asked the Minister of Works how many secretaries to hon. Members are accommodated in the Victoria Tower; and what cubic capacity is allocated to each.

None.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he is aware that finance corporations dealing in property leases in large centres of population, such as South Wales, are demanding premiums in addition to increased ground rents as a condition of a renewal of the lease; and if he will introduce legislation to check this practice;(2) whether he is aware of the hardship caused in large centres of population, such as South Wales, by the operation of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954; and whether he will introduce legislation to protect leaseholders from exorbitant demands by finance corporations who are ground landlords.

I have no information about the practice referred to in the hon. Member's Questions and I have no reason to suppose that hardship is being caused by the operation of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954. The Act affords protection to the tenant of premises to which it applies by providing that the terms of the tenancy should be settled by the county court if the terms offered by the landlord are unacceptable. I do not, therefore, propose to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Attorney-General what progress he has made so far in planning the celebrations for the sixth centenary of the Admiralty Court; and if he will make a statement.

The celebrations are being planned by the President of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice in consultation with my noble Friends the Lord Chancellor and the First Lord of the Admiralty. For particulars of the celebrations I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to him today by my hon. Friend the Civil Lord of the Admiralty.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the work of the Committee on Registration of Title to Land in Scotland, which was reconstituted by him before the summer Recess.

The Committee has had its first meeting and has invited interested organisations to submit evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheltered workshops and special rehabilitation units for psychiatric patients there are in Scotland; where they are situated; what accommodation they provide; and what steps he is taking to increase their number, particularly in the North-East of Scotland.

Suitable patients can attend the Ministry of Labours's two industrial rehabilitation units at Edinburgh, where residential accommodation is provided, and Glasgow. Registered disabled persons requiring sheltered employment may also be employed in the ten Remploy factories in Scotland, of which one is in Aberdeen. Local authorities will be encouraged to develop occupational facilities as part of their expanded mental health services.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will inquire into the circumstances in which Miss Phyllis Irene Beveridge, 23, Beath View Road, Cowdenbeath, sustained serious injuries by falling from a lorry on the Old Perth Road on Thursday, 24th December, 1959; and whether criminal proceedings will be instituted against the owner of the lorry.

I have made inquiry into the accident involving Miss Phyllis Irene Beveridge, but I can find no evidence which would warrant criminal proceedings being taken in connection with this unfortunate occurrence.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will request the Law Reform (Scotland) Committee to examine the disparity of awards for industrial injuries between England and Scotland; and, on the basis of their submission, if he will introduce the necessary legislation and remove the anomalies which now exist in Scottish law.

I am not satisfied that this would be a suitable subject of remit to the Law Reform Committee of Scotland.The amount of these awards is a matter for the judge or the jury, as the case may be, and I do not see how any change in the law could alter the situation.

Year				Expenditure met from the Exchequer			Expenditure met by Local Health Authorities
				Mental and mental deficiency hospitals, etc.	Grants on expenditure incurred by local health authorities	Total	Net expenditure, after taking account of the 50 per cent. specific grants. (Col. 3) under the N.H.S. (S) Act. 1947
(1)				(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
				£	£	£	£
1949–50	…	…	…	5,192,352	90,000	5,282,352	96,000
1950–51	…	…	…	5,035,154	95,000	5,130,154	114,000
1951–52	…	…	…	5,299,281	130,123	5,429,404	124,000
1952–53	…	…	…	5,850,228	141,569	5,991,797	135,000
1953–54	…	…	…	6,292,622	148,792	6,441,414	152,000
1954–55	…	…	…	7,147,870	152,385	7,300,255	156,000
1955–56	…	…	…	7,808,925	168,293	7,977,218	168,000
1956–57	…	…	…	8,606,514	183,000	8,789,514	182,000
1957–58	…	…	…	9,437,671	192,605	9,630,276	190,000
1958–59	…	…	…	9,884,900	205,804	10,090,704	209,000
TOTAL		…	…	70,555,517	1,507,571	72,063,088	1,526,000
NOTE.—The above figures do not include certain administrative expenses of hospital authorities which cannot readily be given in respect of individual hospitals and the cost of certain beds for mental illness in general hospitals which cannot be ascertained separately.
The expenditure on local health authority services such as health visiting and home nursing is not included since expenditure arising from the provision of these services for the mentally disordered is not separately recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the decline of the repertory theatre in Scotland, if he will urge local authorities to give financial assistance to repertory companies on similar lines to that provided by Perth Town Council.

Three of the four permanent repertory theatres are receiving assistance this year from local authorities. I understand that the Scottish Committee of the Arts Council, which assists all four theatres, is closely considering their future needs, and I hope that the Committee and the local authorities together will find means of helping them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by the central Government and by local authorities, respectively, on mental health provisions in each of the last 10 years.

I assume that the hon. Member's Question relates to Scotland. The following is the information desired:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue an up-to-date version of Table V of the White Paper on Technical Education, Command Paper No. 9703, giving full

EDUCATIONAL YEAR 1957–58
Students "Released" from Industry—Scotland
Boys and girls aged under 18 years released by their employers to attend courses for part-time education shown as percentage of the estimated number aged under 18 years who are insured under the National Insurance Acts.
Industry							Estimated Number employed at end of May, 1958*	Numbers released by employers during year ended 31.7.58	Numbers released as per cent. of numbers insured
(1)							(2)	(3)	(4)
Public Administration and Local Authority services							3,260	2,014	62
Mining and Quarrying			…	…	…	…	6,370	3,254	51
Building and Contracting			…	…	…	…	11,330	2,908	26
Engineering, Metal Manufacture, Metal Goods						…	25,190	6,237	25
Chemicals and Allied Trades			…	…	…	…	1,790	227	13
Miscellaneous Services			…	…	…	…	9,280	628	7
Other Manufacturing Industries (including Leather, Wood and Cork, Precision Instruments, Treatment of Non-Metalliferous Mining Products)					…	…	6,720	300	4
Paper and Printing		…	…	…	…	…	7,120	313	4
Distributive Trades		…	…	…	…	…	38,660	1,082	3
Food, Drink and Tobacco			…	…	…	…	10,410	278	3
Textiles and Clothing		…	…	…	…	…	18,920	451	2
Transport	…	…	…	…	…	…	6,300	104	2
Insurance, Banking and Finance and Professional Services	…	…	…	…	…	…	9,160	79	1
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing				…	…	…	8,490	59	1
Total		…	…	…	…	…	163,000	17,934	11
* Figures supplied by the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many firms have been transferred from Glasgow under the Town Development Act, 1957, to overspill areas, excluding new towns, since June, 1957;(2) how many firms have transferred from Glasgow to new towns since June, 1957, under the Town Development Act, 1957.

Since June, 1957, fifteen firms have moved from Glasgow to places designated as receiving areas under Section 8 of the Housing and Town Development (Scotland) Act, 1957. Of these, nine have gone to the New Towns. In addition six firms have

The following table gives the details for Session 1957–58. Employment figures for May, 1959, to enable corresponding figures to be given for 1958–59 are not yet available.decided on such a move and are engaged in negotiations and a further four are known to be considering it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a joint Departmental Committee consisting of representatives of the Home and Defence Departments to consider whether any further co-ordination is required of the respective civil and military defence policies of these Departments and to advise accordingly.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence on 11th November last.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent responsibility for publicity abroad is shared between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Responsibility for United Kingdom publicity in foreign countries rests with lily right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary. As I told the House on 13th November, 1958, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible for the co-ordination of Government information services at home and overseas, but individual Ministers remain responsible for the information policy of their Departments.

asked the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Secretary of State for the Home Department to consult with the Minister of Defence in order to make available to the general public the details of the early missile warning system, stating what form of warning will be given to the public and what action they will be advised to take on receiving such warning.

No. I am satisfied that there is adequate consultation between my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Minister of Defence. I have no doubt that they will take note of the hon. Member's suggestions without my issuing instruction is to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he took into account the future prospects of individual pits, including the slow down in the developing pits, in deciding not to include Central West Fife in the list of districts qualifying for assistance within the terms of recent legislation.

The prospects for coal mining in this and in adjacent areas were taken into account. Central West Fife is not a locality in which, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, a high rate of unemployment exists or is expected and is likely to persist. But I will continue to keep a close watch on the position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why firms applying for licences to import goods from China are now being informed that these are being allocated on the basis of past trade, and not on a basis allowing for a substantial increase in trade in accordance with the recent Government announcement.

The new quotas, which affect only one-quarter of our imports from China, have in general been fixed substantially higher than the level of previous trade. In granting licences priority has been given to firms with a record of past trade or who had placed firm contracts before the new arrangements were announced Applications have been refused or licences scaled down only where the quota has been filled or where applicants have made unrealistically high bids. Licences have been issued to newcomers wherever it has been possible to provide for them within the quotas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the long negotiations taking place with the United States authorities in connection with the tariff quota on woollen and worsted cloth imports, whether he will take urgent action to protect the interests of United Kingdom exporters which are at present prejudiced by the arrangements in force between the United States of America and Italy and Japan.

There are no special arrangements designed to favour the Japanese or the Italians, although the United States' tariff quota has operated in a way which has particularly harmed United Kingdom exports, while both Italy and Japan have increased their sales. Her Majesty's Government have made many representations to the United States' Government since the quota was first imposed. My right hon. Friend expressed his concern about it to the United States' authorities when he was in Washington last month. The United States' Government are fully aware that we are anxious to have this question settled as quickly as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish a White Paper listing the development districts proposed under the Local Employment Bill, together with the present development areas and Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee areas, together with a statement of the reasons for omitting many of the areas in the latter list from the one now proposed.

No. The list which my right hon. Friend announced on 9th February comprises all those places which at present comply with the requirements prescribed by the Local Employment Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement of the Government's consideration of the applications which have been made for increased import duties on horticultural produce.

Applications have been received for increased import duties on tomatoes in the period 16th May to 31st August and on lettuce in the period 1st March to 31st May and are now under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total volume of hire-purchase business in 1959, 1958, and 1957, respectively.

Hire-purchase sales in 1959, 1958 and 1957 are estimated to have been, respectively, about £1,070 million, £860 million and £760 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that toilet preparations which are in any way perfumed are liable to Purchase Tax at 50 per cent., even if they are used against insect bites or as deodorants, whilst if not perfumed they are taxed at 25 per cent. or in some cases not at all; and whether, in view of the damage thus caused to the efficiency and export trade of the industry, he will reduce the tax on perfumed toilet preparations at an early date.

My hon. Friend is misinformed; but in any case I am not prepared to anticipate by Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason certain wire kitchen utensils such as grid irons, dish covers, potato mashers, sugar crushers and vegetable racks are chargeable to Purchase Tax whatever their dimensions, whereas other such utensils including batter mixers, beaters, double grid irons, skimmers and ladles are free of Purchase Tax if in excess of certain dimensions, rendering them suitable for the catering Wade; and whether in the interests of the hotel and restaurant industry, he will extend this exemption at any early date.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him on 6th March, 1958.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that for the past twenty years the Customs and Excise authority has maintained that a plastic scouring block used solely as a scourer is free of Purchase Tax, even if used for cleaning hands, but that if the relevant sales literature discloses that it can be used for cleaning hands it attracts purchase tax at 50 per cent.; and whether, in view of the desirability of raising the standards of personal hygiene in this country, he will review and remove this anomaly at an early date.

