asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to announce his decisions on the recommendations of the Younghusband Working Party on the Training of Social Workers.

Not as yet, since to do so would prejudice the full consideration being given to these recommendations in the light of the views of the local authority and other organisations concerned.

I appreciate that there must be full consideration of the matter, but is it not a fact that this Report has now been with us for over a year and that no decisions were taken in this matter for many years because this Committee and previous ones were considering the subject? Does he not agree that it is an extremely urgent matter, at any rate to the extent of getting the proposed National Council for Social Work Training under way so that we can get some more social workers, who are so urgently needed?

As the hon. Member will know, the setting up of the Council in question requires legislation. He will also have observed a reference to this point in the Conservative Election manifesto. Speaking generally, this is a matter in which there should be and will be no avoidable delay. At the same time, I would be wrong not to give proper and full considerations to the views of local authorities and other interested organisations upon this massive, comprehensive and useful Report.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that I shall be delighted to give him an assurance that if he is in trouble with the Treasury I will be on his side? It is all very well for him to say that this point is referred to in the Conservative Election manifesto; what we want to see is legislative action in the matter.

I am always very gratified to have an assurance that my hon. Friend is on my side, but the conflict to which she refers in this case is quite hypothetical.

Can the Minister give some indication when he will be in a position to announce a decision in this matter?

As soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he now proposes to introduce legislation to enable private patients to obtain medicines by prescription under the National Health Service.

I have nothing to add at present to my replies to recent Questions on this subject, including my reply of November last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby).

I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply and express the hope that he will continue successfully to resist the misguided efforts of 178 of his hon. Friends to introduce this undesirable change into the National Health Service.

The hon. Member is straying into the realms of the hypothetical and imaginative. I will content myself with the answer that I have already given.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the progress being made by local health authorities in the development of their mental health services consequent upon the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1959; and if he will make special reference in that statement to developments in the treatment under Section 4 (4) of persons suffering from psychopathic disorder not associated with subnormality of intelligence.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now received from all local health authorities their proposals for the development of community mental health services as provided for under the Mental Health Act, 1959, and the National Health Service Act, 1946; how many schemes have been approved and how many disapproved in whole or in part; and if he will make a statement.

Nearly all local health authorities have now put to me their new proposals for providing mental health services; after interested organisations have been given an opportunity to comment, approval, with minor modifications, has so far been given in thirteen cases. The proposals show an intention to develop the services at a reasonable rate with the ultimate object of meeting all needs. It is not possible to say at this stage the extent to which the local authority services will be of value to persons suffering from psychopathic disorder.

While I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply, is he aware that it justifies the much criticised decision which he took at the time of the passing of the Act to make these services not mandatory but to leave them to local health authorities? Will he make an opportunity from time to time to inform the House of developments that are taking place in this uncharted field?

Yes, I will certainly have that constructive suggestion closely in mind. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his remarks. The speed with which we have gone under the procedure we adopted has shown very good results to date.

The schemes of many local health authorities are couched in somewhat vague terms because of their uncertainty of being able to get the money necessary to develop this service under the general grant. How many local health authorities have not yet produced schemes, and how long will it be before, according to the Minister's expectations, all local health authority schemes will have been considered and approved by him?

I do not consider that the schemes are couched in vague and general terms. They make constructive and positive proposals, many of which, such as hostels, will require new buildings and additional staffing before they are fully effective.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of leukaemia were reported in 1939, 1950, 1957, 1958. and 1959, respectively, in the area consisting of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire; and what were the arrangements for monitoring the presence of radio-strontium fall-out in the atmosphere in that area.

Figures of cases of leukaemia occurring in these areas are not available. The numbers of deaths recorded in 1950, 1957, 1958, 1959 are, respectively, 128, 163, 166 and 191. My noble Friend the Minister for Science informs me that fall-out radioactivity in air at ground level is monitored daily at Harwell and estimations are made of the radiostrontium content. Inhalation is a minor source of intake and a single station for the country is therefore considered adequate.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that these figures will add greatly to the concern of people who have seen that the national figures are also on the increase, and that Strontium 90 in the bones of children and in milk is also greatly increasing? Does not he agree that these figures seem to indicate that there is some association between leukaemia and man-made radiation, and that they illustrate that there is a need for a supreme effort at the Summit to end the position in which innocent people and, possibly, future generations are being disastrously affected by man-made radiation?

