asked the Minister of Works what action he now proposes to take over the future of Nos. 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street.

The Royal Fine Art Commission will shortly be consulted about the architect's proposals for the Downing Street houses.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it very altruistic of hon. Members opposite to take any interest in the future of Downing Street?

asked the Minister of Works how many office buildings are owned by his Department in the Greater London area; for what purposes they are used; and how many people are employed in them.

Since the Answer consists of a long tabulated statement, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask my right hon Friend Whether he will at least give an answer to the first part of the Question and say how many buildings are owned by the Ministry of Works?

one hundred and thirteen.

asked the Minister of Works on how many new buildings work has been started by his Department since 1st January, 1957; what is the purpose of these buildings; how many have been completed; by what date it is estimated that the remainder will be completed; and what is the estimated cost.

The information available includes a table of figures which I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It relates to the United Kingdom only, although we build all over the world.

Again, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will answer the first part of the Question and say on how many new buildings work has been started? As there are already 113 in use, is it necessary to start on any more?

If the hon. Gentleman will wait to read the Answer, I think that he will understand the reasons for it. He could have derived most of this information from the Civil Estimates for this year, without involving about 50 man-hours of work in the Department and the setting out of information, the relevance of which I do not quite follow.

The right hon. Gentleman seems to be unneces-

asked the Minister of Works whether he will ensure that the Union flag on the Victoria Tower of the Palace of Westminster is reasonably clean and is flown close up and not slightly dipped as on several recent occasions.

Yes, Sir. The standing instructions are that flags are to be changed as necessary for cleaning and repair. The flag is hoisted close up in the morning and if, owing to weather conditions, it dips during the day, this is attended to.

Will my hon. Friend explain why the flag is often extremely

Five hundred and sixty-six.

I think that it was just unfortunate that my hon. Friend looked up on these particular days.

Is not the real reason that the Government have dragged it in the mud?

asked the Minister of Works the estimated cost of manning the lift serving the basement, the ground floor, the Library floor, the Committee floor and the upper Committee floor from 7 p.m. until the House rises.

This would involve increasing the complement of attendants by one at an estimated cost of some £500 per annum.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary consider this a pettifogging meanness in economy when considering the facilities of the Mother of Parliaments?

No. I understand the very real interest which the hon. Gentleman has taken in this matter, and I can assure him that my right hon. Friend is trying hard to give the facilities that the hon. Gentleman desires without incurring unnecessary expense. We shall continue to try to solve this problem, and I am sure that we shall arrive at a solution satisfactory to all.

asked the Minister of Works the cost of manning the lift in the House of Peers after 7 p.m.

The cost so far this year has been £5 14s. 8d., representing overtime payments to the lift attendant on the occasion of late sittings.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether this expenditure has been wholly incurred on late sittings or whether it is due to cocktail parties and dinner parties in the House of Lords after the House has risen? Why is it that they can have this service on the lift after 7 o'clock but this House cannot?

The hon. Gentleman is not very worthy in this matter. It is due to late sittings on 15 occasions, and the length of late sittings varied from five minutes to four and a half hours.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what help has been given by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to overcome the recurrent difficulties in world-wide radio communication.

The Radio Research Station of the Department provides forecasts of the most suitable radio wavelengths to be used for long-distance communication for several months in advance. These forecasts are extensively used by telecommunication operating agencies, both civil and military, in this country and overseas.

In view of the urgent—I underline "urgent"ߞtechnical importance of the solution of these recurring problems, will my hon. Friend lay particular emphasis upon the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research tackling this problem and settling it at the earliest possible moment?

Yes, Sir. The Department understands the importance of this matter. As my hon. Friend, who knows much more about it than I, will know, special knowledge is required of the ionosphere, and the Department is better equipped than anyone else in the country to provide that information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what advice the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has to offer to prevent or cure the problem of widespread damage to flues in houses with small domestic boilers.

The Building Research Station of the Department has shown that chemicals in condensed moisture in the flue cause distortion of stacks and staining of inside and outside walls and attack the mortar, crack the brickwork and cause the rendering to fall away. The trouble is best avoided by providing an impervious lining to the flue whenever possible.

