asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what instructions he has given his pest officers about the destruction and reporting of coypu in Lincolnshire.

Pests officers are instructed to report the appearance of coypu and to advise on control measures. So far only one coypu has been found in Lincolnshire and that was caught and killed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he circularised local authorities to nominate local food officers to supervise food control organisation in the event of war;(2) how many local authorities were asked to nominate local food officers; and how many have done so.

Letters were sent to the 1,469 county borough and county district councils in England and Wales on 31st March and 14th November, 1958, to the eight county and county borough councils in Northern Ireland on 24th November, 1958, and to the 57 appropriate local authorities in Scotland on 30th January, 1959. Four hundred and ninety-eight nominations have been received in England and Wales and three in Northern Ireland. It is too soon to have expected any nominations in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the approximate amount of mature or usable timber, hard and soft, that has been annually available due to afforestation undertaken between the wars and since the last war.

I regret that it is not possible to provide this information since, although estimates exist of the total volume of timber felled annually, it is impossible to analyse the total according to the date of planting, and thus to distinguish what is due to afforestation since 1919.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give for the latest convenient stated six monthly period the total amounts of unemployment insurance benefit and National Assistance paid to the registered unemployed; and how these figures compare with two years ago.

in the six months ended 31st December, 1958, expenditure on unemployment benefit was about £23½ million and on National Assistance payments to registered unemployed about £8½ million. The corresponding figures for 1956 were £9 million and £3¾ million, at the benefit and allowance rates then current.

asked the Paymaster-General the present rate of production of coal in the South West Division of the National Coal Board.

So far this year, an average of 447,000 tons per week.

asked the Paymaster General the estimate of the level of demand that the National Coal Board is working to in the current coal year; and what is the current rate of production.

Performance so far is consistent with the estimates for 1959 I gave in the debate on 3rd December last. These envisaged a fall in demand to 200 million tons and a reduction in coal output to about 203 million tons.

asked the Minister of Health if he has taken note of the conclusions of the Working Party on Pressure-Steam Sterilisers in its report to the Medical Research Council; and what steps he proposes to take with a view to determining who has the final responsibility for efficient sterilisation of instruments and dressings in a National Health Service hospital.

Yes. I shall shortly be sending a memorandum to hospital authorities on this matter, including the advice that one member of the medical staff should be charged with the supervision of sterilisation services in each hospital.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the need for a full-time resident chaplain at the West Middlesex Hospital; and when it is intended that one should be appointed.

This is a matter for the hospital management committee. I understand that there are at present two part-time chaplains at this hospital.

asked the Minister of Health the number of members of the Leeds Regional Hospital Board, the number of lay members from the Hull hospitals area, and the reasons why no lay citizen of the City of Hull has been appointed to the Board.

Twenty-four and two. I do not think any increase in the number of lay members from the Hull area is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the increasing number of doctors and nurses who are leaving the United Kingdom to take up appointments abroad, and the detrimental effect this is likely to have upon the efficient working of the National Health Service, what steps he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

On doctors, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answers to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Dr. D. Johnson) on 24th November, 1958, and 23rd February last. I see no reason for concern regarding the number of nurses who go abroad and there could be no question of steps being taken to restrict their freedom of movement.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that he will consult with the professional bodies representing chiropodists before proceeding with the scheme he has announced.

Arrangements are in hand for discussions between representatives of my Department and of the two professional bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now make a further statement on the price of the drug mecamylamine hydrochloride; and, in view of the fact that, following representations made to him by the hon. Member for Coventry, North, the American manufacturing company in question has now announced reduced prices of approximately 15 per cent. to hospitals but has not given an equivalent reduction in price to the medical profession as a whole, whether he will pursue his discussions with the company in question in order to ensure that the benefits of the price reduction may be extended to National Health prescriptions as well as to prescriptions by private practitioners.

As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. and learned Friend is in touch with the manufacturers of this drug. I understand that the prices of the larger packs for supply to hospitals were reduced with effect from 16th March and that these reductions resulted from a review of demand made in January when a new plant was opened. I am informed that the pattern usually followed by the company is to reduce prices to hospitals first and to follow this with a reduction to the trade generally; and that it is proposed to follow this course for this drug.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available for the provision of adequate instruction for the staffs of public health departments on the question of radioactivity and its dangers during peace time.

A number of training courses include instruction in radiation hazards and there is copious literature available for study. The need for further training facilities in the whole field of radiological health and safety is being considered by a Committee appointed by the Atomic Energy Authority in accordance with the recommendation of Sir Alexander Fleck's Committee on the Organisation for Control of Health and Safety in the Authority.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he will take to ensure that more physiotherapy is available at Scunthorpe to avoid the long waits imposed on patients in need of it.

