asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consideration has been given by the Kenya Government to the recommendations in paragraph 67 of the Dow Commission Report regarding the renting of dwelling plots by African farm labourers in the White Highlands.

The Kenya Government rejected this recommendation, for reasons which were fully explained in Cmnd.9801 of 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the agenda of the constitutional conference on Kenya to be held in London in January; and how the members of the conference will be selected.

No agenda has yet been fixed.The Governor indicated on 10th November that all Constituency and Specially Elected Members of the Legislative Council would be invited to take part in the Conference.Some Nominated Members may also be invited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the statement made by the Acting British Resident at the opening of the Thirty-Fourth Session of the Zanzibar Legislative Council had his approval; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend was not consulted before the Acting British Resident made his speech to the Legislative Council; but I have since read it. I am sure my right hon. Friend would endorse what was said.I have no further statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what encouragement has been given by his Department or by the Governments of territories under Her Majesty's jurisdiction to the setting up of flying doctor services.

In a number of territories aircraft are used to help the medical services. The achievements of the Australian Flying Doctor Service are well known, and it is for Colonial Governments to consider the application of this system to the conditions of the territories for which they are responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent proposals have been made to him on the restoration of self-government in Malta; and if he will make a statement.

As the House knows my right hon. Friend visited Malta last week. Before leaving the Island, he made a statement, the text of which is as follows:

May I say first how glad I am that Malta is the first territory I have visited as Secretary of State for the Colonies. There is a great affection for Malta in the United Kingdom and a great desire to work out a prosperous future for her within the framework of a satisfactory constitutional settlement.

I was very glad to see something of the progress being made under the Five-Year Plan, and in particular to visit Bailey (Malta) Ltd. The conversion of the Dockyard to commercial repair work is vital for the future of Malta. These developments need the unreserved support of the people of Malta and Gozo. Some people expressed to me fears that a single 5-year period was insufficient to complete the re-orientation of your economy. I can assure you that we recognise that the present Five Year Plan is only a first step—though a very significant one—towards the development and diversification of the economy of Malta. Five years is a normal period for which it is practicable to plan ahead. So long as Her Majesty's Government are ultimately responsible for Maltese affairs, you will continue to be eligible for financial assistance from moneys made available by Parliament.

It has been very valuable to me to meet a large number of leading people in many walks of life, and I have heard a wide range of opinions. I was particularly interested in the talks I had on constitutional and financial matters with the leaders of three political parties, and on industrial and employment matters with the President and leading members of G.W.U. These talks have been of the greatest assistance to me. There are certain things I have tried to make clear. It has always been Her Majesty's Government's hope that the present constitutional arrangements, which were brought into effect last April, would be of short duration. At the same time a return to responsible government is clearly dependent on framing a constitution generally acceptable to the people of Malta which also recognises the special relationship between Malta and Her Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth. It follows that we must safeguard the welfare of the Maltese people, the strategic interests of the United Kingdom and of the Western world to which Malta belongs, and the undertakings given by my predecessor.

The first thing that I said when I came to Malta was that I had not come with a preconceived plan for constitutional advance. Equally after such a short visit it would be quite wrong to try and lay down what the lines of future advance must be.

I intend on my return to London to consult with the Prime Minister and my colleagues and then to decide on what is the right thing to do.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance is being given by the Government of Northern Rhodesia to the investigation to be carried out by the Association of Rhodesian and Nyasaland Industries into the prospects for African advancement in industry.

I understand that the Association is mainly concerned with Southern Rhodesian industrial affairs. The Northern Rhodesia Government has neither been approached by them in connection with the investigation nor been asked for assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what opportunities will be given to Africans selected for training at Victoria Falls power station as shift attendants or to other Africans in Northern Rhodesia selected for training as engineers.

