asked the Minister of Health to what extent disparity exists in the availability of dentists in different areas of England and Wales; in particular, what is the shortage of dentists in the Borough of Leyton and in the County of Essex; and what are the prospects for the next five years of a substantial increase in the training of dentists.

The number of persons per dentist in the general dental service varies from 3,100 in London and the South East to 5,900 in the Midlands and North Midlands. The figures for the County of Essex and the Borough of Leyton, 4,750 and about 4,300 respectively, are rather higher than the average for England and Wales, which is 4,200. I regret that no estimate of shortages in particular areas is available.Plans for the expansion of dental training facilities are well under way.

asked the Minister of Health what reports he has received of the deleterious effect on the public health of imported foodstuffs, fruit and vegetables previously treated with insecticides or other sprays in the countries of their origin.

None, in recent years, so far as we have been able to trace.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the British delegate voted in the Security Council of the United Nations on the request of the Government of Cuba for consideration of the situation in that country.

The Security Council has not yet met to consider the Cuban request.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what Her Majesty's Government's present proposals are for a permanent United Nations Force; when they were last put to the United Nations; and what current action is being taken on them within the organisation.

In my speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations on 17th September I put forward certain proposals towards this objective. That speech is set out verbatim in Command Paper 992 of April, 1960. In the United Nations the Secretary-General has been receiving replies to inquiries he made of some twenty Governments as to their attitude to his memorandum recommending a United Nations standby force.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the unemployment rate in Thorne is 4·4 per cent.; and what steps he proposes to reduce this.

Yes. My local officers will continue to do all they can by submitting unemployed workers for suitable vacancies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the Horticultural Marketing Council has used its powers under the Horticulture Act, 1960, to control the price of potatoes and other vegetables.

The Horticultural Marketing Council has no power to control prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to implement the recommendations of the Food Standards Committee, with regard to fruit juices, published 18 months ago.

I am still considering the comments I received on the Food Standards Committee's Report on Soft Drinks. I will announce my decision on the recommendations as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which police forces have applied to open quarantine kennels for imported dogs during the last two years; in what manner such kennels will be subject to the existing quarantine regulations; and who will ensure that these regulations are enforced.

Applications have been received during the past two years from the Metropolitan Police, the Durham County Constabulary and the Lancashire County Constabulary. The Metropolitan Police kennels have been approved and in the other two cases approval awaits the completion of the kennels.My Ministry's requirements for the construction and conduct of police quarantine kennels are the same as for other quarantine kennels, and the fulfilment of these requirements is ensured by the police themselves and by my officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future policy of the Government regarding the provision of schools broadcasting discs for under-developed territories.

Schools broadcasts on discs, which have been produced by the B.B.C. Colonial Schools Transcription Unit during the past eight years and on which permanent rights have been secured, are and will continue to be available free of charge to all Colonial Territories.The transcription service of the British Broadcasting Corporation includes broadcasting discs for schools overseas. The net cost of the service, met from public funds, was about £296,000 in 1959–60 and will be substantially the same in 1960–61.The British Council has available for loan overseas recordings of the B.B.C.'s "English by Radio" series and other verse and prose recordings. Schools make some modest use of this service.It has to be borne in mind that the educational pattern and circumstances of different territories are so diverse that it is only in very special circumstances that material prepared in some one centre, remote from the place of use, can easily be made a part of the local educational system.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will discontinue family allowance payments to children between the ages of 15 and 17 years as soon as they have left full-time day schooling; and whether he will discontinue family allowance payments to children who are eligible, by reason of apprenticeship, unless they are attending day and evening part-time schooling.

The answer to both parts of my hon. Friend's Question is "No." I am sure it is right to treat apprentices and school children on the same basis for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether the average National Assistance of 12s. 11d. per week paid to the 164,000 owner-occupiers for the year 1959 covered both the rates and the interest charges in total, that is, the interest on loan and repayment of capital in respect of the loans for the house.

The figure of 12s. 11d. a week shown in the Report of the National Assistance Board for 1959 as the average amount of the outgoings on owner-occupied houses belonging to recipients of assistance, includes, as explained in the footnote on page 16, rates and an allowance for repairs and for any mortgage interest.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number of persons receiving National Insurance benefits in December, 1959, who also received National Assistance at the same time; and to what extent this figure is greater than any comparable figures during the 12-year period of National Assistance with the exception of the year 1959.

I would refer the hon. Member to Appendix II of the Report of the National Assistance Board for 1959 which I presented to Parliament on 5th July. This gives figures for July, 1948, and each December thereafter.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the South-West Electricity Board has sufficient capital in order that it may fulfil its present target of 80 per cent. rural electrification by 1965 at the latest;(2) if he will give an assurance that there will be no cut back in the capital sums at present allocated to the Electricity Council and the Central Electricity Generating Board.

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to ensure that the South Western Electricity Board has sufficient capital available in order that it may fulfil its present target of 80 per cent. rural electrification in Cornwall.

