asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information regarding the effect of drugs prone to give rise to addiction and which are on sale to the general public, is in the possession of medical officers at Holloway, Brixton and other prisons; and if he will ask the Prison Commission for, and publish, a report.

After very full inquiry, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that there is insufficient material for the compilation of a useful report on this subject. Persons believed, or in some cases known, to have been in the habit of taking these drugs, have certainly committed crimes, some of them serious; but the connection, if any, between the habit and the crime has not so far been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement regarding the disturbances in London on Sunday, 28th February, involving Fascist groups and others.

Following a meeting in Trafalgar Square on the afternoon of Sunday, 28tn February, during which the person was arrested, crowds collected near Charing Cross station and slogans were shouted. When disorders resulted, the police intervened and two persons were arrested. There were further disturbances as members of rival factions moved along Whitehall and Victoria Street and six more persons were arrested, making a total of nine in all. One constable received slight injuries. There were no reports of injuries to members of the public or of damage to property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will recommend that the Royal Commission on Police be additionally empowered to review the system of promotions in police forces with a view to aiding recruitment.

The Commission are not precluded from considering promotion in the context of their terms of reference; the extent to which they will do so is a matter for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give comparative figures showing the number of accidents caused by oil heaters, gas heaters, and electric heaters over the last 12 months for which figures are available.

No comparative figures of accidents as such are available, but the number of fires in the home caused by heaters of the types mentioned in Great Britain in 1958 were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has sent to the letter dated 8th March from the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union asking that manufacturers of drip feed radiant oil heaters should be compelled to accept the return of these oil heaters, to modify them and to make them draught-proof.

The reply sent on 14th March was that the views expressed had been noted, and that consultations with the manufacturers were proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the Metropolitan Police require that only the owner of a vehicle impounded for causing an obstruction, as opposed to his duly authorised agent, is permitted to collect it.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that he imposes no such requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of his departmental committee which is studying the problem of compensating the victims of criminal attack.

I hope that the official Working Party which is studying the practical problems involved in the payment of compensation by the State to the victims of crimes of personal violence will be able to report in the early summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the organisations he has consulted have not yet expressed their views on the suggested extension of Summer Time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the organisations he consulted about the desirability of extending Summer Time have sent in their views and how many have not yet replied; and if he is likely to be in a position to reach a decision at the end of this month, so that there will be an opportunity to bring forward an Order to extend the period of Summer Time beyond 2nd October this year, pending permanent amendment to the Act of 1925.

171 organisations were consulted; 53 have not yet replied, and some of them have said that they will be unable to do so until next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing the building programme for penal establishments announced in February, 1959 by the White Paper on Penal Practice in a Changing Society.

I am glad to say that of the 14 new institutions mentioned in Part A of the programme 11 are now, or will shortly be, in course of construction. Sites have already been acquired for eight other institutions (including several in Part B of the programme) and work has started on some of these; negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of another nine sites. The replacement of Dartmoor Prison is to be the subject of a local inquiry on 25th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure followed in the appointment of managers of approved schools where the governing body is not the local authority or a voluntary organisation but is a local committee.

This is a matter for the local committee, which normally co-opts new members as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has to report on the problem of providing work in prisons.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland recently appointed the Advisory Council on the Employment of Prisoners under the chairmanship of Sir Wilfrid Anson to advise on the whole problem. Meanwhile, progress has been made in providing additional workshops and in introducing new types of work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to make provision for temporary parole on compassionate grounds for prisoners who are not criminal offenders.

This point has already been noted for legislation when a convenient opportunity arises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is raised by the Sunday Charity Levy upon the cinema industry.

The amount raised during the year 1958–59 was about £370,000, of which £18,478 was paid into the Cinematograph Fund and about £351,000 was paid to charities named by the licensing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what charities the proceeds of the Sunday Charity Levy are paid.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in view of the grant made from colonial development and welfare funds to the University College of Rhodesia, he will make representations to the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland about the refusal to grant a residence permit to Mr. Michael Faber, a lecturer at the college.

No, but I think the hon. Gentleman will be interested to study the text of a statement issued in Salisbury by the Federal Government relative to this case and I am accordingly sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the grant given to the University College of Rhodesia, what representations he has received, on behalf of Mr. Michael Faber, that he should make representations to the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia about their refusal to allow Mr. Faber a residence permit to return to his work in the Federation as a lecturer at the college; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Representations have been received from one member of the public and from an organisation called the Association of Prohibited Immigrants of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. I have replied to the former to the effect that control of immigration into the Federation is solely within the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government, and I have described the procedure by which, I am informed, this responsibility is exercised. There has not yet been time to reply to the latter, which only reached my noble Friend today.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the grant made from colonial development and welfare funds to the University College of Rhodesia, what representations he has made to the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland about the refusal to grant a residence permit to Mr. Michael Faber, an economics lecturer at the college.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to Questions by the hon. Members for Edmonton (Mr. Albu) and Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson).

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations how many British emigrants entered Australia in 1957, 1958, and 1959; and what arrangements are made to assist them.

According to figures published by the Australian Department of Immigration, the number of British persons entering Australia as immigrants was 52,533 in 1957, 60,196 in 1958 and 47,303 in the first nine months of 1959; of these 37,968, 43,555 and about 35,000 emigrated from the United Kingdom.As regards the second part of the Question, in 1597 26,381 migrants from the United Kingdom were assisted through the Assisted Passage Scheme to which Her Majesty's Government contribute £150,000 a year. For 1958 and 1959 the corresponding figures were 29,349 and 32,736. Among these, child migrants travelling under the auspices of eight voluntary societies with which my noble Friend has made agreements received outfit allowances of £4 each and maintenance allowances paid in Australia of 10s. starling per week. Apart from these child migrants, emigrants after reaching Australia are the responsibility of the Australian authorities. A summary of the arrangements made for them is contained in Chapter III of the Fifth Report of the Oversea Migration Board which is being published today.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what sums the Education Department in Basutoland spent on libraries in the financial year 1958–59.

In the financial year 1958–59 the Basutoland Education Department made a grant of £5,000 to Mission schools for the purchase of equipment, and this included provision for the improvement of libraries.In addition, the Basutoland authorities allocated during the year money for the improvement of Departmental Headquarter libraries and of those in District Education Offices to which teachers can refer. Gifts of books and periodicals from the British Council are made each year to secondary school and college libraries.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will place in the Library a copy of the Report of the Templer Committee.

I will certainly consider the hon. Member's proposal as soon as the study of its proposals by the Government has been completed.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what recommendations the Templer Committee has made to him with a view to encouraging voluntary service by young people overseas.

The Report of the Templer Committee is being studied. I can assure my hon. Friend that the whole problem of encouraging young people to serve overseas is receiving most careful attention.

asked the Minister of. Education (1) when the United Kingdom National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation last met; and when it proposes to hold its next meeting;(2) if he will state the number of advisory committees, sub-committees and co-operating bodies now attached to the United Kingdom Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; and what functions they perform.

I am reconstituting the National Commission and expect that it will be meeting within the next few months. In its old form, the Commission was composed of about 30 co-operating bodies or committees with over 300 members. The last full meeting took place in 1954, but its committees have had frequent meetings. I will send the hon. Member details of the new arrangements as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Education when he referred to the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers the matters mentioned in paragraph 241 of the Crowther Report; and when he expects the Council to report.

These matters were referred to the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers immediately upon the Crowther Report's publication early last December. The Council reported in January. I will give details of their recommendation, and of the Government's views upon it, on Monday next.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on his policy towards technical colleges running full time degree courses.

The 1956 White Paper on Technical Education, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, gave the reasons why courses leading to the Diploma in Technology seem likely in most cases to serve the needs of the technical colleges better than those leading to an external degree. There is no objection to colleges which already provide degree courses continuing to do so provided that the necessary number of students is available, and there may be some cases in which it will be justifiable to start new degree courses.

asked the Minister of Education if he will furnish details of the number of grant aided students who fail their degree courses at universities; and if he will give these figures for each administrative division.