As I have informed the House before, the incidence of the death rate of leukaemia has been rising since about 1920—in other words. long before the particular source of man-made radiation to which the hon. Gentleman made particular reference. The trend in the area to which his Question relates is just about in line with the national average for England and Wales.

In view of the fact that the most eminent authorities attribute the increase in leukaemia to fallout, would the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider, in order that we should have full statistics, making leukaemia a disease compulsorily to be registered by doctors?

We can certainly look into that suggestion, but I do not know that I can go along with the right hon. Lady in her confident attribution of the causation of leukaemia. I am advised that no single cause accounts for this increase. Partly, it is due to greater awareness and to better diagnosis, and partly to the increasing age of the population, since this is primarily a disease of old people. Statistical studies are being made into the relation between small doses of radiation, such as can be caused by fall-out, and leukaemia.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and principals employed in his Department, the number of these administrators engaged in the section dealing with general medical services, the total staff employed, and the number engaged in the section dealing with general medical services.

Five undersecretaries, 24 assistant secretaries and 38 principals. In the section specially concerned with general medical services there are one under-secretary and one assistant-secretary, both part-time, one principal full-time and one principal part-time. The total headquarters staff is 2,320 and the equivalent of 14 full-time staff are engaged in the section concerned with the general medical services. Many matters connected with general medical services are dealt with elsewhere than in this section.

Is the Minister really satisfied that he can give creative leadership to general practice with only half the assistance of an under-secretary and an assistant-secretary? Is he aware that there are over 21,000 general practitioners and that there would be considerable saving in hospitalisation if there were an advance in general practice, which could be secured if a little more drive were forthcoming from the Ministry?

The duty of administration of the general practitioner service is not carried out in my Ministry but in the executive councils throughout the country. Regarding the central policy and planning, it is not only a question of staff. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and I seek to make some contribution as well in that regard.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to the amendment of food and drugs legislation in order to control the sale of cosmetics; and whether he will make a statement.

An amendment of existing legislation with this object would be considered if it were shown to be needed to avoid a risk to health; but on present evidence I am not convinced that such a need exists.

In view of the fact that various skin trouble and other difficulties follow the use of unsatisfactory cosmetics and that the Institute of Weights and Measures Administration, whose members have an unrivalled knowledge of consumer protection, has recommended control in this country similar to that in the United States and Canada, would the right hon. and learned Gentleman study the evidence available with a view to bringing in amending legislation at an early date if the evidence shows it to be necessary?

I am, of course, willing to pursue any further studies into this or any other evidence which may be available. But the hon. Lady will appreciate that I should have to be satisfied on health grounds that a genuine reason exists before imposing this control.

May I ask whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman's scientific advisers reject the view held by scientists in America that certain lipsticks have carcinogenic properties?

I am advised that in fact the general medical view is that when used as an external application in very small doses these things have little, if any, injurious effects.

Mr. Stewart.

I must press the Minister—

Order. We are making very poor progress today.

asked the Minister of Health how many transistor hearing aids have been supplied to persons, other than schoolchildren, in the area covered by the Newcastle Hospital Board; what is the estimated number of such appliances needed to meet present requirements; and how soon they will be supplied.

I regret that the figures for which the hon. Member asks are not available on a regional basis. In England and Wales as a whole, it is estimated that over half a million transistor hearing aids will be needed to replace valve aids now in use. My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet authorised their issue to adults other than war pensioners, but hopes quite soon to be able to give authority for a start to be made. Since it is bound to take quite a long time to complete so big a programme, he will suggest priorities to hospitals.

While thanking the hon. Lady for that reply, may I ask her to accept my assurance that the sooner the needs of the unfortunate deaf people in the North are met the greater will be their satisfaction?

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of bone cancer were reported in 1939, 1950, 1957, 1958, and 1959, respectively, in the area consisting of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire.

Figures of cases of bone cancer in these areas are not available. The average number of deaths from this cause in the periods 1950–53 and 1954–57 were respectively 52 and 46; for 1958 and 1959 the figures were 48 and 37.

While those figures are less alarming than those for leukaemia, does not the Minister agree that there is a case for ascertaining whether there is a link between man-made radiation and terrible diseases of this kind?

All these things are under active study, but the hon. Member will appreciate that the figures for deaths are falling. Deaths from bone cancer amount to rather less than 1 per cent. of deaths from all types of cancer.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will now state what progress he has made in his review of National Health Service spectacle frames; what proposals he is considering for improving the present range; and when he is likely to announce the details of his new range of frames; and

The results of the sample survey of the demand for the various types of National Health Service frames and their liability to need repair and replacement are now being analysed. My right hon. and learned Friend intends, as soon as possible, to ask his Standing Ophthalmic Advisory Committee to consider this information and advise him which frames, shown to be little used, can be omitted, and as to any other changes needed in the list of frames, including specifications of existing frames.