Two African learner electricians and two trade tested African electricians were sent to the Victoria Falls power station earlier this year for training as shift attendants. They will be posted in that capacity to one of the new hydro-electric stations being built in the Northern Province.Other Africans will receive similar training when suitable recruits come forward.No training facilities for either Africans or Europeans to qualify as engineers exist in Northern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Mr. Aloys Camden and his wife, originally from the French Cameroons, but for twenty years established as farmers in the district of Tombel in the British Cameroons, have been put into gaol; and whether he will give an assurance that they will not be deported to the French Cameroons.

I understand from the Governor-General that there is no record of anyone of this name having been arrested or imprisoned. If the hon. Member can provide me with any more information I will again ask the Governor-General to investigate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many casualties there have been among tribesmen from the Somaliland Protectorate during the recent fighting with Ethiopian tribesmen.

Thirteen killed, six wounded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans from Tanganyika have obtained grants to study the principles and practice of co-operation outside the territory in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, respectively.

I am asking the Governor to supply this information, and will circulate the figure in the OFFICIAL REPORT when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made for the representation of Her Majesty's Government at the ceremonies signifying the transfer of power in Cyprus on 19th February, 1960.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the representative of the Daily Telegraph newspaper on an officially approved visit to the Kanjedza detention camp in Nyasaland was forbidden to engage in political discussion with the detainees.

In accordance with normal prison procedure the representative of the newspaper mentioned was asked not to discuss controversial political issues with the detainees. I understand that he readily agreed to this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received against the imposition of health charges for treatment in Governmental medical units in Uganda; and what reply he has made.

No representations have been directed to my right hon. Friend. A memorandum by the Uganda Association on this subject was, however, received by the Protectorate Government. The Protectorate Government has sent a reply to the Association in which it was pointed out that, as a result of the debate in the Legislative Council in September, it has withdrawn its proposals for levying charges on those who receive treatment in its medical units. It accepted an amendment by which it undertook to consider an alternative method of financing improved medical services. In these circumstances a further reply by my right hon. Friend to the Uganda Association does not seem to be called for.A copy of the Association's memorandum was received in the Colonial Office and acknowledged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has studied the resolution sent to him by the British Honduras Chamber of Commerce on 23rd June, 1959, concerning certain actions of the Comptroller of Customs; and what action thereupon is contemplated by the Colony's Government.

I have seen the resolution which was addressed to the Governor. The various complaints against the Comptroller of Customs in respect of his administration of the Customs Department were investigated by an official committee of Government officers set up for this purpose by the British Honduras Government. Their report was subsequently considered by the Government and the Governor himself met representatives of the Chamber. On 19th September the Government conveyed its findings to the Chamber of Commerce. A number of the Chamber's requests in regard to Customs procedure were conceded and the Comptroller has agreed to take certain steps to meet their point of view; but the Government concluded that there was not sufficient justification to make a recommendation for the removal of the Comptroller.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the ownership of the Coetivy Island in the Seychelles; whether he is satisfied with the present position; and if he will make a statement.

The Governor informs me that the history of Coetivy and certain other islands is at present the subject of research with a view to establishing their precise status.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet considered the draft order lodged by the Somerset Magistrates Courts Committee under Section 18 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949, providing for the amalgamation of the Petty Sessional Divisions of Wiveliscombe and Wellington, and the local objections thereto; and if he will make a statement.

After considering the objections which have been lodged against the draft order, my right hon. Friend has directed that a local inquiry shall be held. The Somerset Magistrates' Courts Committee, and the objectors, have been informed of this decision and have been told that they will be notified of the arrangements for holding the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the nuisance caused by fumes from the exhausts of a high proportion of heavy commercial motor vehicles; and whether he will issue instructions to the Metropolitan Police to enforce more strict control.

My right hon. Friend is assured by the Commissioner that the police already take appropriate action when cases of the unlawful emission of fumes come to their notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, is confusing on the issue of whether it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering during the hunting of non-domestic animals; and whether he will seek to amend the Act and clarify the law with regard to acts of persistent cruelty, such as when a hind is driven into a flooding river instead of being shot.

