asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has considered the petition sent to him, signed by over eighty farmers in the Marsh-chapel area, Lincolnshire, protesting against the inadequate protection afforded them against flooding; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received this petition, and understands that the Lincolnshire River Board is about to undertake a survey of the area, after which it will be for the river board and the Louth Internal Drainage Board to decide what action is appropriate. My engineers will, of course, be ready to help in whatever way they can, if they are requested to do so.

Whilst the Lincolnshire farmers are grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has done for them recently, they are wondering whether there are any financial reasons for this work not being done. If not, will my hon. Friend put the maximum pressure on the river boards to get the work started and completed, because the farmers feel that they could produce more food if the land were safe from flooding?

I have a good deal of sympathy with the difficulties of the farmers, but I think that the important thing is to get the survey done and to see just what the facts are.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the large numbers of sheep killed by traffic on roads crossing the Cleveland moors; and whether he will take steps, in co-operation with the local highway authorities, to reduce this loss of valuable livestock.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this problem, and it is now being investigated by a panel appointed by the County Agricultural Executive Committee with a view to further discussion with the county council and other authorities before the next holiday season.

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, but in this case is not it possible to have warning notices, of attractive design—to be read by the motorists, of course, and not by the sheep?

I think that that is a very sound suggestion; and exactly the sort of thing that the panel will be considering.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the best way of dealing with the problem is to proceed with legislation, based on the Report of the Royal Commission on Common Land, in which fencing will take a very prominent place?

I note my hon. Friend's interest in this subject, and I hope that we shall have his support in tomorrow's debate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the Heneage Committee's Report of 1951.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 2nd February.

Does not the hon. Gentleman recollect that only a week or so before that he was very anxious and eager to conduct discussions on the Heneage Report and, in fact, threw out three challenges to my right hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown)? Is there any conflict between himself and the Minister over the Heneage Report which prevents him making a statement to the House about it?

I can assure the House, and the hon. Member, that there is no conflict whatever between my right hon. Friend and myself over this or any other matter. I would welcome an opportunity to debate all the problems associated with the Heneage Report, but it is difficult to go into details in Question and Answer.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary have a word with his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, and ensure that we have a debate? Quite frankly, however, we want more than a debate. After all these years, we want action from the Government.

I quite realise that action on this is called for, and I am still hopeful that we shall be able to get it. However, this is a very difficult problem, and it is not one that would be helped by trying to bring in legislation which would not be made use of after being put on the Statute Book. That is one of the difficulties of some parts of the existing drainage legislation, and it must be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the landed price of imported Spanish carnations per lb. as compared with the price of the British produced product.

The average c.i.f. value of carnations imported from Spain during 1958 was 4s. 1d. a lb. before payment of the duty of 1s. 8d. a lb. There are no official returns of flower prices but trade reports indicate that Co-vent Garden Market prices for English carnations during that period ranged from 4s. to 36s. a lb. for glasshouse varieties.

As the imports of foreign carnations have risen very rapidly in the last two or three years, and as the prices my hon. Friend has given indicate that Spanish carnations are coming in very cheaply, will he bear these facts in mind in the discussions going on about tariffs for the protection of cut flowers?

Yes, this is just the sort of thing which is being borne in mind in relation to this particular point. I am sure that my hon. Friend will realise that I cannot make any further statement on that today.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there has been an increase of something like 50 per cent. in the imports of cut carnations in the last two or three years? Will he, therefore, look very carefully into this question to see that the industry is not being seriously damaged?

I have indicated that we are looking at these things, and the figure which my hon. and gallant Friend quotes is something which we shall certainly keep in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will use his powers under the Food and Drugs Act to prevent imported foreign cheese being described as Cheshire; and whether, in view of the recent increase of this practice, he will take steps to ensure that the term Cheshire is in future only applied to cheese of British origin.

No, Sir. This description has, for many years, ceased to be an indication of the origin of a type of cheese widely produced abroad as well as in the United Kingdom. However, under the provisions of Section 1 (1) of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, imported goods to which there is applied the name of any place or district in the United Kingdom must bear an indication of origin.