The last complete academic year for which figures are available is 1957–58. Of the 55,862 students with awards from public funds then in attendance at universities and university Colleges, 2,140 failed their degree courses or had to terminate them prematurely. The comparable figures for 1955–56 and 1956–57 were 46,523 and 1,580, and 51,519 and 1,869, respectively. If the hon. Member will let me know what he means by "administrative divisions", I will see whether I can provide this information.

asked the Minister of Education what is his estimate of the total number of teachers likely to be available in the years 1965, 1966, and 1967; and how many of these are likely to be employed in primary and secondary schools, respectively.

On the best assumptions I can make, the estimated numbers of teachers in primary and secondary schools are 290,000 in January, 1965, 297,000 in 1966 and 308,000 in 1967. It is impossible to make a reliable forecast of the distribution of teachers in these years between primary and secondary schools.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, what research into the design of machine tools is carried out by the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory at East Kilbride.

About a quarter of the effort of the National Engineering Laboratory is devoted to subjects applicable to the design of machine tools. Specific applications of the results are being undertaken in collaboration with several industrial firms.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, why it took so long for the Joint Fire Research Association of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to report on the safety of portable drip-feed radiant oil heaters; and whether he will ensure that in matters of this kind a quicker method of investigation and report is instituted.

My noble Friend cannot agree that the report took a long time to produce. The whole operation took only 14 weeks, although it involved over 1,000 draught tests on heaters. I think the Joint Fire Research Organisation is to be congratulated rather than criticised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that in some districts the discharge of fluorine compounds from industrial furnaces results in much suffering among cattle and reduces agricultural productivity; and whether he will institute research to devise means of eliminating fluorides from smoke where necessary.

The discharge of fluorine compounds from industrial undertakings can cause some difficulty to certain kinds of agricultural production in the immediate area of the plants responsible for the emissions. My Ministry has carried out surveys in various parts of the country into the degree of contamination connected with different industries and where necessary we advise farmers on ways of alleviating the problem. I understand that industrial research into this form of air pollution is being co-ordinated by the Alkali Inspectorate appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that picture frames 3 inches and over in width are free of Purchase Tax, whereas smaller frames are required to pay Purchase Tax at 25 per cent.; on what date this discrimination was introduced, and for what reasons; and, as the pattern of demand for picture frames has now changed, whether he will end the anomaly by removing all picture frames from the Purchase Tax schedules, thus assisting art and culture.

The exemption was introduced in April, 1944. The reasons for it were given to my hon. Friend in an Answer on 2nd December, 1958. As to the last part of the Question, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget decisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that gramophone record carrying cases have been ruled as subject to Purchase Tax at 50 per cent. when containing a set of protective or index cards, whereas identical cases without such cards are subject to Purchase Tax at the rate of only 25 per cent.; what is the reason for this distinction; and, having regard to the popularity of long-playing records and the need for effective and safe transportation of them, whether he will abolish Purchase Tax on all gramophone record carrying cases.

If the case is specifically designed in any respect for carrying records it is taxable at the higher rate. If it is not so designed, it is taxable at 25 per cent., along with attaché cases and other kinds of carrying cases. As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the outcome of his consultations with the police authorities concerning Purchase Tax on police whistles at 12½ per cent.

My right hon. Friend has always kept on the right side of the law in administering this tax, and the police have expressed no wish to consult him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on consideration of the correspondence sent him by the hon. Member for Argyll and other Members, he will now make a statement about the liability to Purchase Tax of dictol, an oral vaccine for the protection of cattle against husk.

Yes. As my hon. Friend is aware, this new vaccine does not fall within any of the present exemptions from the Purchase Tax on drugs and medicines. But our veterinary advisers have now recommended its addition to the exempt list, and an Order freeing it from tax will be laid before the House today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loss of revenue would result from granting exemption from Income Tax on earned income to persons over 65, and over 70 years of age, respectively.

I regret that the available information is not sufficient for those estimates to be furnished.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him about the Donibristle helicopter project; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received letters about this proposal to which I have replied that the Board of Trade would welcome any reasonable project to utilise the Donibristle site.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he proposes to take action to compensate the West Indies for the loss they are likely to incur owing to the extension of the quota for imports of foreign fresh grapefruit to include the month of March;(2) what action he proposes to take to compensate the West Indies for the exclusion of lemon juice from the quota on imports of citrus juices, and for the removal of timing restrictions on imports of orange and grapefruit juices.

I am very much aware of the interests of the West Indies in citrus products. The effects on these interests of the measures referred to by my hon. Friend, which were taken in pursuance of our international obligations, are not likely to be significant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about his inquiries into the practice of individual resale price maintenance.

Investigation has shown that the information available to the Board of Trade is insufficient to enable me to form any firm conclusions at present about the extent and effects of the practice of individual resale price maintenance.I have, therefore, decided to institute a fact-finding inquiry into this subject. An announcement will shortly be made inviting interested organisations and individuals to send written evidence to my Department. Such evidence may, as necessary, be clarified or supplemented by oral evidence.In order to permit the greatest possible freedom in the expression of views, the inquiry will be confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what methods are used to recruit labour in Northern Rhodesia for work outside the territory; and if he is satisfied that adequate safeguards exist to protect the native population from illegal recruitment;(2) what methods are used to recruit labour in Nyasaland for work outside the territory; and if he is satisfied that adequate safeguards exist to protect the native population from illegal recruitment.

In Northern Rhodesia such recruitment is carried out by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association under a licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the Employment of Natives Ordinance. No other individuals or agencies are licensed to recruit for work outside the territory but some authorised representatives of employers in Southern Rhodesia are permitted to engage labour offered at urban Employment Exchanges in places where unemployment exists.In Nyasaland, the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association engages labour for work in South Africa, and the Rhodesia Native Labour Supply Commission for work in Southern Rhodesia. Both recruiting agencies operate under a Governor's permit which is renewable annually and a limit is placed on the number of workers which each may recruit.I am satisfied that adequate safeguards exist in both territories against illegal recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been, or are being, made to give or continue financial and other assistance to English schools in Cyprus; and which of these schools are, and are not, to benefit from such assistance, and to what extent.

Her Majesty's Government propose to offer up to £80,000 in each of the next two school years to keep the three English schools in Nicosia going on their present basis. The Joint Council has accepted this offer. The money will be administered by the British Council. The British Council are at present considering whether they can give assistance to any other English school in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the concern in the island of St. Helena about the failure to provide a doctor with surgical skill; and what steps he proposes to ensure all round medical service for the island.

The two doctors, to whom I referred in my reply on 26th January to a Question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes) arrived in St. Helena on 5th March. Both these doctors have surgical experience.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Minister for Science, whether he is aware of the continued concern by Welsh local authorities at the lack of adequate facilities for measuring the degree and the consequent effects of strontium 90 in Wales; and what action he proposes to take.

My noble Friend is aware of the concern of some Welsh local authorities but cannot agree that present arrangements are inadequate. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs stated in his reply to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Watkins) on 15th March, the work demands extremely intricate laboratory processes and skilled assessment and it is better to centralise the facilities for it than to duplicate them in a separate Welsh organisation.

asked the Minister of Health how many foreign visitors during last year were officially required to undergo medical examination at British shipping and air ports; what are the grounds on which such medical examinations are requested; and whether he is satisfied that the present instructions given to Customs officers on this matter are adequate.

32,886 aliens were medically examined in 1958. The figure for 1959 is not yet available. The object of medical examination is to bring under notice any aliens who might be a danger to the health of others, be medically unfit to support themselves or require treatment which they might seek under the National Health Service. I am satisfied that the instructions to immigration staff regarding medical examination are adequate.

asked the Minister of Health what decision he has reached upon the representations made to him against the proposal to withdraw the right of Health Service staffs to receive interest when their superannuation contributions are returned to them on voluntary resignation from the service.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided that this proposal shall be applied only to staff who join after the date upon which the new arrangements come into operation, and that staff in post before that date shall retain their present right to interest. Provision to this effect will be included in the draft amending regulations which will shortly be laid before Parliament and which will need to be approved by resolution of each House. This decision means that, on this occasion, none of the deficit revealed in the National Health Service Superannuation Schemes by the first valuation will be met by the staffs and makes the arrangements for meeting the deficit as generous as they could be. If in future any further adjustments were to become necessary to meet actuarial deficits which might arise, it must not be assumed that the pattern followed this time in making adjustments would necessarily be followed again.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many nations now recognise the 12-miles limit for territorial and fishing purposes; on what date Iceland gave the requisite two years' notice to terminate the three-miles limit and to adopt a 12-mile limit; if he is aware that Icelandic trawlers are prohibited from fishing within 12 miles of their own coast; and if he will give instructions to the United Kingdom representatives at the conference meeting this week in Geneva to urge a reduction in the 12-miles limit.

According to United Nations document A/CONF. 19/4, a copy of which is in the Library, thirteen nations claim twelve miles of territorial waters and, ipso facto, fishery jurisdiction. An additional twelve nations claim twelve or more miles for fishery purposes only.As regards the second part of the Question, the Icelandic Government on 3rd October, 1949, denounced the Anglo-Danish Agreement of 1901 which regulated the policing of the fisheries on the high seas around Iceland and the Faroes and defined the method of measurement of the three mile fishing limit around Iceland recognised by international law. The Icelandic regulations giving effect to their unilateral claim to a twelve mile fishery limit, which came into force on 30th September, 1958, were, in Her Majesty's Government's view, contrary to international law. This does not permit any country to extend its fishery limits unilaterally.As regards the third part of the Question, Icelandic trawlers are not prohibited from fishing within twelve miles of the Icelandic coast, but under regulations supplementary to those of 30th June, 1958, Icelandic trawlers and Seine netters may and do fish between four and twelve miles except in certain areas and at certain seasons.It is the view of Her Majesty's Government that unilateral extensions of fishery limits beyond three miles are contrary to present international law.It would not, of course, be in the public interest to disclose details of the United Kingdom Delegation's instructions, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Delegation will endeavour to secure a fair and lasting settlement of this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the former East German territories now controlled by Poland and Czechoslovakia.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) on 11th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider instructing Her Majesty's Government's representatives at the United Nations to raise the question of the transport of animals by road, rail, sea. and air, with a view to establishing a universal standard of humane conditions.

Her Majesty's Government are watching developments in this matter with sympathy, but do not consider that it is at present feasible to formulate and enforce a universal standard for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) to what extent nerve gas experiments were being conducted, both in production and testing, at the time when a delegation of members of the parliamentary and scientific group visited the microbiological research centre at Porton; and why they were not informed about such experiments;(2) to what extent the production and testing of nerve gases at Porton research centre is a recent development; and what work of this nature was being carried out when it was under the control of the Ministry of Supply.

For a number of years the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment has tested nerve gases, producing them in laboratory quantities for testing only. The parliamentary delegation's visit was not to the C.D.E.E. but to the neighbouring Microbiological Research Establishment.

asked the Postmaster-General on what criteria the difference between the rental charge for a party telephone line and a normal one is based.

The reduction in rental for shared service reflects the saving on lines offset by the extra costs of installing and maintaining the special apparatus required.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that proposed road works will involve the demolition of Hotwells Post Office, Bristol; and what action he proposes to take to ensure the livelihood of the postmaster and continued service to the public.

Yes. The proposed works are only in the planning stage. If the post office is demolished we shall need another to replace it, and I hope there will be no break in service to the public. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the position of the sub postmaster.

asked the Minister of Transport if the special planning board set up to review the structure of the British Transport Commission will consult local opinion in South Wales before reaching conclusions on methods to make the South Wales Docks and Harbour fully self-supporting and responsible for the management of their own affairs.

It will be for the Planning Board to decide how they go about their work. They will doubtless take all relevant considerations into account.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will give an assurance that any increase in the earnings of National Health Service practitioners will be accompanied by a corresponding increase in the pay of Navy, Army and Air Force doctors.

No. In reviewing the pay of Service doctors there are other factors that have to be taken into account, such as the increases which they get in common with other officers of the Services.

asked the hon. Member for Holland with Boston, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he will take steps to ensure that supplies of lamb from Wales will be made available to the House of Commons Dining Room, particularly from Easter onwards.

Owing to the widely varying demand for substantial quantities of whole carcase meat and special cuts, a London source of supply is essential to maintain deliveries as required. The lamb is accordingly purchased as "home killed" on price and quality irrespective of its origin.I am advised that Welsh lamb does not become available in the London market in quantity until the summer months as the early season's "killings" command a higher price locally. Should regular supplies of Welsh lamb be readily available after Easter, the Department will doubtless consider the purchase of such meat.