asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, what consultations he has had with interested parties concerning the latest Report of the Advisory Council for Science.

My noble Friend assumes the hon. Member has in mind the Annual Report for 1958–59 of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy. This Report is an annual record of matters considered by the Council, and advice given by it to Her Majesty's Government during the year. These annual reports are not usually made the subject of consultation.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, whether the Government will now assume financial responsibility for the remaining sum owing on capital cost, and also pay a part of the annual cost of upkeep for the Manchester University's radio-telescope at Jodrell Bank, Cheshire, in view of the increasing use of this apparatus being made by an allied Government.

There is no sum now owing on the capital cost of the radio-telescope. The Government are not prepared to increase their contributions towards the cost. The Government already contributes substantially to the cost of upkeep of the telescope and any applications which may be made for further grants for research involving its use will continue to be dealt with on their merits by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Minister of Education the manpower strength of the school dental service at the end of 1958.

In December, 1958, there were 916 salaried and 687 part-time dentists in the School Dental Service, the equivalent altogether of 1,032 full-time dentists.

asked the Minister of Education how many proposals have been submitted to him under Section 13 (2) of the Education Act, 1944, with a view to obtaining a grant under Section 1 (2) of the Education Act, 1959; and how many such proposals have been approved for grant.

Fifty-eight preliminary proposals have been submitted to me. Fifteen have been approved for grant under Section 1 (2) of the Education Act, 1959, two have been rejected, and the remaining forty-one have not yet reached the stage where a decision can be given.

asked the Minister of Education how many qualified married women teachers returned to teach in local authority schools in 1959 after an absence from teaching of ten years or more.

In 1959 there were 20,000 married women teachers who had returned to serve in maintained primary and secondary schools. This represented an increase of rather more than 800 over the previous year. I cannot say how long their break in service had been.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many proposals, involving how many acres, made by the Forestry Commission regarding land that was sought for planting by them, he approved in England and in Wales in each of the last three years; and how many were not approved.

The responsibility for acquiring land for forestry purposes in England and Wales rests with my right hon. Friend. I am unable to give particulars of the official consultations that lead up to decisions to acquire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to increase the amount of land required for forestry purposes; and if he will examine the scale of prices offered by the Commission for land.

My right hon. Friend is in close touch with the Forestry Commission about ways in which its need for more land can be met. The limiting factor must continue to be the amount of suitable land coming on to the market.The Commission's policy is to pay fair market prices for such land as it purchases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was paid for food imported into the United Kingdom during 1959; and what he estimates the additional cost would have been, at similar prices, assuming an agricultural production at home at the same level as it was in 1939.

Imports of food into the United Kingdom in 1959 cost about £1,300 million c.i.f. It is very difficult to calculate with any degree of accuracy but, on the given assumption about prices, the increase in home agricultural production since 1939 would be worth roughly £400 million per annum. Whether, if that increase had not occurred, imports would have been higher by the same amount could only be a matter for speculation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present estimated annual yield of Purchase Tax at the varying rates of 50, 25, 12½, and 5 per cent.; and what would be the approximate yield if a uniform rate of Purchase Tax were imposed on all goods at present subject to Purchase Tax but at the respective rates of 10, 12½, or 15 per cent.

On the basis of the Budget estimate, approximately £222 million, £154 million, £40 million and £55 million. Estimates of the yields from the uniform rates suggested by my hon. Friend are conjectural, but they would be unlikely to exceed £270 million, £330 million and £400 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the maintenance of Purchase Tax on cars at the high level of 50 per cent. restricts the ability of the industry to achieve maximum efficiency and economy; and whether, in view of the increasing competition in the export fields from European motor-producing countries which are less burdened so far as Purchase Tax is concerned, he will arrange for his experts to make a specially urgent examination of the position wih a view to remedial action being taken.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to his third Question on 10th November, and to that given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Board of Trade, to his second Question of 3rd March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, at an early date, he will consider the durability of removing Purchase Tax entirely from a large range of articles which contribute to national efficiency, such as dustbins, money boxes, leak stops, pot menders, kettle fur-collectors, drip catchers, whistles, and splash preventers.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking October, 1951, as being equal to 100, he will give the monthly percentage rise or fall since that date in the purchasing value of the £ sterling, the cost of living, the cost of imports, the cost of exports, the terms of trade, National Health and National Insurance contributions and benefits, wages, prices and profits, retirement pensions, war disability pensions, and unemployment, giving, additionally, the rate and rise or fall in the Bank Rate.

