asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purchasing power now left in the hands of a man with a wholly earned income of

Gross Income in 1959	Net income after tax at the proposed rates				1951–52 equivalent of gross income			Corresponding net income after 1951–52 rates of tax
	Actual			Equivalent purchasing power in 1951
£	£	s.	d.	£	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
2,500	1,952	10	7	1,543	1,975	5	0	1,437	13	0
5,000	3,231	4	4	2,553	3,950	11	0	2,198	6	0
7,500	4,137	12	1	3,269	5,925	17	0	2,747	5	0

The figures are for a married man with two children under 11.The equivalent purchasing power, and equivalent gross income, in 1951–52, are calculated from the Consumer Price Index, brought up to date by the Retail Price Index.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 5d. in March, 1953, 17s. 8d. in March, 1955, and 16s. 2d. in March, 1957; and what was the comparable figure for March, 1959.

Yes. 15s. 3d.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps he is taking, in view of the growing probability of a nation-wide strike in the general printing industry, to ensure the regular appearance and continuity of official papers; and if, in this connection, he will examine the offer made to the Prime Minister by the Free Press Society to provide emergency services for essential printing.

All the trades unions concerned have given an unqualified assur- £2,500, £5,000 and £7,500 and having a wife and two children, under the rates of tax proposed in his Budget statement; and what purchasing power would a man similarly placed have left in April, 1951, at the rates of tax then prevailing.

The figures are as follow:ance that in the event of a dispute in the printing industry production in the Stationery Office Printing Works will not be interfered with in any way. It is not, therefore, expected that there will be any difficulty in maintaining the supply of official papers required for the conduct of the business of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce an amendment to the Radioactive Substances Act, 1948, to extend compulsory licensing to all uses of radioactive substances, industrial as well as medical.

No. The Government propose to deal with this matter in other ways, as indicated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, in reply to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Skeffington) on 25th February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement in simple terms on the level of radiation in the United Kingdom, indicating the minimum and maximum of local variation; and if, in the light of his study of the latest information, he will press for agreement to end tests of nuclear devices which add to the risk inherent in total background radiation and the peaceful uses of atomic energy, and which decrease the margin of safety which may now exist.

asked the Prime Minister what recent study the Medical Research Council have made regarding the effects of the increased fall-out since the United States high level tests took place; and if he is now able to make a statement on the recent increased fallout of radioactivity.

I hope to be able, in the near future, to make a statement incorporating the latest information on these matters.

asked the Prime Minister what reply he has sent to the letter received from the Goan National Union, dated 21st November, 1958, asking for British initiative to bring about talks between India and Portugal designed to give self-determination to Goa; and if he will make a statement on the reply he has made.

I regret that I can find no trace of the letter to which the hon. Member refers. I am, however, proposing to write to him about the point he has raised.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs who is undertaking the promised survey of the working of the existing arrangements for making up private streets; what approach has been made to local authorities on the subject; and if he will publish the report and recommendations when completed.

This survey is being undertaken by my Department, who will shortly be getting into touch with the local authority associations about it. It is too early to say how the results of the survey will be made public.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what advice has been given during the last few years to local authorities about the planting and care of trees and shrubs; whether he is aware that in all parts of the country, through ignorance, many unsuitable trees and shrubs have been planted and continue to be planted, and that many of these are regularly mutilated; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties referred to in the Question. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the book "Trees in Town and City ", which was published last December. This book, which is illustrated, deals with the subject in some detail, and contains a useful bibliography. A circular was issued to all local authorities in England and Wales drawing attention to the book.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what application has been made to him for confirmation of tree preservation orders on Wheatham Hill in Hampshire.

A tree preservation order was made on 31st March, 1958, by the Hampshire County Council covering an area which included the southern slopes of Wheatham Hill. My right hon. Friend confirmed the order on 29th May, 1958.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the confusion which has arisen among members of local authorities regarding the minimum selling price of pre-war council houses; what is the basis on which the price is fixed; and if he will make a statement on the subject.

The minimum selling price of pre-war council houses was fixed by Circular 64/52, issued on the 26th August, 1952, at 20 years purchase of the net annual rent of the house. This was intended to mean the rent as it was at that date, and has been so understood by local authorities generally.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the further concession he has made in giving permission for over 50 per cent. of the industrial area to be used for housing in the inner area of the City of Liverpool, if he will now give his immediate sanction to the Liverpool Housing Committee to rebuild on the area allocated and thus help to alleviate the housing shortage.

I assume the hon. Member refers to the Boundary Street area. I approved a tender for the erection of 111 dwellings on a site in Boundary Street in January, 1959. A Compulsory Purchase Order on further land in this area was received on 27th October, 1958. The Order is subject to objection, and on this I am awaiting the outcome of further inquiry by Liverpool Corporation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what improvement grants under Section 20 of the Housing Act, 1949, and Section 30 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, were made in the years 1949 to 1956, 1956–57, 1957–58, and from the 1st April, 1958 to the latest convenient date by the Bristol Corporation.

According to the returns submitted by the local authority, applications for improvement grants under Section 20 of the Housing Act, 1949, and Section 30 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, were approved as follows:

	In respect of the following number of dwellings
up to 31.3.56	471
1.4.56 to 31.3.57	275
1.4.57 to 31.3.58	143
1.4.58 to 31.3.59	63

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to be able to give his decision on the planning appeal of Mrs. A. A. Roberts, under Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, concerning the proposed erection of houses on land in Heathcote Road, Halmerend, near Newcastle-under Lyme; and if, in considering this appeal, he will give due weight to the shortage of suitable land in the district, owing to mining subsidence. farming needs, and other factors.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the inspector's report on the inquiry into this appeal, and will give his decision as soon as he can after considering the report. All relevant considerations will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now give an assurance to Mr. Kanyama Chiume, Member of the Nyasaland Legislative Council, that he will be immune from arrest in the event of his returning to Nyasaland to give evidence to the Devlin Commission.

No. The Chairman of the Commission has recently made a Press announcement in this country that the Commission will hear evidence in the United Kingdom. This will provide Mr. Chiume with an opportunity to be heard, if the Commission wish to call him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Chairman of the All-African People's Conference in Accra, referred to in paragraph 12 of the Nyasaland White Paper, Command Paper No. 707, will be given official facilities to travel to Nyasaland to appear before the Devlin Commission to give evidence in connection with the allegations made in the White Paper about the Accra Conference.

It is for the Commission to say from whom they will hear evidence and. should they decide that they wish to hear the Chairman of the All-African People's Conference, and if he were willing to give evidence, then the question of his journey to Nyasaland would be considered.If the Chairman of the All-African People's Conference wishes to give evidence before the Commission his proper course is to communicate with the Secretary to the Commission, P.O. Box 53. Zomba, as soon as possible, and it would be of assistance to the Commission if in doing so he would submit a memorandum of the evidence which he has to give.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many citizens of Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, detained as a result of recent disturbances, still remain in detention; and if he will make a statement.

No persons have been detained in Northern Rhodesia. Under the Nyasaland emergency regulations, 649 people remain in detention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Miss Grace Kahumbe has been dismissed from her position as an education officer in the Government service in Nyasaland.

Miss Kahumbe has not been dismissed. In accordance with Colonial Regulations her salary was withheld from the date of her conviction pending consideration of her case by the Governor. Her conviction, however, has now been set aside, all salary withheld has been fully restored and she continues to hold her post of woman education officer without any break of service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the African National Congress in Nyasaland was declared a proscribed organisation; and what instructions have been issued by the Governor of Nyasaland to former members of the African National Congress as to the form in which they should terminate their membership of that body.

On 3rd March. Members of Congress were advised by Government broadcast and Press notices, and also by the distribution of 500,000 pamphlets that they should burn their membership cards or hand them in to their Chief or to the District Administration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who have been nominated to the Executive Council in Mauritius; and of what parties they are members.

The composition of the Executive Council is as follows:

Colonial Secretary—The Hon. R. Newton, C.M.G., Ex-Officio: non-party.

Attorney-General—The Hon. R. Neerunjun, O.B.E., Ex-Officio: non-party.

Financial Secretary—The Hon. W. G. Wilson, Ex-Offico: non-party.

Ministerial Secretary to the Treasury—Dr. The Hon. S. Ramgoolam, Elected: Labour.

Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources—The Hon. S. Boolell, Elected: Labour.

Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs— The Hon. A. Beejadhur, Elected: Labour

Minister of Health and Reform Institutions —The Hon. J. G. Forget, Elected: Labour.

Minister of Housing, Lands and Town and Country Planning—The Hon. A. R. Mohamed, Elected: Moslem Committee of Action.

Minister of Industry, Commerce and External Communications—The Hon. A. C. Nairac, Nominated: Independent.

Minister of Labour and Social Security—The Hon. V. Ringadoo, Elected: Labour.

Minister of Local Government and Co-operative Development—The Hon. F. Laventure, Nominated: Independent.

Minister of Works and Internal Communications—The Hon. H. E. Walter, Elected: Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who have been appointed to serve on the Maltese Council; and what parties or interests they represent.

In addition to the three ex-officio members, the Governor has appointed three official members (the Attorney-General, the Administrative Secretary and the Deputy Financial Secretary), all of whom are Maltese; and four unofficial members.The four unofficial members are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what period it is proposed to detain the members of the Zambia National Congress in Northern Rhodesia.

None is detained. Power now exists to maintain in force until 8th July the orders restricting the movements of certain of the leaders. It is for the Governor to decide whether, up to that date, a restriction order remains in force or not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what was the number of people registered as unemployed in the Seychelles at the most convenient recent date; and what rate of maintenance benefit is given to them;(2) whether he will make a statement on the registration of unemployed people in the Seychelles.

There are no persons registered as unemployed in Seychelles and no registers are kept for that purpose. No unemployed (or maintenance) benefit is or can be paid. The future plans of the Colony include the strengthening of the Labour and Welfare Department. When adequate funds and trained staff are available, consideration will be given to intro- ducing legislation for the registration of employed and unemployed persons in Seychelles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what fees are required of first, second and third class patients, respectively, in the public hospital in Victoria, Seychelles; and whether he will make a statement on the difference in service provided.

For medical and surgical cases only the fees are Rs. 20 per diem first class, Rs. 5 second class, and third class no charge. For maternity cases the fee is Rs. 100 first class for the first 8 days and Rs. 20 daily thereafter: Rs. 30 and Rs. 5 respectively for second class. For third class the total fee is Rs. 5 irrespective of the time spent in hospital.There is no difference in medical or surgical attention provided for all patients but the first-class patients are accommodated in single rooms, whereas second and third class patients are in wards. The food served to first-class patients is of European type whereas second and third class food is based on local tastes.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the continued redundancies in the North Wales quarrying industry, he will institute an inquiry into the position and prospects of the industry.

I am not satisfied that an inquiry would help. There is every expectation that the stone industry will benefit from the expansion of civil engineering work resulting from Government policies.So far as the slate industry is concerned, there have been a number of inquiries i

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now consider recommending an increase of the speed limit in Hyde Park from 20 to 30 milesper-hour.

No, but I intend to review the matter when the Park Lane improvement scheme has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fatal accidents occurred in homes in Scotland in 1958; and what were the main causes of these deaths.

1,109 fatal accidents in the home were registered in Scotland in 1958. The main causes were falls 48 per cent.; gas poisoning 21 per cent.; suffocation 15 per cent.; injuries by fire, scalding, etc., 9 per cent.; and poison 5 per cent. in that order.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Scotland whether he is aware of the danger to traffic at the road junction in Strachur Village and whether he will deal urgently with this hazard in view of the approaching tourist season.

This junction is between two classified roads (A.815 and A.886) for which Argyll County Council are the responsible highway authority. I am in consultation with the County Council about a scheme for the reconstruction of over four miles of A.815 between Strachur and Lock Eck, including the junction with A.886, under the Crofter Counties Programme.I hope that work on this scheme may start this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the annual accounts of David MacBrayne, Limited, for each of the years that the present agreement between the Government and the company has been in force and on which the amount of the subsidy paid to them is calculated.

Yes. I have arranged with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation for copies of the accounts to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grant has been paid to the Scottish Old People's Welfare Committee in each of the last eight years; and how the purchasing power of the grant for the last financial year compares with that of the year 1951–52.

The Exchequer grant paid to the Committee for each of the three financial years 1951–52 to 1953–54 was £750 and for each of the five years 1954–55 to 1958–59 £1,000.The grant of £1,000 for 1958–1959 was approximately equal in purchasing power to the grant of £750 for 1951–1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total collected in National Health Service prescription charges in each of the last six years; and what is the estimated proportion paid by old people in each year.

The reply to the first part of the Question consists of a table of figures, which appears below. I regret that no reliable estimate of the kind requested in the second half of the Question can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what total sum would accrue to local authorities in Scotland if industry were rerated up to 100 per cent., assuming that all the increase were payable to them.

The rates payable in respect of industrial and freight transport subjects in 1958–59 on the basis of rating at 25 per cent. of net annual value amounted to approximately £2·65 million.I estimate that if these subjects had been rated at 50 per cent. of net annual value—as they will be as from 16th May next—and if there had been no change in the total amount of rates levied by local authorities in Scotland, this payment would have amounted to about £5.1 million; and if they had been rated at 100 per cent. the payment would have been about £9·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings have been held up to date of the Scottish Advisory Council on the treatment of Offenders when was the last meeting; and when it is proposed that the Council will next meet.

The Advisory Council met on 9th March and then divided into two sub-committees to consider short sentences of imprisonment and the custodial treatment of young offenders.I understand that each sub-committee has met twice; and that no date has been fixed for the next meeting of the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the terms of reference of the committee which is inquiring into the probation service in Scotland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 16th April to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to the Exchequer of the Waters tribunal investigation.

Approximately £8,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the employment provided by the five Industrial Development Certificates granted since 30th September, 1958, in respect of the area represented by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, Langstone, will require male labour.

The proportion of male labour will be 915 out of 1,133.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a further statement concerning the Soviet Government's request for long-term trade credits, in the light of his recent discussions with the Soviet Ambassador on this subject.

The Soviet Government have made no such request. On the matter of medium term credits, I would refer to what my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade said in his speech in the Budget debate on 9th April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now announce the details of the proposed United Kingdom trade mission to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the statement I made after Questions today.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) when he expects to receive proposals from the Cunard Company on the replacement of the Queens;(2) whether he will consider attaching to any subsidy for the replacement of the Queens a condition that tenders should be invited.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a further statement as to the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to financial assistance from the Treasury for the replacement of the Cunard liners "Queen Mary" and "Queen Elizabeth".

I hope to receive the proposals of the Cunard Steamship Company as soon as possible. When they are received they will be most carefully considered and all relevant considerations will be taken into account. Until then the Government are not in a position to take any decision about financial assistance from public funds or about any conditions which might be attached to such assistance.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the number of civil aircraft which have been forced off the runway at Nutts Corner Airport due to cross winds when taking off or landing; and if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to remedy this state of affairs;(2) when it is anticipated that cross runways will be available for civil aircraft at Belfast Airport.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether he is aware that a British European Airways Viscount aircraft, when landing at Nutts Corner, on 13th April, 1959, was blown off the runway by cross-winds and damaged and that the airport was rendered unserviceable and great delay thereby occasioned to the travelling public; and to what extent the accident was due to the airport having no suitable cross-runways;(2) whether a decision has yet been taken as to the provision of cross-runways for civil aircraft using Belfast Airport; and when it is anticipated that such decision will be reached.

During the last five years two aircraft have run off the main runway at Nutts Corner Airport when landing or taking off in cross winds. A subsidiary runway is available for aircraft up to Dakota size, but is physically unsuitable for extension for use by larger aircraft. Aircraft needing a longer runway than this can divert to the R.A.F. station at Aldergrove, a few miles away, on the very few occasions when wind or other conditions make the main runway unuseable at Nutts Corner. It would be for the airline operator and the captain of the aircraft to decide whether to divert on a particular occasion.The accident to a Viscount aircraft on 13th April is under investigation, and pending the result of this it would not be advisable to suggest any precise cause for the accident. The accident occurred in the afternoon and the main runway was available for use again at 6 a.m. the next morning. During this period one departing service left from Aldergrove instead of Nutts Corner, one inbound service from London was cancelled because of low cloud, and a later one was delayed 35 minutes for the same reason, before operating to Aldergrove.As my hon. Friend stated on 18th March, I am studying with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air the possibility of joint use of Aldergrove, which has two runways suitable for Viscounts. as the main civil airport.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement about the composition of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council.

The Montreal Conference agreed to co-ordinate existing economic consultative machinery of the Commonwealth under the name of the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council, consisting at the highest level of the Finance and Economic Ministers of the Commonwealth countries meeting together whenever circumstances demand.All Commonwealth Governments have now agreed that the Council should be regarded as also incorporating meetings of senior Commonwealth economic officials held to prepare for meetings of Ministers, the Commonwealth Liaison Committee, the Commonwealth Economic Committee and meetings of Commonwealth statisticians to consider the balance of payments of the sterling area.The inclusion of other Commonwealth bodies through which economic consultation takes place will be considered from time to time as seems desirable.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the flying of United States military aircraft at heights exceeding 10,000 feet over the Berlin corridor is the result of joint Anglo-American planning; and whether he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave yesterday to the hon Members for Aston (Mr. J. Silverman) and Leek (Mr. Harold Davies).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official exchanges have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Soviet Government recently on the subject of high altitude flights in the air corridors to Berlin; and what consultations he has had with the United States Government on the subject.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave yesterday to the hon. Members for Aston (Mr. J. Silverman) and Leek (Mr. Harold Davies).

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement on the experiments recently carried out at Redruth by the British Broadcasting Corporation for improving television reception in West Cornwall.

The B.B.C. is investigating a number of sites up and down the country—including the Redruth area —to test their suitability for possible future television stations. This is in connection with their plans for improving and extending their television coverage. No decisions have yet been made with regard to the location of any particular station.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total sum spent on hospital building improvements in 1945 to 1951, and from 1952 to date, in Bristol; and what further expenditure is planned.

Capital expenditure at the hospitals of the nine Bristol Hospital Management Committees and of the United Bristol Hospitals was £483,820 from July, 1948 to March, 1951 and £2,258,948 from the year 1951–52 to date. It is estimated that £500,000 will be spent in 1959–60. Figures for expenditure before 1948 are not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a section of medical opinion hold the view that the Salk vaccine does not prevent poliomyelitis, and that others coming in contact with vaccinated persons may acquire paralysis as a result of such contact; and, in view of the uncertainty of the position, if he is prepared to reconsider the whole subject.

Complete unanimity of opinion on a technical subject is very rare; but I am fully satisfied, on expert medical advice, of the value of vaccination in the prevention of paralytic poliomyelitis.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what were the total numbers of ear, nose, and throat consultants, registrars, clinical assistants, and house surgeons who were employed in the National Health Service in 1958; and if he will give an approximate estimate of what proportion of their time was devoted to the treatment of affections of the tonsils and adenoids;(2) how many operations to remove either tonsils or adenoids, or both, were performed in 1958; and how many patients died as a result of these operations:

The latest available information about medical staff is as follows:

Medical Staff Holding E.N.T. Appointments at 31st December, 1957 (whole-time equivalents)
Consultants	222
Senior Hospital Medical Officers	16
Senior Registrars	33
Registrars	77
Senior House Officers	56
Junior Hospital Medical Officers	6