asked the Minister of Works if he has yet decided whether he will thin the inner row of trees in Birdcage Walk during the winter.

Yes. My Advisory Committee on Forestry has recommended that alternate trees in this row should be removed in order to give the remaining trees room for development. The roadside row of trees was similarly treated two years ago and their subsequent development has been most encouraging. therefore propose to act on the Committee's advice and carry out the work during the coming winter.

asked the Minister of Works whether it is still proposed to build the new Colonial Office on the site of the old Westminster Hospital; or whether he is contemplating purchasing cheaper land for its erection on the south side of the Thames.

I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that at present there is no maternity hospital nearer than Oban or Inverness to deal with maternity cases from Fort William, Lochaber and the Mallaig area; and what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate maternity coverage is provided for this area as soon as possible;(2) whether he is aware that the antiquated and unsatisfactory state of the buildings at Belford Hospital at Fort William is causing inconvenience to the staff and patients; what are the reasons for the delay in starting work on the proposed new hospital; and when work is expected to start.

My right hon. Friend has approved in principle proposals by the Northern Regional Hospital Board to build a new 52 bed hospital in Fort William. The maternity beds in this new hospital will serve the areas mentioned by my hon. Friend. Negotiations for a site are now in progress and my right hon. Friend is anxious that the project should go forward with all reasonable speed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the date when he expects to bring into operation Section 7 of the Legal Aid and Solicitors (Scotland) Act, 1949.

My right hon. Friend hopes to bring Section 7 of the Act into operation before the end of this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many exemptions were granted in 1958 under the Education (Exemptions) (Scotland) Act, 1947, in respect of local authority junior secondary schools, local authority senior secondary schools, other local authority schools, direct-grant schools, and independent schools;(2) in respect of each education authority in Scotland, how many exemptions were granted in 1958 under the Education (Exemptions) (Scotland) Act, 1947;(3) if he will state, in respect of each education authority, the length of the period of exemption for 1958 granted to children under the Education (Exemptions) (Scotland) Act, 1947.

Education authorities have themselves not yet collected all the information which would enable me to give the required answers. I expect it to be available next month, and I shall send it to the hon. Member as soon as it reaches me. I am, however, circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the maximum number of exemptions notified this year to each education authority.

asked the Prime Minister if he will outline the main functions to be carried out by the newly appointed Minister of State at the Scottish Office.

There has been no change in the duties of the Minister of State since they were described by me in reply to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire on 3rd of December last.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the purpose of the recent visit to Great Britain of the President of Western Germany; what subjects members of Her Majesty's Government discussed with him; and what results were achieved.

The purpose of the State Visit of President Heuss was to give expression to, and to improve the friendly relations which exist between this country and the Federal Republic of Germany.In view of President Heuss' constitutional position, and the fact that the visit was a ceremonial one, it would not have been appropriate for members of Her Majesty's Government to have discussions with him on matters of policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Weights and Measures Acts in such a way as to make it mandatory that milk shall always be available in half-pint bottles if required.

No. I realise that some people have difficulty in obtaining half pint bottles of milk, but I do not consider that dairymen should be required by weights and measures legislation to supply these.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the effect of the measures taken by him in the summer to restore butter prices in response to the representations made by the New Zealand Government and milk producers in the United Kingdom.

The situation, which was critical for New Zealand last May when these measures were taken to assist her, has now much improved. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of wholesale butter prices quoted by the London Provision Exchange which shows the extent to which prices have recovered from the exceptionally low levels ruling in May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that unemployment figures in Rochdale are now three times the national average; and what consideration he is giving to using the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act to assist the town to overcome these difficulties which are caused by the recession in the textile industry.

No. I am glad to say that the latest available figures do not confirm that Rochdale's unemployment figures are now three times the national average and, indeed, the rate for wholly unemployed for Rochdale is below the national average. My right hon. Friend would, therefore, not be justified in taking the special step which the hon. Member proposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total yield of the levy for the British Film Production Fund for the year ended 25th October, 1958.

