asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement of his progress towards solving the problems of delinquency both in and out of prison; and, in particular, what steps he is taking by general and technical education in prisons to help them towards good citizenship on their release from prison.

dealt with a number of these matters in the speech which I made on 31st October during the debate on the Address, and I hope to have an opportunity shortly of doing so more fully. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the Annual Reports of the Prison Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify the principles on which he acts in allocating the apportioning to each area the Government grant to the National Marriage Guidance Council.

Grant is paid to the National Marriage Guidance Council for use at its discretion on marriage guidance work, and I do not allocate or apportion the grant for use in particular areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that recently some London probation officers have reported to magistrates that certain probationers charged with further offences had not received the amount of support and attention that they should have had, and would have had, if the probation officers had been able to devote further time to them; and what steps he is taking to remedy the position.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes"; and as regards the second, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave at Question Time today to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority an elected committee of the London branch of the National Association of Probation Officers was recently forbidden to communicate with the Press.

There has been no such prohibition. London probation officers, who are appointed by my right hon. Friend, are required to obtain prior sanction before publishing any matter touching on the business of the courts. No material has been submitted for sanction by a committee of the London Branch of the Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the London probation officers are concerned about the existing and growing over-loading of cases they have to deal with; on what date the sub-committee of the Probation Advisory and Training Board was set up to review case-loads; how many times it has met; and what consultation there has been on the subject with the London probation officers.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the concern of London probation officers, as he has made clear in reply to previous Questions. The sub-committee was set up in November, 1957, to attempt an assessment of the optimum case-loads for probation officers. The Committee met in April and recommended that research be undertaken, and as a result of subsequent consultations a pilot project by the Home Office Research Unit (which will include London) will shortly begin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the arrangements suggested to chief constables about giving a written notice to all persons charged with offences otherwise than by summons, made in the Home Office Circular of 24th May, 1954, are working well; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to think that the arrangements are not working satisfactorily, and I have no statement to make on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that certain police officers have admitted searching premises in the Metropolitan area without warrants: by what authority this was done; and whether he will make a statement.

The search to which the hon. Gentleman is no doubt referring was made on the initiative of the officer concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions or warnings have been given in the Metropolitan Police district in recent months for the emission of smoke from vehicles with diesel engines; and if he will arrange for such offences to be recorded separately in the Return of Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles.

During the twelve months ended 30th September, 1958, 73 persons were prosecuted and 77 persons received written warnings for offences committed in the Metropolitan Police District against the Regulation which makes it an offence in certain circumstances to use a motor vehicle which emits smoke. I regret that no separate figures are available relating to vehicles with diesel engines. Much additional work would he required if these offences were to be recorded separately in the Return of Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, and my right hon. Friend does not think this would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the consistent unpunctuality of magistrates at the South- East London Juvenile Court, at both morning and afternoon sessions; and what steps he will take to mitigate the hardship to parents who may have to wait in congested surroundings, sometimes with babies in arms, up to five hours.

My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the justices concerned have been unpunctual. They deal with some business in private before the work in open court begins. As regards the second part of the Question, it is impossible to avoid keeping witnesses and others waiting because it is seldom possible to forecast how long cases will take. My right hon. Friend is sure, however, that the courts and their staffs, upon whom the work has recently made heavier demands than usual, do the best they can to minimise inconvenience.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the concern amongst many ministers of religion and social workers as to the increasing drunkenness amongst young people; and if he will now make a statement on the progress of the investigations being carried on under the direction of his Department.

share the concern which is felt about the increase in the number of offences of drunkenness among young persons under 21, though it is right to add that the total is still small. I cannot at present add to previous answers about an investigation.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made in proposals for constitutional changes for Bechuanaland. Basutoland, and Swaziland.

