asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the subjects discussed, and conclusions reached, during his talks on and about 15th June, and following days, with representatives of the Governments of Egypt who have come to Great Britain for trade talks with his Department; and if he will inform the representatives of the facilities for export to Egypt available in Aberdeen.

The hon. and learned Member doubtless refers to a party of United Arab Republic businessmen who visited this country recently at the invitation of the Board of Trade. The main purpose of the visit was to renew contacts with our businessmen and to explore with them ways of increasing trade between the two countries. I understand that there was general agreement that the foundations were laid for what we hope will be a substantial increase in trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Jenkins Committee will have completed their inquiries into company law.

The Committee has a heavy task before it and it will clearly be a considerable time before we can expect its report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the date of the next census of production and distribution.

It is intended to take a census of distribution in Great Britain in respect of the year 1961. A census of production is taken every year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the export and import trade returns for June, 1960.

No. I should prefer to wait until the detailed figures are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Public Works Loan Board rate of interest for Scottish local authority borrowing will be raised arising from the increase in the Bank Rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to raise interest rates paid by the Public Works Loan Board, following the recent rise in Bank Rate to 6 per cent.

Public Works Loan Board rates reflect the cost of local authority borrowing in the market and changes are made whenever alterations in the market rate justify this. As stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Mathew) on 15th July, the lending rates of the P.W.L.B. were increased as from 16th July, 1960.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive Part 2 of the Arts Council's report on Housing the Arts, dealing with the provinces.

I understand from the Arts Council that this may be expected by the late autumn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that goods made abroad under the auspices of the Lutheran World Service and imported into this country by the Famine Relief Committee are being subjected to Customs delays at the ports; and whether he will instruct Customs officials to clear these goods with the maximum of dispatch.

I have no reason to think that these importations are being delayed by the Customs, but if the hon. Member will let me have full particulars of any specific instances of delay I will gladly look into them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the staff of the Inland Revenue Department has increased in each of the last three years.

The principal reason has been the increasing work in local offices of H.M. Inspectors of Taxes, due mainly to an increase in the number of taxpayers. An additional cause in the last year has been the beginning of preparatory work in local Valuation Offices for the rating revaluation which is to take effect in 1963.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will impose a capital gains tax on transactions in land.

It would be difficult to justify singling out one type of property for such treatment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Plowden Committee is inquiring into the organisation of the Treasury and budgeting methods.

So far as the hon. Gentleman refers by the words "budgeting methods" to the control of Government expenditure, this is under inquiry by Lord Plowden's Committee. The recommendations of that Committee may well have a bearing on the organisation of the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be able to announce improved Treasury supervision over administrative expenditure.

If the hon. Member's Question relates to the review of the methods of control of public expenditure at present being undertaken it is too soon to say when the Government will be able to report to the House.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what publicity his Department is giving to the facilities offered by the Development Fund towards grants to enable industrialists to bring industries into rural areas not covered by the Local Employment Act.

Advances from the Development Fund are made to a large number of organisations and for many varied purposes. It would not be desirable to single out one of these purposes for special publicity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet reached conclusions on the recommendations of the University Grants Committee for improving the salaries of clinical teachers in universities.

My right hon. Friend is not yet able to announce a decision on these recommendations, which are still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer from what sources the information was obtained on which were based the inquiries by his Department into the transfer of savings from Co-operative societies by members to the Post Office Savings Bank and Trustee Savings Banks following the decision in 1956 to exempt from Income Tax the first £15 of interest in respect of the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks.

No specific inquiries on this point have been made by the Treasury. As my hon. Friend explained in the debate on 22nd June, we have received no evidence that savings have been switched from Co-operative societies into the Post Office or Trustee Savings Banks on a large scale.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government proposes, in view of the fact that Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, to declare Tuesday, 27th December, 1960, a public holiday.

Her Majesty's Government have decided to request Her Majesty The Queen to declare by Royal Proclamation under the Bank Holidays Act, 1871, and other Acts, that Tuesday, 27th December, 1960, shall be a bank and public holiday in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he now expects to introduce legislation to amend the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.

I cannot say when it will be possible to find Parliamentary time for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the amount of public expenditure on National Parks for each of the 10 years since the coming into operation of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.

I do not know what local authorities have spent under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949. Government expenditure chargeable to the Vote of my right hon. Friend's Department, has been as follows:

—			Cost of the National Parks Commission	Grants to Local authorities
			£	£
1950–51	…	…	17,244	—
1951–52	…	…	22,285	—
1952–53	…	…	21,358	—
1953–54	…	…	21,114	—
1954–55	…	…	23,629	3,572
1955–56	…	…	27,846	7,874
1956–57	…	…	31,661	4,331
1957–58	…	…	33,314	6,355
1958–59	…	…	34,955	6,529
1959–60	…	…	37,182	8,680
			£270,588	£37,341

These figures include small amounts for long distance footpaths outside National Parks, and for areas of outstanding natural beauty. In addition, some expenditure in respect of National Parks is incurred by Departments responsible for common services—the Ministry of Works, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, the Ordnance Survey and the Central Office of Information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what effect the increasing cost of land has had on housing by local authorities, housing associations and those built for owner occupiers; and whether he will introduce legislation to curb the actions of land speculators.

As regards the first part of the Question, there is nothing I can add to the statements made by the Government spokesmen in yesterday's debate. As regards the last part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 5th July to Questions by the hon. Members for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Skeffington) and Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has approved the provision of piped water for the village of Welborne, Norfolk; and on what date he gave his approval.

On 4th December, 1959, my right hon. Friend approved the scheme prepared by the Forehoe and Henstead Rural District Council to provide piped water supplies for Welborne.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now announce the decisions arising from an inquiry held on the 10th June, 1959, into appeals by Mr. E. Mussellwhite and others in connection with the Norfolk County Council's plans for the districts round Norwich.

My right hon. Friend has asked the County Council for certain information. When he receives it, he will then be asking the Council to publish the modifications which he proposes to make to the amendments to the County Development Plan which it submitted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the differing expert medical opinion regarding the best methods for the disposal of sewage, and its effects upon the general health of the people; and if he will have an inquiry made with a view to ascertaining the best method for scientifically treating sewage before disposing of it into the sea.

My right hon. Friend does not think that expert medical opinion is divided on the best methods of sewage disposal whether to the sea or otherwise. He therefore sees no need of an inquiry. It is up to the local authorities to make use of proved methods to remedy any defects in their existing systems.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that under compulsory purchase orders the compensation for the loss of trade to small traders is based on the turnover in the shop on the day that the order is confirmed and not on the day it is approved, and that between these two dates a considerable number of removals take place from the area, so reducing the amount of trade; and if he will take steps to base the compensation on the date of approval and not on the day of confirmation.

Many factors enter into the assessment of compensation for disturbance paid to the occupiers of small businesses. The statutory intention is that the compensation paid shall reflect the real loss sustained, and I understand that every effort is made in the process of assessment to ensure that all relevant considerations are taken into account. If a trader is not satisfied with the amount of compensation offered, he may appeal to the Lands Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to the 96th Annual Report on Alkali, &c., Works for 1959; and what action is being taken with special reference to Trafford Park, small works sited close to houses, Petrochemicals Limited, problems connected with calcining and sintering of iron ores, the emission from hot-blast cupolas, and the serious air pollution in the Greater Salford area.

My right hon. Friend has studied carefully this valuable Report. At Trafford Park emissions from processes registered under the Alkali Act have been substantially reduced in recent years, and the objective remains to reduce them still more. Special attention is always paid to emissions from registered processes close to houses. Action on the other registered processes mentioned will follow the lines indicated in the report. Measures are being taken by the Alkali Inspectorate and by the local authorities in and around Salford which should result in progressive reduction in air pollution.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to the 96th Annual Report on Alkali, &c., Works with special reference to those parts which deal with North Staffordshire, the fifty-two bottle ovens the owners of which have no plans for conversion to smokeless methods, the problems of fluorine emission, and the heavy smoke emission which continues in parts of the City of Stoke-on-Trent; what action he proposes to take in the matter; and if he will give special attention to the tileries and the Chatterley Iron Process Plant.

My right hon. Friend approves the proposals for action and further investigation indicated in this Report in respect of works in North Staffordshire, including the bottle ovens, and in respect of fluorine emissions. The Stoke-on-Trent City Council's programme for creating smoke control areas envisages the complete elimination of domestic smoke by 1980. The Alkali Inspectorate is giving particular attention to troublesome emissions from certain tileries and from those processes at the ironworks which are under their control.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the North Devon Water Board and North Cornwall Water Board have sufficient capital in order that they may fulfil the task of bringing mains supplies to all outlying districts in the near future.

I can assure my hon. Friend that no special steps are required. Subject to my sanction to borrow, the Boards may raise loans, if necessary from the Public Works Loan Board for expenditure on schemes to extend mains water supplies within their areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what new arrangements he now proposes in order to aid county councils in rural districts in taking over and maintaining unadopted roads, in view of the present unsatisfactory position.

None. Under the arrangements for the adoption of private streets, the cost of the work necessary to bring the street to a standard suitable for taking over by the highway authority falls on the owners of properties served by the street, although the highway authority has power to contribute the whole or part of the cost. After adoption, the responsibility for maintenance rests on the highway authority. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that these arrangements are unsatisfactory.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities have deferred or abandoned schemes of re-development of worn-out central areas due to the high cost of urban land; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not aware that local authorities have deferred or abandoned schemes for re-development of central areas for this reason. Of course the cost of land must be a factor in their consideration, but at the same time rising values are a better augury for re-development than falling values.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered the letter of 6th July to his Department from the Staffordshire Potteries Water Board about the need for safety measures to protect boreholes near to the line of the Birmingham—Preston Motorway; and what action he will take.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is not at present convinced of the need for special measures and he has invited the Board to supply further information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent it is his policy that slaughterhouses should be sited in residential areas.

My right hon. Friend has no such policy. If a planning application for a slaughterhouse comes to him on appeal, he considers it on its merits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered the resolution recently passed by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and sent to him by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme, in favour of legislation to make it compulsory to fill in marl holes after the extraction of the marl so as to prevent accidents; and what action he will take.

My right hon. Friend has considered this resolution. Local authorities have powers under Section 151 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, to require the fencing of disused workings of this kind which are in places accessible to the public; and also have powers under Section 144 of the Highways Act, 1959, to deal with sources of danger adjoining a street. My right hon. Friend does not think any further general legislation is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the substantial increase in the amount of advertising displayed on shop premises, whether he is satisfied that the terms of the Code of Standards for Advertising on Business Premises, to which he contributed the foreword, are being observed.

It is bound to take some time before it is possible to judge the effect of the Code. It is not my right hon. Friend's responsibility to secure that it is observed; but he certainly deplores action which is inconsistent with it and with the efforts which are being made by responsible trade organisations to deal with clutter on business premises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of his responsibilities for planning, if he will consult with the British Transport Commission to ensure that the St. Marylebone Borough Council and the London County Council are kept informed, during the early stages of the preparation of plans for the re-development by the British Transport Commission of the St. Marylebone station and goods yards covering an area of 44 acres, in view of the need for the re-development of this important area of Central London to be carried out to meet the public interest needs of Central London in the best possible way.

I understand that an outline application for permission to develop this site was made to the London County Council on 12th July. No doubt the County Council will now undertake the necessary consultations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to improve the conditions of service of clerks of rent tribunals.

The clerks have recently received a salary increase backdated to 1st October, 1958. Their conditions of service now conform broadly with those of temporary civil servants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the latest estimate he can give of the houses needed by local authorities to deal with slum clearance and general needs; and what effect the operation of the 1957 Rent Act has had upon easing the housing situation of local authorities.

About 650,000 houses remain to be cleared under the present slum clearance programmes of local authorities. The number of dwellings required to rehouse the occupants will probably be rather larger. I can make no estimate of the number of houses which local authorities may find it necessary to provide for general needs. But a substantial part of those needs can be met progressively from vacancies arising among the 3¼ million houses which local authorities already own.I cannot measure statistically the effect of the Rent Act but it has helped to keep houses available for letting and has discouraged under-occupation. Both these gains must in the long run help to ease the housing problems of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that the rate of house building in Crawley has fallen behind the requirements of industry in that town; what steps are being taken to remedy this; and whether he will make a statement.

In Crawley, as in some other places, demands for labour have been heavy recently. At the same time, since the town is nearing completion, the rate of house building there must slow down. The number of school leavers is, however, increasing every year, and it is most important that employers should make full use of their services.I am about to authorise the Development Corporation to build another 270 houses, in addition to the 400 already being built. The urban district council will also be building about 100 houses next year, and the Corporation will shortly be discussing its further programme with the council. Private enterprise builders have land sufficient for about 400 houses. I believe that all reasonable requirements over the next three years will thus be met, but the programme will be kept under close review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many people from Middlesex have been given accommodation in the new town of Bracknell, at the latest convenient date, by the Bracknell Development Corporation.

