asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether he will now supply the hon. Member for Oldham, West, with copies of the medical reports on Mr. W. S. Scholes, of Hathershaw, Oldham, details about wham were sent to him by the hon. Member on 18th September, 1960;(2) in view of the information concerning Mr. W. S. Soholes, of Hathershaw, Oldham, sent by him to the hon. Member for Oldham, West, on 7th September, 1960, if he will now state the nature of the illness and the treatment which is necessary in view of the need to satisfy conditions for war pension.

As Mr. Scholes has decided to exercise his right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, copies of the reports will be included in the statement of case and communicated to him in accordance with the Statutory Rules relating to such appeals. As the case is, therefore, sub judice I do not think it would be right for me to say more at the moment.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the number of persons in receipt of retirement pensions at the latest convenient date; and how many of that number are receiving supplementary allowances from the National Assistance Board.

The National Assistance Board informs me that at 27th September, 1960, approximately 1,048,000 weekly supplementary allowances were being paid to people also in receipt of a National Insurance retirement pension. Some of these allowances provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner. In June of this year there were approximately 5,517,000 retirement pensioners. The September figure, which is not yet available, is likely to be somewhat bigger.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will make an ex gratia payment to all who are receiving National Insurance benefits during the Christmas and New Year periods.

No. I have no power to do this.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he has received from the National Assistance Board for making increased assistance grants to all who are receiving assistance during the Christmas and New Year period.

None. The Board have, of course, no power to do this.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will give instructions that, in correspondence with Members of Parliament about individual pensions cases, Members shall, with their constituents' consent, be supplied with complete and accurate copies of medical reports instead of with summaries.

The hon. Member's suggestion raises a number of difficult questions including, inter alia, the confidentiality of medical reports. My right hon. Friend is anxious, however, to supply hon. Members with any information which they require, and is giving consideration to the question as to how this can best be done.

asked the Minister of Power what new arrangements, in respect of research into coal utilisation, have been made by his Department in accordance with paragraph 24 of the last Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy.

In consultation with his Advisory Council on Research and Development, my right hon. Friend is considering carefully the scope for intensifying research and development on all forms of coal utilisation, and possible ways of carrying it out. But he is not yet ready to announce his conclusions.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of a widespread shortage of coal at the present time; and if he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to take urgent action to remedy this situation.

There is no general shortage of coal. If the hon. Member has house coal in mind, I would refer him to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bilston (Mr. R. Edwards) on 17th November.

asked the Minister of Aviation if, as a step towards greater European unity, he will approach other European countries with a view to the creation of a European Airways Corporation in order to achieve rationalisation of European air services and economy in the numbers and types of aircraft employed.

There is already a great deal of co-operation between European airlines under pooling and other agreements in which we have played, and will continue to play a full part.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to secure the creation of a supranational police force to deal with smuggling of gold and narcotics through international airlines.

None. So far as British airlines are concerned, their security staffs already co-operate with other airlines, the Customs authorities, the local police and the International Criminal Police Organisation in suppressing these traffics.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average waiting period for non-emergency patients in south-east Glamorgan and in the borough of Barry, respectively, who are waiting to enter hospital; and how these times compare with the waiting periods five and 10 years ago.

I regret that this information is not available. Residents in Barry and south-east Glamorgan share the same hospital facilities and are treated alike in regard to admission.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many people are at present waiting for hospitals beds in the northern region; how many of these have been on the waiting list for more than two years, 18 months, 12 months, nine months, six months, and three months, respectively; and how these figures compare with those of other regions;(2) what is the average waiting period for a general hospital bed in the north region; and how this compares with other regions.

Following are the figures:Of the total of 28,544 names on waiting lists for admission to hospital in the Newcastle Region, 9,566 have been on the list for up to 2 months, 5,149 from 2 to 4 months, 7,570 from 4 to 12 months, and 6,259 for more than 12 months. These figures exclude the mentally subnormal. I regret that figures are not readily available for other periods nor for average waiting periods in this region or others; but on 30th June last there were 106·9 on waiting lists for every 100 beds in general hospitals in the Newcastle Region compared with an average of 99·3 in all other regions together.

asked the Minister of Health by whom, where, and under what circumstances, the body of the late Miss Ada Roberts, 4, Union Terrace, Nottingham, was raped and mutilated in hospital after death; and if he will make a statement.

