asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many qualified architects are employed on his staff who are unestablished and who have been so employed from 10 to 15 years; and if it is now his policy that they should be established.

Five, all of whom in accordance with general Civil Service rules have had opportunities to compete for established posts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the public resentment in Fairwater, Cardiff, at the proposal to grant industrial development permission for the plot of land between Fairwater Avenue and St. Fagan's Close; and whether, in view of the hardship that would be caused to those living in the area, he will refuse to sanction such development.

I understand that a petition was sent to the Cardiff City Council protesting against the council's decision to give planning permission for development on this site. I have myself received no representations, but I am now in touch with the council about this matter. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the survey for the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest for the city of Bristol under Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, was started by his investigator in the field; when it was completed by the investigator; when the statutory list was issued; and what were the reasons for the delay.

The survey was started in March, 1947, and completed in November, 1949. The statutory list was issued in January, 1959. This exceptional delay occurred mainly because there was particular difficulty in obtaining names and addresses of the owners and occupiers of the buildings on the list, and because the small staff had much other work to do as well.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps have to be taken between the completion of the investigator's survey and the issue of a statutory list under Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947; and whether he is satisfied with the rate at which lists are now being issued.

A provisional list based on the investigator's report is sent to the local authority and to preservation societies, and their comments are considered. The name and address of the owner and occupier of every building on the list has to be obtained and they are given an opportunity to make representations. Progress with this very large task is restricted by the need for economy in staff. There was a substantial increase in the number of lists issued in 1959 and my right hon. Friend hopes for a further improvement this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what development plan proposals are in being in the area of the Shearbarn and Rocklands caravan camps at Hastings.

These sites are in an area shown in the approved development plan as one where existing uses are mainly to be undisturbed. The local planning authority may consider on its merits any application for development.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will draw the attention of local authorities with long housing waiting lists to the desirability of making full use of their powers to purchase for reletting the houses of elderly people who move to one-bedroom dwellings when these houses are put on the market and can be bought at a reasonable price.

I am always ready to give loan sanction to a local authority for the purchase of a house from elderly people who are willing to move to a one-bedroom council dwelling. But I think it is important that the initiative should come from the elderly people.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will require local authorities to produce figures of housing waiting lists in conjunction with their development plans; and whether he will reject development plans where the housing density is too low to make an adequate reduction in the housing list.

It is already the practice that local planning authorities include an assessment of housing need in the data they submit to me with their development plans. Where it seems to me right to do so, I modify development plans so as to provide for a higher density; but before insisting on higher densities I must take into consideration the general character of the area and indeed the feelings of those who live there.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities have reported to him difficulties in clearing prefabricated buildings from open space owing to the overall housing problem; and what action he proposes to take to assist them.

Four local authorities have made representations to me at different times. One, the London County Council, whose task is substantial, has secured private legislation to make it possible for me, subject to public inquiry, to extend the period during which the buildings may be retained. In the case of the three remaining authorities, I am sure that their difficulties can be overcome provided the councils concerned are prepared to act with vigour.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what increase there has been during the last twelve months in the number of improvement grants made in England and Wales, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

The number of houses and flats improved with the help of grants increased in 1959 by 43,000 in England and nearly 2,000 in Wales. In all, private owners and local authorities with the help of grants undertook improvements to nearly 80,000 dwellings. This upsurge in house improvements is some measure of the success of the House Purchase and Housing Act, 1959, but I am not yet satisfied. I hope for a further increase.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses and flats in England and in Wales, respectively, were without baths at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures in 1950.

I have no figures for 1950, but in 1951 there were some 4½ million houses and flats in England and some 370,000 in Wales without a fixed bath. The best estimate I can make at present is that in England and Wales there are between 3 and 4 million in this state, of which about 250,000 are in Wales. The 1961 census will furnish up-to-date figures of the extent of the improvement over ten years.

asked the Prime Minister what reply he sent to the assurances sought by the Prime Minister of South Africa before he accepted the invitation to attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference.

