asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the official attitude of the United Kingdom delegate to the Soviet proposal at the United Nations General Assembly that an agreement should be concluded calling for the prohibition of the military utilisation of cosmic space, and the launching of rockets into outer space only in accordance with a co-ordinated and agreed programme of scientific research.

The hon. Member for Uxbridge's Question fails to state the Soviet position accurately. The Soviet Government combined with their proposal about outer space proposals dealing with foreign military bases which were quite unacceptable.So far as outer space is concerned, the proposal for the establishment of some kind of international machinery to deal with the peaceful uses of outer space is common to both the Soviet and to the 20-Power draft resolutions. It remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government. It is on that common ground that we have since tried to build.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions have recently taken place in the United Nations regarding the use of the waters of the River Jordan by the State of Israel; and if he will make a statement.

In 1953, at the request of the Security Council, Israel suspended work on the diversion of the waters of the River Jordan in the demilitarised zone on the Syrian frontier. A resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom delegation, authorising the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation to find a compromise solution, was vetoed by the Soviet delegate. No progress towards a solution in the United Nations has since been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reasons he decided the time was not suitable for the establishment of a system of economic aid for Africa along the lines of the Colombo Plan, as suggested at the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe in December, 1958.

In its report to the Consultative Assembly last October the Committee of Ministers stated that it had not yet reached a decision concerning the conference on economic development in Africa proposed by the Assembly in Recommendation No. 159. This view was repeated at the joint meeting on the 15th December at which my right hon. and learned Friend presided. It was the agreed view of the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement giving Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the Soviet Government's proposed peace treaty with Germany so far as Article 13 in connection with Germany and Austria is concerned; and to what extent Her Majesty's Government accepts this Article.

So far as the matters covered by Article 13 of the Soviet draft Peace Treaty with Germany are concerned, Her Majesty's Government's position is of course already governed by Articles 3 and 4 of the Austrian State Treaty concluded at Vienna on 15th May, 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has received from the United States Government to the British protest against recent official American complaints to the effect that the formulation of plans to meet the contingency of another Berlin blockade were being impeded by British objections to the use of land forces; and whether he will give an assurance that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to co-ordinate with Great Britain's Allies all necessary plans to ensure the maintenance of all British rights in Berlin.

There has been no American complaint. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in any Peace Treaty with Germany, Her Majesty's Government will insist that Germany recognises that the territory of Alsace-Lorraine is an integral part of the French Republic.

Alsace-Lorraine is of course an integral part of the French Republic. The Federal Government acknowledge that fact.

asked the Minister of Labour what he is doing to provide alternative employment for aircraft workers declared redundant in Bristol.

As I informed the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East (Mr. Coldrick) on 4th February arrangements have been made to register redundant workers in advance of their discharge so that they can be submitted to alternative employment without delay.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of unemployed men and women in Stoke-on-Trent on 30th January, 1959.

At 12th January, 1959, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 3,753 males and 1,500 females registered as unemployed in Stoke-on-Trent.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will give the number of unemployed up to the latest possible date of the various categories in each employment exchange area in the northern region; and how these figures compare with the national average;(2) if he will give the number of unemployed in each individual unemployment exchange area up to the latest possible date in the northern region; and how these figures compare with the national average;

asked the Minister of Labour how many men over 65 years of age have been forced to retire from work during the past twelve months as a result of the trade depression.

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls in

I have had a table prepared showing the numbers of men, boys, women and girls registered as unemployed at every Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office in the Northern Region at 12th January. As the table is a very extensive one I am sending it to the hon. Member. I regret that it is not possible to undertake the very large amount of work that would be involved in computing percentage rates of unemployment for each area for the period to which the hon. Member refers, but I am sending him a second table showing the percentages rates for the Northern Region and for Great Britain as a whole for each month since September, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men, women and juveniles registered in Goole at the latest available date; and the figures for comparable periods in 1958 and 1951.

The table below gives the information desired.Sunderland have left school but have since not been able to find employment.

Sixty-one boys and 4 girls who left school at Christmas, 1958, have not yet been placed in employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increasing difficulties of juveniles in securing employment, he will initiate the convening of regional conferences of interested parties to discuss the problem.

No. The measures announced by the Government to stimulate a rise in the level of industrial activity offer the best prospects of meeting the situation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet received notice of a dispute which has arisen in consequence of the failure of negotiations in the Probation Officers' Committee of the Scottish Joint Industrial Council for Local Authority Services, with regard to the salaries of senior probation officers in Scotland; and what action he has taken about it.

This dispute was reported to my Industrial Relations Officer in Scotland earlier this week for reference to the Industrial Court.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest available figures of unemployed registered in Holborn and St. Pancras; how many are on the disabled register; and how many, in each category, have been unemployed for more than eight weeks.

At 12th January, 1959, the total number registered as unemployed at the offices covering these areas was 3,746 of whom 1,527 had been unemployed for more than eight weeks. The former total included 308 registered disabled persons suitable for ordinary employment and in addition there were 22 such persons classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions. I will write to the hon. Member about the number of registered disabled persons who had been unemployed for more than eight weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workers in the County Borough of West Ham who were wholly unemployed and temporarily stopped, on a convenient stated date in the middle of January, for each of the years from 1951 to 1959, respectively, together with the number of reported vacancies on those dates.

The table below gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered in the radio and aircraft industries at the latest convenient date, and the comparative figures for twelve months previously.

The table below gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increasing unemployment in West Leeds, he will direct that the Armley Employment Exchange be reopened.

No. Most of the 500 unemployed in the Armley area live within 2½ miles of either the Leeds or Stanningley Employment Exchanges and facilities at these offices are such that I

asked the Minister of Labour what policy his Department adopts in respect of men serving in the merchant navy who are temporarily unable to obtain sea-going employment in cases where they are in call-up age groups; and if he will make a statement.

The call-up of merchant seamen is suspended so long as they remain satisfactorily so employed.My Department is informed when a man has ceased to be a merchant seaman, but the fact that a seafarer is temporarily unemployed is not regarded as indicating that he is no longer a merchant seaman.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of chief petty officers, petty officers, and other ratings, respectively, whose first 12 years' engagement was completed in 1957, who re-engaged to complete time for pension, with the percentage of those eligible to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered at the Feltham and Hounslow employment exchanges, at the latest convenient date, and the comparative figures for twelve months previously.

The following table gives the information desired.

The following is the Answer:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the amount of orders placed by the Admiralty for cotton textile clothing in the twelve months computed to the nearest most convenient date to 31st December in the years 1956, 1957, and 1958, respectively; and what forward orders have been placed.

The value of orders placed in the calendar years 1956, 1957 and 1958 was £430,000, £320,000 and £250,000 respectively. The value for 1959 is expected to be £260,000. The figures quoted include both the cost of making up and of materials, though these come from Admiralty stocks which were not necessarily purchased in the same years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many offers to purchase, or lease, Her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheerness, have been received; and the potential labour requirements involved.

No firm offers have been received but inquiries are at present being followed up and our industrial agents are continuing to invite offers for the Yard in part as well as in whole. Outside the Yard we have sold one property which will offer employment in the Isle of Sheppey.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent, in view of the delay in the conclusion of an agreement to purchase a nuclear power plant from the United States, the considerable increase in the estimated cost, and the need to prepare a complete new design for the submarine itself, Her Majesty's Government proposes to reconsider the policy of installing a United States power plant in H.M.S. "Dreadnought".

There is no intention to vary the policy announced by my predecessor in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland) on 11th June, 1958. I do not accept the suggestion that there has been delay in negotiating the complex agreement involved; or that a considerable increase in cost will result: or that its fulfilment will entail a completely new design for "Dreadnought."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps he is taking to avoid the closing of the berths at Wear Dockyard, Sunderland.

The Wear Dockyard, Sunderland, is privately owned and the question of closing the berths is a matter for the commercial judgment of the firm concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what information he has received from the Atomic Energy Authority about the economic propulsion unit for propulsion of merchant shipping.

There is close contact between the Admiralty and the Atomic Energy Authority on this matter. I expect to receive information about the potentialities of the Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement upon continuing service of 23604106 Rifleman T. Williams, Green Jackets Brigade, known in civil life as Terry Dene; and what representations have been received.

Rifleman Williams is at present unfit for duty and is in a civilian mental hospital receiving treatment. A medical report will be received in due course.Where the second part of the Question is concerned, a few letters about this man have been received from members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will order an immediate inquiry to be held concerning two communications received on 6th February, 1959, from his Department by the widow of Number 22808850 Corporal John Rochford, who died in Cyprus on 7th January, 1959, one of which enclosed his death certificate and the other informing her that her husband's application for her and her family to join him in Cyprus had now been approved; and if he will make a statement.