The total amount of the film levy collected by the Department of Customs and Excise from 20th October, 1957, to 25th October, 1958, was £3,646,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total yield of the levy for the British Film Production Fund for the four weeks ended 28th June, 1958, the four weeks ended 26th July, 1958, the five weeks ended 30th August, 1958, the four weeks ended 27th September, 1958, and the four weeks ended 25th October, 1958, respectively.

The information is not readily available in the form requested. The monthly figures of levy collected by the Department of Customs and Excise are:

	£
June, 1958	370,359
July, 1958	337,503
August, 1958	470,373
September, 1958	402,801
October, up to 25th	314,608 (provisional)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a White Paper on the Capital Investment Programme, 1958–59, indicating the effect of the recently announced increases in public investment and making comparisons with the programmes of previous years.

I will consider publishing the relevant figures annually in the Economic Survey.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider setting post-war credits against the payment of Income Tax by yearly instalments.

I do not think my hon. Friend's suggestion would be equitable or administratively practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the present high interest rates charged by building societies are acting as a deterrent against potential house purchasers; and what action he will take to secure a reduction in all interest rates charged by building societies.

I understand that advances for house purchase by building societies continue at a high level, despite the rate of interest. The Government cannot intervene between lender and borrower and rates of interest in this field cannot, of course, be insulated from the level of interest rates generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that persons who attend greyhound racing feel that the 10 per cent. Pool Betting Duty on totalisators on greyhound tracks is unfair and discriminatory; and whether he will take the necessary action in his next Budget to remove this anomaly.

I note what the hon. Member says, but I cannot anticipate my Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the revenue received by his Department from the 10 per cent. Pool Betting Duty on totalisators at greyhound and horse-racing tracks, respectively, for each of the months from January, 1958, until the latest convenient stated date.

Yes. Monthly receipts of Pool Betting Duty charged at 10 per cent. on bets with greyhound racetrack totalisators from January to September, 1958, inclusive, were as follows:—

	£
January	439,540
February	369,979
March	394,432
April	511,847
May	545,707
June	530,007
July	666,317
August	610,268
September	521,845

Bets made with totalisators operated on horse race-courses under the authority of the Racecourse Betting Control Board are not liable to pool betting duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct the Organisation and Methods Branch to conduct an inquiry into the national expenditure on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what developments and improvements the Trustees of the British Museum have reported to him their wish to carry out when finance becomes available; and what order of priority has been assigned to these projects.

I understand that the Trustees' first requirements are broadly for more accommodation, more staff for existing services, and more money for purchases and for printing. The Trustees regard all these as urgent requirements, the exact priorities at any time depending on the current demand and circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the high rate of tax imposed on the sale of television cathode ray tubes; and what proposals he has for its reduction.

The hon. Member must not expect pronouncements from me about possible changes in taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will order an inquiry into the possibility of closer economic union with the Scandinavian countries, Austria and Switzerland pending the outcome of the negotiations with the European Common Market Powers.

This question is linked to the Free Trade Area negotiations, about which I made a statement yesterday. I should prefer not to add to that statement just now.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many students are attending the universities and university colleges in England and Wales; and, of these, how many are new entrants this year.

There are now 82,972 full-time students attending universities and university colleges in England and Wales; of these 23,367 were new entrants, for courses leading to a first degree or a first diploma, in the academic year which began in October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total nominal value, at the latest date for which the information is available, of fixed-interest-bearing securities in iron and steel undertakings held by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency; and what proportion of that total constitutes liabilities of companies whose equity capital is still vested in the Agency.

Defining "securities" as in the Iron and Steel Act, 1953, £161·4 million and about 2 per cent. If unsecured loans are included, £185·6 million and about 5·9 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of owner-occupiers of residential property in 1948–49 and each subsequent year, respectively, and the number for each year whom, he estimates, paid no Income Tax.

