asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many dwelling-houses are condemned as being unlit for habitation in St. Helena.

Five dwelling houses have been condemned since 1954. In addition, a cluster of old buildings in the centre of Jamestown, known as the Canister, which housed 34 persons, has been demolished and is being rebuilt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied with the arrangements made for the purchase of drugs in St. Helena for the current year; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The provision for drugs in the current Budget is 30 per cent. higher than in 1958, and my right hon. Friend has been assured by the local Government that satisfactory arrangements have been made for advance ordering of replacement stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to authorise the holding of elections for the Advisory Council of St. Helena.

I have no proposals to make at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many trained teachers are at present employed in St. Helena; and what steps he is taking to increase the number.

Of the 68 teachers (including assistants and pupil teachers) responsible for the education of St. Helena's 526 school children, only three have attended teachers' training colleges in the United Kingdom. Two teachers are at present on scholarships being trained in this country and a further teacher has been selected for training this year. Consideration is being given to intensive in-service training by the Assistant Education Officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of meals provided for school children in St. Helena.

Meals are provided for just over 200 of St. Helena's 526 school children. These consist of three slices of bread with margarine, meat extract and cheese, and tomatoes and fruit when available. In addition, there is a general distribution of reconstituted milk, and fish oil capsules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what opportunities for secondary and further education exist in St. Helena.

There is a Government Secondary School in St. Helena for education up to 15 years of age. The school is now running the Royal Society of Arts General Certificate Course. Evening courses for certain recognised educational courses have just begun.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the future introduction of the common roll principle in Kenya.

In creating the specially elected seats my right hon. Friend had in mind the need for some representation in Legislative Council based on the non-communal principle. I do not think that I could usefully make a statement at this stage on the possible future development of this system of representation. This is, however, a subject which could be considered, within the ambit of the present constitution, if suitable discussions were to take place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken in Kenya to expand the resources of credit for African farmers.

Loans are at present made to individual farmers by the Land Development Board in nine districts acting jointly with African District Councils. It is hoped that when the Native Lands Registration Bill has been passed farmers will be better placed to obtain help from the Banks and from the Government Land and Agriculture Bank.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the net recurrent expenditure of public money per head of school population for European primary education in Kenya in the last convenient period of 12 months; and what was the corresponding expenditure for African primary education.

As only figures for gross expenditure are available, I am asking the Governor whether he can state the total fee revenue from African and European primary schools, and I will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the ill treatment of two women prisoners who were frogmarched, beaten and kicked on 18th January, 1958, in Kamiti Prison, Nairobi; and if he will institute an independent inquiry into this and other allegations of ill treatment of prisoners in Kamiti Prison.

I am still in consultation with the Governor about these allegations and will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date in May, 1958, prisoners and detainees from the hospital compound of Kamiti Prison, Nairobi, were subject to ill treatment and forced to have their hair cut; and whether he will institute an independent inquiry into this and other allegations of ill treatment at Kamiti Prison.

I am still in consultation with the Governor about this alleged incident and these other allegations and will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action will be taken against prison officers in Kenya who have destroyed forms completed by detainees appealing for their release before passing these appeals to the Appeals Committee.

I am sure that if any prison officer were found to have improperly destroyed such forms appropriate action would be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the names of detention camps still open in Kenya, and the number of men and women detained in each camp.

Following the information based on the position at 31st January.

Camp			Detainees
			Male	Female
Kandara	…	…	226	Nil
Kangema	…	…	337	Nil
Kandongu	…	…	287	Nil
Aguthi	…	…	461	Nil
Karatina	…	…	162	Nil
Githimayo	…	…	Nil	22
Gatundu	…	…	152	Nil
Waithaka	…	…	53	Nil
Githiga	…	…	68	Nil
Kamiti	…	…	Nil	35
Hola	…	…	210	Nil
Takwa	…	…	96	Nil
Manyani	…	…	195	Nil
Athi River	…	…	13	Nil
Langata	…	…	20	34
			2,280	91

NOTE.—An additional 35 males and 3 females were in transit or under medical treatment elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number of persons now detained under emergency powers in Kenya.

