asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had on the artistic merits of the new £1 and 10s. notes; and whether he proposes to have them redesigned.

I have seen and heard some criticisms of the new £1 note. But its design is the responsibility of the Bank of England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling as 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 3d. in March, 1954, to 16s. 2d. in March, 1957; and what was the comparable figure for March, 1960.

Yes, on the basis of the retail price index. The comparable figure for March, 1960, is 15s. 4d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has completed his consideration of the advice of the University Grants Committee dealing with the salaries of university teachers; and if he will make a statement regarding the scales of the arts and science departments.

My right hon. Friend is still considering this matter and I have no statement to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to the Revenue in the year ended 5th April, 1960, of initial allowances and investment allowances separately; and the estimated cost of the same allowances in the year to 5th April, 1961.

About £140 million and £12 million respectively in 1959–60 and £95 million and £90 million in 1960–61. The effect of initial allowances is that smaller annual allowances are given in subsequent years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware, in relation to the importation of red verona and yellow torri marble chippings, that certain importers have to pay duty on deposit before Customs clearances to enable the authority to find out whether these materials are dutiable, and that a delay of six weeks frequently occurs before a decision is reached whether duty is payable or not, thereby making business difficult; and whether he will take steps to clarify the position in regard to these materials to avoid the uncertainty in the trade and the consequent loss.

Some importations of dutiable chippings have been declared as exempt by the importer, and Customs sampling of goods described as marble chippings has therefore been necessary. Decisions on individual consignments are given as soon as tests are completed and expert advice is available. As my hon. Friend is aware, an application by importers for a change in the tariff to elimnate these distinctions is being considered by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his decision to accept responsibility for a deficit of £90 million from the British Transport Commission, he will now take steps to apply the Pensions Increases Act of 1959 to railway superannuitants.

No. The change in the method of Exchequer financing of the British Transport Commission's deficit, which my right hon. Friend announced in his Budget Statement, does not entail any change in the position that superannuation arrangements are matters within the responsibility of the Commission.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many Civil Service pensioners are serving in an unestablished capacity under Section 36 (2) (a) and (b) of the Superannuation Act, 1949, respectively; and what is the number of civil servants continuing to serve in their established capacities under Section 35 of the Act after having reached retiring age and completed 40 years of reckonable service.

Section 36 (2) of the Superannuation Act, 1949, lays down alternative methods of computation of increased superannuation allowances, and the method to be used in particular cases will not be known until each individual retires. However, approximately 13,000 persons were serving in a disestablished capacity on 1st January, 1960, and are, therefore, potentially eligible for increased superannuation allowances under this Section of the Act.As regards the second part of the Question, on 1st January, 1960, some 35,400 civil servants were serving in an established capacity after reaching age 60; but the number of these who had also completed 40 years' service could not be ascertained without undue expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make available, in advance of the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, estimates of the levels which the Government's spending on the principal items of current account are likely to reach during the next few years on the basis of existing policies and prices.

The studies currently in progress on the subject of control and management of Government expenditure will cover the question of the use of longer-term appraisals of the likely course of that expenditure. Until these studies are completed I think I must keep an open mind on the practicability of seeking to assist Parliamentary consideration of these matters by the provision of such figures as my right hon. Friend has in mind. I fear that in any case I should not find it practicable to do so before proceedings take place on the Finance Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has completed his inquiries into the advice given by his Department to the county council on the Lancashire County Council (Industrial Development etc.) Bill.

In agreement with the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government informed the Lancashire County Council that it was considered undesirable to extend the proposed powers for compulsory purchase of land for the purposes of industrial development to forty-seven district councils, particularly as Private Act powers of this kind for compulsory purchase were almost unprecedented.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to encourage more trade between the United Kingdom and Canada.

With the help of the Dollar Exports Council we are maintaining and reinforcing the successful efforts of recent years to promote our exports to Canada, and, by removing nearly all restrictions on dollar imports, we have opened the way to increased Canadian exports to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all the organisations he has consulted have now expressed their views on the suggested extension of summer time; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the weight of opinion expressed by the 171 organisations he consulted about the period of Summer Time favours extension by a fortnight in October; and if he will now announce the action he proposes to take.

