asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of 1914–18 war disability pensioners who, being assessed at 40 per cent. disablement or more and aged 65 years or over, now qualify for the age allowance, the numbers of such pensioners who do not receive the allowance because they are under 65 years of age, and the additional cost of granting the age allowance to all the severely disabled pensioners of the 1914–18 war.

The number of pensioners receiving the age allowance on 27th September was 58,800. including 55,000 of the 1914–18 war. About 56,000 pensioners of the 1914–18 war with assessments of 40 per cent. or more were not receiving the allowance because they were under 65 years of age. As regards the last part of the Question, the estimated additional cost is about £1,100,000 a year in respect of the 1914–18 war pensioners, plus £200,000 in respect of 1939–45 war pensioners of the same age and with the same assessments.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of 1914–18 war pensioners assessed at 40 per cent. or more disability who have died during the last twelve months and who were under 65 years of age at the time of death.

One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five during the twelve months ended 27th September last.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of 1914–18 war pensioners whose assessments have been reviewed during the past twelve months, and the numbers of those whose awards have been increased to take account of deterioration or consequential disabilities; and whether he will take steps to review thoroughly the cases of all elderly and severely disabled war pensioners to ensure that they receive all to which they are eligible under existing provisions.

About 6,100 of these cases were reviewed and in some 2,060 of these the awards were increased. Last year all 1914–18 disablement pensioners were individually sent a special leaflet in which they were reminded of my Department's willingness to review their cases if their war disablement had become worse.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that an old-age pensioner of 88 years of age has been denied a pension because, as a result of 60 years work on a small allotment, he has saved £2,300 on which the Act assumes he receives a 10 per cent. income, though it is invested in 3½ per cent. War Loan; and if he will introduce amending legislation to eliminate this means test on thrifty, elderly people.

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, this noncontributory old-age pension is an obsolescent provision, and it is not possible to amend it at this late stage. I should add, however, that it does not make the assumption as to interest which my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the retirement pension amounts received by a single and married couple, respectively, for each of the months from January, 1951, to the latest convenient date; and, taking the £1 as having a purchasing value of 20s. at that date, what the relative purchasing value of these pensions were at the dates stated, after allowing for the depreciation of the purchasing value of the £

With pleasure.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give the number of persons at the most recent convenient date in the Borough of Southwark now receiving unemployment and sickness benefits, retirement and old-age pensions, widows' benefits and the 10s. widow's pension, who are also in receipt of supplementary payments from National Assistance.

The Borough of Southwark is served by two National Assistance Board offices which between them cover both that Borough and the Borough of Bermondsey. Following are the available figures for the office which covers the greater part of Southwark:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will introduce legislation to re-name the National Assistance Board the National Welfare Board, thus bringing it into line with modern thought on welfare.

No. The National Assistance Board has not got a general responsibility on welfare matters, different aspects of which are the concern of several of my right hon. Friends and of a number of local authorities. The nomenclature suggested by my hon. Friend would therefore, I think, be misleading.

asked the Minister of Supply what orders he has placed and intends to place for the Prestwick Twin Pioneer.

Thirty-two have been ordered for the Royal Air Force; a further small order is under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.

asked the Minister of Defence on what grounds the West German Government have cancelled an order for British built armoured troop carriers; and whether he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave at Question Time today to the right hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Strachey)

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what projects of research the Medical Research Council is sponsoring in the sphere of mental health; and where these are taking place.

Following is the information:1.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of beds available in Wicklewood Hospital, Norfolk, during the six months April to September, 1958; what percentage was occupied; and the average weekly cost per patient.

sixty-nine beds were available, and occupancy was approximately 85 per cent. I regret that the average weekly cost per in-patient for the same period is not yet available, but for the year ended 31st March, 1958. it was £9 15s. 5d.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the certification recently made by a medical practitioner to the effect that death was caused by lung cancer as a result of heavy smoking.

A medical practitioner signing a death certificate must state to the best of his knowledge and belief the cause of death. This statement is entirely a matter for him.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths caused by lung cancer in the first six months of 1958; and how many of these persons had been life-long non-smokers.

The provisional figure is 9,657; I regret that I have no, information in reply to the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health what particular steps he will take to meet the shortage of dentists in Wales revealed in the latest Report of his Department.

The shortage of dentists is a general problem which affects the country as a whole. As my right hon. and learned Friend said in reply to a Question on 24th July, the Government have accepted the recommendation in the McNair Report regarding the need to expand the facilities for training dental students. As part of this expansion, the setting up of a dental school in Wales is being considered.

asked the Minister of Health which hospitals provide specialist treatment for renal diseases; and how many of them have adopted the methods used at the special unit in Pembury Hospital, Kent.