On the 31st January there were 2,409 persons detained under Emergency Regulations in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now detained under emergency powers on Manda Island; how many of these persons have appeared during the last 12 months before the Advisory Committee; in how many cases the Advisory Committee have recommended release; and how many of such recommendations have been carried out.

Of the 96 detainees on Manda Island on the 31st January, 50 have appeared before the Advisory Committee in the last 12 months. The Committee recommended that 22 of these detainees should pass through the "pipeline" camps for rehabilitation towards release. Four have already been transferred for this purpose and the other 18 will follow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the red, blue and green categories of detainees in Kenya; and how many, respectively, are detained without trial.

These categories are used for administrative convenience to distinguish between the types of prisoner held. Their significance, however, varies from district to district so that I cannot answer the second part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Captain Ernest Law was not informed of the magistrate's order against him under the Vagrancy Ordinance made on 18th January when he was detained in the convicts' compound of Kamiti Prison.

Captain Law was in court when the Magistrate made his order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which visiting magistrates saw Captain Law during his detention in Kamiti Prison from January to June 1958; and what action they advised in relation to his case.

Visiting Justices normally see a prisoner or detainee only at his request. There is no record that Captain Law made such an application while at Kamiti Prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why no payment was made to Captain Law for his work in the transport section of Kamiti Prison during his detention from January to June 1958.

Only "trusty" prisoners appointed under Part VIII of the Prison Rules, 1949, receive payment for work done in a prison. Captain Law was not in this category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he took when he received a letter from Captain Ernest Law, dated 2nd June, 1958, which was smuggled out of Kamiti Prison, Nairobi, where Captain Law was detained without trial; and why orders were given for Captain Ernest Law to be repatriated to the United Kingdom by air on 16th June, 1958, only three days after Captain Law had received vaccination against smallpox and yellow fever, by official instructions, and in contravention of the rules of the International Certificates of Vaccination, which require eight and 10 days, respectively, before validity.

My right hon. Friend received the letter in question on the 10th June. 1958, and on the 16th June he sent a copy to the Governor asking for a report. I am consulting the Governor on the second part of the Question, and will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what evidence of vagrancy was considered by the magistrate in the case of Captain Law in Nairobi on 18th January, 1958.

When Captain Law was taken before the magistrate on the 18th January, 1958, he admitted that he had no money and no work. No doubt this admission was taken into account by the magistrate in reaching his finding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been made to him concerning the likely effect upon the development of the tung oil industry of Nyasaland of the recent action of the United States Government in authorising the off-loading on to the world market at subsidised prices of American-held stocks of tung oil; and what action he is taking in the matter.

No representations have been received by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to assist Mauritians who wish to emigrate to other Commonwealth countries.

During the last few years the Mauritius Government and officials of my Department have spent a very considerable amount of time and energy in trying to find outlets for organised emigration from Mauritius, but without success.Although such attempts will be continued, I am bound to say that I do not think emigration can provide an answer to the economic problems of the people of Mauritius. In my view, all concerned would be wiser to concentrate their energies in the future primarily on seeking other solutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, as a result of an arbitration tribunal award of a 10 per cent. wage increase to certain staff of the Dar-es-Salaam Municipal Council, 200 staff are to be dismissed; what steps are being taken to find employment for these people; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that a recent arbitration award will increase the Municipal Council's annual expenditure by over £13,000 and this has led to some re-organisation of the services provided by the Council. While essential services are being maintained a reduction in others has compelled the Council to dismiss 73 men, and a further 65 will be dismissed in April when various road construction works are completed. Everything possible will be done by the Labour Exchanges to find them alternative employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have now been taken in Tanganyika to give Africans greater opportunities of becoming skilled workers at wage rates comparable to those paid to European and Asian workers.

