asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what number of pupils in schools in Tanganyika were successful in passing either the General Certificate of Education or an examination of similar standard in 1959.

Seven hundred and sixteen pupils in schools in Tanganyika were successful in the Cambridge Joint Examination in 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what projects for the construction of feeder roads to assist banana producers to get their products to the main roads have been submitted to him by the Government of Dominica.

Numerous projects for the construction of feeder roads in Dominica have been submitted to successive Secretaries of State and approved since 1950. Over £140,000 has been given from Colonial Development and Welfare funds and further grants have been approved for road equipment and staff which have been employed partially on these projects. Local funds have also contributed to the cost. These roads have all been given priority because they will directly assist the movement of the main agricultural crops, bananas and citrus. They are now completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when elections under the new Constitution of Dominica will be held.

It was agreed at the Constitutional Conference in June, 1959, that a general election should be held in Dominica within a reasonable time after the 1st June, 1960. That is the earliest time possible to allow for the preparation of new electoral lists for the new constituencies which the Conference agreed should be created.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Governor of Hong Kong has exercised his powers of control over the system of engaging seamen under Part III and Section 114 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1953.

The traditional method of recruiting through agents is favoured by the majority of both seamen and shipowners, and enforcement of the law is difficult because local custom cannot readily be changed. Despite these difficulties, however, the Hong Kong Government is doing all it can to get the practice of direct recruitment of seamen extended.

asked the Prime Minister if, as a result of his talks in Washington, he will make a new approach to the Six with a view to avoiding a split in Western Europe.

I have always made our position on this matter clear— namely that we should deplore a split in Western Europe. The immediate problem of what is to happen on 1st July is being studied by the special Trade Committee in Paris. We and our partners in the European Free Trade Association shall lose no opportunity of exploring with the Governments of the Six any longer-term solution which seems likely to be acceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he has made during the last two months, and what further changes he plans to make, in the constitution, personnel and functions of the North Eastern Regional Hospital Board and the relevant local boards of management of hospitals in the Aberdeen area.

The only changes have been the appointment of two new members to the Regional Board, and twelve to boards of management, in place of retiring members. No further changes are planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now announce his policy for ensuring that public money, in the form of grants and subsidies, goes to those most in need, with particular reference to fanning subsidies, industrial derating, and housing improvement grants.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to a similar Question on Thursday, 24th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he will take under Section 129 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950, in view of the failure of the Dumbarton County Council to discharge adequately its duty to review and make such changes as may be required in the rents of its four-apartment houses, which are now let at 2s. 10d. per week.

Questions arising out of the obligations of local authorities under the Housing Acts in this connection are constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent before deciding on specifications for approach roads to the Forth Road Bridge he had tests made of possible improvements in visibility of kerbs in order to ensure the maximum safety for drivers.

No special tests have been made for this purpose. The consulting engineers for the Forth Road Bridge are calling for kerbs according to British Standard No. 340 which forms part of the normal specification for roads. They are also engaged in research into local sources of supply for kerb and kerbing materials with the object of ensuring that within the specification the most durable and visible kerb is used.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that local authorities are having to pay thousands of pounds in the form of housing improvement grants to individuals without regard to means; and, in view of the increasing rate burdens now being borne by local authorities, whether he will empower them to award such grants on the same basis as that used by the National Assistance Board.

No. Improvement grants are a valuable means of helping to maintain at small cost to public funds, an adequate stock of houses equipped with modern amenities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the effect of a recent decision in the Court of Session in the case of Park v. Colvilles Limited, on the Legal Aid Scheme; and what steps he now proposes to take to ensure that all expenses reasonably incurred by an agent for protection of his client's interests will be met.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the decision in this case, but as it does not appear to alter what has been the situation ever since the Legal Aid Scheme first started, he does not consider there are any steps he need take in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total amount of new valuation which has been created by the building of municipal houses since 1919, and also the new valuation created by the building of privately-owned houses over the same period.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what criteria he makes his decisions whether applications for liquor licences conform to the principle of disinterested management.