An indecency was committed by a porter in the mortuary of Nottingham General Hospital on the body of this woman whose death occurred before admission; there was no evidence of deliberate mutilation. The porter, who admitted the commission of the act, was summarily dismissed as soon as it came to the knowledge of the hospital authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether facilities can now be made available for persons aged 40 years and over to be vaccinated against poliomyelitis.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are informed that poliomyelitis vaccine is now sufficiently plentiful to permit vaccination of those aged 40 and over who are not covered by the existing arrangements. From 1st January, 1961, family doctors will be able to vaccinate any such persons who, they consider, requires this protection.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals he will make to the Ten-Nation Committee on Disarmament to establish machinery, within the framework of the United Nations, to exchange observers on a reciprocal basis at agreed military bases, domestic and foreign, in order to reduce international tension over possibilities of surprise attack.

This proposal was included among those tabled at Geneva by the United States Delegation on 27th June. As my right hon. and learned Friend, the then Foreign Secretary, told the House on 29th June, those proposals were welcomed and supported by us.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals he intends to make on the Ten-Nation Committee on Disarmament to meet the Russian objection that a weapons control system, if unrelated to the actual implementation of disarmament, may lend itself to purposes of espionage and the collection of intelligence data for hostile purposes.

None. Neither we nor our allies have proposed a weapons control system unrelated to the implementation of disarmament measures. Nor have we proposed any control for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which we should not be ready to accept ourselves.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation concerning the urgent need for the Afro-Asian Conciliation Commission to proceed to the Congo.

None. I do not consider this is a matter in which it would be proper for Her Majesty's Government to intervene. The Secretary-General's Congo Advisory Committee (of whose Afro-Asian members the Conciliation Mission will be composed) are, I understand, responsible for arranging the departure of the Commission, and I have no doubt they are fully aware of the considerations which the hon. Gentleman has in mind.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what United Kingdom or Colonial subjects are in United Nations or other custody in the former Belgian Congo; and what representations have been made for their release.

The only citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies now known to be in custody in the Congo, is Kristos Michael Nungovich, a Cypriot, who was recently arrested in the Oriental Province. He is alleged to have shot and killed a United Nations Ethiopian Military Police officer. Inquiries are being made as to the conditions of his detention, whether he will be brought to trial and on what charge, and whether he requires legal aid.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what specific proposals he will make for enlarging the Security Council of the United Nations.

We have already stated in the United Nations that we would welcome an expansion of the Economic and Social Council by up to six members and an increase in the size of the Security Council by two members.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed Aberdeen workers who, during the last 12 months, went to England and the south of Scotland seeking work have been obliged to return home to Aberdeen owing to redundancy; and what steps he is taking to provide them with work.

Precise figures are not available but it is estimated that, apart from those placed in seasonal or contract work, about 20 have returned owing to redundancy. The Aberdeen Employment Exchange makes every effort to place those concerned in employment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, for the last

NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN ABERDEEN AND THE REST OF ABERDEENSHIRE (EXCLUDING ABERDEEN) AT 14TH NOVEMBER, 1960
Industries				Aberdeen					Rest of Aberdeenshire
							Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
Agriculture and Horti culture		…	…	115	4	6	—	125	188	9	25	8	230
Fishing	…	…	…	191	—	—	—	191	287	16	—	—	303
Bacon Curing, Fish and Meat Products			…	56	1	45	—	102	71	9	110	5	195
Shipbuilding and Shiprepairing		…	…	113	—	2	—	115	12	—	—	—	12
Spinning and doubling of cotton flax, and manmade fibres		…	…	25	—	11	—	36	—	—	—	—	—
Bricks, Pottery, Glass, Cement, etc.		…	…	55	—	—	—	55	4	1	—	—	5
Timber	…	…	…	95	1	—	—	96	12	2	—	—	14
Construction		…	…	303	—	1	—	304	94	5	—	—	99
Sea Transport		…	…	78	5	1	—	84	15	—	1	—	16
Distributive Trades			…	268	2	114	5	389	50	2	51	5	108
Entertainment and Sport				58	—	11	—	69	4	2	2	1	9
Catering and Hotels etc.				83	—	61	3	147	9	—	17	4	30
Private Domestic Service				17	—	38	2	57	5	—	42	2	49
Local Government Service	…	…	…	171	—	20	—	191	6	—	2	—	8
Other Industries and Services	…	…	…	656	4	285	5	950	166	8	100	7	281
Total all industries and vices	…	…	…	2,284	17	595	15	2,911	923	54	350	32	1,359

As the answer to the first part of the Question consists of a Table of figures, I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.There is no information available about the number of persons from Aberdeen seeking employment in England and Wales and the south of Scotland. During the 12 months ended 31st October, 1960, however, the Aberdeen Employment Exchange placed 824 men and 8 women in England and Wales and 35 men and 2 women in Scotland south of the Clyde and the Forth.I am satisfied that my local office at Aberdeen provides an efficient placing service and I have no special plans in view.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed registered at the Romford Employment Exchange at the latest convenient date, and for corresponding dates in 1954 and 1959.

513 on 14th November, compared with 452 in November, 1954, and 478 in November, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to receive the report of the Committee which is inquiring into the operation of the Truck Acts.

The Committee has finished taking evidence and is now considering its recommendations. I am sure it will report as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour how many lodging allowances, household removal grants, and grants towards the costs of buying and selling a house were made during the most recent convenient three-month period to help those seeking employment in another area.

During the quarter ended 30th September, 1960, 697 applications were admitted for lodging allowances, 146 for household removal assistance and 44 for grants towards the costs of buying and selling a house. The number of lodging allowances current at the end of the quarter was 943.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken as a result of the recommendations of the official Committee of Inquiry on anthrax.

More than half of the Committee's 28 recommendations proposed changes in the law. Representations against some of these proposals have been followed by consultations with the interests concerned and I am now considering the action to take. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Health have made regulations making anthrax a notifiable disease under the Public Health Acts.Action has been taken as follows on the recommendations which do not require changes in the law. Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate and local health service authorities are taking steps to improve the arrangements for early diagnosis and treatment of suspected cases of anthrax.Preliminary discussions with both sides of the port transport industry about precautions in docks, wharves and warehouses have shown the need for further inquiries which are to be made by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many home-work centres are based on Remploy factories; how many home-workers are now employed; and whether it is proposed to expand this aspect of Remploy's work.

Eight home-work centres based on Remploy factories provide work for 175 home-workers. The Company hopes to extend these facilities in areas where there is a need for them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many meetings have been held this year by the inter-Departmental Committee dealing with the employment problems of older men and women; and whether he will make a statement on the results of the Committee's work.

The Committee has not yet met this year but it is proposed to call a meeting shortly after which I propose to consider the need for its continuance. Its main work, so far, has been to approve the publication of a booklet, "The Older Worker and His Job", reviewing recent research, which was prepared by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at the request of my Department. I am sending a copy of the booklet to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the monthly figures of persons registered as unemployed at each of the employment exchanges in the area covered by the Durham constituency commencing with November, 1959, up to the latest convenient month.

WORKERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE DURHAM CONSTITUENCY
Date				Durham Employment Exchange	Haswell Employment Exchange	Houghton-le-Spring Employment Exchange	Spennymoor Employment Exchange
1959
November	…	…	…	536	201	704	477
December	…	…	…	523	201	755	480
1960
January	…	…	…	555	187	732	513
February	…	…	…	631	206	757	564
March	…	…	…	585	196	693	537
April	…	…	…	551	201	702	512
May	…	…	…	527	166	679	500
June	…	…	…	530	150	611	528
July	…	…	…	477	182	584	413
August	…	…	…	483	176	571	425
September	…	…	…	507	180	609	428
October	…	…	…	482	190	608	421
November	…	…	…	467	197	656	420

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food haw many of the primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurring in Great Britain during the past five years his advisers have attributed to infection brought by South American meat, and how many to infection brought by migrating birds from the Continent; and in how many cases it has not been possible to establish the probable agent of infection.

During the five years to 1959, 62 primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been attributed by my department to infected South American meat and 46 to infection brought from the Continent, probably by birds. The origin of the remaining 12 outbreaks was obscure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Minister for Science, what is the annual cost to Her Majesty's Government of the Foot-and-Mouth Research Institute, Pirbright; and whether the Institute is conducting research into the possibility of building up immunity by balancing mineral deposits in soil.

