asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has yet completed his inquiries into the reported breach of the prohibition against street trading in the vicinity of the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, but it has not been possible to trace the offender. Police officers on duty on similar occasions in future will again be reminded of the prohibition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence, and of what types, have been committed in the Tyneside area since 1st September, 1959.

When the hon. Member's Question was put down for answer on 5th November the Chief Constables of the seven forces on Tyneside were good enough to send my right hon. Friend special returns for the period between 1st September to 24th October inclusive.The number of indictable offences of violence against the person recorded as known to the police in the Tyneside area in that period was forty-four. Of these one was an offence of murder and one of attempted murder; two were classified as felonious wounding and the remaining forty as malicious wounding or indictable assaults. A high proportion arose out of domestic quarrels and brawls. In addition there were six offences of robbery with violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the Government's decision to make Thor missile bases operational and ready to fire at 15 minutes' notice, and of rocket developments since 21st November, 1957, to what extent the Government still bases its civil defence policy, as explained by him to the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, on that date, on the assumption that there will be long enough advance notice of the outbreak of hostilities to enable it to evacuate 12 million people.

The fact that Thor is able to take its place as part of the operational front line of the R.A.F., and developments in missiles generally, do not affect the need to plan to take full advantage for purposes of civil defence of any period of alert.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to announce the decisions reached in his discussions with local authorities associations on civil defence evacuation policy, which he informed the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, on 17th November, 1957, were proceeding at that date.

As I have previously informed the House, the Government has thought it desirable to re-examine the proposals which had been discussed with representatives of the local authority associations, in the light of the latest appreciation of the strategic situation and other relevant considerations. This examination is still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he gives to probation officers as to the type of employment which those who are put on probation must accept in order to establish that they are trying to lead an industrious life.

My right hon. Friend does not give instructions to probation officers on this matter. It is for the court to decide whether any probationer brought before it has failed to comply with a requirement of the probation order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the memorandum submitted to him in July, 1959, on the dissemination of information on inter-racial activities in the United Kingdom, by hon. Members on both sides of the House.

I have considered very carefully, in consultation with my colleagues principally concerned, the suggestion that an informative pamphlet dealing with this matter should be published. We have concluded, however, for reasons which I have explained to the hon. Member, that the more practical course is for people who wish to help in the field of race relations to approach their local Citizens Advice Bureau or the Commissioner for the West Indies, British Guiana and British Honduras, who will gladly advise as to the various organisations operating in different parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present position regarding the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government to deal with the pro-Nazi outbreaks in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the recent demonstrations of anti-Semitism.

Her Majesty's Government strongly deplore the foolish and offensive behaviour of the persons responsible for the recent incidents of swastika painting and other anti-Jewish activities. In nearly all the cases reported to the police there is evidence of the commisison of a crime and the police are taking most energetic action to trace the offenders and to deal appropriately with them. I have no reason to think that the matter cannot be dealt with satisfactorily in this way.

asked the Secretary of States for the Home Department whether he has now received the Report of the Inquiry into the disturbances at Carlton Approved School; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, and copies are now available in the Vote Office. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing to Mr. Durand my warm appreciation of the careful and helpful manner in which he discharged the task which he undertook at my request and of the constructive recommendations which he has made.As hon. Members will see from the Report, Mr. Durand divides these recommendations into three categories—general recommendations requiring legislation, including amendment of rules; general recommendations not requiring legislation; and recommendations specific to the Carlton School.As regards the last mentioned, with which I am in general agreement, their implementation will, in the main, be a matter for the Managers. I am accordingly bringing them immediately to the notice of the Managers with a view to their discussion at an early date with my Department.I am again in broad agreement with the general recommendations not requiring legislation—especially on the need for securing an adequate number of trained housemasters, and for pressing forward with plans for modernising and improving where necessary the accommodation in approved schools. I agree also with the view that a limited provision of secure facilities is necessary in order to deal with the minority of difficult and troublesome boys, whose disruptive influence on normal training is illustrated by what happened at Carlton School.The proposals involving legislation present greater difficulty, and require consideration in relation both to the legislation about the treatment of young offenders which was foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech, and to the wider questions affecting approved schools. The Ingleby Committee have also under consideration such aspects of these questions as fall within their terms of reference. I should thus prefer to defer further comment on the specific proposals for amending legislation for the time being until I have considered them in relation to my suggestions in the White Paper of February, 1959. The House will, I am sure, wish me to make comprehensive proposals for the treatment of young offenders, even if this involves some delay in introducing the Bill which I have been preparing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take with regard to the Home Office Research Unit Report, entitled" Time Spent Awaiting Trial"; and if he will make a statement.

