asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the proceedings at and decisions taken by the meeting in London last September to discuss costs and earnings of fishing enterprises and which was called by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

This was a technical meeting arranged to permit an exchange of views and experience on costs and earnings investigations and to discuss the methods used in study of the subject. The meeting did not aim to reach specific conclusions and no decisions were taken. A full report of the proceedings will in due course be published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which Regulations now prevent uncertified meat reaching factories where it can be used for human consumption, since the Order requiring it to be dyed green has been withdrawn; and if he will now require such meat to be cooked before sale as was the case before the war.

Regulations will be laid in the new year requiring meat not fit for human consumption to be sterilised before sale.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many copies of Circular 49/58 of 14th October were distributed; to what categories of organisation they were sent; and for what purpose.

In accordance with normal practice about 2,900 copies of this Press notice were distributed to the Press and to organisations interested in the social services to provide them with a summary of Cmnd. 538.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is now the value, in terms of the purchasing power of the £ in 1951, of the standard rate of retirement pensions for single and married persons, respectively.

On the basis of the retail prices index the current rates of 50s. and 80s. are equivalent respectively to 38s. 9d. and 62s. at the prices of October, 1951.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is, approximately, the number of persons now drawing retirement pensions in the Borough of Leyton; how many of these are women; and how many now have to apply for National Assistance to supplement their pension.

Statistics relating to the numbers of retirement pensioners are not available for local areas. As regards the second part of the Question, however, I am informed by the National Assistance Board that on 30th September last 2,913 weekly National Assistance grants were being paid to retirement pensioners living in the Borough of Leyton. Some of the grants provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.

asked the Paymaster-General what inquiries have been made into the possibilities of replacing oil-burning installations by those burning coal so that the surplus coal now available can be utilised and the heavy cost of imported oil saved.

The Government's policy is that consumers should be free to make their own choice of fuels, in the light of cost and efficiency for any particular job and they do not consider that the present temporary surplus of coal, judged in relation to the cost of imported oil, warrants any departure from this policy.

asked the Paymaster-General, in view of the nuisance caused by the emission of dust, grit, and fumes from the manufacture of a substance called "Clean Glow" by gas boards, if he will give a general direction to all gas boards to avoid manufacturing this product in the vicinity of domestic dwellings or, where it is so produced, to ensure the provision of effective screens and suction plants to avoid the nuisance.

"Clean Glow" is a special reactive smokeless fuel manufactured by the North Thames Gas Board at four gas works. At the Leyton Works the problem of air pollution was slightly aggravated when the manufacture of "Clean Glow" began, but the Board has already taken a number of steps which have greatly reduced the nuisance, and further measures are in hand. My noble Friend is satisfied that no general direction is necessary.

asked the Minister of Supply what part is being played by representatives of his Department in the discussions about the disposal of the Royal Ordnance factory and site at Swynnerton.

In the absence of any interest in the factory by an industrial firm, I invited the Staffordshire County Council, as the planning authority, to consider what use might be made of the site. In the consideration given by the Council to this question, my Department acts in an advisory rôle, helping in particular with information about the site.

asked the Minister of Supply his estimate of the number of men likely to be made redundant in the aircraft industry in the years 1958–59 and 1959–60, in view of the proposed substitution of guided missiles for conventional military aircraft; and what plans he has for using the services of the highly-skilled men who would otherwise become redundant.

It is not possible to distinguish the introduction of guided missiles from other factors, such as the reduction in military requirements, affecting the size of the aircraft industry. Between April and September this year about 5,000 workers left the industry. I expect this decline to continue, though I cannot predict the rate because it will depend largely on the industry's success in obtaining additional orders for civil aircraft and for export and new work outside the aircraft field. To the extent that it proves impossible for companies to retain their skilled employees, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service will assist in finding other suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Supply when he expects to have completed his inquiries with all the scientific bodies on the values to be gained from launching a British earth-space satellite programme.

