asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that British ships are being taken to foreign ports for repair work which could be carried out by British workers unemployed in British ports; and whether, in order to discourage this practice, he will take steps to withdraw the investment allowances from the firms concerned.

I can see no sufficient ground for denying taxation reliefs to concerns which have ships repaired abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a man discharged or ill in the initial weeks of the Income Tax year suffers hardship compared with a man discharged later in the year because he has no lump sum tax refund to help tide him over the immediate period; and whether he will consider the arrangement which would allow an overlapping period of the two financial years so as to assist men on Pay As You Earn in this matter.

I am aware of the position to which the hon. Member refers, but I cannot at this time of the year comment on this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases where applications under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1958, have been approved, financial assistance has taken the form of loans and of grants, respectively; what the total aid approved has been to date; and how much of this is by way of loan and of grant, respectively.

The assistance offered in respect of the 27 applications so far approved has in 24 cases taken the form of a loan. In one case annual grants have been offered, and in the two other cases annual grants as well as a loan. The total of aid approved to date is £514,650 of which £502,400 is by way of loan and £12,250 by way of annual grants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of additional persons will be employed as a result of the approval for aid under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1958, of the total of three applications from the isles of Lewis and Harris; and what percentage of the total of unemployed in the Stornoway area this number represents.

The number of additional persons to be employed on the three projects in the isles of Lewis and Harris for which assistance has been offered under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, is estimated as 22. This total represents 1·3 per cent. of the total number of persons registered as unemployed at the Stornoway employment exchange on the 9th March. 1959.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for aid under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1958, have been received from each of the islands of Barra, Benbecula, South Uist, North Uist, and Harris; and how many have been approved.

No applications have been received from any of these places.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been received from Scotland by the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee since the beginning of 1959; how many of these have been granted; and for what sums.

Nineteen firm and eligible applications made under the Distribution of Industry Acts, 1945 and 1958, have been received since 1st January, 1959. No loan or grant has yet been recommended in respect of these applications.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been received from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee since the beginning of 1959; how many of these have been granted; and for what sums.

Nine firm and eligible applications, made under the Distribution of Industry Acts, 1945 and 1958, have been received since 1st January, 1959. No loan or grant has yet been recommended in respect of these applications.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in place of the existing concession whereby limited quantities of certain goods for personal use can be imported by a returning traveller resident in Great Britain free of duty, he will substitute a concession allowing the import under similar conditions of any goods intended for personal use irrespective of quantity or number of different items but limited to a fixed total amount in value.

No. The long-established concessions apply only to small quantities of consumable goods, such as tobacco and spirits, which in general will be used up quickly. There is no justification for any equivalent relief for durable goods imported by residents of this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement about the rates of interest charged to local authorities borrowing from the Local Loans Fund.

A Treasury Minute made yesterday provides that loans advanced to local authorities from the Local Loans Fund on and after 28th March, 1959, until further notice shall carry the following rates of interest:

	per cent.
Loans for not more than 5 years	5
Loans for more than 5 years but not more than 15 years	5¾
Loans for more than 15 years but not more than 30 years	5¾
Loans for more than 30 years	5¾

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider a reduction of Purchase Tax on veterinary medicines used by farmers in connection with their cattle and sheep.

I have representations on this matter under consideration, but my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons have incomes too low to be eligible for tax at the present rates; how many persons are eligible to pay tax at each of the rates up to the standard rate; and how many pay super tax.

The estimated numbers in 1958–59 are as follows:

		Thousands
Not liable to Income Tax	…	2,300
Liable at 2s. 3d.	…	2,750
Liable at 4s. 9d.	…	7,150
Liable at 6s. 9d.	…	4,800
Liable at 8s. 6d.	…	3,700
Liable to Surtax	…	345

The joint income of a husband and wife is counted as one unit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of recent discussions in the United Nations Trusteeship Committee, what proposals have been made by the United Kingdom delegate in order to ensure that the peoples of the British Cameroons may be able freely to express their wishes on the future status of the northern and southern sections, respectively.

The United Kingdom delegate supported the resolution adopted by the General Assembly under which plebiscites supervised by the United Nations are to be held in both the Northern and Southern Cameroons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what request he has received from the Sultan of Brunei to reduce the power of the British Resident to that of an adviser; and what was his reply.

I should prefer not to anticipate the outcome of the talks which I am now having with His Highness the Sultan and a Delegation from Brunei.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now recommend to the Government of Kenya that the passport of Mr. Tom Mboya should be endorsed for travel to Egypt, in view of the fact that they have already reconsidered endorsements for Morocco and Algeria.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how many prison cages have been constructed in Nyasaland since the declaration of a state of emergency, or are now being constructed; and what total number of persons they are designed to hold;(2) how many buildings in Nyasaland have been, or are being, turned from their normal use to use as prisons or detention camps; and what, in each case, were their normal uses.

