asked the Paymaster-General whether, in view of the recession of trade in the north-western area and elsewhere, he will give a general direction to the Central Electricity Authority to refrain from asking for large deposits as a condition precedent to the installation of electricity in new or re-equipped factories.

No. I understand that it is not the normal practice of the electricity boards to require deposits before providing supplies of electricity to new consumers.

asked the Paymaster-General, in view of the fact that United Kingdom coal exports fell from 14·3 million tons in 1955 to 11·2 in 1956 and 9·9 in 1957, and may be lower for 1958, what are the main reasons for this decline; what he is doing about it; and what effect he estimates it will have on employment in British coal mines.

The low level of coal exports compared with 1955 reflects the low level of demand for coal in Western Europe and competition from other producers. Its effect on employment has been cushioned by the increase in stocks. The National Coal Board, in co-operation with the coal exporters, is doing everything in its power, including price adjustments, to increase our exports, but recovery depends mainly on how quickly demand abroad revives.

asked the Paymaster-General what progress has been made in co-ordinating area electricity and gas boards with a view to securing more economic administration and use of resources.

The possibility of greater co-ordination between the activities of these boards is still under examination by the Committee appointed for this purpose under the Chairmanship of Sir Cecil Weir.

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent there has been a reduction in the output of steel sheets from handmills in Scotland since 1952.

The output of sheet steel from Scottish handmills in 1952 was 64,000 tons. Output this year is expected to be about 34,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the recession of trade in the north-western area, he will give instructions that all lists of authorised contractors for Government supplies should be reopened with a view to the inclusion of qualified contractors from that area.

Any qualified contractor whose name is not already on the Ministry of Supply trades lists is free to apply at any time for inclusion.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the absence of any defined programme for future aeroplane construction has already produced unemployment in ancillary industries; and what steps he proposes to take.

The contraction in the programme for military aircraft construction has led to some unemployment in ancillary firms, though by and large, since these firms are scattered throughout the engineering and allied industries and usually have interests outside the aircraft field, the results have not been serious. I have been at pains to make known to the industry all new aircraft requirements now being considered.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of health visitors trained in each year since the Report of the Working Party was published in June, 1956.

The Answer is that 536 and 468 qualified in 1956 and 1957 respectively; 606 are at present under training.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of Part III accommodation in Newcastle-under-Lyme; and what consideration he has given to the Staffordshire County Council's proposal to erect a home for the aged on a site in Thistleberry Avenue.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that there is a need for more accommodation in Newcastle-under-Lyme and he has agreed in principle to the Staffordshire County Council's proposal to erect a home for the aged on a site in Thistleberry Avenue. The question when a start can be made will be sympathetically considered as soon as the Council's preparations are a little further advanced.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the large number of citizens who are opposed to the fluoridation of water; and, in view of the controversy at present taking place in medical and dental circles as to the merits and demerits of fluoridation, if he will advise the responsible authorities to cease the practice until more conclusive evidence on the value of fluoridation is available.

Though the opposition to the fluoridation of water supplies is very vocal, I have no reason to think that the numbers of the opponents are large. The weight of authoritative professional opinion is preponderantly in favour of it. Since the object of the demonstrations now taking place is to make clear to all the value of fluoridation, I should certainly not wish to advise the authorities concerned to discontinue them.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent, when considering the terms of his recent circular concerning the reduction of working hours for nurses, he included in his considerations any assistance to be given to hospitals.

The question of assistance does not arise until it is seen how far hospitals have been able to reduce hours by reorganising their nursing services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Tunisia; and whether all aid possible will now be given to assist that country in its efforts to secure its defence according to its reasonable requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Tunisia; and if further aid will be given to that country to secure its defence according to reasonable requirements.

It continues to be the desire of Her Majesty's Government to maintain the close and friendly relations which we happily now enjoy with Tunisia.So far as defence is concerned, the Tunisian Government have sought our agreement to the purchase of certain arms in this country and we have agreed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far and for what purpose Her Majesty's Government are responsible for the transmissions in the Middle East on a station called Radio Baghdad.