Nineteen organisations have still to reply and my right hon. Friend is therefore not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the home fire extinguishers in pressurised containers, which are currently being sold together with drip-feed oil heaters, are in all respects safe for all types of fires and adhere to standard specifications of safety; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any general practice of selling fire extinguishers with drip feed oil heaters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will receive a deputation from Equity to discuss the regulation of fee-charging agencies to protect actors from exploitation by agents.

I have asked my right hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to receive this deputation on my behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the annual cost in 1951, 1955 and in 1959 borne by the Prison Commission Vote of persons serving sentences in United Kingdom jails who were convicted by colonial courts.

I am having inquiries made and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements were made by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis to ensure that ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps travelling from the direction of Kensington Palace and displaying special signs of identity were enabled to reach the Horse Guards Parade in time to witness the review of troops held there in honour of the President of France on the morning of 7th April.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that every effort was made by the police to ensure that persons attending the review were not delayed. The police are always prepared to facilitate, as far as possible, the progress of ambassadors' cars.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cars of the Metropolitan Police Force are fitted with safety belts.

None. Tests of a number of types of equipment were carried out in 1957 and 1958, but the Commissioner of Police eventually came to the conclusion that the fitting of safety belts was not necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to the Metropolitan Police as to the procedure they should adopt when they find parked, in a Central London street in which there is no specific prohibition of parking, a oar bearing the official badge of the British Medical Association, not causing obvious obstruction or any potential danger; and how these instructions are modified if the car has displayed a nearby address at which the driver can be contacted.

The relevant regulations empower the police to remove cars from the roads when they are causing danger or when they are causing obstruction by interfering with the passage of other vehicles near a road junction or by being parked so far from the edge of the carriageway, or so near another vehicle, as unduly to restrict the space available for the passage of other vehicles. Cars left by doctors in these circumstances are liable to be removed. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that where a car displays the special badge issued by the British Medical Association for this purpose, with a note of the address at which the owner may be found, it is not normally removed without reference to the owner unless speedy removal is considered to be essential because the car is causing danger or very serious obstruction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases reported to Marylebone Lane Police Station were cars belonging to registered medical practitioners removed from the street in the 12 months preceding 31st March, 1960; how many of these displayed signs identifying them as belonging to registered medical practitioners; and how many of the latter category had displayed on them nearby addresses at which the drivers could be contacted;(2) how many of the cars belonging to registered medical practitioners bearing appropriate medical identification signs and removed by the Metropolitan Police from the streets in the 12 months preceding 31st March, 1960, were about to be used for routine medical purposes; and how many were about to be used to convey the owner to give emergency medical or surgical treatment or to attend to a woman in labour;(3) how many of the cars removed from the streets by the Metropolitan Police in the 12 months preceding 31st March, 1960, were being used by mid-wives in the performance of their professional duties; and how many were being used by district nurses in the performance of their professional duties;(4) how many cars removed from the streets by the Metropolitan Police without the knowledge of their owners in the 12 months preceding 31st March, 1960, belonged to registered medical practitioners; how many of these displayed signs identifying them as belonging to registered medical practitioners; and how many of the latter category had displayed on them nearby addresses at which the drivers could be contacted.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records the Metropolitan Police keep of the occupations of the owners of the cars which they remove from the streets without the owner's consent; and what records they keep of the purposes for which these cars were about to be used prior to their removal.

No such records are kept.

asked the Prime Minister what conclusions he has reached on the reforms which might be introduced to improve the examination and control of expenditure by the House of Commons.

My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House is considering a number of possible suggestions, including those put forward by hon. Members.No doubt as soon as he is ready to recommend a particular proposal he will inform the House.

asked the Prime Minister when he received representations from the Dunfermline Trades Council protesting against the provision of facilities for the training of German soldiers in Great Britain; and what reply he has sent.

On 11th April I received a letter dated 7th April from the Dunfermline Trades Council forwarding a resolution on this subject. The letter was acknowledged on 12th April and the Council was informed that the terms of the resolution had been noted.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the growing public demand in the United Kingdom, in view of the racial policies of the South African Nationalist Government, that the Union of South Africa be removed from its membership of the British Commonwealth of Nations; and if, at the impending Commonwealth Conference, he will consult with his other Commonwealth colleagues with a view to seeking their views in this matter.

