asked the Minister of Power how many pits are intended to be closed in 1961 and 1962.

The National Coal Board has not yet worked out detailed proposals for the years after 1960.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) upon what Geographical grounds he bases his official statement that Leuchars Airport is more inaccessible to the City of Dundee than Errol aerodrome as a terminal for a possible air service;(2) upon what grounds he bases his estimate that an air service between Leuchars and Edinburgh would lose £45,000 annually; and if he will provide a detailed analysis of estimated running costs and revenue which led him to accept this figure.

B.E.A. has estimated the annual loss on a twice daily return service between Dundee or Perth and Edinburgh at about £45,000. As there is no direct road between Dundee and Leuchars, it seems likely that Leuchars would prove less attractive than Errol.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, in the interests of air safety, he will issue a general direction to the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways that all seats in aircraft operated by them must face the rear.

No. The recent technical inquiry into this question concluded that there was insufficient evidence to justify making this compulsory.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the size of the administrative and industrial staff employed by his Department.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I have given today to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell).

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to be able to make funds available for a new general hospital for Basingstoke.

My right hon. and learned Friend relies on the regional hospital board to advise him when this project should be included in the programme having regard to the other urgent needs of their region.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the capital investment plans of the regional boards can be effectively carried out without a substantial increase in the staff concerned; and if he will make a statement.

A considerable increase of staff, particularly architects, will be needed to implement the Government's increased programme of hospital building. I am discussing with regional hospital boards how additional architects might best be recruited and trained.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the total capital outlay of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board for the revised 1959 programme is allocated to North Staffordshire; and when the proposed new maternity hospital at the City General, Stoke-on-Trent, will be completed and in use.

The estimated capital expenditure for the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board for 1959–60 is approximately £1,300,000, of which nearly 6 per cent. relates to the Stoke-on-Trent area of North Staffordshire; it is not yet possible to say when the new maternity hospital at Stoke-on-Trent will be completed.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the reduced hours per fortnight worked by hospital nursing staffs are now in operation; how far this has led to the need of increasing the number of nurses; how the number of nurses and student nurses employed today compares with the previous recorded figures; and whether the recruitment of overseas student nurses from within and from outside the Commonwealth, respectively, continues at the same rate as formerly.

I have asked hospital authorities to let me have up to date information about the introduction of the 88-hour fortnight and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this is available. The numbers of nursing staff and student nurses at 31st March, 1959, the latest date for which there are figures, were the highest ever recorded. Overseas nurses continue to give much valuable service; but I regret that precise figures of the numbers at present in training are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what information and evidence he has concerning the relative incidence of cross-infection among patients in old and inconvenient hospital buildings and in more modern buildings.

I am advised that the number of factors involved is too great to permit valid statistical comparisons.

asked the Minister of Health the reasons for delays of over two months, at the Royal Infirmary, Hull, for examinations to ascertain the type of crutch required, to replace a broken one, for cripples who have had crutches for many years; and what action he will take to reduce these delays.

If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have details of any such delays I shall be pleased to investigate the reasons for them.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of specialists employed in the Newcastle Region on 5th July, 1948, and for each year to the present date.

Information is not available before 1949. The number of consultants employed at the end of this and of each subsequent year including consultants employed in the teaching hospitals was:

1949	280
1950	335
1951	368
1952	403
1953	416
1954	412
1955	421
1956	422
1957	442
1958	457

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the serious situation that has for so long been developing in regard to the school dental service, what action he has taken to ensure the training of more dentists; and what are the future prospects in this respect.

I would refer the hon. Member to what I said about dental training facilities in my reply on 16th November to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) about the hospital building programme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a study of the advantages which would accrue from installing radio control in ambulances, so that they can deal with emergencies more rapidly; and what advice he has offered to the appropriate authorities with regard to this matter.

About 70 per cent. of the local health authorities in England and Wales have already installed radio in their ambulances since 1951 when their attention was first drawn to its use as a means of increasing operational efficiency and in the circumstances I do not think that such a study is now needed.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Minister for Science, to what extent the increases of leukaemia of 26 per cent. in the county of Essex, of 59 per cent. in Cumberland, 39 per cent. in Cambridgeshire, 65 per cent. in Monmouth and Montgomeryshire and 80 per cent. in Caernarvonshire since 1950 now indicate that radio-strontium fall-out is becoming serious; and if he will make a further statement on the matter.

My noble Friend is advised that it is highly unlikely that these changes can be attributed to radio-strontium fall-out. For some thirty years death rates from leukaemia have been observed to be increasing in all countries, where good records are kept, including the United Kingdom. Moreover, in small localities where prevailing levels have been low, as in several of those counties mentioned, they would be expected to rise towards the national average.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are made by executive councils for the provision of the names of National Health doctors available for general practitioner services in an emergency in the case of patients who have moved to a new address and who are the victims of a medical emergency before they have had time or opportunity to register with a doctor in their new locality; if he is aware of the difficulties that have been experienced in this respect, particularly during the night hours; and if he will make a statement.

Any practitioner providing general medical services with the National Health Service has accepted an obligation to give treatment in an emergency to any person whose own National Health Service doctor is not available or who has moved and not yet re-registered with a doctor. Lists of National Health Service doctors are available at main post offices and elsewhere, and arrangements are now being made for telephone exchanges to be included.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors have failed to secure compensation for the loss of the right to sell the goodwill of their practices, brought about by the National Health Service Act, through failing to claim in time; what is the total sum involved; and if he will consider some way of helping them.

Applications from about one hundred doctors or their representatives had to be refused on the ground that a claim was not made within the time limit, which, after extension, finally expired on 28th February, 1951. It is not possible in the absence of particulars of claims to say how much would have been payable for these doctors. I regret that, for reasons which have been explained in a letter to the hon. Member, the claims cannot now be admitted.

asked the Minister of Health when a decision may be expected upon the claim for increased salaries submitted by the medical laboratory technicians.

I understand that agreement on increased salaries for medical laboratory technicians was reached at a meeting of the appropriate Committee of the National Health Service Whitley Council concerned last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider issuing milk tokens for children until attendance at school commences.

In view of the small number of children involved and the complicated individual arrangements that would be required I do not consider that this would be justified.

asked the Minister of Health when pay increases agreed for midwives earlier this year are going to become effective for domiciliary midwives.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the salaries of district nurses were included in the most recent salary awards to hospital staffs; and whether payment of any increases has yet taken place.

The improved salaries agreed by the Whitley Council for all grades of public health and domiciliary nurses and midwives have now been formally notified to the local authorities who will no doubt put them into payment as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that supplies of batteries for hearing aids issued to meet shortages are unsatisfactory and of short life: and if he will make inquiries into the matter.

Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend has taken steps with the assistance of my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General to deal with the matter.

asked the Minister of Health how many people in Sunderland are waiting to receive hearing aids; and what steps are being taken to expedite their supply.

Approximately 600 patients are waiting for Medresco hearing aids from the Sunderland distribution centre. We are trying, with the assistance of my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, to secure adequate supplies of aids quickly.

asked the Minister of Health (I) if he is aware of the recent comment of the Bow Street Magistrate on the use of the drug Preludin; and what report he has received on this drug from the inter-departmental committee on drugs of addiction;(2) if he is aware that at least one murder and many acts of violence have been precipitated by the use of the drug Preludine; and whether he will now include this drug upon the schedule of drugs which may be sold only on medical prescription.

I am aware of the comments that have been made about Preludin. It falls within a group of substances on which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have just received an interim report troll) the Inter-departmental Committee on Drug Addiction, under the Chairmanship of Sir Russell Brain. We are now considering this Report in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the United Kingdom delegate voted on the resolution before the United Nations expressing deep regret and concern that South Africa has not ended the policy of racial discrimination; which nations voted for the resolution; which against; and which nations abstained.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations voted on the resolution regretting South Africa's refusal to abandon the policy of apartheid.

In the plenary meeting of the General Assembly on 17th November, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom opposed the resolution. Belgium, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands abstained from voting. Sixty-two member countries voted in favour of the resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to encourage the discussion of major diplomatic issues by the Council of Western European Union.

Her Majesty's Government have always maintained that the best forum for multilateral discussion of major diplomatic issues by the Western allies is the North Atlantic Council. For matters which are of particular concern to the seven members of Western European Union, however, Her Majesty's Government want to make full use of the Council of that organisation.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave on 18th November, to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the United Kingdom has not ratified the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees.

Her Majesty's Government have not signed this Agreement. There can be no question, therefore, of ratifying it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government are proposing to make a contribution to the 1960 programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The United Kingdom representative informed the United Nations General Assembly's Third Committee on 2nd November that Her Majesty's Government propose, subject to Parliamentary approval, to make a contribution of £100,000 to the 1960 programme of the High Commissioner. Of this sum, 55 per cent, is to be allocated to camp clearance and the remainder to the other work of his office including help for out-of-camp refugees.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men now redundant in the aircraft industry in. Bournemouth and Christchurch have still not found other work.

On 16th November, 83 people who last worked in the aircraft industry were registered as unemployed at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that many married men, being declared redundant in the coal industry and hitherto exempt from National Service, will suffer hardship if called up for National Service; and if he will grant indefinite postponement of call-up in these cases.

Any such man can apply for postponement if he considers that his call-up would cause exceptional hardship, and his application will be carefully considered in the light of the individual circumstances.Arrangements have, however, already been made for men (both married and single) who have worked for several years in the mines, and who become redundant owing to closures, to have their cases looked at specially if they are within two years of the upper age limit; normally, these men will not be called up for National Service.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, as the result of redundancies in the coal industry, many men hitherto exempt from National Service, are now subject to the call-up, and that consequent delays in their being called to the forces result in their continuing unemployment; and what steps he will take to ensure the minimum hardship in these cases.

Such men, unless they ask to be called up without delay, are given six weeks in which to seek other employment in coal mining, and if, at the end of that time, they have not re-entered the industry, steps are taken to call them up quickly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify the foods which have risen in wholesale price and those which have fallen since December, 1958, with regard particularly to Christmas fare, and the overall change in food prices.

Poultry, bacon and ham, dried fruits, edible nuts, mincemeat and canned fruit were cheaper at wholesale in October 1959, than in December, 1958, some of them substantially. There were increases, mostly slight, in the prices of Christmas puddings, oranges, pork, and chocolate, and sugar confectionery.There are no corresponding figures for the wholesale prices of foods in general, but the general level of retail food prices fell by nearly two points between the two dates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the price of butter in Newcastle-upon-Tyne has now risen to 5s. per 1b.; and if he will take steps to control the price of this and similar essential foods.

It is true that the retail price of butter both in Newcastle and over the country generally has been rising until very recently. This has been due to a combination of circumstances among which the drought in Northern Europe has been mainly responsible. Present indications, however, are that prices have passed their peak and are already showing a tendency to decline owing to increased quantities arriving from Australia and New Zealand. Price control would certainly not help and might only have the effect of discouraging further supplies from overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the twenty-one British documentary films gaining awards or special mentions at international festivals this year and submitted by the Central Office of Information were made, as distinct from acquired, by that body.

Two films made for the Central Office of Information gained four awards or special mentions.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the British documentary films entered at international festivals this year by the Central Office of Information were made, as distinct from acquired, by that body.

At least one-quarter.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now sanction the rebuilding of St. Mary's School, Islington, on the site approved by the London County Council, in view of the fact that both the London Diocesan Board of Education and the London County Council regard the rebuilding of this school as of high priority.

No firm proposal to rebuild this school has been submitted to me. I agree that this is a desirable project, but there are other primary schools whose need is even greater, and I understand that this view is shared by the London County Council and the Diocesan Board of Education.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that the main subject of the Milan Triennale to be held next year is school building and that, despite this country's acknowledged lead in this field, British school building is not to be represented; and whether he will arrange for such representation.

I have received many representations that we should not miss this opportunity of putting our considerable achievement before an international audience. I am glad to inform the hon. Member that the Government have decided to build a small but complete school as its main exhibit.

asked the Minister of Education, what percentage of the undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge Universities are in receipt of grants from the State; and what was the corresponding figure in 1951.

I am having the available information extracted and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons aged 17 and 18 years were remanded in prison in the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available.

The information is not available in the form requested by the hon Member, but in 1958, 7,133 boys and 482 girls aged 17, but under 21 years of age, were remanded to prison.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made recently in research into the prevention of skidding by road vehicles.

I have been asked to reply, as representing the Minister for Science. Three lines of investigation have shown promising results:

(1) A device to control braking without the locking of wheels.

(2) The application of appropriate road surface dressings at accident "black spots".

(3) The possible use of high hysteresis rubber in tyres.

Further progress in the prevention of skidding now depends mainly on developments in the applications of these researches by highway authorities and by vehicle and tyre manufacturers, and my noble Friend is pleased to say that they have shown interest in these research results.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, despite the official denials by the Kenya Government that Jomo Kenyatta is seriously ill, there is continued and widespread apprehension amongst Africans concerning his health; and if, in order to allay such apprehension, he will make a statement on the present health of Mr. Kenyatta, including a statement on his health in early October.

I know of allegations which were made in October about Mr. Jomo Kenyatta's health, but they are quite unfounded. The Governor reported to me only last week that Mr. Kenyatta's medical condition was satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amounts have been contributed towards the development of education from colonial development and welfare funds for the years 1955–59, respectively, in Tanganyika, Kenya, Uganda, Nyasaland, and Northern Rhodesia, respectively, and for what purposes; and what amounts have been allocated, respectively, for the next five-year period.

I attach below a statement showing the grants approved for the development of education in Tanganyika, Kenya, Uganda, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia and for what purposes, in each of the years 1955–59. Grants for the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Salisbury have been included since the College serves Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.For the next five year period, £1 million have been allocated to Makerere College and £1,400,000 to the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland from the central allocation for Higher Education. It is hoped to announce shortly the amount of the allocation to the Royal Technical College, Nairobi. Other educational development will qualify for assistance from the territorial allocations which are as follows:

	£
Tanganyika	6,000,000
Kenya	5,000,000
Uganda	3,000,000
Nyasaland	3,000,000
Northern Rhodesia	1,000,000

It has not yet been decided how much of these allocations will be used for educational purposes.In some ways it is, of course, misleading to measure the contribution made by the United Kingdom to any particular service in a territory by the amount of the territory's C.D. and W. allocation actually devoted to that service; for the spending of part of its colonial development and welfare allocation on their service may free funds from its own revenues for other services and

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet Dome to a decision to fix the amount of rent to be paid by Mr. William Pearson in respect of his Admiralty-owned house at 9, Gorrie Street, Brucefield, Dunfermline, within the controlled level of 22s. 1d.

No. Mr. Pearson's rent has been assessed at 32s. 1d. in accordance with the national rent scheme applicable to all civil employees of the Crown.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement on the special arrangements which were agreed with other countries of the European Free Trade Association on the treatment of quick-frozen fish fillets.

The arrangements are as follows:

The United Kingdom Government have accepted the exclusion of quick-frozen fish fillets from Annex E^* on the assumption that exports—including exports from the European territories for whose international relations the three Governments are responsible and to which the Convention applies—from Denmark, Norway and Sweden to the United Kingdom are not likely to exceed an annual rate of 24,000 tons by 1st January, 1970, and that the rate of expansion of exports will be gradual and orderly.

If at any time before 1st January, 1970, the United Kingdom Government consider that these exports are increasing at an abnormal rate, the four Governments shall consider promptly what action should be taken to moderate the increases.

If in any year in this period it seems likely to the United Kingdom Government that these exports will exceed 24,000 tons, the four Governments shall promptly discuss the situation having regard to the conditions prevailing in the fishing industry and the current trends of consumption on the United Kingdom market. Failing agreement the matter shall be reported to the Council with a view to finding a solution.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the number of council dwellings built in the Borough of Gateshead during the last 12 months in respect of slum clearance and other purposes respectively.

During the twelve months ended on 31st October, 1959, 263 council houses were completed within the borough. I have no information as to the allocation of these houses to meet particular needs; this is entirely a matter for the local authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has yet completed his consideration of the policy questions arising from the Wilson Report on Residential Caravans: and what early action he proposes to take in the matter.

I want to consider the views of the interests concerned before reaching decisions on policy. Consultations for this purpose are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs which local authorities in North Staffordshire and Lancashire have not take action under the powers given to them by the Clean Air Act, 1956; and if he will provide a list of those local authorities who have not submitted five-year programmes.

The Act confers a variety of powers on local authorities most of which are exercisable without reference to me, and information in the form requested in the first part of the Question is not, therefore, available. The hon. Member may, however, like to know that 38 authorities in the area in question are actively engaged in establishing smoke control areas, and that 100 authorities have adopted the model building byelaw regulating the type of domestic appliance that can be installed in a new building.The programmes referred to in the second part of the Question were requested only from authorities in the worst polluted areas. Some of the replies raise questions which it will be necessary to settle with the authorities concerned before a clear picture can be given. I am pressing on with this, but I should prefer to hold up for the time being the publication of a list as requested by the hon. Member, as at this stage I think that such a list might be rather misleading.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on the lessons learnt in the administration of the Clean Air Act, 1956, and from research carried out since the Act was applied; and what further advice arising from that experience he now proposes to give to local authorities.

Experience gained in administering the Clean Air Act and the results of research are regularly reviewed by my right hon. Friend and by the Clean Air Council. The Department's Annual Report records each year developments in the aspects of this problem coming within the purview of my right hon. Friend. He will continue to give advice from time to time to local authorities whenever he thinks this would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what special action has been taken under the Clean Air Act, 1956, to eliminate within a 50-mile radius of Manchester, all air pollution and especially sulphur pollution.

The powers of the Clean Air Act relate to smoke, grit and dust. My right hon. Friend has urged local authorities in black areas, including those covered by the hon. Member's Question, to use these powers vigorously and systematically. To date, 81 local authorities whose areas are within 50 miles of Manchester have made orders, or have provisionally notified their intention to make orders, to establish a total of 191 smoke control areas. In addition, there are in operation in this area 39 smokeless zones established under local Acts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on the extent to which the Clean Air Act, 1956, is being carried out in accordance with the principles set out on pages 10, 11 and 12 in the 1958 edition of the official memorandum on the industrial provisions of the Act; to what extent the electro-precipitation process is being applied in the chemical and allied industries, particularly within a 50-mile radius of Manchester: what other methods are in operation; and at what places.

As far as can be judged, local authorities have found the guidance in the memorandum useful, but it is for them to decide how to use their powers in individual cases and we have no detailed information. Electro-precipitation is widely used in the chemical and allied industry, including works in the area referred to by the hon. Member; other methods of arrestment in general use for dealing with particular types of emission include bag filtration, wet scrubbers and adsorption by activated carbon. It is not possible to list all the many places in which these various methods are employed.

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

I have arranged for this model to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall during the week beginning 7th December.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give some details of the plans envisaged for the widening of Finchley Road, Hampstead.

I understand that the London County Council is preparing a scheme to widen Finchley Road between Hendon Way and Swiss Cottage to take six lanes of traffic at a cost provisionally estimated at £1¾ million. The Council hope to submit the scheme for my consideration in the next financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Professor D. T. Jack, who is chairman of the committee he set up to report on the problem of rural transport, has now been appointed a member of the Advisory Commission on Central Africa and what action he proposes to take to ensure that the work of the Rural Transport Committee is not adversely affected thereby.

Professor Jack was appointed to the Advisory Commission on Central Africa with my agreement. I propose to appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Rural Bus Services to steer its work while Professor Jack is occupied with the work of the Commission.