asked the Minister of Works when the present wire netting fences were erected around the Royal Parks; and when he proposes to replace them with more elegant permanent structures.

These fences were mainly erected after the 1939–45 war to replace railings which were removed for use as scrap iron during the war. I realise that the fences are not beautiful, but they perform an essential function in keeping out undesirable elements at night and protecting plants from damage, while not obstructing the view into the Parks by day.I am afraid that as the cost of providing railings of the pre-war type would be not less than £100,000, I cannot find the necessary funds at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps are being taken by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to encourage the public, especially the young, to take an interest in the Geological Museum at South Kensington.

A variety of popular exhibits, dioramas and relief models are on display, and over 20 public lectures and demonstrations are given every month. The services of a Guide-Lecturer are widely used by special organised parties from schools and colleges. Over the past eleven years, attendances have risen from 250,000 to 380,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is encouraging investigation of the advances made in bio-chemical research as suggesting analogous developments in methods of generating and storing electricity.

The Department appreciates the possibility that the results of bio-chemical research may eventually be of importance in the development of methods of generating and storing electricity and is always willing to consider ways and means of encouraging any promising ideas in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the effect on local employment and industry of the proposal by the British Transport Commission to close down mechanical and electrical workshops in Inverness for engineering purposes; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received four written representations, including one from my hon. Friend; and my noble Friend the Minister of State has received a deputation from Inverness. These representations have been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation. As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele) on 17th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the White Paper, Command Paper No. 640, entitled Local Contributions to the Scottish Universities; and if he will make a statement.

After obtaining the views of the local authority associations my right hon. Friend has decided to accept the recommendations in the Report. The amount of the present grant was taken into consideration in fixing the aggregate amount of the general grant which, under the Act of 1958, will now be reduced by the amount of the increased contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total cost of all the road works since 1945 upon his estate on the Lochportain-Cheesebay peninsula in North Uist; whether he is aware that the local communities of his department's tenants still have access to the rest of the island only by sea or over a moorland bog; and when it is intended to complete the road link with the North Uist country highway.

Expenditure of about £60,000 has been incurred to date on road construction works to serve the land settlement estates in the area in question. My right hon. Friend is, of course, aware of the circumstances in the area. As regards the completion of the road link with the county highway, he would be prepared to consider this work if and when the county council accord it the necessary priority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in view of the fact that unemployment in the Lewis and Harris area is about 38 per cent., he will visit the island in the near future and consult with the local authorities about the promotion of such schemes for the economic revival and development of the area as are within the competence of his Department.

Local authority works totalling about £500,000 are in progress or have recently been approved in Harris and Lewis, and my right hon. Friend made it clear to local authorities last November that he would be prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals by them for bringing forward into the current year projects of capital investment. My right hon. Friend cannot see his way to visit the area in the next month or two but he hopes that it may be possible for him to visit the island later this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the combined school population of the Cromore, Maravig, Lemreway, Graver and Kershader areas, in the Isle of Lewis, in 1918 and in 1958; what was the total figure for the schools in the areas of Brenish-Islivig, Crowlista, Mangersta, Valtos and Lochcroistean in each of those years; and if he will state the decline as a percentage and indicate what steps he is taking to assist in reversing this trend.

In these two districts there were 415 and 183 pupils, respectively, in 1918, and 123 and 92 in 1958, a decline of 70 per cent. in the first and 50 per cent. in the second. The figures for 1958 include no pupils of secondary school age since such pupils all now attend school in Stornoway. As the hon. Member is fully aware, these areas are eligible for the very considerable help that is available in the Highlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what revision and speeding up of the water supply programme in the Isle of Barra by Inverness County Council has followed the relaxation of governmental restriction upon such expenditure; if he will give details; and if he will speed up Departmental consideration and sanction of proposals and plans for water supply on the East side of the island in particular, in view of the urgent needs of that area.

In the current programme of water supply schemes prepared by Inverness County Council provision is made for the Skallary water supply scheme, which will serve the southeastern district of the island, to commence in 1960, but it is understood that in view of the authority recently given to the county council to speed up its water supply programme it may be possible for the council to start this scheme towards the end of this year, should it decide to do so. The council is, of course, responsible for the order in which the schemes in the programme are undertaken. The Skallary scheme will complete the water supply development in Barra. No details of the scheme have yet been forwarded for Departmental consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Inverness County Council has yet approached him with proposals for a road at Ledaig, Isle of Barra, and a request for financial assistance towards its cost; and what assistance he is prepared to give.