The number of owner-occupiers in 1949–50 and 1954–55 is estimated at 4 million and 5·2 million, respectively. Figures for other years are not available, but the number in 1958–59 is probably between 5½ million and 6 million. The numbers who paid no Income Tax are not known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of owner-occupiers of residential accommodation who are owner-occupiers of more than one unit of assessment for Income Tax, Schedule A; and what is his estimate of the revenue received under Schedule A from such owner-occupiers in the latest convenient year.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the actual or estimated gross amounts of Income Tax assessed and payable by owner-occupiers of residential property under Income Tax, Schedule A, in the year 1948–49 and for each subsequent year.

The amounts for 1949–50 and 1954–55 are estimated at £21 million and £29 million, respectively. Figures for other years are not available, but the amount for 1958–59 may be of the order of £40 million. These estimates include the tax that has been brought to account by setting Schedule A income against personal allowances in arriving at code numbers for P.A.Y.E.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of residential units assessable under Income Tax, Schedule A, in 1803, 1900, 1920, 1950 and 1958, respectively, and the number of those respectively occupied by owner-occupiers.

The estimates are given in the following table:

Millions
	1803	1900	1920	1950	1958
Residential Units	Under 2	7½	8½	13½	15¾
Owner occupied units	Not known	Not known	1 to 1¼	4	5½—6

The figure for 1803 relates to Great Britain only. Those for 1900 and 1920 have been adjusted to exclude what is now the Irish Republic.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of Income Tax deducted by owner-occupiers of residential property on payment of ground rent in the year 1948–49 and for each subsequent year.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANDSARD a table of figures giving the net income received by a man claiming normal tax reliefs for a wife and two children, after deduction of normal Income Tax and Surtax charges, for each financial year from April, 1950, to April, 1958–59, in the wage and salary scales. £400, £600, £750, £1,000, £10,000, and £20,000 per annum, respectively.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the expression Entertainments Duty is now misleading; and when he proposes to clarify it by the substitution of the word cinema for entertainments.

I do not regard the expression as misleading or in need of clarification.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent experience of the past six months' operation of the reduction in cinema entertainments tax shows that the estimate he made in his Budget speech of the amount by which the film industry would benefit will be realised.

It is not the practice to publish any review of Budget estimates during the course of the financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the cinemas' gross box office receipts is now taken in entertainments tax; and what proportion of the national income is represented by revenue from this tax.

About 12½ per cent. and 0·05 per cent., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the detailed proposals of the Government with a view to planning our economic affairs so as to ensure a stable £ sterling, a steady cost of living, full production, and full employment.

Full explanations have been given of the Government's economic policies on a number of occasions and I see no need for a further statement in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the urgent need for land for slum clearance housing in Stoke-on-Trent, North; and what proposals he has to help the local authority.

The initiative for this rests with the local authority. They have, in fact, taken it by applying under Housing Act powers for the confirmation of two compulsory purchase orders. These orders and associated applications for planning permission are being considered, following the holding of public inquiries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will request the Cardiff Rural District Council to make available without delay to Mr. J. M. Davidson the record of all applications for development in which Cardiff Rural District councillors have declared an interest.

I understand that this information is being made available to Mr. Davidson this week, in response to the request he made on 6th November at the public inquiry into objections to the Glamorgan Development Plan.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the date on which he visited Swanbridge, Glamorganshire, in connection with the appeal of Mr. J. M. Davidson; and whether he will make a statement.

I visited Swanbridge on 24th September. I have nothing to add to the letter conveying my decision which was issued on 5th September and of which am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) when he will reply to the request of Mr. John M. Davidson, High Trees, Swanbridge, Sully, Glamorgan, for a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his successive applications for planning permission for house building there; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he has considered the request of Mr. J. M. Davidson, High Trees, Swan-bridge, Glamorgan, for full public inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his negotiations and dealings with the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and his Department in recent year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Davidson has received replies to all his letters on this subject. I have considered carefully his varied complaints and allegations, and I find no grounds for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his dealings with my Department. I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who likewise can find no reason for holding a public inquiry so far as his Department is concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made in the extension of smokeless zones, in view of the ample production of authorised fuel within the meaning of the Clean Air Act, 1956.

At the end of last week my right hon. Friend had confirmed 52 Smoke Control Orders in England and Wales. Thirty-three of them will be in operation by the beginning of 1959 and the remainder during that year. A further 35 Orders have been submitted to my right hon. Friend for confirmation and at least another 115 are in preparation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is now able to give the names of the persons to serve on the Local Government Commission for Wales; and if he will indicate the names of the members able to speak and understand the Welsh language.

I hope to be in a position to announce these names very shortly, and will indicate the members who are Welsh-speaking.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many prosecutions there have been to date as a result of offences against the River Pollution Acts; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has very little information on which to base a reply to the first part of the Question. River boards are required to obtain his consent before prosecuting for certain offences under Section 2 (1) of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951. These are offences relating to trade wastes and local authority sewage effluents.In all there have been 28 applications for consent, of which 9 were granted and one refused. Three cases are quite recent and the remaining 15 led to negotiations which have either ended in a settlement or are still proceeding.I must, however, make it clear that these figures relate to applications and not to prosecutions; and also that there are other provisions both in The Act of 1951 and in other legislation under which prosecutions can be brought.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his attention has been called to the recent closure and proposed demolition of the Grand Theatre, Southampton; what planning permission has been granted in respect of the site to be rendered vacant; and whether, in order to facilitate the retention of the theatre, he will revoke such planning permission.

I am informed that in May last the Southampton Corporation gave planning permission in outline for the erection of a block of shops on a site which includes the site of this theatre. While I sympathise with my hon. Friend's regret at the prospect of this theatre being demolished, I have no reason to suppose, on the information before me, that revocation of this planning permission would be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will consider ways and means of helping local authorities to make up private streets without causing undue hardship to frontagers, especially old age pensioners who are unable to bear their share of road charges.

I am afraid that there is very little I can add to the reply which I gave on 3rd November to a Question by the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale). My right hon. Friend is not satisfied, on the information at present before him, that the existing powers are inadequate to relieve hardship in individual cases, but he will keep this question under review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many groups are engaged on research into measures to reduce the public nuisance created by fumes and smells emitted by industrial processes in factories in congested areas; and when reports of such researches are published.

Research is being carried out over a wide range of air pollution problems by a number of bodies, some of this will have a bearing on questions of fumes and smells emitted from industrial processes. References to research work are included in the annual reports of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and in their publications "Research for Industry, 1956–57" and "Fuel Research".

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to an article, "Exploitation in Uganda," published in the Kenya Weekly News of 5th September, 1958, which purports to describe a case of abuse of apprenticeship, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action the Uganda Government intends to take.

Yes. The practices referred to in the article would be contrary to the Minimum Wages legislation in Uganda, but since the author was unable to name either the apprentice or the employer no action could be taken by the Uganda Government.

asked the Attorney-General what steps are being taken to consolidate the Road Traffic Acts; and when the resultant legislation will be introduced.

The work is in hand; I am not in a position to say when legislation will be introduced.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he has now come to a decision regarding the increase of pensions of retired officers and Regular service widows.

As stated in Command Paper No. 570, the Government have accepted the recommendations of the Grigg Committee in respect of officers who leave the service in the future and in respect of pensions for their widows. I have nothing to add to previous statements on wider aspects of this problem.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a detailed statement about the recent railway accident in the Western Region near Swindon; and what delays were caused by it.