When I receive an application for authority to sell or supply liquor on a commercial basis in a State Management District under Section 82 (1) (b) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act, 1959, I consider it carefully to see whether there are any circumstances which would justify departing from the principle of disinterested management which such sale or supply if authorised would necessarily involve. For a case in which I granted authority to provide a particular facility, I refer my hon. Friend to Column 809 of the OFFICIAL REPORT of 24th March. 1960.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the duty on mono-ammonium phosphate.

An application for the reduction of import duty on mono-ammonium phosphate is at present being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of eggs imported for the latest four-weekly period, and the number imported for the corresponding period last year.

Four-weekly figures are not available. The figures for the month of February this year and last in great hundreds were 62,369 and 77,642 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how frequent will be the reviews concerning the list of development districts under the Local Employment Act.

The list will be kept under regular review in the light of the criterion laid down in Section 1 (2) of the Act and changed whenever the situation requires.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now prepared to review the case of Bude for inclusion into the list of areas qualifying for assistance under the Local Employment Act, 1960, in view of the high level of unemployment now existing in that area.

My right hon. Friend has looked again at this but cannot depart from his Answer of the 18th February since when employment in Bude has improved seasonally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what conclusions he has reached concerning the unemployment situation in the Gateshead district since the beginning of March; what information he has of new industries coming to the area; and what steps he is taking to reduce this high and persistent unemployment;(2) whether, in view of the increase of unemployment in Gateshead since the middle of February, he will reconsider his decision not to include that town in the list of development areas.

In the South Tyne West travel-to-work area, which includes Gateshead, the rate of unemployment fell from 4·1 per cent. in February to 3·6 per cent. in March. Separate percentages are not available for Gateshead itself, but the number unemployed there fell during the same period from 2,012 to 1,795. Developments in hand or projected for the wider South Tyne West area are expected to provide over 2,500 new jobs—most of them in Gateshead— during the next year or two. It is therefore not a place in which high and persistent unemployment exists or is to be expected and, while we should be prepared to see new industry set up in the district, priority must be given to places with more serious unemployment problems.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the desirability of taking powers to give directions to the Bank of England regarding the design of bank notes to be issued.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to a reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury last Thursday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been invested by British firms in countries of the European Economic Community during the twelve months ended 31st December, 1959, or the latest convenient date; how this figure compares with the previous twelve months; and what are the comparable figures for the investment by the countries of the European Economic Community in this country.

According to information at present available it is estimated that investment by United Kingdom firms in countries of the European Economic Community was about £55 million in 1959 and £35 million in 1958. Investment by these countries in the United Kingdom was of the order of £5 million in 1959 and £50 million—nearly all of this due to one exceptional transaction —in 1958.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the level of United States investment in the United Kingdom during the twelve months ended 31st December, 1959, or the latest convenient date; what are the comparable figures for Canada; what are the comparable figures for investment by the United Kingdom in the United States of America and Canada, respectively; and, in each case, what are the comparable figures for the previous twelve months.

According to information at present available net private long-term investment by the United States in the United Kingdom was about £75 million in 1959 and £60 million in 1958; the corresponding figures for Canada were £15 million and £10 million respectively. United Kingdom net private long-term investment in the Unied States is estimated at £10 million in 1959 and £20 million in 1958, while such investment in Canada was about £30 million in each year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of applications for assistance under the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee Scheme received from the South Wales Development Area; and how many of such applications have been granted to the latest convenient date.

Under the Distribution of Industry Acts, 1945 to 1958, the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee received from places in the South Wales Development Area a total of 107 applications under Section 4 of the 1945 Act and 19 applications under the 1958 Act. Thirty and four respectively of these applications had been granted at 31st March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will draw the attention of local authorities to the desirability of making greater use of their powers to provide 100 per cent. mortgages.

My experience is that authorities are well aware of their powers, but whether they should use them to make a 100 per cent. advance in any particular case must, I think, be left to their discretion. I would however hope that they would consider sympathetically applications from elderly people who may have difficulty in borrowing from other sources.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that, under the provisions of the Housing Act, 1957, the owner-occupier of a house included in a clearance order is obliged to pay for the demolition of his house out of the compensation which he receives and, that in most cases, the site is of little value because it is so small; and if he will take steps to relieve such tenants of this charge.

