asked the Minister of Defence how regularly the new Defence Board will meet.

As business requires.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the amounts of grants and subsidies, respectively, given to the fishing industry in the Port of Lowestoft since the inception of the schemes up to the latest convenient date.

Up to 29th July, 1958, grants paid under the White Fish and Herring Industries Acts, 1953 and 1957, towards the building of new vessels or the modernisation of existing, vessels registered at Lowestoft totalled £594,080 in respect of near and middle water vessels and £1,770 in respect of inshore vessels.Details of subsidy payments are available only for the ports of Lowestoft and Yarmouth combined. For these ports the total amounts of subsidy paid under the White Fish and Herring Industries Acts, 1953 and 1957, from 1st August, 1953, to 30th June, 1958, were as follows:

—	Near and Middle Water Vessels	Inshore Vessels
	£	£
White Fish Subsidy	610,660	2,050
Herring Subsidy	60,842	722
Total	671,502	2,772

Before 1st August, 1953, white fish subsidy was paid under the authority of the annual Appropriation Acts. The total amounts paid for Lowestoft and

Yarmouth from its inception on 31st July, 1950, to 31st July, 1953, were as follows:—

Near and Middle Water Vessels	Inshore Vessels
£390,110	£1,752

NOTE: The subsidy figures represent payments in respect of all vessels including Scottish registered vessels landing at Lowestoft and Yarmouth but do not include payments in respect of vessels registered at Lowestoft or Yarmouth landing in Scotland or elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the total value of imported potatoes in the last four years was over £61 millions, of which over £20 millions worth was imported in the last six months, compared with an average for the years 1933 to 1939 of £2,250,000 worth; and what arrangements he proposes to make to ensure that farmers are able to grow sufficient potatoes for the home market under all circumstances.

New potatoes account for over two-thirds of the total value of potatoes imported in the last four years up to June, 1958. The bulk of these new potatoes arrive in this country before early potatoes are available in volume from the home crop.The present acreage is sufficient in years of normal yield to meet all our requirements of main crop potatoes. The yield per acre varies so greatly from year to year that an acreage which would supply all our needs in years of low yield would involve excessive Exchequer liability in years of average or high yields.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement about the financial arrangements for the new guarantee system for potatoes which he has been discussing with the producers' representatives.

Discussions have been held with the producers' representatives about the adjustment necessary to provide to the potato industry under the new system a guarantee which is of equivalent value to the current guarantee. This adjustment is required because under the new arrangements the guarantee applies only to the quantity of potatoes required by the market for human consumption and not, as the present system does, to all potatoes of a defined size and quality. Taking into account this and other factors involved in the change of system, the Government have decided, in agreement with the producers' representatives, that a price of £12 14s. 0d. per ton under the new system is the equivalent of the present support price of £11 9s. per ton for the United Kingdom. I now propose to arrange for discussions to be held with the producers' representatives about the administrative arrangements for operating the new system.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will indicate the total estimated amount of expenditure which he has allowed for each of the eligible county councils in Wales upon schemes for unclassified and unadopted roads under the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955, for the year ended 31st March, 1959; and what are the grants allowed.

County Council			Unclassified Roads			Unadopted Roads
			Cost of work approved	Rate of grant (per cent.)	Grant Paid	Cost of work approved	Rate of grant (per cent.)	Grant Paid
			£		£	£		£
Brecon	…	…	19,706	75	6,947	1,763	85	—
Caernarvon		…	24,876	75	6,243	436	85	—
Cardigan		…	22,956	75	6,741	—	—	—
Carmarthen		…	10,963	75	4,661	6,295	85	3,227
Denbigh		…	14,966	75	—	11,903	85	—
Flint	…	…	—	—	—	10,552	75	—
Glamorgan		…	7,180	65	—	15,811	75	—
Merioneth		…	23,318	75	4,639	—	—	—
Monmouth		…	11,432	65	—	1,108	75	—
Montgomery		…	22,941	75	—	—	—	—
Pembroke		…	7,323	75	4,703	1,522	85	1,109
Radnor		…	20,546	75	10,483	—	—	—
TOTALS		…	186,207		44,417	49,390		4,336