Provincial holding centres, not "cages", have been constructed by conversion of a Public Works Department enclosure at Mzuzu, Engineering Workshop at Lilongwe, and the Artisan Training Centre at Limbe. The School of Agriculture at Lilongwe and the old District Headquarters at Domasi are also being converted to prison camps for convicts.The School of Local Government at Mpemba is being converted to a Detention Camp.At small outstations buildings have been enclosed with wire as collecting points pending transfer of detainees to Holding Centres. These prison camps or places of detention are not designed for any particular numbers, but make the best use of existing capacity and facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. H. B. Chipembere, Mr. D. K. Chisiza, Mr. M. W. K. Chiume, or Mrs. Rose Chibambo, were present at the secret meeting alleged by the Governor to have taken place when they were alleged to be elected to fix the date when Europeans and Asians, including women and children, the Governor, and certain British officials, missionaries and certain Africans, were to be assassinated; and if he will charge those alleged to be involved with plotting murder, and will produce the evidence against them in public court.

In view of the decision to appoint a Commission of Inquiry, I am not prepared at this stage to add to the matters contained in the Governor's despatch. It is however well known that Mr. M. W. K. Chiume was not present. The question of prosecution is a matter for the Attorney-General, Nyasaland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now appoint a Commission of Inquiry to examine and report upon the disturbances in Nyasaland and in particular the underlying causes of such disturbances; and if he will include in such Commission at least one distinguished coloured subject of the Commonwealth, having regard to the fact that the conflict in Nyasaland and Central Africa concerns the Commonwealth as a whole.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House on 24th March. I have nothing to add to that statement as regards either the composition or the terms of reference of the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what savings have resulted to the Exchequer as a result of including Nyasaland in the Central African Federation; what amount of money has been paid by the Federal Treasury to the Nyasaland Government since federation came into being; and to what extent private investment has grown since 1953.

I regret that it has not yet been possible to obtain all the information required, but I shall write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what sums of money have been paid to informers who provided information to the Nyasaland Government concerning a Congress meeting which took place on 25th January;(2) in what form information became available to the Nyasaland Government on 13th February regarding the meeting held on 25th January of Congress delegates; whether written reports are now available; and whether he will arrange for these to be placed in the Library;(3) which leading members of the Nyasaland Congress attended the meeting held on 25th January;(4) what evidence is available that the meeting of the Nyasaland Congress delegates on 25th January was held at the direction of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda;(5) in what form information became available to the Nyasaland Government subsequent to 13th February concerning the details of the meeting held on 25th January by Congress delegates.

In view of the decision to appoint a Commission of Inquiry I am not prepared at this stage to add anything to, or to comment upon, the matters contained in the despatch from the Governor of Nyasaland dated the 18th March which was published as an appendix to Government White Paper Cmnd. 707. Nor am I prepared to make public anything further about the sources of the information at the Governor's disposal as this would be contrary to the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the 140 delegates who attended the Nyasaland African Congress meeting on 25th January have been detained under the emergency regulations; and what charges will be brought against them.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to several other Questions which I have given to him today. Most of the delegates who attended the meeting are among those who have since been detained. The question of prosecution is a matter for the Attorney-General of Nyasaland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the name of the African woman killed by security forces in Nyasaland; in what circum- stances she was shot; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked the Governor for the name of the woman concerned. I understand that she was shot during a dawn sweep by security forces when she attempted to escape after twice refusing order to stop. It was not realised at the time that the person trying to escape was a woman.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what weapons were returned to the Nyasaland Police by Dr. Hastings Banda; and on what dates.

One shotgun on 26th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Europeans were assaulted during the not which took place at Karonga on 19th February; and how many Europeans were injured.

I am consulting the Governor and I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Europeans and Africans, respectively, there are in the Nyasaland Civil Service; and how many of the Europeans are drawn from within the Federation, and how many from outside it.

There are 944 Europeans and 8,450 Africans in the Nyasaland Civil Service. To obtain the information required to show how many Europeans are drawn from within and outside the Federation, it would be necessary to carry out a scrutiny of individual records, involving considerable time and labour, and I cannot ask the Governor to undertake this in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government are satisfied that the Caribbean Commission has been of value to the regional development of the area and of the West Indies in particular; and what financial contribution the Government will make to the Commission in future, in order to ensure its continued existence.

Yes, and as my right hon. Friend explained to the hon. Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones) on 29th January, consideration is being given to the setting up of a successor organisation which will be run by the territories themselves. Her Majesty's Government have undertaken to contribute up to £10,000 a year for three years to this organisation, and the British territories taking part will contribute at least an equal sum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present composition of the Executive Council of Mauritius; and what changes he proposes in view of the results of the election of 9th March.

Of the nine unofficial Ministers in the outgoing Executive Council seven had departmental portfolios and two were without portfolio. Six were elected members of the Legislative Council, five of whom belonged to the Mauritius Labour Party; the other three were nominated members of the Legislative Council.The Governor at present has in hand the appointment of unofficial Ministers to the new Executive Council. I cannot yet say how the Council will differ from the outgoing one as a result of the recent elections.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that strychnine, recommended in Advisory Leaflet No. 318, for destroying moles is an extremely cruel poison; what research has been carried out during the past 10 years with a view to making available a less cruel poison; and whether he will instruct his scientific staff to undertake field work for the purpose of devising humane methods of controlling the mole population.

It is generally conceded that the use of strychnine involves suffering. Gassing has been tried as an alternative to poisoning, but without success. We are trying all the time in our research to find more effective and humane ways of controlling pests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the traps recommended in Advisory Leaflet No. 318, for catching moles do not kill outright; and what evidence is available to show how long these traps take to kill.

