asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is satisfied that the £16½ million advanced by Her Majesty's Government as loan at 5 per cent to building societies is being effectively used to assist members of the community to purchase their own homes; and whether he will make a statement.

Building societies can obtain advances from the Exchequer only to the extent that they have themselves actually advanced money for the purchase for owner-occupation of houses completed before 1919.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to the issuing of a circular to local authorities advising them as to ways in which they can assist groups of tenants, threatened with eviction under the Rent Act, in the formation of co-operative housing associations which will enable them, collectively, to purchase the properties in which they live.

I do not think there is cause for a general circular to local authorities. I am sure they are fully aware of their powers with respect to housing associations and, as I said in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 9th February the National Federation of Housing Societies will readily give advice on the formation of housing associations to anyone who approaches them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities have now made orders relating to smoke control areas under Section 11 of the Clean Air Act, 1956; what has been the average length of notice given by such authorities for the coming into operation of such orders; and how many authorities have subsequently passed resolutions postponing the coming into operation of such orders.

One hundred and sixty-three local authorities in England and Wales. Local authorities, when making an order for submission to my right hon. Friend, normally fix a date of operation at least nine months ahead. I am aware of only one resolution postponing the date of operation of a confirmed order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give, for the most convenient recent three-year period, the number of appeals for permission for residential development he has refused after a local inquiry in cases where there has been a previous appeal and inquiry within the period; and what was the number of such cases where he has declined to hold another local inquiry.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many appeals for planning decisions were heard in the twelve months ended 31st December, 1959; how many inspectors he employed to hear them; how many cases are now pending; and how long elapses on an average between the lodging of the appeal and the giving of the decision.

There were 4,302 local inquiries into planning appeals held in 1959 in England and Wales. The number of inspectors engaged mainly on this type of inquiry increased during the year from about 70 to about 90.There were 4,234 appeals at various stages before my right hon. Friend on 30th April, 1960. This figure includes many cases in which the inquiry had already been held, and others not involving an inquiry. The average time taken from the lodging of an appeal to the issuing of decision has recently been about six months.

asked the Prime Minister what representations have been made to him by the President of the National Farmers' Union with regard to the guaranteed price changes made in the Annual Review of Prices for 1960.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the President of the National Farmers' Union.

At his request, Mr. Harold Woolley, the President of the National Farmers' Union, came to see me and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on 25th May. He referred to certain criticisms which had been voiced by the farming community against this year's Price Review, but also suggested that during this summer the Agricultural Ministers and the National Farmers' Unions should engage in joint discussions to clarify some of the problems affecting the future of the industry. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is arranging for these talks to take place.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the conference he had with the National Farmers' Union on 25th May.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Prior) and the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Hayman).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the questions to be asked in connection with the plebiscite scheduled to take place in the Northern and Southern Cameroons in February, 1961.

The questions are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the strengthening of the police and administration in Nyasaland.

Since 1st January, 1959, 56 senior ranks and 497 junior ranks have been added to the police and 13 new senior posts and 80 new junior posts have been filled in the administration.The expansion programme provides for a further 98 senior and 719 junior ranks in the police, to be recruited by June, 1961; and for a further 23 senior and 20 junior posts in the administration to be filled by the end of this year.Tenders have been invited for the first stage of the combined police and administrative building programme and contracts will be placed shortly. Provision of equipment, motor vehicles and radio for the police is keeping pace with the expansion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the Lancaster House constitution will function in Kenya before any major change is made.

I refrain from stating a term of years because the duration of the new constitution will not depend on me alone. It will rest in large measure on whether those who will be undertaking responsibilities in the new Legislature and the new Executive will show the necessary sense of responsibility. I hope indeed that they will do so, but I feel sure that I would not be assisting their task if I attempted to state a minimum or even a maximum term of years. It seems to me that the time for a major change will come when a position is reached in which a substantial body of opinion representative of all the communities in Kenya will regard such a change as being natural and fully in keeping with performance up to that time. Kenya will then be able to take the next step with confidence in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will allow registration to the Kenya African National Union.

Registration is a matter in the first instance for the Kenya Registrar of Societies. The Kenya African National Union applied for registration on 17th May, but final details of its application did not reach the Registrar until 25th May. He is still considering the application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the report by Mr. Corfield on the Origins and Growth of Mau Mau in Kenya will be published.

The report is being published as a Sessional Paper in Kenya, and as a Command Paper here (Cmnd. 1030), today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the great increase in immigration from the West Indies during the first four months of this year, he will renew the representations formerly made to the various Governments of the West Indies to restrict the emigration of their nationals to the United Kingdom.

I have recently communicated with West Indian Governments, urging that it is in the interest of all concerned that they should maintain and if necessary strengthen their efforts to reduce migration to the United Kingdom. My colleagues and I are continuing to watch the situation carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what estimate has been made by Her Majesty's Government, by the West Indian Governments and producers concerned, of the ability of the West Indian citrus industry to compete with the much larger United States industry in the light of dollar trade liberalism; and what measures are proposed in order to safeguard the West Indian industry.

The ability of the West Indian citrus industry to compete with other producers is not a matter on which it is possible to make precise estimates. It is, of course, among the factors which need to be taken into account in considering appropriate methods of providing reasonable safeguards for the future of the industry in the present changing circumstances of international trade. I am examining this question closely but regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement on any measures to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sum is owed by Her Majesty's Government to the Cypriot administration in respect of moneys advanced by the Cypriot administration in respect of the cost of the United Kingdom forces.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government for implementing the agreement whereby the ratio between Greeks and Turks in the Cyprus Civil Service shall be on a 70–30 basis.

Most of the senior posts have now been filled by Cypriots with strict regard to the 70–30 ratio. The Governor has given his assurance that in making further acting appointments the 70–30 ratio will be applied; that no officer will lose his post or suffer loss in grade or salary; and that no one will be appointed or promoted to any post who is not fully competent to perform the duties of the post.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on how many days this year the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has been in his office in London; on how many he has been on official duty in Cyprus; and where he was during the remainder, other than periods of leave.

To date my hon. Friend has spent 31 working days in London, 100 days on official duty in Cyprus and 1 day on official business in Paris.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has excluded stenographers from the proposer interim pay offer to Uganda civil servants.

The award to which I referred in my reply on 24th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice would not have applied to stenographers because they do not receive inducement pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to relax the system of identification certificates and native visitors' night passes at present in use by the authorities in Northern Rhodesia.

Proposals are now being considered which would remove the necessity for identification certificates to be carried on the person. Regulations regarding night passes are no longer applied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent racial segregation is practised in cinemas in Northern Rhodesia; and what steps he is taking to end it.

There are no statutory restrictions on admission to cinemas in Northern Rhodesia, but some proprietors exercise control in varying degrees over admission and seating. Draft legislation to prevent the refusal of admission and service to any person on the grounds of race alone is to be introduced at the next meeting of the Legislative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the difficulties experienced by European police officers in controlling onlookers during the visit of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to Lusaka, whether he will assure the police and administration in Northern Rhodesia that they will be fully supported in all proper measures to keep law and order.

I have had no reports from official sources that police officers in Lusaka experienced difficulties of the kind to which the hon. Member refers. I have already made it abundantly clear that the Governor and his administration has my full support in any measures which he might find necessary for the support of law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Dr. Borg Olivier, the leader of the Nationalist Party of Malta, is in the United Kingdom at his invitation; and if he intends to hold discussions with him on political problems affecting the island.

No, but I have had an informal discussion with him.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he proposes to take to reface the side of Apsley House now exposed by demolitions.

My right hon. Friend proposes to remodel the East side of Apsley House in conformity with the architecture of the building as a whole, using Bath stone as a facing material. Work should start this summer.

asked the Minister of Works if he will introduce legislation to enable him to purchase for the nation finds of great archaeological or historic interest.

For many years responsibility for the purchase of finds of this kind has rested with museums, some of which are assisted with funds for this purpose by the Exchequer. These arrangements work very satisfactorily and my right hon. Friend sees no reason for changing them.

asked the Minister of Works when and where he proposes to exhibit models and drawings to illustrate the restoration of Nos. 10, 11 and 12, Downing Street.

Preliminary sketch elevations were published last December. I have nothing else to exhibit at present.

asked the Minister of Works what action he is taking to improve the supply of bricks to local authorities whose housing schemes are being held up by the continuing brick shortage.

I have kept in close touch with the brickmakers and I am glad to say that more bricks were produced in the first four months of 1960 than in any comparable post-war period. I believe production should increase still further in the months to come and production of alternative materials is also high. Early ordering and flexibility of specification will help to avoid delays, and I am always ready to investigate with the brickmakers any special difficulties.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made with the restoration of Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire; at what cost; and when the house will be open to the public.

Dyrham Park was purchased in 1957 for just over £5,000; repairs and other work necessary for opening the house to the public are expected to cost about £58,000. Chattels purchased with the building cost £42,252, and repairs to them £2,800. The total expenditure is expected to amount to some £108,000. The National Trust will take the property over in September, 1960, when work is due to be complete, and hope to open the house to the public at Easter, 1961.

asked the Minister of Works when he proposes to start work on the restoration of the Treasury Buildings facing Whitehall to make good the war damage.

The war damage will be repaired as part of the scheme for the reconstruction of the Treasury buildings in Whitehall, on which work is due to start in August.

asked the Minister of Works what is the present condition of Duff House, Banff; and what future use he has in mind for the building.

Since Duff House was accepted by my Department in 1955 in order to save it from probable demolition, the structure of the main block has been consolidated and made wind and watertight. The condition of the interior, however, was such that much of it has had to be removed, and a wing of later date which was badly damaged has been demolished. Although I would welcome some appropriate use for Duff House, I am prepared to maintain it, unused, as an Ancient Monument.

asked the Minister of Works when he will exhibit plans and models of the scheme for providing additional accommodation in the roof space over the Committee Rooms.

They are nearly ready, and I hope to exhibit them very shortly after the recess.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases now remain to be considered by the Restrictive Practices Court.

On the 1st January, 1960, which is the latest date for which complete statistics are available, there were registered with the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements 1,455 Agreements which contained registrable restrictions and had not been dealt with by the Court. Notices of Reference are now pending before the Court in respect of 45 of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions took place, or are pending, consequent on the false claims for payment of ploughing grants in 1958 and 1959, respectively; and how many such prosecutions led to imprisonment.

Proceedings taken against one applicant in 1959 led to his imprisonment. There are no cases pending.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new compassionate categories he has agreed to include in his arrangements for the repayment of post-war credits.

The qualifications of the new hardship classes who can claim payment of post-war credits under the Budget proposals are prescribed by Regulations approved by the House on 12th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will authorise the striking of a small five-shilling piece, of silver, as suggested by the Deputy Master of the Mint.

This is an interesting suggestion, which I am considering.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the discontent expressed by Civil Service organisations over the long delays and unsatisfactory nature of their pay negotiations with the Treasury; whether he is aware, in particular, that the claim of the technical classes, to be heard before the arbitration tribunal on 16th June, has already been in existence for three years; and whether he intends, in the near future, to provide better arrangements when dealing with Civil Service pay grievances.

The answer to the first part of the Question is Yes, On the second part, the claim has not been in existence for three years. On the third part, the present arrangements are based on recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service and on an agreement made by both sides of the National Whitley Council, but I am sure the Official Side will always be ready to consider suggestions for improvement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the need for nature conservation in the under-developed territories under United Kingdom administration, if he will recommend to the University Grants Committee to publicise in all Colonial Territories the university course under their auspices which will start in the autumn at University College, London.

It is not a function of the University Grants Committee to publicise university courses; that is normally a matter for the university or college concerned. I understand, however, that the Colonial Office will be considering the possibility of publicising this course, if it proves to be a continuing feature.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will investigate the claim for tax relief from Dr. Susanne Liebmann, a clinical psychologist, whose family died in German concentration camps, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he has noted the terms of the resolution of the Institution of Professional Civil Servants viewing with alarm the ever-increasing employment of private consultants to carry out work appropriate to civil servants; and what stops he intends taking in the matter.

I understand that the Institution of Professional Civil Servants may be making representations to the Treasury in due course. Any such representations will be given careful consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement regarding the Report on Decimal Coinage and the Metric System by joint committees of the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce.

The report recently published by the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce on the introduction of a decimal coinage and of a metric system of weights and measures is an interesting study which seems amply to justify the initiative taken by the two bodies which sponsored it. While it is not in form a report to Her Majesty's Government, we shall study its findings with care.There is clearly force in the report's recommendation that an early decision in principle for or against the adoption of a decimal coinage is desirable, if only because delay will add to the expense if a change is finally made. At the same time it is clearly necessary to discover more precisely what the country at large thinks on the question, since the convenience of the community is the main consideration involved. We shall accordingly welcome the widest discussion of this question.The report is helpful in bringing out clearly the point that a decision to introduce a decimal currency cannot usefully be divorced from a decision on the particular decimal system to be adopted. A comparison of various possible systems suggest that the pound does not lend itself particularly readily to decimalisation, since its hundredth part would be too large to serve conveniently as the smallest unit of currency, while its division into a thousand parts would involve the inconvenience and expense of working to three points of decimals.On the other hand there are evident objections in which Her Majesty's Government see great force to giving up the pound as the main unit of currency, bearing in mind the role which it has for long played in international trade, and the respect in which it is held throughout the world. If this consideration were thought decisive, the practical choice would then be between the retention of our present currency and the adoption of a decimal currency based on the pound (i.e. the £/mit. system or some variant of it).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about special Government assistance towards a recent acquisition by the National Gallery.

Yes. The National Gallery have purchased the Gainsborough portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Andrews, probably now the most famous example of the painter's early work. In view of the outstanding importance of this picture, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has decided, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make a special Exchequer grant of £75,000 towards the cost. A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before the House as soon as possible. The Pilgrim Trust have offered a very handsome grant of £25,000 and contributions are also generously being made by the National Art Collections Fund, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Spooner and Associated Television Limited. The balance will be found by the National Gallery from their own funds.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Scottish Transport Council have yet reported in accordance with the request made in paragraph 15 of Command Paper No. 785, Review on Highland Policy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the issues now outstanding in the negotiations for the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus; and when it is proposed to resume and to terminate these negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outstanding questions still undecided in the Cyprus negotiations.

In the course of the negotiations in Nicosia the differences between the parties have been progressively narrowed. There has been some difficulty, however, in finding a basis for settling the few points still at issue. These concern mainly the exact status of the Sovereign Base Areas and financial aid to the new Republic. It is hoped that it will soon be possible to resume formal meetings with Archbishop Makarios and Dr. Kutchuk and bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the breakdown, as between men, women and children, in the latest figures of West Indian immigration to Great Britain.

Separate figures for children are not available; approximate figures for male and female immigrants from the West Indies are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies at present exist for young persons in probation hostels in England and Wales; and how many young persons ordered by a court to reside in a probation hostel in the month of April, 1960, were unable to be accommodated in a probation hostel.

On 30th April, there were or would shortly be 50 vacancies for youths and 69 for girls. A proportion of these had been reserved for cases known to be before the courts. As regards the second part of the Question, a court does not order residence in a probation hostel unless a vacancy is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies at present exist for young persons in detention centres in England and Wales; and how many young persons ordered by a court to be detained is such centres in the month of April, 1960, were unable to be accommodated in a detention centre.

The four existing detention centres are being used to the limit of their capacity. Others are in course of erection or are planned. As regards the second part of the Question, courts have been asked, in view of the pressure on accommodation, to ascertain whether a vacancy exists before sentencing an offender to detention, and I am grateful for their co-operation in doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the case referred to him by the hon. Member for Swindon, and if he will grant political asylum to the individual concerned.

I am not satisfied, on the information at present available to me, that the conditions necessary for the grant of political asylum are satisfied in this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the British Sugar Corporation at Brigg does not make better use than at present of the services of unemployed persons from the surrounding area, including Grimsby, and has discontinued the practice of providing transport for them between Grimsby and Brigg.

The number of peopel using this transport was insufficient to justify its continuance. It would in any case be wrong for me to interfere with the day to day management policy of the British Sugar Corporation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will refer the question of standards for the soft types of cheese to the Food Standards Committee.

I am at present considering whether the question of standards for soft types of cheeses should be referred to the Food Standards Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Working Party on a Welsh Agricultural College has completed its report.

I have received the report and am arranging to send copies to all those directly concerned. The report will be published. It will now be necessary for me to consider its findings in consultation with my colleagues and others concerned, and I will make a further statement in due course. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Working Party for their work.

asked the Minister of Aviation, as representing the Minister for Science, if he will appoint a new committee to advise him on the practicability, or otherwise, of the development of an independent British space research programme, in view of the fact that the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy will now be unable, especially in view of greatly increased costs, to reverse its recommendation of December, 1959, against any such programme.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 26th April. In considering whether Britain should undertake a programme of space research the Government is finding no difficulty in obtaining the qualified scientific advice it requires, including, of course, advice in the new circumstances from the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy. There would, therefore, seem to be no advantage in setting up a new Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Education when he expects to be able to publish the Report of the Committee on University Grants.

Thursday, 2nd June.

asked the Minister of Education on what date he hopes to publish the Report of the Anderson Committee on University Awards.

Thursday, 2nd June.

asked the Minister of Labour how many girls and how many boys are expected to leave school in County Durham at the end of the summer term, 1960; and in which localities he expects to find difficulty in finding them employment.

3,300 boys and 2,700 girls. There should be little difficulty in placing the girls. There may be some difficulty with boys in the development districts and in Blaydon and parts of North West Durham, but the great majority should be in employment within a short time of leaving school.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now able to make a statement about the progress and future prospects of colour television.

This subject is referred to in the Report of the Television Advisory Committee, a copy of which is being sent to each hon. Member. I am not in a position to add to this at present.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Report of the Television Advisory Committee will be available to hon. Members.

I am arranging for copies of the Report for hon. and right hon. Members to be placed with their mail at 1 p.m., 1st June. Copies will also be placed in the Vote Office and in the Library.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what recent changes have been made in the arrangements for assisting pensioners to pay National Health Service prescription charges; and if he will explain in detail what course should now be followed by pensioners not in receipt of National Assistance who have difficulty in paying such charges regularly because of the delay in obtaining refunds.

No recent change has been made in the arrangements, and I am not aware of any delay in obtaining refunds. A pensioner, not in receipt of a regular supplement from the Board, who wishes to claim refund of a prescription charge on grounds of hardship can obtain from the chemist a combined leaflet and application form which he can send or take to the Board's office. If the conditions are satisfied a prompt refund will be made, or advance payment in the unusual case of a person not having the ready money to pay the charge.