Written Answers To Questions
Monday, 16th November, 1959
Government Information Services
Low-Priced Books For Overseas (Advisory Committee)
4.
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will now announce the membership of the Advisory Committee on the Selection of Low-Priced Books for Overseas.
Yes. As announced on 4th September, Mr. A. L. P. Norrington, President of Trinity College, Oxford, has accepted an invitation to serve as Chairman of this Committee.The other members of the Committee have now been appointed and the following is the list:
- Mr. A. L. P. Norrington, M.A., J.P. (Chairman).
- Sir Basil Blackwell, J.P. Mr. J. Cooper, J.P.
- Professor Lionel Elvin, M. A.
- Professor Michael Grant, C.B.E., M.A.
- Sir Percival Griffiths, C.I.E.
- Sir Cyril Hinshelwood, P.R.S., M.A., D.Sc.
- Mr. M. Hornby.
- Mr. L. R. McColvin, C.B.E., F.L.A.
- Mr. D. H McLachlan, O.B.E.
- Mr. A. P. Pryce-Jones, T.D.
- Sir Stanley Walter Rawson.
- Miss C. V. Wedgwood, C.B.E., F.R.Hist.S.
Pensions And National Insurance
Personal Case
8.
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he has yet considered the case of the psychiatric war casualty in Aberdeen of which he was informed by letter dated 29th October from the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North; and if he will now take steps to provide him with an adequate pension and with treatment in a sheltered workshop or special rehabilitation unit for psychiatric patients in or near Aberdeen.
I wrote to the hon. and learned Member about this case on 11th November.
War Disability Allowances
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the present discrimination against war-disabled men by which a wife's allowance, made under Royal Warrant, in respect of her husband's war disability, is deducted from a married couple's retirement pension when the war-disabled husband reaches the age of 65 years; and if he will so amend his Regulations as to ensure that all war-disability allowances are, in future, excluded from his National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulation No. 5.
There is, of course, no discrimination against the war disabled who continue to receive priority in our social service arrangements. So far as personal benefits are concerned, there is nothing to prevent receipt of both a war-disability pension and any National Insurance benefit to which the disabled man may be entitled. But it is the general rule of our social services that, so far as payments for a dependant are concerned, or allowances for particular purposes, these should not be paid twice over for the same dependant or purpose, but that the higher amount only should be paid. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee in which these arrangements were examined and approved.
Ministry Of Power
Methane Gas (Import)
19.
asked the Minister of Power what plans have been prepared for the construction of large liquid gas tankers for ferrying natural methane gas from America; what experiments have been made in importing this natural gas; if he is satisfied that adequate protection is being made for the men engaged in this operation; and what effect the importation of this gas will have upon United Kingdom natural resources.
Until the Gas Council has completed the trial shipments which started last February, it cannot put forward plans for imports on a commercial scale. The effect of such imports on indigenous resources cannot yet be assessed. Transport and storage arrangements for the trials have been approved by the authorities concerned with safety.
Coal
Production
22.
asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the decline in the consumption of coal, he will introduce legislation to impose quotas on the energy industries of the country to ensure that the production target fixed by the National Coal Board will not exceed demand in 1960.
No.
Exports
23.
asked the Minister of Power the total export of coal from the United Kingdom since 1st January, 1959, to the nearest possible date; and how much of this quantity was classified as small coal.
Coal exports in the first nine months of 1959 totalled 2·4 million tons including about 1·1 million tons of bituminous small coal.
Ministry Of Aviation
Commonwealth Countries (Requirements)
26.
asked the Minister of Aviation what assistance he is giving the aircraft industry to study the needs of Commonwealth countries overseas.
The aircraft industry has qualified representatives in most Commonwealth countries who keep it informed of their needs. Assistance is also given by the United Kingdom High Commissioners.
Independent Airlines (Fares)
asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has yet received the Report from the Air Transport Advisory Council concerning application by independent airlines for reduction in air fares; and what decisions he has come to in the matter.