My right hon. Friend is advised that the type of mole trap described in the Advisory Leaflet should be an effective instrument, but he has no evidence of the actual time it takes to achieve the destruction of the animal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that excessive quantities of timber are being imported into the United Kingdom owing to failure to make use of available home-grown supplies; and whether he will give an estimate of the value of timber imported during the last five years which could have been supplied from United Kingdom sources.

It is quite impossible to estimate how much, if any, timber imports in the last five years could have been replaced by home supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy with regard to increasing the rabbit clearance societies over all of the agricultural land of this country to avoid the return of the rabbit pest, such as is now taking place in certain parts of the country, particularly in Kent; and if he will give guidance as to the best procedure to follow in this matter.

Rabbit clearance societies are co-operative organisations set up by occupiers to keep their land clear of wild rabbits. There are now 135 societies in England and Wales, covering about 2,200,000 acres, and there are more than 100 in process of formation. To encourage their formation, a grant of half their costs of rabbit clearance is paid by the Government.I cannot urge too strongly the desirability of setting up societies now to cover the whole of the country as an insurance against the return of the rabbit menace. Guidance on the formation of societies can be obtained from divisional offices of the Ministry and from local branches of the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' Association. The Agricultural Central Cooperative Association and the Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society Limited will help with the formalities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for his departmental advisory service to make suggestions as to a form of insurance against disasters brought about by inclement weather in this country, and due to which agriculturalists are at times serious sufferers.

ANNUAL REVIEWS
—				1957	1958	1959
Fat Cattle	…	…	…	+ 3·3	+ 0·6	No change
Fat Sheep and Lambs	…	…	…	+ 3·9	No change	No change (See Note (a))
Fat Pigs	…	…	…	No change	- 3·9	No change
Hen Eggs	…	…	…	- 3·5	- 3·2	- 2·0
Duck Eggs	…	…	…	- 3·5	- 2·9	- 2·4
Wool	…	…	…	No change	No change	- 3·6
Milk	…	…	…	+ 0·7	- 2·6	No change
				(See Note (b))		(See Note (c))
Wheat	…	…	…	- 3·9	- 1·7	- 1·8
Barley	…	…	…	+ 1·8	No change	No change
Oats	…	…	…	+ 10·8	No change	No change
Rye	…	…	…	- 4·0	No change	- 2·3
Potatoes	…	…	…	+ 3·7	No change	No change
Sugar Beet	…	…	…	+ 1·9	No change	No change
NOTES:
(a) Following the 1959 Annual Review the guaranteed price for fat sheep was left unchanged, but the maximum weights in respect of which guarantee payments may be made were reduced; this change was estimated to be equivalent to a reduction of 0·05 per cent in the guaranteed price.
(b) Following the 1957 Annual Review the guaranteed price for milk was increased by ¼d. per gallon (0·65 per cent). In addition the standard quantity to which the guaranteed price for milk in England and Wales is related was increased by 3½ million gallons; this change was estimated to be equivalent to a further increase of 0½08 per cent in the guaranteed price for the United Kingdom.
(c) Following the 1959 Annual Review the standard quantity for England and Wales was further increased by 7 million gallons; this change was estimated to be equivalent to an increase of 0·2 per cent in the guaranteed price for the United Kingdom.
(d) The percentage changes shown in the above table do not include adjustments to guaranteed prices, consequent upon changes in guarantee arrangements, which did not alter the effective value of the guarantees.

Standard forms of policy are already available and quite frequently used for insurance against a few obvious hazards such as lightning and hail. Other weather risks can undoubtedly be serious but the difficulty of distinguishing weather damage from other causes of reduced yields tends to make more extensive insurance cover prohibitive in cost. I am afraid that I can at present see no means of overcoming this difficulty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the percentage changes in guaranteed prices in each of the main farm products made at the 1957, 1958 and 1959 Annual Reviews within the terms of Section 2 of the Agriculture Act, 1957.

The following are the percentage changes made in guaranteed prices following the 1957, 1958 and 1959 Annual Reviews:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will recommend to the appropriate advisory and other bodies concerned with the manufacture of tractors and combine harvesters that the batteries required by these vehicles should be standardised and interchangeable, in view of the resulting advantage to the agricultural industry.

The British Standards Institute is at present considering this problem with a view to standardisation of the sizes of batteries as far as possible. There are a number of difficulties to be resolved, particularly in relation to the designing of the machines, but I hope that progress may be made. I am bringing this question to the notice of the Agricultural Engineers' Association.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give in the OFFICIAL REPORT a definite technical description of what is ice cream, under his latest regulations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the technical description given in the Schedule of the Food Standards (Ice-Cream) Regulations, 1959, No. 472, which was laid before Parliament yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has in mind for improving the co-operation given to his Department by the local authorities in the matter of civil defence.

There is already, I am glad to say, full co-operation between my Department and local authorities, and I shall be glad of all the help they can give me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the period of five years allowed for the modification of existing X-ray apparatus used in shops in order that they may conform with safety requirements does not expose staff and customers to the harmful effects of radiation.

