asked the Minister of Health the reasons for the delay in completing the extensions to the Caernarvon and Anglesey Infirmary at Bangor; and if he will make a statement.

The contract was due for completion in August, 1959, but additional work was authorised and this, together with bad weather and site and labour difficulties made it necessary to extend the contract period. Completion is now expected by the end of June.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he gave to the relative priority of the various items proposed in the South Western Regional Hospital Board's estimates for 1960–61 when he decided to reduce the grant to the Board by £1 million.

The increased amount allocated to the Board for the current financial year was calculated so as to enable the level of services at the beginning of the year to be maintained and to give them a fair share of the total sum available for further developments and improvements. Boards are left to determine their own priorities within the total funds available.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the shortage of dentists for dealing with mental defectives in the Bristol area is due to the inadequate sessional rates being paid for the work; and if he will consult with the appropriate authorities, including representative dental organisations, with a view to improving the situation.

I do not think it is possible to say how far the difficulty is due to any one particular cause. As the hon. Member knows, the Royal Commission, whose recommendations about the pay of dentists are under discussion between the Government and representatives of the profession has proposed increased rates for dentists working in hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the waste in the National Health Service caused by duplication of effort, in that large numbers of patients are treated in the out-patient's departments of hospitals who could, alternatively, be attended by general practitioners; and whether he will explore the possibility of making economies in this respect by providing general practitioners with additional incentives for private practice.

Access to out-paient departments for consultation depends on reference by a general practitioner and I am not aware of any evidence that general practitioners are referring large numbers of patients unnecessarily.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement about the future of the post of superintendent of psychiatric hospitals.

After carefully considering all the representations which have been made to me, I have decided to make regulations revoking the National Health Service (Superintendents of Mental Hospitals etc.) Regulations, 1948, as from the date of the coming into force of the main provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1959. The effect will be to put psychiatric hospitals in the same position as other hospitals in that there will be complete discretion whether or not a superintendent should be appointed. The new regulations will preserve the contractual rights of superintendents actually in post.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it is the frequent custom for patients on the National Health Service to seek medical advice and prescriptions on a private basis and thereafter induce their National Health Service doctors to write out identical prescriptions on the official form; and if he will make an assessment of the extent of this practice.

If my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion is that National Health Service doctors are copying out on National Health Service forms prescriptions issued by other general practitioners who are treating the patients privately, I have no reason to suppose that irregular arrangements of this type are at all frequent.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in 1957 the number of still-births in England and Wales was 22 per 1,000 births, while comparable figures for Sweden were 17 per 1,000, for Holland 17 per 1,000, and for the United States of America 13 per 1,000; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the figure for England and Wales to the level of that of other advanced countries.

Yes, but in the last two years there has been an encouraging drop in the still-birth rate in England and Wales from 22·5 per 1,000 births in 1957 to 21·6 in 1958 and 20·7 in 1959. This reflects both improvements in general health and great efforts by all concerned to secure a high standard of maternal and infant care but the figure is still too high and my right hon. and learned Friend will do everything he can to encourage further improvement.

asked the Minister of Health which United States firms with subsidiary companies in Great Britain are at present being charged before the Senate Anti-Monopoly Sub-Committee with having created public hardship by the monopolist control of pharmaceutical prices for Salk vaccine; and what inquiry he has made into the incidence of comparable practices by these firms in this country.

So far as I am aware, no charges relating specifically to the price of Salk vaccine have been made before the Senate Sub-Committee on Anti-Trust and Monopoly. Five manufacturers of Salk vaccine were recently charged with price fixing by the Federal Government in the courts but I understand that the charge was dismissed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what numbers are employed at the United Kingdom Embassy in Seoul.

The Foreign Office paid staff at Her Majesty's Embassy in Seoul numbers 23, of whom 6 are United Kingdom based and 17 are locally engaged. The figure of 14 for the latter category which was mentioned in an answer on 5th April was incorrect and I apologise for the error.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many nations signed, with the United Kingdom, the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1932 outlawing war; how many of these nations gave notice of withdrawal from the pact; and how many have been engaged in hostilities since the signing of the pact.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact, or the International Treaty for the Renunciation of War as an Instrument of National Policy, as it is officially styled, was signed at Paris on 27th August, 1928, by fifteen nations, including Che United Kingdom. Of these, none has withdrawn and all except one have been engaged in hostilities. Forty-eight other nations later acceded to the Treaty; of these, none has withdrawn— though a number have ceased to exist— and six have not been engaged in hostilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the official communication received by Her Majesty's Embassy in Bonn from the Federal German Government on the forced collectivation in Eastern Germany.