Last year 1,593 Africans were receiving full-time training in Tanganyika to become skilled workers. Many of these have the opportunity of entering Government service, where they are graded and paid according to the qualifications they have obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why a long delay was allowed to elapse after the sinking of the schooner "Louis Alfred" at Mahé in the Seychelles, by the Government ferryboat "Paulette" before the Governor agreed to hold an inquiry; who has been appointed to conduct the inquiry; and whether instructions will be given for this to take place with all possible dispatch.

The "Louis Alfred" was not sunk but only damaged in collision.The Seychelles Government hoped to arrange a preliminary inquiry under Section 5 of the Enquiry into Wrecks Ordinance, but since a Government vessel was involved it would have been inappropriate for this to have been conducted by the receiver of wrecks and it was impossible to find any suitably qualified independent person to conduct it. Consequently, a police inquiry was at once held instead.There was no official request for a formal inquiry from the owners of the schooner, and, to avoid delay the Government on 19th December, 1958, offered to go to arbitration. The owners have not yet replied to this offer, but if they reject it, a formal inquiry will certainly be held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Governor of Cyprus proposes to publish registers and start other preparations for elections by the Turkish community in Cyprus, as proposed in the Macmillan Plan.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) on 13th November, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further military operations it is proposed to conduct in Cyprus.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 10th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the total numbers of Europeans and Africans now registered on the new electoral rolls for territorial elections in Northern Rhodesia.

Total number of Europeans and Africans on the Territorial Electoral Rolls in Northern Rhodesia

Europeans	…	…	20,566
Africans	…	…	7,613
Also Asians	…	…	2,051

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the increasing difficulties with regard to imports of meat from Australia and Argentina, what steps he proposes to safeguard adequate supplies of meat in this country; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 29th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the desirability of stimulating and assisting the production and consumption of fruit in Great Britain, he will institute an inquiry as to the desirability and practicability of the institution of a fruit marketing board for hard and soft fruit, respectively.

Schemes for regulating the marketing of produce, which can include the activities the hon. Member has in mind, may be made under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1958. It is open to producers to promote schemes, which would then be subject to examination and inquiry by the Government in accordance with the Act. I would therefore regard a special preliminary inquiry as unnecessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for felling licences for hedgerow timber were received during the forest year ended 30th September, 1958; and how many were refused on grounds of good forestry or agriculture or local amenities, respectively.

During this period the Forestry Commission received 1,773 applications for licences to fell hedgerow trees in England and Wales some of which also covered other felling. None of these applications was refused by the Forestry Commission. The Commission, however, consulted the local planning authorities in 537 cases and, as a result, eight applications were withdrawn and 50 were passed to the local planning authority who treated them as applications for consent under Tree Preservation Orders. Of the latter, in 19 cases the Tree Preservation Order was not made until after the initial consultation with the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total consumption, and the consumption per head, in the United Kingdom for the years 1951 and 1958, respectively, of beef, mutton, pork, sugar, eggs and milk.

Consumption of all the foods except liquid milk has increased since 1951; consumption of liquid milk has increased since pre-war and consumption in 1958 was higher than in 1957, The information is as follows:

ESTIMATED SUPPLIES MOVING INTO CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
—		1951	1958 (provisional)
Beef and veal	thousand tons	779	1,223
Mutton and Lamb	thousand tons	351	536
Pork	thousand tons	101	446
Sugar	thousand tons	1,930	2,465
Eggs in shell	thousand tons	552	691
Liquid milk	million gallons	1,716	1,649

These estimates represent the following levels of consumption per head after allowing for changes in unrecorded stocks and for a certain amount of wastage in the course of distribution:—

ESTIMATED CONSUMPTION PER HEAD PER ANNUM
—			1951	1958 (provisional)
Beef and veal	…	1b.	33·7	52·0
Mutton and lamb	…	1b.	15·4	22·6
Pork	…	1b.	4·5	19·2
Sugar	…	1b.	94·1	113·9
Eggs in shell	…	1b.	24·5	29·2
Liquid milk	…	gals.	33·7	31·5

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the establishment of a Meat Research Institute.

