asked the Minister of Power if he will state the amount of fuel oil consumed in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 1959 and the first quarter of 1960, respectively, and the amount of fuel oil produced in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 1959, and the first quarter of 1960, respectively.

In these two periods consumption was 3·8 and 5·0 million tons, and production 3·9 and 4·4 million tons.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it seems apparent from the figures he has given that the difference between consumption and production over this period was made up by imported fuel oil? What is the policy of the Government towards this? Does the right hon. Gentleman believe that fuel oil should continue to be imported in greater amounts and unrestricted? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the German and French Governments are contemplating restricting the use of fuel oil? Will not that react unfavourably here?

As I told the hon. Gentleman on another occasion, I intend to watch the position very carefully. I have given the hon. Gentleman the figures for the first quarters of these years. In April of this year production equalled consumption, and I am given to believe that over the year as a whole production and consumption will roughly balance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have a look at the whole position in relation to the balance of payments? We have had our arguments about this. I do not think that as yet any clear statistical analysis of it has been made. One's impression is that it is now becoming quite a drain on our balance of payments position.

The effects on our balance of payments position of importing fuel oil and importing crude oil to make fuel oil are not very different.

asked the Minister of Power what is the form and scope of the examination which is being undertaken by the Government into the problem of pipeline development.

I am consulting those concerned both inside Government Departments and outside. In the light of the consultations, I will consider what further examination, if any, would be useful.

Will the examination that the right hon. Gentleman is planning have as one of its purposes to ensure that future pipeline development takes place in accordance with a rational plan based on clearly established national need?

That will be the whole purpose of the inquiry.

asked the Minister of Power when he now expects to publish the Report of the Wilson Committee inquiring into the potentialities of the by-products of coal.

The Chairman has told me that he hopes the Committee's Report will be completed in the very near future. I shall then arrange for its presentation to Parliament as soon as possible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great volume of opinion in the country which believes that the future of coal lies in its by-products rather than in its burning? In view of the urgency of the problem, will he do whatever he can to speed up the Report, which has been subject to considerable delay?

I am looking forward very much to receiving the Report. I think I shall receive it very quickly, and I shall then publish it as soon as I possibly can so that Parliament can have the benefit of it.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the financial results of the National Coal Board during six months ended 30th June, 1960, and of the cumulative loss forward at 1st July, 1960, including the loss of £51 million at 1st January, 1960

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the publication by the Board of its financial results in its usual half-yearly statistical statement.

That is not much good to me. Is it not the fact that the rate of loss of the National Coal Board for the first six months of this year is approximately the same as the rate of loss for last year, which in the whole of 1959 was £22 million? As this is becoming a direct charge on taxpayers, will not my right hon. Friend be a little more forthcoming as to how a possible deficit at the end of 1960 of £75 million, which is what it will undoubtedly be, can be dealt with?

It is very reassuring to me that my hon. Friend's estimates of losses are going down. He suggested £100 million last time. I do not think that I can go further in anticipating these figures. The financing of the deficit seems to go beyond the Question my hon. Friend has asked me.

Will the Minister publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT at an early date a statement of the burdens which have now to be borne by the National Coal Board—

The right hon. Gentleman is one.

The hon. Gentleman is another. One example is that the Board bears the cost of subsidence, which was never met by the old coal owners. There are other burdens of that nature. If the right hon. Gentleman follows my suggestion, the nation can clearly see the elements which go to make up these losses.

The best way to deal with this matter is for the right hon. Gentleman to put down a Question. The Answer would then find its way into the columns of the OFFICIAL REPORT, as he suggested.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will state the position with regard to undistributed coal and coke stocks at 1st July, 1960; to what extent the investment by the National Coal Board of approximately £125 million winter in respect of approximately 35 million tons has now increased or decreased; and what plans are now in hand for reducing this liability upon the Board's financial resources.

On 18th June, the Board's undistributed stocks were just over 34 million tons of coal and about 5 million tons of coke, valued at approximately £135 million. The corresponding figure at the beginning of the year was slightly more than £140 million. The Board is reducing production and aiming at a steady reduction in the level of undistributed stocks in the next few years.

Is it not the fact that the levels of stocks to which my right hon. Friend has referred are no less than 7 million tons higher than they were on this date last year? And whether the loss of the Coal Board is suggested to be £75 million at the end of this calendar year or £100 million, is it not the fact that a drug on the market of £135 million worth of coal ought to engage my right hon. Friend's much more urgent attention?

