asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the Central Office of Information will have completed its arrangements for a touring Commonwealth exhibition; what form this will take; what its main objects will be; and where it is likely to go during its first 12-months' tour.

Plans provide for the exhibition to be ready by the third week in October. It will take the form of a self-contained exihibition designed for showing in existing buildings. The exhibition will be designed to present a general picture of the Commonwealth and to illustrate various aspects of progress and development and of inter-Commonwealth co-operation. It is expected that the exhibition will first be shown in Scotland and that it will then visit four major centres in England during the current financial year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what was the nature of the misconduct for which Brigadier K. Campbell Meiklejohn, O.B.E., was removed from the Army on 5th November, 1958.

If my hon. and gallant Friend wishes any information additional to that already in his possession, I would be glad to provide it for him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations have taken place with representatives of other Commonwealth Governments, with a view to securing their advice and co-operation in respect of the future of the Central African Federation.

None.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress the Government of Basutoland have made in developing secondary industries in the Protectorate.

A preliminary survey of the possibilities of developing secondary industries, with special reference to woollen textiles, has been recently made. A further report will shortly be available. In addition, United Nations technical assistance is being sought for help in agricultural extension work and the possible establishment of fisheries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress the Government of Basutoland have made in increasing the facilities and accommodation for the training of teachers.

There are seven teacher training centres providing training for lower primary teachers. Five of these also provide training for higher primary teachers. The total number of students in these institutions has risen from 289 in 1954 to 514 in 1958. The policy is to separate teacher training from secondary education, thereby providing additional facilities and accommodation for teacher training. This has been done at the Basutoland Training College, which, since January, 1959, has been entirely devoted to teacher training. A new college is being built at Eagle's Peak and the new St. Joseph's Training College at Maseru. All these schemes are being financed from Colonial Development and Welfare funds.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what conclusion he has reached regarding a further geological survey in Basutoland.

My noble Friend is well aware of the importance to the economy of Basutoland of the discovery of mineral resources there. The High Commissioner is at present considering an application for a C.D. & W. grant under 1959 legislation for a geological survey of the Territory. In the meantime, diamond prospecting is proceeding, and the prospector has undertaken to report to the administration any occurrences of other minerals which he finds.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent there is a shortage of physics masters in grammar schools, particularly in the administrative county of Essex; what are the prospects of overcoming this shortage during the next five years; and what action he has taken to secure the retention of physics masters in grammar schools who may still be liable to National Service.

Last October there were 26 vacancies for physics graduates in boys' grammar schools in England and Wales, but none of these was in Essex. I think it highly likely that the shortage in these schools will be overcome quite soon. The deferment arrangements have recently been extended, so that all physics graduates who complete their degree course in 1959 are eligible for deferment for teaching.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made during the last five years in the rebuilding or modernisation of sub-standard primary schools, particularly in rural areas; and approximately what is the school population today, compared with five and 10 years ago, receiving education in those sub-standard school buildings.

In the last five years £40 million have been spent on minor improvements to primary and secondary schools, including a great many rural primary schools. I regret that figures are not available quite in the form requested in the second part of the Question, but the proportion of primary school children in premises provided since the war has risen from 17 per cent. in 1954 to 30 per cent. today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the net benefit after tax of the recommended increase of pay of £1,000 per annum to the Head of the Civil Service and the Permanent Secretaries, respectively.

If the official was a married man with no children and had no income other than his official salary, the figures would be £330 11s. 0d. and £335 11s. 10d., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of persons in 1957–58 drawing under £50, between £50 and £75, and between £75 and £99 of the £100 tourist allowance, respectively; and the number of persons drawing the full £100 tourist allowance.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost in foreign exchange of increasing the £100 tourist allowance to £125 and to £150, respectively; and the number of persons he estimates would draw such sums fully if permitted.

No such estimates are possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the equivalent foreign tourist allowance which would be needed to have the same purchasing power today as the £75 tourist allowance had in 1946 in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, and Italy.

An exact comparison is not possible. But on the basis of retail price indexes and official exchange rates in the four countries, it needed, in the last quarter of 1958, roughly £125 in the United Kingdom, £125 in France, £130 in Switzerland and £90 in Italy to buy as much as £75 could buy in 1946.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will open an account to receive dollars obtained from the sale of shares in British companies to United States interests and out of which investments in, or purchases of, United States companies by British interests may be made.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total estimated expenditure on the social services, current and capital, in each of the years 1957–58, 1958–59 and 1959–60 by the Exchequer, the National Insurance Fund and the local authorities, respectively.

I regret that comprehensive figures for 1959–60 are not yet available. Figures for 1957–58 and 1958–59 are as follows:

TOTAL CURRENT AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
	£ million
	1957–58	1958–59 (provisional)
1. Central Government	1,697·3	1,912·7
2. National Insurance Fund	794·0	995·0
3. Local authorities	1,269·3	1,311·6
4. Total—consolidated	3,143·9	3,486·7

NOTES:—1. The figures of expenditure in lines 1 to 3 include grants by one public authority to another—e.g. by the Central Government to local authorities. The figures in line 4 are the consolidated total expenditure by all public authorities, from which duplication has been eliminated.2. The figures follow the definitions used in the table of expenditure on the social services, published each year in the May issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics. Detailed figures for 1958–59 and earlier years will appear in the May, 1959 issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the percentage of Central Government revenue devoted to current expenditure on the social services for each of the years 1957–58, 1958–59 and 1959–60.

I regret that figures for 1959–60 are not yet available; but in 1957–58 and 1958–59 the proportion of ordinary revenue devoted to current expenditure on the social services was about 31 per cent. and 34 per cent., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the estimated percentage of the national income to be spent by all public authorities on the social services in 1959–60; and what were the corresponding figures for 1951–52 and 1958–59.

I regret that estimates for 1959–60 are not yet available; but current and capital expenditure by all public authorities on the social services, expressed as a percentage of the national income, was 17¾ per cent. in 1951 and 18¾ per cent. in 1958. Estimates of the national income for financial years are not at present available, and the figures have therefore been given for calendar years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the percentage increase in average weekly earnings, male and female, between 1952 and 1958; the percentage increase in the basic rate of retirement pension for a single person for the same dates; and the percentage increase in retail prices for the same dates.

The following are the figures:

	Percentage Increase between April, 1952 and October, 1958
Average Weekly Earnings—
Men	48
Women	45
Single rate of retirement pension	67
Retail Prices	24

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now prepared to reintroduce the optional three-year average for Income Tax in respect of persons assessed under Schedule D and who have fluctuating incomes.

My right hon. Friend considered this matter when preparing his Budget but did not feel able to propose such a change in the law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether is now in a position to introduce simpler form of Income Tax return.

Every effort is made to keep Income Tax returns as simple as the subject matter allows. If the hon. Member has any suggestions to make I will gladly consider them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make provision for an Income Tax paper on request to be provided with a clear and intelligible written statement showing the full basis of the computation of any demand note for Income Tax to be paid by him.

The instructions issued by the Board of Inland Revenue to its staff already provide for a taxpayer to be given, on request, a full written explanation of the computation of any Income Tax he is called upon to pay.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what undertaking was given by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, in return for the assurance given by all the trade unions concerned not to interfere in Stationery Office printing works' production in the event of a nation-wide strike in the printing industry, with regard to the 40-hour week and other union demands.

The unions asked for no undertaking and none was given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when compensation is paid from Government funds in respect of textile machinery regarded as redundant, to what extent limitation is to be imposed upon the future export of such machinery.

The machinery will be scrapped.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish a White Paper giving further information about the Government's proposals for the reorganisation and re-equipment of the cotton industry.

Yes. I hope to do so before the Whitsun Recess.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the Argentine Government about the restrictive import conditions recently introduced after the freeing of the peso, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for St. Marylebone; and with what result.

No representations have been made about the import charges as such, but the attention of the Argentine Government has been drawn to the hardship involved where goods have been shipped but not cleared through the Customs at the time of the introduction of these charges.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if the Export Credits Guarantees Department is yet in a position to resume credit insurance cover on exports to Indonesia.