The Protection of Animals Act, 1911, does not apply to animals which are neither tame nor captive. As at present advised my right hon. Friend does not think that amending legislation is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the result of his discussions with interested parties regarding the conspicuous marking of contents on vehicles carrying dangerous or inflammable liquids or gases.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 3rd December to a Question by the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decision he has now come to in the case of the stowaway from South Africa, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central, at present detained pending a decision as to whether he shall be allowed to remain in the United Kingdom.

As soon as my right hon. Friend was satisfied that the man in question was a British subject, instructions were given for his release on completion of the sentence passed on him under the Merchant Shipping Act for stowing away.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons of alien nationality are at present employed in the Swindon area.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons of alien nationality living in Swindon have applied for naturalisation from the end of the Second World War until the nearest convenient date.

I regret that this information is not available, and could not easily be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now discharge Mr. David Sardell, of Slough, now serving a sentence of seven years' imprisonment in Oxford prison, following the official investigation into his claim of innocence.

I have written to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give authority to local councils to demolish useless air-raid shelters.

Local authorities are aware of the grounds on which my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider the demolition of shelters but, as explained on a number of occasions in the past, he thinks it desirable to look at each case on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Department of Criminal Science at Cambridge commenced its study of crimes of violence in the Metropolitan Police district: and when he expects to receive its final report.

The study of crimes of violence in the Metropolitan Police district was started in 1955, but it has unavoidably been interrupted to enable the small staff of the Department of Criminal Science to undertake other urgent work. Examples of this are an important study on sexual offences, which was given priority to assist the Wolfenden Committee, and a study on attendance centres, which was expedited to be available to the Ingleby Committee. I expect to receive the first part of the report on crimes of violence at the beginning of next February and the remainder during the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Departmental Committee appointed in June, 1956, under the chairmanship of Viscount Ingleby to inquire into the law relating to children and young persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Ingleby Committee.

The chairman tells me that he hopes it may be possible to submit a report in about six months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate of the number of new voters who would be added to the register if all persons between 18 and 21 years of age were added to it.

For England, Wales and Northern Ireland the estimated number is of the order of one and a half million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to take power to deport immigrants from Commonwealth countries who are convicted of criminal offences.

This matter is still under consideration, but I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the defect in the Maintenance Orders Act, 1958, by which a person can limit his earnings to the protected earnings rate provided for under Clause 6 (3) (b) and thus defeat the object of a court order; and if he will introduce amending legislation to remedy this defect.

My right hon. Friend does not see how legislation could deal with the circumstance which the hon. Member has in mind, but he will consider any detailed proposal which the hon. Member may care to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the production of an information leaflet to be issued by immigration officers to girls arriving in this country au pair.

The text of a suitable leaflet has been prepared in seven languages after detailed consultation with all the appropriate welfare organisations. The British Travel and Holidays Association has been good enough to accept responsibility for production of the leaflet, and I understand that it will be available for issue at the ports in the early months of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of increasing public concern about the proposal for siting a new prison on Dartmoor, he will now arrange for a public inquiry before a decision is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the reasons for the decision to build a new prison on Dartmoor.

My right hon. Friend has come to the conclusion that it would be desirable to have a public inquiry into this proposal and an announcement will be made in due course about the arrangements for it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Section 17 (1) of the Shops Act, 1950, compels employers who employ part-time assistants in the afternoons only to give them one afternoon's holiday each week but makes no parallel provision for those employed only in the mornings; and if he will amend this Section of the Act so as to make it applicable to full-time employees only.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this point but he is not in a position to undertake to introduce the amending legislation required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what authority the Metropolitan Police confiscated twelve copies of "Lady Chatterley's Lover", imported from the United States of America by Mrs. Barbara Barr, step-daughter of the late D. H. Lawrence; and if he will give instructions for these books to be delivered to Mrs. Barr.

The books were stopped in the post during Customs examination, and the question of their delivery is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General. The action of the Metropolitan Police was confined to making an inquiry at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the comparative figures for the commencing rate of pay and allowances for a police officer, and the maximum rate; and how these compare with the national average wage for July, 1939, 1949, and 1959.

