asked the Minister of Health if he will give for each year since the inception of the National Health Service the total amount paid in merit payments; and if he will make a statement on the administration of the scheme, indicating upon what basis merit payments are made and giving examples of the individual amounts paid.

Awards are made on the recommendations of a Committee set up to advise my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself which consultants should receive awards for professional distinction. Four per cent. of consultants receive awards at the rate of £2,500 a year for whole-time employment, 10 per cent. at the rate of £1,500 and 20 per cent. at the rate of £500. Part-time consultants receive a fraction related to the amount of time for which they are employed in the hospital service. The number of awards in payment in England and Wales at the end of 1957 was:

A wards at the rate of
£2,500	£1,500	£500
276	690	1,377

Information about the actual amounts paid is not readily available but it is estimated that the amounts would be approximately:

	£
1948 (6 months)	680,000
1949	1,450,000
1950	1,550,000
1951	1,650,000
1952	1,740,000
1953	1,820,000
1954	1,850,000
1955	1,890,000
1956	1,920,000
1957	1,960,000

The basic salary of consultants holding awards at the rate of £2,500 or £1,500 is abated by £300 and £200 respectively—or in due proportion in the case of part-time appointments.

asked the Minister of Health what recent changes have taken place in the personnel of the Gateshead and District Hospital Management Committee; and whether he has given his approval to the changes.

I understand that all the members whose terms of office ended on 31st March were reappointed except the Chairman, who had reached the age of 75. The appointment of Hospital Management Committees is a matter for Regional Hospital Boards and my approval is not required.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a claim for the stores staff employed in the State institutions at Rampton and Moss Side has been outstanding since 9th February, 1957; and what steps he will take to expedite a decision.

Acceptance by the Staff Side of an offer of increased pay made last March was made subject to certain conditions. It has now been found possible to accept these, and payment of the new rates will begin as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Health the number of coalminers whose deaths were due to pneumoconiosis in the five-year period 1949 to 1953.

One thousand and twenty for men ages 20–64.

asked the Minister of Health the number of coalminers whose deaths were due to pneumoconiosis in each of the years 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957.

These figures are not prepared for individual years.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is satisfied with the progress being made in the use of television material by the oversea information services; and if he will make a statement.

Although sound is still the main broadcasting medium in many countries, it is the Government's policy to take full advantage of the growing scope and importance of television. A substantial expansion of television film production has already taken place.It is now possible to offer between 25 and 40 minutes a week of British material to the principal stations in many countries. The objective stated in Cmnd. 225 is to be able to offer about one hour a week of British material and this is expected to be achieved by the end of 1958. Out of 48 countries with television services, 33 now regularly transmit British material.Television news services take three forms: a news item service and a made-up newsreel—both weekly—for general distribution and a service of news briefs specially prepared for the United States.Special television programme material is produced for Canada, Australia, United States, Latin America, and the Middle East. In addition, other film material giving a background of information about Britain is re-edited for television use overseas.The Government welcomes the increasing co-operation of firms and trade associations in providing facilities and film material for these services.The regular service of television material now established is capable of carrying a wide variety of information messages, often at short notice. Recent examples include: a Comonwealth teleview in which the Prime Minister discussed his tour of Commonwealth countries, interviews in which the Colonial Secretary discussed the Government's proposals about Cyprus and special newsreel coverage for Italy and Japan on the signature of the Anglo-Italian and Anglo-Japanese atomic energy agreements.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he has taken, as co-ordinator of the oversea information services, to extend the work of the British Council in the teaching of English.

