asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the recent violent attacks on policemen in the execution of their duty in the City of Glasgow; and whether he will obtain particulars of the measures being taken to protect these officers.

I deplore these attacks on policemen who are doing their duty, but the Chief Constable, whose responsibility it is, informs me that his force is generally well able to protect itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make the present grants to crofters available to owner-occupiers in the Highland area of holdings equivalent to crofts.

No. I have no powers under the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1955, to extend the Crofters Agricultural Grants Scheme to cover owner-occupiers. As the hon. Member knows, however, financial assistance in respect of farm bindings can be given to certain classes of small owner-occupiers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the number of farmers in Orkney and Shetland who will lose marginal grants when the new policy for small farmers takes effect.

I am not at the moment able to make a reliable estimate of the effect of the Government's proposals on individual counties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards the construction of the Lochportain link road between his Department's estate and the North Uist County highway; what proposals are before him for a water supply for Locheport district in North Uist; and whether a decision has yet been reached regarding the proposed causeway from Baleshare Island to North Uist.

The County Council has to consider the competing needs of a great many crofting townships and it has not been able to accord high priority to the Lochportain scheme. I cannot say, therefore, when work is likely to begin on the link road.As the hon. Member was informed in my letter of 25th June no proposal is at present before me for a water supply in the Locheport district of North Uist.No decision has yet been reached on the Baleshare proposals which have been referred back to the County Council for consideration of possible economies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the numbers of uncertificated teachers employed by Lanarkshire Education Committee.

There are 258.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals have been submitted to him by Ross and Cromarty County Council for the construction of an eventide home in the Isle of Lewis, and what others, from Inverness County Council, for the establishment of an eventide home in the Isle of Barra.

I have approved in principle a proposal to provide a home at Stornoway for thirty-two elderly people; the County Council of Ross and Cromarty will no doubt be submitting its final proposals as soon as they are ready. I have received no proposal from Inverness County Council for establishment of a home in Barra.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the consultations which have taken place on industrial development or new concerns to be built within or near the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

There is nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member on 6th November, in which he said that although we have continued to bring to the attention of suitable firms the facilities available in north Staffordshire, including Stoke-on-Trent, none has yet agreed to set up there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the estimated value of coal and coke exports from the United Kingdom to Denmark for the year 1959; and what percentage increase or decrease this represents as compared with the figures for 1957 and 1958;(2) the estimated value of United Kingdom exports to, and imports from Denmark for 1959; and what percentage increase or decrease this represents as compared with the figures for 1957 and 1958.

In view of the uncertainty of demand and other factors, no reliable forecast can be made of the value of United Kingdom trade with Denmark, either in general or in particular commodities such as coal and coke, in 1959.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the negotiations with New Zealand for the revision of the United Kingdom-New Zealand trade agreement of 1932 have yet been concluded; and on what terms.

The New Zealand Government gave notice in January of their wish to negotiate with us a revision of the United Kingdom-New Zealand Trade Agreement of 1932. Negotiations began in London on 17th April and it was announced on 12th September that agreement in principle had been reached.I am now glad to report to the House that Heads of Agreement between the two Governments were signed in Wellington today. As from today the application of the United Kingdom-New Zealand Trade Agreement of 1932, as supplemented by the Agreement on agricultural and marketing policies of 1957, will be subject to the modifications and additions set out in these Heads of Agreement. These will be embodied in a formal Agreement as soon as possible.The terms on which we have reached agreement with New Zealand follow broadly the pattern of our agreement with Australia concluded two years ago. They recognise the substantial changes since the war in the pattern of world trade and in the economic circumstances of both countries. In particular they recognise the desire of the New Zealand Government to have greater freedom to reduce the preferences accorded to the United Kingdom in the interests both of lowering domestic costs and of facilitating increased New Zealand trade with other countries as well as with the United Kingdom.Copies of the text of the Heads of Agreement and of an agreed statement on trading policies to which the two Governments affirm their adherence are being placed in the Libary of the House today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now satisfied that the reductions in Purchase Tax which he made in the last Budget and which were then estimated by him to cost £30 millions this year, and £41 millions in a full year, will in fact so stimulate production and consumption as to lead to an actual increase in the total revenue from Purchase Tax for the current financial year; and whether he will take this into account in deciding what further substantial reductions in Purchase Tax he can make in the near future.