No. As I said in the House on 24th March, suggestions of this kind show little understanding of the character of the Commonwealth and of the importance of preserving it as an instrument in the world. I certainly do not intend to raise this question with my Commonwealth colleagues when we meet here in May.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what information the High Commissioner in South Africa has obtained regarding the nature of the charges on which Miss Stanton has been detained; and whether Miss Stanton is now expected to be released on bail.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what charges have been brought against Miss Stanton and Dr. Letele, who are under arrest in South Africa; and what further steps have been taken by the High Commissioner to ascertain whether any citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies or British protected persons were among those who have been arrested.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a further statement on the position of the British protected persons now held in prison in South Africa; and, in particular, what charges have been brought against them.

In general, I would refer hon. Members to the statement that I made yesterday. No later information about Miss Stanton or Dr. Letele has been received from South Africa. As the House has been informed, the High Commissioner has been instructed to do all in his power to help these people.As regards bail, the High Commissioner was assured by the Union Prime Minister before the recent attack on him that persons charged would be brought before the ordinary courts, where they could apply for bail.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what wages are paid to labourers in the Public Works Departments of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

In Basutoland the average daily wages paid to labourers in the Public Works Department are 4s. 3d. for unskilled workers, 9s. for semi-skilled workers and 15s. for skilled workers. A Committee is now reviewing the conditions of service of men in all these categories.In the Bechuanaland Protectorate the minimum daily wage for casual labourers and semi-skilled men employed by the Public Works Department is 2s. 6d. and the maximum 50s. Labourers on the permanent staff are on the salary scale £84 x 12 — 132 x 18 — 150. Daily wage figures are under review.In Swaziland the wages paid to labourers in the Public Works Department range from 3s. for youths to 10s. plus in each case rations worth 5s. per week.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what percentage of children of school age is provided with education in Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

It is estimated that in Basutoland 80 per cent. of children of lower primary school age attend school. In the Bechuanaland Protectorate 50 per cent., and in Swaziland 54 per cent.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what percentage of children between the ages of 12 and 15 years is provided with secondary education in Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

In Basutoland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate children are usually over the age of 15 when admitted to secondary schools.In Swaziland 3·3 per cent. of children between the ages of 12 and 15 are in the secondary division.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations how many doctors there are in proportion to the population in Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

In Basutoland there is one doctor to every 17,743 inhabitants, in the Bechuanaland Protectorate one to every 18,790, and in Swaziland one to every 8,466.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations the length of tarred roads in Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, respectively.

In Basutoland there are about 3½ miles of tarred roads.In the Bechuanaland Protectorate there are five miles of tarred roads.In Swaziland there are 1¼ miles of tarred roads—public—in Mbabane, and about 2 miles—private—in the township at Havelock Mine.This of course bears no relation to the length of the all weather roads in the three Territories.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what information he has as to the proportion of emigrants from the United Kingdom in recent years who were unemployed when they took steps to emigrate.

I regret that no information on this point is available.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what discussions he is proposing to have with the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia.

My noble Friend has invited the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia to visit London later this month for the purpose of continuing the discussions on the subject of possible changes in the Southern Rhodesia Constitution which were begun in November, 1959.

asked the Minister of Education how many children attending schools under his control can and cannot swim, respectively; and what steps he is taking to provide tuition in swimming for the latter.

The first part of the hon. and learned Member's Question could not be answered without a detailed inquiry, which I have not felt justified in making. Increased provision for teachers of physical education has been made at training colleges. Local education authorities are well aware of the importance of teaching children to swim and I am confident they will make the fullest possible use of the additional teachers.

asked the Minister of Education how many workers came to the United Kingdom to work in cooperative societies under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation scheme for longer-term exchange.

Eight.

asked the Minister of Education how many places and how many people saw the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's Travelling Science Exhibition during 1959.

In 1959 the Exhibition "The Earth as a Planet" was seen by 15,000 people in London, 44,000 in Sheffield and 17,600 in Hull. It also visited Birmingham and Newcastle-on-Tyne where the number of visitors is not known.

asked the Minister of Education what proposals he has to relieve the present unsatisfactory conditions at St. George's Primary School, Taunton.

