asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the intentions of the Government regarding personal property, now in possession of the authorities, of detainees under the emergency regulations in Nyasaland.

With the exception of certain documents retained on security grounds, all property belonging to detainees is returned to them immediately on their release. In some cases the Registrar-General, who administers the property of detainees, has handed it over to representatives authorised by detainees to receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will investigate in respect of detainees under the emergency regulations in Nyasaland, the degree to which domestic debts have accumulated due to the period of detention; and if he will make arrangements to provide protection for dependants in cases of hardship.

Arrangements already exist for the purposes which the hon. Member appears to have in mind. Welfare officers assist detainees in reaching agreements with creditors to defer payments, and in making arrangements to prevent avoidable losses or financial hardship. Subsistence allowances are paid to the dependants of all detainees and include payment of school fees. District Commissioners and Social Development Officers may pay additional allowances where necessary to prevent hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far posts in the Government service in Nyasaland are open equally to applicants of all races; and to what extent equal educational qualifications are demanded from applicants of different races.

All posts in the Nyasaland Government service are open equally to applicants of all races. The same educational qualifications, related to the post concerned, are required of all persons of whatever race applying for permanent appointment to an established post.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans from Nyasaland graduated at Indian universities during 1959; how many have applied for posts in Government service; and how many have been accepted.

I am consulting the Governor on the first part of the Question.I understand that five graduates of Indian universities have applied for posts with the Nyasaland Government. One subsequently obtained other employment but offers of Government employment have been sent to the other four.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which chiefs have been deposed or refused recognition since the declaration of emergency in Nyasaland; and what were the reasons.

Recognition has been withdrawn from three Chiefs:

Chief Mdindi of Dedza district—for encouraging anti-government activities and with a view to restoring normal administration in his area, which had largely broken down following a history of maladministration;

Chief Nkumba of Mlanje district—because of his inability to administer his area effectively, his lack of interest in its betterment and his support of anti-government activities;

Chief Mpherembe Jere of Mzimba district—on the recommendation of his superior Chief, because of his failure to maintain proper accounts leading to a considerable loss of funds entrusted to him in his capacity as Chief.

asked the Minister of Education on what day he expects the Albemarle Committee's report on Youth Services in England and Wales to be published.

The Report will be published as a Command Paper on Wednesday, 3rd February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the anticipated cost to the Inland Revenue of extending to subsidiary companies incorporated outside the United Kingdom the overseas trade corporation provisions of the Finance Act, 1957.

The cost cannot be estimated precisely but would probably be several million pounds in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional amount of tax he estimates would have accrued to the Inland Revenue in the years ended 31st March. 1958, and 1959 in the absence of the overseas trade corporation provisions of the Finance Act, 1957.

£18 million and £20 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 5d. in December, 1953, to 16s 9d. in December, 1955, to 15s. 6d. in December, 1957; and what was the comparable figure for December, 1959.

Yes, on the basis of the Index of Retail Prices. The comparable figure for December, 1959, was 15s. 3d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the shortage of Is. coins in Birkenhead and elsewhere and the difficulties occasioned thereby; and if he will take steps to have additional coins of this value minted and put into circulation in areas of shortage.

No. Issues of shillings are made by the Royal Mint to the banks against demands which reflect the requirements of the public. All demands from the banks for shillings have been fully met by the Royal Mint.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss of revenue to the Exchequer in a full year if the personal allowance for Income Tax was raised by £10 for the single taxpayer and by £20 for the married taxpayer.

£78 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss of revenue to the Exchequer in a full year if the child allowance for Income Tax was raised by a flat rate of £20 a child, irrespective of age.

£33 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the loss of revenue to the Exchequer in a full year if commercial buildings were to be allowed as a charge for depreciation against tax in the same manner as industrial buildings.

About £33 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss of revenue to the Exchequer in a full year if the starting point for Surtax were to be raised to £2,500, £3,000, £3,500, and £4,000, respectively.

If the starting points and the rates and income bands for Surtax were all moved up by £500, £1,000, £1,500, £2,000 the cost would be £27 million, £47, million, £63 million, £75 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss of revenue to the Exchequer if the Schedule A tax were to be abolished.

About £50 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the rates of interest charged to local authorities borrowing from the Local Loans Fund.

A Treasury Minute made yesterday provides that loans advanced to local authorities from the Local Loans Fund on and after 30th January, 1960, until further notice shall carry the following rates of interest:

asked the Minister of Health the number of ophthalmic and dispensing opticians, respectively, in Hull, the number of each class, respectively, who are under contract of service with the National Health Service Scheme, who exhibit the Ministry of Health notice of details of the scheme, and who display the range of spectacle frames approved by his department, in the same way as they display private frames.

Thirty-five ophthalmic opticians and two dispensing opticians are under contract to provide supplementary ophthalmic services in Hull. I regret that I have no information about the number of other opticians in the area, or about the number of opticians who exhibit the official notice explaining the service or who display the range of National Health Service frames.

asked the Minister of Health the number of National Health Service prescriptions for pairs of spectacle lenses accepted by the Hull Executive Council in the last year for which figures are available, and the number of National Health Service frames selected by the patients on these prescriptions.

Prescriptions for some 39,000 pairs of glasses were authorised by Hull Executive Council in 1959. It is estimated that 14,000 were dispensed with new National Health Service frames. The number dispensed by fitting lenses to existing National Health Service frames is not know.

asked the Minister of Health whether, before deciding on the new range of National Health Service spectacle frames, he will arrange for national sample inquiries to be made as to the reasons for dissatisfaction with the present styles and why opticians are not showing the present range.

A sample inquiry into the demand for the various National Health Service frames and the extent of repairs and replacements is now in progress and my right hon. and learned Friend does not consider further samples inquiries are required. On completion of the inquiry he will be asking his Standing Ophthalmic Advisory Committee to advise him whether any changes are needed in the present range of frames. The optical profession will also be consulted before any change in range is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that when the prison at Dartmoor is abandoned a new one will not be built on the present site.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State gave on 17th December to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Hayman) and the hon. Member for Leeds. South-East (Miss Bacon).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what further opportunity is being afforded to hon. Members to see the model of the proposed new St. Thomas's Medical School and Hospital.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health is arranging for the model to be again placed in the Upper Waiting Hall from 1st February for one week, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works and I would be glad to receive any comments which hon. Members may wish to make to us during that time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give directions that in future a postal delivery be made on the Sunday before Christmas, irrespective of the date of that day, thus easing the pressure on sorters, postmen and other Post Office employees on the Monday following and preventing the disloca- tions which occurred on 21st December, 1959.

In general, last year's record Christmas mail was dealt with very successfully. While I should not be justified in always providing a general delivery on the Sunday before Christmas, I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that we are taking note of such difficulties as did occur last Christmas and that we shall take steps to ease them in future.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will introduce legislation to provide that the Independent Television Authority determines rental charges to contractors by open competition at amounts which really represent their capacity to pay.

No.