I can see nothing anomalous in charging as a toilet requisite an article which is advertised as such.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the charge on the national Exchequer if the cost of travelling from home to place of business and vice versa were to be allowed as a deduction for tax purposes.

I regret that the information on which to base a specific estimate is not available but the charge would clearly be substantial.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what rate of interest loans are now being made to building societies by the Government for house purchase; and what rate of interest the Public Works Loan Board charges to local authorities for loans of a similar period of years.

Five per cent. and 6 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give a general direction to the Cwmbran Development Corporation not to increase the rents of tenants in Cwmbran New Towns as a consequence of the increase in Bank Rate.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has considered the near completion of many of the new towns in the home counties; and whether he will now take steps to establish further new towns to meet housing needs in London and the home counties.

There is still room for many thousands more houses in several of the new towns round London; and meanwhile other towns are expanding under the Town Development Act. I should like to see still better progress made with these town expansions.I have no proposals for starting further Government new towns for Greater London, but I understand that the London County Council may be putting forward a proposal to build a new town itself.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what number of families have been rehoused in the new towns in the home counties in each of the last three years from the London County Council housing list, and from those of each of the twenty largest authorities in the home counties.

The following table shows, for the County of London and for each of the next twenty largest local authorities in Greater London, the number of families moving from each area to London new towns during each of the last three years who are definitely known to have been on a housing list:

—	1957	1958	1959
County of London	1,258	819	628
Croydon	52	18	16
Harrow	74	47	43
Ealing	50	40	28
Ilford	49	13	24
Willesden	108	57	53
West Ham	51	26	14
Hendon	88	41	26
Wembley	40	34	18
Tottenham	148	70	44
Dagenham	144	69	32
Walthamstow	137	27	17
East Ham	28	23	14
Enfield	47	18	13
Romford	22	13	15
Heston and Isleworth	35	20	14
Twickenham	29	27	13
Leyton	79	41	28
Hornsey	65	34	26
Edmonton	144	50	23
Bexley	5	5	8
TOTAL	2,653	1,492	1,097

The information available is however not complete, and relates mainly to persons recruited under the Industrial Selection Scheme, who are a diminishing proportion of the total number of Londoners rehoused in the new towns.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the large number of representations made to the National Parks Commission following its proposal to designate the Sussex Downs as an area of outstanding natural beauty; what progress has so far been made with its consideration of these representations; and if he will order a public inquiry in order to ensure that full account is taken of opposing views before a final decision is made in the matter.

My right hon. Friend is aware that a number of representations have been made to the National Parks Commission and he understands that it is considering them. He cannot decide what steps he will take until the Commission has made a designation order and submitted it to him for confirmation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the total rateable value of cinemas closed during the last financial year; and what was the aggregate loss to the Exchequer resulting from their closure.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now received from all local authorities the information he sought concerning the hardship caused to individual ratepayers who are called to pay for street improvements under the Act of 1892; whether he has completed his analysis; and what action he proposes to take.

Almost all the information sought has been received and is being studied. My right hon. Friend wants to examine it carefully before reaching any conclusions on this complex subject. This is bound to take some time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what protests he has received against the fencing and planting with conifers of Hawnes and Dendles, with 160 acres of open moorland in Dartmoor National Park.

Six letters of protest from individuals and two from organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much capital from outside the Commonwealth has been invested in Kenya and in Tanganyika, respectively, in each of the last five years; and what proportion of this capital emanated from the United States of America.

The information at present available in London gives only combined figures for East Africa. I have asked the authorities concerned in East Africa whether a detailed break-down can be provided and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend when I have their replies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the arrest of 500 Bamanda citizens in Southern Cameroons; and whether he will hold an inquiry into this matter forthwith and make a report as soon as possible.