I am not aware that patients at Scunthorpe are having to wait long for physiotherapy, except for short-wave diathermy, for which the waiting period is about four weeks, owing to temporary staffing difficulties. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any cases in which hardship is being caused I will be glad to look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why an official spokesman informed the Press that the Foreign Office regretted the reported intention of the French Government to bring under national command naval forces integrated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

My right hon. and learned Friend would regret any action which weakened the solidarity of the Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what agreement was reached during the recent discussions in Bonn on a common Anglo-German attitude towards the Rapacki Plan;(2) if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Foreign Minister of the German Federal Republic.

These were private and confidential talks and my right hon. and learned Friend has no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress he has to report as a result of the representations which he has been making regarding the appointment to their former positions, contrary to the Potsdam Agreement, of judges, prosecutors and other legal persons connected with Hitler's crimes against humanity.

The Federal German Government have kept Her Majesty's Government informed of the progress of their investigations into these allegations from East Germany. In Hesse and Saarland all allegations have been found baseless. In other Laender, investigatory proceedings have been instigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office against five people, of whom two are in retirement. In addition some other inquiries are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been received from the Government of Israel with regard to the recent interference with Israeli shipping in the vicinity of the Suez Canal in contravention of the United Nations Resolution of October, 1956.

The permanent representative of Israel at the United Nations has addressed to the permanent representative of Great Britain, as President of the Security Council, a letter for circulation to all members of the United Nations reporting that two ships, whose cargoes originated in Haifa, have recently been unloaded at Port Said on the instructions of the authorities of the United Arab Republic. The letter asserts that this action is contrary to the Security Council's resolutions of 1st September, 1951, and of 13th October, 1956, and to the position adopted by the Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly on other occasions; it also reserves the right of the Israel Government to take further action. The Israel Government have also informed Her Majesty's Government of the position through diplomatic channels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that most toilet requisites and preparations are now in daily use and regarded as essential by the majority of the population, he will reconsider his decision last year to continue to subject them to the highest rate of Purchase Tax, at 60 per cent.

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the reply 1 gave him on 20th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that he has accepted in general the principle that no Purchase Tax shall be payable on certain photographic, kitchen, and electrical equipment, if mainly designed for professional and industrial usage, he will now extend such principles to Purchase Tax on the chassis of motor vehicles especially designed for commercial purposes.

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's premise; and he must not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the high capital cost of generation facilities and the need to spread the electricity load in the interests of more economic operation of power stations, he will now free from Purchase Tax all electrically-operated night storage heaters, whether used for domestic purposes or otherwise, especially having regard to the fact that equivalent heaters for industrial use are already free of Purchase Tax.

Purchase Tax applies impartially to all domestic electrical appliances used for space or water heating. My hon. Friends suggestion would involve discrimination between one such appliance and another. But I will bear in mind his interest in this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overseas students are now studying at universities in the United Kingdom; and what are the numbers from each country.

In the academic year 1957–58 there were 10,162 full-time overseas students studying at universities in Great Britain. I understand that separate figures for each country will appear in the Commonwealth Universities Year Book, 1959, which is to be published shortly by the Association of Universities of the British Commonwealth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the concern felt at the recent decisions in re Hastings; and whether he will now introduce legislation to cure the defect, now revealed in the law, that no appeal lies from a refusal to grant a writ of habeas corpus.

As I informed the hon. Member on 11th December, I am considering, in consultation with my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, the question of an appeal to the House of Lords where a writ of habeas corpus has been refused in a criminal case. A number of important issues are involved and I do not expect to be able to make a statement in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what boundary changes in the Gateshead, West constituency are recommended in the Report which he has received from the Boundary Commission for England.

The Commission has made no report but has given me notice, under Section 2 (4) of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Scats) Act, 1949, of its intention to consider making a report under Section 2 (3) of the Act with respect to the Gateshead, West constituency, among others. The next step in the procedure laid down by the Act is for the Commission to publish its proposals locally and invite representations with respect to them, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part III of the First Schedule to the Act; and I understand that it will at the same time send copies to all hon. Members whose constituencies are affected.

asked the Secretary of State for War what stocks of luminous compasses are held by his Department or are on issue to Army stores; and what check is made upon their radioactivity.

About 27,000 compasses have been issued to units and another 80,000 are stored in reserve. When luminous watches or compasses are stored in bulk periodical tests are made to see that there is no danger from radioactivity.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest figure of unemployment in Newcastle-under-Lyme; and what percentage of the working population this represents.

One thousand and thirteen at 9th March, representing 3·8 per cent. of the estimated total number of insured employees in the area.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the re-equipment of the forces is being planned in relation to the employment situation; and how far orders have been speeded up to help relieve the high current rate of unemployment, and are being directed whenever possible to areas of heavy unemployment.