The Government attach the highest importance to the British Council's work in the teaching of English and a substantial extension of this work was announced last year in Cmnd. 225.The Council has made good progress in carrying out the expansion programme in the Commonwealth and elsewhere. Forty new posts have been partially financed and filled under arrangements by which the Council accepts responsibility for filling the posts on behalf of an oversea authority and eight more new posts in schools to which the Council makes general grants. In addition the Council has made ten new appointments to its own staff serving overseas in connection with the teaching of English.In the Commonwealth, the Council has agreed, for example, to second three of its specialist staff to the Central English Language Teaching Institute which will open shortly at Hyderabad in India: and in Pakistan the Council has similarly agreed to provide two officers for a new unit which is being set up in the University of the Punjab. Lahore. Of the total of 48 new teaching posts referred to in the preceding paragraph 13 are in Pakistan. The others are in Indonesia (10), Afghanistan (2), Iceland (1), Japan (1), Turkey (8), Thailand (5), Iran (2), Burma (1) and Latin America (5).Fifty-seven additional one-year scholarships have been awarded in 1958–59 for the training in the United Kingdom of oversea teachers of English. Some of these scholars have been placed in courses at British universities and others in training colleges.The training in their own countries of oversea teachers of English is being extended by providing more places at summer schools and sending more staff from the United Kingdom to take part in them.Additional expenditure on textbooks and visual aids has been authorised and the Council is working on a pilot project for the production of three short experimental films for use in English language teaching abroad.In Cmnd. 225, attention was drawn to the need to stimulate recruitment of United Kingdom teachers of English. The Ministry of Education has set up an Overseas Teaching Unit following its circular asking local authorities to regard the release of teachers for oversea service and their subsequent resettlement as matters of national importance. The head of this Unit is working closely with chief education officers and with the British Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is satisfied with the results of the co-ordinated effort made at the Brussels International Exhibition by Her Majesty's Government and British industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The great majority of comments by British and foreign visitors have been strikingly favourable and the United Kingdom Government pavilion has been widely acclaimed as a most dignified and forceful presentation of British institutions and achievement. The number of visitors to the Government pavilion up to 16th July was 1,791,188.The British Industry pavilion is on a large scale and contains many striking exhibits. It is a convincing presentation of our industrial and commercial vigour.I visited the Exhibition on 13th and 14th June and I saw for myself the excellence of the British pavilions. I am glad to have this opportunity of congratulating and thanking all those responsible for the design and construction of the United Kingdom Government pavilion and all those in industry and commerce who have contributed, at considerable expense, so effectively to the British Industry pavilion.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will introduce a Bill to amend Section 21 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, so as to ensure that all wives who have attained the age of 60 years may qualify for a pension by virtue of their husband's insurance, although the husband may still be in full employment, as is the case with late-age entrants since 1948.

No.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the estimated cost of granting retirement pensions at the age of 50 years to widows of men insured under the National Insurance Act, 1948, such widows being under 50 years but over 45 years of age at their husbands' deaths.

Nearly £10 million a year.

asked the Paymaster-General if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the proposal to site a nuclear power station in the Snowdon National Park, following consideration of the memorandum by the Central Electricity Generating Board about alternative sites and the comments of the other interests at the public inquiry.

No.

asked the Paymaster-General what indication he can give as to when a decision will be reached about the siting of the fourth steel strip mill.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given on 8th July to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent the recent shipment of Polish coal into this country for a London paper works represents a change in the policy of the Government.

I am not aware that such a shipment has been made and I am informed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that no licence for such an import has been issued. Government policy regarding imports of Polish coal remains as stated in my reply on 16th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale).

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now able to make a statement on the result of Departmental inquiries into the security leakage in connection with the Swallow aircraft.

Yes. Owing to a misunderstanding which occurred outside my Department, clearance was given for the article in question without consultation with my officials. Normally advice in cases of this kind is sought from the Department primarily concerned, which in this case was mine.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent it is now his Department's policy to purchase United States transport aircraft to supplement our defence requirements.

It remains my Department's policy in all normal circumstances to rely on the British aircraft industry for meeting transport requirements for British defence purposes. Where, however, requirements cannot be met economically or in time from our own resources, we consider of course what our Allies have to offer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what approach has been made to the Trades Union Congress, the National Federation of Professional Workers, individual trade unions and the statutory salary negotiating bodies in the nationalised industries by the Central Office of Information in connection with the inquiries it is making for the Royal Commission on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made towards security of employment in Malta by the transference of naval dockyards to civilian use and by the establishment of light industries.

I would ask the hon. Member to await my right hon. Friend's promised statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will propose to the Government of the United States of America and other Governments in the Western Alliance that financial aid should be given to the Government of Malta in recognition of the services of its population prior to, during, and since the war, and especially in view of its function as the Mediterranean headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, with the object of facilitating the reconstruction of its economy for civilian purposes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made for the appointment of Honduran civil servants to higher posts in the administration of British Honduras.

British Hondurans are eligible for appointment or promotion to all the higher posts in the Administration and their claims to such posts are considered on the basis of official qualifications, experience and merit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent Britain is participating in the International Commodities Exhibition now being held in Hong Kong; which countries or nationalities are represented in the exhibition; and for what purpose the exhibition is being held.

If the hon. Member is referring to an International Trade Fair which the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce was proposing to organise neither Her Majesty's Government nor the Hong Kong Government were asked to participate and I understand the proposal has now been dropped.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by his Department in the last five years to encourage colonial administrations to circulate the Declaration of Human Rights and advance its implementation by discussion through schools and colleges; and with what results.

No action of the sort referred to has been taken in the last five years, but as my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State said on 3rd July in answer to a previous Question on this subject, the Declaration was brought to the notice of colonial Governors when it was first drawn up and will be recalled to their attention this year in connection with its tenth anniversary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the conclusions of the inquiry which he has made into the allegations of police assault on the person of the honourable A. A. Mani, member of the Sierra Leone Legislature, near Koidu Town on 25th June.

Pending the outcome of court proceedings I am unable to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Report of the Nigerian Minorities Commission will be published before the House of Commons rises for the summer Recess, in order that hon. Members may have an opportunity to question the Minister upon the Report before the resumed Constitutional Conference takes place in September.

I expect to receive the Report about the end of this month. It will be printed as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of profits from the municipal sales of liquor to Africans in the copper belt during the last five years; and how many community centres have been built with money from that source.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th June, 1958; Vol. 589, c. 1310], supplied the following information:The estimated profits from the sales of liquor to Africans in the five municipal areas on the Copperbelt during the five years 1953 to 1957 amounted to £495,313. These profits may only be used for services for Africans including new beer halls, welfare halls, general welfare services, sports fields, cinemas, markets and general amenities. To the end end of 1957, £294,174 had been spent on these services and the balance will be spent in 1958 or retained as a necessary working reserve.No community centres have been built wholly from these funds as, in the past, the erection of community halls and welfare centres has normally been financed from loans to local authorities, by Government grants or by voluntary effort. Beer hall profits have however been used to supplement these sources in the building of such centres.It is anticipated that some local authorities may in future be in a position to make direct appropriations of profits for the full cost of construction of such buildings. The running cost of community halls and welfare centres are financed from beer hall profits and Government grants.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give an assurance that production models of the N.A.39 strike bomber will be placed by the Admiralty even if there are no supporting orders from the Royal Air Force or overseas buyers.

The development of this aircraft is proceeding most satisfactorily; but the stage has not yet been reached at which decisions about production orders have to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a further statement on the position of members of the Royal Air Force and their families at Habbaniyah and elsewhere in Iraq.

Information was received last Saturday, 19th July, that all was well with British personnel and their families at Habbaniya. Reports also indicate that the small number of personnel outside Habbaniya are safe.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern felt by farmers in Norfolk, and elsewhere, over the substantial imports of continental potatoes at the present time when the market is already fully supplied with home-grown potatoes, and there is the prospect of a substantial surplus in the potato crop; and If he will take immediate action to prevent any further imports and thus prevent the waste of home-grown food which will otherwise be inevitable.

There has been an Open General Licence for imports of new potatoes since 1953 and it would be contrary to our international obligations to impose quantitative restrictions now. Imports of maincrop potatoes are, of course, not permitted unless there is evidence of a shortage of home-produced supplies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement with regard to defence facilities for the Union of South Africa in the High Commission Territories.

The High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland has completed his discussions with the Union Minister of Defence and the following statement has been published:

Discussions which have been taking place in Pretoria between Mr. F. C. Erasmus, Minister of Defence, and Sir Percivale Liesching, High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland, on facilities in the Territories relating to planning for the defence of South Africa have been concluded.

Mr. Erasmus and Sir Percivale were accompanied by their respective advisers.

During the discussions reference was made to the arrangements agreed in 1955 for the grant of facilities to the Union Government to survey sites for the establishment of radar stations in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland for possible use in defence in the event of war. It was also then agreed that the survey might be extended to Basutoland if suitable sites could not be found outside its borders.

Following on a series of meetings in London in September, 1957, between Mr. Erasmus and Lord Mancroft, Minister without Portfolio (who was acting on behalf of the Minister of Defence in the latter's absence from the United Kingdom), the United Kingdom Government undertook that careful consideration would be given by the High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland to proposals made by the Union Government for further facilities in the High Commission Territories and it was agreed that these proposals would be discussed in greater detail in South Africa.

As a result of the further talks the High Commissioner has agreed that certain facilities should be accorded to the Union Government under the following heads:

(a) overflying rights on a reciprocal basis;

(b) arrangements for search and rescue operations;

(c) airstrips in the Bechuanaland Protectorate may be inspected for use by S.A.A.F. aircraft in case of emergency landings;

(d) a short access route through Basutoland to a proposed radar site on the Drakensberg Mountains on Union territory; and

(e) permission for a South African Defence Force party to carry out a reconnaissance of an emergency route to South West Africa across the south-western part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. If in the event of an emergency in South West Africa the Union Government requested permission to send defence vehicles there by that route sympathetic consideration would be given to this request.

asked the Minister of Education what reports he has received in the past ten years on the sanitation and condition of the lavatories in the primary schools at Waterfall and Water-houses, near Leek; and whether any appeal has yet been made to him for grants to insert flush toilets for the schools.

