asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the desirability of holding a seminar on the status of women in African territories for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible; and if he will invite the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to organise a regional seminar on the same lines as that held in Bangkok in August, 1957.

The United Nations programme for regional seminars in 1959 is already full but I will bear this suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies from what source he received evidence that the African National Congress planned murder and massacre in Nyasaland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will issue a White Paper giving details of the alleged plot by the African National Congress leaders to massacre Europeans, Asians and some Africans in that protectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish detailed information about the plot in Nyasaland to carry out widespread violence and murder of Europeans, Asians, and moderate African leaders.

I cannot at present add anything to what I said on this subject on 3rd March. The Governor had firm and reliable intelligence such as no one in his position or mine could possibly have ignored.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what troops from other territories have been moved to Nyasaland.

The 1st Battalion of the King's African Rifles from Northern Rhodesia and units of the Royal Rhodesia Rifles and the Rhodesia African Rifles from Southern Rhodesia. Assistance is also being given by the Royal Rhodesian Air Force.In addition to these military units the following police units have been sent to Nyasaland:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to be able to dispense with the assistance of Rhodesian troops at present in Nyasaland for purposes of security.

When the Governor is satisfied that peaceful conditions are re-established.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total population of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland; how many are on the registers of electors for territorial elections in Nyasaland; and what percentage of these are of the white race.

The latest available population estimates are Northern Rhodesia 2,218,400 and Nyasaland 2,767,000. Representation in Nyasaland is on a communal basis. The roll for the election of non-Africans is 100 per cent. non African. The latest available figures are 2,309 Europeans and 373 Asians. The electoral college for the election of Africans is 100 per cent. African and is drawn from the African members of District Councils and local government equivalents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the increasing disorder, he will now consider the sending of an all-party delegation, on the lines of the Parliamentary delegation that investigated the Kenya Emergency in 1954, to visit Nyasaland and report upon the disturbances now occurring in that protectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the further outbreaks of violence, he will now reconsider the proposal to send a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry to Nyasaland.

I am convinced that peaceful conditions must be restored before consideration can be given to any proposal of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the new Government secondary school at Iringa, Tanganyika, is limited to European children.

This school provides the only facilities for European secondary education in Tanganyika and is already over-full. But the Tanganyika Government hope to expand the Iringa school later to provide secondary education there for children of all races.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now report on the answers received from Governors regarding a letter he sent, drawing attention to the United Nations Convention on the Political Rights of Women and what progress has been achieved in this respect in the various territories.

The following is an up-to-date and corrected version of the statement circulated by my hon. Friend on 23rd January, 1958:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the fact that officially-sponsored colonial students of banking and insurance in the United Kingdom have difficulty in making arrangements to obtain practical experience, whether he will take steps to resolve this difficulty.

An overseas student can only obtain practical experience in this specialised field in the United Kingdom by secondment from a banking or insurance firm of which he is already a regular employee. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of any cases where difficulties have arisen in regard to colonial students I will certainly look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of European farmers in the Kenya Highlands; and what degree of training is required before they are permitted to occupy farming land

pursuant to Mr. J. Amery's reply [OFFICIAL REPORT 12th February 1959; Vol. 599 c. 1326], supplied the following additional information:There are 3,683 registered farmers in the Highlands, almost all of whom are Europeans.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions have been issued to Departments regarding the accompanying of Ministers abroad on official missions by their wives.

I have been asked to reply.No instructions have been issued as to whether Ministers may or may not take their wives with them on official missions abroad. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister decides in each case, on its individual merits, whether it is desirable in the public interest that a Minister's wife should travel at public expense.

asked the Minister of Works if he has yet decided what form the Big Ben centenary celebrations will take.

I hope to be in a position to make a statement on the subject next week.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made in considering the requirements of the Jodrell Bank telescope, with a view to arranging an interview on the matter with the hon. Member for Attercliffe.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the Adjournment Debate on 4th March. My noble Friend would, of course, be glad to meet the hon. Member if he wishes to pursue the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to publish the second and final Report of the Scottish Health Services Council on mental health legislation.

I have just received this Report and intend to publish it as soon as possible. I should like to take the opportunity of thanking the Council and in particular its Committee on Mental Health Legislation for two most valuable Reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in preparing legislation to implement the Report of the Committee presided over by Lord Mackintosh, on the subject of intestate succession, in 1951; and if he will now make a further statement on the matter.