This school was reorganised for junior pupils only in 1958 and more than £1,000 has just been spent on improving the sanitary accommodation. A proposal to replace the school has just reached me and I shall consider this together with a large number of other proposals which the education authority consider even more urgent.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the local disappointment caused by his decision not to include in the 1961–62 further education building programme any of the projects proposed by the local education authority, he will re-consider the second instalment project of the Taunton Technical College with a view to its inclusion in the 1961–62 programme.

The 1961–62 building programme for further education has already been announced and I regret that I cannot add this project to it. I will consider it again shortly when the 1962– 63 programme is being compiled.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of candidates passing in the various subjects of the National Diploma of Design in the last three years; and whether he is satisfied with the arrangements this year for the examinations in modelling and sculpture.

I am circulating below the figures asked for in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I have arranged that the time allowed for the original design test in modelling and sculpture shall be increased from ten to eighteen hours in the forthcoming examination and for new measures to be taken for correlating the assessment of the different subjects.

asked the Minister of Education what decision he has given with reference to Oldham Corporation's application for approval of a school building programme comprising six new schools for the current year.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the proposals which Oldham have submitted for the 1962–63 building programme. I received these only a fortnight ago and I am not ready to give my decision.

asked the Minister of Education if he has considered the urgent request from the Yorkshire Association of Education Committees that a teachers' day training college should be established in South Yorkshire; and when he is likely to be able to give a decision on the proposal for such an establishment by the West Riding Education Committee.

Subject to settlement with the West Riding Authority of certain outstanding points, I am ready to approve the establishment at Swinton of a teacher training college for day students. I hope the college will open early next year and will help to ease the difficult teacher supply position in the South Yorkshire area.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the pupils who left school in the year ended July, 1959, had remained after they had reached school-leaving age for one term, two terms, and three or more terms, respectively.

Of the 554,400 children who left maintained schools in the year ended July, 1959, about 137,000 had remained at school for three or more terms after reaching the statutory leaving age. I cannot say how many had stayed on for one or two terms.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many boy and girl students in the Dearne Valley constituency were refused admission to universities and teachers' training colleges for the years 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959;(2) how many boy and girl students were refused admission to universities and teachers' training colleges for the years 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959.

Such figures as I can get will take some time to prepare and I shall be writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, if he will give the number of scientists who have emigrated to the United States of America and Canada over the past five years, and also the number of scientists who have been recruited by the Civil Service Commission and the Atomic Energy Authority to return to this country, giving separately the figures for 1958 and 1959 and the first three months of 1960.

There are no complete statistics of scientists who have emigrated to the United States or Canada. In 1958 seven scientists were recruited in America by the Civil Service Commission and the Atomic Energy Authority; in 1959 sixteen were so recruited. Candidates are being interviewed for 1960, and I am informed that appointments are being made.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, which countries have contributed fissile material to the International Atomic Energy Agency; and what is the amount each country has contributed.

The United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom have undertaken to make available to the International Atomic Energy Agency the following quantities of contained uranium 235:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of British eggs were marketed, other than shell eggs, in the 12-month period up to the latest convenient date; and how many tons of shell eggs were imported into Great Britain during the same period.

I am informed by the British Egg Marketing Board that it marketed some 17,000 tons of frozen egg in 1959. This is equivalent to about 19,000 tons of shell eggs. In addition, an unknown but smaller quantity of home-produced frozen egg was marketed on private account. Shell eggs imported into the United Kingdom in 1959 amounted to 8,250 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will cause to be placed in the Library all official documents containing conclusions as to the use of toxic agricultural sprays that have been issued by international and Commonwealth organisations on which Her Majesty's Government are represented, or which have been officially circulated within such organisations.

I will arrange for copies of all the published documents of this kind of which I am aware to be placed in the Library. Working and unpublished papers of these organisations are confidential to the organisations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will state the headway under Full-bridge, Maldon, Essex, or the depth of the bridge immersed in water, at the highest high water in March and September, 1959, respectively; to what extent this information was obtained by observation at the bridge and by calculation, respectively; and who made such calculations;(2) if he will state the headway under Fullbridge, Maldon, Essex, or the depth of the bridge immersed in water, at the highest high water in November, 1921, on 28th December, 1924, on 7th January, 1928, and in January to February, 1953, respectively; to what extent this information was obtained by observation at the bridge and by calculation, respectively; and who made such calculations;(3) if he will state the last occasion on which a drainage inspector inspected the River Chelmer, above Fullbridge, Maldon, Essex; and what was the nature of his report, as regards scouring of the bed and erosion of the banks, by the eddies caused by the piers of the bridge.

I regret that I have not the information requested and that I have no record of any inspection of the river above and near the bridge by the Ministry's drainage engineers. I would suggest that the hon. and gallant Member may wish to discuss the matters in which he is interested with the Essex River Board.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the patients compulsorily detained at the Darenth Hospital, who are well enough to leave if suitable arrangements could be made, are employed in the Darenth Park Hospital, or neighbouring hospitals; what is the average weekly payment made to them in this respect; and to what extent the issue to them of tobacco and sweets is related to the work they do.

Sixty-eight. The average weekly payment is 10s. 9d., and no part of it is made in kind.

asked the Minister of Health if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a list of the names and ages of the 125 patients com-pulsorily detained in the Darenth Park Mental Hospital, who could leave if suitable accommodation could be found for them in homes or hostels away from the atmosphere of a mental hospital.

No, since it is essential that the medical affairs of individual patients should be treated as strictly confidential.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients at the Darenth Park Hospital.

There were 1,648 on 11th April, including 83 non-resident patients.

asked the Minister of Health the weekly cost, per patient, at the Darenth Park Mental Hospital.

The weekly cost per patient in the year ended 31st March, 1959, was £6 11s. 3d.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount of money held by the Darenth Park Hospital authorities on behalf of those patients who, although they are well enough to leave the hospital, have to remain there because of the absence of suitable alternative provision elsewhere than in a mental hospital.

£2,860.

asked the Minister of Health the maximum weekly contribution made by any of those people to their upkeep who, although compulsorily detained at the Darenth Park Hospital because of the absence of other accommodation, are allowed to follow normal employment in the outside world.

£3 15s.

asked the Minister of Health, in respect of the patients who could leave Darenth Park Hospital if other suitable accommodation was available, the ages of the youngest and oldest person; and the longest period spent by any of these people in institutions and mental hospitals combined, in view of the fact that some children have, through no fault of their own, been in institutions since early childhood.

The youngest of these patients is 17 and the oldest 62 years old; the longest period any of them has spent in institutions and hospitals is 53 years.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the concern arising from the disclosure that in two hospitals for mental defectives, Darenth Park and Littlemore, there are 190 people who could leave but for the fact there are no other places for them, if he will state the total number of such people in hospitals for mental defectives in England and Wales.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work on the part of the hospitals concerned.

asked the Minister of Health if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a list of the hospitals in England and Wales for mental defectives.

I am arranging for this to be done.

asked the Minister of Health the number of hospitals for mental defectives in England and Wales.

One hundred and forty-seven hospitals have been the subject of a direction by the Minister of Health to receive mentally defective patients under the provisions of the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913–38. There are also a few hospitals or units which admit mental defectives but are not the subject of a formal direction.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of patients in hospitals for mental defectives at the latest convenient date.

The provisional number of patients in all hospitals for mental defectives in England and Wales at 31st December, 1959, was 59,490, of whom 2,976 were away from hospital on licence.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients in the Bexley Mental Hospital at the latest convenient date; and how many of these could leave the hospital if suitable alternative accommodation was available for them away from the atmosphere of a mental hospital.

The number of patients in the hospital on 9th April last was 2,062. In general the number of patients who could leave a psychiatric hospital if suitable alternative accommodation were available can only be realistically assessed in the light of detailed information as to the nature of the alternative accommodation and the kind of care that patients might be able to receive in it. For these reasons, while I have tried to answer earlier Questions by the hon. Member, I do not feel that a continued promulgation of such assessments, whose precision is necessarily limited by the above factors, would be appropriate or useful.

asked the Minister of Health the length of time allocated for visitors to be with patients at Rampton Mental Hospital on official visiting days when notice has been given in advance of their visit.

Two hours, although this can normally be extended on request.

asked the Minister of Health why visitors to Rampton Mental Hospital on Monday, 4th April, were requested to leave the women's section at 4 p.m. and the men's section at 4.1G p.m.; and, in view of the long and costly journeys many visitors make, if he will ensure that every endeavour is made to enable patients and visitors to be together as long as possible.

Visitors were asked to leave both the men's and the women's sections at 4.10 p.m. so that they could catch the 4.15 p.m. bus to Retford. Every effort is made to meet requests for extended visiting hours.

asked the Minister of Health why visitors to Rampton Mental Hospital are asked to board the bus for the return journey to Retford Station at 4.15 p.m.

Because visitors often come long distances and their departure must therefore be timed so as to connect with buses and trains from Retford

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now sanction the acceptance of tenders for the maternity unit at Corby, Northamptonshire, and the commencement of work.

The Oxford Regional Hospital Board has been told that a tender can be accepted if certain economies are made.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will state the names of consultants, showing their speciality, appointed to hospitals under the control of the South Manchester Hospital Management Committee; what number of clinics each holds; and at which hospital;(2) if he will give the names of consultants, showing their speciality, appointed to hospitals under the control of the North Manchester Hospital Management Committee; what numbers of clinics each holds; and at which hospital.

I am obtaining this information and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Minister for Science, what were the percentages of Strontium 90 in milk in Cornwall during the second half of 1958, and the first and second halves of 1959.

Separate figures for Cornwall are not available. This is because samples representative of the total production in the Far-West Region, that is, Devon and Cornwall together, are bulked before analysis. The results of these analyses for 1958 and the first half of 1959 are published, for selected periods, in the first and second reports of the Agricultural Research Council Radiobiological Laboratory—Appendix 3C and Appendix 1 respectively.It is expected that the results of analyses for the second half of 1959 will be published in some months' time.

asked the Minister of Health what Sections of the Mental Health Act, 1959, he has so far put into operation.

Sections 1 and 149 to the extent necessary to permit informal admission to mental hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if his acceptance of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration includes the omission of a sum of £2 million for private earnings, which has not changed since 1948, from the central pool for general practitioners; if he reserves the right to include an item for private earnings in the central pool if there has been a substantial increase; what figure he will accept as representing a substantial increase; and if he is satisfied that the proposed agreement of the British Medical Association to accept the same disciplinary measures as the National Health Service should free drugs be allowed for private patients would enable him to accurately compute the global amount of private earnings at present unsubstantiated.

In answer to the first part of the Question, full acceptance of the Royal Commission's recommendations necessarily includes acceptance of the changes it proposes in the method of calculating the central pool. The answer to the second part is "Yes". I do not think it possible at this stage to deal specifically with the points raised in the third and fourth parts of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health what contribution will be made to the Slough project for a sheltered workshop and hostel for handicapped children.

I understand that the project as a whole consists of a unit for spastic children and an occupational therapy unit both to be provided by the county council, and a workshop and hostel for mentally handicapped young people which is to be built and operated initially by the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children. I assume that the Question refers to the last part. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is prepared to give financial assistance towards the running costs subject to his approval of the workshop as providing facilities for the employment or training of severely disabled persons. If local health authorities send other young people to the hostel or workshop, they will be expected to pay for their maintenance.

asked the Minister of Health the total complement of full-time and part-time midwives in the Gateshead and district area; and whether any vacancies exist.

Establishments in the local health authority and hospital services in the county borough area are 18 full-time domiciliary midwives, and 21 full-time and 3 part-time hospital midwives. There are vacancies for 4 domiciliary and 8 hospital full-time midwives.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the exemption from parking restrictions granted in Glasgow, Coventry, and other areas to certain types of disabled drivers of specialised vehicles, whether he will consider a similar exemption for the Metropolitan Police area.

Whilst I have every sympathy with disabled drivers, I am afraid that I could not agree to their general exemption from regulations restricting waiting in the Metropolitan Police District. I am sure that it is better for them to rely on the understanding and assistance of the police who are always prepared to help wherever practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport the proportion of fatal road accidents for twelve months to the nearest convenient date in which heavy commercial vehicles were concerned.