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give particulars of the deficiency payments

Having regard to the amount needed to meet claims for work approved in the previous year, I estimate that it will be possible to authorise Welsh highway authorities to undertake new work in the financial year 1958–59 on unclassified and unadopted roads under the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955, to the value of about £80,000. Grants will vary between 65 per cent. and 85 per cent. of the cost of approved work; to date the estimated cost of new work approved in principle for five counties totals some £41,000 on which grant of some £31,000 would be payable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will indicate the amount of money spent by each of the county councils in Wales upon schemes on unclassified and unadopted roads under the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955; and what is the amount of grants made up to date.

The following table gives the position at 30th June, 1958, in respect of 1957–58, the first year in which work was approved under the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955.on wheat, rye, barley, oats, and mixed corn for the cereal year ended 30th June 1958.

The particulars of these payments are as follows:

WHEAT
Accounting Period		Seasonal Standard Price per cwt.		Ascertained Average Price per cwt.		Deficiency Payment per cwt.		Quantity Qualifying for Deficiency Payment	Total Payments
		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	million cwt.	£ million
1st July-30th Sept., 1957	…	26	1	18	4·4	7	8·6	13·6	5·2
1st Oct.-30th Nov., 1957	…	27	7	19	2·8	8	4·2	11·2	4·7
1st Dec, 1957–28th Feb., 1958		29	1	20	2·6	8	10·4	11·4	5·1
1st March·30th April, 1958	…	30	8	20	5·8	10	2·2	10·4	5·3
1st May-30th June, 1958	…	31	1	23	0·7	8	0·3	4·6	1·9
Payments in respect of the first four periods have already been made.
Payments for the period 1st May to 30th June, 1958 will be made in August apart from a few certificates which are still under query.

RYE
—			Yearly Standard Price per cwt.		Ascertained Average Price per cwt.		Deficiency Payment per cwt.		Quantity Qualifying for Deficiency Payment	Total Payments
			s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	million cwt.	£ million
Cereal Year 1st July. 1957 to 30th June, 1958	…	…	22	1	19	2·7	2	10·3	0·32	0·05
No advance payment has been made on rye. Payments at the full rate will be made in August apart from a few certificates which are still under query.

BARLEY

—

Yearly Standard Price per cwt.

Ascertained Average Price per cwt.

Price Deficiency per cwt.

Deficiency Payment per acre

Acreage Qualifying for Deficiency Payment

Total Payments

s.

d.

s.

d.

s.

d.

£

s.

d.

million acres

£ million

Cereal Year 1st July, 1957 to 30th June, 1958

…

…

29

0

21

3·23

7

8·77

8

3

11

2·6

21·3

An advance payment at the rate of £5 0s. 0d. per acre has already been made to most barley growers following the announcement made on the 5th December, 1957. The final payment to these growers will, therefore, be at the rate of £3 3s. 11d. per acre. Payments will begin immediately and will be completed during September.

OATS AND MIXED CORN

—

Yearly Standard Price per cwt. for oats

Ascertained Average Price per cwt. for oats

Price Deficiency per cwt.

Deficiency Payment per acre

Acreage Qualifying for Deficiency Payment

Total Payments

s.

d.

s.

d.

s.

d.

£

s.

d.

million acres

£ million

Cereal Year 1st July, 1957 to 30th June, 1958

…

…

27

5

21

9·75

5

7·25

5

2

0

2·43

12·4

An advance payment at the rate of £3 0s. 0d. per acre has already been made to most growers of oats and mixed corn following the announcement made on 5th December, 1957. The final payment to these growers will, therefore, be at the rate of £2 2s. 0d. per acre. Payments will begin immediately and will be completed during September.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that imported food prices fell by 7 per cent. during the past year but retail prices increased by 6 per cent.; how much of the total food consumed was imported; how much of the increased prices was due to greater distribution costs; and if he will make a statement.

