asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has so far been made in the setting up of a statutory authority to run Covent Garden market; and if he will give the date on which he anticipates the introduction of legislation.

Legislation for this purpose is being prepared, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to give the date when it will be introduced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the size of the pig herd of this country during the last quarter of 1959; and how this compares with a comparable period in 1957 and 1958, respectively.

The total pig herd in England and Wales at 4th December last was estimated at 4,672,000, as compared with 5,397,000 in December, 1958, and 5,295,000 in December, 1957. The comparable figure for 1956 was 4,891,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in combating the fowl pest epidemic; how many birds have been destroyed since 1st October, 1959; and what has been the cost to the Exchequer.

The position in the Midlands is much better and the remaining restrictions in Nottinghamshire were removed on 11th February. It has also been possible to withdraw the restrictions from the Isle of Ely, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire, but the position is still serious in Norfolk and Suffolk. Infected Area Restrictions were imposed in East Sussex on 28th January and infection has continued to spread within the area, particularly among broiler units.Between the beginning of October and end of December last nearly 4 million birds had to be slaughtered as a result of outbreaks of fowl pest and about 1 million birds have been destroyed so far this year. Compensation payments made to owners of poultry from the beginning of the current financial year to date amount to about £3,600,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what special instructions have been given to officials of his National Advisory Service to conduct an urgent review of the effects of fowl pest on the poultry industry.

My Ministry keeps records of the number of outbreaks and of the loss to the industry in terms of numbers of birds slaughtered. Poultry Advisory Officers of the National Agricultural Advisory Service have general instructions to keep the position in their area under review and to give technical help and advice to producers who have suffered loss.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the regulations he proposes to introduce to protect the public by requiring the staining of meat unfit for human consumption from slaughterhouses and knackers' yards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern arising from the delay in issuing regulations designed to protect the public in respect of the disposal of meat condemned at slaughterhouses; and what progress has been made in the examination of representations on the problem.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now fully considered the views of all the appropriate interests involved in the sale or disposal of meat unfit for human consumption; what conclusions he has reached; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that no unfit meat finds its ways into cafes, hotels, butchers' shops and other normal channels of trade.

I hope shortly to circulate proposals for new regulations to all interested parties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present butter situation and the prospects for the next six months.

Butter supplies are now ample to meet current demands and prices have fallen from the high levels reached in November, 1959. Adequate supplies should continue to be available during the coming months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the rate of increase of agricultural production in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

I regret that estimates of agricultural production are not available on a county basis. The Census figures of crop acreages and livestock numbers are collected separately for counties, but these are not sufficient by themselves for the estimation of production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the rate of increase in production over the last 5 years for the agricultural industry, setting out year by year, such form of increase; and what proposals he has to increase production further.

The index of agricultural output in the United Kingdom increased at the rate of nearly 1½ per cent. a year in the five years ended 31st May, 1959. Details of the year-to-year changes in output during this period are published in the White Papers on the 1958 and 1959 Annual Reviews, Command Papers 390 and 696. Future production policy will be considered in the light of the Annual Review now in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the rate of increase of agricultural production in Staffordshire in each of the last five years.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to a similar Question by the hon Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can yet give the names of those who will serve on the group to examine the use of toxic sprays in agriculture.

My right hon. Friend, together with the Minister for Science, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Health, have appointed nine members to this Group, under the chairmanship of the Chief Scientific Adviser on Agriculture to the Ministry, Professor Sanders.The following are the names of the Group:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of recent flood damage to agricultural land, he will increase the grants available to farmers for land drainage.

While sympathising with those who have suffered flood damage following the recent heavy rainfall, I regret that I should not be justified in offering financial assistance additional to the substantial grants already available to farmers and drainage authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the total cost of meat inspection grants to local authorities during the year 1958–59, and the estimate for 1959–60.

The amount paid during 1958–59 was £73,526. Provision of £130,000 has been made in the Estimates for 1959–60.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to ensure that all agricultural land is utilised to the highest standards of good husbandry.

