problems which would justify a special investigation.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that six months ago his Department undertook to discuss this matter carefully with the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Although this industry has done well in the export field, is not it a fact that the potential available to it overseas is many times greater than its present exports? Will my right hon. Friend take up this matter again with the Chancellor with a view to separating the Purchase Tax on the packages from the contents, as it has never been our policy to try to tax packages together with the contents?

I saw the exhibition of the packaging industry the other day and noticed that it is making special efforts. As regards the Purchase Tax, my hon. Friend will, I think, have to leave that for some time.

I am very disappointed with that answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has noted that cinema admissions have fallen in the first quarter of this year, as compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, from 264 million to 199·3 million; and to what extent the figures in his possession for the second quarter of this year show a continuing fall in admissions.

I am aware of these figures. It looks as though the decline in the second quarter will not be quite so steep.

Nevertheless, the decline will still remain and, therefore, the overall decline for the half-year must be seriously perturbing the right hon. Gentleman's mind. Is not that the case? Does he realise that the figures show that despite the reduction, the impact of tax is crushing the industry? Will he think about doing something as early as possible in connection with this serious fall?

I agree that the decline is serious, but we cannot control public taste and we have given practical help in the Budget.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to simplifying the procedure whereby industrialists from the United States and other foreign countries have to apply for permission to establish factories and other industrial enterprises in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

I have examined the present procedure. It is difficult to simplify it because of the requirements of exchange control and the care we take with regard to the location of industry.

Apart from that, is the President of the Board of Trade aware of the criticism directed to his Department from another place, by a noble Lord whose interest in employment in Scotland is recognised by all parties, in which he said that the efficiency of the arrangements of the Department were very poor indeed and that the Board of Trade's handling of American inquiries compared unfavourably with the practice in Holland, Belgium and West Germany? What has the right hon. Gentleman to say to that criticism?

The hon. Lady was, I think, quoting from a speech made in another place by a noble Lord who is not a Member of the Government. That is not in order.

This is a difficult and important problem. If I could find ways to simplify it, I would; but we have our planning controls and our distribution of industry policy which we must continue to try to operate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can yet make a statement on negotiations with India, Pakistan and Hong Kong in respect of a voluntary three-year ceiling on imports.

Since the debate on 30th June, the Cotton Board has announced that the Indian, Pakistan and United Kingdom cotton industries have reached an understanding upon ceiling levels for imports into the United Kingdom. This understanding is conditional upon the conclusion of satisfactory arrangements with the industry in Hong Kong. I understand that the Cotton Board has the question of an early approach to the Hong Kong industry under consideration.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is not only the considerable weight of duty-free imports from India, Pakistan and Hong Kong which is causing so much anxiety, but the continued uncertainty about the level they may reach, which is leading to the closing of so many mills? Will my right hon. Friend therefore do all he can to reach an agreement favourable to this country as soon as possible?

Yes, we will.

As there is so much anxiety about this, can the President of the Board of Trade at least say how soon these talks with Hong Kong will start?

That depends upon the arrangements which the Cotton Board is now making.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the numerous complaints regarding tearing from seams and unsatisfactory wear of women's raincoats, why he has taken no steps to enforce the existing British standard in this respect.

There is a British standard for plastic rainwear. The standard being voluntary, it is not my business to enforce it. I have no powers to do so.

Did not the Department six years ago set up a Women's Advisory Council of the British Standards Institution? When such a body gives advice, why does not the President of the Board of Trade take it?

Not many complaints have been brought to the Board of Trade and it is our opinion that competition is better than legislation, which would be extremely difficult to administer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that, subject to suitable safeguards to the owner, the rights of a hirer shall pass to his or her personal representatives upon his or her death during the continuance of a hire-purchase agreement.

No, Sir. I have no evidence that the present position whereby the owner may provide specifically that the agreement should come to an end on the death of the hirer has been abused.

