To ask the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, what application he has received under Section 6 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, to meet the need to provide houses for the increased manpower which will be required during the next five years in the North Staffordshire Coal Board area generally; what consultations he has had in this connection with the local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no applications and thus have entered into no consultations. I am always ready to consider applications for an increased housing programme and for the approval of subsidy under Section 6 of the 1958 Act, if authorities wish to put a case forward.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) what special action he proposes to take to subsidise the provision of adequate houses for the miners who are resident in the City of Stoke-on-Trent, and for the increased number of miners who are to be employed within the City during the next five years;(2) if he will make special arrangements with the City of Stoke-on-Trent to assist the construction of large numbers of houses in the Trent-ham, Newstead, and Meir area, in view of the number on the housing list, the effects of subsidence and the increased numbers to be employed during the next five years.

It rests with the local authority in the first instance to apply for whatever assistance it thinks would be appropriate under the existing subsidy provisions. I will consider any application it may make.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what assistance he gives to local authorities in the London County Council and elsewhere to provide houses and flats when these are required, in addition to those already being provided.

The basic housing subsidies available to housing authorities in England and Wales are £22 1s. 0d. per dwelling for slum clearance purposes; £24 for "overspill" building for the relief of congested or overcrowded areas; and £10 for one-bedroom dwellings provided for general needs. These subsidies are payable annually for sixty years. Higher rates of subsidy are available towards the extra cost of building flats in high blocks. In addition, special subsidies are payable for the development of sites which are abnormally expensive.

asked the Minister for Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many housing units have been built, are now being built, and are planned to be built, during the next twelve months in the County of Essex for or by municipal authorities outside their own boundaries.

During the post-war period up to 30th September, 1959, 24,721 dwellings have been provided in Essex by or for housing authorities outside their own boundaries. At the same date 317 additional dwellings were under construction. A further scheme for 305 dwellings has recently been approved but not started, while another scheme for 190 dwellings is expected to come forward shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that rents in the new town of Peterlee are higher for similar accommodation than those in adjoining areas controlled by the Easington Rural District Council; and whether he will cause rents in Peterlee to be reduced to the level in the Easington area.

I am aware that rents for houses owned by the Peterlee Development Corporation are in general higher than those for houses owned by the Easington Rural District Council. I do not regard this as a reason for directing the Corporation to reduce its rents.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is satisfied that he has accurate and up-to- date information on the number of one- and two-bedroomed dwellings in this country, the proportion of these that are occupied by persons of pension age, and the present and prospective demand for such dwellings: and whether he will request housing authorities to provide him with this information.

The number of one-and two-bedroomed dwellings built by local authorities since the war is contained in the quarterly Housing Returns presented to Parliament. Most one-and many two-bedroomed dwellings are known to be let to elderly people.Comparable figures of private accommodation are not available but, according to the census there were, in all, close on two million dwellings of one to three rooms in 1951. This figure will be brought up-to-date in 1961.Three out of every five houses and flats now being built by local authorities are of a one- or two-bedroomed type. There is no doubt from this that housing authorities generally are now keenly alive to the needs of old people, and I do not think it would assist them to greater efforts if I were to ask them to undertake the extensive and detailed surveys which would be required to collect all the information suggested.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs which local authorities make provision for meeting the housing needs of ex- Regular Service men and their families after their term of Service ends, in conformity to the standards and proportions recommended by his department.

Local authorities were recommended in 1955 to consider any application from a Regular ex-Service man who has found work in the district, or has family connections with it, exclusively on the basis of need and without regard to length of residence in the locality.This recommendation is now followed by practically all local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consultations he is having with local authorities to ensure that housing committees are aware that it is desirable that adjustments are made in the provision of houses when families are willing to care for aged parents living alone in need of care and attention.

I fully agree with my hon. Friend that this is desirable, and I think that housing committees are already alive to the advantages of it. But when a suitable occasion arises I will bring it to their notice afresh.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the amount of compensation offered to Mr. A. Clarke, "The Hollies", Hemel Hempstead, for his property on compulsory purchase; and whether he will make a statement on the basis of compensation.

Two parts of Mr. Clarke's 95 acre farm have been compulsorily acquired under notices to treat served in 1952 and 1953. Compensation was on the statutory basis in force at the time; namely, existing use value plus the amount of any claim under Part VI of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, for loss of development value.For 23¼ acres he received £2,250 compensation on the basis of existing use value, plus £3,450 for loss of development value. For 46¾ acres he has been offered £5,000 on the basis of existing use value; on this land there was no claim for loss of development value, and I am advised that no amount for loss of development value would have been determined had a claim been made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will re-examine the system of zoning within the designated area of new towns, in view of the differing treatment afforded to those whose land is compulsorily acquired, according to the proposed use of the land.

The Town and Country Planning Act, 1959, governs compensation for land in new towns as for other land, and reflects the fact that value in the open market varies not with the use to which the land is actually to be put, but with the most valuable uses likely to be permitted. As this applies whether the land is in a new town or not, I do not think that a re-examination of the zoning in new town areas is called for.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he is considering concerning the position of certain people, serving on local authorities, who are debarred from voting because of the present working of Section 76 of the Local Government Act, 1933.

This Section is based on the principle that members of local authorities ought not to speak or vote on matters in which they have a pecuniary interest. I think that this rule is sound and is generally accepted, but I am discussing problems that arise in the practical operation of the Section with the local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the Dagenham Council intends to develop the site behind Messrs. Flemmings's warehouse in High Road, Chadwell Heath, for a nursery school and housing; and whether he will ensure that this fact is taken account of in deciding the future use of this site

Permission was given on 4th September for the erection of a warehouse on this site, following a local inquiry into a planning appeal by the owner of the land. The Inspector was informed at the inquiry that the land was no longer required for school purposes, and that the local authority had no proposals to acquire it for housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received from bodies in Wales regarding the provision of a separate Welsh television channel.

I have received written representations from five organisations in Wales and, accompanied by the predecessor of my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, have discussed the matter with the Welsh Parliamentary Party and with representatives of the University of Wales. My right hon. Friend and I have also received the text of a resolution passed at a recent national conference in Cardiff urging that Wales should be treated as an entity for further television services and that the necessary channels should be released for this purpose. All these representations will be most carefully considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the need which has been publicly expressed, details of which have been sent to the Prime Minister by the hon. Member for Anglesey, for a National Trust or Council for the improvement of the Arts in Wales, what consideration he has given to the establishment of such a project; and if he will make a statement.

There is much I would like to see done in developing the Arts in Wales. I have read these particular proposals carefully. Their starling point is that the county councils should surrender some £1,400,000 of their Welsh Church Funds to form the nucleus of a National Trust for the Arts in Wales. I do not know whether the county councils would feel disposed to do this. I think time must be given for opinion to crystallise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Government proposes to take to secure the restoration to liberty of Dr. Banda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the state of emergency in Nyasaland will be ended, Dr. Banda released and other detainees discharged or placed on trial.

The cases of individual detainees, including Dr. Banda, are under constant review. They will be released when the Governor is satisfied that this can be done without detriment to law and order. Similarly the state of emergency will be brought to an end when the right time comes. The question of bringing detainees to trial is a matter for the Attorney-General of Nyasaland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Nyasaland Africans are held in detention without trial in Nyasaland and Southern Rhodesia, respectively; and when it is proposed that they will be released.

The Answer is 381 and 86 respectively.As regards their release I have nothing to add to what I told the House on 2nd November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the present policy of the Government in relation to Nyasaland.

I have nothing to add to what I said in the course of the debate on 2nd November

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he or the Governor of Nyasaland will consult with the leaders of the Malawi Congress Party regarding the choice of Africans from Nyasaland to be members of the Monckton Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations have taken place, or are in contemplation, between the Governor of Nyasaland and African political leaders regarding the appointment of African members of the Monckton Commission.

The Governor's recommendations have already been made. He naturally took account of African and other opinion before doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what changes are proposed in the constitution of Tanganyika prior to another election in that territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals he has for a further constitutional advance in Tanganyika.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement as early as possible about the constitutional changes that will take place in Tanganyika in 1960.

I am at present discussing these matters with the Governor, Sir Richard Turnbull, and the hon. Members will be aware that I hope to visit Tanganyika myself next month. In the meantime I have no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to restore an elected Legislature in Malta.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 3rd November, to the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the cost of the oil prospecting carried out on the island of Malta; and if the project has now been finally abandoned.

The cost of oil prospecting in Malta was about £700,000; the project has now been finally abandoned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the political movements now banned in Uganda.

The following political organisations have been declared societies dangerous to peace and good order in Uganda:

• The Uganda National Movement,
• The Uganda Freedom Movement,
• The Uganda Freedom Convention,
• The Uganda Freedom Union,
• The Uganda Underground Movement, and
• The Uganda League.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the proposals for the opening-up of the White Highlands in Kenya for non-European farmers and for the development of co-operative farming.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon., Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on the 3rd November.As regards the second part, the Kenya Government continue to encourage the development of a soundly based cooperative movement, where there is a demand for it, primarily through the provision of advice and help by the Department of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is being done to increase yields of pyrethrum in Kenya, and to develop new uses and markets for this insecticide.

The Kenya Government operate a Pyrethrum Research Station, and the Kenya Pyrethrum Board a research laboratory whose work includes efforts to increase yields.The African Pyrethrum Technical Information Centre administered by the Pyrethrum Board maintains a European centre in London to develop new users and markets for pyrethrum based insecticides.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that employment will be avail able for the detainees, restricted persons and minor offenders who are to be released following the relaxation of emergency powers in Kenya; and if he will make a statement.

The Kenya Government are very much alive to the need of these people for employment, as part of their resettlement, and will do everything possible to provide additional sources of work. Fortunately a number of those who will be released already have some means of livelihood to which they can return.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps will be taken to maintain the existence of the villages established under emergency powers in Kenya.

If necessary, Kikuyu, Embu and Meru will be required to continue to live in villages for a time after the revocation of the remaining Emergency Regulations, but only in order to allow a phased move of the villagers who own land outside on to their consolidated holdings. Ultimately, the villages will house the landless and those who do not own land elsewhere. Village life has its own amenities and attractions, and I think that they are increasingly recognised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what instructions he has given regarding the employment of Cypriots by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' establishments in Cyprus; how many Cypriots are so employed; and how many Cypriot former employees of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, discharged during the emergency, have not since been re-employed.

None. There are now 1,025 Cypriots of all races employed by N.A.A.F.T.; 336 Cypriots have not been re-employed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now estimate the numbers of British, Greek-Cypriot, and Turkish-Cypriot people, respectively, who will live in each of the areas in Cyprus which are to be retained under full British sovereignty according to the Declaration made by the Government of the United Kingdom on 17th February, 1959.

I cannot give an estimate at this stage. The British population will depend upon the size of the Forces. It has always been Her Majesty's Government's aim to keep the number of Cypriots to the minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet completed his investigations into the claim against the Government of Cyprus of Mr. Christos Poyiadjis about which he wrote to the hon. Member for Swindon in September last; and if he will make a statement.

This claim requires detailed investigation but the Governor expects to let me have a report shortly. I shall send the hon. Member a full reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total cost to public funds involved in the payments made to the former E.O.K.A. member, Andreas Theodorou Antoniades, who received £25 a week from the British authorities for his past services to the British security services in Cyprus.

No payments have been made to Antoniades from United Kingdom funds. Any payments to individuals for such services rendered have been made by the Cyprus Government. It would not, however, be in the public interest to disclose details of payments made or to whom they are made

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps towards constitutional reform are being taken by the Government of St. Helena.

The Governor has been engaged in local consultations and there is agreement on the principle of including elected members in the Advisory Council.The size of the Council and the possible inclusion of official and nominated members are still under consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decisions have been reached about the future of the British Cameroons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the result of the recent plebiscite in the Northern Cameroons under British mandate regarding the future status of that Territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether agreement has now been reached in the Southern Cameroons on the questions to be submitted for the plebiscite relating to the future of this Trusteeship Territory.

There was a plebiscite in the Northern Cameroons on the 7th November at which a majority voted in favour of deferring a decision on the future of the territory until a later date. We shall now consider the implications of this result, which I emphasise represents only a decision to defer the decision. The United Nations resolution on the future of the Southern Cameroons was summarised in my reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 3rd November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the questions to be put to the electorate in the plebiscite in the Southern Cameroons before March, 1961, only give a choice between joining the Federation of Nigeria and the Republic of the Cameroons, thus precluding the choice of independence; what views Her Majesty's Government's representative expressed about this problem in the debates in the United Nations; and what reactions have been reported from the political leaders and other representative people in the Southern Cameroons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the United Kingdom representative at the United Nations General Assembly voted on the resolution regarding the political future of the Southern Cameroons; and if he will make a statement.

The choice to be put in the plebiscite was determined by the United Nations after full discussion in which both the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition in the Southern Cameroons participated. The choice of independence separately from either Nigeria or the Cameroons Republic was not requested by the Cameroons leaders. The views expressed by the representative of Her Majesty's Government, who voted for the resolution adopted by the United Nations, were in accord with our policy that the choices should be those acceptable to the Cameroons leaders. We have no reports suggesting any subsequent change of view on their part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the plebiscite that has recently taken place in the North Cameroons; and what instructions were given to British officers on the impartial execution of their duty in connection with this plebiscite.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the situation of the Northern Cameroons, following the plebiscite which resulted in the rejection of federation with Northern Nigeria; and what instructions were given to British officers concerning the execution of their duties in relation to this plebiscite.

The result of the plebiscite reflects the wish of a majority of the people to defer a final decision on their future. It is not a decision for or against any particular solution of that problem. The Administration of the plebiscite by both expatriate and local officers took place in accordance with the Regulations made by the Governor-General under the Nigeria (Northern Cameroons Plebiscite) Order in Council. I will put copies of these Regulations in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many political prisoners have been released from prison in Singapore during the past three months; how many of them were trade union leaders; how many have never had a trial; and what was the average period of their detention.

The information available is that during the past three months nine persons detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance were released, of whom four were trade union leaders. The Ordinance makes no provision for trials. The average period of detention was two years and four months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the conference, at which Her Majesty's Government was represented, to consider revision of the federal constitution of the Federation of the West Indies, indicating what subjects were discussed, what decisions were reached, and what steps Her Majesty's Government proposes to take in consequence.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 2nd November.Her Majesty's Government will await the reports of the Committees which have been set up to enable progress to be made when the Conference is reconvened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further progress has been made in the federation of the Aden Protectorate; and to what extent the frontier is now free of incidents.

With the warm approval of Her Majesty's Government, Lahej has recently become the seventh member state of the Federation.Meanwhile, progress is being made with building up the administration and the Federal National Guard.For many weeks now the frontier has been almost free from incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why letters addressed to persons in this country by Nyasaland citizens detained in Southern Rhodesia are censored.

All letters written by detainees are examined as a security precaution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on his consultations with the Governor of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

In view of the importance of the affairs of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland I was anxious to have the benefit of early and personal discussion with the Governments of those Territories. Our talks ranged over a wide field but I do not propose to make a general statement. There was no specific purpose in the consultations other than that I have stated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances it was recently decided to close an African secondary school near Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, for an indefinite period.