Owners of houses subject to clearance and demolition orders have always been responsible for the cost of demolition. I do not think this unreasonable, seeing that the land remains in their possession; but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many dwellings for older people enjoying a special subsidy were under construction in England and Wales, respectively, at the latest convenient date; and how these figures compare with the numbers under construction in April, 1957, and 1958.

There were 39,130 one-bedroom dwellings for which subsidy is paid under construction or in tenders approved in England on 31st December, 1959, and 1,337 in Wales. Comparable figures for 31st March, 1957, and 31st March, 1958, were 25,476 and 27,234 for England, and for Wales 498 and 937.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many housing authorities in Wales have applied for his special discretionary subsidy; and how many of these applications have been granted, and how many refused.

Sixty-seven have applied, of which 49 have had at least one application approved. Applications from the other 18 have been refused.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the number of houses designated for slum clearance in Cardiff during the next year; and what provision for alternative sites for building purposes is contained in the development plan for Cardiff.

It is a matter for the Cardiff Corporation to decide how many unfit houses will be cleared during the next year but as there are 251 houses included in confirmed compulsory purchase orders, it is reasonable to assume that most of these will be dealt with. I understand that there is not likely to be any difficulty about the provision of land to meet the resulting housing requirements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses and flats were under construction and out to tender, respectively, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 1st April, 1960, or on the latest date for which he has statistics.

At 29th February, 1960, 260 houses and 951 flats were in course of building, and tenders for 1,170 flats had been submitted to the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to financially assisting local authorities desirous of clearing colliery spoil heaps.

Provision is made under Section 5 (3) of the Local Employment Act, 1960, for grant to be paid in certain circumstances towards the cost of schemes for the restoration of derelict land in development districts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he intends to ask local authorities, particularly in coal mining areas, what progress is being made to effect improvements of colliery spoil heaps.

Before Easter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that a group of South Yorkshire local authorities are co-ordinating their activities to effect improvements of colliery spoil heaps; to what extent he is giving them advice and assistance; and whether he will circularise all other local authorities confronted with this problem to act likewise so that a concerted programme of activity can be agreed upon.

My right hon. Friend knows of these conferences and has met representatives of the authorities. While keen to see progress, he does not think a circular on the lines suggested necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish the information about the programmes for making smoke control orders, which he asked all local authorities in the black areas of England and Wales to furnish to him.

I have still not had replies from all the local authorities concerned, but I think there would be advantage now in publishing the information which has been supplied. I propose to do this within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what new powers he is proposing to take to preserve the green belts around the cities and larger towns in England and Wales, respectively.

I have adequate powers already, both in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is now able to announce his decision on the application made by the Birmingham City Council for planning permission to develop some 2,400 acres in the Wythall area for industry and housing.

I have decided to reject this application on the ground that the development would mean a serious incursion into land which ought to form part of the green belt round Birmingham. Such development may prove unavoidable if no other way can be found to meeting Birmingham's great need. But I am not convinced that decentralisation of industry and housing beyond the green belt is impracticable. In the letter conveying my decision, I have offered to discuss with the authorities concerned ways and means of accelerating provision for this movement of people and industry out of the city. I have also made it clear that the decision does not imply that in my view all the land contained in the application ought necessarily to be included in the green belt.

asked the Secretary State for Foreign Affairs if it is now known how many Scots of both sexes perished or were injured in the Agadir earthquake; and if he will give particulars.

The numbers are not known with absolute certainty, but we know that one Scotsman and one Scotswoman, Commander and Mrs. J. A. Paul, were killed. One Scotswoman, Mrs. H. J. Dunsmuir, who has been missing since the earthquake, is feared to have perished.One Scotsman, Mr. Dunsmuir, escaped with minor injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the total number, all ranks, of those employed, whether established or unestablished, in the Foreign Office today, and of those employed in 1938.