In recent months the food import and retail price indices have diverged appreciably compared with a year ago, since the savings on imports have been obscured, and more than offset by higher prices for some home-produced foods, mainly potatoes, fruit and eggs. But substantial reductions, consistent with the fall in the import price index, have occurred in the retail prices of such mainly imported commodities as butter, cheese, sugar and tea.The cost of food imports accounts for about a quarter of consumers' total expenditure on food. It is impossible to say what effect greater distribution costs have had, but average wage rates have risen by nearly 5 per cent. since the spring of 1957 and there have also been increases in fuel, light and transport.It is to be expected that prices of potatoes, fruit and vegetables will decline over the next few months for seasonal and other reasons, and there should be a fall in the retail price index for food as compared with recent months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the future work and organisation of agricultural executive committees.

I have now had valuable discussions with the chairmen of county agricultural executive committees and with leaders of the N.F.U., C.L.A. and workers' unions. The report of my noble Friend, Lord St. Aldwyn, has received general support, and I have decided to adopt it as the basis of my future policy for these committees.I propose to retain their present representative constitution, which is well fitted to the important part they play in the partnership between government and industry. Their task will be to promote the general development of agriculture in their counties and their wide knowledge of local conditions will be of great value to me in the working out of policy, in its detailed application and in the work of technical development. I shall in future choose members primarily for their aptitude for these tasks. In this the bodies representing the industry have promised their support.I am asking county chairmen to review their county and district committee organisation on the lines recommended in the report; and I intend to foster full and effective co-operation between my Ministry and the committees. I am most grateful to the Chairmen and members of the Committees for all the hard work they have done with such energy and tact for the agricultural industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the steps being taken by certain local authorities to enforce a lean meat content for pork pies; and whether, in view of the difficulties which will face large firms distributing such pies over a wide area if different standards are enforced by every local authority, he will arrange for the matter to be reviewed by the Food Standards Committee of his Department with a view to ensuring the maximum uniformity in this matter.

I know that one food and drugs authority proposes to discuss the meat content of pies with local manufacturers. The question of a statutory standard for meat pies is already being considered by the Food Standards Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many municipalities in Northern Rhodesia have suspended night passes during the period of experimental suspension from 1st November last year to 30th April; and if he will make a statement on the results of this experiment.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, Tuesday, 20th May, 1958; Vol. 588, c. 70], supplied the following further information:The experimental period has been extended to cover the six months 1st May to 31st October. Although the experiment started last November in the smaller townships and the township areas for which Government are responsible, owing to technical difficulties over amending byelaws it did not in fact start in the municipalities until 1st May. The position now is that the regulations have been suspended from 1st May for six months in the municipalities of Lusaka, Kitwe, Chingola and, additionally, Broken Hill and in the mine townships of Nkana and Nchanga as well as in the small townships where they had already been suspended earlier.The preliminary assessment in the small townships is that there has been no increase in crime which could be directly attributed to the relaxation of the Pass Laws. No useful assessment for towns with substantial populations can be made until the end of the extended experimental period.The reaction of Africans to the suspension of night passes is reported to have been one of satisfaction that the laws have been relaxed. There has as yet been no indication that undue advantage has been taken of this relaxation, which has in any case not made any great difference to African habits; they normally retire early in the evening.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the price at which mealies are sold to the natives of Northern Rhodesia.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, Tuesday, 15th July. 1958; Vol. 591, c. 78], supplied the following information:The retail price of maize meal is controlled throughout the Territory and this control is exercised by the Federal Government. In the principal growing areas—i.e. the Southern, Central and Eastern Provinces, whole maize vests in and is sold by the Grain Marketing Board set up under Federal legislation. In the remainder of the Territory whole maize may be sold to Africans; the price is not controlled, but commercial sales rarely take place because the producers are mainly subsistence cultivators. By native custom they share their surpluses when there are any with their neighbours, and look to their neighbours when they are short of maize themselves. The controlled retail price of maize meal is published in the Federal Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent by the Broken Hill District Race Relations Committee, Northern Rhodesia, to the complaint by the Rev. M. M. Temple that 11 members of the Constitution Party, including three Africans and one Asian, were refused refreshments at the Rio Cafe, Broken Hill, on 18th February last.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, Tuesday, 22nd July 1958; Vol. 592, c. 225], supplied the following further information:The summary which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member is as follows:"In his reply the Governor gave me the following summary of the correspondence, which I think you will agree is rather long for an oral Parliamentary reply. He stated that the Chairman of the Committee replied on 2nd April to Mr. Temple's letter of the 18th February, but had been unable to settle the complaint to everyone's satisfaction; that the Committee felt that the proprietor had no personal animosity or strong colour prejudice, but that the reason for refusing service to non-Europeans was purely commercial—a fear with some justification, in that if they served non-Europeans, much of their European custom would leave them; that there was some substance in the view that if Africans were served in the cafe race relations, which have never been bad at Broken Hill, might deteriorate rather than improve; that the Committee did not consider that it would be helpful to take the matter further at this stage; and that as the proprietors of the cafe in question were reasonable people, it was hoped as time went on to persuade them to modify their present policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are proposed for the provision of financial assistance to British Guiana.