The hon. Member has asked for a large number of figures which I regret it has not been possible to provide in the time available. I will, however, write to him giving the information as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum today would be the equivalent in purchasing power of 20s. in 1946.

On the basis of the consumer price index, as adjusted by the index of retail prices, about 33s. 3d. would be the equivalent today of the purchasing power of 20s. in 1946.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will repay postwar credits in those cases in which, owing to disability or other circumstances, the holder of the credits would have been on National Assistance if the wife had not gone out to work.

My right hon. Friend will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind along with others that have been put to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now announce his policy to ensure that grants and subsidies of public money go only to those who need them.

Grants and subsidies are given only where the public interest justifies them, and in accordance with Parliamentary authority.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the rates of Surtax in the financial year April, 1951, to April, 1952; the present rates; and how much extra revenue he estimates would accrue to the Treasury if Surtax were restored to its 1951 level.

The following statement shows the rates of Surtax for 1950–51— the Surtax payable in 1951–52—and the current Surtax rates. If the 1950–51 rates and system were restored the extra yield would be rather more than £11 million, as set out in the statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the price of imported plywood has risen by over 40 per cent. since 1951; and what action he proposes, by the reimposition of price control or otherwise, to restore a more equitable price level.

The hon. Member is misinformed. Prices of imported plywood in February, 1960, were appreciably lower than they were under price control at the end of 1951.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a large part of the £250 million per annum subsidy to agriculture could be eliminated if adequate protective duties were imposed on cheap competitive agricultural produce imported from overseas; and whether, in future tariff negotiations, he will make it clear to those countries concerned that this country must obtain some adequate concession in return for abolishing tariffs on agricultural produce, having regard to the financial cost of the subsidies which such a policy involves.

I cannot accept the assumption in the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question which ignores the effect of higher food prices on the cost of living. In answer to the second part, I can assure him that, in tariff negotiations, it is our policy that reductions on our part must be matched by adequate concessions from other countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table of figures showing the value of the import quota for goods from China in each of the last three years, including the current year, in respect of each of the following classes of goods, namely, cotton and rayon textiles and manufactures, meat and meat products, butter, canned pineapple, canned fruit other than pineapple, silk piece goods, pottery, basketware and straw manufactures, table glassware, stationery, and leather goods, including footwear.

The value of the annual quotas for imports of cotton and rayon textiles for home retention and for re-export are respectively £150,000 and £1·5 million and that for cotton and rayon manufactures is £220,000; the first two quotas came into effect on 1st March, 1958, and the last on 1st August, 1958. The values of the annual quotas for the remaining items, which came into effect on 1st January last, were set out in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 15th March. Of these items, only stationery and straw and raffia manufactures were subject to control before 4th November, 1959, when China shared in annual quotas, open to all Relaxation Area countries, of £310,000 and £90,000 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he proposes to bring the Local Employment Act into operation.

On 1st April, 1960.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he uses the publicity facilities of the Central Office of Information to publicise abroad the availability of good industrial sites in Great Britain, and especially those in areas of high unemployment.

Publicity material prepared by the Central Office of Information, especially the booklet "Make it in Britain", has been systematically distributed, particularly in North America. Stress is laid on the encouragement given by the Government to firms to set up factories where labour is plentiful and good sites available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for the examination of the documents of foreign fishermen landing temporarily in Great Britain.

Foreign seamen are not normally required to obtain leave to land on temporary shore leave while their ship remains in port.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the Metropolitan Police require, when a vehicle is impounded for causing an obstruction, that only the individual in control of the vehicle at the time, as opposed to his duly authorised agent, or the owner of the vehicle, is entitled 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 whether he is satisfied as to the safety of imported electrical household appliances, including washing machines; and what safety regulations exist covering such appliances.

I have no reason to think that imported electrical household appliances are not in general safe, but I shall be glad to consider any information on the subject that my hon. and gallant Friend may have in his possession. I have at present no power to make safety regulations in respect of such appliances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask local authorities to co-operate with the manufacturers of drip-feed oil heaters by setting up depots to which householders may take heaters for modification.

I will bear this suggestion in mind, but I think it is for the manufacturers in the first instance to make their own arrangements for the receipt of oil heaters for modification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the East Hubert Psychiatric Institution is likely to be opened; and what number of inmates it is estimated will be accommodated there.

It is likely to be opened early in 1962 and will accommodate 250 men. 25 women and 50 boys.

