asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assistance is being given by his Department in the promotion of trade and other exchanges between the United Kingdom and Eastern Germany.

Promotion of trade is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I am not aware of any other exchanges.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent Her Majesty's Government now accept responsibility under the Potsdam Agreement for pursuing a policy of demilitarisation and denazification in Germany.

The provisions relating to demilitarisation and denazification in Germany are contained in Section II of the Potsdam Agreement. Those regarding demilitarisation were enforced in Western Germany until 1950. They have now been superseded by the Bonn and Paris Agreements. The provisions concerning denazification were enforced by the Occupying Powers in Western Germany until 1949, when the responsibility for preventing any resurgence of Nazism passed to the Federal Republic.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what studies of the effect of noise in factories and workshops are being made by the Factory Inspectorate; and what further research into this matter he intends to undertake;(2) what representations have been made to him by organisations of workers or of employers about the effect of noise upon the health of industrial workers.

No representations of this kind have been made to me and the Factory Inspectorate is not making such studies. The problem of noise is of interest to my Department and several others. The question of developing research work in this field is being considered by the Interdepartmental Committee on the Co-ordination of Occupational Health Research of which an officer of my Department is chairman.

asked the Minister of Labour what figure he took as the estimated average level of unemployment for the current financial year; and by how much the average figure so far recorded exceeds that estimate.

The average level of unemployment assumed for the current financial year was about 350,000. For the preparation of Estimates this figure must, of course, be decided on some time before the beginning of the financial year. The ascertained figures subsequent to December, 1957, indicated that a substantial revision would be necessary. The average figure recorded during the ten months ended January, 1959, was 485,632.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will explain the reasons for the more than seasonal increase in unemployment during last December and January; and what action he has already taken or proposes to take to reverse this trend.

The exceptionally high rise in unemployment between December, 1958, and January, 1959, was attributable mainly to a heavy increase in unemployment in the building and civil engineering industry and other out-door employments. As to the action taken by the Government to stimulate employment, I would refer the hon. Member to the measures described by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the debate on the Address on 3rd November, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the main cause of the decline by 244,000 in the number of persons in civil employment as shown in the table published in the January issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

The fall in the number of persons in civil employment in 1958 was due to a reduction in the demand for goods and services. The reasons for that reduction were explained by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the debate on the Address on 3rd November, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will introduce legislation to make the provision of redundancy payments obligatory on all employers in industrial undertakings.

No. I am aware that some employers make payments of this kind, but I do not think it would be either practicable or right to make this practice obligatory on employers generally. In my view, this and other questions which arise in relation to redundancy, such as the length of notice and the order of discharge, are matters for consideration and action on a voluntary basis.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of unemployed in the Bridport area; and to what extent he has supported applications for planning permission for chalk quarrying there in order to provide more employment locally.

208 on 12th January. I have not been asked to support any application for planning permission for quarrying.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the number of persons registered as unemployed and the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at the Canning Town and Stratford Employment Exchanges in West Ham on 12th January, 1959, was 2,212 and 472, respectively, whereas on 15th January, 1951, there were only 1,015 unemployed with 1,592 notified vacancies; what is the reason for this worsening of the employment situation in West Ham; and what action he proposes to take to improve the present position.

Yes. The major part of the increase in unemployment occurred over the past year and was due to a generally lower level of industrial activity and to the reduced volume of world seaborne trade. The Government have taken a number of measures to stimulate industrial activity at home and is doing what it can to improve world trade.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the Pwllheli, Portmadoc, and Criccieth offices of his Department on the last count.

On 12th January, 750 people were registered as unemployed at Pwllheli and 157 at Portmadoc, which includes Criccieth.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement regarding the revision of the safety regulations covering shipbuilding and ship-repair.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish the statutory draft of these regulations early next month.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the increase in the number of registered unemployed of men, women, boys and girls, respectively, in the borough of Leyton and district today compared with a year ago; and what is the average period of this unemployment.

On 12th January there were 347 more men, 34 more boys, 31 fewer women and 10 more girls registered as unemployed than a year earlier. Average periods of unemployment are not available but of 1,382 wholly unemployed, on 12th January, 512 had been unemployed for not more than two weeks, 294 for two to eight weeks, and 576 for more than eight weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest numbers of people registered as unemployed and of vacant jobs in the Reading, Newbury and Hungerford districts compared with a year ago; and how many persons have remained unemployed for three months or longer.