Before making his final decision, will the Minister arrange for samples of his proposed new range to be displayed in the House of Commons so that hon. Members may have an opportunity of expressing their views before their constituents are committed to the range for another twelve years? Will he also make some arrangements to get the views of patients who want to buy National Health Service frames as distinct from the views of opticians, who do not wish to sell National Health Service frames but want to sell private frames at exorbitant profits?

The Standing Ophthalmic Advisory Committee should be in a position to advise on the needs of the public. In addition, of course, the opticians themselves must be consulted. I shall ask my right hon. and learned Friend to consider putting the proposed ranges on view, although we have all had an opportunity of seeing the existing frames. I cannot accept that there has been no change in twelve years. A number of changes have been made and we are prepared to consider further changes.

Is it not a fact that the changes have been really insignificant? Is it not a fact that the Ministry has resisted any attempt to change the range available to people by bringing in a more modern range because it suits the Ministry very well for patients to buy frames privately, as that cuts down expense for the Ministry?

In fact, we have initiated the review on which I have been answering with the objective of making still further changes.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of midwives available in the Hartlepools.

:Thirty-twofull-timeand seven part-time.

Can my hon. Friend say whether she has any plans for increasing the number of midwives in the Hartlepools area, in view of the large population there?

I would not have thought that was necessary because, on the figures, the Hartlepools are rather well off for midwives. At present, there are no vacancies for domiciliary midwives in the area and the number of hospital midwives is only slightly under the average establishment for the group, namely, twenty-four whole-time, six part-time and four pupil midwives.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that domiciliary midwives are on call 123 hours a week for a weekly salary of £12; and whether he will take immediate action to improve these conditions

Pay and conditions of service of midwives are matters in the first instance for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council.

Surely the right hon. and learned Gentleman does not dissent from the appalling figures which I have given? Surely he should make representations to the Whitley Council? Is he aware that a refuse collector is paid £10 6s. per week for a 44-hour week, and that from next Monday his working week will be reduced to 42 hours? I do not grudge the refuse collector that pay, but, in the light of that, can the Minister justify the present payment to this very fine body of women, the domiciliary midwives of the country?

The system of hours is based on the recommendations of the Whitley Council, and, following the Rushcliffe's Committee's recommendations in the first instance, the hours of work are broken up into spells of three weeks of long hours followed by a fourth week of considerably shorter hours than those to which the right hon. Lady has referred. That and the night rota system, which many authorities have introduced, ease the pressure on the domiciliary midwives in their hours of work.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now institute an inquiry into the operation of the domiciliary consultative service as recommended by the Select Committee on Estimates.

The root of the matter here is the difficulty of obtaining factual information. I have decided to tackle this aspect as the next step and have been considering what additional record should be kept. I shall shortly be putting proposals to the medical profession.

I am obliged to my right hon. and learned Friend for that Answer, but does it mean that an inquiry will not be undertaken now and there will be still further delay until the additional information has been obtained? He will recollect that, when answering me on 29th February, he said that he would consider what action was appropriate after receiving the Report on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. Later, he said that he would consider whether it is possible to get further and fuller information. Does that mean that we still have to wait for any result?

We looked at the Report of the Royal Commission to see whether it would help us in this connection, but as my hon. Friend knows, it did not take us very much further in this matter. As the matter now stands I take the view that if we can secure adequate records we may have all we need in the way of meeting the situation, in which case we shall have the results without the necessity of making any further inquiries.

In considering this matter, will the Minister remember that it is more economical for a general practitioner to use the domiciliary consultative service and pay a fee of something like four guineas or five guineas than to send patients into hospital where the charge for maintenance would be about twenty guineas a week?

I have that point very much in mind. It is, of course, true that the mere fact that the service has expanded does not in any way constitute evidence of abuse, because its expansion has an ameliorative effect on the pressure on hospital beds.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has had in respect of the offensiveness and danger to health caused by the emission of fumes and dust from industrial plant; and what further action he proposes to take to ensure the suppression of this.

I have been asked to reply.

Arising out of that answer—I think I caught up to it—may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman is not aware that whatever measures there might be which could be employed in this instance are not being employed? In my own district, the Borough of Leyton, I have had several complaints not only from industrial plant but from other plant. Will the hon. Gentleman look into the matter to see whether he cannot initiate some regulations or some organisation to cope more effectively with this matter?

No complaints from the hon. Gentleman's area have been received by my right hon. Friend or by his Chief Alkali Inspector in the last few months. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will send me details of any case that he has in mind.

Where there are complaints by local residents, would the correct procedure be for those people to approach the local authority or to proceed direct to the Minister?

One has to distinguish between those that come under the Alkali Act, which come under my right hon. Friend, and those under the Clean Air Act, which go to the local authorities, but there can be no harm in applying either to the local authority or to my right hon. Friend for guidance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the National Health Service patients of some general medical practitioners in Manchester, having been referred to certain consultants, are not seen by these consultants but by a registrar; and what steps are taken to ensure that all consultants attend regularly and promptly the sessions at the hospital in accordance with their contracts.

If the hon. Member will give me details of what he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

Is the hon. Lady aware that these complaints originate not from me but from members of the medical profession in Manchester, and from patients? Is she further aware that I sent her Department copies of specific allegations made by a general practitioner—a family doctor—who said:

"I am sick and tired of getting hospital reports back signed by the hospital registrar p.p. the consultant. It is not the registrar's opinion I want, it is the consultant's."

I have seen a newspaper cutting which contains that statement, but I do not think I have seen any official letter from the hon. Member with details amplifying such a statement. If he has such details, I shall be glad to look into them. In any case, it is for the consultant to arrange how his own clinic should be held.

In the event of a consultant not attending a clinic, is a deduction made in his remuneration?

Not to my knowledge, but I should like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients, during 1959, were admitted to beds at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, St. Mary's Hospital, and the Royal Eye Hospital, after private consultation with members of the medical staffs; and what was the average time that these patients had been on the waiting list.

I regret that this information could not be made available without a disproportionate amount of work by the hospital authorities.

Surely it is worth making an effort to find out where the truth lies in matters of this kind? Again, the cuttings from newspaper articles, readbyavast numberof people in Manchester, have been made available to the Ministry. This publication has been followed by a vast volume of correspondence. Surely the Minister can make the effort to find out where the truth lies, removing a smear from the consultants, if a smear lies against them, or remedying the complaints of patients, if they are firmly based?

I hope that this question and answer may remove the smear to which the hon. Gentleman refers, because I am informed by the board of governors that in all cases patients who have been sent privately are put on the same waiting list as other patients and that their admission is determined by the relative urgency of the case. The fact that I am unable to give details without a disproportionate amount of work shows that all these people are mixed up with National Health Service patients, and without going through records of individual hospitals we could not say which patients were private and which came under the National Health Service.

It will be of help to us all if I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Minister of Health if he will seek from the Chairman of the North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board an explanation of the reason why the chairman-elect of the Finance Committee of the Ilford and Barking Group Hospital Management Committee has not been re-appointed to the Committee, and that this action was taken without consulting the chairman of the Committee.

No, Sir. The appointment of members of hospital management committees is by statute a matter for the regional hospital board and I have no power to intervene.

I understand my right hon. and learned Friend's position, but is he aware that this decision has caused bitter resentment locally and that it is regarded universally as being underhanded business on the part of the board in getting its own back on a member of the committee who has, in the course of his duty, criticised the board? If those who are on the boards behave like this, they will not be able to call on the services of men of the calibre we want.

These are not matters for me, but this is a conscientious board and I am sure that it would not use any unworthy methods in the appointments that it makes, in which it is animated only by a desire to serve the good of the hospital services, as I seek to be when I make my appointments of board members themselves. I hope that my hon. Friend and the House in general will appreciate that failure to re-appoint a sitting member, either to a hospital board or to a management committee, must not be taken as being any reflection on his competence. On the contrary, we do have to have a change every now and again, and there are, happily, more people anxious to serve than there are vacancies available. We are genuinely grateful to those who have rendered service and who are not eventually re-appointed.

asked the Minister of Health what protests he has received about the shortage of mental hospital accommodation, as the result of which men are kept in gaol while awaiting admission to mental hospitals; and what replies he has made.

I have been unable to trace any protests addressed to me. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there must be several hundreds of people in gaol simply because the wish of the courts to send them to mental institutions cannot be satisfied owing to the shortage of accommodation? Will he investigate the matter in association with his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to see that the gaols are not filled with people who ought to be in mental institutions?

If patients are committed to prison by the courts in the absence of an immediate place in a mental deficiency hospital, they can be, and are, transferred as soon as possible by an order made by my right hon. Friend under Section 9 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913.