Yes. Her Majesty's Government have received from the Federal German Government a Note drawing their attention to the forced collectivisation of farmers, and also of craftsmen and small traders, in the Soviet Zone of Germany. A description of this collectivisation campaign, together with documentary evidence, is contained in the White Book published by the Federal Government who are preparing an English translation of it.I am grateful for this occasion to express Her Majesty's Government's sympathy with the victims of these oppressive collectivisation measures. They have brought about a great increase in the flow of refugees into West Berlin and the Federal Republic and we are witnessing a further tragic consequence of the inability of the Germans in the Soviet Zone to elect a Government of their own choice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to maintain existing economic and financial links between West Berlin and the Federal German Republic.

These links were created with the approval of Her Majesty's Government and it remains their policy to maintain them, as they are vital to the prosperity of West Berlin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions have been given by Her Majesty's Government to their representative in the discussions at the United Nations on the status and future of South West Africa.

No such discussions are taking place at the United Nations, and the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will protest to the French Government about the deportation of seven British men carrying a message from Aldermaston to the Paris Summit Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protest he has made against the recent deportation from France of seven persons holding British passports.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend does not intend to protest. The French authorities were within their rights in objecting to their activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what negotiations he has had with the Icelandic authorities since the breakdown of the Geneva Conference with regard to the fishing by British trawlers in traditional fishing grounds off the coast of Iceland.

No negotiations have taken place since the Conference. We hope that the improved atmosphere resulting from the Icelandic Government's welcome decision to waive past charges against our trawlers will help to bring about a settlement of the dispute. We have been in touch with the Icelandic Government, but I can make no further statement at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that the Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea broke down by such a small and fortuitous vote, he will propose to the United Nations that the conference be reconvened at an early date.

It is too early to decide whether that would be appropriate. However, Her Majesty's Government are urgently studying with others concerned the best course to take. I hope that an announcement can be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received the Tenth Interim Report of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Vietnam; and what information is contained in the report regarding the reduction of the various United States military missions in South Vietnam in accordance with the requests of the Commission.

The Tenth Interim Report has been received and will in due course be published as a White Paper. The Commission recommended to the Government of Vietnam that the Temporary Equipment Recovery Mission should complete its work and that its personnel leave Vietnam by the 31st December, 1960, instead of June, 1959, as recommended in the Ninth Report. I have no doubt that this recommendation will be implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations in Cyprus concerning independence.

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

I have nothing to add to the Answers I gave in the House this afternoon.

asked the hon. Member for Chelmsford, as Second Church Estates Commissioner representing the Church Commissioners, if he will publish in HANSARD, for the information of hon. Members in connection with Section 8 of the City of London (Guild Churches) Bill, a list of the existing ward churches in the City of London; what representations have been received from the aldermen and common council of any ward who may desire to change their ward church in accordance with the procedure laid down in this Section; and what reasons for such a change have been given.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes": in regard to the second no representations—within the meaning of this word as used in Clause 8 of the Bill—have been received from any alderman and Common Councilmen who may desire to change their ward church, because as the law now stands—Guild Churches Act of 1952—neither the Bishop of London nor anyone else has any power to implement such representations, and the City authorities are well aware that this is so.At the same time unofficial discussions have taken place on this subject between the City authorities and the Archdeacon of London.

LIST OF WARD CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF LONDON
Church	Whether Parish or Guild Church	Ward
St. Botolph, Aldersgate.	Guild	Aldersgate
St. Mary at Hill	Parish	Billingsgate
St. Peter, Cornhill	Parish	Lime Street
St. Olave, Hart Street.	Parish	Tower
St. Lawrence Jewry.	Guild	Cheap Bassishaw
St. Giles Cripplegate.	Parish	Cripplegate Without.
St. Martin Ludgate.	Guild	Farringdon Within.
St. Michael Paternoster Royal.	Guild	Dowgate
St. Margaret Lothbury.	Parish	Coleman Street Broad Street
St. Botolph Bishopsgate.	Parish	Bishopsgate
St. Edmund the King.	Parish	Langbourn

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of those registering at the employment exchange at Shotts have been unemployed for more than eight weeks and 26 weeks, respectively.