Farmers themselves are doing this very well, helped by my Ministry's Advisory Services, the price guarantees, production grants and other facilities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received respecting the difficulties of the bacon pig industry; and what further steps he proposes to take to safeguard the industry.

Since Christmas I have received representations from the Sausage Manufacturers' Association, and from the British Bacon Curers' Federation, concerning the pig industry.As regards the second part of the Question, I cannot anticipate the Government's decisions following the Annual Review which is now in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the forthcoming conference on the Law of the Sea, what action, including visits to other countries, he proposes to take in order to win or increase support for the British policy on fishing-limits.

This of course has been much in our minds. There have been numerous consultations and discussions, which are continuing, with other countries on the questions of the breadth of the territorial sea and fishery limits in preparation for the Conference. I do not think it would be in the general interest for me to go into details.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the depressed state into which the crab-fishing industry has fallen; and what measures he proposes to take to alleviate this.

It is true that landings of crabs in certain ports such as Grimsby have declined but landings are subject to local variations. The total weight landed in England and Wales has not changed much in recent years and the fishermen's earnings have been well maintained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Fleck Committee to report.

As I told the House during the debate on the Sea Fish Industry Bill on 4th November last, the Chairman of the Committee has informed me that the Report will be available before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what encouragement he is giving to the use of the systemic drug Etrolene or the systemic wash Co-Ral in preventing warble fly infestation in cattle; and whether he will make a statement.

These systemic insecticides have given encouraging results in field trials and my right hon. Friend is most interested in their development. Although these compounds may safely be used under the prescribed conditions, they are toxic and we must await further experience of their widespread use.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he proposes to give river boards which have been overwhelmed by the demands on their resources owing to the severe floods.

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to application for material assistance during recent floods, no representations have been made by river boards to my right hon. Friend apart from requests for the loan of pumping equipment, which have been promptly met. The Ministry's drainage engineers are, of course, always ready to give advice when asked. Substantial assistance is given to all approved capital projects undertaken by river boards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the concern among pig producers at the increased imports of bacon; and what are his plans for imposing quantitative restrictions on imports.

The Government protects the home producer of the basic agricultural commodities through the guaranteed pricing system of the Agriculture Acts. In accordance with our international obligations and general trade policy, it has removed restrictions from nearly all commodities, including bacon, imported from Western Europe, although quantitative restrictions on bacon imports continue in respect of the dollar area and Eastern Europe. Pig producers have the protection of the guaranteed price arrangements, which are reviewed annually.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the nature of the consultations he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland, with a view to the establishment of more research facilities in Scotland.

I am always in close touch with my right hon. Friend, but at the moment I am not considering any project within my own responsibilities which would envisage the establishment of additional research facilities in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is yet able to state what decisions have been made regarding the pig industry in the course of the Annual Review.

No. Decisions affecting the pig industry will be announced in the White Paper published at the conclusion of the Annual Review now in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of dissatisfaction among farmers with the working of Section 24 (2) (d) of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1948; and if he will consult the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' Association to see if agreement can be reached upon a proposal to amend the law.

It has been suggested that the Section is capable of abuse, but my information is that abuse has been rare. My right hon. Friend is, however, considering whether any amendment of the law is necessary and has already been in touch with the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' Association about it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet considered the representations he has received on the subject of the damage done to woodlands by grey squirrels; and what decision he has reached.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is advised, however, that the shooting and trapping encouraged by a bonus would be unlikely to have any significant effect. He has therefore decided that its reintroduction would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the total cost to the taxpayer of subsidies and all other forms of assistance given to the agricultural industry from 1945 to 1959, inclusive.

The cost of agricultural support for the financial years 1945–46 to 1958–59, inclusive, totaled £1,536 million. These figures do not include food subsidies borne by the Ministry of Food up to 1954–55 or any administrative overheads.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implementation of the small farms legislation in Wales; how many applications have been made up to the latest convenient date; and how many have been granted.

