asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to curtail apple imports from the continent of Europe.

Imports of apples from the Continent of Europe and other countries outside the sterling area are already restricted by quota.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out in tabular form the change in industrial production and in the engineering industry in 1948, 1958, 1959, and 1960.

The table below sets out the United Kingdom Index of Industrial Production for all industries (Orders II to XVIII of the Standard Industrial Classification (1958)) and for the engineering and allied industries (Orders VI to IX of the Standard Industrial Classification (1958)) in the years 1948, 1958, 1959 and in the first 9 months of 1959 and 1960.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out in tabular form figures of the volume of output, numbers employed, and output per man hour in industry generally and in the engineering industry in particular for 1913, 1938, 1950, 1959, or in the latest available year.

There is no official index of the volume of industrial production in the United Kingdom for all industry or for the engineering industries over the whole period 1913 to 1959, but I am writing to the hon. Member about certain information which is available from non-official sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether further negotiations have now taken place with the United States Government about the new American wool fabric tariff.

No further negotiations have yet taken place and I cannot foresee when it would be fruitful to set them in train. But as my right hon. Friend said to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Hirst) on 10th November, he will seek such negotiations at the earliest appropriate opportunity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the numbers of applications for grants and loans made from each scheduled area in Wales under the Local Employment Act, 1960; how many have been approved; how many rejected: and how many are under consideration.

To avoid disclosure of the affairs of individual firms, the areas have been grouped geographically.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to control hire-purchase transactions by doorstep salesmen.

My right hon. Friend understands that the Committee on Consumer Protection has announced its intention of reviewing certain aspects of trading by hire purchase. When its report is available, he will consider whether there should be control of the activities of door-to-door salesmen in this field.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the effect that the recession in the car industry is having on ancillary industries in the West Midlands area; and what action he proposes to prevent the spreading of short-time working and redundancy.

I am aware that some firms manufacturing components and accessories for the motor industry are being affected by the current difficulties in the industry. The motor industry is confident that its difficulties, and hence those of the component manufacturers, can be overcome.

asked the Prime Minister what negotiations have taken place between the United States of America and the European North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries for the setting up of a three-ringed nuclear rocket force in Europe; and whether he will take immediate steps to consult with the President-elect of the United States of America about the possibility of a summit conference with Mr. Khrushchev before such a plan is put into operation.

The answer to the first part of this Question is "None". The remainder of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister on what date he gave Sir Roy Welensky permission to make public the fact that he had given Sir Roy Welensky an assurance that the terms of reference of the Monckton Commission would not extend to the subject of secession.

As Sir Roy Welensky has himself pointed out, it is the tradition not to publish the contents of private correspondence between Commonwealth Prime Ministers. If they are referred to at all, it is only in general terms. Both Sir Roy Welensky and I have adhered to this convention throughout. The question of permission, therefore, does not arise on either side.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement regarding his visit to Italy.

My visit to Italy, on which I was accompanied by my noble Friend, the Foreign Secretary, was made at the invitation of the Italian Government. It returned the visit which the then Italian Prime Minister paid to this country last year.We had full and valuable discussions with the Italian Prime Minister, Signor Fanfani, and Foreign Minister, Signor Segni. The details of our talks were confidential, but an agreed communiqué was issued on 22nd November. This reported that the discussions covered the main aspects of the present international situation, and in particular the importance of solidarity within the Atlantic Alliance, the situation in Africa, the work of the United Nations, with special reference to disarmament, and aid to under-developed countries.We also discussed the question of relations between the Six and the Seven and the importance of finding a solution to this problem. We agreed that there should be further informal exchanges between us about the special difficulties which face Italy in this connection.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the growth of crime and the failure of local and other planning authorities adequately to ensure the equipment of buildings against illegal entry and the need for the co-operation of all concerned with the crime prevention offices of the police authorities throughout the United Kingdom, he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine the problem of building standards, and their designs and bow best potential victims and the responsible authorities can together make crime less easy.

No. I do not think that an inquiry into building standards would serve the purpose which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind. I am sure that the right approach is, as he suggests, better co-operation between the occupiers of premises and the police; and a Royal Commission is not necessary to secure that. I understand that chief officers of police are giving special attention to this matter and are receiving increasing co-operation from the public.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to the recent alert of American forces on British soil, arising from a miscalculation abroad; and if he will raise with the President of the United States of America the question of preventing such incidents, because of the danger of accidental war arising from miscalculation or muddle.

asked the Prime Minister on what date United States aeroplanes, operating from bases in the United Kingdom, were alerted as a result of mistakes in the radar aerials and computers at the United States Radar Station, Thule, Greenland; whether he was consulted; and whether British aeroplanes were also alerted in any part of the world.

No British forces and no United States forces in this country were alerted on the occasion to which the hon. Members refer.I am satisfied that our precautions are amply sufficient to prevent nuclear war starting as a result of an accident on the part of the West.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the danger to Great Britain as a result of accidental nuclear war, he will consult with the President of the United States of America with a view to improving present arrangements for co-operation in, and co-ordination of, the radar warning systems of the two countries.

I am satisfied that our arrangements are amply sufficient to prevent nuclear war starting as a result of an accident on the part of the West.The arrangements for co-operation in, and co-ordination of, radar warning systems between ourselves and the United States are excellent.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the date of the next Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting.

I have been consulting the Prime Ministers of the other Commonwealth countries, and we have agreed to hold a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' meeting in London early next March. I am sure the House will feel, as I do, that at the present juncture in world affairs, a meeting of this kind should prove timely and valuable.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations contained in the Fifth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, of last Session, that the four archælogists recently added to the staff of the English Royal Commission should be transferred to the staff of the Ancient Monuments Branch of the Ministry of Works.

This recommendation will be considered in the light of the findings of the Working Group, under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what proposals he has to deal with the special problems of the remaining local authority areas faced with slum clearance problems.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Mapp) on 22nd November.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will issue information on the lines of the booklet published by the Willesden International Friendship Committee, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, in order to help in the housing difficulties which face immigrants from the Colonies and Commonwealth.

I have already arranged for advice on the range of matters dealt with in this booklet to be available to immigrants, and others, through the Citizen's Advice Bureaux. In addition, a special service for West Indian immigrants is provided by their Commissioner's staff and they are aware of the booklet.I am always glad to see publications of this kind; they are a valuable local supplement to existing services.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what percentage of all the housing in England and Wales he estimates to be let at rents with no element of subsidy or control.

The number of houses and flats let by private owners is about 5½ million. Of these I estimate that about 2 million are for a variety of reasons not subject to control. About 3½ million dwellings are let by local authorities and new town corporations, and the rents of almost all of these contain some element of subsidy. There are between 5½ and 6 million owner-occupied houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the number of houses estimated to be unfit for human habitation in 1950; and what number of them had been cleared by 31st October, 1960, in the boroughs of Batley and Morley, respectively.

I regret that I have no figures for 1950. In 1955 Batley Borough Council estimated that there were 4,796 unfit houses in their area; Morley Borough Council 2,661 in theirs. Up to 30th September last, the latest date for which I have precise information, Batley had demolished or closed 446 unfit houses, and Morley 481.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the policy of his Department in dealing with appeals from the refusal of planning authorities to grant planning permission for the erection of dwelling houses of modern design.

My policy is to accept the design of a new house where I consider it to be good in itself and properly related to its surroundings, whether it is traditional or modern.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what are the latest available figures, relating to rating and valuation, corresponding to the totals for England and Wales as in April, 1959, of Table C in Appendix VIII of his annual report for 1959, Command Paper 1207; what were, in April, 1959, and at the latest available date, the percentages of the total rateable value and of the total rate product, including contributions in lieu of rates, in England and Wales attributable, respectively, to industrial and freight-transport hereditaments, to hereditaments benefiting from abatement under section one of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1957, to dwellings, and to other hereditaments, including property occupied by or on behalf of the Crown in respect of which contributions in lieu of rates are paid.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the average time taken by his Department during the last three years in dealing with appeals from planning authorities under Section 16 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, in cases where the parties disagree with a public inquiry; and whether he will take steps to expedite the decision of such appeals.