The considerations which the hon. Member has in mind are, so far as practicable, taken into account in the placing of orders for the Armed Forces. In recent months, equipment to the value of some £6½ million has been ordered ahead of the normal time, in order to assist in relieving unemployment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what guarantee has been given that naval vessels off the coast of Iceland will give protection to all trawlers going inside the 12-mile limit; why a number of trawlers were recently divided into three packs with a protective vessel to each pack; and how many naval vessels are now stationed in this area.

In a statement made on 1st September, 1958, it was made clear that Her Majesty's Government considered it their duty to preserve the rights of British fishing vessels on the high seas.British trawlers fishing inside the 12-mile fishery limit claimed by Iceland are grouped in specified areas known as havens. This is the most effective way of preventing unlawful interference with these vessels, and allows them to follow as closely as possible their normal fishing pattern.The number of Her Majesty's ships at present on protection duty off Iceland varies between three and four.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what arrangements are made for supplying medical officers of health with a list of all factories, hospitals, and other establishments using radioactive materials and discharging radioactive wastes in the local authority area for which they are responsible.

The Government do not feel able to supply these details as a matter of routine, but my Department gives to medical officers of health, on request, an appreciation of the extent to which radioactive materials are used in their areas. Local authorities are informed of the location of radioactive sources if some action on their part might be required, for example, in the event of an accident.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, what advice his Department is giving to medical officers of health with regard to the provision of monitoring equipment for the detection of radioactivity in the local authority areas for which they are responsible.

Measurements of environmental radioactivity taken locally would not add materially to the value of the Government's own monitoring arrangements. Requests for advice from medical officers of health are answered on the basis that additional measurements would tend to duplicate what is already being done for the country as a whole through Government agency, and that money would not be well spent on widespread local monitoring.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the timetable of the Local Government Commission for England in reviewing the West Midlands special review area and related counties and county boroughs.

The Commission announced on 5th January that it proposed initially to investigate the West Midlands special review area and two general review areas in the East and West Midlands. All local authorities in and adjacent to the review areas, as well as a large number of other bodies appearing to the Commission to be concerned, were notified on that day and were invited to submit statements in writing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what courses can be taken and what qualifications can be obtained by students at the Royal Technical College, Nairobi.

The Royal Technical College provides courses in architecture, applied arts, commerce, arts, engineering, science, domestic science and survey leading to the following examinations and qualifications:

• Royal Institute of British Architects (Intermediate and Final).^*
• Chartered Institute of Secretaries (Intermediate and Final).
• Teacher's Diploma in Domestic Science.
• Diploma and Higher Diploma in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
• G.C.E. (Advanced) in Arts and Science.
• Licensed Surveyors and first examination of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
• ^* For part-time students only.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of National Certificates in Commerce (Ordinary Grade), and National Certificates in Commerce (Higher Grade), respectively, issued by the Joint Committee for National Certificates in Commerce for each of the years 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1958, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate intake of men and women into the Post Office each year.

The intake of staff into the Post Office varies from year to year but the approximate rate on recent experience is 14,700 males and 9,700 females.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work is likely to start upon the proposed improvements to Portree Pier.

My right hon. Friend is sorry that he is not yet in a position to say, but discussions with the county council about the project are being pressed forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is expected to begin construction work on the Ayr by-pass.

My right hon. Friend has made two trunk road Orders defining the line of the northern and southern sections of the Ayr by-pass respectively. Ayr County Council is now preparing plans for the construction of the northern part which will by-pass Prestwick and my right hon. Friend will shortly publish an Order providing for consequential alterations to the side roads leading to it. The date of commencement of the work depends on how soon the plans can be completed and tenders taken, whether there are any objections to the side road Order and whether difficulties arise in the acquisition of the necessary land. Subject to the uncertainties involved in these procedures, my right hon. Friend hopes that work may begin in the early autumn.

asked the Minister of Supply what use is now to be made of the factory owned by his Department at Shaw, Newbury, which was formerly leased by Vickers for aircraft engineering.

The factory will be used for storage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that up to 14th March, 1959, the Lanark County Council had received no information from his Department about the revived facilities available to local authorities for help in preparing industrial sites or improving amenities under Section 5 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, of which official notice was given more than a month ago; and when local authorities will be informed.

A circular was issued to all local authorities in the Development Areas in Scotland, including Lanark County Council, by the Department of Health for Scotland on 12th March, 1959.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider arranging differential rentals at concessionary rates to attract industries to government-built or local-authority-built factories in the Lanarkshire Development Area.

If my hon. Friend's proposal is that Lanarkshire tenants should receive a concession denied to tenants in other Development Areas, the answer is "No". Rents are fixed at the current market value, and do not yield an economic return on the investment. In addition, I recently announced an abatement for the first five years of new leases of empty factories. We have no jurisdiction over the rents charged by local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet completed his consideration of the Report of the Blagden Committee on amendments to the Bankruptcy Acts and the Deeds of Arrangement Law; and whether he will make a statement.

As I stated on 2nd December in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann), there is little prospect of early legislation. The Report is still under consideration.