asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct Her Majesty's delegate on the appropriate committee of the United Nations to propose that the legal recognition of conscientious objection to military service as provided in the United Kingdom should be included in the convention for applying the Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains no provision about conscientious objection. The Human Rights Commission has already rejected a proposal to include in the draft Covenants on Human Rights a provision requiring recognition of conscientious objection to military service on religious grounds. I can only say that my right hon. and learned Friend will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind but I doubt whether there is any consensus in the United Nations in favour of such a proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has sent to the United Nations Association regarding the resolution accepted at the General Council of the United Nations Association urging Her Majesty's Government to sign and ratify the Convention on the Political Rights of Women, prepared by the United Nations Status of Women Commission, which was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1952 and has been open for signature since 31st March, 1953.

This resolution was sent to my right hon. and learned Friend on 28th July. Since then the United Nations Association has been kept fully informed by the Foreign Office of the position of Her Majesty's Government about the convention on the Political Rights of Women.In this connection I have nothing to add to my predecessor's reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Black-burn (Mrs. Castle) on 17th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the proposal of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Parliamentary Conference, recently held in Paris, to hold its next annual conference in Washington; if, in view of the fact that the expenditure incurred by British delegates is borne on the Foreign Office Vote, his consent has yet been obtained; and when he will be able to announce the names of the delegates.

I understand that the American member of the standing committee of the Conference invited the Conference to hold its next annual meeting in Washington, but that no final decision has been taken. My right hon. and learned Friend's consent to this proposal has not been sought and is not required. He will of course consider the question of expenditure for our delegates together with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the selection of British delegates is not in the hands of my right hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in view of the representations which have been made to him by the Cuban Government, what steps he has taken to contact Messrs. King, Wilson, Flynn and Foster in order to facilitate their appearance as witnesses in the trial of Mr. Topham's assailant, due to begin in Cuba on 20th January, 1959; whether the Cuban Government have yet signified to him their willingness to pay the travelling expenses of Mr. Topham and these witnesses; and what steps he is taking, in view of these latest developments, to safeguard Mr. Top-ham's interests.

Letters have been sent to these four gentlemen, to warn them that they are likely to be called as witnesses. As far as expenses are concerned, Her Majesty's Embassy in Havana is now awaiting a reply from the Cuban Ministry of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, on 24th July, 1950, Major K. I. M. Buchanan, of the Liaison Branch of the British Army of the Rhine, sent a letter to the Polish War Crimes Commission refusing to extradite the war criminal Heinz Reinefahrth; and what were the security reasons.

The officer concerned acted on the instructions given to him at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in his forthcoming negotiations with the Federal German Government in connection with compensation to British subjects for losses, pain and suffering incurred at the hands of the Nazis, he will do his utmost to ensure that these victims receive compensation and life pensions not less favourable than those now being received in Germany by former Nazis and Nazi Party officials.

My right hon. and learned Friend will of course do his utmost to ensure that the maximum possible compensation is received.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he proposes to take to stimulate an increased flow of British books to India and Pakistan.

Measures to this end are now under consideration and I hope to make a statement in the New Year.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a further statement on the allocation of the increased sums to be spent on information overseas.

Yes. I hope to inform the House in the New Year about specific measures being taken to strengthen the Oversea Information Services.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern in Birmingham and the Midlands at the prevailing high cost of butter and cheese; what are the causes of recent successive increases in the prices of these commodities; and what steps he intends taking, by price control or otherwise, to keep the cost of these essential foodstuffs within reasonable bounds.

The rise in the price of butter is due to high consumption in the United Kingdom at a time when supplies from some countries are limited as a consequence of reduced milk output and the increased domestic consumption of butter in those countries. But another important reason is the arrangements which were made to help New Zealand. The rise in the price of cheese is due to the lower level of supplies following a less favourable season for milk production. The increase in the quota for imports from North America should steady the price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement in respect to the decline in milk production and its effect on the availability of home-produced cheese; and what are the future prospects for supplies of Cheddar, Cheshire, Caerphilly, and Lancashire cheeses.

Sales of milk off farms in England and Wales have fallen by just over 1 per cent. this year as compared with 1957. Liquid milk consumption has increased by about 1 per cent. In consequence, cheese production is about 10 per cent. less. The Milk Marketing Board is doing its best to maintain the supply of traditional varieties of home-produced cheese from the reduced amount of milk available for manufacture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farmers in Shropshire he expects to qualify for financial assistance under the Agriculture (Small Farmers) Bill; and how many more would qualify if the lower acreage limit were removed while retaining the other conditions laid down in the Bill;(2) how many farms of between 20 and 100 acres there are in Shropshire; and what percentage of these he estimates will qualify for financial assistance under the Agriculture (Small Farmers) Bill;(3) what percentage of the farmers farming between 20 and 100 acres in Shropshire will be excluded from the financial benefits of the Agriculture (Small Farmers) Bill due to other conditions laid down in the Bill.

No precise information is available about the number of farm businesses in each county, but in June, 1957, 2,931 agricultural holdings in Shropshire were recorded as being 20 acres or over and less than 100 acres of crops and grass and most of these will be separate farm businesses. It may well be that about 1,000 or one-third of these holdings may satisfy the test of standard labour requirements proposed for the Small Farmer Scheme. I cannot say how many former marginal producers in Shropshire who are not eligible for the Small Farmer Scheme will be eligible for the Supplementary Scheme or how many more farmers would qualify if the lower acreage limit were removed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will clarify the relationship between schemes under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts, 1946 to 1956, and the proposed new schemes of assistance for small farmers.

