asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to encourage the development of new industries in the East Northumberland coalfield following the cut-back of coal production, and the closure of collieries, and the special impact of these upon the employment of young people in the area.

We should be glad to see new industry going to East Northumberland and an industrial development certificate would be granted for any suitable project. Further, if any part of the area is expected to suffer from high and persistent unemployment as a result of colliery closures, it will be able to get the benefit of the Local Employment Bill when that becomes law.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether negotiations for a new trade agreement with Hungary have yet commenced; and what is the present position.

A new Trade Arrangement with Hungary was signed on 19th January, 1960. This provides a basis for trade for three years from the 27th January, 1960. Import quotas on both sides will be negotiated annually and have been fixed for the twelve months from 27th January, 1960.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for extensions or developments of factories on the trading estates on the North-East Coast are under consideration by him; and when he intends to finalise them.

Ten, and we are dealing with them as fast as possible, but I cannot at present forecast when a decision on all these will have been taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will visit the north of England to see the Team Valley Trading Estate and discuss problems affecting all the trading estates in the region.

I cannot commit my right hon. Friend, but I intend to visit the area myself as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that flexibles attached to imported electrical equipment are coloured in accordance with the required British standards.

I have no power to impose such a requirement. I understand that the Press has conveyed a warning issued by the Institution of Electrical Engineers, and that where it is possible to identify the importers of articles whose wiring does not comply with the British Standard, the Electrical Adviser to the Home Office is generally able to persuade them to make the appropriate alterations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce details of a further repayment of postwar credits.

I regret that I am not in a position to make any further statement at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement with regard to amending the arrangements for the payment of post-war credits so as to include those who are permanently injured and incurably sick.

As the hon. Member knows, I am not unsympathetic. There are, however, a number of aspects to be considered. I have the matter under close examination, but I am not yet ready to announce any decision.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his statement of 20th February, 1958, when he announced a building programme for the universities for the years 1960 to 1963, related to an estimated rise of student numbers to 124,000 in the mid-1960s, with the possibility of a further increase of 10 per cent. in the second half of the decade, whether he will now consult with the University Grants Committee as to the desirability of relating the building programme to higher numbers than these.

The University Grants Committee last year made a full examination of this question in the light of the latest estimates of future numbers of 17 and 18 year olds in the schools and of other relevant factors. As a result they recommended strongly to me that they should be authorised to discuss with the universities an expansion of their capacity beyond the figure of 135,000 places which had already been agreed. They proposed to explore the possibility of providing an additional 35,000 to 40.000 by the late 1960s or early 1970s and to estimate the capital cost involved. I have authorised this action and I understand that discussions with the universities have already begun.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much industrial production increased in the last year; how this percentage compares with the rise in earnings in the same period; and what effect these two figures had on the cost of living.

Between October, 1958. and October, 1959, industrial production rose by 10 per cent. and average earnings of manual workers covered by the Ministry of Labour half yearly figures by 5 per cent. It is not possible to state in exact terms how the increase of output and earnings over the period affected the cost of living.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on results achieved following his appeal to industrial and financial interests to make a contribution to reduce the cost of living.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what results have followed from his appeals to business and trading interests for a reduction in prices and in the cost of living; and what further proposals he has to bring clown prices.

It is not possible to establish the results, in terms of actual prices. of the statements I have addressed to industrial and commercial managements. My main object has been to secure a continuance of stability over the whole field of consumer prices, and up to now I am glad to say this has been attained. 1 hope my remarks have improved the chances of maintaining this stability.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the levying of Income Tax in respect of payments to lifeboatmen; and if he will make a statement.

I am afraid that it would be quite anomalous to treat lifeboatmen exceptionally for Income Tax purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Inland Revenue is taxing capital as well as revenue items in traders' accounts; and if he will take steps to put a stop to this practice.

There are some special provisions in the Income Tax Acts (for instance, those relating to the balancing charges) under which the receipt by a trader of a capital sum may involve him in tax liability. I am not aware that the Inland Revenue are imposing tax on capital receipts except where these special provisions apply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he received the report of the board of management of the Crown Estate on the Crown Lands Acts; and when he proposes to introduce legislation to amend those Acts.