At 2.5 a.m. on 12th November the 12.1 a.m. freight train from Bristol to Reading, which had been working in Swindon yard, passed at danger the semaphore starting signal leading from the up goods loop to the up main line, at Highworth Junction, Swindon, and became derailed at the catch points. Some of the eight derailed wagons obstructed the up main line on which an express freight train from Fishguard to Paddington was closely approaching, and the engine of this train was derailed. It pushed some of the wagons of the first train foul of the down main line on which the 12.45 a.m. Paddington to Carmarthen newspaper train was also approaching under clear signals at the time, and the engine of this train was partially derailed. Both the running lines and the loops were blocked and the permanent way was damaged. No one was injured.The work of clearance and repair began promptly and the down main line was opened for traffic just before 11.0 a.m.; the up main line was opened at 3.0 p.m. Because of the obstruction on this important route to Bristol and South Wales many passenger trains were delayed or cancelled, 35 altogether being affected. A number were diverted: some were terminated short of the site, special bus services being provided to reduce inconvenience to passengers: and a few were cancelled. The dislocation to freight traffic was serious, 62 trains being either cancelled or delayed.The main lines are equipped with the Western Region type of automatic warning control, but the signals were "off" in both directions for the express freight trains at the time when the initial derailment took place, and the trains had passed them before they could be put back. The goods loop line is not equipped with the automatic warning control apparatus which is only applied to passenger-running lines.The Railway Inquiry into this accident was held on 13th November; it is not proposed to hold a Ministry Inquiry, but the circumstances will be fully investigated by the Chief Inspecting Officer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent any or all of the roads comprised in the programme of 856 miles of road, being planned by his Department may be dropped from the programme at any time.

Planning a road programme must be a flexible process and alterations may be required from time to time according to the circumstances then prevailing. That is why I do not think it wise to issue lists of schemes long in advance of the time when constructional work on them can start.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent information about specific road improvements included in his 856-miles road programme will be made available to such bodies as local authorities, contractors, and the Press, in advance of the time when the work is actually started.

Local authorities are advised of schemes to be considered for inclusion in the road programme in sufficient time to enable the necessary preparatory work to be carried out. This carries with it, however, no guarantee that constructional work will be started on a specific date. When it is decided that a contract can be let for a scheme, contractors are advised under the normal tendering arrangements. Press notices may be issued from time to time on important schemes when definite stages are reached in the statutory procedures involved in their preparation. This method ensures the most rapid progress over the road programme as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what agreement Her Majesty's Government have reached with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America, or with either of them, on nuclear tests or on the use of nuclear energy for war or for peaceful purposes, respectively; and if he will specify the terms of any such agreement.

Her Majesty's Government have concluded agreements with the United States of America on the peaceful uses of atomic energy for civil and mutual defence purposes. The texts of these agreements and amendments to them are given in official publications listed below. No such agreements have been concluded with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and no agreements on nuclear tests have been concluded either with the Soviet Union or with the United States of America.Cmd. 9507—Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for Co-operation on the Civil Uses of Atomic Energy—15th June, 1955.Cmd. 9677—Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America rectifying the Agreement of the 15th June, 1955, for Co-operation on the Civil Uses of Atomic Energy—20th October to 3rd November, 1955.Cmd. 9847—Amendment to Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for Co-operation on the Civil Uses of Atomic Energy of 15th June, 1955 to 13th June, 1956.Cmd. 9508—Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for Co-operation regarding Atomic Information for Mutual Defence Purposes—15th June, 1955.Cmnd. 470—Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes—3rd July, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of school leavers in the area covered by the Abertillery Employment Exchange who are still without jobs.

Ten boys and eleven girls.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the statement made by the Fife Director of Education on the difficulties facing boys and girls now leaving school; to what extent such difficulties are general; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that this labour force will be fully utilised in the national interest.

I have seen newspaper reports of this statement. Greater difficulty has been experienced generally this year than a year ago in finding employment for school leavers. The range of employment opportunities for young people, as for others, must primarily depend upon the level of economic activity, and the Government's policies in this regard were fully stated in the debate on the Address.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is yet possible to make an announcement on the setting up of the proposed Joint Committee of Members of both Houses to examine the conditions under which Private Bills may provide for conferring on someone other than the Promoter functions in which the Promoter has no legal responsibility.

The appropriate discussions have now been concluded and Motions will shortly be tabled both in this House and in another place proposing that a Joint Committee should be set up to investigate this matter.