asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men and women unemployed in Great Yarmouth at the most recent convenient date, and the comparative figures far the same date in 1958.

994 males and 137 females at 9th February, 1959, compared with 1,468 males and 175 females at 17th February, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the figures of unemployment in Wolverhampton at the latest available date and the number on the corresponding date in 1958.

2,557 at 9th February, 1959, compared with 1,139 at 17th February, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Oldham man whose name has been communicated to him and who had been refused payment of unemployment pay made several verbal applications for an interview with the manager which were refused, made a written application to appeal which has never been acknowledged, and sent a registered letter which has not been acknowledged; and whether he will investigate this matter and make a statement.

I am informed that no one at the local office can recall an oral request by this man for an interview with the manager. He was interviewed by a supervisor on 20th January when the registered letter was received. I regret the delay in dealing with the appeal which was heard on 12th February and rejected by the local tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed in the Paddington area at the latest available date; and how this figure compares with that of 12 months previously.

The available statistics relate to Employment Exchange areas. Paddington is served by the Edgware Road Employment Exchange and St. Marylebone Youth Employment Office, and the number of unemployed persons on the registers of those offices at 9th February, 1959, was 3,155 compared with 2,324 at 17th February, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of juveniles in the Paddington area who left school last July have commenced apprenticeships or entered employment where they receive training for a skilled occupation; and how this figure compares with that of a year ago.

Of the young people about whom information is available, 66 per cent. of the boys and 14 per cent. of the girls in 1958, as compared with 75 per cent. of the boys and 11 per cent. of the girls in 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of registered disabled persons in the Paddington area unemployed at the latest available date; and how this figure compares with that of 12 months previously.

Paddington is a part of the area served by the Edgware Road Employment Exchange. At this office, there were 288 registered disabled persons unemployed on 16th February, 1959, and 210 at 17th February, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workmen have died as a result of falling off buildings or deficient scaffolding in the last three years; and what action is taken to ensure that all scaffolding is safe before it is used.

The number of workmen who died as a result of falling off buildings or scaffolding while engaged in building operations covered by the Factories Acts during the years 1956–1958 was 292. The deaths due to falls from scaffolding were 118, but I cannot say in how many cases the scaffolding was deficient. There are requirements in the Building (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations made under the Factories Acts aimed at ensuring that scaffolding is safe before it is used.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increasing difficulty now being experienced by disabled men in obtaining employment, he will empower Remploy factories to engage additional workers from Section One of the Disabled Register.

No. Remploy was set up under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, to provide work for

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE GATESHEAD EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AND THE NUMBER OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED AT THOSE OFFICES
				Numbers registered as unemployed			Notified vacancies remaining unfilled
				Wholly unemployed	Temporarily stopped	Total
February, 1951	…	…	…	1,774	31	1,805	705
February, 1952	…	…	…	1,830	65	1,895	411
February, 1953	…	…	…	1,871	39	1,910	523
February, 1954	…	…	…	1,626	79	1,705	550
February, 1955	…	…	…	1,291	28	1,319	723
February, 1956	…	…	…	976	78	1,054	835
February, 1957	…	…	…	1,082	33	1,115	611
February, 1958	…	…	…	1,185	18	1,203	514
February, 1959	…	…	…	1,886	92	1,978	267

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, for the most convenient date in January, the number of wholly unemployed persons in the borough of Gateshead in respect of duration of unemployment.

At 12th January, 1959, the total number of wholly unemployed persons on the registers of the Gateshead Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office was 1,911, of whom 368 had been on the registers for two weeks or less, 450 from two to eight weeks and 1,093 for more than eight weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the percentage of unemployment in the borough of Gateshead at the most convenient dates in the previous months of October, November, December and January.

It is not possible to compute a percentage rate of unem

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of workers in the borough of Gateshead wholly unemployed and temporarily stopped on the latest convenient date for each year from 1951 to 1959, respectively, together with the numbers of reported vacancies on those dates.

The table below gives the information desired:ployment for Gateshead alone, but for the combined area of the Blaydon, Felling, Gateshead and Prudhoe employment exchanges and the Blaydon and Gateshead youth employment offices, the percentage rate of unemployment at 9th February, 1959, was 4·0, compared with 2·9 at 13th October, 1958, 3·1 at 17th November, 1958, 3·1 at 8th December, 1958, and 4·4 at 12th January, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the present percentage rate of unemployment in Ayrshire, and, with their percentages, those employment exchanges where the rate is over 4 per cent.

