asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he expects to complete his road programme this year; and whether he will announce any acceleration.

The current programme provides for the authorisation in the four year period up to 31st March, 1962, of schemes involving Exchequer expenditure of £40 million. In 1958–59, in addition to the Forth Bridge, schemes involving Exchequer expenditure of about £5 million were authorised and it is proposed to authorise a further £7 million in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when, at the present rate of progress, he expects the Crofters County Road programme to be completed, with particular reference to the mainland of Ross and Cromarty.

The reconstruction of 521 miles of road remains to be authorised under the Crofter Counties Programme. At the current rate of £750,000 per annum I estimate that it would take a little over 20 years to complete these roads. Relatively fewer miles remain to be done on the mainland of Ross and Cromarty and I should expect the period of completion to he somewhat shorter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times the Scottish River Purification Advisory Committee has met since April, 1957; and when was its last meeting.

Once; it met yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult the British Transport Commission to ensure that their policies involving reorganisation of labour do not run counter to the declared aims of the Government on overspill.

I am already in consultation with the British Transport Commission on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to assist lobster fishing in the Highlands and Islands.

Lobster fishermen are eligible for grants and loans on new boats and engines. There has been a small but steady flow of applications from the Highlands and Islands area for such assistance since the inception of the Schemes in 1953. Fishermen in the North West have been helped to market their catches by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society which, since 1948, has operated a storage pond at Bernera, Lewis and a refresher tank at Oban with assistance from the Development Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the shortage of poliomyelitis vaccine in Shetland and what steps he is taking to send supplies.

Yes. Shetland gave no advance notice of requiring a supply of vaccine for use during April, but in response to special requests 1,000 doses have been issued since the beginning of April. This is apart from the supply requested for May, some of which has already been sent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present position, under the Town and Country Planning Acts, of the proposals by Edinburgh University for expansion in George Square, Edinburgh, in a manner that involves pulling down existing buildings.

Planning permission in principle has been given by Edinburgh Corporation as local planning authority, subject to submission in due course of more detailed plans for the new buildings not yet begun. Extension of the medical school on the north side of the Square has begun, and I understand that further redevelopment is expected to start next spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what contributions have been made by New Town Development Corporations under Section 11 of the New Towns Act, 1946, to local authorities or statutory undertakers for each year since 1946.

The following is the information requested:

	Total
	£
1952–53	49,013
1953–54	31,336
1954–55	35,791
1955–56	49,264
1956–57	81,554
1957–58	87,555
1958–59	88,147
	£422,660

No contributions were made before 1952. About one-third of these contributions took the form of temporary advances, ultimately recoverable from local authorities. the balance being non-recoverable grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the high speeds permissible on new motorways, he will consider the desirability of prohibiting the sale of alcoholic drink in any roadhouse or other establishment on such motorways.

No motorways are at present planned for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the practice of his Department regarding the transfer of a Scots citizen imprisoned in England to a Scottish prison.

The governing rule is that a prisoner must serve his sentence in the country in which he was convicted. The types of case in which exceptions may he made are as follows:Applications for transfer to Scotland may be entertained from—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the Report of the Montgomery Committee on Maternity Services in Scotland; and what action he proposes to take on it.

I have considered the Report carefully, and I am grateful to the Committee for their valuable review of the Scottish maternity services. I propose to discuss with representatives of the medical profession the Committee's recommendations about the place of the general practitioner in the maternity services. I am in touch with the local authority associations and hope to issue a circular to local authorities shortly on the recommendations that affect them.As regards the recommendations concerning the hospital service, I have asked the Western Regional Hospital Board to submit proposals for increasing their maternity bed provision on lines suggested by the Committee; I have corn-mended to all hospital authorities the Committee's other recommendations, including the review of systems of admission to obstetric units; and I have asked Boards to reconsider the local arrangements for co-ordinating maternity services and to report to me on them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has read the report. "Danger at Play", prepared by the Portsmouth Junior Chamber of Commerce, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Belfast, West; and if he will consider setting up a committee to study and advise on a safety standard which could be used by toy manufacturers whose goods come up to the required specification in the standard.

This is an interesting report and its recommendations are being examined.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what conditions he has made with regard to the subject matters which are to be discussed with the Soviet Government's trade representatives during his forthcoming trade negotiations in Moscow; and why he has insisted on making these conditions before the commencement of negotiations.

I regret that I do not feel able, pending the negotiations which start in Moscow later this month, to add to the Answers which my right hon. Friend gave on 21st April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he proposes to make it a condition of payment of subsidy under the Cotton Industry Reorganisation Scheme that new textile machinery will have to be of British manufacture.

We expect the bulk of the machinery required to be bought in this country, but my right hon. Friend is not prepared to restrict the freedom of textile firms to buy the machinery which is best suited to their needs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the undesirability of the buying and selling of textile mills by persons concerned solely with qualifying thereby for compensation under the Cotton Industry Reorganisation Scheme; and what action he is taking to prevent this being done.

I am sure that when the time comes to prepare detailed schemes the proposed agency and the industry will have fully in mind the undesirability of providing for compensation except where this is essential in order to get rid of excess capacity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent Swiss watches, luminised by means of radioactive strontium, are imported into this country; and what steps he will take to terminate their importation.

According to my information, very few, if any, such watches are imported, but if we were advised by the competent authorities that they were harmful, we should certainly consider the prohibition of imports. I understand that the possible hazards from luminous watches are among the subjects for consideration by the Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will authorise the building of one or more advance factories in the Ayrshire Development Area.

As I said on 19th March, a single Scottish advance factory is to be built at Coatbridge as an experiment. We must await the result of this experiment before deciding whether we should build further ones.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to increase employment in Ayrshire.

As I explained to the hon. Member on 24th March, North-West Ayrshire was included in January last in the list of places to benefit from the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958. Since then, I have visited the area and discussed the situation with local authorities, and I shall continue my efforts to induce industrialists to consider this locality.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the growing concentration of boot and shoe firms into large combines and the closing down of many small firms, with consequent dangers to employment, including that of increased imports of boots and shoes manufactured abroad; and whether he will take action to safeguard the position of both workers and consumers.

I am aware of two mergers which have taken place in recent years. I have no information which suggests that the interests of either workers or customers have been adversely affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates that the standard rate of Income Tax would have to be increased to ensure an additional annual revenue of £63 million, £76 million, and £127 million, respectively.

Assuming that the reduced rates were increased proportionately in each case the standard rate would have to be increased by about 24¾d., 3¼d. and 5½.d., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates that the present rate of Surtax would have to be increased to ensure an additional annual revenue of £63 million, £76 million, and £127 million, respectively.

Assuming that the top rate were left at its present level of 10s. in the £, all other rates would have to be increased by over one-half, over two-thirds and about one and a half times respectively. The maximum rate of 10s. would then become payable at £6,000, £6,000 and £4,000, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in his consultations with local authorities about an increase in pensions for public service pensioners.

An outline scheme was sent to local authority associations immediately after my Budget speech on 7th April. My hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary met representatives of the Associations on 14th April. The views of some of the Associations have been received and those of the remainder are expected shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which areas projects have been approved by the Development Area Treasury Advisory Committee since the Distribution of Industry (Finance) Act, 1958, came into force; and how much new employment is involved in each main area.

The following is the list of areas together with a figure far each area of the new jabs which are expected to be provided.

	Additional Jobs.
England
North East England	96
South Anglia	26
South and South East England	88
South West England	262
	472
Scotland
Highlands and Islands	326
North East Scotland	63
West and South West Scotland	453
	842
Wales
North West Wales	45
South Wales	341
	386
Total	1,700

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why he gave his approval to the reduction of the amounts of travelling allowances paid to members of National Insurance tribunals and other similar bodies.

The only recent change in travelling allowances for members of tribunals and others whose expenses are paid by Government Departments relates to the use of private cars on official business. These people have hitherto received the same mileage rates as civil servants. The Civil Service scheme was revised last summer; the rate paid under the new scheme for small annual mileages covers only running costs, and a contribution towards standing charges is only paid when annual mileages exceed 1,000. The Civil Service scheme is still available to members of tribunals and the like. But, as an alternative, I have now authorised a flat rate of 6d. a mile, independent of mileage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the net sum borrowed or met from surplus in 1958–59, namely, the outturn of £559 million given in Table XIV of the Financial Statement, was borrowed; how much of this borrowed sum was represented by savings; how much was borrowed in respect of each type of savings; how the Exchequer was financed in respect of the balance; what effect he estimates this financing of the balance had upon the creation of additional bank deposits and upon the money supply in the economy generally during the year; and whether he will arrange to publish this information in this particular form in future.

