asked the President of the Board of Trade what effects he estimates the restrictions on hire-purchase on radio and television sets to have upon the number of such sets rented from rental companies; and what statistics he has to show what such effect was in the past.

The current Regulations restrict both hire purchase and rental of radio and television sets. I believe that their effect will generally be to restrain demand. I regret that the Board of Trade does not have statistics which would enable it to identify the effect of hire purchase restrictions on the demand for sets on rental.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what measures he now has in view for the provision of industry in the Northern Region, where 72 per cent. of the area is excluded from the Local Employment Act, and where the numbers of unemployed boys under 18 years of age remains high and persistent, and has increased since 14th March, 1960.

The Board of Trade will continue to do all it can to encourage firms to set up in those parts of the Northern Region where the need for new industry is greatest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the £10 million tractor factory to be built by the Ford Motor Company at Basildon, Essex, is a new factory or an extension of an existing factory.

This will be a new factory, re-deploying part of the existing labour force at Dagenham.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what special facilities exist at Basildon in Essex for the despatch of tractors to the various parts of the United Kingdom.

Arrangements and facilities for distribution are matters for the Ford Motor Company. Evidently they consider them adequate at Basildon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what use is being made of the facility arranged by his Department for permitting Citizens' Advice bureaux to obtain details from Hire-Purchase Information, Limited, on any agreements that may exist in relation to second-hand vehicles being offered for sale.

I am informed that over the past two months Hire Purchase Information Limited have answered some six enquiries a day from the Citizen's Advice Bureaux and that over 50 per cent. of the inquiries received have been in respect of motor vehicles still the subject of current hire-purchase agreements. On this showing I consider the provision of this service well worth while.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, for 1958 and 1959, showing the percentage increase or decrease, the amounts of home and overseas earnings accruing to producers of British films, including statutory levy, the amounts retained by distributors of British films, and the average net takings per cinema.

The following is the information asked for:

asked the Prime Minister if, apart from times of national emergency, it is now Government policy to allow land compulsorily acquired by a Government Department to be sold to private industry despite the expressed wish of former owners to repurchase their land, and without a public inquiry.

I have been asked to reply.The Government's policy for the disposal of compulsorily acquired agricultural land remains as stated by the Minister of Agriculture in the Crichel Down debate on 20th July, 1954.

asked the Prime Minister if he will propose at the Summit Conference that all four Powers shall make a declaration that none of them will ever be the first to make use of nuclear weapons against any of the others.

asked the Prime Minister if he will propose to the Summit Conference a declaration by all Powers possessing nuclear weapons and bases that they will never be the first to use nuclear weapons.

I have been asked to reply.No. Such a declaration without any control measures to ensure compliance would be valueless.

asked the Prime Minister if, as a token of Great Britain's earnestness at the Summit Conference, he will give orders that all patrol flights from or to bases in Great Britain of aircraft carrying hydrogen bombs or atom bombs shall cease for the duration of the summit talks.

I have been asked to reply.No. The circumstances in which aircraft using British bases may occasionally carry nuclear weapons have been fully explained to the House and we see no need to make any change at this time.

asked the Prime Minister what action he proposes to take with regard to the recommendations of the Molony Committee on Consumer Protection, that all legislation pertaining to home safety should be the responsibility of a single Minister.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will permit additional expenditure on public works in areas of high unemployment.

The recent Local Employment Act offers the best opportunities for reducing unemployment in the areas to which the hon. Member refers. It is, however, Government policy to locate public investment in these areas wherever possible, and I do not consider it necessary to authorise additional expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims to set farming losses off against other income were refused by tax inspectors in the twelve months up to the last convenient date; in how many of these cases appeals were made against the inspectors' ruling; and with what results.

I have no knowledge of such a case, but if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any case he has in mind I will have it looked into.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many farmers in Scotland received relief for losses, in 1958 and 1959, under Section 34 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, in each county in Scotland.

I regret that this information is not available and it could not be extracted without an unjustifiable expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the case made to him for treating go-karts in the matter of Purchase Tax on the same basis as racing cars and yachts, in view of the experience of youth organisations that the active sport of go-kart racing makes a healthy appeal to the adventurous in their leisure hours.