But is the Minister aware that such transfer can take place only if there is accommodation available? Is he aware that many of these unfortunate people serve their whole sentence in gaol because there is no place for them in a mental institution within the period of their sentence?

Yes, of course, I am aware of that. There would be no point in making an order unless there was a place to which the patient could go. Although there is still a shortage of accommodation, as the hon. Gentleman will know, we have made considerable progress over the last few years and our plans will result in a considerable further increase of this type of accommodation in the next few years.

asked the Minister of Health whether the plans for the rebuilding ofFulham Hospitalcontain provision for a maternity unit; and of what size.

The board of governors' proposals for the new hospital at Fulham include provision for a professorial obstetric unit which will include 50 beds, an isolation unit of 10 beds, a premature baby unit of 6 cots, an ant-natal clinic, laboratories and ancillary services.

Will the Minister say whether this provision is to be in addition to that existing in the Fulham maternity home or will it replace it? Is it the intention to close the Fulham maternity home?

This will be in replacement of what is now at the Fulham Maternity Hospital.

Is the Fulham Maternity Hospital to be closed?

When the whole of this accommodation is available there will be more obstetric accommodation than at present exists in the Fulham Maternity Hospital and the Charing Cross Hospital together.

asked the Minister of Health when the rebuilding of Fulham Hospital will begin.

Planning is in progress, but it is too early to be able to say when building work will begin.

Is the Minister aware that, according to my information, the plans for the new building have not yet been put before the governors of the hospital? Is he aware that in Fulham we have been very concerned over the fact that every time this subject is discussed the number of beds proposed for the new hospital seems to become smaller? We are anxious, therefore, to know exactly what is the plan before the number shrinks any more.

Plans in the technical sense do not exist as yet because the schedules of accommodation have not yet been fixed. We cannot have plans until we have the schedules of accommodation. I am convinced that in this matter of hospital building the right thing is to get a clear definition of the schedules of accommodation and adhere to it. That is the only way to speed up the procedure of hospital building.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will investigate the causes of the delay in admission to Manor House Hospital, Walsall, of people requiring gynaecological operations.

I am informed that the main reason is the limitations of the operating facilities.

Does not the hon. Lady agree that present delays of two-and-a-half years are quite outrageous and that most urgent steps must be taken? Can she say what steps are being taken to rectify this state of affairs?

The delays to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers relate only to the non-urgent cases. Those cases which are urgent are dealt with at once. Steps are being taken, and the regional hospital board is investigating the possibility of reducing the waiting list by using other facilities in the region. Sketch plans for a new twin operating theatre suite have been examined in my Department and the preparation of working drawings should be authorised shortly.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that half the women patients and one quarter of the men patients in the general medical wards of the Barrow and Furness Hospitals were there for other than clinical reasons, and that, if clinically unnecessary admissions were excluded from hospitals throughout the country as a whole, a ratio of 23 beds per 1,000 population would be sufficient instead of the present national average of 3·1 per 1,000; and if he will state the cost to the National Health Service of the ·8 per 1,000 beds occupied by such clinically redundant patients; and

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a Report published recently for the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust. Ratios calculated for one small area cannot be assumed to be valid for the whole country. While the Report brought to light a number of points that require careful consideration, in present circumstances the rate of hospital admissions is necessarily and properly dependent to some extent on social factors. Until other studies in this series on the demand for medical care in various areas have been completed, I think it would be unwise to seek to draw any general conclusions.

May I ask my right hon. and learned Friend, however, in view of these rather startling figures, to press forward with researches in other parts of the country? Is he aware that his Answer to my first Question is a notional figure of something like £30 million to £40 million a year? In view of that, will he take a personal interest in this matter, preferably avoiding the appointment of any form of committee to study it?

I am very interested in the question of seeking to reduce the number of cases which have to be dealt with in hospital, provided they can satisfactorily be dealt with in the community. On the question of the studies, we have several other studies in progress which should give us a more comprehensive picture of the national position as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health how long the X-ray apparatus at Tetbury Hospitalhasbeenout of order; and what steps are being taken eithertorepairitorprovidea replacement.

Since January. A new machine has been ordered, but it has been found that additional protective work is necessary. It is hoped that this will be completed in about eight weeks' time. Meanwhile, cases are being dealt with at Malmesbury.

Does not my hon. Friend underrate the inconvenience caused to this rural hospital by not having an X-ray apparatus in the area? Will she inject as much urgency as possible into this matter?

Malmesbury is only five miles away. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that since it was reported that the radiation dosage was such that the machine could not be used these protective steps are necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many times in the past three years the Leeds Regional Hospital Board has rejected the advice of the pre-interview advisory committee regarding the appointments to consultants' posts.

While the Board has not in every case followed the order of preference suggested by the advisory appointments committees, which it is not obliged to do, all appointments were made from candidates recommended as suitable by the committees concerned.

Can the Minister say how the members of the Leeds Regional Board compare with those of other boards, and is heabsolutely satisfied that there is no discrimination on matters other than medical or clinical qualifications?

I am not sure that I heard the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question as closely as I should have liked. If, as I understood it, he asked me for a comparison with other boards, I could not without notice give a comparison with any other board, but if he would state precisely in what respects he wishes a comparison to be made, I will see what I can do to help.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made during the past five and 10 years, respectively, in decreasing the number of mental defectives in the county of Essex who are awaiting appropriate institutional accommodation; in particular, to what extent staffs for this purpose have increased; and what is the average period elapsing between medical recognition of the need of institutional care for mental defective cases and their admission to the institutions.

The Essex waiting lists were 222, 357, and 353 at the end of 1949, 1954, 1959, respectively. During the same period, 563 additional beds were opened in this region; a further 170 will be opened as soon as staffed; and the nursing staff increased by 234. Figures for average waiting time are not available.

Does not the hon. Lady realise that the actual position seems to be worse than it was ten years ago, in spite of all that has been attempted? Can she say whether some special effort is now being made to try to match up with the appalling waiting list, which is inflicting a great deal of misery upon patients and homes?

There are more beds and more nurses, as the figures which I have given show, but the need seems to have increased at the same time. Steps are being taken. The Essex County Council, as the local health authority, is making a start this year with the provision of hostel accommodation for mentally disordered persons not needing hospital care. Its new proposals for providing a mental health service undertake to meet the needs of such persons in the course of time, and a review can follow after we know what steps are being taken.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why St. Wulstan's Hospital, Malvern Wells, is to be closed on 30th June, instead of being turned over to other hospital use within the National Health Service: and if he will make a statement as to the immediate future employment of the nursing staff, and the maintenance staff, respectively;

In December last the Board consulted us as to possible change of use on which it is at present obtaining the views of interested local bodies. In the meantime the rapid fall in occupancy has made early closure inevitable; I am informed that the hospital will be put on a care and maintenance basis until a decision is taken about its future use; my right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Board for a full report on the question of staff redundancy and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Could not the information that the hospital was likely to close so far as tuberculosis patients were concerned have been given to the Minister earlier and arrangements made, therefore, to consider what its new use should be, which would have avoided the grave risk, as there is, of the maintenance staff actually being thrown out of employment and the hospital buildings to some extent deteriorating?

My right hon. and learned Friend was first contacted in December. The change has been very rapid. The bed occupancy last October was 107 and at the present moment it is down to four, and hence the necessity to consider quickly the possible future use of the hospital. A number of the maintenance and nursing staffs have already accepted alternative posts.

Will the hon. Lady make every effort to help the regional board to bring the hospital into its new use as quickly as possible and see that no hardship is caused to the maintenance staff and that other jobs are found for them?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Minister for Science, what is the present amount of annual expenditure on dental research; whether he is satisfied that it is sufficient; and what steps are taken to ensure coordination of such research with that being undertaken in the same field by other countries.

The current annual expenditure on dental research by the Medical Research Council amounts to more than £35,000. Of the total annual expenditure by University Dentistry Departments, which is now of the order of £750,000, at least one-quarter may be said to be spent on research, but my noble Friend is still not satisfied with the scale of dental research in this country. International co-ordination in this field of research is ensured by the publication of results in the scientific Press and by the exchange of views at international conferences.

In view of the dissatisfaction expressed by the right hon. and learned Gentleman's colleague in this regard, what does he propose to do about it? Is he going to see to it that more money is available from Government funds to enable the necessary amount of research to be done? Is he aware that it is highly urgent and that if the research were undertaken, it would ultimately save the country a considerable amount of money?

We all want to see an expansion of this work, but as I think I have indicated before to the House, it is not a lack of funds which is inhibiting the progress but a lack of interest and enthusiasm on the part of dentists and scientific graduates. My noble Friend made a fine speech on the subject last July, a copy of which I shall be happy to send to the hon. Gentleman.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that that is precisely what was said in reply to the first Question? Will he study it again and reconsider the matter with his noble Friend, because his noble Friend says that more money is necessary?