Yes, but I have not yet reached a decision upon them.
Nationalised Industries (Select Committee's Report)
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, when he has received the answers and comments of the Boards of the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation to the recommendations, conclusions and other points made in the Report from the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries (Reports and Accounts) on the Air Corporations, he will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
pursuant to the reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 18th September, 1959; Vol. 610, c. 183], presented the following statements which he had received from British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways Corporation setting out the comments of the two corporations upon the Report from the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries:REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NATIONALISED INDUSTRIESA. COMMENTS BY BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION1.
Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee — paras. 60 and 67
The functioning of the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee and the achievement of the maximum desirable degree of standardisation of civil and military aircraft are matters which the Corporation will keep under review through its representative on the Committee.
2. Development Costs— paras. 64 and 68
It is understood from the statement by the then Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in Parliament on 29th July, 1959, that the problem of development costs is under examination by the Government Departments concerned. The Corporation has not yet been informed of the result of this examination. Meantime, the Corporation in its Accounts for the year 1958–59 has written-off as a capital loss the £5m. excess of pre-operational development expenditure which the Corporation has borne on the introduction into service of new British aircraft types.
3. Fares Policy— paras. 78 and 79
The Corporation believes that it is an essential condition of any policy of expansion of the travel market (on which the future of the industry depends) that cheaper fares should be introduced as economic considerations allow. The Corporation has committed itself to the purchase of 15 Boeing 707 and 35 Vickers VC. 10 turbo-jet aircraft at a cost of £90m. in the knowledge that these aircraft will show a lower cost per seat mile than the types they supersede and in the expectation that the improved economics of the new aircraft can be passed on to the public in the form of cheaper fares. At this year's I.A.T.A. Traffic Conference the Corporation advocated once again the extension of economy class fares (which are at present confined to the North Atlantic routes) to Eastern and Southern Routes and to the Caribbean. B.O.A.C.'s proposals were not accepted and no agreement has so far been achieved.
4. Public Relations Policy— para. 85
The Corporation will consider how best to give effect to the views expressed by the Committee.
5. Utilisation— para. 150
Figures showing the average rate of aircraft utilisation (both revenue and total) are included in the Corporation's 1958–59 Report. Comparative figures for the four previous financial years are also given. The figures for 1958–59 show improvements over 1957–58 from 6·49 to 6·71 revenue hours per day and from 6·82 to 7·03 total hours per day aircraft utilisation. For the period from 1st April, 1959, to 17th October, 1959, the comparative figures for aircraft utilisation are 7·75 and 8·00.
6. Flight Operations— paras. 154 and 158
Costs are kept under constant examination with a view to their reduction. For example, as a result of changes in the principles of rostering flying staff, utilisation will be significantly increased, the effects becoming apparent progressively.
7. Aircraft Maintenance— paras. 159–170
During the year 1958–59, and subsequently, substantial progress has been made with the necessary re-organisation of the engineering department. To date, in face of an increase in output of capacity the number of staff employed in the department has been reduced by more than 1,200 persons through normal and accelerated wastage and the early retirement of some of the more senior staff. The revised pattern of organisation in the department and the new working methods that are being progressively introduced have already enabled the turn round times for aircraft overhaul and maintenance to be substantially reduced with the result that costs have been reduced and greater productivity obtained from the fleet. Engineering costs, which were 10½d. a ton mile in 1957–58, had fallen to 9d. a ton mile during 1958–59 and in the current year have already fallen to 7d. a ton mile. In 1960–61 there is every prospect of a further reduction to 5½d. a ton mile. Delay to the proposed re-organisational measures has resulted from a difference with the Trade Unions and every effort is being made by the management of B.O.A.C. to resolve this situation.
8. Investment— para. 181
The Corporation holds a similar view.
9. Subsidiaries— paras. 184 and 195
10. Co-operation between B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. — paras. 229, 230 and 233
Under the guidance of the Managing Director of B.O.A.C. and the Chief Executive of B.E.A., the appropriate heads of departments in the two Corporations are exploring the possibilities of increased co-operation with the view to achieving economies without unacceptable loss of efficiency or revenue to either Corporation. A further report will be submitted in due course.
11. Supersonic Aircraft— para. 260
The Corporation has carefully considered this matter and feels that it might have no alternative but to acquire supersonic aircraft in due course if and when they are used by competitors.
B. COMMENTS BY BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS
1. Operating Cost— paras. 140–143.
The c. t. m. of a purely short-haul airline must tend to cost more than that of a long-haul airline (Q.1063). BE.A.'s operating cost per c.t.m. for the past few years shows a slowly rising trend as follows:—
| 1956–57 | 1957–58 | 1958–59 | Year to 31st May, 1959 |
| 39·7d. | 39·6d. | 40·2d. | 40·5d. |
There is no easy way and no one action which would bring about a marked reduction in these costs; reduction can come only by constant economies over the whole field of activity although as the Report says "if B.E.A. are to improve their cost/c.t.m. ratio, it must be by improving either aircrew utilisation or aircraft utilisation or both". The problems inherent in improving either of these are not easily or quickly to be solved, but the struggle to reduce our costs never ceases.
2. Aircraft Utilisation— paras. 132–136.
The utilisation rate for the year to 31st May, 1959, rose to 4·80 hours per day, an improvement on the previous year. The reduction in 1957–58 was mainly the result of phasing-out of the Elizabethan, phasing-in of V.800s, reduction in Pionair utilisation and the cancellation of services necessary because traffic fell so far below expectations. The fall in Pionair utilisation resulted particularly from the introduction of Viscounts on some of B.E.A.'s longer Pionair routes, leaving Pionairs to operate on the shorter routes, such as those within Scotland. The winter's exceptionally bad fogs also resulted in a small drop in aircraft utilisation.
Individual aircraft type utilisations were:—
| REVENUE FLYING HOURS PER ANNUM | ||||||
| — | 1956–57 | 1957–58 | 1958–59 | Year to 31st May, 1959 | ||
| V.806 | … | … | — | — | 2,080 | 2,076 |
| V.802 | … | … | — | 1,943 | 2,071 | 2,066 |
| V.701 | … | … | 2,409 | 2,383 | 2,468 | 2,482 |
| Elizabethan | … | … | 2,221 | 1,696 | 1,681 | 1,053* |
| Pionair | … | … | 1,561 | 1,448 | 1,267 | 1,264 |
| Freighter | … | … | 1,928 | 1,630 | 1,528 | 1,504 |
*This aircraft was withdrawn from service on 30th July, 1958. | ||||||
Whether the overall utilisation of a short-haul fleet such as B.E.A.'s can be materially improved is doubtful (Q.2429, 2430).
| — | London Airport Station* | Apron and Hangars | Workshops (excluding Plant maintenance) | Total | ||
| Inspectors | … | … | — | 216 | 104 | 320 |
| Hourly-rated: | ||||||
| Skilled and semi-skilled | … | … | 174 | 444 | 404 | 1,022 |
| All grades | … | … | 465 | 580 | 435 | 1,480 |
Ratios:
| |||
| Inspectors to skilled and semi skilled | 1:2·1 | 1:3·9 | 1:3·2 |
| Inspectors to all grades hourly-rated | 1:2·7 | 1:4·2 | 1:4·6 |
* London Airport Station undertakes pre-departure inspections, defect rectification and Check A work without inspectors. | |||
A prime reason for the high ratio of inspectors to hourly-rated staff is the incentive bonus scheme which operates in the London Airport Engineering Base. This scheme requires inspectors to be immediately available so as to avoid any waiting-time by hourly-rated staff. Another factor influencing this ratio is B.E.A.'s system under which all work in the Engineering Base is checked both before and after it is done by inspectors, and not by licensed engineers as happens at outstations (Q. 2104 and 2105). Furthermore, B.E.A.'s inspectors undertake a number of directly productive functions such as engine running, aircraft taxi-ing and compass swinging, in addition to their normal inspection duties.