Welsh farmers have shown exceptional interest in the schemes for assisting small farmers and there can be no doubt that the schemes will prove invaluable in Wales. Between 15th January, 1959, when application forms were first made available and 31st January, 1960, 6,517 applications were received in Wales under the Small Farmer Scheme and 1,562 under the Supplementary Scheme. In the same period farm business plans, based on field husbandry operations over a period of 3 to 5 years, were submitted by 4,780 applicants under the Small Farmer Scheme and of these 3,311 have been approved. In addition, 1,156 farmers have been registered under the Supplementary Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the average price for eggs paid to producers has fallen by 11 per cent. over the past year, when the Agriculture Act, 1957, lays down that the price guarantee for such products shall not vary by more than four per cent. from one year to the next; and if he will ensure that this disparity does not recur.

The four per cent. limit applies to the price guaranteed to the British Egg Marketing Board. The Board decides the minimum prices to producers, and these are affected by other factors besides the guaranteed price, in particular the risk sharing arrangements between the Board and the Government. These arrangements had the effect of increasing producers' prices in 1958–59 and reducing them in 1959–60. This largely accounts for the disparity in prices between the two years. I am considering with the Farmers' Unions at this Price Review what can be done to reduce fluctuations in producers' prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his arrangements for the control of the entry of animals into this country at military bases where strict military security precautions exist; and whether he is satisfied as to their adequacy.

Animals landed at military bases from abroad are subject to the same animal health regulations as those landed elsewhere in Great Britain. I have no evidence that the arrangements are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent, in connection with the trials of hardwood sleepers arranged by the Forestry Commission, the attention of the British Transport Commission has been drawn to experience on the French State railways.

As I informed my hon. Friend on 7th December, these trials have been arranged by the British Transport Commission in conjunction with the home timber trade. I understand the British Transport Commission has full information of the experience of the use of hardwood sleepers by the French State railways.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how often his Department makes checks on the discharges of radioactive effluent into the sea from nuclear power installations; and to what extent he is satisfied with the safety of dumping bulk quantities of radioactive materials into the sea.

Under the terms of authorisations issued by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs and me such effluents are monitored to ensure that their radioactive content does not exceed that authorised. My inspectors regularly examine the results of this monitoring and carry out independent checks including a programme of environmental monitoring, in some cases weekly and in others monthly, in the vicinity of effluent pipelines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present situation with regard to the increase in the rabbit population; and to what extent rabbits have developed immunity where myxomatosis has been prevalent previously.

Rabbit numbers have tended to increase following a favourable breeding season, but the increases have been checked where rabbit clearance societies are in operation. Although the progress in the formation of new societies is being maintained, there are many vulnerable gaps, and I strongly urge all farmers in these danger spots to join a clearance society. The number of rabbits developing immunity to myxomatosis varies widely in different areas. Weakened strains of the virus have been found in 32 per cent. (120 cases) of rabbits examined from areas where myxomatosis was known to be present but not fully lethal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the resolution from the Land Settlement Association, concerning the fears of the horticultural industry; what consideration he has given to it; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received this resolution and I have replied that the Government's policy is to continue to support the horticultural industry. I am sending the hon. Member a full copy of my reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total acreage he estimates is likely to be reclaimed for agricultural production under present flood prevention schemes.

I regret that no figure is available of the acreage which is reclaimed for agricultural production as a result of these schemes but, of course, the productivity of much agricultural land is increased by schemes promoted by land drainage authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage farm workers to take up the tenancy of farms.

In selecting tenants, smallholdings authorities are required to give preference to suitable agricultural workers. My Ministry makes loans to provide smallholdings tenants with working capital.

asked the Prime Minister what requests he received in Nyasaland for the release of Dr. Banda.

I received such requests from various political organisations and individuals. As the hon. Member will be aware, this is a matter for the Governor.

asked the Prime Minister what information he obtained during his recent tour in Nyasaland about British-protected persons who have lost such protection by being sent to prisons under the control of the Federal Government.

None; detained Nyasalanders are held in Federal prisons by order of the Governor of Nyasaland, and he is the authority responsible for their release. I do not therefore accept the implication in the Question.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he had in the Union of South Africa on the Union's policy of allowing people from Basutoland to enter the Union to take up jobs there.