About 5 months. My right hon. Friend is doing all he can to reduce this, but where no inquiry is held the main factor is the time taken by the parties in submitting their written statements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what special arrangements he makes for local authorities which inherit subsidence from different causes, where such land has to be used for housing.

A special subsidy of up to £2 a house for 60 years is payable where the cost of building is substantially enhanced by measures taken for protection against mining subsidence. Costs incurred in making a site which has suffered from subsidence suitable for housing may also be taken into account in determining eligibility for expensive site subsidy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to recommend the appointment of the Local Government Commission to consider the south-east Lancashire special review area; when they will begin their review of the area; who will be the members; and what will be their individual qualifications for the task.

The Local Government Act, 1958, does not provide for the appointment of separate Commissions to review different parts of the country. The south-east Lancashire special review area will therefore be examined by the Local Government Commission for England. It is primarily for the Commission to decide the order in which each area shall be reviewed. I understand they are at present fully engaged on the programme they have already announced for the Midlands, the Southwest and the North-East, and that it is too early to say when their review of south-east Lancashire will begin.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he is taking to preserve the distinctive fundamental principles of the first Garden City, Letchworth, from commercial take-over.

I have no responsibility in relation to the purchase of shares in the Company. I have, however, certain planning powers in relation to the development of the area, which I will exercise as occasion arises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will authorise the promotion of Africans, in suitable cases, to commissioned rank in the Northern Rhodesian police force.

Promotion to gazetted rank in the Northern Rhodesia Police Force is on the basis of merit and suitability irrespective of race, and there is therefore no obstacle to the promotion of suitable Africans. There are 100 Africans in the Inspectorate although there are not yet any of Gazetted rank.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now announce the date of the Northern Rhodesian constitutional conference, and the names of the delegates to it from Northern Rhodesia.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) on 25th October, but I hope that when the Northern Rhodesian delegation to the Federal Review Conference is in London we shall be able to agree on a convenient early date for the territorial constitutional conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Mrs. Kapelwa Sikota, a qualified State-registered nurse, is unable to obtain employment in this capacity with the mining companies of Northern Rhodesia because of discrimination; and whether he will take steps to deal with the situation.

I am informed that Mrs. Sikota has been employed for the past three years by a mining company as supervisor of a hostel for African trainee nurses. As the hon. Member will be aware, the mining industry has recently announced an agreement whereby all jobs will be open to persons of all races. I have no reason to think that Mrs. Sikota is being debarred from any post through discrimination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the proposed representation of the United National Independence Party of Northern Rhodesia at the Federal Review Conference, members of the party now serving sentences imposed by courts in Northern Rhodesia for offences associated with political activities will be released; and if freedom to return to Northern Rhodesia without arrest will be extended to any member of the party against whom a warrant for arrest for such offence had previously been issued by the Northern Rhodesian authorities.

This is a matter for the Governor, but I share his view that it would be wrong to release persons who have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment by the courts for criminal acts merely because their offences were connected with political activities. Some of these persons have been convicted of serious crimes such as murder, arson and assault. Neither would it be proper to withdraw warrants of arrest against individuals on the grounds solely that they belong to a particular political party.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to avoid a shortage of home-grown food in Nyasaland next year.

No special steps are considered necessary to avert a food shortage next year beyond normal seasonal encouragement and advice on the cultivation of food crops.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals he has for the sale of sugar by the Colonies, and particularly the West Indies, to the United States of America.

Full information has recently been given to the United States Government as to the amonut of sugar which could be made available, if requested, for export to the United States by the Commonwealth countries concerned, including the West Indies. The special needs and circumstances of each territory, including the West Indies, were fully explained to the United States Authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African, Asian, and European students in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia are being sent with assistance from the funds of their territories as students to the Oppenheimer College of Social Service at Lusaka.

