asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent Her Majesty's Government were previously consulted before a statement was issued from the International Monetary Fund calling for the removal of discriminatory trade restrictions imposed for balance of payment reasons.

The United Kingdom is represented on the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund, and the United Kingdom Executive Director concurred in the decision that was taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will favourably consider the abolition of Purchase Tax on safety footwear.

Protective boots designed for use by miners, quarrymen or moulders are already exempt from tax. There are difficulties, however, in extending this exemption to all safety footwear.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will make a statement on the transfer of a Government Department to Durham.

I am sorry that I am not yet in a position to make a statement, but I will continue my predecessor's efforts to find a suitable Government office for transfer to Durham.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider making a further concession in regard to the payment of postwar credits.

I keep under review the question of further releases of post-war credits, but I cannot make any statement at present.

asked the Prime Minister if he will call an early meeting of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers so that there may be a concerted Commonwealth policy at the Summit Conference.

I have already begun consultations with other Commonwealth Prime Ministers about the date of the next Prime Ministers' Meeting, and I hope to be able to make a statement to the House before long.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now announce the full membership of the Commission which is to carry out a review of constitutional developments in the Central African Federation, and the terms of reference.

I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to announce the membership of the Advisory Commission. I hope to be able to do so shortly. I announced its terms of reference to the House on 21st July.

asked the Prime Minister what changes he contemplates in the duties of the Minister of State for Scotland.

No change is contemplated in the duties of the Minister of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now place a model of the proposed redevelopment of Tower Hill, adjacent to All Hallows' Church, in the Upper Waiting Hall.

For the convenience of hon. Members, I hope to be able to arrange for a model of this scheme to be displayed in about a month's time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now confirm the Eden Street No. 3 Compulsory Purchase Order, concerning 2–56 and 3–63, Eden Street, Liverpool, about which a public inquiry was held on 28th July, 1959.

My decision confirming this Order was issued last week.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will introduce legislation to bring broiler houses within the Town and Country Planning Acts.

It would be feasible to bring broiler houses under planning control by order, without further legislation. But the whole subject is one on which I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and at present I am not in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he intends to give guidance to local authorities regarding the sale of pre-war council houses; and when he proposes to withdraw Circular 64 of 1952.

I shall be issuing a new circular shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that the compensation of the gross rate able value made to owner-occupiers of dwellings is inadequate and inequitable to men who have put their life savings into their homes; and if he will introduce legislation to increase this amount to the market value of the house.

Compensation based on the gross rateable value is only a minimum, designed to ensure that, however small his interest, no owner-occupier of an unfit house shall receive a purely nominal payment. This minimum provision was established by the Town and Country Planning Act, 1959, and it is too early yet to judge how it is operating. Compensation at the market value of the house is provided by law for owner-occupiers of unfit houses bought between 1939 and 1955 when prices were high and before slum clearance had been resumed. Other owner-occupiers receive the value of the cleared site together with a payment for good maintenance wherever that is appropriate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what protection is available under his regulations to householders who find their homes invaded by fumes and noise from nearby factories, particularly in areas where the homes were established before the factories.

Various general statutes contain provisions controlling emission of fumes and I am sending the hon. Member a note of these. As regard noise some local authorities have powers under local Acts: failing those, the only remedy is by way of injunction. Local planning authorities take noise and air pollution risks into account when considering industrial planning applications.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) how many houses at the latest convenient date remained rent-controlled in London, as defined in Command Paper No. 17 of November, 1956, and elsewhere in England and Wales;

About 750,000 rented houses were de-controlled in England and Wales on 6th July, 1957, nearly 200,000 of these being in London. That left about 4¼ million under control, including 600,000 in London. There are no figures of the number becoming de-controlled each year on vacant possession, though pre-war experience suggests that this might be of the order of 3 per cent. per annum, which would now mean de-control of about 125,000 houses annually. I cannot split this figure, which is itself no more than an estimate, between London and the Provinces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many merchant ships have been repaired or refitted in Malta dockyard since it was handed over to Messrs. Bailey.