No proposals have been submitted and my right hon. Friend cannot, therefore, say what assistance might be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance he is providing towards the cost of the establishment of the old people's home at Stornoway; and when the erection of the building is to begin.

Assistance towards the cost of the establishment of the old people's home at Stornoway will be provided as part of the general grant payable to Ross and Cromarty County Council under the Local Government and Miscellaneous Financial Provisions (Scotland) Act, 1958. My right hon. Friend has approved the plans. When erection begins will depend on the time required by the county council to complete the other preparatory work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the need for an old people's home in the Isle of Barra; whether he has yet had any proposals for one from Inverness County Council; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no proposal from Inverness County Council for the establishment of a home in Barra, but any such proposal will, of course, be sympathetically considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the consultations between his Department and the Inverness County Council, resumed five years ago, regarding provision of a regular ferry service between the Islands of Barra and Vatersay, have yet been completed; and when it is intended to operate this service.

When this question was raised, in 1955, by my right hon. Friend's Department with the Inverness County Council, within whose field of responsibility the question of the provision of a publicly operated ferry service would rest, the county council expressed the view that the existing privately operated ferry service appeared adequate to meet all needs. My right hon. Friend has not since received any representations to the contrary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new water supply schemes or new extensions of schemes are now to proceed this year in South Uist and Benbecula in addition to those already agreed or under way for the current year, as a result of his consultations with Inverness County Council, following the recent relaxation of Government restrictions upon expenditure on such works; and if he will state the estimated additional cost of each of them.

Work has recently commenced on water supply schemes in Benbecula and South Uist estimated to cost £30,449 and £76,991, respectively. One further scheme in South Uist, estimated to cost £46,180, is included in Inverness County Council's current programme of water supply schemes and is due to start in 1961. Whether, in view of the authority recently given to speed up their water supply programme, this scheme will be brought forward is a matter for the county council, which is responsible for the priority of the water supply schemes in the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult the British Transport Commission to ensure that industrial developments under its control do not conflict with the overspill aims of the Government.

Yes, so far as is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute a public inquiry into the proposed road developments in Ayrshire involving A.77 and A.78.

No. If there are objections to the order which my right hon. Friend is about to publish providing for the closure of A.77 at Prestwick Airport, there will be an inquiry under the special parliamentary procedure to which such an order is subject. In Scotland such an inquiry would be held by Parliamentary Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) approximately how many crofts will be connected this year to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric system; and how this figure compares with the number already connected, and with those which remain unconnected, respectively;(2) how many farms will be connected this year to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric system; and how this figure compares with the number already connected, and with those which remain unconnected, respectively.

My right hon. Friend is informed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board that it expects 1,000 farms and 500 crofts to be connected to their system this year. Their report for 1958 shows that 12,789 farms and 13,266 crofts are already connected, and that 6,511 farms and 8,534 crofts still remain to be connected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that more than 700 babies were born at East Kilbride in the past year, and that this is a growing new town with a high proportion of young married couples; and whether he will again consider the possibility of the nearby Hairmyres Hospital having a maternity wing;(2) what is the average number of babies born each year in Scotland as a whole, and in Glasgow, Hamilton, Lanark, and East Kilbride, respectively; and how long he expects East Kilbride to remain without adjacent maternity hospital facilities.

There are now on the average about 100,000 births a year in Scotland. The number occurring in Glasgow has been about 23,000; in Hamilton, about 1,000; in Lanark, about 1,200; and in East Kilbride, about 300; these figures for these areas exclude births taking place in hospitals outside the area, of which there were some 400 related to East Kilbride.The provision of maternity hospital facilities for East Kilbride is a matter for the Western Regional Hospital Board in the first place. My right hon. Friend understands that the Board consider that the new Bellshill Hospital will afford reasonable provision at least until other more urgent needs in the Region, particularly in Glasgow, can be satisfied.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many wards of Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, are not now in full use; and what representations he has received about establishing a maternity ward there for women from the adjacent and growing new town.

One standard ward and one small ward are at present unoccupied. The standard ward is being reconstructed and will be used to accommodate patients from other wards as they in turn are reconstructed. The small ward is likely to be required for general hospital purposes. My right hon. Friend has not received any representations about the provision of maternity facilities at Hairmyres Hospital other than those by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of midwives per head of population who work in East Kilbride, Hamilton, Lanark, and Glasgow, respectively.