By 30th June last, 1,503 families from Middlesex had been housed by the Bracknell Development Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of European pensionable officers in the Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika Civil Service, respectively, who have resigned before reaching the age of normal retirement within the last 12 months.

The figure in each case for Kenya and Tanganyika is 76. No separate figures for the last 12 months are available for Uganda, but the number since the 1st July, 1958, is 90.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of contract officers in the Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika Civil Service, respectively, who have been offered renewal of their contracts in the last 12 months but who have declined on the grounds of terms and conditions of service.

Reasons for declining to renew contracts are not always given and it is not possible to give exact figures. The number in Tanganyika is thought to be about 50 and in Kenya at least 30. No separate figures for the last twelve months are available in respect of Uganda, but for the period since 1st July, 1958, the figure is 75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the £6 million loan to be made to Messrs. Bailey, in Malta, has so far been advanced; and if he will give an assurance that the whole of the sum so far advanced has been spent on improving and developing the dockyard in Malta, or on making the necessary plans for this.

A sum of £1,835,574 has been advanced to Bailey (Malta) Ltd. under the Loans Agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the company, for working capital, the acquisition of plant and machinery and development of the dockyard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the arbitration award given recently to the employees of the Malta Government and the three Services; and if it is to apply also to the other workers in the dockyard who have hitherto participated in such awards as Admiralty employees.

The Arbitration Tribunal awarded an increase of 15 per cent. on the basic minimum wage of the industrial employees of the Government and Service Departments in Malta.As regards the second part of the Question, workers directly employed by Messrs. Bailey (Malta) Ltd. are not covered by the award.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the original estimate of the war damage in Malta given by the assessor who went there in order to ascertain the amount; what was the actual amount granted by the United Kingdom Government; what proportion of this has been spent; and if all the buildings have now been restored.

The answer to the first part of the Question is about £28,800,000; to the second and third parts, nearly £32 million has been made available. including interest on investments and profits on realisation of securities, of which nearly £30,800,000 was spent by the 31st March, 1960. A number of war-damaged Government buildings have not yet been restored.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the extent of the control exercised by the Government of Fiji over the commercial activities of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company; and to what extent it is proposed to increase control of this industry, in view of its monopolistic character and its importance to the economy of the country.

The Government of Fiji exercises no control over the commercial activities of the Company, and has no plans to do so.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an assurance that the announcement of a cut in the capital expenditure of the Government will in no way delay or diminish the projected work on the South Bank to rehouse the Patent Office and also the National Scientific Library.

The earliest date by which a building contract for this scheme could be let is 1963 so it is not affected by the recent announcement regarding the next financial year. The planning and design of the building are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Works whether there has been any application to the Historic Buildings Council for a grant in connection with the proposal to dismantle and re-erect the Doric Arch at Euston Station; and with what result.

No. On 1st July, the London County Council asked whether my Ministry had any powers to make a grant towards the cost of dismantling and re-erecting the Doric Arch at Euston. After taking legal advice, my Department informed the London County Council that neither Section 4 (1) of the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act, 1953, nor Section 3 (3) of the Ancient Monuments Act, 1931, empowered me to make a grant towards the cost of dismantling and re-erecting the Arch.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make known the details of his proposals for the use of the open site in Abingdon Street.

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Sir H. Kerr) on 26th April, I propose to preserve this site as an open space. I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, the possibility of providing an underground garage below the site. I will make details of my proposals known as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Works in how many cases, since the passing of the Historic Buildings Act, 1953, grants have been paid to owners of historic houses where subsequently the building has ceased to be tenanted.

I know of no such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the extent of the devastation and loss caused by the forest fire in the North of Scotland this month as compared with other similar forest fires in the North of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The fire at Glenmore, Inverness, on 3rd June burnt about 300 acres of Forestry Commission plantations and a further 700 acres of privately-owned woodland and moorland. The cost of replacing the Commission plantations will be about £40,000. This was the most serious forest fire in the North of Scotland since 1956, when 740 acres of Commission woodland was destroyed. The Glenmore fire started beside a public road and I hope the extent of the loss will once more act as a reminder of the evident need for every care to be taken to prevent similar disasters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that two Aberdeen trawlers "Balnagask" and "Summerlee", were recently arrested by the Danish frigate "Bellona" in the North Sea; and what action he is taking to protect Scottish trawlers fishing in these waters.

I presume the hon. and learned Member is referring to the arrest of the two trawlers concerned at Faroe on a charge of illegal fishing. I would refer him to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Hoy) on Tuesday, 12th July.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now in a position to make a statement on the findings of the Chandos Committee Report on the construction of a 75,000 ton liner to replace the R.M.S. "Queen Mary".

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Short) on 13th July.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, what figures are available to show the density or volume of traffic using the A.5 between Stony Stratford and Little Brickhill now as compared with periods immediately before the opening of the M.1.

The Road Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has used, for the past year, an automatic traffic counter to measure the traffic flow on the A.5 at a point one mile south of Stony Stratford. The average daily flow over this counter during a week in June, 1959, was 12,200 vehicles and in October of that year was 13,000. It is estimated that the flow in June, 1960, would have been 13,200 but for the opening of the M.1 in November. It was in fact 5,500, an estimated reduction of about 58 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now give the names of the other members of the Committee which he and the Secretary for Scotland have decided to appoint to inquire into the present policy for dealing with fowl pest.

Yes. I am pleased to be able to say that in addition to Professor Sir Arnold Plant, who will be Chairman, the following have agreed to serve on the Committee:S. R. Allsopp, Esq., C.B.E., D.L., Director and Secretary, Arbuthnot Latham & Co., Ltd.; Chairman. Hops Marketing Board.T. A. E. Layborn, Esq., C.B.E., F.C.I.B., F.I.G.M., Deputy Chairman, C. T. Bowring and Layborn, Ltd.; Member, Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.John Mackie, Esq., M.P.Professor K. Mather, C.B.E., D.Sc., F.A.S., Professor of Genetics, University of Birmingham.Sir Richard Nugent, Bt., M.P.Professor A. Robertson, M.A., B.Sc., Ph.D., M.R.C.V.S., F.R.I.C., F.R.S.E., Professor of Veterinary Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Edinburgh.Professor C. Tyler, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.I.C., Professor of Physiological Chemistry, University of Reading.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is now able to make a statement with regard to the future of the Spadeadam rocket motor-testing site.

No. The future of Spadeadam is linked to the future of Blue Streak, which, as my hon. Friend knows, is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what departments will be accommodated in each building phase of the proposed new area hospital for West Cornwall; and how many beds will be provided in each department;(2) whether work has yet commenced on the detailed working plans of the proposed new area hospital for West Cornwall;(3) in how many phases the proposed new area hospital for West Cornwall is to be built; and whether each subsequent phase will follow immediately on its predecessor.

The following departments, namely general surgery, general medicine and gynaecology, with the necessary diagnostic and treatment services, are planned for the first phase on which the preparation of working drawings is proceeding. These will provide 90, 60 and 30 beds, respectively. A maternity department of 80 beds is proposed for the second phase, and provision will ultimately be made for ear, nose and throat, paediatric and psychiatric departments. These will provide 24, 24 and 40 beds respectively. A further 20 beds will be added for private and amenity beds and for sick nurses.It is not yet decided whether building will be completed in two or three phases but it is hoped that these will be consecutive.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what acreage of land has been bought for the proposed new area hospital for West Cornwall; and whether it will be adequate for all phases of the building programme;(2) whether land has yet been bought for the car park of the proposed new area hospital for West Cornwall; what acreage is needed; and how many cars will be accommodated.

12·79 acres of land have been acquired. The South Western Regional Hospital Board considers that this will be adequate for the buildings, but is negotiating for the purchase of a further 1·39 acres, to provide a park for 175 cars.

asked the Minister of Health whether the starting date for building the proposed new area hospital for West Cornwall will be retarded by the Government's announcement of a limitation on capital expenditure in 1961–62 by Government Departments.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply on 11th July to the hon. Members for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) and Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd).

asked the Postmaster-General how the price of £6, which his Department pays for a new telephone instrument, compares with the price for comparable equipment available to him from overseas.

Telephone instruments used in different countries have widely differing performances. Prices of telephones available from overseas are not therefore directly comparable.