asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Royal College of Science and Technology is used by industry for purely commercial work, such as testing concrete cubes, when there are adequate and fully qualified organisations able to undertake this work.

The College has for a long time provided as part of its research activities a testing service covering a wide range of materials. It is available to firms on payment and is apparently highly valued by them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has noted the recommendation of the Central Adviscry Council for Education in regard to the need for raising the school leaving age in England to 16 years; and to what extent the implementation of this part of the Report would apply to Scotland.

Yes. The Education (Scotland) Acts provide that the school leaving age should be raised to 16 when it is practicable to do so, but my right hon. Friend would not wish to express any view on the Crowther Committee recommendation that it should be raised in 7 to 9 years' time until he has had time to study it in detail and to ascertain opinion on it in Scotland as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education is doing in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take urgent steps to double the rate of slum clearance in Scotland.

Responsibility for slum clearance operations has been placed by Parliament on local authorities. Their proposals for the three years 1959–61 have not yet all reached by right hon. Friend, but the indications are that they plan to deal with an average of 12,000 unfit houses a year. This compares with an average of 9,000 houses a year dealt with in the previous three years.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will ask the Scottish Law Reform Committee to consider the law in relation to liability for injuries caused by animals and by dangerous agencies escaping from lands; and to report thereon.

This is an important question, and my right hon. and learned Friend intends to refer it to the Scottish Law Reform Committee as soon as is practicable.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will direct the Procurator Fiscal to reopen the case of Mr. Malcolm Macdonald, of Lewis, who, in December, 1958, was charged with an assault upon Mr. Murdo Mackay, also of Lewis, but against whom no further proceedings were taken.

My right hon. and learned Friend is making inquiry into the case to which the hon. Member refers and will communicate with him as soon as he is in a position to do so.

asked the Lord Advocate what legislative proposals he has in mind to protect debtors whose liabilities have been incurred under personal credit schemes from being subjected to arrestment of wages and poinding of personal effects.

I have been asked to reply.If Parliament approves the provisions of the Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel), the Bill will give increased protection against arrestment of wages generally. I do not think any special protection would be justified in respect of liabilities incurred under any particular kind of transaction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the death rate from lung cancer is still increasing rapidly; and whether, in view of the failure of the campaign to affect smokers, he will initiate an international investigation to seek an effective means of prevention and cure of this disease.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the continuing increase in the number of deaths from lung cancer in Scotland. Local health authorities have been helping for some time to make generally known the possible consequences of smoking, and he believes that this has been largely achieved. So far as international investigation is concerned, I cannot add to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to the same Question yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of road have been constructed in Scotland under the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955; and what has been the aggregate cost involved.

My right hon. Friend regrets that, owing to the inevitable time-lag in the submission by local authorities of final claims for grant up-to-date, particulars of improvement schemes completed are not available; but up to 30th November, 1959, he had approved for grant schemes covering 176 miles and involving a total cost of£595,000.

asked the Prime Minister what request he has made to the South African Government for arrangements to be made for him to meet African leaders during his visit to the Union of South Africa.

The responsibility for my programme in the Union, as in other independent Commonwealth countries which I have visited or shall visit, rests with the host Government.

asked the Prime Minister which African political leaders, besides Dr. Hastings Banda, he will be making an effort to meet on his forthcoming visit to Central Africa.

My programme in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is being drawn up by the Federal and Territorial Governments in consultation. I am sure that I can rely on them to arrange for me to meet all political leaders, of whatever party or race, that time and local circumstances permit.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will reconsider the establishment of the Monckton Commission, in view of the expressed intention of the African political movements to boycott the Commission.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the decision by the African Congress leaders to boycott the Monckton Commission, he will now revise the Commission's terms of reference.

No. I hope that those who have urged a boycott of the Commission will reconsider their attitude.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consult the leaders of the Trades Union Congress with regard to the introduction of legislation for the withdrawal of all social benefits from persons engaged in wild-cat strikes who withdraw their labour without the authority of the responsible trade union leaders, to enable employers to withhold wage payments until such strikes are over, and to empower the Inland Revenue to refuse repayment of P.A.Y.E. contributions.

No. I do not think that this suggestion would lead to progress in the matter.

asked the Prime Minister if he will co-ordinate the welfare arrangements of the Minister of Health and Minister of Pensions and National Insurance so that a person who has a 50 per cent. war disability and a 50 per cent. disability from other causes may receive the same benefits, such as a family car instead of a powered wheelchair, to which he would be entitled if his 100 per cent. disability was entirely due to war injury.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health, who is responsible for the provision of vehicles, is considering in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether more suitable vehicles than powered tricycles can be provided for badly disabled war pensioners.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a fourth Scottish Under-Secretary of State.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to introduce legislation to amend the law relating to weights and measures.

The Bill is in preparation and my right hon. Friend will introduce it as soon as he can, but cannot give an exact date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason Her Majesty's Government have so far failed to send a representative to the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the production and marketing of vinous products.

Although the Committee's remit covers matters connected with the production and marketing of wines and spirits, its main concern seems likely to be with the question of warranties of origin, especially for wines. In this our traditional legal approach and our interest as importers are somewhat different from those of European producers, and I do not think that any contribution that we might make to the Committee's work would be particularly helpful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the percentage increase in imported baskets each year over the last five years.

The value of baskets and basketware imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1955 to 1958 increased by 3, 20, 43 and 15 per cent., respectively, compared with the preceding year. During the first ten months of 1959, the value of these imports has been at an annual rate 40 per cent. above that of 1958.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plan he has for the future development of the Strathleven Industrial Estate. Dumbartonshire.

The Board of Trade is willing to consider applications for the provision of factory space on Strathleven Industrial Estate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a tenant has yet been secured for the Ministry of Supply factory at Dunbarton.

I am glad to say that a Glasgow firm has agreed to buy the larger part of the factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many bilateral trade agreements are currently in operation; and in how many of these coal is included as an exchange commodity.

There are twenty-one current agreements and coal is mentioned in four of them. These agreements do not, however, require commodities to be exchanged but leave traders free to buy and sell on commercial considerations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the threat to local industry in North Lincolnshire by the dilapidation and deterioration of the jetty at Keadby on the River Trent; and if he will consult with the British Transport Commission with a view to having this jetty repaired to enable a quick return to normal trading.

I am aware that the British Transport Commission closed this jetty on 28th November because it had become unsafe in spite of repeated repairs. I understand that the Commission are now considering whether they should rebuild it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now remove the anti-dumping duty of Its. per hundredweight on pearled barley imported from Western Germany which he imposed on 28th May, 1959.

No. But if the hon. Member has any evidence to suggest that removal of the duty would now be justified, I would be glad to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what revision has been made in the import quota for Polish bacon; and how this compares with the additional supply of frozen pork which Canada is to send next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the Anglo-Polish negotiations over bacon imports.

Anglo-Polish trade negotiations are at present in progress and I am not, therefore, in a position to make a statement yet about future imports of Polish bacon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent negotiations are taking place for the importation of further Canadian frozen pork over and above the quantities already officially announced.

No such negotiations are taking place. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture said on 7th December, the whole question of pig-meat imports will have to be further reviewed later next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes taking to prevent imported goods being marketed under labels implying that they are produced in the United Kingdom.

The importation of such goods is already prohibited by the Merchandise Marks Acts, and their sale in the United Kingdom is an offence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange to establish maximum rates of interest for hire purchase during the whole period of the payments.

No. Competition is the best regulator of hire purchase terms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet found a tenant for the factory now empty on the Bede Trading Estate, Jarrow, which was formerly occupied by British Celanese.

No; but we are continuing our efforts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present approximate value per annum of the exports of British toilet preparations of the kind which are liable to Purchase Tax at the 50 per cent. rate.

The Export List is not classified to show goods subject to various rates of Purchase Tax, but it is estimated that the current annual value of these exports is between£6 million and£7 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the Scottish Council of the Federation of British Industry concerning the allocation of space on the Board of Trade stand to Scottish firms at next year's British Trade Fair in New York.