The first course at the College, starting in January, 1961, will be a refresher course of six months. Of the 31 students attending, 22 (20 Africans and 2 Europeans) will be from Northenr Rhodesia. 13 will have their expenses paid by the copper mining companies, 4 by the Northern Rhodesia Governments, and 5 by local authorities. The Nyasaland Government are sending one African student.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proposed capital expenditure on the Forth Road Bridge and Clyde tunnel for 1961–62; and what proportion this forms of the total capital expenditure on roads in Scotland for that year.

I must ask the hon. Member to await publication of the Estimates for 1961–62 in which these details will appear.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the capital expenditure on classified roads in Scotland for 1961–62 is to be less than that authorised for 1960–61.

A number of factors have caused the estimated expenditure on classified roads to be slightly higher in 1960–61 than in 1961–62. The former year contains a special addition made in connection with road developments near Bathgate and part of the cost of the additional schemes authorised at the end of 1958–59 in areas of relatively high unemployment. The local authorities' lower contribution in 1961–62 reflects in part the fact that the contribution by the constituent authorities to the cost of the Forth Road Bridge will be exhausted during 1960–61. It must be appreciated that these estimates reflect commitments entered into from about 1955 onwards and that new commitments next year are expected to be higher than those in this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation to give the authorities specific powers to prosecute purveyors of obscene publications, while making admissible any evidence of literary merit.

I have no reason to believe that the law as it stands is not satisfactory.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that existing laws in Scotland are inadequate to prevent the publication and sale of indecent or obscene literature; and if he will introduce amending legislation.

No. I have no reason to believe that the existing laws are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the estimated Government expenditure on the road programme in Scotland in 1961–62 and 1962–63, respectively.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the Estimates for the years to which his Question refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the clubbing of grey seals is an authorised method of killing.

Clubbing is one of the methods permitted by the regulations scheduled to the Grey Seals Protection (Scotland) (Suspension of Close Season) Order, 1959, but no permit issued this year has permitted clubbing. The Order to continue the suspension for a further twelve months, which has lain before the House in draft, does not include clubbing as a permitted method.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on which islands in Orkney the killing of grey seals was permitted this autumn.

Permits were granted for varying parts of the period from 1st September to 3rd December, 1960, and for varying areas to different individuals in respect of the following islands in Orkney: Mainland; Auskerry; Copinsay; Eynhallow; Gairsay; Little Green Holm; Muckle Green Holm; North Ronaldsay; Pentland Skerries; Rousay (part); Ruskholm; Seal Skerry (near Eday); South Ronaldsay (part); Holms of Spurness; Sweyn Holm; Swona; Vasa Skerry; and Wartholm. A permit covering the whole of Orkney was granted to an official of the Nature Conservancy for research purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the tails of grey seals are preserved by the killing parties.

I assume for record. There is no requirement in the permits which I issue that the tails of grey seals should be preserved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is done with the skins of grey seals killed in Orkney; and what permits for shooting have been issued to local men who sell seal skins in Orkney and Shetland.

The disposal of the skins of grey seals killed in Orkney or elsewhere is a matter for those holding permits allowing them to destroy the seals. The skins of 20 of the seals taken in the course of the Department's experimental cull in Orkney this year were removed for further examination. One permit has been granted to an Orkney resident and seven to Shetland residents, some of whom are understood to sell seal skins.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of cattle in Scotland was attested free from tuberculosis in 1929 and 1959, respectively; and what were the pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis notifications in those years, expressed as a percentage of the population.

The Attested Herds Scheme came into operation in 1935. Substituting that year for 1929, the information sought is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds will be provided in the new general hospital to be built in Coatbridge and Airdrie; and where he proposes to site it.

The Western Regional Hospital Board are planning to build a new general hospital in the area of Airdrie and Coatbridge, but this project is not yet at a stage at which firm decisions can be taken about its size or its site.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish weekly statistics to show the extent to which falls in farm and horticulture prices in times of glut are reflected in shop prices.

