asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the shortage of secondary school teachers in Blackburn, particularly for science subjects; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

I understand that the authority has vacancies for five teachers of mathematics and one teacher of science for next September, but that it expects to fill at least some of these before then. As part of the campaign to attract more teachers, special attention will be paid to the shortage of teachers of mathematics and science.

asked the Minister of Education, what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage of teachers in Cornwall.

The shortage of teachers is a national problem. In common with other local authorities, I expect Cornwall to benefit from the measures now being taken to increase recruitment.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that there is growing alarm at the continuing inadequacy of the dental services provided for children in schools; and what steps he is taking to improve the situation in this respect.

Yes; and my right hon. Friend shares the hon. Member's concern at the shortage of school dentists. He is at present considering whether there are any further steps he can take to improve the dental services for school children.

asked the Minister of Education what is now the number of school dentists, or their equivalent, for Gloucestershire's 73,000 school children; and what is the number in the establishment.

On 31st December last there were the equivalent of 13·6 full-time school dentists in Gloucestershire; the local authority's establishment is 26.

asked the Minister of Education what is now the average number of school children for each school dental officer in the country as a whole.

In January of this year there were just under 7,000 children for each school dental officer in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Education on how many occasions in the last five years headmasters and headmistresses of schools for which his Department is responsible have been asked, for security reasons, about the political opinions of pupils in their schools.

asked the Minister of Education, how many headmasters or headmistresses in north Staffordshire grammar and other schools have been asked to give particulars, for security purposes, of the political leanings of any of their students.

I assume the Questions refer to pupils in school. As I said in the debate on the Adjournment of 18th July, no inquiries are made in any general sense about the political views of pupils in a school.The arrangements introduced by the Government in 1952 for ensuring the reliability of staff employed on exceptionally secret work may mean that from time to time headmasters and headmistresses, among other, are asked about candidates for certain posts. I know of no case where such enquiries have been made about pupils in a school except where the pupil has given the teacher as a referee.I do not consider it justifiable to make enquiries necessary to find out the exact number of candidates about whom questions have been asked with their knowledge.

asked the Minister of Education to request local education authorities to inform him of the number of occasions in the last three years on which head teachers in their areas have had inquiries from the security police about the political views and activities of their students.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Fulham (Mr. M. Stewart) and Leek (Mr. Harold Davies).

asked the Minister of Education whether he will give an undertaking that school teachers who refuse to co-operate with the security forces in answering questions about the political views of their students, or former students, will not be victimised.

I can certainly give the hon. Lady this assurance, but teachers will realise from Answers I have given to previous Questions that inquiries about the suitability of applicants for certain posts are necessary in the public interest.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will issue a circular to local education authorities setting out precisely the positions in industry and the public service in which applicants may expect to have to undergo official security screening; and whether he will ask the local education authorities to see that teachers and schoolchildren are informed that inquiries about their political views may be made.

No. It would be impracticable to define in advance every job to which the 1952 arrangements may apply. The security risk attaching to particular posts can vary widely from time to time.As I said in the debate on the Adjournment on 18th July, no inquiries are made in any general sense about the political views of pupils in a school.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will ascertain the views of teachers' organisations about the questions addressed to their members in schools for which he is responsible by representatives of the security forces.

No. It is well known that inquiries about applicants for certain posts are necessary in the national interest.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will take steps to ensure that, on every occasion on which any head teacher consents to give information concerning the political reliability of any present or past pupil at his school, the pupil concerned shall be fully informed of the inquiry made and the information given and that no such information in any case shall be given without the pupil's express consent.

No. In all cases a candidate is told in advance that inquiries will be made about him from people who know him well, but it might defeat the object of these enquiries if he were told precisely to whom they would be addressed (apart from nominated referees) and his express consent required. If an assessment of a candidate's suitability is to be of value it must be confidential between the giver and receiver.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has had consultations with the National Union of Teachers regarding the practice by security forces of asking members of the teaching profession to answer questions about the political affiliations of students, or former students, seeking certain positions in industry.

No.

asked the Minister of Education what is the latest figure in his possession about the proportion of secondary school children being educated in classes of over 30 pupils; and to what extent he expects to reduce this figure in the next three years.