I have carefully considered the representations which have been received through my hon. Friend and other Members, but as I have explained in reply I do not feel able to recommend a reduction in the rate of tax on go-karts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the current Income Tax assessment in respect of a constituent with tax reference No. Walsall No. 3 District 745: 50631 will be established.

I have written to the hon. Member about this case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost, and the total cost, to date, of the Civil Service Pay Research Unit.

The cost of the Civil Service Pay Research Unit in 1959–60 was £59,000 and the total cost to 31st March, 1960, amounts to nearly £172,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it remains his policy to continue to base the interest rates charged by the Public Works Loan Board upon the current rates for comparable loans in the market, in view of the fact that a lower interest rate is charged on Government loans of a similar type to building societies.

I see no reason why a local authority borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board should pay less for its capital than a local authority borrowing on the market. The rate of interest on loans to building societies is not fixed but is liable to variation during the life of the loan. In such circumstances, no true comparison can be drawn between the cost of borrowing by building societies and local authorities by reference to the differing rates of interest currently charged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action Her Majesty's Government will take with respect to the proposals made by the Federal German Government for negotiations between the opposing European trade blocks.

I am, of course, aware of the statement of German Government policy made in the Bundestag and have seen reports of the discussions which have taken place between Foreign Ministers of the European Economic Community. Her Majesty's Government strongly welcome any constructive proposals which may lead to an agreement between the Six and the Seven. We have, however, had no official proposals for urgent conversations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legal action has been taken my him, on behalf of the Board of Inland Revenue, against those responsible for publishing libels on officers of the Inland Revenue Department in an article, a copy of which has been forwarded to him.

No legal action has been taken, but I welcome the opportunity of deploring the article in question. It wholly misrepresents the attitude of Inland Revenue officers who do their best to be fair and helpful to the tax-paying public, as I am sure is widely appreciated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what it would cost the revenue in a full year to increase Income Tax personal reliefs from £140 to £150 for a single person, and from £240 to £250 and to £260, respectively, for a married man.

£28 million, £29 million, and £56 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total of British investment in Western Germany at the most recent date available, specifying the percentage thereof attributable to oil refining, petrochemical development and petroleum marketing.

We have no information on total United Kingdom investment in Western Germany, but according to a West German source United Kingdom investment in West Germany companies had a nominal value of £54 million in 1958. The market value would, of course, be considerably higher. No precise information is available on the second part of the Question, but the major part of United Kingdom investment in Western Germany in recent years has been in the petroleum and petrochemical industries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the total amount of Government credit made available to building societies at the nearest convenient date, and at what rate of interest; and whether he will make a statement.

Up to 31st March, loans by societies qualifying for Exchequer advances under the scheme totalled £24 million. Actual advances from the Exchequer amounted to £16½ million up to 6th May. Interest is payable on these at 5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs on what date he issued Circular 5/1960 containing instructions to local authorities to increase the selling price of council houses to their tenants.

15th February, 1960.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will issue a circular suggesting to local authorities that business firms evicted under compulsory purchase orders for local development schemes shall be given first choice of alternative accommodation in any suitable local authority property which becomes vacant.

Local authorities should give all the help they reasonably can to business firms disturbed in this way, and my information is that they generally do so. I do not think that the issue of a circular on this particular point is called for, but I hope that this answer will make clear to all concerned the Government's view.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to announce his decision arising out of the public inquiry into the proposed redevelopment of the Café Monico site.

Before the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether Nos. 1-8 Charlotte Street, Bristol, are now listed as buildings of architectural interest; whether he is aware of their present poor interior condition; and whether he will ensure that the façades are preserved when development takes place.

These buildings are listed. I have no information about their interior condition, but they have been used as warehouses. Planning permission for residential use has been granted. If alterations seriously affecting the façades are proposed, notice will have to be given to the local planning authority and to my right hon. Friend, so that he will have an opportunity of considering whether to intervene.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the several buildings on the north side of Fullbridge, Maldon, Essex, which have been listed under the Town and Country Planning Act as being of architectural or historical interest; what were the reasons for the listing of each property; and what annual grant, or other payment, is made for any of the properties for preservation or other purposes.