Discussions on proposals for constitutional change in Basutoland are still in progress, and I cannot add to the reply which I gave on 4th December to the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Wade). As regards the Bechuanaland Protectorate, the comments and recommendations of the High Commissioner on the resolution of the Joint Advisory Council for the Bechuanaland Protectorate relating to legislative powers have now been received, and are being studied. I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 31st July regarding Swaziland.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what proposals are being considered by the Government of the United Kingdom to assist in the economic development of Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland and to increase the basic minimum and other wages in the three territories, in view of the recent statement of Dr. Verwoerd, Prime Minister of South Africa, on the subjects.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the right hon. Member to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mr. Page) on 1st August. Several projects for the economic development of the High Commission Territories are engaging my noble Friend's attention, but I am not in a position to inform the House of any new ones since that date.

In reply to the second part of the Question, it is the aim of Her Majesty's Government to do everything possible to improve the standard of living of Africans in the High Commission Territories. No minimum wage rates have been fixed, but the level of wages is comparable with that prevailing in the Union of South Africa.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what are the numbers of Basuto children at school and the number of teachers; and what steps are being taken to increase the supply of teachers.

In 1957, the latest date for which figures are available, 116,247 Basuto children were attending school. They were taught by 2,350 teachers. In the ten-year period 1946–56 the number of teachers increased by over 500. The Territory is now spending nearly 20 per cent. of its total revenue on education. The High Commissioner is considering financial proposals to improve the quality of staff in existing Primary Schools, and to increase the ratio of teachers to pupils.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what university matriculation examinations are taken by the students in the secondary schools of Basutoland.

The matriculation examination taken in the secondary schools of Basutoland is that of the University of South Africa.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what are the numbers of Basuto students having higher education in the United Kingdom and in the Union of South Africa respectively.

Eleven Basuto students are receiving higher education in the United Kingdom and nine in the Union of South Africa.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations have been held between the Government of South Africa and the Commissioner of Basutoland regarding the erection of radar stations in this Protectorate.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the recent discussions between the Union Minister of Defence and the High Commissioner for Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland, about which 1 made a statement to the House on 18th July, 1958, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall). The answer is "None".

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will authorise the adoption of regulations for European hawkers using mechanically-propelled vehicles in Swaziland similar to those in operation in Basutoland for the protection of the African traders.

My noble Friend considers that the existing regulations in Swaziland accord adequate protection. Hawkers' licences are issued sparingly, and only three have been issued in Swaziland to Europeans. The Swaziland Regulations include the safeguards in the Basutoland law which stipulate that a hawker may not operate within a mile of "a shop, store or fixed place where goods are sold..", and that "the business shall not be carried on in one place for longer than 48 hours, thereafter removing to a place at least one mile distance".

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will state his plans to facilitate the expansion of the British Commonwealth of Nations by encouraging new nations to come into association with it on the lines recently indicated by the Government of Ghana in relation to Guinea.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Sir R. Robinson) on 27th November. Any proposal involving the admission of a new member of the Commonwealth would be a matter for all Commonwealth Governments and not only for Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations he has received from Pakistan for holding an early Commonwealth Conference for the discussion of constitutional changes; and what reply he has made.

None; the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the decision of Ghana to constitute with Guinea a nucleus of a Union of West African States, what official proposals have been received from Ghana in regard to the relations of that Union with the Commonwealth; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement made in this House by the Prime Minister on 27th November.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what further official communications have been received in respect of the proposed union of Ghana and the Republic of Guinea.

My right hon. and noble Friend has received no official communications from the Government of Ghana about this matter since the Prime Minister made a statement in this House on 27th November.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the recent discussions on this matter between Her Majesty's Ambassador and the Government of Eire, whether he has yet received any information regarding the recent escape of the Irish Republican Army prisoners from the Curragh Internment Camp.

I have been informed by Her Majesty's Ambassador that a statement was issued by the Irish Republican Government Information Bureau on 2nd December to the effect that an attempted mass break out had taken place that afternoon at the Curragh Internment Camp. Some 60 detainees were involved; 16 of these escaped. Two are since understood to have been recaptured.

asked the Minister of Education what action he proposes to take to recruit, by 1960, the additional 12,000 teachers, in training, he has asked the training colleges to accept; and whether he will make a statement.