The figures are as follows:

PAY OF A CONSTABLE
—	Minimum	Index of Increase	Maximum	Index of Increase
July, 1939	62s. a weak	100	95s. a weak	100
July, 1949	£330	204	£420	170
July, 1959	£510	315	£695	281

In addition to his pay, a constable receives a free house or quarters, or a rent allowance in lieu.There is no recognised national average wage. The index of rates of wages which covers only manual workers in industries and services, if taken as 100 in 1939, was 183 in 1949 and is 306 in 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of percentages of vacancies in the various police authorities in England, together with the actual number of vacancies.

The figures—male officers only—at 31st October, 1959, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders in the West Riding of Yorkshire have been fined under the Litter Act.

Between 7th August, 1958, when the Act came into operation, and 30th June, 1959, ninety-one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what international agreements have been entered into by the United Kingdom regarding the treatment of young offenders; to what extent Her Majesty's Government is committed to conforming to such agreements; what other Governments have ratified these agreements;

POSTAL VOTES, 1955 AND 1959
—	(1)		(2)		(3)		(4)
	Number of postal ballot papers issued		Number postal votes returned before close of poll		Numbers of postal votes rejected*		Number of postal votes included in in the count
	1955	1959	1955	1959	1955	1959	1955	1959
England (excluding Monmouthshire)	489,248	585,776	435,097	520,551	8,506	10,922	426,591	509,629
Wales and Monmouthshire	30,412	34,054	26,596	29,532	711	848	25,885	28,684
Northern Ireland	21,999	17,258	19,357	13,944	609	421	18,748	13,523
	541,659	637,088	481,050	564,027	9,826	12,191	471,224	551,836
* i.e. number rejected because the declaration of identity was not returned or on one of the other prescribed grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been in England and Wales for homosexual offences committed by consenting adults in private from 1st November, 1958, to 1st December, 1959.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that records are kept of the number of convictions for homosexual and to what extent consideration of the question of the reintroduction of corporal punishment in this country is influenced by the existence of such agreements.

Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are not a party to any international agreement of this sort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many postal votes were cast in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the General Elections of 1955 and 1959.

The number of postal votes included in the count in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was 471,224 in 1955, and 551,836 in 1959. Following is a more detailed summary.offences committed by consenting adults in private.

I doubt if it would be practicable to keep a regular record of such offences, but I shall consider whether the figures in question can be obtained for a particular period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instituted under Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, of one spouse for the killing, by dangerous driving, of another; how many such prosecutions have resulted in convictions; and of those so prosecuted to conviction how many have been sentenced to imprisonment and to fines, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in Northern Ireland referring to possible economic sanctions against the Republic of Ireland represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether the recent statement made in Belfast by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, regarding the use of sanctions, represents Government policy.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said in the House yesterday.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the present state of land distribution in Swaziland as between the Swazis and white settlers; and what mineral rights have been recognised for Swazis.

About 53 per cent. of the land in Swaziland is held by Swazi and about 47 per cent. by Europeans. Before granting permission to prospect or mine within a Native Area, the Resident Commissioner is obliged to consider any representations from the Paramount Chief in Council; and any payments made by way of compensation, surface rent or otherwise in respect of prospecting or mining within such area must be paid to the Swazi Nation or otherwise applied for their benefit.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations how many protests he has received against the Deportation and Unlawful Assemblies Proclamations for Swaziland; and what is being done to meet Swazi objections on these matters.

The Resident Commissioner has received one protest against the draft Deportation and Unlawful Assemblies Proclamations. Both drafts have for some time been under consideration by the Swazi National Council, whose views have not yet been received.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress is being made towards self-government for Swaziland.

The present constitutional machinery in Swaziland consists of the European Advisory Council and the Swazi National Council. Informal joint consultative arrangements have been initiated on a defined range of subjects. The next step should, I think, be to develop and extend this joint consultation with a view to establishing, at the next stage, a joint committee or council.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he is taking to carry out the recommendations of the Commonwealth Education Conference for the provision of opportunities for training and experience in industry for Commonwealth students.