I have made inquiries and have received a report on the situation from the Governor-General. Security operations in the Cameroun Republic during February have much increased the flow of Cameroun citizens into the Cameroons under British Trusteeship and screening has been necessary in the interests of the security of the latter territory. Since 1st February 271 Cameroun citizens have been detained. Of these 161 were released within 24 hours. One hundred and ten have been convicted of offences by the courts or remanded.

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

The discussion on safeguards and other matters, to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend on 16th February, was concluded on Sunday, and the Conference ended after I had given Her Majesty's Government's views on these subjects. These views will be included in the report of the Conference which I hope to be able to lay before Parliament on Thursday. All groups, except the United Party, told me that they accepted my proposals on the Executive and Legislature for the next stage of Kenya's constitutional advance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of detainees held without trial in Kenya, the number under restriction and the number of Africans still serving prison sentences for Mau Mau offences.

Seven hundred and fifteen; 366; and none, respectively, at 31st January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons of public security for the continued restriction of Mr. Clement C. Mtawali, former managing secretary of the Kilupula Rice Growers' Co-operative Union in Nyasaland; and when he expects to allow him to return to freedom.

It is necessary to ensure that on release a detainee can be absorbed into normal life in his home area without causing, or being the cause of, disturbances. Mr. Mtawali's restriction order is reviewed monthly and it was relaxed on 13th February to permit him complete freedom in the Karonga and Rumpi Districts without obligation to report his movements. The order will be further relaxed or revoked as soon as it is evident that his activities permit this to be done without risk to public order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state, for each year from 1950, the allocations received by St. Helena from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds in respect of educational expenditure.

Educational expenditure since 1950 from the allocations received by St. Helena from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds has been as follows:

Financial Year	£
April, 1950 to March, 1951	1,015
1951–52	1,571
1952–53	1,950
1953–54	950
1954–55	1,951
1955–56	1,122
1956–57	8,100
1957–58	13,299
1958–59	12,863
April, 1959 to January, 1960	7,572

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many teachers were employed by the Education Department of St. Helena on the most recent convenient date; how many of them had qualified at a teachers' training college; and what steps are being taken to increase the number of college-trained teachers.

There are sixty-eight teachers, including assistants and pupil teachers, at present employed by the St. Helena Education Department. Of these, 2 are overseas officers who have qualified at a teachers' training college, 1 is a St. Helenian who has recently completed his training here and 2 are local teachers with scholarships now being trained in this country.In addition funds are being made available to provide for five local teacher training scholarships during 1960. The purpose of this is to allow intending teachers to undergo a year of training locally after the school leaving age has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress being made in Northern Rhodesia in the establishment of new schools to replace those in the flooded area of the new Kariba lake.

Steady progress has been made in replacing the schools in the affected area but complete details are not available. I have asked the Governor for an up-to-date report and I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT when this is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on constitutional proposals for Uganda.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) on 22nd February.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when the agreement between Great Britain and the United States of America was made to base at ports in Great Britain American nuclear submarines each carrying sixteen 1,500 mile range polaris missiles with hydrogen bomb warheads; and whether he will now make a full statement.

There is no such agreement. There have been exploratory discussions at staff level but these have been of an entirely routine nature in accordance with the normal procedure for discussing defence matters.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what progress he has made so far in planning the celebrations for the sixth centenary of the Admiralty Court; and if he will make a statement.

The celebrations in London will last from 31st May to 2nd -June. The central feature is to be a service of thanksgiving in St. Paul's Cathedral on 1st June, which the Admiralty has undertaken to organise in association with the Lord Chancellor, the Dean and Chapter and the other authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet approved new regulations to control the permitted speed of vessels using the River Severn navigation and what the new maximum speed allowed will be.

Revised regulations for navigation on the River Severn, to modify the present speed limit, have been drafted by the British Transport Commission as navigation authority. They are at present being considered by the various bodies interested. When their comments have been received and considered I will publish the byelaws in draft.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the B road leading from the Kettering to Uppingham road to the boundary of Corby New Town continues to be liable to flooding, and to cause trouble and expense in maintenance; and whether, in view of the repeated representations he has received, he will now sanction the upgrading of this piece of road.