It is not proposed to increase the number of teachers in training by 12,000 by 1960. My right hon. Friend is anxious that the training colleges should continue to attract a good entry and considers that the Government's policy as set out in the recent White Paper will be a great help in securing this result: but the number of training college places is being increased primarily in order to make room for the three year course, and he does not consider that any special measures to attract candidates are needed on this account.

asked the Minister of Education on what estimate of the future trend of the birth rate he bases his decisions regarding the future supply of trained teachers.

On the reasons why my right hon. Friend decided that the right immediate course was to add 12,000 places at the training colleges by the autumn of 1962 I have nothing to add to the answer he gave the hon. Member on 13th November. Estimates supplied to him by the Government Actuary are that births may average 710,000 a year for 1958 to 1962.

asked the Minister of Education what are the names of local education authorities who employ as teachers, grammar school students awaiting entrance to a training college; and, in view of the deteriorating staffing position in these areas, what proposals he has for a part-time education service.

About 100 local education authorities employ as temporary teachers young men and women who have left school and are awaiting entry to training colleges. My right hon. Friend is not aware that the staffing position is deteriorating in these areas and does not consider that there is any need to contemplate part-time schooling.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many vacancies for teachers of science and mathematics there were in grammar, technical, and secondary modern schools,

Period and types of school	Number of new places provided by:
	Major projects		Minor projects
	Started	Completed	Started	Completed
1st July, 1945, to 31st October, 1951:
Primary	8,450	4,070	Not Known	Not Known
Secondary Modern	5,170*	3,520*
Grammar	120	120
Technical	—	—	—	—
1st November, 1951,to 30th September, 1958:
Primary	5,520	8,580	3,945	3,905
Secondary Modern	6,660	4,740	585	495
Grammar	2,655	720	90	90
Technical	1,425	900	285	225
* These include places in huts built specially for the raising of the school leaving age in 1947.

I cannot yet add anything to my reply to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. M. Stewart) on 6th November, but I hope to have further information early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of unqualified teachers employed by local education authorities in 1955, 1956, 1957, and 1958 until the latest available date, respectively; and whether he will make a statement.

4,968 on 31st March, 1955, 5,220 in 1956 and 5,661 in 1957. The figures for 1958 are not yet available. I have nothing to add to my answer to the right hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) on 6th November.

asked the Minister of Education how many school places in the various categories of schools have been provided in Manchester from November, 1951, to the latest convenient date; and how many were provided between July, 1945, and October, 1951.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that there is a shortage of nursery schools in north Manchester; and if he will make a statement on his policy regarding such schools.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the demand for nursery school places in Manchester. His policy is to maintain the existing supply of nursery schools, but not to increase it for the present because this would entail the diversion of resources from other important objectives.

asked the Minister of Education how many nursery school or nursery class places are available in England and Wales now and in each of the past four years.

The following is the answer:

NUMBER OF PUPILS ON THE REGISTERS OF GRANTAIDED NURSERY SCHOOLS AND IN NURSERY CLASSES IN MAINTAINED PRIMARY SCHOOLS
—		Number on register in d aide grant -aided nursery schools	Number on register in nursery classes maintained in schools
1954	…	23,469	58,172
1955	…	23,944	57,414
1956	…	24,143	58,812
1957	…	23,765	55,866
1958	…	23,012	57,539

asked the Minister of Education what are the number and names of local education authorities whose policy it is not to appoint heads of department in secondary schools.

Under the 1956 Report of the Burnham Committee, local education authorities are obliged to establish head of department posts in secondary schools in which advanced work is undertaken. The Report leaves it to the discretion of authorities to decide whether such posts shall be established in other secondary schools and my right hon. Friend has not asked them how they are exercising this discretion.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has reached a decision on the amenity proposals for the town of Peterlee made by the Peterlee Parish Council.

On the 2nd December the Council was informed that my right hon. Friend's provisional offer of grant of £1,218 towards the cost of laying out the Eden Lane playing field was confirmed; that sanction had been recommended for a loan to cover the balance of the cost; and that work might start on four tennis courts which are the subject of a further application for grant.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the rising proportion of scientific and technological literature originally published in Russian, if he will state his plans for an immediate increase in the teaching of the Russian language.