The Crown Estate Commissioners submitted their report on the Crown Lands Acts in June, 1958. Legislation is in preparation and will be introduced as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Prime Minister what reply he has made to the petition presented to him on New Year's Day by the representatives of African National Congresses on the state of emergency in Nyasaland, the release of detainees, and the policy of apartheid.

I have been asked to reply.A letter addressed to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister by Mr. J. Nkomo, Mr. T. Makiwane and Mr. M. W. K. Chiume has been acknowledged and the writers informed that their views have been noted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has completed his discussions with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about the planning control of broiler houses; and with what results.

I have almost completed all my consultations, and I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to the possibility of revising the procedure preliminary to the establishment of smokeless zones, with a view to reducing air pollution more rapidly.

The administrative procedure is now being reviewed in the light of 3 years' experience.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of paragraphs 155 and 156 of the Report of the Committee on Administrative Tribunals and Inquiries.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular No. 58/57 which on my instructions was sent to county councils, county borough councils and panels in December, 1957.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he received from the county and local authorities concerned as to the desirability of preserving Iver Grove, Bucks, at the time of its purchase by the Ministry of Works.

None. At an earlier stage these authorities opposed the making of a building preservation order by my right hon. Friend's predecessor.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning action to deal with the pollution of rivers and river estuaries; and, in particular, what financial provision will be forthcoming when the technical problems arising out of local authority consideration have been resolved and proposals formulated.

The Government's policy is to step up the drive to clean polluted rivers—a large programme is in hand. Rate deficiency grant is available to all those authorities whose financial resources are below the average.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will now make a further statement on his policy regarding the control of outdoor advertising.

My policy is to secure that outdoor advertisements are displayed in the right way and in the right places and not otherwise, and also that the machinery of planning control is as simple as possible. I have today laid amending regulations designed to further both these aims. I shall be sending to local planning authorities a circular explaining the new regulations.As to advertisements on business premises and the problem of clutter, I invited representative bodies to discuss among themselves whether they could work out a voluntary code of standards. Such a code has now been compiled by a number of advertising organisations. I have seen it and have been glad to contribute a foreword to it. I understand that the code will be ready for publication in six or seven weeks' time. I am sure that it is a step in the right direction and should be given a trial.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement about the public

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many applications for a dispensation to speak or vote under Section 76 of the Local Government Act, 1933, have been received from members of local authorities during the years ending 31st March, 1957, 1958, and 1959; and what is the number of these that were granted and refused. respectively.

The inquiry was held on 15th December and I am now considering the report of my Inspector.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will give details of the number of appeals by advertising interests dealt with during 1959 under the Control of Advertisements Regulations, 1948; how many of these appeals were dealt with at public hearings and by correspondence, respectively; how many, in each group, referred, respectively, to posters, including bulletin boards, but not trade signs, to public information panels and to trade signs on the premises of the occupiers concerned; and how many of each category were rejected or allowed.

The total number of appeals decided during 1959 was 1,637. Details are as follows:

The available records show for each calendar year the numbers of dispensations to speak and vote, or to speak but not to vote, given under Sections 76 and 95 of the Local Government Act, 1933, and under the corresponding provisions of the London Government Act, 1939. These were 797 in 1957, 1,051 in 1958 and 1,411 in 1959. Many of these dispensations applied to more than one councillor or removed a disability in respect of more than one occasion. Most of the dispensations allowed the members concerned to speak but not to vote. Records are not readily available of the number of occasions when dispensation to speak but not to vote was given on an application for removal of disability to speak and vote. Refusals to give any form of dispensation are rare; in 1959 there were only two.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further consideration he has given to the development proposals of the Cardiff City Corporation; and whether he will make a statement.

The Council submitted to my Welsh Office last August the draft of their revised proposals for the redevelopment of the central area of the city. These proposals have recently been discussed informally with the Council, and a formal submission of an amendment of the development plan is now awaited.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the numbers of council houses started but not completed at 31st December in each of the last five years. respectively.

Figures showing the number of council houses under construction in England and Wales at the end of each of the years 1955 to 1958 will be found in the Housing Return for 31st December, 1958. The figures for 1959 will be contained in the Housing Return to be presented to Parliament at the beginning of next month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what regulations have been made by his Department on the subject of building houses with only one exterior door, with particular reference to the fire danger involved.

My right hon. Friend has no power to make any such regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why applications for endorsements of passports held by British subjects and British-protected persons from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika have to be referred to the principal immigration authorities in those territories before these endorsements are allowed.