Total numbers of staff employed by the Foreign Office in London today and in 1938 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will set out in tabular form, country by country, a comparative statement of the total staff, including those recruited locally, of each British embassy or legation overseas showing the difference in numbers today and in 1938.

A table giving the number of staff paid by the Foreign Office at each British embassy and legation abroad is below. As I have explained to my hon. Friend it is not practicable to produce figures for 1938.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he has in mind for ensuring that the technical problems of the food industry are brought to the notice of the Agricultural Research Council, now that the Council has assumed responsibility for the three Government research stations concerned with the handling and processing of foodstuffs.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have decided to set up a Committee to assist them in advising the Agricultural Research Council on priorities in Government food research. The Committee will be under the chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and will have a membership drawn from persons with experience of the food industry or qualified in the allied sciences. The Committee will be known as the Food Research Advisory Committee. Its terms of reference will be:

"To advise on those food problems (except for fish, which is dealt with separately) requiring investigation or research which should be undertaken with the aid of public funds, and to make recommendations as to the priorities to be accorded to such problems".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the progress of negotiations with other members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation concerning bilateral agreements on passport-free travel.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have signed agreements with the Governments of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands under which nationals of those countries, from 10th April, 1960, may come to this country without passports for social or holiday visits of up to three months. Instead of passports they will be able to use their identity cards in association with special visitors cards which are being printed and distributed by the British Travel and Holidays Association. The visitors cards will be available free of charge.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an occupational analysis of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at the Crewe and district employment exchanges, for the latest convenient date, together with the number of unemployed men and women, respectively; what percentage of the estimated total number of employees are unemployed; and what was the national percentage unemployment figure at the same date.

At 14th March there were 293 males and 273 females registered as unemployed at Crewe Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office. The total of 566 represented 1·9 per cent. of the estimated total number of employees in the area, the same percentage rate as for Great Britain. The following table shows the number of vacancies for men and women aged 18 and over notified to Crewe Employment Exchange and remaining unfilled at 14th March:

asked the Minister of Labour how many apprenticeship schemes, and in what industries, have been established; the number of boys entering apprenticeships as a percentage of the total number entering employment at the nearest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement.

One hundred and twenty-two. As the list of industries is rather long, I will, with permission, send it to the hon. Member. The percentage of boys entering apprenticeship and other forms of training for skilled occupations was 33·6 in 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour when the last Remploy Factory was completed in Wales.

May, 1950.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total number of persons in Glasgow at present in receipt of retirement pensions and the number who are having such pensions supplemented by National Assistance; and the average amount of such supplementation.

Statistics relating to the numbers of retirement pensioners and to the average amount of National Assistance grants are not available for particular areas. At 29th March, 1960, 24,894 weekly National Assistance grants were being paid to retirement pensioners in the City of Glasgow and some adjoining areas also served by the Glasgow offices of the National Assistance Board. Some of the grants provided for a household with more than one pensioner.

asked the Minister of Power how many licensed mines are in production in the anthracite coalfield in South Wales; how many men are employed in them; and what was their total output in 1959.

Fifty-two, employing about 600 men. Their output in 1959 was 196,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Power the figure of manpower recruitment and wastage in the coal mines of South Wales to the latest convenient date this year.

In the eight weeks ended 27th February, 1960, excluding inter-colliery transfers recruitment was 1,819 and wastage 2,622.

asked the Minister of Power how many young persons between 16 and 18 years of age have been recruited into the coal mines of South Wales to the latest convenient date for this year.

In the eight weeks ended 27th February, 1960, 481 young persons under 18 were recruited. Separate figures are not available for the age group 16 to 18.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now been able to reconsider the requests for the abolition of the "No-waiting" signs in the High Street, Stony Stratford; and when orders will be given for their removal.

I have not yet completed my consultations with the Wolverton Urban District Council and the Buckinghamshire Police on the representations made to me to revoke or suspend the Restricted Waiting Order in High Street, Stony Stratford. A further meeting with those concerned is to be arranged shortly.