Provisional estimates show that in January, 1960, 65 per cent. of senior pupils were in oversize classes. Between now and January, 1963, there are likely to be about 10,000 additional teachers available for the improvement of staffing standards, but I cannot reliably forecast their distribution between primary and secondary schools.

asked the Minister of Education what financial economies he is likely to require from the Essex County Council Educational Authority during the ensuing two years.

I do not propose to ask the Essex Local Education Authority to make any reductions in the major building programmes already announced for 1961–62.The programmes for 1962–63 have not yet been settled.

asked the Minister of Education what are the hours of work, pay and conditions of employees acting as custodians of exhibits at the Commonwealth Institute and similar institutions under his control; and whether those hours of work, pay and conditions are equated with comparable employment in other Government Departments.

I am sending the hon. Member this information. The hours, pay and conditions for attendants at the Commonwealth Institute are generally in line with those for warders in national museums and galleries. The main difference is that attendants come under the Institute's own contributory superannuation scheme and not under the Civil Service Superannuation Acts.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of school leavers in all secondary modern and grammar schools in The Hartlepools at the end of the summer term; and whether he is satisfied that the incoming numbers for the autumn can be fully absorbed by all schools in the area.

About 620, according to the two local education authorities concerned. They tell me that sufficient places are available to absorb the intake expected next term.

asked the Minister of Education what warning is given to parents regarding change of schools.

Local education authorities give parents as long notice as possible of the schools their children are to attend, but they cannot always foresee what the demand for a school will be, especially if it depends on the rate of house-building.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to ensure that there are sufficient school places for the Ramsden area, Orpington.

The existing nine-class primary school will be enlarged shortly by six classes. A further enlargement to a three-form entry school of twenty-one classes has been proposed for the 1962–63 building programme, which I am at present considering.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a suggested site for the proposed University of Essex has been chosen without adequate opportunity being given to the representatives of northeast Essex to express their views; what proposals he has received regarding plans for this university; and if he will make a statement.

The University Grants Committee are considering an approach which has been made to them about the possible establishment of a University of Essex. I understand that the Essex Promotion Committee have considered a number of possible sites for a university (if it were decided to establish one) and are discussing the question with the University Grants Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the numbers of readers availing themselves of the late opening of the British Museum Reading Room for each evening since the experiment started, and the number of admissions to the rest of the museum on the same evenings.

The numbers of readers availing themselves of the late opening of the Reading Room and the North Library have varied between 150 and 220. The rest of the Museum is not open in the evenings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of increased revenue from the petrol tax and the road licence duty, in view of the estimates of the progressive rise in the number of motor vehicles which will be licensed in the next 10 years.

It is not possible to make realistic forecasts so far ahead of the revenue from the hydrocarbon oil and motor vehicle licence duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the several inquiries made by the County Councils Association and other commercial and trade organisations which have reported in favour of a change to a decimal currency system; and whether he will now recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the matter, in view of its increasing urgency.

I am aware that a number of representative organisations have recently expressed support in principle for a decimal system of coinage. But I still have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cleveland (Mr. Proudfoot) on 31st May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the location of each of the 27 pictures referred to in Appendix 4A (vii) of the Report of the Trustees of the National Gallery. July, 1958, to December, 1959, as being lent to the Ministry of Works for public buildings.

The location of the 27 pictures listed as being on loan to the Ministry of Works between July, 1958, and December, 1959, was as follows:

No. 10 Downing Street
Catalogue
No.
210.	Guardi, F.: Venice: Piazza S. Marco.
236.	Vernet, C. J.: A Sporting Contest on the Tiber at Rome (now withdrawn).
872	Velde, W. van de, the younger: Dutch Men-of-War and Small Vessels off shore.
1012	Flemish School (?) XVII Century: Portrait of a Man.
1057	Vernet, C. J.: A River with a Fisherman.
1380	Os. J. van: Fruit, Flowers and a Fish.
1393	Vernet, C. J.: ascribed to: An imaginary (?) Sea Port.
2087	Zuccarelli, F.: Landscape with Cattle and Figures.
2102	Marieschi, M.: Buildings and Figures near a River with Shipping.
2103	Marieschi, M.: Buildings and Figures near a River with Rapids.
2547	Cuyp, A., imitator of: A Herdsman with seven Cows by a River.
2566	Ruisdael, J. van, follower of: The Skirts of a Forest.
2573	Velde, W. van de, the younger: A Dutch Man of War and small Vessels off a Coast in a strong Breeze.
2625	Corot: The Leaning Tree-Trunk (L'Arbre Pencé).
2630	Corot: Cows standing in a Marsh.
3226	Os, G. J. J. van: Fruit, Flowers and Game.
4262	Maris, J: A Beach.
4457	Guardi, F.(?): Venice: the Grand Canal with Palazzo Pesaro.

