asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the farmers in Shropshire with farms of over five acres are mainly dependent on farming.

The Agricultural Returns do not show whether the occupier is mainly dependent upon farming. In June, 1957, 8,164 agricultural holdings in Shropshire were recorded as being of five acres and over of crops and grass. Of these, 2,776 were under 20 acres, the majority of which are likely to be part-time farms. Most of the remaining 5,388 holdings of 20 acres and over will be farms whose occupiers are mainly dependent on farming.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total area of agricultural land under the control of the Agricultural Land Commission on 31st March, 1955, and at the latest convenient date; what progress has been made in selling agricultural land controlled by the Commission; the total acreage of land now approved for disposal; the acreage of which the sale has been completed; of how many acres the sale has been agreed but not yet completed; the balance of land cleared for sale but not yet the subject of an agreed sale; when this balance will be sold; and what further acreage is likely to be cleared for sale.

The total area of land under the control of the Agricultural Land Commission, including a small area not in use for agriculture, was 227,648 acres on 31st March, 1955, and 171,595 acres on 1st January, 1959. Since sales began in 1954, 81,085 acres have been approved for disposal. Of this, the sale of 44,326 acres has been completed, and price has been agreed but sale not completed in respect of a further 10,912 acres, leaving a balance of 25,847 acres so far cleared for sale but not yet subject to an agreed sale. It is hoped to dispose of the greater part of this balance in the next two years. As to future clearances, it is difficult at the moment to make any reliable estimate. I am reviewing the whole position and can assure my hon. Friend that no land will remain on the list for retention without very good reason.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will introduce legislation to permit the payment of unemployment benefit to school leavers who cannot find work or to their parents.

No. Unemployment benefit is a benefit of a contributory insurance scheme, and is therefore not available to those who have never contributed for it.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if. in his pensions proposals, he will include amendment of the earnings rule.

The House will have an opportunity tomorrow to discuss the Government's pensions proposals. I do not think I should anticipate that discussion.

asked the Paymaster-General the total tonnage of anthracite of all grades exported from Great Britain in 1958; and to what countries.

About 1·1 million tons, of which over four-fifths went to the Netherlands, France and Belgium.

asked the Paymaster-General the reason for allowing coal merchants only 80 per cent. of their normal requirements for household anthracite.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board, but I understand that the figure of 80 per cent. understates the proportion of deliveries to actual present-day requirements. Dispatches of anthracite and dry steam boiler nuts and of the smaller sizes of anthracite needed for certain specialised appliances are at a higher level than a year ago and there are ample supplies of "Phurnacite".

asked the Paymaster-General when he may expect to receive information, in accordance with the undertaking given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Power in his letter dated 19th December, 1958, to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland, concerning the famine of anthracite coals in Caithness, in view of the situation which has now arisen there owing to continued non-delivery.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 19th January and would refer him also to my Answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT for Tuesday, 20th January.

asked the Paymaster-General why the decision, dated 3rd December, 1958, to permit the construction of a Lurgi Complete Gasification Plant at Gorsey Lane, Coleshill, in the County of Warwick, was allowed to appear in the Press on 28th November, 1958, although the decision was dated 3rd December, 1958, and was received by the Warwickshire County Council and the Meriden Rural District Council on 4th December, 1958; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend did not authorise publication of this decision and no announcement was made by anyone in his Department.

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent he estimates that increased demand for coal consequent on electricity expansion will provide work for collieries threatened by closure.

Not at all. The increased demand for coal consequent on electricity expansion will provide extra work for miners but at other pits.

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent in present circumstances there is still a need for Government loans to encourage industry to save fuel.

My noble Friend has decided to discontinue the Government Loan Scheme, which was designed to enable industry to finance fuel efficiency measures at a time when it was not easy to obtain credit from normal sources. The discontinuance of the scheme does not, of course, imply any slackening in the Government's interest in the fuel efficiency campaign, which it will continue to promote by all appropriate means within its powers.Applications for loans which are now in an advanced stage of preparation will be considered, provided they reach the Ministry by 16th February, 1959.I should like to pay tribute to the valuable services given to the Government and many loan applicants by the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service, and in regard to finance by the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will now make a statement regarding the future of the Swallow aircraft.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 23rd January.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent he anticipates the decline of employment within the aircraft industry will be arrested following the placing of orders for the T.S.R.2, the Argosy freighter, and the other orders he is at present contemplating placing.

At this stage no reliable estimate can be given of the employment likely to be involved as a result of the orders in question, but they will undoubtedly be of assistance to the industry in meeting its employment problems and particularly in holding together valuable teams of skilled men.

asked the Minister of Health the number of vacant beds in each of the hospitals under the administrative control of the Cardiff Hospital Management Committee, and the number of people in Cardiff who are awaiting admission to hospital.

On 10th January, 1959, the number of vacant beds was:

St. David's Hospital	69
Sully Hospital	80
Price of Wales Orthopaedic Hospitals—
Rhydlafar	19
Crossways	3
Glan Ely Hospital	32
Rookwood Hospital	90
Lansdowne Hospital	138
Royal Harnadryad Hospital	6
Children's Ear Nose and Throat Hospital	8
Caerau Hospital	3
Barry Accident and Surgical Hospital	1
Barry Neale-Kent Hospital	Nil
St. Mary's Hospital, Penarth	Nil
Barry Maternity Hospital	1

On 10th January, 1959, waiting-lists for hospitals in the Cardiff Hospital Management Committee area and for the Cardiff Teaching Hospitals numbered 1,853 and 4,749 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what steps he intends to take to alleviate the position regarding the many people waiting for hospital beds in the northern region;(2) if he is aware of the large number of people waiting for hospital beds under the National Health Service in the northern region; and whether he will reduce the number of private beds, thus helping to alleviate this position;(3) the total number of hospital beds in the northern region; and what proportion are private beds.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that in this region, as in others, there are waiting lists and he relies on the hospital boards to continue to improve the services and to reduce waiting periods. Some £8·5 million has already been spent on capital development in this region and the number of consultants employed by the Regional Hospital Board has increased nearly threefold since the start of the National Health Service. Of the 27,000 beds available in the region on 31st December, 1957, only about 1 per cent. were private beds and to reduce the number of private beds would make virtually no difference to waiting lists.

asked the Minister of Health why he has authorised the Brighton and Lewes Hospital Management Committee to close the Sussex Maternity Hospital, Brighton, in view of the shortage of beds in that area and the traditions of this, the oldest maternity hospital in England, which has been 130 years in existence and has a training reputation throughout the Commonwealth.

No decision has been taken to close this hospital, nor have I been asked to authorise it. The South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board has prepared proposals for the development of hospital services in this area, which include the proposal to close the Sussex Maternity Hospital and provide more maternity beds at Brighton General Hospital. It is now engaged on consulting local interests about these proposals.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the number of people awaiting admission to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary Eye Ward, and the number of these listed as urgent;(2) what steps he is taking to increase, in Cardiff, the number of hospital beds available for patients requiring treatment for eye trouble; and whether he will make a statement.

One hundred and fifty-six patients are awaiting admission to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary eye ward, of whom 9 are classified as urgent. There are 37 beds in the Cardiff area for patients requiring eye treatment and, having regard to the rate of turnover of these beds, I do not regard this provision as unreasonable.

asked the Minister of Health the number of chronic sick people in Cardiff awaiting admission to hospital; and whether he will make a statement on this matter.

There are 91 chronic sick patients awaiting admission to hospitals in the Cardiff area. Thirty additional beds for the chronic sick are to be provided immediately, and proposals are being discussed with the Hospital Management Committee for the addition of a further 48 in 1959. Longer-term proposals for a comprehensive geriatric service for the area are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the present design of spectacle frames for children under the National Health Service is proving unsatisfactory; and what measures are being taken to introduce a stronger and more suitable frame.

In general my Ophthalmic Advisory Committee is satisfied that the standard frame for children normally used can adequately stand up to strain if well constructed and made of hard material. Minor improvements have, however, recently been made and on the Committee's advice I am also proposing to introduce a stronger frame.

asked the Minister of Health how many qualified consultant gynaecologists are now excluded from employment in the National Health Service and have been so excluded for a period exceeding six months, notwithstanding that they have applied for advertised vacancies or have indicated their willingness to serve.

None.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the increasing difficulty of qualified physicians obtaining adequate employment in the National Health Service; and how many have failed to obtain a post in the last twelve months to the most recent convenient date.

No. Consultant appointments are made by Regional Hospital Boards and Boards of Governors, and I have no information how many applicants have been unsuccessful over a particular period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on what further action he has taken to secure the implementation of the agreement to deprive Herr Alfried von Krupp of his armament monopoly; and with what success.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Krupp deconcentration plan which relates to enterprises in the coal, iron and steel industries. Since the House was last given details of the progress of the plan, Her Majesty's Government have been informed that the Krupp interest in the Harz-Lahn-Erzergbau Iron Ore mining concern, worth about £2 million and certain debentures worth about £3·8 million, have been disposed of in accordance with the plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date he received an approach from the Bonn Government concerning the film "Operation Teutonic Sword"; what was the nature of this approach; and what was his reply.

The Federal Government drew attention to this film in September last year. Their communication called for no reply and none was given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he is aware that the problems involved in Great Britain's dispute with Iceland about territorial waters is scheduled for consideration by the United Nations Conference on Sea Limits in 1960, and that the intervening period may be fraught with danger and with loss to the fishing industry, to fish distributors and to consumers; and if he will take steps to seek agreement to have the relevant problems heard and determined at an earlier date;

Her Majesty's Government would have preferred the second Conference on the Law of the Sea to be held at an earlier date and had themselves proposed that it should take place in 1959. The majority view at the United Nations General Assembly, however, was that the Conference should not be convened until March or April, 1960. Her Majesty's Government accepted with regret the view of the majority.With regard to the dispute with Iceland, Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly made clear their readiness to accept interim arrangements pending the outcome of the next Conference on the Law of the Sea. The Government of Iceland have unfortunately not been able to accept any of the proposals which have been made. Her Majesty's Government remain ready to make suitable interim arrangements to reduce the risk of incidents off Iceland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that during January, 1959, foreign trawlers have been seen fishing off the north-east, north and west of Great Britain thereby causing loss to the British fishing industry; what reports he has received about these incidents; and what steps he has taken to protect British interests.

I am aware that foreign trawlers have been working off our coasts in January, 1959, but I have received only one report of damage to the gear of a British vessel. Fishery protection patrols are being maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the accident which occurred on 1st January, 1959, at Peacockhill, near Lanark racecourse on the A.73 main road, he is satisfied that the safety precaution on and before the road-bend there is adequate.

The road surface was icebound at the time of the accident and I am satisfied that under normal conditions no special measures are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the accident which occurred on Busby Road, East Kilbridge, near Spring-bank Bridge, on 31st December, 1958, he is satisfied with the road safety precautions there.

The road surface was icebound at the time of the accident. I authorised a grant for the improvement of this road in August last and I understand that the work will begin in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the existing powers of the White Fish Authority to grant loans to processors of white fish to install plants are inadequate owing to the provisions of Scottish law relating to movable property as security for such loans, and that the co-relative powers possessed by the Herring Industry Board are effective for their purposes, if he will examine both sets of powers with a view to making the former effective for the needs of the industry; and what steps he proposes to rectify the situation.

I know that both the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board are at present precluded by law, when they make loans in Scotland, from taking security over movable property. But, as the hon. and learned Member is aware, these particular provisions of Scottish law have been referred for consideration to the Scottish Law Reform Committee. I am also at present considering, together with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, proposals which the White Fish Authority has recently submitted for new arrangements to govern the exercise of its powers to grant loans for processing plant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to make a statement about possible changes in Purchase Tax.

I have no statement to make. I must be free to consider the possibility of such changes in the context of the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider accepting tax reserve certificates in payment to account of taxes known to be due but of which the amount has not been finally determined.

I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind, but if he will send me particulars of any case in which difficulty has arisen I will look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when preparing his Budget, he will consider granting a special income tax allowance to people who are 100 per cent. disabled.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to secure the implementation of the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 105 within the territories comprised in Nigeria.

Consultations with the Governments concerned are well advanced. Her Majesty's Government favour the widest possible acceptance of the obligations of the Convention.

asked the Minister of Education the number of students in each of the years of the courses for the diploma in technology, including those enrolling in January, distinguishing the subjects of the courses.

This information, including the January enrolments, will not be available until the middle of February, but I will send it to the hon. Member as soon as I have it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions took place, in the latest recorded period, of persons who allowed their animals to stray on the highways; and how many of the persons concerned were farmers.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without obliging police forces to undertake an inordinate amount of detailed investigation.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals for providing employment for unemployed workers on Merseyside are to be put into operation arising from the recent visit of his Parliamentary Secretary to the district.

I have been asked to reply.The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade recently visited Merseyside and explained to the many people with whom he conferred that the Board of Trade is doing all it can to persuade firms to set up in Merseyside and the area is one of those in which financial assistance is available under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act both for firms wishing to move into the area and for firms already located there which may wish to expand.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the hand-franking of Christmas mail imposes hardship on Post Office personnel when the volume of mail runs into tens of thousands in a day; and whether he will authorise the provision of franking machines in greater numbers.

Stamp cancelling machines are already provided at the majority of sorting offices and their numbers are supplemented to some extent at Christmas. The standards of provision were eased comparatively recently and additional machines are now being installed on the basis of a phased programme. If the hon. Member has a particular office in mind I should be pleased to consider its needs.

asked the Postmaster-General how many post offices within the area of the County of Lanark have letter franking machines: and how many have not.

Twelve Crown Post Offices in Lanarkshire have stamp cancelling machines. Three are without, but machines are due to he installed at two of them within the next twelve months.

asked the Postmaster-General how many post offices in the British Isles, and in Scotland, respectively, have either electric or hand- operated mechanical franking machines; and how many, respectively, have not.

The information is as follows:

—	Offices with machines	Offices without machines
British Isles (excluding Scotland)	942	209
Scotland	115	55

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the post offices in the area of the County of Lanark are more than 25 years old; in view of the growth of postal traffic over the last quarter of a century, how many require structural improvement, if not total reconstruction, without delay; and on how many of these premises work will begin in 1959.

Fourteen Crown Post Offices in the County of Lanark are over 25 years old; six of them have been improved during that period. Eight offices need structural improvement or replacement. Work on five of these is expected to start this year.