5·8 per cent. on 9th February, 1959. There were no employment exchanges in Ayrshire where the rate was below four per cent. I have had the details incorporated in the following table:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN INDIVIDUAL AREAS OF AYRSHIRE
Ardrossan, Stevenston, Kilwinning and Irvine	8·5
Ayr and Troon	4·0
Cumnock and Catrine	4·4
Girvan	6·1
Kilbirnie and Dairy	16·6
Kilmarnock, Newmilns and Stewarton	4·1
Largs	6·0
Total for Ayrshire	5·8

Note: Individual Employment Exchange areas are grouped for the purposes of calculating percentage rates of unemployment owing to the fact that appreciable numbers of people work in areas different from those in which they live.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons unemployed in Ayrshire at the most recent date; and how many of these are young persons who left school at the last school-leaving date.

7,493 at 9th February, including 87 boys and girls who had not found employment after leaving school at the end of 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons registered as unemployed in Kilmarnock and Newmilns employment exchanges at the most recently available date, and on a corresponding date last year.

1,378 on 9th February, 1959, compared with 644 a year earlier.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent, in view of the large number of working days lost annually through illness, he has considered the desirability of another, but more extensive inquiry, along the lines of the one held in 1947.

I have written to my hon. Friend as I am not sure what kind of inquiry he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average monthly percentage of registered unem ployed at the Greenock Employment Exchange, from May, 1955, to January, 1959, inclusive.

6·2 per cent. for the area covered by Greenock and Port Glasgow employment exchanges. Percentage rates are not available for Greenock alone.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the ratio of unemployed persons to vacancies in the Greenock area.

About 110 to 1.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the ratio of unemployed persons to vacancies in Scotland, Wales, and in the south-western area of England.

The latest available information is for January, 1959. At that date the ratios were 100 to 7 in Scotland, 100 to 15 in Wales, and 100 to 36 in the South Western Region.

asked the Minister of Labour how much the working population in Warwick and Leamington has increased in the period from 1952 to 1957.

By 3,363 to 32,997.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the current percentage rate of unemployment in the Warwick and Leamington district.

On 9th February, 1959, the rate was 1·0 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies were registered at Scottish employment exchanges on the most convenient recent date; and how many of these were replacement vacancies in terms of the National Service Acts.

7,604 at 7th January of which 931 were for replacements for men deferred from National Service.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women of various categories were registered as unemployed at the Buckhurst Hill

NUMBERS OF MEN AND WOMEN REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT BUCKHURST HILL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
				Men	Women	Total
9th December, 1957	…	…	…	78	28	106
13th January, 1958	…	…	…	120	35	155
8th December, 1958	…	…	…	134	48	182
12th January, 1959	…	…	…	202	53	255

The industries with the most unemployed were:—

	Clothing		Building and Contracting		Distributive Trades		Local Government		Professional Services
	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women
9th December, 1957	6	3	21	1	2	3	9	—	1	3
13th January, 1958	3	3	29	1	12	7	9	—	2	7
8th December, 1958	7	4	27	1	16	4	12	1	3	6
12th January, 1959	8	3	58	—	19	8	10	1	5	7

asked the Minister of Labour how many school-leavers registered at employment exchanges in the city of Dundee during 1958; and what is the estimated numbers of school-leavers who will register for employment in 1959, 1960 and 1961.

I regret that figures are not available in the form requested. 2,014 boys and girls left schools maintained by the Dundee Education Authority in 1958. It is estimated that about 2,020 will leave in 1959, 2,170 in 1960 and 2,640 in 1961.

asked the Minister of Labour what efforts are being made in the city of Dundee to increase the number of openings for young people in skilled jobs, with adequate facilities for training.

The Dundee Youth Employment Committee has appointed a standing sub-committee to deal with questions arising out of the increase in the number of boys and girls leaving school and the implementation locally of the recommendations of the Carr Committee's Report. The sub-committee has

The following is the reply:approached employers and workers organisations and individual firms about the need to increase the number of training places available.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the total numbers of registered unemployed persons in Glasgow at the latest convenient date; what were the comparable numbers for 1958; and, of these, at both dates, how many were school leavers.

32,590 on 9th February, 1959, of whom 274 were school leavers. A year ago there were 19,971 unemployed, but comparable figures for school leavers are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the average level of unemployment for the purpose of preparing the financial Estimates for the financial year 1959–60.