The Governors of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika, in exercise of the Royal Prerogative, issue passports to persons who by reason of birth or other qualification are deemed to "belong" to their respective territories, and also decide what facilities should be endorsed on the passports so granted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on his visit to the three East African territories

The purpose of my visit to East Africa last December was to meet the people in each territory on their home ground, to hear what they had to say, and by so doing get a better understanding of their many problems, political, social and economic. My visit to Kenya was particularly useful as it enabled me to meet those who are now in London for the Conference. My visits to Uganda and Tanganyika allowed me to have some discussions on constitutional matters especially the next steps following the submission of the Report of the Wild Constitutional Committee in Uganda, and the Governor's statement in the Legislative Council of Tanganyika of 15th December regarding constitutional advance in that territory. I paid a short visit to Zanzibar where I was able to meet His Highness the Sultan and have discussions with representatives of the political parties

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now give an undertaking that no proceedings under any emergency regulations will be taken against Africans who give evidence to the Monckton Commission.

The question of the protection which should be given to witnesses, of whatever race, appearing before the Monckton Commission is the subject of a statement which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations proposes to make, with permission, at the end of Question Time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Malta.

I am not yet in a position to add to my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's answer on 17th December to the hon. Member for Slough (Mr. Brockway).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what funds have been allotted for the development of tourism in Malta; and how they are being spent.

£545,000, under the five-year Development Plan. This will be spent on advertising, on beach development and on providing services on sites chosen for building private hotels. Funds are also available under the Malta Government's Aids to Industries scheme for grants and loans towards the capital cost of hotels and a Government Tourist Board has also been set up, at an annual cost of about £90,000, to encourage the development of Malta as a tourist resort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an application to the Government of Malta to build a tourist village for accommodating the large number of pilgrims due to visit Malta this summer for the nineteen hundredth anniversary of St. Paul's shipwreck in Malta, has been refused, as well as all funds necessary for supplying electricity, water and drainage; and what is the reason for such refusal.

This application, under which assistance was sought for the building of a holiday village not designed solely for this year's pilgrims, was refused because it did not conform to the pattern of tourist development which the Government of Malta have been advised is most likely to achieve successful results.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Constitutional Conference on Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made by the Kenya Constitutional Conference; and if he will make a statement.

I do not consider it appropriate to make a statement while the Conference is continuing, but it is hoped to publish the conference report in due course.

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.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th December, 1959; Vol. 615, c. 205], supplied the following information:A total of 200 Africans from Tanganyika have received grants, either from the Government or from their Cooperative Societies, for courses outside the territory in the principles and practice of co-operation. Of these 45 studied in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what legislation he has in mind to prohibit or control the employment of children and young persons under 16 years of age on agricultural undertakings in Northern Rhodesia.

The employment of Africans under the apparent age of twelve years is forbidden by law except under licence from the Governor. No licences were issued during 1959. The Governor informs me that no legislation is contemplated to forbid or control the employment in agricultural undertakings of young persons between the ages of twelve and sixteen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what statistics he now has regarding the number of refugees of European origin remaining in Hong Kong; how many have been moved to new homes, and in what countries; and how many are to be so moved, and to what countries, during the remainder of the World Refugee Year.

Hong Kong is a staging post for European refugees in transit from China. 13,343 such refugees have so far been moved through it to new homes in 54 countries. On 31st December, 1959, 478 were in transit in Hong Kong. Perhaps another 1,500 European refugees will be moved through Hong Kong during the remainder of the World Refugee Year, principally to Australia, Brazil and Chile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about measures for the relief and rehabilitation of refugees in Hong Kong, of all races, in connection with the World Refugee Year.

The money which the Hong Kong Government hopes to receive from the World Refugee Year Campaign will be devoted to as many as possible of the following special projects, costing £2½ million in all: community centres, schools, a tuberculosis infirmary, a children's orthopaedic home, a rehabilitation centre for the disabled and a central school library service. Other projects will be undertaken by voluntary organisations with funds which they have received direct.Apart from these special activities, the Hong Kong Government is engaged on an increasingly heavy programme of improvements in housing, educational, medical and other social services for the whole population, including refugees. About one-third of their total public expenditure each year directly or indirectly benefits the refugees in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken to prevent the extermination of sea-birds on Oeno Island by Pitcairn islanders.

