asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for deferment of National Service have been received, during the twelve months to the most recent date when figures have become available, from applicants who are married and from married applicants who have children; how many of each have been granted; and how many have been refused.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications for exemption from military service on the ground of conscientious objection have been heard during the twelve months to the most recent date for which figures are available; and in how many cases exemption, and in how many conditional exemption, have been granted.

In 1959, 666 men appeared before Conscientious Objectors Tribunals. Of these, 19 were registered unconditionally and 363 were registered on condition they undertook specified civilian work.

asked the Minister of Labour what the percentage increase has been in the number of insured persons in Glasgow and Birmingham over the period from 1950 to the latest date available.

Between mid-1952, the earliest date for which comparable figures are available, and mid-1959 the number of insured employees increased by 3·8 per cent. in Birmingham and showed no change in Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage increase or decrease in the number of insured persons in the Midlands and in Scotland, respectively, from 1954 to the latest convenient date.

Between mid-1954 and mid-1959 the number of insured employees in the Midland Region increased by 3·8 per cent. and in Scotland decreased by 0·3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour the number and the percentage of persons unemployed in the Stornoway area at the most recent count; and what the number in each of the islands of Barra, South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist at the same date.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 1,405 or 26·0 per cent. and to the second 117, 176, 53 and 98 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered disabled persons are now unemployed in Manchester; and what proportion of them reside on the southern part of the City.

On 11th April, 1,418 in the Manchester area, of whom 292 were registered at the Levenshulme, Withington and Stretford Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour how many children are expected to leave school in the County of Northumberland at the end of the school term in July, 1960; how many of these school leavers are boys; how many are girls; and whether he will make a statement about their future.

About 2,530 boys and 2,440 girls. Most of the girls should find employment quickly. Boys in some areas may find it rather more difficult but the great majority should nevertheless be able to find work within a short time.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement about the Government's participation in the Commonwealth Technical Training Week.

The Government wholeheartedly support the aims of the Commonwealth Technical Training Week, and I represent Her Majesty's Government on the Central Advisory Committee. The Government will be seeking the approval of the House for a contribution of£8,000 towards the expenses of organising the Week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will obtain an assurance from the Egg Marketing Board that the directors of any egg packing station established by the Board will not make use of privileged information relating to the Board's prices obtained by them as members of the Egg Marketing Board.

The Egg Marketing Board has already given public assurances covering the points raised by the hon. Member. For his information I am sending him a copy of the Board's announcement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what British participation there will be in the Freedom from Hunger campaign of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation; and what preparatory action he has taken.

Her Majesty's Government supports this campaign and will encourage active British participation, the success of which will require the co-operation and good will of private individuals and organisations. The United Kingdom was represented at a meeting last week at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation at which there was an exchange of views about the arrangements for participation at the national level. My right hon. Friend is taking these discussions into account in determining what arrangements may best he made in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the cost to public funds of the sound-broadcasting transcription service of the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Central Office of Information, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.In 1959–60, the B.B.C. spent about£296,000 of public money on its transcription service for sound radio. The cost of the C.O.I. radio-tape service was£64,015 in that year. Both figures include overheads.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of persons still in receipt of pensions for injuries caused during service in the Home Guard.

I regret that separate figures relating to pensions still in payment to such persons are not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he is taking to ensure that the new scale of graduated contributions payable under the National Insurance Act will not penalise those employers who issue shares or cash bonuses to their employees annually under a predetermined profit-sharing scheme.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Assessment of Graduated Contributions Regulations and the Report thereon by the National Insurance Advisory Committee which will shortly be laid before the House.

asked the Minister of Aviation why he has authorised the commencement of the works at London Airport in advance of the statutory approval which is being sought under the Esso Petroleum Company Bill now before this House.