I explained in my Written Reply to my hon. Friend on Friday the 18th July why Her Majesty's Government had agreed, subject to the provision of funds by Parliament, to lend British Guiana up to a maximum of £5·5 million during 1958 and 1959. Until a few months ago, it was expected that British Guiana's requirements in excess of her own resources and her allocation under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts, to meet expenditure under the development programme could be met by raising external loans on the London market, but for reasons outside the control of H.M.G. it is clear that this is no longer the case.In the light of these circumstances, a Supplementary Estimate to provide general financial assistance to British Guiana by way of loan will be laid before the House in due course. In the meantime, advances will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Education if he will specify which of the recommendations made by the Select Committee on Estimates in their Eighth and Twelfth Reports of 1952–53, and in their Seventh Report of 1956–57, called for increases in public expenditure; and why that fact was omitted from the departmental replies.

I am writing to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that seven European nations, including Great Britain, in conference recently at The Hague condemned Iceland's claim to extend her territorial sea fishing limits to 12 miles, and that sea fishing is Iceland's main industry, if he will take steps to invite those seven nations within the framework of the United Nations or otherwise, to unite in assisting the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation in its study of methods of diversifying Iceland's industries so as to save her from being dependent almost solely on the fishing industry.

The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation is at present engaged in a study of the Icelandic economy as part of a project designed to facilitate the association of the less developed countries in Europe with the proposed Free Trade Area. This project has the support of all the members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation. There is no need for separate support on the part of those countries whose fishing industries recently sent representatives to a nongovernmental meeting at The Hague.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet considered the bulletin being published on 1st August by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, setting out the arrangements that have been made to collect a surcharge to pay for the operation undertaken by the United Nations to clear the Suez Canal; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Bulletin issued by the Secretary-General of the United Nations concerning the proposed Suez Canal surcharge is being published today and the text was communicated to me in advance.The Bulletin provides that whoever pays the transit tolls of ships using the Suez Canal shall pay a surcharge of 3 per cent. of these tolls to the Banque de la Société Générale de Belgique which has been designated as the United Nations collecting agent. The surcharge will continue in force until the United Nations expenditure on the clearance of the Canal has been recovered. It is expected that this will be in about three years. The sums collected will be used by the United Nations to repay the loans made to them for the clearance of the canal and to reimburse the United Kingdom and French Governments with the costs of the Anglo-French salvage fleet while it was under the command of the United Nations. These arrangements will take effect from 15th September.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, following a letter from the Ministry of Health to the Manchester Regional Hospital Board in January, 1958, declaring that Mr. A. H. Barber had no right of appeal against dismissal, the Board gave him three months' notice with a condition that notice was given to enable him to have the right to appeal; and, such right being subsequently denied to him, what disciplinary action is contemplated.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to correspondence which took place in January, 1952. The facts which the hon. Member seeks to paraphrase are fully set out in the judgment of Mr. Justice Barry. This judgment expressly recognised the bona fides of action taken, and no question of disciplinary action appears to arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulties caused by the fact that the consultant obstetrician to the Oldham Corporation is denied maternity hospital facilities; and what steps are being taken to remedy this situation.

I am aware that some differences of view have been canvassed in correspondence between the Oldham Corporation and the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, but am not, at any rate at present, aware of any difficulties calling for action.

asked the Minister of Health how many new hospitals have been built in Great Britain under the auspices of the Health Service since its inception.