Yes. I am advised that the possibility of harm to individuals even from unmodified machines is remote, and the main object of the new requirements is to reduce to a minimum the addition made by these machines to natural radiation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will name the chairman and other trustees of the Czech Refugee Trust Fund; and which of these have been appointed by him.

The Trustees are: Sir Alexander Maxwell, G.C.B., K.B.E. (Chairman), the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Gower, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Chertsey. The Trustees are appointed by the Secretary of State; and the last-named was appointed by me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department approximately how many men are taken into the Fire Service each year.

The following table sets out the number of men who joined local authority fire brigades in England and Wales, and the number of men who retired, resigned or died, in each of the three years 1953 to 1957.

Year ended 31st December		Joined		Retired, resigned or died
		Whole-time	Part-time	Whole-time	Part-time
1953	…	1,032	1,147	1,003	1,423
1954	…	982	1,201	1,054	1,509
1955	…	1,033	1,177	1,245	1,348
1956	…	1,514	1,310	957	1,293
1957	…	1,439	1,231	825	1,225

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the introduction of a general grant and the discontinuance of Fire Service grant, he intends to maintain the existing control of pay and other conditions of service of members of fire brigades under Section 17 of the Fire Services Act, 1947.

No. It is proposed to introduce legislation at a suitable opportunity to repeal so much of Section 17 of the Fire Services Act, 1947, as relates to pay and other conditions of service, with the exception of discipline.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Metropolitan Police closed the Left Luggage Office at Victoria Station on 26th February for as long as six hours because of a practical joke.

I am informed that it was not the Metropolitan Police who closed the Left Luggage Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government have now completed their study of proposals made by an interdepartmental Working Party for the use by foreign visitors to the United Kingdom of identity cards instead of passports; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to negotiate bilateral agreements with other Member countries of O.E.E.C. under which nationals of those countries who are coming to the United Kingdom for short visits may, subject to certain safeguards, produce, instead of a passport, the standard model identity card recommended by the Tourism Committee of the Organisation. It will be necessary for the conditions on which the visitor is permitted to land to be endorsed either on his identity card or on a special travel card issued for the purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if the negotiations between the High Commissioner at Colombo and the Maldive authorities over the Gan staging post which were started in 1957 have yet been completed; and if he will now make a further statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 19th March.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what request has been received by the United Kingdom for recognition of the United Suvadive Islands Government; and if he will make a statement.

Requests for recognition have been received from persons acting on behalf of the inhabitants of Addu, Huvadu and Fua Muluku in the Maldive Islands. Her Majesty's Government regard this as an internal affair of the Maldive Islands. In accordance with the Protection Agreement made in 1953 with the Maldivian Government they do not interfere in such affairs. That Agreement, which was reaffirmed in 1957, is binding on both parties. The question of recognition in this case can therefore hardly arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when all pass laws in Swaziland will be abolished.

In practice the Swazi are not required to carry passes within Swaziland. Certain old Transvaal laws on the subject, which are not enforced, will be repealed in the very near future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps the Indian Government has taken to stop British journalists attempting to enter Tibet and to censor their despatches emanating from that country; and what representations he has made in the matter.

I have received no information about attempts by British journalists to enter Tibet through India. As to the second part of the Question, I am not aware that the Indian Government have taken any steps to censor British journalists' despatches sent through India from Tibet. I understand that despatches emanating from India dealing with the situation in Tibet are subject to the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Code. The third part of the hon. Member's Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in the light of their responsibilities under Section 28 of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution Letters Patent, 1923, what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to certain Bills recently introduced into the Southern Rhodesian Legislature which are discriminatory towards Africans.

As I explained to the House on 18th March, my noble Friend's responsibilities under Section 28 of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution Letters Patent, 1923, do not become operative until the legislation concerned has been passed in its final form by the Legislative Assembly. It is not the practice to divulge what informal consultations may have taken place respecting any particular Bill or what Her Majesty's Government's decision will be before the Parliamentary processes in Southern Rhodesia have been completed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the Prime Minister of Ghana offering to use his good offices in assisting to settle the present trouble in Central Africa; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the flax industry at Ripley has been lying dormant for a considerable time; and what steps are being taken to find an industrial user for these premises.

None. The factory is now privately owned, and it is for the present owner to take any necessary steps.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how much the cost of stationery and printing has increased since 1949.

The increase between 1949 and 1958 in the price index of manufactured stationery was 40 per cent. Printing costs are estimated to have increased by nearly 50 per cent. in the same period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will prohibit the importation of cider apples, and the extracted juice from cider apples, in view of the fact that there are ample quantities of such apples available for use each year in this country.

It would be contrary to our international obligations to prohibit imports of apples or juice in present circumstances. In addition to the existing quota for apples, licences for cider apples are issued only when imports are needed to supplement home supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number, area, and estimated employment potential of Government-financed factories or extensions of existing factories, which have been approved in Scotland since February, 1958.

Fifteen factories or extensions, with a total area of 817,000 sq. ft., and an estimated potential employment of 3,735.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number, area, and estimated employment potential of factories, or extensions of existing factories, for which industrial development certificates have been granted in Scotland since February, 1958.

In the period 1st March, 1958, to 28th February, 1959, location approval has been given for 133 new factories and extensions over 5,000 square feet in Scotland, with an area of 4,237,000 square feet and an estimated employment potential of 5,186.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what administrative machinery exists for making of appeals against rental assessments imposed on Government factories by the Chief Valuer in Scotland; and to what authority such appeals would lie.

Rents of Government factories in Scotland are a matter for arrangement between the landlord and tenant. Technical advice on current market value is given to the landlord by the Chief Valuer in Scotland. There is no statutory machinery for appeals against the Chief Valuer's technical advice, but I understand that it is the practice of the Valuation Office to discuss proposed rentals with tenants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of renewed hardship suffered by British growers, if he will now give further consideration to a revision of tariffs in connection with new potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce and endive during certain periods of the year, to enable British farmers to meet the competition of these imported vegetables.

No, since my right hon. Friend has already given the Government's decision on the applications for increases in these tariffs. It will be for the horticultural interests concerned to judge when they have sufficient evidence to justify the submission of fresh applications.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken in recent months with the specific purpose of attracting and assisting the establishment of industry in the Isle of South Uist; and with what result in terms of development and employment.

South Uist is included on the list of places to which the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, applies. No firm and eligible applications for assistance under the Act have yet been received. So far my officials have not been able to persuade a suitable firm to set up in this area, but they will continue their efforts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the Anglo-German trade agreement for 1959 to be signed.

No arrangements have yet been made with Western Germany with regard to a trade agreement for 1959. In the meantime, imports of goods which are still restricted are being permitted up to one-quarter of the quotas for 1958.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences were issued in 1954 for the import of amusement machinery from West Germany; how many new licences were issued in 1955 and 1956; and how many applicants there are at present to be added to the list of licensees for 1959.

The information is as follows:

—	1954	1955	1956
Number of Licences issued	13	13	16
of which to new applicants	13	5	6

There have so far been 24 applications for import licences in 1959, of which nine are from applicants who have not previously had a licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now consider further legislation concerning the distribution of industry more appropriate to the needs of isolated and out-lying areas.

Under present legislation financial assistance is available in suitable cases to firms setting up or extending production in areas of high and persistent unemployment, including those that are isolated and outlying, and a number have taken advantage of these facilities. In addition, help is available through the Development Fund in certain areas. While my right hon. Friend would be glad to consider any suggestions as to what more might be done I would remind the hon. Member that the problem of getting industry to go to these outlying places is not one that can be solved purely by legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what applications he has received recently for certification marks from companies purporting to manufacture Harris Tweed; and how many such applications or marks he has approved.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total estimated production of orb-certification-marked Harris Tweed in 1958; and how much of this was exported to dollar markets.

According to the Harris Tweed Association, the production of cloth stamped with the Orb-certification mark in 1958 was 4,349,000 yards. Estimates of exports to dollar markets have not yet been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consult with the various interests in the Harris Tweed industry in the Outer Hebrides with a view to encouraging and assisting the revival of this industry in the Isle of Harris.

If the industry think that discussions with the Board of Trade would help them. I am sure my right hon. Friend will be glad to arrange this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to issue amended regulations under the Fabrics (Misdescription) Act, 1913, prescribing revised standards of non-inflammability for textile fabrics.

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that the British Standards Institution will very shortly publish the new standard specifications for fabrics of low flammability and for materials for flameproof clothing, which we propose to use as the basis for amending the Regulations under the Act of 1913. The revised Regulations will be laid before the House on the 9th April and full details about them will be given in an announcement by the Board of Trade on the same day.

asked the Paymaster-General whether his attention has been called to the recent widespread increase in the installation of Purchase Tax-free oil-fired central heating systems in British homes and offices; and whether, in view of the need for ensuring that an adequate proportion of the energy required for domestic heating is obtained from indigenous fuel, he will examine as a matter of urgency the extent to which the maintenance of Purchase Tax on a large range of electric and gas heating equipment is discouraging the wider use of such equipment, and issue a report thereon before 7th April.

Purchase Tax is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. As both he and my noble Friend are aware of the relevant considerations in this field no special report is needed.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will make a statement on the exercise of compulsory powers for the acquisition of land for opencast coal working.

The National Coal Board have assured my noble Friend that in present circumstances they are not letting any fresh contracts beyond those to which they are already committed, or which are necessary to discharge their legal responsibilities, or which, in the discharge of their national obligations, they consider they must let to secure supplies of particular kinds of coal. The effect will be a steady run-down in opencast production, unless circumstances so change as to call for a reconsideration of the position.The Minister's powers under the Opencast Coal Act, 1958, include the confirmation of compulsory rights orders made by the Board when they cannot get any new land they need by agreement. In view of the assurance that the Board has given, my noble Friend does not expect to be asked, and if asked would not agree, to confirm such Orders under present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now received a report from the Road Research Laboratory in regard to the most beneficial arrangement for Summer Time from the point of view of road safety; and what action it is proposed to take upon it.

The Road Research Laboratory has done some further work on this subject following the report issued in 1956. The results of the investigation were not conclusive but were in line with the earlier indication that an extension of Summer Time might reduce total casualties, although possibly at the expense of an increase in child casualties. Further research is necessary before final decisions can be reached.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce legislation to amend the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to enable properties of Trinity House in the borough of Harwich and elsewhere to be rated.

