asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received the report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's mission which inquired into the foot-and-mouth disease problem in South America; and if he will arrange for the publication of the findings and recommendations.

The mission has reported to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation who will decide whether, and if so when, to publish the findings and recommendations.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what he estimates would have been the income to the National Insurance Fund in 1957–58 if contributions had been based on 2 per cent. of wages, salaries, and Forces' pay for insured persons, 4 per cent. for employers, and 6 per cent. on their own incomes for the self-employed and the Exchequer supplement had been one-sixth of the total thus subscribed.

The latest detailed figures of earnings, etc., are those contained in the 1958 Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure and relate to the calendar year 1957. For that year, the income to the National Insurance Fund on the basis suggested would have been about £950 million.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now report on the experiments carried out by his Depart- ment for plastic wings and bonnets for Service vehicles.

Experiments show that the use of a number of plastics would be technically acceptable provided that they are properly compounded and suitably reinforced. None of the major motor vehicle manufacturers has as yet adopted plastic wings and bonnets for their commercial vehicles. I am told that the reasons for this are largely economic. Since it is the policy to buy vehicles which are based as nearly as practicable on standard commercial products, plastic wings and bonnets are not yet in use in Service vehicles. Developments of plastic materials will continue to be studied.

asked the Minister of Supply when he expects to be able to announce details of the launching of a Commonwealth research programme into outer space.

In deciding on any future programme of outer space research, the possibilities of co-operation with other countries, including members of the Commonwealth, will be taken into account, but I cannot at present forecast when an announcement will be made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of public disquiet concerning the action of a hospital within the Midland Region in allowing a young patient, who had undergone an operation to his head which left it bare with scars, to be discharged dressed only in a dressing gown, pyjamas, and slippers on 23rd December, 1958, for his home in Breconshire, a distance of over 70 miles, with the result that he had to receive treatment at a hospitalen route because of adverse weather conditions; why a sitting-case car was ordered instead of an ambulance; and why the complaint made has not been inquired into in accordance with the procedure laid down.

I regret that this patient had such a distressing journey, and I have made inquiries into the circumstances. I am informed that he had been ambulant for three weeks before his discharge, and that is why a sitting case car was ordered. The difficulties during the journey arose largely from the foggy weather and the consequent slowness of the journey, which were not anticipated when a car for a sitting case was ordered; in addition, the effect of the car's heater was neutralised because the driver was obliged to travel with the window open. The patient was, however, provided with an extra woollen garment and socks by the hospital. As regards the last part of the Question, I do not know what particular procedure the hon. Member has in mind but the complaint has been inquired into very thoroughly.

asked the Minister of Health how much his Department has spent in connection with building and civil engineering work during the last five years under competitive tenders; and how much was paid to specially selected contractors without competition.

I assume my hon. Friend refers to building by hospital boards, which has amounted to £70 millions in the last five years. It has been the practice of boards to seek competitive tenders for all but the smallest jobs, but no precise figures are available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the nursing standards at present available in old persons' homes, with reference to the changing type of person now entering into the care of local authorities; and if he will consider informing local authorities of the minimum standards he expects and the line of demarcation he advises between the care of ailing people in these homes and the medical attention necessary in cases of sickness yet unsuitable for treatment in a residential home.

Yes. Local authorities are expected to provide in their homes for old people a standard of nursing care equivalent to that customarily given by relatives with the help of the home nurse to old people living in their own homes. I gave advice to local authorities on this matter, and on the line of demarcation between persons who are the responsibility of the local authorities and those who are the responsibility of the hospital authorities, in a circular of October, 1957, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements exist for the inspection by his Department of old persons' homes; what reports are made to him; whether these are available to the public; and if he is satisfied with the present position.

My officers inspect these homes from time to time and make reports and recommendations to me as necessary. These reports are not public: they are used as the basis for any follow-up action required with the local authority. I am satisfied that this method of procedure is sound.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are taken by his Department to co-ordinate the work of those employed in the field of social psychiatry by regional boards and local authorities.

Co-operation has been fostered over a long period by the provision of guidance and information both formally and informally, and the subject will be dealt with at some length in circulars on the mental health services which I propose to issue shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why it is considered better for exhaust fumes from motor vehicles to be emitted near the ground rather than at roof level.

Exhaust fumes are heavier than air. In densely trafficked streets if the fumes were emitted at roof level they would fall and enter the windows of other vehicles, especially stationary ones, and nearby buildings as well. On the other hand, emission near the ground avoids these ill effects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what he estimates are the numbers of British, Greek Cypriot, and Turkish Cypriot people, respectively, living in each of the areas in Cyprus which are to be retained under full British sovereignty according to the Declaration made by the Government of the United Kingdom on 17th February, 1959.

Until the boundaries have been more precisely drawn, I regret that I cannot provide this information.

asked the Chancel or of the Exchequer the number of firms from outside Hull intending to build new factories, and local firms intending to enlarge or rebuild existing factories, in the city which have applied for financial aid under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, and the result of the applications.

One firm and eligible application has been received since Hull was added in January to the list of places for which assistance may be available under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958. This is at present receiving consideration. As all applications are made in confidence I am unable to provide any details of the application.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the dates of starting and completion of the first new factory in Hull, as the result of Treasury financial assistance under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, and the number of unemployed men and women who will be employed.

Hull is not in a Development Area scheduled under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945. The Treasury accordingly has no power under that Act to give financial assistance to industrial undertakings there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include an encyclopaedia in the library at Eastchurch Open Prison.

The Eastchurch library is maintained by the Kent County Library, and the available funds are paid by the Prison Commissioners to the County Council for this purpose. Although the prison library does not at present include one of the major encyclopaedias, I understand that the County Library lends special books required by prisoners engaged in serious study. I hope that this interchange will help to draw attention to the need referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths from smallpox were registered in 1958; and what were the ages.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths from vaccination, vaccinia, post-vaccinal encephalitis, and any other result of vaccination were registered in 1958; and what were the ages of the victims.

No deaths from any of these causes was registered in 1958.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Stowbridge Glass Manufacturers' Association to expel from membership of the association the firm of Messrs. Stuart and Sons, Limited, Wordsley, Staffordshire, because of the refusal of this firm to agree to the decision of the association to increase prices by 12½ per cent.; and whether he will refer this matter to the Monopolies Commission.

I have seen a report of the matter. I understand that the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements is inquiring whether the arrangements of the association constitute a registrable agreement. This is not a question for the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to announce the Government's decision on the application for increased import duties on certain classes of flowers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make an announcement as to the future tariff position with regard to flowers.

Having carefully considered all the circumstances, Her Majesty's Government have reached the conclusion that the import duties on certain classes of flowers should be increased, and an Order giving effect this decision is being laid today. The Import Duties (General) (No. 2) Order. 1959, which takes effect tomorrow, increases the import duties on the following flowers to the extent shown: