asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a statement as to progress in co-operation between his Department and local authorities in the provision of information to old people about welfare services in the London area.

Yes, Sir. I am glad to say that an arrangement has now been made under which all retirement pensioners in the City of London, the 28 metropolitan boroughs and the Borough of Acton will receive from my Department with their notices of award of pension an information leaflet, incorporating an addressed inquiry card, drawing attention to the welfare services available to them in their particular areas. I hope that this scheme will begin to operate early next year.

I thank my right hon. Friend for his most welcome and most encouraging reply.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he has for prescribing occupational deafness as an industrial disease; and whether he will refer this matter to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

None, Sir, though I understand that the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has been keeping this disease under review as part of its normal duties.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has yet reached any conclusion from the wider studies of the Government's investigation into the problem of noise? Five months ago I asked him a similar Question and he said that he was keeping in touch with the matter. Would he agree that a number of countries cover occupational deafness in their industrial injuries schemes? Why should we lag behind?

In answer to the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, he will well appreciate the very real difficulties which may be encountered in bringing this particular complaint within the relevant Section of the Industrial Injuries Act. On the wider point, as he may know, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has asked its Industrial Diseases Subcommittee to keep it informed about the research which is going on.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps are taken by his Department to verify that foreign claimants of family allowances actually have their families resident in this country.

All claimants to family allowances have to make a declaration about their residence in this country and to say whether their children are living with them. People receiving allowances are required to notify the Department immediately if any of the children leave the country otherwise than for a short temporary visit; and they must complete an annual certificate showing the whereabouts of the children. Whenever it appears that the conditions may not be satisfied further inquiries are made.

While I appreciate that my right hon. Friend might be presented with some difficulty in this matter, may I ask him whether he realises that there are many thousands of citizens of foreign extraction resident in this country, most of whom have very large families, particularly the Italians? Does not he think that it would be worth while in areas of heavy concentration of foreign people to have inquiries made to make sure that the declarations made by the claimants for these family allowances are in accordance with the facts?

As I said in the last part of my Answer, when it appears that the conditions are not satisfied further inquiries are made, although I should not like to accept from my hon. Friend that they are necessarily directed to any particular nationality.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the annual cost of extending the allowance now known as the age allowance to all those in receipt of war pensions arising from the 1914–18 war and assessed at 40 per cent. or more disablement.

About £500,000 a year.

May I say that we are all very grateful for the increases in the basic rates of war pension? On the question of the age allowance, as the principle has been accepted that the disabilities bring burdens with increasing age, is there not a very strong case for making the payment of this allowance to all those disabled in the First World War, who have, after all, suffered from their disabilities for more than 40 years?

I have no doubt that the hon. Gentleman knows that the average age of those disabled in the First World War is now about 68, and a very substantial proportion of them are therefore entitled to this allowance, if their assessment is high enough. In any event, I do not think that the hon. Gentleman's proposal to pay the age allowance simply to men of the First World War regardless of age, thus cutting out men of the Second World War of the same age, really would be fair.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at a meeting of hon. Members of both sides of the House the B.L.E.S.M.A. executive recently expressed its tremendous appreciation of what the Minister has done for the disabled ex-Service men in his new proposals? However, the next Question on the Order Paper and at least two others concern grievances which hon. Members on both sides wish to press on the Minister. Will he use his influence with the Leader of the House to ensure that we have an opportunity to debate the problem of disabled ex-Service men?

I think that everything in that supplementary question is in order except the references to the two other Questions on the Order Paper.

I considered this proposal, which had been put to me by outside bodies, before coming to a conclusion on the proposals which I announced to the House on 2nd November. I am bound to say that, for the reasons I have frequently given at this Box and outside, I should not have thought that this particular claim had such strength as to entitle it to priority over the many other directions in which money can very usefully be expended on war pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the cost of arranging medical examinations and a review of the individual cases of all surviving severely disabled war pensioners.

I understand that the hon. Member has in mind cases of assessments of 40 per cent. or above arising from the 1914–18 war. On this assumption, the answer is £750,000.

Is there not a considerable amount of evidence that, because of ignorance and the complexity of the Regulations, and so on, a great many pensioners are not getting the pension to which they are rightly entitled? While the Ministry does a good deal to bring the rules and regulations to the attention of pensioners, is there not a case for saying that the only satisfactory way of making sure that pensioners get that to which they are entitled is to arrange a regular medical examination, say, once every two or three years?

I fully share the hon. Gentleman's objective of securing that every war pensioner gets that to which he is entitled, but I do not think that this proposal is a very good one, partly because I am quite certain that to order medical examinations in respect of men, many of whom have had a final award pension for about 40 years, would cause both resentment and unhappiness, and partly because I am sure that in other cases it might well raise false hopes. The proposal was made to me some time ago, but, for the reasons which I have tried to summarise, I do not think that it is a good idea.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the problem behind this Question? Is he aware that voluntary organisations, like B.L.E.S.M.A., have discovered numbers of cases in which ex-Service men are not getting the dues to which they are entitled and that only voluntary efforts have brought them to the notice of the Minister?

I am grateful for the co-operation of the voluntary bodies which, together with my own welfare officers, seek to bring forward any case in which they think the award can be improved. In dealing with those cases, we seek to give them the benefit of the doubt. However, I am extremely doubtful, for the reasons which I gave in my earlier answer, whether this proposal for universal boarding would be a wise one.

asked the Minister of Power what action he proposes to take on the report made to him by the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council with regard to the desirability of retail coal merchants stating the National Coal Board's quality grouping of the different coals they sell when supplying their customers.

asked the Minister of Power if he has considered the Report of the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council; and what action he proposes to take.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Whitlock) on 21st November.

Will my right hon. Friend represent to the chairman-designate of the National Coal Board that, if the Board is to remain competitive with other domestic fuels, it is vital that when the best coal is asked for and paid for it should be supplied?

I think that both the chairman and the chairman-designate are well aware of that great truth.

asked the Minister of Power when he expects to receive from the coal trade proposals for ensuring that coal be sold in accordance with recognised groupings.

I cannot give a date, but I am sure the trade appreciates the need to move quickly.

Would the right hon. Gentleman remember that every day there is delay in taking action in this matter some consumers are being swindled and the coal trade is being unfairly handicapped in its competition with other fuels?

I should like to emphasise the small number of coal merchants whom the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council had in mind When it made its recommendation. I think the hon. Gentleman agrees with that, but I know his interest in this matter, and I think he knows mine, and I am most anxious that I should get proposals from the trade as soon as possible. I hope they will not be long.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the high price of coke sold in 28 lb. bags, he will take powers to control the price of coke sold in this way.

No, Sir. Coke prices, like those of other fuels, are best settled by competition between sellers.

Is not that a rather ridiculous reply which makes even the hon. Gentleman himself smile? Does not he realise that, even allowing for the extra cost of packing, the cost works out at the moment at £22 a ton and that many old-age pensioners, especially in London and in smokeless zones, cannot buy their fuels in another way because they have no storage facilities? In any event, why should coke cost so much more than coal?

It is understood that Sebrite, the open-fire gas coke made by the South-Eastern Gas Board, is sold in south London at 3s. 8d. a 28 lb. bag—that is, 14s. 8d. a cwt., compared with the normal cwt. price of 11s. 6d.

It is still far too much.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the recommendations on organisation of the Wilson Committee on Coal Derivatives contained in paragraph 215, subsections 35–39.

Both the National Coal Board and the Gas Council agree with the Committee that, in the field covered by its terms of reference, coal is likely to derive the greatest benefit from the improvement of existing methods and the development of new methods of gasification.

Will the right hon. Gentleman urge the Gas Council to speed up the job of the Lurgi gasification process? Would not he agree that it is far more important to develop our indigenous resources than to go on importing methane?

I can assure the hon. Member that the Gas Council is very well aware of the importance of the Lurgi process. I hope that the Lurgi plant in Fife will begin operating next year and that substantial progress will quickly be made with the other Lurgi plant. I think the Gas Council is well aware of the importance of these two.

asked the Minister of Power what proportions of the capital expenditure programmes up to 1961–62 of the National Coal Board and Gas Council, respectively, will be met out of the internal resources of the boards.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the White Paper on borrowings which will be published in the spring and will give information about 1960–61 and 1961–62.

If the White Paper on the investment programme is to be followed, it would appear that the National Coal Board will be able to finance only a small proportion of its capital expenditure. Does not this indicate that the closest scrutiny of its capital expenditure is needed, particularly in view of the case reported this morning of a power station, built in Derbyshire at a cost of £500,000, which is to be pulled down after six weeks of use?

I certainly think that it is very necessary for us to pay great attention to these affairs, but it is impossible to work out the problems of self-financing until rather more information is available. I hope that it will be available by the time of the spring White Paper.

asked the Minister of Power whether he has completed his examination of the general problem of pipeline development; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received comments from the organisations and bodies that have been consulted. These are being examined in the light of views expressed in Parliament. I am giving serious consideration to proposals for introducing now legislation, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that a new Private Bill is to be presented for a substantial extension of trunk lines and that other developments are contemplated by private interests? Is it not of the utmost importance, therefore, that as soon as possible we should have a co-ordinated national policy on the question of pipelines? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us when he will be in a position to make a statement of policy and what his attitude is towards the Private Bill which has been presented?

I will certainly make a statement as early as I can. It will not be this year, but I hope that it will be fairly early next year. We are nearly at the end of November, so it is not very long away. As far as the Government's attitude to the new proposed Bill is concerned, I think it is impossible for the Government to give support to that Bill in the light of the recommendation of the Select Committee, and while we are also awaiting the results of the inquiry which I promised.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the laying of pipelines may well condition national policy in the industries concerned? Would not it be most unfortunate if the nationalised industries, having looked at their policies, were then forced in some way to alter them because of the positioning of the pipes?

These are all questions which we ought to consider before we come to a conclusion about future policy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman always bear in mind, if there is to be any extension of pipelines, that there is a very strong amenity aspect to be considered, and will he promise us that he will watch that himself carefully?

I will watch it very carefully indeed, but fortunately, as the hon. Gentleman knows, most of these pipes go underground and so they are at least hidden from view.

asked the Minister of Power what information regarding Government-owned oil pipelines he make's available to private developers and users of pipelines.

My Department makes available to other pipeline developers or users any information they want about the Government-owned pipeline system, subject to certain security conditions.

Yes, but it is fairly obvious that a large number of people—in fact, hundreds of people—must be made aware of the existence and routes of these Government-owned pipelines, and is it not really rather ridiculous at this time to suggest, as the right hon. Gentleman did in his Answer to a Written Question from me on Friday, that no public information could be given about routes of these pipelines? How can we possibly make an assessment of the needs for pipeline development in this country and of the proposals put forward by private developers unless we possess this information?

I sympathise with the hon. Member, and it is a little confusing, but the position is that the public do know the broad routes of these pipelines. Before closer and more detailed information is given, I think it is right that there should be certain inquiries and certain precautions taken to see that the particular detailed routes of each pipeline are not misused.

asked the Minister of Power how much money has been spent by Messrs. Richard Thomas and Baldwin on capital development at Newport for the specific purpose of receiving and handling Oxfordshire iron ore.

I understand the company has spent about £250,000 and is committed to spend a further £1,350,000 for this purpose, but I am told the plant can, if necessary, handle ore from other sources.

Can my right hon. Friend say why this expenditure was authorised before the result of this inquiry was announced? Does he not think that possibly Richard Thomas and Baldwin were trying to influence the result of the inquiry?

