asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what conclusions were reached by the experts officially appointed to investigate the presence of radio-active elements at the American base at Chaguaramas in Trinidad.

A report has been submitted to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, who intend to publish it shortly. Until this report has been published, I am unable to comment on its contents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to ensure that the interests of East African coffee producers are specially represented in Washington throughout the period of the current International Coffee Agreement.

I am in communication with the East African Governments and the East Africa High Commission Administration who have the matter under consideration with the producers' representatives. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have their considered views.

asked the Minister of Works what staff are now employed by his Department at Avebury; what are their respective duties; and to what extent he proposes to increase their number next year.

At Avebury, my Department employs a Curator and two Custodians. The Curator looks after the Museum and takes part in archaeological excavations in the area. The two custodians conduct visitors round the monument, cut the grass, keep the site tidy and attend when necessary at the Museum. I do not propose to increase this staff. In addition, a chargehand carpenter and five labourers are employed on wall repairs, site clearance and general maintenance. This labour force fluctuates according to the work in hand.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of continued redundancies in the slate industry of north Wales; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the position and prospects of the industry.

I regret that I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member by my predecessor on 21st April last.

asked the Minister of Works how many tons of roofing slate were produced in 1938, 1948, 1955, and 1958, in Wales, Scotland, and England, respectively.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement on the production of bricks for the first 10 months of this year together with comparable figures for 1957 and 1958, respectively; and, in view of the difficulties being experienced in obtaining supplies of bricks for building houses, what action will be taken to improve the situation.

Brick production for the first ten months of 1959 amounted to 5,759 million. The comparable figures for 1958 and 1957 were 5,360 million and 5,802 million. Production last month was 655 million, which is equal to the post-war peak reached in October, 1956. If this high level of production can be maintained, some 250 million more bricks should be available next year. This, coupled with flexibility in the use of alternative materials, should go far to meet an increase in demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the new by-pass road to avoid the congestion of traffic in Prestwick and Ayr to be completed; and if he is satisfied with the progress which has already been made.

Work on the first stage of the Ayr-Prestwick by-pass started at the beginning of November and the contract period is 21 months. The progress of this scheme has been most satisfactory, and I am grateful to Ayr County Council for the exceptional speed and accuracy with which, as my agents, they carried out the preparatory works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new towns he intends to start in the next four years under the terms of the 1946 Act.

Further action, under the New Towns Act, 1946, will be considered when it is clear that such action is needed and will not disturb the plans and programmes of those local authorities, and the three existing new towns, who have already contracted to take overspill population and industry from Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, under the Teachers' Salaries (Scotland) Regulations, 1959, the proposed responsibility element for Scottish head teachers is less than that proposed for holders of similar posts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 23rd November to the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs (Dr. A. Thompson).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he gave consent to afforestation in Glenspean and Glenroy; and how far all relative matters concerning shelter belts and the preservation of good agricultural or crofting land were considered.

Consent for the acquisition by the Forestry Commission of these properties was given in 1953 and 1957, respectively, only after the fullest examination by the Commission and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland of all matters referred to by the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, with respect to each separate statutory power conferred upon a local authority to acquire land in a Development Area or to carry out works on such land for enabling it to be brought into use, the principles on which he gives or refuses his consent.

Beyond assuring the hon. Member that all relevant factors are taken into consideration, I am afraid a reply to his Question in general terms is impracticable. If he will let me know of any particular issue he may have in mind, I shall, of course, be glad to write to him fully about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what major hospital projects have been completed in Ayrshire in the past five years; and what major hospital projects it is hoped to complete in the next five years.

In the past five years, seven projects each costing over £10,000 have been completed at the following hospitals: Ailsa Hospital (3 schemes), Ballochmyle Hospital, Ayr County Hospital, Heathfield Hospital, and Glenafton Hospital. The total cost of these projects has been £180,000.In the next five years, it is expected to complete the new out-patient department at Heathfield Hospital and a scheme for modernising operating theatres at Ballochmyle Hospital. With a view to the major redevelopment of the county's hospital services, other projects are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of persons drunk in charge of a motor car instituted in 1958 were in respect of offences committed on a Sunday.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without considerable expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Scottish Special Housing Association standard rents for two- and three-apartment houses are being exceeded in the case of the Association's houses about to be occupied in the burgh of Culross in Fife; and what steps he intends to take to avoid the hardship which will result from such rents.

It is the Association's practice, where local authority rents are higher than their own approved standard rents, to adopt the local authority rents. A rebate scheme to prevent hardship in individual cases is an essential part of the Association's rents system. I am writing fully to the hon. Member in reply to his recent letter on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of new industries brought to Wales since 1945 whose headquarters remain in London or the Midlands area; and what number of these have subsequently either been closed down or transferred or drastically reduced in size.

Precise information is not available, but 181 British firms originating in the London and South Eastern and Midland Regions are known to have opened branches in Wales since 1945; 66 are no longer operating there, but these were mainly smaller firms providing relatively little employment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to convene a conference of employers and workers in the cotton textile industry to discuss the administrative difficulties which have arisen in the carrying out of the obligations to workers implicit in the Cotton Industry Act.

No. I understand that the two sides are already in close touch on these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now considered the application made by the Machine Tool Trades' Association for the discontinuance of the arrangements for the remission of import duty on individual importations of machine tools, together with a reduction in the duty on them.

After careful consideration of the application and of the views of other interested parties, I have decided that it would be in the national interest to accept the proposal.The Import Duties (General) (No. 10) Order, 1959 (Statutory Instrument 1959, No. 1957), which is accordingly being laid today and which will come into operation as from tomorrow, reduces the duty on machine tools covered by tariff heading 84.45 (B) from 17½ per cent, to 10 per cent, ad valorem.No further applications will be accepted for the remission of duty under Section 6 of the Import Duties Act, 1958, on machine tools covered by this tariff heading unless they have already been ordered.As a consequence of accepting this proposal, I have also decided that the arrangements for duty remission on parts for incorporation in machine tools being manufactured in this country, while being continued for the present, will also cease at the end of 1960.Details of these arrangements are being published today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average profit, after meeting the labour cost per unit of output today, compared with 1957.

I cannot give figures for today, as they ate not available until some time afterwards. Between the first half of 1957 and the first half of 1959, gross trading profits of companies increased by 2 per cent.; if gross trading profits and surpluses of public corporations and enterprises are included, the increase was 4 per cent. Over the same period, income from employment increased by 8 per cent., while the gross domestic product measured at constant prices was practically unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of post-war credits now repaid, at the latest convenient date, and the amount still owing.

By 30th October, 1959, about £365 million had been repaid, leaving about £375 million outstanding.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of persons entitled to post-war credits who are. below the appointed age for repayment; and what is the total sum involved.

Nearly 11 million, the total Sum involved being about £375 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in framing any amendment to the Schedule A tax, he will make allowances for the discrepancies in valuations on which tax is payable.

When revaluation becomes possible, we shall do our best to ensure uniformity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will state the number of firms from outside Hull intending to build new factories, and the number of local firms intending to enlarge or rebuild existing factories, respectively, in the city who have applied for financial aid under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, and the result of the applications;(2) if he will state the dates of starting and completion of the first new factory in Hull, as the result of Treasury financial assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, and the number of unemployed men and women who will be employed.

All applications for assistance under this Act are made in confidence, and I am, therefore, precluded from giving details of individual applications. I can say, however, that fourteen firm and eligible applications for assistance for the various purposes permitted under the Act have been received by the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee in respect of undertakings in Hull. Of these, one has been approved, five have been rejected, while eight are still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to control the development of the north side of Piccadilly Circus, in view of the 13-storey building being erected there, about the architectural treatment of which the Royal Fine Art Commission has expressed dissatisfaction.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the construction of a 13-storey block of buildings on the northern side of Piccadilly Circus will affect the historic features of the area and spoil its general amenity; and what bodies besides the Royal Fine Art Commission were consulted before approving the plans for the new building.

I decided to direct that this application should be referred to me for my own decision. A public inquiry will be held at an early date.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, with a view to reducing and simplifying the present volume of local enactments in this country, he will undertake, during the course of the present Parliament, to introduce comprehensive legislation which will eliminate the necessity for a wide range of Clauses in local Bills and investigate the possibility of consolidating the remaining local enactments.

The Bills to which I referred in my answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Blackburn) on 10th November should help towards this end. But responsibility for consolidating local enactments must lie with the local authorities and other bodies for whose purposes they were passed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that a nuisance from smell, injurious to health, exists at the Kinver Street sewage disposal works of the Brierley Hill Urban District Council; and if he will discuss with the council the need to take action to install an efficient modern disposal system.

Yes, my right hon. Friend is arranging a local investigation in January into proposals which the council has submitted to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has yet considered the Report of the Pritchard Committee on the Rating of Charities and Kindred Bodies; and if he will make a statement.

I have it under consideration. Amongst other relevant matters, universities and colleges constitute some 30 per cent, of the whole field reviewed by the Committee, and it will be essential to know the outcome of current appeals against their present assessments before reaching any conclusion in regard to them. Meantime, the safeguard for all charities and kindred bodies in Section 8 of the Act of 1955, and also the relief of 20 per cent, provided by the Act of 1957 where applicable, are guaranteed by law till 1963, unless in the meantime Parliament otherwise determines.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has yet completed his consideration of the Report of the Committee on the Rating of Charities and Kindred Bodies; and, in view of the recent decision of the Lands Tribunal with regard to the rating of premises occupied for the purposes of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, if he will now introduce legislation on the lines of the recommendations of the Committee.

I would refer my hon. Friend to replies which I have given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 17th November and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Bullus) today.In the case mentioned, the Home has and retains the benefit of relief as a charity under Section 8 of the Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1958, and also relief under Section 1 of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1957. The claim rejected by the Lands Tribunal was a claim to secure further relief by being assessed as a private house and, therefore, at 1939 value.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent social and cultural considerations are taken into account by him when reaching his decisions on planning applications.

Only in so far as they may be relevant in considering whether the proposed development would be a proper use of the land, having regard to the development plan for the county or county borough concerned and other material factors.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of houses which need to be built in the next 10 years to replace slum dwellings.

Local authorities in England and Wales are now replacing about 60,000 slum dwellings per year. If this rate continues, upwards of 600,000 new houses and flats will be required for the purpose over the next ten years. But I hope that a large number of authorities will have completed the clearance of all slum dwellings within their area in well under ten years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of houses which need to be provided in the next 10 years to rehouse families living in overcrowded, insanitary, or unhealthy conditions in houses which are not scheduled as slum properties.

I could not at present give an estimate; at present, slum clearance is the first priority. All the time local authorities are doing a great deal under their housing and public health powers to secure the repair and improvement of defective houses. The number of houses in England and Wales which had defects remedied under these provisions in 1958 was 281,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of houses which need to be provided in the next 10 years to provide separate homes for new households.

The net increase in the number of households in England and Wales during the next ten years is estimated at some 850,000. At the present rate of house building, three times that number of new houses would be provided over the same period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses have been built by local authorities for general needs since the removal of the housing subsidies; and how such figure compares with the same period prior and during the operation of the housing subsidies.

For houses built since 1956, the records show the number of subsidies of different types paid but this information does not enable an estimate to be made of the number of houses built for general needs. Before 1956, no distinction was drawn between houses built for different purposes. No comparison is therefore possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will state the names of the local authorities who have received special housing subsidies under Section 6 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958.

The local authorities concerned are:

• Merthyr Tydfil C.B.C.
• Lampeter B.C.
• Pembroke B.C.
• Rhondda B.C.
• Tenby B.C.
• Abercarn U.D.C.
• Aberdare U.D.C.
• Abertillery U.D.C.
• Bedwas and Machen U.D.C.
• Bedwellty U.D.C.
• Brynmawr U.D.C.
• Caerphilly U.D.C.
• Gelligaer U.D.C.
• Glyncorrwg U.D.C.
• Holyhead U.D.C.
• Llandeilo U.D.C.
• Machynlleth U.D.C.
• Milford Haven U.D.C.
• Mountain Ash U.D.C.
• Mynyddislwyn U.D.C.
• Nantyglo and Blaina U.D.C.
• Neyland U.D.C.
• Pontypridd U.D.C.
• Prudhoe U.D.C.
• Rhymney U.D.C.
• Risca U.D.C.
• Tredegar U.D.C.
• Brecknock R.D.C.
• Builth R.D.C.
• Carmarthen R.D.C.
• Cemaes R.D.C.
• Colwyn R.D.C.
• Crickhowell R.D.C.
• Edeyrnion R.D.C.
• Haverfordwest R.D.C.
• Hiraethog R.D.C.
• Llandeilo R.D.C.
• Llanelly R.D.C.
• Llantrisant and Llantwit R.D.C.
• Fardre R.D.C.
• Newcastle Emlyn R.D.C.
• Pembroke R.D.C.
• Penybont R.D.C.
• Pontardawe R.D.C.
• Teifiside R.D.C.
• Twrcelyn R.D.C.
• Valley R.D.C.
• Vaynor and Penderyn R.D.C.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what were the dates between which he made increased subsidies for housing to meet special needs under Section 6 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, to 47 local authorities.

This Section re-enacted Section 5 of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956. The dates between which increased subsidies have been approved under both sections are January, 1958, to October, 1959.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the rising lists of applications for council houses and the restriction placed upon local authorities due to dearer money for borrowing, and the lack of subsidies for building council houses for general needs, what assistance he will offer to local authorities to meet the demand of general need application for council house tenancies.

Though there is still a serious shortage in some areas, particularly the big cities, the housing situation throughout the country generally has been transformed as a result of all the new building maintained now for eight years at a high level. There is no doubt that most local authorities will be able to continue building houses for all purposes to let at reasonable rents, provided of course that they use the subsidies they already receive to subsidise only those tenants who need help with their rents. An authority genuinely unable to continue building without charging unreasonably high rents or placing an excessive burden on the rates is able to apply to me for the special discretionary subsidy of £30 a house provided for under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the growing concern about the housing situation in Crawley; and whether he will make a statement.

I am aware that the Crawley Urban District Council is showing anxiety about the future housing situation. The Development Corporation is discussing this with the Council and also with the West Sussex County Council. I expect that discussions with my Department will follow, and I think it better to make no statement until these discussions have taken place.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many unfit houses there are at present in Birmingham; and how many are in court yards with no access to the streets except through a tunnel of 34 inches width or less.

There are estimated to be 45,000 unfit houses in Birmingham, but how many of them are in courtyards with access to the street through a tunnel I could not say. I am informed that there may be 3,000 dwellings of this type in the Ladywood constituency alone, although I cannot tell in how many cases the width of the tunnel is 34 inches or less.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses at the rear of 26, Great Hampton Street. Birmingham, are to be reconditioned with his approval; what will be the cost of such reconditioning, including the contingent proposal to fit fire escape hatches to these houses; and how long it will be before such houses are demolished.

There are seven houses to the rear of 26, Great Hampton Street, now in course of being reconditioned at an estimated cost of some £795, which includes £14 for the provision of fire escape hatches. It is estimated by the City Council, which is carrying out the reconditioning, that these houses will be demolished in about 12 years time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his proposals with regard to bringing forward in the near future a Bill for the compulsory registration of estate agents; and if he will make a statement.

While I understand from the Press that some of the professional bodies concerned have been considering the possibility of legislation, their proposals have not yet been submitted to me and I have, therefore, no statement to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 47,017 experiments referred to in paragraph 23 of the Return of Experiments on Living Animals, performed under anaesthesia in 1958 in the course of cancer investigations, were conducted on cats; and how many of them were conducted on dogs.

Seven on cats and twenty on dogs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 220,976 experiments referred to in paragraph 23 of the Return of Experiments on Living Animals, performed in 1958 in the course of cancer investigations, were conducted on cats; and how many of them were conducted on dogs.

Eight on cats and twenty-eight on dogs.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a state ment on the number of rockets with hydrogen war heads now produced in Great Britain and the effect on the British economy if further production were halted and existing stocks destroyed.

No.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is in a position to make a statement on the contract for the liaison aeroplane requirement for the Army Air Corps.

It is hoped to reach a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) what contribution is being made by the Government to individual private companies for the development of aero-engines;(2) what contribution is being made by the Government to individual private companies for the development of aircraft frames.

The cost of developing airframes and aero-engines for military aircraft is usually borne by the Government. The extent of Government assistance towards the cost of developing airframes and engines for civil aircraft, or of a military type with obvious civil applications, varies from case to case. It would be contrary to established practice to publish details of Government contracts with individual companies.

asked the Minister of Aviation what pre-operational development expenditure is being borne by the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation on the introduction into service of new British aircraft types; and for what aircraft types this expenditure is being incurred.

Pre-operational and development expenditure, including crew training and route proving flights, by B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. during the first half of the present financial year amounted to about £835,000. The aircraft types concerned are the Comet 4 and the Vanguard.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, which organisations have been sent the report on the machine tool industry prepared by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The Report was sent in confidence to the officers of the Machine Tool Trades Association, the Council of the Production Engineering Research Association and the National Research Development Corporation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the bacon and ham production of Great Britain as a percentage of the estimated total consumption of bacon and ham for the United Kingdom in the three months, July, August, and September, in the six years 1954 to 1959 inclusive.

The following statement gives the home production of bacon and ham as a percentage of the estimated United Kingdom supplies moving into consumption:

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the percentage of medical, including dental, representation on each regional hospital board; and the average medical representation on hospital management committees for each region, at the latest convenient date.

The following is the information at the current date:

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of residential telephone subscribers are now on party lines.

At 30th September last, there were 2,718,193 residential subscribers, of whom 1,000,305 shared their lines. This represents 37 per cent. of the total.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the serious accident at Berkeley power station, resulting in the death of a workman, on 3rd October, and the comments of the deputy coroner at an inquest held on 13th November, he is satisfied with the safety precautions taken in the construction of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

The accident was due to a failure to take precautions necessary when inflammable solvent paints are used in confined spaces and not to any hazard peculiar to the construction of a nuclear power station. I understand that the firm involved has reminded all concerned of the need for a sufficient supply of air to disperse fumes and the use of flame-proof lamps.

asked the Minister of Labour how many are registered as unemployed at Shotts Employment Exchange, giving figures for men, women, boys and girls; and how many for each of these categories have been unemployed for 8 weeks, 26 weeks and over one year.

A detailed analysis according to duration of unemployment is available for quarter dates only and the latest figures relate to 14th September, 1959. The following table gives the analysis for that date.Number of wholly unemployed persons on the registers of the Shotts Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office at 14th September, 1959.