United Kingdom industry already provides training for large numbers of students and others from other Commonwealth countries and, with the co-operation of representatives of industry, Her Majesty's Government are examining how existing facilities can be improved.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what help his Department is giving in the current financial year to Commonwealth Governments, by way of military assistance.

Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are already providing assistance in cash and kind towards the expansion of the Armed Forces of the Federation of Malaya, and have been providing free training in the United Kingdom for a number of Pakistani technicians and Service personnel over a period of three years. In addition, it has now been decided to offer a further measure of help in respect of training and technical assistance for members of the Armed Forces of Commonwealth Governments; and in respect of the loan and interchange of Service personnel, including the cost, as necessary, of passages arising therefrom.A Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course and the Civil Contingencies Fund will be drawn on if necessary.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the amount of the guarantee given by the British Council to cover the cost of the Royal Ballet's forthcoming tour of South Africa; if he is aware that a South African dancer of non-European descent is prevented by South African law from taking part in this tour; and if he will discuss with the British Council the desirability of withdrawing the guarantee, and of advising the Royal Ballet to cancel the tour.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 9th December.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether the Monckton Commission will have power to require the attendance of African witnesses from Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia or the production of documents by them; and whether their evidence given before the Commission will be asbolutely privileged as in a court of law.

It would be inappropriate to give the Advisory Commission power to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents. As the Commission, in receiving evidence, will be seeking information on matters of fact and opinion, the question of privilege for their evidence does not arise.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations who will be bearing the cost of the Monckton Commission.

The cost will be borne by the United Kingdom Government except where the Federal Government or Territorial Governments offer services or facilities.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, if he will undertake to pay the amount outstanding in respect of the Jodrell Bank Experimental Station.

No. The circumstances in which Her Majesty's Government arrived at their decision that the grant of£130,000 in 1957, making a total of£360,000 in all must be their final contribution to the cost of the radio-telescope were fully explained to the House by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works in the Adjournment Debate on 4th March, 1959. My noble Friend knows of no fresh circumstances which would justify a reconsideration of this decision.

asked the Minister of Education the percentages of children admitted to grammar, technical and secondary modern schools, respectively, in the last four years; and what he anticipates these will be during the next four years.

The following is the Answer:The following table shows the percentage of 13-year-old pupils in England and Wales, for whom local education

authorities were responsible, in grammar, technical, and modern schools or streams in each of the last four years:

Year (January)	Grammar	Technical*	Modern
1956	20·8	5·4	64·5
1957	20·3	5·0	65·6
1958	20·0	4·3	63·0
1959 (estimated)	20·2	4·0	64·7
* Based on 14-year-olds.

During the next four years I expect little change in the percentages in grammar and technical schools. As numbers in all-age schools diminish, the percentage in modern schools will rise.

asked the Minister of Education which education authorities have dispensed with intelligence tests as part of the procedure in the selection for secondary education.

The National Foundation for Education Research are about to bring this information up to date and I will let the hon. Member have it as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent negotiations are taking place with the National Association of Schoolmasters, with a view to the Association being represented on the Burnham Committee; and whether he will make a statement.

A little time is needed before I can add to the Answer which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) on 19th November.

asked the Minister of Education what facilities are provided by education authorities in Birmingham and Bradford, respectively, to enable Pakistani and Indian children to acquire enough English to profit by their schooling.

I understand that both local education authorities find that many Pakistani and Indian children already have an adequate knowledge of English when they enter school. Where this is not so, both arrange for them to have extra lessons in the language.

asked the Minister of Education what consideration has been given to making allowances for domestic help, to enable women with domestic responsibilities to meet them during the special two-year teacher training period for mature students.

The arrangements for calculating grants provide for up to£2 per week of a mother's income to be disregarded if she has to pay for the care of her children during term-time while she is training to be a teacher.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that no new school has been built in Hebburn for twenty-two years, and that because of the lack of schools in the Toner Avenue area, parents are having to find as much as£30 per year to meet the cost of bus fares for their children who must travel to other parts of the town for their education; and whether, in view of this, he will give the Durham County Council permission to commence immediately the building of the Toner Avenue infants' school and the Toner Avenue junior school.

The infant school is already under construction and should be finished next year. I agree that the junior school is needed, but not as urgently at other new schools in the county.

asked the Minister of Education whether applications may now be made for membership of the College of Technologists, the higher award recently instituted by the National Council for Technological Awards.

I am informed by the Council that the College of Technologists is now ready to consider applications for the registration of candidates for membership. I am arranging for copies of the relevant regulations to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the decline in the effective productive acreage of withies in Somerset; and if he will inquire into the reasons therefor.

There has been a decline in the Somerset acreage but this is partly accounted for by the grubbing up of old unproductive beds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the Report of the Committee on Grassland Utilisation.

I hope to do so early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that two consignments of food from Commonwealth countries, which were found to be unfit for human consumption but were not so marked, details of which have been sent to him, were discovered at two separate ports recently in two different ships; and if he will make representations to the two exporting countries concerned with regard to the need for examining such consignments at the port of dispatch, in order to avoid danger to human beings and the misuse of ships' tonnage.

I am aware that two consignments of canned meat, both of which were exported from the same country, were examined by the Port Health Authorities at Bristol and Liverpool and were found to be of inferior quality but not unfit for human consumption. None is being sold for this purpose in this country. I am taking the matter up with the country concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the total of bacon and ham consumed in Great Britain for the last convenient calendar month was produced in Great Britain; and if he will give the corresponding figure for the same month of 1958.

Figures of supplies moving into consumption are only available for the United Kingdom. In October, 1959, 36 per cent. of these supplies were home produced compared to 41 per cent. in October, 1958.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the very large increase of Peruvian fish meal now being imported into this country; and what steps he is taking to safeguard the home fish meal industry, and to obviate the harmful effects of these imports on the fishing industry.

Imports of fish meal from Peru have greatly increased since 1957. So far I have received no evidence that the low prices of this meal are due to dumping or subsidisation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to encourage the planting of trees this season, particularly in hedge-rows and small spinneys.

The Forestry Commission has given wide publicity to the need for more tree planting in the countryside. For example, it has exhibited at the major agricultural shows and has stimulated interest among children by making gifts of surplus trees for planting in school grounds. The Commission makes grants for the planting of small woods, and farmers who establish shelter-belts may be eligible for grants from my Ministry. The Commission expects about 5,000 acres of small woods to be planted this season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will call the attention of the Danish Government to the risk of endangering good AngloDanish relations if, as a result of excessive imports of Danish bacon into Great Britain, the British bacon industry is damaged; and whether he will arrange for discussions to take place with a view to reaching some friendly agreement with regard to this matter between exporters of Danish bacon and the producers of British bacon.

There are already arrangements for regular exchanges of information about the bacon market both at Government level and between representatives of producers and the trade. The Danes have every interest in considering the state of the market and the advice that they receive through these exchanges.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when it is proposed to make regulations under the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act, 1956, to deal with the lifting of excessive weights.

After wide consultations with the many representative organisations concerned, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided to proceed with the making of regulations which are being laid today. These will have the effect of restricting the maximum weight of a sack and its contents which may be lifted, unaided, by an agricultural worker to 180 1b., but will not come into effect until July, 1965, so as to provide an adequate time for the necessary changes to be made with the minimum disturbance to agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a list of the organisations which have submitted memoranda to him with regard to the Report of the Food Standards Committee relating to soft drinks; and when he anticipates that draft regulations will be prepared.

The following is a list of organisations which have commented on the Report of the Food Standards Committee relating to soft drinks:

Association of Municipal Corporations.

Association of Public Analysts.

British Glucose Manufacturers' Association.

Caterers' Association of Great Britain.

Cocoa, Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance.

County Councils Association.