None. The Board of Trade stand will not be allocated to individual firms to display their products, but will present the industrial achievements of Britain as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to the establishment of a system of foreign investment guarantees in the United Kingdom to help British firms establish subsidiaries overseas.

Private overseas investment is already running at a high level. In view of our current commitments on capital account, it would be inadvisable at present to adopt new measures which might have the effect of stimulating it further.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the saving in administration costs if the work on Surtax assessments were decentralised from the office of the Special Commissioners to the local offices of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Taxes; and what consideration he has given to the desirability of making this change.

Any savings would be small in relation to the total yield of Surtax. No change in the organisation is under consideration at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the circumstances under which the allowance of duty-free cigarettes and tobacco to deep-sea fishermen has recently been reduced; why this was done; and if he will make a statement.

There has been no reduction in the allowance and, therefore, the second part of the hon. Member's Question does not arise. There has been some tightening up in the control of claims, but this was merely procedural and has had no effect upon claims correctly made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take in view of the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor-General referring to relief for farming losses in the report on the Appropriation Accounts for the Revenue Departments, 1958–59, dated 13th November, 1959.

I shall take all such considerations into account in my annual review of taxation matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider redeeming 3½per cent. War Loan for those with incomes of£500 a year or less.

No. To discriminate between owners of this stock, whether according to the size of their income or in any other way, would be tantamount to a breach in the terms of issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now introduce legislation to amend the local and personal Act 56 George III, c.99. with a view to ensuring the return of the Elgin marbles to Athens

No I see no justification for such action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to report on the outcome of the discussions between the Bank of England and the blind persons' organisations with regard to the design of bank notes.

Following upon the recent discussions between the Bank of England and representatives of the blind persons' organisations, the Bank are reexamining the matter. They have undertaken to keep in touch with the organisations and to do their utmost to find a solution. They will make a further announcement as soon as a conclusion has been reached. I received yesterday a letter from the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England about this matter, which, in view of the general interest of the House in the subject. I am circulating below.Bank of England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be able to announce his decision concerning the repayment of post-war credits to the long-term sick.

While I have this matter under sympathetic examination, I regret that I cannot make any statement at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will call a national conference representing employers' associations, boards of nationalised industries, and trade unions, to join in a discussion in their common interest, so as to reach conclusions about the best course to follow to avoid any price inflation in the future.

Representatives of the interests mentioned already meet regularly under Government chairmanship at the National Production Advisory Council for Industry and at the National Joint Advisory Council for the discussion of subjects of national interest, including such questions as those referred to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he expects will be the yield, during the current financial year, of the duty on motor fuels.

The Budget estimate of receipts from the hydrocarbon oil duty included£315 million in respect of oils used in road vehicles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income will be devoted to the new roads and major improvement during the current financial year.

About 0·4.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions he has answered Treasury Questions orally in 1959; and what is the total number of Oral Questions he has answered.

I have answered 161 Treasury Questions orally on 13 occasions in 1959.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what proposals he has to establish a maximum rate of interest for mortgages issued by building societies.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount of Schedule A taxation paid by owner-occupiers of dwellings with a net annual value not exceeding£20, over£20 and not exceeding£30, over£30 and not exceeding£40, over£40 and not exceeding£50, over£50 and not exceeding£60, and over£60, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of cinema tax collected from 5th April, 1959, to 31st October, 1959, both dates inclusive.

Entertainments Duty collected between 1st April, 1959, and 31st October, 1959, amounted to£4,590,906.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what changes he contemplates in the appeals procedure under the Town and Country Planning Acts, with particular regard to awards of costs.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, with whom I have been in consultation on this question of costs, intends to refer it to the Council on Tribunals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, if he will state the amount in square feet of new office building yin the Central and Greater London areas since the war; and the amount in process of construction.

Up to June, 1959, about 21½million square feet of new office building had been completed since the war in Central London, and about 9 million square feet was in course of construction. Some of this is of course in replacement of buildings destroyed by enemy action. I regret that no figures are available for Greater London.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress is being made in the grouping of water undertakings; and if he will make a statement.