Precise figures are not available. It is estimated that in 1958 goods vehicles of over 3 tons unladen weight were involved in about 14 per cent. of all fatal road accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents a year during the past 10 years involving motor vehicles have occurred at Kennel Cottages Corner at Simonburn on the Chollerton-Bellingham road in Northumberland; when he anticipates work to improve this corner will be undertaken; and whether he will ensure that such urgent work is undertaken before any steps are taken to resite the Boer War Memorial in Bellingham.

I understand that Kennel Cottages Corner is on the Class II road between Chollerford and Bellingham.Twelve accidents have occurred since 1951, of which two were fatal, two serious and four slight. The other four did not involve injuries.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the excessive rust on the underpart of Fullbridge, Maldon, Essex, was caused by salt or fresh water; and when the underpart was last scraped and painted.

The Essex County Council tells me that the rust has been caused by atmospheric conditions and not by the river water.I am also told that the old bridge, which was closed to vehicular traffic during the war and replaced by a temporary bridge, has not been scraped and painted since 1937.

asked the Minister of Transport, to the nearest convenient date, the total number of learner drivers awaiting tests; what is the number of examiners available; what is the average delay before a test is held after application; and how these figures compare with a similar date last year.

At 2nd April the number of learner drivers awaiting tests was 253,517, the number of examiners available was 1,120, and the average waiting period was seven-and-a-half weeks. The corresponding figures at the same time last year were 270,278 learner drivers awaiting test, 834 examiners available and an average waiting period of nine-and-a-half weeks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many old people's houses and flats were built in Welwyn Garden City and in Hatfield new towns in each year since the setting up of the Development Corporation; and how many such houses and flats are under construction at the latest available date.

Following is the Answer:NUMBER OF DWELLINGS INTENDED FOR OLD PEOPLE BUILT IN WELWYN GARDEN CITY AND IN HATFIELD NEW TOWNS IN EACH YEAR SINCE THE SETTING UP OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; AND NUMBER UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT 31ST MARCH, 1960

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the waiting list for old people's houses and flats in Welwyn Garden City and in Hatfield new towns, respectively.

The waiting list for old people's dwellings in Welwyn Garden City is 293, and in Hatfield, 128.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what sums were borrowed by the County Borough of St. Helens Corporation for housing, up to the latest convenient date; and what is the total capital and interest repayments made over the same period by this local authority, giving the figures separately for 1945 to 1951 and 1952 to the latest convenient date.

Between 1st April, 1945, and 31st March, 1951, the Council borrowed £1,417,368 for housing purposes, and paid a total of £616,139 in interest and repayment of capital.Between 1st April, 1951, and 31st March, 1959, it borrowed £4,848,154 and paid £1,947,315.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the objects of the terms of consent for sale of council houses given in Circular 5/60 are designed to prevent their sale below market price; and whether a calculation based on gross value is acceptable when it coincides with market price.

The purpose of the minimum sale price for pre-war houses laid down in Circular No. 5/60 is to prevent sales at unreasonably low prices.I am quite prepared to consider giving a special consent in cases where the ordinary formula would yield too high a figure. In general a price equivalent to 35 to 40 times the gross value is likely to be acceptable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the number of notices to quit issued by each now town development corporation in the financial years 1957–58, 1958–59, and 1959–60.

The information asked for is not available, but the following table shows the number of tenancies terminated as a result of court orders for possession granted to development corporations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the number of sewers which discharge their untreated effluent into the River Chelmer, above Fullbridge, Maldon, Essex; whether the Maldon County Council offices sewer is included; and what steps he will take to reduce the pollution of the River Chelmer throughout its length.

Five sewers discharge untreated effluent into the River Chelmer above Fullbridge. The sewer serving the Borough Council offices is not included in this number.The river board is effectively reducing pollution here. My right hon. Friend will consider any proposals submitted including one shortly expected for the full treatment of the Borough's sewage discharge to this river.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the last occasion on which a pollution inspector inspected the River Chelmer, above Full-bridge, Maldon, Essex, in hot weather; and what was the nature of his report on the pollution and its results.

The river is inspected at monthly intervals. I am informed that on 14th July, 1959, the river was inspected on behalf of the Essex River Board at a time when its temperature reached 21° centigrade; and that the sample of water taken was found to be reasonably clean river water.