Federation of Women's Institutes of Northern Ireland.

Flavouring Compound Manufacturers' Association of Great Britain.

Food Manufacturers' Federation.

Fruit Importers Association.

Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.

National Federation of Fruit and Potato Trades, Ltd.

National Research Development Corporation.

National Union of Manufacturers.

Parliamentary Committee, Co-operative Union Ltd.

Proprietary Association of Great Britain.

Soft Drinks Industry Consultative Committee, on behalf of:—

Belfast and Ulster Mineral Water Manufacturers' Association.

National Association of Soft Drinks Manufacturers, Ltd.

National Dairymen's Association (Inc.), Orange Drink Section.

Scottish Federation of Aerated Water Manufacturers' and Bottlers' Associations.

These representations have raised many problems which must be considered fully before I can circulate proposals for regulations to the interested organisations as required by the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the primary outbreaks of foot-and mouth disease in Great Britain during the past year have been attributed to infection brought by imported meat and what were the numbers of stock slaughtered and the amount of compensation paid.

Of the nine confirmed primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease this year six have been attributed by my Department to infection derived from imported meat. The number of animals slaughtered from these six outbreaks was 1,200 and the compensation is estimated at£29,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Forestry Commission's industrial labour force was reduced by 666 in the year ended 30th September, 1958; to what extent it has been further reduced since; and what is the reason for these reductions.

The Commission's labour force fell from 13,040 to 12,384 during the year ended 30th September, 1958, a drop of 656. As the Commissioners stated in their Annual Report, this was due partly to a temporary reduction in the planting programme and partly to a more efficient use of manpower. By 30th September, 1959, the number employed had risen to 12,512. an increase of 128 during the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many forestry workers of the Forestry Commission are now established; and what is the percentage of the total of their industrial manpower.

On 30th September, 1959, the Forestry Commission employed 2,818 established employees, forming 22·5 per cent. of the total industrial manpower.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to make a further statement about the design of future bank notes to meet the special needs of blind persons.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what organisations, other than those representing blind persons, he consulted before coming to a decision in connection with the proposed new Bank of England note issue;(2) whether he is aware of the inconvenience of the size and design of the proposed new Bank of England note issue; what representations have been received from the Central Council of Bank Staff Associations relative thereto; and whether, in the circumstances, he is prepared to give further consideration to this matter.

The only decision which my right hon. Friend was required to take in connection with the new series of Bank of England notes concerned the denominations which should be issued.I understand that the Bank of England has received representations from a number of bodies including the Central Council of Bank Staff Associations. As has already been made clear in regard to the representations made on behalf of the blind, the Bank is giving further consideration to the problems involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the dates of publication by Her Majesty's Stationery Office of its monthly catalogue in each of the last three issues; and what time lag this involved.

The monthly catalogues for July, August and September were issued on 20th September, 23rd October and 25th November respectively. Each was a month late due to difficulties arising from the dispute in the printing industry earlier this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will exempt from Income Tax the launching fee of 20s. and the hourly rate of 5s. earned by lifeboat crews engaged on rescue work.

I regret to say that I cannot accept the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now remove the exchange control prohibition on the use of foreign importers' drafts to finance international trade.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now direct the Inland Revenue, in view of an increasing tendency to disguise ventures in the nature of trade in a capital form, to exercise more strictly and widely its powers to raise assessments under Case I of Schedule D.

I am satisfied that the Inland Revenue needs no reminder from me about the power to assess profits from ventures in the nature of trade

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total additional number of persons placed in employment as a direct result of the creation of new industry or expansion of existing firms with the help of financial assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, in each of the Islands of Lewis and Harris, North and South Uist, Benbecula and Barra.

The total additional number of persons likely to be employed by the eight new or expanding undertakings on the Isle of Lewis to which assistance has been offered under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, is estimated as sixty. I have no information as to the number of these new jobs that have so far been filled.The only application for assistance received from Benbecula has been rejected while the only application from Barra is at present under consideration. No applications have been received from North or South Uist.