The following is the reply:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE READING, NEWBURY AND HUNGERFORD EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND THE READING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES AND THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES NOTIFIED TO THESE OFFICES AND REMAINING UNFILLED
—			Numbers registered as unemployed			Notified vacancies remaining unfilled
			Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Reading
January, 1958	…	…	655	296	951	486	350	836
January, 1959	…	…	775	333	1,108	426	342	768
Newbury
January, 1958	…	…	82	37	119	123	55	178
January, 1959	…	…	124	58	182	83	35	118
Hungerford
January, 1958	…	…	34	9	43	75	7	82
January, 1959	…	…	55	5	60	66	8	74

The monthly analyses according to duration of unemployment distinguish those who have been unemployed for two weeks and eight weeks. The numbers on the registers of the Reading, Newbury and Hungerford local offices who, at 12th January, 1959, had been continuously unemployed for more than eight weeks were as follows:

—		Males	Females	Total
Reading	…	359	100	459
Newbury	…	40	16	56
Hungerford	…	20	1	21

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of boys and girls respectively, under 20 years of age, who are registered as unemployed in the county of Lanark, excluding Glasgow; and what is the length of such unemployment.

The following is the answer:

BOYS AND GIRLS (UNDER 18)* REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN LANARKSHIRE, EXCLUDING GLASGOW, ON 9TH FEBRUARY, 1959
—	Boys	Girls	Total
Less than 2 weeks	103	86	189
2–8 weeks	328	156	484
More than 8 weeks	300	127	427
Temporarily stopped	170	5	175
	901	374	1,275
* Comparable figures for 18 and 19 year olds are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of boys and girls, respectively, in Lanarkshire, excluding Glasgow, who left school at the latest school leaving date; and how many of these are still registered as unemployed.

789 boys and 732 girls left schools in Lanarkshire, excluding Glasgow, at Christmas. Of these 165 boys and 57 girls were registered as unemployed on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of persons registered as unemployed in the county of Lanark, excluding Glasgow, at the latest convenient date and at the corresponding date for the two previous years; and in which industries these persons had their last employment.

At 12th January, 1959, there were 14,580 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Lanarkshire (excluding Glasgow) compared with 6,673 at 13th January, 1958, and 6,734 at 14th January, 1957. I am having a table prepared showing the principal industries in which these persons were last employed and I will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consult the National Joint Advisory Committee on methods of supplementing the Unemployment Fund in order to provide increased benefits to persons while unemployed.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps were taken to ensure that 23604106 Rifleman T. Williams was fit for National Service before being called up; in which medical category he was placed; and, in view of subsequent events, if he will make a statement.

Mr. T. Williams was considered by National Service Medical Boards in March and in September, 1958. The Boards took into account the advice given by two consultants. On each occasion he was marked Grade I and he was called up for National Service on 22nd January, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the inconvenience caused by uncertainty about the date of the ending of compulsory National Service; and if he will now make a statement, with particular reference to those born during the last quarter of 1939.

As explained in the 1957 Defence Statement and repeated on a number of occasions since, the Government are planning on the basis that there will be no further call-up under the National Service Acts after the end of 1960. So far as men born in the last quarter of 1939 are concerned, a statement will be made next week.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange for more advance information to be given to men whose liability to National Service has been deferred as to the dates when they they can expect to be called up.

It is difficult to give reliable advance information about the time of a man's call-up. I am, however, considering whether any additional information can be given.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the life of the existing L.C.T. and L.S.T.; and when these vessels will be replaced.

I cannot add usefully to the information already given to my hon. and gallant Friend by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence on 11th February, 1959.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many British naval units will pay a courtesy call on Lisbon on the occasion of the Trade Fair to be held in that city next May; and what is the number of officers and other ranks involved and the estimated cost of the visits.

Five. Their total complements amount to about 150 officers and 2,000 ratings. This is a normal visit to a very old ally and is timed to coincide with the Trade Fair. There is no extra expenditure involved

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what time is now expected to elapse before H.M.S. "Dreadnought" will be ready to run her trials.

It is not the practice to give forecasts of when ships will be ready for their trials.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how far it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to await the results of the trials of H.M.S. "Dreadnought" before starting the construction of other similar vessels.

No decision has yet been taken on a future building programme for nuclear submarines. The decision would not necessarily depend upon the results of the "Dreadnought" trials.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent, in the case of any workmen employed in the Malta dockyard who absented themselves without leave on the so-called Day of Mourning on 3rd February, such action has been taken into account in considering whether to place these men on the establishment.