The extension of existing legislation to protect birds in the Pitcairn Islands group is being considered by the Governor and advice on controlled exploitation and conservation has been taken. There seems no reason to suspect that bird life on the outlying islands of Oeno and Henderson, which are only occasionally visited, is in greater jeopardy than in Pitcairn itself where the statutory closed seasons are observed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to improve the local strain of crops and livestock in Pitcairn Island.

An Agricultural Officer in the Fiji Government Service carried out an agricultural reconnaissance in 1959 and a Pitcairn Islander selected by him is now completing in Fiji a nine-month training course in agricultural extension. With the exception of tomato and papaya, the introduction of new varieties of the principal subsistence crops does not appear to be required, but quality and return can be improved by better husbandry. Peanuts were introduced by the Agricultural Officer, but reports on cropping have not yet been received. Re-afforestation of Pitcairn Island is linked with the elimination or control of goats. Fowl is the only other domesticated animal and the strain is suited to its environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to provide an adequate medical and surgical service for St. Helena; and if he will make a statement.

St. Helena has a well equipped hospital and two medical officers are normally stationed on the island for the care of the population.Unfortunately, when the Medical Officer who dealt with surgical cases was invalided last year it proved difficult to recruit a permanent successor for him. Two temporary appointments were made in succession, the second of which expired recently. At the moment there is only one doctor, who wishes to retire when a replacement is available on the island, but I am in touch with two suitable doctors and I hope that they will leave for St. Helena shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the Bahamas' Produce Exchange in Nassau; what is its relation to the farmers' association whose produce it markets; and whether he will make a statement.

The Bahamas Produce Exchange is a section of the Agricultural Department controlled by the Board of Agriculture. Its function is to market out-island produce locally and to help the farmers' associations by the provision, on repayment, of seed and fertilisers at cost price. The entire overhead charges are borne by the Bahamas Government and the Exchange itself is operated on a non-profit-making basis.

asked the Minister of Works if he will place in the Library details of his plans for reconstructing the Treasury old buildings, and an estimate of the additional accommodation which will be provided.

I am arranging for drawings illustrating the plans for reconstructing the old Treasury buildings to be placed in the Library.The reconstruction works will increase the total accommodation by about one quarter.

asked the Minister of Works on what date his Department purchased Iver Grove, Bucks., and for what purpose; what was the purchase price paid; what was the view of the quantity surveyor on the cost of putting this building into good order, and the counter cost put forward by his Department; what has actually been spent on this property since purchase; why he has now decided to sell the house; for what price, and on what conditions; what is the estimated loss to his Department; and whether he will make a statement.

In 1954 the Georgian Group asked the Ministry of Works to acquire. if necessary by compulsion, lver Grove an early 18th century house the design of which has been attributed to either Vanbrugh or Hawks-moor. In 1955, after a public inquiry, the Minister of Housing and Local Government made a building preservation order.In February, 1957, on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council for England, Iver Grove was purchased by my Department to ensure its preservation. The purchase price was £2,700. A quantity surveyor engaged by the owner in 1955 had estimated that £21,000 would be needed to repair and modernise the building; in the same year the Ministry of Works' architects gave an estimate of £8,000 for urgent repairs only. Before acquisition, after a more detailed examination, the estimate was increased to £25,000 for repairs and modernisation. In fact £37,500 has been spent.The house is to be sold, subject to arrangements for public access and protective covenants to the National Trust. as the most economical way of ensuring its preservation and maintenance. No selling price has yet been settled. The net cost of preserving the building will depend on the price obtained for sale.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will arrange to clean down the remaining dirty parts of the façades facing New Palace Yard.

The remainder of the New Palace Yard Arcade will be cleaned in connection with the stonework repairs to the Arcade. I do not think that expenditure on cleaning the remainder of the façades would be justified, nor would the result necessarily be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will now take steps to build a new Jewel House at the Tower of London to enable visitors to see the Crown Jewels.

I am having discussions with the various authorities concerned about a scheme which has been outlined for a new Jewel House at the Tower of London. If the present proposal proves to be acceptable in principle my Ministry will proceed with detailed plans in the hope that funds will be available to enable the work to start within the next two or three years.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to ensure that he has adequate powers for obtaining information about finds when new building is taking place on historic sites, before all traces are bulldozed.