I cannot usefully add to the Answer which I gave on 3rd November to Questions by the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the estimated number of chronic sufferers from disseminated sclerosis who are not in receipt of any institutional treatment or of any special home nursing; and what steps he is taking to provide additional institutional accommodation;(2) whether he will consult with the Secretary of State for Air in regard to the possibility of the allocation and adaptation of one or more disused war-time residential aerodromes for the provision of institutional accommodation for chronic sufferers from disseminated sclerosis or Parkinson's disease.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. I rely on Regional Hospital Boards to secure suitable hospital provision for those patients who require it, and I do not think that the adaptation of a disused aerodrome would be suitable.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the concern in Kent at the worsening situation regarding the provision of residential accommodation for the care of the aged and that, whilst the Kent County Council has voted money for the provision of new homes, it has not been possible to obtain from his Department loan sanction for the provision of some new buildings within the financial programme; and, in view of the seriousness of the problem and the public interest in the matter, if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that in Kent, as elsewhere, there is an unsatisfied demand for accommodation and that the County Council is preparing plans for new homes. When the Council is ready with definite proposals, he will be very willing to consider them in the light of all the circumstances then prevailing.

asked the Minister of Health how many domiciliary midwives have been provided with cars; how many with bicycles; and for how many no transport is provided.

I regret that this information is not available. The provision of cars and other means of transport for domiciliary midwives is at the discretion of the local health authorities employing them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of sufferers from chronic disease are unable to retain employment because of the necessity of their reporting regularly for medical examination during working hours; and what steps he proposes to take in this matter.

No, but if the hon. Member has evidence of this I shall be glad to have an opportunity to examine it.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the Report of the Royal Commission on doctors' pay.

The Commission is still taking evidence and collecting necessary information. It expects to be able to submit its Report about next summer.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of persons disabled from employment by chronic disease who are in need of institutional treatment; and the total number of beds in hospitals and institutions allocated to patients suffering from chronic disease.

At the end of 1957, nearly 10,700 names were on waiting lists for 57,600 chronic sick and geriatric beds in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales. These are for the most part elderly people, and the number capable of employment after treatment is therefore likely to be small.

asked the Minister of Health the existing hospital accommodation for mentally defective children in County Durham; how many children are awaiting admission; the average waiting time; what is being done to improve the position; and, whether he will give separate figures for the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees.

No specific number of beds is allocated, but there are 408 children in the two mental deficiency hospitals serving Durham, and the number awaiting admission is 67 from the County including 7 from Stockton. No average figure for waiting time is available; it would in any case be misleading as children are admitted according to the urgency of the case. One of the two hospitals concerned is being greatly extended, and additional accommodation has recently been provided at the other.

asked the Minister of Health what assistance he is giving to hospitals to enable them to operate a 44-hour week for nurses.

Hospitals are at present determining to what extent they can reduce hours by reorganising their nursing services and the question of assistance from me does not arise at this stage.

asked the Minister of Health what priority he is giving to the building of an additional operating theatre at the Stockton and Thornaby Hospital.

This is primarily a matter for the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board. I understand that it proposes to include in its capital programme for next year a new casualty department with a minor operating theatre, but that it has not so far been able to provide for a new major theatre.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the present situation in Oman; and the intentions of Her Majesty's Government regarding the use of British troops to assist the Sultan of Muscat and Oman's armed forces against the former Imam of Oman and his brother Talib.

As my right hon. and gallant Friend said on 18th June, almost all of Oman has been quiet since the summer of 1957, and the Sultan's administration is functioning normally.Three of the rebel leaders together with a few of their followers are still at large in the Jebel Akhdar, which is an inaccessible mountain area. The Sultan's armed forces are encircling the mountain and conducting limited operations designed to bring about the surrender of the fugitives.Apart from personnel seconded to the Sultan's Armed Forces for the purpose of assisting in the military reorganisation in the Sultanate, there is a small number of troops temporarily engaged in training the Sultan's forces and assisting them to maintain order.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct the British delegate to the Geneva Conference on Nuclear Tests to propose that the control posts should also be equipped with the necessary instruments and experts to provide a continuous service of radar control for the traffic of civil and other aircraft to prevent collisions and to maintain a continuous service of meteorological information on which an improved world system of weather forecasts can be maintained.

My right hon. and learned Friend is grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for this suggestion which he will bear in mind. But I think we must first concentrate our efforts on securing a control system for the discontinuance of nuclear tests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he will take to promote the sale of British books in foreign countries.

