May I rise on a point of order, Mr. Speaker, and ask your guidance whether I should be in order in moving the suspension of Standing Orders with a view to obtaining an immediate statement from the Prime Minister on the international crisis. In the shadow of the fact that we are moving towards—

Order. I can answer the hon. Member. There is no necessity for the hon. Member to move such a Motion—even if it were possible, which I do not think it is—for there is to be a statement by the Prime Minister on this matter after Questions

Arising from that point of order. Mr. Speaker, may I say that, even while we are asking these questions, decisive steps may be taken which may bring the world to war?

Further to that point of order. Is not it a fact, Mr. Speaker, that there is a Private Notice Question? Does not that have priority over others and, if that hon. Member were present, would not he be the one to put it to you?

In any event, procedurally the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) is completely out of order as such a Motion to suspend the Standing Orders requires notice, and he has given none.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Northumberland County Council has been refused the request to purchase West Duddo Farm, Stannington, for the purpose of its development as small holdings.

In present circumstances, my right hon. Friend's view is that such capital as is available for expenditure by smallholdings authorities should be devoted to schemes for the improvement of existing holdings rather than to the acquisition of estates for the creation of new holdings.

Am I to understand from that reply that it is only because of prevailing circumstances that the request has been refused, and that the Minister might still be prepared to consider the suggestion of the county council that the farm be secured on lease until such time as circumstances permit its purchase and subsequent development?

As the hon. Member knows, I have personally given a great deal of consideration to this particular case. I do not think I can hold out such hope to him. This is merely deferring the question of expenditure and at present we have a heavy backlog of other expenditure in relation to smallholdings. I think it would be wrong for me to pretend that there is any hope which I can foresee in the immediate future of acceding to this request.

Are we to understand that the Government have closed dawn on any possibility of acquiring smallholdings anywhere, apart from Northumberland?

No, Sir. I am grateful to the right hon. Member for giving me an opportunity to make the point clear. I was speaking in reference to a particular case. The Government have not put a blanket over this question at all, but in general we would need to be very well satisfied that it was right to spend money on new smallholdings rather than on developing existing establishments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the financial arrangements of the new guarantee system for potatoes.

Discussions with the producers' representatives are still going on and I cannot yet add to the reply given on 30th June to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Pott).

While I appreciate the Parliamentary Secretary's position, may I none the less ask whether he is aware that the producers cannot judge this scheme until they know what the financial provisions are? Can he assure the House that the provisions will overtly fall within the spirit of the 1957 Act?

I gladly assure the House that this will come fully within the ambit of the 1957 Act in respect of guarantees. This is a change from an individual guarantee to a global guarantee, but the 1957 Act fully operates.

Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that any new arrangements made will see that Britain can feed herself in potatoes in any year of bad yield?

My hon. Friend is asking me to do something which it would be impossible to do because of the weather conditions which in certain circumstances—in the last two years out of three—have made very great difficulties. I think, however, that the plan which we have here is adequate in any normal circumstances which the Government envisage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about measures being taken to protect Essex coastal waters from overfishing by foreign vessels and to prevent intrusion within the three-mile limit.

The conservation measures in force under the International Fisheries Convention of 1946, which is concerned with the protection of most kinds of white fish apply to these waters.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is not competition but over-fishing of which the local fishermen are afraid? Is he aware of the presence of foreign factory ships in the area, and can he say whether in any further negotiations which take place on the three-mile limit a line could be drawn from headland to headland?

I will take note of my hon. Friend's suggestion in relation to this. I would remind him that the Government have been taking a leading part in negotiations for a new convention on conservation. It is hoped that the new convention will be adopted and signed within the next six months, but it would require ratification by all the subscribing Governments.

Can the Minister give any idea how many infringements have been detected over the past eight to ten years and how many prosecutions there have been?

I could not give the figure offhand for the last eight to ten years. I am aware that one French vessel was arrested in the Thames Estuary last August.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, before bringing the new Ice Cream Regulations into force, he will consult with the various representative advertising organisations with a view to ascertaining whether, in their opinion, it will be practicable to allow a product made with non-milk fat to be described as ice cream but not to be advertised in any way that will suggest that the product has any relation to butter, cream or milk or anything connected with the dairy industry.

My right hon. Friend has invited the comments of the manufacturers of ice cream about the details to be contained in the proposed Regulations, which are designed to distinguish clearly between ices made entirely from dairy products and other ice cream.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the present draft Regulations may be quite unworkable in their present form and that the National Farmers' Union and the Milk Marketing Board are very disturbed about the position? Is he aware that unless these draft Regulations are amended the public will continue to be deceived about the composition of a large proportion of so-called ice cream?

