asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) if he will make a statement indicating the steps which the Government intend to take as a result of the Report of the Commonwealth Education Conference, Command Paper No. 841;

The Report of the Conference reflects the profound belief in the importance of education held in common by all the members of the Commonwealth; the United Kingdom Government accept the recommendations of the Conference wholeheartedly and for their part will do all they can to promote the Conference's objective of ensuring that the educational resources of the Commonwealth are shared more widely. The Government propose that £6 million should be spent over the next five years on the United Kingdom contribution to the various educational programmes recommended by the Conference.

While thanking the Minister for that Answer and while realising that the Report is only four months old, may I ask him to particularise, either now or in a letter to me, what steps he is taking to advance technology and science in the areas concerned and what provision he is making for students from those areas to visit other areas?

If the hon. and learned Member, who, I know, is interested in this subject, would care to come to see me, I will be only too glad to discuss these matters with him and give him ail the information I can.

The Minister of State will have noticed that there is scarcely any reference in the Report to the whole subject of adult education, which is of great importance. Will he consult his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, who is tremendously interested in the problem of adult education, and see whether some provision can be made within the terms of the arrangements?

The right hon. Gentleman will realise that although there is no reference to adult education as such, the scholarships to which a great part of the plan refers are scholarships of a post-graduate nature, which will, of course, assist in that direction, at least to some extent.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) whether the London administrative unit to carry on the work of the Commonwealth Education Conference has now been set up; what staff are employed; and what is the estimated annual cost;

A meeting of representatives of Commonwealth countries took place in London last month to consider the administrative arrangements recommended by the Commonwealth Education Conference. My noble Friend is in touch with other Commonwealth Governments about the conclusions of this meeting, and I hope to be able to make a statement soon.

I thank the Minister for that Answer. Can he assure us that, whatever other difficulties there may be in the way of this modest administrative unit, there will be no financial difficulties, as far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned? Will he also state that he will provide as much information as possible about the work of this committee? An informed public opinion is very necessary if there is to be a vigorous follow-through to the work of the Commonwealth Education Conference.

I can assure the hon. Member and the House that we are most anxious that the maximum amount of publicity should be given to what we regard as a most important development in Commonwealth relations. As for finance, I have already said that Her Majesty's Government are making available £6 million. I think the hon. Member can be assured that out of that sum there will be no difficulty in finding the necessary moneys for the unit to which he has referred.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement on the programme for Commonwealth Weeks in the United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth Exhibition will open in Liverpool on 19th November. It will be the focal point of Commonwealth Weeks to be held in a number of major cities during the next eighteen months. I am glad to say that Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret has graciously consented to inaugurate the Weeks in Liverpool. The Weeks immediately following will be held in Leeds, in January, Birmingham, in February, and Norwich, in March.

I welcome the news that Her Royal Highness will open this exhibition, being sure that she will receive a great welcome in Liverpool, but will my hon. Friend ensure that in future planning local branches of the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Victoria League and the Overseas League will be consulted?

My hon. Friend's supplementary question deals with the representations made on behalf of some societies for the display of their leaflets at the exhibition. The exhibition is not very large, since it is a mobile one, but we are taking every step to associate all those societies with the work of the Weeks. Indeed, we have invited all those societies not only to give their active support but to make any contribution they can to making these Weeks a success.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what recommendations have been made by the Joint Advisory Council for the establishment of a Legislative Council for Bechuanaland; and how far these recommendations were unanimous.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement about the recommendation of the Constitutional Commission set up by the Joint Advisory Council in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

The Committee of the Joint Advisory Council has recommended that a Legislative Council consisting of 21 elected members, 4 nominated and 10 official members, with the Resident Commissioner presiding, should be established with powers to pass legislation for the Territory, subject to reserve powers in the hands of the High Commissioner. The Report also recommends that an Executive Council should be created, to consist of 2 European and 2 African unofficial members of the Legislative Council, together with 6 officials.

While welcoming this as a beginning to the legislature for Bechuanaland, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether it is intended to have any period for a review of these proposals, which by no means represent racial equality or anything like democracy?

I remind the hon. Gentleman that the Committee of the Joint Advisory Council, consisting of both European and African members, was unanimous in its recommendations and that the Joint Advisory Council itself, which also consisted of European and African members, was unanimous in endorsing them. The House can, therefore, be assured that there is wide support amongst all races for, I do not say necessarily the detailed, but at least the general lines upon which this proposal has been put forward.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what decisions have been reached regarding the control of mineral rights in Bechuanaland, the leasing of these rights to a private company, the training of Africans in skilled crafts, trade union organisation, and the provisions of housing estates with schools and clinics in the vicinity of the mines.

As the Answer to the hon. Member's five questions is inevitably detailed and lengthy, I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Why was this agreement kept secret? Will the Minister do his utmost to prevent the occurrence in Bechuanaland of a repetition of the deplorable labour conditions in Johannesburg, and give the Africans the opportunity to learn skilled trades?

The hon. Member will be aware that this agreement is one between the company concerned and the Bamangwato tribe. It is, therefore, in the interests of the two partners—if I may use that expression, which I regard as a proper and appropriate one—that the extent of the agreement should not be published until they themselves have completed their negotiations.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the revenues and funds arising from this concession will go to the Protectorate exchequer, or will their use be limited to the tribe which is responsible for the agreement?

I appreciate the point to which the hon. Member is referring, but before answering it I would prefer to see the final negotiations completed between the tribe and the company.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what reply has been given by the High Commissioner for the Protectorates to the memorandum presented to him by the Joint Committee of the Basutoland Congress Party and the Basuto National Party on the subjects of the diamond concession, the Riotous Assembly Act, and the administrative record of Mr. Chaplin, the Resident Commissioner of Basutoland; and what reply he gave to the memorandum of the Basutoland Congress Party on the subject of the Draft Local Government Proclamation.

The High Commissioner in his reply to a memorandum from the Basutoland Congress Party stated that its comments on the Local Government Proclamation and the Diamond Mining Agreement were noted; that the constitutional instruments had been settled in consultation with the Paramount Chief and representatives of the Basutoland Council; and that the draft Basutoland Peace Proclamation was being held over for discussion in the new Basutoland National Council. The reply went on to say that the High Commissioner deplored the attack made in the memorandum on the Resident Commissioner and expressed the full confidence of my noble Friend and the High Commissioner in Mr. Chaplin and his devotion to the interests of the Basuto nation.

In view of the fact that this document was from both the major parties in Basutoland, would it be possible for not only the Riotous Assembly Act, but the other matters, including the diamond concession, which for forty-two years has been in effect a subsidiary of De Beers, to be held up so that they can be discussed by the new National Council?

Concerning the diamond concession, the Paramount Chief has appointed representatives to look after the interests of the Basuto nation and I see no reason to suppose that the interests of the Basuto nation in this matter will not be properly safeguarded.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the discussions in which he has been participating regarding a British contribution to a settlement of the problem of the Indus waters.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 18th June. Since then representatives of the International Bank and of the Governments of India and Pakistan have held discussions, which still continue, directed to the negotiation of a treaty. The International Bank has made proposals to Her Majesty's Government and to other friendly Governments for a scheme for the financing of the settlement which it is hoped will be reached and these proposals are under consideration.

Does the Minister agree that, in the light of the unfortunate international relationship which is now developing between India and China, the much better relations between India and Pakistan are one of the most hopeful features in this area? Can he assure us that Her Majesty's Government will do everything they can, financially, to make sure that the scheme for the Indus waters goes ahead as quickly as possible?

All friends of India and Pakistan will welcome the great improvement that has taken place in the relations between the two countries. As friends of both countries, so far as we are able to help in any way we will certainly do so.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent the new training college being built at Lyallpur in Pakistan is receiving financial or other aid from Her Majesty's Government under the Colombo Plan.

The United Kingdom Government have undertaken to supply the textile training centre at present being built at Lyallpur with the bulk of its training equipment, to finance and recruit from this country four lecturers for the centre, including the principal, and to provide training in the United Kingdom for potential teaching staff from Pakistan.

Is the Minister aware that there is a second project available in that area for training officers in cooperative societies in co-operative work, that this has recently come before the Colombo Plan Committee, and that there has been some offer of support from the Canadian Government? Is he also aware that the Punjab has been the cradle of co-operation ever since the British Government helped to foster it there in 1908? Can he give an assurance that the Government will support the work of co-operatives in that area, through the new institute which is now being proposed? Will he couple the name of the famous registrar of the British Indian Civil Service, Sir Malcolm Darling, with this kind of work?