My right hon. and learned Friend is studying this problem with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the other Ministers concerned.I would refer to the statement made on 3rd November by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the British pilots who left their jobs on the Suez Canal are still unemployed; and how many have been given back their former positions.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 12th May, 1958, and that which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport gave on 5th June, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that King Hussein no longer requires protection from Her Majesty's Government.

My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that the immediate and specific purposes for which British troops were sent to Jordan have been achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what way the Consular Agreement signed in 1951 between Great Britain and the United States of America differs from previous agreements; and why there has been a delay of seven years in presenting this Agreement to Parliament.

The Consular Convention between the United Kingdom and the United States which was signed on 6th June, 1951, and which entered into force on 8th August, 1952, was in replacement of an earlier Consular Convention which was signed on 16th February, 1949, but which was never ratified or brought into force.The principal difference between the two Conventions is that the later agreement contains no provisions corresponding to Article 18 of the former agreement which conferred certain powers upon consular officers in relation to the estates of deceased persons.The Convention of 16th February, 1949, was published in the "Country" Series as Cmd. 7642 (U.S.A. No. 1, 1949) and laid before Parliament later in the same month. The Convention of 6th June, 1951, was published in the "Country" Series as Cmd. 8289 (U.S.A. No. 1, 1951) and laid before Parliament on 5th July of the same year. While republication in the "Treaty" Series did not take place until recently, the text of the agreement has been continuously available to Parliament and public since within a month of its signature.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the approximate total number of accredited staff employed in United States Consulates in the United Kingdom, and in the Colonial Territories, respectively.

My latest information is that the approximate totals of staff serving at United States Consulates in the United Kingdom and Colonies are 155 and 762 respectively. Of these, 23 and 191 respectively are consular officers. In addition, 19 members of the staff of the United States Embassy in London hold consular, as well as diplomatic rank.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the approximate total number of staff employed in British Consulates in the United States of America and her dependencies.

The number of staff at present employed at United Kingdom consular posts in the territories mentioned is 256. This figure includes 58 consular officers. In addition, two members of Her Majesty's Embassy at Washington hold consular as well as diplomatic rank.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many days elapsed between the arrest on grounds of absence without leave of ex-Corporal Stanley James Munday, Royal Hampshire Regiment, serving in Cyprus on twelve years' Regular engagement and temporarily in Great Britain on compassionate leave visiting his critically ill mother, and the date ex-Corporal Munday appeared before a court-martial; whether he is aware that the Judge Advocate referred to this is a period of frustrating confinement; whether it was taken into account when reviewing the sentence of three years' imprisonment and discharge with ignominy; and, having regard to public disquiet, what steps he proposes to take to review the matter.

Corporal Munday had been under arrest for 42 days awaiting trial for absence without leave when, on 9th September, further offences were committed. He appeared before a court-martial on 8th and 9th October. The time which an accused person has spent on arrest awaiting trial is always taken into account by the court-martial and the reviewing authority. In this case the sentence of three years imprisonment was reduced on review by six months. Corporal Munday has now entered an appeal against his conviction. If that appeal is unsuccessful, the sentence will be reviewed, in the normal course, at intervals during its progress.In the debate on the Army Act on the 6th November (Col: 1128) I made a statement on the general question of the time taken in bringing soldiers to trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the present position relating to the discharge of civil defence functions by the Metropolitan Borough Council of St. Pancras; what is the amount now owing by the Council to his Department in this connection; and what undertaking he has given as to the cancellation of the debt awing by the Council in the event of its resuming the discharge of these functions.

Following the decision of the St. Pancras Metropolitan Borough Council to discontinue its civil defence functions as from 1st June, 1957, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I made Orders under Regulation 4 of the Civil Defence (General) Regulations, 1949, appointing Mr. A. R. Beaumont to be Commissioner to discharge these functions in the name and at the expense of the Council. Mr. Beaumont is still exercising these functions.Accounts sent to the Council for the period 2nd June, 1957, to 30th September, 1958, total £5,609 12s. 4½d. I had a meeting with representatives of the Council on 16th October and I said that I would await a further communication from them. Under the circumstances I did not then and cannot now say anything further until I receive their answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the actual amount of surplus profit returned by each of the managers of the public houses in the State Management Scheme within the boundary of the City of Carlisle, in each case at the latest convenient accounting period.