Will my hon. Friend ensure that the widest publicity is given to his reply? What steps is he taking to enlist the support of the building trade in the solution of this problem?

The Department knows that this is a troublesome point and has let the architects and all the building organisations have all the knowledge which it has acquired from this research. Indeed, the building industry is working on the problem, too.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether a review has yet been made as to which Department should control the Road Research Laboratory, as recommended by the Select Committee on Estimates in its Fifth Report of Session 1957–58; and what action it is proposed to take.

An inter-Departmental review of the control of the stations to which the Committee refers has been initiated. The question is still under consideration.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give any indication when the review is likely to be terminated? Does he realise that there is a certain amount of uncertainty as to the future of the Department, the work of which is becoming of increasing importance in view of the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads and the added danger of road accidents?

I accept the hon. Member's point concerning the importance of the matter. I am sorry that I cannot give any indication how long the review will take, but it is under way.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what action has been taken on the recommendation of the Select Committee on Estimates, made in its Fifth Report of Session 1957–58, that tenders received from contractors for road work to be done to new specifications should be shown to the Road Research Laboratory, and that it should be informed of the results obtained.

Arrangements to increase the already substantial collaboration between the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Road Research Laboratory have been made along the lines of this recommendation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research is being carried out in regard to controlling the emission of diesel oil and petrol exhaust fumes from vehicles; and what results have so far been obtained.

Research on combustion in diesel and petrol engines with a view to reduction in the emission of exhaust fumes is being carried out by the Motor Industry Research Association and the British Internal Combustion Engine Research Association, each of which is supported by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Results of this and other work show that the greater part of the smoke from such engines can be prevented by proper adjustment, running and maintenance. The Warren Spring Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has tested a catalytic device which reduces the pollution from petrol engine fumes effectively.

While I welcome that reply, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary agrees that it indicates that the operators of vehicles are remiss in not controlling the emission of these noxious fumes? Will the Parliamentary Secretary make representations in the right quarters for the more vigorous enforcement of the regulations? The very large amount of fumes which are emitted is a growing menace on the roads.

Yes. From the personal experience of all of us, it is a fact that in far too many cases proper maintenance has not been carried out, resulting in the emission of unpleasant fumes. I assure the hon. Member that this is well known and that anything that can be done by my noble Friend's Department is being done to ensure that the authorities which can insist upon proper maintenance do so.

What is being done? The matter has been raised in the House on several occasions, but no indication has been given of the action which is being taken to reduce this menace on the roads.

The hon. Member knows that action of this kind is against the law and the authorities for enforcing the law are well known to the hon. Member. I have no doubt that they recognise the importance of the matter. The Questions and Answers which we have in this House from time to time underline not only the importance that the Department attaches to this problem, but the importance which this House attaches to ensuring that action is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to announce his decision with regard to Eyemouth Harbour.

No, Sir, not yet. Representatives of the harbour trustees have discussed their proposals with officials of my right hon. Friend's Department and have undertaken to consider whether a less costly scheme would meet the needs of the harbour.

While thanking my noble Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that it is difficult to see how a scheme very much smaller than the £300,000 scheme would meet the needs of the situation?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Scottish detective training school functions for only four weeks each year; and whether he will consider setting up this school on a more permanent basis to provide some link with the study of criminology at United Kingdom universities.

Annual courses for detective officers are held at Edinburgh and Glasgow in alternate years. The arrangements are in accordance with the advice given to my right hon. Friend by the Chief Constables' (Scotland) Association and by a committee of chief constables and other ranks of the police service under the chairmanship of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary. The Chief Constables' (Scotland) Association is at present considering whether the length of the course or the number of courses should be increased and is obtaining the views of detective officers on the subject. Some of the instruction at the courses is given by lecturers from the universities. There are also courses at universities which police officers can attend, such as the extra-mural course on criminal science and administration at Glasgow.

I am glad to know that the matter is to some extent under review. In reviewing the position, however, will the hon. Gentleman have regard to the much superior position of the English constabulary in that at Cambridge there is almost a permanent school? In view of the serious increase of crime, does not the Joint Under-Secretary think that regard should be paid to the recommendations by a well-known sheriff that this matter should be on a more permanent basis?

Yes, Sir, but England has many more detectives to train. A lot of training is given in forces and detectives can be attached to larger forces for training. In addition, courses for specialist officers such as fingerprint experts are given in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen and there are annual conferences of detective officers from all forces and group conferences at regular intervals for detectives from the west, east, and north of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schemes of rehabilitation were suspended in 1952; and how many are now sanctioned under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945.

Any question on the rehabilitation of derelict sites under Section 5 of the 1945 Act should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. As regards Section 3, which refers, not to rehabilitation, but to the improvement of basic services, no schemes where assistance had been promised were suspended by Scottish Departments in 1952. The renewed availability of grant under Section 3 for water and sewerage schemes was intimated to local authorities on 12th March and applications since received are now under consideration by the Department of Health.

To whom falls the responsibility under Sections 3 and 5 of the 1945 Act? Are local authorities aware to whom they should apply?

I am sure that local authorities are aware. The responsibility under Section 5 is that of the Board of Trade and under Section 3, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the representations made to him about the probable effects which the proposed new regulations of the Scottish Universities Entrance Board will have on the work of the schools, what action he proposes to take.

The regulations are a matter for the universities themselves, although they consult my right hon. Friend's Department. As Glasgow University has intimated dissent from the regulations, the other universities have petitioned the Queen in Council praying for them to be approved. I understand that Her Majesty at a Council this morning referred the matter to the Scottish Universities Committee for consideration and report. A notice is being published shortly by the Privy Council Office in the Edinburgh Gazette and certains newspapers circulating in Scotland about the submission of petitions for or against such approval.

I think I heard my hon. Friend say something about the Scottish Universities Committee. Who forms that Committee? Secondly, may one take it that members of the Educational Institute of Scotland and other groups of teachers may have an opportunity of expressing their feelings about this matter?

In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, I would inform my hon. Friend that he will find the composition of the Committee referred to in Section 9 of the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889. In answer to the second part of the supplementary question, notice will be given regarding the submission of petitions and it will then be for the Committee to decide how these should be dealt with. Certainly, the E.I.S. will have an opportunity to submit petitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the introduction of a 40 miles per hour speed limit on selected stretches of road in Scotland of similar type to those English roads where the 40 miles per hour speed limit is giving general satisfaction.

My right hon. Friend is aware of my hon. Friend's interest in this matter. The provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, which would allow the introduction of a 40 m.p.h. speed limit outside the London Traffic Area, cannot come into effect until a report has been made to Parliament on its experimental use in that area.

Has my hon. Friend any information as to when such a report will be in the hands of the Scottish Office?

No, Sir, it is not yet known when that report will be available. First the views of the Departmental Road Safety Committee on the results of the experimental introduction of the speed restriction have to be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the plan for building a modern road system through the east of Scotland; and how soon he expects the task to be completed.

The future road pattern in the east of Scotland, as elsewhere, is shown in the development plans for the local authority areas concerned. When these plans can be carried out will depend on how much of our resources can be devoted to this part of the country, having regard to the needs of Scotland as a whole.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that his statement is extremely vague, that it does not take into account the importance of the nature of the developing industry in that area, and that now would seem to be a particularly appropriate time to push ahead, particularly with the Tay Road Bridge, so that this bridge and the Forth Road Bridge could together form part of that modernised system?

One has to bear in mind, in considering this part of the country, that the Forth Road Bridge is costing a considerable proportion of the £40 million that is being devoted to the development of roads in Scotland at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider issuing the Scottish Digest of Statistics quarterly instead of half-yearly as at present.

My right hon. Friend is anxious to provide as much information as Parliament and the public want, but before agreeing to the hon. Member's suggestion he would wish to be thoroughly convinced that the advantage of a quarterly publication of the Digest would be commensurate with the considerable extra work and cost that would be involved.