The Report is based on research undertaken for the Interdepartmental Committee on the Business of Criminal Courts, of which Mr. Justice Streatfeild is Chairman. I have no doubt that, in framing their recommendations, the Committee will take full account of the information contained in the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities have been asked to report on the state of office accommodation; and what further action is proposed to improve conditions of work in offices.

These matters are being carefully considered but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Flying Officer Anthony Maynard Wraight of the Royal Air Force was allowed to leave the United Kingdom on 3rd December, 1956.

There is in general no power to prevent a British subject against whom no criminal charge can be brought from leaving the country: and there was no evidence to support such a charge in the case in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men, completing sentences of more than five years, have passed through the prison hostel system of rehabilitation since its inception; and how many of these appear to have become responsible members of society as a result.

133 men serving sentences of imprisonment of more than five years or sentences of preventive detention of five years and upwards have completed their sentences in hostels. Of these 92 have not been re-convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are at present in Her Majesty's prisons; and how many are sleeping three in a cell.

The latest available figures, which are for 12th January, 1960, show that there are at present 21,998 prisoners. Of these, 6,123 are accommodated three in a cell.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a prisoner in Her Majesty's Prison, Winson Green, Birmingham, found to be in possession of a home-made key, was given six different forms of punishment, including 15 days' diet consisting of bread and water; in view of the medical history of this prisoner, why such punishment was awarded; and for how long since this, this prisoner has been in the prison hospital.

Yes. The prisoner was dealt with by the Visiting Committee of Birmingham Prison, which, as the hon. Member is aware, is a quasi-judicial body. The prisoner was passed medically fit for the punishment awarded, and my right hon. Friend can find no grounds for criticising the decision of the Visiting Committee.The punishment was awarded on 16th January, 1959; since that date, the prisoner has spent two periods in the prison hospital, from 6th-16th November last, and from 7th December to 25th January, 1960.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library of the House the full text of the Press conference he gave at Lagos, Nigeria, on 13th January, 1960.

I have been asked to reply.This was a long Press conference and a considerable number of topics were raised. If the hon. Member has a particular point in mind, perhaps he would let me know.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether the Government would be prepared to invest the unexpended part of the £1,500,000 per annum, permitted to be spent under the Commonwealth Settlement Act, in housing loans for United Kingdom migrants to Australia and New Zealand, in the same way as the Netherlands Government are already doing for their nationals migrating to these Commonwealth countries.

I see considerable difficulties in this proposal, but I am arranging to have the matter reexamined.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what further progress has been made with establishing the permanent machinery for educational co-operation within the Commonwealth recommended by the Commonwealth Education Conference held at Oxford in 1959.

The Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee, to which I referred in my reply to the question of the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk (Mr. Malcolm MacPherson) on 12th November, was set up at the end of last year and has held its first meeting. The Commonwealth Education Liaison Unit will be established in the near future.The costs of the Unit will be shared by Commonwealth Governments and its first budget is being drawn up by the Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee. In order to meet the Unit's initial expenses it is proposed that the United Kingdom Government should make an advance to be set off against its first contribution.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations in what way Her Majesty's Government propose to mark the constitutional changes in Basutoland.

The first session of the Basutoland National Council will be inaugurated by the High Commissioner for Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland, who will convey a message of good wishes from my noble Friend, as has been the practice on similar occasions in other Territories at a corresponding stage of constitutional development.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware that Nyasaland immigrants to the Union of South Africa are being interrogated on their attitude to the Federation of Central Africa; and if he will make representations to the South African Government, in view of the constitutional responsibilities of Her Majesty's Government towards the Federation.

I have no information of this nature, but, if the hon. Member will send me particulars of any difficulties that have arisen, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans Her Majesty's Government have for maintaining at the present level or increasing the migration of United Kingdom citizens to the Commonwealth: and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom recognise the value to the Commonwealth connection of a steady flow of emigrants to other Commonwealth countries and are as anxious as in the past that people from the United Kingdom should play a full part in the development of other Commonwealth countries. It continues to be their policy to encourage migration from this country to other parts of the Commonwealth. It will, however, be appreciated, as my hon. Friend the Minister of State said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 3rd December last, that the level of migration from the United Kingdom to other Commonwealth countries is in the last resort dependent on the voluntary decisions of individuals. These are influenced in large measure by economic circumstances and by arrangements made by the Governments of the receiving countries to attract migrants. The formulation of plans for maintaining or increasing the flow of migrants from the United Kingdom is thus primarily a matter for those Governments but the United Kingdom Government are very glad to collaborate with those Governments to this end.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what consideration is being given to participation by Her Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth Institute of Social Research to be established in Ottawa under the chairmanship of Mr. Mark Drouin. Speaker of the Canadian Senate.