No. Most of the figures required for such statistics are not available and could only be collected at very considerable cost. Furthermore, they would be of doubtful value because it is not generally possible to make direct comparisons between farm and shop prices owing to the costs of processing, transport and handling.

asked the Minister of Transport how many trolley bus accidents have been reported to him from Newcastle-on-Tyne since 1952, under the 1871 Railway Act.

Four.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the continuing decline in the shipbuilding industry; and in what form he is prepared to assist it.

I am aware of the difficulties of the shipbuilding industry. The official sub-committee of the Shipbuilding Advisory Committee is examining these and the Government will carefully consider any recommendations it may make.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes taking to assist the shipbuilding industries of the United Kingdom to face the competition of government-assisted shipbuilding in most maritime countries.

I am aware that shipbuilding is subsidised in a few countries. Her Majesty's Government would prefer that these countries should abandon this practice and that a subsidy race should be avoided. The special sub-committee of the Shipbuilding Advisory Committee is, however, considering this and other problems of the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost of producing the booklet on housing, revised last August and recently published by the Central Office of Information.

The pamphlet "Housing in Britain for the overseas Reference services, cost an estimated £1,035.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now consider means of evercoming the present difficulties of justices who suffer severe financial hardship.

I will be glad to consider any evidence of such hardship which the hon. Member is able to let me have.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are now sleeping three in a cell in prisons in England and Wales and in Winson Green, Birmingham, in particular; what action he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.

On 15th November the number of prisoners sleeping three in a cell in England and Wales was 6,933, of whom there were 504 in Birmingham prison. I greatly deplore this overcrowding, the only cure for which is to provide more prisons and other penal establishments. For particulars of the building programme, I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper (Cmnd. 645) pages 21–22, and to the Estimates 1959–60, Class III, pages 47–49.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens are registered as residing in each of the boroughs of Batley and Morley.

95 and 112 respectively.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, at the forthcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting, he will make proposals to ensure that the use of nuclear weapons cannot be initiated without the prior consent of all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Governments.

No.

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many people in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, respectively, have been inoculated against poliomyelitis in the last five years; and approximately how many people are now entitled to free inoculation.

In Lincoln 30,000 persons out of 41,000 eligible had been vaccinated against poliomyelitis by 30th September, 1960. The corresponding figures for Lincolnshire, viz., the Parts of Holland, Kesteven and Lindsey and the County Boroughs of Grimsby and Lincoln, were 228,000 and 500,000. All the figures are approximate.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of cattle in England and Wales was attested free from tuberculosis in 1929 and 1959, respectively; and what were the pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis notifications in those years, expressed as a percentage of the population.

I am informed that at the end of 1959, 94 per cent. of all cattle in England and Wales were attested free from tuberculosis, whereas in 1929 no herds were officially regarded as being of equivalent status, and in 1932 it was estimated that 40 per cent. of all cows were infected with tuberculosis.The following is the reply to the second part of the Question:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will set out in tabular form the average increase in wages or salaries

asked the Minister of Labour if he will set out in tabular form the national average wages received by tool fitters and in each trade or industry engaged in manufacturing, railways, coal mining, engineering and pattern-making in 1945, 1958 and 1960, respectively.

The national average wages received by tool fitters and pattern makers are not known but such information as is available about average weekly earnings of men manual workers in engineering, in all manufacturing industries combined, in railways and in coal mining for 1945, 1958 and 1960 is given in the following Table. Comparable figures for each manufacturing industry cannot be given because of the introduction of substantial changes in industrial classification in 1948 and 1959.received between 1939 and 1960 by civil servants, town clerks, journalists, professional association football players, and all other industries and services.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the number of unemployed, men and women, at the latest available date in the employment exchanges of Shotts, Wishaw, Airdrie and

The following gives the information desired:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for implementing the Radcliffe Committee's recommendations for the provision of financial statistics by local authorities.

The Treasury have undertaken a survey of local authority loan debt in 1960, which is almost completed, and it is proposed in due course to invite local authorities to participate in a similar survey of 1961.In addition, by agreement with the associations of local authorities, the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Scotland propose to invite: