asked the Minister of Works what further experiments are being conducted to keep Trafalgar Square and the adjoining public buildings clear of roosting starlings and the mess they leave.

The experiments with a bird repellent compound, which were referred to in the House last November, have been extended. Their success is encouraging, and I propose to continue with this repellent.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that Answer. May we take it that he regards the starling in London and elsewhere as a rather undesirable character and that he will keep him on the move as far as possible? Is my right hon. Friend getting the best possible technical advice, both from Oxford and from America, where, I understand, the problem is being tackled?

I will look into that last point and check it, but this has been so successful that I doubt whether anyone could think of anything better.

asked the Minister of Works if he will put the Banqueting House, Whitehall, to a use better suited to its royal history and architectural splendour.

I am naturally interested in any suggestions concerning the future of the Banqueting House, and I propose to consult my colleagues about this.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the views expressed by Professor Sir Anthony Blunt and by the Georgian Group, and will he take those views into account?

I will take all relevant views into account, including, of course, the views of this House, which I think are agreed as near as makes no difference.

Are there not many better places to which the museum can be transferred?

"Better" is a relative word, but one would hope that a suitable alternative place could be found. The House will realise that any move in this desired direction must take into account the museum and its long history.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that there are a number of statues which obstruct or impede traffic in the centre of London; and if he will set up a committee to advise him on the desirability of removing such statues.

I have received no representations in this connection, but if the hon. Member will let me have the details of the statues he has in mind, I will consult with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport about such of them as are my Department's responsibility.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I had in mind some statues of field marshals on horses who are a greater danger to the public when they are dead than when they were living? Does he realise that in continental cities—for example, Paris—a lot of hideous old statues have been cleared away with great benefit to the cities?

I know that there is a definition of the horse as being dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle, but I do not think that it applies to statues.

asked the Minister of Works for what purposes it is intended to use the additional accommodation now being prepared at 6 and 7 Old Palace Yard.

With my agreement, the Serjeant at Arms proposes to allocate this accommodation as follows:

Is the Minister aware that hen. Members very strongly resent being pushed across the road even though it may be only an interim measure in the process of the provision of the services which they ought to have near the Chamber? Is he aware that the Stokes Committee pointed out that there is a disproportionate amount of space at the disposal of other users of the Palace, and will he consider some of the recommendations of the Stokes Committee for putting the Fees Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department or somebody else across the road?

In the context of the Question, it does not arise that anyone will be pushed over the road. One hopes that some people may want to go over to this accommodation. As the hon. Lady knows, it is by no means the complete answer, and she knows I realise that. Nor will it—I am able to say this—prejudice whatever we may be able to do in more desirable directions. I do not want to go further than that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult hon. Members on this side of the House about the use of the extra accommodation, even though it is only an interim measure, because interim measures tend to drag out into eternity if we are not careful? Should not this be a matter of party agreement?

I hope it will be, but this interim measure—it is not a question of eternity—will be ready in February. and it will not prejudice whatever we may be able to agree upon as a better idea.

asked the Minister of Works which of the recommendations of the Select Committee on House of Commons Accommodation have so far been carried into effect.

Eleven principal recommendations have been or are being implemented. As the detailed list is a long one, I shall, with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it not a fact that very little of a substantial and fundamental nature has been done to improve the accommodation of the House? Is it not also a fact that this will never be done until, as the Stokes Committee pointed out, there is some form of unified control over the administration of the whole Palace, a control with executive responsibility answerable to the House? Will the right hon. Gentleman give us his views on that?

My view about the hon. Lady's supplementary question is that it goes a good deal beyond her original Question. What she says is a matter of opinion. I think we have a great deal that we can discuss together before casting the net as widely as the hon. Lady seems to wish to do.

What is the right hon. Gentleman doing to provide more telephones for hon. Members? It is a great inconvenience at the moment to hon. Members working in the Library when they have to walk along the corridors trying to find a telephone.

That is not really relevant to the Question, but the hon. Gentleman has made his views effectively known.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent current programmes of constructional and building work within the purview of his Department are impeded by the shortage of bricks.