I am consulting the Governor about this matter and when I have his reply I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will arrange for the exhibits now displayed in the Whitehall Banqueting Hall to be transferred to the new National Army Museum at Sandhurst when opened so as to free the Banqueting Hall for more suitable purposes.

The use of the Banqueting House was granted to the Royal United Services institution by Queen Victoria, and the exhibits are its property. Apart from other considerations, as the exhibits cover all the Services, they could not appropriately be transferred en bloc to the National Army Museum.

asked the Minister of Works if he is now in a position to state the date when the Bernhard Baron Pavilion in Regent's Park will be restored.

Plans for a new pavilion on this site are being prepared, and, subject to the approval of funds by Parliament, work will start in 1961.

asked the Minister of Works how many statues of British generals have been returned to this country by the Sudan Government; and how he has disposed of them.

To my knowledge, two, those of General Gordon and Lord Kitchener. As already announced, these have been presented to the Gordon Boys' School at Woking and the School of Military Engineering at Chatham respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the shortage of maternity beds in Fife; and what are the prospects for the building of a new maternity home.

The Regional Hospital Board is now completing its review of the maternity services in Fife, and is shortly meeting local interested parties for this purpose. Thereafter it will be for the Board in the first instance to consider what action is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of crimes of violence known to the police for which corporal punishment could have been imposed prior to the alteration of the law in 1948 which were committed in 1948, 1957, 1958 and to the last convenient date in 1959, giving separate figures for each type of crime.

Scottish courts have had no power since 1862 to order the corporal punishment of persons 16 and over convicted of crimes of violence. The figures relating to boys under 16 are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that in the near future there will be approximately 270 Protestant primary pupils resident in the Shawhead area of Coat bridge without a school; and if he will provide assistance for the building of a new school with a view to meeting this need.

I understand that this number of children can be accommodated at Whifflet Primary School, about half a mile away. The education authority is, however, considering whether a Protestant primary school should be built at Shawhead.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the objections expressed by the National Trust for Scotland and other bodies to the plans for developing George Square, Edinburgh; what consideration he has given to these objections; and if he will make a statement.

I am in touch on this matter with various bodies including the National Trust, the University of Edinburgh, and Edinburgh Town Council as local planning authority, and I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a list of agricultural holdings, with areas, which have been released in recent years by hospitals and mental hospitals for private cultivation.

Below is a list of hospital farms and market gardens which,

Name of Farm and Hospital to which attached	Type of Holding (i.e. farm or market garden)	Area	How disposed of (i.e. by sale or lease or relinquishment of lease)		Date of Disposal
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)		(5)
WESTERN REGION
* ‡Bannerbank Farm, near Glasgow	Farm	307 acres	Lease given up	…	1952
*‡Brackenhirst Farm, Coatbridge	Farm	641 acres	Lease given up	…	1953
* Craigend Farm, Lennox Castle Institution, Lennoxtown. (M)	Farm	669 acres	Leased	…	1953
‡Kilgarth Farm, Coatbridge	Farm	80 acres	Lease given up	…	1957
Hairmyres Farm, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride.	Farm	176 acres	Leased	…	1955
Hawkhead House Farm, Renfrewshire	Farm	262 acres	Sold	…	1958
Mental Hospitals Board of Management, Paisley. (M)		52 acres	Leased	…	1958
Fernoch Farm, Argyll and Bute Mental	Farm	202 acres	Sold	…	1958
Hospital, Lochgilphead. (M)		34 acres	Leased	…	1959
* Mains of Balgray Farm, Mearnskirk Hospital, Glasgow.	Farm	100 acres	Lease given up	…	1953
* Robroyston Farm, Robroyston Hospital, Glasgow.	Farm	536 acres	Leased	…	1956
Ballochmyle Hospital	Farm	35 acres	Sold	…	1957
Dubs Memorial Hospital	Market Garden	5 acres	Sold	…	1958
SOUTH-EASTERN REGION
Alderston Mains Farm, East Lothian	Farm	250 acres	Sold	…	1958
Mental Hospital, Herdmanflatt. (M)
EASTERN REGION
†Sunnyside Farm, Montrose	Farm	74 acres	Lease given up	…	1958
Royal Mental Hospital. (M)
NORTH-EASTERN REGION
House of Daviot, House of Daviot	Farm	163 acres	Sold	…	1959
Hospital, Pitcaple. (M)		52 acres	Leased	…
* Now administered by Glasgow Corporation.
† Now administered by Montrose Town Council.
‡ These farms were not attached to any particular hospital but were administered by the Western Regional Hospital Board.
(M) Mental Hospitals and Mental Deficiency Institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation to permit courts in Scotland to award expenses to persons charged with, and found not guilty of, crimes and offences.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply given by my right

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Outer Seven Free Trade Area Agreement has induced the Aberdeen paper-making industry to reduce its commitments and, in particular, Messrs. Thomas Tait and Sons to contemplate abandoning their plan to spend £750,000 on building a new high-speed paper-making factory at Inverurie, with actual and potential loss to Aberdeen docks, railways, road haulage, engineering and other related industries; and if he will consult with the President of the Board of Trade in order to devise a way of protecting these industries from increasing loss and unemployment.

I am always in close touch with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade about the problems of industry and employment in Scotland. I am writing to the hon. Member about this particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations have been held with the National Coal Board to ensure that the proposed closing of the Zetland Colliery does not endanger now, or in the future, Alloa's water supply from the Gartmorn Dam.

I understand that there have been no recent consultations between Alloa Town Council and the Board on this subject; but the Town Council has an agreement with the Board whereby support will be ensured for the reservoir if the pit is closed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in connection with reorganisation schemes for the finishing section of the cotton industry.

Under the Cotton Industry Act the responsibility for preparing reorganisation schemes rests with the Cotton Board, in consultation with the section of the industry concerned. The Cotton Board informs me that it is anxious to proceed with the examination of a scheme or schemes for the finishing sections as quickly as possible, but it is still waiting for the necessary information from some firms. As soon as this information is available and has been analysed, further discussions about the desirability and feasibility of a scheme will take place with the representative of the finishers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the names of the present members of the Cotton Board.

The following are the names of the present members of the Cotton Board:

Lord Rochdale, O.B.E., T.D. Independent (Chairman)
Mr. W. T. Winterbottom, C.B.E.	Representing the interests of persons carrying on business in the industry.
Mr. J. M. H. Grey, T.D.
Mr. W. Crossley
Mr. G. D. Hughes
Sir Alfred Roberts, C.B.E., M.A., J P.	Representing the interests of persons employed in the industry.
Mr. C. Schofield, O.B.E., J.P.
Mr. Lewis T. Wright
Mr. L. Sharp, M.B.E.
Mr. O. Bertoya	Independent.
Mr. F. Rostron

In addition Mr. E. Hall and Mr. J. C. Robinson were appointed to the Special Committee of the Cotton Board set up under Section 3 of the Cotton Industry Act. They are independent members and serve on the Committee—but not on the Cotton Board proper—with Lord Rochdale, Mr. Bertoya and Mr. Rostron.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the yearly totals of expenditure under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, the Distribution of Industry Act, 1950, and the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958.

It would involve a disproportionate amount of work to extract yearly expenditure under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, as this Section confers powers on a number of different Ministers. Total expenditure under this Section for the period 1945–58 is approximately £13·5 million. Expenditure under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, is accounted for by the Treasury, and I am informed that for the financial year 1958–59 after the Act was passed expenditure totalled £45,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a committee to consider means by which local authorities can finance their housing schemes and non-profit-making work by a low and stable rate of interest in order to enable them to plan their future programmes without the fear of substantial increases in the rates of interest, which now continually hinder their progress.