It would be contrary to practice to give details of the trading results of individual public houses in the State Management Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour what exemptions from Acts relating to factories are still in operation under Regulation 59 of Defence (General) Regulations, 1939.

In accordance with the Defence Regulations (Number 2) Order, 1954, the powers conferred by paragraph 1 of Regulation 59 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, are at present exercisable only in respect of Part VI of the Factories Act, 1937, which regulates the employment in factories of women and young persons, and in respect of Section 29 (6) of the Factories Act, 1937, which relates to the periodical examination of steam boilers.As regards the employment of women and young persons, there are two general exemptions still in operation, namely, the Factories (Evening Employment) Order, 1950, and the Cotton Factories (Length of Spell Exemption) Order, 1947. The latter is an automatic relaxation and no information is available about the number of factories which make use of it. On 31st August, 1958, 1,665 exemptions were current under the Evening Employment Order. In addition, on that date, a further 767 individual orders were current exempting particular factories from various provisions of Part VI of the Factories Act, 1937.

asked the Minister of Labour the unemployment figures for the various employment exchanges in Ayrshire on 31st October, 1958, as compared with the figures on the same date last year.

The following Table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the rapid increase in the number of disabled unemployed in the City of Birmingham; and, in view of the increasing unemployment among able-bodied workers in that city, what steps he will take to help these disabled persons.

The number of registered disabled persons unemployed in the City of Birmingham has risen from 691 in October, 1957, to 1,051 in October this year. The increase has occurred almost entirely among those classified as suitable for employment in ordinary industry, and my disablement resettlement officers will continue to do all they can to place them in suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the members of the Industrial Training Council, the organisations they represent, and the name and address of the secretary.

The information is as follows:

Representatives appointed by British Employers' Confederation

• The Rt. Hon. Lord McCorquodale of Newton, P.C. (Chairman).
• Mr. R. A. Banks.
• Mr. J. Foster Beaver, O.B.E.
• Sir Kenneth Hague.
• Mr. C. Henniker-Heaton.
• Mr. E. J. Hunter.
• Mr. D. E. Woodbine Parish.
• Mr. C. H. T. Williams.

Representatives appointed by the Trades Union Congress

• Mr. W. J. Carron.
• Miss B. A. Godwin, O.B.E.
• Mr. E. J. Hill.
• Mr. G. H. Lowthian, M.B.E.
• Mr. J. E. Newton.
• Mr. L. Poole.
• Mr. L. Sharp, M.B.E.
• Sir Thomas Williamson, O.B.E.

Representatives appointed by the Nationalised Industries

• Mr. C. A. Roberts.
• Dr. A. B. Badger.
• Mr. R. G. Bellamy, O.B.E., T.D.

The following also participate in the work of the Council

Representatives of the Ministry of Labour and National Service, the Ministry of Education, the Scottish Education Department, the City and Guilds of London Institute, the Association of Technical Institutions.

The Secretary is—Mr. M. Y. Cobb, M.B.E., 36, Smith Square, London, S.W.1.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make available to hon. Members in the Library Reports of the meetings of the Industrial Training Council.

This Training Council has been established by industry itself and it does not report to my right hon. Friend. I understand, however, that the Council itself will probably be publishing reports on its activities from time to time, and I would be ready to arrange for copies of such reports to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the transfer of Malta Dockyard to a commercial firm will take place.

Since Her Majesty's Government announced their decision last July that the Malta Dockyard should be converted to a commercial yard and transferred to a commercial ship repairing firm, Messrs. C. H. Bailey of South Wales, the firm referred to in that announcement have, in consultation with Her Majesty's Government, made considerable progress with their plans for the take-over. Her Majesty's Government have agreed that, subject to the completion of a satisfactory agreement, the Maltese Company which is to be set up by the firm should assume full responsibility for the dockyard not later than 30th March, 1959. The exact date of transfer, which will be announced in due course, may be a month or more earlier than this if all the necessary preparations can be completed in time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that postage rates for air mail parcels sent to members of Her Majesty's Forces overseas are very heavy; and if he will soon introduce concession rates as has been done for surface mail.

The present concessionary postal rates on mail sent to members of the forces serving abroad, and homeward mail from them, cost the taxpayer about £1,100,000 a year. I do not feel justified in making proposals which would add to this sum.

asked the Minister of Education the number of students in each of the years of courses for the diploma in technology and the corresponding figures at the same period last year, distinguishing whole-time and sandwich-course students.

The National Council for Technological Awards has given me the following information about the number of students in courses leading to the Diploma in Technology:Service relating to unestablished service being counted in full for pension purposes, paragraph 743, are to be implemented in the near future.

The Royal Commission on the Civil Service made no recommendation on this matter. It gave as its view that the sole consideration is that of cost. While not necessarily accepting this, I regard cost as the decisive consideration and I do not propose to ask for any change in the law.

asked the Postmaster-General for what reason he is now demanding from a selected number of Her Majesty's subjects a money deposit as a condition precedent to the provision of telephone services; what is the basis of selection of persons required to make such a money deposit; and what preliminary inquiries are made as to what, and by whom.

The reasons are given in Regulation 40 of the Telephone Regulations, 1957. It has always been the practice to require the payment of a deposit when this is considered necessary as security for the payment of telephone charges. The accounts are rendered in arrear, and at present involve credit for up to three months' rental and up to six months' call charges. The question whether to ask for a deposit in an individual case must be left to the judgment of the local telephone manager and his staff.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent a special undertaking is given to persons who are required to make a financial deposit as a condition precedent to the installation of a telephone that the instrument will not be a subject of telephone tapping.

No considerations other than financial enter into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent it is his policy, when a financial deposit has been paid in advance to procure the installation of a telephone by a person, firm, or institution, of whose political, moral, or financial stability the Post Office is in doubt, to make repayment when the doubts have been removed.

Standing instructions authorise the repayment of deposits where bills are paid promptly. As regards the considerations justifying the payment of deposits I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to his other Questions on the Order Paper.

asked the Postmaster-General in how many cases deposits have been asked for in advance as a condition precedent to the installation of a telephone during the period of twelve months to the most recent convenient date; and how many persons have been refused a telephone after having refused to pay a deposit.

In about 6,000 cases out of about 600,000 new connections. No record is kept of applications withdrawn when a deposit is requested, but it is known that the number is very small.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount of the minimum and maximum deposit required by the Post Office to be paid as a condition precedent to the installation of a telephone in the period of twelve months to the most recent convenient date.

Minimum and maximum deposits are not prescribed. The amount required to give reasonable security is a matter for judgment by the telephone manager in the circumstances of the individual case.

asked the Postmaster-General what rate of interest is paid to telephone subscribers on the deposits which they have paid in connection with the telephone service.

None.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a number of one-man firms have been disconnected from the telephone service for failure to pay accounts during the annual holidays, and subsequently required to make a deposit; and whether he will give instructions to suspend this practice.

A deposit would not be required in such circumstances. If the hon. Member has information in the contrary sense, and will furnish details, I will be glad to make inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the most recent figure of overall unemployment in the Oldham area gives a percentage of 6·2 of unemployed and estimates of the Cotton Workers' Union give figures up to 10 per cent.; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this crisis.

Over two-thirds of those unemployed are temporarily stopped. As regards the latter part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to what I said in the House on 4th November about the difficulties of the cotton industry generally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what success has attended the representations by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Canada regarding increased Canadian import duties upon Harris tweed.

A memorandum prepared by the Harris Tweed Association about the Canadian duties on Harris tweed has been submitted to the Canadian authorities. The Canadian Government are well aware of the interest which I take in the market for tweed in Canada.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, when, in view of the accidents caused and the public concern aroused, he will authorise an improvement scheme for the railway bridge over Albert Road, Stechford, Birmingham.

I cannot say at present. I agree with the Birmingham Corporation that the scheme is important, but there are many schemes of higher priority awaiting authorisation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what concession he will make in respect of taxation for an invalid tricycle owned by Mr. J. House, of 43, Iffley Road, Swindon, in view of the circumstances of this case which have been communicated to him by the hon. Member for Swindon.

As the hon. Member will know from the letter sent to him on 4th November, I have considered the circumstances of this case and have decided that Mr. House's tricycle may properly be exempted from tax. The local taxation authority has been so informed.