While there have been a few instances of difficulty, flexibility in specification has resolved them and my Department's work programmes have not been noticeably held up.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are substantial delays in certain building works owing to the shortage of bricks in different parts of the country? Is he taking any steps to deal with the matter?

The hon. Gentleman's question refers specifically to building work within the purview of my Department, and it is that Question that I have answered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state his estimate of the number of boys and girls, respectively, in Aberdeen who will leave school there during each of the next five years; and what provision the Government have made for their technical education and absorption into industry.

I shall, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I have approved a programme of expenditure of £1·4 million by the responsible local bodies for the expansion of technical education in Aberdeen. Youth Employment Officers will continue to assist in finding work for young people leaving school.

Does the Secretary of State realise that it is terribly wasteful for hundreds of young people to be rejected by the community in which they have been educated? Does he also realise that a concrete and definite plan for training and absorption into industry is long overdue, and will he expedite it?

I fully understand and sypathise with the hon. and learned Gentleman's concern in the matter. I am sure he will agree that the programme which I have described is a substantial one. The training of apprentices is primarily a matter for industry. As the hon. and learned Gentleman knows, the Aberdeen Education Authority is very interested in the problem and is working with industry on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Government policy, as indicated in the Review of Highland Policy, Command Paper No. 785, is being negatived by cuts now being made in railway services in the north and north-east of Scotland; and, in view of this, what steps he is taking to implement Government policy as indicated in that Command Paper.

The modification of these railway services is a matter for the British Transport Commission and has been agreed by the Transport Users Consultative Committee. The future development of transport services is under examination by the Scottish Transport Council and the Highland Panel.

Has not the Secretary of State for a long time been advocating the industrialisation and repopulation of the Highlands, and is not this step with regard to the railways negativing that and lessening the possibility of developing the Highlands of Scotland as they should be developed, particularly Aberdeenshire and the north-east of Scotland? Will he look into that?

I am extremely concerned that transport facilities and services in the Highlands should be appropriate to the need. Whether it should be road or rail and how the services are to be properly co-ordinated are questions of great importance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that it is impossible in the Highlands to regard the question as purely one of economic payability and that the planning of the Highlands is not something which can be done in the meantime on purely economic grounds but must be done on the basis of preserving the Highlands for the future?

I agree that there must always be a balance between the immediate economics and the long-term future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if in view of the need to reduce the risk of accidents, he will draw the attention of the education authority, during its consideration of the need to build a Protestant primary school at Shawhead, to the fact that at present approximately 270 pupils have to cross one of the busiest roads in Lanarkshire to reach the Whifflet primary school.

I am assured by the Education Authority that this is one of the facts that will be taken into account.

Will the Secretary of State use his influence in this direction, because it is a very large number of children to be crossing such a very dangerous road, and I should like to think that they are entitled to a school of their own and should have it to avoid any possible accident?

As I said, I am certain that the education authority has this in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that Cairnhill House, Airdrie, which provides residential accommodation for blind persons, is a very old building, has outside conveniences, and is hazardous in many other respects, apart from stairs. if he will consider replacing it by a modern type of home which would be more suitable for persons with such regrettable disabilities.

Cairnhill House is not regarded by the Joint Committee of the local authorities responsible for it as unsatisfactory or hazardous for its purpose and replacement is not contemplated. I understand, however, that the Committee have plans in hand for supplementing the existing internal toilet accommodation by additional internal provision.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that a large part of the building is more than three hundred years old and the remainder more than one hundred years old, and that there are several flights of stairs at different levels which the blind people have to negotiate? As Secretary of State for Scotland, does he not think it would be nicer to spend money building a new flatted type of home on a site near by?

Some old houses are capable of useful adaptation. Neither my Department nor, I understand, the joint committee which runs the home on behalf of twenty-three local authorities has knowledge of any representations about danger or accidents in the home, at least during the last two years, the period which I have examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to attract the proposed major expansion by the Ford Motor Company to the Coatbridge and Airdrie district, in view of the fact that the latter is one of the most consistently highest rated unemployment areas in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there is a large number of skilled vehicle building craftsman in Scotland who are not at present employed at their craft; and what representations he has made on this point to the Ford Motor Company with a view to attracting them to set up a factory in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of of State for Scotland if he has considered a resolution from Glasgow Corporation, a copy of which has been sent to him, on the possible establishment of a Ford motor car factory in Scotland; what further steps he now proposes to take in the matter; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Seventh District Council of Lanarkshire County Council urging him to use his influence to attempt to bring the motor car industry to their area; and what reply he has sent.

I have received representations from a number of local authorities and other bodies, and I would refer to the assurances given in replies by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and my hon. Friend on 26th November and 1st December respectively. The availability of suitable labour in unemployment areas in Scotland and elsewhere is one of the points which is being emphasised in the discussions which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is having with car manufacturers about their plans for expansion.

Will the Secretary of State convey to his right hon. Friend the fact that, in addition to the labour force being available, there are sites in the area from 100 to 200 acres adjacent to the main trunk roads east, west, north and south, in close proximity to the largest marshalling yard in Scotland? Will he do his utmost to bring the factory to this part of North Lanarkshire?

In common with a great many other individuals and bodies in Scotland, I am conveying a great deal of information to the President of the Board of Trade about this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the past seven years 600 skilled vehicle building craftsmen have left the industry and that in the past quarter there has been a constant drift of skilled craftsmen from industry in Scotland to industry in the English Midlands? Will he do his utmost to persuade the President of the Board of Trade to stop the continuing drain of skilled manpower from Scotland?

The availability of this type of labour has been very forcibly brought to the attention of all concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, despite all that he is promising to do, proposing to do or threatening to do, the number of unemployed in Scotland is still steadily increasing? Will he look at the last part but one of my Question and take us a little more into his confidence and tell us exactly what he is proposing to do on behalf of Scotland as her Secretary of State? For example, is he prepared to offer some inducement to this firm to go to Scotland?

The hon. Member will know what is contained in the Bill at present being debated in the House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Really."] He will also know that there are occasions when open diplomacy is not the best way of achieving objectives.

The Minister said that his right hon. Friend was considering this matter for places like Scotland. Is the Secretary of State aware that in Scotland, particularly in the west of Scotland, we have not only a higher percentage of unemployed than in most areas of Britain, but also a higher number of unemployed? Will the right hon. Gentleman use all his force in making representations to his right hon. Friend to attract this industry to Scotland?

I assure the hon. Lady that both as far as I and, I repeat, a great many other people and bodies in Scotland are concerned, no doubt is being left in anybody's mind about the importance of this matter to Scotland.

While I appreciate what my right hon. Friend is doing in connection with both the Ford Company and B.M.C. —

What is he doing?

may I ask whether he can issue a statement concerning the size and type of site which both these companies would require as soon as they can inform him, so that they may have a choice of sites which they could visit and eventually choose one. we hope, in Scotland?

I assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has extensive information available about all possible sites in Scotland for this type of development. I will, however, think further over what my hon. Friend has said.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mothers were discharged in the month of November, 1959, from the Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, on the same day as they were delivered of a baby.

Twelve. Sir.

On a point of order. I think there has been a mistake, Mr. Speaker. I thought that when the Secretary of State said "Twelve", he was referring to Question No. 12. I would like to ask a supplementary question.

I am sorry, but I was watching the hon. Lady and I observed that she did not rise. I am afraid we cannot go back to the matter now, but I regret it. I understand how it occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to urge the Corporation of the City of Edinburgh to proceed with comprehensive slum clearances.

As I explained to the lion. Member in reply to his Question on this subject on 1st December, the Corporation has before it a number of major slum clearance and redevelopment schemes on which much preliminary work has been carried out: I am sure it is aware of the urgency of this work and I do not think any urging on my part is called for.

Does the Secretary of State not realise that since he replied to me, two other tenement buildings in Edinburgh have had to be evacuated as a consequence of the buildings being in such a state of disrepair that they were falling down? As the custodian of housing in Scotland, will not the right Icon. Gentleman issue a directive immediately to the lackadaisical Edinburgh Corporation asking it to go speedily ahead with the demolition of all this slum property?

To my full knowledge. the Edinburgh Corporation is actively engaged in this work. I have, of course, been in consultation with the Corporation and I know that it is going on with the work very fast.

Does not the Secretary of State realise from the number of slum buildings now falling down in Scotland that it is obvious to anyone that insufficient work is being undertaken to replace these slum buildings with new houses? Is it not disgraceful that this should be the position when we have something like 10,000 building trade workers unemployed in Scotland? Will the right hon. Gentleman press the local authorities to use the unemployed building labour to replace the slums?

There is a later Question dealing with slum property all over Scotland, on which, if I may, I will deal with this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schemes of slum clearance have been submitted to him by local authorities; how many he has approved; and what is the number of houses involved.

I have received proposals for slum clearance in the period 1959 to 1961 from 171 local authorities, and 1 have already approved 156 of these. 31,330 houses are involved in the proposals received and 28,150 in those approved.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion this may be of the total number of houses likely to be involved?

That would involve rather complicated figures. Outside Glasgow, on the basis of the proposals already approved, some authorities would deal with all their unfit houses within five years, but the majority would take from five to ten years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the target announced on 7th May, 1957, of providing in 10 years 20,000 houses in new towns and 15,000 houses in overspill areas to deal with Glasgow's overspill has so far been realised.

Seven thousand six hundred houses for Glasgow are already envisaged under overspill agreements concluded between Glasgow Corporation, the local receiving authorities and the Scottish Special Housing Association, of which 1,500 are either designed, tendered for or under construction. In addition, 14,800 houses are committed in the Scottish new towns, of which 1,050 will be completed by March next year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that from the figures which he has given, in the first quarter of his ten years' programme he has fallen down to the extent of 70 per cent.? Does he realise that his timorous and procrastinating attitude to this grave problem is causing serious concern throughout the whole of Scotland?

I accept none of the implications in the hon. Member's supplementary question. I should point out that the programme is getting under way. Of course, the first quarter is liable to be a building-up period. It is a great pity that hon. Members should decry the energetic effort which has been made by Glasgow Corporation and receiving areas to get on with working out this great problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the necessity for two new towns being provided for Glasgow's overspill; and if he will undertake to designate such new towns now.

As a result of recent changes in the prospects at Glenrothes following revised estimates by the Coal Board of its housing needs, it is now clear that all three Scottish new towns will in future have as their major purpose the provision of houses, industry and other services for Glasgow overspill. I am not satisfied that the time is yet ripe to consider any more new towns for that purpose.

It is no use my asking the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware, because he is obviously aware of nothing. Does he realise that Glasgow's slum housing programme and central redevelopment programme are at a complete standstill for lack of sites in the City of Glasgow, of which he had knowledge seven years ago? Does he realise that the 120,000 people on the city's housing waiting list have no prospect, not a snowball's chance in heaven. of ever getting a home?

I am aware of the great concern which is felt by the hon. Member on this problem. A great deal is being done and it would be a mistake to diversify effort by designating another new town until we see what progress can be made with the very large amount of work that is now going on.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not a question of diversifying effort and that the number of houses being built throughout Scotland for the rehousing of Glasgow people is going down each year, whereas the number of people on the housing list increases annually? Surely, the time has come for the right hon. Gentleman to designate another new town or area in which some of the unemployed building workers could be put to work to build houses for the people of Glasgow.

All these matters are watched carefully all the time and I am certain that it would not be in the best interests of the rapid solving of Glasgow's problem to designate another new town now.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of smoke control areas in operation under the Clean Air Act, 1956, the number of local authorities who have submitted smoke control programmes, and the number who have not yet done so.

Three smoke control area orders are in operation, two others have been confirmed and preliminary details of eleven more have been brought to my notice. Smoke control programmes for the next five years have so far been submitted by four of the ninety authorities whom I asked in June to do so by the end of this year.

I assumed that the right hon. Gentleman would give us some information about why there has been such slow progress in Scotland in connection with this matter.