I have been asked to reply.As my right hon. Friend informed the House on 24th March, the Prime Minister of South Africa recently inquired whether there would be an opportunity while he was in London to discuss certain subjects of concern to both our Governments. My right hon. Friend assured him that arrangements could be made for discussions to be held on these subjects either at full meetings or at smaller meetings.

asked the Prime Minister whether, during his recent visit to South Africa, he either visited or met natives from Sharpeville.

I have been asked to reply.No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that there is no apparatus in the island of Malta for measuring radioactivity; and, in view of recent evidence that there is a danger of radioactive sand blowing from the Sahara, if he will take steps to see that such apparatus is provided on the island.

There is in fact apparatus in Malta which is able to detect significant amounts of radioactive fall-out, but it is not suitable for measuring the very small amounts of radioactivity which might occur in sand blown from the Sahara. I am consulting the Governor about the future measuring of such radioactive fall-out as may reach Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many applications have been received under the Malta Aids to Industry Act; how many are pending decision and have been refused and granted, respectively; and why the refusals have been made.

The Aids to Industries Board has received 49 applications for aid for industrial development projects. Seven have been approved, 34 are being investigated and eight have been rejected because they did not qualify for assistance under Section 19 of the Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what difficulties the Northern Rhodesian Government are experiencing in obtaining police officers; and if he will make a statement.

The Northern Rhodesian Government are able to recruit a sufficient number of police officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now state whether he has yet decided to disallow the two restrictive ordinances proposed for Rhodesia, in view of the considerations put to him in a recent letter sent to him by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North.

As my right hon. Friend stated in his reply to the hon. and learned Member on 9th February these two ordinances have his approval, and I have nothing to add to what was said on that occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the recommendations of the Evans Commission in 1948, the economic and development programme for British Honduras prepared by Mr. David L. Gordon for the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development in 1954 and considered by the Colony's Executive Council, and the Gilmore Report on financial and economic prospects of British Honduras in 1956, have been implemented.

The two main recommendations of the Evans Commission in regard to British Honduras were the establishment of a Development Corporation largely dependent financially on the Colonial Development Corporation, and organised immigration of farming families to develop specific crops. The first of these recommendations was discussed with the Colonial Development Corporation, but it was agreed to be outside their proper scope.The second recommendation, concerning immigration, has not yet been carried out but, as a result of the Evans Commission's Report, British Honduras was given a special allocation of £850,000 from colonial development and welfare funds as a contribution towards a development plan which, it was hoped, would create conditions favourable to immigration.At the recent British Honduras Conference it was agreed in principle that the central feature of the Colony's future economic policy should be planned immigration aimed at the creation, as quickly as financial, sociological and other considerations allowed, of an agricultural economy based upon a combination of large-scale enterprises and individual smallholdings.Many of the Commission's detailed proposals to assist economic and social development in the territory have been put into effect.The report prepared by Mr. Gordon was principally an evaluation of the British Honduras Government's Development Plan, Part III, covering the period from 1955 to 1960, and was not a separate economic plan.The greater part of the recommendations of the Gilmour Report were accepted. In particular, it has been possible since 1957 to achieve the strengthening of the administration which was one of its main recommendations. Other recommendations concerned largely with agriculture, marketing and roads, have been or are still being carried out in varying degrees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he intends to report to Parliament on the recent Conference on Constitutional Advancement and Development Policy in British Honduras.

The report is being published today and copies are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what grants from the colonial development and welfare fund have been made for the encouragement of the fishing industry of Dominica; what staff is locally employed for this purpose; and what are their duties.

A grant of £17,763 was made in 1958. The Dominica Government employ for this purpose a fisheries officer, one clerk and one mechanic, and a captain and two crew for the research launch used by the fisheries officer. Their duties are to carry out research into fishing grounds and to train local fishermen in the use of powered boats, modern gear and improved techniques.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans for the establishment of factories to process copra and other coconut products have been submitted to him by the Government of Dominica.

The Administrator has informed my right hon. Friend that the Government of Dominica have no plans for establishing factories to process copra and other coconut products, but that they would be prepared to give every assistance to firms interested in such a project. He adds that a factory to process coconut fibre is in course of construction and has been granted pioneer status.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether colonial development and welfare fund money will be available to the Overseas Research Council; and what subcommittees will advise that Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what branches of the work of the Colonial Research Council will be carried on by the Overseas Research Council.

Apart from the Colonial Research Council and the Colonial Products Council, all the research committees which advised my right hon. Friend's predecessors on the expenditure of colonial development and welfare funds allocated to research continue so to advise him. These advisory research committees did not put suggestions for expenditure to the Colonial Research Council; and the question of making colonial development and welfare money available to the Overseas Research Council does not arise.The Overseas Research Council has now taken over from the Colonial Research Council the function of advising on general research policy and on co-ordinating the work of the advisory committees. There are at present no standing sub-committees of the Council itself, but it will, of course, be able to call on existing research bodies, including the Colonial Research Advisory Committee and the United Kingdom Research Councils.My right hon. Friend would like to place on record his great appreciation of the help given him so freely by the members of the Scientific Advisory Committees both inside and outside the committees themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in the case of those Kenya detainees who are classified as hard-core detainees, on what evidence they are so classified; what steps have been taken to sift this evidence; and by what means they may qualify for release.

The Kenya Government regard none of the detainees as permanently irreconcilable and all those who remain may qualify for release under the rehabilitation and review processes. Their policy in this follows the recommendations of the Fairn Committee. Release depends not only on the evidence available at the time of detention, but on a man's record, during detention. including his attitude towards rehabilitation, and on whether he still presents a danger to security in his home area and in the Colony generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the last two months in the release of the remaining detainees in Kenya.

Ninety-six detainees were released in the two months ending on 29th February. At that date 653 detainees remained in the camps.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the lack of confidence in Kenya, following the London conference, and the fact that approximately £1 million a week is being transferred out of Kenya, what action he proposes to take to restore financial stability and confidence in Kenya.

There is no evidence whatever available to the Government that £1 million a week or anything like this sum is being transferred from Kenya. The East African Currency Board estimates that since the seasonal outflow of money began at the start of 1960 telegraphic transfers from all East Africa, including Kenya, have been only about £800,000, compared with about £2½ million in the same period in 1959.My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs made clear yesterday the Government's views on maintaining stability and confidence in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the constitutional conference on the future of British Guiana.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the progress of the talks with the Ministers from British Guiana; and why the talks wore not continued on the morning of Thursday, 24th March.

The conference is still at work. It has never been suspended, though from time to time changes in its programme have been made in order to meet the convenience of the Conference and of members themselves. A report will be issued as soon as possible after the conference comes to an end.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what control the Hong Kong Colonial Government have over the system of engaging seamen in the port of Hong Kong.

The Governor has powers of control under Part III and Section 114 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present quota of Nyasas permitted to be recruited for work in the Union of South Africa: whether this quota is now fully taken up; and what arrangements exist for these recruits to be returned to Nyasaland should they so desire.

The information is not available, but the Governor is being consulted and my right hon. Friend will write to the hon. Member when he receives it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the persons detained in Nyasaland under emergency powers have been released subject to restrictions; and if he will indicate the nature of such restrictions.

Three hundred and seventy-six of the Africans released from detention are subject to control orders made under Section 25 of the Emergency Regulations. Control orders generally provide for the restriction of the person concerned to a specified area and require him to report to a particular officer at stated periods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what current steps are being taken to guard against the repetition of the recent emergencies in Mauritius, having regard to the fact that the island lies in the pathway of storms and cyclones.

Cyclone warnings are broadcast in time to enable all possible precautionary measures to be carried out. Relief and refuge centres are established and manned, and every effort is made to minimise the extent of the damage and to undertake immediate relief and repair work. I am asking the Governor to let me know in the light of his recent experience whether improvements can be made to the standing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Works what progress he has made in his consultations with the Minister of Transport about the provision of an underground car park in the north-east corner of Hyde Park.

My right hon. Friend and I have examined the problems of amenity and the need for statutory provision likely to arise from such a project, and are now satisfied that these are capable of solution. My right hon. Friend is now looking further into the technical and economic aspects.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is proposing to take to widen to the fullest extent possible the entrance at Storey's Gate, St. James's Park, in view of the traffic congestion that now takes place at this point.

At the request of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and in consultation with the Westminster City Council, I have had the entrance widened to take four lines of traffic. The widened portion will be opened to traffic when the Westminster City Council have completed the corresponding widening of Great George Street later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received concerning the future of Moray House Demonstration School; and what replies he has given.

A deputation from the parents of children attending the school submitted a further memorandum when they met officers of my Department on 10th March. I am studying the memorandum together with detailed information on accommodation which I have received from the college governors, and I shall make known my decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has made to the representations he received from the Newhaven Kipperers and Herring Merchants Association concerning future price policy.

No reply has yet been sent because the Association's representations and the draft minimum price rules against which they are directed are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far, on average, the actual rents of the different sizes of council houses in Scotland fall short of the corresponding notional economic rents; to what extent such shortfall is borne by local rates; and what steps he proposes to take to lessen the consequent charge on ratepayers.

Averaged over all local authority houses in occupation during 1958–59, the gross annual expenditure from housing revenue accounts was £69 per house. Of this sum, Exchequer housing subsidies defrayed £23 per house, while rent receipts averaged £19 6s. The balance of £26 14s. was almost wholly met from local rates, or from rates together with Exchequer Equalisation Grant in areas where that grant was payable.Local authorities are responsible by statute for fixing the rents of their houses. I have frequently made clear my view that subsidised rents are inappropriate for those who stand in no need of such assistance from public funds, but I am not in a position to take formal action save in quite exceptional circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to ensure the placing of long-term contracts abroad, he will make a declaration now that sheet steel will continue to be imported duty free in 1961.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the importance of this matter to the industries which use sheet steel. As soon as he receives an application for the extension of the present exemption from duty he will give it speedy and sympathetic consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of (he continued unemployment in Aberdeen and the number of workers leaving Aberdeen seeking work, what special steps he has taken during the last month to meet their need by encouraging new industries and the expansion of existing industries in and about the city of Aberdeen.

The Board of Trade has continued in its efforts to encourage new industrial development in Aberdeen. One industrial development certificate has been approved in the last month for a project which is estimated to create 30 additional jobs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of bacon imported from Denmark for the latest three-months' period; and what was the amount for the corresponding period twelve months ago.

69,700 tons in the three months December, 1959, to February, 1960, and 55,500 tons in the corresponding period twelve months ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of pig meat imported from Canada for the latest three-months' period; and what was the amount for the corresponding period twelve months ago.

Two hundredweight in the three months December, 1959, to February, 1960, and ninety-three hundredweight in the corresponding period a year earlier.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has made to the representations sent to him by Kilmarnock Trades Council that Kilmarnock should be listed as a locality eligible for assistance under the Local Employment Act.

The Trades Council has been told that the Board of Trade do not regard Kilmarnock as a place where high and persistent unemployment exists or is threatened: it cannot, therefore, be listed as a locality eligible for assistance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of cinemas closed in the years 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959, respectively.

The numbers for the years 1955 to 1958 are 93, 224, 216, and 261, respectively. The provisional figure for 1959 is 485.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who will be the members forming the Committee of Inquiry into Resale Price Maintenance; and what are their qualifications.

The inquiry will be conducted by those officials within the Board of Trade who are most concerned with this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what way the new inquiry into resale price maintenance will differ from the inquiries already made during recent years, such as those of the Lloyd Jacob Committee and the Monopolies Commission; and whether the report of the new inquiry will be made public before any action is decided upon.

Previous inquiries have been to a large extent concerned with the arguments for and against resale price maintenance, but the present inquiry is, as I indicated to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. W. Clark) on 17th March, intended to elicit the facts, particularly in relation to the extent and effects of individual resale price maintenance as at present practised. The inquiry will be confidential.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the benefits by direct or subsidiary contracts in industry and employment which will result to Aberdeen and North-East Scotland from the motor car manufacturers expansion projects in Scotland in recent months.

I am unable to give any estimate, since it is for firms themselves to seek out suitable contracts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why marble travertine and ecaussine building stone is subject to a Customs duty at 1½ per cent., while marble chippings are allowed in free of duty and travertine and ecaussine and other calcareous stone chippings are subject to a Customs duty of 10 per cent;(2)what is the distinction between marble chippings and other stone chippings such as travertine and ecaussine; and why marble chippings are admitted to this country free of duty while other calcareous chippings are subject to duty at 10 per cent. Under Item 25.17 of the Customs tariff dated 1st January, 1959;why he has instructed his officers to draw a distinction for tariff purposes between marble chippings and chippings of other calcareous stone; whether he is aware that this new policy causes confusion; and whether he will take steps to abolish this distinction and restore to the free list all those chippings which are known to the trade as marble chippings.

Under the Import Duties Act, 1932, imports of foreign marble, travertine and ecaussine stone and chippings were charged with the basic 10 per cent. general ad valorem duty. From November, 1956, as a result of tariff commitments under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, unworked marble became dutiable at 7½ per cent. ad valorem and marble chippings were made free of duty.The Brussels Nomenclature distinguishes between marble, travertine and ecaussine, and this distinction was therefore adopted in the tariff which was introduced with effect from 1st January, 1959. At that time the Board of Trade received representations, which were accepted, in favour of extending the rate of 7½ per cent. ad valorem to travertine and ecaussine stones but no request was received in respect of travertine and ecaussine chippings. Importers of travertine and ecaussine chippings have now asked for a change in the duty and this is being considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why clothes are generally subject to Purchase Tax at 5 per cent. whereas carpets attract Purchase Tax at 12½ per cent., both being integral parts of the textiles group.

I dealt with the reasons underlying the scheme of Purchase Tax rates during the passage of the last two Finance Bills. Neither the 5 per cent. tax on clothing nor the 12½ per cent. tax on floor coverings is confined to textile articles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many different rates of Purchase Tax are applicable to the products of the toilet preparations and cosmetics industry; whether the packages invariably attract Purchase Tax; and, having regard to inequalities in this field, what steps he proposes to take to secure appropriate reform and uniformity.

The applicable rates are 25 per cent. and 50 per cent. of the wholesale value which includes the value of any container. I do not propose to anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the domestic bath attracts no Purchase Tax whereas special bath accessories for elderly and infirm persons and invalids, such as bath assistance rails and bath seat-aids attract Purchase Tax at the rate of 12½ per cent., and a bath seat at the rate of 5 per cent. Purchase Tax; and why these categories of aids are subject to Purchase Tax at different rates.

The bath is a builder's fixture; the other articles named are chargeable as domestic hardware or toiletware, but of course chairs and seats are chargeable at 5 per cent. only.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the type of goods now in the group carrying the lowest Purchase Tax level; and how much he estimates the Treasury would lose in revenue if this group of items were freed from Purchase Tax.

Clothing and furniture; my Budget estimate for Purchase Tax included approximately £55 million in respect of goods liable at this rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer pending his decision on additional categories of persons to whom post-war credits may be payable, if he will seek discretionary powers to authorise repayment of post-war credits to individual cases of hardship in the category of cases of long-term sickness.

I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amounts received in Entertainment Tax from cinemas, for the years 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1958 respectively, and the amount for 1959 at the latest convenient date.

The following are the figures:

Calendar Year	Approximate receipts of entertainments duty from cinemas
	£m.
1955	33·8
1956	34·2
1957*	28·3
1958*	15·9
1959†	7·9
*The rates of duty were reduced during these years.
†A rebate of the first £20 duty payable in any one week was given from 7th June, 1959.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications were received for help under the

—		1951–52	1958–59	1959–60 to 19th March
		£'000	£'000	£'000
Total cost of interest and management of National Debt	…	561,270	868.773	851,676
Interest met from receipts of interest on Exchequer loans to local authorities, nationalised industries and other borrowers	…	47,671	206,096	228,884
Interest and management met from revenue	…	513,599	662,677	622,792
		Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Bank Rate at beginning of year	…	2	6	4
Changes of Bank Rate: new rates and dates of changes	…	2½ 8.11.51	5½ 22. 5.58	5 21. 1.60
		4 12. 3.52	5 19. 6.58
			4½ 14. 8.58
			4 4.11.58