I am not sure that I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend. There is another Question to be answered in relation to the organisations which have been consulted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what organisations will be consulted by him about the amended Ice Cream Regulations; and by what date he anticipates reaching a decision as to the form in which he intends to lay these regulations before Parliament.

I will with permission circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the organisations consulted. My right hon. Friend hopes to have their comments in time to lay Regulations in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the steps he is taking to protect trawlers fishing off the Icelandic coast outside the legal limit after 1st September this year.

Discussions have taken place with the industry on the practical arrangements that would require to be carried out on the assumption that an agreed solution cannot in the meanwhile be arrived at. I would take this opportunity of repeating that Her Majesty's Government continue to hope that a reasonable solution can be achieved.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer and for the reaffirmation of the promise of protection, may I ask him to continue to urge on the Icelandic Government that the only answer is to be found at the conference table and that their unilateral action is only causing a loss of friendship and distress to their N.A.T.O. Allies?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I entirely agree with his view, on this matter. We have repeated that we should be only too glad to go to any discussions with Iceland—bilateral or regional or in a full conference—which they would be willing to attend.

Will my hon. Friend make a further statement about this before the House rises, since we should normally be in Recess on 1st September? Will he be able to make another statement before the House is in Recess?

If there is anything further to bring forward my right hon. Friend will wish to inform the House, but at present I have no knowledge of any further news that I could give.

In the meantime, the skippers of trawlers are in danger of being arrested and their gear confiscated by the Icelandic people. What does the Minister intends to do if this occurs? Will he protect those men or will he allow them to be imprisoned in Iceland and their gear to be confiscated?

We must be clear on this. Nothing of this kind can arise before 1st September, which is the operative date of the Icelandic decree. We have made our position abundantly clear in our declaration of 4th June, and I ask the hon. Member to read it carefully because it exactly meets the points which he has raised. I do not wish to say anything off the cuff about it, but the declaration is abundantly clear and very straightforward.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he has given to British fishermen as to the area of the sea round Iceland within which they should not fish without armed protection.

My right hon. Friend does not think that at this stage it would be in the public interest to disclose the detailed arrangements that are being made. I can assure the hon. and learned Member that Her Majesty's Government are maintaining close liaison with the British deep-sea fishing industry on this matter.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that it is essential that some guidance should be given to the skippers of long-distance trawlers who will shortly be putting to sea on long voyages? The new limits sought to be imposed by Iceland will come into operation in less than six weeks from now, on 1st September. Is not it, therefore, of the utmost importance that the skippers should know in which waters they are liable to arrest and in which waters they can fish freely?

I entirely agree that it is right and proper that the skippers should be fully informed. It would not be wise for me to give a detailed answer on this subject to the House at the moment. We are in close consultation with the owners and their representatives on this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the progress of the efforts to ensure that 100 per cent. of the meat passing through slaughterhouses is inspected; and if he will make a statement.

The replies to a questionnaire recently issued by my Ministry indicate that local authorities have made considerable progress during the last eighteen months, and that as much as 90 per cent. of the meat passing through slaughterhouses is now inspected. Local authorities are to be congratulated on this encouraging rate of progress, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that they are doing their best to maintain this progress and to raise the standard of inspection despite the great pressure on inspecting staff in many areas.

Is the Minister aware that this Answer gives rise to very great satisfaction and should be a source of congratulation to all concerned, including his own Ministry?

I am most grateful.

Would the Minister also take steps to see that there is ante-mortem inspection of cattle? Is he aware that post-mortem inspection of meat alone is not sufficient to protect the public health?

I am aware of the hon. Member's feelings about this. We discussed the subject at some length during the current Session. At the moment I think we must concentrate on postmortem inspection, but I do not set that as an end to all inspection. I realise the importance of what he said.

While I appreciate the progress which has been made, may I ask whether the hon. Member recognises that 10 per cent. is still a very large amount of meat? Can he tell us what has happened to the Slaughterhouses Bill? Is he aware that it disappeared into another place and that we have heard no more about it?

The hon. Member says that 10 per cent. is a large amount of meat. This is an increase of 10 per cent. on what I was telling him a short time ago and I take it that his reference to the 10 per cent. is as a congratulation to me. The progress of the Slaughterhouses Bill is very wide of this Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the flooding of farmland in Yorkshire, following the inspections by the drainage engineers.

Our officers are engaged in a survey of the crop damage in the flooded area, and when this has been completed my right hon. Friend will write to the hon. Member. As regards the cause of the floods and possible remedial measures, there is nothing I can add at this stage to the Answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend on Thursday last.