Does that reply mean that the hon. Gentleman has the suggestion under consideration, or is he rejecting it out of hand? It is rather important that Scottish Members should have this extra information, much of which is out of date by the time we get the six-monthly document.

My right hon. Friend and I would be glad to consult with the hon. Gentleman and others concerned. We do not reject this out of hand, but I must point out to the House that it would involve a considerable amount of extra work, as the figures are not available in this form in every case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the effect in Scotland of the reduction of the guarantee for eggs.

The course of egg production in Scotland will depend on a number of factors of which the change in the guarantee is only one and no precise estimate is possible.

Will the Minister bear in mind that there are a number of small farmers in Scotland who are not crofters, and therefore do not gain under the crofting subsidies, who will be hurt by the limitation of the marginal grants system, and who have been depending largely on the sale of eggs? Can he give us any idea about their position?

From previous experience, I do not think it is likely that there will be any drastic reduction in the production of eggs. It has not happened before, and it is unlikely to happen now.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the arrangements, prices, etc., for the coming herring season in the North and on the prospects of finding continental markets.

The Herring Industry Board has submitted for approval a draft rule prescribing minimum prices for the year beginning on 1st May. My right hon. Friends are considering the rule along with the objections lodged to it and it is hoped that a decision will be reached shortly. As regards the latter part in the Question, the general problem n recent years has been to supply enough herring to our continental customers.

If this is the case, is not it very important indeed to keep up the strength of the herring fleets? Also, will the Minister, when considering giving approval to this rule, bear in mind that the Herring Board must offer a price, even for fishmeal, which renders it profitable to fish for herring?

Yes, Sir. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that all relevant considerations, including that one, will be taken into account.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if we may take it that, now he has answered Questions on agriculture, eggs and fishing, the Scottish Office are now accepting these Questions and not passing them on to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food?

The hon. Lady can accept the fact that the Scottish Office has accepted Questions which have been answered by Scottish Office Ministers. She can certainly do that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will establish contact with the Russian fleets off Shetland with a view to persuading them to use local facilities and to preventing the fouling of seine netting grounds by their debris; and if he will request the Herring Industry l3oard to explore the market in Russia for herring caught in Shetland waters.

I understand that the Russians are already making considerable use of local facilities at Lerwick. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend is taking steps in consultation with the Admiralty to get into touch with the Russian vessels.

May I ask why the Scottish Office is so timid about approaching the Russians, who have been lying off the coast of Shetland for years and yet apparently only now is serious contact being established with them? It is true that occasionally they land, but we should be delighted to offer them more facilities. They might bring employment, they might bring money. Of course, we should like to get rid of their debris as soon as possible, but we cannot help thinking that there must be an outlet for winter herring, which so far the people of Shetland have not been able to tap, and we should like the support of the Scottish Office in finding out whether we cannot explore these markets further.

I had hoped that my Answer would reassure the hon. Gentleman. As regards timidity, my answer directly encouraged the Russians to come to the hon. Gentleman's constituency. That seems to me to be the reverse of timid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take about the new ordinary grade examination and the recommendations of the Working Party on the Curriculum of the Senior Secondary School.

After considering the views received from various educational bodies, my right hon. Friend has decided to defer the introduction of the certificate from 1961 to 1962. He proposes to issue a circular within the next few weeks on the recommendations in the Report.

This is a postponement. Have the schools asked for this postponement?

The Association of Directors of Education has pressed strongly for this and the Educational Institute of Scotland has advised deferment. On the other hand, the Association of Headmasters thinks that we should adhere to 1961, but since it would be desirable to introduce this change in an atmosphere of complete readiness, my right hon. Friend thinks it right to postpone until 1962.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from tenants of factories in Welsh industrial estates regarding future rentals; and if he will make a statement.

A number of tenants in Wales have made representations to the Board of Trade in connection with the rents for proposed extensions. As I said in the course of the debate on 10th February, current market value will continue to be the basis of rents for our factories in Development Areas.

Although the long-term industrial prospects in Wales appear to be extremely good, does my hon. Friend recognise that particular parts of Wales are facing real problems? Does not it seem inappropriate in those circumstances that proposals should be made which may involve substantial increases in rent?

Of course, values have gone up too in the time since the rents were first negotiated. Tenants in England and Wales may appeal to the courts under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954, to determine the current market value when a lease is to be renewed. This does not apply in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement concerning his investigations into the Russian desire for long-term trade credits.

I cannot add to the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 12th March.

That was no Answer. Is the Minister aware of the fact that only yesterday the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance informed me that we are now paying £64 million a year in National Insurance unemployment benefits and National Assistance grants to men who are unemployed in this country? Would not it be better to make a large financial credit to the Russians and put these people to work? Is it not better to have them working than to pay £50 million or £60 million in dole?

If the hon. Gentleman will refer to the answer to the supplementary question on the earlier occasion, he will see that my right hon. Friend said:

"This is a difficult question but one which is well worth while investigating. We are trying to obtain more information from the Russians on the subject."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th March, 1959; Vol. 601, c. 1436.]

While it is desirable to increase trade with Soviet Russia, would not my hon. Friend agree that if there are applications for long-term trade credits, priority should be given to Commonwealth countries?

In general terms, yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, arising out of the meeting held at Lichfield on 13th July, 1951, attended by a representative of his Department who agreed that there was a case for additional light industry at Burntwood, Staffordshire, and in view of the closing of Cannock Chase No. 3 Pit and the present need for a more flexible industrial potential in the district, he will make a statement on the inquiries which he has received from suitable firms about the facilities available at Burntwood.

As I told the hon. Member on 9th February, we should be glad to see suitable firms from the vicinity of Birmingham set up in the Burntwood district. Industrial development certificates totalling nearly one-quarter of a million square feet have been issued for projects in the locality in recent years.

Be that as it may, he Government have now had eight years since a representative from the hon. Gentleman's Department visited the area, and virtually no employment for women has been provided, and the recent closure of the pit, as the result of the Government's economic policy, has made the male employment position even more serious.

As I also informed the hon. Gentleman on 9th February, it is understood that, except for a small number of workers who will be retiring altogether or are unfit, all those who were unemployed at the Cannock Chase No. 3 pit have been found jobs by the National Coal Board within the Cannock Chase area. The position set out in the hon. Gentleman's Question, therefore, is not quite as serious as he alleges.

is the hon. Gentleman aware that many people are now having to travel inordinate distances to other towns and that this is a real hardship? Will he do something about it?

We are trying to induce footloose firms to go to areas of high unemployment.

Footloose? What on earth does the hon. Gentleman mean?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will authorise the erection of an advance factory on the Isle of Sheppey.

The Board of Trade has no powers to build factories in the Isle of Sheppey.

Is the Minister aware that that is a most unsatisfactory reply? Will he give some reconsideration to the matter, especially as it has been quite impossible to dispose of Sheerness Dockyard, owing primarily to the cost that would be involved in switching over from a naval repair plant and organisation to civilian production? Would not the hon. Gentleman give some consideration to providing financial assistance to a firm or firms to make that switch-over, in the event of such a firm or firms coming forward?

I am well aware of the concern of the hon. Gentleman for the employment situation in the Isle of Sheppey, but I would remind him that the island is one of the places which do qualify for assistance under the 1958 D.A.T.A.C. scheme.

Why does the hon. Gentleman say he has no power, in view of the fact that it is a scheduled area?

It is a scheduled area under the D.A.T.A.C. scheme, but it is not scheduled under the 1945 Act, and, therefore, we have no powers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, as a result of his investigation, he will now say whether one or both of the factories used by Wickman, Limited, Hillington, will be closed.

I understand that the firm announced last Friday that the factory at Hillington is to be closed over the next few months, but that the factory at North Cardonald will continue in production.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, last night, speaking in Glasgow to the people of Scotland, the Lord Chancellor stated that the Government would use all their powers to deal with unemployment in Scotland? Now that the hon. Gentleman is being given his chance to deal with threatened unemployment in Hillington, will he tell us what steps he proposes to take in order to keep these men at work?

We shall do our best, of course to try to find jobs for these redundant workers, and use the powers which we have at the present moment. We are advertising the five existing empty factories in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken in the past three months to bring new industry to Ayrshire.

North-West Ayrshire was added in January last to the list of places to benefit from the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958. Since the 1st December last three industrial projects in Ayrshire have been approved, two of which should in due course employ 215 workers.

Does the Minister realise that so far the steps that have been taken have been quite ineffective and that the position is very serious indeed? Is he aware that in one part we have got nearly 16 per cent. of the insured population unemployed?

I realise the gravity of the situation, but I would point out that in Kilmarnock itself the figure is 2·6.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in general, all those British industries whose products are subjected to high rates of Purchase Tax such as 60 per cent. and 30 per cent. suffer severely as regards production and distribution efficiency during the period of January to April each year because the shops and the shopping public are inclined to hold off buying in the hope that appreciation of the country's economic needs will persuade him to reduce these high levels of Purchase Tax in his Budget; and if he will give this consideration priority in connection with his future arrangements for amending the Purchase Tax Schedule of the Finance Act, 1958.

My hon. Friend must not over-state this problem. Nor must he expect me to anticipate my Budget decisions.

Has not my right hon. Friend read the national newspapers today? Is he aware that three more large and famous trading firms, Harrods, Cannon (Holdings) Ltd., and Lewis Investment Trust, Limited—added to Leyland Motors, Limited, and Jaguar Cars, Limited, last Thursday—have all protested in the most vigorous terms on the very point which is enshrined in this Question? Will my right hon. Friend bow to the overwhelming volume of industrial and commercial opinion, which supports me in these matters, against his own minority view?

I think my hon. Friend must agree that his own modest activities in these matters—not that I am quarrelling with him in any way—have made a small contribution towards keeping alive in the breasts of business men some anxieties about the theoretical, hypothetical and highly speculative possibilities of Budget action in this field.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us which of the concerns mentioned by the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) have raised their dividends?

That is thoroughly irrelevant, of course.

I am afraid I have not yet got round to a study of the national Press today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the ill-feeling caused amongst the people of Wales by the levy of Purchase Tax at 30 per cent. on the national musical instrument of their country, the harp, whilst pianos and other similar instruments have for many years been free of such tax; and what steps he proposes to take in the near future to ensure that the importance of dealing with this matter sympathetically at an early date is properly appreciated by Her Majesty's Government.

I cannot anticipate my Budget decisions.

While having no special partiality or solicitude for the people of Wales, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will again apply himself to the fact that Welsh harps, bagpipes, trumpets and horns all carry Purchase Tax at 30 per cent. whereas pianos carry none?

The answer is that the hon. Gentleman should play the harp.

Why should my right hon. Friend discriminate in this invidious fashion?

I should like to assure my hon. Friend that there is no racial discrimination here. Bagpipes carry the same rate of 30 per cent.

That is exactly what I said.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer approximately what percentage of the total revenue is represented by the current yield of Purchase Tax; and what such percentage would be if all goods liable to tax at 60 per cent. became liable to tax at 30 per cent., and if the 30 per cent. tax were abolished on goods liable to such rates on Groups 12, 19 (a), 26 (b), 27 and 28.

The Budget estimate of £490 million for the yield of Purchase Tax in the current financial year represented 9 per cent. of the estimated total ordinary revenue of £5,439 million. As regards the second part of the Question, the Purchase Tax estimate included about £209 million in respect of goods chargeable at 60 per cent. and about £88 million in respect of the 30 per cent. goods mentioned by my hon. Friend. It is not the practice to publish any revision of Budget estimates in the course of the financial year.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is the 194th Purchase Tax Question from myself in the 1958–59 series? Are his Answers considered to be sufficiently provocative to cause me to proceed with a further century in the next Parliamentary Session?

I realise that for my hon. Friend this is the last shoot of the season, and, because I am very anxious that he should not go home without something in the bag, I should like to assure him that, in the review of taxation Which I am now in the course of making, I shall give full consideration to his views.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the comparable monthly or other figures for receipts from Purchase Tax on shopping bags, shopping baskets, and handbags, respectively, before and after the changes effected by the last Budget.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals to the General Commissioners against assessment to Income Tax under Schedule A have been made and heard, respectively, during each of the past five complete fiscal years.

