asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a national appeal through the Federation of British Industries, Association of British Chambers of Commerce, National Union of Manufacturers and other employers' associations for moderation in dividend rises in 1960, which the much greater profits for 1959 will permit, in order to help keep down excessive wage demands and so further his policy of lower prices; and if he will make a statement.

In my right hon. Friend's speech during the Debate on the Address he asked businessmen to use any increases in profits primarily for the two purposes of investment and reduction in prices. He is hoping to discuss these matters informally with representatives of the organisations mentioned early next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the condition of repertory theatres revealed in the last annual report of the Arts Council, he now proposes to increase the grant to that council.

I must ask the right hon. Member to await the 1960–61 Estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will introduce legislation to implement the undertaking given by Her Majesty's Government on 13th May, 1959, to vary the list of trustee investments.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) on 26th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards the setting up of decimal standards in the United Kingdom.

As my hon. Friend may be aware, a Committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science is at present conducting an inquiry into the metric system, including the desirability and practicability of a change-over to a decimal currency system in this country, and the adoption of a system of decimal weights and measures. It would be premature to take any decisions in this field until the results of this inquiry are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the annual cost of the repeal of Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834.

If Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, were repealed, it is likely—assuming no other change in the law—that some civil servants who, under present law, would have continued at work beyond minimum retirement age would take their pensions at that age and seek re-employment. I regret that I cannot estimate the additional cost of this. The cost of removing the restriction on the pensions of those who have retired and become re-employed notwithstanding Section 20 is estimated on recent experience to be about £3 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases, and to what aggregate amount, have superannuation allowances been reduced by reason of the operation of Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, for an annual period to the latest convenient date.

It is estimated that on 30th September, 1958, there were about 16,500 Civil Service pensions subject to reduction under Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834. The aggregate amount of these reductions was about £3 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases his Department has been responsible for prosecutions for infringements of the Advertisements (Hire Purchase) Acts, since 1st January, 1959.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will instruct his representative on the European Productivity Agency to support the suggestion for an economic and technical survey of the European machine-tool industry made in the preliminary report of the European Productivity Agency's Project No. 420.

This suggestion was included in a report submitted to the Director of the European Productivity Agency but about which member countries have not yet been consulted. The President of the Board of Trade yesterday attended a meeting of the Machine Tool Advisory Council at which this matter was discussed. It was agreed to form a committee—on which makers, users and the trade unions will be represented—to report to the Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what encouragement he has given, in the interests of promoting trade, to the representation of Scottish industry at the British trade fair in New York; and if he will make a statement;(2) what publicity is being given to Scottish industry by the Board of Trade stand at the British trade fair in New York.

I understand that the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) will have a stand of its own at New York. In addition, Scottish industry will be well represented at the Fair as a substantial number of Scottish firms are taking space to display their products in the appropriate sections of the Fair. The Board of Trade stand will present the achievements of Britain as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in carrying out the terms of the Anglo-Soviet agreement on con- sumer goods for the year ending 30th June, 1960; what are the principal goods involved; and what prospects there are for increasing this trade.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 12th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke). I am sending the hon. Member particulars, which were published in the Press at the end of August, of the quotas that were agreed on both sides. We shall be in a better position to gauge the prospects for increasing the trade when we see how these quotas have worked out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take the necessary steps to prevent any company being registered with a name including the word "bank" without his special permission.

Since the Companies Act of 1947 it has been the policy of the Board of Trade not to allow a company to be registered with a name including the word "bank" unless the facts justify its use.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps under Section 1 (8) and (9) of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, to revoke the reorganisation schemes in those sections where firms have refused publicly to disclose their decisions under the schemes to scrap part or all of their machinery, as these refusals are contrary to the public interest on account of the uncertainty caused by them to the future of great numbers of cotton workers.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a decision has yet been made on the purchase of land for the proposed extension of factory space for Cummins Diesel Engine Company, Shotts.

Yes, I am pleased to say that a compromise solution has been reached acceptable to both the firm and the farmer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps are being taken to encourage exports to the sterling area.

All the services which the Government provides to help exporters are available for exporters to the sterling area. My right hon. Friend is considering whether there are any further steps that we can take.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Scottish papermaking industry will be at a disadvantage compared with their Scandinavian competitors by not having a local source of woodpulp; and whether, to prevent the possibility of local unemployment through this cause, he will give special facilities and practical assistance for the establishment of a woodpulp mill in West Aberdeenshire.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the expressed fears of the Scottish papermaking industry, but does not consider that he would be justified in going beyond the facilities already available in certain areas of Aberdeenshire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what effect the Outer Seven Agreement will have upon inter-Commonwealth trade; and what consideration was given to safeguarding the interests of Commonwealth producers in coming to that agreement.

I do not expect this Agreement to have any substantial effect on our trade with other Commonwealth countries. We have had constant regard to the interests of these countries and we have had much help in this from our continuous consultation with Commonwealth Governments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a comprehensive statement of the number of new industries and the number of extensions of existing industries which have been introduced into Aberdeen City and County, respectively, during the last twelve months, indicating the increases in the number of workers of each sex in each such industry

In the period 1st November, 1958, to 31st October, 1959, in Aberdeen City four extensions were completed and at the end of the period one new building was under construction and one extension had been approved but not yet started. The total estimated additional number of jobs was 47 for male and 21 for female workers.In the County of Aberdeen in the same period, one extension was completed and at the end of the period two new buildings and five extensions were under construction and four further extensions had been approved but not yet started. The total estimated additional number of jobs was 245 for male and 305 for female workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of subjects, other than those rejected as being frivolous, that have been suggested to the Board for reference to the Monopolies Commission since its establishment; and how many references have in fact been made.

One hundred and eighty-nine subjects have been suggested. Thirty-one references have been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the progress Great Britain has made in industrial design, he will ensure that this country is represented at the forthcoming Triennial Exhibition.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education to my noble Friend the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) on 30th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to revive the proposals for an organisation for trade co-operation as discussed at the Ninth Session of the contracting parties of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The United Kingdom and a number of other countries have accepted the Agreement establishing the Organisation for Trade Co-operation; but, before it can come into effect, it has to be accepted by the United States, for which Congressional approval has not yet been given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will instruct the committee of inquiry reviewing company law to include consideration of the effect of take-over bids on the general public as distinct from the shareholders in the particular company concerned, and, in particular, to review the aesthetic and social consequences which may be entailed by such bids.

I am sure that the Committee will consider all aspects of takeover bids of concern to the general public which are appropriate to company law but I would not include aesthetic considerations among them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether legislation is now being formulated to take the place of the Emergency Regulations of Kenya, as recommended by the Committee on Emergency Detention Camps in their Report of August, 1959.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement of 10th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a decision has now been reached on the recommendation of the Committee on Emergency Detention Camps in Kenya of August, 1959, that a scientific study of present conditions in the Kikuyu districts should be made.

There have been several sociological studies in recent years on various aspects of Kikuyu life, details of which I will supply the hon. Member if he so wishes, and the Kenya Government consider that sufficient information exists on the problems of the Kikuyu to enable them to be solved, provided the necessary money can be found.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will appoint a co-operative representative to the Economic Commission to Mauritius, in view of the importance of developing co-operative societies within the Mauritius economy.

The Government of Mauritius and my right hon. Friend are grateful to the hon. Member for this suggestion, but they have decided not to adopt it.The Chairman and members of the Mauritius Economic Survey Mission will be able to see for themselves the important part which is being played and which can be played by co-operative societies in the Mauritian economy. They will also be able to call on the Registrar of Co-operative Societies there for information and specialist advice.My right hon. Friend's own Adviser on Co-operation has first-hand knowledge of conditions in Mauritius. He will, naturally, give the Mission any help he can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Cypriot paid informers have been brought from Cyprus to the United Kingdom since February, 1956; what was the cost of their transportation; what sums have been paid directly to them to date; what further payments it is proposed to make; how many of these individuals have been the subject of prosecutions since their arrival here; how many are now in prison; and to what extent it is proposed to cancel future payments to those now serving prison sentences.

As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerfoy) on 17th November, payments made are for services rendered. It would not be in the public interest to give further details of these payments or the information asked for in parts 5 and 6 of the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the Wilson Commission's Report, he will review the contribution made by the United Kingdom to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone.

The recent allocation to Fourah Bay College was made after taking into account the Wilson Commission's Report as well as the funds available for higher education generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there are at present no plans for the dispersal of refugees in Hong Kong for horticultural development in the New Territories; and whether, as a long-term policy, this will be considered in the near future.

I am informed that all suitable land has already been brought under cultivation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply the Government has given to the request from the Governor of Hong Kong for financial assistance in dealing with the problem of refugees in the Colony.

On his recent visit the Governor gave a Press conference in support of the World Refugee Year Appeal and with special reference to Hong Kong. As the hon. Member will be aware, Her Majesty's Government have made a contribution in response to that appeal, of which one-third is earmarked to be applied towards the needs of Chinese refugees in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what quantity of milk has been thrown away since the milk dispute in Malta began; what negotiations took place between the Government and the milk producers; and what steps are being taken to bring the dispute to an end.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the dispute over milk subsidies in Malta.

The Government of Malta have been concerned for some time about the high level of milk subsidies which, in recent years, have been running at about £500,000 (including the cost of operating the Milk Marketing Undertaking, which amounts to about £210,000 per annum).In December, 1958, the Government appointed an Official Committee to inquiry into the Dairy Industry whose report is now being considered. At the beginning of October the decision was taken that this very large milk subsidy would have to be reduced. It was necessary to take a decision then because at this time of the year the prices for winter milk have to be fixed and new contracts entered into with the producers.The producers' representatives were informed of the Government's decision, which was to the effect that quotas of milk would, in future, be fixed on the basis of a liquid milk consumption of 3,900,000 gallons per annum and that the price paid for milk within this quota would be 4s. 10d. per gallon (which is the price that has been paid for all milk purchases during the last 12 months). Any milk surplus to that quota would be purchased by Government for cheese and butter making etc., at the rate of 3s. per gallon, this sum being reduced to 2s. per gallon in the spring. At this price the Government would still incur a heavy loss on surplus milk. It should be noted that in fixing the quota of 3,900,000 gallons a generous allowance was made over and above actual market requirements.Producers' representatives were also told that Government would negotiate a price for next summer and next winter (the latter to he higher than the former) during the coming months and that both prices would be announced simultaneously, so that farmers could plan accordingly, with the particular aim of reducing the surplus yield in the summer and having a more even flow of milk. During the winter months there is very little surplus above the requirements for liquid milk and at the present time, until at least January, any such surplus would be negligible, thereafter rising slowly until the spring and summer flush period. The total production of milk at present is estimated to be about 4,700,000 gallons per annum.Before the new policy was due to come into force it was made quite clear at several meetings to the milk producers' representatives that Government was determined to reduce the amount of milk subsidy. It was pointed out that the time was opportune for a change because the new policy, owing to the absence of surplus milk now, would not affect the herdsman's income from milk sales before the spring, thus giving him time to plan his milk production accordingly During these interviews the producers' representatives repeatedly said that they were not so much concerned with the price paid for surplus milk, but with securing an increase in the price for the quota of milk used for liquid consumption from 4s. 10d. to 5s. 2d. a gallon. This was quite unacceptable to the Government as it would mean further increase in the subsidy.It is the contention of producers' representatives that 4s. 10d. is not an economic price and they hold strongly that the Government have based their prices on an average yield of cows' milk which is too high. On the other hand, the Government's contention has always been that the very fact that at a price of 4s. 10d. per gallon herdsmen have increased the size of their herds and the amount of milk produced is clear evidence that the dairy business is very profitable.The farmer ceased to supply milk to the Milk Marketing Undertaking on 15th November. Daily production of milk at this time of year is about 11,000 gallons, but the actual amount of milk thrown away is considerably less than this because the feeding level has been reduced during the stoppage and some herdsmen are making cheese. Since supplies of fresh milk ceased reconstituted tinned milk, of which there are ample supplies, is being distributed to all areas. It is Her Majesty's Government's hope that the dispute will be settled by negotiation with the producers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recommendations about the marketing of milk in Malta and Gozo were made in Mr. George Ford's Report and by the more recent Committee of Inquiry on Milk Production, neither of which have yet been published.

I am consulting the Governor of Malta and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the qualifications for a manager of an African coffee curing factory in Uganda; and why licences are refused to such factories unless a non-African managing agent is appointed.

The qualifications for a manager of any coffee processing factory are decided by the owners and are not laid down by the Protectorate Government. It is not the case that licences are refused unless a non-African managing agent is appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to assist traffic control and release the Metropolitan Police for more important duties, he will consider the recruitment of a special corps for traffic duty in London.

I am advised that legislation would be necessary before civilians could be appointed to assist the police in their road traffic duties. I am giving the matter sympathetic and urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made with the discussion of proposals for marking vehicles carrying dangerous substances.

The chemical and road transport industries are willingly co-operating in preparing a scheme for the marking of vehicles carrying dangerous substances. My Department have had two meetings with representatives of these industries and a detailed code of marking is now being drawn up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for a public inquiry to hear objections against the replacement of the existing prison on Dartmoor by another new prison there, before a decision is taken on the siting of the new prison.

Proposals for the reconstruction of Dartmoor are to be discussed at a meeting to be held at Princetown next week between representatives of the Prison Commission and the Ministry of Works and of the authorities and organisations concerned. I will consider, in the light of the outcome of this meeting, whether a public inquiry appears to be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coal burning heating systems the Prison Commissioners propose to convert to oil in 1960; and where such conversions are taking place.

In seven establishments, namely, Aylesbury, Birmingham, Dorchester, Exeter, Gloucester, Manchester and Stafford.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given, comparable to that given to the Metropolitan Police and the Customs in 1951 and 1956, to other authorities regarding application for warrants to intercept telephone conversations.

Appendix II of the Report of the Committee on the Interception of Communications makes it clear that applications from authorities other than the Metropolitan Police, the Board of Customs and Excise and the Security Service are very rare. It has not yet been found necessary to give other authorities guidance on the conditions which the Secretary of State requires to be satisfied before authorising interception. The same principles are applied in considering applications whatever their source, and if the conditions are not satisfied the application is refused.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is aware that more Italians than British migrated to Canada in 1958, and that migration to Canada from the British Isles decreased by 29 per cent. in the first nine months of this year; and what consultations have been held, and action taken, by his Department and the Overseas Migration Board to ensure that a proper proportion of new Canadians are of British origin.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, Yes.With regard to the second and third parts, the number of persons emigrating from the United Kingdom to Canada varies from year to year and is, of course, dependent on the voluntary decision of individuals. Economic circumstances are an important factor influencing these voluntary decisions and I would invite my hon. Friend's attention in this connection to paragraph 49 of the fourth Report of the Oversea Migration Board.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations by what authority Mr. Sandford was deprived of his rights to increases of retired pay sanctioned under Pensions Increase Warrants.

Mr. Sandford is not in receipt of retired pay, but receives a compassionate allowance. This compassionate allowance is not within the scope of the Pensions Increase Warrants, but it has, nevertheless, been increased to the same extent as if those warrants had applied to it.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) whether he has studied the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, South, concerning the landing at Bristol of stewed steak imported from the Union of South Africa and found by the medical officer of health to be of exceptionally poor quality; and, in view of the fact that the consignment was intended for sale to the native population of the Union, what records he has of similar imports into the High Commission Territories of South Africa;(2) what safeguards he lays down to ensure that foodstuffs imported into the High Commission Territories of South Africa for consumption by the native population are not inferior in standards and quality to those which would be permitted to enter the United Kingdom.

There is no import control over goods imported into the High Commission Territories from the Union of South Africa. It is, accordingly, not known whether any of the canned stewed steak in question has been sent to any of the three territories. But no complaints in connection with this matter have reached the authorities in any of the High Commission Territories.There are regulations in each territory under the public health laws which forbid the sale or offer for sale of foodstuffs unfit for human consumption.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations how much of the £1,500,000 per annum voted by this House under the Commonwealth Settlement Act is actually being spent in the present financial year; and in what way.

The amount voted by Parliament for 1959–60 was £173,200, virtually all of which is being spent. For details I would refer my hon. Friend to the Civil Estimates, Class II, Head 6, Subheads B and C.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what publicity is being given, with the assistance of his Department, to the Commonwealth Exhibition in the cities where it is being shown.

Wide publicity was given in the regional Press, on radio and television, to the opening ceremony in Liverpool, at which Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret declared the Exhibition and Weeks open.An increase in the volume of poster and leaflet publicity will be undertaken at subsequent Weeks. Attendance has already exceeded expectations and at the end of the eleventh day had reached 64,153.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement regarding the law relating to homicide in the High Commission Territories.

On 8th August last, Proclamations were issued by the High Commissioner in each of the three High Commission Territories that effected certain reforms in the local law relating to the offence of murder. These reforms have the following objects:

First, where a person is convicted of murder, the court is required, before passing sentence, to consider in every case whether there are any extenuating circumstances having regard to the standard of the ordinary person of the community to which the accused belongs; if the court finds that there are extenuating circumstances, the death sentence is not obligatory and the court may instead impose any lawful sentence other than the death sentence.

Secondly, the law relating to provocation has been amended and codified so that, in deciding whether the accused was provoked, a court is required to judge the matter according to the standards of an ordinary person of the section of the community to which the accused person belongs.

Thirdly, the law has been amended in relation to suicide pacts, so that the survivor to such an arrangement, if he killed or was party to the killing of the other person to the pact, is deemed to be guilty of culpable homicide and not murder.

asked the Minister of Education if he will award dependants' maintenance allowances to mature students entering upon two-year teacher-training courses in 1960; and if, in view of applications from such students now being made for admission to training colleges, he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Education if he has yet completed his consideration of an extension of the system of dependants' maintenance allowances to students training to be teachers.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now make a statement about the extension of payments of dependants' allowances to students at teachers' training colleges.

Arrangements have now been made to extend the existing dependants' grants for mature students taking one year courses to suitably qualified students over 25 years of age who enter upon shortened courses of two years at training colleges in September, 1960. I hope the colleges will recruit a substantial number for these shortened courses next year. This will help the schools in 1962 when there will be no normal output from the general colleges.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take to bring about a measure of uniformity in the standard both of ability and of means required by education authorities when they award scholarships.

Authorities have already achieved a large measure of uniformity in this matter, which is among those now being considered by the Anderson Committee.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, what steps he proposes to take to improve the application of science in industry; and whether he will consider setting up a group to advise him on this matter.

The improvement of the application of science in industry is the concern of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research which already advises my noble Friend in this field, and is itself advised by its own committees. Its current work covers the D.S.I.R. research stations, research grants in the universities and colleges of advanced technology, research associations, D.S.I.R. interests in the field of economics, the development of research results, and technical information services for industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that a hound belonging to the Heythrop Hunt has been roaming Exmoor in a wild state for three months during which it has killed or maimed over 20 sheep; and, as the police have refused to shoot the animal, whether he will use his powers under Section 2 (1) (b) of the Dogs Act, 1906, to seize and destroy it.

I am informed that the hound was shot on 26th November.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total amount of interest paid by the National Coal Board in 1958; what was the average rate of interest paid on loans; and what was the rate of interest paid on the assets taken over on vesting day.

The figures for the National Coal Board's financial year ended 3rd January, 1959, are: £32·1 million; about 4½ per cent.; and 3½ per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is now able to announce the date on which the Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance) Act, 1959, will be brought into force.

The Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance) Act, 1959, will come into force on 1st April, 1960.

asked the Minister of Health what suggestions have been made to the Barnsley local authority by his Department to improve the maternity and child welfare services of the town; arid what assistance he is prepared to give to the hospitals concerned to help reduce the still-birth rate figures.

The suggestions were of a detailed nature and related to the selection of cases for hospital confinement, the co-ordination of hospital and local health authority maternity services, and co-operation between general practitioners and midwives.As regards the second part of the Question, the present plans for extending St. Helen Hospital include a net addition of 15 maternity beds.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that two members of the staff of the University of Cape Town have invented an artificial leg designed to enable its wearer to walk with a normal gait; and if he will seek information as to its cost and availability.

I understand that an artificial limb which is claimed to have this effect has been manufactured in South Africa. Technical details have not yet been made available, but my right hon. and learned Friend is seeking such information as can be obtained.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the damage and danger caused to swans and other water-fowl owing to the presence of oil on canals in Bristol and elsewhere and of the great cost of recovering and cleaning such birds; and if he will introduce legislation to make it an offence for any person to eject or throw oil or sludge into any canal whether it is still in use or has been abandoned.

It is not clear from the question how the trouble has arisen, nor, consequently, where the responsibility lies. If the hon. Member would like to write to me giving further details I will be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the normal period which elapses between the notification in the London Gazette of a proposed closure order under Section 18 of the Coast Protection Act, 1949, and the holding of the inquiry.

Publication of the council's intention to make an order is followed by a period during which objections may be lodged. When this has expired, the coast protection authority must decide whether to ask for confirmation of the order. The inquiry—where one is necessary—usually follows about six months after the first publication in the London Gazette, but the period may vary widely from case to case.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in how many cases a local authority has made an emergency order under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, and failed to follow such an order with an immediate permanent order; and what steps he has taken to investigate the necessity for an emergency order in such cases.

I know of two cases. In one the coast protection authority, after making an interim order, decided that there was no need to continue control over the excavation of beach material, and, therefore, took no steps to make a permanent order.In a second case there was an interval of three months after the expiration of the interim order before the authority first advertised its intention to make a permanent order, although the authority had been engaged for some time in preparing a permanent order. It falls to the Minister to consider an interim order only if there are objections to it. No objections were received in either of the two cases referred to.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what geological evidence he has sought, or intends to seek, before making his decision on the application of the Stratton Rural District Council to make a Coast Protection Order under Section 18 of the Coast Protection Act, 1949.

I have recently received the report of the inspector who held the public inquiry into this order. I shall take any necessary advice before reaching a decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in the procedure followed in connection with the application by the Stratton Rural District Council to make a Coast Protection Order under Section 18 of the Coast Protection Act, 1949, he is satisfied that the statutory rights enjoyed by Cornish farmers under legislation dating back to the reign of James I have been fully respected; and what form of special parliamentary procedure it is intended to invoke.

My attention has been drawn to these rights, and I shall take them into consideration in deciding whether or not to confirm the order. I am advised that special parliamentary procedure cannot apply, as the circumstances specified in paragraph 7 of Part I of the Second Schedule to the Coast Protection Act, 1949, are not present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent the inquiry held by his inspector last month on the closure order made by the Stratton Rural District Council covered the removal of coast material from the Wanson Mouth area.

Neither the order nor the inquiry into it extended to the Wanson Mouth area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will advise local authorities that in planning building estates they should, whenever possible, retain and preserve existing sizeable trees; and whether, in appropriate cases, he will urge planning authorities to make formal tree preservation orders.

Advice about retention of existing trees when housing estates are planned was contained in "Trees in Town and City", and in Chapter II of "Flats and Houses 1958". I am sending my hon. Friend copies of these two publications, which were issued about a year ago, and to which the attention of local authorities was drawn. I think that no further reminder is called for at present, and that, where local authority estates are concerned, it should be possible to achieve satisfactory results without formal tree preservation orders.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty for what purpose H.M.S. "Vanguard", on Monday, 23rd November, at 2 p.m., started an hour-long emission of black smoke of Ringelmann 4 or 5 grade from her after funnel, thus covering much of Portsmouth Harbour and Portchester for much of the afternoon and what instructions he has given to Her Majesty's ships in port and to shore establishments to observe the provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The emission of black smoke from H.M.S. "Vanguard" on 23rd November was due to the urgent change-over from the one boiler, which was providing essential power for all services in the ship, and had developed a severe steam leak, to another boiler. This boiler being cold, failed to function properly at the first attempt, and had to be closed down, but was successfully relit within the hour. I regret any inconvenience caused by the smoke which, I understand, covered mainly the mudflats in Portsmouth Harbour towards Portchester, where it dissipated.A full summary of the provisions of the Clean Air Act, with instructions as to their observance, was issued to H.M. ships and naval establishments some time ago.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has any plans to speed up the date of publication of the monthly unemployment figures for the United Kingdom.

My predecessor made arrangements last April for publishing the unemployment figures as soon as they had been collated. I have now arranged for the process to be speeded up so that the Press communiqué will normally be issued nine days instead of fourteen days after the date of the unemployment count. As the date of the next unemployment count is 7th December, I expect the unemployment figures to be available for issue on Wednesday, 16th December.