Is my hon. Friend aware that on an imported Cheshire chease the word "imported" is in very small letters at the bottom of the cheese, and, as a result, the housewife can be deceived very easily when purchasing this kind of cheese? Does he not think it right to take some steps to prevent the housewife being "cheesed off"?

The Merchandise Marks Act provides powers in relation to this matter. It may be that the word is not very large, but I should have thought that there is a general realisation that, whether it be Cheshire or Cheddar cheese, a lot of it is imported and has been for many years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that there is a sufficient importation of potatoes in augmentation of home supplies to permit a reduction in prices to the consumer.

The Government are allowing imports of maincrop potatoes from all sources acceptable under the Plant Health Regulations, and I am sure that the trade will continue to bring in the supplies needed to supplement the home crop. It is estimated that over 250,000 tons of imported main crop potatoes have already arrived this season compared with imports of about 45,000 tons by the same date last year.

But looking forward, can the hon. Gentleman assure us that we shall have adequate imports? Does he realise that, unlike last year, our bad crop has not been shared by Continental countries, and we should have expected imports to hold the price? Further, is he aware that, complementary to the guarantee, there is a responsibility on the Government in times of shortage to hold the price and see that it remains reasonable?

As regards the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, obviously the only way in which supplies can be attracted to this country is by a price level sufficient to induce those supplies. As regards the first part, the wholesale price in this country has eased slightly over the last week or two, and I think it is clear that there are adequate supplies on the Continent and they should come in.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total number of sows and gilts for breeding at the latest available date and the corresponding figure twelve months earlier.

According to the December, 1958, Census Returns for England and Wales, there were 610,000 sows and gilts on agricultural holdings. The corresponding figure for December, 1957, was 673,000.

Does not this indicate that the Government's policy is knocking the confidence out of the pig industry? Are we to assume that Government policy is now to lower the sights for the industry?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman read at the time the Annual Review last year, when we stated quite clearly what our view was in relation to pigs. We said:

"Production is expanding rapidly … market prices are lower. … The trend of output must be reversed".

We said that in the last Review, and these figures show that what we anticipated and hoped for has been brought about, and we hope it will result in better stability in the pig market.

But to what level do the Government intend to reduce the pig industry?

The Government are not seeking to bring about any strict level. It is a matter of attaining an economic balance, which is what we seek to do in all these matters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the consumption of beef in the United Kingdom for the last six months and the figure for the corresponding period twelve months ago.

Supplies of beef and veal moving into consumption during July-December, 1958 are estimated at 584,000 tons. This compares with 646,000 tons for the same period in 1957.

May we assume that at the next General Election we shall not hear the cry, "More red meat"?

I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would have hung his head in shame before he dared to question any matter of beef supplies under this Government as compared with his own.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the unsatisfactory state of the land returned to several farmers at Goose Green, Wigan, after opencast coal operations, he will oppose all further applications to use agricultural land for this purpose.

Before this land was returned to the farmers it was given a full course of agricultural after-treatment. My right hon. Friend has arranged for the farmers concerned to be given further technical advice.

Decisions on proposals of the National Coal Board to work land for opencast coal are not a matter for my right hon. Friend but are taken by my noble Friend, the Minister of Power, after consideration of all the relevant factors. Applications are now dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Opencast Coal Act, 1958, and, under the procedures of the Act, opportunities are provided for objections and, in appropriate cases, for local public inquiry.

But surely the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend can object to good agricultural land being used for opencast mining operations, particularly in a period such as the present when there is a surplus of coal?

Yes, there are opportunities for my right hon. Friend to make representations in regard to these matters, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that they are made in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the interests of good husbandry, he will consider giving financial aid to those farmers at Goose Green, Wigan, whose land was left in an unsatisfactory state after opencast coalmining operations, in view of the inadequacy of the compensation which they have received from the National Coal Board.

Provided that they satisfy the conditions of the relevant schemes, owners and occupiers of opencast coal land may obtain various forms of help, for example, by way of ploughing grants, field drainage grants, grants under the Farm Improvement Scheme or lime and fertilizer subsidies.