Yes. Cover is now available for business on terms of payment of up to 180 days. Cover is also available for a limited volume of business on up to three years credit terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement regarding the future of the Kenya Highlands and, in particular, whether Africans will now be able to purchase land in this area.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on the 22nd April, a statement was made in the Kenya Legislative Council that day saying that the Kenya Government aimed at the progressive abolition of racial and tribal land barriers. To this end, a policy will be framed which is designed to ensure that the basis of tenure and management of all agricultural land will be similar throughout Kenya, regardless of race and tribe, so far as local economic and ecological factors will permit. There will also be suitable safeguards against the economic or political exploitation of all those who hold rights in the land. Until this further definition of policy has taken place I can say nothing more.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the collective fines imposed in Nyasaland since the imposition of the state of emergency; how many families they apply to; and what is the average fine per family.

The following is the information:

(A) Location	(B) Fine Imposed	(C) Assessment per Family
	£	£	s.
Mlanje District	8,750	1	10
Fort Johnston District	175		5
Zomba District	1,000		10
Mzimba District, Loudon Area	1,200	1	0
Ekwendeni	840	1	0
Mzimba Boma Area	200	1	0
Rumpi District, Chief Katumbi's Area	700	1	0
Rumpi District, Chief Chikulamayembe Area	900	1	0
Rumpi District, Sub Chief Mwahinga Area	320	1	0
Karonga District, Chief Khyunga Area.	3,000	Some 1	0
		Some	10
		per tax payer.
Karonga District, Chief Kilapula Area.	1,720	Some 1	0
		Some	10
Karonga District, Chief Mwafulirwa Area.	2,000	Some 1	10
		Some 1	0
		Some	10
Karonga Hill Area	2,100	Some 1	0
		Some	10
Fort Manning District	235		5
Kota Kota District Visanza Area	1,200		5
Dowa District Nambuna Mponela Chisepo and Madisi Area	5,926		5
Santhe Area	400		5

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which European special police, on the night of 28th February, 1959, broke into the house of Mr. William Chokani, an African graduate in the Church of Scotland Mission, Blantyre, Nyasaland; and if he will investigate the allegations that his servant was assaulted and had to go to hospital.

The Governor informs me that nothing, except the written complaint of Mr. Chokani himself, is known of this alleged incident and that there is no record of the servant having reported at any hospital. The Governor is making further inquiries and, if there is any further information, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Governor of Mauritius has yet appointed the new Executive Council; and in what way it differs from the previous Council.

Yes. The composition of the outgoing Executive Council was given in my reply of the 26th March to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson); that of the present Council in my hon. Friend's reply of 21st April to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway).All nine—previously only seven—of the unofficial Ministers have portfolios. Seven—previously six—are elected members of Legislative Council. Six—previously five—belong to the Mauritius Labour Party; one to the Moslem Committee of Action—new party. The other two—previously three—are nominated members of Legislative Council and are Independents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet come to a decision regarding the introduction of legislation implementing the recommendations of the Gowers Committee for improving the conditions of office workers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 18th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make an estimate of the number of unexploded German high explosive bombs still in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The number of unexploded German high explosive bombs in the United Kingdom is estimated at 500, of which about 300 are of small size. About 27 suspected bombs either await removal, if found to exist, or have been recently reported and await investigation. The remainder have been abandoned after a careful review of the circumstances had shown that they present no serious risk to life or property. Registers of abandoned missiles are kept by local authorities and are open to inspection by the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what official consultations he had before eight prisoners were sent from Bermuda to England on 29th March, owing to the lack of proper facilities in Hamilton Prison; on what charges they were convicted; what were their sentences; how much it will cost to maintain them; and if he will undertake that they will be repatriated immediately their sentences are completed.

Eight prisoners were recently removed from Bermuda to the United Kingdom, under the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1884. There were the normal consultations with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Bermuda Government. The prisoners had been convicted of a variety of serious offences and were serving terms of imprisonment or detention ranging from three years to ten years. I will be glad to let my hon. Friend have further particulars if he wishes. The annual cost of maintaining the prisoners is at the moment estimated to be about £420 a head, and this will be repaid by the Bermuda Government. The Act authorises the return of the prisoners to Bermuda for discharge, and this would be the normal course in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many subsidised houses are now standing empty in Douglas and Douglas. West, in the County of Lanark.

Forty-two.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress is being made with building the new Army camp at Nairobi; how many local people are at present employed on the work; and for how long it is expected that such employment will last.

Work is expected to begin this summer and to continue for about three years. A few labourers are now employed on preliminary work. I cannot estimate closely the number required for the main contract, but it is likely to be over 1,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that one-third of school leavers in Cardiff who are anxious and fitted to begin apprenticeships have been unable to find suitable vacancies; and what discussions he has had with youth employment committees on this problem.

Yes. I understand that the Cardiff Youth Employment Committee has recently discussed the problem with both sides of industry, and committees generally have been asked to do everything possible to promote local consideration of the recommendations of the Carr Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals were discussed during the recent Anglo-French talks between the United Kingdom Prime Minister and the French Prime Minister on the need for economic aid to provide economic essentials in Africa, to bring more Africans to visit Great Britain and France and to expand educational facilities, including university training in Africa.

The conversations which my right hon. Friend had with the French Prime Minister were confidential, and I am not at liberty to disclose them. I can however, assure the right hon. Member that there is a regular exchange with the French authorities on the important matters to which he refers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will speed up the formulation of the horticultural grants scheme for the benefit of that industry.

As I explained in the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 8th April, the formulation of a grant scheme for a complex industry like horticulture inevitably takes time. My officers together with producers' representatives are treating this as a matter of urgency, and my hon. Friend may rest assured that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that samples of a type of orange squash widely sold in Ministry of Health hospitals contain only 17 per cent. of pure orange juice as against the minimum standard of 25 per cent. juice laid down by the Food Standards (Soft Drinks) Order. 1953, as amended by the Food Standards (Soft Drinks) Order, 1954; and what action he is taking to remedy this.

No. But if my hon. and gallant Friend will give me particulars of any case he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will state the number of young men between the ages of 18 and 21 years who have joined Her Majesty's forces during the past twelve months from the county of Durham, whose previous occupation was in the coal mining industry.

In the past year, 283 men who were identified as having been employed in the coal-mining industry joined the Royal Navy and the Army at recruiting offices in the County of Durham. The Royal Air Force has no recruiting office in the county, but at the two nearest, at Middlesbrough and Newcastle, 127 men who had come from the county and were identified as having been employed in coal-mining joined the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what sites he has considered as possible alternatives to Belfast Airport.

I told the House on 5th February, 1958, that I had decided, after a number of possible sites had been surveyed, that a suitable alternative to Nutts Corner could be provided only at an unjustifiable cost. At that time the R.A.F. Station at Aldergrove could not be considered for civil use, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air has recently agreed, in the light of a reappraisal of military plans, that a study should be made of the possibility of joint use of Aldergrove. This study is now being carried out.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration was given before he agreed to authorise a grant to the traffic problem created in the narrow Uxbridge High Street, when it was decided to make a dual carriageway of the Uxbridge Road, which leads into the High Street.

Sections of the Uxbridge Road (A.4020) were provided with dual carriageways before the war, and the present scheme of the Middlesex Council does this for another length. It will help the flow of traffic in Uxbridge Road itself, and it is not likely to generate any extra traffic in Uxbridge High Street.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he agreed to authorise a grant towards the widening of the Uxbridge Road through Hillingdon; when work on this was started; what was the date originally fixed for the completion of this work; and when it is now expected to complete the work.

The grant for this scheme was issued on 29th March, 1956. Work started on 3rd March, 1958, and I am told by the Middlesex County Council that they thought the work might be completed in twelve months. They now expect it to be finished by the end of June.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the fact that firms and persons wishing to make application to develop service areas on the London-Birmingham motorway have until 1st June to submit their proposals and that designs submitted must then be approved by his Department and the planning authorities before construction can start, what facilities for supplying motor fuel and other services will be available as soon as the motorway is open for use; how such facilities will be provided; and by whom.

All facilities within the service areas will be provided by the lessees, who will be selected as soon as possible after 1st June. Thereafter, the maximum effort will be made to ensure the availability of facilities at the service areas by the time the motorway is open to traffic.