asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he made to sponsor, for entry visa purposes, farming representatives from East Germany who wished to visit this country in order to attend the recent Royal Agricultural Show at Olympia, in view of the general desire of farmers in this country to meet such visitors so that they might receive orders for the export of cattle and other agricultural items.

None. The issue of visas is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. The present restrictions on the issue of travel documents for East Germans are a matter for my noble Friend the Foreign Secretary.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is aware of the increasing concern about the inadequacy of Great Britain's external broadcasting services; whether any cuts in the existing services are currently being made or contemplated; and what steps he intends to take to improve the services.

We are all concerned that all our overseas information services should be adequate. No cuts are currently being made in external broadcasting, though we must continue to adjust its use to changing circumstances. For example, a recent improvement was the institution of a new service in French for West Africa. Relay arrangements overseas have been improved, and the B.B.C. has this summer been authorised to order six replacement transmitters for external broadcasting.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further progress has been made with the programme of promoting the flow of British books and periodicals to countries overseas.

The programme is continuing to develop well. Considerable progress has been made with each of its aspects.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that war widows are permitted to earn an unlimited sum, and no reduction in the pension takes place; and if he will take steps to place all widows in the same position.

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes" and to the second part, "No".

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many appeals were submitted to the Medical Appeal Tribunal under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts against the decision of the medical boards in Denbighshire during the twelve months ending at the latest convenient date; in how many cases the results of the appeals were advantageous and disadvantageous, respectively, to the appellants; and in how many cases the findings of the medical board were upheld.

Records are not kept in a form which enables this information to be given for particular counties. In Wales as a whole, during the twelve months ended 30th September, 1960, 1,518 appeals by claimants were dealt with by the Medical Appeal Tribunal, of which 577 resulted in a decision favourable to the claimant. In 941 cases the medical board's decision was upheld or a less favourable assessment was substituted.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of persons in Gateshead in receipt of National Assistance under the headings of pensioners, non-contributory pensioners, unemployed, persons suffering from physical or mental illness and others, respectively.

The County Borough of Gateshead is served by two offices of the National Assistance Board, which between them also serve a considerable area extending beyond it including the Urban Districts of Felling and Washington. The numbers of weekly National Assistance grants current in these two offices on 27th September last were as follows:

Payable to retirement pensioners	5,406
Payable to non-contributory old age pensioners	267
Payable to persons registering as unemployed	767
Payable to persons under pensionable age incapacitated for work	1,503
Payable to other persons	1,159
Total	9,102

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what plans he has for an inquiry to be made into the incidence rates of certain chest disabilities, and other diseases, among people employed in some specified occupations; when the inquiry will start; what period it will cover; when the report is likely to be available; whether it will be published; and what are the chest complaints and occupations to be covered by the inquiry.

Although I have in mind an inquiry of this kind, I am not in a position to make an announcement, as consultations about arrangements, including many of the points mentioned in the Question, are taking place with some of those concerned.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware of the widespread public concern about the safety of commercial flying, especially following the crash of a Hermes aircraft at Southend in early October; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that the highest possible safety standards are strictly observed by all commercial aircraft operators.

No, but to reinforce the existing safety standards I propose shortly to submit an Order as contemplated in the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Act, introducing certificates that operators are competent to operate aircraft safely.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has reached a decision regarding the use of an alternative airfield while Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, is closed during part of next summer.

My right hon. Friend is examining the possibility of bringing into use the disused aerodrome at East Fortune for this purpose. A decision will be taken in the near future.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress he has been able to make with plans for co-operation between Commonwealth and Allied Governments for the development and production of rockets capable of putting satellites into orbit; if he will now state, in particular, what is to be the future of the Spadeadam rocket motor testing station; and how many men will be maintained in permanent employment there.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given today to Questions by the hon. Members for Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt) and Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) and to the reply given to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Dr. D. Johnson) on 19th July, 1960.

asked the Minister of Health Whether he will undertake to request the Nurses and Midwives' Whitley Council to reconsider the revised arrangements for additional payments for excess hours worked in mental and mental deficiency hospitals.

No: this would not be the right procedure.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the Report of the Platt Working Party on hospital medical staffing; and when it will be published.

Before the end of the year. When the Report is received, I will consider the question of publication with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to be able to forecast firm dates for the provision of the 250-odd beds and other hospital services for the Ilford and Barking group of hospitals, the schedule for which was approved by him last July.

I regret that the plans of this large development are still at too early a stage for firm dates to be forecast.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the Annual Report of the Gateshead Medical Officer of Health, in which reference is made to the continued shortage of midwives; and what action he proposes to alleviate this continuing under-staffing.

Yes. My right hon. Friend intends shortly to send to hospitals and to local health authorities further suggestions on ways of making midwifery practice more attractive.

asked the Minister of Health how many people have been vaccinated against poliomyelitis under the National Health Service; and what action he is taking to persuade more people to take advantage of the facilities available.

At 30th September, 13,333,000 persons in England and Wales had been vaccinated. On the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. and learned Member for West Ham, South (Mr. Elwyn Jones) on 27th October.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the reported increase in the number of poliomyelitis cases in the Birmingham area, what steps are being taken to encourage vaccination to safeguard against the dangers of this disease.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 27th October to the hon. and learned Member for West Ham, South (Mr. Elwyn Jones).Eleven paralytic poliomyelitis cases have been reported in Birmingham this year to 29th October, compared with three in the corresponding period in 1959. None has been reported since 17th September.

asked the Minister of Health if he intends to introduce legislation during the present Session to set up a national council for social work training, as recommended by the Young-husband Report.

I cannot promise this at present.

asked the Minister of Health the number of functional Whitley Councils within the Health Service and the number of their sub-committees.

There are nine Councils which between them have twenty-seven standing sub-committees.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an estimate of the number of hours for which Whitley Councils and their sub-committees have been in session during the last twelve months.

At a rough estimate, 250 hours in total.

asked the Minister of Health the total membership of all the Whitley Councils within the Health Service and their sub-committees; and the average number of meetings, including sub-committee meetings, to which each member has been summoned during the last twelve months.

The total membership of the Councils is 453, but a number of persons are members of more than one Council. Members of sub-committees are generally members of the Council concerned. The average number of meetings to which any one member was called is estimated at about eight.

asked the Minister of Health how many meetings have been held in the last twelve months by the functional Whitley Councils within the Health Service, and by their sub-committees.

Twenty-two meetings of the Councils and eighty-three meetings of sub-committees.

asked the Minister of Health how many two-seater cars have been supplied to war pensioners who were previously supplied with tricycles, up to the most recent convenient date.

The cars supplied under the scheme announced on 4th April last are four-seaters. Seventy-six have been issued so far.

asked the Minister of Health how many power-propelled tricycles are on supply to persons who are war pensioners, and to those in receipt of National Insurance benefits, respectively.

At 30th September, 1960, 1,534 power-propelled tricycles were on issue to war pensioners in England and Wales, and 11,971 to National Health Service patients. It is not known how many of these patients were in receipt of National Insurance benefits.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will provide free replacements under the National Health Service for ear, wire and plug attachments to hearing aids.

Free replacements are provided for these attachments to hearing aids supplied under the National Health Service.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what official reports he has received on the recent Arts Exhibition in Moscow, held under the auspices of the British Council; and if it is his intention to hold similar exhibitions in other countries.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many visitors attended the Arts Exhibition in Moscow, held under the auspices of the British Council; and on how many days the exhibition was open to the public.

This exhibition was an outstanding success in both Moscow and Leningrad. It was visited by some 370,000 people during the fifty-three days that it was open.The British Council, which organised the exhibition, regularly organises exhibitions overseas of modern British art. Exhibitions on the scale of that held in the Soviet Union are particularly dependent on generous loans from public and private collections, and can only be mounted infrequently.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made with the Icelandic Government regarding the dispute over fishing limits.

Since my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Goole (Mr. Jeger) on 26th October, further discussions with Icelandic officials have been taking place in this country. These have now been adjourned for consultation with Governments, with a view to resumption in London on 14th November. I regret I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal Which of the thirty nine countries which, on 3rd February, 1960, did not then accept the jurisdiction of the Court of International Justice, have since agreed to accept it; and which of them accept it with, and which without, reservation, indicating the nature of the reservation in each case.

My hon. Friend informed the hon. and learned Gentelman on 3rd February, 1960, that thirty nine countries do accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. Since that date no additional countries have declared their acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction. However, Pakistan and Honduras have deposited declarations renewing their acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court; copies of these declarations are in the Library of the House.

asked the Civil Lord of Admiralty how many suitably qualified boys applied for admission to the dockyard apprentice schools during 1959; and how many were accepted.

During 1959, 2,965 boys sat the examination for entry as Admiralty apprentices; of these 873 were offered vacancies and 827 accepted. The total figure of 2,965 include many candidates who sat for two or more of the three examinations which take place annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many suitably qualified boys applied for admission to the Royal Air Force apprentice training schools during 1959; and how many were accepted.

Three thousand six hundred and seventy-six boys were accepted as candidates for the 1959 entries to Royal Air Force apprentice schools. One thousand three hundred and seventy of these were offered apprenticeships, and 1,289 actually entered training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to extend the franchise in the Bahamas to women.

A Motion to amend the General Assembly Election Act, 1959, was introduced in the House of Assembly in June of this year. It included a recommendation in favour of votes for women. An enlarged Constitutional Committee of the House of Assembly was appointed to deal with the matter during the recess and to report back in January, 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a full statement on the proposed Five Point Trade Agreement between Cuba and British Guiana, published in Havana on 25th August, with especial reference to the proposed cultural exchanges, the granting by Cuba to British Guiana of a £1,780,000 loan at 2 per cent. for ten years, and the promise of Cuban technical aid in tobacco production and in other fields to the Colony.

No. There have as yet been no further developments upon the very general proposals announced by Dr. Jagan. When the Government of British Guiana have been able formally to consider them the Governor will consult me in view of Her Majesty's Government's responsibility for the external affairs of British Guiana.

asked the Secretary of Stats for the Colonies if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the proposed constitutional changes in Zanzibar.

I have now considered the recommendations contained in the Report by Sir Hilary Blood in consultation with the British Resident and in the light of the views expressed in the debate in the Zanzibar Legislative Council. The following main changes in the Constitution will be introduced in time for the next elections which will take place in January, 1961.The Executive Council will consist of the British Resident as President, 3 ex-officio members and 5 unofficial Ministers. One of the unofficial Ministers will be designated as Chief Minister. The Legislative Council will consist of 3 ex-officio members, 22 elected members and up to 5 appointed members. A speaker of the Legislative Council will be appointed.Details of these and other proposals, together with an exchange of dispatches between the British Resident and myself, are contained in a Sessional Paper published in Zanzibar on 7th November, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed to appoint an additional member of the Commission considering the constitutional future of Malta, in view of the illness of Sir Alfred Roberts.

As announced on the 26th October, Mr. Fred Hayday, a National Officer of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers and a member of the General Council of the T.U.C. accepted appointment as a member of the Commission in place of Sir Alfred Roberts, whose withdrawal owing to illness I greatly regret.

asked the Minister of Education in how many North Wales Education Authority areas the school dental service is below strength; and if he will state the extent in each case.

On the recommended basis of one school dentist to 3,000 children, Merionethshire was fully staffed on 30th June, 1960, and Anglesey was short by the equivalent of only ·4 of a dentist. The position in the remaining areas—expressed in terms of full-time dentists—was as follows:

Local Education Authority	Number of dentists required	Number of dentists in post	Shortage
Caernarvonshire	6·3	4·5	1·8
Denbighshire	9·6	4·5	5·1
Flintshire	8·4	4·7	3·7
Montgomeryshire	2·5	1·4	1·1

The six authorities together had over 60 per cent. of their total requirements; the comparable figure for England and Wales as a whole was 45 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will forthwith wind up the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency; and if he will take other early steps to release the nationalised steel industry from State control.

The Agency can be wound up when it has substantially discharged its duty of returning the steel industry to private ownership.It remains the firm intention and, indeed, the confident hope of the Government that within the lifetime of the present Parliament the work of the Agency will be substantially completed.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the current cost to the taxpayer per annum of the publication, Good Business, produced by the Central Office of Information; who sells the advertising space in this publication; and if the contract for selling advertising space was put out for tender.

The net annual cost of the quarterly magazine Good Business, of which 9,000 copies are produced on behalf of the Commonwealth Relations Office for free distribution in India, Pakistan, Ceylon and South-East Asia, will depend on the volume of advertisements which it is able to attract. So far two issues of the magazine have been produced. The current rate of net annual expenditure is of the order of £14,500, but it is hoped to reduce this as the magazine becomes more widely appreciated as an advertisement medium. The selling of advertising space for the first four issues is in the hands of a London contractor, Messrs. Pan Advertising Limited. The arrangement is temporary and was necessary in order to gain experience of the demand for advertising before tenders were sought for a regular contract. Steps are well advanced for the appointment by Her Majesty's Stationery Office of an advertisement contractor by competitive tender.

asked the Minister of Labour how many employers' associations or joint bodies have not yet begun to carry out the recommendations of the Carr Committee; and if he will publish a list of these associations.

Figures are not available, as to the action taken on all the recommendations of the Carr Committee, but I understand that the joint bodies and employers' associations in industries covering the majority of workpeople have accepted the central recommendation that opportunities for training for skilled occupations should be increased, and have urged their members to act on it.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks were provided at 30th June, 1950, 30th June, 1955, and 30th June, 1960 for rural areas in the County of Somerset; what has been the average cost of new kiosks during the past five years; what is the average annual cost of upkeep of a kiosk at the present time; and what has been the average revenue per kiosk during the last financial year.

The figures are as follows:

30th June, 1950	377
30th June, 1955	479
30th June, 1960	547

The average cost of a rural kiosk during the past five years has been £201 (excluding overheads), and the average annual cost of upkeep £53. The average revenue from a rural kiosk is £89, of which about 80 per cent. is absorbed by the cost of handling the calls.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to raise the fees for patents and trade marks so that they cover the cost incurred by the Patent Office in dealing with them.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the cost of administering the Patents and Trade Marks Acts should be covered by the fees which are charged. There is a deficit at present and I intend to make an Order increasing trade marks fees. An amendment of the Patents Act, 1949, will be necessary before the application fees for patents can be increased and a Bill has been introduced in another place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what annual tonnage of quarrying materials, such as limestone and chalk, clay and shale, gypsum, sand and gravel, granite, etc., respectively, flows from freehold properties on the one hand and from leasehold on the other.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many suitably qualified boys applied for admission 10 Army apprentice training schools during 1959; and how many were accepted.

Two thousand three hundred and five and 1,262, respectively.