It is not the practice to publish any revision of the Budget estimates during the course of the financial year. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 18th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is still his policy to maintain a 10 per cent. Pool Betting Duty on totalisators at greyhound racetracks, whilst similar totalisators operated on horse-racecourses are allowed to operate tax free.

This is a Budget matter and I do not think it would be appropriate to discuss budgetary policy at Question Time.

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 racetracks for each of the months from January, 1957, to December, 1957.

Yes. Monthly receipts of pool betting duty charged at 10 per cent. on bets with greyhound racetrack totalisators from January to December, 1957, inclusive were as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the comparative figures showing the difference in the fall in the purchasing power of the £ sterling from 1946 to 1951 and from 1951 to 1958, respectively, together with the rise and fall in the price of British imports during the same periods.

The internal purchasing power of the £ fell by 4s. 10d. over the five years between 1946 and 1951 and by 4s. 2d. over the seven years between 1951 and October, 1958. The index of average value of all imports more than doubled between 1946 and 1951 and has since fallen by 14 per cent. The Index of Food, Drink and Tobacco Import Prices, however, increased by nearly 63 per cent. between 1946 and 1951 and has changed very little since then.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many building societies there are in Great Britain; how many will be entitled to take part in the Government's house purchase scheme; and why nearly two-thirds of the total number are to be excluded.

There are 746 building societies in Great Britain. It is not possible to say how many societies will qualify for approval to take part in the scheme. On the last part of the Question I would ask the hon. Member to await the discussions on the Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now abolish the cinema tax, in view of the fact that it only yields ·05 per cent. of the national income.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of a reduction in the qualifying age at which post-war credits would be paid, by one year, two years, three years, four years, and five years, respectively.

About £18 million, £35 million, £53 million, £70 million and £88 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new direction he has given to the Capital Issues Committee.

None.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to pay interest to pensioners in the same position as the constituent of the hon. Member for Tynemouth, whose name has been supplied to him, on money which has been collected over the years under Pay As You Earn for Income Tax in advance of liability.

I regret that there is no provision under which payment of interest could be authorised in the cases my hon. Friend has in mind. As my hon. Friend knows, new paying arrangements in these cases are being introduced next year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the average percentage increase which will occur in the assessment of owner-occupied dwellinghouses for Schedule A tax when the 1960 revaluation takes place.

As I told my hon. Friend on 20th November, revaluations for Schedule A have been suspended until Parliament decides to reintroduce them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the need for more bungalows for old people in Newcastle-under-Lyme and a proposal to erect a new home for the aged in the Borough; and if he will consult with the local authority and the Minister of Health with a view to co-ordinating plans to increase the amount of acommodation specially designed for old people.

I understand that the Borough Council and the Staffordshire County Council are agreed in principle about their respective proposals for development of a site within the Borough to provide accommodation for old people, and are now working out detailed schemes for approval. When these are ready, I shall consult as necessary with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health. So far as bungalows for old people are concerned, I would like to see these provided as quickly as possible, and shall do all I can to enable the Borough Council to make an early start.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that many tenants believe that submission of the G form and the obtaining of a certificate of disrepair is a once and for all procedure, and that if the house is subsequently allowed to get into disrepair they have no further remedy; and if he will take steps to publicise the fact that where landlords have taken advantage of the Rent Act to raise rents and subsequently allow the house to fall into disrepair, tenants are entitled to apply for a certificate of disrepair.

