asked the Minister of Works, if he will state the estimated cost of providing an annunciator in the Members' Lounge at 7, Old Palace Yard.

About £1,200.

asked the Minister of Works what was the cost of hiring chairs for Westminster Hall for use on 7th April; and how much this is per chair.

1,706 chairs were hired at 1s. 3d. each, a total of £106 12s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Works when he hopes to bring before the House his proposals for improving the accommodation for the staffs of the kitchen department.

Shortly after the Easter Recess.

asked the Prime Minister if he will set up a committee to investigate the possibility of combining the functions of the Colonial Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office in a single Department of State.

The distribution of functions within the Government is a matter which I keep under constant review; but I doubt whether it would be helpful to set up a committee of this nature at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now consider the appointment of a Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry for Science in the House of Commons.

I have this possibility in mind. Of course, the hon. Gentleman no doubt realises that legislation may be required.

asked the Prime Minister if, in order to provide the material for an improved accountability of the Executive to Parliament, he will cause each of the Departmental Ministers to issue an annual report covering the operations of his Department.

Several Departments already produce annual reports covering all or selected parts of their respective fields of operation. There may be advantage from time to time in extending these arrangements, but I do not think that it would serve any useful purpose to require these reports over the whole range of departmental responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take, following his consultations with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, about the problems of those island and other areas not yet served with electricity supply.

As the hon. Member was informed on 23rd March last, my officials and those of the Board are examining the problem. Until the results of that examination are known, I cannot say what action may be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the Herring Industry Board regarding the special difficulties at present facing them through increasing competition from imported fishmeal supplies; and what steps are being taken to ensure the continuing full use of their processing plants in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland on 16th February (Sir D. Robertson). The Government are at present reviewing the whole situation in consultation with the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the composition of the committee of inquiry into the fire in Kelvingrove on Monday, 28th March, and their terms of reference.

I cannot usefully add to the reply given today to a Question by the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fire in Kelvingrove on Monday, 28th March, if he will state the number of bonded stores concentrated in the constituency; and whether he is satisfied with the safety precautions there, in view of the possible recurrence of such a disaster.

I am informed that there are now fifteen bonded warehouses in the Kelvingrove constituency. Safety precautions for the protection of workers in factories or warehouses under the Factories Acts fall within the province of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the British Standard No. 340 was established; and whether, in view of the greater visibility of reflecting kerbs, he will have his specifications revised to ensure the greatest visibility and safety now possible.

British Standard Specification No. 340 was issued in 1950. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave him on 15th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to attract firms to the industrial estates at Irvine and Kilwinning, in view of the continued high unemployment in these areas.

Irvine and Kilwinning are listed as development districts under the Local Employment Act, and the Board of Trade will continue to encourage industrial development there as in other places of high unemployment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on bacon imports from Poland during 1960.

Under an interim trading arrangement between Poland and the United Kingdom, these imports are subject to a quota of 20,000 tons for the first half of 1960. Arrangements for imports thereafter will be the subject of negotiations covering trade generally between the two countries which will, I hope, begin shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement of the Government's consideration of the applications which have been made for increased import duties on tomatoes and lettuce.

I cannot at present add to my reply of 23rd February last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now considered the report of the Bankruptcy Law Amendment Committee; and whether he proposes to give effect to the Committee's recommendations.

The Report is still under consideration. There is little prospect of early legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state in tabular form how much British agricultural produce by volume and value was exported in 1959 in respect of each commodity, differentiating whether in raw or processed form.

As my hon. Friend knows, I have written to him about this and am making the information for which he asks available in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase, in real terms, in the Civil and Defence Estimates, respectively, between 1952–53 and 1959–60; and what the increase will be in the next financial year.

The Defence Estimates for 1959–60 were about 22 per cent. lower in real terms than the corresponding estimates for 1952–53. The estimates for 1960–61 show an increase of 4 per cent. over 1959–60.A substantial proportion of expenditure under Civil Estimates consists of transfer payments which cannot properly be expressed in real terms. Government expenditure in real terms on goods and services (as defined in the National Income Blue Books, and excluding defence) was 15 per cent. higher in 1959–60 than in 1952–53. Expenditure in 1960–61 is expected to increase by about 4½ per cent. compared with 1959–60.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the revenue of investment allowances, and initial allowances, respectively, during the year 1960–61.

The cost to the Revenue in 1960–61 of investment allowances is estimated at £90 million. The gross cost to the Revenue of initial allowances is estimated at £95 million, but the effect will be that smaller annual allowances will be given in subsequent years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning coinage employed in connection with the sale of packets of cigarettes of popular brands from automatic vending machines; and what reply he has made.