The latest statistics available are those for 1958. They are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for an exhibition of gadgets and appliances available to help elderly and incapacitated people in their own homes to be held in the Palace of Westminster.

Yes. An exhibition provided by the British Red Cross Society has been arranged to take place in the Upper Waiting Hall from 3rd to 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers in the prison service have resigned following notification of transfer to Dartmoor during the past five years.

Five, two of whom resigned for reasons unconnected with the posting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers of the subordinate grades of the prison service have declined promotion to Dartmoor during the past five years.

I have been unable to trace any such case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of mounting injuries arising from children's air guns and rifles, he will make a statement of his legislative intentions in the matter.

I am having this matter very carefully examined, but I am not yet in a position to say whether I shall wish to put forward proposals for amending the law.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what grants are available for the conversion of the open fire to a type suitable for burning smokeless fuels in areas other than those

asked the Minister of Health the average waiting period for a non-pay bed in the Manchester Royal infirmary, St. Mary's Hospital, and the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital; and

When a house is to be improved with the help of discretionary improvement grant under Housing Act powers, the grant may include a contribution towards the cost of installing in place of an obsolete appliance, a fire of an approved type suitable for the burning of smokeless fuel. Outside smoke control areas no other grant powers are available, nor does my right hon. Friend consider them necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the movement since 1st July, 1955, of the prices in Nyasaland of such consumer goods, most commonly bought by Africans, as are not subject to federal price control.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th February, 1960; Vol 617, c. 95], has supplied the following information:At the present time the only prices of consumer goods regularly collected by the Labour Department in Nyasaland refer to a limited list of foodstuffs none of which is subject to price control. The following table summarises the information collected in 1955 and 1959.the average waiting period in March, 1957, 1958, and 1959.

At all three hospitals urgent cases are admitted immediately. The waiting period for other cases varies according to the degree of urgency and the specialty involved. At the Royal Infirmary the waiting period varies from a few days for ear, nose and throat cases requiring very early treatment to 24 months for non-urgent orthopædic cases. At the St. Mary's Hospitals, the waiting period for gynæcological cases varies from 2 weeks to 2½ years according to urgency. The position was generally similar at these two hospitals in 1957, 1958 and 1959. At the Royal Eye Hospital, the average waiting period for non-urgent cases is 3 months. It was 12 months in 1957, 9 months in 1958 and 3 months in 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state in respect of Ayrshire and Scotland, respectively, the number of

asked the Minister of Health, how many full-time, and how many part-time, consultants were employed in the hospitals controlled by the North Manchester, South Manchester, West Manchester, and the North and Mid-Cheshire Hospital Management Committees in each of the years from 1950 to 1959.

The information asked for is set out below:unemployed presently registering in areas inside and those registering outside the areas listed under the Local Employment Act.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Power the present difficulty restricting the production of the smokeless fuel Coalite, the production of which is well below the level of demand resulting from the clean air legislation; and whether he will make a statement.

The production of Coalite is a matter for its makers, Coalite and Chemical Products, Ltd. Other kinds of solid smokeless fuels are available and the total supply of such fuel is sufficient to meet demands, including the present requirements of smoke control areas.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of the difficulties experienced by the North Thames Gas Board in obtaining an adequate supply of the coal range suitable for the manufacture of the smokeless fuel called Clean Glow; if he will give up-to-date figures of the availability of smokeless fuel in this area; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any such difficulties in the area of the North Thames Gas Board. Last year the Board sold 187,000 tons of Clean Glow; this year it expects to sell about 250,000 tons. In addition, the Board has ample supplies of other types of coke for sale. Separate figures for other smokeless fuels are not kept for the Board's area.

asked the Prime Minister his plans with regard to the Memorial to the late Earl Lloyd George, in view of the death of the sculptor who was engaged upon it.

To obtain advice on this subject and also upon the arrangements for the Memorial to the late Earl of Balfour, I have appointed a new Committee. This will include a number of members from the separate Committees which have been advising on the two Memorials. My right hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton (Mr. Head) has agreed to act as Chairman and the following have also agreed to serve:

• The Earl of Balfour.
• Lord Bridges.
• The right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Montgomery (Mr. C. Davies).
• The right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition.
• The hon. Gentleman the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).
• The hon. Lady the Member for Carmarthen (Lady Megan Lloyd George).
• My hon. Friend the Member for Farnham (Sir G. Nicholson).
• My hon. Friend the Member for Carlton (Sir K. Pickthorn).