I should like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the courteous way in which he has dealt with my correspondence, but does not he feel that something more tangible than advice is needed in this case?

I accept that there have been difficult problems in relation to this case. Some of the land has been difficult to put back into good heart, but my officers are doing all they can to assist in this respect. I am afraid that I cannot hold out any further hope beyond what we are trying to do now.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when considering whether to permit the importation of Charollais bulls, if he will give due consideration to the official policy of the Australian Government regarding risks of disease among cattle exported from this country.

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that before reaching a decision in this matter my right hon. Friend will take full account of all disease risks.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the Australian ban against British cattle is very vexatious, and that we shall reduce our chances of having the ban removed if we allow Charollais cattle from a disease-ridden country to come into this country?

I think that we must keep the matter in proportion. I quite agree that it is very important that we should try to have the Australian ban relaxed, but I do not think the position is likely to be affected materially by any decision which may be taken—and none has yet been taken—about Charollais bulls. After all, there is no blue tongue disease in France, so far as I am aware, any more than there is in England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the lack of evidence in his Department concerning children in clubs, he will take steps to check the evidence provided to him by the hon. Member for Brierley Hill (Mr. Simmons), and if he will make a statement.

The information which the hon. Member sent my right hon. Friend, contains no evidence that children in clubs consume intoxicants and appears to reflect the division of opinion shown in this House in the debate on the hon. Member's Bill on this subject last Session.

Is not the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend has set up a committee to inquire into juvenile drunkenness? Will he reinforce that committee by including in its membership leaders of youth clubs and Nonconformist and other social workers, because his Department appears to be very lax in obtaining the necessary information on which to come to a conclusion on the subject?

The proposed committee is to inquire into drunkenness as a whole. As I told the hon. Gentleman on previous occasions, we have no evidence of any general or serious drunkenness among children. I certainly could not, without notice, answer questions about the composition of the committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that strip-tease acts are being performed in clubs in the Midlands and elsewhere and that children and young persons are allowed to attend these performances; and, in view of the moral objections to such attendance, if he will take steps to make it illegal.

My right hon. Friend has read the newspaper article which the hon. Member was good enough to send him, but he is not at present persuaded of the need for legislation.

Is the Minister aware that these children and young persons can go without let or hindrance into clubs, whereas they are excluded from "pubs" and that this type of entertainment is a moral danger to these children and young persons? It is no good our condemning juvenile delinquency if we do not take steps to remove temptation out of the way of these young people.

The evidence which the hon. Member has put before us and, indeed, the evidence at our disposal does not show that children are admitted to these strip-tease clubs, with the exception of one unidentified club in the Midlands. Certainly, on the evidence we now have, it would not be right to suggest that there should be legislation in this matter.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman's information allow him to tell us where these clubs are?

I could not say that without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that doctors are still charging more than is recommended by the British Medical Association for the signing of cremation certificates B and C, and that the hon. Member for Greenwich has in his possession a receipt of two doctors charging £8 8s. 0d. for certificates B and C for one cremation of one whose relatives could ill afford such a sum; if he is aware that such excessive charges are detrimental to this hygenic method of disposing of the dead, and are becoming a public scandal; and what steps he is now taking to check this tendency.

The Home Office has recently embarked upon a review of the Cremation Regulations and this matter will be included in the review.

I hope the Minister will realise that all the efforts which have been made towards a voluntary agreement have been quite unsuccessful and that time after time these voluntary arrangements have been violated. It is becoming a very serious matter these days. It is a crime against the method of disposal. I hope that the working party will take seriously into consideration the information which is now available.

No doubt the working party will wish to bear in mind what the hon. Member has said.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the numbers of men who applied to enrol in the prison service in each year over the past five years, stating the number of those who were in terviewed, the number who were rejected during a probationary period, and the numbers finally accepted, in England and Wales, and for Her Majesty's Prison, Armley, Leeds, separately.

