asked the Minister of Education how many retired teachers there are over the age of 70 years and between 70 and 80 years of age.

In March, 1956, there were 38,800 retired teachers receiving pensions under the Teachers (Superannuation) Acts who were 70 or over. Of these 30,400 were under 80.

asked the Minister of Education the highest pension payable under his regulations to a teacher on retirement today, compared with the highest pension received by a teacher who retired 10, 15 or 20 years ago.

The maximum pension payable to a teacher retiring today and 10, 15 and 20 years ago would be £1,544, £1,048, £966 and £953 respectively. These sums are calculated on the basis of 40 years' service and relate to the highest paid post under the Burnham Reports.

asked the Minister of Education what would be the cost of bringing all teachers' retirement pensions up to the present-day retirement amount.

I regret that changes in the salary structure and in the method of calculating pensions make it impossible to answer this Question.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make grants to youth clubs for ropes and other equipment needed for the training of cave and pot-hole explorers.

My right hon. Friend cannot say. It would depend on the circumstances and merits of a particular case.

asked the Minister of Education if he is satisfied that the conditions of Section 13 (3) of the Education Act, 1944, in regard to public notice of proposals to establish new county schools, have been fulfilled in respect of the plans for secondary education in Carlisle, submitted to him by the Carlisle Education Authority.

The need for public notices will not arise until the authority decides to make firm proposals for the provision of one or more schools.

asked the Minister of Education what is now the extent of local variation in total selective intake at the 10-plus; what is the extent of local variation in grammar school intake only; and if he will identify the local education authorities at the extremes.

I will send the hon. Member a copy of List 69 for 1958 when it is published next month.

asked the Minister of Education the number of local education authorities which have abolished secondary selection tests at 10-plus; and what proportion of the school population is now affected.

The only local education authority which has wholly abolished selection for separate secondary schools is Anglesey, containing about one-tenth of 1 per cent. of the school children in England and Wales. A few others have done so in small parts of their areas but I cannot estimate what proportion of the school population is involved.

asked the Minister of Education the number of local education authorities which are proposing to eliminate secondary selection tests at 10-plus; and what proportion of the school population will be affected when the proposals are carried out.

A number of authorities are considering schemes which would eventually have this result, but so far as I know only Leicestershire has a limited scheme ready for immediate adoption. I cannot estimate the proportion of the school population involved.

asked the Minister of Education when the Anderson Committee first met; and when its Report may be expected.

The Committee on Grants to Students, of which Sir Colin Anderson is Chairman, held its first meeting in July, 1958. It has received many memoranda and has found it necessary to take oral evidence from many organisations. I cannot yet say when it will be able to present its Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has completed his discussions with the Government Chemist about Cornwall House; and if he will give an assurance that no work will be undertaken there to convert office space into laboratories in view of the condemnation of this property as a laboratory by the Linstead Committee.

As I have already announced in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. D. Marshall), on 4th May, the Government Chemist's Department will be placed wider the charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research from 1st July. I am informed that the Council is considering the question of the future accommodation for the Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with other members of the Commonwealth about approaches being made to them by the European Common Market authorities; and with what results.

We are continually in touch with Commonwealth countries and exchange general information about development on this front and a meeting of Commonwealth officials is now taking place in London. But there is no indication that approaches have been made by the Euorpean Economic Com- munity to Commonwealth countries of a kind which would involve special Commonwealth consultation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in his consultations with local authorities on the nature and degree of assistance to be given to public service pensioners, including retired teachers, civil servants, local government officers, National Health Service officers, policemen, Service pensioners of Her Majesty's Forces, and their widows; and when he expects to introduce legislation to give effect to the proposals made to him.

The position is still as indicated in the reply given on 5th May by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a Question by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler). I hope that the Bill will be introduced before Whitsun.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much it would be necessary to increase the personal allowances for a married wage-earner, who is under 65 years and a single wage-earner who is under 65 years, beyond the £240 and £140 allowances, in order to ensure exemption from Income Tax of a married wage-earner who has a wage of £440 per year and is under 65 years, and a single man under 65 years who earns £275 per year, thus equating their position as taxpayers with that of married men and single men of 65 years or more, with investment incomes of £440 and £275, respectively, who are exempt from Income Tax.

By £103 for a married man and £74 for a single person.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from Income Tax wage-earners, regardless of age, who are married with a yearly wage of less than £440, and single men with a wage of less than £275, in view of the fact that these men are in a worse economic position than people aged 65 years with an investment income equal to the wages mentioned.

No. I cannot agree that the special provisions exempting elderly people with incomes not exceeding the figures mentioned should be extended to younger people.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for financial aid under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1958, he has had to date from Scotland; how many have been approved and how many rejected; and the total amounts approved by way of grant and of loan, respectively.