In the selection of workpeople for establishment, account is always taken of their records of attendance. But this is only one of a number of factors, which include age, efficiency and length of service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, to avoid its being closed, he will arrange for Admiralty work to be carried out at Wear Dockyard, Sunderland.

No. This firm does not possess the specialist knowledge required for new construction for the Royal Navy. Our policy as regards naval repairs and refits is to allocate all such work to the Royal Dockyards, and only in exceptional cases is work put out to contract. I can hold out little hope of exceptions being made in the foreseeable future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the number of chief petty officers, petty officers, and other ratings, respectively, whose first 12 years' engagement was completed in 1958, who re-engaged to complete time for pension, with the percentage of those able to do so.

The latest figures available are for 30th September, 1958, when the position was as follows:

—	Number re-engaged	Re-engaged to 22 years
		per cent.
C.P.O	436	66
P.O	440	67
Leading and below	127	31
	1,003	58

In addition a further 24 ratings were eligible to re-engage but reports on their decisions are still awaited.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is proposed to replace the present temporary living quarters of the artificer appren- tices at H.M.S. "Caledonia" by permanent accommodation.

We are working on a plan to provide new living accommodation for the apprentices in H.M.S. "Caledonia" and a start will be made as soon as the necessary money is available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the report of the committee which considered the rating structure of the lower deck has been studied; and what decisions have been made as a result.

The report is still being examined.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a final decision has yet been made regarding the future of Bramcote Station, Warwickshire.

The War Department are interested in taking over part of the Royal Naval Air Station at Bramcote and it is hoped that a final decision will be announced shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the commissioning of H.M.S. "Albion" and H.M.S. "Ark Royal" this autumn, and the retention in commission of H.M.S. "Victorious" and H.M.S. "Centaur", which have both undergone major refits quite recently, he will confirm that four aircraft carriers will be in commission next year, excluding the helicopter carrier.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await my noble Friend's Explanatory Statement on the Navy Estimates, 1959–60, which will be published shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent the aircraft carriers H.M.S. "Glory", H.M.S. "Theseus", H.M.S. "Ocean", and H.M.S. "Unicorn" are to be retained for use as troop transports.

I cannot add at present to the answer given to by hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey on 2nd December, 1958.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many warships and Royal Naval auxiliary craft which were completed subsequent to 1st January, 1944, have been scrapped or otherwise disposed of.

1,885, of which 1,805 were landing ships and craft, minesweepers, auxiliaries and M.T.Bs., the great majority of which were constructed for the invasion of Western Europe and for the Japanese war.

asked the Secretary of State for War which units of the British Army are to attend the Trade Fair in Lisbon next May; and what is the number of troops concerned and the estimated cost involved.

Contingents totalling 14 officers and 272 men will be drawn from the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards, The Royal Scots, Seaforth Highlanders, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, The Green Jackets Brigade and The Army Physical Training Corps. All extra costs are being borne by the sponsors of the fair and there will be no additional charge to public funds. The profit will be divided between British and Portuguese service charities.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of recruiting for the Regular Army, male adults only, for the years 1957 and 1958, broken down to show the figures for the principal recruiting centres in the British Isles.

Yes. Details are not available at once in this form, but I will publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT in a few days.

asked the Postmaster-General how many additional telephone kiosks were provided in rural areas in 1958; and how many will be provided in 1959.

In 1958, 425 kiosks were provided under the Rural Allocation Scheme; in addition, 192 others were installed in rural parts of urban districts. The programme is normally arranged to coincide with the financial year and it has not yet been settled for 1959–60.

asked the Postmaster-General what recent complaints he has received from television viewers in Swindon; and what steps he will take to improve reception in the Swindon area.

A number of complaints about poor reception have been received and Post Office engineers are investigating them. The B.B.C. has plans for improving television reception in various parts of the United Kingdom but it cannot yet say what will be possible in the Swindon area. The I.T.A. has no immediate plans for extending their service to Swindon.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps he proposes to take to avoid redundancy among civilians employed at Aldergrove Airfield, County Antrim, due to any change in the use of this airfield.

Most of the civilians employed at Aldergrove are likely to be unaffected by any changes in the use of the airfield.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has now been made in his preparations and experimentation towards standardising road signs generally, apart from carriageway markings, with continental countries.

I am making no special preparations for standardising traffic signs generally on the continental pattern, though our experimental motorway signs have much in common with European practice.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is prepared to impose a speed limit on the main road through the village of Rushton, near Leek, Staffordshire, in view of the fact that this road is crossed several times a day by school children.

