asked the Minister of Education what progress he has made with his review of the question of regional status for technical colleges over the country as a whole; and whether he is yet prepared to make a decision on the proposals of the Essex County Council for regional status for the South-East Essex Technical College and School of Art, Longbridge Road, Dagenham, and the South-West Essex Technical College, Walthamstow.

The review is almost complete. I will write to my hon. Friend and to the Essex Local Education Authority as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Education the total value of projects proposed for inclusion in the 1960–62 school building programmes; the value of the approved programmes; and how this compares with the value of the approved programmes for 1958–60.

The total value of projects proposed for inclusion in the 1960–62 school building programme was £214 million. The value of the approved programme was £115 million. The approved programme for 1958–60 amounted to £97 million.Thus there was an increase of almost 20 per cent. in the 1960–62 programme over that for 1958–60.

asked the Minister of Education if he has yet decided whether he will undertake the general supervision of the public library service in the manner recommended by the Roberts Report.

The Government agree in principle with the proposal of the Roberts Committee that the Minister of Education should assume a general responsibility for the oversight of the Public Library Service. No Minister has such powers at present, but I have already announced that the Government accept the need for legislation in this field.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the present approximate cost to the Revenue of allowing luncheon vouchers to be issued to employees free of tax, and permitting firms to charge off as an expense against revenue the cost of providing free or below-cost canteen facilities for their employees.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that certain foreign Governments are providing credit guarantees up to a limit of seven years, which is a considerable advantage to their shipyards, and that British shipyards are thereby suffering loss; and what action he proposes to take on this matter.

My right hon. Friend is aware that certain foreign Governments have on occasion provided export credit guarantees for ships for more than five years post delivery and this has no doubt affected the competitive position of British shipbuilders. This is, however, only one aspect of the wider problem of competition in credit terms for large capital goods which the Government are watching closely. Our policy is to try to secure the general agreement of other exporting countries to the observance of agreed limitations on the length of credit to be covered by Government guarantees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that some foreign exporters of capital goods, including foreign shipbuilders, are giving their overseas customers credit going beyond five years after delivery, he will take action to ensure that United Kingdom exporters are free to offer similar terms.

Her Majesty's Government place no Exchange Control restrictions on banks or other credit institutions in the United Kingdom which are prepared to finance exports of capital goods on terms longer than five years from delivery.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increasing need to encourage scientific studies, he will reconsider his policy of not exercising detailed control before making grants to universities.

No.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will increase his grant to the Arts Council so as to meet the widespread complaints from the provinces regarding subsidies to orchestras.

No. The Arts Council's provision for symphony orchestras this year is £130,500, an increase of about £40,000 over last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that unemployment in Scotland has risen during the past few weeks with consequent urgency in the need to attract new industries; and what special financial facilities he therefore plans to rectify these industrial and employment disabilities.

The hon. and learned Member will be pleased to know that he is in error. Unemployment in Scotland has been falling, not rising. Moreover, it is clear from the industrial development certificates recently granted that a large number of new jobs will become available. I am aware that still further improvement is needed. But I am confident that the best way to achieve this is by vigorous implementation of the Local Employment Act, and we do not contemplate any further special financial facilities to attract new industry to Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the fall in the value of the £ sterling, from one year to another, since 1935, taking the index of 100 for the year 1935.

The purchasing power of the £ is given in the following table:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps were taken by Her Majesty's Government, before renunciation of import restrictions under Article XII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, to resolve the special problems concerning the citrus, banana, and cigar industries of the West Indies, and similar items of Commonwealth produce vital to the economy of their producing countries but threatened by the overspill of domestic industries in the United States of America, which are protected against foreign competition.

We recognise that special problems arise concerning certain products of interest to the West Indies to which import restrictions still apply. As, however, I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend on 26th May, our balance of payments position had ceased to justify us in invoking Article XII of the G.A.T.T. in respect of these restrictions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange that, in future, the statistics of his Department should show exports of thoroughbreds separately from those of other horses and ponies, so that the value of the bloodstock industry to our economy can be better assessed.