I should like to make it perfectly clear, if it is suggested that this expenditure was incurred in order to blackmail the Minister of Housing and Local Government, that anyone who knows my right hon. Friend would think that was ineffective; but the company was in the position that it had to make plans in order to be in time to receive ore, and, as I have told my hon. Friend, I am informed by the company, having made inquiries about this, that if the decision were to go against it, there would have been incurred very little nugatory expenditure.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people feel that, provided the price of imported foreign ore is kept within reasonable bounds by the supplying companies, there is very little justification for further exploitation of the opencast iron ore mining in the Midlands in this country, and that those valuable seams should be kept as a strategic reserve?

This is a matter for the inquiry, and my hon. Friend will not expect me to pronounce upon it today.

I wonder if the right hon. Gentleman has noted that if this scheme were carried out to the full the ground in this area, a very beautiful area, would be let down about 8 ft. overall and that it would mean the destruction of trees and the flattening out of natural hills. Is it really worth it? Is not the hon. Gentleman the Member for Gains-borough (Mr. Kimball) quite right in suggesting that we should be better served if we built large carriers to bring the ore in from abroad and kept ours as a reserve?

I think that there was a certain amount of discussion of this point at the inquiry.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what would be the effect on the balance of payments if indeed we were to discard home-produced ore in favour of imported ore?

I could not give that information without notice, I am afraid.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to encourage civil flying and the provision of suitable airfields for this purpose in North Wales.

Any operator wishing to provide a civil air service in North Wales has been able to apply to the Air Transport Advisory Council, which is about to be replaced by the Air Transport Licensing Board, for the necessary approval or licence. As to the provision of suitable airfields the possibility of using Hawarden for regular air services is under consideration. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air has agreed to provide facilities by prior arrangement at Valley in Anglesey for occasional civil flights.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that that is highly unsatisfactory? Is he aware that Wales is the only country in the British Commonwealth that is not served either by B.E.A. or B.O.A.C. and that it is really a scandalous state of affairs? Will he hold negotiations with officials of B.E.A. to see whether some start could be made so that the people in Wales can have the benefit of internal air transport?

I realise, as I know the hon. Member does also, the difficulties which exist in North Wales in regard to the provision of these services. The provision of the services themselves is, of course, a matter for the operator, at any rate in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress he has made in his negotiations for joint civil and military air traffic control in Europe and a standard system of air movement notification.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member last Thursday.

Is the Minister aware that that seemed to me a very unsatisfactory reply? Can the Minister say when he hopes to be able to make a further statement to the House?

I will willingly take any opportunity to make a statement. I am prepared to sign the Eurocontrol Convention on 13th December, which, I think, is a substantial advance on the European side of it. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air and I are making quite rapid advances and we hope by the end of January to have joint teams, civil and military, watching something like 90 per cent. of the upper air space of this country. So we are getting on with the job.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give more details of his proposals for improving national aviation policy.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss) on 21st November.

But does the right hon. Gentleman realise that we can have no real national policy for aviation till he gives a decision with regard to the building of a supersonic airliner? Can he tell us when he is going to get beyond the project stage and come to the contract stage? Does he realise that the Convair Company in America has now reached the contract stage and that we shall be left far behind unless the right hon. Gentleman comes to a firm decision on this matter?

I think that we ought to be a little cautious before we place a contract for a supersonic air transport. It is essentially a project which costs a great deal of money and on which a good deal of international co-operation is very worth while. I am trying to secure the latter.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress has been made with the construction of additional earth banks or baffle walls to abate aircraft noise at London Airport; and whether he will state an approximate completion date.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the number of earth banks, or baffle walls, that have been constructed at London Airport to abate aircraft noise; and what is the proposed number of additional ones.

Two earth banks have been built at London Airport, one by B.O.A.C. and one by Air India. The planning preparations for the construction of a second earth bank by B.O.A.C. and a noise barrier by Pan American are nearly complete and I hope that the airlines concerned will soon be able to occupy the sites and embark on speedy construction.

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, I should like to ask him, in the interests of the local residents, if he will endeavour to speed up completion earlier than I think he has in mind, because these earth banks will help to abate aircraft noise.

We certainly agree that these earth banks and noise barriers should be completed as soon as possible, and my right hon. Friend is doing all he can to hasten completion.

Can the hon. Gentleman say anything about the completion date of the Pan-American project, because it has been hanging fire for a very long period?

If all goes well—that includes many factors outside our control—it should be completed by next winter.

Would my hon. Friend be good enough to explain the difference between an earth bank and a noise barrier?

An earth bank is an earth bank and a noise barrier is usually either a building or a wall.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement concerning the main provisions of the Euro-control Convention.

The Eurocontrol Convention provides for the setting up of a permanent Commission for the safety of air navigation, and an air traffic services agency which will be responsible for providing air traffic control service in the upper air-space of France, the Benelux countries, Western Germany and the United Kingdom.

Is this convention solely concerned with control in the upper air space? I gather from two replies made by the right hon. Gentleman that this is the part which is to be emphasised. Does he realise that within the airways up to the height of 25,000 feet the continuing crossing and passing along those airways by military aircraft are a source of continual danger to civil aircraft?

I am well aware of this problem, which I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air are tackling urgently in this country. But the hon. Gentleman is quite right—Eurocontrol is primarily concerned with the control of the upper air-space.

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by upper airspace? How high is the limit?

In the case of this country, it is over 25,000 feet, but for other Eurocontrol countries it is over 20,000 feet.

In view of that, what steps is the Minister taking to secure protection for civil air passengers at the lower limits in the airways?

The first step to take is to make quite certain that in this country we are taking all the urgent steps which are required to have a fully integrated civil-military system for the control both of civil and military aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation what financial assistance he has offered to aircraft firms outside the two major groups; and what requests for assistance he has received from them.

None, Sir. My Department has received a number of proposals, mainly in the light aircraft field, and these are being considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great anxiety on the part of one of these firms in particular that it will soon be running out of work? Will he consider any special steps that might be taken to provide work for this firm, of which, I believe, he is aware?

If the hon. Gentleman will let me know which firm he has in mind, I will look into this. Extension of public funds in this field must be carried out with caution and discretion. Lots of people would like public funds, but it is part of my responsibility to see that they are wisely disbursed.

May I take it that, if it puts up a good case, there is no bar on any firm outside one of the main groups from getting the funds which may be deemed appropriate?

There has been no change of policy since it was announced by my right hon. Friend, who made it plain that in the case of specialised requirements or where public policy demanded it, help could be given outside the five main aircraft groups.

asked the Minister of Aviation what use is being made of Gatwick Airport; and what plans he has for diverting traffic to Gatwick to avoid congestion at London Airport.

Eleven airlines are using the airport regularly, and there are also charter and executive flights and diversions. The estimated passenger movements for 1960 are about 475,000, compared with 367,850 last year. B.E.A. propose to transfer some of its London-Paris services to Gatwick by 1st April, 1961, and I have requested Air France to do the same. These and similar transfers of other Continental services should help to avoid congestion in the Central Terminal at London Airport.

In future plans for this airport, will my right hon. Friend take into account that British European Airways has to operate through Le Bourget and is not allowed to operate at the International Airport at Orly, whereas Air France has full use of London Airport? Should it not take a lead in moving to Gatwick?

I do not want Gatwick to be considered as a punishment. It is a very fine airport and has certain advantages for the European services.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that access to Victoria from Gatwick is just as good as access from London Airport to Cromwell Road?

At times it may be even better.

asked the Minister of Aviation what assistance he will give in the re-selling in export markets of the 15 Viscounts to be returned to this country by Capital Airlines of the United States of America.

There has in the past been a fairly ready demand for Viscounts but my help has not been asked in the disposal of these.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his encouraging news about these 15 Viscounts that have been returned home, may I ask if he is aware that there is another viscount hovering around this Chamber, and that he may require some assistance to get to his home base?