A 30 m.p.h. speed limit would not be an adequate or appropriate safeguard for children on an important trunk road of this kind, which they should cross only under escort.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now in a position to sanction the closing of the Monks Dyke Road, Louth, Lincolnshire, to vehicular traffic, and the building of a subway for pedestrians under the present railway crossing; and if he will make a statement.

The closing of this road would not require our agreement. Our agreement to the building of a subway would be needed only if the Louth Corporation applied for sanction to raise a loan for that purpose. I understand that the Corporation and the British Transport Commission are in touch on the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reply he has sent to the Shenstone and District Car Club arising out of their letter of 2nd February, 1959; and, notwithstanding the need for a coherent system of road signs, and in view of the fact that the danger sign erected by the club in the vicinity of the junction of A.5 and A.38 near Wall and Shenstone, Staffordshire, and which he removed, had contributed to a reduction in accidents at this point, if he will now authorise the re-erection of this sign.

The warning and direction signs at the junction have recently been comprehensively improved and I do not think that the sign erected by the Car Club is now necessary. We are informing the Club accordingly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now give further information as to the programme for the improvement of that part of the A.5 which passes through the village of Wall, near Lichfield, in the light of his reply to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth on 23rd July, 1958.

A draft Order to establish the route of the Wall By-pass was published last year. We are still considering an objection, but we hope to be able to reach a decision soon about the making of the Order. I cannot yet say when this scheme can be included in the roads programme.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what difficulties are holding up his decision regarding the line of the Yorkshire motorway in the section from Rugby through Leicestershire.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Monday, 16th February, 1959, to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the unemployment figures in the Forest of Dean, which has been increased by the closing of one colliery, he will advance the work which will have to be done on approach roads to the Severn Bridge, due for commencement in two years' time.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Thursday, 12th February, 1959, to the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the number of road accidents and casualties between the junction with the Parkway at Cranford and the eastern end of the Colnbrook by-pass in 1958; and what were the comparative figures for 1957.

Ninety-six accidents resulting in 128 casualties in 1958 compared with 93 accidents and 109 casualties in 1957.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the number of road accidents and casualties at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings in 1958; and what were the comparative figures for 1957.

During 1958 there were 906 accidents on zebra crossings. One hundred and ten persons were killed and 842 seriously injured. Comparative figures for 1957 were 862, 93 and 814, respectively. The increase in casualties on zebra crossings was more than balanced by the fall in casualties occurring within 50 yards of the crossings.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the number of road accidents and casualties in High Street, Feltham, in 1958: and what were the comparative figures for 1957.

58 accidents resulting in 65 casualties in 1958, compared with 46 accidents and 49 casualties in 1957.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many qualified traffic engineers are employed in his Department; in which sections; what are their administrative grades; and if he will state their specific duties.

The Traffic Engineering Branch in the headquarters of our Department is staffed by one assistant chief engineer, four senior engineers, six engineers and four assistant engineers, all of them qualified either as civil or electrical engineers by corporate membership of the recognised professional institutes. The duties of the branch are to apply the techniques of traffic engineering to ensuring that the maximum use is made of our existing pattern of roads and streets, and to recommend measures designed to achieve this objective.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what factors led him to fix 2s. 6d. as the appropriate increase in the airport passenger service charge.

The proposed increase in the passenger service charge (unchanged since its introduction in 1952) will assist in reducing the deficit arising from the operation of State aerodromes in the United Kingdom by producing extra revenue of about £220,000 per annum. The increase was fixed at 2s. 6d. per passenger as the amount which could reasonably be imposted upon the traffic at present.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the decision of the Cyprus Government to pay compensation to the relatives of two Greek Cypriots who died as a result of injuries received while resisting arrest during the round-up after the murder of Mrs. Cutliffe, he will now make a grant to the parents of British Service men murdered in Cyprus, who wish to bring their sons' bodies home for burial, to help them to defray the cost.

The arrangements for the payments of grants to next-of-kin towards funeral expenses were set out in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) on 3rd December last.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what studies of the effect of noise upon the health of industrial workers have been, or are being, undertaken by the Medical Research Council.

The Medical Research Council has during the past 30 years, sponsored studies of the effect of noise in industry; these have been concerned both with the general psychological effects which may be produced and with the more specific effects upon the sense of hearing. At the present time surveys are being undertaken to define the normal deterioration of hearing which occurs with age and the extent to which this may be modified by exposure to industrial noise. These are the studies referred to in the reply given to the right hon. Member on 13th February.

asked the Minister of Health how many injuries and deaths were attributed to the immunisation against diphtheria.

