asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the percentage rise or fall in all forms of Government expenditure for each of the financial years from April, 1945, until April, 1951, taking April, 1945, as equalling 100.

Yes.

CHANGES IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEARS 1945–46 TO 1950–51 ARE AS FOLLOWS:—
——	Expenditure *	Percentage compared with 1945–6 = 100
	£mm.
1945–46	5,765	100
1946–47	4,118	71·4
1947–48	3,379	58·6
1948–49	3,360	58·3
1949–50	3,519	61·0
1950–51	3,426	59·4
* Total ordinary expenditure above the line plus expenditure met from self-balancing revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in table form the internal purchasing value, as distinct from the internal purchasing power, of the £ sterling, taking October, 1951, as 20s., and for October in each subsequent year and to the nearest convenient date.

I think the hon. Member is making a distinction where none in fact exists. What is usually called the purchasing power of the £ is, I believe, referred to by some hon. Members as the purchasing value of the £. Figures for each year, on the basis requested by the hon. Member, were given on 9th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD two tables of figures giving the percentage rise and fall in rents, wages, dividends and profits for each of the years from 1945 until October 1951, using as the basis July 1945 being equal to 100, and from October 1951 until the latest convenient stated date, using October 1951 as being equal to 100 for the second table of figures.

I regret that information is not available on a comparable basis for 1945, nor is it possible to base figures on a particular month in the year. However, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT tables giving the figures requested, based on the years 1946 and 1951, respectively.

——	Consumers' expenditure on rent (1)	Wages	Ordinary dividends (2)	Gross trading profits of companies (2) (3)
Indices 1946 = 100
1946	100	100	100	100
1947	102	114	110	118
1948	106	127	115	130
1949	109	134	119	135
1950	112	140	123	156
1951	115	155	137	186
Indices 1951 = 100
1951	100	100	100	100
1952	104	107	99	88
1953	109	113	108	93
1954	113	121	120	103
1955	120	132	137	114
1956	127	143	143	116
1957	136	151	151	121
1958	165	156(4)	157	116
(1) Excluding rates and water charges.
(2) These indices relate to all companies except those nationalised during some part of the period 1946 to 1958.
(3) Before providing for depreciation and stock appreciation.
(4) Provisional.

NOTE: The items have been defined in the same way as in the National Income Blue Books. The indices are based on the latest available national income estimates (including some now in preparation for the 1959 Blue Book to be published later this year). The figures for rent thus reflect the changes in the total stock of houses as well as in the level of rents; similarly those for wages reflect changes in the size and composition of the labour force and in actual earnings rather than changes in weekly wage rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the percentage rise or fall in the Income Tax and Surtax paid by a man with a

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the communication sent to him on 10th April by the hon. Member for Swindon, regarding the complaint about increases in pensions for retired railway staff from Mr. C. E. Mayell, 145 Drove Road, Swindon.

I am afraid that I have not been able to trace this letter. It is possible that it may have been mislaid in my Department. If so, I apologise sincerely to the hon. Member and his constituent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent, in formulating economic policy with regard to European free trade, particular attention has been given to the export potential of Scotland, and to the effect upon industry and employment

Yes.there of a relaxation in imports to Scotland;(2) what agreements he has now entered into with other nations called the Outer Seven; and, in particular, how those agreements affect the trade and industry of Scotland.

No agreement has yet been made with the countries of the Stockholm Group. Ministers from these countries will meet on Monday to consider a draft plan prepared by their officials. In considering these matters, we have taken full account of the trading interests of the United Kingdom as a whole, including Scotland, and we shall continue to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will have prepared and placed in the Library a memorandum explaining the administrative problems in the way of according Overseas Trade Corporation status to British shipping companies, and giving an account of any discussions held with the shipping industry on this problem.

No. Shipping companies were excluded from the Overseas Trade Corporation scheme introduced in 1957 because under double taxation agreements they are commonly taxed only in the country where the company is resident.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will add to the Committee on Consumer Protection one or more additional individuals with experience of consumer problems affecting working class families.

No, the present membership of the Committee covers persons with experience of consumer problems affecting all types of families.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee on Consumer Protection will arrange to receive complaints of trading practices from members of the public, and if so whether he can state what these arrangements will be.

It will be for the Committee, as an independent body, to decide the methods of its inquiry, but I am sure they would welcome evidence in a suitable form from the public.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will institute an inquiry into the trading practices of finance companies in connection with the methods adopted in the sale of motor cars on which hire purchase payments have not been maintained; and whether he will introduce legislation necessary to protect the public.

This question comes within the terms of reference of the Consumer Protection Committee, and I have little doubt that the Committee will consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has caused a world shortage of hides, leading to a sharp increase in prices; and whether he is satisfied that the existing marketing arrangements are adequate.

The main reasons for the present world shortage of hides are reduced kills in both the Argentine and the United States of America coinciding with an increasing demand for leather. The existing marketing arrangements appear to be adequate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his discussions on 13th and 14th July with Ministers of the Republic of Ireland, indicating the subjects discussed and the agreements reached.

On 13th July Mr. Lemass, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, and two of his colleagues came to see me in order to discuss certain problems likely to arise in Anglo-Irish trade. The Irish Ministers suggested possibilities for improving trade between the Republic and the United Kingdom, and we agreed that these should be studied in the first instance by senior officials of the two Governments, who will in future meet regularly to examine economic problems of common interest. I am confident that these arrangements for continuing contact will prove of benefit to both sides.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the receipts of the Council of Industrial Design from private sources have been for each year since the establishment of the Design Centre.

The information is as follows:

1956–57	£73,197
1957–58	£101,112
1958–59	£122,385 (subject to audit)

I regret that my reply on 9th July to my hon. Friend's supplementary question on this subject was incorrect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the United Kingdom's participation in capital construction in Yugoslavia is much below its industrial capacity; and what action he proposes to take to find ways of increasing exports from this country to Yugoslavia of capital goods, in view of Yugoslavia's desire to import these goods.

We should welcome any increase in British exports of capital goods to Yugoslavia to the extent that Yugoslavia's resources permit. We have given financial help in the shape of the recent loan of £3 million for the purchase of capital and semi-capital goods from the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has studied the effects of dollar trade liberalisation policies upon the citrus industry of the West Indies; whether he is aware that a United Kingdom fact-finding mission reported, in 1955, that if quantitative restrictions were removed and United States citrus and citrus products were freely admitted into the United Kingdom the West Indies citrus industry would be ruined; and what steps he is taking.

The answer to the first parts of the Question is "Yes." I shall be making a statement in the near future about the steps that have been under discussion with the West Indian delegation now in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now state whether he is satisfied that the Territorial Labour Officer in Johannesburg, appointed by the Government of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, is able to carry out his functions effectively.

We are satisfied that the Territorial Labour Officer is in a position to fulfil effectively his main function of looking after the interests of African labour recruited in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland by the Wit-watersrand Native Labour Association for work in the gold mines. The Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland Governments, however, are anxious that he should also have wider facilities and discretion when visiting farms where labour from those territories is employed. Representations are being made in this respect to the Government of the Union of South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many liaison officers from British Somaliland operating in the Haud area are of European and of Somali descent, respectively,

There is only one liaison officer.There are in addition two assistant liaison officers. All are of European descent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many per sons in Northern Rhodesia are subject to orders restricting their freedom of movement; and how many such persons have been so restricted for over two years and over one year, respectively

The numbers are 60, 23 and nil.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now detained at Hola Camp; and how many such persons have at any time been convicted of Mau Mau offences.

According to the latest information I have, there were only 17 persons held under detention orders at Hola Camp at the beginning of the month I am asking the Governor how many, if any, of these were former Mau Mau convicts, and I will write to the hon. and learned Member when I have his reply, but all the men in question are detained for Mau Mau activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now detained under emergency powers in Kenya; and how many such persons have been detained for over six, five, four, three, two, and one years, respectively.

Provisional figures show that 1,133 persons were detained under emergency powers in Kenya on the 30th June. I have asked the Governor to supply the information asked in the second part of the Question and I will write to the hon. and learned Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of European farmers in the area supervised by the Kenya Highlands Board, the total area available for European settlement, the average area of each farm, and the actual area of the 10 largest farms.

In answer to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my pursuant reply to his Question of 12th February, which appeared in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 10th March.In August, 1958, the total area covered by all agricultural holdings in the highlands was 7,299,600 acres (nearly 11,406 square miles) with an average size of 2,090 acres, excluding from account holding of less than 20 acres. This includes a small number of farms owned by Asians. I am asking the Governor if he can supply figures for the land alienated only to Europeans, including holdings of less than 20 acres.There were 10 holdings with an area of 50,000 acres or more. The estimated total area of these 10 holdings was 700,000 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total area of the Highlands in Kenya reserved for European settlement, the actual area in arable farming and the actual area used for maize, coffee and pyrethrum growing, respectively, and each area expressed as a percentage of total area.

Of the area alienated in the Highlands, which I am giving in answer to a separate Question by the hon. Member, the total area under crops in August, 1958, was 979,700 acres, of which 148,300 acres, or 15·1 per cent. of the total area under crops, was used for maize; 64,400 acres, or 6·6 per cent., for coffee; 22,300 acres or 2·3 per cent. for pyrethrum. These figures exclude holdings of less than 20 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the actual area of the Kenya White Highlands used for cattle grazing, the number of cattle reared, and the average of such cattle per acre in the grazing areas.

In August, 1958, 5,452,500 acres of land in the Highlands were used for grazing; 915,100 cattle were reared (410,500 dairy, 504,600 beef); and the average of cattle per acre of grazing land was 0·168. These figures exclude holdings of less than 20 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the actual sum made available for European farming in the White Highlands of Kenya for each of the years from 1951; and how this has been apportioned.

Agricultural expenditure by the Kenya Government is mainly upon common field, extension and research services, from which farmers of all races benefit directly or indirectly without distinction. Expenditure is, therefore, not normally recorded on a racial basis except in the case of such particular services as the European Agricultural Settlement Board. Figures for such specific services would be misleading in the absence of precise figures showing the benefit derived by European farmers from common services.If the hon. Member wishes me to obtain figures in respect of any particular item, however, whether it is for a common service or for a service confined to European farmers I will try to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are made to secure the full economic utilisation of the White Highlands of Kenya.

The Highlands are part of the Scheduled Areas established under Part III of the Agriculture Ordinance, 1955, which is the main instrument for their full economic use. The purpose of the Ordinance is to promote and maintain a stable agriculture, to provide for the conservation of the soil and its fertility and to stimulate the development of agricultural land in accordance with the accepted practices of good land management and good husbandry. A copy of this Ordinance with its amendments has been placed in the Library.In addition there are a number of separate measures which also encourage the full use of the Highlands and other land in the Colony by providing for the improvement of the standard of important crops and the extension of services and finance to farmers, and by encouraging capital development, for instance by income tax concessions for investment in farm improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions are applied to the sale of land in the White Highlands of Kenya; how the powers of the Board are applied; and what proposals he has in mind for amending them and for securing representation of Africans on this Board.

The restrictions on the sale of land in the Highlands, and the powers of the Land Control Board, are set out in Parts VIII and IX of the Crown Lands Ordinance and in the Land Control Ordinance. Copies of these Ordinances have been placed in the Library.In addition, under the Kenya (Highlands) Order in Council, the Governor is required to consult the Highlands Board in all matters relating to the disposition of land within the Highlands.On 4th June, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall), my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave an account of the general intentions of the Kenya Government with regard to a revision of the control of land transactions in the Highlands, and all other land in the Colony. Details of the new policy are still being worked out and will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in implementing the proposals of the Homan Committee on individual land tenure in the African areas of Kenya.

All the immediate recommendations of the Working Party on African Land Tenure which involve legislation have been enacted in the Native Lands Registration Ordinance, 1959, and the Land Control (Native Lands) Ordinance, 1959. These measures, as passed, took into account amendments made as a result of public discussion and consideration of the Report. The few recommendations of the Working Party which could not immediately be put into effect will be kept in mind in framing future policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what compensation will be paid to contract officers in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the paper describing the compensation terms which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects the Devlin Report to be published.

I received the Report today and have invited the Governor to return for consultations on it over the weekend. The Report will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what acreage of potatoes has been grown in the last two years in Cyprus and Malta, respectively; what proportion is early potatoes; and what proportion is ware potatoes.

In Cyprus there is a summer and winter crop. There is no distinction locally between early and ware potatoes but a large part of the summer crop is exported as "early potatoes". The acreages are as follows:

——	1957	1958
	acres	acres
Summer crop exported as "early potatoes"	4,707	4,273
Remainder of summer crop	2,347	2,743
Winter crop	4,273	4,772
Total annual acreage	11,327	11,788

In Malta the acreages under potatoes during the past two crop years ending 30th September were:

1957	9,000 acres
1958	8,200 acres

These areas were harvested as follows:

——	1957	1958
Early potatoes (up to first week in June)	2,400	2,000
Ware potatoes	8,400	7,600

The acreage under ware potatoes is inclusive of the acreage under early potatoes. The remaining 600 acres are retained for seed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of local authorities in Tanganyika are now elected; what proposals he has for further elections; and what are the qualifications for voting.

I am asking the Governor for this information and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why visas for musicians from East Germany invited to this country to celebrate the bicentenary of Handel's death were issued too late to enable them to attend the ceremony.

I am unaware of delay in the grant of visas in cases answering to this description. If the hon. Member will send me details of the cases he has in mind, I will be glad to look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has received from the Town Clerk of Nottingham to his letter of 9th July, asking on what grounds the Chief Constable of Nottingham has been suspended from duty by the Watch Committee; and if he will make a statement.

I have been informed by the Town Clerk that the grounds on which the Chief Constable has been suspended from duty are

(1) the Chief Constable's refusal to comply with the Committee's instructions to inform the Committee about the inquiries by Scotland Yard officers into Corporation matters in Nottingham;

(2) the report of the Town Clerk regarding the Chief Constable's conduct; and

(3) the Chief Constable's statement that he proposed to ask for a public inquiry.

At a meeting with officers of my Department yesterday the Town Clerk explained that his report, to which reference is made in the second of these grounds, was made orally at the meeting of the Watch Committee at which the decision to suspend was taken and related to two cases of police inquiries affecting members or officers of the Council carried out in circumstances which, it was suggested, disclosed a lack of impartiality on the Chief Constable's part.I have had a reply sent to the Town Clerk indicating that, as regards the first of these grounds, the Chief Constable would, in my view, have been in breach of his duty if he had in fact complied with the instruction to inform the Watch Committee about the inquiries by Scotland Yard officers in the case in question. A chief officer of police has a duty to enforce the criminal law and should not in so doing be subject to control or interference by the police authority.As regards the second ground, I have said that in so far as offences were being investigated, the same considerations apply; and that I am not satisfied from the information at present available to me that the circumstances were such as to justify the suspension of the Chief Constable as unfit for the discharge of his duty. As regards the third ground, I have pointed out that I have received no request for a public inquiry from the Chief Constable and that in any event it is not clear why suspension from duty on that ground should be thought appropriate.I hope that the Committee will share my view that the case should be brought to an immediate conclusion and I have asked them now to consider further their decision to suspend the Chief Constable; and inform me as soon as possible of the conclusion at which they arrive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances Chinese refugees in Hong Kong can obtain permission to work in domestic employment in the United Kingdom.

The normal practice, which is of long standing has been to authorise visas for aliens of Chinese origin to take up domestic employment in this country only where there is a previous close connection with the prospective employer's household.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the nature of the representations on control of the police made to him recently by the Local Authority Associations; and what reply he has made.

On 1st July a deputation from the County Councils' Association represented to me that the standing joint committee, as now constituted, should become a committee of the county council, the powers of the chief constable remaining unchanged. I informed the deputation that their views would be fully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now had an opportunity of fully considering the plea of the judge and jury at the recent murder trial of Mr. Arthur James Cox, of Forest Gate, E.7, for mercy and a sympathetic treatment of this case of non-capital murder; and whether he is now in a position to state what action he proposes to take in connection with this matter.

No indication can be given at this stage of how long Cox is likely to be detained. All I can say is that the case will be reviewed in accordance with the normal practice when he has served one year. All the relevant considerations, including the jury's recommendation, will then be taken into account. I cannot find grounds for taking any earlier action.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the composition of the Commonwealth Education Conference; and on what bases the representatives were appointed.

The Commonwealth Education Conference will be composed of delegations from all the independent countries of the Commonwealth, and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and of representatives from the main Colonial Territories. Each country is, of course, responsible for choosing its own delegates. So far as the United Kingdom is concerned, the aim has been to include representatives with knowledge of the main divisions of education in this country and with experience of the needs of the other parts of the Commonwealth.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans are being made for secondary school improvement as a preparation for university entrance in Swaziland.

There are in Swaziland three high schools which prepare Africans for the Matriculation examination of the University of South Africa and three junior secondary schools which prepare students for the Junior Certificate examination. Six primary schools are being developed to junior secondary school status. The High Commissioner is at present formulating plans, whereby with the assistance of colonial development and welfare funds, pupil accommodation at the high schools can be enlarged and the number of junior secondary schools increased.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the recent changes in the composition of the African Affairs Board, what further representations on this matter have been made by Her

Local Education Authority			School		Number of full-time teachers in January, 1959	Temporary teachers awaiting entry to training colleges	Nursery assistants in charge of a class
Essex	…	…	Primary	…	5,354	76	—
			Secondary	…	5,054	129	—
Kent	…	…	Primary	…	4,704	55	—
			Secondary	…	4,680	51	—
Staffordshire	…	…	Primary	…	3,118	94	—
			Secondary	…	2,481	69	—
Yorks W. R	…	…	Primary	…	5,764	109	39
			Secondary	…	4,410	108	—
Birmingham	…	…	Primary	…	3,304	112	23
			Secondary	…	3,157	74	—
Smethwick	…	…	Primary	…	184	8	4
			Secondary	…	208	2	—
Wolverhampton	…	…	Primary	…	461	—	—
			Secondary	…	511	—	—
The distribution of full-time teachers between primary and secondary schools is not necessarily completely accurate. Figures for occasional teachers are not available.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects to publish the Albemarle Report on Youth

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, North-East (Sir L. Ungoed-Thomas) on 23rd April.

asked the Minister of Education how many full-time teachers were employed at the latest possible date in maintained primary and secondary schools, respectively, in each of the following local education authority areas: Essex, Kent, Staffordshire, West Riding, Birmingham, Smethwick and Wolverhampton; how many of the teachers included were temporary teachers; how many were nursery assistants in charge of a class; and how many were occasional teachers.

The following is the answer:Services; and whether he will make a statement.

I do not know yet how soon the Albemarle Committee will submit its Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural machines shown at the Royal Show complied in all respects with the regulations and draft regulations enacted or proposed by Her Majesty's Government.

It is difficult to give a percentage figure, but my inspectors report that the majority of machines at the Royal Show would comply with existing regulations. This shows a very definite improvement on the position a year ago.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the combined total imports of butter into the United Kingdom for the first five months of this year from Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Austria, and the Irish Republic; and if he will give the corresponding figures for the first five months of 1957.

The combined total imports of butter into the United Kingdom for the first five months of this year from the countries mentioned were 52,634 tons. For the same period of 1957 the figure was 55,584 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the Irish pig industry about the effect on United Kingdom bacon imports from Ireland of the removal of the bacon duty on Danish bacon.

My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with representatives of the Irish pig industry, but the implications for Anglo/Irish trade of the Stockholm negotiations were touched upon in the course of the talks between United Kingdom Ministers and Ministers of the Republic of Ireland which took place on the 13th July under the Chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that for several weeks past there has been a considerable shortage on Tees-side of beef of good average quality, such as the Ministry of Transport regulations provide shall be supplied by ships' butchers for provisioning ships, and that consequently the ships' butchers in that area are unable to supply the needs of ships in the several ports requiring supplies of fresh meat; and what action he proposes to take to make good this deficiency.

The distribution of meat is a matter for the trade. As a result of inquiries, my right hon. Friend is informed that these difficulties arose because of a temporary shortage of frozen beef at the wholesale depot of the firm from which these ships' butchers normally draw their supplies. New supplies have now been received and there should be no further difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange can expect a reply to the letter sent to him, dated 14th June, with reference to two members of the Women's Royal Army Corps, full details of which have been supplied to him.

I wrote to the hon. Lady on 14th July, following an interim reply which was sent on 8th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has yet been reached on the amount of grant in aid of deficit for voluntary organisations running clubs for the benefit of the Services in the British Army of the Rhine; and what percentage grant is proposed in the future.

The amount of our financial contribution in future to the Council of Voluntary Welfare Work is now being considered and will, I hope, be decided shortly.

asked the Minister of Defence whether the military operations in which British forces have been engaged since 1955 in the Arabian Peninsula have now been completed.

No. So long as those States in the Arabian Peninsula for whose protection we have special responsibilities have unsettled relations with their neighbours, we must expect the recurrence, from time to time, of frontier incidents and other troubles, calling for assistance by Her Majesty's forces.

asked the Minister of Defence what was the nature of the 12,000 operational sorties flown by the Royal Air Force in the Arabian Peninsula in six months in 1958; what total tonnage of bombs was dropped in these operations; and in how many ground attacks aircraft of the Royal Air Force took part.

These sorties were carried out for the purpose of reconnaisance, air cover, transportation of personnel and freight, leaflet dropping, sky shouting, artillery observation, bombing, ground attack and operational training. There were 1,300 ground attack sorties and about 780 tons of bombs were dropped.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will lay a Command Paper containing the information furnished to Her Majesty's Government about the oil-drilling operations conducted by a British company in the territory of Oman in the years 1956 to 1959.

No.

asked the Paymaster-General what is the total amount to date paid by the fuel and power industries in compensation payments to former owners since nationalisation, giving figures for each industry separately as well as in aggregate.

Compensation took a variety of forms and the position can best be shown by reference to the capital liabilities assumed by the industries:

——	Coal	Electricity (Note 1)	Gas
	£m.	£m.	£m.
Liability to the Minister	292 (Note 2)	—	—
Compensation stock	—	342	189
Obligations to local authorities	—	174	31
Compensation to local authorities for severance	—	5	2
Mortgages and other loans transferred	—	19	6
Bank overdrafts, etc. transferred	—	19	34
	£292m.	£559m.	£262m.
Note 1: Including England, Wales and South of Scotland.
Note 2: Does not include liability to the Minister in respect of capital outlay refunds, amounting to £18 million (S. 18 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946) or of Treasury Stock issued in exchange for Coal Commission Stock, amounting to £78·4 million (S. 32 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946).

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage of medical staff at Khormaksar station sick quarters;(2) what requests he has had for increased postings of medical staff to Khormaksar.

I am awaiting certain information from the Command and will write to the hon. Member as soon as I get it.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will announce the date on which he proposes to bring into force the provisions of Section 6 of the National Insurance Act, 1959.

Yes. A Commencement Order is being published today fixing 3rd August, 1959, as the operative date for these provisions which improve the value of the increases of retirement pension to be earned by postponing retirement and reduce the number of contributions needed to earn each increment.

asked the Postmaster-General why he has delayed provision of a public telephone kiosk at Glenafeoch Road, Carluke, Lanarkshire; and whether he will now have it speedily provided.

The provision of a new kiosk has been agreed in principle. We are in communication with the local authority about the site, and I hope the kiosk will be in position soon.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will inquire into the reasons why details of the Anglo-Danish Agreement were given on 8th July to a private meeting prior to the announcement being made in the House of Commons.

No. I see no cause for an inquiry.

asked the Minister of Works what is the present constitution of the Ancient Monuments Board for England; what changes he made when he recently reconstituted the Board; and if he is satisfied with the steps taken to implement its recommendations.

The constitution of the Ancient Monuments Board for England is laid down in Section 15 of the Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act, 1913, and in the First Schedule to the Act. Six members are appointed by bodies named in the schedule; I appoint the Chairman and such other members as I consider necessary. The present constitution of the Board is set out below.When the Board was reconstituted on 1st April, 1959, I re-appointed the Chairman and all existing members appointed by the Minister, and I appointed Dr. D. B. Harden and Dr. J. N. L. Myres as additional members. All the nominating bodies re-appointed their existing representatives, except that the Royal Academy of Arts nominated Mr. Marshall Sisson in place of Professor Sir Albert Richardson.I am quite satisfied with the steps taken by my Department to implement the Board's recommendations.DETAILS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS BOARD FOR ENGLAND AS FROM 1ST APRIL, 1959 ARE AS FOLLOW:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total road expenditure for the financial year 1958–59 by the Exchequer and local authorities respectively.

Exchequer expenditure under the Roads, &c., Scotland Vote during the year ended 31st March, 1959, was £9,264,000. The local authority year ended on 15th May, 1959, and figures for expenditure by local highway authorities are not yet complete.