The most recent reports by Her Majesty's Inspectors on these schools were made in 1950. Since then earth closets at all three schools have been replaced by chemical closets. Flush sanitation would be impossible because there is no water supply available.

asked the Minister of Education if he has yet had a report on the condition of the school at Waterfall, near Waterhouses, Leek, since the outbreak of poliomyelitis in the area; and if he is aware that a new wooden shed, with chemical lavatories for the children, was placed in the school yard after the outbreak.

I have received no special report on the school, but I am aware that new chemical closets have recently been installed.

asked the Minister of Education how much was spent by each county authority in conveying children to and from school in 1949, 1955, 1956, and 1957; and what proportion of those sums was spent in fares on scheduled omnibus and train services.

I am sending my hon. Friend the information asked for in the first part of the Question. No information is available in my Department on the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Education what Select Committees, Departmental Committees or other responsible Committees have made special investigations into educational expenditure during the past ten years; and what further investigations are under consideration.

The Select Committee on Estimates has issued Reports on school building—Eighth Report of the Session 1952–53—on technical education—Twelth Report of the Session 1952–53 and on Youth Service grants—Seventh Report of the Session 1956–57. A number of Departmental Committees have dealt with various elements of the education service and many of these have naturally considered the financial aspects of their particular subjects; but there has been no special investigation into educational expenditure as such, nor is any such investigation now under consideration.

asked the Minister of labour whether he has yet received notice of a dispute which has arisen in the Probation Officers' Committee of the Scottish Joint Industrial Council for Local Authority Services with reference to the salaries of principal, depute principal and senior probation officers in Scotland; when he received notice of this dispute; and what action he has taken about it.

At the end of May the Staff Side of the Probation Officers' Committee of the Scottish Joint Industrial Council for Local Authority Services requested that this dispute should be referred to the Industrial Court. I understand, however, that there is a possibility of negotiations between the parties being resumed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the dispute regarding the salaries of probation officers in Scotland involves a total expenditure of approximately £220 per annum; and whether he will give an estimate of the cost which would be involved in the setting up of arbitration machinery to deal with this matter.

It is understood that the difference now between the parties is of the order of the amount stated.It is estimated that a hearing by the Industrial Court in Edinburgh would involve additional expenditure of about £75.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) how many local authority areas have been declared smoke control areas;(2) how many applications for local authorities to declare smoke control areas are now being considered.

My right hon. Friend has confirmed thirty-four orders establishing smoke control areas under the Clean Air Act, 1956. Thirteen further orders have been submitted to him for confirmation and are now under consideration. Proposals for a further 102 smoke control areas have been provisionally notified to him by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a consequence of the delay in settling the salaries of senior and principal officers in the Scottish Probation Service is that, since July, 1957, certain senior probation officers have been receiving salaries at a rate lower than those paid at the maximum for ordinary probation officers; and whether he will give an assurance that any new scale introduced for these officers shall have effect from a date no later than July, 1957.

I am aware of this; and I will consider the operative date of any new scale for the supervisory grades in the light of the recommendations made to me by the Joint Negotiating Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in England and Wales a new salary scale for principal and senior probation officers, based on a maximum salary for ordinary officers of £860 per annum, has been in operation since February, 1958, with effect from January, 1957, but that no similar scale has yet been introduced for comparable officers in the Scottish Probation Service; whether it was on his instructions that the employing authorities refused to agree to a new scale in February, 1958; and whether he will now take steps to introduce a scale of salaries for supervisory officers comparable to that operating in England and Wales.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; to the second in the negative; and to the third that I am awaiting recommendations from the Joint Negotiating Committee, which, I understand, is still considering the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions for salmon poaching in the Forth salmon fishery district took place in the 12 months ending on the latest convenient date; in how many of these cases cymag was used; and whether he will give the corresponding figures for each of the two preceding periods of 12 months.

Information in the particular form requested is not readily available. I am having it collected and will publish it in the Official Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has reached a decision on the proposal that second feature films should rank for double the entitlement of first features in payments from the British Film Fund.

Yes. The Cinematograph Films Council has recommended this proposal and I accept its advice. In due course amending Regulations will be laid before the House for approval.