I have received a small number of representations about the difficulty of modifying automatic vending machines following the increase in the price of cigarettes, including letters from an hon. Member, from the Automatic Vending Machines Association and from two machine manufacturers. I have taken note of these representations, but I am afraid that this is a matter in which I could not intervene.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make available, in advance of the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, estimates of the proposed capital expenditure on the nationalised industries during the next few years on the basis of present policies and prices.

The Electricity Council, the two Scottish Electricity Boards, the National Coal Board and the Gas Council have all published brochures in recent months in explanation of their plans, and this information has been made known to Parliament in debates on the legislation which has been needed in order to extend the borrowing powers of these bodies. The estimated amounts of capital expenditure and of Exchequer borrowing needed to help finance it are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take to give greater security of tenure to occupants of tied cottages and other service dwellings for whom no suitable alternative accommodation is available.

It is the normal practice for local authorities to give special consideration to the housing needs of those who have to leave such accommodation through no fault of their own. This coupled with the maintenance of a high level of new house-building, provides a more equitable approach to the problems of such families than to deny the landlord possession of a house required for the accommodation of another employee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will indicate the particular alternatives he had in mind when rejecting Birmingham's application to develop land for housing at Wythall; and to what extent he will finance a new town.

In the letter conveying my decision I have offered to arrange for discussions with the authorities concerned on ways and means of accelerating provisions for the movement of industry and people out of Birmingham. I think it will be best for the various possibilities to emerge in the course of these discussions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the latest advice he has received about the safety level for the discharge of radioactive waste into rivers and sewers; to what extent the safety level has been changed in the last six years; and what steps he takes to keep local authorities and river boards informed on the matter.

The last comprehensive advice I received was published last November in paragraphs 109 to 132 of the Appendix to Command Paper 884: "The Control of Radioactive Wastes". Paragraph 12 of that Paper makes it plain that it is not my practice to set an upper limit of safety within which producers of radioactive waste may discharge at will. Local authorities and river boards who approach my Department are given the advice that is appropriate to the particular case.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take to encourage traders selling wrapped goods, including mobile ice-cream salesmen, to provide easily accessible receptacles for wrappings in order to reduce the amount of litter in public places.

Some manufacturers of wrapped goods, including ice cream, already provide receptacles. My right hon. Friend hopes that many others will follow this excellent example.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his official visit to Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his visit to Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland; and when he expects to implement constitutional advance in these two protectorates.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply of 5th April to Questions by the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) and the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt). I regret that I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary's statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that on St. George's Day, 15th April, the date on which the Island of Malta received the award of the George Cross, a set of new postage stamps has been issued each year, the benefits from the proceeds from the sale of these George Cross stamps being given to the dependants of Maltese civilians killed through enemy action; why these were not issued this year; and what alternative help is being given to these dependants.

Yes. No special issue is being made this year to avoid clashing with the Pauline Celebrations issue and a further issue commemorating the centenary of the first Malta stamp. The net proceeds from the sale of George Cross stamps were used to provide supplementary benefits to war victims and their dependants.The Malta Government are seeking an alternative method of providing such supplementary benefits, which are of course additional to benefits at established rates to which those concerned are entitled under the Malta Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the police federation established in Malta in 1955 ceased to function when the last meeting took place; and what machinery has been set up in its place by which the police can seek redress of their grievances.

The Governor is being consulted and my right hon. Friend will write to the hon. Member when his reply has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what charges have been made against Mayoa Abeck and Youpa Louis, arrested by British authorities in the Southern Cameroons.

Mayoa Beck and Youpa Louis have been charged with entering the Southern Cameroons illegally, convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment each.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the reason for the arrest of the secretary of the One Kamerun Party in Tiko and the confiscation of documents from the headquarters of this party in the Southern Cameroons.

Under the provisions of the Nigerian Criminal Code, the Nigeria Police on 30th March entered premises where a meeting of an unlawful society was being held, and took possession of certain documents. A Mr. Epeye, who admitted owning the documents, was arrested and has been remanded in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what are the exact differences in duties now performed by an assistant secretary on scale A in the Aden Secretariat and those performed by an assistant secretary on scale B;(2) if he will consider making it a general rule that assistant secretaries on scale B in the Aden government service will be promoted to scale A after two years, if their services are satisfactory;(3) when he proposes to abolish scale B in the Aden government service for assistant secretaries; and when he proposes to promote those assistant secretaries who have been on scale B for a year or more to scale A.