No. 11 Downing Street
Catalogue
No.
2629	Corot: A Flood.
2631	Corot: Souvenir d'un Voyage a Coubron.
4080	Boucher, Studio of: The Billet-Doux.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will further review the categories of hardship cases for the payment of post-war credits, in view of the fact that in many instances, such as multiple sclerosis, and malignant cancer, death still comes before payment is due under his recent regulations.

I will bear my hon. Friend's point in mind, but any attempt to deal with it would raise serious practical difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department is taking to assist and encourage industry in Northern Ireland to expand its exports along with industry in the rest of the United Kingdom.

All the Government's services are available to exporters in Northern Ireland as elsewhere. The Ministry of Commerce of the Northern Ireland Government works closely with the Board of Trade in rendering services to exporters and already handles a large volume of inquiries from Northern Irish exporters. It will be happy to handle more.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what positive steps his Department have taken recently to bring to the attention of expanding industries in Great Britain the desirability of setting up factories in Northern Ireland; and what additional proposals he has in mind.

The Board of Trade are continuing to take every opportunity open to them, in their contacts with expanding firms, to emphasise the advantages offered by Northern Ireland. My Department keeps in constant touch with the Government of Northern Ireland, who, in addition, have their own machinery for seeing that such firms are fully aware of the opportunities which Northern Ireland affords.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the conditions laid down by him that civil servants must purchase their cars in the United Kingdom before proceeding overseas to Colonial Territories, if they are to qualify for exemption of tax and transportation fee, results in depriving the representatives of English firms in the Colonies concerned of their commission; and what is the reason for this condition.

My Department lays down no such conditions. There are arrangements under which freight and import duty can be reclaimed by Trade Commissioners and Assistant Trade Commissioners. But this applies equally to cars bought abroad if these elements can be satisfactorily distinguished.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, for the period from January to April, 1960, the value of imports from North America of manufactured goods which were liberalised from dollar sources in 1959, and the value of imports from countries outside the dollar and sterling areas of manufactured goods which were liberalised from some of those countries; and if he will give similar information for the year 1959 in respect of imports of manufactured goods liberalised during 1958.

In respect of the manufactured goods freed from control during 1959 the estimated imports for January-April, 1960, are £21 million from North America and £15 million from other countries outside the sterling area. For goods freed from control during 1958, the figures for the year 1959 are £88 million and £9 million, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he now proposes to submit further references to the Monopolies Commission.

I propose to refer to the Monopolies Commission for investigation and report the question of the solus sites system of retail sale of petrol in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, on Deeside and elsewhere, large quantities of potatoes which were purchased by the Potato Marketing Board from the growers in 1958 and 1959 at £12 per ton have been left to rot in their clamps; and whether he will take steps to prevent similar waste in future by prohibiting imports of potatoes while home grown stocks are available at reasonable prices.

No imports of main crop potatoes have been permitted since mid-1959. It would be contrary to our general commercial policy to reimpose restrictions on imports of new potatoes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the first 20 British exporting industries in order of precedence; and if he will further state the total value of the exports and their percentage of the total exports in each case for the years 1954 to 1959, respectively.

This information is not available. Exports are classified by type of product and not by industry of origin. It is difficult to estimate the full contribution made by an industry to our export trade, including its contribution of materials or components for use by other industries in producing goods for export. A table listing industries in order of precedence would be arbitrary, since it would depend on the definition used in selecting industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider scheduling the Seaton Delaval Employment Exchange area as a development district on the grounds of imminence and thus enable the county council plan for an industrial estate to proceed more effectively.

A high rate of unemployment does not at present exist in Seaton Delaval, nor on present information do I expect it within such a period that it would be appropriate to list the area as a development district. But I am watching the position closely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many applications for jobs have been received from officers retiring from the Overseas Service by the Overeas Services Resettlement Bureau since 1957; and how many officers have been found employment by the Bureau.

Up to 30th June last, 1,496 officers had registered with the Bureau and 847 had found employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the Nyasaland Constitutional Conference at Lancaster House, having regard to the fact that the report of the Monckton Commission has not yet been published.

The present Conference was convened to consider the constitutional position within Nyasaland itself, bearing in mind that the Monckton Commission would still be at work and the review of the Federal Constitution lay ahead.

asked the Secretray of State for the Colonies in what circumstances the Rhodesian Selection Trust's offer of £90,000, as a free gift for the development of the coffee industry in the Northern Province of Nyasaland, was declined; and whether he will make a statement.

The Nyasaland Government proposed to devote these funds to a scheme to increase coffee production in the Northern Province, under the direction of a Development Board with a majority of African members elected by coffee growers' co-operative societies. The scheme was at first welcomed by growers but subsequently, as a result of advice given by officials of the Malawi Congress Party, the cooperative societies declined to nominate their members and the scheme had to be abandoned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why books on economic, constitutional, and political problems, sent by friends overseas to Mr. Dunduza Chisiza, who is detained in Kanjedza, Limbe, Nyasaland, have not yet been delivered to him; and if he will have immediate inquiries made as to the whereabouts of these books, and have them delivered.

I am consulting the Officer Administering the Government of Nyasaland on this matter and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Nyasaland persons who have been detained since March, 1959, have not yet been released, in view of the continuing peaceful conditions in Nyasaland.

As the Governor of Nyasaland explained last month when he brought the state of emergency in the territory to an end, conditions in Nyasaland are not yet wholly normal and it is necessary to continue to detain a small number of persons whose release would at present constitute a danger to security. Individual cases are kept under continuous review, and each detainee is released as soon as the Governor is satisfied that this can be done without serious prejudice to public security and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in order to control the flow of immigrants from the West Indies, he will urge the West Indian Governments concerned to insist on a cash surety from each intending immigrant, as has been done by the Governments of India and Pakistan, from which countries the flow of immigrants has, as a result, been kept within bounds.

While not accepting in its entirety the statement in the latter half of the Question, I would re- mind the hon. Member that it would be incompatible with the traditional open- door policy of the United Kingdom Government to urge the imposition of general restrictions of this kind on the issue of passports to British subjects in the colonial territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on future educational developments planned for the British Solomon Islands Protectorate.

The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific is pre- paring proposals for the development of educational facilities in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. These proposals will include assistance to missions and Local Government Councils for the expansion of primary education, the provision of additional places at the Government secondary school for boys, additional facilities for technical training within the Protectorate and the extension of the arrangements which exist for secondary school places for girls, for technical training and for post-secondary studies for advanced students, in educational institutions outside the Protectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make an estimate of the number of primary school places in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, and of the number of children of primary school age.

There are approximately 18,500 children of primary school age. 11,000 places are available in registered primary schools and 4,500 places in exempted schools. The latter are mainly catechetical and classes are held only for a few hours each day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many secondary school places there were in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate at the most convenient recent date; and how many of these were occupied by Melanesians and Polynesians, respectively.

At the beginning of this month, there were 75 secondary school places. Forty were occupied by Melanesians and four by Polynesians. Thirty-one were vacant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Melanesians and Polynesians domiciled in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate are at present undergoing postsecondary courses of higher education inside and outside the Protectorate, respectively.

None at present. But 25 students now studying overseas are expected within the next few years to take advantage of facilities for postsecondary studies at educational institutions outside the Protectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made towards implementing the Report of the Hong Kong Electricity Supply Companies Commission, which recommended the establishment of a public authority responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the Colony; and if he will make a statement.

I am consulting the Governor of Hong Kong and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in North Staffordshire have received aid to date under the Government's Small Farmers Scheme; and what is the amount.

I regret the information is not readily available and could not be produced without very considerable expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what payments have been made to his Department by the Corporation of Southend-on-Sea during 1960 for defraying the costs of removing trees infected with fire blight.