The capital investment programme of the electricity supply industry is at present being reviewed, in common with other programmes in the public sector. I cannot yet say what the outcome of the review will be.

asked the Minister of Power if he will refer to the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council the numerous complaints by consumers and merchants in Cardiff about the failure to secure adequate supplies of coal during the winter of 1959, and the need to ensure that the same position does not recur in the winter of 1960.

No. In co-operation with the distributive trade the Board is already taking steps to prevent last winter's difficulties being repeated.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to develop a scheme with a view to stimulating the recruitment of labour into the mines.

No. The Board is already taking steps to improve recruitment where required.

asked the Minister of Power if he will appoint two deputy chairmen to assist the chairman of the National Coal Board, one to be responsible for the commercial side of the coal industry and the other for the production side of the coal industry.

There will be two Deputy Chairmen from 1st October, 1960. It will be for the Chairman to settle their respective duties.

asked the Minister of Power if he has yet received the Report of the Wilson Committee about research and development on processes for producing chemicals, gas and oil from coal; and when it will be published.

I have received this Report, which is now being printed. I hope to be able to publish it early in August. I should like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Wilson and the other members of the Committee for all the work that has gone into its preparation. I will make a further statement when I have studied it and received the views of interested parties.

asked the Minister of Power what proportion of the oil supplies imported into the United Kingdom during each of the last three calendar years was paid for in dollars.

The proportion of oil imported into the United Kingdom in the three years 1957, 1958 and 1959 which was purchased for dollars was 25 per cent., 11 per cent., and 13 per cent. by value respectively.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) how soon he expects silencers or suppressors to be fitted to the majority of petrol-engined aircraft operating from London Airport;(2) in view of the reduction in the noise of jet engines achieved by the fitting of suppressors to the Comet 4 and the Boeing 707, whether he will require all jet aircraft operating from London Airport to fit such suppressors.

Most of the noise of large piston-engined aircraft is made by the propellers and could not be materially reduced by the fitting of suppressors. Suppressors can significantly reduce the noise of jet engines and most jet aircraft are already fitted with them, or will soon be fitted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the serious air pollution resulting from the operation of the ironworks of Bradley and Foster; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this pollution on the health of residents of Darlaston.

I understand that complaint has been made of air pollution from the operation of cold blast cupolas at these works. Control of emission from these processes and consideration of their possible effect on public health are matters for the local authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what investigations have been made by his Department into the air pollution caused by the works of Messrs. Bradley and Foster in Darlaston; and with what result.

Two furnaces at these works are registered under the Alkali &c. Works Regulation Act, 1906, and are regularly visited by the Alkali Inspector. They cause no appreciable air pollution. The remaining processes are under the control of the local authority. The local authority have not asked for my right hon. Friend's assistance and therefore no investigation of these processes has been made by the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the total of all waiting lists for houses or flats in England and Wales at the last convenient date available.

I do not have this information, nor do I think it would be of any value if it were collected, for the reason that there is no uniform test for admission to the waiting lists of different local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the estimated annual rate of obsolescence of houses in England and Wales.

I can make no reliable estimate, because the rate at which houses become obsolete depends less on their age than on their structural condition and on the extent to which they meet the requirements of modern living. I have no nation-wide information on these points, except in the case of unfit houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the estimated number of houses with a life of 20 years or less in England and Wales.

The only figures available relate to unfit houses. In 1955 these were estimated to number about 870,000 in England and Wales, and of these approximately 220,000 have already been dealt with, leaving a balance of about 650,000 remaining.

asked the Minister of Defence how many officials of the public relations section of his Department were on duty on the morning of 12th July; what was the seniority of the officer who made the statement to the Exchange Telegraph Company on the flight of the United States RB-47, shot down by the Russians, which was later denied; who was consulted before the denial was issued; and whether he will give an assurance that no disciplinary action will be taken against the officer who made the first statement to the Exchange Telegraph Company.

Five officials were on duty in the Public Relations section. The officer who was in communication with the Exchange Telegraph Company was the Deputy Director. No higher authority was consulted about cancelling the report, because the Company itself cancelled the report as soon as the official had pointed out to the Company that due to a misunderstanding the report gave an incorrect impression. No disciplinary action is being taken.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty which aircraft carriers are currently for sale; what price is being asked for them; and whether the price asked for is based on gross or net tonnage.

Details of ships for which we would consider offers and of negotiations for the sale of ships are necessarily confidential between the Admiralty and potential purchasers.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is still the practice that all United States Service aircraft, entering or leaving the United Kingdom, file a flight plan in advance; and in what Departments of Her Majesty's Government such flight plans are filed.

Yes. The purpose of this procedure is to satisfy requirements of safety and identification. The distribution of the information to the authorities concerned with these matters varies with the circumstances of the flight.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what authority he provides a picket for the Bank of England.