We expect that the inspector/hourly-rated staff ratio will improve when work at present still being sub-contracted is brought into the Base and done by B.E.A. itself.
In any event, the ratio can always be improved by increasing the number of hourly-rated staff!
4. Co-operation between the Corporations— paras. 219–233
The question of co-operation between B.E.A. and B.O.A.C. was dealt with in a joint paper submitted by the Corporations to the Select Committee (page 351 et seq.) Para. ( m) on page 354 deals with a co-ordinated coach service.
3. Engineering Inspectors— paras, 171–177.
The present ratio of B.E.A. inspectors to hourly-rated staff is:—
So far as the question of merger is concerned, B.E.A. agrees with the Committee's conclusion against merger, and believes that merger would not be beneficial to either Corporation or to British civil air transport as a whole. As stated by the Chairman B.E.A. in evidence (Q. 2516), the "main reason is that the tasks of B.E.A. and B.O.A.C are so entirely different." B.E.A. believes that the financial savings, if any, would be more than swallowed up by the inherent inefficiency of a very large organisation trying to undertake two distinctly different tasks.
Following the Select Committee's report, however, B.E.A. and B.O.A.C. are again making a joint survey of the possible fields for co-operation The issues must turn on what is, or is not, more economic; this in turn calls for extensive costings which inevitably take time. The survey is, however, being undertaken as a matter of urgency.
5. Fuel Tax—paras. 212 and 213
B.E.A. does not think it necessary to make any observations on the Select Committee's remarks.
6. Domestic Services' Accounts— para. 115
The detailed figures which make up the Domestic Services Account are inevitably dependent upon what must necessarily be a somewhat arbitrary apportionment of overhead cost, and might therefore be misleading. B.E.A. does, however, publish the broad results of the "social services", and these are again contained in the Annual Report for 1958–59
7. Subsidy for Social Services— paras. 104–117
B.E.A. has from time to time given its view that subsidy should be paid in respect of "social services" on which there is little or no hope of ever doing other than make a loss. Our Annual Report for 1956–57 on pages 16 and 17 discussed domestic services and indicated that the Highlands and Islands and Isle of Man groups of routes ought to be regarded as "social services".
The recommendation made in the Report was no doubt intended to help B.E.A. and, indeed, it is something we have ourselves advocated. B.E.A. does not, however, press strongly for such a subsidy at the present time.
8. General
B.E.A. welcomed the inquiries by the Select Committee, and found them useful in directing attention to important aspects of its business in a way which provides an admirable solution to the problem of public accountability. Throughout their deliberations the Committee rightly emphasised the need for the Corporation to stand on its own feet commercially; B.E.A. has now been in a profitable state for the past 5½ years, intends to remain profitable and believes it will do so. But as the Select Committee realises, there are serious inherent problems in the operation of short-haul air transport which make it no easy task, and the margins within which B.E.A. works are necessarily narrow. B.E.A. believes, however, that given an opportunity to continue its development, continuing success can be achieved.
Ministry Of Health
Hearing Aids
35.
asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to accelerate the supply of transistor hearing aids to the Swindon area and to replace battery-operated aids still in use, for which it has now become difficult to obtain replacements, boxes and leads.
With the assistance of my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, my right hon. and learned Friend is trying to speed up the supply of transistor hearing aids, the delivery of which has been delayed by production difficulties. As regards the supply of parts for valve aids, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) and the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) on 2nd November.
asked the Minister of Health how many deaf aids, supplied under the National Health Service, are now in use; and their average length of life.
Precise figures are not available, but the number is estimated at rather more than half a million for England and Wales. The average life of the most commonly used type of Medresco valve aid is about eight years.
