asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will extend eligibility for the repayment of post-war credits to persons who have a long record of sickness, disablement or under-employment but who do not qualify under the Regulations recently introduced.

I have considered this, but it would be administratively very difficult to operate fairly.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the weekly cost of producing the Official Reports of debates in Standing Committees of the House.

The average weekly cost of producing the Official Reports of Debates in Standing Committee of the House is £323.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the weekly cost of producing the OFFICIAL REPORT of debates in the House.

The average weekly cost of producing the OFFICIAL REPORT of debates in the House is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much United Kingdom capital has been invested in the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association, respectively, since their inception.

Estimates of United Kingdom investment in the countries of the European Economic Community in 1958 and 1959 were given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 5th April, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Kershaw). No figures of investment in the countries of the European Free Trade Association since its inception are yet available because the Association came into existence as recently as 3rd May this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Eire, Jersey and the Isle of Man, as well as certain continental countries, now have in force schemes, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Hastings, under which loans on favourable terms can be made available for the improvement of hotels; and whether, in view of the importance of the tourist industry to this country, he will make an investigation of these various schemes with a view to introducing similar facilities in Great Britain.

I am aware that in some other countries hotels are given assistance from public funds. A case for doing the same, however, in this country has not been made out.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is satisfied with the present rate of council building of flats and flatlets; and if he will name the individual local authorities whose rate of building of such dwellings is at present below the rate aimed at by his Department.

Local needs differ, and local authorities must decide for themselves what proportions of dwellings of different types they build. But I hope that all authorities will give high priority to the provision of flatlets and other forms of accommodation suitable for elderly people.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give consideration to the appointment of a director of land reclamation, empowered to put in hand a comprehensive programme for the restoration to agriculture or other beneficial purposes of all derelict waste or tipping land of the National Coal Board, and to take steps to stop the burying of top soil and the spread of uncontrolled dereliction now widespread in coal-mining areas.

My right hon. Friend does not think that such an appointment would be appropriate. As regards the last part of the Question, the National Coal Board has informed my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power that it is already the Board's practice to remove and preserve top soil in all suitable cases.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now consider the appointment of a Minister of Tourism, charged with responsibility for improving standards and publicity, and for assisting the development of this major national industry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals he has for the setting up of a Mauritius Government Office in London under a Commissioner for Mauritius.

I understand that Mauritian Ministers are anxious to make ample arrangements for the representation of the Government of Mauritius and for the welfare of Mauritian students in the United Kingdom. This was announced at the opening of the 1960 Session of the Mauritius Legislative Council on 22nd March. No specific proposals have yet been adopted however.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a further statement about the extent of hurricane damage in Mauritius, and the degree of help already afforded by the United Kingdom; and what plans he has for further assistance.

The damage caused by the recent cyclones has now been estimated at between £11½ million and £12 million, about two-thirds of which is accounted for by the destruction of houses and huts. This estimate does not include damage suffered by the sugar industry.Her Majesty's Government have been able to meet every request made by the Mauritius Government for help in carrying out immediate relief and rehabilitation work. Recently, a team of my advisers has returned from Mauritius and plans for reconstruction, especially in the sphere of housing, are now being drawn up. I have invited a delegation of Ministers from Mauritius to visit London next month to discuss how these plans should be financed, and the question of assistance from Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the causes of the recent strikes in the coffee, tea and sisal-growing areas of Kenya; and what action is being taken by the Kenya Government to improve labour conditions and industrial relations.

The reasons given by the strikers have differed, and have often been confused and obscure. But the underlying cause seems to be the difficulties which newly formed trade unions have encountered in achieving effective discipline in a widely scattered industry during a period of some political excitement. Most of the strikes occurred without previous negotiation with employers, but, thanks mainly to the efforts of the Kenya Ministry of Labour, the two sides of the coffee industry are now in direct negotiation and I am glad to say that the strikes have almost all ended. Negotiations in the tea industry are well advanced and are expected to begin shortly in sisal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of detainees held without trial at the Manyani Special Detention Camp, Kenya; and if he will tabulate the period of detention.

There are 213 detainees in Manyani Camp. I have asked the Governor to forward a nominal roll showing the period of detention in each case and I will send copies, when received, to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the legislation passed in Kenya last year providing for the detention and restriction of persons without trial, and the similar legislation now proposed in Nyasaland conflicts with the obligations of Her Majesty's Government under Article 5 of the European Convention of Human Rights; and whether he will accordingly ensure that this legislation is withdrawn or repealed.

I assume that the hon. and learned Member is referring to the Detained and Restricted Persons (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 1960, of Kenya and to similar legislation proposed for Nyasaland.I do not consider that this legislation is inconsistent with the obligations assumed by Her Majesty's Government under the European Convention of Human Rights—and I have been so advised.The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the detention order against Mr. Kanyama Chiume has been withdrawn.

The reason for the withdrawal of any individual detention order is that the Governor is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the purpose of maintaining public order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the findings of the South-worth Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make the Southworth Report on incidents during the Prime Minister's visit to Blantyre available in the United Kingdom.

Copies of the Report have been placed in the Library and it is on sale through the Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations. I am sure the House will be grateful, as I am, for the thoroughness with which Mr. Justice Southworth has completed his task.As the House will recall from my statement of 2nd February, the Commission was established primarily because of the allegations made against individual members of the Nyasaland Police after the incident at Blantyre on 26th January.I made it clear in my original statement that I did not accept the allegations made against the Police and I am glad that the Inquiry confirms that they handled the situation calmly and efficiently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the adverse effect upon the medical services in the Island of Malta of the strike of doctors there; what steps are being taken to negotiate with them concerning their claims and grievances or to bring them before an arbitration tribunal: and if he will make a statement.

The strike was called off on 14th May, and the points at issue are being discussed in the Medical Advisory and Executive Board, on which the Malta Government and the Medical Officers' Union are both represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the three members of the Broadcasting Board in Malta conduct weekly discussions on political and quasi-political problems while the Labour Party and Nationalist Party are not allowed this privilege; and if he will take steps to give equal facilities to all parties.

The hon. Member is misinformed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the economic advance of Malta since the suspension of the Constitution.

After the breakdown of the constitutional talks at the end of 1958, when it became clear that a return to an elected form of government would be delayed, the Government of Malta pressed forward with economic planning and in particular with the preparation of the 5-year Development Plan. The Plan, which was published in October, 1959, provides the basis for a diversification of the economy by industrialisation, the commercialisation of the dockyard and the development of the tourist trade, with substantial capital aid from Her Majesty's Government. To assist this process the Malta Government Tourist Board was set up at the end of 1958 and the Aids to Industries Board in May, 1959. Ten industrial projects have already been approved, providing for a total capital investment of over £1 million and new employment of more than 1,500. Two substantial resort hotel projects have been approved and several schemes are in the process of negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what direct or indirect financial support Great Britain has given Malta since the suspension of the constitution; and how this compares with the two years previous to the suspension of the constitution.

Direct financial aid from the United Kingdom to Malta amounted to £10·4 million during the two years from April, 1958. During the previous two-year period aid amounted to £13·2 million. Of the difference of £2·8 million, £2·3 million is accounted for by the natural decline in the amounts paid to Malta from the special grant of £30 million for war damage repairs and compensation, by far the greater part of which has now been spent. Indirect financial support has come mainly from Services expenditure in Malta by way of Maltese Forces' and civilians' pay, expenditure by United Kingdom and allied Services and dockyard personnel, purchases of Maltese goods, and contracts. Such indirect support totalled £40·8 million in the calendar years 1958 and 1959 as compared with £37·3 million in 1956 and 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the situation in Northern Rhodesia and on his discussions with Mr. Kenneth Kaunda, President of the United National Independence Party.