Would the Minister see that the Departmental engineers are instructed to contact the local branches of the N.F.U., who are profoundly dissatisfied with the reply given by his right hon. Friend last week when I first raised the question? Is he aware of the contention by the N.F.U. that a far greater acreage has been flooded and far more crops have been damaged than the Minister gave credit for last week?

We are having full reports prepared, but if the N.F.U. has any evidence, we shall be very glad indeed to receive it.

Will the Minister satisfy the House that his Department has not withheld grants which might have helped to prevent this recent flooding from taking place?

The Question deals with an area in Yorkshire. As far as I am aware, we have withheld no grant for that area which has aggravated the problem.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider providing extra credit facilities for farmers who have suffered damage in the recent severe flooding; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has given urgent consideration to the very serious problems posed for those affected by this flooding and he is instructing my Ministry's officers in the areas affected to assist those in temporary need by providing, where they consider it justifiable, essential supplies on credit under the Agricultural Goods and Services Scheme on as favourable terms as the Scheme allows.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, after the rather depressing Answer given last week on this subject, his reply will be very welcome in the distressed areas of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire? Is he further aware that we are very grateful to him for his personal visit at the weekend to see the damage? However, can he explain to us exactly what the farmers can get under the Goods and Services Scheme? To whom does it apply, and what rate of interest will they have to pay? Is he aware that to people who have lost all their crops even the present Bank Rate is very high?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. The Goods and Services Scheme applies to practically all the goods which farmers require except buildings and livestock. Farmers should apply to the divisional office of my Ministry in their own areas. As to the interest terms, the present rate, I am afraid, is 7 per cent., but it is being reduced tomorrow to 6¼ per cent., and I hope that will be helpful.

Does what the Parliamentary Secretary has said cover farmers who have lost practically all their cereal crops, potatoes, peas and so on? Will the Goods and Services Scheme enable them to re-sow or re-plant what they have already lost or to make up for what they have lost?

The intention is to help them as far as we can. For this year it is too late to re-plant. We shall do all we possibly can to help as far as we are able to do under the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the anxiety of Warwickshire farmers regarding the existing arrangements for the importation of Irish cattle; whether he is yet satisfied with the standard of Irish attestation; and if he will make a further statement on this matter.

Pending the eradication of bovine tuberculosis from Great Britain the position is adequately safeguarded by the requirement that once-tested cattle must be isolated for a period and pass a second test before being added to attested herds. My right hon. Friend would, however, welcome the early development of a trade in attested Irish cattle. The future of the trade in Irish cattle after eradication of the disease from Great Britain is under active discussion between the authorities concerned. My right hon. Friend is aware of the concern of farmers with these matters, but he is not in a position to make a further statement at present.

In view of the amounts that the Government spend to ensure that our own cattle are fully attested, is not it foolish to continue importing cattle which have been only once attested before coming here? Would not it be desirable to have arrangements on the Irish side comparable with those that we have here?

I entirely agree with the hon. Member. We want the Irish to speed up this matter as much as possible. We have been in negotiation with them on a number of occasions. I myself have discussed it with some of their representatives. We want the situation improved as soon as possible, but at the moment the position is safeguarded in the way indicated in my original Answer.

Is my hon. Friend aware that isolation is no safeguard against T.B. and that the only safeguard is to ensure that the cattle are attested on the other side before coming to this country? Will he take steps to ensure that in due course the Irish follow the steps taken in Great Britain so that their cattle become fully T.T.?

Yes, Sir; that is exactly what we would wish. I would point out, however, that once-tested cattle are segregated, as I have indicated, for at least sixty days. This gives reasonably satisfactory results, the number of reactors being very small—about 2·3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many grants have been approved in respect of improvements under the Agriculture Act, 1957; at what estimated cost; and how many applications have been received.

Up to the end of June, 36,246 applications had been received in England and Wales; 14,483, involving 20,990 improvements at an estimated cost of about £10½ million, had been formally approved; 6,668 applications were ready for approval subject to the applicants providing satisfactory plans, specifications or tenders or signing formal documents; and 7,365 had been rejected or withdrawn. Together, therefore, nearly 80 per cent. of the applications had been dealt with and a good number of the remainder have been inspected and will be dealt with shortly.

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for his statement. Can he say how far this is in accord with the Departmental Estimates for this year? Can he also say whether he has sufficient information to confirm or deny that the scheme is working to the prejudice of the small farmer—that the small farmer is not taking Sufficient advantage of it?