Her Majesty's Government are in no way responsible for the transmissions of any station called Radio Baghdad.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Geneva Conference to secure international agreement on the discontinuance of nuclear tests.

I have nothing to add to previous statements and to what I said at Question Time today in answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to put before the Assembly of the United Nations on the question of Cyprus.

As the hon. Lady will now have seen, the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations tabled a resolution on Cyprus on 19th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the shooting and death of Mrs. Christopher Doran, wife of the British Air Attaché in Israel.

According to the report of the military observers of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation Mrs. Doran's body was found on the 19th of November in Israel territory near the frontier with Syria just north of the Sea of Galilee. She had been shot. Footprints were found leading to the river Jordan. Mrs. Doran was spending a holiday at the Italian hospice on the Mount of Beatitudes about eight miles from the frontier.The Israel Government have submitted a formal complaint to the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission, alleging that Syrians were responsible for Mrs. Doran's death. The Commission will consider this complaint on the basis of the report from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation's observers. I am awaiting the findings of this inquiry.I have expressed to Wing Commander Doran my sympathy over this tragic occurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if arrangements for accommodating the mobile element of the Fixed Team at Tan Chau, on the South Vietnam-Cambodian border, referred to in paragraph 74 of the Sixth Interim Report of the Control Commission in Vietnam and, again, mentioned in paragraph 39 of the Seventh Interim Report, have now been made; and what steps he has taken, as co-chairman, to further the Commission's plea for accommodation;(2) what steps have now been taken towards the control of the third airfield, namely, Bien Hoa, as mentioned by the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Vietnam in its Seventh Interim Report, paragraph 43;(3) if the Commission for Control and Supervision in Vietnam has now been allowed to make a reconnaissance of the nine new airfields in South Vietnam, referred to in paragraph 59 of the Sixth Interim Report and paragraph 44 of the Seventh Interim Report;(4) if the Government of the Republic of Vietnam now provides the Fixed Team, Nha Trang, with the prescribed water transport; and whether the four other teams mentioned in paragraph 49 of the Seventh Interim Report of the Control Commission now have water transport.

Such information as is available to Her Majesty's Government is received by them, as members of the Geneva Conference of 1954, in the Reports of the International Commission in Vietnam. Since the 7th Interim Report, to which the hon. Member refers, was published, a further report (the 8th Interim Report, dated 5th of June, 1958, and laid before Parliament in August, 1958, as Cmnd. 509) has been submitted. The points raised in the hon. Member's second and third Questions are dealt with in paragraphs 28 and 25 respectively of that Report. The points raised in the hon. Member's first and fourth Questions are not dealt with and no information is at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet replied to the request of the International Control Commission for Supervision in Vietnam, in paragraph 8, page 23, Appendix A of the Seventh Interim Report; and what reply he has given.

No reply has been made to the International Commission's message of 14th September, 1956, and there have been no discussions with the other members of the Geneva Conference on this subject. The International Commission has not reverted to this matter in its 8th Interim Report of the 5th June, 1958, which was presented to Parliament as Cmnd. 509.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the ratification of the Convention and Protocol on the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict which came into force on 7th August, 1956.

I have nothing to add to the answer which my hon. Friend gave on 19th November to the hon. Member for Wembley. South (Mr. Russell).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government has ratified the International Agreement on the importation of materials of an educational, scientific or cultural character; and if he will take steps, through the Committee of Ministers, to urge all Governments who have not done so to ratify the agreement or implement its provisions by removing obstacles such as purchase tax, high postage rates and high transport costs.

Her Majesty's Government ratified this Agreement on 11th March, 1954.It is for the other signatory Governments to decide whether they wish to ratify or implement the provisions of this Agreement. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has already considered a recommendation of the Assembly urging ratification by signatory Governments, and has drawn attention to the action being taken to this end by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement with regard to Recommendation 179, 1958, of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe relating to the convention on the law applicable to maintenance allowances for children.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my hon. Friend gave on 31st March, except to say that Her Majesty's Government have no objection to the proposal contained in paragraph 3 of the Recommendation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take regarding food reserves, in view of the resolution of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

This resolution puts the onus for initiating action upon those countries wanting help in establishing food reserves The United Kingdom is not in this category, nor have we surpluses that could be made available to other Governments. No action by the United Kingdom is called for, but we are ready to take part in international discussions, if invited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken pursuant to the recommendations of the Arton Wilson Committee; and what changes and economies they have effected.

The decisions announced in the reply given to the hon. Member on 2nd August, 1956, have been implemented. The whole of the Ministry's regional organisation has been overhauled. As a result there has been a net saving of about 500 staff and £250,000 a year in salaries and overheads despite the addition of new work since that time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings under 20 acres and over 20 acres, respectively, are farmed by part-time farmers.

The Agricultural Returns do not show whether the occupier is engaged part-time or full-time on the holding. A sample of these returns for England and Wales has however, been specially examined with reference to average labour requirements which is the nearest we can get to such an analysis. From this examination it is estimated that there are about 136,000 separate holdings with less than 20 acres of crops and grass on which the average labour requirement for the cropping and stocking adds up to less than 250 standard man-days, and most of these are almost certainly part-time holdings. There are about 13,000 of such holdings over 20 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) on what grounds he refuses to entertain late claims for cereal deficiency payments even when there are reasonable grounds for such claims being submitted after 31st July;(2) what steps his Department takes to inform farmers through county agricultural executive committees of the necessity of applying for cereal deficiency payments before 31st July.

Experience in 1954–55, the first year of the Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme, showed that it was essential to insist upon a firm closing date for the receipt of claims for deficiency payments on barley, oats and mixed corn. After consultation 31st July was chosen and it was decided that no claim would be accepted thereafter. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the requirement should be maintained in order that the checks required to safeguard public funds can be properly administered.Following the recommendation of the Wilson Committee the County Agricultural Executive Committees have been relieved of the day-to-day work in connection with the Department's subsidy schemes but ample publicity is given to this closing date by other means. Growers are reminded of the closing date for the receipt of claims when the claim forms are sent out from headquarters in April. After the beginning of May and before the end of July the Ministry's divisional offices, to which the completed claims must be sent, send up to two reminders to registered growers who have not already claimed. In addition extensive publicity is arranged in the national, local and farming Press and through the B.B.C. The Ministry's regional organisation also assists as opportunity offers.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what amount the £3 earnings limit on widowed mothers would need to be raised in order to be equivalent in purchasing power to £3 at the time the limit was introduced.

Just under £4, measured by the retail prices index. Since then, however, the deductions on a further £1 of earnings have been reduced by 50 per cent.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the fact that only 3 per cent. of war disability pensioners qualify for the allowance for lowered standard of occupation, whether he is satisfied that this allowance is fulfilling the purpose for which it was intended; and whether he will amend the regulations to allow more pensioners to qualify.

The answer to the last part of the Question is "No." As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 3rd November he does not think that a useful view can be formed on this question by taking one allowance in isolation.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what representations he has received from the British Legion and other ex-Service men's organisations asking for a right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal to be granted in respect of claims to the allowance for lowered standard of occupation; and what is his policy in this connection.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from time to time suggesting the institution of a system of formal appeals in connection with this allowance. He is not, however, satisfied that such a system would be in the interest of war pensioners. The present flexible arrangements under which they can discuss their cases with local War Pensions Committees seem to me to be much more appropriate to a provision of this kind.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what changes he proposes to introduce in the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries schemes, as a result of the recent European Convention of the International Labour Organisation on the social security rights of transport workers, which is designed to protect the position of these workers when their duties take them abroad.

None. Her Majesty's Government do not propose to sign this Convention because it would involve transferring certain transport workers out of the scope of the British scheme of Industrial Injuries insurance without any guarantee that the foreign scheme under which they became insured would provide benefits for their dependants if they suffered fatal accidents. But we have concluded reciprocal agreements with most of the countries of Western Europe which provide, among other things, that transport workers who are sent abroad from this country remain within the scope of our National Insurance and Industrial Injuries schemes while they are working in those countries.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what number of persons in the Lewis and Harris area have contracted out of National Insurance under the income limit exemption provision; and what is the total number of insured persons in the area.