As the Answer involves a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does the Home Secretary appreciate that that reply is rather unsatisfactory? I have waited a long time for these figures and it would have been much more convenient to question the right hon. Gentleman on the Floor of the House about the high number of entrants and the relatively low number who get through. Is he aware that I have pursued this matter over a large number of years, that it has been raised in debate and that no one, least of all the right hon. Gentleman, could be satisfied with that sort of figures?

I do not know what the hon. Member means by "that sort of figures". The table would take at least five minutes to assimilate and about a

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child-care officers are employed in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of them have received special training for the work.

Of the 1,200 child-care officers estimated to be employed by local authorities in England and Wales, it is believed that about a quarter have received special training leading to the award of the Certificate in Child Care and that about half the remainder have other social science qualifications.

Is not this a rather unsatisfactory position after ten years of the

Has the Home Secretary discussed the whole question of recruitment and the standard that he requires with representatives of the prison officers?

I have not personally discussed it, but it has been discussed by my representatives.

As the hon. Member pointed out, it is ten years since these courses were instituted. There are many officers who have been with their local authorities more than ten years. One should not assume that they are unqualified because at the time they entered the services these precise qualifications and examinations were not available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child-care officers are employed in Staffordshire and what proportion of (hem are unqualified; what is the ratio per 10,000 of the child population; and how these figures compare with those for the counties of Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, and Warwick.

The Answer involves a table of figures which, with permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While thanking the hon. Lady for the table, which, I guess, will show a fairly high proportion of unqualified officers in these counties, may I ask this question? Whilst, clearly, a large number of the unqualified officers are valuable and highly experienced people, nevertheless should not her Department now take more urgent steps to offer the opportunity of modern training and qualification to the high proportion of those in child-care service who do not at the moment have the training?

Every encouragement is given to officers to avail themselves of the training. Generally speaking, however, there is a tremendous demand on people with an inclination for this type of work and in many of the areas we are, in consultation with the local authorities, endeavouring to get more people into the service. There is certainly no lack of willingness on our part that, where suitable, the officers should gain the qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from police forces under his control concerning the undesirable influence of television programmes which illustrate the detailed methods of criminals engaged in crime, and of the police in securing their detection.

While I have received no formal representations on this subject, I am aware that it has given rise to concern in the minds of some police officers. If the hon. Member has some specific case in mind, he might like to bring it to my attention.

Is it not the experience of all who watch commercial television that crime and criminals are constantly being presented in a glamorised form? Is it not the case that this embellishment of crime without any genuine artistic or moral purpose can be as corrupting to immature minds as pornography? In these circumstances, and in view of the complaint in particular of the Police Gazette, will not the right hon. Gentleman bring the matter to the attention of the Independent Television Authority to ascertain whether the provisions of the Television Act have been complied with?

Certainly, because this is a powerful medium. We must also remember that both the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. have been of great assistance to us with publicity for the detection of crime. Therefore, what I should like to do is to obtain examples of particular instances. I have ascertained that no particular case has been brought to our attention. If, however, there were any instance and I could isolate it, we would certainly take it up with the authorities concerned.

My hon. Friend's Question refers to police forces under the control of the Home Secretary. Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us which police forces in the provinces outside the Metropolitan area he regards as strictly under his control?

I always preserve an entirely constitutional attitude to all matters. I am solely concerned in regard to control in relation to the Metropolitan Police and not in relation to other police forces. My relations are, I think, well known.

So we may take it that the right hon. Gentleman's Answer referred only to the Metropolitan area?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases television companies have sought the advice either of his Department or of police authorities under his control in connection with programmes dealing with methods employed by the police or by criminals; which were the companies; and with relation to which programmes the inquiries were made.

Both the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police receive requests for technical advice from time to time from the British Broadcasting Corporation and independent television companies; but there is no complete record of these requests.

Will the Home Secretary say whether the advisers from the police force advise in their capacity as Government officials, or as private fee-receiving consultants?

No; I could not give an immediate answer to that supplementary question without consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that no review of the Carlisle experiment in State-owned public houses has been made for over twenty-five years; and when he proposes to make his next review of the working of the experiment.

