asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to provide hospital facilities for the people of Clydebank, who now number approximately 50,000.

The Western Regional Hospital Board is taking the needs of Clydebank fully into account in replanning the hospital services for the Glasgow area. It is satisfied that adequate provision to cover all the needs can best be made without special local provision in Clydebank itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to provide facilities for the care for frail-ambulant persons in Dunbartonshire.

I understand that the county council of Dunbarton, whose responsibility this is, is considering an extension of the existing provision for "frail-ambulants" in their area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the high infant mortality rate in Glasgow compared with other Scottish cities; and what immediate action he will take to provide more maternity beds there.

The regional hospital board expects to open 90 additional beds next year, and is continuing to explore other possibilities of providing additional beds urgently, in advance of the completion of the new Yorkhill Maternity Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now completed his review of adquate and efficient systems of fire prevention, warning and escape in shops, offices, warehouses and bonded stores; and whether he intends to introduce legislation on the subject.

As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said in a Written Answer on 28th July, 1960, it is proposed to introduce comprehensive legislation relating to health welfare and safety in certain non-industrial premises, including shops and offices. As regards warehouses in which spirit is stored, as an immediate step, the Joint Fire Prevention Committee of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils for England and Wales and for Scotland have been asked to advise on the production of a code of practice relating to such storage.In addition, the contribution which the Building Standards Regulations now in preparation under the Building (Scotland) Act, 1959, can make to fire prevention is, of course, being studied by the Building Standards Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the range of students in the proposed new College of Education.

No decision has yet been taken, but my right hon. Friend has just received a recommendation from the Scottish Council for the Training of Teachers that the new College should train up to 900 women, all taking the three-or-four-year diploma courses for teachers of general subjects, with the possibility of developing courses later in certain practical subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision there now is in the West of Scotland for treatment of and research in rheumatological diseases.

I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Lady that the regional hospital board has decided to add to the existing facilities a new rheumatology unit of about 50 beds. It will be located in Baird Street Hospital, Glasgow, which will be specially adapted for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new hospitals have been built in the City of Glasgow since 1899.

A complete list would take time to compile, but among the hospitals built since 1899 are the Royal Infirmary, the David Elder Infirmary, Stobhill, Robroyston and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. My right hon. Friend recognises, however, that very considerable reorganisation and reconstruction of the Glasgow hospitals is needed, and the regional hospital board is actively engaged on the necessary planning with his full support.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with Scottish local authorities in the last year on flood prevention.

Seven local authorities have been in touch with my right hon. Friend over the last year in connection with particular flooding problems. In addition discussions have taken place with the local authority associations on the proposals now incorporated in the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schemes have been authorised under the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act, 1958; and what is their aggregate cost

Three schemes estimated to cost in total £5,980 have been authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been vaccinated against poliomyelitis under the National Health Service in Scotland; and what action he proposes to take to persuade more people to take advantage of the facilities available.

At 30th September, 1960, over 1,600,000. This figure includes 82 per cent. of children born since 1943, and 42 per cent. of those born between 1933 and 1942, i.e., the adolescents and young adults. Local health authorities, with the help of my right hon. Friend's Department, are continuing to publicise the facilities they provide for vaccination and the need for persons not yet vaccinated to come forward. Family doctors will also continue to play an active part in encouraging their patients to be vaccinated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Sheriff-Substitute C. de B. Murray was informed in reply to his letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland that he should not address himself directly to that Minister but should do so only through the medium of his sheriff-principal; and whether he will reverse these instructions which have the effect of reducing the status and authority of the office of sheriff-substitute.

No general instruction of the kind indicated was issued. It was, however, suggested to the sheriff-substitute that, on the particular matter about which he had written, his representations should be addressed to the sheriff-principal.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will prepare now for consultations, to be held early in 1961, with the newly elected President of the United States of America, in order to formulate without delay new constructive proposals on world disarmament.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek an early opportunity of meeting the new President of the United States of America, in order to discuss constructive measures for the relaxation of world tension, and in particular to propose to him that it is desirable that the People's Republic of China should be represented in the United Nations without further delay, and to make preparation for further Summit talks.

I certainly look forward to meeting the President-Elect of the United States of America on the earliest appropriate occasion, but I cannot at present say when that will be. I look forward to discussion with him of all the various international problems which confront us.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the rapid pace of change in military technology and bacteriological warfare methods, which are involving the great Powers in an expensive and dangerous arms race, he will set up a disarmament research organisation to integrate records of developments in all military fields, and to formulate plans for controlling and reducing them by international agreement.

As I told the House on 28th June, I believe that such investigations must be done multi-laterally to be of value.