My hon. Friend will not be unaware that the present level of stocks is below the level at which we began the winter, and that instead of having an increase in stocks of the order of £16 million, as we had last year, it looks as though my estimate, made about seven or eight months ago, of a reduction of about 1 million tons will not be very far out.

It is still very unsatisfactory, though.

Will the Minister tell us whether, apart from the industrial recession, part of the problem has been caused by remarkably mild winters, as a result of which we have not used coal that we otherwise would have used, and that these are reserve stocks? And will he explain why this is a tragedy?

The weather has certainly played a part, but we have discussed these matters in debates and the reason for the growth in stocks over the last two or three years has been examined in considerable detail. The position now is that the Board, as the House knows, is reducing production, and in fact the balance of stocks will, I think, show a small reduction at the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Power with regard to his forthcoming discussions concerning the coal industry whether he will give an additional assurance that he is not contemplating decentralisation of statutory power to the divisional boards.

asked the Minister of Power before entering into discussions regarding the future of the coal industry, if he will give an assurance that it is not his intention to transfer to divisional boards any of the statutory powers now controlled by the National Coal Board.

I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave on 20th and 27th June.

That is all very well, but is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the miners still suspect that he intends to weaken nationalisation by decentralisation, by carving up the industry into these small regional trusts? Is he not asking for a great deal of trouble because he is not willing to clear the air, and is he not placing the Chairman of the Board in a very invidious position, indeed? Will not he state to the House that he has no plan at all for interfering with the financial arrangements of the Coal Board?

I stated very clearly last week that we had no plans to denationalise the industry or to return to district wage agreements. I repeat that pledge. I also repeat what I then said; that I must be allowed time to discuss the matter with the new Chairman before making any statement on any plans for the future.

Is the Minister aware that the National Union of Mineworkers is very apprehensive about the position, and about his lack of frankness in replying to Questions in this House? Is he aware that that is causing a certain amount of alarm, and does he not think that a straightforward answer to a question of this kind would help the industry and those employed in it?

No, Sir. I think that I have been entirely frank in my answers, and frank in the answers I have given this afternoon.

We are grateful to hear what the right hon. Gentleman has said about decentralisation, but is he aware that we would very much deplore any alteration by the Government of the financial structure of the Board that would take from the Board itself the financial control of its own industry?

asked the Minister of Power what estimate has been formed of future manpower requirements for the coal industry; what is the present rate of recruitment; and if he is satisfied that this accords with the long-term needs of the industry.

The National Coal Board's Revised Plan for Coal estimates that between 587,000 and 626,000 men will be needed in 1965, according to the demand for coal. The Board recruited 17,400 men during the first 24 weeks of this year. I have every hope that the Board's long-term manpower requirements will be met.

The Minister has referred to a recruitment of 17,000 men but has said nothing about the wastage, which, I understand, is running at between 60,000 and 70,000 a year. Is it not a fact that the chairmen of the area boards are becoming very anxious about the manpower position?

The present wastage is, indeed, as the right hon. Gentleman says, a most serious factor to take into account, but against that is the fact that a number of those who have left the industry have been men over 65 years of age. That, therefore, will not recur. Against it, also, is the fact that the figure of recruiting I mentioned is a great deal higher than it was last year. The Board always intended that the rundown in manpower should not be spread evenly over the years 1960–65 but that a large part of it should take place in the first year or so.

asked the Minister of Power when the last survey of old underground pit workings was undertaken; and whether he is satisfied that there is no longer danger of proximity of old workings where gas exists.

Before any underground workings are abandoned there is a final survey. The plans of this must be preserved and shown in the plans of any other mine in the vicinity. Abandoned workings are normally inaccessible to further physical survey, but the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, requires that full precautions against hazard should be taken when any new working approaches them.

I am aware of all that, but the recent accident at the Six Bells Colliery surely indicates that the barriers between one colliery and another have not been adequately surveyed, and as the matter was raised 36 years ago, when I was Secretary of Mines, and has been considered several times since, is it not obvious that there has been inadequacy in the surveys that have been conducted?

As the right hon. Gentleman is very well aware of the position, I need not go into it in general, but I am informed that there is no reason at all to suspect that the old workings were in any way responsible for the explosion last week. As I undertook to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) and other right hon. Gentlemen opposite, I shall draw the attention of the Chief Inspector very much to this point, and he will have it very much in mind, so as to investigate exactly the matter to which the right hon. Gentleman draws my attention.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that he is responsible for safety arrangements? The Coal Board is not necessarily responsible. Although the Board has a certain measure of responsibility, the Minister is primarily responsible for safety matters, and perhaps he might go into the question of the need for another survey.