On the first point, it was very difficult to estimate, but we think it is roughly falling in line with what we expected. In the last month or two there has been an increase in the number of applications. This has probably been attributable to the fact that we now have standard costs, which particularly help small farmers. Standard costs are a real help to the small farmer because he can include his own labour. Initially, the applications came largely from the larger farmers, probably because it was easier for them to get their specifications in, but we are now getting a considerable number from small farmers. The figures are improving.

Can my hon. Friend say what the present average delay is between an application being made by the farmer and the first visit from a representative of the Ministry, and whether he hopes to be able to keep the delay within reasonable bounds?

So that I might give my hon. Friend a really accurate figure, I should be grateful if he would put a Question to that effect on the Order Paper. We are trying to keep the delay as short as possible, but increasing numbers of applicants in the last two months have perhaps added a little to the inevitable delay.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the Department of Estate Management at Cambridge has made with its report on agricultural rents.

My right hon. Friend is informed that the results of the Department of Estate Management's survey are being tabulated and that it hopes to publish its report before the end of the year.

In view of this statement and the wholesale opposition in the farming community to the rent provisions of the present Bill, will the Government even at this late stage withdraw those provisions?

The answer is "No, Sir".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction with the gaming laws, what consideration has been given to making alterations, and what decisions reached; and what action is likely in the near future to deal with the present situation.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for the introduction of legislation on this subject in the present Session of Parliament.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman answer the Question, which asks what consideration has been given and what decisions have been reached? Although the hon. and learned Gentleman states that he has no proposals for this Session, will he please give some information in view of the fantastic situation about what consideration has been given and what decisions have been reached?

A great deal of consideration has been given to the Report of the Royal Commission on this subject, but it would be wrong for me to state what decisions have been reached in advance of any possible legislation. It would be very extensive legislation, and it would be wrong for me to raise the hon. Gentleman's hopes about when it could be fitted into a legislative programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum remission of sentence which could be earned under his rules by Albert Edward Matheson as a deduction from the sentence of 20 years' imprisonment recently passed on him.

A prisoner may by good conduct and industry earn remission of one-third of his sentence, which on a sentence of 20 years would be 6 years and 8 months. Matheson has, however, been certified as a moral defective and has been removed to Rampton Hospital. The effect of this is that he will not be eligible for remission and that he cannot be discharged during the currency of his sentence, that is until 1978, without the Secretary of State's consent.

Does my hon. and learned Friend realise that the knowledge that a man described by the Lord Chief Justice as "a monster" will not again be at liberty at the end of about 13 years will bring considerable relief to an anxious public?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a warden-controlled crossing in Long Lane, Blackheath, Birmingham, in the vicinity of the Feldon Lane Junction, and thus avoid the risk of accidents to which the children of the Olive Hill and Hill Top Primary Schools are now exposed in going to and from school.

Under the School Crossing Patrols Act, 1953, it is for the appropriate local authority to decide what arrangements, if any, shall be made for patrolling school crossings.

Having regard to the terms of the Minister's reply to me on 26th June, can the Joint Under-Secretary advise me as to the circumstances which would justify the intervention of her right hon. Friend in such a matter? Am I to understand that there must first be a road accident or, possibly, a fatality at this point before the Home Department can intervene?

The hon. Member would, I think, agree that in a purely local matter of this kind, the local authority is the proper body to assess the need for such a crossing. It would not be practicable for the Home Department to intervene in matters which are so essentially a question for local knowledge and decision.

Assuming for the moment that the local authority refuses to accede to the representations made by parents and local organisations, am I to understand that if people felt strongly about the matter it would be possible for the Home Secretary to intervene and investigate it further?

My right hon. Friend is always prepared to consider representations made to him, but, as he has replied to the hon. Member, he feels that this is a matter for local decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the increasing number of accidents caused by children's air guns and air pistols; and what action he proposes to take in the light of new evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington.

My right hon. Friend has no evidence of any increase in the number of such accidents. The documents forwarded by the hon. Member do not in his view indicate the need for any action on his part.

Is the Minister aware that that is a very unsatisfactory and disappointing reply, certainly concerning the area which I and one or two other hon. Members represent in Middlesex? There has been an increase in accidents which has shown itself, not only in injuries, sometimes very cruel to domestic pets and to wild life, but also to a number of adults and juveniles. I have already submitted details to the hon. Lady's Department. What evidence have we to supply? Must we wait until somebody gets killed, as is quite possible?

Although allegations have often been made that the number of accidents from this cause is increasing, inquiries have been made through the Ministry of Health and the appropriate eye hospitals and there is no evidence that the number of injuries has increased since the Departmental Committee, on whose recommendations the existing law is based, examined the situation in 1934. The hon. Member will be aware that the existing law prohibits the purchase or hire of air guns by persons under the age of 17, the intention being to secure the prohibition of sales, but not gifts, and that children shall not obtain air guns without the knowledge and consent of their parents or guardians.