With the assistance of the Local Advisory Committee and the State Management Districts Council I keep the working of the experiment under constant review.

In addition to all the other factors in connection with this experiment, is my right hon. Friend aware of the recent comments of the chairmen of the city magistrates and the chairman of the county magistrates about the invidious position which they feel their benches are in on licensing matters and the extremely false position which they are in when they grant a licence which is not confirmed by the Advisory Committee? Does not my right hon. Friend think that it is only by a review such as I suggest that a matter of this nature can be considered?

It is true that the last review was in 1929–31 by the Royal Commission on Licensing. I feel that it is quite reasonable to say that it is the sort of experiment which needs review, but at the moment it is under my own personal review in the Home Office and I do not think that I can be helped at the moment by an outside body. If my hon. Friend, who knows the district well, chooses to tell me anything about the matter, I shall be only too glad to hear what he has to say.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is proposing to take, following the deputation from the London County Council, to look into the position of all- night clubs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave on 27th January to the hon. Member for Clapham (Mr. Gibson).

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is still concern about this matter, and is he taking any steps to deal with it?

I am not sure what the hon. Gentleman has in mind when he refers to "steps to deal with it", but, if be is referring to the possibility of further legislation, I certainly cannot offer him any hope of this in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his grounds for extending to the London probation officers combined together in their professional association the rule requiring individual officers to obtain prior sanction before publishing any matter touching on the business of the courts; and to what extent this rule applies to statements made to the Press, whether by individual officers in London or on the authority of the London Branch of the National Association of Probation Officers, about matters not touching on the business of the courts but arising from his relations with the London probation officers.

The rule is designed to protect the interests of the probation service, the courts it serves, and the people with whom it deals. The second part of the Question does not arise, because my right hon. Friend's relations with the London probation officers necessarily touch upon the business of the courts.

Is not this a very serious position from the point of view of the interests of the probation officers? Does not the hon. and learned Gentleman realise that by putting this kind of imposition upon a body which deals with the interests of probation officers he is limiting their rights, and will he say what he considers comes within the business of the courts? Is the hon. and learned Gentleman referring to everything which probation officers discuss at their own meetings?

It would be better to wait until we have an application to publish matter in the Press. We have had no application so far, but my right hon. Friend is always prepared to consider any application on its merits.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman go into the matter again? Was it not at the instigation of the Home Office that this particular branch was prevented from giving information to the Press? Does he realise that that is just as bad as refusing an application?

I am not aware of the case to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I should point out that the National Association of Probation Officers communicates freely with the Press through its general secretary, and that is the proper channel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state his reasons for not authorising the removal of the air-raid shelters in Etruria Park, Hanley; and how these differ from those in Burslem, to whose removal he has assented.

It has been the policy of successive Governments to retain shelters unless there are compelling grounds for their removal. The demolition of the shelters in Chapel Lane, Burslem, was necessary to allow building development. This is not the case with the shelters in Etruria Park.

Is the hon. Lady aware that the reasons for asking for the abolition of these shelters in Etruria Park were, first, that they are very insanitary and decrepit, and, secondly, that the space is urgently required as a recreation ground for children to play upon? I beg her to reconsider the whole matter, because the local authority finds that it badly needs this ground for the children.

Permission is normally given if they are structurally unsound, which these shelters are not considered to be, but, if the hon. Member feels that there are other points which should be taken into consideration, my right hon. Friend would be prepared to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there is anxiety about the use of unqualified hairdressers, and that in every other major country there are compulsory standards of attainment for hairdressers; and whether he will now consider introducing or encouraging legislation to ensure that similar provisions shall prevail here.

My right hon. Friend has received no representations on this subject and the Government do not contemplate introducing legislation. My right hon. Friend cannot say in advance what the Government's attitude would be towards a Bill introduced by a private Member.

Is not the hon. Lady mistaken? Was not a Question asked a few days ago about the provision of properly qualified hairdressers in mental hospitals? Also, is she not aware that there is a considerable amount of feeling that nowadays it is highly essential that this trade should be in the hands of fully qualified people?

The hon. Member will be aware that efforts to introduce legislation on this matter have failed in the past, and I cannot hold out any hope that the Government will introduce legislation.

Will my hon. Friend consult with her right hon. Friend about the representations which I made to him by letter in January this year on this subject? There is grave anxiety that in this very large industry, which uses chemicals and electricity these days, people should be properly qualified and duly authorised.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that she is now receiving representations from the women Members of the House to do something in the matter? Will she take steps to give help and statutory encouragement to the Hairdressers' Registration Council in its efforts to raise the professional standards in this important industry?

In view of the intense competition in this industry, I should have thought that any hon. Lady, or anyone else, is perfectly free to ensure that she goes to a satisfactory and adequate hairdresser.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has given further consideration to the reservation of the right hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Gordon Walker), in Command Paper No. 283, to the effect that telephone tapping should cease to be used for the detection of crime; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will make a statement on the working of the new regulations concerning telephone tapping brought into force as a result of the report of the Committee of Privy Counsellors, Command Paper No. 283.

As I indicated in reply to a Question by the hon. Gentleman on 27th March, 1958, the Government accepted the Report of the Committee of Privy Councillors and the necessary steps were taken to give effect to the recommendations on procedure summarised in paragraphs 159–163. I have no further statement to make.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the whole business of telephone tapping is pretty repugnant and that this House should be regularly informed of what is being done and have reports of the number of cases which have been used for the detection of crime? Will he consider this matter in relation to the detection of crime, because, according to the figures of the right hon. Member for Smethwick, only ·13 per cent. of the cases were successful? I should inform the hon. Member for Rossendale (Mr. Anthony Greenwood) that this figure refers to the Metropolitan area. Surely for the sake of that very small number of cases it is unnecessary to keep this repulsive method of detection.

The Government accepted the recommendation of the majority, and, while we have the utmost respect for the observations of the right hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Gordon Walker), we are not prepared to accept the minority Report. We have been administering the matter on the lines suggested by the majority Report, with many points of which the right hon. Member for Smethwick agrees, with the exception to which the hon. Member referred. I think that that is the best policy to pursue at present.

In view of the very widespread public concern in this matter and the views expressed in the Press about the reservation of my right hon. Friend the Member for Smethwick, could not the Home Secretary come a little bit further to meet us and agree to reconsider accepting my right hon. Friend's reservation?

I do not think that there is a very widespread feeling on this subject. It is administered with the utmost care and the onus of it now falls almost entirely upon the Secretary of State, who takes great care about it. I do not think that I would like to alter the policy at the present time.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it would be possible to issue an annual return, showing the number of permissions that have been given, the number that have been withdrawn, and the number outstanding at the date of making the return?

In paragraphs 119 to 121, the Committee stated unanimously that it would be against the public interest to give figures of the extent of the interception. Therefore, we had better accept its advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available, in the prison libraries, copies of Command Paper No. 645, Penal Practice in a Changing Society, in order that any prisoner who desires to study it may be able to do so.

Yes, I shall be pleased to arrange this.

Is the Home Secretary aware that quite a number of hon. Members have received requests from prisoners with reference to this Command Paper? In view of the fact that very few of them will have the opportunity of discussing it anywhere else, is it not very necessary to have the consumers' point of view on it?

I think that we ought to be able to arrange the distribution to which the hon. Lady refers within a week.

In view of the valuable experience which these prisoners may be able to draw upon, will the right hon. Gentleman invite their comments on the White Paper?

If we could obtain any reactions in this experimental period, especially on those questions which affect future legislation, I should, of course, like comments from any quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the annual cost of granting uniform pensions to police constables and sergeants, irrespective of their date of retirement; and if he will consider taking this action for the relatively small number of older police pensioners.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave him on 13th November last.

In answer to the second part, my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in singling out police pensioners from among other public service pensioners for special treatment.