Assistant secretaries are accorded scale A by virtue of their educational qualifications, experience or merits. They differ from those in scale B not because of the nature of the duties performed but because they carry a larger degree of responsibility than is expected of officers on scale B who have not acquired the requisite standard for higher grading.2. It is not proposed to introduce any qualifying time factor into consideration as to when scale B officers should be promoted to scale A. Their promotion can only be considered as and when they acquire, in adequate measure, the qualifications enumerated above. These are not automatically achieved after two years nor should it be ruled out that they could be acquired in less time.3. Both scale A and B will be required for the foreseeable future, and it is not proposed to abolish the latter.

asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate of the number of farms in Wales which will have been supplied with electricity on the completion of all the projected works described in paragraphs 120 to 128 of the Report on Developments and Government Action in Wales and Monmouthshire in 1959, Command Paper No. 961.

The projects referred to should be completed by 1963. By 31st March of that year it is expected that 38,000 farms, or 82 per cent. of the total, will have been connected to the supply.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the progress made towards the establishment of a Legislative Council in Bechuanaland.

I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 12th November, 1959.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what proposals are being considered for the establishment of a Legislative Council in Swaziland.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) on 17th December, 1959.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the annual contribution from Great Britain through the Colonial Development Fund and other funds towards the economic and social development of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

The following funds have been made available to the High Commission Territories:(1) ASSISTANCE UNDER COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE ACTS(

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will recommend the separation of the offices of United Kingdom High Commissioner in South Africa and United Kingdom High Commissioner of the British Protectorates of Swaziland, Bechuanaland, and Basutoland.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will separate the dual responsibilities of the United Kingdom High Commissioner in South Africa and arrange for separate representation of the Protectorates.

No. Experience has shown that there are particular advantages in the administration of the High Commission Territories being guided and co-ordinated by a High Commissioner established in South Africa who is also closely in touch with developments in the Union of South Africa.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received from the Inland Waterways Redevelopment Advisory Committee in respect of inland waterways in Scotland.

None.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, in view of the confusion which has arisen in the public mind, since the presentation of the Budget, regarding responsibility for matters affecting old-age pensioners, he will give urgent consideration to the need for a statement to be made on this subject by him before the House comes to consider the Finance Bill.

I do not think there is any confusion. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in winding up the Budget debate on 7th April, changes in National Insurance benefits constitute a matter for National Insurance legislation, and not for the Finance Bill.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the discovery of forged National Insurance stamps in the Newcastle upon Tyne department; and whether he will make a statement on the extent of the forgery and the action he has taken.

Yes. A number of forged stamps have been detected by our inspectors, and at the Central Records Office at Newcastle, where surrendered cards are examined by special apparatus, but I am not yet able to assess the extent of the forgery. I understand that the police have made some arrests. My Department issued a warning on 30th March that forged National Insurance stamps were in circulation, with a reminder that the only legal method of obtaining National Insurance stamps is by buying them at a post office.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state, for the most recent date for which they are available, the number of weekly allowances made by the National Assistance Board in supplementation of retirement pensions, and other benefits under the National Insurance Acts; and what proportion these represented of the total weekly allowances made by the Board.

At 29th March, 1960, the number of weekly National Assistance grants paid as supplements to retirement pensions and other benefits under the National Insurance Acts was 1,268,000, representing about 70 per cent. of all weekly assistance grants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the amounts of agricultural support provided in price deficiency payments, production subsidies, farm improvement grants, agricultural research and advisory services in each of the past 10 financial years; and what are the estimated amounts for 1960–61.

The amounts of agricultural support and the approximate costs of agricultural research and advisory services provided out of the Votes of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, together with the

asked the Minister of Aviation if the negotiations over the design requirements for the Britannic 3 freighter plane have now been completed; and when the contract for its construction and the numbers to be ordered will be settled between Her Majesty's Government and Messrs. Short Bros, and Harland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to similar Questions on this subject.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement about the critical test passed last week by the Short SC1 vertical take-off and landing research aircraft; and what his plans are for the further development of this aircraft.

Last week, the Short SC1 vertical take-off aircraft succeeded in effecting the transition from jet-borne hovering to wing-borne forward flight. This is a most significant achievement. Work to secure improved stability and other characteristics is continuing.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will set out in tabular form in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage of the weekly national income represented by the weekly wage of a patternmaker, an engineering fitter, a general engineering worker, an omnibus driver, a railway driver, a railway porter, and an underground miner, respectively, for the years 1914, 1920, 1930 and 1960;(2) if he will set out in tabular form in the OFFICIAL REPORT the wages paid in 1914, 1920, 1930 and 1960 to the highest skilled craftsmen in the engineering industry, to those in the building and railway industries, to those employed by local authorities, to omnibus drivers, printers, bricklayers, dock workers, and to underground miners, showing the percentage change in differentials, and other information which will assist in comparing wage rates and differentials between different occupations and at different times.

I regret that the information requested in the first Question is not available. As the answer to the second Question involves a detailed tabular statement, I am sending it to the hon. Member.