One completed, three in part use and eight under construction.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to state his plans for increasing hospital accommodation in Middlesex, in view of his decision not to rebuild Charing Cross Hospital at Northwick Park.

I recognise the need for additional accommodation, but I am not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Health why the Oldham lady whose name has been supplied to him, who is 56 years of age and crippled with rheumatoid arthritis in the legs and hands, has been unable to obtain a pair of elbow crutches, as prescribed by her doctor.

I have asked the hon. Member for further information to enable me to make inquiries into this case, and I will write to him when I have completed my inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health what further details he has been able to obtain of the New Zealand experience of the Russian multiple sclerosis vaccine.

I have received no further details from New Zealand. The replies received to inquiries which were addressed to the Soviet Union are being studied.A letter published in the British Medical Journal for 26th July, 1958, from Dr. A. K. Shubladze of Moscow and Professor G. W. A. Dick of the Queens University Belfast, says that they think it clearly necessary to re-investigate and characterise the original isolates of the virus from which the vaccine is prepared, as recent experiments have shown that the strain in current use is similar to rabies virus. As far as treatment with the vaccine is concerned, they say that it is not possible to make any further recommendation until re-investigations have been made.This latest information makes it clear that both the efficacy and the safety of this vaccine are at present in doubt.

asked the Minister of Health what are the present facilities within the National Health Service for family planning advice and treatment; and why he does not propose to encourage a widening of existing facilities.

The present facilities are for advice and treatment where pregnancy would be detrimental to health. Help is also given in some areas to voluntary associations by making premises available. I do not consider that there is a sufficient case in present circumstances for seeking to widen these facilities.

asked the Minister of Health what communication he has received from the British Medical Association's Annual Conference on the subject of merit awards; and what reply he is making thereto.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that his regulations allow firemen tradesmen, such as painters, plumbers and so forth, to carry on within the fire station premises their trade activities for the benefit of the Department when not required for their fire protection duties.

Regulations made under the Fire Services Act, 1947, do not place any legal restriction upon the performance of this kind of work by firemen. The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades has, however, made recommendations to fire authorities as to the extent to which members of brigades should engage in work of this nature, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of these.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is in a position to make a statement about the proposed Committee of Inquiry on Human Artificial Insemination.

The terms of reference of the Committee are to be:

"To enquire into the existing practice of human artificial insemination and its legal consequences and to consider whether, taking account of the interests of individuals involved and of society as a whole, any change in the law is necessary or desirable."

I am glad to be able to inform the House that the Earl of Feversham has agreed to serve as chairman. I hope shortly to be in a position to announce the names of the other members of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further action he proposes to take to encourage offices and other business undertakings to move from London to new and expanded towns in the provinces, in view of the growing population problems of the great conurbations.

The development plans for the County of London and the home counties contain provisions which are designed to encourage the movement the hon. Member has in mind by strictly limiting the areas in which the growth of office and other business can take place in the centre, and by facilitating their establishment further out. I shall continue to use every opportunity I can to give publicity to the advantages of taking some office work out of the central areas of London. In this I welcome the steps taken by the L.C.C. and other planning authorities to make advice available to industrialists and business men about suitable sites and other relevant questions, and I also acknowledge the help of the Town and Country Planning Association and other agencies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) whether he will amend the Use Classes Order made under the Third Schedule of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, so as to limit the number of second-hand car markets and petrol-filling stations in areas intended primarily for shopping use;(2) what consideration he has given to the problems created by the increase in second-hand car markets which occupy a disproportionately large amount of space in areas shown as being intended primarily for shopping use in the County of Essex Development Plan, 1957, with special reference to the High Road, Ilford, east of Seven Kings Station.

I have no information at present before me which would lead me to believe that the number of secondhand car markets in shopping areas is such as to justify restricting the scope of the Use Classes Order, 1950; but I am arranging for my officers to discuss with the local authority the particular local problem to which my hon. Friend draws attention. A new petrol-filling station cannot be provided in a shopping area—or, indeed, in any other area—without specific planning permission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that people are buying residential caravans on the assurance of salesmen that a site is available only to find, after purchase, that the site in question is unauthorised and that caravans on it are liable to be ejected; and if he will introduce legislation to prohibit this practice.

