asked the Minister of Labour how many workers were employed in new construction at Fawley, Hampshire, in December, 1958, January, 1959, and at the latest available date.

I am informed that about 2,850 workers were engaged on the erection of new industrial buildings in the Fawley area in December, 1958, compared with about 2,500 in January, 1959, and about 1,260 at the end of May, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of foundries in West Bromwich are working short time; and what proposals he has to remedy this state of affairs.

Yes. I understand that some 300 foundry workers in West Bromwich are working short time but this number is expected to decrease as activity in the iron and steel trades increases.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered in the County Borough of Stockport at the last convenient date.

The Answer is 1,424.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the need for encouraging new industries in north-east Scotland in order to reduce the high ratio of unemployment there as compared with other places, if he will state his plans for training schemes and training centres located in north-east Scotland designed to co-operate with new firms building up their respective specialised labour forces there.

As stated in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Lanark (Mr. Patrick Maitland) on 18th March, my Department is always ready to help resettle in suitable employment people who have lost their jobs, and where necessary, appropriate facilities for training are available for this purpose. If I received a specific proposal of the kind suggested, I would certainly consider it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the visit to Scotland of the Parliamentary Secretary to his Department to investigate unemployment there with special regard to Aberdeen; and if he will indicate his plans for eliminating unemployment there.

Yes. My hon. Friend's visit was of value to us both in renewing a personal acquaintance with some of Scotland's unemployment problems. As to the last part of the Question, unemployment in both Scotland generally and Aberdeen in particular has fallen in recent months and will I hope continue to benefit from the general measures introduced by the Government to stimulate the economy and, in the case of Aberdeen from the efforts of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to interest industrialists in the locality where, as the hon. and learned Member knows, Government help is available to them.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance with which countries the United Kingdom now has reciprocal agreements for National Insurance; and what further agreements are being negotiated.

There are now in force reciprocal agreements on social security with Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey—family allowances only—the Irish Republic, Australia, New Zealand, Cyprus, Malta, Belgium, Denmark—Industrial Injuries only—France, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia. An agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany was negotiated in 1956 but on account of changes in German legislation it has never been ratified and is now being re-negotiated. Negotiations for agreements with Austria, Denmark, Finland and Turkey are also in progress.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what it would cost to increase the 10s. widow's pension to the purchasing power it enjoyed in 1946; and whether he will make a statement.

About £3 million a year. I have nothing to add to what I have previously said on this subject.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether a decision has yet been reached on the inclusion of bursitis of the shoulder in the Prescribed Diseases Schedule to the Industrial Injuries Act.

This matter is still being considered by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the eggs in shell consumed in England last year were imported.

It is estimated that about 1½ per cent. of the eggs in shell consumed in the United Kingdom in the year 1958 were imported. No separate figures for England are available.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will give directions to the gas boards to increase the pensions of ex-municipal gas works employees to keep them in line with other civil and military pensioners.

No. Increases in such pensions would be payable out of the revenues of the Gas Boards and it is for the Board to consider and initiate any proposals to my noble Friend for his approval.

asked the Paymaster-General what revisions are taking place in the coal investment plan; and at what date the revised plan for 1960 will be published.

The National Coal Board's review of the industry's long-term plan is still in progress and has not yet been submitted to my noble Friend. A statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Paymaster-General the estimated average cost of the provision of a nuclear energy plant for the generation of electrical current.

The cost depends on the type and size of the plant and on the nature of the site, but it is expected that the large nuclear power stations now being built or designed for the Central Electricity Generating Board will cost of the order of £60 million to £65 million, excluding the initial fuel charge. for a station of 500,000 kilowatts output capacity.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to sustain the export of aircraft and spares at the present level.

It is my constant endeavour to assist by all methods at my disposal the efforts of the aircraft industry to achieve a high level of exports, for instance by seeking to align the home user's specification with the likely export specification, by adjusting delivery programmes in agreement with the Service Departments and by technical help from my research and development establishments and inspectorates.The manufacturers are assisted by Her Majesty's Government's posts overseas and by the Export Credits Guarantee Department which has recently been authorised to cover longer credit purchase for large jet aircraft.

asked the Minister of Supply what types of animals, and how many of each type, have been destroyed at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment.

During the last six months about 3,000 animals have been destroyed in the course of experiments at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment. Ten different types of animals were used.Following are the details:

Cats	…	…	…	32
Dogs	…	…	…	42
Guinea pigs	…	…	…	192
Hens	…	…	…	351
Mice	…	…	…	349
Pigeons	…	…	…	24
Pigs	…	…	…	20
Rabbits	…	…	…	239
Rats	…	…	…	1,708
Sheep	…	…	…	31
Total				2,988

asked the Minister of Supply, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what proposals he has received from the Canadian Government for the United Kingdom to share in the work of the Canadian permanent joint committee on space research; and what reply he has made.

None, but hon. Members may have seen that Mr. Diefenbaker announced at Kingston, Ontario on 15th May, that the Canadian Government would be glad to undertake the consultation which the Prime Minister proposed in the course of his statement on 12th May.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has that the lower incidence of poliomyelitis in Wales in the last few years is associated with the relative absence of main line railways in the Principality, and that cases of poliomyelitis are more frequent in the vicinity of areas in which crude untreated sewage is deposited on railway lines.

I know of no evidence to indicate that poliomyelitis incidence is related to the existence of main line railways.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he is making to ensure that qualified chiropodists are employed in schemes for chiropody services submitted to him by local health authorities in cases when it is proposed to use voluntary organisations.

Where a local health authority decides to arrange for the provision of a chiropody service wholly or in part by contributing to a voluntary organisation, I would expect the authority, through its medical officer of health, to satisfy itself that a reasonable standard of service would be provided.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now implement the recommendation of the 1949 Report of the Royal Commission on Population that the giving of advice on contraception to married persons who want it should be accepted as a duty of the National Health Service.

I am not at present intending to widen the scope of the facilities already available for this purpose under the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of a nurse's pay was deducted for accommodation before the recently announced increase in her salary; and what will be the proportion after the increase has become effective.

The proportion of salary which resident nurses pay back to the hospital as a board and lodging charge varies according to grade, and within grades according to the incremental point reached on the salary scale. In the following table, figures are given for some of the main nursing grades in general hospitals:

PROPORTION OF SALARY PAID AS RESIDENCE CHARGE*
Grade (General Nurses)	Up to 28th February, 1959		From 1st March, 1959
	At minimum of scale	At maximum of scale	At minimum of scale	At maximum of scale
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
Student Nurse	45	41	45	40
Staff Nurse	36	29	36	29
Ward Sister	33	27	33	26
Matron (lowest grade)	33	30	33	29
Matron (highest grade)	26	22	27	23
* The charge includes board and lodging and personal laundry.

asked the Minister of Health his latest estimate of the extent to which nurses' accommodation is subsidised.

While charges are generally below the cost of providing accommodation and other services for resident nurses, no comprehensive estimate of the size of the subsidy is available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will investigate the work of the Putney Migraine Clinic, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Southampton. Itchen.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from the Putney Migraine Clinic for an impartial inquiry into the treatment given at the clinic; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the widespread incidence of migraine, he will inquire into the claim of Putney Health Centre to have found a cure for this functional disorder.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to the Adjournment Debate on 4th June.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the discontent among the staff nurses in hospitals because the new agreement on nurses' salaries does not allow for extra payment until 96 hours per fortnight have been worked and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

No. The new arrangements for additional payments were agreed between the two Sides of the Whitley Council and the latter part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health how many new entrants as radiographers came in to the National Health Service in each of the years 1956, 1957, and 1958; and how many left in the same years.

I regret the information is not available in the form requested. The numbers of student radiographers commencing training in England and Wales each year were:

1956	…	…	…	…	450
1957	…	…	…	…	481
1958	…	…	…	…	548

During the same period, the total number of radiographers employed whole-time in the hospital service increased by 11; and those employed part-time by 85. As the training course lasts two years, the results of the 1958 student intake will not affect the figures of qualified staff until 1960.

asked the Minister of Health how many new entrants as pharmacists came in to the National Health Service in each of the years 1956, 1957, and 1958; and how many left in the same years.

I regret the information is not available in the form requested. The number of pharmacists (expressed in terms of whole-time officers) employed in the hospital service at the end of each year from 1955 to 1958 were:

1955	…	…	…	…	1267
1956	…	…	…	…	1305
1957	…	…	…	…	1314
1958	…	…	…	…	1315

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the composition of the Staff Side of the nurses and midwives Whitley Council, according to the type of hospitals in which they work, and the nursing grades to which they belong.

Under the constitution of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council the Staff Side of the Council is composed as follows:

Organisation	No. of representatives
Association of Hospital Matrons	2
Association of Supervisors of Mid-wives	1
Confederation of Health Services Employees	4
Association of Hospital and Welfare Administrators	1
National and Local Government Officers' Association	4
National Union of General and Municipal Workers	3
National Union of Public Employees	4
Royal College of Midwives	6
Royal College of Nursing	12
Scottish Matrons' Association	1
Scottish Health Visitors' Association	1
Women Public Health Officers' Association	2
	41

I am not aware of the professional status of the individual members of the Staff Side although I understand that a number of them are serving nurses. The composition of the Staff Side is a matter for the Staff Side itself and the members are appointed by the organisations they represent.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of the accepted tenders for the additions to Heather-wood Hospital, and the Wokingham Maternity Wing, respectively, and the contract dates for completion.

I do not think it is wise to disclose the amounts of tenders for hospital building, but the estimated costs of these two projects including fees and equipment are, approximately, £170,000 for Heatherwood Hospital and £110,000 for Wokingham Maternity Unit. The contract dates for the completion of building work are, for Heatherwood, January 1961, and for Wokingham, March 1960.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the long waiting time which must elapse in respect of gynaecological operations at St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester, what action he proposes to take to improve the position.

The Board of Governors has been in consultation with the Regional Hospital Board and is making arrangements to inform general practitioners that the waiting lists at other hospitals in the Manchester area are shorter than at St. Mary's; I shall bear in mind the proposal for a new maternity hospital in Manchester when I am next in a position to announce a further list of major schemes to be financed centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now publish the texts of the recent exchange of Notes with the Soviet Government regarding the implementation of the Geneva Agreements in Laos.

During the past four months we have received a number of communications on the question of Laos from the Soviet Government, making accusations against the Royal Laotian Government and calling for the return of the International Commission which adjourned sine die last July. Discussions between my right hon. and learn Friend and the Soviet Foreign Minister have also taken place during the last few days in Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communication he has received from the Indian Government regarding the reconvening of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos.

My right hon. and learned Friend received a letter, dated 27th May, on this subject from Mr. Nehru, to which he has sent a confidential reply. I am not at liberty to disclose the contents of either letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the caution printed on the back flyleaf of British passports, namely, that a passport remains the property of Her Majesty's Government, that it is a valuable document and that it should not be allowed to pass into the possession of an unauthorised person, he will so amend his regulations as to require that the British passports of deceased persons be returned to the Passport Office for cancellation and retention.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action his Department has taken during the last six months to improve the employment situation; and with what success.

It was a major aim of my right hon. Friend's Budget to give, through tax remissions and repayments of post-war credits, a strong encouragement to economic activity and employment. This was the culmination of a series of measures designed to promote the expansion of the economy, taken over a period extending back considerably further than six months. There has not yet been time for the full results of this series of measures to be seen, but over the six months from November, 1958, to May, 1959, the numbers unemployed fell from 536,000 to 481,000 Of this fall a part, but certainly not the major part, may be attributed to seasonal factors.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the Admiralty is still retaining its holding in Messrs. S. G. Brown, Limited.

My noble Friend has been considering the future of this company and has recently decided that the Admiralty should dispose of it, if a suitable offer is forthcoming. He is prepared to arrange for negotiations to be entered into with any interested party. It would be the aim of the Admiralty that the business is kept as a going concern and not disintegrated, so that the high-precision manufacturing capacity represented by the Company is maintained. In considering offers, my noble Friend will, of course, give full weight to the extent to which the various tenderers will be able to provide continuity of employment for the present employees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what percentage the area of factory floor space, and of factory building, respectively, have increased during each of the last ten years in Aberdeen City and County, respectively.

Information is not available of the total area of industrial premises in Aberdeen City and County at the start of the period, hence I cannot give the information in the form required by the hon. and learned Member. The following are particulars of the industrial building authorised and completed in each of the last ten years:

ABERDEEN CITY
Year			Area approved	Area completed
			sq. ft.	sq. ft.
1949	…	…	5,300	12,000
1950	…	…	86,291	5,300
1951	…	…	84,469	10,146
1952	…	…	13,110	12,288
1953	…	…	29,900	78,465
1954	…	…	101,585	40,285
1955	…	…	153,004	167,628
1956	…	…	30,096	127,351
1957	…	…	70,410	6,500
1958	…	…	13,529	19,119

ABERDEEN COUNTY (EXCLUDING ABERDEEN CITY)
Year			Area approved	Area completed
			sq. ft.	sq. ft.
1949	…	…	12,860	8,100
1950	…	…	47,377	60,410
1951	…	…	47,726	38,400
1952	…	…	31,390	37,930
1953	…	…	61,578	31,727
1954	…	…	112,062	87,314
1955	…	…	41,393	61,962
1956	…	…	68,733	55,253
1957	…	…	89,624	75,873
1958	…	…	144,735	104,324

These figures are of all new buildings and extensions to existing buildings which have a ground space over 5,000 sq. ft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the net recurrent expenditure of public money per head of school population for European primary education in Kenya in the last convenient period of twelve months; and what was the corresponding expenditure for African primary education.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th February, 1959; Vol. 599, c. 225], supplied the following further information:The net recurrent expenditure from public funds in Kenya per head of school population, in European primary and the corresponding African primary and intermediate schools was respectively £39·1 and £4·1. These figures are based on expenditure in the financial year 1957–58 and the average number of pupils in the calendar years 1957 and 1958. They do not include pupils in unaided schools.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is being done with the targets that have been in use on rifle ranges now being abandoned due to the reduction in the Armed Forces.

Steel target frames are moved for use elsewhere or for disposal. Target runners and war-time wooden frames are normally left in place.

asked the Minister of Works how many gardeners are employed at Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire; what is the annual wage bill; how many guards are employed at week-ends and at what cost; how much the takings have been from visitors during recent weeks; when work was started on restoring the 18th century bowling pavilion and other buildings in these grounds and when it is likely to be completed; and whether, as these historically interesting grounds were laid out by Capability Brown and are costing much in upkeep, he will take steps to restore the buildings still in disrepair as quickly as possible and inform the public by adequate advertisement of the existence of this park.

The house and gardens at Wrest Park are leased by my Department to the British Society for Research in Agricultural Engineering, an independent body for which I have no responsibility. The National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, which occupies the house, also maintains the gardens, and it estimates that about one quarter of the time of its sixteen horticultural workers is spent on the maintenance of the formal gardens, woods and parklands, at a cost of about £2,000 a year.The historic parts of the grounds are open to the public at week-ends and on Bank Holidays from Easter to the end of September. Six part-time custodians are employed by my Department when the grounds are open. Their cost to the Ministry in 1958–59 was £210 2s. 10d.