The situation in Northern Rhodesia remains as I described it in my reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 17th May.I issued a statement last Friday evening immediately after my interview with Mr. Kaunda, which the hon. Member may now have seen. I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have been put forward by the Government of British Honduras to bring back into circulation some of the uncultivated land privately owned, as referred to in the Downie Report, paragraph 12, page 14, and paragraph 13, page 15.

The recommendation to deal with this particular problem—No. 2 in the summary of recommendations in the Downie Report—was endorsed by the Executive Council in British Honduras and agreed at the recent Conference in London. The British Honduras Government recognise that the most practical way of bringing into circulation privately-owned agricultural land which is still undeveloped is through the system of land tax already in force. The Conference decided that the necessary measures were a matter for local legislation in the light of circumstances. The British Honduras Government consider, however, that if such measures are not merely to have the effect of removing land from private ownership, it will be necessary to link them with an active land settlement and investment policy, a matter which is now being pursued in conjunction with the proposals for large-scale immigration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to implement the recommendation in the Downie Report, paragraphs 14 and 15, page 15, that a suitable expatriate officer be engaged on a contract basis to draw up, after consultation with the Government departments concerned, a schedule of areas which would be subject to designation as need arose in British Honduras and to strengthen the Survey Department.

The recommendation in paragraph 14 of the Downie Report was endorsed by the Executive Council in British Honduras, subject to the omission of the word "expatriate". This omission was designed to leave roam for the appointment of a local officer if a suitable one could be found. The recommendation as modified was approved by the recent Conference in London.No steps have yet been taken to engage such an officer since it may be possible to prepare a schedule of areas without the assistance of extra staff. Much basic work in this connection has already been done by the Land Adviser to the British Honduras Government.The recommendation in paragraph 15 was also agreed in principle. Steps have already been taken to strengthen the Survey Department. An expanded training programme is in operation and, if all trainees are successful, a total of fifteen British Honduras surveyors should be available by 1964. It is recognised that meanwhile it will be necessary to find surveyors from abroad in whatever way proves to be practicable. To this end, application has recently been made by the British Honduras Government to the Canadian Government for the services of three surveyors under that Government's Technical Assistance Programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the United Kingdom Government will publish a concise account of the various funds, national and international, public and private, which are open to British Honduras.

The following is a list of the various funds and sources of financial and technical assistance open to British Honduras:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals he has for improving the standard of living of expatriate civil servants in East Africa, and in particular in Tanganyika as that country moves towards independence.

The Governors of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar and the Administrator, East Africa High Commission have accepted my proposal that a Commission should be appointed forthwith to inquire into the conditions of service, including remuneration, of the public services of the East African territories and the High Commission. At the request of the Tanganyika Government the Commission will confine its inquiries in that territory to European overseas officers only.I have already approved increases in the educational allowances payable to European overseas officers in Tanganyika and Uganda. I have also informed the Governments and the Administrator, High Commission, that I am prepared to agree on certain conditions to an award back dated to 1st March of 25 per cent. of inducement pay, which is about a 5 per cent. increase in salary, to non-superscale European expatriate officers if the Governments themselves judge this to be necessary. This matter is now under consideration in East Africa.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the area in which extensive digging operations are being conducted at the corner of Great Smith Street and Victoria Street is one of great historic interest; and whether he will now approach those responsible for these operations with a view to securing an option for the purchase for the nation of any objects of historic interest found in the course of them.

I am aware of the historic interest of this site, but I am advised that any remains of archaeological value would have been destroyed by the foundations of the buildings recently demolished. The Ancient Monuments Acts do not empower me to purchase finds of archaeological or historic interest.

asked the Minister of Works when it is expected that the restoration work on the Link House and the garden architecture at Chiswick House is to be completed.

As I informed the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. F. Noel-Baker) on 3rd November, 1959, I hope to complete the Link Building and Summer Parlour in something under four years, and the garden ornaments and structures about a year later.

asked the Minister of Works why Big Ben was three minutes slow on 18th May.