Information regarding the number of injuries attributed to the immunisation against diphtheria is not available. Seven deaths in the years 1941–1957 were attributed to complications following inoculation against diphtheria.

asked the Minister of Health how many children under five years of age remained unvaccinated in 1957.

At the end of 1957, it is estimated that just under 2 million children under five years of age remained unvaccinated against smallpox.

asked the Minister of Health what were the percentages of the total population in England and Wales inoculated against poliomyelitis in each of the years 1945 to 1957, and in each of the age groups.

None until 1956, 0·4 per cent. of the total population in that year, and a further 2·7 per cent. in 1957—all being children who had been given two injections. I do not think that the labour involved in working out separate percentages for each age group would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made for representatives of the Cypriot people, including the Turkish minority, to consider the recommendations of the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey regarding the future of Cyprus; and if he will invite Archbishop Makarios to return to Cyprus to participate in these discussions.

A Conference is now being held in London. Representatives of the two principal communities in Cyprus, including Archbishop Makarios and Dr. Kutchuk, are participating in the discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further help Her Majesty's Government contemplate giving to the Kenya Government towards expenditure arising from the emergency.

On 18th February, 1958, I told the House that Her Majesty's Government had agreed to make available to the Kenya Government £1,500,000 to enable them to meet expenditure arising from the Emergency during the United Kingdom financial year 1958–59.In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Excheuer, I have now reviewed the Colony's financial position and future prospects.Expenditure arising from the Emergency will again be reduced during the coming Kenya financial year, and indeed much of it has already been absorbed into the ordinary budget. But it will not be possible for Kenya to meet it from her own resources. The greater part of this money is being spent to good purpose on the rehabilitation of detainees and their resettlement after release. Expenditure arising out of the Emergency in 1959–60 is expected to be some £1,750,000. This would include £150,000 for the repayment of the first instalment of loan capital, of which £5·25 million has so far been advanced to Kenya with a moratorium of five years on repayment.In 1960–61 and subsequent years, however, Kenya can be expected to absorb the whole of the remaining Emergency burden arising on recurrent account. It has therefore been agreed with the Kenya Government that 1959–60 will be the last year in respect of which Her Majesty's Government will be asked to help finance recurrent expenditure arising from the Emergency.To help Kenya to meet this expenditure during the years immediately following 1959–60 Her Majesty's Government have agreed that the moratorium on the repayment of all loans for Emergency expenditure shall be extended for a further three years. This will reduce the 1959–60 estimate of Emergency expenditure to £1,600,000.Taking this change into account, Kenya will still need substantial help during the coming year. Subject therefore to the approval of Parliament, Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to provide Kenya with a further grant of £800,000 and an interest free loan of the same amount for the United Kingdom financial year 1959–60. As in previous years, this assistance will be called upon only to the extent that it proves necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the fall in import prices, the increased payment for United Kingdom exports, and the generally favourable terms of trade, together with the various financial, economic and political actions taken by Her Majesty's Government, unemployment and short-time working rose from 329,905 in September-October, 1951, to the figure of 698,442 in October, 1958, whilst at the same time the number of unfilled vacancies fell from 371,209 in October, 1951, to 166,686 in October, 1958; what were the figures for mid-January, 1959; and what action he proposes to take to restore the employment situation to its October, 1951, level.

The causes of changes in the numbers of persons unemployed and working short-time, on the one hand, and of unfilled employment vacancies, on the other, are too complex to be satisfactorily described in a short answer. I would refer the hon. Member to Government statements in recent debates on the Economic Situation and on Unemployment, which also set out the various measures which have been taken by the Government to influence the levels of industrial activity and of employment. The number of registered unemployed was 621,000 on 12th January, and the number of unfilled vacancies was 156,000 on 7th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present position of the anticipated agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government in respect of settlement of claims arising from the Suez episode.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the financial negotiations between the Egyptian and British Governments.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 17th February to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) and other hon. Members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates it would cost in the coming financial year if individuals were allowed to give up to 10 per cent. of their gross income to recognised charities without liability to taxation.