Is the hon. Lady aware that a parent can buy an air gun and hand it over to a child, of any age? Will she ask her Department to consider including in the yearly reports which are submitted to this House a special column giving the number of accidents known to the police resulting from the use of air guns? Is the hon. Lady aware that only a small alteration in the Firearms Act is needed to include air guns in the Regulations?

I will certainly bring the points that the hon. Lady has made to the attention of my right hon. Friend. Under the Firearms Act, the Secretary of State has power to declare a type of gun to be specially dangerous, but it has not been felt that air guns as such have exceeded the maximum permissible level of power or should be included within that legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when he next circularises licensing magistrates, he will correct the misleading impression that a pamphlet, entitled "The Licensing Magistrates," a copy of which has been sent to him, which states that it is issued to assist members of licensing committees in their important task and edited by a barrister-at-law, is issued with his authority.

This pamphlet, which is published by the United Kingdom Alliance., contains nothing, so far as I can see, to give rise to an impression that it is issued with my right hon. Friend's authority. He does not therefore think that any action on his part is called for.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this document has been sent to licensing magistrates throughout England and Wales? Is he aware that on the back page the words "judicial dicta" are an inference and, possibly, an implication to licensing magistrates that the document is of an authoritative nature from either the Government or the Home Office? Might not this indication lead magistrates away from their judicial responsibilities and duties?

This pamphlet was written by an anonymous barrister who advocates temperance and disagrees with one of my speeches, but none of these factors need give rise for any concern. If it helps the hon. Member, I emphatically say that the pamphlet was not issued with the authority of the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he proposes to send to the letter he has received from Mr. Russell W. Fuller, the United States school-teacher, who filmed the final episodes in the hunting of a stag.

My right hon. Friend has thanked Mr. Fuller for the trouble which he took to set out so fully what he saw, and has told him that he cannot add to the replies that he gave to the hon. Member on 15th May or to the Report of the Committee on Cruelty to Wild Animals.

Do the hon. and learned Gentleman and his right hon. Friend realise that the forces employed in hunting this animal were mechanised, were mounted and were on foot? Do they realise that nearly fifty people were employed, and how do they justify this wastage of human effort? Is it realised that as a result of this combined operation, the deer population was reduced by one stag? Cannot the hon. and learned Gentleman think of a less savage way of controlling the deer?

I certainly do not accept everything that the hon. Member has said in his supplementary question. The stag happened to attempt to jump a wire fence, which it failed to do, and instead of turning at bay, which is what generally happens, the stag was caught by the hounds. As the Committee on Cruelty to Wild Animals said, some suffering is involved in deer hunting. The Committee added, however, that this was no greater than would be involved in any other practicable method of control.

Does the Minister realise that the stag failed to jump the fence because it had been hunted so long that it was completely exhausted?

Can the hon. and learned Gentleman say whether he and his right hon. Friend have open minds on the subject of whether further legislation for the protection of deer may be necessary?

We always keep open minds on all matters, but, as my right hon. Friend has made perfectly clear on several occasions previously, and as I wish to repeat, a Committee which reported on this matter went into it thoroughly and carefully, and we accept its conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Poisons Board has yet submitted its report to him in regard to persomnia; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 9th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport and Fareham (Dr. Bennett).

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman thank his right hon. Friend for being so courteous as to send me a copy of that reply, which is an admirable practice which, I hope, will be continued as necessary? May I take it that his reference to the Committee on drug addiction and the further action concerning this drug means that all the other drugs in the same category will now be investigated as to their qualities?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the expression of opinion by three recent women's conferences demanding the restoration of corporal punishment for crimes of violence and capital punishment for all crimes of murder; and whether, in these circumstances, he will now consider giving statutory effect to the prevalent demand for such action.

As my hon. Friend was told on 8th May, the number of crimes of murder known to the police in the six months September, 1957–March, 1958, was lower than the number for a comparable period before the passing of the Homicide Act. My right hon. Friend is watching the figures carefully, but they give no ground for thinking that we should amend the Act so recently passed by Parliament. He would not feel justfied in reintroducing corporal punishment unless he thought that it would be an especially effective deterrent. The Departmental Committee which examined this subject thoroughly before the war found no evidence that it was so.

While fully appreciating the views of the Home Secretary on this matter, may I ask my hon. and learned Friend whether he realises that the British people, reading day after day of another case of a young girl or child or old person being murdered, mutilated or merely battered, will not tolerate much further delay, even though there is an open mind on the subject, and will demand action now? The figures quoted by my hon. and learned Friend are not convincing.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman convey the thanks of enlightened opinion to his colleague the Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department for her vigorous handling of one of the more bloodthirsty of the conferences referred to in this Question? Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his colleague's effective reply to the Conservative Women's Conference is widely appreciated?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the disproportionate amount of obstruction and inconvenience caused in London by motorists who park their cars at or near corners and pedestrian crossings; and if he will ensure that the Metropolitan Police authorities are given the fullest support in their endeavours to remove or lessen this form of nuisance.

It is an offence to park a car inside the line of studs on the approach to a pedestrian crossing and cars so parked may be removed from the roads under the appropriate regulations. The regulations also empower the police to remove any car which is parked so near a road junction as to interfere with the passage of other vehicles at or near the junction.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that fines have very litle effect on a small minority of motorists who behave in this rather inconsiderate way? Is he aware that this power of removing obstructing vehicles is a most useful innovation which should be used wherever possible?

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. The Metropolitan Police have made good use of this power.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds and for what purpose Metropolitan Police photographers are taking photographs of marchers taking part in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; and if this is done with his approval.

My right hon. Friend is informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he has no knowledge of any such photographs being taken by the police.

But is the Minister aware that this has occurred recently in Salford, Bradford, Middlesbrough, Warrington and other towns, and that in two cases the chief constable has now admitted it? Will the Minister tell the House the purpose of these photographs; and, since this appears to be an interference with civil liberties on a national scale, will he ask his right hon. Friend to seek Parliamentary powers to stop it?

This Question relates to the work of the Metropolitan Police and the supplementary question relates to the work of the provincial police, for whom my right hon. Friend cannot answer in this House.

rose—

While appreciating the reasons given by the hon. and learned Gentleman, nevertheless the facts to which my hon. Friend has referred have caused a great deal of disquiet in various parts of the country. Can the Joint Under-Secretary consider discussing this matter at his next conference with the chief constables?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to protect young children from being presented with obscene photographs as prizes for children's games at fun fairs.

If the photographs come within the present legal definition of obscenity, action can be taken under the existing law. If they do not, I can only say that any attempt to extend the definition would be difficult and controversial.

I should have imagined that the hon. Lady would be aware that these photographs have been sent to her right hon. Friend. The Question has been put because I want to know whether or not action can be taken under existing law, and if not, whether some action will be taken to amend the law because of the fact that these photographs are not just obscene photographs, but are presented to young children under the guise of children's toys in a packet designed for that purpose. Will the Minister look into this question, which is causing great consternation, because these photographs are being distributed wholesale to children in Southend?

We will certainly look into the point made by the hon. Gentleman, but I think he will appreciate the difficulty of classifying nude portraits or photographs as automatically obscene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will initiate legislation to bring the mobile shop within the same restrictions as to closing hours as those to which the ordinary retail shop is subjected.

I regret that I cannot add to the Answer that my right hon. Friend gave on 26th June to a Question by the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Padley).

Would not my hon. and learned Friend agree that this is particularly unfair on the ordinary retail shop, and does not he think it should be remedied at an early date?

This is not an easy matter to remedy. It would involve a considerable amendment of the shops legislation, and in any event it is doubtful whether this point should be taken on its own.

But does not the hon. Gentleman realise that this is contrary to what is laid down in the Shops Act, and it gives no protection to retailers who have to comply with the Shops Act, whereas the mobile shops can at any time, even on a Sunday, sell goods on housing estates?

The hon. Lady's supplementary question shows that this is also a controversial matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the classification by countries of origin of immigrants from the Commonwealth and Colonies and of such immigrants that return to their own countries.

The whole question of the compilation of statistics of migration between this country and other countries—including the countries of the Commonwealth—is still under examination.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the present situation is most unsatisfactory, and in view of the growing gravity of this problem and the repeated assurances of her Department that the situation is being carefully watched, does not she think it essential that factual information should be obtained without delay so that the situation can be watched with an informed eye?

The purpose of the examination now proceeding is to acquire the factual information for which my hon. Friend asks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the terms of reference of the Commission recently appointed to inquire into the Constitution of the Isle of Man, and its personnel; when, and where, it will hold its first sitting; whether it will make an interim report; and when its final report may be expected.

The Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man has appointed a Commission to

"inquire into and report upon the Constitution of the Isle of Man and its working and to make recommendations for any changes that they may consider desirable or practicable".

May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman if the various interests concerned will be represented?

I am sorry. I cannot answer that question without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has become of the Esthonian seaman who landed on Shetland; and if he will make a statement.