The proposal that a Meat Research Centre should be set up in this country was strongly recommended by the Technical Advisory Committee on Meat Research. The proposal was investigated in detail by Dr. J. R. Vickery, an Australian expert from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, whose services were generously lent to us by the Australian Government and his report is now being considered by the Departments concerned. My colleagues and I think that this would be a desirable project, but until the various financial and other considerations have been settled I cannot say when it will be possible to establish a Meat Research Centre.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress the Farm Buildings Research Committee has made; and when it will make recommendations.

As I explained in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 20th November, 1958, the Committee is engaged on its essential preliminary tasks. That of collating all the relevant information of research carried out both in this country and abroad is almost complete. The survey of farm buildings is proceeding according to plan and the whole country should be covered in two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the White Paper, if he will state his proposals for dealing with Strangeways Gaol.

An account of my long-term plans for local prisons, of which Strangeways is one, will be found in paragraphs 57 to 64 of the White Paper. As regards the immediate need for improvements in accommodation and equipment, which I fully recognise, I have authorised a programme of improvements (including the provision of a new workshop and improved sanitation) expected to cost £137,000 over the next four or five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will grant permission to the Stoke-on-Trent City Council for the removal of the air-raid shelters in Etruria Park, Hanky.

I am not at present satisfied that I would be justified in authorising the removal of these shelters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the number of boys at the Aycliffe Approved School; what is the number assigned to each master; what definite number is fixed as a national maximum; and how this figure compares with the present position at the Aycliffe School;(2) what is the accommodation for boys at the Aycliffe Approved School; how this is apportioned to the different age groups; and if this school has yet reached its establishment of teachers.

The classifying Department at Aycliffe School has accommodation in three separate houses (junior, intermediate and senior), for seventy-two boys aged eight and under seventeen on admission, and the training department has accommodation for one hundred and twenty boys aged between thirteen and fifteen on admission. There are at present thirty-six boys in the classifying department and seventy-four in the training department; both have their full establishment of teachers.There is no fixed maximum proportion of boys to teaching and supervisory staff in approved schools generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of escapes for 1958 from the Aycliffe Approved School; how such figure compares with the rest of the country for such type of school; and what is being done for the rehabilitation of such young people.

Ninety-two; the rate of absconding was rather higher at Aycliffe than at the two other schools of this type. Some absconding from approved schools is inevitable and there are a few persistent absconders whose training presents great difficulty. One school is experimenting with special measures for dealing with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the difficulty of maintaining sufficient taxis on the London streets when fog conditions develop, he will consider introducing a system by which taxi drivers will be authorised to increase their fares during such period as may be officially announced over the broadcasting service as being a fog period in the Metropolitan area.

There are considerable difficulties in the way of accepting my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue for the convenience of all concerned a consolidated edition of Prison Rules, 1952–1956.

Yes. A consolidated version of the Prison Rules, 1949 to 1956 incorporating a number of amendments is in preparation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what had been the cause of the hold up in the construction of the air base on the island of Gan in the Maldives; what objections were raised by the Government of the Maldives or that of Ceylon; and if he will take steps to invite a delegation from the Maldivian islands to come to London to discuss direct with him the problems of the islands;(2) if he has now completed the negotiations which have been proceeding since early in 1957 with reference to the construction of an airfield on the island of Gan; if he is satisfied that there is no danger of making this a one industry island which could be destroyed with its whole economy if it should be decided at any time to withdraw from it.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air on 21st January and by myself on the 20th January. The negotiations referred to in the latter answer are continuing. I am satisfied that there is no danger of the kind referred to in the hon. Member's second Question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the total labour force engaged on the construction of the staging post on the island of Gan; how many of them came from Pakistan for this work; and what arrangements have been made for them to return home when the construction of the base is completed.

The total labour force, not including members of the R.A.F. is at present about 2,200 men, of whom about 1,300 are Pakistanis. The contracts under which the Pakistanis are employed provide for their repatriation to Pakistan.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans the Government have to expand Roma College in Basutoland.