I think the regulations are perfectly clear on this, but I shall certainly look into the whole matter, particularly in the light of the tragic events of last week.

asked the Mnister of Aviation what progress has been made with the formation of a National Flying Trust for the promotion of gliding and light aeroplane flying; and if he will make a statement.

I am pursuing this idea, but am not yet ready to make a statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that now that the Kemsley Flying Trust, which did so much for gliding and light aeroplane flying, has been wound up, there is a great need for the formation of a trust of this sort? Will he do his utmost to expedite the formation and development of this flying trust as an urgent necessity as soon as possible?

Yes, Sir. I have every sympathy with this idea. The disappearance of the Kemsley Flying Trust has created a gap, and I am seeing what can be done to fill it.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will set aside a small section of his Department to deal specially with private and club flying.

There is already in my Department a branch which deals with most of the main aspects of private and club flying.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that branch includes operational as well as technical aspects? Is he aware that it would be a great encouragement to private and civil flying, which is regarded as rather a poor relation, if there were a clearly defined section to which they could take their troubles?

This branch deals with as many matters concerned with private flying as can efficiently be brought together in one branch. There is a number of things which affect not only private flying but other aspects of flying, which must be dealt with together.

While I thoroughly agree with the idea of private flying and want to see it encouraged, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to keep in mind that the air today is becoming very crowded indeed with civil aircraft? Will he see that these clubs are kept in places where they do not endanger the safety of civil aircraft?

That, of course, will be very much in my mind.

asked the Minister of Aviation what applications have been received from British airlines other than British European Airways to carry Service families to and from Cyprus on leave at concessional rates.

None, Sir.

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that the B.E.A. concessional return fare of £60 is rather high, and would he agree also that some competition here might have the effect of reducing it, to the benefit of the Service families in Cyprus?

The B.E.A. concessional fare is offered on all scheduled services. I do not think there is any reason to believe that a better proposition could be put forward. Of course, it is always open to any airline to make an appropriate application.

May I assure my hon. Friend that there is some dissatisfaction among Service men in Cyprus on this point and that they regard the existing rate as rather high?

It may be that the Service men were attracted by the suggestion which was put forward at one stage in the newspapers. It was not the subject of an application made to my right hon. Friend, and I think it was probably a little optimistic.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the number and names of the airports operating in Scotland, indicating the extent of passenger and other traffic dealt with at each, and the Customs facilities at each, during the last 12 months, and also indicating how these details compare with the corresponding details during each of the last 10 years.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the airports operating in Scotland. The table of figures for the last ten years is too long to circulate, but I will send it to the hon. and learned Member.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Scotland's great tourist industry is being greatly penalised by inadequate air services, particularly on Sundays, and by the confusion which exists between his Department and the airlines? Will he hold a full-scale public inquiry into that confusion with a view to seeing that justice is done to Scotland?

We are not aware of any such thing, and we do not envisage holding any such public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware of the inconvenience and loss to trade, business and social life caused by the inadequate air services between Aberdeen, Orkney, Shetland and the Channel Islands, particularly during the summer holiday season; and if he will investigate the cause and take steps to rectify it.

The provision of any additional services is a matter for the operators.

The Minister is getting away with murder when he says that. Does he not remember the complaints that have been made to him about the differences between him and the operators with regard to Sunday services? Will he once again look into these matters and examine the complaints?

I remember those differences very well and have nothing to add to the answers which have already been given about them.

Have there been any applications from independent operators to put on these services?

I am not aware of any such applications.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he will take to ensure that pilots of aircraft approaching London Airport do not come below the specified glide path.

Various radio, radar and visual aids are provided at the airport to help pilots to follow the prescribed glide path.

Could the Minister explain how it happens that sometimes an aircraft flies over my constituency at an altitude at which it is inaudible and that soon afterwards an aircraft of the same type flies over at such an altitude that it makes an appalling noise because it is flying too low? Is he aware that it is the experience of people living several miles away from the airport that a high proportion of aircraft desert the glide path some eight or nine miles before getting to the airport?

Yes, because sound is a very misleading measurement of height. Two aeroplanes flew over my house yesterday evening and they seemed to be rather low. I am making inquiries about them.

asked the Minister of Aviation what are the grounds for his decision that there is no possibility of increasing the angle of the glide path at London Airport; and if he will initiate international negotiations to raise the angle of glide-paths above all airfields in the United Kingdom from three degrees to four or five degrees.

I am advised that with the high speed of approach of modern aircraft the angle of the glide path could not be appreciably increased without prejudice to safety.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that several leading executives in the aircraft industry consider that this suggestion is technically possible? Is he aware that, if it took place, it would considerably ease the nuisance caused to residents living underneath the glide path to London Airport, and other airports, caused by aircraft approaching the aerodrome?

Of course, by increasing the angle of descent you increase the speed of approach and thereby make landing more difficult. I am surprised to hear what my hon. Friend says, because, in the main, certainly on the operators' side, the pressure is to reduce the angle of approach and not to increase it.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress he has made in his investigation of the delays in clearing passengers from inward flights at London Airport; and what consideration he has given to proposed remedies and, in particular, to those suggested in a letter to him by the hon. Member for Attercliffe.

Last week I informed the House of the measures which were being taken to relieve congestion. I have not yet received the hon. Member's letter, but I am eagerly awaiting it.

I am sorry that the Minister has not yet received my letter. The Question asks what is being done about clearing passengers. This case has no particular relation to congestion on the ground. Is the Minister aware that on Sunday of last week an aeroplane arrived from Frankfurt and the passengers had to wait an hour-and-a-half for the single bus before they were cleared? They had flown from Frankfurt in an hour and it was two-and-a-half hours before they reached Victoria from London Airport. Is it not possible for regular buses passing the airport to pick up the passengers or to use a minibus to take passengers to the buses at the Central Airport instead of all the passengers having to wait for an hour-and-a-half until Customs have cleared the last passenger from the aircraft?

I am a little confused by the hon. Gentleman. He said that his Question did not relate to the clearing of passengers at the airport but referred to the question of transport away from the airport. Yet he referred to the question of clearing passengers from the Customs. I will await the hon. Gentleman's letter.

asked the Minister for Aviation what was the identity of the aircraft that flew noisily and very low, contrary to regulations, over Westminster between 0255 and 0300 hours on 28th June; what were the reasons for this flight and the manner in which it was carried out; and if he will make a statement.

The aircraft was probably a York which took off from London Airport for Brussels at 0251. We have no evidence that the flight was carried out in a manner which contravened regulations.

With great respect, may I supply the evidence? It was a shattering noise which awoke at least one Member of Parliament, with nothing particular on his conscience, from a deep sleep. May I suggest that as the noise of aircraft engines appears to be increasing, the regulations may perhaps be at fault in allowing machines to fly too low?

As my hon. Friend has just heard, sound is not a very good measurement of height. Regular height checks are made and the regulations prohibit aircraft from flying below 1,500 ft. over built-up areas.

Would my hon. Friend consider setting up a permanent radar height check system so that evidence is always available to him if this sort of thing should occur again?

Regular height checks are made by radar; and full-time special height checks are also carried out in districts around London. Our evidence is that there is about 95 per cent. compliance with the regulations. If there is any breach of them, the matter is always taken up with the airline concerned.

asked the Minister of Aviation what support other countries of the Commonwealth have given him in favouring the Decca Navigator System, as against VOR-DMET.

Australia, Canada, Ghana, India, New Zealand and South Africa opposed the adoption of DMET as an international standard. I understand that Australia will be carrying out evaluation tests shortly with the Decca Navigation System. Other Commonwealth countries already have or have ordered Decca chains for marine purposes or survey work.

Will my hon. Friend keep in touch with these Commonwealth countries in order that there may be a certain solidarity among countries which believe that this rather superior form of navigation should be made available?

We are in continuous touch with the Commonwealth countries about progress and development of the Decca system of air navigation.

When is the issue likely to be raised again, or is it now completed?

The question of DMET as an international standard has been dealt with. It is still open to us at any time to advocate the Decca system as an international standard. I cannot say at what date that will be done. As the House appreciates, we believe that the Decca system in areas of high density of traffic is cheaper and more efficient.

Does what my hon. Friend says mean that we have given up the fight with Washington? Is it not about time that the Government really exerted themselves in this matter, which is well known to be very tawdry treatment by a friendly nation? Will he look into it again?

The vote has been taken by an international organisation to which we all belong, but that does not mean that we have given up our advocacy of the Decca system, as I think recent answers to Questions in this House have shown.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is aware that there was a three-hour road traffic jam at Prestwick Airport on 17th June while a British Overseas Airways Corporation 707 aircraft practised take-offs and landings on the main runway; and what he proposes doing to prevent traffic being held up at the airport's level crossing in the future.

These training flights with the Boeing 707 were necessary to familiarise air crews with the handling of these new aircraft at Prestwick. The road was closed on seven occasions in the morning and seven occasions in the afternoon. The average duration of each closure was about 3½ minutes.

That is not an answer to the Question on the Order Paper. The Minister cannot get away with this conduct of making a statement instead of replying to the Question. These training flights will go on with other aircraft. What is he going to do about the tremendous congestion that will take place when these flights, along with the arrivals and departures of very large aircraft, take place? Has he nothing to do with that? Does he not remember that I said long ago that a tunnel, costing the miserable sum of £800,000, would solve his problem? Is he not going to think about building that tunnel?

I quite appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern with this difficulty. I do not think that his proposal for a tunnel is worth reviving. As he fully appreciates, consultations with the local authorities had to take place and are still taking place about the question of a by-pass road now being constructed, which we hope will relieve about 50 per cent. of the congestion. We are ready to raise with the local authorities at any time the question of the loop road, about which he is also well aware.

Does the Minister not realise that a by-pass road will not solve the problem of the closure of the runway? Is it not his purpose to try to bring more and more people to Prestwick Airport to see the airport and to see what goes on, as is being done at London Airport? If he stops them every time he asks people to come, what success does he expect will attend that operation if he has not got the tunnel?

Our difficulty is not people who want to come to the airport but people who want to get away from it or go past it, and that situation we think could be helped by the by-pass road. I agree also that at some stage we must again consider the question of a loop road.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consultations he has had about the provision of further air terminals in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement on the position.

None, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there have been many reports about Glasgow Corporation and a company called Grampian Holdings proposing to build two air terminals in the City of Glasgow? Has the hon. Gentleman heard nothing about that, and, if not, will he say what purpose there can be in having three terminals—two new terminals to be built—in a city which needs new houses more than it needs new terminals?

Like the hon. Gentleman, I have read the reports in the Scottish Press. The position is that this is not a matter for any Ministry initiative. In answer to his question, no approaches have been made to us about these projects.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is aware that a number of employees of the British Overseas Airways Corporation have been dismissed following their having been declared persona non grata by the Indian Government; and what general direction he is proposing to issue to the Corporation that employees should not be dismissed as the consequence of such action by another government.

I am aware of the position, but I do not think it would be appropriate for me to intervene.

While appreciating my right hon. Friend's dilemma and difficulty in this matter, may I ask him if he is aware that many people will consider that the treatment of these men, against whom no evidence is offered by the Corporation, will not produce a very satisfactory labour relationship in the future?

I realise the difficulty, but I must repeat that in my view the management of its staff is the responsibility of the Corporation. In any case, I have no power to issue directions on a matter of this kind.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he has any further statement to make about the future of Renfrew Airport.

The surrounding buildings and docks will make it difficult to provide at Renfrew satisfactory facilities to meet the anticipated future requirements of air traffic. I am therefore considering whether a suitable airport for Glasgow could be provided elsewhere, possibly at the Naval Airfield at Abbotsinch, in the event of the Admiralty deciding to give it up. In any case, Renfrew Airport will continue in operation for the next three years.

I do not think that there is anything very new in what the Minister has said. Can he tell us with whom he is having discussions in regard to the consideration which he is giving to the question of using Abbotsinch? Will he consider the whole of Glasgow and the relationship which Prestwick might bear to the solution of this problem as well as Abbotsinch?

Yes. There are quite a lot of consultations which will have to take place, particularly with the local authorities and other Scottish interests concerned. Of course, the possibility of using Prestwick will be considered, but nothing that we can do will alter the fact that Prestwick is rather a long way from Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he can now state what decision has been made about the future of Blue Streak in connection with a space research programme.

I cannot at present add to what I said on 2nd May.

As time is pressing, may I ask the Minister when he thinks he will be able to make a final announcement on this very important matter? Is there not a real danger that highly skilled design and constructional teams will begin to disintegrate unless an early decision is made?

Yes; an early decision will be made. I hope, although I cannot promise, that it will be possible to make an announcement before the House rises. As to the last part of the hon. Member's Question, I have no evidence to show that these important design teams are in fact splitting up or disintegrating. They are awaiting a decision, which I am sure will not be very long delayed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he said the other day that the Government ought to enter this space race? Could he tell us what is meant by a Cabinet Minister saying that the Government ought to do that when the Government have not made a decision, which was a very strange kind of statement to make? Will he take the House a little more into his confidence after that revelation?

It would have been a very strange statement if I had made it.

asked the Minister of Aviation what proportion of the work of British industry in adapting V-bombers to carry Skybolts will be undertaken in this country.

All of it.

Does that mean that all the modifications of aircraft of any sort will be done in this country?