I deeply regret the added distress which was caused to Mrs. Rochford by this mistake following on the death of her husband.At one time all applications for families to join their husbands overseas were examined by record offices before they were granted, which reduced to a minimum the risk of such an error. Five years ago this particular check was abolished in order to speed the process of re-uniting families. About 50,000 applications have been dealt with since then without incident, but in view of this distressing case I am instituting a procedure which should prevent anything similar happening again.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason 23660255 Sapper W. Toole, Royal Engineers, is to be discharged from the Army on medical grounds as soon as possible after his return to his unit; and if he will arrange for him to be admitted to a suitable hospital for immediate treatment as he is unfit to travel.

Sapper Toole is being admitted to a civilian hospital near his home. The illness which has developed while he has been on leave has nothing to do with his prospective discharge from the Army; and the discharge is being suspended while his illness is investigated.My hon. Friend has written to me about this case and I am sending him further details.

asked the Postmaster-General the average time between the reception of an application for, and the installation of, a telephone in the Epping and Ongar rural district of Essex.

Where exchange equipment and line plant are available the average time between the receipt of an application and the installation of a telephone is about seven weeks.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the nearest public telephone to Besford, Worcestershire, is at Defford, three miles away; and if he will arrange to provide a kiosk at Besford.

This is one of the places due for consideration in our review of next year's programme under the rural allocation scheme. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the review is complete.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the absence of a second delivery of letters on Saturday, at least in post offices where no extra staff is kept on duty for the purpose, he will now authorise postmasters to make no charge to those who call at the post office for their letters after 10 a.m. on that day.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the need for post office facilities in the Newbold Glebe Estate, Rugby, consisting of 360 houses; and whether he will establish a sub-post office on that estate.

There are two sub-offices within a reasonable distance of the estate, and I am sorry that I should not be justified in providing another.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he is proposing to make the necessary order and regulations for the St. Marylebone Borough parking scheme.

I hope to be able to make the necessary order and regulations relating to the St. Marylebone parking meter scheme early in March.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the need to relieve traffic congestion in Central London, what proposals he is considering for the use of the Kingsway subway; and what consideration he has given to converting this subway to use as a road with direct access to the Embankment from Kingsway.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now consider proposals for making use of the Kingsway subway for traffic or for parking.

Two alternative proposals are now under consideration by the London County Council at the instance of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, to provide an underpass for traffic between the Embankment and Kingsway.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether he is aware of the damage to property caused by the use of Taffsmead Embankment for omnibuses, petrol tankers and other heavy motor traffic; and what action he proposes to take;(2) what instructions he has issued concerning the use of Taffsmead Embankment by heavy motor traffic; and whether he will make a statement.

I have no information about damage to property caused by the use of Taffsmead Embankment by heavy motor traffic. This is a matter for the Cardiff Corporation, which, if it so decides, can make an order under the Road Traffic Acts prohibiting or restricting the use of this road by heavy vehicles and submit it to us for confirmation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many formal applications have now been made to him to make orders for the parking meter scheme by local authorities outside the Metropolitan area; and what action he has taken in regard to them.

I have received formal applications from Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham and Sheffield for the extension to them of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, concerning parking schemes. I am considering the form of a composite order in which these and possibly other areas would be specified.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been called to a new type of parking meter which is shortly to be introduced in South Africa and which embodies a simple type of meter which can be fitted inside individual motor cars and avoids the necessity of having parking meters disfiguring the streets and pavements; and whether he will investigate the practicability of car parking meters before proceeding with the authorisation of further street parking meters in this country.

I have asked for particulars of the device to which my hon. Friend has drawn my attention, but I should not be prepared to defer consideration in the meantime of applications for parking meter schemes under the 1956 Road Traffic Act. I think it probable that the use of a device of this kind in the United Kingdom would require legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will analyse last year's road accidents according to the horse power and/or make of each motor car involved.

I am not satisfied that an analysis of the kind suggested by the hon. Member would afford useful results, because, among other reasons, it could not be related to the mileages travelled by the various types of car involved. The Road Research Laboratory does, however, make extensive use of all available information in the course of its long-term investigations into the factors contributing to road accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the number of accidents that have taken place in Durham County on pedestrian crossings during the hours of darkness since January, 1957, and which might not have happened if the crossings had been better illuminated; and what progress has been made in devising improved illumination of these crossings.

It is impossible to say how many of the accidents which have occurred after dark on pedestrian crossings in Durham County during the last two years would have been avoided had the crossings been better illuminated; as regards the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) on 28th January.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation for what reasons he changed the specifications prepared for the Preston by-pass by the Lancashire County Council and caused its proposals for drainage to be deleted.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. L. Thomas).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to recruit more staff in order to ensure that Turnhouse is kept open after the normal times for landing; and what is the position in these after-hour periods for emergency landings at Turnhouse.

The operational staff at Turnhouse is at present provided by the R.A.F. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air has agreed to look again into the possibility of extending the facilities provided to enable late arrivals to get into Turnhouse. When Turnhouse is closed no aircraft may land there but in emergency alternatives are available on a 24-hour basis at Leuchars, Renfrew and Prestwick.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he proposes to take to reduce the deficit on the civil aerodromes administered by his Department.

I agree that further steps must be taken to reduce the deficits which arise from the operation of these aerodromes and the more numerous and more expensive facilities required by modern aircraft. I have therefore decided to increase landing fees and the passenger service charge as soon as possible. Consultations with airlines and others interested have begun.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many applicants for driving tests remain to be tested in Reading and district; how many are being tested each week; and what percentage fail.

About 1,600 people are waiting to be tested at the Reading centre, and about 200 are being given appointments each week. Of candidates who were tested in January, 42·5 per cent. failed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he has taken to avoid overlapping of the work of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee and London Travel Committee, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what changes in the terms of reference of the London and Home Counties Advisory Committee have been made as a result of the appointment of the London Travel Committee; and what steps he has taken to ensure that the duties of the two committees do not result in duplication of work.

There has been no change in the terms of reference of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee since I appointed the London Travel Committee. A large part of the work of the London Travel Committee is concerned with rail travel and with the staggering of working hours. As regards road matters, it should be easy to avoid duplication, because both Committees have the same chairman, two of my officials and four other members serve on both Committees, and their secretaries are in close touch.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what personal experience members of the London Travel Committee have gained, and intend to gain, of rush-hour conditions on Central Line and other congested underground trains.

Between them, the members of the Committee can speak with personal experience and authority on all the problems they are examining, including congestion on the Underground.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is being done through his Department to accelerate the fitting of traffic indicators on existing public service vehicles, in view of the large number of the older-type omnibus which still depend on the hand signals, since these are not always clear to pedestrians or other drivers.

We circulated last year for comment certain proposals for the standardisation of direction indicators. Until final conclusions have been reached on these proposals we are not prepared to make indicators a compulsory fitment.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the increased number of mobile shops being used throughout the country, if he will set in motion through his Department consultations with the builders of these mobile shops with the object of devising some safety device against possible accidents to young children.

As a result of representations made by the Durham County Council, the County Councils' Association recently approached our Department about accidents to small children crawling underneath, or otherwise being struck by, mobile shops.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the continually increasing congestion of passenger traffic in Central London, he is now able to come to a decision as to the feasibility of constructing a new tube railway line from Victoria to Walthamstow.

As I told the hon. Members for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher) and Walthamstow, West (Mr. Redhead) on 4th February, this project raises difficult financial problems, and it has not yet been possible to find room for it in the British Transport Commission's capital programme. I am, however, reviewing it and I am seeking the views of the London Travel Committee.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he proposes to take to obviate damage to property resultant from service aeroplanes breaking the sound barrier over the area of Barrow-in-Furness.

I would refer the hon. Member to the full reply given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North (Sir T. Low) on 15th December, 1958.

asked the Minister of Supply what research he is undertaking into fog dispersal.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air yesterday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much, as a percentage, the weekly expenditure per head on food has increased since 1951 and at what figure it now stands; and by how much, as a percentage, retail prices of food have increased during the same period.

Total civilian expenditure on food in the United Kingdom in the third quarter of 1958, the latest available period, is estimated at £1,179 million, or about 35s. 6d. weekly per head. This was an increase of 43 per cent. over the corresponding quarter of 1951. The best comparable figure for retail food prices is an increase of about 33 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to institute separate plebiscites for the Southern and Northern Cameroons to decide their future status and association, following the period of trusteeship under the United Nations.

It is the view of Her Majesty's Government that the future of the Northern and Southern Cameroons should be determined separately. Following the recent report by the United Nations Visiting Mission, the future of the British Cameroons is to be considered in the United Nations later this month. I think it would be unwise to anticipate these discussions.

asked the Minister of Defence what operations the Royal Air Force have undertaken in the past few months in Muscat and Oman.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force have assisted the Sultan's forces in quelling the rebellion in the Jebel Akhdar.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make arrangements for his Department to receive a deputation from the Stationers Association of Great Britain and Ireland to discuss the question of Purchase Tax-free stationery for hospitals.