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to encourage voluntary help in the raising of funds towards the financing of projects for new hospitals or new hospital departments.

It is my hope that all concerned with the development of the hospital service will not fail to make full use of contributions towards it which voluntary funds may offer.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the general impression that voluntary funds for hospitals can be used only for purposes not directly connected with the running of the hospitals, such as patients' comforts? Will he take all possible steps to dispel this impression?

I hope that my hon. Friend's Question and my reply will help to do that.

In view of the fact that successful voluntary effort depends on local circumstances, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there should be some central supervision in order that all hospitals may be treated equitably?

What I have said is not inconsistent with the necessity for central supervision.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with plans for the new hospital at St. Austell; and if he will make a statement.

The plans originally submitted for a maternity unit have been substantially amended. A revised estimate of cost was received this month and the possibility of further economies is being urgently explored. I am anxious that building should start as soon as possible.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his last sentence will be much welcomed in St. Austell? Is he aware also that I asked about this as long ago as 16th February, but that the people in St. Austell have not seen any sign of progress towards this hospital, and that they are getting anxious?

I will keep an eye on this personally.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made towards the building of the new hospital at Truro; and if he will make a statement.

The South Western Regional Hospital Board expects that the working drawings for the first phase will be completed by the end of next month and the bills of quantities by next May.

Is the Minister aware that much the same sort of observation as I made in my supplementary question to Question No. 33 applies to Truro? This has been on the books for a very long time without any visible sign of anything being done on the ground.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what is the number of people in South Wales who have been waiting more than six months for an appointment with an eye specialist at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary; and whether, in view of the suffering caused by this delay, he will announce emergency measures to reduce the waiting period;

On 17th November, 212 patients had been waiting more than six months for out-patient appointments at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary. There are 178 ophthalmic beds in South Wales and the figures quoted by the hon. Member refer to Cardiff where the main problem lies. On 4th October, a consultant ophthalmologist was appointed to the Merthyr and Aberdare Group, and on 14th November, my right hon. Friend approved an additional consultant post for the Pontypridd and Rhondda Group. These appointments will enable the three Cardiff consultants to concentrate on the Cardiff waiting lists.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has investigated the circumstances in which Alan Smith, a boy of 12 years of age, who was kept in a ward at St. Lawrence's Hospital, Caterham, for six months, with 58 mentally-defective men, many of whom were deformed, was subjected to indecent assaults.

A committee of inquiry set up by the South West Metropolitan Regional Board has investigated this allegation and found it to be not substantiated.

Whatever may have been the result of the investigation in this case, may we have an assurance from the Minister that in future children of 12 will not be put in mental hospitals with a number of mentally defective adults?

Not necessarily. In this case the committee of inquiry addressed itself to that point and, according to the report, was "satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt" that the decision to transfer him to the ward in question was correct.

Has the Minister ascertained that these conditions do not obtain in any other hospital? This may be an exceptional case but, if these nineteenth century conditions are accepted in this way by the committee, other children may be put with men in these conditions. Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House the position in the country?

In the country at large I am informed—I think we are talking about the mentally subnormal—about 700 children are accommodated at present in adult wards. But the House will bear in mind that in many cases the nature of the children concerned and of other patients in the ward is such that it may be the best accommodation for them.

Is the Minister aware that this case received a lot of publicity which caused, quite rightly, a good deal of public anxiety? I understood him to say that the committee of inquiry found the allegations not substantiated. I take it that the right hon. Gentleman meant the allegations of indecent assault. May I ask whether he proposes to give publicity to that, by way of publishing the report, or in some other way, so that the public may be quite sure that this is not a whitewashing campaign?

The findings of the public inquiry were announced by the committee itself and were widely published in the Press. Perhaps my reply will draw further attention to the facts.

Will not the Minister ensure that the 700 children he mentioned as occupying mental wards are now removed?

As the right hon. Lady knows, we are looking forward to great improvements in mental hospital accommodation in the coming years, and that will no doubt reduce this number. But I do not think that the figures in themselves are necessarily evidence that the children concerned are inadequately cared for.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of people over 65 years of age in Gateshead requiring hospital accommodation who could not be accepted because of lack of beds and have been sent to a mental hospital.

None, Sir.

Is the hon. Lady aware that the Gateshead medical officer of health has stated in the Press that there are about 68 old people of over 65 years of age in a mental hospital, and that he went on to say that many of these old people felt it was a stigma to be sent to a mental hospital? May I ask the hon. Lady if she will re-examine this matter? Would she agree that, if the facts are as stated, the 41 additional beds for geriatric patients which she mentioned in answer to a previous Question is an inadequate number, and that something ought to be done to deal with this human problem?

If that is so, I should certainly be prepared to look at it, but I am wondering whether there is some confusion here. I am advised that in the welfare home of the county borough, which is called Fountain View, of 271 occupied places, 71 are taken by persons with some mental impairment, but that is not a mental hospital.

May I ask the hon. Lady to make further inquiries? The medical officer of health says that there has been no alternative to placing them in a mental hospital. That is regarded as quite scandalous and ought to be examined.

My information is not the same as that of the hon. Gentleman, but I will certainly look into it.

asked the Minister of Health when the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford can expect a reply to his letter of 16th September complaining of the appointment of a charge male nurse at a mental hospital who recently resigned his post of assistant chief male nurse at another mental hospital after being convicted of the theft of money belonging to patients.

I am writing to the hon. Member today. He should have had an answer to his letter long ago, and I am sorry he has not.

Now that the matter has been brought on to the Floor of the House, after an unreasonably long time, will the Minister, speaking from the Dispatch Box, say whether or not a man who was found guilty of robbing mental patients is to be allowed to enter another mental hospital, if he so desires, where he may do the same thing again? If so, will the Minister bear in mind that many of the patients in these hospitals have lost their liberty because they are not fit to look after themselves in the outside world, that they are our especial care and that we expect occurrences of this sort not to be tolerated again?

I appreciate and share the anxiety of the hon. Member. There are a number of aspects of this case which I am investigating further.

asked the Minister of Health whether regional hospital boards and hospital management committees have been empowered to pay to hospital doctors the arrears of pay from 31st December, 1959, as recommended by the Pilkington Commission and accepted by him.

Yes, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that, according to a letter I have received from some hospital doctors, they have not yet received any payment at all of these arrears, but have been told that no instructions have been received from the Ministry? Am I to take it that the answer they have been given is incorrect and that it is the regional hospital board which is holding up the payment?

The Answer which I have given the hon. Lady is, to the best of my knowledge, correct.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give recognition to the Council of Regional Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association as being representative of the majority of consultants and specialists in the National Health Service; and if he will consult with the medical profession in order to secure a review of the constitution of the staff side of the Whitley Committee B to give a fairer balance between teaching and regional hospital representatives.

No, Sir. As regards the second part of the Question, this is a matter for the staff side concerned.

Is the Minister aware that 85 per cent. of the consultant specialists are working with regional hospitals, and not in teaching hospitals, and that 90 per cent. of the clinical work is being done by these consultant specialists in the regions? Why should not they have their proper place on all committees, including the Whitley Committee?

I am aware of the facts which the hon. Member mentions, but I am satisfied that the Joint Consultants' Committee adequately represents these consultants.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total staff engaged in costing the work of dentists in the National Health Service; what is the annual cost of the dental costing department; and what savings in the cost of dental work have been achieved in the last complete twelve months as a result of the work of this department.

The total staff of the Dental Estimates Board is about 1,000, and the annual cost about £775,000. It is not possible to say how much mare the General Dental Service would cost if dentists' claims for payment were not verified.