My Ministry has made extensive use of its powers to excavate historic sites before they are built on and although there are no statutory powers regarding movable archaeological finds, it has generally been possible to reach satisfactory agree- ments about their disposal. Finds which are not associated with a monument lie outside my Ministry's responsibilities.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the decision to extend the Pink Zone arrangements in central London until April, he will continue to make available the car-park facilities along Constitution Hill and the Mall and in the Royal Parks which proved so useful during the Christmas period.

No.

asked the Minister of Works whether the site occupied by buildings Nos. 24 to 27 Abingdon Street now being demolished will be retained as an open space.

I hope shortly to make a statement on the future use of this site.

asked the Minister of Works what assistance he will provide in the restoration and preservation of Boston Manor House; and to what use it is proposed that this historic building should be put.

As my predecessor informed the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) on 2nd June, 1959, the Brentford and Chiswick Borough Council, the owners of Boston Manor House, have been offered a grant not exceeding £2,000 to meet 50 per cent. of the cost of structural repairs to the house. I am informed that the Council are negotiating a lease with the National Institute of Houseworkers Ltd. who would use the building as a residential centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes taking to speed up the reconstruction of the road bridge over the Clyde-Forth Canal at Dalmuir, the condition of which is causing serious traffic congestion.

This bridge is the responsibility of British Transport Waterways and the Glasgow Corporation. Representatives of these bodies and of Clyde-bank Town Council are meeting officials of my Department this week to discuss their proposals about the bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state how many, from whom, and what kind of representations he has received from various sections of the fishing industry against the Outer Seven Agreement; and, in view of the time which has now elapsed since it was implemented, if he will specify what replies he has sent to the representations.

The Scottish fishermen's and boat owners' associations expressed their anxieties to me before the text of this Convention was approved. Subsequently, I received two written representations from sections of the fishing industry; one, from the Shetland Fishermen's Association, protesting against the final ratification of the Convention and the other, from the Aberdeen Fish Curers' and Merchants' Association, complaining that they were not consulted beforehand. I replied to the former Association that I had noted their protest and to the latter that I was at all times ready to consider any representations they might wish to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a detailed statement on the constitution, personnel, with names, and functioning of the North-Eastern Regional Hospital Board and the relevant local boards of management of hospitals for the Aberdeen area during each of the last 10 years, indicating how the members are appointed, for what periods, what their duties are and what the qualifications are for membership.

I am arranging to let the hon. and learned Member have particulars of the present membership of the Regional Board and of the boards of management in the area, and of a recent publication which describes the functions of such boards. If after studying these particulars he wishes to have further information, and will let me know, I shall be happy to consider how best his needs might be met.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further proposals he now has for assisting the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in providing electricity to districts so far omitted within their area.

The representations which the Board have made to me on this question, and which I referred to in my reply of 1st December, are under consideration in the light of further information supplied by the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has now been made on the Glasgow-Stirling road; and what progress is expected to be made in the next six months.

The reconstruction of five miles of this road has been completed and work on another four miles is in progress and should be completed within six months. I hope to confirm within that period Trunk Road Orders fixing the line of a further 7½ miles.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places are provided in the senior occupational centre for handicapped males in the City of Dundee; and what is the estimated number of such persons in need of this provision in the city.

The centre has 30 places. This was the local authority's estimate of the need when they provided the centre a year ago, and 14 of the places have still to be taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrange- ments are being made to provide a second occupational centre for handicapped girls over the age of 16 years Secretary of 16 years in the City of Dundee.

The Town Council are opening on 1st February accommodation providing 12 places for this purpose at the Junior Occupation Centre at Cold-side.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average length of time that Tower Bridge is closed to road transport each time it is necessary to raise that part of the roadway to allow the passage of a ship.

I am informed by the Corporation of London, who are the bridge authority, that the length of time that the bridge is closed to road traffic for one ship to pass varies as a rule between four and eight minutes.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, if he is aware that a comprehensive design study has been carried out by a British firm to examine the feasibility of building a 50,000 ton nuclear submarine cargo vessel, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham; and if he will consider giving this company material assistance in co-opera

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the numbers, in each year since 1945, of teachers from Scotland going to commonwealth countries on exchange.

The information is cantained in the following table:tion with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research or some similar body to be specially set up.