Will my right hon. Friend look again at the case which I have submitted to his Department? Does not he agree that it is wrong that a hire-purchase firm can retake possession of any article originally costing over £300, notwithstanding the fact that at the time of death a large sum of money has been paid, a very small amount remains outstanding and the personal representatives are able and willing to pay off the balance?

I understand that the case which my hon. and gallant Friend submitted to us is a very rare one. Usually, the owner makes arrangements with the representative of the deceased, but I think it is reasonable that he should have some regard to the financial status of the representative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a number of manufacturing firms in the furniture industry in Manchester and other parts of Lancashire are terminating business owing to hire-purchase restrictions; and what remedial action is proposed.

According to my information, two small firms, employing fifty-five workers, have closed down in Lancashire this year.

As that information is quite contrary to that which has reached me, will the President of the Board of Trade make further inquiries in the matter? Is he aware not only that firms are closing down, but that quite a number are going on short-time working and one, if not more, is working only one week out of four? Surely, that is a very unsatisfactory situation in Lancashire, where there is much short-time working in the cotton industry. What is the right hon. Gentleman doing about it?

I am aware that there is a decline in the sales of furniture, but it would appear that a considerable proportion of it is due to a change in taste—that is to say, the consumers are showing a preference for television sets, washing machines and things of that nature.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of its success, he would be willing to consider the possibilities of re-erecting the British Pavilion, at present part of the Brussels Exhibition, on some suitable site in London once the Exhibition has closed.

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for her compliment to the British exhibits at the Brussels Exhibition. In due course we shall consider whether some further use of the building and its contents can be made, but I am informed that it would be difficult to dismantle the Government Pavilion and re-erect it on another site.

Will the President of the Board of Trade also consider other sites? He knows that there are other places in the country besides London.

Certainly, I will. The point is, however, that this has been designed deliberately for a particular site and a particular occasion. My experience at the Ministry of Works leads me to think that it is not always successful to transplant such a tailor-made building.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider extending the Export Credits Guarantee scheme.

The Department is prepared to consider new forms of cover when these are sound insurance propositions and do not prejudice the Department's credit insurance operations as a whole.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that if this is a general extension, as I understand it to be, of the powers under the Export Credits Guarantee scheme, it will be very welcome to British exporters who find that one thing with which they have to compete today is the very wide credit terms offered by their competitors in other countries, often with Government assistance?

I believe that the great bulk of our exporters think that we are right in trying to keep in step with other countries in the conditions under which credit is insured.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the arrangements made regarding the placing of Government contracts with priority suppliers.

These arrangements are at present under examination between the Departments concerned. One immediate practical step proposed is to arrange for fuller exchange of information and closer co-operation between the contracting Departments and representatives of the priority suppliers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is inviting the priority suppliers with whom he is concerned to take part in a Committee under Ministry of Labour chairmanship for this purpose.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his statement will be greatly welcomed by those who are interested in the problem? Will he say whether it is possible to include members of organisations catering for the disabled and representatives of the Prison Commissioners on the Committee which he proposes to set up?

I will look into that suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will add to the number of civil airports in Wales at which customs facilities are provided;

Customs facilities have been provided at three airports in Scotland and at two airports in Wales. In the interests of staffing economy in the customs, the provision of these facilities is limited to airports where there is sufficient foreign traffic to justify customs designation. Applications for extensions of the facilities to additional airports are considered on their merits by reference primarily to the actual or probable foreign traffic, but this policy is applied reasonably and facilities would be provided, if necessary on an experimental basis, for airports which show a real prospect of developing substantial foreign traffic.

Will my right hon. Friend take account of the fact that such development as has occurred in civil aviation in Wales has almost entirely been on local initiative and very largely due to local authorities and other bodies? Does not he think that, in the circumstances, the Treasury could be more helpful, particularly as it is impossible for foreign traffic to be built up until these facilities are provided?