The number of domiciliary midwives per 10,000 of population (which is the nearest convenient unit) is 1·4 in East Kilbride, ·8 in Hamilton, ·8 in Lanark Burgh and 1·1 in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the shortage of nursing staff in west Fife; that the regional hospital board has refused permission for the hospital authorities to advertise in the Press; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this situation.

I understand there is a temporary nursing shortage in one hospital in the West Fife group owing to a seasonal increase in the number of infectious cases. There is no objection to advertising in the lay Press for untrained staff, or for trained nurses not at present engaged in nursing who may be available locally for part-time service. A recent survey carried out by my Department showed that advertisement in the lay Press for full-time nurses is virtually no more effective than advertisement in the nursing Press, and is generally much more costly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his attention has been directed to descriptions by a member of the Lands Tribunal of sharp practice on the part of the Bristol Corporation in the exercise of their compulsory powers under the Housing Act, 1957; and whether he will initiate an inquiry so as to ensure fair compensation for the persons who have been deprived of their houses for £1 apiece, in many cases after having already been forced to meet the cost of demolition.

I have seen Press reports of a recent Bristol case before the Lands Tribunal. There is no official transcript of the proceedings, but I will study the decision when it is available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered the application for a clearance order from the Halesborough Borough Council in respect of Nos. 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35, Highfield Lane, Halesowen; and if he will make a statement.

I only received this clearance order on 4th March. The last day for objections was 14th March. I have made arrangements for the properties to be seen by one of my inspectors and I will give my decision on the order as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what are the terms of reference of the inquiry which opens on 7th April into the sewage disposal problem of the Colne Valley Sewerage Board; and whether he will ensure that all affected local authorities, including the Uxbridge Borough Council, will have the opportunity of giving evidence.

There are no terms of reference, but the notice of the inquiry, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, indicates the matters to which the inquiry is directed. These are, briefly, the schemes submitted by the Board for works extensions and sludge disposal, and the associated questions of planning and compulsory purchase of land. Any person with an interest in these matters will be able to give evidence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received from the Association of Municipal Corporations on the subject of offensive noises caused by building operations to the inconvenience and distress of residents living in the neighbourhood of such building operations; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

The Association urged some time ago that local authorities needed further powers to prevent or reduce nuisance from noise, but I cannot find that they have made representations to my right hon. Friend on the particular point referred to in the first part of the Question. As regards the second part, I cannot usefully add to the information given in my right hon. Friend's reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Storey) on 3rd March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has now come to a decision upon the Broadlyne scheme in Ashington, Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

This scheme, which is part of the town map for Ashington, raises a number of difficult questions and, after the local inquiry, it was necessary to obtain additional information from the local authorities. This information is now being studied and my right hon. Friend hopes to reach a decision soon.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the float tests he initiated with regard to settling procedure for dealing with pollution of the River Tyne have been completed; and what decisions he will take following the report.

I understand that a report on the float tests is now being considered by a technical committee of the Tyneside authorities who engaged the Consultant to carry them out. Until my right hon. Friend is informed of the Committee's findings I cannot say what decisions will be taken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent road widening at Barwick Park, Somerset, threatens the stability of the obelisk, listed on his schedule of monuments of historic interest, and now exposed at the roadside.

My right hon. Friend has been informed by the Somerset County Council that the road widening scheme now in progress will not disturb the obelisk.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many people from Middlesex have been given accommodation in the new town of Bracknell at the latest convenient date.

By the end of 1958, 1,230 families from Middlesex had been housed by the Bracknell Development Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further progress has been made in applying International Labour Organisation Convention No. 105, dealing with the abolition of forced labour, in Colonial and Trust Territories other than those the names of which have already been listed.

I am not yet in a position to add to my replies to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. J. Hynd) on 27th January and 19th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what funds have been allocated to the Information Department of Northern Rhodesia in the years 1957–58 and 1958–59; and what is the estimated allocation for next year.

The approved estimate of expenditure for the Information Department of Northern Rhodesia in 1957–58 was £122,840: in 1958–59 it was £87,016. Estimates for 1959–60 have not yet been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further consideration he has given to the proposal to send a Commission of Inquiry to Nyasaland.