I do not need to study it again to be aware that there is no contradiction between my original Answer and the supplementary answer which I have given.

I will send the Minister a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make a statement on the negotiations in Cyprus regarding military bases and other matters and on the date for the inauguration of the independence of Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Cyprus negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make a statement on the progress of the negotiations in Cyprus; and if he will summarise in HANSARD, or in a paper to be placed in the Library of the House, the arguments put forward for retaining sovereignty, for the purposes of defence, over larger areas than the Cypriot spokesmen were prepared to surrender.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the course of negotiations in Cyprus.

The negotiations are still in progress between my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Cypriot leaders.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the negotiations have now been going on for over four months? Is it not the case that the difficulty has mostly been over the extent of the British bases, and would he not agree that the first right of self-determination by any people is the extent of bases upon their territories?

The actual issue of sovereignty over the bases is not in dispute and never has been in dispute from the start of the negotiations. On the issue of the area of the bases the difference now is very small indeed.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that on 1st and 9th February the Foreign Secretary said that the British position on the extent of the area, eleven miles by eleven miles, was reasonable and indeed the minimum? Are we to understand that that minimum has been further whittled down in recent weeks and that the newspapers are correct in reporting an area of 100 square miles as now being under discussion? In general is the Foreign Office giving my hon. Friend the Joint Undersecretary of State for the Colonies full support in his negotiations with this very Byzantine archbishop?

I can assure my noble Friend that we are in very close contact with my hon. Friend in Cyprus every single day in this matter. With regard to the particular details of the negotiations, I do not think that at this final and very delicate stage I can add anything to what I have already said today.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the justifications given for having bases in Cyprus is that they are to be used for the purpose of bombing the industrial areas of Southern Russia? In view of the obvious danger to the pilots, can he assure us that no reconnaissance planes are flying from the Cyprus bases?

That goes quite a bit wider than the Question.

It was announced in Nicosia on Saturday that there had been a breakdown in negotiations and a deadlock, and indeed a ten-day adjournment. How are we to reconcile that with the statement of the Minister of State?

No adjournment has been announced, but it is quite normal in the course of negotiations that at certain periods there are no meetings between the two principals involved. [Laughter.] Hon. Members who laugh must know perfectly well that that happens at certain stages of negotiations. Many consultations are required outside the actual negotiations, and these have resulted in certain periods when the two principals have not met.

Can the Minister of State confirm or deny the report which appeared in the British Press over the weekend that the only issue now at stake and under discussion is the very theological question whether the definition of the conditions under which the bases might ultimately be disposed of by Britain should be included in the Treaty itself or in an annexe? Does not that suggest that Byzantinism is by no means the monopoly of Archbishop Makarios?

I said that the differences between the two sides now seemed to me to be very narrow. I said also that I was not prepared to be drawn into the details of the final stages of these negotiations.

I have no desire to abandon British interests anywhere, even in Cyprus. Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to explain in simple language so that we can understand it why a few square miles will make all the difference to the strategic and military value of the island? Is he aware that when I had the honour of being in charge of a Service Department I never heard one admiral, general or air marshal claim that the island was of any strategic value? Why should a few square miles stand in the way of these negotiations?

I have said previously that as regards the area of the bases the differences between us now are very small indeed.

On a point of order As the parties in Cyprus were very close three weeks ago, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the speech which Sir Ivo Mallet, British Ambassador to Spain, delivered in Madrid on 19th April at a luncheon at the British Chamber of Commerce, in which the ambassador criticised those people in Great Britain who were critical of the Franco régime as taking too rigid a view of democracy, was made with his authority.

No, Sir. It is not the custom for Her Majesty's Ambassadors to submit to my right hon. and learned Friend in advance the texts of the many speeches they may be called upon to make in the course of their duties.

Is the Minister of State aware that, at the same time as the Ambassador was pronouncing his praise of the Franco régime , not so very far from where he was making his speech some prisoners were being forcibly fed because they had protested against being kept in solitary confinement and against the generally inhuman conditions under which they were forced to be imprisoned? Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. and learned Friend to instruct the Ambassador that he should not in future pronounce praise on behalf of the United Kingdom of a Fascist régime which was imposed upon the Spanish people by the armies of Fascist Italy and Hitlerite Germany?