Eighty-one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the £29 million granted to Malta under the next five-year plan will go to the reconstruction of the dockyard; how much of the remainder will be raised by local loans; and what proportion will be regarded as a loan to the Island to form the basis of the first national debt for the Colony in transforming it from a fortress economy to a peace time one.

I assume that the question relates to the recently announced Development Plan (the first of its kind) for the period 1959 to 1964, copies of which have been placed in the Library.Of Her Majesty's Government's contribution of £29 million towards the total cost of £32 million, £6 million will be in the form of loans to the firm of Bailey (Malta) Limited for the modification and extension of the Dockyard and the establishment of ancillary industries. No part of the £29 million will be raised by local loans; it will all come from Her Majesty's Government. It is proposed, however, to raise the balance of £3 million by local loans during the five-year period. Approximately £7 million of the moneys provided by Her Majesty's Government will be in the form of loans to the Government of Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the steadily deteriorating position in Malta; and if he will now take steps to meet the elected representatives of the people with a view to restoring the constitution before the position becomes worse and a situation similar to that in Cyprus develops on the Island.

I cannot accept the implication of the first part of the Question. I am, of course, in close touch with the Governor on the political situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about land tenure in the African reserves and White Highlands in Kenya.

My right hon. Friend told the House on 22nd April that the policy of the Kenya Government would be to aim at the progressive abolition of racial and tribal land barriers, and that the basis of management and tenure of all agricultural land would be similar, so far as local economic and agronomic factors permit.The enactment of the Native Lands Registration Ordinance and Land Control (Native Lands) Ordinance has since conferred freehold title by registration upon all Africans who held customary rights amounting to full ownership, and set up a system of Divisional and Provincial Control Boards to prevent fragmentation and undesirable transactions in the native lands. The Sessional Paper recently presented to the Legislative Council contains proposals to extend the new policy to all land in the rest of Kenya. I have placed copies of the Paper in the Library, and I commend it to the careful study of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the proposed Kenya constitutional conference.

As I told the House yesterday, provisional arrangements are now being made for the Conference to open in Lancaster House on 18th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to discourage more West Indians from coming to Great Britain.

British subjects are free to enter this country without restriction. All possible steps, however, are taken to ensure that intending emigrants from the West Indies are made aware of the conditions they are likely to meet in the United Kingdom, with particular emphasis on prospects of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied, in view of the dollar trade liberalisation policy, that adequate steps have been taken to safeguard the West Indies citrus industry from United States competition; and if he will make a statement.

I am fully aware of the difficulties which dollar liberalisation could involve for the West Indies citrus industry. As my hon. Friend knows, this matter was gone into very thoroughly with the West Indies delegation during the summer. Since then my officials have had discussions both with the delegation from the Florida citrus industry which visited London at the end of August and also in Washington with officials of the United States Government. Good progress was made at these talks, and I am hopeful that a solution will eventually be reached which, while protecting the interests of the West Indies, will be satisfactory to the United States Government and compatible with Her Majesty's Government's international obligation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking in the preparation of the new Nigeria Constitution to ensure that the Opposition in the Federation of Nigeria shall be effective after independence; and if he will consider the setting up of a small permanent secretariat for the purpose of assisting the Opposition in its work in the Federal Parliament of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Constitution on independence will be on the lines agreed at successive Nigerian Constitutional Conferences, at which all shades of political opinion, including parties in opposition, were represented. Many safeguards for democratic liberties will be entrenched in it, and these should permit effective parliamentary opposition. The novel proposal in the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken to supply an ice-breaker for the Falkland Island Dependencies.

Inquiries have been made, without success, about chartering or sharing an ice-breaker. New construction would be very expensive but the question is being further examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will arrange for a copy of the Devlin Commission Report to be made available to every official of Her Majesty's Colonial Service; and whether he will ensure that an adequate supply of copies of the Report is available for sale to the public in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia.

All Colonial Governments have been sent copies and I do not propose to arrange any exceptional distribution. I will certainly see that supplies for sale in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia are enough to meet demands there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the circumstances which necessitate the continuance of a state of emergency in Nyasaland.

I have nothing to add to my statement in yesterday's debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been reached by the United Nations General Assembly regarding the period of the British trusteeship of the Southern Cameroons, and the terms of the plebiscite determining the future of the territory.

The United Nations General Assembly has recommended that the United Kingdom as the Administering Authority should take steps in consultation with the Government of the Southern Cameroons to implement the separation of the administration of the Southern Cameroons from that of the Federation of Nigeria not later than 1st October, 1960; that the arrangements for a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of the territory concerning their future should begin on 30th September, 1960, and that the plebiscite should be concluded not later than March, 1961; and that the two questions to be put at the plebiscite should be:—

"(a) Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Federation of Nigeria?

(b) Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Republic of the Cameroons?"

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the total numbers of workers in all forms of paid employment in Tanganyika, at the last convenient date, for the African, Asian and European communities.

The total number of African workers reported in all forms of paid employment in Tanganyika in July, 1958 was 431,000. The figures for non-Africans of 14 years and over, based on the last Non-African Population Census held in February, 1957, were as follows:

Asian	…	12,000
European	…	9,000
Others	…	3,000
Total	…	24,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Bahamas are covered by a co-operative ordinance; and what further legislation for the registration of co-operative societies is at present contemplated.

I have asked the Governor for this information and will write to the hon. Member when I have it.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made with the proposals for reconstructing numbers 10 and 12 Downing Street.

The architect is making good progress with work on his plans, but they are not yet completed.

asked the Minister of Works what is the maximum number of people the east bridge on the Serpentine will safely accommodate.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Dell bridge at the east end of the Serpentine. It is estimated that at least 500 people could safely stand between the two balustrades there, provided that there was no heavy pressure on the balustrades themselves.

asked the Minister of Works in what circumstances he closes parts of Hyde Park to the public from time to time; and if he will state the reasons which determine his decisions for temporary closure.

Parts of Hyde Park are temporarily closed from time to time for parades, reviews and sporting events. But as the Royal Parks are intended for general enjoyment, events of this kind are permitted only when they are traditionally associated with the Park or are considered consistent with its character and likely to be welcomed by most Park users.

asked the Minister of Works when work will be completed on the Link Building at Chiswick House and on the buildings in the grounds which are now the responsibility of his Department.

At the rate of work at present planned, the Link Building and Summer Parlour should be completed in about four years, and the garden ornaments and structures about a year later.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the population of the Muirhead, Chryston, area in 1945 and at the present time; and what is the estimated population when the present housing development is completed.

As this is not a recognised administrative area, I regret that figures of population are available only for census years. In 1951 the electoral division, including the villages of Muirhead and Chryston, had a population of 8,819. When the present housing development is concluded, some 1,100 houses to accommodate about 4,500 people will have been built in the area since 1951, but many of these people were no doubt already in the area before that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the proposed routing of a dangerous power line through the grounds of the Camphill-Rudolf Steiner School for children in need of special care at Murtle House, Aberdeen, instead of through the little-used Den of Murtle, in respect of which an appeal has been made to him, has aroused feelings of concern amongst parents all over Great Britain; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I have been discussing the matter with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. I understand that the school has commenced an action for interdict against the Board and, as the matter is before the courts, it would be improper to comment further at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to meet the request of the town councils of Inverkeithing, Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath, as well as other councils in Fife, and of the Fife County Education Committee, to end the employment of schoolchildren for potato gathering.

Subject to the enactment of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill which is now before the House, I intend to continue progressively to reduce the number of children exempted from school to assist in the potato harvest, and to dispense entirely with their employment as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to authorise a start on the second Clyde tunnel.

I have today authorised Glasgow Corporation to accept a tender for the construction of the second of the twin tunnels under the Clyde at Whiteinch. The cost of this tunnel will be almost £4 million on which grant will be payable at the rate of 75 per cent. The contract will provide that it should be completed by mid-1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums have been paid from public funds to Lords High Commissioners of the Church of Scotland in each year since 1951.

The sum paid has been £4,000 in each year except 1952, when it was £2,750, and 1953, when it was £3,750.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total number of hospital beds occupied at the latest convenient date and the percentage occupied by patients suffering from mental ill-health.

The total number of hospital beds occupied at 31st March, 1959, was 54,721. Of these 20,786, or 38 per cent., were occupied by patients suffering from mental and psychoneurotic disorders, and 4,909, or 9 per cent., by patients suffering from mental deficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the numbers of persons over 65 years of age who were certified as being insane in the years 1928–58, inclusive.

In 1928, 510 persons aged 65 or over at the time of admission were admitted to Scottish mental hospitals as certified patients. The corresponding figures for the last three years are 1,049 in 1956, 1,014 in 1957 and 939 in 1958. I regret that figures for all the intervening years could not be obtained without undue labour.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many Royal Navy officer cases requiring in-patient treatment for mental disorders have passed through the Army Psychiatric Unit at Netley in the last 10 years.

One hundred and twenty-five.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects to be able to announce his intentions with regard to the recommendations of the Roberts Committee on the Structure of the Public Library Service in England and Wales.

Not yet. I am at present considering the Committee's recommendations in the light of the comments of the bodies most affected by them.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total number of hospital beds occupied at the latest convenient date and the percentage occupied by patients with mental and nervous illnesses.

The daily average number of beds occupied during 1958 was 418,000, of which 48 per cent. were occupied by patients suffering from mental disorder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement giving brief particulars, with dates, of all accidents reported during the years 1956, 1957 and 1958, and so far during the present year, in which death or injury has been caused to any person or animal by a firearm carried, used or possessed by a juvenile.

The only information available for the country as a whole relates to the number of accidents involving the use of air weapons. The numbers of cases reported to the police in England and Wales of injury to the person caused by air weapons discharged by persons under the age of seventeen years were as follows:

—		1956	1957	1958
Fatal injuries	…	—	—	—
Serious injuries	…	66	92	86
Slight injuries	…	435	556	633
TOTAL	…	501	648	719

For firearms, other than air weapons, used by persons under the age of seventeen, the only figures available are those for the Metropolitan Police District. In 1956 no case was reported of injury to the person; in 1957 there was one case, involving the use of a shotgun; and in 1958 there was one case, involving the use of a shotgun, in which death was caused.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men who registered for National Service over six months ago and have not been called up.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to men born in the third quarter of 1939, who were required to register for National Service last January. The number of these men who have not yet been called up is about 60,000.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men were employed by the National Coal Board in the Shotts, Harthill, Salsburgh, Cleland area in 1951; how many are now employed; and how many will be employed in 1960.

In 1951 there were 4,000 men on colliery books in the districts mentioned compared with 2,150 at present and an estimated number of 2,120 at the beginning of 1960.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will list the collieries which have been closed in the Lanarkshire North Constituency since 1951 and the number of jobs lost as the result of the closures.

Since 1951, Headless Cross No. 2, Stanemine, Stanepit, East Benhar, Calderhead, Southfield and Blairmuckhill collieries have been closed. Before closure these collieries employed 1,300 men and closures were arranged so far as possible to fit in with development of collieries elsewhere so as to make it possible to transfer redundant miners to other pits. After allowances for the new jobs elsewhere, the net loss of jobs was 379.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the high rate of unemployment existing in the County of Durham and to the fact that a number of coal mines have been scheduled for closure by the National Coal Board over the next few years; and what proposals he has in mind for bringing new industries into the county.

I am aware of the high rate of unemployment which exists in parts of the County of Durham and that some of the coal mines to be closed over the next few years under the National Coal Board's plans are in the county. The Board will continue in its efforts to attract new industry to the county and, under the proposals in the Local Employment Bill, will be able to take into consideration any imminent threat of high and persistent unemployment brought about by pit closures

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for an exhibition in the Palace of Westminster to enable hon. Members to see a selection of designs for bridges which are to be built for his Department.

Yes.