I have been asked to reply.The Government have now announced their decision to seek tenders for two types of nuclear reactor. with the associated propelling machinery, suitable for installation in a 65,000 d.w.t. tanker. At this stage they consider that they are right to concentrate any assistance on the nuclear propulsion of surface merchant vessels. They will however keep in touch with proposals such as that to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give directions that pedestrian crossings be provided at the intersection of Station Road and Park-field Road, Topsham, and at the bottom of Mayorfield Road and Fore Street in Topsham, so that children and other pedestrians may cross these roads in safety where the traffic is particularly heavy.

I have had no request from the Devon County Council for pedestrian crossings at these sites, but 1 am informed that last year the Council consulted the police who said that there was no need for crossings.The best provision for children who have to cross busy roads in numbers is a school crossing patrol or some other form of adult protection.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a van motor-car purchased exclusively for private use is, nevertheless, restricted to a 30-miles-per hour speed limit; whether he will examine this anomaly with a view to amendment of the regulation; and if he will make a statement.

There is no anomaly. A goods vehicle should be subject to the

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish a list of the international agreements which have, so far, been made and to which the United Kingdom is a party, for co-operation in scientific research.

Yes. The following are the most important of the international agreements for co-operation in scientific research to which Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are a party. There are in addition numerous nongovernmental agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the total grants paid in respect of World Refugee Year; and what further amounts are to be made available by Her Majesty's Government.

Her Majesty's Government have promised to contribute £200,000 to the United Kingdom Committee for World Refugee Year. £50,000 has already been paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to obtain some settlement of the compensation to former British officials of the Egyptian Government in respect of their wrongful dismissal in 1951.

The interim payment of £100,000 received from the Government of the United Arab Republic under the Financial Agreement of February, 1959, is being paid as compensation to the officials concerned. Our Diplomatic Mission in Cairo have been urging the United Arab Republic authorities to reactivate the Commission to assess final compensation and fulfil their remaining obligations to the officials under the Financial Agreement of February, 1959, and the United Arab Republic authorities have recently assured us that the Commission is in process of reformation.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to place into suitable employment disabled miners made redundant as a result of pit closures in the Twechar, Croy and Kirkintilloch areas of Dunbartonshire.

Disablement resettlement officers of the Ministry are doing their best to find suitable work for the 15 disabled miners in the area who are registered as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Education how many secondary modern schools in the County of Northumberland prepare students for the General Certificate of Education; what percentage this is of the total secondary modern schools; and whether a uniform examination covers all such schools.

In 1959 20 out of 45, or 44 per cent., of secondary modern schools in Northumberland prepared candidates for the General Certificate of Education examination. Most of these candidates took the examination of the University of Durham Matriculation and School Examination Board. A number of secondary modern schools in this area also enter pupils for the Northern Counties School Certificate Examination, which is not a G.C.E. examination.

asked the Minister of Education how many secondary modern schools in the County of Northumberland adopt a 13-plus examination for selection of students for grammar and/or technical schools.

I understand that at all secondary modern schools in Northumberland there is opportunity for children aged about 13 to be examined for transfer to grammar and technical schools on the recommendation of the head teacher.

asked the Minister of Education how many grammar school students in the County of Northumberland left before completing their course of study, or before their sixteenth year; and what percentage this is of the total students enrolled.

I understand that of the children entering grammar schools maintained by the Northumberland Local Education Authority at the age of 11 in 1954 and continuing in these schools, 37, or 6 per cent. left without taking. the examination for the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary level. am unable without making detailed inquiries to say how many left before reaching the age of 16.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state for Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire, respectively, the number of school

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil defence depôts there are in the United Kingdom.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind depôts from which members of the civil defence services might operate in war. It is not the Government's policy that such depots should be built or acquired in peace, and my Department does not maintain central records of the places provisionally selected by local authorities for use dentists available, and the number of children who received no dental examination, in the last school year.

Particulars of the school dentists employed in June this year and of the children they examined during 1958 are given in the following table. Many children are examined and treated privately, but I cannot say how many.as depôts in an emergency, as part of their civil defence planning.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current annual rate of expenditure on civil defence, taking central government and local authority expenditure together.

The estimated net defence expenditure by civil departments, including grants to local authorities, is shown in Annex III to the Defence Statistics 1959–60 (Cmnd. 661). The additional net expenditure by local authorities themselves estimated to be £1·248 million.