I regret the information is not available.

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that most of these appeals arise out of the discrepancy between new valuations and the valuations of existing houses, which were valued some 20 years ago? Does not that show that the method of collection of Schedule A tax is unsatisfactory?

In the absense of the information for which my hon. Friend asked, I am not able to give him a certain reply to his Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the number of units of assessment for Schedule A tax which remain at the annual value determined at the last quinquennial valuation made some 22 years ago; and in respect of how many of such units an annual value has been determined since the last quinquennial valuation.

The total number of Schedule A assessments is now about 17½ million, and it is estimated that in about a third of these the annual value has been determined since the last quinquennial revaluation which came into force in 1936–37.

Is not it a fact that because they have had a recent valuation as compared with the other two-thirds, that one-third is subsidising the other two-thirds to a certain extent, and is not that one of the unfairnesses of the Schedule A tax?

I am not sure that I accept the implication of what my hon. Friend has suggested, but I will take note of his views.

In considering any case for reducing or abolishing Schedule A tax, will the Chancellor also take into account the need to be fair to those people who pay rent out of taxed income?

I will take account of all the relevant considerations, including the one mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the amount of Schedule A tax paid annually by occupiers of property belonging to the Crown.

I regret that no such estimate can be made.

Is not this a case where my right hon. Friend could be fair to the tenants, in that the tenants of Crown property are called on to pay what is called a landlord's property tax without, apparently, any recourse to the Crown? Is not this another anomaly which would justify my right hon. Friend doing away with Schedule A tax?

I do not think so but, once again, I will look into the point raised by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of money provided in loans and grants by the United Kingdom since the end of the war in 1945 to other members of the Commonwealth, to the Colonial Territories, to non-Commonwealth members of the sterling area, and other countries, respectively.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

is not this something which should be made widely known besides being published in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and can my right hon. Friend say how the amount compares, roughly, with the amount of money made available to this country by the United States? Would not the comparison prove creditable to Britain?

I am much in favour of this information being given the widest possible publicity, because the figures reflect great credit on the achievements of this country. Without notice, I should not like to make any comparison with the performance of the United States which has also been extremely generous in this respect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate of the cost of repaying post-war credits to those persons who are 60 years of age or more and whose credits are £50 or less.

The cost of repaying men of 60 or more and women of 55 or more whose credits are £50 or less would be about £30 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate of the cost of repaying post-war credits to those persons who are 60 years of age or more, and whose credits are £25 or less.

The cost of repaying men of 60 or more and women of 55 or more whose credits are £25 or less would be about £10 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate of the cost of repaying post-war credits to those persons who are 55 years of age or more, and whose credits are £25 or less.

The cost of repaying men who are 55 years or more and women who are 50 years or more whose credits are £25 or less would be about £25 million.

Mr. Fletcher.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is not one allowed to put a supplementary question?

The hon. Member had been so self-denying on his previous Questions that I did not think he intended to ask a supplementary question on this one.

That was so that I could have all the relevant information, Mr. Speaker.

I will take account of the views of my hon. Friend in the course of the review of all financial questions upon which I am now engaged.

In view of the figure he has given, does the Chancellor of the Exchequer realise that there is an overwhelming case for alleviating the hardship among a great many sections of the community by anticipating the date on which some of these hard-pressed people will receive payment of their post-war credits?

I will also take account of the views of the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will enumerate the administrative difficulties which make it impossible to repay postwar credits in cases of hardship.

The difficulties centre mainly round the necessity of discriminating betwen one form or degree of hardship and another.

When preparing the Budget speech which he will make in a few days' time, will the Chancellor of the Exchequer bear in mind that a great many people will be expecting him to tackle this problem seriously? Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to explain why, when it is a question of paying money back, there are always administrative difficulties, but when it is a question of taking money from people those difficulties do not seem to exist?

I will take account of the point which the hon. Gentleman has very kindly made.