Having considered reports by immigration officers of their interrogation of this seaman my right hon. Friend has decided to allow him to remain in this country. He has accordingly been released from detention and formally granted leave to land in the United Kingdom.

While thanking the hon. Lady for that Answer and the decision, may I ask her if she will represent to her right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that, in view of the fact that this man appears to be a genuine political refugee, he might press rather strongly for some answer to the protests made against the Russian landing?

I will bring the comment of the hon. Member to the attention of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police constables will be responsible for keeping sets of motor car keys to be used for the driving away of vehicles from parking places under Article 19 of the Parking Places (Westminster) (No. 1) Order, 1958.

There will be no special sets of keys to be used for the purpose of action under this Article, which authorises the police to take action only in emergency.

While it is correct for the police to have keys in their safe custody for this purpose, will my hon. and learned Friend give an assurance that these keys will not be made available to the parking attendants in Grosvenor Square?

Yes, Sir, I can give that assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners over the ages of 70 and 75 years, respectively, are serving sentences of preventive detention in Her Majesty's prisons.

On the 9th July, 1958, there were in the central preventive detention prisons 15 prisoners over the age of 70 years, of whom 5 were over 75.

Is the Minister aware that about two weeks ago a man aged 78 was sentenced to seven years' preventive detention for stealing three coats from a car? An appeal was made because of the man's state of health and the fact that he was likely to die very soon. Will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider whether it is reasonable to condemn these aged persons to prison for the rest of their natural lives?

They are, of course, a very small proportion of the total number of prisoners sentenced to preventive detention. We have to face the fact that in some of these cases it may well be the best solution for the prisoners themselves, but if the hon. Member has particularly in mind the case of this man aged 78, and he cares to let me have full details of it, I will make sure that it is carefully looked into.

I thank the hon. and learned Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet completed his review of the system of preventive detention; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is still awaiting the completion of the research projects to which he referred in replying to the hon. Member on 6th February. He will initiate a review of the system as soon as possible thereafter.

While I appreciate the fact that the inquiry is still going on, may I ask whether, in view of the fact that this system has been in operation for ten years, the hon. and learned Gentleman agrees that it is reasonable that we should have some considered review in the very near future? How long must we wait?

It is because it has been in operation for nearly ten years that my right hon. Friend is proposing to review the position, but he does not want to do that until he has at his hand all the factual evidence that will be provided by the surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Allen Tyson, age 19 years, 25 Ashley Street, Carlisle, and Alfred Veevers, age 17 years, 141, Tomlinson Avenue, Carlisle, who were sentenced to a period of Borstal training at the recent Carlisle Quarter Sessions, have now been kept as prisoners in Durham Gaol for six weeks; and when the training for which they were recommended on their sentences will commence.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." They will go to a Borstal reception centre within the next two months and may remain there for five weeks before proceeding to a training Borstal.

May I thank my hon. and learned Friend for his reply and ask him whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by parents in these cases where there is delay in gaols? Is he aware of their anxiety that these young boys come into contact with hardened criminals during their stay? Will he look at these cases very carefully?

indicated assent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances Mr. T. McFarlane, of Birmingham, at present serving a sentence in Her Majesty's Prison, Cardiff, received an injury to his head necessitating treatment by a hospital officer; for what reasons this man was put in a punishment cell and stripped naked; and if he will make a statement.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement about this case.

In view of the criticisms which have been levelled against this prison on a number of occasions, can the hon. and learned Gentleman say whether this statement, which he is circulating, is the result of any special inquiry that has taken place into this case? Will he consider why a prisoner who was under medical treatment was not allowed to report sick? Is he aware that as a result of this struggle the man definitely was injured and says that he was marched to his cell and stripped before any charge was made?

When the hon. Member has a chance to study this statement he will find that his fears about what he thinks happened are unjustified. As to making an inquiry, the Visiting Committee, which is an independent body, has already inquired into McFarlane's allegations and has found no evidence to substantiate them. My right hon. Friend can see no ground for any further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the new standing orders relating to letters sent by prisoners to Members of Parliament; and what are the principal changes he is considering.

A revised standing order on this subject will be issued shortly and my right hon. Friend will place a copy of it in the Library of the House. The new order allows some relaxation of the restrictions on the subject matter of prisoners' letters. Prisoners will also in future be permitted to request any hon. Member to visit them but not to enclose a visiting order. If the Member wishes to accept such an invitation my right hon. Friend will be glad to authorise a visit.

While welcoming that reply, may I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman if he is aware that an urgent letter from my constituent, Collier, then under sentence of death, took six days to reach me? Is he aware that the prison authorities said that this was because it had been held back pending sanction by the Commissioner before it was posted? Is not it intolerable that even in matters of life and death an anonymous civil servant should decide whether a man should write to a Member of Parliament? Will the new regulations avoid a scandal of this kind and provide reasonable freedom for men to write without interference to their Members of Parliament?

I am sure that the hon. Member appreciates that prisoners' letters, even to Members of Parliament, have to be censored—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]—and it is not possible for us to make a change in that respect. As to a particular case, if the hon. Member cares to let me know more fully about it, I should be glad to look into it.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I received the letter on a Wednesday, delayed six days, and that the man was due to be hanged on the following Tuesday but was reprieved on the Friday? Is he aware that the letter was kept back only because of a stupid, harsh rule and that as a result of delay the man might now be dead? Surely that kind of thing is utterly wrong and indefensible. Will the hon. and learned Gentleman approach his right hon. Friend on the matter?

It seems to me from what the hon. Member has said that the matter was dealt with very promptly eventually.

Could the hon. and learned Gentleman say why letters to Members of Parliament have to be censored?

There are two reasons. One is that they may contain complaints on prison treatment not previously ventilated through the usual channels. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] It is right that they should be so ventilated in the first place. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] The other reason is that the letters may contain objectionable matter which prisoners are not allowed to send out of prison.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to look at this matter again? Is he aware that neither reason seems satisfactory and that both would apply to letters from soldiers which are not censored? Will the Home Office look into this again?

Soldiers are in a position entirely different from that of men who are detained in prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce his proposals for reducing overcrowding in local prisons by reducing the time spent in stage I by preventive detainees.

My right hon. Friend has decided to transfer from local prisons to Parkhurst as many prisoners in the first stage of preventive detention as can be accommodated there, but he does not propose to reduce the time they will spend in first stage.

But does the hon. and learned Gentleman realise that many of these detainees are sweltering three to a cell whereas at Parkhurst there are 138 empty cells and there are empty cells at other prisons? Is the difficulty that he cannot get the Commissioners to change, and if that is so, will he suggest to his right hon. Friend that he should change the Commissioners and get something done?

I am afraid that the hon. Member has mistaken the position. Men are being transferred from local prisons to Parkhurst, as I said in my original Answer.

Is not it a mistake to treat all prisoners as if they were dangerous to the community? There are all types of prisoners. Could not those who are in prison for civil offences be put on farms and given work to do and not be kept in cells, thus unnecessarily burdening the security arrangements?

That raises a quite different question.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions have taken place and what decisions reached in respect of television playing a bigger part in election proceedings during the three weeks prior to the next General Election, apart from official party broadcasts, than was the case prior to the last General Election.

I have been asked to reply.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is essential that these discussions should be expedited, as the future is uncertain and a General Election may come at any time? Also, will he bear in mind that many people find it difficult to understand why the Press should have a licence to give its news and views in the most partisan manner and why television, which could be the greatest medium for bringing our Parliamentary system to the masses, has for so long been in a straitjacket?

The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that we are contemplating early discussions on these matters, as the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition knows, and we are not neglecting them.

asked the Prime Minister when a decision will be announced in regard to the award of a suitable medal to members of the forces who have been engaged on operations in the Western Aden Protectorate during the last few years.

I have been asked to reply.

While not wishing to press my right hon. Friend on this question at the moment, would he bear in mind that small numbers of our forces have been engaged in operations now for a number of years, and that, if awards for gallantry have to be given, it would seem only appropriate that some feasible mark of recognition should be given to all ranks engaged?

Yes, Sir. I will discuss this with my right hon. Friend.

While supporting the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman that gallant men who have done their duty should receive proper recognition, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will consider publishing a White Paper giving us a complete picture of the operations in which British Forces have been engaged in the Arabian Peninsula, beginning, for example, in the early summer of 1955 when two officers were killed in action?

Any suggestions made by the right hon. Gentleman will receive our consideration but I cannot give him an answer today.

asked the Prime Minister what further action Her Majesty's Government proposes to take to ensure that the Euratom Commission, through the Euratom agency, will guarantee to buy British nuclear fuel in the event of the purchase of British nuclear power stations to be erected in any of the Euratom Treaty countries.

I have been asked to reply.

While being grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply which I think, as far as I can follow it, is a satisfactory one, may I ask him whether Her Majesty's Government propose to have a closer technical association with the Euratom Commission?

I am glad that my hon. Friend's apprehension is so acute and I hope our contact will be close.

What guarantee will there be in the agreement that military plutonium to be extracted will be returned here?

I should want notice of that question.