Since my right hon. Friend answered a similar question in May the number of secondary schools teaching Russian has further increased to nearly 70. Courses in Russian are also provided by about 40 establishments of further education. He believes that interest in the teaching of Russian will continue to grow and to stimulate further developments in the schools and elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Education what was the value of the major primary and secondary school building projects approved by him during the first nine months of this year, and during the period from 1st October to date.

£34·4 million and £4·8 million, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in determining the increased school building programme for 1960–61 in implementation of Command Paper No. 604, 1958, he will give priority to schemes submitted by local education authorities which, though included by them in their 1959–60 programme, he has not been able to approve for that year.

My right hon. Friend will consider both old and new proposals on their merits in the light of his policy as set out in the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Education what is the value of school building projects started, year by year, from 1946 to 1958; and what are the similar figures for each of the five years of the new 1960–65 programme.

The information is as follows:

VALUE OF MAJOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS STARTED 1946–1958
—		£ million
1946–47	…	44·1
1947–48	…
1948–49	…
1949–50	…	52·5
1950–51	…	41·4
1951–52	…	24·0
1952–53	…	36·9
1953–54	…	45·4
1954–55	…	44·1
1955–56	…	56·9
1956–57	…	53·8
1957–58	…	53·3
1958–59 (first six months only)	…	22·3

The Government proposes starts of £55 million in 1960–61, about £60 million in 1961–62, and £300 million over the whole five year period 1960–65.

asked the Minister of Education what was the average size of classes in primary and secondary schools in 1948 and 1958, respectively.

In January, 1948, the average size of junior classes was 34.5 and of senior classes 30·8. In January, 1958, the figures were 33·9 and 30·0 respectively.

asked the Minister of Education how many primary and secon? dary schools are now under construction; and how these figures compare with those for 12 months and two years ago, respectively.

The answer is as follows:

NEW SCHOOLS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Year (30th September)		Primary	Secondary	Total
1956	…	321	631	952
1957	…	279	608	887
1958	…	245	450	695

asked the Minister of Education what is the total amount expended on the erection of primary schools, and on the erection of secondary schools other than by way of grants to voluntary schools, since the coming into operation of the Education Act, 1944; and what is the number of new places in each case so provided.

The information is contained in the following table:

MAINTAINED SCHOOLS (OTHER THAN VOLUNTARY AIDED AND SPECIAL AGREEMENT SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN) ERECTED SINCE 1945
—	Primary	Secondary
Number of schools completed	2,592	1,304
Number of places provided (a)	813,120	672,430
Total cost (b)	£352,000,000

Note(a) The number includes places provided by major extensions to existing schools. It excludes places in huts built for the raising of the school leaving age in 1947.(b) This sum covers the cost both to the Exchequer and to local education authorities. It excludes professional fees.

asked the Minister of Education what is the value of minor works projects started, year by year, from 1946 to 1958.

I do not have precise information about every project, but I estimate the value of minor works other than those for the school meals service, started in England and Wales to be as follows:

Calendar Year	Value £ (m)
1946	3·1
1947	2·3
1948	3·3
1949	5·2
1950	6·1
1951 and first quarter of 1952	7·6
Financial Year
1952–53	6·1
1953–54	6·5
1954–55	7·3
1955–56	12·0
1956–57	13·5
1957–58	14·0
1958 (first six months)	5·3

Notes: (1) Figures are not available for financial years before 1952–1953.(2) The figure for 1946 includes work costing about £1.0 million carried out by the Ministry of Works at Emergency Training Colleges.(3) Before 4th February, 1952, the limit of cost for individual minor projects was £5,000. It was increased on that date to £6,500, on 5th September, 1953 to £7,500 and on 3rd December, 1954, to £10,000.