I cannot hold out hope of early legislation, but when opportunity offers I propose to introduce legislation similar to the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956, to authorise the Trinity House to make contributions in lieu of rates in respect of non-operational lighthouse property belonging to them in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received from the owners of a British vessel, s.s. "Chusan", concerning a recent declaration by United States customs that a proposed round cruise by that vessel would be illegal; and what steps he has taken as a result of those representations.

The owners of the "Chusan" have kept me informed of the position. I am glad to say that by making a slight adjustment in the proposed itinerary, the owners have overcome the difficulties that had arisen with the United States Customs.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what has been the tonnage of all kinds of vessels laid up in United Kingdom harbours and estuaries for the months of February in each of the past five years.

The total gross tonnage of British and foreign ships laid up in United Kingdom waters for lack of employment at the end of February in each of the last five years amounted to:

1955	…	…	…	135,200
1956	…	…	…	50,400
1957	…	…	…	1,400
1958	…	…	…	848,000
1959	…	…	…	1,245,400

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the approximate number of men who have found employment on the nationalised railways in each year since vesting date.

The numbers of males employed and recruited by British Railways (including collection and delivery services) in each calendar year since 1st January, 1948 are:

			Number employed as at 1st January	Number recruited during year
1948	…	…	600,742	*
1949	…	…	611,245	80,342
1950	…	…	589,640	84,283
1951	…	…	570,338	92,168
1952	…	…	562,226	93,537
1953	…	…	564,846	81,132
1954	…	…	558,805	71,641
1955	…	…	543,275	70,450
1956	…	…	529,271	92,629
1957	…	…	536,931	83,031
1958	…	…	539,657	49,175
1959	…	…	517,978	—
* The recruitment figures for 1948 are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what amount of the grant paid to the London County Council in respect of Stage one of the Cromwell Road Extension, apart from that for the purchase of the necessary property and land for the construction of the road itself and for accommodation works, was for redevelopment of adjoining properties affected by the road cutting through this densely developed area.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals he has for alterations, diversions and improvements to trunk road A.2; and when he anticipates these will be undertaken.

I propose to provide dual carriageways on A.2 from the L.C.C. boundary to the start of the Medway Motor Road, which will be a motor road. Dual carriageways will also be provided from the Eastern end of the motor road as far as Canterbury. Statutory Orders will have to be made for any diversions proposed from the present line of A.2, and I cannot yet say when the construction of these works will start.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now ready to publish the findings of the British European Airways report on the Munich air disaster; and when he will do so.

The publication of any B.E.A. report would be a matter for them and not for me. B.E.A. have accepted in general the official report and are not contemplating publishing any separate statement.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many applicants for unemployment pay as a result of redundancy in the Ford Motor Company works at Dagenham have been unable to obtain unemployment pay; and for what reasons.

I am not aware of any redundancy at these works. But I understand that the question whether workers who lost their employment between 23rd February and 9th March as the result of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute are entitled to unemployment benefit is under appeal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what report he has now received from the Middlesex County Council on the measures to prevent flooding in Wembley caused by the overflowing of the Wealdstone and Wembley brooks and the River Brent, in view of the agreement he has given to their scheme for flood prevention.

I understand that work is about to begin on the Wealdstone Brook scheme, and work to the value of £25,000 on the River Brent in Ealing should be started shortly. The complete scheme for the River Brent is still in its early stages and has not yet been approved.I have received no complaints about the Wembley Brook, but am told that the county council is going to carry out minor works on this watercourse.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) if the plans to which the new houses and garage opposite Queen Street, Steeton, Yorkshire, are being built are the ones which were approved by the Skipton Rural District Council and the West Riding County Council;(2) what was the date on which plans were approved to build opposite Queen Street, Steeton, Yorkshire;

The Skipton Rural District Council, as agents for the West Riding County Council, granted permission on 11th July, 1958, for housing development on this land, subject to the condition that no development should be commenced "prior to the submission of and approval by the local planning authority of details relating to the siting, design, and external appearance and means of access to proposed buildings". Details of the layout and of individual houses have been approved at various dates subsequently. The most recent layout, approved on 9th October, 1958, provides for a density of approximately 12·5 dwellings per acre. The question whether the building operations now in progress are in accordance with the approvals given is one for the local planning authority.I have considered the representations made by the hon. Member and by local residents. I can sympathise with the feelings of those who find that the view from their property is being obstructed, yet I do not think it would be appropriate for me to take the quite exceptional step of holding a public inquiry into the merits of the local planning authority's decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals for disengagement and the reduction of the levels of armaments and armed forces in Europe Her Majesty's Government will put forward at the forthcoming Foreign Ministers' and Summit conferences.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made in the House yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals are now under consideration for the entry of Spain into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in this regard.

No proposals have been put forward for the entry of Spain into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why certain Foreign Service Officers are permitted to have their personal insurance premiums deducted from their pay while this privilege is denied to other serving members of Her Majesty's Foreign Service.

Deduction of premiums from pay is a facility confined, throughout the Civil Service, to policies issued by a limited number of organisations the volume of whose business with the staff concerned is large enough to justify the administrative work involved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has considered the protests sent to him from the Free Church of Scotland ministers in the Isle of Lewis against the proposal to extend and use Stornoway Airport as a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation base; and what his reply was.