That is rather a different question from the one on the Order Paper. If the hon. Member wants me to give him information about it I hope he will put down a Question. The future policy of this institution must be a matter for the Pakistan Government and not for us.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make representations to the Government of the Republic of India to ensure that intending migrants from India to the United Kingdom shall be furnished with bona fide British passports.

Throughout the difficult situation created by the arrival at United Kingdom ports of a number of migrants from India, some of whom were travelling on forged passports, we have had the fullest co-operation both from the Government of India and from their Acting High Commissioner in the United Kingdom.

I thank the hon. Member for that reply, but is it not a fact that the cost of repatriating these illegal imigrants was borne by the British Treasury? Does not my hon. Friend consider it reasonable, in the circum-stances, to suggest to the Indian Government that they should bear the charge, since these illegal immigrants came here as a result of evading the Indian law?

The question of financing repatriation is one for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. As I said in my main Answer, we have had the very closest co-operation from the Indian Government in dealing with a matter which they regard as being against their interests, just as much as it may produce complications for the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will approve the building of a primary school on the Sherwood Estate in Tunbridge Wells.

I regret that my right hon. Friend cannot add this school to the building programmes already announced.

Will my hon. Friend take note that there has been very strong feeling locally about the lack of a school such as this in the Sherwood Estate area? Will he also take note that the application for the building of this school has appeared on the priority programme of both the Divisional Executive and the Kent County Council?

Yes. It is agreed by my right hon. Friend that there should be a school on the estate. We have many more pressing claims on our resources for the next few years.

asked the Minister of Education (1) by how much the supply of school dentists falls short of the number necessary to provide an adequate service; and by what date the present shortage will be remedied;

asked the Minister of Education in view of the widespread concern at the deterioration that has taken place in the school dental service, what action he has taken to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1951, when the number was at its lowest, there has been an increase of the equivalent of more than 300 full-time school dentists. In 1958 the number was over 1,000, but twice as many are needed to provide a fully comprehensive service. The shortage can be overcome only by a general increase in the supply of dentists. This is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health with whom my right hon. Friend is, of course, in close touch.

How far are the Government pressing forward with supplementary services such as dental nurses, with I hope no discrimination against men—let both women and men take up the job—and hygienists? The Parliamentary Secretary must be aware that the record of the Government in the past few years is appalling, but we should all now like to co-operate to give the maximum help in the minimum time to the children.

I do not think that the House will accept the final condemnation of the Government made by the hon. Lady. I assure her that the other two parts of the supplementary service are being proceeded with by my right hon. and learned Friend.

Is it not a fact that the situation has worsened? Can the Parliamentary Secretary deny that in some places there are 600 or 700 children to one dentist? How can he and his right hon. Friend be so complacent? Why are they not trying to stir the Minister of Health into getting some in the schools and, under their own steam, inaugurating a campaign to encourage children to look after their teeth more and eat fewer "lollies"?

The hon. Gentleman does not help his case by his vehemence. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] The fact is that there are now the equivalent of about 300 more whole-time school dentists than there were in 1951. That is not a deterioration in the service. We are, nevertheless, very concerned to see an improvement and my right hon. Friend is co-operating with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health.

Is the hon. Member aware that he does not help his case by his evasiveness? How many dental hygienists are now in employment?

If the right hon. Gentleman will put that question on the Order Paper I will endeavour to answer it.

Has not this a direct relevance to the number of dentists available?

I have to rely on the terms of the Questions addressed to me. I try to answer them.

On a point of order. I tabled a specific Question asking the Minister:

"what emergency measures he has considered to deal with the present shortage of school dentists; and if he will indicate their nature."

That is not a point of order.

As my hon. Friend has pointed out, the Minister was asked what steps he is taking to deal with the shortage of dentists. In preparing his Answer to that Question, surely he acquainted himself with the numbers of hygienists being brought into training. Can he not tell us?

I have answered the Question on the Order Paper. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] The House, I have no doubt, has taken note of the Answers given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health in an exchange in the House on Monday.

Is it not quite clear to hon. Members on this side of the House, if it is not equally clear to hon. Members opposite, that the decision, taken after very considerable investigation, to employ dental hygienists in New Zealand, which was adopted when I was there, was aimed at saving the work of skilled dentists? Therefore, the one has a direct relationship with the other.

I have already informed the House that both the hygienists and the auxiliaries are being prepared for the service.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary give some indication of the scale of the operation now taking place? Are there 50 or are there 100 being trained? Where are they now trained?

Those supplementary questions are appropriate to my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health and not to me.