VOLUNTARY AIDED AND SPECIAL AGREEMENT SCHOOLS ERECTED SINCE 1945
—	Primary			Secondary
	Roman Catholic	Others	Total	Roman Catholic	Others	Total
Number of schools completed	173	54	227	103	24	127
Number of places provided (a)	44,140	9,940	54,080	34,995	6,995	41,990
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Total cost (b)	7,812,000	2,048,000	9,860,000	11,594,000	2,303,000	13,897,000
Exchequer grant paid to date (b) (c)	2,043,000	633,000	2,676,000	1,749,000	549,000	2,298,000
Local education authorities' liability (b) (d)	798,000	362,000	1,160,000	4,903,000	634,000	5,537,000
Promoters' liability (b)	4,609,000	972,000	5,581,000	4,748,000	1,050,000	5,798,000
NOTES:—
(a) The number includes places provided by major extensions to existing schools. ft excludes places in huts built for the raising of the school leaving age in 1947.
(b) These sums relate to the number of places provided. They include professional fees.
(c) These sums represent about 90 per cent. of the total grant due to promoters. Outstanding balances are payable on receipt of the final statements of accounts. In addition, war damage claims amounting to about £200,000 have been paid to promoters.
(d) Exchequer grant is payable on these sums. They include, for all schools, local education authorities' liabilities under Section 13 (7) of the Education Act, 1944 (as amended by Part II of the Second Schedule of the Education Act, 1946). In addition, for special agreement secondary schools, they include grants, usually at the rate of 75 per cent., towards the promoters' share of the cost of the projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the relative level of hire-purchase of motor cars in this country at the latest convenient date compared with the level in 1950.

asked the Minister of Education (I) what is the total amount of Exchequer grant expended on the erection of voluntary primary schools and on the erection of voluntary secondary schools since the carrying into operation of the Education Act, 1944, distinguishing in each case Roman Catholic from other voluntary schools; and what is the number of places in each case so provided:(2) what is the total number of voluntary primary schools and the total number of secondary schools erected since the Education Act, 1944, came into force, distinguishing in each case the Roman Catholic from other voluntary schools; and what is the number of places in each case so provided.

The information is contained in the following table:

The motor car trade was at a low ebb in 1950. I understand that the number of hire-purchase contracts for new cars reported to the trade in November, 1958, was seventeen times the number in November, 1950. The corresponding ratio for used cars was thirteen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the motor car industry's output is at present directed towards the export and domestic markets respectively.

In the first ten months of 1958, 46 per cent. of the value of output of passenger cars was for overseas markets and 54 per cent. for the home market. These proportions reflect great credit on the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what encouragement and assistance he will give to British oil and engineering firms having stands at the petroleum exhibition at Cairo on 16th-20th April.

No British firm or organisation has approached me about participation in this exhibition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards increasing trade with Indonesia.

Our main exports to Indonesia include machinery, chemicals and road vehicles. I am anxious that trade of this and similar kinds of goods should develop and I hope that an improvement in the general economic situation of Indonesia will soon make possible a resumption of cover by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. All the other normal facilities are available to help exporters to this market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take following the discussions with timber importers about the Report of the Monopolies Commission on Imported Timber.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply which I gave to the Question asked by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Darwen (Mr. Fletcher-Cooke) on 13th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the growing unemployment in coal-mining, which is the basic industry in north-west Durham, what proposals he has for attracting other industries to this area.

A number of new industries have set up in the County of Durham since the war, and many of them are prospering. We will do all we can to assist north-west Durham.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason bullion vans, mobile cinemas, travelling shops and horse boxes are exempt from Purchase Tax whereas the chassis of all commercial vehicles, even though they may be carrying out work of greater importance to the national economy, are still taxed at 30 per cent.; and whether he will take early remedial action in this matter.

Of the vehicles mentioned by my hon. Friend, only mobile cinemas and travelling shops, being primarily designed for a function other than the carriage of goods, are exempt from the chassis tax at 30 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why swings, slides, seesaws and giant strides are exempt from the 30 per cent. Purchase Tax imposed on equipment for games, amusements, gymnastics, or athletics; and whether he will review this section of Purchase Tax at an early date with a view to introducing greater equality for the various products concerned.