The Bill now before the House relates to the sections of the pipeline outside the airport boundary. Part of the section within the airport is planned to cross a strip of land where we shall shortly construct the extended No. 5 runway and its taxiway. My right hon. Friend has therefore permitted the Esso Petroleum Company to lay this part of the pipeline before work starts on the runway and taxiway, but the Company has done so entirely at its own risk.

asked the Minister of Aviation at which of the airports administered by his Department in the United Kingdom private aircraft are prohibited; and at which airports administered by his Department in the United Kingdom Customs facilities are available to private aviators.

Private aircraft are not prohibited at any United Kingdom airport administered by my Department, but the use of London Airport is normally restricted to aircraft operating approved scheduled services. The conditions under which various airports may be used by private aircraft are set out in the Air Pilot.Customs facilities are available to private aircraft at the following airports administered by my Department:

asked the Minister of Aviation how many delayed flights by jet aircraft have been allowed to land at London Airport between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. since 1st April, 1960.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many delayed flights by jet aircraft have been allowed to land at London Airport between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., since 1st April, 1960.

Thirty-three.

asked the Minister of Health on what grounds he bases his statement that medical staffs of local health and education authorities all possess special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder, as indicated in Circular 7/60 of 5th May, 1960; and if he will issue an amending circular omitting this assumption.

The Circular is intended to refer not to all such staff but only to those who either have a Diploma in Psychological Medicine or have acquired special practical knowledge of mental disorder. The hon. Member's Question shows that this intention is not quite as clear as I would have wished but I hope that my Answer will make it entirely plain.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the last five years in decreasing the number of mentally-defective children in the County Borough of Derby who are awaiting appropriate institutional accommodation; and what hospital accommodation is available for such children.

The number decreased from 24 at the end of 1955 to 18 at the end of 1959. There are 33 beds for children at Aston Hall Hospital, near Derby, and 80 more are to be provided there in about two years' time.

asked the Minister of Health if he has yet approved the proposals by the Kent County Council for the provision of residential accommodation for patients from mental hospitals who need support on re-entering community life.

I hope to be able very shortly to approve the Kent County Council's proposals for its mental health services which include provision for this kind of residential accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health how many invalid tricycles have been provided by the Welsh Board of Health for people suffering from poliomyelitis; and what would be the cost of their replacement by two-seater vehicles.

asked the Minister of Health how many sufferers from poliomyelitis have been supplied with tricycles by the Welsh Board of Health; and how much would it cost to replace these vehicles with two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many injured miners in the Lancashire coal fields have been issued with tricycles; and what would be the cost of replacing these tricycles by two-seater cars;(2) what would be the cost of replacing the tricycles issued to injured miners by his Department, by two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health how many miners in the Durham coal field have been provided with invalid tricycles; and what would be the cost of replacing these vehicles with two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many men injured in the mining industry have been supplied with tricycles by his Department;(2) the number of tricycles issued by the Welsh Board of Health to the men injured in the mining industry.

asked the Minister of Health how many injured miners in the Yorkshire coal field have been supplied with tricycles; and what would be the cost of replacing these vehicles with two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health how many miners in Durham have been supplied with invalid tricycles by his Department; and how much it would cost to supply them with two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health how many sufferers from poliomyelitis have been supplied by the Welsh Board of Health with tricycles; and how much it would cost to replace these with two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health how many sufferers from poliomyelitis have been supplied with tricycles in Yorkshire; and how much it would cost to replace these vehicles with two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health how many injured miners in the Nottinghamshire coal fields have been provided with invalid tricycles; and how much it would cost to replace these vehicles with two-seater cars.

I regret that this information is not available. The statistics kept by the Ministry distinguish neither the occupations of disabled persons who have been supplied with tricycles, nor those patients who have been supplied with them because their disabilities were caused by poliomyelitis.

asked the Minister of Health how many injured miners in the North-East Divisional Coal Board area have been issued with tricycles by his Department; and what would be the cost of replacing these carriages with two-seater cars.

asked the Minister of Health how many sufferers from poliomyelitis have been supplied by his Department with tricycles in Durham County; and how much it would cost to replace them with two-seater cars.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave today to Questions on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health the average cost of production for the tricycle at present issued by his Department for the war disabled.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards) on 11th April.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement about the arrangements which have been made for the appropriate after-care treatment of Mr. Edgar Nuud, a tubercular patient.