At 14th March, 69 per cent, and 37 per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how the number of girls under 18 years of age registered as wholly unemployed in the County of Lanark at the latest convenient date relates to the number of unfilled notified vacancies.

On 11th April, there were 313 wholly unemployed girls and 1,343 vacancies for them in Lanarkshire, including Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls, respectively, are now unemployed in the exchange districts which serve the Bishop Auckland constituency; and what percentage of these juveniles have been continuously unemployed since 1st January, 1960.

On 2nd May there were 60 boys and 18 girls unemployed,

NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND NUMBERS OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED IN THE NORTHERN REGION AND IN THE GATESHEAD AREA AT APRIL, 1960 AND THE CHANGES COMPARED WITH APRIL, 1959 AND MARCH, 1960
—			Northern Region
			Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
Numbers registered as unemployed at 11th April, 1960		…	27,748	1,925	8,971	952	39,596
Change compared with:
13th April, 1959	…	…	-3,745	-396†	-1,082	-213†	-5,436
14th March, 1960	…	…	-3,179	+275*	-915	+206*	-3,613
Numbers of unfilled vacancies at 6th April, 1960	…	…	2,826	1,015	2,444	2,138	8,423
Change compared with:
8th April, 1959	…	…	-984	+108	+439	+840	+403
9th March, 1960	…	…	+364	+411	+368	+611	+1,754

—			Gateshead area
			Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
Numbers registered as unemployed at 11th April, 1960		…	1,848	236	437	125	2,646
Change compared with:
13th April, 1959	…	…	-128	+75†	-93	+69†	-77
14th March, 1960	…	…	-346	+148*	-22	+86*	-134
Numbers of unfilled vacancies at 6th April, 1960		…	223	64	209	150	646
Change compared with:
8th April, 1959	…	…	+133	+46	+82	+88	+349
9th March, 1960	…	…	+45	+36	+13	+2	+96
* The increase (in the April, 1960, over the March, 1960, figures) is accounted for by the inclusion of school leavers registering for first employment.
† The figures for April, 1959, and April, 1960, are not comparable; in April, 1959, there was more time between the school leaving date and the count for Youth Employment Offices to register and place school leavers; in April, 1960, all school leavers had not yet had time to register.

asked the Minister of Labour the most up-to-date figure of men, boys, women, and girls unemployed in the Northern Region and the Gateshead and district area, together with the number of vacancies for the four categories, and the number of increases and decreases compared with a year and a month ago.

Following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys leaving school at the end of the Easter term in the Bishop Auckland constituency were seeking apprenticeships; and how many have so far been accepted as apprentices.

Out of 124 boys leaving school at Easter in the Bishop Auckland Parliamentary division, 66 sought apprenticeships; so far 28 have been engaged as apprentices.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the figures of unemployed in Shrewsbury for each of the last twelve months.

The following is the information required:

Date			Number unemployed
11th May 1959	…	…	326
15th June, 1959	…	…	273
13th July, 1959	…	…	265
17th August, 1959	…	…	379
14th September, 1959	…	…	365
12th October, 1959	…	…	294
16th November, 1959	…	…	313
7th December, 1959	…	…	333
11th January, 1960	…	…	396
15th February, 1960	…	…	395
14th March, 1960	…	…	351
11th April. 1960	…	…	353

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers returned to school in the County Borough of St. Helens after the Easter holidays, 1960; and whether he is now prepared, in view of the changed circumstances, to consider a Ministry of Labour training scheme for young people leaving cshool.

I cannot say how many of the boys and girls who returned to school in St. Helens after the Easter holidays had previously intended to leave school at the end of the Easter term.As my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 11th April, he is setting up a small number of classes in Government Training Centres to provide first year apprenticeship training.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his most recent estimate of the average weekly earnings of farm workers in England and Wales.