As to the last part of the Question, if Bank Rate and yields on Government debt reverted today to their levels of 1st April, 1951, that would have no effect on the cost of servicing the debt outstanding today; it would have some effect on the cost of servicing any debt issued after today, the amount of which effect would depend upon the amounts and forms of debt issued, and is therefore unpredictable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to protect the

Seven firm and eligible applications have been received of which two have been approved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of interest paid on the National Debt in the financial year 1951–52; what was the Bank Rate; what are the latest figures; and how much he estimates the Treasury would save if interest paid on this debt were reduced to its 1951–52 level.

The following are the figures:public against exploitation by unscrupulous estate agents, he will introduce legislation to make compulsory the registration of estate agents.

I understand that some of the professional bodies concerned have been considering the possibility of legislation; I should prefer to await their proposals before considering the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the concern already demonstrated in the country for the success of World Refugee Year, if he will increase the number of refugees with tuberculosis which he is prepared to allow to enter the United Kingdom.

I cannot at this stage acid to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. Randall) on 10th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Minister of Trade and Industry of British Guiana, regarding the treatment which he and other members of the British Guiana delegation received from the police outside South Africa House on 23rd March; and what reply has been sent to him.

Dr. Jagan and some of his colleagues called on me yesterday to complain of their treatment by the police when attempting to lodge a protest with the High Commissioner for South Africa. While undertaking to look into certain matters which Dr. Jagan raised, I said that I was satisfied, from police reports and the statements of independent witnesses, that the police had carried out a difficult task with all possible consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the future of the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board.

Yes. The Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board was established in February, 1957, under the chairmanship of Lord Colyton, for the relief and resettlement of British subjects fxom Egypt, and later became responsible also for the payment of ex-gratia loans under the schemes announced by the Government in July, 1957, and October, 1958. I am glad to say that nearly all the persons who came within the care of the Board have now been resettled and the bulk of payments under the loan schemes have been distributed. In these circumstances, the Government have decided, with the agreement of the Board and after making careful provision for its residual activities, to bring it formally to an end. with effect from 31st March. No provision has therefore been included in the Home Office Vote for a grant-in-aid to the Board in the next financial year.I should like, on behalf of the Government, to pay a warm tribute to the great success with which Lord Colyton and his colleagues have carried out a difficult task and to express our gratitude to them and to the many voluntary organisations and individuals who have contributed to their work.There remain only 24 persons for whom the Board sees no immediate possibility of resettlement. I am glad to say that the Anglo-Egyptian Aid Society and the Jewish Refugees Committee have agreed to assume responsibility for the further care of these people. Her Majesty's Government have authorised the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board to make capital grants to these organisations to enable them to continue their help to refugees from Egypt.As regards other residual matters, provision has been made for the Foreign Office to make any advances required in the next financial year to persons whose pension payments from Egypt may temporarily be held up, or whose applications for

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what special instructions have been issued to the Metropolitan Police in the last week about the protection of the occupants of South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London;(2) what special instructions have been issued to the Metropolitan Police in the last week about the treatment of citizens

demonstrating against

It is the duty of the police at all times to take steps necessary to preserve public order and to prevent obstruction. It would be contrary to practice to disclose the special instructions, if any, given by the Commissioner of Police on a particular occasion.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state for each year from 1960 to 1970 the estimated number of extra teachers which will be provided if the present expansion of training college places from 23,000 to 39,000 is completed by 1963, and a further 8,000 places are provided by 1967.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday. If the present expansion of training college places were completed by 1963 and 8,000 places were provided so as to begin producing teachers in 1967, the estimate for each of the years 1966, 1968 and 1969 would be increased by a further 3,600.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of vacancies in each grade of his scientific and engineering staff which it has not been possible to fill during the last twelve months.

Fifteen open competition vacancies for executive engineer and five for scientific officer or senior scientific officer remain unfilled. In general, there was no difficulty with lower grades.