To assist local authorities to equip children's recreation grounds. My right hon. Friend will be reviewing the whole field of taxation at the appropriate time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will at an early date review the provisions of Group 11 of articles subject to Purchase Tax under which it is provided that, whereas water filters designed to remove bacteria and other suspended impurities from drinking water by mechanical means are free of tax, those filters which employ chemical reaction are liable to tax at 15 per cent.; and whether, in the interests of public health, he will deal with this anomaly at an early date.

No. I am advised that the present exemption covers all the types of domestic drinking water filter used in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from associations representing officers in the clerical grades of Her Majesty's Civil Service about salary scales; and if he will make a statement.

The General Secretary of the Civil Service Clerical Association wrote to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 28th November. As the Civil Service Alliance has since submitted terms of reference for arbitration by the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal, I am sure the right hon. Member will not expect me to say any more.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the importance of the cost of transport in the west and north of Scotland, and the fact that this area has to rely very largely on mad transport, if he will consider the possibility of reducing the tax on petrol and fuel oil within this area or part of it.

No.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what he estimates would be the additional charge on the Exchequer if the present Government grants in aid of the Arts were to he doubled.

Between £6 million and £7 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total dollar income received by the United Kingdom as a result of the stationing of Canadian and United States armed forces in this country.

A precise answer is not possible from the information available, but this income is estimated to be the major part of the item shown in paragraph 9 of the Notes to the United Kingdom Balance of Payments (Cmnd. 540) as "U.S. and Canadian Forces' expenditure in the United Kingdom" This item (which excludes "offshore" purchases of equipment) was £75 million for the year July, 1957, to June, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what minimum wage legislation exists in Kenya and Tanganyika, respectively; on what basis minimum wages are assessed; and if the standards apply equally to agricultural and industrial workers.

Legislation in both territories empowers the Government to establish wage-fixing bodies, which may be on either an industrial or a geographical basis. In Tanganyika, as in the United Kingdom, they are bound by no specific criteria laid down by the Government. In Kenya the declared aim of the Government is to provide adult male workers in urban areas with a minimum wage sufficient to meet the needs of man and wife. In neither territory have wage- fixing bodies yet been set up for agricultural workers, but the Governor of Kenya foreshadowed the establishment of suitable machinery for this purpose in his speech to Legislative Council on 4th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the nationality of each of the first 100 persons to be murdered in Cyprus by E.O.K.A. terrorists; and how many of these were soldiers or police or otherwise employed in Government service.

Forty-two were United Kingdom domiciled, 50 were Greek Cypriots and eight Turkish Cypriots; of these 39, 13 and seven, respectively, were in the service of the Crown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have been put before him by the delegations from Malta for the constitutional future of the island; and what reply he has given.

Until my talks with the delegations are concluded, I am not able to say anything about their content.

asked the Secretary,A State for the Colonies what steps have been taken towards the formation of the Federation in Aden Protectorate and for the provision of buildings and other facilities for the Federal Government.

Negotiations with the Rulers are continuing satisfactorily, and it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to make a start with the buildings for the Federal Government as soon as possible and to provide funds during the current financial year for this and certain other services for the Federal Government in anticipation of its early inauguration. Provision for expenditure to be incurred this year will be sought by presentation of a supplementary estimate. In the meantime funds will be made available from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the possibility of developing the mica deposits of the Somaliland Protectorate.

I am consulting the Governor, and when I have his reply I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the number of farms in North Staffordshire that are 20 acres and over, and the number under 20 acres; and how many of the farms under 20 acres are in the area of Leek parliamentary division.

In June, 1957, 2,021 agricultural holdings in North Staffordshire were recorded as being 20 acres and over of crops and grass, and 1,710 as being over one and under 20 acres. Of the latter, 1,345 holdings were in the area of Leek parliamentary division. Most of these holdings under 20 acres are part- time farms, and some are large gardens, fields and paddocks only used to a minor extent for agricultural purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the closing of pig markets in Norfolk is causing considerable difficulty and loss, especially to farmers who breed pigs for sale as stores; and whether he will modify the swine fever restrictions so as to permit the sale of store and other pigs which have been vaccinated against swine fever in a manner approved by him.

right hon. Friend regrets the hardship caused by infected area restrictions to store pig producers and others in central and eastern Norfolk. Vaccination properly done confers immunity from swine fever on healthy pigs not exposed to infection for 28 days before and 14 days after vaccination. Unfortunately these conditions are not always fulfilled; and apart from this, immune pigs may still carry contaminated material. The opening of markets in the infected area to vaccinated pigs would therefore involve a risk of spreading infection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many authorised payments of reward for information in the case of sheep worrying have been made in the county of Kent in the last 12 months.

My Ministry does not make or authorise such payments, and I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the offer of rewards by the Kent Branch of the National Farmers' Union for information in cases of sheep worrying. I regret that I have no information as to the number of cases in which such payments have been made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps he has taken, and intends to take, in the next 12 months to reduce unemployment and short-time working in ship-repairing in the Port of London and, in particular, in West Ham.

The difficulties referred to are not peculiar to the Port of London. The prospects for the ship-repairing industry depend on world seaborne trade. Her Majesty's Government is doing all within its power to encourage this trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which Scottish counties there have been fresh outbreaks of myxomatosis; and to what extent the proportion of rabbits recovering from this disease appears to be greater than in previous outbreaks.

Outbreaks of myxomatosis have recently been reported in the counties of Aberdeen, Argyll, Ayr, Banff, Berwick, Bute, Dumfries. East Lothian, Kincardine, Lanark, Midlothian, Orkney, Renfrew, Sutherland and West Lothian. The disease is also reported to be still active in parts of all other counties except Wigtown and Zetland. In many areas the proportion of rabbits recovering from myxomatosis appears to be greater than in previous outbreaks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for utilising the large supplies of timber being produced in Argyllshire.

The present output of timber in Argyllshire is finding a market, mainly as mining timber either round or sawn, or as conventional sawn lumber. There will, however, be a gradual increase in supplies, particularly in the form of thinnings from the Forestry Commission's softwood plantations, for which additional outlets will eventualy be required. This problem is actively engaging the Commissioners' attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of a local demand for the provision of social amenities for the new town of East Kilbride, notably for a swimming pool, a community centre, a cinema and a dance hall; and what help the Government are prepared to give toward the provision of these things.

I understand that there is a demand for further social amenities at East Kilbride. Some such amenities would appropriately be provided by the local authorities concerned, possibly in co-operation with local voluntary associations, with the assistance of Exchequer grant available for such purposes. Other amenities are more appropriate for private enterprise. The Development Corporation can suitably take the initiative in seeking the provision of amenities, and the possibility of financial participation by the Corporation where necessary is not ruled Out.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of blind children and the number of blind handicapped children of school age in Scotland.

At 15th January, 1958, 213 blind children were receiving education in Scotland. The number of these children who are suffering from an additional handicap is not at present available, but I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as I have the necessary information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of blind children and the number of blind handicapped children of school age in Glasgow and in the counties of Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire; and what institutions there are which cater for those children.

The numbers of blind children of school age in Glasgow, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire are 45, 11, 19, 11 and 22, respectively. Of these, 17, 6, nil, one and six respectively suffer from an additional handicap. 58 of the children attend the Royal Blind School, Edinburgh, 20 attend St. Vincent's (Tollcross) R.C. School, Glasgow, two attend occupation centres in Glasgow, one attends a school in England, one is attending an ordinary day school as a provisional arrangement, two are receiving tuition at home and four are in certified institutions. Of the remainder, seven are awaiting admission to a school for the blind and two are awaiting admission to a certified institution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the incidence of poliomyelitis in Scotland during each of the last five years, giving the ages and districts affected, and the steps taken to diminish and cure it in each district.

I cannot usefully add to the information given in reply to the hon. Member's two Questions of 11th July last, except to say that the vaccination programme has since been extended to include the age group 15–25 and to provide for third doses. By the end of October, 1958, 735,000 people had been vaccinated in Scotland and the vaccination of an additional 113,000 who have been registered is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what inquiry he is holding into the recent explosion in the s.s. "Stanvac Japan" in the Arabian Sea; and when and where it will take place.