Pius XII University College at Roma is not a Government institution. Plans for its expansion are therefore not a Government responsibility.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans he has for the expansion of secondary education in Bechuanaland.

As I said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) on 6th March, 1958, there are two schools in the Bechuanaland Protectorate which offer full secondary education. A Colonial Development and Welfare grant of £10,000 has recently been made to the London Missionary Society to assist them to construct a junior secondary school to accommodate 100 to 150 pupils of both sexes. When this school is operating, it may later develop into a full secondary college.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD the average percentage rise or fall in the price of United Kingdom imports and exports for the second half of 1958, on the basis of the first half of 1950 being equal to 100.

The index numbers of the prices of United Kingdom imports and exports in the second half of 1958 were, respectively, 120 and 131, taking first half 1950 as equal to 100.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in 1958 Belgian exports to Great Britain reached £60,500,000 and United Kingdom exports to Belgium only totalled £59,500,000 and whereas Belgian exports were roughly at the same level as in 1957 and only slightly below the level of the average for the past five years, British exports to Belgium dropped by over £18 million compared with the previous year and were about £4,500,000 below the average for the past five years; what was the reason for this; and, in view of the growing unemployment in our manufacturing industries, what action he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

I am aware of this position which can be accounted for by the decline in economic activity in Belgium in that year. There are few restrictions on imports into Belgium and higher export figures will depend on the degree of activity in Belgium and the efforts of our own exporters. We have no special action in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will remove the anomaly under which certain articles for use in waving, curling and dressing the hair of human beings and defined under Groups 30 (a) and (b) are subjected to Purchase Tax at the rate of 60 per cent., whilst other hair waving and drying machines and other articles for heating the hair in the process of waving, curling or setting it and defined in Group 30 (c) are charged only at 30 per cent.; and whether he will discuss this question at an early date with the main organisations representing women's interests in this country.

My right hon. Friend sees no anomaly here, but in any case my hon. Friend must not expect him to anticipate his Budget decisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that sports garments and footwear such as blazers, football jerseys and running shoes are not chargeable to Purchase Tax, he will now review the present position under which reinforced headgear for riders and fencing helmets are still subjected to tax; and whether, having regard to the accidents which can occur if in certain circumstances riders do not wear reinforced headgear, and that fencing helmets are essential to all persons engaging in the sport of fencing, he will arrange for the exemption of the latter types of headgear from Purchase Tax at the earliest opportunity.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. Sports garments and footwear are chargeable with tax; and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to discriminate in favour of sports headgear.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that badges and chains of office are subject to Purchase Tax at 30 per cent. whereas staffs and maces of office are exempt from Purchase Tax; and as badges, chains, staffs and maces all represent special insignia of office, generally with long historical associations, whether he will take steps to treat equitably all such insignia and refrain from discrimination against badges and chains of office, and in favour of staffs and maces of office.

Jewellery, and articles of precious metal of a kind worn on the person, are taxed at 30 per cent. Badges and chains of office are commonly within that description: staffs and maces of office are not. My right hon. Friend sees no need to interfere with this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the original cost to the National Exchequer of the construction in Northern Ireland of the houses now vested in the Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust; what amount is now outstanding by way of mortgage or loan; and what is the present revenue from rents.

I am not aware how much of the outright grant of £1,300,000 made by the Exchequer in 1924 was applied by the Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust to the construction of houses in Northern Ireland. I would refer the hon. Member on the second and third parts of the Questions to the published accounts of the Trust.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to receive a deputation representing the tenants and occupiers of the houses now vested in Northern Ireland in the Irish Sailors' and Soldiers' Land Trust.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what protests and objections he has received at Her Majesty's Government reaching an agreement with the Egyptian Government whereby the British Government and British interests lose control of the Suez Base, military installations, stores and equipment, the Suez Canal and other financial assets.