I have heard of this abuse, which can undoubtedly cause hardship. I would like to take this opportunity to advise every prospective purchaser of a caravan in these circumstances to find out from the appropriate local authority, before completing the purchase, whether the site offered to him has planning permission. I think that such a precaution would be more effective than a change in the law.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the additional financial burdens which a number of public institutions are being called upon to bear, due to a new interpretation of the wording of the Scientific Societies Act, 1843; and whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Act so as to remove this difficulty.

These matters are before the Committee on the rating of charities and similar bodies. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my reply of 23rd January last to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate (Mr. Ramsden) which sets out its terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now prepared to provide facilities for cotton workers to register as unemployed at the mill.

I am looking into the possibility of using certain modifica- tions of normal procedure which include obtaining evidence of unemployment from mills where substantial numbers are on short-time.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of males and females wholly unemployed, temporarily stopped and on short-time in the area served by the Oldham Employment Exchange, at the most recent convenient date.

At 14th July, 1958, 837 males and 288 females were registered as wholly unemployed and 682 males and 1,368 females as temporarily stopped at the Oldham and Chadderton Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Offices. The "temporarily stopped" are persons working short-time or otherwise temporarily suspended who were not at work on the Monday to which the figures relate and who were registered at the Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Offices.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average number of persons attending to register on a Friday at the Oldham Employment Exchange for four weeks to the most recent convenient date; and what is the estimated average time of waiting to register.

The average number of claimants at the Oldham and Chadderton Employment Exchange on a Friday during the past four weeks was about 2,500. It is estimated that the average time persons had to wait after their due time of attendance was about ten minutes.

asked the Minister of Labour what changes in the provisions of the Factories Act, 1937, are now under discussion; and with whom they are being discussed.

My Department is in consultation with the British Employers' Confederation, the Trades Union Congress, local authorities associations and other interested parties about possible amendments to those provisions of the Factories Acts which relate to fire and to certain other matters; but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will introduce amending legislation to enable efficient local authorities to be responsible for the powers and duties of Section 34 of the Factories Act, 1937, in the wartime shadow factories, as they were for about 15 years before it was decided that they were Crown factories.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 2nd July.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that the wartime shadow factories are now in civilian occupation and on large-scale civilian production, whether he will introduce legislation to remove these factories from the provisions of the Factories Act, 1937, with respect to Crown factories.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the increasing difficulty caused to cotton workers by his decision to close the Chadderton Employment Exchange; and whether he will now reconsider the matter.

Although the numbers now unemployed are greater than when I decided to close the Chadderton Employment Exchange, I do not consider that the re-opening of that office would resolve the present difficulties. I hope, however, with the co-operation of employers to use certain modifications of normal procedure which will obviate difficulties.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that as a result of the decision to close the Chadderton Employment Exchange workers have to travel up to three miles to register; and what action he will take.

Very few residents of Chadderton live more than two miles away from the Oldham and Chadderton Employment Exchange, and I see no ground for re-opening the office at Chadderton. I hope, however, with the co-operation of employers, to use certain modifications of normal procedure which include obtaining evidence of unemployment from mills where substantial numbers are on short-time.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of people registered as unemployed in Brentwood; and what increase there has been in the last 12 months.

At 14th July, 1958, there were 226 persons aged 18 years and over registered as unemployed at the Brentwood Employment Exchange, representing about 1·2 per cent. of the estimated number of employees in the area. The total had increased by 125 compared with 15th July, 1957.

asked the Paymaster-General if he is aware that, as a consequence of the changed situation in the coal mining industry, 4½ million tons of opencast coal is now lying in stocks; and if, in view of this, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board not to commence opencast-mining operations on new sites until the situation in the coal industry is clarified.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Neal) on 21st April last.

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent British nuclear power stations are currently being modified so that military grade plutonium can be extracted; what effect such modification is expected to have on the economics of nuclear power operation and the sale of British nuclear equipment abroad; and whether he will make a statement.

Three nuclear power stations are being modified, but whether they will ever be used to produce military grade plutonium will be for decision later and will depend on defence requirements. The first two stations, at Bradwell and Berkeley, are not being modified and the decision to modify three subsequent stations was taken solely as a precaution for defence purposes. It in no way reflects any change in the assessment of the economics of the British nuclear power stations, and there is therefore no reason whatever why the sale abroad of British nuclear equipment should be in any way affected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the imports into this country of subsidised bacon from Eire for the first six months of 1958 amounted to 283,377 cwt., as against 220,785 cwt. for the last half of 1957 and only 73,600 cwt. for the first half of 1957; and if he will either take steps to negotiate with the Eireann Government for the control of such exports or consider taking action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957.

Yes, I am aware of these figures, but I do not think they indicate any material change in the position since March, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) by the Minister of State Board of Trade and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 24th March, 1958.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the extent of the deterioration of trade with European countries; and what are the main categories of imports still subject to licensing restrictions.

Exports to the non-sterling members of the O.E.E.C. were 13 per cent. lower in the first half of 1958 than in the first half of 1957, compared with a fall of 5 per cent. for United Kingdom exports to all countries over the same period. A small part of this fall is attributable to the dock strike in June. The main categories of goods still subject to import licensing restrictions from O.E.E.C. countries are shown in the following table.

Class	Main items subject to restriction
A. Food, beverages and tobacco.	Ham.
	Milk products.
	Apples and Pears.
	Potatoes.
	Sugar.
B. Basic materials	Worked stone.
	Flower bulbs.
C. Mineral fuels and lubricants.	Coal, coke and manufactured fuels.
D. Manufactured goods.	Dyestuffs and intermediates.
	Calcium carbide.
	Leather.
	Newsprint; paper manufactures.
	Stockings and socks.
	Lace and lace net.
	Jute yarns and manufactures.
	Jewellery.
	Cutlery.
	Motor vehicles and parts.
	Clocks and watches.
	Some cameras.
	Scientific and optical glassware and instruments.
	Arms and ammunition.
	Sports goods, toys and games.
	Smokers' requisites.
	Basketware.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the percentage of imports from the dollar area which will be free from licensing restrictions after 18th August.

Rather more than two-thirds by value.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will ask the Medical Research Council for their comments on the forthcoming report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.

My noble Friend the Lord President of the Council has invited the Medical Research Council to ask their Committee on the Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations to arrange to provide their comments on the report of the United Nations Committee as soon as they have had time to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the petition from the inhabitants of Irvine relating to the case of William Jordan; and what reply he is making.

I have asked my hon. Friend to inform the petitioners that I have considered their petition but have no power to reopen the proceedings in a criminal trial or to substitute a more severe sentence for that imposed by the Court.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the ordering of new jet aircraft by British European Airways.

The Government have now given approval for British European Airways to conclude a contract with the Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) for 24 DH.121 aircraft. These will cost about £29 million, and will be delivered between 1964 and 1966.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the loss of agricultural production as a result of damage caused by motorists to boundary walls and fences in rural areas; and whether he will investigate this matter with a view to making such damage to farm property a reportable offence.

I have been asked to reply.I have no information as to the loss of agricultural production from damage caused by motorists to boundary walls and fences in rural areas. Whether drivers of motor vehicles should be required to report accidents involving damage to property was debated in Parliament during the passage of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and a limited aspect of the problem was raised in discussion on the Bill which became the Road Traffic Act, 1956. Parliament decided on both occasions not to require drivers to report accidents involving damage to property, and I have no reason to think that the grounds for the decision are not still valid.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will have a more recent check made of the number of immigrants from the Commonwealth and Colonies who are receiving National Insurance benefits or National Assistance; and if he will report the results to the House.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service that further inquiries are being made this week at employment exchanges on the lines of those undertaken last March. I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what assistance he offers to those immigrants from the Commonwealth and Colonies who are out of work and who wish to return to their own homes.

Where such an immigrant is not likely to be able to support himself in this country, and no other financial arrangements are possible, the National Assistance Board will consider meeting the cost of his return home, subject where appropriate to an offer to repay.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state, for the period of 12 months to the most recent convenient date, the number of old-age pensioners in actual receipt of retirement pensions which are subject to a deduction due to receipt of earnings in excess of the permitted maximum; and what is the gross amount of such deductions.

The latest date for which figures are available is December, 1956. It was then estimated that, of just over one million retirement pensioners in the age groups to which the earnings limits apply, about 18,000 were suffering reduction of their pensions on account of earnings and 19,000 had their pensions extinguished. The total amount of these deductions was about £3 million a year which at the higher rates of benefit now in force would correspond to nearly £4 million.It is now known, however, that the pensions of at least 60,000 late age entrants, who are not subject to the retirement condition, are being extinguished because of regular high earnings and this will probably bring the total amount of deductions up to or near £12 million a year at the present time but this increase is temporary and will decline steadily over the next five years.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in how many cases in the last 12 months he has been officially notified that old-age pensioners have committed suicide shortly after being interviewed by his officers with reference to alleged breaches of the earnings rule.

Two. In one of them the pensioner concerned had already been informed that no proceedings would be brought against him.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state in detail the basis of his estimate that the revision of the rule limiting the earnings of old-age pensioners would involve an additional cost to the contributor or the tax-payer of £100 million a year.

About £100 million a year is the approximate cost of abolishing the earnings rule for retirement pensioners and the retirement condition which goes with it. The figure is made up as follows:

	£ million
Extra cost of paying retirement pensions to persons over minimum pension age but not retired from work, including any increments of pension already earned	85
Cost of paying full retirement pensions to persons whose pensions are at present reduced under the earnings rule	12
Saving on sickness and unemployment benefits	-6
Loss of contribution income	10
	101

If the earnings rule for widows under 60 were also abolished, this would cost a further £5½ million a year, bringing the total cost to nearly £107 million.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will now give instructions to his investigating officers that a formal caution should only be given to old-age pensioners suspected of a breach of the earnings rule when the investigating officer has provisionally decided that the case may result in a prosecution.

No. As my Department's investigating officers do not make the decision as to whether a prosecution should take place, the hon. Member's suggestion is not practicable. In any event I can see serious objections to statements being taken without a caution from people who appear to have committed an offence.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what proposals he is able to announce with regard to the economic development and administration of the High Commission territories.

In the course of my recent visit to the High Commission Territories, I formed a high opinion of the standards of the Administration. The High Commissioner is, however, considering, in the light of his almost four years' experience, what recommendations he can make for changes or improvements in the existing system.2. As I informed the House during yesterday's debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill, it has been decided in principle that a Commission should visit the three Territories shortly to consider salaries and conditions of service.3. I also announced that the Adviser on Co-operation to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. B. J. Surridge, would visit Bechuanaland to enquire into

UNITED KINGDOM FINANCE FOR HIGH COMMISSION TERRITORIES
—				Basutoland	Bechuanaland Protectorate	Swaziland	Total
CD. and W., 1955–60			…	£1,073,000	£1,334,000	£1,000,000	£3,500,000 including £113,000 in reserve
C.D.C.	…	…	…	—	Capital approved	Capital approved	Approved
					£3,007,000	£9,190,000	£12,197,000
					Spent to 31.12.57	Spent to 31.12.57	Spent
					£1,853,000	£5,731,000	£7,584,000
Loans	…	…	…	£258,785	£559,161	£343,781	£1,161,727
						(also £1 m. from Barclays Bank)
Grant-in-aid		…	…	—	£1,500,000	—	£1,500,000
					(for period 1956–60)

BASUTOLAND6. Money from Colonial Development and Welfare funds has been used to finance the Mountain Road which will greatly assist the development and administration of this beautiful but remote area.7. There have been encouraging discoveries of diamonds which are being worked under the terms of an agreement between the Paramount Chief, on behalf of the Basuto nation, and Colonel Jack Scott.8. In the absence of evidence of mineral resources, other than the diamonds already mentioned, attention has been directed to the development of Basutoland's water resources. The Administration are continuing hydrological research and the collection of data on the Ox-Bow Lake Power and Water Scheme.