The only listed building in Fullbridge is Fullbridge House, which is a large 18th century house of special architectural interest. No grant from public funds is being paid on this house for its preservation or, so far as I know, for any other purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the recognised need to deal with colliery slag-heaps and the action which has already been taken in this respect, if he will send a circular to all local authorities drawing their attention to the need for similar action in areas where sand and gravel is being extracted, in order to restore the land for other uses.

No. Local planning authorities realise the need to restore land worked for these minerals, and commonly attach suitable conditions. The Department's memorandum on "Control of Mineral Working", a revised edition of which was sent to planning authorities last week gives advice on this. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will announce the composition of the Nyasa-land Constitutional Conference to be held in June or July.

I propose that the Conference should be convened on Tuesday, 19th July. I am asking the Govenor to obtain and submit nominations of persons broadly representative of the main streams of political opinion and of all communities in the territory who have an interest in. and a contribution to make to the future progress of the country. I will announce the detailed composition of the conference later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Nyasaland police applied for a warrant under the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881, to return Mr. Ronald Segal and Mr. Oliver Tambo to the Union of South Africa as they were political refugees from the Union of South Africa and had been granted asylum in Bechuanaland.

A provisional warrant under Part II of the Fugitive Offenders Act is normally applied for if the police of a territory receive information that a warrant has been issued against a person alleged to have committed an offence in another territory to which that Part of the Fugitive Offenders Act applies, and there is reason to think that the person concerned may arrive before the original warrant can be received from that other territory. In the case to which the hon. Member refers, the Nyasaland Police were following this usual practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will review the present policy under which the Colonial Development Corporation is prohibited from operating new enterprises in Colonial Territories as soon as they become independent.

No. The Government do not contemplate any change in the existing policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans are in hand for the development of African farming in Northern Rhodesia; what consultations he has had with African political leaders in this connection; and how African farming is affected by the Federal Government's proposal for European farming development.

Extensive developments in African farming are planned over the next three years. Regional planning in African farming areas is to be directed to establishing more viable farming units thereby helping to stabilise the rural African population. In the Northern Province the production of cash crops is to be developed on an intensive basis. The peasant farming scheme is to be extended, and there is to be an increase in animal husbandry activities. A substantial increase in Turkish tobacco production and experiments with various cash crops to assess their suitability for large scale commercial production by African farmers is also planned, and research facilities are being extended for this purpose.Negotiations on African farming development are conducted in consultation with chiefs and native authorities. There is also consultation with African political leaders through the Legislative Council, where the portfolio for African Agriculture is held by an African Minister. In addition Africans are represented on various farming and agricultural boards and committees concerned with the development of African agriculture. A close liaison on farming development is maintained with the Federal authorities, and there is no apparent conflict in the development of agriculture as between the two races.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what areas, rulers and population in the Eastern and Western Aden Protectorates, respectively, are now within the Aden Federation; and what requests have recently been received from Yemeni tribesmen seeking to settle in the Protectorate.

The Amirates of Beihan and Dhala, the Lahej, Audhali, Lower Yafai, Lower Aulaqi, and Fadhli Sultanates, the Upper Aulaqi and the Aqrabi Sheikhdoms, and the State of Dathina are now within The Federation of Arab Amirates of the South. These States are all in Western Aden Protectorate. The total population of the States in the Federation is estimated at 375,000. The answer to the last part of the Question is "None".

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the anxiety felt in Malta that in any planning at the present Commonwealth Conference for integration between the Colonial and Commonwealth Offices the future of Malta, when it has a new constitution, might be overlooked; and if he will request the formal or informal discussion of Malta's status in this context.

No report of any such anxiety has been brought to my notice. As regards the second part of the Question, it has never been the practice to reveal full details of these confidential discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to receive the economic survey on Mauritius.

I understand that the Economic Mission's Report (which will be made to the Mauritius Government) is likely to be available within the next three months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what principle of International Law has been advanced by the Sarawak Government in making its claim for jurisdiction over the continental shelf pursuant to Section 34 of the Oil Mining Ordinance, 1958; and whether it is the intention of the Government to claim jurisdiction over minerals in the subsoil beyond the continental shelf, and up to what distance.

The jurisdiction of the Sarawak Government over the continental shelf for the purposes of exploring and exploiting its mineral resources derives from the Sarawak (Alteration of Boundaries) Order-in-Council, 1954, which extends the boundaries of Sarawak to include the adjacent continental shelf, and not from the Oil Mining Ordinance, 1958, which merely confers powers on the Government to enable it to regulate exploration and exploitation of certain mineral resources of the shelf.The right to such jurisdiction is now embodied in the 1958 United Nations Convention on the Continental Shelf. The Convention defines the shelf as extending to a depth of 200 metres or beyond that limit where the depth of the superjacent waters admits of exploitation, and contains provision as to the boundaries between the respective shelves of neighbouring countries. There is no intention of exercising jurisdiction beyond the boundaries as defined in the Convention or except for the purposes allowed by the Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he gave to the Wholesale and Retail Workers Genera] Union to the request that a Royal Commission should be appointed to investigate the December disturbances in Suva, Fiji, rather than a sole Commissioner in the person of the Chief Justice.

I informed the union that I was satisfied that the disturbances were not of such a character as to warrant the appointment of a Royal Commission; that I had the fullest confidence in the Commissioner appointed by the Governor of Fiji; and that I trusted that neither the union nor members of the public would in fact boycott the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why charges were brought against Mr. B. D. Lakshman, a member of the Fiji Legislative Council, for refusing to appear before the Lowe Commission of Inquiry.

Mr. Lakshman was summoned to attend the Commission as a witness because of statements he had made publicly associating himself with the strikers, particularly following the riots, and because he had publicly blamed the police for provoking the crowds into riots. He refused to attend and was accordingly prosecuted under Section 13 of the Commissions of Enquiry Ordinance before the Magistrates Court in Suva; he was found guilty and fined £10.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been his reply to the representations received in connection with the proposals for a new constitution for the Gambia, with particular reference to the forthcoming elections there; and whether he has agreed to accept a representative delegation from the Gambia relating to the electoral register.

The reply given to these representations was that, as the constitutional changes approved by my predecessor last year involved a very considerable advance, the petitioners should give them a reasonable chance to work before seeking to embark upon further reforms. I have had no request to receive a delegation on the question of the electoral register.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of a recent lawsuit where costs of £45,000 will have to come from public funds, since the claimant was legally aided; if he is satisfied that the system of legal aid is not being abused, and public funds unnecessarily wasted, through insufficient care in the examination of claims for legal aid; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the case of Auten v. Rayner, but I must point out that, as the costs incurred by the plaintiff in that case have not yet been taxed, it is not at present possible to say how much will be paid out of the Legal Aid Fund in respect of them. I have no reason for thinking that the application for aid in the case was not examined with sufficient care. On the contrary, the Legal Aid Committee scrutinised it very closely and did not finally grant it until the opinion of leading counsel had been obtained. Moreover, in his judgment the Judge who tried the case said that no criticism could be made of the Committee for granting a certificate. In these circumstances, I am satisfied that there was no abuse of the Legal Aid Scheme.

asked the Attorney-General what steps he proposes to take arising from the concluding paragraphs of the first report of the Council on Tribunals, in which they state that their existence is known only to a limited number of people, while their effectiveness must depend upon members of the public drawing matters to their attention; and, in particular, whether he will take steps to give greater publicity to the work of the Council.

I hope that the Council's Annual Report and the hon. Member's Question will serve to draw attention to the existence of the Council and the purposes for which it was set up. I do not think there is anything I can usefully do at present to give greater publicity to the valuable work the Council is performing.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will take steps to improve the accommodation used by the Pensions Appeal Tribunals, England and Wales, in the light of the criticisms made in paragraph 105 of the report of the Council on Tribunals, with particular reference to waiting rooms, and the facilities for medical inspection.