I have received no protests or objections about the readiness of Her Majesty's Government to reach an agreement on reasonable terms with the Government of the United Arab Republic, based on the fact that we do not at present enjoy control over the assets to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of 3½ per cent. War Loan is held by firms and institutions, and what proportion by individuals.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum recovered by charitable organisations in each financial year since 1951–52 under deeds of covenant made with them by individuals and by firms.

The repayments of Income Tax to charities under deeds of covenant were as follows:

					£
					million
1951–52	…	…	…	…	4
1952–53	…	…	…	…	4¼
1953–54	…	…	…	…	4¼
1954–55	…	…	…	…	4
1955–56	…	…	…	…	4½
1956–57	…	…	…	…	5¼
1957–58	…	…	…	…	5¾

Separate figures for individuals and for firms are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him by charitable institutions with a view to amending the law whereby they may only recover the tax paid on gifts made under a seven-year covenant.

I have had no representations from charitable institutions for altering the conditions under which charities may reclaim tax in respect of gifts under covenant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider amending the present method of obtaining Entertainments Duty and replacing it by an entertainment tax on the profits and dividends being made and paid by the various television-operating companies.

The hon. Gentleman will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget speech.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the possibility of restoring the facilites for provision of factories which were formerly made available in certain areas through the Development Fund.

Up to last summer, when provision for alternative forms of assistance was made by the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, the Development Fund was available to assist the building of factories for letting or sale in North-West Wales (including Anglesey), the Crofting Counties of Scotland, and the Buckie-Peterhead district. It has now been decided to restore these facilities to the areas named. The possibility of obtaining financial assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act is still open to undertakings in these areas. The new arrangements will not in any way affect the rôle of the Development Fund in those areas where depopulation is the main problem.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Advisory Committee on the Pay of the Higher Civil Service has yet completed its general review; and, if so, what recommendations it has made.

Lord Coleraine, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, has written to the Prime Minister giving the results of his Committee's review of the pay of the Higher Civil Service. I am circulating below the full text of Lord Coleraine's letter. His Committee's recommendations will be considered by the Government.

30th January, 1959.

Dear Prime Minister,

1. In my letter of 29th May, 1958, I informed you that after careful consideration the Standing Advisory Committee on the Pay of the Higher Civil Service had concluded that they should set about the collection of information with the object of beginning in the autumn a general review of higher Civil Service pay.

2. We received full co-operation from those whom we approached, who provided us, on a confidential basis, with much valuable information.

3. In reaching our conclusions we have taken into account a number of factors. Our consideration began with the broad comparabilities established by the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service between the pay of the higher Civil Service and the levels of remuneration in the relevant outside sectors—in industry (both private and nationalised), in commerce, finance, and other public service (e.g., senior posts in the Local Authorities) and in the Universities. We also considered, inter alia, the movements in pay at comparable levels outside the Service since 1st July, 1955, the date to which the Royal Commission's proposals were related; and we took account of the three central pay settlements reached in relation to Civil Service grades within the arbitrable limit, as well as the relatively minor adjustments which we ourselves recommended as a consequence of the first and second of these settlements.

4. Throughout our consideration of these matters we have had regard to the view—which we share—that adjustments in the pay of the higher Civil Service should, so far as possible, be made at relatively infrequent intervals and should not be interpreted as setting the pace for salary increases elsewhere. Had it not been for this, we might well have embarked on a general review at an earlier stage, in the light of movements in pay levels which were taking place outside the Civil Service. For the same reason, it is our hope that our recommendations will make a further general review of higher Civil Service pay unnecessary for some time to come. We shall, however, continue to watch the position.

5. As regards the scope of our review, we have adhered to the position which we adopted at the start of our work, namely that, while our field of reference may be taken to cover all grades regarded as above the arbitrable limit, our direct concern should be with the Assistant Secretary and comparable grades, and with those above. We have limited our recommendations accordingly, in the belief that appropriate adjustments in the salaries of the remaining grades above the arbitrable limit, consequential upon our recommendations, should without serious difficulty be capable of being made through the normal process of negotiation between the Official and Staff Sides. If, however, any major question of principle should arise in relation to these grades as a result of our recommendations, we should not wish to exclude its reference to us.

