asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a new edition of the officially published "Manual of Nutrition" will be available.

The fifth edition of the "Manual of Nutrition" was published in March, 1959, and a second impression of this (with amendments) in January, 1960. The preparation of a further edition is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health when the last review was made for the merit awards to consultants in connection with the Centra] Middlesex Hospital.

Eligible consultants in all hospitals are reviewed annually. The 1959 review was completed recently.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in obtaining tenders for the new hospital wards and consulting rooms at the Wrekin Hospital, Wellington, Shropshire; and when the new consulting rooms will be available to the medical profession.

The scheme in hand at the Wrekin Hospital is a new out-patient department. I am informed that the regional hospital board has accepted a tender for the building work and that the scheme should be completed by the summer of 1961.

asked the Minister of Health the number of eye hospitals, or hospitals with eye departments, in the County of London, in which the dispensing optician signs prescriptions for lenses; with his initials per pro a doctor who has not tested the patient's eyes; and what action he will take to ensure that prescriptions are properly signed by the doctor who carried out the sight-test.

Detailed information in answer to the first part of the Question is not available. If the hon. Member has Form H.E.S.l in mind I would explain that this does not purport to be the original prescription; it is a combined prescription-order form which is used only where a patient chooses to go to an outside optician for dispensing. The usual procedure is for the original prescription, which forms part of the hospital's records, to be transcribed to Form H.E.S.l, which then serves as the hospital's authority to the optician to dispense glasses under the Hospital Eye Service and is endorsed by an officer of the hospital authorised for the purpose. My right hon. and learned Friend does not consider that any action on his part is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a National Health Service optician in Battersea, London, S.W.11, whose name has been provided by the hon. Member for Hull, East, tried to sell a National Health Service patient, who is an old-age pensioner, spectacles for several pounds, and did not mention National Health Service fees or show the frames; and what action he will take to ensure that this optician provides a proper National Health Service and shows the range of frames and alternative colours for spectacles price £1 10s. 3d.

These appear to be matters which should be taken up in the first instance with the London Executive Council with whom the optician is in contract.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases, during the last 12 months, of children being sight-tested under the National Health Service by an optician in Hull and wrongly advised to wear spectacles who, when examined by an ophthalmic medical practitioner, have been advised there was no reason for them to wear spectacles; and what action he will take to ensure that opticians do not endeavour to sell spectacles for children when they are not necessary.

Two cases came to notice where there was a difference of opinion on the need for glasses for children. Adequate machinery already exists to deal with any unnecessary prescribing of glasses.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers and percentages of persons unemployed in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, to the latest convenient date, indicating the nature of their previous employment and how long each has been unemployed.

292,553 in England, 28,768 for Wales and 91,867 in Scotland on 14th March. The respective percentage rates were 1·5, 3·0 and 4·3. I am writing to the hon. and learned Member about the analyses by occupation and duration of unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour, to the latest convenient date, the numbers, ages, sex, and previous employment of persons unemployed in the City and County of Aberdeen, respectively; how long each of them has been unemployed; and what steps he has taken since 24th February, 1960, to find employment for them.

I will write to the hon. and learned Member when the analysis of the statistics in respect of 14th March is completed. My local officers are continuing to bring suitable vacancies to the attention of persons registered for employment.

asked the Minister of Labour the effect on the cost-of-living index of the rise in retail prices of butter and cheese, separately, from the lowest to the highest points in 1959.

Increases of nearly half a point and just over a twentieth of a point respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Fife and Kinross Small Burghs Association on industrial development in Fife; and what reply he has sent.

I have received from the Association a copy of a resolution, passed at a conference which it convened on 22nd March, expressing concern about the prospects of redundancy in the mining industry and calling on the Government to include Fife as one of the areas to which further industry should be directed. I have acknowledged the Association's letter.The Government have no power to direct industry to any area but the announcement yesterday by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade of the addition of the Dunfermline — Cowdenbeath — Inver-keithing—Burntisland employment exchange areas and Anstruther to the list of development districts under the Local Employment Act is an indication of our desire to do all in our power to help promote further employment in those areas of Fife which are most in need of additional employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet approved the reconstitution of the National Joint Council for the Salaries of Teachers in Scotland; and what is the nature of the provision made for arbitration in case of disagreement between the two sides.

Yes. I have today approved without change the reconstitution of the National Joint Council to deal with Salaries of Teachers in Scotland. The constitution provides that, should the two sides—authorities and teachers—be unable to reach agreement on a recommendation to be made to me, either a decision may be left to the Chairman if a majority of each side agrees to this procedure, or the matter may be referred to a tribunal of three arbiters to be appointed by the Lord President of the Court of Session. The arbiters' function is to mediate between the two sides of the Council and so to provide them with an agreed recommendation to be made to me, both sides normally agreeing in advance to accept the arbiters' findings as their joint recommendation. While I am required by Statute to have regard to any recommendation made by the Council, I am not bound to accept it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details of the six schemes for converting abandoned railway lines into roadways or to other purposes.

The current proposals relate to the following routes:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what earned income would be needed today by a married man with two children between the ages of 12 and 16 years to equal earned income in 1951 of £1,000, and £2,000, respectively.

For such a person earned incomes of £1,150 and £2,250 at present would have about the same purchasing power after the payment of tax as £1,000 and £2,000 in 1951.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the representations of the Edinburgh Association of University Teachers, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Dunfermline, opposing the principle of subject differentiation in salary scales; and what action he proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend has noted these representations. As, however, he is at present considering the advice which he has received from the University Grants Committee on university academic salaries generally, I cannot yet say what action he proposes to take.