A deputation from the Association was received at the Treasury on 4th February to discuss this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been received from firms for help to set up new industries, or to expand existing ones, in the County Borough of Birkenhead under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act.

One firm and eligible application has been received from the County Borough of Birkenhead under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is made for patients suffering from mental illness in Barnsley and district; and what proposals he has in mind for improving the service.

In-patient treatment is at present provided at Storthes Hall Hospital, Wakefield, and two outpatient clinics are held weekly at the Beckett Hospital, Barnsley. The Regional Hospital Board propose to provide a psychiatric unit at one of the general hospitals at Barnsley to be linked with Middlewood Hospital, and to improve the service in South Yorkshire generally by providing units at Doncaster, Conisbrough and Rotherham.

asked the Minister of Health what moneys have recently been allocated to the Barnsley Hospital Management Committee for the purpose of furthering priority projects; and if he will list the proposed schemes.

In addition to the major scheme at St. Helen Hospital, the following projects are in progress or have been approved to be undertaken in 1958–61 at Barnsley Hospitals:

asked the Minister of Health if he will list the districts and the total population that form the catchment area of the hospitals under the Barnsley Hospital Management Committee.

The catchment area is regarded as including Barnsley County Borough, the Urban Districts of Cudworth, Darfield, Darton, Dodworth, Hoyland Nether, Royston, Wombwell and Worsborough and part of the Rural District of Penistone, with a total estimated population of 170,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will introduce legislation to ensure that, where authorities are empowered to place restrictions upon the use of land, intending purchasers of such land are automatically informed of such restrictions before any binding transaction takes place.

All land, except that held by the Crown, is now subject to the restriction that permission is required for its development. The development plans of the local planning authorities show broadly what permissions are likely to be obtainable, and as far as I am aware it is now well known that an intending purchaser should examine the provisions of the relevant plan, and indeed is well advised to seek permission for what he wants to do before completing a contract to buy. On present information, my right hon. Friend is not persuaded that further statutory provision is necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement about the next revaluation for rates.

Under the existing law, new valuation lists for local rates are due to come into force in England and Wales in April. 1961, with all properties assessed on the basis of current market rentals, whereas at present residential property is assessed on the 1939 basis and all other property on the 1956 basis. The Valuation Office has advised, however, that in respect of residential property there is not and will not be sufficient evidence of open market rentals available in time to form the basis of a reliable revaluation by 1961. The Government therefore propose to defer the general revaluation for two years, and a short Bill for the purpose, limited to England and Wales, will be introduced at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Prison Commissioners, in their search for a suitable site for a new open prison, to investigate the possibilities of the disused War Office establishment, now up for sale in the vicinity of the Crowborough Golf Course in East Sussex.

I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War with a view to an inspection of the establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Report of the Advisory Council on the question of the supply of teachers will be available.

The Report will be published tomorrow as a Command Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the report about the proposed location of the new hospital for Skye made by the two senior officials who visited Skye to obtain the views of the local people; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have asked the Northern Regional Hospital Board to prepare proposals to provide for (a) improvements in the existing facilities at the Broadford Hospital and an extension of the in-patient facilities to enable the hospital to deal with surgical cases from all parts of Skye and the adjoining mainland and with medical and maternity cases from the south of Skye and the adjoining mainland; and (b) a new and smaller unit at Portree for the northern part of the island containing facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of outpatients, a few beds for general medical cases which can be treated by general medical practitioners, and a small maternity unit; the existing maternity hospital at Uig would then be closed.I am satisfied that when this new provision has been made, the hospital facilities in Skye will meet all the needs of the people, both in Skye and the adjoining mainland, which should be met locally, and that this disposition of the facilities between Broadford and Portree is the best that can be made in the special circumstances of the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of inquiries made for factories in Lanarkshire during 1958.

There were six direct inquiries. In addition, of those firms making general inquiries eight which seemed to offer definite prospects were referred to North Lanarkshire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the heavy unemployment in Lanarkshire, how many new factories are being planned for the area; the total factory area; and by what date he expects the completion of any of the factories.

Two new factories and 10 extensions are now under construction, totalling nearly 600,000 sq. ft. Six of these should be completed before the end of next month and the remainder by November next. The resultant additional employment is estimated as 1,100 jobs.In addition, 3 new factories and 7 extensions have been approved. These total 330,000 sq. ft. in area and should provide in due course 1,000 jobs. Completion dates are not yet available.