6. Our recommendations do not disturb the existing horizontal relativities between the various classes in the higher Civil Service. They do, however, have the effect of increasing the gap between the minima of the scales at the lowest level of those with which we are concerned and the maxima of the scales immediately below. We do not consider that this gap should necessarily be maintained intact for all time—a point which will weigh with us in the event of our being asked to examine proposals for adjustments in the minima of the scales with which we are concerned if and when the maxima of those below are raised for any reason.

7. We have related our recommendation for the salary of the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury to the Royal Commission's view that the pay of this post should be £1,000 greater than that of other Permanent Secretaries. This differential is at present shared between two Joint Permanent Secretaries.

8. Our recommendations, which are expressed in London terms, are:

Administrative	£	£
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury	8,000
Permanent Secretary	7,000
Deputy Secretary	5,000
Under-Secretary	3,800
Assistant Secretary	2,400–3,000
Executive
Heads of Major Establishments—broadbanded on the span	3,000–3,800
Principal Executive Officer	2,700
Scientific
Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Defence and Secretary to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research	7,000
Chief Scientific Officer grade and other posts above—broadbanded on the span	3,500–5,800
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer	2,800–3,100
Senior Principal Scientific Officer	2,400–2,700
Works Group
Directing posts—broadbanded on the span	3,000–5,800
Superintending grade	2,400–2,700
Legal
Treasury Solicitor, First Parliamentary Counsel and Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor	7,000
Heads and Deputy Heads of Legal Departments—broadbanded on the span	3,300–5,800
Principal Assistant Solicitor	3,800
Assistant Solicitor	2,500–3,000
Medical
Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health	5,800
Other posts above Principal Medical Officer — broadbanded on the span	3,800–4,400
Principal Medical Officer	3,300
Senior Medical Officer	3,000

9. Finally, we recommend that these proposals should take effect from 1st February, 1959.

10. We assume that the National Staff Side will be informed of the terms of our recommendations.

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.) COLERAINE.

asked the Minister of Health how and when the 1945 agreement with the Prison Officers Association in regard to rents for official houses was cancelled; and to what extent this was done by mutual consent.

The 1945 agreement, which applied only to Broadmoor, was superseded by one made in 1950 between the Minister of Health and the Board of Control, on the one hand, and the Prison Officers Association, on the other, which applied National Health Service pay and conditions of service to the nursing staff at all three State Institutions.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent it is Government policy to encourage firms to fill employment vacancies by application through the trade union organisation rather than by direct application to the employment exchange offices.

The Ministry's policy is to encourage employers to fill their vacancies as far as possible through the employment exchange service. Where, however, the employment exchanges cannot fill vacancies notified to them they may seek the help of the appropriate trade unions in placing their members in employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now make a statement regarding the trend in national unemployment, and short-time working, giving particular details for Scotland, and the figures for mid-January, 1959.

At 12th January, 1959, 620,786 people were unemployed in Great Britain of whom 116,510 were in Scotland. At the end of December, the latest date for which figures are available, 172,038 operatives were on short-time in manufacturing industries in Great Britain, 14,666 of these in Scotland. There is always a large seasonal increase in unemployment in January, and this year particularly in Scotland, the increase in building and construction, and agriculture and fishing was very much larger than usual. The number of operatives on short-time has not varied much since last summer.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of apprentices recruited each year by industry over a recent convenient period of years; and what increase in annual recruitment he expects in order to cope with the increasing number of school leavers over the next few years.

The numbers of boys and girls between 15 and 17 taking up full-time employment for the first time who entered apprenticeships or learnerships, or employment likely to lead to apprenticeships or learnerships, in each of the years 1953 to 1957 were as follow. (The figures do not include some young persons to whom national insurance cards had already been issued while they were still at school in respect of holiday or other spare-time employment.)

Thousands
Year			Boys	Girls
1953	…	…	94·4	15·4
1954	…	…	88·4	14·8
1955	…	…	96·8	15·6
1956	…	…	93·2	15·9
1957	…	…	95·2	16·8

Between 1961 and 1965 the average number of boys and girls reaching the age of 15 each year will be 35 per cent. higher than in 1956, and to maintain the 1956 proportion entering skilled occupations would entail an increase of about that order. The desirable rate of increase will, however, vary from one occupation to another and not all skilled occupations are entered by way of apprenticeship or learnership.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent dropped metatarsal arches are accepted as exempting a man from National Service how far such a disability is regarded as preventing a man from undertaking any form of military duty; and how many men are now serving who suffer from this disability.

Dropped metatarsal arches do not necessarily render a man unfit for service in the Army, even in the most active Arms. It is a question of degree. There is no record of the number of cases among men now serving.

asked the Minister of Defence, whether he will make a statement on the proposal of the United States Government to make available to Great Britain all the information necessary for making an hydrogen-bomb rocket warhead of extreme power and small weight.

Extensive information on nuclear weapon design has been exchanged between the American and British Governments under Article 2 of the Agreement for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes, signed in Washington on July 3rd, 1958, and presented to Parliament (Cmnd. 537). This information is, of course, of a highly secret character. I cannot, therefore, publish any particulars about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement about the air ambulance service.

Yes. Improved helicopter cover will be provided by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force so long as they have helicopters in the area to meet their military requirements.The improvements affect the islands without scheduled airfields and remote areas on the mainland. It will be possible to use the helicopters to transport patients on a less restricted basis than at present. I am grateful to my noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air for their help.I am writing today giving details to my hon. Friend and to other hon. Members who, I know, have taken an interest in these matters.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider using Ford, ex-Royal Naval Air Service aerodrome, West Sussex, as an alternative airport to Hurn, when London Airport and Gatwick Airport are fogbound, or out of service for any other reason.

No. Hurn is in any case required for other purposes as well as the diversion of aircraft from London's Airports. The traffic would not justify the duplication at Ford of facilities already available at Hurn.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent Barnsley railway services will be improved within the capital programme of railway modernisation; what further development of station facilities is planned; what schemes are in mind for improved diesel services; and what prospects there are of a temporary diesel service from Barnsley to Sheffield until a permanent one can be assured.

These are questions for the British Transport Commission. While I approve the general lines of the Commission's capital investment programme, it is their responsibility to work out the details and to run services. In view of the hon. Member's Question, I have asked Sir Brian Robertson to let him know when any changes are made affecting this route.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the growing unemployment in South Wales, he will invite the local authorities to submit additional schemes of roadworks for grant consideration.

I have recently agreed to make grants towards additional schemes on classified roads in South Wales as follows:

—		Cost	Government Grant
		£	£
Glamorgan	…	106,500	77,800
Carmarthenshire	…	100,000	66,200
Pembrokeshire	…	66,000	37,300

I also propose to carry out an additional trunk road scheme in Carmarthenshire estimated to cost £41,000.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the growing unemployment in South Wales, he will authorise an early start on the already projected roadways linking South Wales to the Midlands.

Work started on the Ross By-Pass and the Ross Spur in 1958, and I hope that in the autumn of this year work will begin on extending this motorway towards Birmingham and on constructing the Heads of the Valleys road between Brynmawr and Abergavenny. Preparatory work is already going ahead as fast as possible on the other major trunk road schemes linking South Wales to the Midlands.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the growing unemployment in South Wales, he will cause an immediate start on the approach road work for the projected Severn bridge.

The Consulting Engineers are preparing plans for dealing with roads and accesses affected by the Severn Bridge approach roads, and I hope later this year to be able to publish a draft Order under Section 3 of the Special Roads Act, 1949, showing what is proposed. Construction of these approach roads cannot begin until this Order has been made in accordance with the prescribed statutory procedure and the land needed has been acquired.