One of my surveyors is at present holding a preliminary inquiry under Section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, in the course of which he has inspected the ship. I propose to order a formal investigation, the date and place of which will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will issue a general direction to the British Transport Commission to reconsider their plans for reorganisation of train and traffic workings, especially where much redundancy is feared.

No. The reorganisation of services is an integral part of the modernisation plan to achieve a compact and efficient railway system.

asked the Prime Minister when the Harwell report giving the 1957 figures for radiostrontium in soil, herbage, animal bone and milk will be forthcoming.

The report entitled "Radiostrontium in soil, herbage, animal bone and milk samples from the United Kingdom, 1957 results" has now been published. A copy has been placed in the Library and the report is on sale at the Stationery Office.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of unemployed in October, 1958, in the various categories in the northern region.

The table below gives the information desired.

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN THE NORTHERN REGION AT 13TH OCTOBER. 1958
Industry	Number
Agriculture and Horticulture	541
Coal Mining	663
Iron and Steel Melting, Rolling, etc.	1,627
Iron Foundries	689
Shipbuilding and Ship repairing	2,010
Non-Electrical Engineering	1,626
Tailoring	581
Building and Civil Engineering Contracting	5,045
Sea Transport	1,178
Distributive Trades	3,361
National Government Service	538
Local Government Service	1,342
Professional Services	971
Entertainment and Sport	625
Catering, Hotels, etc.	2,173
All other Industries and Services	12,785
Total, All Industries and Services	35,755

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the monthly figures of unemployed in the northern region from October, 1957, to October, 1958; and how they compare, as a percentage, with those from October, 1956 to 1957.

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN THE NORTH REGION
—					October, 1956-October, 1957		October, 1957-October, 1958
					Total number unemployed	Per cent. of total number of employees	Total number unemployed	Per cent. of total number of employees
(1)					(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
October	…	…	…	…	19,223	1·5	18,267	1·4
November	…	…	…	…	20,184	1·6	21,987	1·7
December	…	…	…	…	20,618	1·6	22,900	1·8
January	…	…	…	…	25,929	2·0	26,867	2·1
February	…	…	…	…	25,623	2·0	27,985	2·2
March…	…	…	…	…	23,845	1·9	28,259	2·2
April	…	…	…	…	25,065	2·0	29,022	2·3
May	…	…	…	…	22,076	1·7	27,654	2·2
June…	…	…	…	…	18,139	1·4	27,560	2·1
July…	…	…	…	…	16,891	1·3	26,262	2·0
August	…	…	…	…	19,545	1·5	30,976	2·4
September	…	…	…	…	18,579	1·4	32,093	2·5
October	…	…	…	…	18,267	1·4	35,755	2·8

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet reached a decision to authorise the writing and publication of an authoritative history on the war-time activities of the Special Operations Executive.

After careful consideration my right hon. and learned Friend has come to the conclusion that the production of an account of these activities would be useful if the obvious difficulties can be overcome. The question is now being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the payments arising out of Her Majesty's Government's contribution to the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation credits for Turkey, announced

The table below gives the information desired.in the House on 31st July, are to he financed.

An Agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Turkish Government was signed in Paris on 25th November. The terms of the Agreement, which will be published as a Command Paper, provide for a loan of £3,575,000 at an interest rate of 51 per cent. The loan will be repayable half- yearly over a period of ten years, to begin on the 1st of January, 1964.A first instalment of £1,787,500 was pain on the 1st of December; a second instalment of £893,750 is payable before the 31st of January, 1959, and the balance of £893,750 not later than the 30th of April, 1959. Payments will be borne on the Vote for Foreign Office Grants and Services, and a Supplementary Estimate to cover the total of £2,681,250 payable in the current year will be presented to Parliament in due course. In the meantime funds to meet expenditure during the present financial year are being made available from the Civil Contingencies Fund.