I shall be making a statement at the end of Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in HANSARD the full texts of the warning he received from the Governor of Nyasaland on 26th February and the Governor's statement to the Press on 2nd March.

It would not be in the public interest for me to disclose the full text of the telegram which I received from the Governor on 26th February. As to the second part of the Question, the Governor issued no statement to the Press on 2nd March, but he did hold a Press Conference and answered a number of questions. I have placed in the Library a copy of the transcription of the shorthand note made at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many organisations and newspapers remain banned in Cyprus; and if he will now take steps to restore freedom of association and freedom of the Press.

Seven organisations and five newspapers. The Governor is considering whether and when the restrictions may be removed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the Minister of State's visit to Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia.

My right hon. and noble Friend interrupted his East African tour at my request in order to visit the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. He spent 12th-17th March in Nyasaland visiting all three provinces. He then spent two days in Lusaka, and after calling at Salisbury for discussions with Federal Ministers returned to this country yesterday. He is giving a personal account of his visit in another place this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of Slate for the Colonies for what reason some officials and members of the Nairobi People's Convention Party have been detained; whether it is proposed to bring them to trial; and if he will state what charges have been made against them.

The two men detained were held by authority of Emergency Regulation 2 (6), under which an authorised officer may arrest and detain for up to 28 days pending inquiries any person whom he reasonably suspects has acted or is about or likely to act in a manner prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of public order. A decision whether to prosecute these men for any alleged offence is one for the Attorney-General of Kenya. The third part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the expenditure on technical education in each of the territories of the West Indies and in British Guiana and British Honduras for the latest convenient year; and what developments in this type of education are being undertaken or planned to start during the three subsequent years.

I am asking the Governors of the territories concerned for this information, which is not readily available, and will write to the right hon. Member when I have it.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of the continuing injustice of the present arrangements as to costs under the Legal Aid Scheme whereby defendants can be compelled to pay the costs of plaintiffs who have been assisted under the scheme but are unable to recover any costs from such plaintiffs in cases where judgment is given against such plaintiffs; and how soon it is expected that amending legislation will be introduced.

The Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, does not prevent an unassisted party from recovering any costs from an assisted person but limits the amount recoverable to what is reasonable for the assisted person to pay in all the circumstances, including the means of both parties and their conduct in connection with the dispute. Regulations made by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor lay down detailed procedure for examining all the facts relevant to this question. I am unable to forecast any amendment to these provisions in the Act and Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) what action he has taken in connection with his responsibilities under Section 28 of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution Letters Patent, 1923, with regard to the amendment to the Native Affairs Act presented to the Southern Rhodesian Legislature on 17th March, 1959, which discriminates against African citizens of Southern Rhodesia;(2) to what extent he has been consulted by the Government of Southern Rhodesia with regard to the Unlawful Organisations Bill in connection with his responsibilities under Section 28 of the Constitution Letters Patent, 1923.

In the case of Southern Rhodesia legislation falling within the scope of Article 28 of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution Letters Patent, 1923, unless the Governor asks for prior Royal instructions, which he has not done in these two cases, my noble Friend's constitutional responsibility under Article 28 does not come into play until the legislation has been passed by the Southern Rhodesia Legislature. Neither of these measures has yet been passed by the Southern Rhodesia Legislature.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action he has taken in connection with the powers vested in him under Section 28 of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution Letters Patent, 1923, with regard to the Preventive Detention Bill introduced into the Southern Rhodesian Legislature.

The Bill has been withdrawn, therefore this question no longer arises.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that resolutions and protests by Commonwealth citizens have been handed in to United Kingdom High Commission offices in Commonwealth countries regarding the policy of the United Kingdom Government in Nyasaland; and what replies he has authorised.

I am aware of four communications of this nature. My noble Friend has not yet authorised replies.

asked the Paymaster-General how many private opencast coal sites were in operation in 1958; what was their total output during that year; and to what extent the number and output of such sites will be reduced in 1959.

Seventy-six private opencast sites produced 700,000 tons of coal in 1958. The National Coal Board expects that this year there will be about 60 sites producing 270,000 tons.

asked the Paymaster-General if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the findings of the committee on co-operation between area and Scottish electricity and gas boards.