Seventy-four firm and eligible applications for assistance under this Act have been received from Scotland. Of these eighteen have so far been approved and six rejected. The total amount of loans approved is £683,270 and of annual grants £7,750.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1958, he has received to date from the Western Isles constituency; how many he has granted and how many rejected; in how many cases the aid to applicants is in the form of grants, loans or both; and the total of agreed aid by way of grant and loan, respectively.

Twelve firm and eligible applications for assistance under this Act have been received from the Western Isles constituency. Of these, four have so far been approved, and none have been rejected.All these applications are, however, made in confidence and I am unable to give the further information for which the hon. Member asks without the risk of individual applications being indentified locally.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the reasons for reducing the travelling allowances paid to members of local, tribunals, war pension committees and local advisory committees.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave him on 5th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that exemption, under Section 7 (4) of the Finance Act, 1941, from Estate Duty on post-war credits, unpaid at death, will apply in the case of persons dying after the passing of the Income Tax (Repayment of Post-War Credits) Bill.

Post-war credits unpaid at death are treated as exempt from Estate Duty and will continue to be so treated under the Income Tax (Repayment of Post-War Credits) Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the cost of pensions granted under the Superannuation Acts, 1935 and 1949, respectively, to widows and other dependants of deceased Civil Service pensioners is met by surrenders or contributions by the retired officers themselves; and to what extent any such pensions are granted under these Acts on a wholly noncontributory basis.

All such pensions under the Superannuation Act, 1935, are financed by reduction on an actuarial basis of the retired officer's pension. Contributions by civil servants to the schemes for widows and children and for dependants under the Superannuation Act, 1949, are designed actuarially to finance half the cost of the benefits. None of these pensions is non-contributory.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the United Nations Scientific Committee emphasised that there is at present no known threshold of radiation exposure below which genetic damage does not occur; and if he will make a statement on the genetic effects of atomic radiation.

As the House knows, radiation results from three sources: first, from natural sources, secondly, from medical or industrial applications, and thirdly, from nuclear tests. The ratios between these three in the United Kingdom are roughly 100, 22 and something between 1 and 2. The genetic effect of the first type has been permanent since man existed; that of the second dates from the use of X-rays, etc.; the third is much more recent. There is no known threshold below which damage, however slight, may not occur, although research is being actively carried out on this matter. It is, however, evident that, even if all forms of manmade radiation were eliminated—and this includes of course all X-ray and similar medical applications—it would still not be possible to remove the even larger proportion of natural radiation to which the human race must be liable. At any rate, so far there has been no direct evidence of any genetic effects on man from very low rates of radiation.The character of the problem makes research difficult since it is not easy to get results except from short-lived forms of life such as the fruit-fly. Mice are also now being used for this purpose.If I might hazard a suggestion it may be that the human race has, in this case as with other pressures to which it is liable, been able by its recuperative powers to establish an equilibrium with the mutants.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about co-operation between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes.

Yes. The Agreement between the United Kingdom and United States Governments for Cooperation on the uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes, concluded in July, 1958, has now been amended and supplemented by a further Agreement signed in Washington today. The text of the amending Agreement will be available as a White Paper this afternoon. It must, in accordance with United States law, lie before Congress for sixty days before it can be brought into force.The Agreement contains provisions to enable the United Kingdom to buy from the United States component parts of atomic weapons and weapons systems, other than the actual warheads, and to make possible the transfer of nuclear materials in both directions.Her Majesty's Government welcome this Agreement as a further example of the practical working out of the policy of interdependence in defence matters between the United States and this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that firms are hiring halls and sale rooms in provincial towns and 'holding sales of carpets, whose qualities are falsely described, at prices which are alleged to be bargain prices but which are in fact normal retail prices; and what action he is taking to protect the public against this practice,

The information which I have does not indicate that there has been a false description of quality in the terms laid down in the Merchandise Marks Acts. Prices are not necessarily a guide to quality. I will, however, examine any further evidence which I receive.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of retailers have represented to him that they are in favour of, or opposed to, the operation of Section 25 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, respectively.

I have received representations from an organised body and from a few other sources against Section 25, and a larger number in favour of the stronger enforcement of resale price maintenance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the rapidly rising imports of shoes, what action he proposes to take to safeguard the tanning industry.

Imports of leather footwear amounted to about 4 per cent. of our production in 1958 as compared with 3 per cent. in 1957. This does not call for any action on my part.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that one of the results following the Report of the Monopolies Commission with regard to the cable industry is that a price war is developing which will result in the closing down of a number of independent firms and the creation of more monopolistic conditions in the cable industry than before the intervention of the Monopolies Commission; and what further action he proposes to take in this matter.

I am aware that there is growing competition in the industry. The answer to the second part of the Question is "None".

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reasons elected members of the Kenya Legislative Council have been refused permission to visit Kenya prisons and detention camps, in view of the fact that journalists and others have been able to make such visits; and whether he will now allow them to visit these prisons and detention camps.

These visits are at the discretion of the officers in charge of prisons and camps, or of the Commissioner of Prisons. There have been a number of visits by elected members of the Legislative Council to prisons in the last year. Visits to emergency detention camps, however, are not at present allowed because of the risk of their having an adverse effect on the rehabilitation of the remaining detainees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the terms of reference of the inquiry under the Northern Rhodesian Emergency Powers Ordinance into the safeguard of elections and public safety; and who has been appointed to undertake this inquiry.

To inquire into all the circumstances which gave rise to the making of the Safeguard of Elections and Public Safety Regulations, 1959.Mr. N. C. A. Ridley has been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to deal with malnutrition amongst Africans in Northern Rhodesia, particularly among children in the Lusaka urban area.

The Northern Rhodesian Government subsidise the work of local authorities in child welfare, diet advice and the follow up of cases of malnutrition appearing in clinics and hospitals. This work is supplemented by the activities of missions. This applies to Lusaka as well as other areas. The Lusaka Municipal Council has recently endorsed a report recommending a free supply of milk.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the complaint of No. 1673 of Her Majesty's Prison, Maidstone, Kent, that under the special circumstances he is being kept in prison beyond the legal time limit; what prospect there is of his release in the near future; and if he will make a statement.

As I explained to the hon. Member in my recent letter this prisoner is serving a sentence of three years' corrective training which was imposed by Staffordshire Quarter Sessions on 18th February, 1958, and expires on 17th February, 1961. Subject to good conduct, he will be eligible for release on licence on 18th February, 1960. I have considered the prisoner's representations, but I have found no grounds for recommending any interference with the sentence or authorising release on licence earlier than in the normal course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of the 49 appeals under the Police Appeals Acts, where no tribunal was set up, more than four weeks elapsed between the date on which the appeal was lodged and the date on which the decision was conveyed to the appellant.

Forty-three.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that oral inquiries have been held in only seven discipline cases out of fifty-six appeals lodged under the Police Appeals Acts, and that the police service prefer that oral evidence should be taken in as many cases as possible, he will make a statement on his policy in this matter.

As the hon. Member knows, the Statute requires me to cause an inquiry to he held unless it appears to me that the appeal can properly he determined without taking oral evidence. It is a matter for determination in the circumstances of each individual case whether such evidence—in addition to that given at the original hearing, of which I have a transcript—is necessary. As regards the preference of the police service, I have received no representations on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider setting up a Royal Commission to inquire into the working and control of the many existing police forces in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to revise the organisation of police forces throughout the country in accordance with modern conditions, and, in particular, to provide an increased measure of ministerial responsibility to Parliament in respect of individual grievances.

I do not contemplate introducing legislation designed to alter the organisation or control of police forces. I am in possession of the relevant facts, and while being ready to hear the views of hon. Members do not consider that it is necessary to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement regarding the Casement diaries.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to add to the Answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 16th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been collected in respect of fines for litter dumping since the passing of the Litter Act and if he is satisfied that there has been a reduction in the amount of litter in streets and parks.

Up to the end of 1958, 241 prosecutions under the Litter Act had resulted in fines. I regret that I have no information about the amounts of the fines. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government considers that there are signs of some reduction in the amount of litter left about, though there is much room for further improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of convictions for capital murder under the Homicide Act, 1957, and of executions and of reprieves for each of the years 1957–58 and 1958–59.

In the twelve months beginning 21st March, 1957, seven persons were convicted of capital murder, of whom three had the conviction reduced to manslaughter on appeal, three were executed and one was reprieved. In the succeeding twelve months eight persons were convicted of capital murder, of whom five were executed and three reprieved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have recently been made in the diet of prisoners and borstal inmates.

In accordance with recommendations by the Honorary Catering Adviser to the Home Office and the Prison Commissioners' Catering Adviser and Director of Medical Services, certain changes have been introduced in the diet in prisons, borstals, and detention centres.The main changes are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in the case, of which details have been sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, he has refused to allow an aged war-disabled man from Yugoslavia to visit his British daughter in this country, in view of the fact that his daughter has agreed to pay all the costs involved; and whether he will now reconsider his refusal.

I was not satisfied on the evidence then before me that only a visit was intended, but in view of the information now given by the hon. Member I am prepared to authorise a visa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has granted permission to Mr. Maier, a Czechoslovak national, to say in this country for three months; and to what extent public funds will be used to meet the cost of this man's stay in this country.

There were no grounds on which I should have been justified in refusing Dr. Maier leave to land. As regards the second part of the Question, I have no reason to expect that he will need to be supported from public funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of recent criminal offences in connection with the marketing of potatoes; if he is satisfied with the powers at present conferred upon the Potato Marketing Board; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is, of course, aware of recent criminal proceedings in connection with the marketing of potatoes. These prosecutions related to purchases of surplus potatoes by the Ministry of Food before the Potato Marketing Board assumed any responsibility for the operation of the guarantee. But the support price arrangements operated by the Board from 1955 to 1959 were essentially the same as those in force under the Ministry of Food and the scope for fraud and other malpractices was one of the reasons which led to the Government's decision to introduce a new system of guarantee for the 1959 crop. Although no system of guarantee is proof against abuse, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the new arrangements will offer far fewer opportunities for malpractices and that the existing powers of the Board are sufficient to operate the guarantee satisfactorily. My right hon. Friend proposes to make a (Protection of Guarantees) Order under the Agriculture Act 1957 supporting the new arrangements and this Order will be submitted to the House in due course for affirmative Resolution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for improving marketing arrangements for barley, which in their present form are not producing satisfactory results.

I am, of course, always ready to consider any suggestions for improving any of our marketing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many grants or loans have been approved this year under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945; and what is the total sum approved to date.

My right hon. Friend has received a small number of applications under this Section since the issue of Circular No. 22/59 on 12th March. None has yet been approved, but a few appear to be eligible under the terms of the Circular and are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the proposal by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to close the Mucomir Bridge from 8th May, about which the hon. Member for Inverness has written to him, will cause disruption of traffic and local services between Spean Bridge and Gairlochy; and what steps he is taking to reduce the inconvenience to the local population which this proposal will cause.

Yes. En connection with the Mucomir hydro-electric schemes, works, including blasting, are taking place at Mucomir Bridge. The county council as highway authority has therefore taken steps to close it in the interests of public safety for six weeks beginning on 8th May. I understand that

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the meeting of local authorities and representatives of his Department and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, with regard to the Coldstream Bridge, is to take place.

Berwick County Council has suggested that there should be a meeting of all concerned to discuss the possibility of constructing a new bridge over the Tweed. My right hon. Friend has recently the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation plans for the strengthening of the present bridge at Coldstream which have, he understands, been approved by the Tweed Bridges Trust. My right hon. Friend's Department will shortly discuss the whole matter with the county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers have retired since the introduction of the commutation arrangements; how many have asked to commute their pensions; and how many have been allowed to do so in Glasgow, the burghs and counties, respectively, divided into chief constables and superintendents, on the one hand, and the federated ranks on the other.

pursuant to his reply[OFFICIAL. REPORT, 28th April, 1959; Vol. 604, c. 110], supplied the following information:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations in view of the interests of United Kingdom shipping in the matter, what information he has received from the Canadian Government as to the rules of navigation applicable to the St. Lawrence Seaway after the official opening.

I have received a complete set of Seaway Regulations, which I have placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

asked the Minister of Health how far official research has been made with a view to reducing the incidence of dental decay in children by means of the consumption of fresh apples; and how far it has been established that better tooth development has taken place on account of such consumption.

I have been asked to reply as representing my noble and

asked the Minister of Health what action has been taken to protect pathologists and laboratory technicians in order to minimise the high rate of infection from tuberculosis amongst them.

A report on the precautions to be taken against infection of laboratory workers with tuberculosis learned Friend the Lord President of the Council.A pilot study recently carried out by research workers in Liverpool suggests that encouraging results in achieving a reduction in the incidence of dental caries and an emproved gum condition among children can be obtained by eating fresh apples regularly. This work was carried out by a distinguished member of the Liverpool School of Dental Surgery and was reported in the British Dental Journal for 18th November, 1958.

asked the Minister of Health the difference in the consumption of welfare foods, such as orange juice and cod liver oil, in the years 1958, 1954, and 1951 in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, respectively.

The following table shows the quantities of welfare foods distributed from local authority centres during the second half of 1954 and the whole of 1958. Comparable figures for 1951 and the first half of 1954 are not availablewas published in the Ministry's Monthly Bulletin in 1958 and copies were circulated to hospital and public health laboratories. Preventive measure taken include precautions in the laboratory and personal measures such as B.C.G. vaccination and chest X-rays.

asked the Minister of Health if he is now ready to propose the implementation of certain of the recommendations of the Cranbrook Committee; and to what extent this will improve maternity services, particularly in the Swindon area.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 4th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Truro.

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

The numbers for the five years to 31st December, 1958,

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

On 31st March the numbers on the waiting lists for the hospitals administered by the Plymouth General and the Plymouth Special Hospital Management Committees were as follows: