asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet decided, following his recent consultations with representatives of Youth Service in Scotland, to establish a committee to consider the needs of the service.

I have decided to set up a Standing Consultative Council for Youth Service with the following remit:

"To secure the greatest possible measure of consultation and co-ordination, both nationally and locally, among the statutory authorities and voluntary organisations engaged in youth service, and to promote the development of the service."

The Council will be representative of the statutory and voluntary bodies working in this field, and I shall announce its membership as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet consulted the medical profession with regard to priority allocations for maternity beds in hospitals, as recommended by the Montgomery Report; and if he will now make a statement.

I asked regional hospital boards in April to review their systems of admission to obstetric units in order to ensure that the best use is made of available accommodation and that bookings of beds are honoured and to let me have a report on the arrangements in their area by the end of October.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce, in respect of the proposed new trades college at Dundee, the date on which he informed Dundee Corporation of his agreement to its provision, the estimated, date for the start of building operations, and the estimated date of completion.

The education authority was informed in 1954 that the proposal to provide this college was agreed in principle, and the detailed accommodation to be provided was agreed in February, 1958. The estimated starting date for the project is August, 1960, and the estimated date of completion August, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now announce the membership of the Committee of Inquiry into the Scottish licensing law.

I am glad to say that Lord Guest has agreed to be Chairman of the Committee. I will announce the names of the other members as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Advocate if he has yet completed his consideration of the steps to be taken to enable Scottish courts in criminal matters to award costs to acquitted persons; and why he has not yet referred this problem to the Scottish Law Reform Committee for their consideration and report.

The problem to which the hon. and learned Member refers is a complicated one, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, and I would prefer to await the report of the Committee at present considering legal aid in criminal cases before deciding whether it should be investigated and, if so, whether it should be investigated by the Scottish Law Reform Committee or by some other body.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further consideration has been given to the desirability of the introduction of a decimal currency system, in view of its recent adoption by another country in the Commonwealth.

No recent consideration has been given to this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to bring the financial year into line with the calendar year.

No. I am by no means sure that there would be any balance of advantage in such a change.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the amount of Premium bonds sold between March, 1957, and March, 1959.

Sales of Premium Savings Bonds in March, 1959, were 57 per cent. higher than in March, 1957.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current cost of preparing a reply to a Parliamentary Question, including the preparation of information necessary to deal with supplementary questions; and how this compares with the cost of replying to a similar question by letter.

I regret that the calculation of average costs of either alternative would entail an unjustifiable outlay of time and money. There is little doubt that the average cost of preparing answers to Questions would be substantially higher than replies to letters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the assessment of small maintenance payments as unearned income for tax purposes imposes hardship on certain separated wives; and whether, in view of this, he will take steps to see that the benefits of the earned income allowance are shared between husband and wife in these cases.

Maintenance payments as a class do not rank as earned income for tax purposes, and therefore I see no ground for making any special arrangement in the type of case to which the hon. Lady refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many postwar credits have been repaid under existing regulations, giving separate figures for the different categories of applicant where possible.

From 1st June, when repayments of post-war credits under the existing regulations began, until 10th July, the latest date for which figures are available, approximately 750,000 repayments were made. I regret that separate figures are not available for the different categories of applicants

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider paying post-war credits to those signing the unemployed register, irrespective of their employability.

I shall bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when it becomes possible to consider a further release of post-war credits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive and publish the report of the Radcliffe Committee on monetary policy.

I understand that the Committee hopes to complete its Report by the end of this month. I expect that it will be published as soon as possible after it has been received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases tax arrears are still due in respect of the years 1941–42, 1942–43 and 1943–44.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not conclude any agreement with the Outer Seven which could prevent Great Britain or any other country of the Seven from subsequently joining the European Economic Community.

A major objective of the Stockholm Group in the present negotiations is to facilitate an association of the Seven with the European Economic Community in arrangements covering all members of O.E.E.C.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to the surplus stocks of 30 million tons of British coal, what conversations took place in Stockholm about re-opening on a large scale markets for British coal among the Outer Seven countries, notably in Scandinavia.

None. These conversations were about general arrangements for the removal of trade barriers among the Seven, not about individual industrial products. British coal exports to the Seven will share in the advantages of these arrangements though they are already free in almost every case from tariffs or quotas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the negotiations about fish products with the countries concerned in the Free Trade Area.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 23rd July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made with his examination of the present arrangements for the making-up of private streets, with particular reference to the heavy financial burdens involved for frontagers; and when he expects to conclude this work.

Before effective progress can be made with examination of the present arrangements a great deal of further information is needed from local authorities about them. It is clear to me that the extent of the problem and the practice of local authorities vary greatly from place to place. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary explained in replying on 30th June to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F Medlicott) and the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Harold Davies), I have been in consultation with the local authority associations about the information to be collected. These consultations are now completed, so that a start can shortly be made on collecting it.As my hon. and gallant Friend is probably aware, this is a most complicated and difficult subject, and it will be a considerable time before I am in a position to announce any conclusions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many prosecutions there have been during each of the last five years in respect of the discharge of crude untreated sewage from passenger trains on to the roadway at level crossings and the consequent infringement of local byelaws; and how many were successful.

My right hon. Friend has no information about prosecutions of this kind, nor is he aware of any bye-laws under which they might be brought.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will introduce legislation to give local authorities power to designate sulphur-oxide-free zones, as well as smokeless zones, in the areas for which they are responsible

T am afraid that in the present state of scientific and technical knowledge it would not be practicable to achieve arrangements on the lines contemplated by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, in view of the acceptance of new salary scales for teachers, he will now make a statement on the general grant to local authorities.

I am satisfied that the increased cost to local authorities which will result from the pay scale for teachers recommended by the Burnham Main Committee, which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education has now approved, will justify an amending General Grant Order, which will be submitted to the House for approval in due course.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the Welsh Association of Local Authorities may expect an answer to their request for a meeting with representatives of his Department to discuss the incidence of strontium 90 in Wales and methods of testing milk, water and foods for radioactivity.

The request was received early this month. My Welsh Office has already been in touch with the Honorary Secretary of the Association, and arrangements for a meeting are being made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that considerable anxiety and hardship is caused to certain professional men and shopkeepers in view of the provision in the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954, whereby they can be evicted from their occupation of premises if the landlord claims that he wants them for his own use even though he may not have any need for such occupation; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this position in general and, in particular, with regard to such premises which were decontrolled under the Rent Act, 1957.

It is not correct that a tenant can be evicted under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954, in the circumstances stated. Before the landlord can obtain possession of business premises for his own use, he must establish to the satisfaction of a court that he genuinely intends to occupy the premises for the purposes of his business or as a residence. If he establishes such a case, the tenant is entitled to compensation. If he fails to establish a case on this or the other grounds provided in the Act, the tenant is entitled to the grant of a new tenancy. The only premises of this kind which were decontrolled by the Rent Act were those occupied partly for business and partly for residential purposes, and since decontrol those premises have enjoyed the same protection as other business premises. I do not think that protection calls for enlargement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the intention of the Bucks County Council to demolish the tower of the old town hall in Chesham without waiting for the outcome of the public inquiry into the siting of the relief road in that area, of the widespread local concern in this matter, and of the possibility of a local appeal for funds to repair the tower and so preserve it from demolition; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

The council told my right hon. Friend recently that it had decided to demolish the tower because it appeared to be dangerous. My right hon. Friend is aware of the local concern and of the possibility of an appeal for funds. He has urged the council to make the tower safe for the time being without demolishing it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received about drainage from Batchelor's factory in Willenborough, Kent; and what advice his Department has given.

My right hon. Friend has received a complaint about the arrangements under which certain waste waters from the factory are discharged on to land at Smeeth, but he is satisfied the rural district council has the matter under observation and is fully alive to the need to prevent any statutory nuisance. The council has not asked for any advice and my right hon. Friend has given none.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now make a further statement about the proposal to fell parts of Buckland Woods, Dartmoor.

The problem here arises because these woodlands have suffered from neglect in the past, and a well considered plan for their long-term rehabilitation is necessary. Their present owner, in the course of discussions with the Devon County Council as local planning authority, the Forestry Commission and the National Parks Commission, has amended his original proposals. He has expressed his willingness to plant a higher proportion of deciduous trees, and to refrain from felling in various parts of the woods. His proposals, while acceptable to the Forestry Commission and the local planning authority, still fall short of what the National Parks Commission would like to see.I have asked the Forestry Commission to use their best endeavours to secure, in their negotiations with the owner for a dedication agreement, a closer approach to the National Parks Commission's recommendations. I think a solution of a difficult problem is now within sight, and in these circumstances I have accepted the suggestion made to me by the local planning authority that the tree preservation order which they submitted some months ago should not now be confirmed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why, having on 5th May, 1959, dismissed an appeal of Mr. Martin against a refusal to grant planning permission for a bungalow at Biggin Hill because it was contrary to general policy on the Green Belt, he agreed on 20th May, 1959, to the erection of 48 married quarters at Biggin Hill for Royal Air Force officers, about half of whom will be working at the Air Ministry, despite the objections of the Kent County Council and the Orpington Urban District Council; and why the principle applied to dwellings for private individuals is not applied by him to dwellings for officers at the Air Ministry.

My right hon. Friend raised no objection to the Air Ministry's proposal because it seemed a proper exception to the general restriction on new building in the green belt. I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of the letter conveying my right hon. Friend's decision to the Kent County Council which gives his reasons in greater detail.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has yet given his approval to the Braintree and Bocking Urban District Council's scheme to draw an emergency supply of water from the Braintree Rural District Council.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is now in a position to make a further statement on the progress of the trials being carried out by the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents with a new detergent material.

For some months now, as an experiment and with the ready co-operation of the manufacturers concerned, the packeted synthetic detergents marketed in the Luton area have been based on the alternative surface active material mentioned by the committee in their second report. The effect on the detergent content of the effluent from the local sewage works has been systematically observed. It is still not possible to say definitely that the new material solves the problem, but the tests so far show that a higher proportion of detergent is being removed during treatment and that there has been a marked reduction in the content of surface active material in the River Lee several miles below the works. The results to date therefore are encouraging; the trials are continuing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what measures have most recently been taken to alleviate the cement dust nuisance in West Thurrock.

The programme for rebuilding electrical precipitators at cement works in this area was completed in 1958. Effort is now being concentrated on getting maximum efficiency out of the precipitators by regular examination and strict maintenance

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what are the reasons for his refusal of consent to the borough of Heston and Isleworth, under Section 40 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, to their acquiring, at an agreed price, with the vendors, the freehold interest in the land situate on the west side of Green Lane, Hounslow, forming part of Windmill farm, having an area of four and a half acres, as a site for the re-location of factories not zoned for industrial purposes in the Middlesex Development Plan.

My right hon. Friend's reason for refusal of consent was that the agreed price was substantially in excess of the District Valuer's estimate of the value of the land.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received from individual owners or from the local authority about hardship inflicted by the Selsey Bill scheme under the Coast Protection Act, 1949; what directions he has given to the authority to publish the basis of calculating individual charges; and what is the estimated cost of the scheme, the proportion of government grant and the approximate date of completion.

The scheme will cost about £500,000, of which approximately one half will be paid by the Exchequer; I understand it will be completed next spring. My right hon. Friend has given no directions as to the publication of the basis on which individual charges are assessed, but Section 7 (3) of the Coast Protection Act provides that they are to be related to the increased value of property following the construction of the works. My right hon. Friend has received no representations from any property owner. When the charges to be levied on owners have been determined, any person aggrieved will have the right under Section 7 (6) of the Act to appeal to my right hon. Friend on the grounds that they are inequitable or unduly onerous.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of dissatisfaction on the part of local authorities and owners of property at the working of the Coast Protection Act, 1949; and if he will introduce amending legislation.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) what progress has been made in providing the villages and townships in the Ripon and Pateley Bridge rural district with a piped water supply; and when the schemes will be completed;(2) if he will state the cost of the schemes for providing the Ripon and Pateley Bridge rural district with a piped water supply; how much of the cost will be met from the rates; and how much will be paid from the Exchequer.

Since 1950, when approximately half the houses in the rural district were supplied, schemes have been, or are being, carried out which will bring the number of houses supplied up to about 95 per cent. of the total. Schemes now being carried out should be completed by August, 1960.The capital cost of all these schemes will amount to some £350,000. Exchequer grant has not yet been assessed on all schemes and it is not at present possible to say how much of the cost will be payable out of the rates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs at what date he first received application for planning permission for the Stag Brewery Site, Victoria, S.W.I; and whether he will make a statement.

This application was made to the London County Council as local planning authority, and not to me. On 16th March I was consulted about it by the London County Council. It raises difficult issues, but I have this week informed the Council that I am content with the action they now propose to take on it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has received Sir Arton Wilson's report on his investigation in regard to residential caravans; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I expect to receive Sir Arton Wilson's report in the course of the next few days, and will arrange for it to be laid before Parliament and published as soon as possible. The report will not contain recommendations, but it will, I understand, provide a full statement of the facts of the problem and of the views and suggestions put forward by the various bodies whom Sir Arton Wilson has consulted. In the light of Sir Arton Wilson's findings and in consultation with the local authority associations and other bodies concerned I propose to undertake an immediate examination of the policy questions involved and of any legislative changes that may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the newspaper, Dissent, has been banned in Nyasa-land; and if he will now lift the ban.

The publication in Nyasaland of Dissent was banned because its importation into the Protectorate was considered to be contrary to the public interest. The ban cannot be lifted at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consideration has been given to the establishment of a university in British territory in the Mediterranean area designed to serve the needs of the Middle East.

Much careful thought has been given over some years to the establishment of such a university, but it has not yet proved possible to solve the many practical problems which this proposal presents. Meanwhile I hope and expect that there will continue to be a large number of students coming here from Middle East and Mediterranean countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that, in compiling the electoral register for the Northern Cameroons, African women resident in the area were completely excluded from the electoral roll; and what representations he has had regarding this matter;(2) what representations he has received in connection with the electoral roll recently completed in the Northern Cameroons; and what request he has had for the postponement of the plebiscite on the grounds that the electoral register is unrepresentative.

In accordance with the United Nations resolution of last March the plebiscite in the Northern Cameroons will be held on the new Federal electoral register which for that area provides for adult male suffrage. I have received one letter about this from an organisation in this country, but have not heard of any suggestion that the plebiscite should be postponed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in the knowledge of the findings of the Devlin Commission, he will give instructions for the immediate release of Dr. Hastings Banda.

No. The state of emergency in Nyasaland and the views of the Devlin Commission thereon were debated in the House this evening.

asked the Minister of Works what further action he proposes to take to carry out the recommended repair and reconstruction of numbers 10. 11 and 12, Downing Street.

As my right hon. Friend said in his reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 2nd June, the Architect is now developing his plans. This will take several months.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will take steps to water the grass in Parliament and Grosvenor Squares in dry weather.

Water sprays have been used recently because of the exceptionally hot and dry weather; permanent equipment was on order for future use.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he will take to augment the supply of bricks, the shortage of which is affecting building in Swindon and prejudicing the rate of development there.

National brick production in June was 626 millions compared with 585 millions in April and 562 millions in May. In the South Western Region the figures were 12·5 in June; 11·1 in April and 9·9 in May. I have every expectation that production in the second half of the year will be greater than in the first.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research will consult engineers employed at firms who manufacture diesel engines on such problems as the prevention of air pollution from diesel engine fumes, the maintenance of diesel engines, the prevention of fumes in underground works by the use of exhaust scrubbers, as in mines; and if he will give the utmost urgency to the study of the application of present methods in minimising this form of air pollution.

The Motor Industry Research Association and the British Internal Combustion Engine Research Association, the co-operative industrial research organisations which are supported by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, are in close consultation with the designers and engineers of member firms manufacturing diesel engines on problems concerning the reduction of exhaust fumes from such engines. The Warren Spring Laboratory is in touch with firms interested in the problem of minimising pollution by diesel engine exhaust gases and is expediting investigations into the purification of diesel exhaust gases by catalytic afterburning.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones were outstanding in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, respectively, at the most recent convenient date, and how many 12 months before.

At 30th June this year, there were 75 applications on the waiting list in Lincoln and 602 in the rest of Lincolnshire, as compared with 53 and 488, respectively, a year ago. In addition, a total of 882 applications were under inquiry or in course of being met in the county as a whole. During the past 12 months nearly 4,000 telephones were installed in Lincolnshire.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has considered the recent letter from the town clerk of Aberdeen enclosing a letter from Mugiemoss Mills, Aberdeen, complaining about the defective postal and air services between Aberdeen and the South; if he will take immediate steps to rectify the matters complained of; and what reply he has sent to the town clerk of Aberdeen.

Offence Group					Indictable Offences known to the Police
					1957	1958	Percentage Variation
Violence against the person	…	…	…	…	10,960	12,137	+11
Sexual offences	…	…	…	…	18,635	17,691	-5
Breaking and entering	…	…	…	…	105,042	131,132	+25
Larceny	…	…	…	…	360,985	409,388	+13
Frauds and false pretences	…	…	…	…	26,235	29,415	+12
Receiving	…	…	…	…	8,619	10,002	+16
Malicious injuries to property		…	…	…	2,965	3,607	+22
Forgery	…	…	…	…	4,689	5,376	+15
Robbery	…	…	…	…	1,194	1,692	+42
Other offences	…	…	…	…	6,238	6,069	-3
Total	…	…	…	…	545,562	626,509	+15

The number of persons found guilty of indictable offences increased in 1958 by 12 per cent. This included unusually large percentage increases in the figures for girls and women under 30. Among

Age Group			Males			Females
			1957	1958	Variation per cent.	1957	1958	Variation per cent.
Age 8 and under 14	…	…	23,697	26,050	+10	1,580	2,033	+29
Age 14 and under 17	…	…	18,149	21,628	+19	1,681	2,064	+23
Age 17 and under 21	…	…	16,962	21,322	+26	2,059	2,461	+20
Age 21 and under 30	…	…	24,964	27,499	+10	2,498	2,975	+19
Age 30 and over	…	…	32,156	32,835	+2	7,174	7,847	+9
Total	…	…	115,928	129,334	+12	14,992	17,380	+16

I have considered the letter and I am sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of the reply which has been sent to the town clerk. I do not regard the postal services between Aberdeen and the South as defective, and I see no prospect at present of our making any substantial changes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the trend of crime in England and Wales in 1958, as compared with 1957.

The Criminal Statistics for 1958 show a further large increase in the number of indictable offences known to the police. The proportionate increase compared with 1957 was greatest in the groups of offences classified as robbery and breaking and entering. The following table gives the figures for 1957 and 1958.males the increases were greatest at ages 15 to 20. The following table gives an analysis of the number of persons found guilty of indictable offences in 1957 and 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the law relating to illegitimate children and to make recommendations for its amendment in the light of modern developments in the fields of divorce, adoption, guardianship and the devolution of property.

No. We have the report of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce and that of the Committee on the Law of Intestate Succession, and if the Legitimacy Bill now before Parliament passes into law we should give the new provisions a little time to operate. These and other considerations point to postponing any further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent increase in the number of crimes of violence involving the shooting of innocent persons, he will re-consider his decision not to grant an amnesty prior to the surrender of firearms, such as was done in 1946.

I have no power to grant an amnesty. It is the normal practice of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to put no obstacle in the way of any person who wishes to surrender firearms or ammunition to the police, and I understand that other chief officers of police generally follow the same practice. I do not consider that a special appeal, of the kind made in 1946 in the special circumstances which then existed, would be of value at present.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the statutory registration of medical auxiliaries.

Yes. The Government have considered a scheme for statutory registration worked out with the representatives of the medical auxiliaries concerned, the views of the medical profession on that scheme, and the comments of the professional bodies on those views, and have decided to introduce legislation at an early opportunity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will instruct his Department's graders at bacon factories to mark all pigs with their appropriate grading in order to prevent low-grade pigs appearing on the market as high-quality bacon.

I am informed that there would be considerable technical difficulties about my right hon. Friend's suggestion. However, the Pig Industry Development Authority have been asked to advise on the whole question of quality standards for pigs and I am inviting their attention to this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour what number and percentage of young persons in the Stornoway area who left school this summer have not yet been placed in employment; and how many have been placed locally.

Of the 256 children who left school on 1st July, 19, including 11 who were seeking apprenticeships under my Department's training allowances scheme, have registered for employment. Many others have not yet registered for employment because they are on holiday or at camp., Seventy-seven leavers have applied for pre-vocational courses. The number in local employment is 28 and the percentage not yet at work is 88.

asked the Minister of Labour what investigations he has made through the British Productivity Council or other similar bodies into costings of preservation, identification and packaging work by Remploy Ltd., by the manufacturers of goods so identified, and by specialist firms.

None. Remploy inform me, however, that their prices for this work are based on a similar structure to those of other firms and are fully competitive.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of work done in the Remploy Factory, St. Helens, is Government supplied; and what is the future policy of his Department so far as continuity of employment for disabled people in the country as a whole.

I understand that during the first six months of this year direct Government contracts accounted for 28 per cent. of the work done at this factory. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my speech in the debate on the employment of disabled persons on 21st July.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the value of orders placed direct by Government Departments with priority suppliers during the last financial year, compared with the financial year 1954–55.

In the financial year 1958–59, the value of orders placed by Government Departments with priority suppliers (excluding the prisons) was £1,501,471. The corresponding figure for 1954–55 was £2,298,174.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what assistance he is giving to those employees who are dismissed whilst waiting for National Service call-up papers;(2) if he will make an appeal to all employers not to dismiss, or make redundant, young men who are waiting to do their National Service; and, where there are young people unable to obtain work because of their imminent call-up, if he will consider the provision of a Ministry of Labour Trade Training Centre in the St. Helen's district.

During 1958, nineteen men complained of dismissal from employment because of liability for whole-time National Service. This is a very small figure in relation to the numbers called up and indicates that the great majority of employers show proper consideration towards young men awaiting call-up. I do not think that training centre facilities for young men awaiting call-up would assist them. If a young man has to enter the Armed Forces, it is best to arrange that he should do so without delay if he happens to become unemployed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will issue a list of schemes

—		Estimated completion date	Estimated Total cost
			£
London and approaches
A.40	Western Avenue—Pt. III Alperton Lane to western end of Underpass and Park Royal Station Bridge, Middlesex (Trunk Road).	Summer, 1960	210,000
	Elephant and Castle (L.C.C.)—Part II	Summer, 1962	941,000
	Queen Victoria Street (preliminary works) (City of London Corporation).	Spring, 1961	137,000
	Ilford Lane (Ilford T.C., Essex)	Early, 1960	110,500
Urban schemes
	Canterbury Road, Margate (Kent C.C.)	Spring, 1961	233,000
	Cowick Street (Exeter C.B.C.)	Summer, 1960	111,000
	Inner Ring Road (Part I) (demolition works) (Wolverhampton C.B.C).	Autumn, 1960	146,000
	Gateshead—Felling By-pass (Gateshead C.B.C.)	Spring, 1961	798,000
	Leeds Ring Road (final part) (West Riding C.C.)	Summer, 1960	247,000
	Link road between A.45 and A.50 (Northampton C.B.C.)	Spring, 1960	160,000
	Hills Road Bridge, Cambridge (Cambridgeshire C.C.)	Late, 1960	116,000
	*Eastgate Square and Paris Street (Exeter C.B.C.)	Autumn, 1960	176,000
	*Inner Ring Road (Coventry C.B.C.)
	Part I (Quinton Road-London Road) (site clearance)	Summer, 1960	314,000
	Part II (London Road-Swanswell Terrace) (demolition works).	Summer, 1960	394,000
Other roads
	Great Missenden By-Pass (Buckinghamshire C.C.)	Early, 1961	235,000
	Bebside-Sleekburn Diversion, including Kitty Brewster Bridge (Northumberland C.C).	Summer, 1961	286,000
	Methley Bridge (West Riding C.C.)	Late, 1960	145,000
Trunk Roads and motorways
A.56	Barton Road Stretford to Dane Road, Sale, Lancashire	Spring, 1960	300,000
A.46	Thurmaston By-Pass, Leicestershire	Summer, 1960	210,000
A.1	A.428 to Eaton Socon By-Pass, Bedfordshire	Late, 1959	120,000
A.34	Oxford Ring Road Western By-Pass, Berks.	Late, 1960	1,765,000
A.556	North wich By-Pass, Eastern Section, Cheshire	Summer, 1960	440,000
A.49	Warrington Boundary to A.573, Winick widening, Lancashire.	Summer, 1960	150,000
A.1	Wetherby By-Pass to Allerton Station By-Pass, West Riding	Summer, 1960	640,000
A.1	Wansford and Water Newton Diversions, Huntingdonshire	End of 1959	270,000
A. 184	Gateshead to Felling By-Pass, Durham	Autumn, 1960	440,000
A.34	Stafford boundary to Strongford Bridge-(Pt. III A.51 to Meardale Cottage), Staffordshire.	Late, 1960	200,000
A.48	Flambert Farm to Penhow, Monmouthshire	Summer, 1960	300,000
A.20	Maidstone By-Pass Western Section, Kent	Summer, 1960	1,110,000
A.1	Wentbridge By-Pass to Ferrybridge By-Pass, West Riding	Spring, 1960	360,000
A.4	Maidenhead By-Pass (Bucks and Berks)	End of 1960	2,780,000
A.487	Oakley Drive, Gellilydan Diversion, Merioneth	Spring, 1960	160,000
A.614	BIyth By-Pass, Nottinghamshire	Summer, 1961	320,000
A.1	North of Boroughbridge By-Pass to Dishforth Cross Roads, North Riding.	Spring, 1960	160,000
A.40	Headington roundabout to Oxford City boundary	Summer, 1960	100,000
A.1	Stamford By-Pass, Lincolnshire	End of 1960	1,000,000
A.1	Wansford Bridge to Carpenters Lodge, Soke of Peterborough.	End of 1960	380,000
A.43	Oxford N.W. By-Pass, Oxfordshire	Summer, 1960	190,000
A.1	Doncaster By-Pass, West Riding	Summer, 1961	5,560,000
* Blitzed City Schemes.

The schemes are:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) if he will give an estimate of the percentage which would have to be added to the cost of working one shift if road repairs and construction were worked in two shifts, and three shifts, respectively, so producing the finished result, in a half to roughly one-third of the time now taken for such operations;(2) what greater speed in completing roadworks he estimates could be made if such road work were carried on in two or three shifts instead of the present one shift arrangement.

The time saved and the additional cost would vary greatly from one scheme to another; but, very broadly speaking, compared with one-shift working two-shift working would complete a scheme in about three-quarters of the time at 5·15 per cent. increased cost, while three-shift working would halve the time at a 15·25 per cent. increase in cost.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the unnecessary expense to tourists going to the Continent arising by reason of the fact that they cannot join their touring coaches in this country but are only permitted to join them overseas; and whether he will take steps to remove this restriction.

IMPORTS OF SEWING MACHINES INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM SPAIN AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC
Imports from						1948	1958	5 months January-May, 1959
Spain	…	…	…	…	Number	—	32,918	19,031
Irish Republic		…	…	…	Number	29	11,470	14,453

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action it is proposed to take under the Merchandise Marks Acts or otherwise on imports from Eire by the Japanese subsidiary

Tours operated under road service licences can already pick up passengers in this country. I have no power to exempt Continental or any other tours which carry passengers in this country from the normal licensing system.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many sewing machines have been imported from Japan, or from Japanese subsidiaries or selling agents, by the Superior Sewing Company, the Atlas Sewing Company, and the Whitfield Sewing Company during 1958 and 1959; and what applications he has received from these firms for licences for importing spare parts for future maintenance.

One since the beginning of 1958. It is not the practice to disclose particulars of applications for import licences, or of imports, by individual firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Alpha, Brather and Novum sewing machines manufactured in Japan, or made in parts and sent to Spain and Eire for assembly, were imported into Great Britain during 1948, 1958, and 1959.

Neither the brand of machine nor the country of manufacture of machines or components is available from the import statistics. Imports of sewing machines from Spain and the Irish Republic are as follows:called the European Sewing Machine Co.; and what arrangements have been made for granting import licences for spare parts and replacements.

If the hon. Member can provide me with evidence of a contravention of the Merchandise Marks Acts, I will consider it. Licences are not required for imports of sewing machines or parts which originate in the Irish Republic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the danger caused to the sewing machine industry by unfair competition from cheap machines imported from Japan; and what action he will take, by the invocation of anti-dumping legislation or otherwise, to protect the industry from this.

The Board of Trade have not received an application for the imposition of an anti-dumping duty on sewing machines imported from Japan and are not therefore considering any action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act.