Leukaemia
37.
asked the Minister of Health how many cases of leukaemia were reported in 1939, 1950, 1957 and 1958, respectively.
Numbers of cases are not known. Deaths from leukaemia in England and Wales were as follows:
| 1939 | … | … | … | … | 1,034 |
| 1950 | … | … | … | … | 1,832 |
| 1957 | … | … | … | … | 2,394 |
| 1958 | … | … | … | … | 2,386 |
New Penicillin (Tests)
43.
asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to a public announcement made by certain research laboratories on 26th October, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Warrington, in which they claimed to have produced a new penicillin to be administered orally, which is twice as effective as penicillin; and if he will cause the most exhaustive tests to be made before a decision is taken to include this substance in Preservers' Notes.
I am aware of this announcement. I understand that the reports of the clinical trials that have been undertaken are not yet available. When they are I will consider whether there is any helpful information suitable for inclusion in Prescribers' Notes.
Hospitals
Cashes Green Hospital, Stroud
41.
asked the Minister of Health what plans he has for the extension of the geriatric hospital at Cashes Green, Stroud.
The South Western Regional Hospital Board is considering preliminary plans for adapting two empty wards at Cashes Green Hospital and using them for geriatric patients, but the Board cannot yet say when it will be possible to fit the proposal into its capital programme.
Willows And Eastington Park, Stonehouse
42.
asked the Minister of Health what plans he has for the development of Part III accommodation at the Willows and Eastington Park. Stonehouse.
This is a matter for the Gloucestershire County Council in the first place.
Royal Infirmary, Doncaster
asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will give the number of people waiting for operations, giving separate figures for each type of operation, at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary;(2) the average period of waiting for operations at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, giving separate figures for each type of operation;(3) how many pay beds there are in the Doncaster Royal Infirmary; and the average length of time they are in use for each case.
The numbers of people waiting for operations and the average periods of waiting at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary are as follows:
| Specialty | Number on waiting list | Estimated average waiting time (in months) |
| General Surgery | 1,233 | 11·6 |
| E.N.T. (T and A) | 101 | 1·0 |
| E.N.T. (other) | 179 | 13·1 |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 461 | 12·2 |
| Ophthalmology | 91 | 2·9 |
| Gynaecology | 407 | 13·0 |
Building Programme
asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the Government's hospital building programme.
Yes. It is proposed, subject to the voting by Parliament of the necessary funds, that £31 million shall be spent on capital development in the hospital service in England and Wales in 1961–62, compared with £25½ million for next year, 1960–61.I have asked hospital boards to complete the planning of a number of additional major projects. These include, in the sphere of new building, the start of a new St. Mary's maternity hospital in Manchester and a new mental deficiency hospital in Northamptonshire, and further substantial phases of the new Cambridge teaching hospital, West Wales General Hospital and Peterborough Hospital.Large extensions proposed for existing general hospitals include a new medical block at the West Middlesex Hospital; maternity departments at the North Middlesex Hospital and at the City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent; and a new surgical block at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport. New operating theatres and a physiotherapy department are to be provided at St. James's Hospital, Leeds, and new operating theatres at the London Hospital. There will be additions or improvements at the Westminster Hospital; the Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton; Leicester General Hospital; Torbay Hospital; and the General Hospital, Birmingham. A new out-patient department is to be provided for University College Hospital, and for the Bristol Royal Infirmary. An out-patient department at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, included in the programme will be designed by the Ministry's Design Unit as the first of a number of development projects which will embody and demonstrate the Ministry's views on the design of hospital buildings and provide information about cost. Provision is also being made for alterations necessary on bringing the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, into civilian use when its use by the Royal Navy ceases in 1961.There are a number of large projects in the field of mental health. They include a new psychiatric unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital; the first phase of a unit for longer-stay mentally ill patients at Crookhill Hall, near Doncaster; and additions or improvements to the Northgate (Morpeth), Royal Earls-wood (Redhill), and Coldeast (Southampton) Mental Deficiency Hospitals. Some adaptations of wards and other improvements for the accommodation of severely subnormal children are to be carried out at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Carshalton, and a new reception unit, out-patient department, and research and teaching unit provided at the Fountain Hospital, Tooting.Last year I informed the House that I was considering with the hospital boards concerned and in the light of advice from the University Grants Committee what dental hospital projects should be undertaken to increase the output of the dental schools, as recommended by the McNair Committee on the recruitment of dentists, in addition to the new Dental Hospitals at University College Hospital and Birmingham already in the Government's programme. Planning is now proceeding on schemes for this purpose at King's College Hospital; the London Hospital; and at the dental hospitals at Bristol, Newcastle. Leeds and Manchester. Development at Liverpool is also being considered, and a new dental hospital will form part of the new teaching hospital at Cardiff for which an architectural competition is now in progress.In addition I am considering various other proposals in regard to the planning of large projects made to me by hospital boards, and hope to announce shortly a further list of projects on which planning may now proceed.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Divisional Offices (Staff)
47.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of paid staff of county agricultural committees for 1957–58 and the cost of wages and salaries; and how such number of staff and cost in wages and salaries compare with the figures for 1951.
I presume that this Question refers to the divisional office staff of the Ministry who work in conjunction with the county agricultural executive committees. In 1957–58 the total staff in the 32 divisional offices averaged 4,192 at a cost in wages and salaries of £2,703,916.The committees also have the support and assistance of about 1,200 members of the Agricultural Land Service, the Milk Service, and the National Agricultural Advisory Service, who are stationed in the divisions and counties.It is impossible to give a direct comparison with 1951–52 because of the extensive changes in organisation and duties which have taken place in the interval, but non-industrial staff then employed averaged 6,948 in numbers and cost £2,520,657 in wages and salaries.
Beef
48.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of home-produced beef sold each month last year; what was the amount imported last year; and how these compare with the years 1956 and 1957.
Following is the information:
| *1. PRODUCTION OF BEEF IN THE UNITED KINGDOM | ||||
| (including meat from imported fat animals during 1956, 1957 and 1958) | ||||
| '000 tons | ||||
| 4 or 5 week periods | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | |
| †January | … | 72·3 | 84·3 | 83·1 |
| February | … | 59·9 | 64·3 | 64·8 |
| March | … | 55·4 | 59·5 | 66·1 |
| †April | … | 69·0 | 67·6 | 77·0 |
| May | … | 52·6 | 57·2 | 64·0 |
| June | … | 54·7 | 52·2 | 65·1 |
| †July | … | 67·2 | 69·3 | 54·4 |
| August | … | 58·1 | 60·2 | 55·7 |
| September | … | 62·6 | 66·3 | 58·6 |
| †October | … | 87·5 | 83·3 | 74·5 |
| November | … | 74·7 | 70·5 | 63·6 |
| December | … | 66·5 | 64·7 | 59·9 |
| TOTALS | … | 780·5 | 799·4 | 796·8 |
| *Figures of monthly sales of home-produced beef are not available, but very little home-produced beef is put into cold store. | ||||
| †5 week periods. | ||||
| 2. IMPORTS OF BEEF INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM | ||||
| '000 tons | ||||
| Description | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | |
| Fresh and Chilled | … | 265·8 | 276·0 | 242·7 |
| Frozen | … | 166·9 | 177·9 | 154·6 |
| TOTAL | … | 432·7 | 453·9 | 397·3 |
Horticultural Marketing Council
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement indicating the present position of his Department concerning the proposal to set up a permanent horticultural marketing council.
The outline of the Government's proposals for a Horticultural Marketing Council are contained in the White Paper Cmnd. 880 and in Part II of the Horticulture Bill which is to be considered on 19th November.
German Democratic Republic (Recognition)
45.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government will not extend recognition to the Government of the German Democratic Republic.
I have nothing to add to previous Answers on this point.
Housing
Sub-Standard Houses (Replacement)
51.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many sub-standard houses are in occupation in the country; and how long it will take to replace them at the present speed of building, having regard to the number of dwelling-houses falling into this category annually.
In 1955 it was estimated that there were about 875,000 unfit houses in England and Wales. By the end of this year about 200,000 of them will have been demolished or closed. About 60,000 houses are being dealt with each year, which means that in ten years' time all slums should have been cleared, save in the most difficult areas. Henceforward the number of houses falling into the unfit category year by year is likely to be small, owing to the combined effect of the Rent Act and the improvement grants scheme.
Education
School Dental Service
56.
asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be adequate dental equipment to meet a substantial expansion of the school dental service in the next few years.
The equipment of school dental clinics is a matter for the responsible local education authority. The Ministry's medical officers visit the clinics and give guidance where necessary. I am satisfied that in general the school dental service is satisfactorily equipped to take advantage of the foreseeable growth of the service.
Colonial Territories
Former Civil Servants (Pensions)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state in table form for each £100 of basic pension from £100 per annum to £1,200 per annum how each Government of the Colonies and ex-Colonies has increased the pension to ex-civil servants; and how these increases compare with those given by the Pensions Increase Act of 1959 to civil servants of the United Kingdom.
I am circulating a table in respect of the overseas Governments with which I am concerned other than Malta. I will send the hon. Member the information in respect of Malta as soon as it is available. The attention of these Governments has been drawn to the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959, and they have been asked to consider sympathetically whether any improvements should be made in their own increase schemes in the light of the further increases now being paid in the United Kingdom. The question of increases paid by the Governments of former Dependent Territories and the South African High Commission Territories is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.
Following is the table:
| BASIC PENSION | £100 | £200 | £300 | £400 | £500 | £600 | £700 | £800 | £900 | £1,000 | £1,100 | £1,200 | NOTES |
| U.K. 1959 Act | £97 | £143 | £166 | £189 | £212 | £236 | £259 | £282 | £306 | £329 | £339 | £352 | |
| Aden | £75 | £65 | £90 | £110 | £130 | £145 | £160 | £175 | £185 | £195 | £205 | £215 | |
| Bahamas | £120 | £225 | £300 | £360 | £360 | £360 | £360 | £360 | £360 | £360 | £360 | £360 | |
| Barbados | £105 | £143 | £144 | £144 | £144 | £144 | £144 | £144 | £144 | £144 | £144 | £144 | |
| Bermuda | £74 | £94 | £114 | £134 | £154 | £174 | £194 | £214 | £234 | £254 | £274 | £294 | Assuming service had been 30 years. |
| British Guiana | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | £150 | |
| British Honduras | £61 | £102 | £126 | £150 | £165 | £181 | £197 | £212 | £228 | £243 | £259 | £274 | |
| Cyprus | £206 | £245 | £326 | £365 | £395 | £416 | £437 | £337 | £298 | £300 | £300 | £300 | |
| Fiji | £100 | £200 | £300 | £400 | £500 | £600 | £700 | £800 | £900 | £1,000 | £1,100 | £1,200 | |
| Gambia | £50 | £100 | £150 | £160 | £180 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | |
| Hong Kong | £105 | £135 | £165 | £191 | £216 | £241 | £266 | £291 | £316 | £341 | £366 | £391 | |
| Jamaica | £78 | £104 | £122 | £122 | £122 | £122 | £122 | £122 | £122 | £122 | £122 | £122 | |
| Kenya | £50 | £89 | £135 | £179 | £224 | £269 | £314 | £354 | £385 | £400 | £400 | £400 | |
| Mauritius | Pensions are increased to the amount which would be payable if the officer had retired currently. | ||||||||||||
| Nigeria | £50 | £100 | £150 | £160 | £180 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | £210 | |
| Northern Rhodesia | £60 | £110 | £164 | £218 | £273 | £327 | £382 | £414 | £416 | £416 | £416 | £416 | |
| Nyasaland | £37 | £74 | £111 | £149 | £186 | £223 | £260 | £289 | £289 | £289 | £289 | £289 | |
| Palestine | £97 | £143 | £166 | £189 | £212 | £236 | £259 | £282 | £306 | £328 | £339 | £352 | U. K. increase Acts are applied. |
| Sarawak | £76 | £106 | £116 | £133 | £167 | £200 | £233 | £267 | £300 | £333 | £367 | £400 | |
| Seychelles | £40 | £60 | £60 | £50 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Analagous to U.K. Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947. |
| Sierra Leone | £50 | £100 | £150 | £165 | £180 | £195 | £210 | £225 | £240 | £255 | £270 | £289 | |
| Singapore | £118 | £123 | £95 | £106 | £115 | £119 | £119 | £119 | £119 | £119 | £119 | £119 | |
| Tanganyika | £50 | £89 | £135 | £179 | £224 | £269 | £314 | £354 | £385 | £400 | £400 | £400 | |
| Trinidad | £78 | £111 | £135 | £66 | £82 | £82 | £82 | £82 | £82 | £82 | £82 | £82 | A variable addition of between £2 10s. and £30 is also paid. |
| Uganda | £50 | £89 | £135 | £179 | £224 | £269 | £314 | £354 | £385 | £400 | £400 | £400 | |
| Windward Islands | £72 | £78 | £78 | £78 | £78 | £78 | £78 | £78 | £78 | £78 | £68 | £78 | |
| Zanzibar | £50 | £89 | £135 | £179 | £224 | £269 | £314 | £354 | £385 | £400 | £400 | £400 | |
| Falkland Islands | £76 | £106 | £116 | £126 | £136 | £146 | £156 | £166 | £176 | £186 | £186 | £186 | |
| Gibraltar | |||||||||||||
| Leeward Islands | |||||||||||||
| North Borneo | |||||||||||||
| St. Helena | |||||||||||||
| Somaliland | |||||||||||||
| Western Pacific High Commission Territories | |||||||||||||
| U.K. 1959 Act | £52 | £76 | £98 | £122 | £145 | £168 | £192 | £215 | £238 | £261 | £273 | £285 | For retirement immediately before April, 1948. |
| E.A.H.C. | £42 | £70 | £104 | £139 | £174 | £209 | £233 | £278 | £303 | £325 | £325 | £325 | |
| The table is based, except in the case of the East Africa High Commission, on retirement before 1945. | |||||||||||||
Employment
Miners
asked the Minister of Labour how many of the miners who became redundant as a result of pit closures in the South Wales anthracite coalfield in the early part of this year are still unemployed.
Of 943 men displaced because of colliery closures, this year, 262 are still unemployed.
asked the Minister of Labour how many miners who became redundant through pit closures this year are now unemployed.
Of 12–13,000 displaced colliery closures this year, about 1,000 are still unemployed.
Engineering And Shipbuilding Draughtsmen, Scotland
asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to find employment in Scotland for the engineering and shipbuilding draughtsmen who are now unemployed there.
My local officers do their best to find employment for these and other unemployed workers, by ascertaining the needs of employers and submitting to them the particulars of the unemployed.
Wages
asked the Minister of Labour how many men and how many women are earning under £10 a week; and how many are earning under £8 a week.
I regret that this information is not available.
Scotland
Hospital Building Programme
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the hospital building programme.
Yes. Capital expenditure on hospital building in Scotland, subject to Parliament voting the necessary funds, will be of the order of £3·2 million in 1960–61 and £3·9 million in 1961–62. While the actual level of capital expenditure in the succeeding years cannot yet be determined, I am asking the regional hospital boards concerned to complete plans for the following major projects:
British Army
Headquarters, Müchen-Gladbach (Personnel)
asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of British Army personnel at present serving at the joint North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-British headquarters at München-Gladbach.
The total for the two headquarters, which are separate, is 789.