By authority of my appointment as Secretary of State for War.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average length of service of an armoured car regiment with Middle East Land Forces; and what, during the last 10 years, have been the longest and shortest terms of service, respectively, of such a regiment with Middle East Land Forces.

Apart from regiments still serving there, four armoured car regiments have completed tours of service in the Middle East since 1950. The longest stay was 40 months, the average 29 and the shortest 14. A normal tour is three years, but the short stay mentioned was due to an amalgamation of regiments. The Royal Horse Guards, who went to Cyprus in June, are expected to return in August when the island becomes independent.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the cost of equipping and transporting an armoured car regiment, serving in the United Kingdom, for service with Middle East Land Forces.

The cost would depend on the circumstances of the move and the destination in the Middle East; but assuming a routine relief of an armoured car regiment in Cyprus, it would be of the order of £30,000. If, exceptionally, equipment had to be sent from the United Kingdom the total bill would be some £50,000.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements are being made about future constitutional talks with the South Rhodesian Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 14th July.

asked the Minister of Education if he will invite the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to make inquiries into temperature humidity and glare conditions in classrooms where the southern walls are totally or almost totally glazed.

Existing knowledge, founded on research and experience, provides an adequate basis for the design of classrooms in these respects. The Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has given much valuable help on these and other aspects of school building since the war, and my officers keep in close touch with the Station.

asked the Minister of Education if he will invite the Royal Fine Art Commission to visit and report upon schools built since 1957, with particular reference to their architectural style and aesthetic value.

It is always open to local education authorities and school governors to consult the Royal Fine Art Commission and the Commission can ask to be consulted if it considers it desirable. I see no need, however, for an inquiry of the kind suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. His views about the architectural style and aesthetic value of new schools are not shared by most good judges.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum area allowed for police officers' houses without a study.

The maximum floor areas normally allowed in police houses are. for constables and sergeants, 1,000 square feet; for inspectors and super- intendents, 1,300 square feet; and for assistant chief constables and chief constables, 1,500 square feet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ceiling price agreed to for police officers' houses; and to what extent his Department fixes an economic rent.

The cost of providing police houses depends on many variable factors and no maximum prices are fixed. Under Regulation 28 of the Police Regulations, 1952, a police authority is required to provide each member of a police force with a house or quarters free of rent and rates or to pay him a rent allowance; the question of fixing economic rents for police houses does not therefore arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider making the new telephone manufacturing designs, developed by his Department at Dollis Hill, open to British companies which have no restrictive arrangements in the export market, in order that the export of telephone equipment may be increased.

Some new designs are developed by the Post Office, but most are developed jointly with the firms from which the bulk of Post Office equipment needs are met. There is close technical collaboration throughout and patents are shared amongst the participants. Approval of designs by my Department is a valuable aid to the industries export drive.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date the stocks of the detailed Trade Marks List of Goods according to Schedule IV of the Trade Marks Rules, 1938, held by the sales branch of the Patent Office were exhausted; on what date a fresh printing of that publication was put in hand; and by what date copies of that publication can again be expected to be available for purchase by the public.

The stock of the detailed Trade Marks List of Goods according to Schedule IV of the Trade Marks Rules, 1938, held by the sales branch of the Patent Office ran out in the first half of January last. A reprint was ordered on the 19th January and became available in the sales branch of the Patent Office for purchase by the public today, Monday, 18th July.I regret that owing to pressure of urgent work with the printer and a mishap during production the reprint of this publication was not available earlier.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give, in respect of each of the last five years, the percentage of oil supplies imported into the United Kingdom which was shipped in tankers flying the British flag.

It is estimated that in the years 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959 40 per cent., 38 per cent., 36 per cent., 35 per cent. and 37 per cent. respectively of the oil imported into this country was carried in ships flying the British flag.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the total gross registered tonnage of shipping flying the British flag in each of the last 10 years, expressed also in each case as the percentage of world gross registered tonnage.

The gross tonnage, and proportion of world tonnage, of vessels registered in the United Kingdom and Colonies in the years 1951–1960 were as follows:

—			Thousand gross tons	Percentage of World
1951	…	…	17,581	22
1952	…	…	17,510	21
1953	…	…	17,763	20
1954	…	…	18,257	20
1955	…	…	18,613	20
1956	…	…	19,017	19
1957	…	…	19,418	19
1958	…	…	19,701	18
1959	…	…	20,463	17
1960	…	…	20,927	17

NOTES:(1) The above tonnages relate to trading vessels of 500 gross tons and over. They exclude vessels registered in other Commonwealth countries.(2) The percentages are based on the world total including vessels of the United States Reserve Fleet.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the overseas earnings of the British shipping industry during each of the past five years.

It is estimated that the net overseas earnings of the British dry cargo shipping industry were:

			£ million
1955	…	…	200
1956	…	…	220
1957	…	…	230
1958	…	…	180
1959 (provisional)	…	…	190

The figures exclude earnings from the carriage of imports. The estimates for the earlier years have been revised in the light of the Chamber of Shipping inquiry of 1958.