All the modifications to the V-bombers required for adapting them for the use of Skybolt. It does not mean necessarily the electronic equipment associated with the weapon, which is of American manufacture, and will be purchased in America. That is really part of the weapon system, but modifications of the aircraft will be carried out here.

Since the electronic equipment, which is so important, and Skybolt will be made in the United States, will the Minister, in consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence, get the Government to stop talking about this as an independent British deterrent when so much of it is entirely American made and produced?

First, I do not say that all the electronic equipment will be made in America. But, on the broad issue, the fact that a weapon is manufactured in a foreign country does not alter our independence of action when we have that weapon installed on our aircraft under our own unrestricted control in this country. The hon. Gentleman is merely using this device to try to justify the tortuous workings of the Labour Party's defence policy.

Has the Minister not made a clear admission that the V-bombers will have to be adapted in order to use Skybolt? Is this not the first time that such an admission has been made by a member of the Government? As the admission clearly has been made, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman what this will cost and how long it will take?

Obviously the right hon. Gentleman has not been a very regular attender in the House just lately. I cannot say exactly what it will cost. It will cost a very great deal less than Blue Streak would have cost.

Even if it be somewhat less, it will be a very expensive process to adapt these bombers. Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that this will not be gene in for until we at least know whether Skybolt is to exist? It does not exist now, and there is no certainty that it ever will.

A period of gestation must be allowed, and I have every reason to suppose and confidence to believe that this weapon will be effective. It embodies a very large number of proven components, and that is why we have such confidence in it.

asked the Minister of Health what response there has been to his announcement that poliomyelitis vaccine is now available to all persons between the ages of 26 and 40 years.

The answer is that 242,905 people in this category in Great Britain had applied for vaccination by 31st March, but this figure relates only to the first two months of the extended scheme. A better indication should be given in the figures for 30th June which will be available before the end of this month.

While thanking my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply, from which it would appear that a small percentage of the total is in that age group, may I ask him whether he will take the opportunity when the next figures are available to emphasise the fact that expectant mothers particularly are vulnerable to poliomyelitis and that they should take the earliest opportunity of obtaining the protection which the vaccination will afford them?

I will certainly be glad to do that. On a number of occasions we have exhorted expectant mothers to take advantage of the offer of vaccination. I will do this again in response to my hon. Friend's invitation and so reiterate it now.

In view of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's very disappointing reply, will he recall my suggestion when he made his first announcement that facilities in the clinics should be made available to workers during lunch hours. Having regard to the fact that each person wants three injections, unless these facilities are made available it is difficult for people to go to their doctors at night. Some of them are reluctant to do so for all kinds of reasons. I hope that the Minister will be more positive in his attitude towards this most important matter.

I have not lost sight of the right hon. Lady's suggestion, but it is too early to say that these figures are disappointing. These figures were only up to 31st March. Some local health authorities had not got their arrangements going by then. We shall have better figures presently, although I do not think that the right hon. Lady should expect in this age group figures of the sort which we have achieved with regard to younger people.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of young people in Wales under the age of 26 years has been vaccinated against poliomyelitis; and how many have received three injections.

At 31st March. 68·4 per cent. of those in Wales who were over six months of age and had been born in or after 1933 had been vaccinated. Of the total of 516,183 who at that date had received three injections all but a few would have been of that age group.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether my impression that there is a slowing down in this vaccination is right? Can he do something to stir up more propaganda so that immunity is complete?

There is not a slowing down except in so far as we have this fairly high percentage of people already vaccinated. In fact, the percentage for Wales is rather higher than the percentage for Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what was the rate of increase in the average salaries paid to assistants in general practice following the two interim awards to their principals;

As I explained in a Written Answer to the hon. Member on 20th June, 1960, the conditions of employment of assistants are a matter for private contract between each principal and assistant and no information is available centrally from which recent average salaries could be calculated. I understand that the representatives of the medical profession have the interests of assistants well in mind.

Is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman absolving himself from responsibility by throwing this matter back to the medical profession? Is he aware that local executive councils have an account of the net salaries paid to assistants for superannuation purposes? Cannot he keep himself informed by taking a cross-section or sample of this? Will he use the machinery at his disposal to give justice to these people in view of the fact that back-pay is given to general practitioners at the time when cheques are authorised by the local executive council?

I am prepared to look into the statistics which the executive councils have to see whether they aid us in this matter, but I ask the hon. Gentleman to bear in mind what I said on 20th June, namely, that these arrangements are the subject of private contract. Therefore, it is not for me to lay down precisely what should be done. I am pleased with the assurances given by the Chairman of the General Medical Services Committee that the doctors will do the right thing by their assistants.

I thank the Minister for promising to look into this matter. There is a private contract between the principal and assistant, but, at the same time the recommendations of the Pilkington Report, if carried out, will mean a great increase in salary for the principal during the time of the contract, Will not the Minister seek to ensure that a proportion of it is passed on to the assistant through the machinery which he has at his disposal?

The distribution will be agreed with the medical profession, and the medical profession has said that it will do the right thing by its assistants. Part of the Pilkington Committee's recommendations is that this system should continue on the basis of settlement by private agreement between the doctor and the assistant.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received the list of aids for the disabled published by the British Red Cross Society, forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Carlisle; and if he will take steps to draw the attention of general practitioners to the wide range of these aids and appliances now available for the use of disabled, invalided and elderly people in the home.

Yes, Sir, and I am glad to be able to tell my hon. Friend that a memorandum sent to general practitioners last September drew their attention to the variety of aids now available.

asked the Minister of Health what recent proposals he has received from the British Medical Association affecting the structure and administration of the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what recent representations he has had from the British Medical Association concerning the future structure of the National Health Service.

I have received no recent proposals from the Association about the structure and administration of the National Health Service, but I am aware that committees of the Association are studying this matter. I have also seen Press reports of what was said at the Association's recent Annual Meeting.

No doubt the Minister will be getting it from the British Medical Association. Meanwhile, is he aware that at the B.M.A. Annual Meeting, Sir Arthur Porritt, the President, described the National Health Service as a dismal failure and suggested that we should end the present system and set up a British medical corporation and, in particular, end Ministerial responsibility to Parliament for the day-to-day conduct of the National Health Service? Is the Minister aware that at a time when most hon. Members, on both sides, want a greater degree of Parliamentary accountability for industries and services, most hon. Members would regard that as a retrograde move? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give an assurance that the Government will not contemplate a move of any such kind?

I have not been asked to, as I said in answer to the original Question. I think I am right in saying that the presidential orations at the Annual Conference of the British Medical Association do not necessarily reflect the official policy of that Association The whole House is fully aware of tie importance of our constitutional doctrine of the control by Parliament of public money and the consequential responsibility of Ministers therefor.

asked the Minister of Health at what time on 1st January, 1960, the Chief Medical Superintendent of Broadmoor first knew that Leslie Parr had attacked Mrs. Bowditch; and at what time he so informed the Chief Constable of Berkshire.

At approximately 3.30 p.m.: he so informed the officer in charge of the police on his arrival at 4 p.m. and the Chief Constable on his arrival at 5 p.m.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend know why the general public was not informed until very late in the same evening?

My hon. Friend's Question relates specifically to the information passed to the police. I do not think that his supplementary question arises out of the Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Health what proposals have been made to him for the return of John Straffen to Broadmoor Institution.

None, Sir.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend realise with what pleasure my constituents will hear that reply? If such a proposal is made to him, will he remember that the security arrangements at Broadmoor are not such that the return of Straffen, who has already murdered one child in my constituency, will be in any way welcome?

I think that consideration of the security arrangements would be in the nature of a hypothetical assessment upon which it would not be proper for me to embark. Questions relating to Straffen's continued custody in prison are for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to improve hospital facilites in the West Midlands area, in view of the long wait necessary before patients needing treatment can be admitted.

The Birmingham Regional Hospital Board has under active consideration the waiting lists at hospitals in its regon with a view to reducing to a minmum both numbers and waiting times. Urgent cases are admitted without delay.

Is the Minister aware that the staff of the existing hospitals do a magnificent job despite poor facilities in some cases? Is the hon. Lady aware that there is concern in the area that there is discrimination in favour of fee-paying patients and that in regard to some operations there is a long delay? Can the hon. Lady say when it is proposed to build a new hospital?

First, I thank the hon. Member for his tribute to the staffs, which is well deserved. I know of no general complaint that fee-paying patients receive priority. That is an entirely different question and one which the hon. Member might like to put down. The regional board is very concerned about waiting lists in its area, as I hope my answer indicates. It is taking action and selected waiting lists are being scrutinised to assess the extent to which they are reliable for estimating the need for additional beds, operating sessions, out-patient sessions, medical staff, and so on, and variation in the provision of hospital facilities in various parts of the region.

Can the hon. Lady tell us more about these long waiting lists? This has been going on for years. Is it due to the shortage of specialists in certain fields? What are these fields? If that is so, is it proposed to increase the establishment?

I am not sure whether the right hon. Lady refers only to the Midland region, which the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) refers to as the West Midlands area. The pattern there is much the same as elsewhere throughout the country. There is a variety of reasons why we are short of beds and this, in turn, means waiting lists. Generally, however, urgent cases are dealt with.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the recommendations made to him by the British Medical Association in respect of Rampton and Moss Side Hospitals which would result in moving many of the patients elsewhere so that they could be more accessible to relatives; and what reply he has made.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the memorandum of evidence which the Association has prepared for the Working Party on the Special Hospitals. I understand that the working party recently met representatives of the Association when their views were amplified orally.

Whilst thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether action is likely to be taken? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that many men and women in Rampton live so far from their homes that they rarely receive visits from either parents or friends? Is the Minister aware that from the Bristol area, for example, a mother spends 14 hours in making the journey there and back for less than two hours with her boy? Is it not time that these mentally ill people were given an opportunity to be visited by their relatives, which is so essential to betterment?

The question of visiting and travel arrangements at Rampton is, as the hon. Member knows having regard to previous Questions he has asked, a matter in which we are doing our best. In regard to the wider issue raised by his supplementary question, I should await the report of the working party before taking action.

Will the Minister not agree that concerning at least some of these patients reasonably regular visiting by relatives is of therapeutic value? As the Minister directly in charge of these hospitals, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman ensure that something is done to improve visiting arrangements and, if possible, to transfer some of the patients to hospitals nearer their homes?

In regard to the first part of that supplementary question, we are already engaged in that, as I have told the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds). We do, of course, transfer patients from Rampton to hospitals nearer their homes whenever we can do so, but we can do this only when patients no longer need the special facilities and training which Rampton provides.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware, in reference to what he has just said, that there is delay in obtaining vacancies for people even when they are fit to leave Rampton or Moss Side? The superintendents of these hospitals find difficulty in placing then on account of the delay in obtaining vacancies. I have one such case at Moss Side at the moment.

There are, of course, cases in which we are not able to find an alternative place in a non-special hospital for a patient as soon as he or she is ready for discharge from Rampton. Those arrangements, however, are just one of the things which we hope to improve when we receive the report of the Working Party.

asked the Minister of Health how many mothers in the North Middlesex area, living in bad housing conditions, have recently been refused admission to hospital for their confinements; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that figures are not available. Steps are, however, being taken by the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to improve the quality and increase the quantity of hospital maternity accommodation available locally for this area.

Is it not important, when the Central Health Services Council Committee is asking for a drive to re-duo; the number of deaths of very small babies, that bad housing conditions should be regarded as qualifying for hospital confinement? Is it not disgraceful, whatever the reasons, that mothers living with their husbands and one or more children in one room, as they are doing in Tottenham and adjoining boroughs, are refused admission to hospital for their confinements?

Mothers in the area in question could have had their babies in hospital had they been prepared to go a little further afield. The accommodation was available. I agree, however, that it needs improvement. It is hoped both to do that and to extend the number of beds.

I have never asked the Minister or his Parliamentary Secretary to visit an institution before, but I ask one of them to visit the maternity department of the North Middlesex Hospital, which consists of two prefabricated huts that were placed there during the First World War. I ask the Minister to go there. Despite the fact that there is a lavish out-patient department, which was opened by Princess Margaret a few weeks ago, the maternity accommodation, which is quite inadequate, is an absolute disgrace to the National Health Service.

My right hon. and learned Friend has, in fact, visited the hospital and laid the foundation stone of the accommodation to which the right hon. Lady has referred. To take the place of the maternity unit, my right hon. and learned Friend has authorised the board to proceed with the planning of a new hospital maternity unit of 142 beds at an estimated cost of £540,000. This is included in the Government's programme of major projects and will provide for an overall addition of 19 beds.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is being made to accommodate the patients who would normally go to the Penventon Maternity Unit, Redruth, when that building must be vacated on 31st December, 1960.

I understand that as a short-term measure, the regional hospital board proposes to provide additional beds by adapting accommodation at Barncoose Hospital.

Can the hon. Lady say when the building alterations at Barcoose Hospital will begin? There is less than six months now before the hospital management committee or regional board must give up the existing prefabricated unit which is requisitioned. Will the hon. Lady try to stimulate those responsible for getting on with the work at Barncoose so that the accommodation there is available on 31st December?

I understand the position. It is because the requisitioning order ends that the alternative accommodation is needed. I am advised that work is expected to begin soon and that it is hoped to complete this temporary accommodation by the end of the year.