Yes; the Clerk of the Free Church Presbytery of Lewis has been informed of the strategic need to establish an airfield in the northwest Scotland area, and that the present civil airfield at Stornoway is the site which most nearly meets defence requirements.He has been assured that if current investigations show that it would be practicable and economical to develop the airfield to N.A.T.O. standards, and if it is consequently decided to proceed with this project, planning clearance will be sought in the usual way, which means that the interested authorities will be consulted.My right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland would be responsible for consulting the appropriate public bodies and is aware of the views of the Free Church of Scotland in this matter.The reverend gentleman has also been told that every effort would be made to carry out the development in such a way as to cause the least possible hardship to local people; and that it is intended to

—		Total Number Enrolled	From Western Isles	Percentage	Remarks
1938	…	962	162	16·8	Includes Patrol Service and General Service.
1958	…	154	1	0·6	Patrol Service only. The General Service section was abolished in 1957.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will consider the claims of Hull, in the same way as the Tyne, for naval repair work, owing to the falling off in merchant ship repairs causing unemployment on the River Humber.

The amount of naval repair work which is not carried out in the Royal Dockyards is now very limited. The claims of the Humber will be considered along with other ship-repair districts as and when it becomes necessary for ship repairs to be done by contract.

asked the Minister of Education how many extra teachers he estimates would be required to reduce all classes in both junior and senior schools to a maximum of 30; and by how much this total would be increased if the leaving age were raised to 16.

To reduce all classes to a maximum of 30 by 1965 would require about 110,000 more teachers than there are at present in maintained schools. If the school leaving age were to be raised to 16 by the same time, a further 24,000 teachers would be needed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what number and percentage of the personnel of the Royal Naval Reserve were recruited in the Western Isles in 1938, and in the last year for which figures are available.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Education how many new school places would have to be provided to reduce all classes in both junior and senior schools to a maximum of 30; and by how much this total would be increased if the leaving age were raised to 16.

To ensure that no class should have more than 30 pupils in 1965, about 1,400,000 primary school places would be required in addition to those likely to be provided under current policy. No additional secondary school places would be required if the school leaving age remained at 15: if it were raised to 16 in 1965, about 160.000 places would be required in addition to those likely to be provided under current policy.

asked the Minister of Health in what circumstances he authorises persons to be taken to hospital by ambulance on payment and without payment, respectively; and what are the reasons for such discrimination.

The provision of transport in accordance with the duty placed on local health authorities by Section 27 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, is without payment. In addition, the National Health Service (Amendment) Act, 1957, empowers them to make ambulances, and other transport which they themselves provide, available for use, on repayment, for the conveyance of persons suffering from illness, in circumstances in which they do not already have that duty. These have been explained to local health authorities in Circular 12/57 sent to them on 30th July, 1957. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular.

asked the Minister of Health what improvements have been recommended to him for the hospital services in the Wellington area of Shropshire; and if he has yet given his approval for the necessary capital expenditure.

My officers and those of the regional hospital board are discussing sketch plans for an extension at the Wrekin Hospital to provide outpatient and casualty facilities. Financial provision for this project has been made in the Board's capital estimates. When the sketch plans have been agreed the Board will be authorised to prepare working drawings.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the Leeds Regional Hospital Board has fulfilled its statutory duty of consultation, before making appointments to fill vacancies on the Hull (A) Management Committee, solely by hearing the personal views of the chairman of the committee who is herself a member of the Board and did not consult the committee; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the board consulted all the bodies specified in the National Health Service Act, 1946, including the Hospital Management Committee.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of social and medical ground maternity cases in Hull who, in the last year, have been refused admission to hospital owing to a lack of beds, and the number of additional beds provided by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board in the last six years.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "none", but there is an arrangement with the local health authority whereby applications for admission on social grounds are limited in accordance with the number of beds available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of hospital maternity cases in Hull, in the last year, who have had to be discharged five days after childbirth instead of the minimum of eight days as recommended by the Central Midwives' Board; and what action he proposes forthwith to remedy the maternity bed problem in Hull.

I regret that statistics are not separately kept of discharges five days after childbirth, but the need for better maternity hospital accommodation in Hull is recognised and a start will shortly be made on improvements to the Maternity Hospital which are estimated to cost some £140,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that wild rabbits, which might be subject to disease, are suitable for human consumption; and what consideration he is giving to prohibiting their sale as food.

I have been asked to reply.Certain diseases of wild rabbits, e.g. myxomatosis, render them unfit for human consumption. No special prohibition on their sale for human consumption is necessary as the general provisions of Section 8 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, apply.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will specify each of the main difficulties, other than the financial ones, which are still delaying his authorising the British Broadcasting Corporation to extend television and V.H.F. service to the Western Isles and North-West Highland coastal areas.

The B.B.C. plans for the extension over a period of years of TV and V.H.F. sound coverage must take into account the needs of other areas in Wales, Northern Ireland and England as well as in Scotland. The frequencies allocated to additional stations must he carefully chosen so as to avoid interference between stations and the creation of "mush" areas. Likewise the polarisation and power of all stations must be fixed as part of a carefully coordinated plan.So far as the Western Isles and North-West Highland coastal areas are concerned coverage is not an easy matter. Television and V.H.F. sound signals have a limited range, particularly in hilly country. The choice of suitable sites and appropriate frequencies is of particular importance for any stations proposed here: and an order of development must be determined so that signals can be relayed from one station to another.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are outstanding in each of the Islands of Barra, South Uist, North Uist, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis; how many have been outstanding for less than a year; and how many for longer.

The figures are as follows:

—	Applications outstanding			Applications under enquiry or in course of being met
	Less than 1 year	More than 1 year	Total
Bara	1	1	2	3
South Uist	2	2	4	2
North Uist	1	3	4	5
Benbecula	1	Nil	1	5
Harris	Nil	Nil	Nil	3
Lewis	Nil	Nil	Nil	8

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for public telephone kiosks for the Outer Hebridean islands of Inverness- shire by the local authorities concerned he has rejected in the past two years; how many from the local authorities concerned with the Isle of Lewis; and to what extent in the current and in the coming financial year his policy and programme will reflect in the numbers of additional telephone kiosks in the islands the relaxation by Her Majesty's Government of the restrictions upon capital expenditure by his Department.

Six requests for kiosks on the Outer Hebridean Islands have not been accepted; one kiosk has been provided in this financial year and five are planned for next year. The figures for the Isle of Lewis are eight, one and one, respectively.The availability of capital expenditure is not the sole criterion on which the provision of kiosks is based. Generous provision has already been made and I am satisfied that having regard to the high cost of these kiosks and the relatively small use being made of them that the additional provision is reasonable.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what was the cost of publishing Telephone Service and Customer (White Paper), the Telephone Service and Customer (FT 2), and The Friendly Telephone, a Service that Satisfies;(2) what was the cost of the Press conferences and regional Press conferences given to launch the new Telephone Customer Service;(3) what was the total cost of publicising his new telephone and customer interpolation service.

On the best estimate that can at present be made, the total cost did not exceed £1,500, including £1,250 for the documents mentioned and £50 for Press conferences.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the names of the delegates from the United Kingdom Parliament to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe will be meeting in Strasbourg from 20th to 28th of April and I have appointed 18 delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The distribution of the appointments between the parties is the same as in the previous delegation, that is, nine members of the Conservative Party, eight members of the Labour Party and a representative of the Liberal Party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.The appointments of the Labour and Liberal representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the Leaders of those parties.The same delegation will represent the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of Western European Union in June.Representatives from the Government benches will be—The right hon. Members for

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of the Government subsidy paid on each new-born calf; and what are the conditions attached to the paying of that subsidy.

There is no subsidy for new-born calves. In terms of the Calf Subsidies (Scotland) Scheme, 1958, an eligible calf has to be not less than eight months old (six months in hill areas), born in the United Kingdom between certain dates laid down in the Scheme and has to be certified as conforming to the description specified in the Scheme. The present rates are £8 10s. a head for steer calves and £7 10s. for heifer calves. As announced in the Annual Review White Paper (Cmnd. 696) the rate will be increased, subject to approval by Parliament, by 15s. to £9 5s. in respect of steer calves born on or after 1st April, 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland from whom, in addition to the hon. Member for the Western Isles, he has recently received representations regarding the need for a road at Flodda Benbecula; what reply he has given; and on how many previous occasions similar representations have been received from the persons or bodies named.

Last month representations were received from one crofter who wrote on behalf of himself and seventeen others. He was informed that if and when proposals for a road scheme at Flodda were put forward by the county council they would receive full consideration. Similar representations were received in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current average cost per mile of trunk road construction or major reconstruction in Scotland; and if he will state the figure in respect of similar work under the Crofter Counties programme.

Recent experience with the larger trunk road schemes in rural areas, excluding schemes which are mainly or exclusively bridge schemes, has been that the average cost per mile of a dual carriageway road is about £120,000; of a 24 feet single carriageway about £60,000; and of an 18 feet single carriageway under the crofter counties programme between £40,000 and £50,000. The cost of reconstructing a classified road under the crofter counties programme to provide an 11 feet road with passing places is about £30,000 per mile. These are average figures and the cost per mile of individual schemes may vary considerably.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of bringing the Butt of Lewis to Rodel road, in Lewis and Harris, up to the standard of the trunk roads in the north-west Highlands.

The standard of reconstruction aimed at in respect of trunk roads in the north-west Highlands is the provision of an 18 feet carriageway; it is estimated that to reconstruct the road from the Butt of Lewis to Rodel to this standard would cost over £3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of the section of the Rodel to Tarbert road on which it is proposed to start work this year; how many local men it is estimated it will employ; and for how long.

My right hon. Friend has asked Inverness County Council to prepare for authorisation in 1959–60 a scheme for the reconstruction of about five miles of the Tarbert-Rodel road at an estimated cost of £105,000. It is expected that an average of 25–30 men, most of whom will be local, will be employed for about two and a half years on this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for financial assistance towards the respective cost of constructing and extending peat roads in the Western Isles have been submitted since 1955 to the Crofters Commission; in how many cases it has given assistance; and what the Commission's total contribution has been to date.