I regret that no estimates can be made, though the potential cost would be £400 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates it would cost in the coming financial year

NUMBER OF COURSES LEADING TO THE DIPLOMA IN TECHNOLOGY AND OF STUDENTS (JANUARY, 1959)
Subject			Number of Courses
			Full time	Sandwich	1st year	2nd year	3rd year	4th year	Total
Aeronautical Eng.	…	…	—	5	64	22	—	—	86
Applied Biology	…	…	—	1	9	6	—	—	15
Applied Biochemistry*	…	…	1	—	5	—	—	—	5
Applied Pharmacology*	…	…	1	—	5	—	—	—	5
Applied Chemistry	…	…	2	7	93	58	34	9	194
Chemical Technology	…	…
Industrial Chemistry	…	…
Building	…	…	—	1	8	—	—	—	8
Chemical Engineering	…	…	2	1	37	22	2	—	61
Civil Engineering	…	…	2	1	23	3	2	—	28
Electrical Engineering	…	…	2	10	347	299	143	67	856
Instrument and Control Engineering			—	1	10	9	—	—	19
Mathematics	…	…	—	4	40	14	—	—	54
Mechanical and Production Engineering			1	10	361	274	127	40	802
Metallurgy	…	…	1	2	26	34	26	6	92
Physics	…	…	1	8	116	88	47	15	266
			13	51	1,144	829†	381	137	2,491
* Combined in the first two years.
† Includes 145 students who in January, 1958, were attending courses which have since been recognised by the Council.

I regret that no estimate can be made, though the potential cost of allowing a deduction of 5 per cent. of net profits (gross assessments less capital allowances) would be £60 million.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of students in each of the years of the courses for the Diploma in Technology, distinguishing the subjects of their courses.

The National Council for Technological Awards has given my right hon. Friend the following information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the outcome of the official talks with the Eireann Government on restricted Japanese textiles made up into garments in Eire and imported into Great Britain in increasing quantities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Holt) yesterday when I explained that arrangements to limit exports to this country of garments made from woven cotton materials imported from Japan and Soviet bloc countries will come into force on the 1st March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) what sanction has been given to the Newbiggin District Council for slum clearance; how many new properties have been approved to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(2) how many new houses were built by the Newbiggin District Council during the period 1945 to 1951, and during the period 1951 to 1958, respectively; how many are within the new housing programme to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(3) how many applicants were on the housing list of the Newbiggin District Council during the period 1945 to 1951, and the period 1951 to 1958, respectively; what is the present number of applicants to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(4) how many houses were built by the Morpeth Borough Council during the period 1945 to 1951 and the period 1951 to 1958, respectively; how many new houses are contemplated in the present housing programme; and whether he will make a statement;(5) how many applicants were on the housing list of the Morpeth Borough Council at 1945, 1955, and at the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(6) what sanction for slum clearance he has given to the Morpeth Borough Council; how many new properties have been sanctioned to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(7) how many applicants were on the housing list of the Morpeth Rural District Council, at 1945, 1955, and at the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(8) how many new houses were built by the Morpeth Rural District Council, in the period 1945 to 1951, and the period 1951 to 1958, respectively; how many are included in the present housing programme to the latest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(9) what approval he has given to Morpeth Rural District Council for slum-clearance; how many new houses have been sanctioned to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(10) how many applicants were on the housing list of the Ashington District Council in the period 1945 to 1951, and the period 1951 to 1958, respectively; what is the present number to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(11) how many new houses were built by the Ashington District Council during the period 1945 to 1951, and the period 1951 to 1958, respectively; how many new houses have been approved in the housing programme to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement;(12) what sanction has been given to Ashington District Council for slum clearance; how many new properties have been approved to the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement.

Details are given in the Appendix to the Housing Return which is presented to Parliament for every local authority in England and Wales covering progress made with slum clearance, the number of houses built, under construction and in approved tenders. Approvals do not necessarily distinguish between houses to replace slums and houses for other purposes, but the hon. Member would doubtless be able to obtain this information by inquiry from the local authority. Nor is information available about the numbers on local authority waiting lists, since the selection of tenants for their houses and consequently the keeping of a waiting list are entirely a matter for the local authority concerned. As regards current programmes, I understand that Morpeth Rural District Council hope to put upwards of 200 houses into tender this year, and Ashington Urban District Council upwards of 40. I am in communication with Newbiggin Urban District Council. As far as I am aware, Morpeth Borough Council have no present proposal to build.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, in view of the world-wide importance to science of the Jodrell Bank radio telescope, how much financial aid has been given to this project by the Government to date; and what further amount of assistance is now contemplated.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Knutsford Division of Cheshire (Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport).