asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what schemes for electricity supply by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to serve the islands of Harris, North Uist, and Barra, he now has before him; and when he expects to be able to announce his decisions.

As regards North Uist and Barra, my right hon. Friend cannot add to the reply that he gave to the hon. Member on 18th December last. As regards Harris, the hon. Member will be aware that the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board have started work on a hydro-electric scheme at Chliostair.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consult the Inverness County Council with a view to assisting them in undertaking road, jetty, water supply and other schemes in the Isle of Harris, which would assist in developing the area and in giving employment.

Work is proceeding on the Quidinish Road. My right hon. Friend has already asked the county council to prepare for authorisation in 1959–60 a scheme for the improvement of a section of the Tarbert-Rodel Road. He is awaiting revised estimates for their proposal for jetty works at Hushinish and Scarp. The council are undertaking a survey for jetty works at Scalpay, they have already one new water scheme under construction—on the Island of Bernera—and my right hon. Friend hopes that they may find it possible to make an early start on the scheme for Rodel.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the application by the Ross, and Cromarty County Council for financial assistance towards the construction of the proposed Ness-Tolsta Road in the Isle of Lewis; and what is his decision.

My right hon. Friend has received a letter in general terms from the county council asking whether favourable consideration could be given to this scheme. He is considering this request in the light of the funds which can be made available for major improvements and new construction in 1959–60.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of deer killed in Scotland in each of the last three years.

My right hon. Friend regrets that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the reconstruction of Fiddlers' Bridge, Braid-wood, Lanarkshire, is to be completed; and for how many men this work is expected to provide employment meantime.

I expect that work on this bridge, which has just started, may be completed by the autumn of 1960. The average number of men likely to be employed is about 16, but between 20 and 30 may be employed at certain periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the provision of a safety footpath for Cartland Bridge, Lanark, is to be put in hand.

I hope that it will be possible to start work in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the high rate of unemployment locally and the safety hazards that the Railway Bridge, Braidwood, Lanarkshire, presents to motor traffic, he will now consider its urgent reconstruction.

I regret that I cannot usefully add to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend on 20th November last.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the light of information derived from his recent consultations with Russian Ministers, he will now send to the Secretary of the Mastrick Congregational Church, Aberdeen, a further letter replying in detail to the matters raised in the resolution of the Church meeting of 26th January, 1959, the receipt of which he has acknowledged.

No. I do not think that the letter called for a detailed answer. In any case, it would be premature to attempt to give a full reply while the Geneva negotiations are going on.

asked the Prime Minister if he has considered a resolution sent to him by the Aberdeen Branch of the Scottish Council for African Questions, passed by them on 6th March, 1959, calling on Her Majesty's Government to appoint an authoritative commission of Members representative of both Houses of Parliament to go to Africa immediately to inquire into the present disturbances in Nyasaland and report back; and what reply he has sent, or proposes to send, to that resolution.

The resolution has been acknowledged and the senders informed that its contents have been noted.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent reorganisation of the isotope division at Harwell has taken place, and with what purpose in mind; and what further changes are contemplated.

This is a matter of day-to-day business of the Atomic Energy Authority, in which I do not regard it as my duty to intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many cinemas in the United Kingdom closed in the years 1956. 1957, and 1958, respectively.

For Great Britain, the numbers are 224 for 1956, 216 for 1957 and for 1958 a provisional estimate of 260.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the number of cinema admissions and box office takings at cinemas in the United Kingdom in the years 1957 and 1958, respectively.

Admissions in 1958 are provisionally estimated to be at least 752 million, compared with 915 million in 1957; the provisional figure for box office takings in 1958 is £83 million, compared with £93 million in 1957.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the efforts of a number of British businessmen, the British Pavilion at the recent Leipzig Fair was the poorest and most unrepresentative of all the national pavilions; and, as it is necessary to advertise the various types of British products to the various countries of the East, whether he will, before the next Leipzig Fair, take the necessary action to ensure that British products and the British way of life are well represented, as at the recent Brussels Exhibition.

No. This was not a British Government pavilion since we do not recognise the East German Authorities and we could not as a Government participate in the Leipzig Fair which is organised by those Authorities. But I have no reason to think that the businessmen who exhibit in the Fair do less than justice to the goods they put on show there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has had from local authorities in Scotland for financial assistance in schemes of rehabilitation; how many of these he has sanctioned; and what priority is given to those suspended in 1952.

The circular inviting applications was issued by the Department of Health for Scotland on 12th March, and no applications have yet been received or sanctioned. No question of priorities for schemes suspended in 1952 arises: the initiative in putting forward proposals rests with local authorities and all applications will be considered on their merits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received since 1st January, 1959, from firms requiring special assistance for establishing or expanding factories in areas of specially high unemployment; how many of these have been granted and how many refused; and what is the average time which elapses between the receipt of such an application and the sending of a definitive reply.

Six applications have been received since 1st January, 1959, for Government financed factories or extensions in those parts of the Development Areas which have high and persistent unemployment. Five have been approved and one is still under consideration. In these cases the average time between receipt of the application and approval has been within two weeks, but the interval can vary widely with the nature and circumstances of each case.Furthermore, since 1st January, 1959, 51 firm and eligible applications have been made for assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958. Of these, three have been approved and three refused; the other 45 are still being examined. The time taken to investigate and reach a decision on each application depends on the nature of the proposals. It may be as short as a month or extend over three or more months.No application's for assistance from the Development Fund for places of rural unemployment have been received in this period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason a canteen of cutlery, mounted on legs, pays Purchase Tax at 5 per cent., whereas a canteen of cutlery, without legs, pays Purchase Tax at 15 per cent.; in what other spheres of Purchase Tax legs are taken into account when determining the rate of Purchase Tax applicable to a legged or unlegged article; and whether he will make a statement setting out precisely his policy as regards legged articles and Purchase Tax.

Cutlery canteens which have legs designed to stand on the floor are chargeable as furniture cabinets; other canteens are not. The cutlery itself is, of course, charged at 15 per cent. in both cases. The Customs look at legs only where their presence, or absence, affects the character of an article.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Customs and Excise recently ruled that the fitting of a separate plastic handle loop on to a broom handle would cause the entire article to be subject to Purchase Tax at 15 per cent. whereas a broom manufactured in the first place with a plastic handle loop would not he chargeable with Purchase Tax; whether, in future, he will free all spare parts for all manufactured goods from Purchase Tax; and what would be the cost entailed.

I have written to my hon. Friend about this particular ruling. The suggestion in the latter part of his Question would be impracticable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the recent ruling of the Customs and Excise authorities that a plastic scouring block, used solely as a scourer, is free of Purchase Tax, whereas if the relevant sales literature and advertising indicates that the same article can also be used for cleaning hands, it is classified as a toilet requisite, and attracts Purchase Tax at 60 per cent.; and, in view of the importance both of dietary and personal cleanliness, whether he will now remove all scourers from Purchase Tax irrespective of particular end use.

The distinction mentioned in the first part of the Question has been in force since 1940. The answer to the second part is, "No".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will initiate legislation to allow the full expenditure upon maintenance, repairs, insurance and management of property to be a proper deduction from income charged to tax for the year in which that expenditure occurred, instead of being averaged over five years;(2) if he will initiate legislation to permit the allowance under Schedule A in respect of the cost of maintenance and repairs of property, averaged over five years, to be allowed in full against income charged to tax even though it exceeds the annual value of the property.

My right hon. Friend has noted my hon. Friend's suggestions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the number of claims made annually by owner-occupiers of dwelling-houses for an allowance against Schedule A tax on the grounds set out in Section 102 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, relative to gardens which have been rendered incapable of cultivation for any year, by reason of flood or tempest.

I regret that no information is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to ensuring the success of the forthcoming Lisbon Trade Fair and a permanent increase in British exports to Portugal, he will again review sympathetically the desirability of reducing the duty on port wine imported into Great Britain to 26s. a gallon so that it will once again bear a reasonable and proper relationship to the duty imposed on light wine.

I will, of course, consider what my hon. and gallant Friend says, but he will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD the latest purchasing value of the £ sterling, on the basis of the £ having a purchasing value of 20s. in 1925, and after allowing for various officially recorded rises and falls in the cost of living.

The internal purchasing power of the £ sterling taken as 20s. in 1925 was 7s. 11d. in February, 1959. This estimate is based on changes in the consumer price index since 1938, corrected for monthly changes by the index of retail prices, and before that date on movements in the cost of living index.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the decline in the value of money as a result of inflation, and the recent rise in rents, if he will now take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to increase the pensions of retired public servants.

The Index of Retail Prices for February again stands at 110. This is only 1 point above the monthly average for 1958. Such stability helps retired public servants, in common with all who live on small fixed incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now consider the relaxation or abandonment of currency restrictions on the British public for travel abroad.

My right hon. Friend cannot yet change the limits on expenditure on private travel outside the sterling area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the total cost of repaying post-war credits now in the possession of the dependants of soldiers abroad on active service.

There is not enough information on which to base an estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now confirm the clearance orders submitted by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in respect of Brook Street, Church Street, Litchfield Street, and Johnson Street, Silverdale, as houses will soon begin to become available for rehousing the citizens of this area.

I shall be giving my decision on these four orders very shortly. They are, in fact, not clearance orders but compulsory purchase orders.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now grant loan sanction for the sewerage scheme for the parish of Betley, submitted by Newcastle-under-Lyme Rural District Council.

My right hon. Friend will consider this as soon as he has received the information which the council has been asked to supply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the serious coast erosion at Warden Point, Isle of Sheppey; and what assistance he will offer to the local authority to cope with the matter.

The Sheppey Rural District Council, which is the coast protection authority, has constructed a number of groynes at Warden during the last few years, with the help of grant from my Department. Much of the Sheppey coast is subject to erosion, but it is for the council to decide what further works are required and whether priority should be given to Warden.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made in the prevention of pollution in the Rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees since the inception of the Rivers Board Act of 1948.

Generally speaking, the Rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees are in a good state from their sources down to the tidal reaches. The river boards have no responsibility for the tidal waters, which is where the serious pollution occurs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that there has been no recurrence of the torn cat smell in the Tees-side area for some months, whether a permanent cure has now been found.

The interim preventive measures have proved extremely successful. The completion of the permanent effluent treatment plant during the next few months will, I hope, finally dispose of the trouble.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the hardship that will be caused by the proposed increase in rent at Cwmbran at a time when there is considerable short-time working at the new town, if he will advise the Cwmbran Development Corporation to withdraw the notices of increases in rent that have been given.

No; the Development Corporation has already said that it will give careful consideration to cases of real hardship if brought to its notice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many new permanent dwellings were erected for slum replacement from 1st January, 1956. to 31st December, 1958.

The returns of newly erected houses made to me by local authorities do not distinguish the purposes for which they are used. During the three years in question I gave approval to payment of the slum clearance subsidy in the case of 158,000 houses, but often rehousing takes place before claim for subsidy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further proposals for slum clearance he has received since the preparation of Command Paper No. 9593 from local authorities who had not furnished estimates by that date and from local authorities who have revised their estimates.

Thirty-two local authorities did not submit proposals in time for inclusion in Command Paper No. 9593. They have since done so, while other authorities have subsequently revised their estimates. The total number of unfit houses proposed for clearance during the first five years has worked out at 395,238, compared with the original published figure of 375,484.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will send a circular to local authorities recommending that some degree of priority should be given in their housing lists to applicants from other areas who have agreed with another party on a simple interchange of houses.

Exchanges between tenants of one local authority and another and between tenants of a local authority and a private landlord, have been recommended in a number of reports and circulars, and particularly in the report "Transfers, Exchanges and Rents" which was commended by circular to local authorities in 1953. These recommendations remain in force, and local authorities should continue to be guided by them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how many monkeys, and what types, have been exported from Tanganyika during 1957 and 1958; and to what countries they were sent, giving the numbers and types sent to each country, respectively;(2) how many monkeys, and what types, have been exported from Tanganyika during the first two months of 1959; and to what countries they were sent.

In 1957, 13 vervet monkeys were consigned to Kenya dealers and two baboons were exported to New York Zoo. In 1958, four vervet monkeys were exported to German zoos, four Sykes monkeys to Japanese zoos and 52 vervet monkeys to Kenya. No monkeys were exported in the first two months of 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed statement giving the itemised costs to the Exchequer of his recent overseas tour.

Yes, as soon as the accounts are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the growing urge displayed in all the Colonies for self-government; and if he will take steps to convene a conference of all the Colonies, separately or collectively, at the Colonial Office to discuss how such changes can be brought about as speedily as possible with a minimum of unrest and loss.

Her Majesty's Government's policy is to promote in all the Colonial Territories the greatest practicable measure of self-government within the Commonwealth, and I believe that this policy commands a wide measure of support in, and beyond, the territories. Constitutional conferences with representatives from separate territories, or groups of territories, are frequently held, and I do not consider that a comprehensive conference, as proposed by the hon. Member, would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has about the burning of houses belonging to those who are alleged to have taken part in riots in Nyasaland and other mass punishments; and what instructions he has sent to the Governor to prevent the recurrence of such punishments.

On the first part of the Question, I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway). Since the Governor has already issued instructions that huts are not to be burned and since no mass punishments have been imposed, the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, former serving personnel of the Gambia Regiment, which now finds itself in a state of suspended animation owing to changes in the policy of Her Majesty's Government, have elected to join the new and special Auxiliary Gambian Police Force, which is trained and raised in a manner similar to that of the late Gambia Regiment.

Twenty-one noncommissioned officers and 61 men formerly serving with the Gambia Regiment have joined the Gambia Police Field Force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government to assist the people of Singapore in relieving the distress and the repairing of damage caused by the fire at Kampong Tiong Bahru on 13th February.

When this fire broke out the British Army at once provided help in rescue operations. In all over a thousand homes have been destroyed and about 6,500 people have been rendered homeless. The Singapore Government have opened a fund for the relief of distress and as a token of sympathy for the victims of the disaster Her Majesty's Government are making a gift of £5,000 to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by many people at the number of estate agents recently shown to be in difficulties following misuse of their clients' money; and if he will introduce legislation to put estate agents on the same basis as other professional men who have to place clients' deposits in special accounts and have a regular audit of these accounts.

While I can give no undertaking in regard to legislation, I am willing to consider any information that may be brought to my notice as to the need for some form of statutory control.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the failure to interest industrialists in acquiring or renting Her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheerness, as it exists at present, if he will consider the possibility of its conversion into a unit, or units, more appropriate to civilian industrial use.

We have in fact interested several industrialists in Sheerness dockyard, even though we have not yet been able to conclude an agreement with any one of them to take over the whole yard. Negotiations are still going on. In the meantime, we have considered the possibility of dividing the dockyard into units which might be attractive for a variety of civilian uses, and to this end we have instructed a firm of industrial estate agents to advertise the dockyard in smaller units.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the pension of a naval pensioner who served through the war and was discharged in 1945 with the rank of able seaman; and how this compares with an able seaman discharged today.

In 1945, an able seaman discharged to pension after 22 years' service would have been given the option of a pension of £1 2s. 9d. a week under the 1919 code, or a pension of £.1 6s. 4d. a week under the 1945 code. With subsequent pensions increases and the additions payable, under the 1919 code, at age 55 and 65 he would receive £2 12s. a week, while under the 1945 code (which does not attract age addition), he would receive £1 17s. 9d. a week. An able seaman discharged today after 22 years' service, at about the age of 40, would receive a pension of £2 4s. a week under the 1959 code with effect from 1st April, 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Air 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.

During the past five years, we have paid contractors about £207 million for work of this kind. Contracts for which we did not invite competitive tenders accounted for about £·8million.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of children in primary and secondary schools are being taught in oversize classes in the county of Kent.

In January, 1958, 16·7 per cent. of the juniors and 50·9 per cent. of the seniors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he still supports the policy declared by Sir Anthony Eden that Herr Krupp will not be allowed to buy his way back into the German coal and steel industry.

Yes, and the Krupp deconcentration plan was designed to ensure against this.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from vaccination, vaccinia, post-vaccinal encephalitis, or any other results of vaccination were registered in 1958; and what were the ages.

Final figures are not yet available but the provisional total is seven. Five of these were aged under one year, one aged two years and one aged sixty-eight years.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from smallpox were registered in 1958; and what were the ages.

One, a man aged 54.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will amend the National Health Service Act, 1946, Part II (a), so as to ensure the inclusion in hospital management committees of persons appointed after consultation with local health authorities; and whether he still requires regional hospital boards, before making appointments to fill vacancies, to consult hospital management committees.

The National Health Service Act, 1946 already provides that the members of a hospital management committee shall include persons appointed after consultation with local health authorities, and also that before making appointments to fill vacancies, the regional board shall consult the hospital management committee.

asked the Minister of Health what advice he has given to regional hospital boards about the organisations which they should consult before appointing hospital management committees; and whether these organisations include the Women's Voluntary Service, trades councils and trades unions.

Regional hospital boards have complete discretion in deciding what organisations they will consult, in addition to those which they are statutorily required to consult, before making appointments to hospital management committees. The advice that has been given to them is that they should aim at a balanced membership including the appropriate types of experience and reflecting the interests of the community to be served, and Trades Councils and Women's Institutes were given as two examples of organisations likely to suggest members who could speak for these interests.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration he has given to the designation of the city of Hull as a centre where vehicles over 10 years old can be tested for road worthiness; and when his decision will be announced.

The County Borough Council of Kingston-upon-Hull, in common with all other councils eligible under the Act, has been invited to apply for designation for the purpose of testing road vehicles. I have not yet received such an application.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will examine the possibility of providing space for long-term parking by utilising the basements of suitable buildings in the West End and the City of London.

It is not usually easy or economical to convert an existing basement for garage use, but, if my hon. Friend will let me have details of any suitable accommodation he may have in mind, I will gladly bring them to the notice of the responsible local authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the high cost of importing wood, and the strain on national resources, if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to use all metal railway carriages and freight cars.

No. This is a matter of management for the British Transport Commission. Only a small proportion of timber imports is used for railway rolling stock. For many years all new passenger coaches have been built of steel, with wood used for interior fittings or panelling only. No wooden freight wagons are being built except where necessary for special purposes.