As I think the hon. Member knows, I have recently circulated all local authorities involved asking them to speed up their proposals for smoke control zones. I am awaiting their replies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the discontent in the Islands of Skye and Raasay caused by the steamer services provided this summer and autumn by Messrs. MacBrayne's Ltd. for handling the tourist traffic to and from Portree, and livestock to and from Raasay, about which the hon. Member for Inverness has written to him; what representations he has received about the inadequacy of these services; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend will know, I visited these places this summer and discussed these services. I understand that, at a recent meeting, the Highland Panel reached the conclusion that there were inadequacies in the services last summer and doubted whether the improvements proposed for the coming year would meet all the local needs. 1 have asked Messrs. MacBrayne's to consider the Panel's views.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for his Answer that he has asked the Panel to consider the views—and I hope that he will consider them too—may I ask that when he considers them he will ask MacBrayne's to make new proposals which will prove adequate for next summer's tourist traffic and for the taking of livestock and cattle to and from Raasay?

As my hon. Friend knows, I am well aware of the views held in certain parts of the West Highlands on this subject. As soon as I receive Messrs. MacBrayne's comments on the Panel's report, the matter will be given full consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses the Scottish Special Housing Association have built in Scotland to date; and what is their future programme.

At 31st March last, the total number of houses built and owned by the Association was 45,156, and at the same date 2,299 houses were under construction or about to start. In terms of tenders approved the provisional programme for each of the years to March 1961 and 1962 is 2,000 houses. Beyond that, I cannot forecast.

Does the Secretary of State not consider that this Association, which was set up originally to build houses for transferred miners and agricultural workers, has now fulfilled its obligations? Is he aware that the money that is being used by the Association should be channelled into the local authorities to allow them to do the job that they were elected to do, namely, build houses for the people?

I do not think the hon. Member is quite correct about the original purpose of the Scottish Special Housing Association. I should be glad to write to him about that. I am sure that any hon. or right hon. Member who has been concerned with housing in Scotland will recognise that the Association can be a useful body in meeting Scotland's housing needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now state what proportion of the steel to be used in constructing the Forth road bridge will be manufactured by Scottish firms.

I am informed that orders for more than 90 per cent. of the steel for the main towers are being placed with Scottish firms. But the complex problems involved in ordering different kinds of steel of different qualities for the superstructure will only be solved as its prefabrication progresses.

In view of the fact that there is no price competition in domestic steel, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the basis upon which the orders are placed? We are, of course, delighted to learn that such a high proportion of Scottish steel is used in these cases, because that did not seem to be so originally on the information which we first received.

The first part of the supplementary question does not arise directly out of the Question. I should like to consider what the hon. Member has said before making any comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increasing need for further social amenities in Glenrothes; and, in view of the anticipated acceleration in the population increase, if he will take urgent steps to facilitate the provision of such amenities.

I agree that the provision of social facilities in the new towns must keep pace with the growth of population and I have suggested to the development corporation a basis of cooperation between them, the responsible local authorities and the voluntary bodies concerned, which I hope will help towards the submission of agreed proposals.

Can the right hon. Gentleman be a little more specific, especially on the provision of a cinema? Can he indicate whether he will approve of the development corporation going forward itself with the provision of this amenity?

I am at present considering a proposal by the development corporation that it should be authorised to build and run a cinema. I will let the hon. Member know as soon as I can how that matter stands.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the difficulties relating to the prevention of hire-purchase frauds in Scotland; and what steps he intends to take in the matter.

I am not clear as to the difficulties which the hon. Member has in mind. If he has evidence of fraud in connection with hire-purchase agreements, I would suggest if I may that he should inform the criminal authorities.

May I ask the right hon. Gentlemen to repeat his last phrase?

I said: "If there is evidence of a fraud in connection with hire-purchase agreements I would suggest that he should inform the criminal authorities"

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the amount of this kind of fraud that is a matter for public concern-? Does he realise that lawyers who are continually in touch with the criminal authorities over these matters are concerned about the very large number. of such frauds? Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that these offences arise to some extent out of the ease of the procedure? Does he realise that the procedure of hire-purchase probably lends itself easily to fraud? Will he consult the legal profession and see what evidence solicitors have on this matter?