Specialist treatment for renal diseases is available at general hospitals in all parts of the country. The choice of a particular method of treatment must be the responsibility of the consultant in charge of the patient, and I have no information of the extent to which the practice at Pembury Hospital is followed elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients were treated in the renal unit at Pembury Hospital, Kent, from the creation of the unit to the latest possible date; how many of these were given out-patient treatment only; and how many of them resided outside the area of the responsible regional hospital board.

I regret that separate figures giving this information are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what directive he has issued to hospital management committees concerning the release of members of the staff of the National Health Service who have been appointed to serve on hospital management committees; and whether he will circulate such directive in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what funds have now been pledged by Governments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees for the period ending in December, 1959; how much of this sum was pledged by Her Majesty's Government; and whether the funds so pledged will permit the Agency to maintain all its present activities.

The pledges made at the Pledging Session of the General Assembly on 27th October are listed below.The total of pledges was approximately 27½ million dollars, towards a minimum budget of over 33 million. In addition to the pledges, certain Governments said that they intended to support the Agency in 1959 but were not yet able to pledge specific sums. The United States pledge of 23 million dollars was, however, subject to the usual condition that the amount utilised should not exceed 70 per cent. of the Agency's total income.Her Majesty's Government pledged 2,700,000 dollars for the first half of 1959 and, subject to Parliamentary approval, will also make a generous contribution to the Agency in the second half of the year.Even assuming the continuance of the United Kingdom's contribution at the same rate in the second half of the year as in the first half, there will still be a deficit. According to a statement of the acting Director on 7th November, the Agency will not be able to continue all its present activities unless nearly 3 million dollars of new contributions can be raised from sources other than the United States.It is for the General Assembly to decide how further funds shall be raised and what ought to be done if they cannot be found. The debate is still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Her Majesty's Government proposes to ratify the International Agreement on Olive Oil.

Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the International Agreement on Olive Oil, when United Kingdom ratification is necessary to bring the Agreement into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he is aware that, since early July, 1957, the German Federal Government have been investigating allegations that, contrary to the Potsdam Agreements, about 200 persons are now employed either as judges or public prosecutors who were personally concerned as judges in the infliction of death and other heavy sentences under Nazi laws; what recent consultations he has had about this matter with the other parties to the Potsdam Agreement; what representation he has made to the German Federal Government; and when he hopes to make a statement to the House;(2) whether he is aware that Dr. Muks, Senior Judge of the Provincial Court at Hamm, Germany, Dr. Werner Rohde, Government Counsellor in the Ministry of Justice of Schleswig-Holstein, Dr. Brenstedt, Dr. Kohlstadt, Dr. Dannegger, Dr. Ludwig, Dr. Rehder-Knospel, and Dr. Ernst Kanter are all holding judicial positions in Germany; and, as these appointments are contrary to paragraphs 6 and 8 of the Potsdam Agreement, what action he proposes to take to secure their removal.

; The hon. Gentleman was informed on 5th May about the occasions on which this question had been discussed with the German authorities. It was discussed most recently with them on 7th November. My right hon. and learned Friend understands that the Federal and Länder Ministers of Justice have agreed to set up a central authority to co-ordinate the investigation and prosecution by the Länder judicial authorities of crimes committed during the Nazi period. The Ministers of Justice of the Länder are at present in process of organising this authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received representations from all the organisations representing interests affected by the Report of the Committee on Transactions in Seeds; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, and discussions are now in progress. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement when these and corresponding discussions in Scotland and Northern Ireland have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will report on the progress being made over the provision of a deep water port in Cyprus.

The plan and other preparations for improvements in the harbour at Famagusta, including the purchase of land and construction of some access roads, have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) to what extent continuous watch is maintained around the coast of Cyprus to prevent the illegal import of arms; and with what results;(2) to what extent continuous air patrols are now being flown around the coast of Cyprus to prevent the illegal import of arms; and with what results;(3) to what extent continuous patrols are being carried out around the coast of Cyprus to prevent the illegal import of arms; and with what results.

Continuous patrols by sea and air are maintained by ships of the Royal Navy supported by naval and Royal Air Force aircraft both by day and night around the island. In addition radar shore stations keep a twenty-four hour watch. A number of harbour launches stationed at the main ports carry out security patrols of the anchorages. There is every reason to think that the measures taken to prevent importation of arms by sea and air have been very effective.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the latest available figures of the number of European miners and African miners employed by the copper-mining companies in Northern Rhodesia.

On 31st August, 1958, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 6,719 Europeans and 34,235 Africans.

asked the Postmaster-General the most recent annual figures for receipts and outgoings of the Sheffield area telephone service.

Profit and loss accounts are not kept for separate areas, and figures of local cash transactions could be misleading. If, however, my hon. Friend will let me know the purpose of his inquiry, I shall be glad to see how I can best help him.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications there were for telephones in the Hayes and Harlington area at the latest convenient date in October, 1958; and the number twelve months earlier.