Is my hon. Friend aware that every dentist has to take a cast of the mouth where the work involved is likely to cost more than 10s. and send it to her Department for examination, and that about 3 per cent. are examined? Is not the saving in cost achieved by this examination far outweighed by the cost of storing and the secretarial work involved?

The work involved is only a relatively small proportion of the work of the Dental Estimates Board. The much greater part of it is the routine checking of all the accounts and payments.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has of an increase in asthma among young children; and what advice his Department gives to parents and schools about the causes.

My right hon. Friend has no evidence of any increase in asthma among young children. Advice can only be given on individual cases by the family doctor, who can obtain specialist advice and treatment if necessary.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in certain schools there is evidence of an increasing amount of asthma among young children? Is any study being undertaken of conditions that would induce that, and can some advice be given to school authorities?

There is no evidence of an increase in asthma, but there is increasing interest in this condition, which may account for my hon. Friend's point. The provision of services and the knowledge of cases of asthma among schoolchildren is a matter for the local education authorities. In some areas there are specially established clinics.

Is there no evidence of an increasing incidence of disease with an emotional ætiology? Does this not include asthma? Would it not be better to have an inquiry?

That is a broader question. Perhaps the right hon. Lady would care to put it on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of cases brought to his notice of foreigners entering, or attempting to enter, this country for the purpose of medical treatment under the National Health Service.

In 1959, 1,503 aliens were reported as entering, or attempting to enter, this country for medical treatment. Six of these were refused entry. Steps were taken to ensure that the remainder paid for the treatment.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an estimate of the cost of the use of the National Health Service by foreign visitors; and what proportion this is of the total cost of the National Health Service.

No reliable estimate can be made but the proportion must be very small indeed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that in this matter he will follow the policy of all those Ministers who have held office since the inception of the National Health Service Scheme? Will he refrain from looking at this matter from a narrow nationalistic point of view or with the idea of making petty enocomies?

This thing is an abuse. However relatively small the cost, it ought, so far as is practicable, to be prevented. There has been no difference in policy in this matter since the original Act.

Would not the Minister agree that in this matter energy would be better spent trying to achieve reciprocity with other countries and not in any way tampering with the wholly civilised and reasonable provisions of the British National Health Service?

It is the provisions of the Act which I am endeavouring in this respect to carry out.

If my right hon. Friend is able to estimate that the cost is a very small proportion of the total cost, is he able to say how small is the proportion?

No, because although I know how many aliens enter this country year by year, I cannot form an estimate of how much each of them may cost the National Health Service. Even if we assess this at a very high figure indeed, an absurdly high figure, the proportion of the total cost must still be infinitesimal.

Is the Minister aware that when the Service was first introduced the idea of giving treatment to sick foreigners was not regarded as an abuse but that we gloried in it? Does not he think that he would sustain the traditions of this House much better if he repudiated the attempts of his hon. Friends to undermine this Service?

I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. There has never been any question about persons from abroad who fall sick in this country receiving attention under the National Health Service. That has not been in question from either side of the House. But it is not in accordance with the intention of the Act that aliens should come to this country for the purpose of getting treatment under the Act.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons who suffered from acute chest infections for each of the preceding three years, and the number of those who, after recovery, were left with some permanent disability.

Figures are not available in the form requested, but a sample survey in England and Wales showed that about I person in 40 suffered from pneumonia or acute bronchitis in the year May, 1955—April, 1956. I regret that I have no figures bearing on the second part of the Question.

Does not that Answer reveal that something like 1 million people are being affected, and is not this an acute problem in this country? Will the Minister do his best to encourage further research? Is he aware of the research being done at the General College of Practitioners and is he giving any aid to that research?

Perhaps the hon. Member would put down a Question on that specific point.

In view of the serious nature of the Minister's Answer, could he tell the House now or at some later date what liaison he has with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government with regard to air pollution, and inform us of the extent of the steps which he is taking to reduce the incidence of chest diseases?

Steps concerned with the reduction of air pollution are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.