Mr. Nuud is a displaced person of Estonian origin who has been in Sully Hospital, Penarth, since 1958, with pulmonary tuberculosis contracted while a seaman. He is suitable for transfer to a village colony for the tuberculous, to which he is willing to go. A difficulty which arose over financial responsibility has now been resolved and I hope that Sully Hospital will soon be able to find a place for Mr. Nuud in a suitable colony.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to make transistor hearing aids available to adults; and what advice he proposes to give to hospital authorities about priorities to be observed in issuing them.

Initial supplies of transistor hearing aids have been dispatched to hearing aid distribution centres to enable a start to be made on the issue of these aids to adults. It will take a considerable time to replace valve aids by transistor aids and I have suggested to hospital authorities that subject to the otologist's discretion to prescribe a Medresco transistor aid for a particular patient where he thinks it clinically necessary, and after the prior claims of children and war pensioners, the order of priorities for issuing these aids to adults should be as follows. First, those adults who received a transistor aid as children and require a replacement: second, the deaf-blind: third, those who are dependent on a hearing aid for employment and are severely handicapped in their work by a valve aid: equal fourth, mothers with young children and those who because of physical disability cannot make full use of a valve aid.

asked the Minister of Health if all his recommendations to the Barnsley Hospital Committee to effect a reduction in the hospital waiting list have now been accepted and put into operation; and whether he has made an estimate of how long it will take to effect an appreciable reduction of the 2,500 people now waiting.

The regional hospital Board and hospital management committee are taking action on those measures which they were not already operating. It is too early to say what the effect on the waiting lists will be.

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made to clear the site for the new St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley; and when he expects building to commence.

My right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board to arrange a meeting with representatives of Barnsley Corporation to discuss the possibility of acquiring the site of "The Limes". It is not possible to prepare detailed plans for the development of the hospital until it is known whether this additional land will be available when it is needed, and I cannot at this stage say when building might start.

asked the Minister of Health if the plans are yet completed for the building of the new Wythenshawe Hospital; and if it is still intended that the maternity unit shall be erected as a first phase.

Sketch plans have not yet been completed but are in an advanced stage of preparation. It is still intended that the maternity unit will be included in the first phase.

asked the Minister of Health when the building of the new maternity unit at Withington Hospital will commence.

I understand that working drawings and bills of quantities are likely to be available shortly, but I cannot yet say when building will commence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that, pending the conclusion of the ten-Power disarmament negotiations, no change is contemplated in Her Majesty's Government's policy embodied in the 1953 Paris Treaties, which impose limitations on Western German weapon production.

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the Revised Brussels Treaty which was signed in Paris in October, 1954. I can assure him that no change is contemplated in the attitude of Her Majesty's Government towards that Treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for espionage on behalf of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic or one of its allies there have been in the United Kingdom since 1945.

Seven.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total strength of the Metropolitan Police at the latest convenient date, on 1st January, 1960, and a year ago; and how these figures compare with the total establishment.

The Strength—male officers only—of the Metropolitan Police for ordinary duty on the relevant dates was:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the rate of recruitment for the Metropolitan Police in 1960 so far compares with that in 1959 and 1958; and if he will give corresponding figures for resignations.