We are most grateful to the Corporation of Southend-on-Sea for its co-operation in helping to combat the spread of this most dangerous disease, but no question of payment by the Corporation arises.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to introduce legislation to amend the Fire Blight Disease Order in such a way as to ensure that the financial burden of destroying infected trees does not fall on the occupier of the land on which they are growing.

The Fire Blight Disease Order, 1958, was made under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, 1877–1927. As these Acts do not give power to pay the cost of destroying infected trees, it is not possible to amend the Order in the way my hon. Friend suggests. The need for a new Act is being reviewed in the light both of modern plant health knowledge and of the costs involved in controlling and eradicating plant diseases, but I regret there is no immediate prospect of bringing any new measures before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle attested under the Area Eradication Scheme for tuberculosis have been found, in the past three years, to be affected with tuberculosis after slaughter; and what was the estimated loss in each year to butchers purchasing such cattle.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to place in the Library of the House of Commons the Report of the Agricultural Research Council which led him to propose the banning of the administration of antibiotics to laying poultry stock.

It has been Government policy since 1953 to discourage the use of antibiotics in feedingstuffs for laying poultry stock. The Agricultural and Medical Research Councils are undertaking a comprehensive review of the use of antibiotics in feedingstuffs generally. They have advised that, until the results of this review are available, it would be highly undesirable to recommend any extension of the use of antibiotics in animal feedingstuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the Disciplinary Committee meeting of the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board, held on 19th July, was illegally adjourned, and that this resulted in a waste of tomato growers' time and money; and what action he will take to ensure that the Disciplinary Committee of the Tomato and Cucumber Marketing Board carries out its statutory duties in future.

As my right hon. Friend's predecessor replied on 25th July to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas) and my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Stodart), we are aware that the meeting of the Tomato and Cucumber Board's Disciplinary Committee was adjourned, and much dislike the circumstances which led to this. As regards future meetings of disciplinary committees, I would refer the hon. Member to the latter part of the reply of 25th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give particulars of the deficiency payments on wheat, rye, barley, oats and mixed corn for the cereal year 1st July, 1959, to 30th June, 1960.

The particulars of these payments are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now in a position to make a statement of his intentions as regards the sale of unfit meat and of meat from knackers' yards.

The Meat (Staining and Sterilisation) Regulations, 1960, which will come into force on 1st November, 1960, have today been laid before the House. The main provisions are as follows:

Meat which at the time of slaughter is intended for human consumption but is found to be unfit for that purpose and unfit imported meat will have to be sterilised before sale. Meat from knackers' yards will also have to be sterilised or stained green before it leaves the premises and the stain must remain clearly visible so long as the meat is in anybody's possession for sale.

Processors, such as canners of animal foods. and others who will sterilise the meat before sale, zoos, menageries, mink farms and trout farms will be permitted to obtain these types of meat unstained and unsterilised direct from slaughterhouses, ports and knackers' yards, provided that the meat is transported in locked containers or vehicles clearly marked to show that the meat is not for human consumption.

The supply of meat to hospitals, medical or veterinary schools and similar institutions for instructional or diagnostic purposes and to manufacturing chemists will he unaffected.

The object of these Regulations is to strengthen the powers of local authorities in preventing the risk 40 health from unfit meat or meat from knackers' yards. The green stain on knacker meat will serve as a warning to owners of cats and dogs who wish to buy raw meat for their animals, but do not know its origin and previous handling, that it should not be treated like ordinary meat.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from local authorities in coastal areas about the increasing danger to bathers, and others, from speedboats; and whether he will introduce legislation to control the use of speedboats and safeguard the public.

I am aware that a number of local authorities are concerned about this matter, and I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Minister for Welsh Affairs and the Minister of Transport the possibility of extending the powers of local authorities to make bye-laws on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that many house agents are accepting more than one deposit on the same property on a sale subject to contract; and whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit this practice.

I have no evidence to suggest that this is a widespread practice, but it is not one which is very suitable for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what immediate plans he has for tackling overcrowding in Pentonville Prison, where some 600 men are housed three to a cell.