I will take note of what my hon. Friend has said, and I hope that he will take note of my words in my main Answer, which indicate that we are willing to take a risk in this matter, and to carry out an experiment if there seems a reasonable chance of extension. I will bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said and I shall be glad if he keeps in touch with me with any suggestions which he may have to make.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that applications for the provision of customs facilities at Swansea Airport have been before him for many months now? In view of the fact that the Government have spent nearly £3 million in establishing that airport, that the local authorities have expended many more thousands of pounds since, and that the Minister for Welsh Affairs has promised to make inquiries and to help us, when may we expect a reply? This has been very disappointing and frustrating.

I am in touch with the Minister for Welsh Affairs on this matter. I will write to the hon. Member and tell him when I am in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to lift the ceiling on the investment programme of nationalised industries.

I cannot usefully add anything to the answer which I gave on this subject to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) after my statement on 3rd July.

But if, as it is clear, the right hon. Gentleman takes the view that it is more desirable to stimulate investment in the private sector than it was at the time of his Budget, why does not he think there should not also be an upward adjustment in the public sector?

The public sector, of course, is completely under our control, and the private investment sector is not. It must be remembered that as far as public investment goes the investment level is an all-time record, and within that total the proportion of the nationalised industries has steadily increased. But I am keeping my eye on the whole situation. The action which I took in relation to private investment was in the light of the fact that there were some signs that private investment was dropping off.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that large numbers of people in this country consider that further reliefs in the private sector should go much further in the direction possibly of reduction of taxation and the restitution of post-war credits before anything more is done in the public sector?

I will bear in mind what my noble Friend has said.

When the right hon. Gentleman has made these sweeping relaxations of credit in the private sector, how can he possibly justify keeping restrictions on the public sector at the extreme level of last September, particularly in view of the amount of steel-producing capacity which is unemployed in this country at the present time?

For the reasons which I have given.

Do I understand from the Chancellor's sympathetic reply to the noble Lord the Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) that he will be more anxious to encourage expenditure on consumption than on investment in nationalised industry?

Very much to the contrary. I think that I have made it clear that my priority at present is to encourage exports and investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has studied the results of the recent survey into business prospects conducted by the Federation of British Industries a copy of which has been sent him; and what measures to correct the situation revealed he proposes to take.

I have studied the result of the inquiry into industrial trends, conducted by the Federation of British Industries, with interest, and welcome its initiative in conducting it. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement of Thursday, 3rd July.

Yes, but as it is clear from this extremely interesting and informative survey that the majority of firms in British industry have a substantial excess capacity at present, what measures does the Chancellor propose to bring that capacity into use?

The actions which the Government have taken in the past few months show that we have been very alert in ensuring that our policies are modified whenever necessary in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that in many cases where repayments of post-war credits are made to the widows or children of the deceased holders of such credits, deductions are made for alleged arrears of Income Tax, said to have been incurred by the deceased persons 15 and 16 years ago; if he will take steps to ensure that the Board of Inland Revenue discontinues this practice; and if he will make a statement.

Post-war credit is payable in full only if all the tax for the relevant year was paid. This is made clear in a note on the certificates. While I sympathise with those who receive less than they expect, I am afraid I cannot authorise payment where it is not due.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many widows and dependents of extremely modest means in my constituency of Barry have been confronted for the first time with demands for these alleged arrears of Income Tax? In many cases they are quite small amounts which are stated to be in respect of fifteen years ago. Does not he think it pathetic that the Treasury should be chasing people in this income group? Should not this matter be treated in a different way?

I wish I could find a way of making sure that every beneficiary knows whether or not there is tax due for the year in question, but I understand that these cases are limited to those where there was a transfer of certificates to a beneficiary prior to 1950.

Is the Chancellor aware that this affects not only dependants drawing post-war credits but people who are themselves drawing their own post-war credits? Is he aware of a case where, out of £33 post-war credits, £6 remained after deduction of tax arrears over a period of sixteen years? Surely there are means whereby the Inland Revenue can inform people of these arrears or deduct them year by year. Will he look into these matters and look into special cases of hardship where people who have thought that they had a nest-egg find that they have none?