I am not aware of any widespread misunderstanding on this point. The fact is, of course, that a tenant of controlled property can serve notice on Form G if ever the premises fall into disrepair, and can then obtain a certificate of disrepair if the landlord does not do the work or undertake to do it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what review he has made of the rate of subsidy for new houses provided for the rehousing of slum-clearance tenants.

I continually keep housing matters under review. So far as subsidy for slum clearance is concerned, I see no reason for altering the present sum of £22 1s. per house per annum.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many dwellings in Wales had a piped water supply in 1945 and 1951, respectively; and how many dwellings now possess a piped water supply.

I am afraid that the only information available for 1945 relates to rural districts. It is estimated that in that year 126,000 dwellings in rural districts in Wales had a piped water supply, and that the corresponding figures for 1951 and for 30th September, 1958, were 148,000 and 194,000 respectively. For the whole of Wales, it is estimated that in 1951 some 598,000 dwellings had a piped water supply, and that the corresponding figure at the 30th September, 1958, was 704,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how soon the Local Government Commission expects to consider the case of borough councils which are claiming county borough status.

The Local Government Commission for England will be taking sizeable areas of the country at a time, and considering all the various kinds of change, whether asked for or not, that seem to it desirable within each such area, including such possibilities as the creation of new county boroughs. The Commission hopes by the end of the year to announce which parts of the country it will start on first, and its reviews of those areas are likely to begin about two months afterwards.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he is aware of the pollution of the River Tyne which is detrimental to the health of the people and is making bathing at the popular resorts of Tynemouth and Whitley Bay a risk to health; and if he will institute an inquiry in conjunction with the local authorities to see what can be done to improve the position;(2) if he is aware that the greatest concentration of the filth that flows down the River Tyne is concentrated at Wallsend in its final passage; and if he will consult with the Wallsend Borough Council about the effect of this upon the health of the Wallsend people;(3) if he will consider the advisability of preventing any more trips up the River Tyne because of its filthy condition, and introduce the necessary legislation giving him the power to do this.

I am well aware of the concern which is felt about the condition of the river, but I do not think that at this stage I can usefully add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 4th November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the concern felt by local authorities over the interpretation of Section 76 of the Local Government Act, 1933, concerning the pecuniary interests of local authority members; and if he will introduce legislation to amend further Section 76 of the Act.

While my right hon. Friend is not aware of any general concern over the interpretation of this Section, he knows that suggestions have been made that the policy set out in the Section should be reviewed, and he is proposing to discuss the whole question with the Associations of Local Authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the proposal that Holyhead Rural District Council should, by leave of the Valley Rural District Council, use Cae-Glas as a dump for refuse from Holyhead; what proposals he has received in regard to the use of this beauty spot; and whether he will make a statement thereon, in view of the anxiety of neighbouring residents.

I understand that the Anglesey County Council as local planning authority, has granted permission, on an application by Holyhead Urban District Council, for the use of land at Cae-Glas for the tipping of refuse. The permission is subject to conditions designed to protect the amenity of the area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement as to the future of the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in reply to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes) on 20th November, it is thought that, during the ten months which remain before the Council falls to be reconstituted next September, a constructive review of its functions should be carried out, with particular attention to the best means of developing a closer relationship between the Council and the Government. I hope also that the Council will study further and advise upon a number of current questions important to Wales

Smith asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what applications have been received for planning permission in respect of future development of the site to be vacated at Swynnerton; and whether his assent has been given to such application.

I understand that no application has been received for planning permission in respect of future development of the Royal Ordnance factory site at Swynnerton, but the Staffordshire County Council, at the invitation of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, is considering what use might be made of the site.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the smoke, dust, and dirt nuisance still prevalent in North Staffordshire, despite the operation of the Clean Air Act, he will direct the attention of the Clean Air Council to the special problems of this area and invite its expert advice.

The Alkali Inspectorate has only recently been given responsibility for dealing with the more intractable air pollution problems in the area and it will necessarily need time to assess the extent of the technical problems and the possible solutions. My right hon. Friend attaches much importance to the advice of the Clean Air Council, but in this case he thinks the immediate need is for the Alkali Inspectorate to continue the process of assessment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the number of advisory committees set up by his Department; and the number of which he is the Chairman.

Six; of which I am Chairman of three.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs on what date he first received a communication from the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, on the dangers of fluorine poisons; how many further communications he has since received from the same hon. Member; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the undertakings which he has given in response to these communications.

I cannot trace that my right hon. Friend has received any communication on this subject from the hon. Member. I find however that he communicated with my right hon. Friend's predecessors at least three times from September 1952 onwards. He was then informed that technical experts were working on the problem, to which however no simple or early remedy could be promised.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what reports he has received from his alkali inspectors about the nuisance of smoke from a foundry in Fareham.

Responsibility for dealing with air pollution from this works, which is not controlled under the Alkali Act, rests with the local authority, and the Alkali Inspectors have not been involved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) whether his Department has a complete schedule of all places of unexcelled beauty in the countryside, not on the coast, either in private or public ownership; and what action, outside the county planning officers' jurisdiction, is taken under his regulations to ensure that these are not defiled, but are preserved for the benefit of this and future generations;(2) whether his Department now has a complete schedule of all the places of unsurpassed beauty round the coast, either in private or public ownership, and what provisions exist under his regulations to ensure that these are not defiled but are preserved for the benefit of this and future generations.

Areas of exceptional natural beauty, both on the coast and elsewhere, were listed in the Report of the National Parks Committee published 1947. Under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, the National Parks Commission has designated some of these areas as National Parks and is proceeding with its programme of designating others as "areas of outstanding natural beauty". The 1949 Act confers powers upon local authorities to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the designated areas, with the aid of Exchequer grant in certain circumstances. In addition, areas of great landscape value are shown in Development Plans.Control over development in areas of natural beauty is, as elsewhere, primarily in the hands of the local planning authority, subject to the various powers reserved to the Minister under the Plan-nine Acts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he now expects that the Report of the Pritchard Committee will be available before the end of the current year.

I hope to receive the Report in the early part of 1959. I understand that much of the evidence for which the Committee had asked has reached it only recently, much later than it had expected.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now issue a circular to local authorities lifting last year's restrictions on building projects, particularly with respect to local authority house building.

I am enclosing for the hon. Member a copy of the circular which was issued on 17th November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take on the numerous problems that arise in connection with residential caravans.

I am setting on foot an investigation into the nature and extent of the problems which arise in connection with caravans used as residential accommodation, the underlying causes of these problems, and the views of those concerned. Sir Arton Wilson has accepted my invitation to conduct this investigation and will begin work almost at once.The investigation is into the facts of the situation; I am not asking Sir Arton to make recommendations. In the light of his report, which will be published, the Government will reach conclusions on policy and consider whether and, if so, what amending legislation is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the publications of the Cairo Office of the Uganda National Congress are proscribed in Uganda; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of such proscribed documents.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 13th November. All publications emanating from the Cairo Office of the Uganda National Congress are proscribed in Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the inquiry into the origin, methods, and growth of Mau Mau will be completed; and whether the report will be published.

The inquiry is expected to be completed and the findings sent to the Governor by the middle of next year. I cannot say whether the report will be published until the Governor has received and considered it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Government of Bermuda to widen the franchise, end racial discrimination in hotels and restaurants and to provide alternative employment for workers affected by the closing of the dockyard and the withdrawal of the British garrison; and if he will make a statement.

Two Select Committees of the Bermuda Legislature are at present considering the questions of franchise, and racial discrimination in hotels and restaurants, respectively.I am not aware that workers had any difficulty in obtaining alternative employment following the closing of the naval dockyard or the withdrawal of the British garrison. At present the demand for labour in the Colony far exceeds the supply.I recently paid a short visit to Bermuda, and was able to discuss, with a number of groups there, some of the problems at present facing the Colony.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the cost of conveying the regimental band down to Gwembe by the Governor of Northern Rhodesia; and how many Tonga tribesmen evicted because of the Kariba Dam Scheme attended on the occasion of the Governor's speech.

There was no cost to the Government of Northern Rhodesia. The Governor discussed resettlement with the villagers on two occasions. On the first, some 80–100 villagers were present. On the second only 15 villagers were present and these were armed and prevented others from coming within earshot.

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been called to the legal difficulties arising from the case of Dolling versus Dolling, recently before the Court of Appeal; and if he will give consideration to amending the law of divorce to enable marriages to be dissolved on the grounds that a spouse has changed his or her sex.

I am not aware of any legal difficulties. The Court of Appeal held, on the particular facts of this case, that the conduct of the respondent did not amount to cruelty. I do not think that there is any need to amend the law by seeking to specify what acts constitute cruelty for the purposes of the law of divorce or by making express provision for the type of case mentioned in the Question.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made in drawing up plans for the reconstruction of 10 and 12 Downing Street.

The architect, Mr. Erith, has submitted sketch plans for the reconstruction of Nos. 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street and these are now being considered.

asked the Minister of Works how he proposes to lay out the open space formerly intended for a new Colonial Office lying in front of Westminster Central Hall.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport will explore the possibility of providing a car park below the open space. When this exploration has taken place, I shall have plans prepared and shall consult the planning authority about the lay-out of the site.

asked the Minister of Works if he will now state the Government's proposals for the site in Westminster on which it was proposed to build a new Colonial Office.

The Government have decided that the front part of the site up to approximately the line of Matthew Parker Street should be left as an open space and the back part used for a small Government building. Legislation may be needed to amend the Public Offices (Site) Act, 1947. The Colonial Office will in due course occupy a building to be erected in Richmond Terrace.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what views have been expressed by Her Majesty's Government during discussions on the plans for a Colombo Plan for Africa drawn up by a study group of experts set up by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe and recently considered at Government level by the deputies of the Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Recommendation No. 159 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, which is concerned with this matter, is still under consideration by the Committee of Ministers. These deliberations are confidential; and I have therefore nothing to add to the reply given by the then Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 21st July.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were employed, directly and indirectly, by the fighting Services and on arms production in October, 1951; and the corresponding figures to the latest convenient date.

In October, 1951, 840,000 people were in the Armed Forces, 265,000 civilians were estimated to be employed in the Service Departments and the Ministries of Supply and Defence on work for the Armed Forces, and 800,000 to be employed in manufacturing industries on defence production. The corresponding figures for the latest convenient date were 599,000 (in October, 1958), 250,000 (in October, 1958) and 490,000 (in May, 1958).

asked the Paymaster-General what conditions, requiring the production of strip steel, are attached to the guarantee of financial assistance offered by Her Majesty's Government to Messrs. Colvilles.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained on 18th November, details of the arrangements for advancing Government funds to Messrs. Colvilles, Ltd. in connection with its strip mill project will be made available in clue course.

asked the Paymaster-General the current profit accruing to the National Coal Board per ton of coal from opencast sites and deep mines, respectively.

During the first six months of 1958, the average operating profits before provision for interest, were 14s. 5d. and 2s. 8d. a ton respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will now make a full statement on the discussions, negotiations and consultations which have taken place on the use and future of the Royal Ordnance factory and site at Swynnerton.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 3rd and 10th November.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents have occurred to pedestrians in recent months on the pedestrian crossing near the corner of Harrow Road and Chatsworth Road, Wembley; and if he will make a statement.

In the six months ended 31st October one pedestrian was slightly injured. The Council has agreed to resite this crossing at the Wembley Triangle; the work should be completed during December.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many holders of the Victoria Cross draw the full £75 a year annuity; and how many are in receipt of some lesser portion of it.

So far as the Army is concerned, ten draw an annuity of £75 and 125 a lesser amount.