For the preparation of Estimates the figure of 500,000 was taken. As I said in my reply to the right hon. Gentleman on 18th February, this figure must be decided on some time before the beginning of the financial year and is subsequently revised as necessary when later information is available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the unemployed in the city and county of Aberdeen have been, and will be, absorbed by the new radar station now in process of being built near Tyrie, near Aberdeen; and if he will indicate the sex and trade of each of those now employed or to be employed on that site.

Three persons now working on the site of the radio telescope which is being erected near Tyrie up to the beginning of the contract. The present labour force consists of up to seven men who are employed by the Royal Air Force contractors at a station in the area and travel daily to the site as required. I understand that a local firm also employ two joiners and four general labourers on the site, but as the main contract has not yet been let, it is not possible to say how many men will be employed in the future.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what were the percentages in relation to employed workers of men and women, respectively, unemployed for over eight weeks in the area covered by the Denton and Openshaw employment offices, according to the latest available figures; and what were those for 12 and 24 months previously;(2) what percentage of men and women workers, respectively, in the Manchester region were unemployed for over eight weeks according to the latest available figures and those for 12 months and two years, previously.

Separate employment figures are not available for parts of the Manchester area. On 9th February, 1959, 1·7 per cent. of the male and 0·4 per cent. of the female insured employees had been unemployed for over 8 weeks. A year ago the corresponding percentages were 0·7 and 0·2 and in February, 1957, 0·5 and 0·1, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers of boys and girls leaving school at the end of the Christmas term, 1958, in the area covered by the Gorton Youth Employment Office; and what was the average length of time before they found work according to the latest available figures.

Gorton forms part of the area covered by the Openshaw Youth Employment Office. Of the 141 boys and 181 girls in that area who left school at Christmas, 45 boys and 6 girls had not been placed in employment by 12th January. By 9th February, the figures had fallen to 12 boys and 2 girls.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers and percentage unemployed in the Stornaway area at the most recent count; and if he will state the number unemployed in each of the Islands of Barra, Benbecula, North Uist and South Uist.

The answer to the first part of the question is 1,927 or 38·9 per cent., and to the second, 148, 45, 129 and 112, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers are at present known to be employed on road construction and other State-assisted schemes in the Lewis and Harris area; and how many are registered as available for such work.

About a hundred are known to be employed, and 815 who were last engaged in such work were registered as unemployed on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now state whether men born in the last quarter of 1939 are to be conscripted.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what types of helicopter are now on order for the Royal Navy.

The Whirlwind and the Wessex. Further information is given in my noble Friend's Explanatory Statement which was published on Monday, 23rd February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is satisfied that adequate shipping is available to land tanks and vehicles on open beaches in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean areas; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply he received from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence on 11th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how long it will take to build the dry dock for the atomic submarine "Dreadnought".

About 21 months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why some of the light fleet carriers now on the disposals list are not being retained for use as helicopter carriers or troop carriers.

These possibilities have not been overlooked in deciding the number of aircraft carriers to be retained.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a statement on the trials undertaken by H.M.S. "Girdle Ness".

H.M.S. "Girdle Ness" is used for the firing trials of the Seaslug guided missile and its control system. It is essential to undertake these development trials afloat under operational conditions. A series of trial firings was recently carried out in the Mediterranean and the results were very satisfactory; there were some outstanding successes against Drone targets.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many men and women are employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, at the present time; how many were employed in 1957–58; and how many he estimates will be employed in 1960–61.

About 19,200 on 1st February, 1959, compared with an average of 19,600 in 1957–58. Numbers employed in 1960–61 will probably be slightly lower.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many apprentices are in training at the present time in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport; and what increase or decrease in these numbers he contemplates in the near future.

The number of apprentices now in training in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, is approximately 1,600. It is anticipated that this number will fall to approximately 1,400 in 12 months' time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what consultations he has had, or intends to have, with Lewis County Council, Stornoway Town Council, Ross and Cromarty County Council, and representatives of crofters and others V, ho may be affected by the proposed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's base at Stornoway.