It will not be possible to accept an application for assistance under the proposed Small Farmer Scheme or Supplementary Scheme if there is an uncompleted livestock rearing land improvement scheme in respect of land included in the farm business for which application is made. But once the livestock rearing land improvement scheme has been completed, the farmer concerned will be in exactly the same position as anyone else as regards eligibility for the new scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of imported foodstuffs is microscopically examined by his Department for insect contamination; and what steps are taken to ensure that foodstuffs thus found to be contaminated are not distributed from ports of entry for human consumption unless and until they have been thoroughly cleansed.

Nearly all imported foodstuffs liable to infestation are examined by my Ministry's staff to check the presence of living insects and mites. Treatment to kill these pests is advised where necessary, but action relating to the fitness of food for human consumption is the responsibility of port health and local authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the Potato Marketing Board have decided to buy surplus ware potatoes from farmers in a surplus year but have insufficient funds to do so; and what financial arrangements he has come to with the Board to enable them to carry out their declared policy, either by advances, by a system of sharing losses, or in any other way.

In announcing the change in the guarantee arrangements on 30th June, I said that the Potato Marketing Board would be at liberty to use deficiency payment monies for buying potatoes, and I understand that they intend to do so. I do not see why the Board should not be able to work out satisfactory arrangements for this purpose. My intention is that the arrangements for paying any monies due to the Board should be embodied in an agreement between the Board and the Government. Discussions with the Board are not yet completed, and I cannot anticipate the contents of the agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of farm land was occupied under the landlord and tenant system in 1914, 1939 and at the latest convenient date.

The first year in which a sufficiently reliable number of occupiers supplied information on tenure in their agricultural returns was 1927. Results for earlier years was based on an inadequate response and clearly overestimated the percentage of land rented, perhaps by as much as ten per cent.When the earlier statistics of tenure are adjusted for this reason, it would appear that at least four-fifths of the acreage of crops and grass in England and Wales was occupied under the landlord and tenant system in 1914, and this percentage fell to about two-thirds of the acreage of crops and grass during the inter-war period. The latest information available is that derived from the 1950 World Agricultural Census, which showed that approximately 62 per cent. of the area of farm land (including rough grazing, woodlands, etc.) was occupied under the landlord-tenant system.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the amount of beef purchased this year to the latest available date; and what was the corresponding amount for 1957.

The amount of beef and veal moving into consumption up to the end of October was one million and thirty-six thousand (1,036,000) tons. The figure for the corresponding period in 1957 was one million and seventy thousand (1,070,000) tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Committee on Grassland Utilisation.

The Report is at present under consideration and I am not yet in a position to comment. But I am sure that members would wish me to take this opportunity of thanking Sir Sydney Came and the members of his Committee for the very great amount of work which they have carried out in so short a period as one year. The Committee's terms of reference required a wide review of the problems of different sections of the agricultural industry and we are indeed grateful to them for the energy that has gone into producing their Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the tenderometer standardisation of peas.

I am informed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research that work on tenderometer standardisation has continued under the auspices of a committee on which the National Farmers' Union and the processors are represented. During the past two seasons three master tenderometers were kept aligned by frequent checks. They were maintained at the Fruit and Vegetable Canning and Quick Freezing Research Association, Chipping Campden (which receives a grant from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research); the Pea Growing Research Organisation at Yaxley; and the research department of a large canning firm. Considerable progress has been made over the past three years in providing reliable standardisation samples. During the past two seasons samples of specially prepared processed peas were distributed from Campden to most pea canners to enable them to standardise their tenderometers. It is hoped ultimately that it may be possible to provide sufficient samples to standardise and to check all instruments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations were made to his Department, and when, regarding two alternative proposals for development in the village of Long Newton, Stockton Rural District; and what was his reply.

No representations have been received by my Ministry about proposals for development at Long Newton, Stockton rural district.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he approved the alteration of the county plan which will interfere with existing farms and small holdings at Long Newton, in the Stockton Rural District.

The approval of amendments to development plans is the responsibility of the Minister of Housing and Local Government. I understand from my right hon. Friend that no decision has yet been taken on the proposed amendment and addition to the Durham County Development Plan affecting Long Newton in the Stockton Rural District which is still under consideration by him. He will, of course, have full regard to all the relevant factors including agricultural considerations about which he is consult ng me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider increasing the maximum weight of heifers eligible for quality payment from nine to 10 cwt. before consideration of the 1959 Price Review is undertaken.

All standards of eligibility for the guarantees will be considered again in connection with the 1959 Annual Review. The maximum of nine cwt. for Grade 1 heifers was agreed with producers' representatives at the last two Reviews as being reasonable in relation to the present trends of consumer demand for lean meat and small joints. This maximum does not apply to a heifer which fulfils all the quality requirements and which is young enough to have grown not more than two broad teeth and has retained six calf teeth.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, since it has been officially announced by the Chief Planning Engineer of the Central Electricity Generating Board that no assurance can be given that there will not be danger from radioactive dust emitted from the proposed new nuclear power station at Dungeness, how far provision has been made to safeguard the health of the population and livestock in that district from contamination of the crops or water supply; and what compensation will be provided, and in what form, for such damage as may occur from this cause.

The Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance) Bill provides that no radioactive wastes—whether airborne, solid or water borne—shall be discharged from any nuclear power station except in accordance with authorisations given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and myself. Authorisations will be granted only if we are satisfied beyond doubt on independent scientific advice that the proposed discharges cannot harm people or livestock in the neighbourhood through contamination of crops or the water supply or otherwise. The Central Electricity Generating Board and all other operators of nuclear establishments will be liable for hurt or damage to persons or property caused by radiation from their establishments, even though this may have been due to unavoidable accident.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is continuing to watch the conditions under which cattle are exported to Europe; and if he is satisfied that this export is now being done under humane conditions.

Yes. I have no evidence that this trade is not being carried on in a humane manner.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many awards for information in cases of sheep worrying have been made in the county of Norfolk in the last 12 months.

I do not make any such awards, and I have no knowledge of any awards from other sources in the county of Norfolk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the interest in this country in the Bowen technique of sheep shearing now practised in New Zealand, if he will ascertain what film strips have been made there illustrating this method, and cause them to be available for showing to British farmers.

I am informed that the British Wool Marketing Board have films illustrating the Bowen technique which are readily available on loan for showing to farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, why in their recent report the Nature Conservancy continue to show a loss on their catering at Moor House Field Station and Anancaun Field Station; and what further steps are to be taken to prevent this loss in future years.

These two remote field stations form an essential part of the Nature Conservancy's scientific and research organisation, and the losses on catering are part of the cost of running them. The Nature Conservancy are, however, still endeavouring to reduce their catering losses at the Field Stations and have obtained the advice of the Treasury Chief Catering Adviser, whose recommendations are now being considered.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons are not now in receipt of a retirement pension, because they were over retirement age in 1948, and were excluded from pre-1948 State old-age pension schemes on the grounds of their occupation; what would be the present annual cost of granting such persons the full basic retirement pension; and by how much it is estimated that this cost will have been diminished by death five years hence.

I regret that precise information is not available, but it is estimated that the cost to the National Insurance Fund of giving retirement pensions at the standard rates to those persons who were over minimum pension age in July, 1948, and are not now receiving retirement pensions would be about £90 million a year, declining to about £50 million in five years' time.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the established criterion for a self-employed writer or author to satisfy the authorities that he is retired and is qualified to claim a retirement pension.

Under the National Insurance Act, 1946, anyone who is more than five years over minimum pension age is treated as retired. Those over pension age who are younger than this can also be treated as retired from regular employment, despite the fact that they still have a gainful occupation, if they engage in that occupation only occasionally, or to an inconsiderable extent, or otherwise in circumstances not inconsistent with retirement.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will now state when arrangements to pay retirement pensions in a form suitable for payment into a bank will be made; and what steps should be taken by pensioners who wish to use this method.

Yes. The new arrangement by which retirement pensions can be paid quarterly in arrear by crossed postal drafts which can be paid by the pensioner into his or her bank will come into effect at the beginning of February. A form of application and leaflet explaining the arrangements can now be obtained from all local Pensions and National Insurance offices. Pensioners who wish to have their pensions paid in this way should apply now to their local office if they have not already done so.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider introducing legislation to enable him to purchase goods, including coal, for annual distribution to old-age pensioners at Christmas.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will take powers to enable him to make purchases of commodities, including coal, in order to make free Christmas distributions each year to old-age pensioners and those in receipt of National Assistance.

No. I share the view of my predecessors that any such benefits in kind would be quite inappropriate to our social services.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will institute an inquiry into pension benefits for widows and widowed mothers.

The widows' benefits of the National Insurance scheme were fully reviewed in 1956 by the National Insurance Advisory Committee, and following its recommendations a number of changes were made which came into effect between August, 1956, and February, 1957. I do not think a fresh formal inquiry would be helpful at present.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what weekly amount is deducted from the allowance of a widowed mother, having three children of school age, who accepts employment bringing her £7 10s per week.

On the assumption that her allowable expenses did not exceed 30s. a week, 50s. would be deducted from her widowed mother's allowance of £4 14s. Od. The deduction would be less if the expenses exceeded 30s.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what amount the 10s. widow's pension would have to be raised to represent the same purchasing power as when originally introduced.

The Answer is 19s. 10d., measured since January, 1926, by the Cost of Living Index and the Retail Prices Index.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that in the case of part-time working in the textile industry workers normally employed on a Saturday are paid at the rate of 50s. a week and workers who were not normally employed on a Saturday are being paid at the rate of C2 Is. 8d. a week; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this anomaly.

No. The hon. Gentleman is apparently misinformed. Unemployment benefit to which 1 assume his Question refers is calculated on a daily basis and no one still in employment, even though on short-time, would be in receipt of the weekly amounts of personal benefit he mentions. The amount of benefit payable weekly to a wholly unemployed worker is the same whether he has ordinarily been employed on Saturdays or not.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware of the decision of an umpire that, where short-time unemployment has continued for a considerable period, an applicant for unemployment benefit may be refused benefit on the ground that his normal full working week should be computed on the basis of his period of weekly employment during the preceding twelve months; and, in view of the effect of this decision in the textile industry, what action he proposes to take to remedy the disclosed anomaly.

It is a longstanding rule that unemployment benefit is not payable to a person who has been employed in any week to the full extent normal in his case. The application of the rule to individual claims is a matter for the independent statutory authorities whose case law on this question has, I understand, remained substantially unaltered for many years. I have, of course, no power to interfere with their decisions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance under what circumstances applications for pension which have been rejected by a war pensions committee can be reconsidered; what weight is given to the opinion of such committees; and upon what basis members of such committees are selected.

War Pensions Committees are made up of persons appointed by my right hon. Friend after consultation with various interests representative of different sections of the community, including disabled ex-Service men and members of voluntary associations engaged in the care of such men or their families. The committees act in an advisory capacity and their recommendations are given the fullest consideration. It is always open to an applicant whose complaint concerning refusal of pension has not been supported by his local War Pensions Committee to represent his case afresh to my Department.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why payments of the allowance for lowered standard of occupation to war pensioners assessed below 20 per cent. cease when the weekly payments of pension cease, even when the disability has been classified as of indeterminate duration and is still preventing the pensioner from following his regular occupation or one of equivalent standard.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. An award of an allowance for lowered standard of occupation may continue, or indeed a new award of such an allowance may be made, even though other payments in respect of disablement assessed at less than 20 per cent. have ceased.

asked the Paymaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the mining subsidence which is damaging All Saints Church, Sutton, the Sutton Church of England National School, and the Sutton Church of England Parish Church, in the County Borough of St. Helens; if he will communicate with the National Coal Board with special regard to the subsidence affecting these churches and the National Church School; and if he will make a statement.

No. Under the Coal Mining (Subsidence) Act, 1957, this is a matter between the National Coal Board and the church authorities.

asked the Paymaster-General if, in view of the projected closure of coal mines at Aberbaiden and Pentre, he will now withdraw his approval for the proposed schemes for opencast mining at Aberkenfig and Bryncethin, which are both destructive of civic amenities and good agricultural land, as a means of protecting the community of Mid-Glamorgan from the destruction of its resources and the unemployment of its citizens.

The names of the sites to be derequisitioned as a consequence of the cut in the opencast programme have been announced; they include the Bryncethin site, The Aberkenfig site is still required.

asked the Paymaster-General, in view of the high level of coal stocks at the present moment, to what extent he intends to persist with his authorisation of opencast coalmining operations in the western area of Notton.

No authorisation has been given for the working of coal in this area. My noble Friend does not propose to withdraw the authority under which the National Coal Board is at present carrying out prospecting operations.

asked the Paymaster-General how many pits classified as uneconomic are currently producing coal in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively; and to what extent these figures are related to the recently announced policy on the closure of such pits.

The Board is at all times operating some pits at a profit and others at a loss. Pits frequently move from one category to the other and no useful conclusion can be drawn from the numbers of pits working at a loss at any given time. The 36 pits which the National Coal Board intends to close down during 1959 are all highly uneconomic.

asked the Paymaster-General what proportion of the cost of domestic coal delivered in the London area is accounted for by distribution charges; and by how much this proportion has increased in the last twelve months.

Retail coal prices were freed from statutory control on 14th July, 1958, and my noble Friend has no detailed information on current distribution charges. Such charges have always varied according to local costs and may now be further affected by competition between retail traders.

asked the Paymaster-General when the new smokeless fuel known as "Derbylite" will be marketed; what is the estimated output; and how far the National Coal Board will be free to fix its own economic price for this new fuel.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that it is considering the possibility of marketing a fuel under this name but that it is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Paymaster-General the amount of capital expenditure carried out by the steel industry from 1953 in each district of Great Britain.

Following is the information:

IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY
Capital Expenditure, 1953–57*
District		£'000
1.	Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northampton shire and Essex	17,918
2.	Lancashire (other than 10), Denbighshire, Flintshire and Cheshire	29.366
3.	Yorkshire (other than 5 and 9)	None
4.	Lincolnshire	28,901
5.	North-East Coast	63,147
6.	Scotland	36,388
7.	Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire	14,738
8.	South Wales and Monmouthshire	105,090
9.	Sheffield	29,086
10.	North-West Coast	3,556
* The figures relate to production facilities for iron and steel activities as defined in the Iron and Steel Act, 1953, and do not include development schemes costing £100,000 or less, or expenditure on ironfounding and steelfounding. Figures for 1958 are not yet available.

asked the Paymaster-General how many atomic power stations are to be built within the re-phased pro- gramme; and to what extent he has considered how this cut down in number is affecting the building companies concerned.

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on 3rd April, it now seems likely that the programme can be fulfilled with fourteen or fewer stations. I have no reason to believe that the nuclear power consortia are adversely affected by an achievement to which they have largely contributed.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) if he will give the names of the coal-burning power stations currently being converted to the use of oil, the total amount of coal equivalent in which oil will displace coal at these power stations and the length of the oil contract in each case;(2) if he will give the names of coal-burning power stations now converted to oil, the total annual amount of coal equivalent involved and the length in each case of the oil contract.

the following is the information:Coal-burning stations in the process of conversion to oil:

asked the Paymaster-General whether he has now reviewed the investment in the electricity industry in relation to the restoration of cuts in the capital allocations for rural electrification to area electricity boards; and if he will now make a further statement on the matter.

Area Boards have been authorised to undertake some additional work on distribution systems, including rural electrification, and this is being put in hand at once.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will state the result of the inquiry and inspection made by his inspectors with regard to the proposed 275 k.v. line from Canterbury to Lydd which took place in November.

I am not yet able to state the result of this inquiry.

asked the Minister of Supply what sum is being paid to the Dutch firm, Werkspoor, for two radio telescopes; and when delivery will be effected.

It is against established practice to reveal contract prices, but I can say that some figures which I have seen quoted are greatly exaggerated. The delivery of the first telescope should be completed by September. 1959, and the second by March, 1960.

asked the Minister of Supply in what proportions the money earmarked for expenditure in the years 1958–59 and 1959–60 on research on manned aircraft and aero engines is being, and will be, divided as between Government research establishments and the aircraft and aero-engine manufacturers, with comparative figures for 1956–57 and 1957–58.

The comparative figures for the years referred to show very little change in the proportion of money spent on aeronautical research and development at Government Establishments and in industry. It is not possible to distinguish accurately between research and development but taking both together, much the greater proportion of the money is spent with industry.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied that in deciding Service requirements for manned aircraft and aero engines there is adequate Government machinery for ensuring that the export potential of the types of aircraft and aero engines in question is fully taken into account; and what that machinery is.

Requirements for combat aircraft are necessarily determined by operational needs. But in the determination of the requirement advantage is taken of the facilities for consultation within the Commonwealth, N.A.T.O. and Western European Union.

asked the Minister of Supply what measures he is taking to keep down the disturbance caused by aircraft, ordered by him, flying at supersonic speeds over the Blackpool area.

Supersonic flights are essential to the Ministry of Supply's development work for the defence programme, but I realise that they can cause some disturbance. I have taken special measures to minimise this, as described in the reply to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Sir A. Bossom), on 11th July, 1955—(OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 1577–8). These provide that supersonic flights shall, whenever possible, take place over the sea. If they must be made over land, they are carried out above 30,000 feet, except in very rare cases. These exceptional cases are authorised individually, with a minimum height for the boom, and only over sparsely populated areas. These instructions are strictly observed, and are not relaxed even for bad weather.Supersonic booms heard in the Blackpool area are caused mostly by the Ministry's Lightning aircraft which have to be tested from Warton airfield. The supersonic flights normally take place over the Irish Sea, but at the great speeds at which this aircraft is now flying, it is very difficult to carry out useful tests without sometimes approaching the mainland or the Isle of Man. The aircraft are normally directed by the Royal Air Force radar surveillance.Supersonic booms may be heard over a wide area, which may extend to as much as 15 miles on either side of the aircraft track. But damage is rare, and usually of a minor nature. This was shown by the results of an investigation made by the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research which were given in reply to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) on 20th November, 1957— (OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 42–43).The restrictions on supersonic flying add to the difficulties of the Ministry of Supply development programme, but in order to minimise the disturbance to the public in the Irish Sea coastal areas, I shall continue to require that most of these flights are carried out over the sea and shall allow flying over land only when it is essential.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the number of qualified doctors who are leaving this country for abroad because of the difficulty of undertaking service as general practitioners in the National Health Service without capital; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made as to the provision of increased facilities for entrance to this service.

As regards the first part of the Question on the numbers of doctors leaving this country I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 24th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Dr. D. Johnson). On the second part, the numbers of doctors providing general medical services under the National Health Service as principals in England and Wales increased from 17,204 in 1952 to 19,343 in 1957, a rise of 12·4 per cent., and the increase has continued since then. This does not suggest that an inquiry is needed into further measures to facilitate entry into general practice.

asked the Minister of Health the result of his consideration of the recommendation by the County Executive Council on 10th September, that a Kent dentist should be fined £1,500 and removed from the dental list on the grounds that he had claimed fees for work not done, and had failed to give proper treatment, after having been found guilty and fined on five previous occasions; and, in view of this record, if he will give the name of the dentist concerned.

The hon. Member is mistaken in thinking that the Executive Council has represented that the dentist should be removed from the dental list. My consideration of the recommended withholding of remuneration is not yet complete, and it would therefore be improper for me to comment upon the case.

asked the Minister of Health what action he has taken on representations made to him by the Bolton Corporation to tighten up the inspection arrangements at the ports in order to reduce to a minimum the amount of contaminated imported foodstuffs reaching the consumer.

The Medical Committee of the Association of Port Health Authorities has been asked to remind the members of the need to look for this type of contamination when examining imported food, but it must be borne in mind that infestation and contamination by insects and rodents often occurs during storage and transport of imported food after clearance at the port.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of port health authorities are engaged in systematic investigation by microscopic analyses of imported foodstuffs for insect and rodent contamination.

I regret that statistical information about particular types of examination is not available. It is the responsibility of the authority to decide what type of analysis is appropriate to the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, according to the Report on Morbidity Statistics recently published by the Chief Medical Statistician, at least 2 million people receive treatment for psychoneurotic disorders from family doctors in any one year what is the estimated total cost to the nation of the treatment of such disorders both inside and outside hospitals; and what is the estimated public expenditure on research into mental illness in the current year.

I am aware of this Report. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not available. One hundred and thirty thousand pounds is expected to be spent during this financial year by the Medical Research Council on research into the causes of mental illness. Exchequer funds estimated at £8,500 are also expected to be spent this year within the National Health Service in England and Wales on research in this field. In addition, research is supported by universities and medical schools but the financial details are not available.

asked the Minister of Health the expenditure on mental health and welfare services by local authorities for the years 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58 and 1958–59.

The approximate estimate net expenditure on mental health services provided by local authorities under Section 28 or 51 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, is shown in the following table:

				£ million
1955–56	…	…	…	2·65
1956–57	…	…	…	3·15
1957–58	…	…	…	3·65
1958–59	…	…	…	4·1

Separate figures are not available for expenditure on other services provided by local health and local welfare authorities from which persons suffering from mental disorders among others may benefit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a long waiting list for tonsil and adenoid operations in West Bromwich; and what proposals he has whereby it may be shortened.

Yes. I am informed that arrangements have been made for two extra operating sessions a week.

asked the Minister of Health the number of private beds in the various hospitals in the northern region; and if he will give monthly figures as to how many were occupied from October, 1957, inclusive, until the latest available month.

The Answer is 304. Monthly figures for the proportion of occupied beds are not available, but the average for 1957 was a little under 70 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give instructions that the name and address of every child under 10 years of age who is admitted to hospital for burns and scalds shall be at once communicated to the medical officer of health of the locality in which the child was living when the accident occurred so that advice as to the prevention of such accidents may be tendered to those responsible.

My right hon. and learned Friend has already asked hospital authorities to co-operate with medical officers of health by supplying them with certain information about persons of any age requiring hospital treatment as a result of accidents in the home. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the relevant memorandum.

asked the Minister of Health the average length of stay of patients in mental hospitals, mental deficiency hospitals, and general hospitals, respectively, in the case of patients discharged in the last year for which statistics are available.

For all the available information, I would refer my hon. Friend to Part III of the second appendix to Part I of my Department's Annual Report for 1957.

asked the Minister of Health the number of working days lost through illness amongst the hospital service employees in the West Riding of Yorkshire; and the total amount of sick pay involved during the last twelve months for which figures are available.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the existing hospital accommodation for mentally defective children in the West Riding of Yorkshire; how many children are awaiting admission; and what is the average waiting time.

One hundred and eighty-nine children are awaiting admission to about 540 beds. Average waiting times would be misleading because the order of admission depends mostly on the urgency of the case; they have therefore not been calculated.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research is in progress into the relationship between urban living and neurosis.

The distribution of different personality characteristics is being studied in an urban community. Other work is in progress on the attitude of individuals in towns and in the country to chronic ill-health. The causes of mental breakdown in patients from a new town and of neuroticism in medical and surgical out-patients attending an urban hospital are also being studied.These researches are in progress at the Medical Research Council's Neuropsychiatric Research Unit in Cardiff, the Council's Social Psychiatry Research Unit collaborating with the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit, and the Council's Clinical Psychiatry Research Unit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason busts are subjected to Purchase Tax at 30 per cent. unless specially designed for the display of wearing apparel or comprised in any group other than Group 25; under what other groups busts are subject to Purchase Tax; and at what rates.

Because that is the rate of tax which applies to domestic ornaments generally. Busts, as such, are not taxable except under Group 25.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the trade organisations concerned first made representations to him with regard to the ruling of the Customs and Excise authority that Alice bands should be liable to Purchase Tax at the rate of 30 per cent.; on what grounds it was decided that the rate should be reduced to 5 per cent.; and whether, in connection with the decision that these bands will still be chargeable to tax at 30 per cent. if decorated with semi-precious stones, he will provide a list of the stones which are regarded as semi-precious for this purpose.

No such representations were made. It was decided after consultation with the trade, that these bands should be treated as minor articles of apparel entitled to the benefit of the 5 per cent. rate, notwithstanding the incorporation of imitation stones or pearls.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the continued delay in relevant negotiations with Egypt, if he will now consider appointing an arbitration and settlement board to deal with the claims of British businessmen who lost their homes, livelihood and future in Egypt in 1956, and authorise settlement out of the £98 million blocked sterling assets due to the Egyptian Government.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the weight and money value of the fish exported from Aberdeen to Russia, Canada and Africa. respectively, during each of the last five years to the latest convenient date.

As the hon. and learned Member is aware, the detailed information he wants is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate trouble and expense. I am, however, circulating below the figures of total exports of fish and fish preparations from Aberdeen in the last five years. These figures do not represent the total exports of fish landed at Aberdeen since the bulk of the fish exported is consigned abroad through other ports.Following are the figures:

—				Cwt.	Value
					£
1953	…	…	…	23,208	77,048
1954	…	…	…	1,025	9,149
1955	…	…	…	9,504	45,550
1956	…	…	…	22,639	95,838
1957	…	…	…	975	5,995

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland details of the weight of fish landed by Aberdeen-based trawlers at English ports for each of the last five years, indicating what English ports and the weight of fish landed at each.

I regret that the information required is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate trouble and expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, in view of the fact that the Nature Conservancy has decided not to publish Dr. Darling's survey of red deer in Scotland, a further grant has been made towards the cost of this survey, as well as setting up a duplicate survey under the Conservancy's own staff.

No further grant has been made towards the cost of Dr. Darling's Survey.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why senior officers of the Metropolitan Police not in uniform, are permitted to check, criticise or give orders to police constables on duty before giving evidence of their authority.

In the Metropolitan Police, if a police constable in these circumstances does not recognise a senior officer who addresses him he would be right in asking him to prove his identity and the senior officer would always do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps have been taken to bring the Attachment of Wages Act, 1958, into force.

I have appointed 16th February, 1959, as the date for the coming into operation of the Maintenance Orders Act, 1958, which provides among other things for the attachment of the earnings of maintenance defaulters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British refugees from Egypt now await resettlement in this country or overseas.

About 425 refugees at present wholly or partially maintained by the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board have not yet been resettled: up to about 30 of these may be helped to emigrate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of prosecutions in the Metropolitan area for the last convenient period against men accused of importuning women and girls.

I regret that this information is not available. Men who importune women and girls are usually charged with using insulting words and behaviour, and neither the statistics of this offence nor those of proceedings under Section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act, 1956, enable this type of offence to be distinguished from others.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he is aware that the construction of a number of nuclear power stations near great industrial centres is creating hazards for the population of these cities; what steps are being taken to protect the people against these dangers; and what proportion of the cost of protective or preventive measures will fall upon Government funds;(2) if he will provide local authorities situated within a short distance from any nuclear power station with all the information available as to what might be the level of radioactivity in the area when the stations are fully employed; and if he will indicate his willingness to cooperate with health authorities on the problems which are likely to arise in the future;(3) if he is aware of the danger of radioactivity on food and water arising from the erection of nuclear power stations; and what steps are being taken to provide local authorities with the necessary equipment for the detection of radioactivity and to provide them with all the information already in possession of his Department.

I do not accept the implications in these Questions about danger. The nuclear power stations which are being built for the commercial production of electricity are not sited close to centres of population. They are of inherently safe design, and will present no more hazard to people living nearby than many existing industrial works.The discharges of radioactive material will be very small, and will be carefully controlled. Under the Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance) Bill, now under discussion in another place, no discharge of radioactive wastes will be permitted except in accordance with authorisations given, so far as England and Wales are concerned, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and myself; and they will be given only after consultation with such public or local authorities are appear proper to be consulted.The Government accept the responsibility for seeing that adequate arrangements are made for the monitoring of radioactivity in the surrounding areas; the cost, in so far as it is not borne by the owners of the reactors, will be met from Exchequer funds. The Government are also fully aware of the need for nearby authorities to be kept informed of the arrangements proposed, and they will be consulted in due time as to the terms of the authorisations to be given and as to the arrangements for checking the effect of the discharges.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the assurances that have been given that educational development would not be prejudiced by the introduction of the block grant, why the total provisional amount of general grant for the Borough of Huddersfield for the year 1959–60 is less than the specific education grants that would have been made, based on estimates for the year 1959–60, if the making of specific education grants had been maintained.

The new system under the Local Government Act, 1958, which will be introduced with suitable arrangements to ease the transition, is designed to distribute a general grant according to the relative needs of the authorities in substitution for grants related to expenditure. Many factors have to be taken into account, as explained in the discussions on the Bill and in the recent debate on the first general grant order. One of these factors is the pooling of certain education expenditure, which will result in a substantial increase in the provisional amount of general grant for the County Borough of Huddersfield.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if he will supply a list showing the various rents charged for private dwelling houses in Crawley by the Crawley Development Corporation in respect of all its different properties; and what encouragement is given to tenants to persuade them to purchase corporation houses;(2) the basis of computing the price of private dwelling houses which the Crawley Development Corporation offers to its tenants for its purchase.

The following table gives the range of exclusive rents charged by Crawley Development Corporation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new industrial projects have been approved by him, but have not yet been started, for Wales and Monmouthshire; and what are the probable sizes of such projects.

The Answer is that 1,117 industrial building projects have been given location approval from the beginning of 1945 to the end of November, 1958. Of these 208, in area over 5½ million square feet, have not been notified as having started.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factory sites and factories in Wales and Monmouthshire are vacant and available for the placing there of new industries; and if he will give details of them.

Thirteen vacant Government-owned factories are available. They are at Bridgend, Cymmer, Dowlais, Llandaff, Maisteg, Neath, Llanishen, Hirwaun, Fforestfach and Treorchy. Similar information about factories in private ownership is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has suggested parts of Wales and Monmouthshire, and which parts, as convenient for sites for new industries during the period of twelve months up to the latest convenient date.

During the past twelve months the Board of Trade has suggested to firms seeking new industrial development that parts of Wales and Monmouthshire, particularly those areas with high and persistent unemployment where Government financial assistance is available, offer good opportunities for new industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will curtail the imports of Portuguese boxboards in favour of round logs, from other sources, if necessary, in order to give increased employment to sawmilling and boxmaking companies in Aberdeen.

Quota restrictions would not be an appropriate method of dealing with this problem and I do not know what other method the hon. Lady may have in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the increasing American efforts to increase their export of atomic power stations to Europe; and to what extent Her Majesty's Government is assisting the British atomic power companies in their endeavours to compete fairly with the Americans in this field.

Yes. Departments and the Atomic Energy Authority keep in close touch with manufacturers of nuclear equipment and, as I said on 29th April in Answer to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd), we give all the help and support that we can to this industry, both through our representatives abroad and the insurance of credit risks, in developing export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the tariff negotiations with Switzerland under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Yes. The tariff negotiations between Switzerland and a number of contracting parties to the G.A.T.T., including the United Kingdom, have now been completed. The negotiations were a preliminary to Switzerland's provisional accession to the General Agreement on 22nd November. The tariff commitments to be undertaken by Switzerland will benefit a wide range of United Kingdom exports. They relate to the rates of duty in the new Swiss tariff which will come into effect in the course of 1959. On our side we have agreed to some limited reductions in the duties on a number of products of interest to Switzerland. An Order will be laid after the Christmas Recess to give effect to these reductions.Copies of the tariff Schedules showing the new maximum rates of duty agreed in the negotiations will be published in Geneva today and will be made available in this country through the Stationery

	1957					1958
—	Jan.-Mar.	Apr.-June	July-Sept.	Oct.	Total	Jan.-Mar.	Apr.-June	July-Sept.	Oct.	Total
R.A.F.
Apprentices	425	398	*624	—	1,447	435	262	*593	—	1,290
Boys	586	617	—	‡743	1,946	579	†907	—	897	2,383
9 years and over	768	657	598	309	2,332	1,152	1,582	1,397	508	4,639
5–8 years	1,161	705	502	235	2,603	623	819	1,056	583	3,081
4 years	806	189	244	117	1,356	315	320	327	135	1,097
3 years	3,052	1,498	1,072	533	6,155	1,970	2,011	2,283	991	7,255
Total	6,798	4,064	3,040	1,937	15,839	5,074	5,901	5,656	3,114	19,745
W.R.A.F.
TOTAL	394	295	266	97	1,052	328	415	403	149	1,295
* Total Entry (includes belated October entrants).
† Total Entry (includes belated July entrants).
‡ Total Entry (includes belated November entrants).

asked the Minister of Defence whether he has yet replied to the preliminary approaches from the United States of America for permission to set up a missile-warning radar station in the North of Scotland and in what sense.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm MacMillan) on 19th November, to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will circulate in HANSARD a statement giving the latest recruiting figures for the Royal Air Force and the Women's Royal Air Force.

Following are the figures for the period January to October, together with those for the corresponding period in 1957:

asked the Secretary of State for Air why no military aircraft are available for air-refuelling; and what plans he has to remedy this deficiency.

As announced in paragraph 29 of the Memorandum accompanying the Air Estimates for this year plans are being implemented to give Bomber Command a flight refuelling capability.

asked the Minister of Labour the average daily figure for the month of November, 1958, of dockers in the Royal Group of London Docks who were surplus to requirements; what percentage this surplus is of the total dockers on the register for these docks; and how these figures compare with those for November, 1957.

The following is the information asked for by the hon. Member:

SURPLUS LABOUR IN ROYAL GROUP OF LONDON DOCKS
(SUPPLIED BY NATIONAL DOCKS LABOUR BORAD)
Daily average number proving attendance and for whom no work was available		Surplus expressed as a percentage of workers registered
November, 1958	November, 1957	November, 1958	November. 1957
976	776	12·0	9·3

asked the Minister of Labour the average daily figure for the month of November, 1958, of dockers in the Port of London who were surplus to requirements; what percentage this surplus is of the total dockers on the register for the port; and how these figures compare with those for November, 1957.

The following is the information asked for by the hon. Member:

asked the Minister of Labour the latest figures for unemployment and short-time working in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, respectively; and how these figures compare with those of a year ago.

On 17th November, 1958, there were 601 persons registered as wholly unemployed at the Lincoln Employment Exchange and 832 as temporarily stopped. For the rest of the County of Lincolnshire the figures were 5,081 and 280 respectively. Comparative figures for a year ago were 453 and 189 for Lincoln, and 3,494 and 162 for the rest of the county.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the number of unemployed metal workers registering at Coatbridge and Airdrie Employment Exchanges for October, 1957, was 62 and is now 1,086; and, as this represents the largest percentage increase in Lanarkshire, what steps are being taken to bring work to this area.

I am aware that the increase is proportionately one of the biggest in Lanarkshire. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is continuing to bring the area to the attention of suitable industrialists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of the national income is at present devoted by his Department to raising the living standards of people in the under-developed parts of the Colonial Territories.

It is estimated that curing the current year a sum of the order of £100 million will be made available from United Kingdom sources for expenditure in Colonial Territories which will either directly or indirectly raise the living standards of those territories. Of this amount public funds are expected to contribute about half. The total represents 0·6 per cent. of the national income of the United Kingdom in 1957. This is for the Colonies only; our total contribution to economic development in the Commonwealth as a whole is nearly 1¼ per cent. of our national income.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the growth of demand for telephones in Welwyn Garden City due to the rapidly expanding population; and what steps he proposes to take to satisfy the demand pending the opening of the new automatic telephone exchange.

Yes. We are doing all we can to meet the demand. We have installed 281 telephones in the past twelve months; a new cable will be completed in the spring, and the equipment at the exchange is being enlarged.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects that work will be begun on the building of the new automatic telephone exchange at Welwyn Garden City.

I had hoped that a start would be made this month, but unfortunately this is not possible. Work will begin next month, or early February.

asked the Postmaster-General how many persons in Welwyn Garden City are awaiting the installation of a telephone at the latest available date; and what is the average time which applicants have to wait before the telephone is installed.

At 30th November there were 25. In addition, 116 orders were under inquiry or in course of being met. Where plant is available, the average time between receipt of the order and installation is two to three months.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the congestion of road traffic through the bottleneck of King's Lynn, particularly at weekends and during the summer months, and that the closing down of parts of the Midland and Great Northern Railway will add to the road difficulties through the town; and what steps he intends taking in order to alleviate this congestion.

Yes. I am considering improving the junction of A.47 with A.149 at South Gates, and when funds permit I hope to make a grant towards schemes of the Norfolk County Council to improve the Gaywood Road Level Crossing and Eastgate Bridge on A.149. I regret that I cannot at present include the eastern by-pass of King's Lynn in my road programme, but I shall continue to bear it in mind.

asked the Minister jf Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the transport dislocation on the East Mill Road, Morpeth, made generally more difficult by the present icy conditions; and whether he will speed up Government action to enable essential road improvement to be carried out.

I have nothing to add as yet to the reply I gave on 26th November last.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is impeding the development of the Tyne Tunnel scheme; and whether he will now make a further statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tyne-mouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 5th November.