The number of recruits—male officers only—who joined the Metropolitan Police, including officers who transferred from other forces, during the relevant periods were:

• 1st January 1960 to 30th April, 1960, 414.
• 1st January, 1959 to 30th April, 1959, 455.
• 1st January, 1958 to 30th April, 1958, 440.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now concluded the discussions with the principal buyers of potash; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Consultations have been held with Fisons, I.C.I. and other large buyers of potash.Though Potash Limited remains by far the largest supplier of potash in this country, competition from other sources has been increasing. Sales in the United Kingdom of potash from other sources in the calendar year 1959 were 44 per cent. higher than in the fertiliser year 1957–58 and represented 26 per cent. of total sales as compared with 20 per cent. in 1957–58. United Kingdom buyers of potash are always on the look-out for new sources of supply. Their general view is that the balance of advantage would be against closer integration of purchasing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state estimated Exchequer advances to nationalised industries under Section 42 of the Finance Act, 1956, as amended, for the year ending 31st August, 1961, and the amount of the estimated advance to each of the seven nationalised industries concerned for that year to 31st August, 1961.

I do not expect the total advances during the year ending 31st August, 1961, to differ materially from the total for the current financial year which is estimated to be£482 million. I have already given my hon. Friend the estimates of what each of the seven industries is likely to borrow from the Exchequer in the financial year, and this is the best available guide to an analysis of the estimated total of advances during the year ending 31st August, 1961. There may, however, be unpredictable variations in the rate of advances to the seven individual industries, and it is for this reason that it is not possible to forecast more precisely.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the Government Actuary's Quinquennial Report on the National Insurance Scheme.

I hope to lay the Report before Whitsun.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the proportion deducted from estimated expenditure on hotel and restaurant services in respect of business expenditure in order to arrive at the other services item of the National Income and Expenditure Blue Books table on consumers' expenditure; and what sum was deducted for 1958.

Twenty per cent., equivalent in 1958 to£50 million. As pointed out on page 134 of "Nationalised Income Statistics: Sources and Methods", however, this adjustment is only one step in a calculation based on rough and incomplete figures, and it is therefore subject to a wide margin of error.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 2 per cent. allowance for business expenditure on beer, as mentioned on page 111 in the National Income Statistics, Sources and Methods, has now been changed; and the figure for the new allowance.

No change has been made in this allowance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 5 per cent. allowance for business expenditure on food, referred to on page 106 of the National Income Statistics, Sources and Methods being made to the other personal expenditure item of consumers' expenditure on food, has been subsequently changed; and if he will give the figure for the new allowance, and the figure for the last five years.

No change has been made in this allowance, but I would point out that it is applied in the calculation of only part of the item shown as "other personal expenditure on food".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the yield of a capital gains tax subsequent yet similar to that which the Board of Inland Revenue provided for the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income.

No such estimate has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miners in the Scottish coal fields have been supplied with tricycles; and how much it would cost to replace these vehicles with two-seater cars.

Records are not maintained of the occupation of those patients who are supplied with tricycles, so I regret that no estimate can be made of the cost of replacement for those employed in particular occupations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to make transistor hearing aids available to adults; and what arrangements he proposes for distribution.

I have arranged for the dispatch to hearing aid distribution centres of initial supplies of transistor hearing aids to enable a start to be made on the issue of these aids to adults. It will take a considerable time to replace valve aids by transistor aids and, after the prior claims of children and war pensioners have been met, it will be necessary to confine the issue in the first instance to those who are likely to derive most benefit from the new aid. I have given the hospital authorities some guidance on priorities, but these must be largely determined by individual assessment on medical advice at the hearing aid clinics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information has been collected by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation regarding the presence of radioactive elements in Caribbean territories; and if he will make this information available to the Government of the Federation of the West Indies and to other Governments of British territories in the Caribbean.

I am informed that this body, which is an Australian organisation, has not undertaken any such work in the Caribbean.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make known his decision following consideration of design proposals for a new dual carriageway trunk road along the Taff Vale, which would utilise some lengths of abandoned railway and thus deal with the increasing congestion of road traffic on the A.470 between Manor Way, Cardiff, and Abercynon.

As soon as we have completed our consideration of this matter we will publish our proposals in the form of a draft Order under the Highways Act, 1959.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount of the grant provided by his Department towards the cost of the new bridge at Langstone.

:£186,409, which represents 60 per cent. of the cost. This is the rate of grant appropriate to a Class II road.