No. I do not think that it would be right to insulate local authorities from the effects of prevailing levels of interest rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will intro duce legislation conferring power upon the Registrar of Friendly Societies to send for the books of societies registered with him.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies has the power to demand access in certain cases to the books of those societies in which the public interest is most closely involved, the building societies. In his capacity of Industrial Assurance Commissioner he has a similar power with regard to collecting friendly societies. I do not think it is necessary to extend that power to books of other societies with which he is concerned; I think it is enough to rely on the publicity which his annual reports give to problems arising in this field.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the nature of the request made to holders of War Loan in June, 1932, by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will, at at early date, redeem at par the 3½ per cent. War Loan now held by holders of the original 5 per cent. War Loan; and if he will state the number of individual holders involved and the cost, today, of such repayment.

No—to restrict redemption to such stock holders would be tantamount to breaking the terms of issue. I regret that an estimate of the number of stock holders who have held the stock since 1932 is not readily available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time and effort. To redeem the stock now would add some £30 million a year to the cost of servicing the National Debt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the purchasing power of the pay of a lieutenant-colonel in the British Army today, or the equivalent rank in the other Services, compares with that of the same rank on 11th November, 1918.

The minimum annual rate of pay and allowances for a married lieutenant-colonel in 1918 amounted to £653, which is equivalent to £1,400 at today's prices. This answer is based on the Ministry of Labour cost of living index from 1918 to 1938, the consumer price index from 1938 to 1958, and the Ministry of Labour index of retail prices for 1959 to date. The minimum annual rate of pay and allowances for a married lieutenant-colonel today amounts to £2,156. This figure includes marriage and ration allowances but not the other allowances shown in section (C) of Appendix I of the Army Estimates.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the value of unclaimed Premium Bond prizes at the nearest convenient date.

From prizes awarded up to the end of September totalling over £15 million, the amount unclaimed on 11th November was £12,600.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants to this country have left British West Indian territories during the past six months; and how many have returned during the same period.

During the six months ended 31st October approximately 15,000 West Indians arrived in this country and 3,000 departed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for better police patrol of the Dagenham area to prevent teen-age gangs from being a nuisance to the general public.

The disposition of the police in the Metropolitan Police District is a matter for the Commissioner. He is not aware of any special difficulty with young people in Dagenham, but he will be glad to look into any matters to which the hon. Member may wish to draw his attention.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present situation with regard to the new light weight transistor hearing aids with which it is intended to replace the present Medresco aid; how many of these light weight aids have so far been distributed; and when he anticipates that all necessary replacements of existing Medresco aids will be completed.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Members for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), and Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) and the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) on 2nd November. Approximately 17,000 transistor hearing aids have so far been distributed to hearing aid centres in England and Wales. At this early stage of production of transistor hearing aids for the National Health Service, I cannot say when it will be possible to complete the replacement of Medresco valve aids by transistor aids.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement about the Government's undertaking to relax the earnings rule for pensioners and widowed mothers.

Yes. In accordance with Section 77 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, I have submitted to the National Insurance Advisory Committee draft regulations which would increase the amounts which a pensioner can earn in any week without reduction of pension. The regulations would raise these amounts from £3 to £3 10s. in the case of widow pensioners and of those retirement pensioners to whom the rule applies, and from £4 to £5 in the case of widowed mothers. The draft regulations will be available tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now considered appeals to abolish the "No Waiting" signs recently erected at Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire; and whether he will now give orders for their removal.

I regard these "No Waiting" regulations on the trunk road A.5 where it passes through Stony Stratford as long overdue. But they will naturally be reconsidered if the use of the new motorway M.1 substantially and permanently alters the traffic situation.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to maintain and develop communications in the north and north-east of Scotland as alternative to the branch railway lines which have recently been closed down in those areas.

We have asked the Scottish Transport Council to examine this problem in the Highland area in consultation with the Highlands Panel. The Committee on Rural Bus Services in its study of the general problem will maintain close contact with the Scottish Transport Council.