My discussions with the Government of the Union of South Africa were confidential.

asked the Prime Minister what meetings he had with trade union leaders during his recent visit to South Africa.

None.

asked the Prime Minister why he refused to see Mr. Alan Paton, leader of the Liberal Party, during his visit to South Africa.

I did not refuse to see Mr. Paton. I received a request to meet a delegation from the Liberal Party of South Africa, which it was not possible to arrange. I was, however, able to have informal talks with two leading members of the Liberal Party.

asked the Prime Minister if, following his African tour, he will now make a statement of Government policy in connection with racial discrimination.

No. I think that for the present I need not add to what I said in my speech to the South African Houses of Parliament on 3rd February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decision he has now reached concerning the undertaking he gave on 3rd March, 1959, that he would consider the desirability of introducing equality in the field of Purchase Tax on mouse traps, rat traps and fly swatters, at present applied to such devices only when used for domestic purposes; and whether he will undertake at an early date to ensure that all such devices for the destruction of verminous insects and rodents will be free of tax in the same way as rabbit traps and snares.

On the first part of the Question, my right hon. Friend's decision was embodied in his last Budget statement. On the second part, I cannot anticipate his next one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds many luxury items such as cocktail cabinets, model gowns, vicuna overcoats and other items costing several hundred pounds each are charged to Purchase Tax at a rate only one-tenth of the rate of Purchase Tax on motor vehicles, essential toilet preparations and gramophone records of classical music; by what date he anticipates it will be possible to dispose of such an anomaly as a lipstick purchase taxed at 50 per cent. paying ten times as much tax as a model gown purchased taxed at 5 per cent.; and what is the reason for such disparities in Purchase Tax rates.

The reasons underlying the system of Purchase Tax rates, and the considerations concerning luxuries and non-luxuries, were dealt with by my right hon. Friend during the passage of the Finance Bills of 1958 and last year, and there is nothing that I can usefully add.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to the fact that baby cots, nursery chairs, baby car seats, baby trainers, baby high chairs, baby pram sets, baby walkers, baby props, and similar articles, are free of Purchase Tax, and also the fact that a garden gate, a farm gate, and a level-crossing gate are similarly free of Purchase Tax, why a baby gate, designed to prevent a baby falling down the stairs and for attachment to the top of the banisters, is specially selected to attract Purchase Tax at 12½ per cent.

My hon. Friend is in error in thinking that baby gates are specially selected to attract Purchase Tax. They are taxable as articles of domestic hardware.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making provision for British shareholders in Egyptian companies, and in British companies operating in Egypt, who are now beginning to receive their dividends for the last four years in lump sums, in order to relieve them to some extent of the Income Tax deductions for which they are liable, and which are likely to be very much heavier than they would have been in normal conditions.

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the types of cases he has in mind, I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he received a memorial from the Council of the Sheriffs-Substitute Association requesting a review of their financial status; and what answer he has given.

This memorial was received in the Treasury on 25th November last. The Council's proposals are being carefully considered, but it is not yet possible to send a full reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revision he has made of the figures in Table 2 of the Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure, published in September, 1959, indicating that from 1954 to 1958 wages increased by 26 per cent., total personal incomes by 31 per cent., and payments to interest and dividends 42 per cent.; and whether he will, when preparing his Budget, consider what arrangements he will make so that a greater number of the lower income groups would cease to pay any Income Tax.

Any necessary revision of the figures in Table 2 of the 1959 National Income Blue Book will be made in the corresponding table of the White Paper on National Income and Expenditure to be published at the end of March. It is unlikely, however, that the percentage changes quoted in the Question will be appreciably affected by any revisions. As regards the second part of the Question, the hon. Member will not expect me to say more than that I have noted his views.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the financial effect on the total revenue if the personal allowance for married men and single men and women were doubled and the Income Tax rate of 6s. 3d. was raised to 6s. 9d. and the rate of 7s. 9d. raised to 8s. 3d. in the £; and whether this would principally benefit the married man with an income of £700, £1,000, £2,000, £5,000 or £10,000.

The hon. Member's suggestion would cost £600 million in a full year. Of the examples given a married man without children earning £1,000 would get the greatest benefit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the reduction of the Income Tax rates in 1956–57 benefited a married man with an income of £600, £800, £1,000, £3,000, £5,000, and £10,000; and what was the reduction in Income Tax for the same income groups due to changes in the rates of Income Tax for the year 1958–59

The Income Tax rates were not changed in either of the two years mentioned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration to the introduction of tax relief to those who, because of disability, have to employ private transport to travel to and from work.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what principle Income Tax valuations of residential property for Schedule A tax are carried forward from year to year on the basis of 1936–37 values; how many properties have been built since 1936–37; and what valuation is applied to those properties.

The Income Tax Acts provide that the annual value of any property which has been adopted for Schedule A for any year of assessment shall be taken as the annual value of that property for the next year, and so on from year to year until there is a general revaluation. About 4½ million new residential properties have been built since 1936–37. If they are let, they are normally valued on the basis of the rent; if they are owner-occupied, they are valued by reference to the Schedule A values adopted for comparable properties in the area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the percentage increase in Schedule A tax to which houses built in 1936–37 will be liable when Income Tax valuations of residential property are brought up to date.

I regret that no such estimate can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now able to announce that Income Tax valuations of residential property will be brought up to date at the same time as assessments for rating; and if he will estimate the percentage increase of taxation in respect of owner occupancy which these two revaluations will involve in England and Wales.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated additional interest to be met in the current financial year in respect of the National Debt arising from the recent increase in the Bank Rate.

It is not the practice to publish revised Budget estimates in the course of the financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the recently concluded trade agreement with Hungary, in which no reference was made to the Hungarian Bonds debt to this country represents a change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the repayment of this debt; and when the debt was last discussed with the representatives of Hungary in this country.

None. As regards the second part of the Question, the Hungarian Government were again reminded of their obligations in respect of bonded debt in July last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the expenditure likely to be incurred by a railway strike.

I do not think that meaningful estimates can be made of the total likely expenditure involved in a potential strike of uncertain duration.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what consideration he gave, when drafting the necessary regulations governing the Premium Bond Scheme, to the question of premium bonds being used as security for loans.

The view has been taken that there are features of Premium Savings Bonds, as of other national savings securities, which make them generally unsuitable to be used as security for loans.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20 shillings in October 1951, it had declined to 18s. 4d. in January 1954 and to 16s. 1d. in January 1957; and what was the comparable figure for January 1960.

Yes, on the basis of the Index of Retail Prices. The comparable figure for January, 1960, was 15s. 3d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is proposing to take to make the private Kensington Palace Gardens road into a public road in order to relieve the present congestion of north-south traffic in that area.

The roadway of Kensington Palace Gardens is maintained at the expense, and for the benefit, of the lessees of the houses abutting on the road and the provisions of the Crown Estate leases preclude the Crown Estate Commissioners from allowing the road to be used otherwise than as a private road.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the anticipated extent of redundancy in the Oldham area arising from the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, with the scrapping period for machinery ending on 31st March next; and what action he proposes to take in view of the scheduled redundancy and unemployment that is imminent.

No reliable estimate is possible, but most of those displaced should be able to find alternative work in the cotton industry or elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Vale of Leven district is covered by the designation of Dumbarton as a place eligible for Government aid under the Local Employment Bill.

Yes. The Dumbarton district includes Dumbarton, Alexandria, Helensburgh and Bowling Ministry of Labour Exchange areas. The Vale of Leven, where there is a Board of Trade industrial estate, is in the Alexandria area.

asked the President of the Boad of Trade for what reason he has included high unemployment areas in the County of Cornwall as initially eligible to receive Government assistance under the Local Employment Bill while excluding every similar area in need of assistance in the County of Devon, with the exception of Ilfracombe.

Ilfracombe and the parts of Cornwall designated as a development district are localities in which a high rate of unemployment exists and is likely to persist. They are, therefore, appropriate for assistance under the terms of the Local Employment Bill. Conditions in other places in Devon are not such as to make them eligible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the continuing high level of unemployment in areas subject to seasonal fluctuations because of the tourist trade, if he will reconsider his refusal to treat these areas on a basis other than that of a yearly average.

The requirement laid down in the Bill is that high unemployment exists or is expected and is likely to persist whether seasonally or generally. The list that I have announced gives effect to this requirement and it includes a number of places where unemployment fluctuates seasonally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Gateshead was not included in the list of development areas under the terms of the Local Employment Bill.

Gateshead is in the Tyneside South-West area, which is not on the initial list of development districts because, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, it is not a locality in which a persistently high rate of unemployment exists or is expected. This is the statutory requirement by which the Board of Trade will be bound.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Bude has been left out of the list of development districts.

The places in Cornwall included in the list of development districts are those in which a high rate of unemployment exists or is expected and is likely to persist. Bude, I am glad to say, is not such a place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate in detail his method of assessing a high rate of unemployment in respect of his recently listed unemployment districts.

I have to consider whether the unemployment is, or is expected to be, at a high rate and whether it is likely to persist generally or seasonally. I therefore look at the present rate of unemployment in each district in relation to the country as a whole, at the rates over the past year, and at the information I have about employment prospects over the next year or two.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which districts in Scotland formerly included in the development areas have not been listed as eligible for aid under the new Local Employment Bill.

The Ministry of Labour employment exchange areas of Kilmarnock, Newmilns, Stewarton, Lanark and Lesmahagow which were scheduled as Development Areas are not listed as development districts. In addition, those parts of the employment exchange areas of Falkirk and Linlithgow which were formerly scheduled are not being listed under the Local Employment Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to increase the maximum penalties under the Weights and Measures Acts pending legislation based on the Hodgson Committee Report.

No. I think it wiser to await the introduction of a comprehensive Weights and Measures Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further progress has been made in the provision of a new trading estate in Sunderland.

I have nothing to add to the Answer to the hon. Member's Question on 26th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what inducements he proposes to give industrialists to bring heavy industry to Cardiff; and whether he will make a statement;(2) why Cardiff has not been included in the list of districts scheduled for help under the terms of the Local Employment Bill; and whether he will make a statement.

The unemployment situation in the Cardiff area would not justify the provision of financial inducements under the terms of the Local Employment Bill, but, as I told the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Box), in reply to his Parliamentary Question on 11th February, the Board of Trade would be prepared to see more industry located there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet able to state when the report of the survey on shopping habits is to be made public.

I have not yet decided about publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether loans to the motor industry for expansion schemes under the Distribution of Industry Act, or Local Employment Bill, will bear interest; and at what rate.

The Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee has not yet made a recommendation on any of the applications submitted to it. In any event, I could not disclose without the consent of the firms concerned the terms of any assistance which might be given to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ensure that Dr. Banda and his associates will be free to give evidence before the Monckton Commission without fear of being returned to their imprisonment thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances and subject to what conditions Dr. Banda will be allowed to appear before the Monckton Commission.

The release of Dr. Banda or of any other persons from detention must be related to the security situation. With regard to the evidence of persons in detention I have nothing to add to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24th November last and my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations on 26th January last.

asked the Minister of Education when it is intended to introduce legislation to implement fully the recommendations of the De La Warr Report on Further Education for Agriculture.

I do not foresee the need for any legislation. The National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce will be considering, within the next few days, recommendations from the Sub-Committee it has appointed on the steps to be taken, in the light of the De La Warr Report, to develop the education for agriculture provided by local education authorities. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement very shortly.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make provision for local authorities to pay the fees of general certificate of education examinations in respect of pupils in secondary modern schools.

It is the duty of local education authorities to pay the fees of candidates from all types of secondary school who are entered within the terms of my Regulations either for the G.C.E. or for other external examinations which are regarded as part of the normal curriculum of the school.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, what was the grant made by Her Majesty's Government to Manchester University to help towards the cost of the Jodrell Bank telescope.