The following table gives the information desired:

The annual cost, excluding capital expenditure, is about £300,000. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the reasons why he considers it desirable compulsorily to slaughter, not only animals infected with foot-and-mouth disease, but also those which are contacts; and what has been the cost of compensation, on an annual average, during the past 10 years.

Foot-and-mouth disease is extremely infectious and it is necessary to slaughter animals which have been in contact with the disease in order to reduce the risk of further spread. The Gowers Committee, which studied the problem and reported in 1954, fully endorsed this policy.The average cost of compensation for the whole of Great Britain over the last 10 years has been £592,000 annually.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it has now been possible to trace the origin of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the county of Northumberland.

The origin has not been traced despite exhaustive inquiries. The passage of lime means, I am afraid, that it is now unlikely to be discovered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the foot-and-mouth situation; whether the first outbreak in the present series spreading from England to Scotland occurred in pigs fed on swill; and if the origin of the infection has now been traced.

Since 6th November and up to midnight yesterday 193 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed. Of these 79 have been in East Anglia, 27 in the North and North-East of England, 20 in the Midlands 1 in the Home Counties and 66 in Scotland. The numbers of stock to be compulsorily slaughtered total 13,220 cattle, 16,410 sheep and 5,660 pigs.There is still no evidence that the present series of outbreaks can be definitely attributed to the use of infected swill or waste food. It now seems unlikely that the origin will be discovered because of the passage of time.

ONE-BEDROOM DWELLINGS COMPLETED, OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES, APRIL, 1945–31ST OCTOBER, 1960
Region					Total number of one-bedroom dwellings completed or under construction	Completions April, 1945 to 31st October, 1960		Under construction at 31st October, 1960
										Houses	Flats	Houses	Flats
Northern		…	…	…	18,754	9,173	6,286	680	2,615
East and West Ridings				…	25,310	6,249	13,879	961	4,221
North Midlands			…	…	14,634	6,538	4,802	1,746	1,548
Eastern		…	…	…	17,780	5,944	8,883	576	2,377
London	…	…	…	…	51,857	4,327	41,869	223	5,438
Southern		…	…	…	12,782	4,006	6,169	531	2,076
South Western		…	…	…	14,003	3,547	7,657	1,211	1,588
Wales	…	…	…	…	5,724	1,795	2,236	456	1,237
Midlands		…	…	…	28,686	6,785	17,003	979	3,919
North Western			…	…	33,920	10,399	18,225	889	4,407
South Eastern		…	…	…	13,963	3,642	8,336	445	1,540
Total		…	…	…	237,413	62,405	135,345	8,697	30,966

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many old people's bungalows have been constructed or are under construction in Staffordshire; and what grants his Department has paid towards the scheme.

Up to 31st October, housing authorities in Staffordshire had built 11,026 one-bedroom dwellings

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many old people's bungalows have been constructed or are under construction; in what regions they are; and what is the present annual level of grants made by his Department towards this scheme.

My records classify dwellings according to number of bedrooms only. Figures for one-bedroom dwellings, which are the type particularly suitable for old people, are set out in the table below.One-bedroom houses built for slum clearance purposes attract a subsidy of £22 1s. a year for 60 years. Otherwise the subsidy is £10 a year. Higher amounts are payable for flats in blocks of four or more storeys.since the war, of which 3,110 are houses and 7,916 flats. They have a further 1,941 under construction, of which 446 are houses and 1,495 flats.I am unable to say how much subsidy is payable on these particular dwellings, because this depends on the date when and the purposes for which they were erected, and I do not possess this information in detail.

asked the Minister of Defence whether to enable him to reach an earlier decision as to whether, and when, a Polaris-type submarine will be required, as opposed to a Dreadnought-type submarine, he will ensure that plans and drawings are prepared without delay.

From the close contacts between the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy we are obtaining full information about the Polaris-type submarine. We have no need to make detailed plans and drawings in order to decide whether this type of submarine will be required.

asked the Minister of Defence what was the nature of the discussion which took place at the recent South East Asia Treaty Organisation meeting about the danger to peace arising from the present situation in Laos.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the meeting of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation Military Advisers Committee which opened in Bangkok on 16th November. The discussions of this Committee are confidential and I cannot add anything to the communiqué issued after the meeting, the text of which I am placing in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority the Collectors Clerical Promotions Appeal Committee of the Board of Inland Revenue refuses to grant a personal hearing to a member of the staff of the Board of Inland Revenue, when such personal hearings are specifically provided for, at the appellant's personal expense, in the terms and conditions of appointment; and whether he will make a statement.