I regret that I cannot at present add to my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 12th December, when I told him that legislation is being prepared but that I cannot yet say when it will be possible to introduce a Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of midwives in Scotland during each of the last ten years, indicating their distribution and their ratio to the number of children born in each of those years, and also the intake and reduction by marriage, resignation, death and otherwise during each of those ten years.

The following table gives the information available:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of 01: fact that the North Eastern Agricultural Co-operative Society Limited is registered under the Alkali, &c., Works Regulation Acts, he will now take steps under those Acts or otherwise to get rid of the noxious fumes from the premises of that Society so as to free the residents in the Bannermill Lane area of Aberdeen from those fumes.

As a result of the meeting between Aberdeen Corporation officials, representatives of the firm concerned and the Chief Alkali Inspector on 3rd March, the Corporation will, I understand, be considering shortly whether they should finance an investigation to determine the cost of erecting a higher chimney than that proposed by the firm, in order to secure better dispersal of the fumes from these works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total estimated cost of public works for completion this year so far approved by him, the object of which is to relieve unemployment.

I have consulted local authorities and public bodies in Scotland about measures to relieve unemployment in their areas. I am glad to say that, with their co-operation, I expect that additional works to the amount of over £91 million will be carried out by March, 1960, which would otherwise have been carried out later. This figure is made up as follows:

	£
Schools, technical education, etc.	2,800,000
Housing	2,100,000
Hospitals	1,150,000
Electricity Boards	1,000,000
Roads, trunk and classified	810,000
Miscellaneous Local Government Services	600,000
Township and livestock rearing area roads, agricultural estate buildings, etc.	515,000
Unclassified roads (including Street Lighting)	480,000
Local health services	220,000
	£9,675,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his intention now to postpone the date of the coming into operation of Section 9 of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of his decision to increase the flower bulb quota to £3,745,000 for 1959–60, he will now reconsider the desirability of abolishing this quota at an early date, having regard to the frustration which it gives to those who want to expand their bulb-growing activities in this country and the damage which it does to Anglo-Dutch trade relations.

No. The decision recently announced was reached after full consideration of all the present circumstances. It is, of course, the policy of Her Majesty's Government to abolish quota restrictions as and when we can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for new industries in the Lleyn peninsula of Caernarvonshire.

The area qualifies for D.A.T.A.C. assistance and the Development Fund is available to assist the building of factories there. We are doing all we can to encourage firms to take advantage of these facilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade where it is intended to build the advance factory in Scotland.

This has not yet been decided. We are already in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland about the location.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the desirability of improving trade between Great Britain and Spain; and when he will consider the appointment of a trade mission.

I hope to see an improvement in Anglo-Spanish trade. The Spanish Minister of Commerce is coming to this country for talks next month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he has taken to promote industry in Aberdeen and the Highlands in pursuance of the letter which, in February, 1959, he sent to 50,000 managing directors, and with what success in actually promoting these new industries or extending existing industries.

Since the letter was sent out in January, Industrial Development Certificates have been granted in Aberdeen and the Highlands for four projects, estimated to provide 92 jobs, and four further projects, to employ 181 people, have been started. Seven applications for financial assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958 have been approved this year and a further eleven are under consideration. The hon. and learned Member will also have in mind the availability of the Development Fund for factory building in the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it has now been decided to add to the list of places in which financial assistance is available under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Five areas are now being added to the list of places for which financial assistance will he available for suitable projects in them. The areas to be added are:In

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a plate with holes to facilitate wall hanging is subject to Purchase Tax at 30 per cent., whereas a vase similarly equipped is subject to Purchase Tax at 15 per cent.; what is the reason for this distinction between wall hanging plates and wall hanging vases, which are both for decorative and ornamental purposes; and what steps he proposes to take to introduce greater equality in this field.

A vase when suspended on the wall is still a vase; it is therefore taxable with other vases, bowls and jugs as an article of domestic tableware or hardware. On the other hand, a plate suspended on the wall is not tableware and is more analogous to a wall plaque or picture.My hon. Friend will not expect me to comment now on the possibility of changes in taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will again review the anomalous position with regard to the charging of Purchase Tax on baskets under which at the present time open shopping baskets of cane or wicker are exempt from tax even if their bottoms are made of other materials, whereas baby baskets, bread baskets and perambulator baskets are chargeable at 15 per cent. and baskets with a lid or means of closure which make them weather proof or pilfer proof and also any kind of baskets made of rush, raffia or seagrass are subjected to tax at 30 per cent.

I would remind my hon. Friend that the special treatment in Group 23 of the Tax Schedule of articles made of cane or wicker was conceded at the express wish of the whole House with the object of helping blind and disabled workers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement upon progress of National Savings during the first 48 weeks of the current tax year 1958–59 compared with the first 48 weeks of the previous tax year 1957–58; and what increase per centum and in money, in net new National Savings' investment, has occurred this year compared with last.

The net increase in National Savings during the first 48 weeks of the present financial year, has been £280 million, or about 4½ per cent. In the same period of last year the increase was about £8 million, or about 0·1 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds he has refused wharf privileges to Messrs. L. S. D. Transport Limited at Neap House Wharf on the Trent, near Scunthorpe.

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise refused to approve this wharf for the unloading of ships from abroad because they considered that there already was a sufficient number of approved wharves in this area, and that the additional manpower and expense would therefore not be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now allow the Beckenham Borough Council to make a contribution to meet part of the running costs at a foot clinic for old people organised by the British Red Cross Society.

Yes. In view of the recent statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health that he is ready to approve proposals by local health authorities which wish to provide a chiropody service as part of the National Health Service, I can now agree to the contribution proposed by the Beckenham Borough Council. The council has been so informed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses belonging to owner-occupiers have been compulsorily acquired under clearance orders in Bristol; what compensation was paid; to what extent the cost of demolition and removal fell upon the tenant; and, in view of the hardship inflicted upon a large and increasing number of such people in the country at large who have invested their life savings in their homes, if he will now consider introducing legislation to remove this injustice.

The information asked for in the first three parts of the Question relates to matters which are the responsibility of the local housing authority, and on which no returns are submitted to me. I should however point out that where the property is acquired, demolition is at the cost of the local authority. On the last part of the Question, legislation was introduced in 1955 to relieve the hardship which would otherwise have been experienced by owner-occupiers who bought unfit houses between 1939 and 1955. To safeguard against hardship in the future, local authorities were asked by circular in the same year to give general publicity to their slum clearance proposals, as well as individual advice to prospective purchasers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what guidance he gives to local housing authorities which have made representations to him about excessive rents charged far caravans on sites licensed by them; and to what extent the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, has been applied to caravan lettings.

The action open to the local authority will depend on the terms of the letting. I am advised that if a caravan is let furnished for use as a dwelling where it stands, the local authority has power to refer the contract to the local rent tribunal. I regret that information about the number of cases of this kind referred to rent tribunals is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will secure, for the information of Parliament, statistics showing how many local authorities have adopted rent rebate or differential rent schemes for the tenants of their houses.

This information is already available through statistics collected by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants. It can be found in the Institute's booklet entitled "Housing Statistics" which was published last November.As the booklet shows, there are many different forms of rent rebate and differential rent schemes. But the general position is that 363 authorities out of the 1,223 which supplied information had some kind of scheme in operation at 31st March, 1958. The schemes fell into the four

broad groups which are distinguished below according to the method adopted for calculating the maximum rent.

A.	Maximum rent designed to cover total annual outgoings, i.e., un-subsidised rent	109
B.	Maximum rent designed to cover total annual outgoings after deduction of subsidies, i.e., fully subsidised rent	110
C.	Maximum rent designed to cover total annual outgoings after deduction of a portion of the available subsidies, i.e., partially subsidised rent	113
D.	Maximum rent calculated on some other basis	31
	Total	363

In addition to these authorities, another 297 authorities made "lodger charges" at that date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the immediate future of the Epworth office of the National Agricultural Advisory Service.

Yes. I intend that my Ministry's office at Epworth should be kept for the time being.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now state the outcome of the negotiations for a new international wheat agreement.

Yes. The Conference to which my hon. Friend refers has been at work for some five weeks and has now completed its task. An International Wheat Agreement of a quite new kind has been devised. This Agreement, while furnishing the exporting countries with the assurances they require, should involve no burdensome restrictions on the freedom of our traders. The principal obligation upon importing members is to buy a specified percentage of their normal commercial imports of wheat from member exporting countries as a whole. The specified percentage for the United Kingdom and any acceding Colonial Terri- tories would be 80 per cent. In recent years only 3 per cent. of our imports have come from non-member countries. The new price range is $1·50 to $1·90 per bushel for No. 1 Northern Manitobas, the maximum being 10 cents less than it is under the expiring Agreement. Provision is made for the regular review of wheat production policies and of problems of surplus disposal, and for the study of the means of encouraging consumption.Her Majesty's Government's policy in this field, as was explained at the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference at Montreal last September, is to support measures of international economic co-operation and to consider on their merits international arrangements designed to moderate excessive short term fluctuation of commodity prices. I am happy to say an Agreement has emerged from the Conference at Geneva which the United Kingdom is able to join. Our delegation in Geneva, therefore, was authorised to say that, subject to the completion of the appropriate constitutional procedures, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to adhere to the new International Wheat Agreement in respect of the United Kingdom and to consult the Colonies on whether they would wish to join.As soon as possible the Agreement will be laid before Parliament as a White Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour what provision he has made during each of the last five years to provide training and employment for boys and girls leaving schools in Aberdeen under his jurisdiction; and with what results.

The responsibility for training rests with industry itself, and the Aberdeen Education Authority assists by providing a range of preparatory courses. The employment situation for boys and girls has generally been very satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls, respectively, have left Aberdeen schools during each of the last five years; and, of these, how many have found employment, and in which trades, professions and vocations, how many have failed to secure employment, and how many are now unemployed.

The number of boys and girls leaving burgh and grant-aided schools in Aberdeen in each of the last five school years is shown in the following table:

SCHOOL-LEAVERS FROM BURGH AND GRANT-AIDED SCHOOLS
Year*			Boys	Girls	Total
1953–54	…	…	1,356	1,339	2,695
1954–55	…	…	1,267	1,301	2,568
1955–56	…	…	1,172	1,203	2,375
1956–57	…	…	1,185	1,235	2,420
1957–58	…	…	1,218	1,204	2,422
* Year ending 6th June in each case.

No figures are available to show how many of these entered employment, or in what occupations, though it is clear that the great majority found employment.The average numbers unemployed were:

Year			Boys	Girls	Total
1954	…	…	33	22	55
1955	…	…	23	16	39
1956	…	…	25	10	35
1957	…	…	32	12	44
1958	…	…	42	23	65

On 9th February, 1959, the number of school-leavers who had not yet been placed in employment was five boys. These are included in the total of 80 boys and 27 girls who were registered as unemployed on that date.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the area covered by his local office at Heanor; what is the estimated population of this area; and what percentage of the population is resident in Nottinghamshire.

The area covered by the local office of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance at Heanor comprises:

(1) in Derbyshire, the urban districts of Heanor and Ripley and part of the rural district of Belper (viz.: Shipley, Smalley and Pentrich) and (2) in Nottinghamshire, the urban district of Eastwood and part of the rural district of Basford (viz.: Brinsley, Felley, Greasley, Kimberley, and Selston).

The population is estimated to be about 70,000 of whom just over 40 per cent. are resident in Nottinghamshire.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the area covered by the Ilkeston Area Office of the National Assistance Board; the estimated population of this area; and what percentage of the population is resident in Nottinghamshire.

The area comprises:

In Derbyshire: Ilkeston Municipal Borough; Heanor Urban District; Long Eaton Urban District; the Parish of Ripley in the Ripley Urban District; the Parishes of Mapperley and Shipley in the Belper Rural District and the Parishes of Breaston. Dale Abbey, Draycott and Church Wilne, Hopwell, Risley, Sandiacre, Stanton by Dale and West Hallam in the Shardlow Rural District.

In Nottinghamshire: Eastwood Urban District, and the Parishes of Awsworth, Brinsley, Cossall, Greasley, Kimberley and Trowell in the Basford Rural District.

The estimated population is about 145,000 of which about 17 per cent. is in Nottinghamshire.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what assistance he is giving to Wembley Borough Council in their efforts to acquire a site for car-parking near Wembley Park Station.

I understand that the London Transport Executive has agreed that part of the sports ground of the London Transport (Metropolitan Railway) Athletic Association shall be leased to the Wembley Borough Council. This would provide parking space for some 75 cars. The terms of the lease are under negotiation.