On 31st October, 1958, there were 680 applications outstanding and in addition 107 were under inquiry or in course of being met: the figures at 3Ist October, 1957, were 791 and 36 respectively.During the past twelve months 515 new telephones were installed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement tabulating the legislative provisions which prevent arrangements being made to re-employ retired teachers and other public service pensioners at a salary which would make their pension plus re-employment salary exceed their salary before retirement.

The following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the oil imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last three years was paid for in dollars.

Starting with the year July, 1955-June, 1956, the proportion of oil imported into the United Kingdom which was purchased for dollars was 16 per cent., 28 per cent., and 13 per cent. by value respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there has been any further alteration in the sentence passed on Corporal Brian Ford by a court-martial in Cyprus.

The sentence remains as I stated in Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Kershaw) on 12th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men from Swindon have been casualties in Cyprus since the start of the emergency there.

As far as our records show, three National Service men from Swindon have been wounded in Cyprus. These casualties occurred in 1956 and there has been none since then.

asked the Minister of Defence if it has yet been decided which freighter is to be built for Transport Command to replace the Beverley.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) and the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 5th November by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons in Scotland took up, through the employment exchanges, work in the potato fields during the 1958 potato harvest.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the total number of employees in the Hull area who will be affected by the closing of the Hull and Barnsley Railway, the number at Spring-head Depot, and the number who will have to seek employment elsewhere;(2) what steps are to be taken to provide alternative employment for the employees of the British Transport Commission who are rendered redundant by the closing of the Hull and Barnsley Railway.

I understand that no scheme for closing the line has been approved by the British Transport Commisson or submitted to the Area Transport Users Consultative Committee and it is therefore not possible to say at present how employment may be affected. If necessary the agreements between the Commission and the Trade Unions covering redundancy will be applied.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men were in the past year declared redundant by Lowland Leadmines Limited, at Lead-hills, Lanarkshire, and Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire; and how many have since found employment.

Seventy-seven. Of these 42 are known to be in other employment and 10 are registered as unemployed. The remaining 25 are assumed to have found work for themselves or retired.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the employees at the Rolls-Royce Works, East Kilbride, who were recently declared redundant, have found other employment.

Of the 86 workers declared redundant, only 66 registered for employment. Of these 24 are known to be in other employment, and 42 are still registered as unemployed; 20 others, who did not seek the assistance of my Department, may have found work for themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, in respect of each Scottish rent tribunal, the number of occasions that the tribunal has met and the number of cases it has dealt with during the last twelve months to the most convenient recent date.

The number of meetings held, and cases dealt with, during the twelve months ended 31st October, 1958, is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further measures he has in mind in order to decrease the dangers to public health from the entry of sewage into the seashores of the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend does not agree that the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea necessarily constitutes a danger to health. Certainly it is important that coastal sewage outfalls should be so designed and sited that sewage is carried out into the open sea and not back towards the shore. The problems which arise in this connection are essentially local. Many improvement schemes have already been carried out by local authorities in coastal areas in recent years, and more are in preparation. My right hon. Friend will continue to watch the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Air in what respects the local authority was consulted concerning a proposal to site a forward scatter radio station near St. Lawrence on the Isle of Wight.

Consultations with the Isle of Wight County Council and other local authorities have covered such matters as the exact siting of the station, the design of the buildings, accommodation for the R.A.F. personnel, public rights of way and television reception. The question of radiation effects from the transmitter was not discussed because, as explained by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member on 5th November, no radiation hazards to the general public will arise. The Isle of Wight County Council and the Ventnor Urban District Council have now been so informed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his plans for connecting the first section of the new motorway, when completed, with the Watford by-pass.

From a point on the St. Albans By-pass where it crosses the Hemel Hempstead—St. Albans Road (A.414) at Beech Tree, a 5-mile motorway spur is being constructed in a south-south-easterly direction to link with the Watford By-pass (A.41) at Aldenham. Work began in July and is due to be completed by the end of 1959.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement regarding an official proposal for a grant of financial assistance to the Government of India.

At the end of August a meeting in Washington arranged by the International Bank, at which the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Japan and the United States were represented, worked out proposals, on certain premises about India's future policies, for covering her foreign exchange deficit up to the end of March, 1959. During the visit of the Indian Finance Minister to this country in September my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer discussed with him arrangements for making available the sum of approximately £38½ million which the United Kingdom Government have offered to contribute as part of this general plan. Of this it has been decided that £10 million should take the form of an accelerated payment of the annual instalments due to India in 1962 and 1963 and part of that due in 1964, in respect of pensions. Letters have been exchanged with the Government of India and a Statutory Instrument under the Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Act, 1955, will be laid shortly. The balance of the assistance, namely £28½ million, will be in the form of a credit under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act, 1949. Discussions with the Government of India regarding the operation of this credit are in progress.