asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to ensure a greater allocation of orders for school furnishers to priority suppliers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the written reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) last Monday, about the steps taken to ensure that local authorities are fully aware of the capacities and needs of the sheltered workshops.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will promote legislation to enable the employment of all severely disabled and blind persons to be brought under the control of a central authority.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to employment under sheltered conditions. The powers already exercised by my right hon. Friend under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts are considered to be adequate, and no change is proposed.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to absorb in available places in the Remploy organisation the 4,000 severely disabled but employable persons who are at present registered as unemployed.

Any increase in the numbers employed by Remploy must depend upon the progress made by the company in improving its trading position and in finding sufficient work for those already employed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that some 400 additional craftsmen have recently received notices from Scottish Aviation Limited, Prestwick, owing to the drop in orders for its aircraft; and what steps he is taking to arrange for these skilled men to obtain alternative employment of a similar character in the neighbourhood so as to prevent these men being lost to Ayrshire and Scotland.

Notices of termination have been issued to 180 employees to take effect between 17th and 31st July. One hundred and sixteen of those affected have registered for other employment. Fifteen have found other employment and fifteen are being considered by employers. We shall continue to do our utmost to suggest suitable alternative work as near home as possible to all those affected.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the total complement of sixty-two disabled workers were engaged upon preservation, identification and packaging work at the Remploy factory at Handsworth, Sheffield, on 16th June, 1959.

Twenty-three.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were employed in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, respectively, at the most recent convenient date, and how many twelve months before.

44,790 in June, 1958, and 47,570 in June, 1957, in Lincoln. In the rest of Lincolnshire, 216,050 in June, 1958, and 212,070 in June, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were employed in the engineering industry in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, respectively, at the most recent convenient date, and how many twelve months before.

Nine thousand six hundred and ten in June, 1958, and 9,770 in June, 1957, in Lincoln. In the rest of Lincolnshire 11,470 in June, 1958, and 10,230 in June, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of building trade workers resident in the County Borough of St. Helens, Lancashire; and what percentage of these signed the unemployed register during the period 1957–58, and up to the latest convenient date for which he has information.

At mid-1958, the latest date for which such figures are available, there were 2,516 insured employees in the building and civil engineering industries in the area covered by the St. Helens Employment Exchange which extends beyond the boundaries of the county borough. The percentage of these workers registering as unemployed was 1·8 in June, 1957, 4·7 in June, 1958, and 5·7 in July, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of boys and girls signing the unemployed register in the County Borough of St. Helens up to the latest convenient date; and how many boys and girls signing the register have not had a job since leaving school.

On 13th July, 27 boys and 30 girls. Three boys and one girl have not yet had employment since leaving school. All three boys are disabled and the girl has until recently been at home and not seeking employment.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed workers in St. Helens, Lancashire; how many of them are men; and what action he is taking to provide work for men and women of St. Helens.

One thousand nine hundred and seventy-one, including 868 men, on 13th July, 1959. My local officers are continuing to submit unemployed workers to such vacancies as are notified by employers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, for the most convenient date in July, the number of wholly unemployed persons in the Borough of Gateshead in respect of duration of unemployment.

At 13th July, 1959, the total number of wholly unemployed persons on the registers of the Gateshead Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office was 1,403, of whom 223 had been on the registers for two weeks or less, 252 from two to eight weeks and 928 for more than eight weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the percentage of unemployment for the combined area of Blaydon, Felling, Gateshead and Prudhoe Employment Exchanges, and the Blaydon and Gateshead Youth Employment Offices, at the most convenient dates in the months of March April, May, June, and July, 1959, respectively.

The percentage rate of unemployment in this area at 13th July, 1959, was 2·8 compared with 3·7 at 9th March, 3·6 at 13th April, 3·3 at 11th May and 2·9 at 15th June.

asked the Minister of Labour how many engineering workers have been made redundant during the past eighteen months in the Poole-Bournemouth-Christchurch area; how many of these were employed by the Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole, Vickers Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd., Hurn, and de Havilland Aircraft Ltd., Christchurch, respectively; and how many found alternative employment within the area and elsewhere respectively.

Notified redundancies of all kinds of workers from establishments engaged in engineering, the manufacture of aircraft and of metal goods totalled about 1,550 of whom about 1,000 were discharged by aircraft firms and about 430 by the Royal Ordnance Factory, Poole. One hundred and two of those affected are at present registered as unemployed. It is not known how many found alternative employment outside the area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that the interests of the Forestry Commission and other timber producers in Wales in particular, will be taken fully into account in any discussions concerning imports of timber products, including fibre board, into this country.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the negotiations for a European Trade Association of the seven countries taking part in the Stockholm talks. The Forestry Commission and private producers have kept me informed of their views. The interests of timber producers were fully taken into account, along with those of other industries, in the Stockholm negotiations. We shall continue to have these interests in mind in the negotiations for the drafting of the Convention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many licences for netting salmon in tidal waters have been issued by the Hampshire River Board; and when these were issued.(2) how many fishermen have made applications to the Hampshire River Board within the last two years for licences to net salmon in tidal waters; and how many licences have been issued.

During each of the last two seasons the Hampshire River Board has issued two salmon netting licences, one for tidal waters on the Itchen and one for Southampton Water. It has refused one further application to fish in Southampton Water.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take, in view of the fact that the War Office have erected a blockhouse on Okehampton Common without applying to the Minister of Agriculture under Section 194 of the Law of Property Act, 1925, to extinguish the rights of the commoners in that area; and what compensation he proposes to make to the commoners in question.

Section 194 of the Law of Property Act lays on me the duty of considering applications for consent to the erection of buildings on common land which would prevent or impede access. It does not give me any other power to act.A consent under Section 194 does not of itself extinguish any rights of common. I have no responsibility for paying compensation in the circumstances referred to. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War about this matter and he will be writing to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the orange juice supplied for the welfare foods scheme is imported from the West Indies; and what is the difference in the vitamin C content of this juice as compared with that included in the welfare scheme from other sources.

The percentage of total supplies of concentrated orange juice for the Welfare Foods Service obtained from the West Indies during 1954–59 was as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been received for development grants under the Agriculture (Small Farmers) Act; how many have been approved; and what is the average sum involved.

Up to 17th July, 18,938 applications had been received from farmers in England and Wales under the Small Farmer Scheme. 10,908 farmers have subsequently submitted farm business plans, of which 6,880 have so far been approved. The average amount of grant involved in plans approved up to the end of June is £692.In addition, 2,018 applications under the Supplementary Scheme had been received up to 17th July in England and Wales, of which 1,529 have been approved. I am glad to say that progress has exceeded our most optimistic expectations and great credit is due to those administering the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider having a register made of coming major agricultural meetings and other events throughout the country, and make such lists available to avoid the overlapping of dates and duplication of effort that now sometimes takes place.

This is a matter for mutual arrangement between the organisations concerned, and I could not justify maintaining a register at the public expense.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will state the effect the recent arrangement with Denmark concerning pigs and bacon will have upon British farmers in the immediate future, and as far as he can foresee the effect after two years have expired;(2) what action he is taking to protect British farmers against damage or loss due to the recent tentative agreement with Denmark in connection with pigs and bacon.

British farmers should not be affected because they are protected by the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme. The Government have given an assurance that, in fixing the guaranteed price of pigs, they will not take into account either the loss of revenue to the Exchequer arising from the removal of the tariff on bacon or the consequences of any reduction in market price caused by the tariff change. They have also given an assurance that the standard price for pigs will not be reduced at the next Annual Review.

asked the Paymaster-General if he will now state when he expects to receive the National Coal Board's report on the industry's future.

In the course of the next few weeks.

asked the Paymaster-General the cost to the nation of the recent cargo of experimental methane gas; what amount of coal would be required to produce an equivalent amount in this country; and if he will consider instead the desirability of utilising this country's own natural resources and helping to reduce the amount of coal now in stock.

On the first part of his Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Robens) on 14th May, 1959. The third experimental cargo has now been landed and has a coal equivalent of about 5,000 tons. When the time comes to consider the results of the experiment the considerations referred to by the hon. Member will be taken into account.

asked the Paymaster-General the latest figure of capital costs per kilowatt of electricity produced at electricity power stations using coal, and at nuclear power stations.

For the large stations now being built in this country the cost per kilowatt of output capacity is approximately £120 to £130 for nuclear stations, excluding the initial fuel charge, and £40 to £50 for coal-fired stations.A conventional station is of course between two and three times more expensive to run than a nuclear station.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will consider making public at longer notice than hitherto his future requirements for the siting of power stations, both nuclear and conventional, in order that local opinion may be enabled to assist him in the selection of the most acceptable sites.

It is the responsibility of the Central Electricity Generating Board to investigate possible sites for power stations and to apply for the consent of my noble Friend when it has found one which it wants to use.The Board always seeks to give the earliest possible notice of its potential interest in individual sites and the procedure under which my noble Friend considers its application for his consent is already designed to afford ample time for the formulation and presentation of the views of all interested parties.

asked the Minister of Supply what plans he has for developing a nuclear-powered aircraft suitable for military use.

Although my right hon. Friend is keenly interested and is keeping a close watch on the possibilities of nuclear propulsion for aircraft, he is not at present planning the development of a nuclear-powered aircraft. Research into the problems involved in the use of nuclear power for aircraft is continuing and we consult the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority as necessary. I do not think that the time has come for us to think in terms of developing a specific aircraft.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has now been made with the plans for the new hospital at St. Austell; and if he will make a further statement.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the plans for the new hospital at St. Austell; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is awaiting revised sketch plans of the maternity unit and he and I have ourselves recently discussed the timing of the scheme with the South Western Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Minister of Health how many new hospital beds have been provided in Essex for low-grade mental defectives in 1956, 1957, and 1958, respectively; and how many are to be provided in 1959 and 1960.

Separate figures of beds for low-grade patients are not available, but the number of beds provided, or proposed to be provided, by the North East Metropolitan Region for medium and low-grade mental defectives are:

asked the Minister of Health the number of general practitioners in Hull; what is the number of these who, in 1958, were able to send patients to the Townend Maternity Home; what were the grounds on which these doctors were selected; and why doctors in the poorer areas are not able to send expectant mothers, in the requisite special categories, from slum clearance houses to this National Health Service unit.

On 1st January, 1959, there were 149 general practitioners in contract with the Executive Council. No general practioner in Hull is debarred from referring patients to the Townend Maternity Home and the last two parts of the question do not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health the number of names on the surgical waiting list in Hull on 30th June; the periods of the maximum delay and in which categories of cases; and the number, out of the 508 cases of 30th April, which the Leeds Regional Hospital Board has since sent elswhere in the region to reduce the delays.

Five hundred and seventy-six adults and 91 children. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not readily available and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member. No specific arrangements have been made by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board to send cases on the waiting list to hospitals outside the Hull "A" Group.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulties experienced at night by a doctor in Hull with a serious emergency hospital case, in a slum clearance house with no telephone, to obtain a hospital bed without serious delay; and if he will make arrangements for such inquiries to be passed to a central bureau official with a register of beds and so avoid unnecessary delay to the disadvantage of both patient and doctor.

The arrangements in Hull for admitting emergency cases to hospital were explained in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply of 29th June, and I am not aware of this incident. If the hon. and gallant Member will send me details of any difficulties experienced by a general practitioner I will be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Health the date when he received the Government Actuary's report on the General Practitioners' Pension Scheme; when it will have had his full consideration; and when he will be able to make a statement or communicate with the hon. and gallant Member for Ripon on this subject.

The Government Actuary's Report on his valuation of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme, which includes the provision made for the superannuation of general practitioners, was presented to my right hon. and learned Friend on 27th September, 1957. As regards the latter part of the Question I am unable to add to the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on 20th July.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to institute an optional shortened form of marriage certificate, omitting details of parentage of the parties, which could be retained on the official records for reference when necessary.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of this matter and is considering the questions that are involved.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate annual value at actual and constant prices of the ingredients dispensed in each of the last ten years under the National Health Service at retail prices and at manufacturer's prices; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of the total drug bill and as a percentage of the total annual cost of the National Health Service.

The approximate annual cost—at drug tariff rates—of the ingredients dispensed under the National Health Service by chemist contractors in England and Wales in each of the

asked the Minister of Health why there is discrimination between applicants for propelled chairs;

Each case is considered on its merits according to the general criteria of which the hon. Member has already been informed. I have no powers under the National Health Service Act, 1946, to make grants to assist patients to buy or maintain their own machines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which British Colonial and Trust Territories his plans for assisting in the extension of library services include the provision of books for travelling libraries.

The provision of equipment and books for travelling library services will be among the forms of assistance available for colonial library development under the general proposals announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 22nd June. I shall not be in a position to say which territories will receive assistance in that form until consultations with the British Council and the Governments concerned on detailed plans have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what methods are employed for the provision of school text-books to pupils and teachers in Government schools in Kenya.

Each school is allocated funds by Government for the purchase of text-books, which are ordered by principals through the Kenya Government Supplies and Transport Department. The Ministry of Education Inspectorate chooses the text-books required for the syllabus, but principals may also, within their financial allocation, purchase supplementary books at their own discretion. The various Advisory Councils on Education are free to raise and discuss matters relating to text-books.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of money spent on European, Asian and African Education in Kenya in the financial years 1956–57, 1958–59 and 1959–60.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th June, 1959; Vol. 606, c. 1151], supplied the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in regard to the Co-operative movement in Tanganyika in 1958, what was the number of registered societies, the total membership, the total share capital, reserves and surpluses, the value of fixed assets, investments and working capital, the value of gross overall turnover and the actual turnover to African poducers only, respectively.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th July, 1959; Vol. 609, c. 21], supplied the following information:In 1958 the number of registered cooperative societies in Tanganyika was 546; the total membership 318,900; the total share capital, reserves and surpluses £2,493,112; the value of fixed assets £1,086,769; the value of investments and working capital £1,406,343; the value of gross overall turnover £10,897,538; and the actual turnover to African producers £9,769,929.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the Government of Trinidad and Tobago cancelled the celebrations for Cabinet Day and the inauguration of the Legislative Council on 26th June; and when these functions will take place.

The decisions to cancel the celebrations and advise the Governor to postpone the opening of the new Session of the Legislative Council were taken by the Premier. Dr. Williams gave a full explanation of his reasons in a public speech on the 3rd July, the text of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The new Session of the Legislative Council was opened on the 10th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the decision to transfer the police in Trinidad and Tobago to the control of a Minister of the Government of that territory provides powers to prevent smuggling through the United States base at Chaguaramas and the Piarco airfield.

The transfer of control over the police to a Minister in no way affects the powers of the police either in the prevention of smuggling or in any other field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the United States Government has now consented to the right of members of the police force of Trinidad and Tobago to arrest United States troops charged with smuggling, and the rights of the courts of the Colony to try them on such charges.

The provisions of the Leased Bases Agreement relating to arrest and jurisdiction have remained unchanged since 1950 and are set out in Articles IV and VI of the Agreement as amended (Cmd. 6259 as modified by Cmd. 8076).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made with the United States Government for the increasing use by their military aeroplanes of the airfield at Piarco, Trinidad; to what extent landing and parking fees and the cost of maintenance and repair are met; and how far the aeroplanes are required to observe the instructions of the Civil Aviation Department of Trinidad and Tobago.

Since the deactivation of their air-base at Waller Field the United States have been permitted by informal arrangement to make occasional use of the civil airport at Piarco. Problems arising from its increased use, including the questions of fees, cost of upkeep and observance of civil regulations, are the subject of discussions between the United States Consul-General and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what agreement the United States Government has established a tracking station at Tucker Valley in Trinidad.

The Leased Bases Agreement of 1941. (Cmd. 6259.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement has been signed with the United States Government for the establishment of a research station at Loran in Tobago; and for what purposes this station will be used.

No agreement has been signed and there is no present plan to establish a station in Tobago. The name Loran relates not to a place but to the function of a station once proposed as a long-range aid to navigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations are taking place with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, with a view to the revision of the Constitution in 1961 so as to provide for full internal self-government.

A Select Committee of the Legislative Council has been appointed and is now considering future constitutional development in Trinidad and Tobago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the provision which has been made or is being planned for establishing safety precautions for the population of Trinidad as a result of the use of radiation at the United States base at Chaguaramas in Trinidad.

At the request of the Trinidad Government, and with the co-operation of the American authorities, I hope to arrange for an expert from this country to visit the base at Chaguaramas to ascertain whether the operation of the missile tracking station there presents any hazard to the population of Trinidad and Tobago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is now proposed to recommend for appointment a West Indian as Governor of Trinidad and Tobago when the period of office of the present Governor terminates.

It is not customary to anticipate recommendations made to Her Majesty in matters of this sort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many teachers, barristers, doctors and cooperative and trade unions officials are among those detained from Nyasaland.

The information required is not immediately available, but I have written to the Governor of Nyasaland, and I will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Public Relations Office or Information Services Department of the Hong Kong Government has applied censorship of the English or Chinese language Press in Hong Kong in recent years.

I am consulting the Governor of Hong Kong and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the success on the Continent of the campaign waged by the Council of Europe for the abolition of customs documents for private motor vehicles. Her Majesty's Government will reconsider its policy in this matter and cease to impose this formality on tourists coming to this country.

I cannot accept that this is an unnecessary formality. Continental conditions are very different. The import duty and Purchase Tax on road vehicles imported here must be safeguarded and the facilities provided by the international carnet/triptyque system serve this purpose in a simple, convenient, and effective way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 3d. in June, 1953, 17s. 3d. in June, 1955, and 15s. 11d. in June, 1957; and what was the comparable figure for June, 1959.

Yes, on the basis of the Index of Retail Prices. The comparable figure for June, 1959, was 15s. 4d.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements have been made to give world-wide publicty to the Commonwealth Education Conference.

Arrangements have been made to give the maximum publicity to this important Conference.Before the Conference intensive efforts were made to make it known throughout the Commonwealth. Reference material, feature articles, photographs, prints of films, radio recordings and television interviews were provided. A booklet was specially written for the Conference describing the United Kingdom contribution to Commonwealth Education, and 100,000 copies are being distributed in Commonwealth countries.Throughout the Conference, Press, radio and television have been most cooperative in telling its story, particularly overseas. I am sure this will also apply when the Report is published tomorrow.I am considering follow-up publicity.The following statement gives detailed information:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what agreement has been entered into with the Government of the Union of South Africa with regard to the development of air strips and radar stations in Swaziland; and what consultation was held with the Swazi people regarding this development which is of great concern in the Protectorate.

As the House was informed on 24th November, 1955, the United Kingdom Government agreed to grant facilities to the Union Government to survey sites for the establishment of radar stations in Swaziland for possible use in defence in the event of war. The facilities do not extend to the development of air strips. Arrangements were made with the Swaziland Administration for the South African Air Force to carry out certain radar tests in June, 1957. The Paramount Chief was kept fully informed on both occasions.

asked the Minister of Works how many brickworks have been closed down in the south-west region during the past five years; what was the cause; and what steps are being taken to reopen them so that the shortage of bricks can be met without resorting to importation.

Since 1st January, 1954, twenty brickworks have closed down in the south-west region, largely through the then lack of demand for their output. Brickmakers are increasing production to meet high demands but stocks are better in some areas than in others.

asked the Minister of Education when the Middlesex County Council may expect to receive approval of the £8,000,000 capital works programme which will be necessary in the next two years to give effect to his direction for the improvement of educational facilities, in view of the fact that the delay in issuing this approval is causing delay in arranging the priority of the building programme.

My right hon. Friend will be writing to the authority shortly to let it know which school building projects it may start during the period 1960–62.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the eighty-five sites on requisition by his Department were already requisitioned in 1939; how many of these properties he proposes to acquire for his Department by purchase; and how many of them his Department proposes to occupy after the end of the year.

The dates of requisition of these various sites are not recorded centrally. I am collecting the information from our local agents and will send it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now received the application for special permission for members of the Stourbridge Borough Council to vote at the council meeting on 27th July, 1959, on the motion protesting against the disposal of council houses in circumstances which will cause the citizens of Stourbridge to lose £378,000 Exchequer subsidy, thus increasing the rents of all post-war houses by 2s. 11d. a week; whether he has granted such permission; and whether he will make a statement.

I have now received further applications from seven members who are tenants of council houses and I am granting them dispensation to speak and to vote on the general issue of whether or not council houses should be sold. There is no case, on the facts known to me, for enabling these members to vote on the terms and conditions on which houses should be sold to sitting tenants but, as I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 22nd July, they already have a dispensation which will allow them to speak on these aspects.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the confusion which now exists amongst local authorities regarding the sale of houses on which Exchequer subsidy is payable, he will immediately withdraw Circular No. 64 of 1952 pending the issue of the further guidance which he has promised to give to local authorities in the near future.

No. There has been no confusion among local authorities of which I am aware. But nothing could cause more confusion than to withdraw the present Circular without putting anything in its place.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the working party on rating valuation has now been formed; what its terms of reference will be; and whether it will be prepared to receive written statements from interested owner-occupier associations.

Discussions between officers of my Department and represent- tatives of the local authorities have begun, and will cover the whole field of rating valuation. This working party will be prepared to receive memoranda from any interested person or body. Memoranda should be sent to my Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs upon what date the New Radnor Rural District Council approached his Department about the provision of a water supply scheme for Walton and Old Radnor; what have been the causes of delays in connection with the scheme; and when the villagers can expect a supply of pure water.

The New Radnor Rural District Council first put forward a tentative scheme for supplying piped water to Walton and Old Radnor in February, 1953, but danger of pollution made it necessary to consider various alternative schemes. A public inquiry was held on 5th March, 1958, and the relevant order under the Water Act, 1945, was made on 23rd July, 1958. Since then I have been awaiting detailed plans from the council. Until these are received it is impossible to estimate when a supply will be available, but I am expecting them shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the reasons for the delay in providing either a temporary or permanent water scheme for the village of Beulah, Breconshire; and whether he will make a statement on the stopping of the regional scheme.

Beulah will be suplied with piped water during the second stage of the comprehensive water supply scheme of the Builth and District Water Board. Acceptance of the tender for this stage of the scheme was authorised by me on 2nd July. It should be completed in two years. I do not understand the hon. Member's reference to the stopping of a regional scheme, for no scheme in this area has been stopped.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, prior to authorising the sale of S. G. Brown Ltd., he will direct that there shall be inserted in the conditions of sale a condition that there shall be adopted a scheme of co-partnership approved by the employees and the present management to enable all employees of this firm to have the opportunity of sharing in any benefits from its past and future development towards which all have loyally contributed.

The considerations by which the Government would be guided in disposing of Messrs. S. G. Brown, Limited, were outlined by me in the debate on 25th June, and in the Answer given by my noble Friend in another place on 8th July. These included features designed to safeguard the interests of the employees, and I cannot go beyond what was said on those occasions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now make a statement on the future of the Naval Ordnance Design and Inspection Pool.

Following recommendations of the Nihill Committee, the Board of Admiralty has decided to cease recruiting officers to the present Pool of officers employed on ordnance inspection, research, design and experimental duties, set up with effect from 21st November, 1929. Probationer officers other than ex-Emergency List will be given the option of returning to the General List, on a date to be announced, or of remaining under Pool conditions, subject to satisfactory completion of probation. In the event of their choosing to take the latter course, they will have the opportunity of applying for transfer to civilian conditions as indicated below.The Board intends that the posts at present filled by Pool officers shall eventually be manned from the General List and by civilians in appropriate Civil Service gradings. The exact number of posts to be filled from each source has not yet been determined.The remaining Pool officers will gradually be replaced by officers from the above sources. It is hoped to transfer all suitable officers to appropriate civilian conditions should they so desire, or alternatively they will be given the option of remaining under the regulations for service in the Pool. Further details, including the numbers of civilian posts, of the competitions and of the qualifications required for them, will be announced later.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give an undertaking that the effective date for the beginning of the new rates of retirement pension, now under preparation, will be dated from 1st August, and not from the date of completion of the Warrant.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is now taking with regard to the recommendations of Lord Tucker's Committee on Proceedings before Examining Justices.

The Report of the Committee on Proceedings before Examining Justices is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed account of how the £45,950 expenditure in the financial year 1957–58 on those civil defence functions in West Sussex for which he is responsible was achieved; and what proportion of the total sum spent on civil defence in the county his expenditure represents.

The aggregate civil defence expenditure by the county council in 1957–58, as approved for grant purposes by the several Departments concerned, amounted to £47,275 18s. 0d. of which £45,699 19s. 9d. including £3,293 12s. 6d. for the Auxiliary Fire Service, relates to functions for which I am responsible. The figure of £45,950 previously given to my hon. and gallant Friend has been adjusted after audit Details are as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider replacing the expression National Assistance by the expression Social Security, which is more indicative of the service rendered and the needs which are met.

No. But I would draw my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the change in the phraseology used on the order books of the National Assistance Board which I have announced today in Answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge (Mr. Hornby).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he is prepared to assist financially with the extension of the jetty at Bayble, Isle of Lewis, in order to provide better shelter and landing facilities and encourage development of the local fishing.

I cannot add to the Answer I gave the hon. Member on this subject on 29th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent and in what ways he proposes to assist Ross and Cromarty County Council to provide a fishery pier at Brevig, Broad Bay, Isle of Lewis; and what he regards as a reasonable estimate of cost, based on his reconsideration of the scheme.

The form and extent of any assistance given for this project must depend on the nature of any revised proposals the county council may submit as a result of the further examination it is giving to the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he is prepared to offer financial assistance for the extension of the jetty at Portnaguran, Isle of Lewis, in order to provide better protection and shelter at all tides and to encourage further the development of the local fishing industry.

I should be prepared to consider any proposals for the extension of Portnaguran Pier which Ross and Cromarty County Council, as the responsible harbour authority, may put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will enable the local authorities to provide a jetty at Kirkibost, Bernera, Isle of Lewis, to allow the local fishermen to land their catches and to shelter and service their boats in safety; and to what extent he is prepared to assist financially with this scheme.

I have offered the County Council of Ross and Cromarty a grant of 75 per cent. of the cost of constructing a jetty at Kirkibost, subject to a maximum of £3,900.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the recently published "Review of Highland Policy", he will now assist Inverness County Council financially with the construction of the proposed road at Flodda, Benbecula, where agricultural and other development is being retarded through lack of regular and safe transport connection to the rest of the Uist and Benbecula area.

No specific proposals for the construction of a road at Flodda, Benbecula, have been submitted by the County Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now reconsidered the proposal for a causeway to Baleshare, in the Isle of North Uist; and what decision he has arrived at in the light of the new Highland policy statement. "Review of Highland Policy".

Consideration of the revised proposals submitted by the county council for this causeway is well advanced, and I hope it will be possible to reach a decision on them fairly soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to publish the Criminal Statistics for the year 1958.

As soon as possible after a settlement is reached in the dispute in the printing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to bring the arrangements in respect of the appointment of justices of the peace into line with the practice in the rest of the United Kingdom by abolishing the fees at present charged in Scotland.

The only fee payable by a justice when he is appointed to a Commission of the Peace in Scotland is the fee payable to the clerk of the peace, who makes the arrangements for him to take the necessary oaths. The amount of this fee, at present 16s. 3d., is fixed, along with the amounts of other fees which form the remuneration of clerks of the peace, by the Court of Session. The question whether other arrange- ments could be made for the payment of this fee will be considered when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the present position in regard to the plans to speed up goods traffic by fitting vacuum or air brakes to goods wagons.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that the proportion of freight train mileage run by trains fitted with vacuum brakes has now risen to 36 per cent. By the middle of 1960 virtually all merchandise wagons will have been fitted with vacuum brakes. Further progress in fitting mineral wagons depends on the provision of an improved form of coupling satisfactory to both industry and the railways, and experiments are now being carried out with various types.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what part of the London area the technical committee advising on particular sites for helicopter stations in the London area intends to cover.

Initially the Committee will consider the possibilities within the area covered by the Administrative County of London. If it needs to go outside, the Committee will seek advice from the planning authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent complaints he has received from the Town Clerk of Aberdeen and from members of the business community in Aberdeen complaining about defects in the air services between Aberdeen and the south, indicating the nature of these complaints; and what immediate steps he is taking to improve and rectify the matters complained of.

I have seen two letters, complaining of the delay and inconvenience caused to passengers travelling between Aberdeen and London by B.E.A. due to their having to change aircraft at Edinburgh or Glasgow. As the hon. and learned Gentleman is aware from Answers to previous Questions, this is a matter of day-to-day management for which B.E.A. is responsible, subject to the right of any persons to make representations to the Air Transport Advisory Council in accordance with Section 12 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1949, if they are dissatisfied with the facilities provided by the Corporation.