If the rising demand for water in England and Wales is to be effectively and economically met, it is essential to regroup small water undertakings into units large and strong enough, at the least, to be able to afford to employ a full-time water engineer. When the first circular on re-grouping was sent out three years ago, the number of undertakings was 1,026. It will be reduced to 869 when decisions already embodied in Orders or Private Acts take effect. Action now in hand will affect close on 100 of these. Another 200 have resolved to re-group, and a further 300 have it under discussion. I hope for a marked speeding up of regrouping from now on, particularly as in a number of areas the drought this summer has confirmed the importance of it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he will take to make it easier for members of the public likely to be affected to become aware of planning and development applications before decisions on them are reached.

I agree that there are some planning applications of such wide interest that the general public should be aware of them before a decision is taken. But it is extremely hard to find a form of words that would define these, and I am anxious to avoid introducing further complication into planning procedures which would add to delays and difficulties. I am considering the whole question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that as a result of a recent decision by the Lands Tribunal affecting one of Dr. Barnado's Homes, children's homes all over the country may now be rated as boarding houses instead of as private dwelling houses, and that if this is done the extra cost would be con siderable involving Dr. Barnado's Homes, for example, in rate increases of about£10,000 a year; and if he will propose this Session a suitable amendment to the Valuation for Rating Act, 1953, in order to avoid this undesirable possibility.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Gloucestershire, South (Mr. Corfield) and Wembley, North (Wing Cmdr. Bullus) on 24th November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take appropriate action under Section 67 of the Gas Act, 1948, to stop the deleterious outpouring of clouds of sulphur fumes and the nuisance caused by coke dust and grit from the Neepsend, Sheffield, gasworks of the East Midlands Gas Board.

In 1958, gas and coke manufacture was brought under the Alkali Act, which requires the use of the best practicable means to minimise the emission of smoke, grit, dust and fumes. Since then, the Alkali Inspectorate have been considering with the Gas Board what improvements can be effected at these works. Among other measures steps will be taken shortly to reduce dust from coke stocks and bunkering operations. Section 67 of the Gas Act is not relevant in this connection.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs on what date the East Riding county development plan was received by his Department; and when this plan will be confirmed.

The East Riding Development Plan was submitted in June, 1952. Some 360 objections were subsequently received. I hope to approve it, with modifications, in the next three or four weeks

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that residents in Evesham House, Windsor Street, Birmingham, are unable to secure adequate sleep because of noise from an adjoining factory; and if he will hold an investigation into this matter with a view to a removal of the cause of such complaint.

The Birmingham Corporation, who have powers under local legislation to take action where excessive, unreasonable or unnecessary noise is prejudicial to health or a nuisance, are I understand investigating the matter to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs in how many planning appeals in Wales during the last year he rejected the recommendations of his appointed inspectors; and in how many cases in Wales during the last year, despite the contrary recommendations of his inspectors, he found in favour of the planning authorities.

In 12 cases I rejected the recommendations of my inspectors. In 6 of these 12 cases I found in favour of the planning authorities, against the inspector's recommendation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether it is with his approval that, after the close of publicly conducted planning appeals in Wales, planning authorities, without the consent of the appellant, are subsequently permitted to make private written representation to the inspector of the Minister.

My inspector makes his report to me on the basis of what takes place at the public inquiry. But I cannot stop anyone from making representations to me at any time. If, after the inquiry, I receive representations from one side raising a fresh point which might be relevant to my decision, it is my invariable practice to give the other side an opportunity of seeing and commenting on these representations before I reach a decision. Should it seem necessary I would reopen the inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will direct his inspectors to exclude hearsay evidence in planning appeals and conduct such appeals as far as may be practicable with an observance of the rules of evidence now prevailing in civil courts.

The object of a planning inquiry is to bring out all the information necessary to enable me to reach a decision. The present procedure is designed to achieve this object without unnecessary expenditure of time and money by the parties. Adoption of the hon. Member's proposal would make it difficult for appellants and other interested persons to present their case without incurring the expense of legal representation, and might lead to the exclusion of useful information on purely technical grounds. I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the conclusion of the Franks Committee that at these inquiries strict rules of evidence were not required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will withhold his approval to the application now being made by the British Transport Commission for immediate permission to demolish the Doric Arch and Great Hall of Euston Station, in view of the fact that Euston Station was the first railway station ever built in any capital city and is included in the statutory list of buildings of historic interest.

These buildings being on the statutory list, two months' notice of any proposal to demolish them must be formally given to the London County Council, who must forthwith inform me. I understand that no such notice has been received by the Council. If it should be received, both the Council and I will have an opportunity of considering whether to intervene.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what are the conditions with which a local authority is required to comply in order to obtain a grant in respect of a scheme under the Coast Protection Act, 1949.

In considering whether a scheme is eligible for grant, I take into account the financial burden imposed by the scheme and by other schemes undertaken under the Act in the local authority's area, and the financial circumstances of the authority. When an undertaking to pay grant is given it is made subject to compliance with a number of conditions concerning the execution of the works, the keeping of records, etc. I am sending the hon. Member a list of these conditions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many of the schemes for which grant has been promised under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, contain provision for the collection of coast protection charges.

25 out of the 215 schemes to which grant aid has been promised contain such provision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will permit local authorities who have levied, or decided to levy, charges under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, to revoke their decision or reduce the level of such charges, without affecting their entitlement to Exchequer grant where this has already been agreed.

Any question of revoking a decision to levy charges or of reducing the level of charges is entirely for the local authority; my permission is not required. Entitlement to Exchequer grant would not be prejudiced by any revocation or reduction of charges.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that there is concern amongst local government officers regarding the code of compensation for loss of office, namely, regulations made under Section 60 of the Local Government Act, 1958, in view of the far-reaching changes which may be effected in local government structure when the recommendations of the Local Government Commissions are reviewed; and if he will introduce without delay the regulations governing compensation for loss of office, which remain to be formulated under the Act.

Good progress has been made with drafting regulations under the Section, and I shall shortly be consulting the local authority associations and the bodies representing local government employees about them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he anticipates the Royal Commission on London Government will report.

I understand that the Royal Commission hope that its report will be available by next August.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give an estimate of the number of council houses likely to be completed by 31st December this year, compared with last year and with 1954; and if he will give the reason for the expected decline.

For England and Wales, the numbers in 1954 and 1958 were 199,642 and 113,146, respectively. My estimate for 1959 is about 100,000. the principal reason for the decline in completions this year being the restrictions on starts imposed towards the end of 1957 as part of the Government's successful effort to counter inflation. The number of starts in 1959 are showing a substantial increase over the previous year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state approximately the number of households without a fixed bath.

The best estimate I can make at present is that out of the 14½million houses in England and Wales there are between 3 and 4 million with- out a fixed bath. A more up-to-date estimate will be possible when the results of the 1961 census become available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs approximately how many families are sharing a kitchen with another family, including married couples who are living with the husbands' or wives' parents.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is yet in a position to approve the scheme proposed by the Leicester Corporation under which pipe water can be supplied to a number of houses at present without it at Stanton-under-Barton.

Leicester Corporation has been assured that its proposals are generally satisfactory but the scheme cannot be formally approved until a site for the reservoir, which is an integral part of the scheme, has been secured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the past system of making a grant to Malta has been changed to one of loans; and why this was only on condition that an agreement would be made with the Maltese political parties on the question of constitutional arrangements for the island.

It is the normal practice that revenue earning projects in colonial development programmes are financed by loans. In fact, only about£7 million out of Her Majesty's Government's contribution of£29¼ million to Malta's development plan totalling£32¼ million will be in the form of loans to the Government of Malta. This assistance has not been made subject to any political conditions.If the hon. Member has in mind Her Majesty's Government's earlier offer of capital assistance of£25 million, I would remind him that that offer was made as part of the integration proposals and of the alternative 5-year interim arrangements.When agreement was not reached with the Malta Government of the time, the proposals as a whole, including the financial provisions, lapsed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long a state of emergency has been in existence within the territory of Northern Rhodesia; and what right of association Her Majesty's protected persons now have in the territory.