I am aware that this road is liable to flooding and to extra expense in maintenance on that account. I am ready to review its classification if the county council thinks the time has come to do so.

asked the Minister of state for Commonwealth Relations what were the results of the recent general election in Basutoland.

The results of the elections to the nine District Councils held from 20th to 22nd January were as follows:

Basutoland Congress Party	73 seats
Basutoland National Party	22 seats
Marema Tlou	16 seats
Independents	51 seats

The elections for the 40 "elected" members of the Basutoland National Council—at which the electors were the members of the District Councils sitting as Electoral Colleges—concluded on 17th February and the results were as follows:

Basutoland Congress Party	29 seats
Marema Tlou	5 seats
Basutoland National Party	1 seat
Independents	5 seats

asked the Minister of State for commonwealth Relations the present position regarding the succession to the Paramount Chieftaincy in Basutoland.

Following the appropriate constitutional preliminaries, Constantinus Bereng Seeiso Griffith became Paramount Chief of Basutoland on 6th February—the day on which the High Commissioner proclaimed his recognition of him as such. The new Paramount Chief will be formally presented to the new legislative Council on 12th March, Moshesh's Day—which has also been selected as the date for the ceremonial opening of the first session of the Basutoland National Council.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of men and women registered as unemployed at the employment exchanges of Burntisland, Kirkcaldy, and Buckhaven, on 30th June, 1958, 31st December, 1958, 30th June, 1959, 31st December, 1959, and on the latest available date.

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES AT BURNTISLAND, KIRKCALDY, AND LEVEN AND METHIL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES, AND KIRKCALDY AND BUCKHAVEN AND METHIL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
	Males	Females	Total
Burntisland Employment Exchange
16th June, 1958	113	32	145
8th December, 1958	81	54	135
15th June, 1959	83	47	130
7th December, 1959	89	64	153
11th January, 1960	86	64	150
Kirkcaldy Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office
16th June, 1958	298	415	713
8th December, 1958	341	441	782
15th June, 1959	425	466	891
7th December, 1959	501	469	970
11th January, 1960	535	476	1,011
Leven and Methil Employment Exchange and Buckhaven and Methil Youth Employment Office
16th June, 1958	175	304	479
8th December, 1958	314	312	626
15th June, 1959	319	314	633
7th December, 1959	464	358	822
11th January, 1960	528	399	927

asked the Minister of Health what steps he will take to ensure that medical eye centres run by dispensing opticians display the names of the ophthalmic medical practitioners who are engaged for sight-testing in their shops, and the times, in the same way as their names and times are given in the Ophthalmic List, so that patients will know the doctors who may test their eyes.

The display of names and times is a matter that reasonably be left to the discretion of those practising at the centres.

asked the Minister of Health the date on which the Ophthalmic List of the London Executive Council was last printed, the number of manuscript amendments, and whether these amendments have been made in all London post office copies; and whether he will consider having this list reprinted and having copies placed in public libraries for reference by patients.

The current list was printed in June, 1958, and will be re-printed again next year. Seven amendment lists have been issued in a form so that they can be filed as supplements, with only deletions—totalling 83—requiring manuscript corrections. I have no information about amendments to lists at Post Offices. Copies are already supplied to many libraries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of police sergeants and police constables with between 25 and 30 years' service who have left the police forces throughout the country in the past twelve months.

I regret that this information is not available. During the twelve months ending 31st March, 1959, 1,822 members of police forces in England and Wales retired with pensions; nearly all had served for at least 25 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of police sergeants and police constables who will become eligible to resign within the next twelve months.

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to retirement on pension. I regret that this information is not available. On 31st December, 1959, there were 5,801 serving members of police forces in England and Wales with 25 years' service or more; of these. 1,135 had 30 years' service or more.