Stornoway airfield has been surveyed to see whether it is suitable for development as a N.A.T.O. airfield. If it is desired to go ahead with the project, planning clearance will be sought in the normal way and the interested local authorities will be consulted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the final disposal of aircraft carriers, H.M.S. "Magnificent" and "Leviathan" has now been decided upon; to what foreign State H.M.S. "Magnificent" has already been on offer; and if he is satisfied with her state of maintenance whilst in reserve.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No". Foreign countries have displayed interest in "Magnificent" but I am not at liberty to disclose which they were. I have no reason to be dissatisfied with the present condition of "Magnificent".

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the future of Waringsfield Military Hospital.

The lease expires in February, 1962, and new arrangements for Army patients are being made. I am not yet able to give details.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men were recruited to the Army from Northern Ireland during the last year; and how this compares with previous years.

There were 626 adult male recruits from civil life in 1956; 617 in 1957; and 1,272 in 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of persons at present employed or serving at Ranikhet Camp, Reading.

The number is 284.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent he will cancel proposed amalgamations of regiments in view of the increase in recruiting.

The amalgamations will not be affected. I hope to deal with the question of manpower in my speech on the Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Regular officers and men are engaged in the training of the Territorial Army; and what proportion these numbers bear to the strength of the Territorial Army.

There were 252,762 officers and men in the Territorial Army at the beginning of this year. About 96,000 were volunteers actively under training. The Regular Army permanent staff numbers about 960 officers and 3,800 men.During the summer camping season other Regular soldiers help for varying periods. About 1,700 will be needed this year, a number which is being reduced progressively by the employment of civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress is being made in re-equipping the Army with tanks.

The equipment of armoured regiments with Centurion and Conqueror tanks is completed. Heavier armour and a better gun are being provided for the Centurion which will eventually be replaced by a new medium tank now under development. Our heavy tank, the Conqueror, will not be replaced.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of unsatisfied applicants for telephone lines in Coventry; and what action he is taking in order to assist these applicants, some of whom have been waiting for considerable periods.

There are shortages of lines in certain parts of the city and nearly 600 people are waiting for telephones, apart from 500 whose telephones are in course of being provided. One large cable scheme has been started. Two more will be commenced in the next few months. And we expect to provide about 1,800 telephones in the next 12 months.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that telephone exchanges in the Tetford and Horncastle areas are overloaded and incapable of carrying further subscribers; what immediate plans he has in hand to improve telephonic communication in this area; and how soon he anticipates such an improvement will take effect.

The Tetford exchange is almost full, but plans to extend it, and to provide new cables, are in hand. The extended exchange will be ready within 12 months, and the new cables a little later. At Horncastle capacity is available at the exchange, but new cables are needed. These should be ready in the early summer.

asked the Postmaster-General, notwithstanding that he has dissociated himself from any interference with programme matters, and in view of the imminence of a general election, if he will issue a direction to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority not to allow prospective Parliamentary candidates to appear regularly on any programme.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the failure of the Independent Television Authority to provide adequate enforcement of the rules for advertising, he will consider changing the membership of the Authority.

No. I do not accept the premise on which the right hon. Gentleman's Question is based.

asked the Postmaster-General what direct approaches have been made to him by the British Dental Association about the false dental claims made by advertisers; and over what period.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the talks he had on 19th February with the representatives of the Tyne Tunnel Joint Committee; and whether a starting date has now been agreed.

I am glad to say that I reached agreement with the deputation on the broad principles of financing the Tyne Tunnel project. These will now be reported to the Northumberland and Durham County Councils and to the Tyne Tunnel Joint Committee. Some points of detail remain to be settled before a starting date can be fixed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further guidance he proposes to issue with regard to the establishment and operation of the urban road study groups; and whether he will add some guidance about the inclusion of architects and other professional advisers.

I have suggested to local authorities in certain major industrial areas that they study their highway needs over the next 20 years as is being done in London. This is a matter for them, and it would not be proper for me to dictate the make-up of their committees. I am always ready to do what I can to help, if approached on any aspect of their problems. I am sure that they realise, as I do, the importance of including architects and other professional advisers in these planning exercises, and I have no reason to believe that the architectural profession, in particular, will not be fully represented.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the passing of a driving test in Northern Ireland qualifies a person for the issue of a licence in Great Britain.

The passing of a test in Northern Ireland does not at present entitle a driver to a British driving licence, but when opportunity for traffic legislation offers we will favourably consider what my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what new appointments he has made to the British Transport Commission; to what extent it is proposed that the new members will continue to hold the executive positions they now occupy; and what remuneration each of them is to receive.