I realise how disappointing it is to the individual, but I repeat that if all certificates had to be sent back for checking it would mean an enormous amount of work. I have looked into this matter to discover whether there was any other conceivable way of dealing with it, but so far I have not been able to find one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that public money granted to the Royal Schools of Music, Drama and Art, and to the Ministry of Education in respect of State scholarships for education in the fine arts, is partially stultified by lack of employment in the field of the arts; and whether he will therefore appoint a committee to consider whether the grant in aid of the Arts Council is sufficient to ensure that the money spent at the time of training is productively utilised.

I am sure the Royal College has regard to employment opportunities when deciding how many students to admit. On the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, I think the Council itself is well constituted to make representations about the sufficiency of its grant, which is now nearly five times as large as in 1945–46.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Answer is hardly satisfactory and that there is an ever-depreciating number of opportunities for those who emerge from the Royal Schools of Music, Drama and Art and R.A.D.A.? Is not it very frustrating and inefficient that there is not some co-ordination between the Treasury and the Arts Council and those who make appointments in the arts?

As my hon. Friend knows, the Treasury makes a grant to the Arts Council and the disposal of that grant is entirely at the discretion and within the responsibilities of the Arts Council.

That is no answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the movement in the retail price index from the change in the Bank Rate on 19th September, 1957, to the most recent convenient date; and what was the movement in the comparable period a year earlier.

I would refer the hon. Member to figures published in the Monthly Digest of Statistics.

Is not it clear from the figures so published that the rate of price increase over the winter 1956–57 was less than that of the past winter and, therefore, that in so far as the policy of 19th September was specifically attached to the prevention of a price increase, what the Chancellor is now doing is not building on the success of the policy of his right hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Thorneycroft), but escaping from its ruins?

The position about the retail price index figures is as the hon. Member said. The increase in 1957 was 2·4 per cent., whereas in 1958 it was 2·9 per cent. However, my assessment of the degree of stability which we have reached depends on a good many other indications apart from that, and I am satisfied that in general there is a greater measure of stability in the price level of today than there was a year ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that most of the general public will treat Saturday, 27th December, 1958, as a public holiday owing to its proximity to Christmas Day, he will recommend that that day be proclaimed a public holiday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will recommend that Saturday, 27th December, 1958, be proclaimed a bank holiday.

The answer is "No, Sir."

As it can be assumed that most factories and business premises will be closed for four days, and as it will be the banks which will be especially affected, can the right hon. Gentleman say why he is so adamant about the matter?

To start with, on all previous occasions where 26th December has fallen on a Friday, Saturday, 27th December, has not been a bank holiday, and I am satisfied that it would not be in the general interest to make it a bank holiday.

Has not it in fact been taken as a bank holiday when 27th December has fallen on a Saturday? Would not recognising it as a bank holiday merely be recognising the fact for the few people who have to work on that day, which is certainly not the case for the majority of the population?

I do not think so. For instance, if it were a bank holiday, all shops would be closed and it is in the general interest that food shops, especially food provision shops, should remain open on that Saturday, 27th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to enable buyers in countries suffering temporary financial embarrassment to obtain goods from British exporters on larger credit.

I have nothing to add at present to what I said about export credits in my Budget speech.

Since the right hon. Gentleman's Budget speech, has not the matter become considerably more urgent, owing to the difficulties by which some Commonwealth countries are temporarily embarrassed, with the consequent cutting down of the buying of British goods? Will the Chancellor reconsider the matter in view of what he said this afternoon about the great importance which he attaches to exports? Is not this one way in which exports could immediately and usefully be stimulated?

I rather agree with the hon. Member. I think that the situation is changing. I have the matter under constant review, and I am ready to discuss it with other countries concerned and with international institutions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further progress has been made towards increasing the sterling area's reserves or taking other steps to meet a possible deepening of the recession.

At 30th June the United Kingdom's gold and dollar reserves stood at the figure of £1,099 million, which is some £249 million greater than a year ago.

Here again, is not there some indication that the depression may be passing from America into Europe? Is not this the moment for Her Majesty's Government to make very strong representations for increasing liquid reserves of both Commonwealth currencies and European currencies?

I do not disagree with what the hon. Member has said and, fortunately, there will be opportunities of discussing this important subject at a meeting of O.E.E.C. towards the end of this month, at the Commonwealth Conference in September, and perhaps at the annual meetings of the International Bank and the International Monetary Fund in October.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will introduce legislation to prevent discrimination against coloured persons when they seek to rent accommodation.

I do not think that it would be practicable to achieve this by legislation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while this discrimination has occurred considerably, if not extensively, in the past, it has been greatly increased as a result of the Rent Act and under the new leases which are being issued in connection with that Act? In view of his responsibility for the Act, will he do something for the protection of these people?

I deplore all discrimination of colour or creed, but if the hon. Member thinks for a moment, he will realise that the kind of legislation which he suggests would be totally unenforceable.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is far more necessary to introduce legislation to prevent the exploitation of our own people by coloured people who come to this country with the sole object of buying slum property and charging extortionate rents?

That is a very different question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why Mr. Richard Barber, 37, Heath Road, Congleton, has not received compensation for his house at 12, King Street, Buglawton, Congleton, which was demolished under a compulsory order, details of which have been forwarded to him.

Questions of compensation are governed by Statute. In this instance I am afraid that the owner does not qualify for compensation under the Slum Clearance (Compensation) Act, 1956.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that this is most unfair? This man has very limited means and has done up the house with his own labour and has had to demolish it himself? Does not my right hon. Friend think that all this is most unjust, and will he reconsider the matter if I send him further details?

The House must appreciate that this is a most unfortunate case of a man who in 1952 bought a house which had been condemned in 1939. Had he made inquiries, he would have ascertained that it had been condemned. The structural condition of the house was such that in my view it would have been quite impossible to treat it as well maintained. I am very sorry.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were out to contract but not started, and how many were under construction, for the corporation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 31st May, 1958; what statement of housing needs has been submitted to him by the corporation; and whether he is satisfied that the rate of building in the past twelve months is adequate to meet this demand within a reasonable period of time.

In answer to the first part of the Question, the Corporation had 587 dwellings under construction at 31st May, 1958, and 257 dwellings in contracts approved by my Department but not yet started.

Is the Minister aware that the waiting list in Newcastle now approaches the 15,000 mark? Does not he agree that this rate of building is quite inadequate to house these people in any reasonable time? Will he do all in his power to co-operate with the local authority to see that these people have at least a reasonable prospect of getting housed?

I always do all in my power to co-operate. In this case I have agreed that the local authority can start 900 houses this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many men were employed on the house building programme of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation on 31st May, 1957, and 31st May, 1958; and whether he is satisfied that this number is adequate to satisfy the demand for houses in the area within a reasonable time.

The information sought in the Question is not in my possession, but the hon. Member may be able to obtain it from the Corporation.

Will the Minister reconsider this matter? Does he agree that the fact that there are thousands of people waiting for a house is an indication that the Minister should consider whether the building force now used for housing construction is sufficient to meet the needs in a reasonable time? Surely it is his responsibility to go into the matter.

It is the responsibility of the local authority to decide how many people it employs. As I have just said, I have agreed that the local authority shall have an allocation of 900 dwellings for 1958. I think that that should keep it busy.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the City of Newcastle where, unfortunately, many people are still living in property which is in an advanced state of decay, people are greatly encouraged by the high rate of building in recent years, which has made slum clearance possible once again? Will he guarantee that the maximum encouragement and assistance will be given to the slum clearance drive in the City of Newcastle?

I am extremely anxious that slum clearance should be pressed forward everywhere. I indicated a programme with which I think the Corporation can go forward this year.

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state, for the latest date for which figures are available, the number and proportion of local authorities which have adopted the policy of selling municipal houses; and how many, and what proportion of, council houses have so far been sold.

Up to 31st May, 454 local authorities, representing 31 per cent. of all housing authorities in England and Wales, had notified the sale of 10,408 houses, representing 0·3 per cent. of all council houses.

Does not the fact that only a fractional percentage of council houses have actually been sold show that this policy is a total failure, and does not the Minister now realise that the best policy is to maintain as big a pool of municipal houses to rent as is possible, and to leave provision for owner-occupiers to the private builders?

No, Sir. I think the local authorities should have greater discretion than the hon. Member would allow them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further action he proposes to take regarding speculative housing in view of paragraphs 53 and 54 of the Fifteenth Report of the Royal Fine Art Commission.

A great deal of good advice has been given on this subject in recent years, both through my Department and otherwise, and there are many excellent examples of well-designed modern houses to be seen. It is for local planning authorities to induce private builders to adopt better designs, and I believe that they could do more in this direction. I am sure that all these authorities have read and will profit by the latest Report of the Royal Fine Art Commission.

While we all appreciate the good advice, may I ask the Minister if he is aware that these paragraphs are very depressing reading, and demand much more vigorous action by his Department?

In fact, there is a great deal of good work being done, as well as bad work, in different parts of the country. The truth is that it is very hard to teach taste.

Will the right hon. Gentleman encourage the good?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the report of the inquiry into the causes of the roof damage last November at Hatfield New Town has yet been completed; and whether it will be published.

Yes, Sir. The report is being published today by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and copies will be available in the Vote Office.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the decision to publish this Report will be widely welcomed in Hatfield by those who suffered this very frightening experience? In view of local apprehensions, can he say whether the cost of repairing these houses will fall on the local tenants?

I can give my hon. Friend the assurance that the cost, whatever it may be, resulting from this disaster, will not have to be met by the tenants of the Corporation's houses by way of increased rents.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses were built by local authorities; and how many by private builders during the second quarter of 1958.

These figures are not yet available. They will be given in full in the Quarterly Housing Return which will be published on 31st July.

Surely the Minister ought to know by this time what the figures were for the last quarter. Is he aware that there is great disturbance about the fact that the figures for completed houses continue to show a fall, and that there has been a fall of over 40,000 completed houses since 1954? In view of the needs, in the large towns at any rate, will he reverse the present policy and allow the local authorities to build houses to accommodate those on their general waiting lists?

I think Parliament perfectly well understands the policy which the Government are following and I am sure the hon. Gentleman well understands that the figures for one month are never available until they are published at the end of the following month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what applications he has received for planning permission in connection with the development of the precincts of Westminster Abbey.

None, Sir. Applications for planning permission are made to the local planning authority, not to me. I understand that that authority on 8th May granted conditional permission to develop the site of Nos. 1–19 Victoria Street with a new office building.

Will the Minister consider having a comprehensive plan prepared on the same lines as in the case of the precincts of St. Paul's?

The Abbey and its immediate surroundings are included in the Government and Commonwealth special area defined in the development plan. I do not think that the development plan need be amended. What was required in the case of St. Paul's was an amendment to the plan.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that although local authorities have power to contribute to the cost of road work in cases of hardship or to spread the charge over a period of thirty years, this does not remove the burden which falls particularly upon the dwellers in corner houses when called upon to make up the road; and, in view of the hardship arising out of the operation of the Private Street Works Act, 1892, if he will now introduce legislation to remove this injustice and make this matter the responsibility of the local authorities.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that any amendment of the law is required. In the particular case mentioned, there may have been grounds of appeal to my right hon. Friend. I am in course of communicating with the hon. Member.

Is the Minister aware that, in the case which I sent to him, a man bought a house, and, some years later, the local authority decided to build a road alongside it; and that this man now has to pay £424 towards the cost of building that road, which was not there when he bought the house some years ago? Will the Minister take some steps to remedy this injustice to this man, and not tell him that he can make an appeal against this decision?

I am aware of the particular circumstances of this case. As I say, it probably is open to him to lodge an appeal with my right hon. Friend. In view of that, I would rather not add to what I have said.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what results there are from his examination of the new washing powder which ceases to foam once it gets into the sewage.

The foam problem is being studied by the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents. The Committee is aware of recent reports that new materials have been discovered and, in co-operation with the manufacturers and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, it is investigating the claims made for these materials. It is not yet ready to make a further report.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us how long it will be before a detailed report is submitted on this problem, because every local sewage works is confronted with it and the cost is terrific?

We are aware of the seriousness of this problem, but, of course, the question here is to find detergent material which sewage bacteria can digest. That is actually being examined by the Standing Technical Committee at the present time, and I am hopeful we shall have the report before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he has taken to advise sweets and tobacco manufacturers that, in order to help in the campaign against litter, they should use a minimum of wrapping-up material.

My right hon. Friend has not approached manufacturers in this matter, but he is considering further ways of increasing public awareness of the problem of litter. In the meantime my hon. and gallant Friend's Question will no doubt have drawn attention to this particular possibility.

Would my hon. Friend agree that there is a lot of unnecessary wrapping paper used for goods, and would not co-operation by manufacturers in this respect be very desirable?

I entirely agree that the excessive wrapping of goods has become something of a craze. We shall put the suggestions which my hon. and gallant Friend has put to my right hon. Friend to the "Keep Britain Tidy" group.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress he has made in his re-examination of the policy of establishing a fair market value as the basis of compensation for compulsory acquisition of land; and when he contemplates bringing in legislation to deal with this matter.

I cannot add to the statement I made on 21st February in the debate on the Bill introduced by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, South (Captain Corfield).

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is great feeling amongst all parties in the country over this matter, and that people are looking to the Conservative Government not only to rectify the grave injustices which exist, but to take the earliest possible action? Is he further aware that there is considerable criticism that action in this matter was not taken a long time ago?

I am aware that there is very strong feeling on this matter in many quarters, and that was why I said that the Government were pressing on with a re-examination of the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that compensation has a brother called betterment, and that there are frequent family squabbles?

My re-examination has brought me to that point of view.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress he has made in making revised regulations about outdoor advertising.

As I said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. R. F. Hesketh) on 20th May, I am preparing amending regulations concerning areas of special control and the machinery of control.

In continuing these negotiations and preparing the regulations, will the Minister pay close attention to the criticism made by the Royal Fine Art Commission?

I am extremely anxious to get the situation right as regards advertisments. I think there is very broad agreement as to what is needed now in the countryside, and I am having this further discussion on the problem of clutter on buildings.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now received from the East Sussex County Council the necessary modification maps to enable him to announce his decision on their development plan as a whole; when he intends to give his formal decision about this plan; and whether he is aware of the strong opposition among residents of Ditchling and neighbouring villages to the proposal to make a main highway through the middle of what is recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in Sussex.

The letter conveying my right hon. Friend's decision to approve the East Sussex Development Plan, with modifications, was sent to the County Council yesterday. He has decided that the proposed Ditchling by-pass should be deleted from the plan: the traffic needs can be further considered at the first review of the plan in 1963.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that is the best news we have had for a very long time?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the tom-cat smell is still affecting Stockton-on-Tees and Tees-side; and what further action is being taken to treat the effluent which is believed to be the cause of it.

No, Sir. The District Alkali Inspector has been in touch with the local authorities and there have been no recent reports of this smell.

Is the Minister aware that it is no less distasteful to my constituents to know that the tom-cat smell has been replaced by a rotten-fish smell? Can we be assured that all the measures will be pushed ahead with the greatest energy to obviate this great nuisance?

I think the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question shows that impressions of smell are subjective. We shall get on with it.