The Commonwealth Institute for Social Research in Canada is not an official organisation. It would not, therefore, be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government as such to take part in its activities. I understand that a number of Members on both sides of the House have, in fact, agreed to sponsor the scheme, and I welcome their interest.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement of Government policy on the recommendations of the Crowther Report on educational facilities for those between 15 and 18 years of age.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will now review the building and staffing programmes for secondary education in the light of the Crowther Report;(2) what changes he will make in the current educational programme as a result of the recommendations of the Crowther Report.

The recommendations of this Report are of great public interest and I welcome the wide discussion that is taking place. I am considering all these comments and hope soon to be in a position to give the House the Government's views.

asked the Minister of Education how many day nursery schools exist within the control of his Department; how many children were enrolled at the nearest convenient date: and whether he will make a statement of Government policy concerning the future of this service.

In January, 1959, there were 474 maintained and direct-grant nursery schools with 24,235 pupils. I value highly the work that is being done, but I cannot consider any extension while the serious shortage of teachers continues.

asked the Minister of Education how many local authorities have now adopted the scale of maintenance grants which his Department recommends for pupils staying on at school over the school-leaving age; how many have not adopted it; and how many have adopted the full proposals of the Weaver Working Party Report.

All but five local education authorities in England and Wales adopted the arrangements recommended by my Department in July, 1957. 23 authorities have subsequently adopted in full the proposals of the Working Party and 24 others have adopted more generous arrangements.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now state the number and proportion of secondary modern schools entering candidates for the General Certificate of Education in 1959, the number of candidates who sat for the examination, the average number of subjects taken, and the average number of passes gained.

Provisional returns show that in the summer of 1959 15,480 candidates from 970 secondary modern schools—just over a quarter of all secondary modern schools—sat for the General Certificate of Education at Ordinary level. The average number of subjects offered was 3·9, the average number passed, 1·9.

asked the Minister of Education what action he has taken about variations in grant-aiding agricultural students.

I asked local education authorities in November last to let me have details of their arrangements for making awards to students at agricultural colleges and farm institutes. Preliminary examination of the returns suggests that most authorities' arrangements are generally satisfactory and I will take up with the authorities concerned any particular matters that may require attention.

asked the Minister of Education what new schools have been built in Cornwall since 1st April, 1956; and in which years.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Education if he will relax the degree of control exercised by his Department over minor works proposals by local education authorities.

At present I can hold out no prospect of removing the ceiling on minor works, but there may be ways of improving our procedures in this field, and I shall have an opportunity to discuss this with the representatives of Local Authority Associations next week.

asked the Minister of Education what study has been made of the Essex Education Committee's experiment of holding part of the 11-plus examination as though it were an ordinary test in normal school hours, with the object of reducing the strain upon the schoolchildren concerned; and whether he will make a statement.

This experiment was introduced for the first time in connection with this year's examination and I understand that the Essex Local Education Authority plan to review its results later in the year.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, if he will make a statement on the use of Greenside Lead Mine, Westmorland, for underground nuclear explosions; and, in particular, on the employment which these tests will create.

No underground nuclear explosions have taken place at the Greenside Lead Mine and none is contemplated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the experimental husbandry farms, showing in each case the acreage, number of staff, profit or loss in respect of operations during the last two financial years, and the capital expenditure incurred since each farm was established.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to adopt to deal with the increasing damage by pigeons to agricultural crops.

Grants of 50 per cent. of the cost are available to rabbit clearance societies which carry out the systematic destruction of wood-pigeon nests. I am also discussing with the agricultural interests the possibility of introducing arrangements which would enable societies to qualify for grants to cover half the cost of shooting wood-pigeons after 31st March, when the general cartridge rebate ends.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and

Following is the information.Food if he will now make a detailed statement on the operation of the Outer Seven Agreement in relation to the British fishing industry, from the date of its coming into operation until the latest convenient date, indicating separately the effects on the Scottish fishing industry.

The first reduction in tariffs under the European Free Trade Association Convention does not take place until 1st July next. The Convention has therefore had no effects on the fishing industry as yet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of outbreaks of fowl pest on Norfolk farms during the past six months, the number of birds affected, and the total compensation paid.

There were 322 outbreaks of fowl pest in Norfolk between July and December, 1959, and 172 between 1st and 24th January this year. I regret that the number of birds that had to be destroyed in Norfolk and the total compensation paid in the county are not readily available. All told, nearly five million birds had to be destroyed in Great Britain as a result of outbreaks of fowl pest in 1959. The compensation payments actually made in the current financial year already exceed £2 million and additional claims so far received exceed £1 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to ensure that no live horses are exported from this country solely for slaughter.

I am satisfied that our regulations are effective in preventing the export from Great Britain of horses for slaughter. Horses other than those in special categories, such as thoroughbreds, may not be exported from this country to Europe unless in the opinion of a veterinary inspector they are not more than eight years of age and of not less than £100 in value.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his survey of non-viable farms.

As foreshadowed in the White Paper on Assistance to Small Farmers in October, 1958, the Government have continued to study the question whether farm businesses which are too small to qualify for assistance under the Small Farmer Scheme present a special problem. For this purpose the agricultural census returns for the United Kingdom have been examined and sample inquiries in the field have been made. The results are now being analysed but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the sow population at the latest available date; and how this compares with the corresponding figures for the previous two years.

The latest reliable figures come from the September, 1959, Census for England and Wales, which showed 550,000 sows and gilts for breeding on holdings over 1 acre, compared with 650,000 at the same date in 1958 and 641,000 in 1957. I hope the December, 1959, Census figures will be ready for publication next week. In the meantime, the published results from the December sample inquiry, which is subject to sampling error and less reliable, have shown 544,000 sows and gilts, compared with 558,000 in September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to giving financial assistance to private companies and on the methods by which they propose to safeguard the public interest in the use by these companies of such assistance.

The Government offer financial assistance to private companies only in exceptional circumstances and where the public interest justifies it—for example, to relieve high unemployment, or for defence purposes. Such assistance is given in accordance with Parliamentary authority and only after the most careful examination of all relevant factors. The public interest in the use of the assistance is safeguarded by special conditions written into agreements between private companies and the Government, and by the normal requirements of accountability to Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was raised by Purchase Tax in 1958–59; and, having regard to the high level of consumer sales in Great Britain during the current year, what sum he anticipates will be raised by Purchase Tax revenue during 1959–60.

Net receipts from Purchase Tax in 1958–59 were £497·5 million and the Budget estimate for 1959–60 was £471 million. It is not the practice to publish revised estimates during the course of the financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers are now operating sale or return schemes and Purchase Tax deferred liability schemes, in an effort to minimise trade dislocation; whether he has noted the undesirable implications of such measures; and whether he will now reconsider his decision concerning early announcement of proposed Purchase Tax changes.

My right hon. Friend took all relevant factors into account before he arrived at his decision, which he is not prepared to vary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the £500 tax-free limit was fixed in respect of Purchase Tax; for what reasons it was then so fixed; what is the comparable figure today, allowing for decline in monetary values during nearly two decades of Purchase Tax; and what steps he proposes to take to adjust the tax-free limit to current monetary values.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers given to his similar Questions on 3rd and 9th February last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the conference on constitutional developments in Kenya.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall). on 26th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he will make a statement about his visit to Malta;(2) whether he will make a statement about the constitutional future of Malta.

I cannot yet add to my right hon. Friend's Answer on 26th January to the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the employment of young persons under 16 years of age in the industrial tobacco grading establishments of Northern Rhodesia has ceased since the exemption contained in Government Notice of 1958 expired; and if he will make a statement.

The exemption granted to tobacco grading establishments under Northern Rhodesia Government Notice No. 151 of 1958 was renewed under Government Notice No. 193 of 26th June, 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an estimate of the number of young persons under 16 years of age and children, respectively, who are employed on tobacco grading on farms in Northern Rhodesia.

About 1,875 young persons between the ages of 12 and 16 are employed on tobacco grading on farms at the height of the season between February and April. Many of these are the children of farm-workers. At other times of the year the number is much less. No children under 12 years of age are employed on such work at any time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that over the last decade an average of less than one penny per person per year has been spent on National Parks; and whether he will introduce legislation to provide for increased expenditure from central funds for the work of the National Parks in preserving and enhancing the beauties of the countryside.

I am so aware; but at the same time the annual Exchequer contribution towards National Parks has steadily increased. Representations have been made to me for widening the range of Exchequer assistance. I cannot however make any statement about the possibility of introducing new legislation for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further proposals he has for helping small agricultural owner-occupiers.

I have no further proposals to announce. There are, at present, a wide variety of schemes available to small owner-occupiers. including such recent additions as the Small FLrmers Scheme and the Farm Improvement Scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he anticipates he will be able to introduce legislation to amend the law on weights and measures.

I regret that it will not be possible to find time for it in this Session but it will be introduced as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is in a position to make a statement about the further removal of import restrictions.

With effect from 1st February, control will be removed from dollar imports of tobacco and tobacco manufactures (other than cigars), fresh and frozen fish, synthetic rubber and transistors. In addition, the restrictions imposed on the remittance of American film earnings in this country under the Anglo-American Film Agreement are to be removed and the Agreement will be terminated. We intend to make further progress in removing the remaining import restrictions as soon as we can, although there are some special problems which it will take time to resolve.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent coloured cats' eyes have been tested as a means of warning the drivers of motor vehicles of the proximity of a crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Tests are going on. So far they have shown that coloured studs have a much reduced power of reflection. But there may be a limited use for red cats' eyes on the nearside edge of carriageways. At present we rely on a closer spacing of cats' eyes to give warning of the approach to a hazard.