The accommodation provided for the Pensions Appeal Tribunals in London has already been improved and I understand that the Council on Tribunals is now satisfied with it. In other centres steps are being taken, in consultation with the Council, to make the improvements required to meet the criticisms contained in the report.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that builders have to use concrete blocks for internal walls because of the shortage of bricks; how many brickworks have been closed in the south-west region during the past five years; and what steps are being taken to reopen them to meet the heavy demand for bricks.

I am aware that for some years various blocks have been used on their merits for internal walls, and I welcome their increased use as an alternative to bricks. Twenty-four brickworks in the south western region closed during the past five years and four have reopened. Many of the remainder have exhausted their clay or been converted to other uses. Production of all bricks in the first quarter of this year was 1,805 million, the highest first quarter's figure in any post war year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the communication sent to him by the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds Friendly Society expressing dissatisfaction at the manner in which the North Eastern Regional Hospital Board for Scotland has exercised its powers of appointing new members to the relevant local boards of management of hospitals in the Aberdeen area, based on social standing rather than practical qualifications, so that the relevant public services suffer thereby; and what reply he has sent.

While I have received no such communication, I can assure the hon. and learned Member that social standing is not a factor that is taken into account in making appointments to the boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the acreage in Scotland for which ploughing grants at the Part II rates were paid in 1958 and 1959, respectively.

Ploughing grants at Part II rates were paid on 7,374 and 6,733 acres, respectively, for the calendar years 1958 and 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of drunk-in-charge prosecutions, the number found guilty, and the number in which the maximum penalty was imposed, for each of the last two years, respectively.

The Road Traffic Act, 1956, separated the offence of driving a motor vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs from that of being in charge of a motor vehicle, although not driving it, while unfit to drive through drink or drugs. For the first of these offences, that is drunk driving, the number of persons prosecuted was, in 1958 1,512 and in 1959 1,783; the number convicted or found guilty was, in 1958 1,431 and in 1959 1,692. For the second of these offences, that is drunk in charge, the number of persons prosecuted was, in 1958 385, and in 1959 471; the number convicted or found guilty was, in 1958 351, and in 1959 441.I will shortly send the hon. Member a table analysing the penalties imposed by the courts for these offences during these two years. I regret, however, that information about the number of cases in which the penalty imposed was the maximum authorised is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crans of herring were landed at Mallaig Harbour during 1959 and in 1960 to date; what was their value; and how this compares with the five previous years.

The information is given in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the weight and the value of lobsters and other shell fish landed at Mallaig during 1959 and in 1960 to date; and how this compares with the previous five years.

The information is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average weekly number of fishing vessels using Mallaig Harbour for landing fish and shell fish during 1959 and in 1960 to date; and how this compares with the five previous years.

The average weekly number of fishing vessels using Mallaig harbour for landing fish and shell fish in recent years is set out below.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the weekly average number of fish lorries operating on the Mallaig Road during 1959 and this year to date.

According to my information the average weekly number of journeys made by fish lorries out of Mallaig was nine in 1959 and eight in the first four months of this year but there are of course considerable seasonal fluctuations in this traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of widespread complaint against the rating of village halls, and that these rates often impose a severe handicap

I have no evidence of widespread complaint on this subject. Organisations which own halls and are within the scope of section 23 of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956, may apply for remission of rates to the local authority concerned. I cannot intervene in this process, nor do I have any proposals for altering the existing law.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a further statement about Miss Stanton and Dr. Katele, United Kingdom subjects who are detained in South Africa.

The High Commissioner has reported that the Supreme Court of the Union of South Africa began on 6th May the hearing of an application from Miss Stanton asking for an order calling on the Minister of Justice, the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner of Prisons and Captain Celliers of the Security Branch to show cause why she should not be forthwith released unconditionally; why, in the event of the facts of her petition being disputed, Captain Celliers should not be ordered to give oral evidence; and why the Minister should not be interdicted from taking steps to remove her from the Union pending a decision on her application. The hearing has not been completed.This matter, is therefore now

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations if Her Majesty's Government have now examined the Native Affairs (Amendment) Act, 1959, passed by the Southern Rhodesian Legislature, with a view to disallowing it under the reserve powers of the United Kingdom, as such law is discriminating against Africans; and whether it will now take such action.

The power of disallowance may only be exercised within one year from the date when an Act is assented to by the Governor. As this Act was assented to by the Governor on 1st May, 1959, the period in this case has now expired. Before it expired, my noble Friend had decided not to advise disallowance.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what consideration has been given by Her Majesty's Government to the use by the United Kingdom of the reserve powers to disallow the Preventive Detention Act, 1959, of Southern Rhodesia, which is discriminating against Africans; and with what result.

The provisions of the Preventive Detention (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1959, of Southern Rhodesia were fully considered after it had been passed by the Legislature of Southern Rhodesia and my noble Friend decided not to advise disallowance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total financial difference between the cost of farm support today and the total cost of food subsidies in 1951; and to what extent he is satisfied that such support is going either to the farmer or the consumer, respectively.

The estimated cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1959–60 is £2591 million. Food subsidies in the financial year 1950–51 cost £400·3 million. Payments today are made directly to farmers or, on their behalf, to bodies representing them. Consumers benefit from increased supplies and from the fact that under the deficiency payments system they have access to food at prices which compare very favourably with most other countries in the world.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what plans he has for using, or derequisitioning, Ellough Airfield, Beccles, Suffolk.

We intend to dispose of this airfield.

asked the Minister of Aviation at what height over the Irish Sea his regulations require that aircraft should fly when breaking the sound barrier; and what are his instructions regarding such flights over the land.

Ministry of Aviation instructions do not specify the height above which supersonic flights should be carried out over the sea, but they are usually made at high altitude. Flights at supersonic speed over land require special authority. They are normally carried out above 30,000 feet over sparsely populated areas.

asked the Minister of Aviation what has been the amount of compensation paid to residents in the Millom area for damage done to property, and the number of complaints received, arising from the testing of supersonic aircraft during the last two years.

The amount of compensation paid was £18 10s., and the number of complaints received, 10.

asked the Minister of Education why he did not agree to the request from the Yorkshire Association of Education Committees for the Swinton, Yorkshire, teacher training college for day students to be opened this coming September; and if he will now state the exact date he has fixed for the commencement of that establishment.

I have approved the establishment in Swinton of a new training college for day students, to open in January, 1961. This is the earliest date by which the necessary buildings and staff could be made available.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the estimated numbers of school leavers in Wales for each of the years from 1958 to 1963.

The numbers leaving maintained schools in Wales are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many notices of denunciation of the Convention of Montreux, Regime of the Straits, have been received; how many notices requesting revision of its provisions pursuant to Article 29 had been received subsequently to 1953; and what plans the British Government have for calling an international conference to consider such a revision to safeguard the interests of the allies in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The answer to all three part of the Question is "None".

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the European Convention on Establishment signed on 13th December, 1955.

Since the practical effect of the Convention will depend largely upon the restrictions and reservations made by other countries, Her Majesty's Government prefer to delay their ratification of the Convention until they have had time to study the reservations which may be made by other countries upon ratifying.

asked the Minister of Health how many people are waiting for beds at the Mexborough Montague Hospital; and how many of those people are requiring surgical treatment.

595 and 586, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average length of time that people are on the waiting list at the Mexborough Montague Hospital before they are admitted to hospital for treatment.

Average waiting time varies considerably between the different specialties, as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour what contribution will be made by the United Kingdom Government to the endowment fund organised by the International Labour Organisation to establish an International Institute for Labour Studies.

The Government have supported the proposal to establish this Institute and will contribute the United Kingdom's share of any provision which may be made in the budget of the International Labour Organisation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government Training Centres Apprentice Training Courses will be limited for admission to those young persons only who are at least 16 years of age, so that the younger adolescents, between the age of 15 and 16 years, may not thereby be induced to leave school before the age of 16 years.

Admission to the classes depends on prior acceptance by an employer as an apprentice. In most industries apprenticeships are not begun before 16, but where industrial practice provides for apprenticeships at 15, apprentices of that age would not be excluded.

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

On 6th April, 1960, there were 472 unfilled vacancies notified for males and 268 for females at Crewe Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office. An occupational analysis of unfilled vacancies is made only at quarterly intervals. The latest available figures are those contained in my reply to the hon. Member on 5th April. On 11th April, 279 males and 262 females were registered as unemployed at the Crewe Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office. The percentage rate of unemployment was 19 compared with 1·8 for Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of engineering apprentices in Wales in the years 1958, 1959 and 1960, respectively.

The numbers of young persons under 18 years of age who, on leaving school, started work as apprentices or learners in the engineering and allied industries in Wales were 504 boys and 10 girls in 1958, and 566 boys and 6 girls in 1959. Details of the 1960 intake, or of the total number of young people under apprenticeship in the industry in any one year, are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers of registered disabled persons in Wales in the years 1957, 1958 and 1959, respectively.

In October of each year the numbers were 46,633, 44,945, and 43,154, respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many local appeal tribunals which hear appeals on national insurance and industrial injury questions meet in premises occupied by his Department; how many meet elsewhere; and whether he will take steps to see that they meet elsewhere whenever possible, in view of the comments of the Council on Tribunals on the importance of emphasising the independence of the tribunals.

131 local tribunals meet in premises wholly or partly occupied by my Department and 93 elsewhere. As regards the second part of the Question, the point that the independence of the tribunals is emphasised when arrangements can be made for them to meet in premises not occupied by the Department was, of course, made earlier by the Franks Committee and my right hon. Friend agrees with it, though the hon. Member will appreciate that he must also have regard to considerations of cost to the National Insurance Funds and the general convenience of the public.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many National Assistance Appeal Tribunals meet in premises occupied by the National Assistance Board; how many meet elsewhere; and whether he will take steps to see that they meet elsewhere whenever possible, in view of the comments of the Council on Tribunals on the importance of emphasising the independence of the tribunals.

I am informed that of the 152 National Assistance Appeal Tribunals, 119 hold all their sittings in premises wholly or partly occupied by the Board, 15 sit sometimes in such premises, and 18 hold all their sittings elsewhere. As is recognised by the Council on Tribunals, there are practical difficulties in arranging for all Tribunals to sit in separate premises, but the Board inform me that in making arrangements in future they will keep the recommendation of the Council in mind.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he is taking, arising from the comments made by the Council on Tribunals in paragraph 98 of their report, on seating arrangements at tribunal hearings; and whether he will instruct insurance officers not to sit in positions which might give an impression to the claimant that they occupy a privileged position.

Seating arrangements at tribunal hearings are a matter for the chairman of the tribunal itself and must to a large extent depend on the accommodation available. I am sure that both chairmen and insurance officers are fully conscious of the need to avoid giving any impression that the latter are in any way in a privileged position before the tribunal; none the less their attention is being drawn to paragraph 98 of the Council on Tribunals' first Annual Report.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he is taking to improve the accommodation for National Assistance Appeal Tribunals, in the light of the criticism made in paragraph 100 of the report of the Council on Tribunals; and whether proper waiting rooms will be provided in all cases to avoid the need for people to wait in corridors.

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that, as indicated by the Council on Tribunals in their report, they are reviewing the accommodation available for Appeal Tribunals, including that for waiting. Alternative arrangements have already been made in several instances.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects the new automatic telephone exchange at Lowestoft to come into operation.

The new exchange at Lowestoft is now being installed and I expect it to come into service in March, 1961.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make known to the House the contents of the memorandum which he has sent to the County Councils Association setting out all the motorway schemes at present in contemplation.

My Department sent the County Councils Association in April a list of the motorway projects which have been completed, are being built, or are under consideration. This followed representations to me about my general policy that consulting engineers should be appointed for motorway projects; it was intended to give individual county councils the opportunity to make representations in respect of any motorway where they felt that special circumstances existed which in their view would justify a departure from that policy. To assist the Association some indication was given of the broad phasing of the schemes, but it was emphasised that the phasing was by no means settled and did not bind me in any way. The list sent to the County Councils Association is as follows: