asked the Minister of Supply what action he will take to provide sufficient work at the Royal Ordnance Factory, at Fazakerley, Liverpool, and thus safeguard the employment position of the 36 employees who are at present threatened with dismissal at the factory.

Employment on production is likely to continue at substantially the present level for at least a year. The redundant unestablished employees to whom the hon. Member refers have to be discharged because the volume of certain inspection work has declined.

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of deaths attributable to influenza and chest diseases, respectively, during each of the first three months of 1959 in the Gateshead area; and how these compare with figures for 1958.

The numbers of deaths from influenza and from bronchitis and pneumonia in the County Borough of Gateshead were as follow:

—	Influenza		Bronchitis and Pneumonia
	1958	1959	1958	1959
January	3	1	27	25
February	1	5	24	27
March	—	4	17	13

These are professional figures based on registration of deaths reported weekley by registrars of birth and death to the Registrar General.

asked the Minister of Health how many old people's homes there were in October, 1951, and on 31st December, 1958, respectively; and what were the numbers of old people provided for on each date, excluding the staff.

Following are the figures:

NUMBER OF HOMES FOR OLD AND DISABLED PERSONS
	Provided by local authorities (b)	Registered Voluntary and private homes (b)
31st December, 1951(a)	861 (30)	784 (Not known)
31st December, 1958	1,390 (52)	1,755 (143)

NUMBERS OF AGED PERSONS PROVIDED WITH ACCOMMODATION IN HOMES (C)
—	In homes provided by local authorities	In accommodation provided on behalf of local authorities by voluntary organizations
31st December, 1951(a).	31,174(d)	3,582(d)
31st December, 1958.	60,641	8,699

(

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the annoyance caused to medical officers of health due to the letter sent out by his Department on 16th February, and the subsequent one of April, dealing with inoculations of people against poliomyelitis; whether he will publish these letters in HANSARD; and whether he will make a statement.

It has been the practice to inform the local health authorities from time to time of factors affecting the progress of the polio vaccination programme and to make suggestions intended to be helpful. These communications are generally welcomed. I do not consider it necessary to publish them.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the charge of 12s. 6d. made under Section 16 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, for emergency treatment resulting from injuries caused by or arising out of the use of a motor vehicle on the road, if he will take action to remove this anomaly.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what assistance his Department will give to local authorities to carry out the measures proposed in Joint CircularThe figure 31st December, 1949,31st December, 1953 and 30th September, 1958—the latest date for which figures are available—were as follow

NUMBERS OF TRAINED MALE NURSES IN HOSPITALS AND NUMBERS OF MALE NURSES IN TRAINING
		At 31st December		At 30th September	Increase or Decrease
		1949	1953	1958	Between 31st December, 1949 and 30th September, 1958(9 years)	Between 31st December, 1953 and 30th September, 1958(5 years)
TRAINED:
Trained Nurses:
Whole−time	…	10,062	12,038	11,880	+1,818	−158
Part−time	…	33	123	315	+282	+192
Enrolled Assistant Nurses:
Whole−time	…	2,691	2,706	1,904	−787	−802
Part−time	…	40	55	5	+25	+10
TOTAL:
Whole−time	…	12,753	14,744	13,784	+1,031	−960
Part−time	…	73	178	380	+307	+202
IN TRAINING:
Student Nurses:
Whole-time	…	5,534	3,818	4,427	−1,107	+609
Part−time	…	—	—	—
Pupil Assistant Nurses:
Whole-time	…	229	219	228	−1	+9
Part−time	…	—	—	—
TOTAL:
Whole-time	…	5,763	4,037	4,655	−1,108	+618

I am not clear what form of assistance the hon. Member has in mind. Insofar as the recommendations made in the circular help to reduce the number of families becoming homeless there should be a saving to public funds.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the increase of certificated male nurses in hospitals at the present time, compared with five and 10 years ago; how many are now training as male nurses; how far new entrants are increasing in number; and to what extent male nurses are being employed in children's wards.

Following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Health the number of people on the waiting lists at hospitals under the Legis of the Welsh Regional Hospital Board for the last five years, and at the most recent date available.

The numbers are as follow:

	31st December
1954	28,310
1955	27,897
1956	26,619
1957	24,540
1958	21,203

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients received into hospitals under the aegis of

Type of Bed			Number Waiting
			Up to 1 month	1 to 2 months	2 to 4 months	4 to 12 months	Over 12 months	Total
General Surgical	…	…	84	47	56	19	7	213
General Medical	…	…	18	8	—	—	—	26
Ear, Nose and Throat	…	…	36	24	10	2	—	72
Gynaecological	…	…	64	30	9	7	3	113
Orthopaedic	…	…	36	29	61	130	10	266
Chronic Sick	…	…	12	3	10	17	9	51
Dermatological	…	…	2	4	—	—	—	6
TOTALS	…	…	252	145	146	176	29	747

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that nurses at Broad Green Hospital, Liverpool, have to travel back from their houses, after doing night duty, to receive their monthly salaries; and whether he will arrange that these

3,607 and 3,985 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the period for which patients have to wait for admission into hospitals for treatment or operations has increased in comparison with five and 10 years ago.

I regret that figures are not centrally available to enable this comparison to be made, but the evidence suggests that the period has decreased and not increased.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state separately the numbers of patients on the waiting lists in the Gateshead and District Hospital Management Committee area; and for how long, in any convenient periods, such patients have been on these waiting lists.

There is one waiting list for the group of hospitals administered by this Committee. I understand that on 28th February the numbers were as follows:nurses be paid when they come off night duties.

I am not aware of any difficulties, but if the present arrangements are causing hardship this would seem to be a matter which can best be settled locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what first-hand information is now available to him from persons recently come from Tibet; and if he is in a position to make a further statement about the position there, having regard to Her Majesty's then Government's statement of 6th November, 1950.

Hon. Members will, no doubt, have read the statement issued by the Dalai Lama at Tezpur on 18th April and will recall that he said:

"In fact after the occupation of Tibet by the Chinese armies the Tibetan Government did not enjoy any measure of autonomy even in internal matters and the Chinese Government exercised full powers in Tibetan affairs."

As hon. Members are aware, Her Majesty's Government have maintained that Tibet should be regarded as autonomous, and we therefore deplore any action by the Chinese Government which has in any way deprived the Tibetans of autonomy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government have not yet accepted the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights.

Her Majesty's Government have not accepted the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights because they take the view that the final decision regarding alleged violation of the Convention should, in accordance with Article 32 of the Convention, rest with the Committee of Ministers rather than with the Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will propose to the United States Administration that aeroplanes used to provision British as well as United States forces in Berlin should fly at heights of 10,000 feet or lower;(2) what official communications have passed between him and the United States Administration on the subject of aircraft flying to Berlin at heights of over 10,000 feet.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Aston (Mr. J. Silverman) and Leek (Mr. Harold Davies) on 20th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the provisions for supplying nuclear arms to Germany include in all cases a provision for retaining control of the use of these arms in non-German hands.

So far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, our policy was set out in my reply to the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) on 2nd December. I have nothing to add to this and to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 15th April and that given him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that, under any agreement for controlling nuclear tests, inspection teams can be sent to investigate any suspicious phenomena on the spot without reference to the international control commission.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government is that there should not be a veto over the sending of inspection teams. Her Majesty's Government consider that the relationship between the chief officer of the Control Organisation and the Control Commission itself should be a matter for negotiation. In any case an inspection would only be initiated if there were scientific data indicating an unidentified event.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the control provisions required to enable a ban on high-altitude nuclear tests to be enforced, compared with those required for the policing of atmospheric and under-water tests.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that control in all these cases must be effective. Further discussion is needed on detection of high altitude tests, since the Experts did not make recommendations for control of tests above fifty kilometres.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Government of Iraq concerning their officially-announced boycott of British firms which trade with Israel; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has made to the Government of Jordan concerning their officially-announced boycott of British firms which trade with Israel; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government's disapproval of the continuing attempts to boycott British firms is well known and, as the House will recall, it has been represented on several occasions to the Arab Governments concerned. Her Majesty's Government will continue to make further representations whenever they think these would be fruitful. In the last resort, however, we cannot compel Arab countries to trade with any individual firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make an appeal to all Governments participating in the Foreign Ministers' Conference to desist from provocative acts in order to create the best possible atmosphere for negotiations.

No. So far as I know, all the Governments concerned are anxious that the Foreign Ministers' Conference should open in a good atmosphere.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West, regarding the treatment of British Protestants in Spain, following the closure of churches in Malaga and elsewhere; and what reply he proposes to make.

The questions put to my right hon. and learned Friend in the letter from the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) were answered in the reply which my hon. Friend sent him on 18th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which countries have already appointed committees to co-operate in the organisation of a World Refugee Year, or announced their intention of doing so; and by whom the coordination of their work will be undertaken.

Committees have been formed in the following countries:

• Canada.
• Costa Rica.
• Federal German Republic.
• France.
• Greece.
• Iran.
• New Zealand.
• Norway.
• United Kingdom.
• United States of America.

Committees are in process of being formed in the following:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement about the proposed agreement with the Danish Government on fishery limits round the Faroe Islands.

The Agreement is being signed today in Copenhagen by the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Her Majesty's Ambassador. It comes into force immediately on signature. The text of the Agreement will be issued as a White Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people normally engaged in shipbuilding are unemployed in Sunderland; and from which trades they come.

Separate figures for shipbuilding are not compiled, but for shipbuilding and ship repairing combined, the total was 762 at 13th April. An occupational analysis of this figure is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest figure of unemployed men and women in Sunderland; how this compares with earlier figures; and what are the immediate prospects of reducing this figure.

Three thousand, three hundred and sixty-three men and 1,101 women at 13th April compared with 2,292 men and 659 women a year ago, and 3,366 and 1,102 women in March. I hope that both seasonal factors and a general revival of the economy will bring about some improvement in the next few months.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the increasing redundancy amongst the employees of the Royal Ordnance Factory, at Fazakerley, Liverpool; and what action he is taking to ensure continuity of employment for these persons.

I understand that 36 workers are liable for discharge. These have been invited to register for employment and 21 have already done so. My local offices are already in touch with local firms who may be able to offer them employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in West Ham from March, 1951, until December, 1951, both dates inclusive.

Following is the table:

NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT THE CANNING TOWN AND STRATFORD EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND WEST HAM YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AT THE UNDER-MENTIONED DATES
—	Males	Females	Total
12th March, 1951	595	288	883
16th April,1951	503	291	794
21st May, 1951	473	257	730
15th June, 1951	443	268	711
16th July, 1951	416	286	702
13th August, 1951	437	308	745
17th September, 1951	505	334	839
15th October,1951	689	510	1,199
12th November, 1951	710	567	1,277
10th December, 1951	901	522	1,423

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken by his Department to encourage the provision of reasonable standards of sanitary accommodation at docks and wharves; and to what extent the present standards are everywhere comparable with those that are laid down by statutory order for factories, etc.

The responsibility for the provision of sanitary accommodation at docks and wharves rests with the various port authorities. Some provision is also made by the National Dock Labour Board when erecting buildings for other purposes. I understand that there has been a considerable improvement in the accommodation provided in the last few years, but I am not in a position to say how it compares with that required by statutory order for factories.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will amend the Docks Regulations, 1934, in order to lay down compulsory standards of sanitary accommodation at docks and wharves comparable with those laid down for factories, etc., in the Sanitary Accommodation Regulations, 1938.

Section 105 of the Factories Act, 1937, applies certain Sections of the Act to docks and wharves. These Sections do not include, however, that which deals with sanitary conveniences. It would not, therefore, be within the competence of my right hon. Friend to amend the Docks Regulations in the way proposed.

MONTHLY AVERAGE NUMBER OF DOCK WORKERS PROVING ATTENDANCE AND FOR WHOM NO WORK WAS AVAILABLE
Month			The Royal Group of Docks
			1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
January	…	…	1,187	217	16	505	1,331	561	10	487	609	733	559
February	…	…	758	405	17	792	1,215	234	28	264	820	793	758
March	…	…	1,327	998	72	1,070	1,632	205	113	320	928	276	539
April	…	…	735	576	127	1,022	752	175	217	367	402	357	—
May	…	…	926	573	540	1,583	608	35	203	886	666	619	—
June	…	…	845	566	1,253	811	316	39	161	246	265	118	—
July	…	…	263	289	84	1,217	281	5	63	600	100	34	—
August	…	…	171	647	96	1,014	463	69	62	622	315	261	—
September	…	…	498	647	187	1,432	378	66	527	771	380	617	—
October	…	…	1,056	792	68	1,617	1,134	19	525	1,307	689	870	—
November	…	…	187	463	323	1,620	749	87	859	1,108	776	976	—
December	…	…	149	8	552	1,258	677	74	449	750	415	773	—
Month			All London Docks
			1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
January	…	…	2,738	847	43	1,127	3,607	1,490	56	1,861	2,383	2,137	2,074
February	…	…	2,917	1,679	36	2,044	3,203	677	62	1,619	2,513	2,587	2,557
March	…	…	3,500	3,149	172	2,938	4,167	889	767	2,298	3,193	1,822	2,450
April	…	…	2,201	2,178	210	3,514	2,141	827	1,436	1,971	2,295	2,016	—
May	…	…	2,831	1,957	1,036	3,546	1,525	272	2,164	2,865	2,562	2,209	—
June	…	…	2,539	2,149	2,637	3,362	1,254	163	1,680	1,258	1,393	996	—
July	…	…	1,216	1,455	533	3,887	962	38	295	1,937	796	158	—
August	…	…	757	1,999	369	3,890	1,663	137	591	2,006	644	1,116	—
September	…	…	1,303	1,879	399	4,738	1,826	246	1,408	2,423	1,398	1,976	—
October	…	…	2,336	2,747	567	5,692	2,790	677	2,007	3,932	2,350	3,155	—
November	…	…	506	1,335	1,574	4,934	2,243	182	2,241	3,675	2,741	3,138	—
December	…	…	335	37	1,378	3,739	1,985	155	1,394	2,718	1,045	2,187	—

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the aircraft industry in Southern Hampshire for December, 1957, December, 1958, February, 1959, and for the latest available date.

164 at 9th December, 1957; 218 at 8th December, 1958;

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the numbers of registered dock workers for whom no work was available in the Royal group of docks and the London docks, respectively, for each of the months from January, 1949, until March, 1959, inclusive.

Following is the table291 at 9th February, 1959; 390 at 13th April, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the various offices of his Department in the County of Caernarvon on the last count.

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN CAERNARVONSHIRE AT 13TH APRIL, 1959
Employment Exchange (including Youth Employment Office where appropriate)	Number
Bangor	327
Bethesda	176
Caernarvon	713
Conway	99
Llandudno	225
Penmaenmawr	102
Penygroes	271
Portmadoc	104
Pwllheli	516
Total, Caernarvonshire	2,533

asked the Minister of Labour how many slate quarrymen were employed in Caernarvonshire in 1948, 1951, and 1958, respectively.

The following table gives the information desired:

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE SLATE QUARRYING AND MINING INDUSTRY IN CAERNARVONSHIRE
Date	Number
End-July. 1948	3,240
End-June, 1951	3,040
End-June, 1958	2,310

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to provide an alternative to the meat staining and sterilisation regulation of 1959 which has been revoked; and, in view of the clean food campaign and the danger that pet food may now be used for human consumption, if he will take steps to provide protection against this danger.

Proposals for new regulations about the disposal of unfit meat are being prepared and my right hon. Friend will bear the hon. Member's views in mind

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for which counties he has approved sheep dipping regulations which allow the use of sprays as well as baths; and to what extent the experience gained has satisfied him that the economical alternative can be allowed generally.

None. The power of local authorities to make dipping regulations derives from my right hon. Friend's powers for the control of sheep scab. My right hon. Friend is advised that spraying could not be relied upon to control sheep scab if it were to re-appear on farms in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the Warble Fly (Dressing of Cattle) Order, 1948, has been effective in reducing the numbers of warbled hides in the last five years; and what is the annual loss falling on the cattle industry and the leather industry by erason of warble damage.

In general, the Order has not been as effective as had been hoped, but my Ministry will continue to give maximum publicity to bring home to farmers the need to dress their cattle against warble fly. There are no figures available on the loss resulting from the effect of warble fly on the health of the animals or from damage to the hides.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which areas, in addition to the counties of Perth, Ayr, Moray and Nairn, and the Island of Arran, intensive campaigns against the warble fly parasite are being conducted; and with what success.

No local campaigns are being conducted in England and Wales on the lines of those in Scotland, but I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that the campaign in Scotland this year to reduce the degree of infestation is again being concentrated in the areas mentioned. We shall study the final result of these efforts with keen interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the complaints made by registered tomato and cucumber growers regarding the procedure of the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board's proposed poll; and, in view of the importance of the issues involved to the agriculture of the country, what action he proposes to take in the matter.

My right hon. Friend is aware that some growers have expressed dissatisfaction. But the procedure to be followed is laid down in the scheme which was approved by Parliament. The Board is responsible for matters of this sort.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the Report of the Committee on Transactions in Seeds.

It is my right hon. Friend's intention to make a further statement concerning this Report as soon as he and my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Scotland have completed their study of its many recommendations in the light of the industry's views.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the Report of the Committee on Grassland Utilisation.

Consideration has been given to those sections of the Report which were of immediate importance for the Annual Review. These principally concerned ploughing grants, the silo subsidy and subsidies for fertilisers.After careful consideration of the Committee's recommendations my right hon. Friend is satisfied that we should not change the general principles on which the ploughing grants and silo subsidy schemes are based. He proposes to give further consideration to the question of a subsidy on potash when the report of the Monopolies Commission on fertilisers is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the Heneage Committee Report.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to make a statement. Full discussions are still at present going on with the organisations concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest import figures for main crop potatoes; to what extent the remainder of the home crop is finding a ready market; how current retail prices compare with this time last year; what are the prospects of this year's home crop of early potatoes; and what estimate he has made of the total planting of potatoes this season compared with last year.

Imports of main crop potatoes during the three weeks ended 18th April are estimated at about 29,000 tons, and about 347,000 tons have been imported since the beginning of the season.The remainder of the home crop is finding a steady market with producers' prices in England and Wales generally ranging from £23 to £26 per ton for white varieties.Current retail prices for main crop potatoes are mostly about ½d. per lb. lower than those ruling at this time last year.Planting and growing conditions for this year's early crop have been generally favourable and at present the crop promises to be rather earlier and heavier than last year but conditions can change rapidly.My Ministry has not yet made an estimate of the total planting of potatoes this year. In England and Wales, farmers make a return on 4th March of their intended plantings. I hope that these figures will be available in the near future and I will send them to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what is his estimate of the annual cost of raising the retirement pension by 4s., 6s. or 15s. per week.

About 51, £76 or £190 million a year respectively, assuming proportionate increases in the pensions of wives payable on their husbands' insurance. If corresponding increases were also made in the rates of other National Insurance benefits the present costs would be approximately £80, £120 or £300 million a year respectively.These costs would increase in future years.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is his estimate of the annual cost of an increase of 5s., 6s., and 10s., respectively, in all retirement pensions.

About £63, £76 or £127 million a year respectively, assuming proportionate increases in the pensions of wives payable on their husbands' insurance. If corresponding increases were also made in the rates of other National Insurance benefits the present costs would be approximately £100, £120 or £200 million a year respectively.These costs would increase in future years.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, in view of the considerable number of workers in Lancashire unable quickly to find alternative employment from that which they have had in the cotton industry, he will now consider an increase in unemployment benefit.

No. As the hon. hon. Member will appreciate, what he proposes would involve legislation to increase rates of unemployment benefit generally with corresponding increases in contributions. I do not think that such a measure is an appropriate or, indeed, a practicable way of dealing with the problem which he has in mind.On the question of provision in respect of operatives displaced in the cotton industry as a result of the proposed reorganisation schemes, I would refer him to the statement made on 23rd April by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what were the total benefits paid from the National Insurance Fund in 1958, giving separate figures for pensions, unemployment, sickness, and widows', respectively; on what figure of income in Table 2 of Command Paper No. 712 is that calculated; how many beneficiaries there were; and what were the costs of administration.

The reply contains a large number of figures, as shown in the appended table.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has considered the letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, relating to the triennial conference of the Organisations for the Blind; and what reply he proposes to make.

I received the hon. Member's letter and enclosures on Tuesday. I propose, in my reply, to point out that since 1951 the rates of both retirement pensions and National Assistance have increased to a greater extent than would have been the case if, as suggested, they had been linked to the cost of living. I shall also invite his attention to the fact that there is a special and higher rate of assistance for blind persons.

asked the Paymaster-General how many fatal accidents have occurred below ground in the coal mines of the West Riding of Yorkshire since 1st January, 1957.

One hundred and twenty, taking into account notifications received by Her Majesty's inspectors up to the 24th April.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the increasing anxiety in Burntisland, Fife, concerning the reduction in the labour forces employed at the shipyards; and whether he will make a statement on future prospects.

Yes. The hon. Member will be aware that the level of new merchant shipbuilding orders received by United Kingdom shipyards generally has declined during the past year and is unlikely to rise appreciably until there is a recovery in world trade.

asked the Minister of Works the stage of progress reached with the proposed pneumoconiosis premises at Sheffield; and if he will give the date when they will be ready for examination purposes.

I hope that planning discussions will soon be concluded so that building work can begin by September next. On this basis, the Centre should be ready for use by late 1960.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of school children have dental inspection at least once a year; what percentage have more frequent inspection; and for what percentage no dental care is provided.

In recent years about 50 per cent. of all children in maintained schools have had their teeth examined each year. Figures are not available of children who have had more than one such inspection. In almost every part of England and Wales some dental care is available for school children under the School Dental Service, but in many areas the service is not yet as comprehensive as I would like.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the difficulties in finding a sufficient number of physicians and surgeons to fill temporary posts in the Colonial Territories; whether he has noted the scheme devised between Great Ormond Street Hospital and Makerere College, by which one registrar after another follows on secondment in regular sequence; and what steps he intends to take to supply the needs of the colonies.

I am well aware of the difficulties and have been very glad to welcome the assistance afforded by Great Ormond Street to Makerere College. Arrangements of this kind are not applicable to the general needs of the Colonies which are for non-specialist doctors, but every effort is made to foster liaison between teaching hospitals here and overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the Ministerial appointments recently made by the Governor of Northern Rhodesia and their precise responsibilities, and define the constitutional status of such Ministers in relation to the authority of the Governor.

After the recent General Election, the Governor of Northern Rhodesia made the following appointments to Ministries: the principal matters with which they are concerned are noted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what complaints he has received from the Aden Trades Union Congress about the conduct of the police in industrial disputes; whether he will arrange for consultations on these and other questions, between those officially concerned, to take place in Aden; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no such complaints. The Aden Government are always ready to enter into appropriate consultations with the Aden Trades Union Congress, but I do not consider that special consultations, as suggested, are at present required.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that capital investment in the telephone service at the present rate would take more than 20 years to clear the hard core of 70,000 applications on the waiting list for telephones; and what are his plans for increasing such investment.

We hope to connect about 370,000 new telephones this year. These will include, as new plant becomes available, many of the applications at present on the waiting list as well as new applications. In the past quarter the waiting list has been reduced by 7,500 to 60,000.The composition of the waiting list is changing all the time. I cannot say when it will finally disappear since this depends on future demand and on Government decisions about the future level of Post Office investment, which I cannot anticipate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which islands and districts in islands in the Outer Hebrides now have electricity supplies from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and which have not yet been served under approved Board schemes.

I am informed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board that electricity supplies have been provided in the islands of Lewis and Harris, Benbecula, South Uist and Eriskay. I am asking the Board to send the hon. Member information about the parts of these islands to which a supply has not yet been introduced. Supplies have not yet been provided to the islands of North Uist and Barra, or to a number of smaller islands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what restrictions are at present placed upon the importation of footwear into this country either by tariff or quota; whether he will give particulars of the present quota arrangements applying to the various countries concerned; and for how long it is envisaged that these quotas will continue.

Foreign footwear is subject to a range of duties, most of which are between 15 and 30 per cent. ad valorem.Imports are restricted from the dollar area, Japan and the Soviet

asked the President of the Board of Trade What official agencies, in addition to the Herring Industry Board, are now actively assisting in the promotion of trade with East Germany; and what are the commodities involved.

No official agencies for Her Majesty's Government deal with the East German authorities. The Federation of British Industries has recently made an unofficial trade arrangement with the East German Chamber of Foreign Trade for an exchange of some £7m. of various raw materials and manufactures each way. The negotiation of contracts to carry out this trade rests with private firms and other organisations such as the Herring Industry Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the report of the Monopolies Commission's investigation into certain firms manufacturing fertilisers to be published.

I expect to receive the report towards the middle of this year. I shall then be able to consider the question of publication.