I understand that this is a very complicated matter and that probably in some of the cases which the hon. Member has in mind fraud as such is not necessarily involved, but I will consider the matter carefully and discuss it with my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many of these hire-purchase companies require the documents which are signed by the purchaser of the goods to be counter-signed by a guarantor, who is frequently led to believe by the salesman that he is only witnessing a signature? Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that the guarantor is frequently found to be the person from whom ultimately the hire-purchase company finds the money that was owing by the person who entered the contract in the first place? Is he further aware that by reason of a judgment given in Edinburgh last week it might be difficult for my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Malcolm MacPherson) to take his advice and talk very loudly about possible infringements of the criminal law?

I will look very carefully at the point which the hon. Member has just made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of certain local authorities concerning the Probation (Scotland) (Amendment No. 3) Rules, 1959, and the Home Department's Circular No. 9489 dealing with the new arrangements for the training of probation officers; and what steps he intends to take in the matter.

I am aware that representations about the new training scheme have been made by two probation committees. The scheme was based on recommendations of the Scottish Probation Advisory and Training Council, in consultation with the local authority associations and other organisations. Modifications may, of course, have to be considered after we have had some experience of its working, but not before then.

Would the Minister not agree that perhaps it would have been better if, before the rules were approved, the probation committee itself had been approached and asked to submit suggestions in view of the fact that it is the committee that appoints probation officers? Will he invite the probation committee now to submit its proposals?

I think that the hon. Member will agree that the Scottish Probation and Advisory Training Council is a fairly representative body in contact with a great many people and interests. I rather feel about the second part of the supplementary question that we should see how the matter develops before we form any premature conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of schools where no dental service is being provided; and how many pupils are involved.

Every education authority provides a school dental service, but under present circumstances only a proportion of the pupils can be examined in any one year. In the school year 1957–58, 332,000 pupils were examined and 529,000 were not.

Is the Secretary of State for Scotland aware that many of our children are not receiving the dental care which they should be receiving and that many of them do not have the facility of a family dentist provided for them? Would the right hon. Gentleman therefore recognise that, until we have an adequate school dental service operating throughout Scotland, these children will not have the necessary attention? I hope that the right hon. Gentleman can give us some reassurance that a service will be very fully operated as soon as possible.

We are very anxious that the service should be improved as soon as possible. It must be kept in mind that as many children receive treatment through the general dental service as through the schools service. But I agree that that is not a full answer to the Question.

That is the point to which I have been trying to draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention. Many parents do not regard the provision of a family dentist in the way in which they regard the provision of a family doctor. Therefore, these children will not receive attention other than through the school dental service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to recruit sufficient dentists to provide an adequate school dental service.

Recruitment of dentists to the school service is primarily the responsibility of the education authorities. I am assisting by ensuring that the opportunities offered by the school service are brought to the notice of students qualifying from the dental schools.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the authorities are having great difficulty in trying to recruit a sufficiency of qualified people to carry on the dental service? Does he not think that he has some responsibility as Secretary of State for Scotland for giving them the help which they so obviously need to operate this service in the way we all desire?

I am aware of that responsibility, and I am doing all I can to help by drawing this and other matters to the attention of the deans of the dental schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of pigs slaughtered in Scotland in the period of twelve months to the latest convenient date for bacon and pork, respectively; and how these compare proportionately with the corresponding figures for England and Wales.

During the twelve months to the end of September, 1959, approximately 300,000 pigs were put into cure by bacon curers in Scotland, and a further 250,000 pigs were used for other purposes. The corresponding figures for England and Wales during the same period were 2·5 million pigs put into cure and 6·7 million for other purposes.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether, since the price of pork pigs is generally on average higher than the price of bacon pigs, Scottish rearers are not at a considerable disadvantage compared with rearers in England? May I ask whether at the next Price Review he will press for separate treatment for Scotland?

Not all pigs sold to bacon curers are used for bacon. The rest of the supplementary question is rather complicated. I should like to consider it and write to my hon. Friend about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to make available for general hospital needs accommodation at Edenhall Hospital.

The regional board has arranged that the accommodation avail- able at Edenhall after the priority needs of pensioners have been met will be used for orthopaedic and paraplegic beds, which are urgently needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for overcoming the shortage of maternity beds in Glasgow.

Under present plans, 90 additional beds should come into use within 16 to 18 months, 20 of them in about six months' time. It is hoped to bring the new 110 bed unit at York-hill into use in 1964. It is too early to give dates for the two further projects which are now being prepared.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that what he has now announced is sufficient to meet the urgent needs of Glasgow? Earlier, he intimated that 12 women had been discharged from hospital on one day. Will he confirm or deny that these women had had to wait in passages for three hours for ambulances to take them home? What is the advice which his Department will give in circumstances of that character, in which on the day they had given birth to children women were discharged from hospital? Is it not a disgrace to Scotland?

I am sure that everybody concerned is extremely perturbed that this took place. I am advised that there is some doubt as to what actually happened about patients waiting in the passages, and I have asked for further information. On the general question, we are doing our best to catch up with the known needs for maternity beds in this area.

I must press the Secretary of State on this point. May I ask him what emergency steps or plans the Government have made for dealing now with this state of affairs? Is it not most undignified for a woman who is performing one of the noblest human functions to have to suffer in this way? Cannot he do something urgently to deal with the situation?

There are talks going on now to see whether anything can be done to improve the co-ordination of entry into hospitals, because that is a possible development. I can assure the hon. Member that discussions are going on between my Department and the regional hospital board on this matter.

May I give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to announce his decision in respect of the future development of the Summerston area.

The possible development of this area is related to the proposed colliery project at Bearsden about which I am in communication with the Corporation and other interested parties and whose observations I am awaiting. I should add that an amendment to the city's development plan would be required to permit extensive housing development in the area, and such an amendment would be subject to the usual procedure of inquiry into any objections lodged by interested parties.

In considering his decision, will the Secretary of State bear in mind the urgent need of Glasgow Corporation for this area for housing development, as otherwise the programme will come to a halt? Will he agree that, in view of the National Coal Board's recent reappraisal of this situation, this is making it easier from his point of view, and will he state a date by which he hopes to arrive at a decision?

As the hon. Member appreciates, this Question is still very complex, and I am trying to get a decision reached as soon as possible. I cannot give a date yet until we have the replies from the interested parties to a recent circular which I sent to them on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made by the hospital authorities in giving effect to the recommendations of the Montgomery Report.

The Western Regional Hospital Board has a series of building projects in hand, at various stages of progress, which will remedy the shortage of beds in its area. The maternity provision in other regions is already substantially up to the recommended level. All the regional boards are now reporting to me on the arrangements in their areas for the co-ordination of maternity services.

Can the Secretary of State indicate whether the site has now been cleared for the new hospital in the City of Glasgow which he promised in the debate on the Estimates, and can he tell us what progress is being made with regard to the new maternity hospital in Glasgow?

Perhaps if the hon. Member will put down a specific question about that, as it does not arise directly out of the Question which he asked.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now decided to designate, as the fourth new town in Scotland, Shotts. Newmains, Cleland. or Harthill.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the official proposal, supported by Glasgow Town Council and Ayr County Council. to build a fourth new town at Lugton.

If and when the necessity arises for considering the designation of a further new town, all locations which appear to be suitable for the purpose will be considered, including those mentioned by both hon. Members.

Is the Minister aware, from Questions that have already been asked today, how serious this position is for Glasgow? Is he also aware that many representations have been made about the area in this Question, and that so far we have had no satisfaction at all from him?

I should like to add to what was said in answer to earlier Questions that the hon. Lady, presumably, realises that what is just developing at Glenrothes means that it will become more important as an overspill town than in the past. I do not think I can add anything to what I said about the timing of the need for a new town.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present piecemeal overspill arrangements are obviously not going to have the impact on Glasgow's housing needs which they ought to have? Is he aware of the very welcome speech of the Convenor of Ayr County, and also the statement made by a prominent member of the Glasgow Town Council, and would he be prepared to initiate talks between the Glasgow Corporation, the Ayr County Council and the Renfrew County Council in order to give some reality to this excellent suggestion for a fourth new town to be built at Lugton?

I think it is too soon to dismiss the whole overspill arrangements as failing completely in their purpose. This is a matter which we are examining very carefully, and I do not think that the time is ripe for going into details about another new town.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of Ayrshire pupils entering secondary schools have been placed in senior secondary schools this year; and what is the estimated proportion of pupils to be so placed next year.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 25 per cent., and to the second, 30 per cent. The proportion is being increased next year to enable more pupils to undertake work leading to the new Ordinary grade of Scottish Leaving Certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase the amount of official research work done in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Angus (Sir J Duncan) on 26th November. My noble Friend the Minister for Science and I had a discussion on this subject with several hon. Members opposite on 3rd December, and I shall continue to keep in close touch with him and other Ministers with regard to Government research work done in Scotland.

In view of the continuing loss of science graduates who have been trained in Scotland through the lack of research for which they are fitted in Scotland, will the Secretary of State tell us what he proposes to do about it, other than have discussions?

I propose to continue the search for suitable research projects for Scotland which are under Government control, but nowadays there are not a great many such contracts under Government control. I have had many talks with industrialists about the possibility of their developing scientific research in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the road programme planned for this year has now been completed; and how many miles of road this represents.

Apart from smaller schemes, road schemes planned to start in one year are not normally completed until some time later. The Roads (Scotland) Vote for 1959–60 provided for the authorisation of road schemes which will cost the Exchequer approximately £7 million. The amount authorised up to 30th November was approximately £6 million and represents work on about 50 miles of road.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consult with the Scottish Universities Entrance Board with a view to securing Ministerial representation on that body.

I see no ground for seeking to alter the present arrangement under which the Board consults my Department on matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the standard of accommodation provided for medical and nursing staffs at Scottish hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am reasonably satisfied that the majority of the staff concerned have a good standard of accommodation. There are deficiencies in some hospitals but the hospital authorities concerned are doing what they can to meet them as their resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the building of the extension to the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, was commenced; what is the scheduled date of completion; and when it is now expected to be ready for use.

Building on this scheme started in December, 1955, and is expected to be completed in the spring of 1960. I hope that the main accommodation will be in use by the autumn of 1960.

Is the Minister aware that on occasions one could count more men building a private bungalow in Kirkcaldy than could be seen on this huge building, and that in Kirkcaldy, we are under the impression that it is the fact of insufficient funds having been allocated annually to the regional hospital board which has necessitated the long delay in completing this hospital? Will he do everything possible to expedite the completion of this building?

I do not think the reasons given by the hon. Member in his supplementary question are correct. There was some delay in the early sages of the work, due to the discovery of old mine workings, and, as he will know, there was also a short delay when it was decided that there should be further extension to this project

Is not the right hon Gentleman aware that the global sums which he is allocating to regional hospital boards throughout Scotland are quite insufficient, and that these boards are all complaining bitterly about the cramping nature of the financial restrictions in not allowing them to build hospitals, hospital extensions and nurses' homes in the way which they would like to do if greater financial allocations were made to them?

The hon. Member will note that the recent announcement about the developments in teaching hospitals was received with considerable satisfaction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is intended to start work on the second extension to Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy; and how long it will take to complete.

It is hoped that building will begin in 1961 and he completed by 1965.

In view of the extensive development in the East Fife area and the consequent urgency of providing more hospital beds, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that sufficient finance is available to expedite the completion of the second extension?

I am told that in this case the time of building is determined not by finance but by the practical problems of building this kind of hospital. I agree with the hon. Member that it seems to have taken a long time, but I am told that that is unavoidable However, I am investigating the delays

Will not the right hon Gentleman agree that four years is a long time for completing this building? Will he not agree that if more finance were forthcoming, it would enable the building to be completed in about three years?

I assure the hon Member that four years seems to be the time taken all over the country for building this type of hospital. We are investigating whether we can improve on that time.