Incidentally, the speech by Her Majesty's Ambassador did not contain praise of the Franco régime as referred to by the hon. Member, but I will arrange for a copy of the whole speech to be available in the Library, when it will be seen to have been a well-balanced speech in which our attitude to Fascism and Nazism was made abundantly clear.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government are now in a position to announce their decision regarding a further contribution to the World Refugee Year.

As my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State informed the House in the debate on the World Refugee Year on 26th April, the Government's decision with regard to a final contribution will be announced before the end of the World Refugee Year which takes place in the United Kingdom on 31st May.

I appreciate what the Minister of State has said, but would it not be a graceful gesture on the Government's part to cease being so coy and, now that World Refugee Year is nearing its close, to announce their further contribution without any delay?

These matters are being very carefully considered at the moment.

Has not this matter been under consideration for a very long time? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a strong feeling on both sides of the House, particularly in view of the magnificent response of the British people to the appeal for funds, that the British Government should long ago have increased their contribution? Are we really to understand that we must wait until the very end of May before any statement is made? Would it not be much more graceful to come out with an announcement immediately that the Government are prepared substantially to increase their contribution?

Some of the considerations which the right hon. Gentle-ment has put before the House are very much in our minds, but we have already made one increase in the contribution and we are now considering what further measures we can take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent consideration has been given to the situation in Southern Korea by the United Nations delegation on the military Armistice Commission.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to a Question by the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg) on 2nd May.

I have read that reply, but is the right hon. Gentleman unable to indicate any means by which his Government and this Parliament may express their feeling of concern about conditions in South Korea today, where only last weekend a conference of democratic parties, attended by the ex-Chief Justice and the ex-Minister for Social Affairs, including the Democratic Socialist Party, was suppressed by the régime? Is that the kind of democracy for which we fought in Korea?

The hon. Gentleman asked me whether he had the opportunity to express his views on the situation in South Korea. Of course, he has ample opportunity to express his views on the subject. What he asks me in the Question is related to reports of the Military Armistice Commission. As my right hon. Friend said on 2nd May, we have received no reports from this body— indeed, no such report was expected, since the Commission is not authorised to concern itself with political developments.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recall that this country and other countries in the West involved themselves in very heavy sacrifices of money, material and men, for the purely political consideration of maintaining democracy in South Korea? If it is really true that no one outside South Korea is now concerned with democracy in South Korea, why did we risk involving the world in a third world war ten years ago for that very purpose?

As I understood at the time, the real purpose of our going to the help of South Korea was to resist aggression by North Korea on South Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the Western European Union Armaments Control Agency is checking, in West Germany, the undertakings contained in the modified Brussels Treaty of 1954 not to manufacture nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

The Arms Control Agency makes frequent inspections of German military depots and industrial installations and collects other relevant information. It has reported that there is no production, on the territory of the Federal Republic, of any categories of armaments which that Government undertook not to produce.

Is the Minister of State satisfied that the Agency is an efficient and effective body for controlling the production of weapons of mass destruction? If so, has the benefit of its experience been submitted to the Ten-Power Conference in connection with its discussions on a control organisation.

I have no doubt that it is an efficient and capable body. With regard to the manufacture of atomic weapons, as the Agency has confirmed that no manufacture is taking place, machinery for carrying out that particular form of inspection is a little difficult to devise. As regards its relevance to the Ten-Power Committee on disarmament, there is some considerable difference between the control arrangements required in the country of a friend and ally as compared with control arrangements in countries which up till now have been our political opponents.

Would not the Minister of State agree that no control arrangement has any point, whether it is in the country of a friend or an enemy, unless it is 100 per cent. effective? Is he really suggesting that the Western European Union Armaments Control Agency is not seeking the power to be as effective in relation to Germany as any agency would seek to be in relation to a universal agreement?

What I have said is that the Agency as at present constituted is highly efficient for carrying out this particular task. It is considering the possibility of improving its facilities in certain matters, and we shall give it every encouragement in so doing.

In view of the supplementary question of my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey), will the right hon. Gentleman consider giving us a little more information about how the Agency is operating? Would he, perhaps, consider circulating information in the OFFICIAL REPORT or making a further statement in the House telling us how the Agency operates and how successful it is?

I can say that a very considerable amount of information is contained in the Agency's annual reports, and I understand that its fifth annual report is in the Library of the House.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the German Federal Government have yet ratified the Convention, drawn up over two years ago, which would enable the Agency to make surprise visits to private armament factories? If the Convention has not yet been ratified by that Government, is not the whole business just a farce?

No, the business is certainly not a farce. I must check on ratification, but my impression is that the Federal Government have not yet ratified the Convention.