There is no unqualified right on the part of Inland Revenue officers to personal hearings of appeals against non-promotion, though requests for such hearings are duly considered.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what was the Purchase Tax yield on road vehicles, excluding cycles, for the years 1957–58, 1958–59, and 1959–60; and what is the estimated yield for the year 1960–61.

The figures are given in the following table:

Purchase Tax yield from road vehicles (excluding pedal cycles)
Financial year	£ million
1957–58	130·8
1958–59	167·7
1959–60	163·5
1960–61	173·5
(Budget estimate)

NOTE: The rate of tax on cars was reduced from 60 per cent. to 50 per cent. and on motor cycles from 30 per cent. to 25 per cent. from 8th April, 1959, and commercial vehicles ceased to be chargeable with purchase tax from that date. The figures for 1957–58, 1958–59 and 1959–60 include £14·2 million, £15·1 million and £3·0 million respectively in respect of commercial vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State far the Colonies if his attention has been called to a statement by the Deputy Chief Secretary of Kenya, that Africans occupy 32,000 square miles out of a total of less than 37,000 square miles of fertile high-rainfall areas in Kenya, and that Europeans farm 4,700 square miles; whether he authorised this statement; and how these figures were obtained.

I have no reason to disagree with the figures nor with what was said. I am circulating the text of the relevant part of the statement.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish in HANSARD a list of the comprehensive schools in being or under construction at the present time, giving the name of each school, the local authority area, the number of pupils attending, whether boys or girls, or both, and the date of commencement, where appropriate.

There were 130 such schools in January, 1960. Six schools which have been opened since and two under construction may be classified as comprehensive schools. Since the list is a long one, I am sending details to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education how many English students have been given awards from public funds to attend universities in Scotland; and how many of these are in respect of post-graduate students.

Seventy English students holding State Scholarships and three holding State Studentships for postgraduate work in arts subjects are at present studying at Scottish universities. Twenty-one graduates of English universities hold awards in various subjects at universities or colleges in Scotland from the D.S.I.R. and other government bodies. Similar information is not available for students holding awards from local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education when he intends to publish the report of the survey undertaken by the Social Survey unit of the Central Office of Information into the careers of holders of Higher National Certificates.

Copies of the report may be bought from the Librarian of the Social Survey Division, Central Office of Information. I do not think that it is of sufficient general interest to justify printing and publication. I am sending a copy of the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, where it is intended to carry on the work of the new official research organisation, called the British Industrial Biological Research Association, which has been formed to supplement the work of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and to study the possible effects on health of substances in food, drink, and cosmetics.

The British Industrial Biological Research Association, which is not designed to supplement the work of D.S.I.R., has been formed by industry as a co-operative industrial research organisation. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research will make a financial contribution, as in the case of many other such associations. The Association intend that its new laboratories should be sited at Leatherhead, Surrey, on land adjacent to existing laboratories of the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association. This will enable certain facilities to be shared.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish students have been given awards from public funds to attend universities in England; and how many of these are in respect of post-graduate students.

At present 85 Scottish students at universities in England hold awards from my Department; of these, 36 are post-graduate students. In addition, 59 Scottish graduates hold, at English universities or colleges awards, from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and other Government bodies concerned with research. I regret that no up-to-date information is available about the number of awards tenable in England made by education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities make provision for the housing of retired police officers who have given the full period of compulsory service; and how many local authorities make no provision for the housing of such retired police officers.

I regret that the information requested is not available. Local housing authorities deal with applications from ex-policemen, as from all others, on the basis of relative housing need, and the allocation of council houses is entirely a matter for those authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the electoral registration officer for Bristol has had to incur an extra expenditure of £400 for clerical assistance owing to the late delivery by his Department of supplies of Form A; and whether he will arrange that in future these supplies are delivered earlier in the year to avoid waste of public money.

I regret the difficulties caused by the late delivery of these forms. Every effort will be made by my Department and by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to ensure that the forms will be available earlier in future years.