The latest available figures relate to the calendar year 1959. The estimated average weekly earnings of whole-time regular workers in England and Wales in this period are: men, £9 18s. 6d., youths, £5 17s. 1d. and females, £6 8s. 2d.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many protests, and from whom, he has received against his proposal to close down his Department's research establishment at Greyhope Road, Aberdeen; and whether, in the light of those protests and the unemployment in, and loss to, Aberdeen which that closure will cause, he will now reconsider his decision to close that factory.

My right hon. Friend has received no protests other than the representations made by the hon. and learned Member himself and by the hon. Lady the Member for Aberdeen, South (Lady Tweedsmuir).We are doing all we can to minimise hardship to the staff affected, and my right hon. Friend does not feel that the circumstances justify reconsideration of his decision to close the research establishment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further and comprehensive statement on the effects which the Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea will have on the British fishing industry, and on the export by that industry of fish to foreign countries.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the House on 28th April, when he said that we shall be discussing with the industry the implications of the situation arising from the failure of the Conference.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the total woodland area of the United Kingdom now exceeds 6·1 per cent. of the total land area, as mentioned in the Watson Report of 1956, and by the Zuckerman Report in 1957, as representing the smallest proportion of woodland of any other European country; and how much of this 6·1 per cent. is now productive.

The area of woods of five acres and over in Great Britain in 1947 was 6·1 per cent. of the total land area, but the total woodland area including smaller woods was 6·4 per cent. This has since risen by 0·85 per cent. to 7·25 per cent., or about one-fourteenth of the total land area. Of the total woodland area in 1947 about 70 per cent. is now productive.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further progress has been made with the plan to export books at low prices.

The work of the Advisory Committee on the Selection of Low-Priced Books has made good progress. Some 2,000 titles have been put forward by publishers and others, here and overseas. The initial task of selecting a first short list from these has been a heavy one, but I understand that the Committee will shortly recommend its first list to the Ministers concerned.The Advisory Committee is also studying a first list of some 25 scientific and technical textbooks for issue in low-priced editions for university and college libraries, instructors and individual students.The Government have decided to give a measure of priority to university textbooks, recognising the importance which the Commonwealth Education Conference—held in July, 1959—attached to the supply of books of educational, scientific and technical value. We have taken into account also the particular views of the authorities in certain countries about the most pressing needs of their rapidly growing student populations. An adequate supply of suitable books is vital to technical education, itself essential to the strengthening of their economies.Initially, this arrangement will be applied in India. We hope to extend it, as funds allow, to other countries.Subject to negotiations with publishers, it is hoped that the low-priced editions of textbooks will be made available for distribution through normal trade channels in India by the opening of the students' buying season in December, 1960. The publishers have readily co-operated with the Government in investigating this need, as with other parts of the book exports programme, and we much appreciate their expert help and advice.The size of editions will depend upon demand, among other factors, but we have in mind editions of up to 5,000 copies of the most specialised and advanced university textbooks.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what manner responsibility for the production and distribution overseas of recorded material for broadcasting is divided among the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Central Office of Information, the British Council, the television programme companies, the Duchy of Lancaster, and the overseas information departments of the Foreign Office, Colonial Office, Commonwealth Relations Office, and Board of Trade.

The arrangements for the production and distribution overseas of recorded material for broadcasting were described in paragraphs 9 to 21 of Cmnd. 225.The principal source of recorded material for sound broadcasting is the valuable Transcription Service of the B.B.C. and the Corporation is responsible for the production and distribution overseas of this material. In recent years, the transcription operations of the B.B.C. have been extended in English and other languages. The other source for sound broadcasting material is the service of radio tapes produced by the Central Office of Information for the overseas departments, and distributed by the official overseas information services in Commonwealth and foreign countries.In the case of television material, it is the Government's policy to encourage the fullest use overseas of British material. The B.B.C. and I.T.A. companies, acting on their own responsibility, produce and distribute recorded material to those countries where they can secure a commercial return, and enterprise by the Corporation and programme companies in seeking out markets is warmly welcomed by the Government.The Government recognise the importance of encouraging the showing of British television material overseas in places where commercial showing would be unremunerative but where, in the view of the overseas departments and the Board of Trade, it would help in presenting Britain. The aim is to make the widest possible use of suitable material produced by the B.B.C, the television and film-producing companies, including that produced by, or for, industrial firms. This material is acquired on behalf of the overseas departments by the Central Office of Information and is distributed through a number of channels, including the official overseas services. Arrangements have been made to increase the sum available for acquisition of this material during the current financial year.In addition, the production of television material by the C.O.I., in accordance with the requirements of overseas departments, contracting as appropriate with the different producers, has been substantially increased during the past three years. This material is made available by the official information services to local television stations overseas.The total Government expenditure in 1959–60 on the production and acquisition of television material for overseas was approximately £139,000.The British Council has begun to make use of television films in its work in teaching English overseas. The Council's requirements were met by arrangements made by the C.O.I., as explained in my Answer to the hon. Gentleman on 16th November, 1959.My co-ordinating responsibility in these arrangements for use of the media of sound and television broadcasting is the same as it is for other media of overseas information work.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many National Assistance grants are now being paid to supplement benefits under the Industrial Injuries Act.

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that the persons receiving weekly National Assistance grants to supplement National Insurance payments on 29th March last included 1,960 who had a payment under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act but no other National Insurance benefit. In addition, there were doubtless some whose main resource was another National Insurance benefit but who were also receiving a payment under that Act; the number of these is not, however, known.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now publish his reply to the Comptroller and Auditor General's questions about two missiles estimated originally to cost £8 millions and now estimated to cost £110 millions.

No. It is not the normal practice to publish correspondence between Government Departments and the Comptroller and Auditor General on the subject of public expenditure. The information provided will be made available to the Committee of Public Accounts, which has also arranged to examine the Accounting Officer of my Department in detail on these projects before making its report to the House.

asked the Minister of Aviation what jet airliners, other than the Comet B4, have been allowed to use London Airport during the night, since he gave permission for the Comet B4 to be used for night services.

asked the Minister of Aviation what jet airliners, other than the Comet B4, have been allowed to use London Airport during the night, since he gave permission to British European Airways to use the Comet B4 for night services.

Apart from delayed flights, no jet aircraft other than the Comet 4B has been allowed to operate night services at London Airport.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has received an application from Pan-American Airways to operate the jet airliner Boeing 707 during the night at London Airport; what other airlines have also applied; and if he will give an assurance that permission will not be given.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has received an application from Pan-American Airways to operate the jet airliner Boeing 707 during the night at London Airport; what other airlines have also applied; and if he will give an assurance that permission will not be given.

I have received no application from any airline to operate night services with Boeing 707s.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the future of Turnhouse Airport.

As Turnhouse now serves mainly civil air transport purposes, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air and I have agreed that my Department will assume responsibility for the operation of the airport on 1st July, 1960. The Royal Air Force will retain certain domestic and technical facilities there.

asked the Minister of Power what plans he has approved, under the capital development plan, for building further electricity generating stations in south Yorkshire.

Generating stations are now being built at Thorpe Marsh, near Doncaster, and at Skelton Grange, near Leeds. My right hon. Friend has not received any applications to build further stations in Yorkshire.

asked the Minister of Power what stocks of coal are being held unsold by the National Coal Board at the latest available date; and, in particular, what stocks of East Midland doubles.

32·7 million tons at 23rd April, including about 300,000 tons of East Midlands doubles.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the legislation passed in Southern Rhodesia during the past twelve months and which is subject to the scrutiny of Her Majesty's Government under the reserve powers held by the United Kingdom.

Section 31 of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution Letters Patent applies to all Southern Rhodesia legislation, but I assume that the hon. Member's Question refers to Bills which have been the subject of procedure under Section 28. The following is a list of all such laws which have been assented to since 1st May, 1959, and have so far reached my noble Friend.

LIST OF ACTS OF WHICH THE BILL WAS RESERVED FOR THE SIGNIFICATION OF HER MAJESTY'S PLEASURE, OR WOULD HAVE BEEN SO RESERVED IF THE GOVERNOR HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY OBTAINED THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ASSENT
Act No. of 1959
31	Native Affairs Amendment Act, 1959.
32	Native Land Husbandry Amendment Act, 1959.
35	Liquor Amendment Act, 1959.
38	Unlawful Organisations Act, 1959.
39	Preventive Detention (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1959.
50	Native Farmers' Licensing Act, 1959.
51	Land Apportionment Further Amendment Act, 1959.
67	Liquor Amendment (No. 3) Act, 1959.
74	Natives Registration Amendment Act, 1959.
75	Natives (Urban Areas) Accommodation and Registration Amendment Act, 1959.
6 of 1960	Visiting Commission Act, 1960.
7 of 1960	Central African Trade Fair Act, 1960.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if the Unlawful Organisations Act, 1959, of Southern Rhodesia will now be disallowed by Her Majesty's Government, in view of its discriminatory nature against Africans.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brock way) on 18th June, 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will place an unexpurgated copy of the Corfield Report on the origins and history of Mau Mau in the Library of the House of Commons.

As I made clear, no alterations have been made which would modify the strength of the Report either against individuals or against the Mau Mau movement itself. It was decided that the survey should be published, and Mr. Corfield's offer to condense the draft was accepted. He is leaving out such matters as he considers would not be in the public interest to disclose; for instance, detailed comment on the organisation of intelligence, and the names of witnesses or sources of information who might thereby be endangered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) when the commission to review terms of service of civil servants in the East African Territories will be appointed;(2) what reply has been given to the claim of the Uganda European Civil Servants' Association for an immediate 15 per cent. increase in salaries to meet the high cost of living.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) on 5th May. I contemplate that the review will cover all the East African Territories and the East Africa High Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the present African population of Sierra Leone; and what is the number of illiterates;(2) the present non-European population of British Guiana; and what is the number of illiterates;(3) the present African population of Nyasaland; and what is the number of illiterates;(4) the present African population of Nigeria; and what is the number of illiterates.

The latest estimates of the populations of the territories named are as follows:

Sierra Leone: Africans (mid 1959)	2,258,000
British Guiana: Non-Europeans (end 1958)	535,130
Nyasaland: Africans (mid 1959)	2,770,000
Federation of Nigeria: Africans (mid 1959)	35,257,000

Recent census information on illiteracy is not available. The last census figures were as follows:

Territory	Date	Population	Percentage Illiterate
British Guiana.	1946	10 years and over, Non-Europeans.	22
Nyasaland	1945	All ages, Africans.	93
Nigeria	1952–53	All ages, Africans.	87
Sierra Leone (Colony).	1948	All ages, Africans.	29

These figures are however derived from censuses held 10 to 15 years ago and in two cases had to be calculated on the total population in the absence of suitable analyses by age groups: for these reasons their use today would be misleading. A new census was conducted in British Guiana last month, and the results are now being analysed. Plans are being made for censuses to be held in the other three territories in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Governor of Nyasaland, during his recent visit to. Central Africa, concerning the timing of the release of Dr. Hastings Banda.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House on 14th April.

asked the Minister of Education if he has yet received the Report of the Anderson Committee; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have received copies of this Report, and we are arranging for its publication about the end of this month.We are indebted to Sir Colin Anderson and his colleagues for the care they have given to its preparation.The Government's views will be made known when the recommendations in the Report have been fully considered.

asked the Minister of Education if he is yet in a position to state when he expects to publish the Report of the Anderson Committee on Student Grants.

The Report should be published about the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Education the pupil-teacher ratios for teacher quotas for each administrative county.

This information is contained in Circular 14/59 of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of school leavers at the end of each of the three terms in the school year 1958–59, and the estimated numbers for each term in 1959–60, for Hampshire.

In the educational year ending July, 1959, 7,673 pupils left maintained schools in Hampshire. A rather smaller number is expected to leave this year. Statistics of the number of school leavers term by term are not available.

asked the Minister of Education the numbers of school leavers at the end of each of the three terms in the school year 1958–59, and the estimated numbers for each term in 1959–60, for Southampton.

In the educational year ending July, 1959, 2,668 pupils left maintained schools in Southampton. A rather smaller number is expected to leave this year. Statistics of the number of school leavers term by term are not available.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the numbers of school leavers, or estimated numbers where necessary, for each of the years from 1956 to 1962, for England and Wales.

The numbers leaving maintained schools are as follows:

Calendar year			Leavers
1956	…	…	459,400
1957	…	…	500,500
1958	…	…	520,400
1959 (estimated)	…	…	570,000
l960 (forecast)	…	…	540,000
1961(forecast)	…	…	620,000
1962(forecast)	…	…	680,000

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will recommend the introduction of a 42-hour week for workers in Royal dockyards.

This matter is at present under negotiation between the trades unions and the official side of the Joint Co-ordinating Committee for Government Industrial Establishments.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty the basic wage paid to labourers in Royal dockyards; and the average amount of overtime earnings paid to these labourers.

The basic wage is 160s. 4d. In addition all those employed in the professional departments of the dockyards are entitled to a ship-repair allowance of 1s. 6d. a week. These labourers may, in addition, earn overtime, incentive payments and other allowances, but figures for the average amount of each are not available.

asked the Attorney-General how many appointments of general commissioners of taxes have been made under the provisions of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act, 1956; what trade, vocation, or profession each of them follows; and how many were women.

Thirty-five General Commissioners of Income Tax have been appointed, none of them women. Their occupations at the time of their appointments were as follows:

Company Directors	…	8
Farmers	…	5
Retired Officers of Armed Services	…	3
School Masters	…	2
Chemists	…	2
Works Managers	…	2
General Manager	…	1
Sales Manager	…	l
Bank Manager	…	1
Architect	…	1
Medical Practitioner	…	1
Estate Agent	…	1
Stock Broker	…	1
Hotel Proprietor	…	1
Outfitter and Clothier	…	1
House Furnisher	…	1
Engineer	…	1
Corn Merchant	…	1

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the concern of the farming community who hold the farming tenancy for the land on Eshott Airfield, Northumberland; and what proposals he has for the future of this airfield.

We may need to use the airfield again for flying training. In that event we should give the farmers as much notice as possible of our inten- tions and disturb the present agricultural use as little as possible.If we decide not to re-open the airfield after all, we shall dispose of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that numerous cases of tax arrears arise because information of the granting of a retirement pension is not received by the inspector of taxes until the taxpayer makes his return for the following tax year; and whether he will make arrangements with the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance so that the Inland Revenue are notified of the granting of retirement pensions, and similar long-term benefits, within three months of commencement.

Arrangements were put into force some time ago which, when they have taken full effect, should contribute largely to the solution of this problem. There are difficulties about the particular suggestion put forward by the hon. Member, but the whole question is being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent evidence he has regarding the extent of homosexual practices in England and Wales; and to what extent criminal statistics and other evidence available to him indicate a need for an amendment of the law in this respect, both with regard to male and female homosexuality.

The numbers of homosexual offences known to the police in the last three years were as follows:

1957	…	…	…	…	6,327
1958	…	…	…	…	5,471
1959	…	…	…	…	5,732

These figures relate only to male homosexuality, since female homosexual practices are not criminal.My view is still that it would be premature to introduce legislation to amend the law on male homosexual offences, and I know of no sufficient grounds for legislation on female homosexuality.

asked the Postmaster-General what evidence he has received of attempts by foreign broadcasting stations to introduce subliminal matter during breaks in transmissions on frequencies allocated to United Kingdom broadcasting authorities.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the White Paper on Industry and Employment in Scotland for 1959 will be presented to Parliament.

I hope to present the White Paper on or about 21st June. This date, which is later than usual, enables more complete and up-to-date information to be included together with some assessment of current trends in the various industries. The Scottish Roads Report will, as usual, be published in the same volume.

asked the Minister of Transport how many motor cycles, motor scooters, and cycles with engines of under 50 c.c. capacity, respectively, were involved in accidents in the last twelve months.

Between 1st April, 1959, and 31st March this year, 73,378 motor cycles, 24,679 motor scooters and 6,857 cycles with engines not over 50 c.c. capacity were involved in road accidents resulting in death or personal injury.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what tonnage of North American frozen pork was imported into Great Britain in each calendar month since November, 1959.

Separate figures for frozen pork are not available. Imports of chilled or frozen pork from North America were nil in December, 1959, 1 cwt. in January, 288 cwt. in February and 284 cwt. in March. 1960.

asked the Minister of Works if, in view of the fact that only two of the Government buildings in Liverpool for which he is responsible have flag poles, he will arrange for this defect to be overcome so that flags may be flown from all Government buildings on appointed days.

Normally only the more important and prominent Government buildings fly flags. I will see that those for which I am responsible in Liverpool are able to do so.