No. My right hon. Friend understands that nearly all the exports of horses and ponies shown under Class E, Division 2 of the Trade Returns are thoroughbreds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he refused the request of the Milk Marketing Board to reintroduce the quota on imported milk products.

The reintroduction of quotas would be contrary to the Government's policy of removing progressively our remaining import restrictions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the estimated cost of production per copy of the new magazine designed by the Central Office of Information for the purpose of attracting foreign industry to the United Kingdom.

One shilling and ninepence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet in a position to make a further statement on the additional 450 jobs he expects will be provided shortly in the Dunfermline Employment Exchange area.

One hundred and fifty of the 450 jobs have now materialised and I hope the balance will become available progressively over the next few months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent communication he has received from the Scottish New Potato Growers Association on the question of imported potatoes: and what was the nature of his reply.

A letter from the Scottish Early Potato Growers' Association was received last Monday and is being considered. A copy of the reply will be sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list the newspapers allowed to detainees in the Manyani Special Detention Camp. Kenya.

The following newspapers are at present allowed regularly to the detainees in Manyani:

• These papers which are issued fortnightly in English and Swahili are produced locally in Nyanza Province and provide news of local and of Kenya interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has banned the United National Independence Party in the Western Province of Northern Rhodesia; and when the ban will be withdrawn.

The ban was imposed because, as I explained to the House on 17th May, the general atmosphere of lawlessness in Northern Rhodesia was undoubtedly ascribable to the activities of adherents of this party particularly in the Western Province. The order declaring twelve branches of U.N.I.P. to be unlawful societies will be revoked in respect of either all or some of them as soon as the Governor is satisfied that this can be done without endangering public security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposal he now has for further economic development in Fiji.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements he proposes for the provision of financial assistance to the Somaliland Protectorate in the period until independence.

Her Majesty's Government will continue to make a grant in aid of the expenses of the administration of the Protectorate, including expenditure on compensation, leave salary and other terminal benefits payable by the Protectorate Government in accordance with arrangements described in the report of the recent Constitutional Conference (Cmnd. 1044). A Supplementary Estimate to provide the additional sum required will be laid before the House in due course. In the meantime advances will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether final arrangements have now been made for the Nyasaland Constitutional Conference.

I have nothing yet to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) on 10th May except that in order to secure the use of Lancaster House the opening date of the Conference has been postponed until 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether the recent speech of the Minister of Defence in Ottawa, concerning resort to nuclear weapons against a large-scale Soviet attack with conventional arms, represents the policy of the Government.

I have been asked to reply.Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now in a position to define the moderate increase in the breeding herd which is sought for pigs in the Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees 1960; and whether to ensure this increase, he will make a statement about the guaranteed price for pigs for 1961–62.

As my hon. Friend told the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Loughlin) on 21st March, it is not the Government's policy to set precise production targets. The level of the guaranteed price for 1961–62 will be determined after the 1961 Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where the Colorado beetles were recently found in this country; and what were the suspected countries of origin.

During May, fifteen Colorado beetles in all were found at King's Lynn, Dover, Liverpool, Plymouth, Canterbury, Birmingham, London, Tangmere, and Southampton; the suspected countries of origin were Spain, Italy and Germany.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider introducing legislation to empower river boards to issue fishing licences at concessional rates to retirement pensioners and juveniles.

Before commenting on the suggestion contained in my hon. Friend's Question I would prefer to await the report of the Committee appointed under the Chairmanship of Lord Bledisloe to review the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Acts. I am expecting to receive the report this autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Metropolitan Police under the Litter Act, 1958.

It is the practice of the Metropolitan Police not themselves to initiate prosecutions under the Litter Act, 1958, but to report cases to the appropriate local authority, which has power to take proceedings if it thinks it proper to do so. The Litter Act came into force on 7th August, 1958, and up to the end of 1959, sixty-three persons had been proceeded against in the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the increasing number of ice-cream vendors using chimes to attract custom, what limitations are imposed under his regulations in respect of noise and frequency of chimes; what directives have been given to local authorities on the matter; and how many prosecutions have been instituted in the Metropolitan Police area since 1st January, 1959.