On a point of order. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the Answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Education if he will invite the National Foundation for Educational Research to investigate further the disparity between the numbers of public school and State entrants to the older universities, and the respective performances of both groups, as shown in the study recently conducted by the Cambridge University Sociological Society, a copy of which has been sent to him by the bon. Member for Itchen.

My right hon. Friend is still examining the document which the hon. Member was good enough to send him a few days ago. The universities themselves, of course, are responsible for the selection of students and they are most directly concerned with the performance of undergraduates.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the study seems to show that twice as many public school boys as State grammar school boys go to Cambridge and that, when they get there, they do half as well? If that is true, does not it seem to indicate that the whole method of selection at Cambridge University should be looked into in the interests both of education and justice?

The report is being examined by ray right hon. Friend, and I do not think that I would be wise to go further than that at this stage.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the progress being made to implement the proposals in the White Paper, Secondary Education for All.

My right hon. Friend has already approved school-building programmes for the two years 1960–61 and 1961–62, so that local authorities may plan ahead. The programmes provide for work to start on about 1,300 projects. More than half of these are for the reorganisation of all-age schools and improvements. Plans for adding 16,000 places to the training colleges are already in train and my right hon. Friend is reviewing the various means by which the number of teachers might be further increased.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is already absolutely clear that the proper development of secondary education cannot be achieved within the financial provisions of the White Paper? Is he aware that many local education authorities are very greatly disturbed by the savage cuts that his Department has made in their proposals for school building for secondary education in the next two years? Is he also aware that the Kent Education Committee envisages, after calculation, that the proper improvement of their secondary education will take, not five years as set out in the White Paper, but thirty years? In view of the urgent necessity to improve secondary education, will the Government review the White Paper and its proposals?

What has emerged is that the White Paper proposals are fundamentally sound, and that we are quite right to proceed with them as fast as we can. But we cannot do everything at once. We must use our resources to the best possible effect.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that, whether the proposals are sound or not, they cannot be put into operation unless the local authorities have sufficient money, and that the money provided for them for the first two years in general grant has already been shown to be insufficient because the assumptions in the general grant Order as to what would happen to the salaries of teachers have already been falsified? What does he intend to do about that?

Nevertheless, the proposals in the White Paper for the first two of the five years are basically sound, and we propose to continue with them.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, whether he will publish, in full, the Report of the investigations made by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research into the machine-tool industry.

asked the Minister of Education as representing the Minister for Science, whether he will make a statement as to the findings of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on the condition of the machine-tool industry.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, whether he will now publish the Report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research dealing with the size, efficiency, capacity for research, and future prospects of the machine-tool industry.

The Report of the investigations of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research into the research and development requirements of the machine-tool industry was circulated in full, and in confidence, to the leaders of the industry, with whom D.S.I.R. is now discussing the conclusions and recommendations of the Report. The Department received considerable help from the industry in making the investigation and was given information by the co-operating firms on the understanding that no publication was intended. In these circumstances, my noble Friend does not feel that it is open to him to agree to the publication of the Report. With regard to Question No. 28, pending the conclusion of the discussions now in progress my noble Friend considers that it would be premature to make any further, statement.

If the hon. Gentleman ever sees the noble Lord the Minister for Science, will he ask him if he does or does not consider that the condition of this industry is of national importance and that the publication of the Report is urgent? Will he also ask him if he is aware that there is a general view that the industry undertakes far too little research and development, particularly into the use of electronic controls on machine tools; that there is increasing competition from Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the United States and especially from Russia, where they are commencing the mass production of automatic machinery; that the British industry employs far too few university graduates, having recruited two last year when the German industry recruited five hundred—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—and that in general this is an industry in which very severe Government intervention is urgently needed?

Whatever the truth in the detail of those remarks, I think that they all fit into the statement I made that when my noble Friend has had discussions with the industry he will be in a better position to decide whether to make a further statement.

We are asking why the nation cannot be told the nature of the Report. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the machine-tool industry is the genesis of most of the manufacturing industries of Britain? Therefore, it is not a question of whether the people running the machine-tool industry are satisfied: it is a question of the economic health of the people and the levels of employment. Will he, therefore, ask his noble Friend to look again at our request that there should be a public report of the findings of the D.S.I.R.?

I think that we must rely on my noble Friend, when he has completed his discussions, to decide whether he can make a further statement which may deal with some of the points raised by the hon. Gentleman.

Is the Minister aware that the matter is urgent as well as serious? Is he aware that, if he were to walk through a major Coventry motor factory, he would find that the most advanced machines are German, Swiss or French? Further, is he aware that the decline in the industry, represented by the drop in the order book from nearly £90 million in 1957 to about £60 million today, is directly due to inadequate investment in research and development and also an undue, though profitable, concentration on traditional designs? What will the Government do to bring the industry into line with foreign competition?

The Government now have the benefit of the Report, and I think that they ought to have a chance to consider it.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, whether he will ask the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to carry out an inquiry into the textile machinery industry, similar to that recently carried out on the machine-tool industry.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research proposes to investigate in turn the research and development needs of those industries which, on the available evidence, appear not to be attracting a sufficient share of the nation's resources for technological development. My noble Friend will bring to the attention of the Research Council the suggestion of the hon. Member that the industry making textile machinery might be included at an early stage in their plans.

Will the hon. Gentleman convey to his noble Friend the view, commonly held, that this industry is another of those that is losing ground today to overseas competitors because of inadequate use of research and development departments and of graduate scientists and engineers, with the result that most of the inventions in textile machinery are coming from abroad? Will he ask his right hon. Friend to ask his noble Friend whether the machine-tool and textile-machinery industries are not, in fact, a test case for the appointment of a Minister for Science? Or is that just a piece of flannel to blind the electors to the real facts about our British industries, and is it a fact that it is not intended that the Government should take action at all?

I informed the hon. Member that my noble Friend would have his attention drawn to the hon. Gentleman's remarks. I do not think that I should go further.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that one of the two main purposes of the Cotton Industry Act that the House passed in July of this year was to enable the mills that remained in the industry to re-equip themselves with modernised machinery, very largely—indeed, almost entirely—at the public expense; and that it therefore becomes increasingly necessary that the British textile-machinery industry should be ready to deal with what may be a very large demand?

It would be very wrong for us to overlook the very creditable record of this industry. My noble Friend is willing to draw the attention of the Committee to the remarks made in the House today.

Is my hon. Friend aware that certain sections of the textile machine building industry are at present selling large quantities of their products to Russia, and that the Russians buy only the finest machines in the world? It is dreadful that hon. Members who know so little about the building of textile machinery should speak as they do.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that I have had a letter from one of the major production managers of one of the most successful textile machinery firms, which confirms every word that I have said?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern arising from the widespread destruction of bees by the increasing use of chemical sprays; what consideration has been given to the matter; and what action by his Department is contemplated.

I agree that concern was caused by serious losses of bees last June, but these were due to abnormal weather conditions. I consider that the best way of meeting this problem is by co-operation between farmers, spraying contractors and beekeepers, and by continued education and advice. My Department is helping in all this. For instance, a meeting this month has been arranged of all the interested organisations to discuss the present position.

In view of the evidence of famous scientists about the misuse of sprays, will the Minister bear in mind that many experts think that it is about time that a Royal Commission made an investigation into the effects of these sprays, as there is a feeling that their use is doing a tremendous amount of damage?

As I have said, we are very much in touch with this situation, but I do not think that we should be too alarmist. Bees have remarkable social habits. The men do no work. The working population consists of the females, except for the queen. I am glad to say that in this case my advice is that, although much of the working population may have been destroyed, the colonies usually recover.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this relates not only to bees? Tomatoes are also involved, and so are other things. As these sprays constitute a considerable danger to neighbours, is it not time that there should be supervision?

As the Question was connected with bees, I am sure that the hon. and learned Gentleman will be good enough to put down a Question to me on the general subject of sprays.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the vegetable prospects during the next few months; and what action is contemplated by his Department to ensure reasonable supplies.

The exceptionally dry summer has reduced the yields of some vegetable crops, and home-grown supplies of root crops and greens will be below average. Vegetables should, however, be in reasonable supply during the next two months, and if the improvement which has followed the recent rains continues there should be better prospects for cauliflowers and spring greens in the new year.

In view of the Minister's rather hopeful statement, may the housewife take it that during the next few months the price of vegetables will not rise unduly high?

It would be very hard for me to make a forecast on that. What I have said is perfectly clear. I have said that there should be reasonable supplies, though I have indicated that they are not as good as they were last year. I think my Answer is very clear.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet received the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage following its consideration of the case of the woman who died after drinking water contaminated by an arsenical potato spray mixture; and what steps he proposes to take in consequence thereof.

I have received the Advisory Committee's recommendations and, as I told the hon. Member on 2nd November, these are being discussed with the agricultural and chemical industries. I hope to make a statement very soon.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to make a statement within, say, the next week? This is a matter of very considerable urgency, and I ask him to deal with it as an urgent matter.

I have already informed the hon. Gentleman that I am dealing with this as urgently as possible. I can assure him that I will make a statement as soon as I reasonably can.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that not only is there anxiety here in this and other cases, but nigh to panic in the United States? Will he ensure that we devote sufficient resources to research into the use of these substances, and see that that research is not held up by vested interests?

I am very sure that the hon. Gentleman would be the last to try to spread panic in this country. I assure him that I am considering this matter, and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study has been made by his Department of pyrethrum as an insecticide; and with what result.

The properties and uses of pyrethrum as an insecticide have been well known to my Department for many years. Research into its active principles and application to insect pests on growing plants and in stored food has been going on for some time at the appropriate research centres.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that pyrethrum is much less harmful than some of the insecticides at present in use?

It may be less harmful but it is also, I am afraid, rather less useful against many types of insects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent port wine, imported into this country from Portugal, will benefit by the tariff reductions being negotiated with the Outer Seven; to what extent, since port is regarded as an agricultural product and the wine duties as revenue duties, it will be automatically debarred from benefiting through this particular scheme; and whether he will recommend alternative action being taken to facilitate an increase of port exports from Portugal to Great Britain, having regard to the substantial benefits which would accrue to Anglo-Portuguese trade as a whole.

I can confirm that, for the reasons given by my hon. Friend, port will not benefit by the tariff reductions proposed for the European Free Trade Association. In reply to the second part of the Question, the wine duties, like any other revenue duties, are a matter for the Budget and my hon. Friend will not expect me to comment.

Is my hon. Friend aware that if port wine is not brought into the new arrangements with the Outer Seven it will cause a good deal of disappointment to port wine drinkers in this country? Will my hon. Friend bear in mind also that the duty on port wine has gone up by 375 per cent. since before the war? Will he ask his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to pay attention to that point in the Budget?

I am sure my right hon. Friend will bear in mind the personal interest which my hon. Friend has in port wine.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the remuneration of polling station personnel is fixed; what machinery exists for its revision; and when it was last reconsidered.

The maximum fees payable by returning officers to people employed at polling stations are prescribed by the Treasury under Section 20 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949. They are fixed on the basis of fair and reasonable rates in the light of the nature of the work and the time spent on it. They axe revised from time to time in consultation with the Home Office and representatives of town clerks, clerks of the peace, and clerks of county councils. The last revision took effect from April, 1958.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that these people do a very long and hard day's work for extremely modest remuneration? In view of the very small amounts involved to the Treasury, will he ask his right hon. Friend to see that this matter is reviewed again at an early date?

Neither the Home Office nor the Treasury have received any complaints about the adequacy of the present fees, but I am sure my right hon. Friend will bear in mind the point that the hon. Gentleman has made.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many people employed in the polling stations are pensioners who are employed only during the time of polling? Could he arrange that they receive their pensions free of any deductions?

I think there are difficulties about that, but I wholly understand the views of hon. Members about the importance of this work and I will take note of the points which have been made today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total revenue he now estimates he will receive from Purchase Tax on furniture during the present financial year.

The Budget estimate included about £8¾ million in respect of Purchase Tax on furniture.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that it is time that this tax on furniture was removed?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will realise that that is not a question with which I can deal now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the terms in which his predecessor invited holders of five per cent. War Loan to convert their holdings into three and a half per cent. stock in 1932.

Yes, Sir, I am arranging for the circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the text of the letter which the then Chancellor of the Exchequer wrote to all stockholders, together with the explanatory memorandum and the formal announcement setting out the terms of conversion and redemption, which were enclosed with that letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the progress made in carrying out the decisions of the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference at Montreal.

My right hon. Friend gave illustrations of the action being taken in his Answer to the hon. Member on 3rd March of this year. Much further progress has been made since then and concrete results have been achieved. For example, a new International Wheat Agreement has been negotiated, we have removed many restrictions on imports, and arrangements have been made for Exchequer loans to the Colonies. Particular measures have been announced from time to time and will be well known to the House. The Commonwealth Consultative Economic Council has held meetings at both official and at Ministerial level.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether before commencing negotiations next year for revising the current trading arrangements with Russia, he will undertake to consult all industries in this country which may suffer in consequence of Russian imports.

The views of industry, with which we are in constant touch, will be kept in mind when our trading arrangements with the Soviet Union come to be reviewed. My right hon. Friend is also prepared, of course, to consider any specific representations that may be made.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that there are one or two industries that might suffer as a result of imports from Russia and that we do not want to see a reduction in employment or in production arising from such imports?

I know that my right hon. Friend will be glad to hear from my hon. Friend if he cares to write to him on the subject.

Will the Minister of State represent to the President of the Board of Trade the fact that trade exchanges take place only if they are of benefit to both sides, and that it is a major British interest to break down the Iron Curtain in every way in which Russia is willing to co-operate?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that development work on Hovercraft vehicles is now being carried out in the United States of America by the Curtiss Wright Corporation, the Ford Motor Company, the General Dynamics Corporation, the Gyrodyne Corporation of America, Spectronics Incorporated, the Doak Aircraft Company, Piasecki Aircraft, etc.; and whether he is satisfied that adequate steps are being taken in the United Kingdom to maintain full development progress in this field of transport.

I am aware that work is proceeding in the United States on various forms of vertical take-off and ground-effect vehicles but much of this is apparently at the research stage. Among the ground-effect machines those using annular jets may well prove to be the most versatile in their possible uses, and in this class the British Hovercraft, sponsored by the National Research Development Corporation, is, we think the most advanced. The Corporation's subsidiary, Hovercrafts Development Ltd., is in touch with a number of firms about possible manufacture.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to give adequate support to research in this matter, particularly in view of the fact that quite a large amount of success is being achieved by the companies to which I have referred, and it is important that we should maintain a lead in this very important industry which we initiated?

I agree that we ought to retain the lead that we have. Three directors of Hovercraft Development Limited have already visited the United States to investigate the point raised by the hon. Gentleman in his Question. I can assure him that we are watching this matter. We think we are in the lead and we intend to keep it.

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that this is a perfect example of public support by a publicly-owned company of a research and development project?

I think it is a very good example.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the removal of quota restrictions on goods imported into this country from the United States of America, what further representations have been made to the Government of the United States of America for the removal of the wool tariff quota restricting the import into the United States of America of goods from this country.

The United States Administration agreed last September, at the request of Her Majesty's Government, to re-negotiate the wool tariff quota and I hope it will be possible to arrange for this to be done as soon as the necessary preliminary inquiries in Washington have been completed.

While I welcome the removal of quota restrictions, whether by this country or by other countries, may I ask the Minister whether he agrees that this American wool tariff quota is a particularly objectionable form of restriction? Would it not be appropriate to endeavour to persuade the American Government that the removal of this quota altogether so as to coincide with the removal of these import restrictions would in some respects benefit America?

This is a very difficult question. The American Government have recognised the problem in their willingness to re-negotiate the whole matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this tariff quota is regarded by many Americans as well as by people here as a vicious form of protectionism? Why should not the Americans be willing to make a concession here at the same time as we are making a concession for them?

Because that would have been very complicated to arrange.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why he has decided to discontinue the arrangements for imports from China to the United Kingdom which have facilitated a marked increase in our exports to China over the last three years;

With permission, I will answer these Questions together.

Mr. Speaker, I did not want these two Questions answered together because in a way they are different Questions. However, I assume that this will enable me to put two supplementary questions. Does the hon. Gentleman realise that by this act he is reducing China from relaxation area status to eastern area status and thereby limiting her exports to this country, in consequence preventing her purchasing the amount of goods that she is at present buying in this country, or even increasing those purchases?

China has been transferred to the Soviet bloc for trading purposes because she is a State trading country and, therefore, it is appropriate to treat her as such. About three-quarters of what we import from China will still be free of restrictions, and those items which are now subject to quota restrictions will have quotas in excess of present trading figures, so there is every prospect of a further increase of trade with China.

Against my wish, Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, two Questions were taken together which, in my view, were separate. I put two supplementary questions. What is the answer to the second one about nuts?

Generally speaking, nuts can be imported from those countries from which importers want to buy them.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, under this arrangement, imports of raw silk from China will seriously affect my constituency of Macclesfield and the silk industry? Will he look at this case in particular?

I shall be very glad to look at this again, but I do not think that the position is as serious as my hon. Friend suggests.