This was one of the considerations I had in mind when I proposed at the United Nations an International Committee of Experts to examine the problems of disarmament control.

asked the Prime Minister on what date he received the request from the United States Government for facilities to be given for Polaris in Scotland; and on what date the agreement was signed.

The first approach on this subject was, I understand, made on the Service level towards the end of last year. I discussed the proposal in general terms with the President of the United States at the meeting at Camp David in March of this year. Discussions have continued since that date at different levels on the technical and political aspects of the question. These were finalised as regards the main principles by the interchange between the two Governments at the very end of October. This enabled me to make my statement at the earliest moment in the new Session.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the broadcast speech by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 9th November on the future work of the Government represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Completely.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the statements made by Western Governments at the meeting of the World Bank Conference in Washington last month, he will raise the matter of increased German aid for under-developed countries with the Federal Government of Germany to ascertain what action they intend to take.

I have already discussed methods of stimulating the flow of aid to less developed countries on a number of occasions both with other Governments and with the Federal German Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government will, either unilaterally or in consultation with the Government of the United States of America, invite the West German Government to discuss the question of defence support costs.

As was stated by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 10th November, there has been no discussion of the specific matter of support costs. I have, however, referred to the need for countries running balance of payments surpluses to help in correcting the imbalance of world payments by various measures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the principle of abatement is to be applied indifferently and uniformly to all pensions paid out of public funds, including those borne in whole, or in part, on the rates;(2) to what extent it is intended to apply the principle of abatement to the graduated element in the pensions of those who contract in to the new National Insurance Scheme.

Those in all public employments, including those referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, were informed that, in accordance with longstanding Government policy in this regard, the general principle of abatement must be extended to include the National Insurance graduated scheme if they decided to participate in that scheme rather than to contract out of it. In the former event, the graduated pension will be payable but the occupational schemes will be scaled down correspondingly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for parts of the site of the former Royal Ordnance factory at Swynnerton for the purposes of industrial development he has received since the announcement of the closure of the factory; and what has been his reply to each application.

The disposal of the former R.O.F. site at Swynnerton is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. The Board of Trade, however, have been concerned with two specific proposals from companies wishing to develop parts of this site for industrial purposes. One of these, which is a project to employ 1,000 people, has been approved; the other is the subject of further discussion with the company concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assistance have been received from Caernarvonshire under the Local Employment Act, 1960; how many have been granted, how many rejected, and how many are still under consideration, respectively; and how many of these applications refer to projects in the Caernarvon, Pwllheli and Portmadoc districts, respectively.

Six, of which one has been rejected and five are still under consideration. Three, including the one rejected, refer to projects in the Caernarvon district, two to projects in Pwllheli and one to Portmadoc.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, with a view to increasing trade and relieving unemployment, he will consult the automobile industry about the potential world market for small commercial and pleasure craft, which could be developed rapidly by a consortium of mass producers.

I am sure that there is an opportunity for industry in this country to meet the demand for small boats in a number of markets. It is for the motor industry to judge whether they could advantageously enter this field.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what purpose he is asking British passengers on long-distance flights to fill up arrival and departure forms.

This matter is still under consideration. If an Order is made, a simple card would be introduced to be completed by British subjects travelling on the long air routes between the United Kingdom and countries outside Europe only. The cards would assist in our estimates of balance of payments credits and debits arising from the movement of tourists and migrants, provide information about emigrants from this country, in particular about the loss to this country through migration of skilled people, and about immigration into this country of people from other parts of the Commonwealth.

asked the Attorney-General if he will bring to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions the obscene libel published in the second paragraph of the article on the "Lady Chatterley's Lover" trial by Mr. Kenneth Tynan, on page 25 of the Observer newspaper of 6th November.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the scope and nature of the inquiry now being made by the Council for Wales into the position and prospects of the Welsh language; and when the results of the inquiry will be made public.

The Council for Wales and Monmouthshire is, as the hon. Member will be aware, an independent advisory body and it does not lie with me to define what is the scope and nature of any inquiry it decides to make. Within its terms of reference, which have not been changed, the Council itself determines what subjects it will study, whether or when it will submit reports to the Government and whether it desires them to be published.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects the water scheme for North Stainley, near Ripon, will be completed; what has been the cause of the five months' delay; and what it will cost to complete this scheme.

Although my right hon. Friend approved this scheme in April last, he is informed that it has not yet begun because of a dispute between the Claro Water Board and the Ripon and Pateley Bridge Rural District Council. The estimated cost of the scheme is £4,933.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many plans for the provision of green belts he has received from local authorities; how long such plans have been under consideration; and when he expects to make a decision in respect of all or some of them.