I have appointed Mr. Keith Grand, formerly General Manager of the Western Region of British Railways, to be a whole-time Member of the Commission from 16th February, to fill the vacancy created by the death of the late Mr. J. W. Watkins. I have also appointed Major-General G. N. Russell, al present the head of the British Road Services Division, to be a whole-time Member from 1st October next, to succeed Lord Rusholme who will retire on 30th September. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Not at all". These Members will each receive the standard salary for a whole-time Member of the Commission, £7,500 a year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the difficulties of many workers in London in getting to the Lost Property Office in Baker Street by six o'clock in the evening which is the closing time; and whether he will make regulations providing for the office to be open at least one late evening a week.

London Transport have little evidence of any widespread demand for a late closing night. Lost property may, of course, be claimed by post.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many driving test inspectors are at present employed in the North Wales area which includes Anglesey; and how this compares with establishments elsewhere.

There are at present six examiners in North Wales itself, six at Chester where many candidates from North Wales are tested, and 91 elsewhere in the North-Western Traffic Area.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many persons are on the waiting list for driving tests in each of the six North Wales counties; what is the waiting period; and how this compares with the national average.

No records are kept of the numbers of persons waiting to be tested in each county. I am circulating below the numbers of persons waiting to be tested at each of the nine centres where residents in North Wales are normally tested. The average waiting period at these centres is 10 weeks, which is about the same as the average for the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimates have been made as to the extent to which travel congestion in central London would be relieved by the expenditure of £50 million on road improvements in London, as compared with a similar sum spent on the proposed Victoria tube.

The relief of travel congestion from the Victoria Line or from a similar expenditure on road improvements are not directly comparable; but undoubtedly either would draw some traffic off the other and both would generate some new traffic. I expect the London Travel Committee to advise me on the contribution which the tube would make and my Ministry is also studying the problem of road improvements.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimates have been made as to the extent to which the expenditure of £50 million on the proposed Victoria tube will help to relieve unemployment, as compared with a similar expenditure on roads, bridges, and flyovers.

London Transport's broad estimate of the measure of the labour element involved in a six-year programme to build the Victoria Line tube and its rolling stock is not less than 50,000 man years. It is more difficult to estimate the total labour involved in the same expenditure on road schemes, but it would probably be of the order of one-tenth of the tube figures.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what general directions he has given to the Airways Corporations since 1st January, 1959, on the subject of their relations with other British operators.

None.

asked the Minister of Defence how many service married quarters have become redundant; what was their original cost and what has been done with them.

In the course of 1956, 1957 and 1958 a total of 247 married quarters became redundant. Their original cost was about £219,500. 78 have been sold or been transferred to other Departments, and the disposal of the remainder is being negotiated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps are being taken to increase research on the prevention of injuries in road accidents, in order that this country may not fall behind the level of research already being carried out in the United States of America and on the Continent.

Extensive researches aimed at the prevention of road accidents generally are being carried out by the Road Research Laboratory. This work includes such items as the control of vehicles during emergency braking, improvements in tyres and road surfaces to give better adhesion on wet roads, improvement in vehicle and street lighting and in helmets for motor-cyclists. Safety aspects of motor vehicle design to minimise injuries in road accidents are being investigated in the Slough area by the Laboratory with the co-operation of the police and of the Medical Research Council. The staff available for this detailed study of accidents has recently been increased and facilities for simulating vehicle accidents and for testing individual components are also being built up. There is the fullest cooperation in this field and the Laboratory studies results obtained by research elsewhere, particularly in the U.S.A., so as to consider their applicability to conditions in this country and to avoid unnecessary duplication of work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what is the latest percentage of road accidents due to mechanical defects in vehicles as assessed by the Road Research Laboratory; and what are the commonest mechanical defects found.

The most reliable, though limited, facts available for assessment to the Road Research Laboratory are provided by accidents occurring in the daytime near the Laboratory, which are investigated in detail, on the site, by staff from the Laboratory. In 15 per cent. of the 261 such accidents studied during the years 1955–58, a mechanical defect in the vehicle is held to have played an important part. About one half of the defects were in the brakes.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) if he will state the illnesses which are mainly responsible for the high level of lost working days in industry;(2) if he will state the number of working days lost through illness in each of the last three calendar years for which figures are available.