I have no power to make regulations or to give directives to local authorities on this subject, and I regret that I have no information about prosecutions in respect of ice-cream vendors' chimes. But I can tell the hon. Member that many local authorities have made byelaws making it an offence to operate an amplifier in a street so as to cause a nuisance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for police officers to control traffic during peak hours at the congested junction of Kenton Road with Watford Road and Sheepcote Road, on the boundary between Harrow and Wembley, pending a decision by the Middlesex County Council on schemes for improving the junction.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that two constables are now posted to this junction for traffic control duty during the morning and evening peak periods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence against individuals have occurred in the last six months in the metropolitan area of London.

The number of indictable offences of violence against the person reported in the Metropolitan Police District between 1st November, 1959, and 30th April, 1960, was 1,525. This total comprises offences of murder, attempts to murder, manslaughter, infanticide, child destruction, felonious wounding, malicious wounding, assault, rape and robbery.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further particulars he can now give in respect of improvements in the conditions and administration of remand homes and approved schools.

I am pressing on with the measures to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) on 28th January, in consultation with the interests concerned. In particular, a much expanded building and improvement plan for approved schools and remand homes has been put in hand and it is hoped to authorise starts to the value of £750,000 in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of convictions for cruelty to children under six years of age during each of the last five years to the latest convenient date.

I regret that these figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that there is a general desire to allow football matches to be played on Sundays, and that the Football Association has recently decided to recognise Sunday football games; and whether he will now consider amending the law to allow football to be played on Sundays, particularly in aid of charities, allowing a charge for admission.

I have seen reports about an alteration of the Football Association's rule about Sunday football. I have at present no statement to make about any amendment of the law on this highly controversial subject.

asked the Secretary of-State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the Minister of Transport about the operation of a 50 miles-per-hour speed limit on those parts of A.40 that lie within the Metropolitan Police area, and are at present unrestricted.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport informed me of his intention to introduce experimentally a speed limit of 50 miles an hour on certain roads, including a part of the A.40, over the Whitsun holiday period, and I arranged for my right hon. Friend, together with the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, to discuss the matter with the Commissioner of Police and with other chief officers of police concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men unemployed and the number of adult male vacancies notified to the employment exchanges in the County of Durham at the latest available date; and how the numbers compare with a similar ratio for the rest of England.

On 16th May, 14,987 wholly unemployed men were registered and 1,210 adult male vacancies were notified at Employment Exchanges in the County of Durham. Corresponding figures for the rest of England were 146,603 and 114,831.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the extra burden and added responsibilities placed upon the Chief Inspector of Factories by recent legislation and regulations, he will increase the salary commensurately.

I do not think that recent legislation and regulations have materially altered the nature and weight of the responsibilities of the Chief Inspector of Factories. The salary of the post, as of other posts in the Factory Inspectorate, is a matter for negotiation with the recognised staff association with which discussions are at present in progress.

asked the Minister of Transport the present position with regard to the Leicestershire portion of the London-Yorkshire motor road.

I am considering the objections to the draft scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport if it is his policy to improve the Watford by-pass between Apex Corner and the Aldenham junction with M.1 so that it will take four lines of traffic.

I am at present considering how improved facilities for traffic can best be provided between Apex Corner and the Aldenham spur. South of the junction with A.5 it already appears that a new road will be more satisfactory than widening the Watford by-pass.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider taking powers which would enable him to raise the speed limit in parks in which it is now subject to control by the local authorities, in view of the fact that such a speed limit is unrealistic in modern conditions.

This is generally a local matter which is properly the responsibility of the park authority. The few cases—outside the Royal Parks—where park roads are used extensively by through traffic would not justify my taking the powers suggested by my hon Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take action to ensure that Mrs. Hazel Wolf, aged 62 years, is not deported to the United Kingdom from the United States of America on 12th June, as is now proposed, in view of the fact that she has no relatives or friends in this country, will be without means on arrival and has been advised that a drastic change in her surroundings may lead to a recurrence of tuberculosis.

I would refer the hon Gentleman to the Answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Aston (Mr. J. Silverman) and the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler).

asked the Minister of Defence what reply he has sent to the unanimous protest, sent to him by the Council of the Dartmoor Commoners' Association, against the increasing use of Dartmoor by the Army outside specified training areas.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend will reply to this letter, which was only received yesterday. on his return to this country from America.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the death of Squadron Leader Christopher Walker, a serving Royal Air Force officer, while on official duty in the United States of America.

Squadron Leader Walker lost his life in an aircraft accident in the United States on 8th July, 1958, while he was serving with the United States Air Force. The evidence of eye witnesses and subsequent technical examination showed that the aircraft disintegrated in the air. An exhaustive inquiry failed to establish the precise cause of the accident.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the members of the Standing Advisory Committee on the nursing services.

The names of the members of the Standing Nursing Advisory Committee are:

• Miss M. B. Powell, S.R.N., S.C.M. (Chairman).
• P. H. Constable, Esq., O.B.E., M.A., F.H.A. Miss A. A. Graham, O.B.E., S.R.N., H.V. R. G. Robinson, Esq., C.B.E., J.P., M.R.S.H. Prof. R. E. Tunbridge, O.B.E., M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.P.
• Miss M. Williams, S.R.N., S.C.M., M.T.D. One vacancy.

• Miss E. K. Bally, S.R.N., S.C.M., M.T.D. Miss O. E. Copeland, S.R.N., S.C.M., D.N. J. O. F. Davies, Esq., M.D., D.P.H., D.R.C.O.C.
• Miss M. A. Duncombe, S.R.N., R.S.C.N., S.C.M.
• Miss M. M. Edwards, M.V.O., S.R.N., S.C.M.
• Miss B. N. Fawkes, S.R.N., S.C.M., D.N.
• Miss C. M. Hall, S.R.N., S.C.M.
• W. Harding, Esq., S.E.A.N.
• W. K. Newstead, Esq., S.R.N., R.M.N., R.F.N.
• Miss J. I. Robertson, S.R.N., S.C.M.
• Miss P. R. M. Rowe, S.R.N., R.M.N.
• Miss B. Selby, S.R.N.
• Miss M. Smith, R.G.N., R.M.N.
• Miss B. H. F. Townsend, S.R.N., S.C.M., H.V.
• Prof. R. C. Wofinden, M.D., D.P.H., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
• Miss B. J. Wylie. S.R.N., S.C.M., D.N.

asked the Minister of Aviation when it is proposed to make a new consolidated Air Navigation Order.

An Order for this purpose will be submitted to Her Majesty in Council very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many parishes in England and Wales with a population in excess of 300 persons, entitled to a parish council, are, in fact, without one.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Power if he is yet in a position to state for the calendar year 1959 the figures of deep-mined coal production, opencast coal production, oil consumption on a coal equivalent basis, net inland coal consumption and total inland fuel consumption on a basis comparable with the figures given in his Department's Statistical Digest for 1958 in Table 8, column 4. Table 34, column 9, Table 5, columns 4 and 5, Table 5, column 3 and Table 5, column 7, respectively.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Power if he will state for 1959 the figures of fuel oil delivered for inland consumption on a basis comparable to that used in Table III, column 18, of his Department's Statistical Digest for 1958, and for 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959, the coal equivalent of the fuel oil so delivered.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Power if he is yet in a position to state the 1959 calendar year figures for the consumption of coal by gasworks, electricity, railways, industry, coke ovens, and the domestic market on a basis comparable to those given for previous years in Table 41 of his Department's Statistical Digest for 1958.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet able to state when the Report of the Committee on awards to students under the chairmanship of Sir Colin Anderson will be published.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education on behalf of us both in reply to Questions by the hon. Lady the Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White) and my hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge (Mr. Hornby). As he stated, the Report is being published today.