The London green belt is already shown in the approved development plans of the counties concerned. Proposals for extending the London green belt and for establishing green belts elsewhere are usually submitted in two stages; first, a sketch plan showing broadly the area to be covered, and, second, a proposal to include in the development plan the precise boundaries of the belt.Sixty-eight sketch plans have been received, five for extension of the London green belt and the remainder for 31 other green belts; and decisions have been given on all but five, of which four are for one reason or another in suspense and the fifth, submitted in August, 1960, is under consideration. I have before me 13 proposals for including green belts in development plans. These have been submitted at various dates from 1958 onwards, and I will reach decisions on all of them as soon as I can. In the meantime, during the preliminary stages before a green belt is incorporated in the development plan, the local planning authorities concerned have been asked to apply provisionally the development control policy appropriate to a green belt.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will display in the Palace of Westminster a model of the future development of Piccadilly Circus.

Once the consultants' proposals have been submitted to the London County Council and that authority has had a chance of considering the proposed scheme, I will gladly take up this suggestion with them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what considerations led him to agree to the proposed building of a 15-storey block of flats overlooking the town of Henley.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the decision letter, and the inspector's report to which it refers, in which these considerations are set out.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make representations to the Greek Government in order to enable the British wife of Mr. Tony Ambatielos, who is in prison in Greece, to visit her husband.

No. The Greek authorities have recently confirmed that they are unwilling to admit Mrs. Ambatielos to Greece for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the estimated amount of meat and poultry, calculated as carcase weight, consumed per head of the United Kingdom population during 1959.

The following table gives the detailed estimates:

	lb. per head per annum
Beef—bone in (dressed carcase weight)	43·0
Beef—bone out (dressed carcase weight)	2·3
Mutton and Lamb (dressed carcase weight)	25·5
Pork (dressed carcase weight)	18·5
Offal (Product weight)	9·0
Canned meat (imported—product weight)	9·0
Bacon and Ham (side weight)	25·3
Total meat and bacon (edible weight)	112·6
Poultry (plucked and drawn weight)	11·4
Game and rabbits (product weight)	0·6
Total meat, bacon, game and poultry (edible weight)	121·0

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking in regard to the sugar estate riots in Uganda.

Strikes by sugar estate workers at Lugazi and Kakira have been settled and discussions have been arranged between the managements and the workers' representatives. Prompt action by the police restored order in scattered areas where disturbances and intimidation took place and the situation is now calm.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will state the cost of transferring the King's Own Border Regiment and supporting services, including personnel of the Royal Air Force, from the United Kingdom to the South Cameroons, the cost of maintenance from the date of arrival to the end of the current financial year, and the estimated cost for the following financial year.

The cost of transferring this force from the United Kingdom to the South Cameroons was about £290,000. Maintenance costs from the date of arrival to the end of the current financial year will be just over £600,000. Maintenance costs will continue into 1961–62 at a monthly rate of about £24,000 for so long as the force is required; in addition, it will cost about £142,000 to transport the force back to the United Kingdom. All the figures given for maintenance costs are on an extra-cost basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the unsatisfactory conditions under which some young European girls who come to learn English are living with English families, if he will arrange for an investigation of this matter for the purpose of ascertaining what protective measures are required.

Since my hon. and learned Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State received a deputation from the National Council of Women last July, on the subject of au pair arrangements, I have made careful inquiries and given this matter full and careful consideration. On my present information, I am not convinced that further action on my part of the kind suggested by the hon. Member is called for.

asked the Minister of Transport if, when authorising future motorways, he will ensure that there are not less than three lanes in each carriageway.

The number of lanes provided depends on the estimated volume of traffic that will use the motorways. Three-lane carriageways will be provided in all cases where this is clearly justified by traffic needs. Where, however, the estimated traffic on the motorway is likely for many years ahead to be within the design capacity of a dual two-lane road, only two lanes will be provided in each carriageway. It would be wasteful to spend large sums now on the provision of road capacity that will not be required for a very long time, if at all.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the closure of the Llantarnam bridge is resulting in the Llanyrafon section of the Cwmbran new town being cut off to bus passengers from Pontypool and Newport during the afternoons and after 6 p.m.; and whether he will take steps, by causing the work on the bridge to be expedited and by other means, to minimise this inconvenience.

The bridge has been closed temporarily to enable its recon- struction to be completed in the shortest possible time, and thus minimise the inconvenience to persons who normally use it. The special service which the bus company are operating during this period through Llanyrafon has been increased by two additional journeys each way in the evening during the week and at mid-day on Saturdays

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement, following discussions between his Department and local authority associations, about the problem of litter and unsanitary conditions on lay-bys.

The meeting between representatives of the local authority associations and of my Department and the other Departments concerned was exploratory. There is no easy solution to this problem because so many lay-bys are a long way from towns and their services, but a number of suggestions put forward at the meeting are being further examined. As an immediate contribution to the solution of the litter problem, I would urge motorists to take their litter home with them whenever they can.