I regret that the precise information requested is not available, but the number of certificates of exception on the ground of small income current in the area covered by the Stornoway National Insurance Office—which includes N. & S. Uist, Benbecula and Barra in addition to Lewis and Harris—is 2,103. The number of persons in the area who are contributing or excepted is thought to be about 10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when the Town Clerk of Uxbridge or the hon. Member for Uxbridge can expect to be informed when he will receive a deputation regarding the use of Northolt Airport.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State will be seeing the hon. Member and a deputation from the Uxbridge Council next week.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied with the provision of school places for mentally-handicapped children in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement.

This matter is at present under consideration with the authority.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied with the provision of children's playgrounds in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement.

The Sunderland local authority considers that there is a shortage of playgrounds in its area and I understand that it will take steps to improve the position, using its powers under the Education and Local Government Acts.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will state the number of retired teachers in receipt of pensions amounting to less than £100 per annum, £150 per annum, £200 per annum, £250 per annum, £300 per annum, and £350 per annum, respectively.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Education which local education authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire do not give financial assistance to theological students who are in theological colleges.

The information which I obtain from local education authorities does not enable me to answer the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made by the Government of Northern Rhodesia with regard to the plans proposed, after the closing of the Bancroft Mine, to use some of the labour available in the provinces on development schemes including three hydro-electric.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steel companies producing sheet steel in Scotland remain nationalised.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans from Tanganyika are at present studying in Great Britain on Government scholarships; what subjects they are studying; and how many are in the first, second and later years of their courses, respectively.

There are at present thirty-five Africans from Tanganyika studying in Great Britain on Government scholarships. This total is made up as follows:stations at Fort Rosebery, Abercorn and Kasama, afforestation of tracts of land, improvement of communications, development of Mpulungu Fort, near Abercorn, at the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika and intensive development of the fishing industry on productive Lake Banguelu.

I am consulting the Governor and when I have received his reply I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to deal with the sheep-straying problem in Wales.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who is primarily concerned, is considering the recommendations of the National Council for Domestic Food Production on the problems of sheep trespass in South Wales. Some of the Council's recommendations need to be considered as part of wider problems dealt with in the Report of the Royal Commission on Common Land. It is a difficult problem in parts of Wales, and my right hon. Friend and I will keep in close touch about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many overspill agreements have been signed between local authorities in the Midlands and those in Wales; what number of people are affected; and what are the names of the receiving authorities in Wales which have already received any of the overspill population.

Overspill agreements with Birmingham Corporation have been signed by five local authorities in Wales and approved by me under Section 4 of the Town Development Act, 1952. The agreements do not specify the total number of people who might be affected, and no authorities in Wales have yet received overspill population under them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about changes in the field of recruitment of volunteers for the Civil Defence and allied services.

I am glad to be able to announce that after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence it has been decided to extend the field of recruitment for part-time service in Civil Defence. Anyone over 18 will in future be eligible to join any part of the Civil Defence or allied services unless there is an overriding reserve liability or a liability for National Service.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that on 17th November an eight-wheel tanker went out of control whilst descending Amersham Hill, High Wycombe, and crashed into the town centre causing damage and personal injury; and what steps he proposes to take to amend his regulations to ensure that heavy goods vehicles are at all times in a roadworthy condition.

The regulations already provide that heavy goods vehicles shall, at all times, be in a roadworthy condition.Regulation 73 of the Motor-Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1955, requires that every motor-vehicle and all parts and accessories of such vehicle shall at all times be in such condition that no danger is caused, or is likely to be caused, to any person on the vehicle or on a road; and that no motor-vehicle shall be used for any purpose for which it is so unsuitable as to cause, or be likely to cause, danger. Regulation 76 requires every part of every braking system and the means of operation thereof, and all steering gear fitted to a motor-vehicle, to be maintained at all times, while the vehicle is used on the road, in good and efficient working order and to be properly adjusted.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects the Motorway Code to be published.

The Code will be distributed tomorrow and copies will be available in the Vote Office at 4 p.m. on that day. I am arranging for it to have a wide circulation.