Is not my hon. And learned Friend aware that this relatively small number of junior policemen who are retired feel that they were born forty years too soon and that they are not getting a fair share of what is going by way of pensions? Since it would cost so little and they have been very good public servants, will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider the matter and be generous to them?

What my hon. Friend is suggesting is a departure from the general principles on which public service pensions are awarded. Such a question should be directed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the rates of pension payable to the widows of police officers who die as the result of an attack.

We must all feel sympathy with the widows of policemen killed in the execution of their duty. Regulations were made in 1953 to provide improved pensions in certain cases and I think the formula contained in these regulations is a reasonable one.

Is the right hon. Gentle man aware that two members of the Blackburn Police Force recently con ducted themselves with great gallantry in trying to apprehend an armed man who had run amok and was terrorising his family, that one of the policemen, Detective Inspector O'Donnell, died as a result of injuries received and the other, P.C. Covill, was fortunate to escape with his life, and that the people of Blackburn are proud of these men and the high standards of service which they observed in the course of duty? Will the right hon. Gentleman not—

Order. The hon. Lady is going on too long for a supplementary question.

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I should have thought that this House would be proud of these men and proud of an opportunity to place this on record, in view of the attacks which are made on the police forces from time to time. Would not the Home Secretary agree that if men are to go unarmed into danger, they must have the peace of mind of knowing that their families will be adequately compensated if they lose their lives as a result of doing their duty?

I am, of course, aware of the tragic case to which the hon. Lady refers and which occurred in Blackburn. I understand, however, that no award has yet been made by the watch committee. We should not, therefore, prejudice it by any statement made in this House. In regard to the 1953 Regulations in general, credit for which should go to the right hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede), the rate then fixed for the pension was proportionate to the husband's pay and I should have thought that that was still a good basis However, in this case, I am sure that we should not say more except to express our sympathy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what grants have been made to the University College of Rhodesia from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds; and what grants it is proposed to make in the future.

The total to date is £1,475,000 No applications from the University College are under consideration at present.

When future applications for grant are under consideration, will the hon. Gentleman ask his noble Friend to draw the attention of the authorities of the college in Salisbury to the undesirability of refusing a post to an African scholar solely on the ground that he married a white woman, as happened recently?

When further applications are made, these applications will be considered in the light of the advice and recommendations which will be given by the Inter-University Council. That body will provide the advice upon which an application will be judged.

Whilst we all welcome very much the establishment of this university, which we have regarded as a great venture in inter-racial education in the heart of Central Africa, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will comment on what my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Albu) said? Is it true that this man was refused the appointment on that ground?

Decisions on these matters are entirely for the university authorities, and it would be most improper for me to make a comment on them.

We have given £1 million, which is a large sum but not more than it deserves, for the purpose for which we thought the university was established, but if it engages in racial practices of this kind surely we are entitled to make a protest and to ask the hon. Gentleman to comment.

Whatever comment is made, I think it is that the money spent on this university is a fine investment in the future of the Federation.

Would not it have been wiser of the university authorities not to have made a Press statement on this matter?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the number of schools in Basutoland belonging to the Paris Evangelical Mission Society and the Roman Catholic Mission Societies, respectively, that are in receipt of Government educational grants.

Four hundred and twenty-seven and 305 respectively.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction in the Territory over the alleged disparity of grant between the Mission Societies? Would he look into the matter to ensure that there is a grant to satisfy schools of both societies?

I will certainly go into the matter again but, as my hon. Friend knows, the present basis of grant is such as to ensure for the moment that those schools which were in existence at the time that the decision was made receive a grant. Schools which have recently been opened were opened by the mission concerned, knowing that grants were not available. At the same time, the Basutoland Administration is anxious to ensure that more money, when it is available, may be forthcoming for educational purposes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will now make proposals for a constitutional advance in Bechuanaland similar to those recently announced for Basutoland.

My noble Friend is studying the comments and recommendations of the High Commissioner on a resolution of the Joint Advisory Council for the Bechuanaland Protectorate. He hopes to reply to the Council at its next meeting in April.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the District Council is operating satisfactorily in all the arrangements at the present time?

That is a different matter, but the District Council established in the Bamangwato Reserve is operating satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Education whether it is intended to review the scale on which school milk is at present supplied in the light of the recent report by his Chief Medical Officer on the health of school children.

My right hon. Friend does not feel justified at present in reviewing current policy for the provision of school milk. He is, however, proposing to refer the question of the effect of the nutrition of children on their physical development to the Committee on Medical and Nutritional Aspects of Food Policy.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that assurance, may I ask whether he would agree that there is a growing weight of scientific evidence which indicates that if we unduly hasten the growth of children by special diets we may very well shorten their lives afterwards? Is not this a serious matter which calls for careful inquiry?

I am told that experiments with animals provide the only evidence so far for the theory that fast growth may mean shorter life. I do not think that we should too rapidly assume that the same is necessarily true of human beings.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is better for Britain to have a few more Billy Bunters and not have the malnutrition with the kind of hunger that existed among children before there were school meals?

It is too early to draw any conclusion on this subject. I am grateful to the House for not being too personal upon it.

asked the Minister of Education what proposals and schemes for schools in Newcastle-under-Lyme he has under consideration in his Department which could be quickly started; and if, in view of the unemployment in the area, he will give them urgent attention.

My right hon. Friend has authorised three projects for starting in 1959–60. No action on these rests with him at present. As soon as plans are submitted for his approval, he will give all possible help towards an early start.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that does not answer my Question and merely deals with the current programme? Is not it a fact that in the Ministry there are many proposals, which have been turned down or deferred in previous years, that could now be brought into operation in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where there is more than 5 per cent. unemployment and where the labour and materials are available? Why does not the Ministry now give its approval?

There are several sides to this matter. Of the three projects to which I have referred, my right hon. Friend's Department has agreed to sketch plans for the first, it has not received sketch plans for the second, and I am told that the local education authority is at the moment revising its earlier plans for the third. If the hon. Member has any particular project to which he wishes to draw my attention, I should, of course, be glad to hear from him.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has now considered the Report of the Committee on Further Education for Agriculture provided by local authorities; and if he will now make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on behalf of both our Departments, has sought the views of the interested organisations on the proposals contained in the Report. My right hon. Friend will not be in a position to make a statement until these views have been received and considered.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, and appreciating that not much time has elapsed since the Report was presented, may I ask whether, to allay the fears in the minds of certain interested people, he can give an assurance that this matter has not been shelved?

No, Sir, it has not. The difficulty is that only a few of the interested organisations have submitted their views so far, but we certainly recognise that this is important.

asked the Minister of Education if he will amend the pensions regulations so as to offer a superannuated teacher who, in the present emergency, goes back to teaching greater financial inducements than at present obtain.

No, Sir. It is a principle of public service superannuation schemes generally that the income of a pensioner re-employed in his previous employment should not be greater than the salary he was receiving on retirement. It would not be right to treat teachers differently.

Will the Minister give serious consideration to the representations already made to him by one education authority that there are old teachers who are willing to do part-time work in the present critical shortage of teachers, but that the amount of work they can do is limited by the factor he has just mentioned?

Yes, Sir. The trouble there is that the change suggested could mean that teachers would do less teaching service after 60 years of age than they do now. I will write to the hon. Gentleman explaining the difficulties that arise here.

Would the Minister agree, however, that the shortage of teachers is our biggest single problem in education at present and that he ought, therefore, to look at this with a fresh mind?

I think we should look at every question bearing on the shortage of teachers with as fresh a mind as possible, and we devoted some time to this point in the recent debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent it is possible, under the present regulations, for the import quota on Dutch bulbs to be avoided by the device of importing them by way of the Irish Republic.

The present regulations do not permit imports of Dutch bulbs in excess of the quota, and I have no evidence that these regulations are being evaded by shipment via the Irish Republic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the weight, value and kind of fish landed in British ports which were exported to Commonwealth and foreign countries, respectively, during each of the last ten years, indicating from which parts of Great Britain they were exported.