The report of the Committee is being published today. The main conclusion, after a careful investigation of the possibility that increased cooperation between the two industries in the performance of their statutory functions might improve the service which they give to the public, is that there is no case for major changes in existing arrangements. The Committee, however, makes some useful recommendations designed to improve the services provided by these boards, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my noble Friend are commending to the attention of the electricity and gas authorities. My right hon. Friend and my noble Friend are most grateful to Sir Cecil Weir and to the other Members of the Committee for their valuable Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much new factory building has taken place in the County of Fife in each of the last eight years; and how many new jobs, for males and females, respectively, have been provided.

Approximately 1¼ million sq. ft. of new factory space in the period providing employment for some 750 men and 250 women. The annual figures are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the names of the 37 firms which have received building approval in the Merseyside area for 1958, the types of industry in which they are engaged, and the part of Merseyside in which each is expected to build.

It is not the practice of the Board of Trade to give the names of firms to which industrial development certificates have been granted without their express agreement. The industrial grouping of the 37 firms is:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many railway employees in the Hull area have been rendered redundant as the result of the closing of the Hull and Barnsley railway, and of what grades; how many are at present unemployed; and what steps are being taken to provide alternative work for them.

This line has not been closed. The proposal to close it between Little Weighton and Wrangbrook Junction was considered by the Central Transport Consultative Committee on 10th March, and I expect to receive its conclusions very shortly. If it is decided to close the line, it will be for the British Transport Commission to deal as far as is possible with any redundancy by transfers and other adjustments in consultation with the staff in accordance with the redundancy agreements. The local offices of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service will do all they can to find alternative employment for any who may eventually need it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what grants were paid by his Department for major road improvements in Hertfordshire in 1951 and in 1958–59; and what is the estimated grant for 1959–60.

£7,696 in 1951 and £290,146 for 1958–59 so far. I cannot yet say what the grant value of schemes for 1959–60 is likely to be.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects work to begin on the dualling of the carriageways on the Great North Road between the Bull, Stanborough, and the de Havilland works at Hatfield.

Preliminary discussions are being held about a scheme to dual A.1 near Hatfield which will include the stretch between the de Havilland works and the Bull, Stanborough, but I cannot yet say when constructional work will start.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what priority he is able to give to the reconstruction of Hunter's Bridge in Welwyn Garden City; what progress has been made with the planning for this reconstruction; what will be the total cost; and when it is expected that work will begin.

The Hertfordshire County Council has submitted a scheme for my consideration. If this proves satisfactory I hope to make a grant of about £127,000 in the coming financial year towards its cost, which is estimated at £212,000. I understand that the council expects to start work about five months after the grant is issued.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what are the methods by which a road, or part of a road, no longer required for traffic, can be sold; and how much land has been made available for building or other purposes during the past three years that was formerly dedicated to roads or verges.

Private roads, which are not highways, may be sold freely by their owners and if they are no longer required for use as roads the owner for the time being may use them for any other purpose. Roads which are highways over which the public have rights to pass cannot lawfully be sold either by highway authorities or by the owners of the adjoining land so as to defeat the rights of the public. Those public rights may only be extinguished under powers conferred by statute. If a highway is stopped up under a statutory power the general rule is that the land vests in the owners of the lands adjoining the highway but, if the sub-soil and the surface belong to the former highway authority, that authority may then dispose of the land. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the area of sterilised land adjoining the Bicester to Kidlington road; and what proposals are being considered for the return of some of this land for agricultural or building purposes.

2·85 acres of land on road A.43 between Bicester and Kidlington are surplus to highway requirements. This land is in the process of being sold. Agreement on price has been reached with the purchaser and the matter is in the hands of solicitors for the preparation of the conveyance. A further plot of 6·15 acres was sold in December last.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the cost of tunnelling work completed at London Airport.

The cost to date of the main access tunnel to London Airport Centre is £1,808,292. There is also under consideration an outstanding claim by the contractor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what administrative action he has taken to ensure the collection of Purchase Tax, where due, on electrical equipment sold now in retail shops, in view of the fact that some of these shops are offering such equipment for sale now with the undertaking that a Budget Purchase Tax reduction will be refunded to the purchaser.

No special action is called for. The offers to which my hon. Friend refers appear to be an enterprising attempt by some retailers to overcome, at their own risk, any reluctance potential customers may feel to make pre-Budget purchases. The goods in question are tax paid at current rates and there could, of course, be no question of a refund from the Exchequer in the event of a reduction in the tax in my right hon. Friend's forthcoming Budget.