The Government grant towards the construction of the radio-telescope was £360,000.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consider the advisability of introducing compulsory courses in first aid into all secondary school curricula.

I sympathise with my hon. Friend's desire that boys and girls in secondary schools should learn first aid. Teachers are advised on the importance of first-aid instruction for secondary school children, in particular through my Department's Pamphlet No. 31 "Health Education", a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, when he expects to receive a report on oil heaters from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science if the tests of oil heaters made by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research have now been completed; and if he will state the results of the tests.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, when he expects the report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on oil stoves to be available; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that my noble Friend expects to receive a report shortly. Any statement must await his consideration of the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent information he has concerning Commander Crabb.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Minister for Science, when the Medical Research Council will report again on the hazards to man of nuclear and allied radiations.

Since the publication of their report (Cmd. 9780) in 1956 and their statement on the Report of the United Nations Scientific Committee in 1958 (Cmnd. 508), the Medical Research Council has kept the subject under constant review and has recently begun to prepare a further report which will provide a comprehensive assessment of the significance of all the available evidence. Much further evidence has been obtained on the levels of radioactivity from various sources and their biological effects, but certain essential data on exposure levels in this country—for example, that from diagnostic radiology—are still incomplete. The Council's report is therefore unlikely to be ready before the summer.

asked the Minister of Health what rate of interest is added to contributions to the National Health Service superannuation scheme, which are returned to members who voluntarily leave the service; and what plans he has for reviewing these payments.

2½ per cent. As regards the second part of the Question, I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the statement I made in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-East (Mr. Hopkins) on 9th November.

asked the Minister of Health which sections of the Mental Health Act, 1959, are now in operation; and when he expects the remaining sections to come into operation.

Sections 1 and 149 are in operation to the extent necessary to permit informal admission to mental hospitals. On the second part of the Question I cannot yet add to my reply of 1st February to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking in relation to the refusal by the Metropolitan Police to allow the organisers of an appeal in aid of the Mayor of Ilford's World Refugee Year Fund to collect a mile of pennies and display the coins on the steps of Ilford Town Hall on Saturday, 12th March, 1960.

There appears to have been a misunderstanding which has now been removed. Police permission for a street collection in Ilford on 12th March in aid of the Mayor's World Refugee Year Fund is being given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the capital value of the buildings, excluding the prison itself, connected with Dartmoor Prison; the date at which the valuation was made; how the valuation is distributed between various types of buildings; and also the annual amount of depreciation allowed for each type of building.

No assessment has been made of the market value of the buildings and services, or of the annual amount of depreciation, but it is estimated that the cost of replacing them at a site in another district would be about £750,000. The main item would be the erection of quarters for the prison officers and their families, which would cost about £650,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the numbers of persons registered as unemployed at each Employment Exchange in Ayrshire at the latest available date.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour if in respect of each unemploy-district listed for special help under the

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the aggregate numbers of unemployed in the areas listed for special help under the Local Employment Bill in Scotland, and the average percentage rate for the areas.

The following table gives the information desired:

71,406 at 11th January, 1960, representing 5·6 per cent. of the estimated total number of employees in the areas.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why his Department does not supply stout franked envelopes in which the fully stamped National Insurance cards can be returned to the local office of the Department in the same way as the Board of Inland Revenue does, in regard to the return of P.A.Y.E. cards.

Only 10 per cent. of cards are exchanged by post, and it would therefore be wasteful of public money to supply such envelopes. And even in the case of these 10 per cent., as new cards are only sent after receipt of the old ones the procedure suggested by my hon. Friend would involve the retention of such envelopes for long periods with the probability that some at any rate would not be used.

asked the Minister of Transport how many copies of the new Highway Code have been printed; and how many have been sold to the public.

Six million copies of the new Highway Code have been printed. Direct sales to the public by Her Majesty's Stationery Office together with issues through normal trade channels so far total 1,825,000 copies.In addition nearly 2¼ million copies have been allocated to learner-drivers, drivers in Government service, the police and the courts.