Big Ben was observed to be late chiming 3.15 p.m. on 18th May and was corrected within half an hour. It is thought that a photographer who had been authorised to ascend the Clock Tower inadvertently disturbed the counterweight of the minute hand by moving a ladder.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to make known to visitors to the Highlands the rules of the road when using single-lane roads.

Most single-lane roads in the Highlands have adequate advance warning signs of the passing places provided. In addition, as an experiment, a number of signs have been erected encouraging the drivers of slower moving vehicles to use passing places to allow others to overtake.The proper use of these roads is however largely a matter of common sense and good road manners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the doctors in Glenrothes concerning the rating assessment of their group practice premises; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that the extension of general practitioner facilities in the new town will be adequate to meet the requirements of the population.

A group of general medical practitioners in Glenrothes have represented to my right hon. Friend that the valuation placed on their new premises for rating purposes is excessive. He has explained that valuation for rating is a matter for the local assessor, subject to appeal to the local valuation appeal committee and thereafter by stated case to the Lands Valuation Appeal Court.The Development Corporation is prepared, if necessary, to provide suitable surgery accommodation on a rental basis for additional doctors entering practice in the new town.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the improvement scheme, from Johnstone Bridge to Beattock on A.74. costing £471,000, on which work commenced on March, 1958, and was estimated to be completed early 1960, is still unfinished.

I regret that the information about this scheme which my right hon. Friend gave in his reply to the hon. Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) on 17th April, 1958, and on which the Question is no doubt based, was mistaken. The contract is for two and a half years and not two as announced then and ends in September, 1960. After a slow start, owing mainly to the very wet weather of 1958, the rate of progress has much improved and it is hoped that, given reasonable weather this summer, the work will be completed by this autumn, as it should be.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the improvement scheme from Newfield Inn to South of Millbank on A.74, costing £712,000, on which work commenced in October, 1957, and which was estimated to be completed in the spring of 1960, is still unfinished.

The contractor responsible for this improvement has advanced a number of reasons for the disappointing rate of progress which has been achieved. These include the bad weather of 1958, the bad conditions for winter working owing to the exposed nature of the site, and difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of dressed stone for the new bridge. He has been urged by the Lanarkshire County Council and my right hon. Friend's Department to expedite the work so that the scheme may be completed this autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will appoint a small committee of educationists and historians to examine means by which greater emphasis can be placed upon the teaching of British and Scottish history in schools, upon extending the amount of time allocated to the teaching of these subjects, and upon raising the prestige of history generally in the Scottish educational system.

My right hon. Friend's information is that the importance of history is being increasingly appreciated in Scottish schools generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the names and qualifications of those appointed to the official Building Standards Advisory Committee.

The particulars for which the hon. Member asks are as follows:

• The Chairman of the Committee is Mr. Craig Mitchell, C.B., formerly Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health for Scotland. The other members of the Committee are
• George Bell-Barker, Esq., Scottish Assistant Divisional Secretary of I.C.I. Ltd.
• A. G. Booth, Esq., M.Eng., M.I.C.E., M.I.W.E.—City and Water Engineer, Aberdeen.
• C. C. Brownlie, Esq., M.B.E.—Secretary of the Scottish National Federation of Building Trades Operatives.
• C. D. Chapman, Esq., M.A., LL.B.—Town Clerk, Kirkcaldy.
• R. S. Gray, Esq.—Builder in Dundee; Vice-President of the Scottish National Building Trades Federation (Employers).
• W. A. P. Jack, Esq., F.R.I.B.A., F.R.I.A.S.—Glasgow architect; member of the Byelaws and Building Regulations Committee of the R.I.B.A.
• W. H. Kininmonth, Esq., R.S.A.. F.R.I.B.A.—Edinburgh architect member of the Edinburgh Dean of Guild Court.
• G. Mark, Esq., A.F.S., A.M.Inst,B.E.—County Sanitary Inspector, Fife.
• Dr. Doris McWalter, M.B., Ch.B.—Assistant Principal Medical Officer, Glasgow.
• R. C. Monteath, Esq.—County Clerk, Kirkcudbright.
• W. B. Swan, Esq.—Farmer in Berwickshire; Junior Vice-President of the N.F.U.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Government's policy for the development of the Highland tourist industry conflicts with the decision of the British Transport Commission to close down branch lines and main line stations in the Highlands; and whether he will consult with the Commission in order to remove this difficulty.

No. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has sent the Scottish Transport Users' Consultative Committee the statement for which it asked reconciling the Government policy for the Highlands as set out in the White Paper of June, 1959, which includes the development of tourism, with the action taken by the British Transport Commission to close certain stations and branch lines North of Inverness. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport to send a copy of his statement to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a White Paper, indicating the main items of United Kingdom exports to the Six, the values involved, the current tariffs and those operative under the common tariff, so that the House may be able to assess the extent of the damage which the United Kingdom may suffer from exclusion from the European Common Market.

No. The various tariffs are very detailed and the headings do not correspond with those under which imports into the Common Market countries from the United Kingdom are published. Nor would the information for which the hon. Member asks enable judgments to be made of the effect on our trade of our remaining outside the Common Market. The hon. Member may, however, find useful the information contained in the Answer of 18th May to the right hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger). I will circulate later in the OFFICIAL REPORT the common tariff rates for the items referred to in that Answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement regarding the progress made in the introduction of new industry to provide additional employment in Sunderland.

As I told the hon. Member in reply to his supplementary question of 8th March, 2,000 to 3,000 new jobs are expected to accrue in the Sunderland area as a result of extensions and new developments. Since then other firms have visited the area, including the empty Board of Trade factory on the Pallion Trading Estate, for, which it is expected that a new occupant will be found shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons, men and women, respectively, were employed in Government-financed factories in Sunderland on the latest available date.

At February, 1960, 2,361 males and 3,131 females, in total 5,492, were employed in these factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the all-British exhibition which will take place in New York in June, 1960.

The estimated cost of the official exhibit within this exhibition, which is organised privately, is £115,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements are to be made for creditors of Edwin J. Yates, Limited, now in liquidation, to examine the full statement of affairs in the near vicinity of Lichfield; and why they are obliged at present to be satisfied with a summary or, alternatively, of travelling to London to examine the full statement.

Under the Companies Act, the statement of affairs is filed in the High Court dealing with the liquidation proceedings in question and is available there for the inspection of creditors and contributories or their duly authorised agents. Creditors and contributories are also under the Act entitled upon request and payment of the prescribed fee to copies of the full statement or extracts from it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining at reasonable prices stationery of the international sizes recently adopted by the British Standards Institution; and whether he will urge Government Departments to adopt the sizes set out in BS3176, in order that the manufacturers may cut more paper of these sizes and thereby reduce costs.

The difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers had not previously been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend. He is informed by the Stationery Office that the great majority of Government Departments are adopting the new sizes as they use up existing stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will issue a White Paper at the end of World Refugee Year showing the results of the efforts by organisations and Government Departments.

I have no doubt that the United Kingdom Committee will in due course publish a report on World Refugee Year in this country and, in particular, of the magnificent results achieved by the voluntary organisations in this country. I do not think, therefore, that there will be any need for a White Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will examine the possibility of instituting a scheme of awards to motorists with good records of accident-free driving; and whether he will make a statement.

The majority of motorists have good records, and I do not think an award distributed on such a necessarily wide scale would be greatly valued. On the other hand, I see no means of selecting the most deserving.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that some motor insurance firms operate a 50 per cent. no-claim bonus scheme; whether he will consider incentives for safe driving by offering a scheme of rebates on driving-licence fees for good motorists; and whether he will make a statement.

A 3-year licence costs only 15s., which leaves no adequate margin for any rebate to the millions of licence holders who would qualify. The cost of operating the scheme suggested by the hon. Member would far outweigh such marginal benefits to road safety as might accrue.

asked the Minister of Transport the Government's policy with regard to subsidising railways in the Highlands as an essential public service.

The future of the railways as a whole is at present under study. I regret, therefore, that I cannot add to the statement on the subject made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10th March.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the proposed disposal of Ellough Airfield, he will give directions for the re-routeing of the road from Henstead to Beccles.

The question of restoring or replacing the highways—including the Beccles-Henstead road—at Beccles (Ellough) Airfield, which were temporarily closed under Defence Regulations, is at present under discussion with the East Suffolk County Council, which is the highway authority. We are awaiting its proposals.

asked the Minister of Health if he will impress upon the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board and the Barnsley Hospital Management Committee the urgency of the need to start the building of the St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley, in view of the many people in the district awaiting hospital beds and operations.

The regional hospital board and hospital management committee are fully aware of the urgency of the scheme for rebuilding and extending St. Helen Hospital. But as I said in my reply to the hon. Member's Question yesterday, detailed plans for the development cannot be prepared until the question of the site is settled.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has appointed a Standing Advisory Committee in respect of the nursing services in accordance with the provisions of Section 2, subsection (3), of the National Health Service Act, 1946: and what is the composition of such a Committee.

Such a Committee was constituted by Statutory Order on 1st February, 1949.Its present composition is 17 nurses, 3 doctors. and 2 persons with experience in hospital administration, and there is 1 vacancy at present being filled. Of the 23 members 7 are appointed after consultation with the Central Health Services Council and the remainder after consultation with representative organisations.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if there is a shortage of male orderlies in the venereal disease clinics in England and Wales; how many vacancies for male orderlies have occurred in the past three years; and how many of the vacancies were filled with untrained men;(2) the percentage of male orderlies in the venereal disease clinics in England and Wales who were engaged without having previous training in this specialised work.

My hon. Friend will understand that it is not practicable as a routine to collect separate statistical information about small groups of staff. Training in this field is by experience and. while I know that there is some difficulty in recruiting orderlies, I hope that recruitment will improve as a result of pay increases recently announced.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to amend the National Health Acts so as to provide for the representation of local authorities on regional hospital boards and group management committees.

No; but I regard local authorities as a valuable source of advice about appointments to these bodies. As the hon. Member knows, local health authorities are always consulted, and many members of local government bodies do in fact also serve as members of regional hospital boards and hospital management committees.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made during the last three years in recruiting dentists into the public health service in North Warwickshire and in overcoming the lack of adequate dental facilities for expectant and nursing mothers in this area.

The steps that are being taken to improve the situation generally throughout the country were outlined in reply to Questions on 16th November, 1959, and 28th March, 1960, but it will inevitably be some time before we get the benefit of what are, for the most part long-term measures. In the meantime I am afraid that recruitment will continue to be difficult, as in this area.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that some 1,500 people in the Newcastle area of Northumberland need deep-radiation treatment, that, at present, only some 600 can get it, and that a public appeal has been made for £40,000 to get a new machine which will ensure that the remaining 900 sufferers get this treatment and whether he will consider making a financial contribution towards purcnasing the machine.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the estimates referred to, which relate to the Newcastle Hospital Region as a whole. The regional hospital board has gratefully accepted an offer by the British Empire Cancer Campaign to contribute up to £40,000 towards the cost of a linear accelerator and its installation at the Newcastle General Hospital. This is enabling the board to acquire a second linear accelerator earlier than would otherwise have been possible. Exchequer funds at the disposal of the board are meeting part of the cost of the necessary buildings and, in addition, are providing a cobalt deep therapy unit capable of treating 250 new patients annually, which will be in operation shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of coloured children in the care of local authorities in England and Wales at 31st March, 1960, or the latest convenient date, compared with the number twelve months earlier; and what proportion this represents of the total number of children in the care of local authorities at each date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General why cable letter telegrams have been suspended; and how long this suspension is to last.

A substantial proportion of the staff at Electra House imposed a ban on overtime working. There was already a shortage of staff, and these two things, taken together, made it impossible for me to maintain the full range of overseas telegraph services. I had to keep the full-rate and urgent-rate traffic moving, and had no alternative but to suspend the letter-telegram service. I will restore this as soon as I can offer a satisfactory service, but I am very sorry I cannot yet say when I shall be able to do so.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his survey of post office sites to assess their values has started; and, when he expects a full report to be at hand.

I have arranged in the first place for a pilot survey of thirteen Post Office properties of various types designed to assess their commercial value and potentialities. This is well advanced; the interim results suggest that further study of individual cases will he rewarding. I hope to have the full results in the next month or so.

asked the Minister of Education what cuts he has made in the school-building programme submitted by the Monmouthshire Education Authority for 1960–61.

For the major primary and secondary school-building programmes of 1960–62, the Monmouthshire Local Education Authority submitted sixteen projects at a total estimated cost of £1,439,780. A new secondary school and a new primary school estimated to cost £200,134 were included in the 1960–61 programme and two new primary schools and two projects at secondary schools estimated to cost £301,640 were included in the 1961–62 programme.I have also promised to consider the inclusion of four additional projects estimated to cost £358,006 when the proposals reach the tender stage.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has received the Report of the Advisory Sub-Committee on Agricultural Education; and whether he will make a statement.

In September, 1959, the National Advisory Council for Education in Industry and Commerce set up an Advisory Sub-Committee, composed partly of its own members and partly of experts in the field of agricultural education, to advise on the steps to be taken, in the light of the De La Warr Report, to develop education for agriculture in establishments maintained by local education authorities. The First Report of the Sub-Committee has been endorsed by the National Advisory Council and I have today issued the Report to local education authorities with a Circular commending it. I am placing copies of the Circular and Report in the Library of the House.The Report broadly endorses the relevant recommendations of the De La Warr Committee and I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing my appreciation and that of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to the Chairman and members of the De La Warr Committee, and of the Advisory Sub-Committee, for their important contribution to the progress of agricultural education, and for the constructive and far-reaching proposals they have made. If the recommendations I have now endorsed are adopted by local authorities and are supported by the farming community, as I earnestly hope they will be, there should shortly be in operation a co-ordinated system of courses designed to meet the needs of the farming industry, available in suitable centres all over the country. I hope to make a further statement when the second report of the Advisory Sub-Committee has been received and considered.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now make a statement on the Anderson Committee's Report on the application of means tests to State scholarships.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Members for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) and Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden) on 9th May. The Report will be published shortly.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give an assurance that, before agreeing to the discontinuance of a voluntary school against the wishes of its denominational authority, he will institute an inquiry.

No. Public inquiries are not always necessary to discern the facts or the views of those concerned. Every proposal of this kind is examined with great care and the fullest consideration is given by me to any objections.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement about the London County Council's proposal to cease to maintain the Avigdor Secondary School.

Yes, I have approved the London County Council's proposal. The Governors and all those who have written to me are being informed.I am satisfied that the Council has acted fairly and given the school a reasonable chance. It has been maintained since 1950, but has never succeeded in fulfilling its purpose as a grammar school for 300 boys and girls. In 1956 a report of Her Majesty's Inspectors on the school raised serious doubts about the propriety of continuing to maintain it. The Council gave the Governors till 1958 to put it right. A further inspection in 1958 showed that they had failed. Since then the Governors have had ample opportunities of putting their case both to the Council and to my Department. They would like now to change it into a school for girls, but they have produced no convincing evidence that it would succeed any better if boys were excluded.In the light of the reports on the school and of its history I have no good grounds for refusing to approve the London County Council's proposal. I am as sorry as they are to cause disappointment to the school's supporters, but we both have to consider the interests of the children and to see that schools maintained from public funds reach a proper level of efficiency. I believe, too, that it is harmful to the cause of denominational schools to continue the expenditure of public money on one which has proved a failure. There are excellent Jewish maintained schools where the places are in great demand and I can assure my hon. Friend that I should be very willing to consider proposals to expand such a school.