Of the £559 million, £377 million was met from the surplus above the line and £182 million was met from borrowing. The various components of the the total sum borrowed in the year, including the amounts required to repay maturing debt, are given in Tables III and IV of the Financial Statement. As regards the effect of Exchequer financing on the position of the banks and the money supply, I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's Budget speech. As regards regular publications on this subject, I think my hon. Friend will find that most of this information is already given in the Financial Statement, the various Exchequer returns and the monthly figures published by the Clearing Banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with regard to the financial year 1959–60, how much of the net sum estimated to be borrowed or met from surplus, namely, the estimate of £823 million given in Table XIV of his latest Financial Statement, he expects to meet from surplus, savings and other methods of financing the Exchequer, respectively; and what effect he anticipates this will have upon employment, inflation, the level of prices and the welfare of those living on small fixed incomes, respectively.

As the Financial Statement shows, my right hon. Friend estimates the above the line surplus in 1959–60 at about £102 million, leaving £721 million of the £823 million to be met by borrowing. I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said in his Budget statement and in his winding-up speech on 13th April on the probable means of meeting these requirements or on the effect of such operations on the economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total number of Civil Service pensions in issue at the latest date for which figures are available, the average value of each pension, including any increases under the Pensions (Increase) Acts, and the number of pensions which are below this average.

On 30th September, 1958, approximately 146,500 Civil Service pensions were in payment to retired officers (that is, excluding widows and other dependants). The average pension, including increase, was £220. Between 60 and 65 per cent. of the total were below this average.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total number of pensions under the Superannuation Acts in issue to widows and other dependants of deceased Civil Service pensioners at the latest date for which figures are available, the average value of each such pension, and the number of pensions which are below this average.

On 30th September, 1958, approximately 22,700 pensions were in payment to widows and other dependants of civil servants. The average pension, including increase, was £74. Between 60 and 65 per cent. of the total were below this average.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in HANSARD a list of Members who have been abroad during the last five years, in respect of whom the Treasury have been asked to pay any part of the costs involved, the countries which these Members have visited, the objects of the visits, and the respective costs involved.

The Treasury have made no grants or payments to Members. Grants are made to bodies such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, but the allocation of their expenditure is a matter for those bodies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to make his decision on the application of the Colne Valley Sewerage Board to deposit sludge near Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire; and whether he will direct the attention of the Board to alternative methods of sewage disposal which do not involve the pollution of drinking water and the spoliation of the countryside.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when, following the public inquiry, he expects to reach a decision on the matter of the disposal of sewage by the Colne Valley Sewerage Board; whether he will make recommendations regarding the improvement of the present state of the River Colne; and to what extent his recommendations will deal with alternative methods of disposal of sewage by the Colne Valley Sewerage Board.

The public inquiry was concluded only a few days ago. The Inspector's report, when it is received, will be given urgent consideration. The only comment I can make at this stage is that the inquiry was not concerned with the state of the River Colne but with the treatment and disposal of sewage sludge.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many meetings have been held of the Welsh Advisory Water Committee set up by him soon after the introduction of the Liver-pool Corporation Bill affecting Tryweryn; and what major decisions he has made affecting the conservation and use of water resources in Wales.

The Welsh Advisory Water Committee has held five meetings since its appointment in March, 1958. I understand that it is engaged on the preparation of a comprehensive report to submit to me in due course. In the meantime, since the Committee was appointed, I have taken action designed to accelerate the regrouping of water undertakings in various parts of Wales, including Montgomeryshire and Cardiganshire; I have submitted a report to Parliament on the Milford Haven (Tidal Barrage) Bill; I have made a number of orders under the Water Act; and I have recently decided to make a further order under this Act providing for a major abstraction scheme in the Gwyrfai rural district in Caernarvonshire.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is prepared to reconsider his decision not to send an inspector down to Penzance in view of the petition handed to him by the hon. Member for St. Ives.

No. The granting of planning permission to the Newlyn-Penzance Rugby Football Club for the erection of a covered stand for spectators on the Mennaye playing field was entirely within the competence of the Cornwall County Council, whose subcommittee inspected the site before permission was given.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what contributions have been made by New Town Development Corporations under Section 11 of the New Towns Act, 1946, to local authorities or statutory undertakers for each year since 1946.

Section 11 of the New Towns Act, 1946, authorises contributions by development corporations towards expenditure incurred or to be incurred by local authorities or statutory undertakers in the performance, in relation to the new town, of any of their statutory functions. But as a measure of the extent to which corporations furnish financial assistance to local authorities and statutory undertakers, a list of cash contributions under Section 11 is misleading. For example, where a local authority is responsible for sewerage, any financial assistance to it from the development corporation would take the form of contributions under Section 11; but where the corporation has assumed responsibility for sewerage, as in most cases they have, it incurs the expenditure under its general powers. Also in constructing main roads, corporations incur under their general powers expenditure which might otherwise fall on the highway authority. Some corporations have also provided financial help by undertaking specific works in lieu of making a money contribution.The following statement of expenditure under Section 11 includes money contributions and expenditure on specific works in lieu of such contributions, but does not include other expenditure on works. No such contributions were made earlier than in 1948–49—

Year	Total Contributions
	£
1948–49	1,826
1949–50	5,552
1950–51	10,398
1951–52	50,654
1952–53	24,684
1953–54	83,315
1954–55	196,469
1955–56	108,601
1956–57	231,005
1957–58	204,803
	£917,307

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many dwellings have been built in each of the last three convenient years to accommodate overspill in new towns, through schemes made under the Town Development Act, 1952, and through other arrangements such as would attract subsidy under Section 3 (2) (e) of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, or comparable provisions of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956, respectively.

The number of houses built by development corporations and through schemes made under the Town Development Act, 1952, is given below. No houses have been built under arrangements attracting subsidy under Section 3 (2) (e) of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958.

—	1956	1957	1958
Development Corporations	10,233	10,822	7,431
Schemes under Town Development Act	2,461	2,496	1,922

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the widespread infection by salmonella organisms or paratyphoid B found in many types of processed eggs, whether imported or home produced, what action he is now taking to ensure pasteurisation of egg mixes before freezing.

All bulked egg products are liable to yield Salmonella organisms. The commonest type, Salmonella pullorum, is regarded as non-pathogenic. Salmonella paratyphi B is not widespread. Some practical difficulties have still to be overcome before pasteurisation of bulked egg on a commercial scale can be regarded as fully reliable. The Ministry of Health is considering what might usefully be done to encourage work already going on in the trade and elsewhere on ways of overcoming the difficulties. In the meantime, local authorities and port health authorities are regularly sampling egg products for infection with Salmonellae and taking safeguarding measures where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date he received a petition for an inquiry from the staff of the Zaria Branch of the Nigerian College of Technology; and what answer has been sent to it.

I received a copy of the petition on the 28th April. I have not yet had the Governor-General's views on the matter, but meanwhile I am asking him to convey to the petitioners my acknowledgement of the receipt of their petition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of Africans now detained under the emergency regulations in Nyasaland; and how many of these are in prisons in Southern Rhodesia.

606 and 140, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what opportunities there are for representations to be made before collective fines are imposed in Nyasaland.

None, but the Governor has power to revoke or vary any order made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how the members of the European Advisory Council and the African Advisory Council in Bechuanaland are appointed.

The eight unofficial members of the European Advisory Council in Bechuanaland are elected by European residents in the eight electoral divisions into which the territory is divided for the purpose. There are seven official members appointed by the Resident Commissioner, who presides at meetings of the Council. Details are given in Proclamation No. 44 of 1947 as amended by Proclamations No. 7 of 1948, No. 54 of 1950, No. 56 of 1951 and No. 26 of 1953.The African Advisory Council consists of the Chiefs of the Bakgatla, Bakwena, Bamalete, Bamangwato, Bangwaketse, Barolong, Batwana and Batlokwa Tribes. In addition, there are thirty-one members appointed or elected from twelve Divisions in the Territory; in the case of the eight main tribes they are appointed by the respective chiefs in Kgotla, and in the case of other areas by the District Commissioner in consultation with the African Authorities or Subordinate African Authorities of the District. In any Division where a Tribal Council or District Council exists, the Resident Commissioner may empower such Tribal Council or District Council to elect to the Council from its members such proportion of the members of the Council returnable by the Division as he prescribes. 'There are also, seven official members appointed by the Resident Commissioner, who presides at meetings of the Council. Details are given in Proclamation No. 9 of 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of which he has particulars, in a period of twelve months to the most recent date for convenient computation, prisoners released from prison at the termination of sentences, as originally imposed, of not less than five years, have been found employment in which they have remained for a period of six months; and in how many cases the prisoner has failed to find, or be found, employment during a period of three months following his release.

The information is available only for persons sentenced to preventive detention, as those sentenced to imprisonment are not subject to compulsory after-care. The particulars for preventive detention prisoners are as follows:

Total number discharged during year ending 30th September, 1958	173
Number remaining in work for a total period of six months or more after discharge	72
Number who did not work within a period of three months of discharge	44*
* Of this figure four died, sixteen were unfit for employment by reason of physical or mental incapacity, and most of the remainder were non-co-operative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average number of hours worked per week in productive employment by prisoners detained in local prisons.

Over a recent period, the averages were 25½ hours a week in men's prisons and 32½ hours a week in women's prisons.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement about an agreement under Section 9 of the Baking Industry (Hours of Work) Act, 1954, between the National Association of Master Bakers, Confectioners and Caterers and the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers, Confectioners and Allied Workers.

I understand talks are taking place and have made some progress. I am ready to assist if necessary in further talks with a view to securing an Agreement under Section 9 of the 1954 Act. But I should make it clear that in the absence of such an agreement Her Majesty's Government would introduce legislation to grant exemptions, in special circumstances, from the provisions of the 1954 Act.

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent coal production and consumption, during a convenient period in 1959, have been in accordance with anticipated levels; and if he will supply appropriate statistics.

Coal demand so far has not been inconsistent with the estimate of 200 million tons in 1959, but colliery production may be above the estimate.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made towards the introduction of road signs of a similar design to those in use on the continent of Europe, in view of the increasing number of motorists who, from time to time, use both British and continental roads.

Regulations that bring our system of carriageway markings into conformity in certain important respects with the European Agreement on Road Markings were laid before Parliament on 28th April. Our experimental motorway signs are also close to Continental practice.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received from Swindon regarding his decision not to declare the main Swindon-Cricklade road, at the eastern boundary of the Penhill estate, a restricted area to which the 30 mile-per-hour limit is applicable; and whether he will reconsider this decision.

The decision not to make this length of road subject to the 30 m.p.h. limit was carefully reconsidered last November in response to representations from the Swindon Borough Council and the hon. Member. As stated in my letter to the hon. Member of the 17th November, 1958, the possibility of applying a 40 m.p.h. limit to it will be considered if and when Parliament approves the extension of this speed limit outside London.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now state what grants will be available to local government authorities for road work during the next five years; and whether he will give, respectively, for each category, the amount of grant for each year.

As my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary said in an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 18th December, we have invited highway authorities to prepare a number of road improvement schemes in the hope that we may be able to authorise them within the next three or four years, but in the interests of keeping the road programe flexible I do not intend to announce future plans in detail.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will publish as a White Paper a comparative statement on the rates of compensation, for which he has responsibility, payable to persons suffering accident or death on roads, railways and in the air.

The amounts of compensation payable to such persons are not matters for which I am directly responsible, and no such comparative statement can be made.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many applicants from Bala area, Merioneth, are on the waiting lists for driving tests; and what steps he will take to arrange for driving examiners to hold periodic tests in Bala.

About 50 people from the Bala area are waiting for tests. I hope to arrange for tests to be conducted at Bala itself later this year, when more examiners will be available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in the forthcoming road safety campaign, account will be taken of the need to implement the report of the Drew Committee on Road Safety and Alcohol.

Professor Drew's Report was concerned with the results of laboratory experiments; its conclusions do not readily lend themselves for use in road safety propaganda campaigns. During the present campaign on the theme "Be a Better Driver", stress will be laid on the urgent need for drivers to honour the Highway Code, and one of the points prominently brought out in the Code is that alcohol, even in quite small amounts, makes you less safe on the roads.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on how many occasions during the last five years official protests have been lodged with foreign countries on the subject of discrimination against British shipping; which countries were concerned; and in how many cases the protests were effective.

Forty-seven formal protests have been made in 26 foreign countries. There has been either an improvement in the position or a satisfactory explanation given in eight cases where protests have been made. The hon. Member will realise that it is not always possible to judge the effectiveness or otherwise of such representations except over a long period of time.The 26 foreign countries to which formal protests concerning shipping discrimination have been made by the United Kingdom since 1st January, 1954, are as follows. (The figures in brackets indicate the number of formal protests made to each country.)