A state of emergency has existed in a very limited area known as the Railway Reserve since 30th September, 1958. British Protected Persons, in common with all other persons, have full rights of association provided they do not belong to a proscribed society.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of Africans in Northern Rhodesia held in detention or restricted without trial, respectively; and when it is proposed that they shall be released or the restriction orders lifted.

No person is detained without trial. Nineteen Africans are subject to restriction orders. All restriction orders are under constant review and they will be revoked or suspended as soon as the Governor considers that this can be done without endangering public order.

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

The Governor has today announced, with the approval of Her Majesty's Government, that unofficial majorities will be introduced into both the Council of Ministers and the Legislative Council after the next elections in the autumn of 1960.My right hon. Friend proposes that the precise structure of the Executive Government in its new form and related matters should be discussed at meetings to be held in London in the spring of 1960.The Governor also announced decisions on the recommendations of the Ramage Committee on other constitutional and electoral matters.I have arranged for copies of the Governor's speech, the Ramage Committee's Report and the despatches thereon exchange between the Governor and my right hon. Friend to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the report of the officials of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on the irrigation of the Rufiji basin in Tanganyika has now been received; and when a decision on its recommendations may be expected.

The Survey will not be completed until next year and the report is not expected to be ready until towards the end of 1960. It is not possible at this stage to say when the Tanganyika Government will have completed their consideration of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that trained Nyasalanders who have made a contribution to the life of the universities and other institutions for further education in Great Britain and other Commonwealth countries continue to be detained indefinitely in Southern Rhodesia; and if he will take steps to have them brought to trial or released from detention in conformity with the aims of the Commonwealth Education Conference at Oxford.

The release of detainees is a matter for the Governor of Nyasaland, and no one is detained any longer than is essential to the maintenance of public order in the territory. The question of bringing detainees to trial is a matter for the Attorney-General of Nyasaland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the number of court convictions in Hong Kong arising out of breaches of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and Regulations in each of the first three quarters of 1959 and in each of the corresponding quarters of 1958 and 1957; and what was the percentage of convictions, in respect of each quarter, which arose out of breaches of the regulations governing hours of work of women and young persons.

The details are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the consignment of canned meat, which was recently imported into Avonmouth Docks from the Union of South Africa and rejected by the Bristol Medical Officer of Health on the grounds of its inferior quality, arrived in error and was intended for consumption by the native population of Africa; and which Colonies import such inferior quality meat for native consumption.

In the statements which I have seen there has been no suggestion that this canned meat was intended for consumption by the local population in any British Colonial territories in Africa. I have no detailed information about the qualities of meat imported into the various Colonial Territories. Imports of meat are normally made through private commercial channels, subject of course to regulations about the sale of foodstuffs made under Public Health and other legislation by individual territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking with regard to the regrading of patients in hospital in the Seychelles.

Patients will, in future, be graded not as First Class, Second Class, and Third Class, but as "paying patients (private ward)", "paying patients (general ward)" and "non-paying patients".

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of detainees in Kenya; and how many of these had their cases referred to the Advisory Committee by the Special Commissioner as suggested in the Fairn Committee Report.

On 10th December, there were 868 persons in Kenya detained under the Emergency Regulations, including 115 who were convicted persons until the recent Act of Grace. The Special Commissioner has not referred any of their cases to the Advisory Committee, since he has not yet completed his review of those cases which could be released on his own authority.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now increase the speed limit in Hyde Park from 20 to 30 miles per hour.

I am now looking into this matter.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the serious position of the Royal Opera House. Covent Garden, as revealed in the latest annual report; and whether he will now acquire the theatre and some of the neighbouring property to ensure its continuation and maintenance in a manner suitable to its status.

Under present arrangements my responsibilities are limited to ensuring the performance by the Opera Company of its obligations under the terms of its lease from my Department. As regards the second part of the Question, the Government are considering the various recommendations in the report of the Arts Council on Housing the Arts which was submitted to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to provide an official residence suitable for entertaining in a private, informal way representatives of Colonial Territories.

I have received no request to provide such a residence.

asked the Minister of Works how many more lockers and desks have been provided for hon. Members since the publication of the reports of the Select Committee on Accommodation, and at what points in the House.

Since the Select Committee on Accommodation reported in 1954, 36 more desks have been provided at the request of the authorities of the House. They are distributed as follows:Upper Committee Corridor Room 1, 18.Upper Committee Corridor Room 3, 14.Upper Committee Corridor Room 9, 1.Upper Committee Corridor Room 10, 3.This has brought the total number of desks in the Upper Committee Corridor Rooms to 72. No additional lockers have been provided, but 67 of the 72 desks are now of the pedestal type, containing filing space.

asked the Minister of Works what proportion of the total cost of£1,250,000 for the reconstruction of Numbers 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street and the Treasury old buildings is in respect of the former and latter projects, respectively.

Of the provisional estimate of£1¼ million, rather less than£500,000 is in respect of Numbers 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street and rather more than£750,000 is in respect of the Treasury buildings.

asked the Minister of Works what was the number of brickyards closed up to December 1958; and how many of these have been restarted up to 31st October, 1959.

210 brickworks are recorded as having ceased production between 1951 and 1958. Many of these had exhausted their clay reserves and had gone out of business, some were inactive, some of the others have turned over to other clay products and three are known to have restarted brickmaking this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what general directions have been given to the British Transport Commission with regard to the development of urban sites, in view of the potential profitability of such development.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the findings of the Medical Research Council on the effects of alcohol upon driving skill, he will consider legislation to introduce blood tests and to increase the penalties imposed on motorists for drunken driving.

The hon. Member presumably refers to a memorandum in which the Medical Research Council recently published an account of laboratory experiments bearing on the effect of small doses of alcohol on a skill resembling driving. The conclusions published are those of the research team concerned and do not in my view provide a basis on which legislative proposals could be framed for presentation to Parliament. I propose to continue discussions on the general issue with the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Transport, having regard to the proposed large scale industrial projects in South Wales, whether he will now reconsider the starting date for the Severn Bridge project; and if he will make a statement thereon.

The starting date for the Severn Bridge is related to the progress of work on the Forth Bridge, as the two bridges are being constructed as a single co-ordinated operation, but I am keeping it under review in the light of that progress. Meanwhile, I hope to publish early in the new year a draft Order showing how we propose to deal with the other roads and accesses affected by the approach roads to the bridge.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will now state the terms of the authority by which he scrutinises the public speeches or lectures of officers serving in other Departments of State.

Officers of the three Services are required to seek permission from their Departments before making public statements on matters bearing on their Services. Under the Ministry of Defence Act, 1946, I am responsible for the formulation and general application of a unified policy relating to the Armed Forces of the Crown.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that some voting papers in connection with the revocation poll recently held by the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board were collected by the National Farmers' Union, who were the original promoters of the scheme and opposed to revocation, from registered producers instead of the voting papers being posted direct to the Board's returning officer by the registered producers themselves, thus destroying the secrecy of the poll and opening up the possibility of interference with voting papers; and if he will take steps to ensure that future polls held by this marketing board shall be conducted fairly and in secret.

I know that this is alleged, but as I told my hon. Friend on 5th November, I have no evidence that the poll was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme. For producers to entrust their voting papers to the National Farmers' Unions does not appear to contravene it, though this would be for the courts to decide. I have no doubt that on the occasion of any future poll the Board will bear in mind any points that have given rise to criticism.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the absence of adequate discussion of the problems of European co-operation, with its many developments which are favourable, and of the obstacles which are hampering progress, is causing an unawareness by the public of the urgent need to establish a European community; and whether he will arrange for regular reports of the activities of the Government in this field and give facilities for discussion in the House of these activities and those of private Members.

Her Majesty's Government are as concerned as the right hon. Gentleman to see that the House and the public are aware of the need for closer collaboration with Europe. We had a debate yesterday about the economic issues. With regard to the political aspects, a number of bilateral talks on political problems have recently been held with various European Governments. These are now being followed by a series of meetings in Paris of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Western European Union and the Council of Europe, at which various aspects of European co-operation will be discussed.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of National Health Service cars and tricycles, respectively, on issue to ex-Service and industrial disabled men and women in Hull; what is the number of official repairers in the city; and whether he will consider the appointment of another official repairer, with skilled staff, on the east side of the city.

Eleven motor cars, 15 powered and 3 hand-propelled tricycles are on issue in Hull to disabled war pensioners and 99 powered and 102 hand-propelled tricycles are on issue to National Health Service patients. There is one authorised repairer. My right hon. and learned Friend is not at present convinced that there is any need for another.

asked the Minister of Health, if he will state the number of National Health Service spare cars and tricycles, respectively, in Hull, the numbers kept under cover, the numbers parked on open waste ground and used by children as playthings, and the numbers which are unserviceable and should be sold as scrap.

Twenty serviceable powered tricycles but no cars are held as spares in Hull. In accordance with instructions the tricycles are kept under cover except that during the daytime a few may be put outside under waterproof covers. In addition, there are two unserviceable powered tricycles which will be scrapped. I am not aware that any tricycles are stored on open waste ground and used by children as playthings.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state where the main storage for spare parts for National Health Service cars and tricycles in Hull is located, the number of repairers in the city authorised to hold spare parts, and the reasons why delays of up to five months occur in obtaining spares from Leeds necessary to keep disabled persons' vehicles in service.

A store for spare parts for National Health Service cars or tricycles is not maintained in Hull but the one approved repairer in Hull is required to hold some spare parts. I am unable to trace any recent delay of up to five months in obtaining spares from Leeds or elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the letter sent him by Shrewsbury Trades Council about charges for medical services; whether he has studied the minutes of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board referred to by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, on 30th July, 1959; and whether he will make a statement.

I referred the report I received from the Board on this matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions last August and I have now been informed that as at present advised he is not instituting proceedings against any person mentioned in the report.I am making arrangements for an inquiry to be held under Section 70 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. into the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the figure of 3,487 civil staff shown on page 8 of the 1958 Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis represents the total employment of civil staff of all grades in the Metropolitan Police; and how many of them are direct replacements of former policemen.

The number of civil staff of all grades employed with the Metropolitan Police on 31st December, 1958, was 3,405; this total includes 1,584 part-time school crossing partrols and telephonists. The Receiver's staff are not included. The Commissioner estimate that 623 member of the civil staff were then employed in direct replacement of police officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a committee of inquiry into the use of animals for experiments.

No. I do not consider that there is need for an inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the residents of Ermine Estate West, Lincoln, who have a considerable distance to walk to the nearest post office; and whether he will arrange for a post office to be established on the west side of Ermine Estate.

The sub-post office in Ermine (East) is within a reasonable distance of the west side of the Estate, and I am sorry that I should not be justified in providing another office. For those who do not wish to walk to the Ermine (East) office, there are bus services to the Burton Road and Newport offices.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will, for the information of hon. Members, place in the Library or the Upper Waiting Hall a model of the Twynham hut; and to what extent it is the practice of his Department to consult the Council of Industrial Design about the design, equipment and furnishing of this and other types of Army accommodation.

There is no suitable model available, but I am arranging for perspective drawings and plans to be placed in the Library. The Twynham hut is for temporary use in the field and in emergency conditions. It was developed to an inter-Service specification by the Military Engineering Experimental Establishment.So far as we are aware, the Council of Industrial Design is not concerned with the design of buildings. The majority of furnishings are obtained from the Ministry of Works.

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision is being made for new War Department houses on Foulness Island to meet the need of the Department's local employees and agricultural tenants; and what steps are being taken to put the existing houses, owned by his Department, into a good state of repair and to provide a modern sewerage system.

Twelve houses are to be built and twelve modernised during the coming year. I am writing to my hon. Friend about housing conditions on the island.