I can answer only for the number of days of incapacity recorded among people claiming under the National Insurance Schemes. In the three latest years, running from the first Monday in June, 1954, 1955 and 1956, the totals were 296 million, 295 million and 281 million, respectively, of which about 19 million in each year were in respect of claims for injury benefit under the Industrial Injuries Scheme.The figures exclude illnesses of married women whose current title to sickness benefit has lapsed following an option not to pay national insurance contributions while working. An appreciable number of very short spells of sickness which do not qualify for benefit may also not be recorded.A detailed analysis for 1955–56 showed that the groups of illnesses contributing the greatest number of days to the total were: bronchitis (27 million), (tuberculosis (21 million), other respiratory diseases (33 million); psychoneurosis and psychoses (25 million); diseases of the circulatory system (30 million); diseases of the digestive system (24 million); arthritis and rheumatism (21 million); and accidents other than industrial accidents attracting injury benefit (16 million).

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much the annual cost of National Insurance retirement pensions has increased between the passing of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956, and the latest convenient date.

The expenditure on National Insurance retirement pensions during the year ended 31st March, 1956, was approximately £432½ million and expenditure in the year ended 31st March, 1958, the latest year for which figures are available, was about £49½ million greater. The increase reflects the growth in the number of retirement pensioners as well as the cost of the higher rates of pension which began to be paid towards the end of the period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will request the radio industry to submit to him a plan which would ensure the protection of the revenue if valve and tube replacements for radio and television sets were freed from Purchase Tax as with spare parts for motor vehicles.

No. But if the industry has anything to add to the representations it has already made to me, I shall, of course, be ready to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Royal Air Force aeroplanes will fly over Lisbon on the occasion of the Trade Fair next May; what is the number of Royal Air Force personnel which will be employed; and what is the total estimated cost of the flights.

We propose to send 18 aircraft. Altogether 175 officers and airmen are likely to take part. Extra costs will be met by the sponsors of the fair.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the distance from Hull of the nearest rocket site now being built; and how many rocket sites it is envisaged will be built in the vicinity of Hull.

It would not be in the public interest to give the number of sites or their precise location.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that in schools where there are periodic exhibitions of reproductions of famous pictures, there is no explanation why they are recognised as works of great art value by reason of design, composition, colour, and so forth, attached to each reproduction, and pupils have no means of learning why they are considered good pictures; and if he will therefore reconsider his refusal to take further action.

My right hon. Friend has no specific information about the general practice in this matter, but considers that it is best left to the teachers in the schools to decide how to inculcate in their pupils an appreciation of the aesthetic merits of works of art.

asked the Minister of Health what regulations he has made with regard to the arrangements to be made by hospitals when transferring patients from one hospital to another and when a seriously ill or incapacitated patient goes to or from hospital; if he will take steps through the regional boards to bring these arrangements to the notice of all hospitals and to secure their implementation; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances which prevented the making of proper arrangements for the transit of Kenneth Handley from Sheffield City General Hospital to Uxbridge recently.

It is for individual hospitals to make whatever individual arrangements are necessary in each case, and I do not think it would be appropriate to make general regulations on the subject. As has been explained to the hon. Member, the difficulties experienced over the transfer of Kenneth Handley from the City General Hospital, Sheffield, to Harefield Hospital were due to a failure to bring into operation the usual procedure for such transfers, which has worked well in other cases. The Sheffield hospital authorities have overhauled their administrative arrangements in order to prevent any repetition of such an occurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the result of his inquiries into the suitability of Happendon Camp site, Douglas, Lanarkshire, for industry.

The site has been inspected and its particulars will be made available to any firm who might be interested in developing these.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have applied to him for approval of their contributing to the maintenance of spastic children at the Stanmore House, Lanark, home for spastics.

Three local health authorities—Edinburgh, Ayr County and Rutherglen—applied for and received authority under Section 27 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947. Four education authorities—Glasgow, Ayr, Peebles and Moray and Nairn—who applied for approval under Section 1 (4) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1946, to incur expenditure in the education of children at Stanmore House, were advised that the home was not an educational establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what applications he has received from the Lanark County Council for approval for contributions toward the maintenance in Stanmore House, Lanark, home for spastics, of spastic children from the Lanark County Council area.

I have already approved proposals by Lanark County under Section 27 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947, to utilise the care and aftercare facilities of voluntary agencies. No approval in respect of a particular home is therefore required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will announce the value of the flower-bulb quota for import from Benelux for the year 1959–60.

Yes. The flower bulb quotas will be increased from £3,445,000 to £3,745,000.