The only remedy for the overcrowding of local prisons such as Pentonville is the building of new prisons and other penal establishments. This is proceeding as a matter of great urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a decision has now been reached on the extension of Summer Time.

I hope to be in a position to make a statement early next Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 17 years, boys and girls, respectively, were remanded to prison, instead of being sent to remand homes, in England and Wales, during the six months ended 30th June, 1960.

Three hundred and eighty-two boys and twenty girls.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children, under the age of 17 years, were found guilty before juvenile courts in England and Wales of indictable and non-indictable offences, respectively, during the six months ended 30th June, 1960; and, of those children, how many were classed as children being in need of care or protection, as defined by Section 61 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, or as children who are ill-treated or neglected in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Figures for 1960 are not yet available and it is not possible to separate the figures for juvenile courts from those for other magistrates' courts; but the Criminal Statistics for 1959, published today, show that, during that year, 51,996 persons under 17 were found guilty by magistrates' courts of indictable offences and 46,376 of non-indictable offences. Where a child or young person is brought before a court charged with an offence, the question whether he is in need of care or protection within the meaning of Section 61 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 193:3, does not arise in those proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for West Ham, North, may expect replies to his various communications concerning the entry permits and visas for Miss Freese and Mr. Neumann, with particular reference to his letter of 2nd July; and whether he will make a statement.

The hon. Member was informed on 1st July that the visas had already been authorised. He will by now have received a reply to his letter of 2nd July, which necessitated considerable inquiry both in this country and abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Metropolitan Police officers on point duty sometimes have to take shelter from very heavy rain; and if he will arrange for them to direct traffic horn a stand with a roof over it, or from under an umbrella.

The carrying out of beat, patrol and point duty in the rain is an accepted part of police duty. It would not be practicable to erect roofed-in stands for officers on point duty; and, while umbrellas are said to have been carried by Guards Officers at Waterloo, I do not think that they would be suitable for the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy is pursued at Holloway Prison with regard to food parcels sent in for prisoners; and in how many cases such food has been destroyed during the past six months.

Meals and reasonable quantities of chocolates, sweets and fresh fruit may be sent to untried prisoners; and girls in the borstal wing are allowed a parcel at Christmas and for birthdays. Convicted prisoners are not permitted to receive food parcels. Food received in breach of the rules which cannot be put with a prisoner's private property is, when practicable, returned to the sender. The information requested in the second half of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the committees inquiring into the problems of youthful delinquency and drunkenness have made an interim report; and if he will make a statement.

There is no official committee inquiring into juvenile drunkenness and delinquency. I have just received from the Social Survey Division of the Central Office of Information the results of their investigation into offences of drunkenness among all age groups, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement about them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the Metropolitan Police will provide adequate protection from assault and insult for distinguished visitors from Commonwealth and other countries against whom it is known in advance that persons intend to mount offensive demonstrations for racial reasons.

Responsibility in this matter rests with the Commissioner of Police, and I am satisfied that the police take all practicable steps to provide protection in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to give his decision on the siting of the new prison to replace the present one on Dartmoor; and whether he will publish the report of the inquiry.

This is a difficult question on which I do not expect to be able to announce my decision for some little time. It is my intention to publish the report of the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have now considered the question of introducing comprehensive legislation as regards the health, welfare and safety of persons employed in shops, offices and other premises covered by the Gowers Committee's Report; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. We have decided to introduce comprehensive legislation on this subject, for which my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour will be responsible. It will not be possible to complete the preparation of this major measure in time to introduce it next Session; but it is our intention that the Bill should be introduced before the Offices Bill comes into force at the be ginning of 1962. The legislation will, in any event, cover shops, offices and those railway premises not already covered by factory legislation. The question of the inclusion of other classes of premises covered by the Gowers Committee's Report is still being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making for the Commissioner of Police to recruit women traffic wardens in London.

It is for the Commissioner, as the appointing authority for the Metropolitan Police District under Clause 2 of the Road Traffic and Roads Improvement Bill, to decide whether to appoint women as traffic wardens. He has decided not to do so in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the reorganisation of magistrates' courts in London; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and I have been giving consideration to the report submitted in 1937 by the Departmental Committee on Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Area. It has not been possible to give effect to all the Committee's recommendations owing to war-time and post-war difficulties, and, while the principles on which they were based remain valid, we think that in view of the time that has elapsed it is desirable to review their practical aspects in the light of current circumstances. We have therefore decided to appoint a Committee with the following terms of reference:

"To consider and report what measures are required, 'in the light of present conditions, to facilitate the integration of the Metropolitan Magistrates' Courts and the Petty Sessional Courts in London, as recommended by the Committee on Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Area, 1937, whether by way of

(a) legislation,

(b) administrative action, or

(c) the provision of new court buildings or any changes in the use of such buildings."

Judge C. D. Aarvold, O.B.E., T.D., the Common Serjeant, has agreed to be Chairman of the Committee. The other members will be:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the results of the recent official mission to Italy, Austria, and Germany to select handicapped refugees and their families for admission to the United Kingdom, in pursuance of the arrangements announced on 10th March.

The names of 1,228 refugees were put forward through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for interview by the selection team. Of these, 673 attended for interview, and from among those interviewed 453 were accepted.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the latest recruiting figures, he is still satisfied that the three Services can still retain their planned strength in the future and, in particular, the Army its total of 165,000, without shortage in any categories, unless an improvement in recruiting can be achieved; and if he will make a statement.

The latest recruiting figures in no way alter my view that the Services will be able to maintain balanced forces of the strength planned and that shortage in particular categories will be manageable.

asked the Minister of Defence whether a decision has yet been reached regarding the proposal to establish a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation base at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis; and if he will either make a statement or indicate When he will be in a position to do so.

Detained plans for the limited use of Stornoway Airfield by N.A.T.O. are now being worked out by the Air Ministry. Work on the airfield will involve strengthening the runway and putting up a few additional buildings within the perimeter. No additional land will be required, nor will there be any need for evictions or demolitions. During normal working, the airfield will be manned mainly by United Kingdom personnel, but during occasional exercises, limited numbers of other N.A.T.O. forces will visit the airfield for short periods. Contracts for the work services will be let in accordance with the usual N.A.T.O. practice. It is hoped that these will provide some local economic benefit.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the West German air force has taken advantage of his offer of training facilities at the South Uist Rocket Range, or, is likely to do so; and to what extent other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces have availed themselves of the opportunity.

The offer to N.A.T.O. of the use for a period of the Hebrides Range, which we made last year, has not yet been taken up by any member country.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to encourage health authorities, both local and hospital, to institute routine urine tests for phenylketonuria in newly-born babies.

With the Ministry's encouragement some local health authorities have already been able in cooperation with the hospital service to nstitute routine tests for phenylketonuria. In the light of the experience so gained, and the conclusions reached at a recent professional conference on this subject, consideration is now being given to what further steps may usefully be taken.

asked the Minister of Health if he will expedite the provision for a motor-propelled tricycle for Mr. Edward Downey, 42 Fanshawe Avenue, Barking, Essex, for whom suitable paid employment is now available when he is able to travel between his home and the place of work.

Mr. Downey's eligibility for a powered vehicle is now being reconsidered urgently. I hope to write to the hon. Member very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to operate the increase in salary for doctors in the National Health Service.

The detailed proposals which result from the discussions now proceeding on the Government's offer to accept the Royal Commission's recommendations as a whole will need to be considered by the British Medical Association and the Joint Consultants Committee. The new rates of remuneration for doctors would be brought into operation as soon as practicable after they had indicated their willingness to accept the proposals. These rates would, in accordance with the Royal Commission's recommendations, take effect from 1st January, 1960.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that people requiring an interview with eye consultants in the Cardiff Royal Infirmary have to wait several months for an appointment despite the representations of their family doctor; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on the 2nd May regarding the steps being taken to review the facilities for eye cases in the Cardiff area. The Standing Joint Committee of the Board of Governors of the United Cardiff Hospitals and the Welsh Regional Hospital Board are to consider this question further tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of people awaiting admission to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, and the number who have been waiting three months or longer.

The number of people awaiting admission to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Rhydlafar on the 23rd July was 1,065. Of these 720 had been waiting three months or longer.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of beds now available in Cardiff Hospitals for patients with eye trouble, and the number awaiting admission to hospital at the most recent convenient date.