asked the Minister of Power what corresponding benefits in the nature of long-term contracts have been secured in consideration for the cheap coal sold overseas this year.

The terms and conditions of sale are trade matters on which it would not be proper for me to give information.

asked the Minister of Power what targets he has fixed of output, consumption, and manpower for the coal industry in 1961.

I do not fix targets, but the Board expects production to be slightly less, the demand for coal to be much the same, and the fall in manpower to be substantially less than in 1960.

asked the Minister of Power what general directions he has given to the National Coal Board to increase manpower and production in the immediate future: and what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board on these matters.

None, but I have frequent discussions with the Board about both.

asked the Minister of Power what general direction he has given to the National Coal Board to increase the autonomy of area boards and at unit level, and to introduce a profit target system in each division.

None.

asked the Minister of Power if he will provide an estimate of the energy requirements of the United Kingdom for 1961, expressed in tons of coal equivalent, and indicate to the coal and oil industries, respectively, their maximum contribution to the total needs of consumers.

Inland energy requirements may be about 265 million tons of coal equivalent, depending on the level of economic activity, weather conditions and other factors. It would not be right to fix the maximum contributions to be made by the individual fuels.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the total energy requirements of the United Kingdom for 1965, and of the respective contributions of coal, oil, nuclear energy and hydro-electricity.

I do not claim precision for such forecasts, but I expect annual inland energy requirements to be about 300 million tons of coal equivalent in the later 1960s. The shares of the various sources of energy will depend on their competitive ability.

asked the Minister of Power what was the source of supply of imported methane gas; and to what extent it has proved a practical economic proposition.

The experimental imports came from Louisiana. They were a technical success, but the economic aspects of large-scale imports are still being studied by the industry.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of Government-owned pipelines, indicating their broad routes.

The main Government-owned trunk pipeline links the Bristol Channel, the Mersey, the Thames Estuary and Southampton Water. There are also extensions to the East Midlands and East Anglia.

asked the Minister of Power how many licences he has issued for the installation and operation of nuclear reactors for research and teaching purposes and of thermal output less than 100 kilowatts; and if he will make it a condition of the granting of a licence that competitive tender should be required.

Two licences under the Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance) Act, 1959, have been issued for research and training reactors in this power range. A 10 kilowatt reactor was in operation by the Hawker-Siddeley Nuclear Power Company at Langley, Buckinghamshire, before the Act came into force and was licensed on 1st April, 1960. In May, 1960, a licence to install and operate a 10 kilowatt reactor at Silwood Park, Berkshire, was granted to the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London.In addition, as my right hon. Friend said in answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. D. Price) on 4th November, he has approved the issue of a licence to Queen Mary College, University of London, to install a 10 kilowatt research reactor on a site in West Ham.My right hon. Friend's responsibility under the Act is limited to safety considerations and the question of cover

			Males					Females
			All Ages	0-	5-	15-	45-	65 and over	All Ages	0-	5-	15-	45-	65 and over
1950	…	…	809	72	157	283	137	160	164	25	24	25	56	34
1951	…	…	766	84	146	240	155	141	184	39	14	32	55	44
1952	…	…	739	81	158	239	147	114	165	22	20	47	43	33
1953	…	…	761	61	154	260	164	122	165	18	23	37	45	42
1954	…	…	651	53	141	171	157	129	153	14	20	36	43	40
1955	…	…	753	56	174	270	138	115	178	18	23	38	50	49
1956	…	…	661	48	130	202	165	116	154	8	21	28	57	40
1957	…	…	725	49	126	274	160	116	187	16	21	44	54	52
1958	…	…	710	53	142	232	169	114	172	16	24	28	48	56
1959	…	…	726	53	164	267	136	106	174	15	31	34	59	35

I am informed that comparable figures for Scotland are available only for 1958 and 1959 and are as follows:
			Males						Females
			All Ages	0-	5-	15-	45-	65 and over	All Ages	0-	5-	15-	45-	65 and over
1958	…	…	181	15	37	58	38	33	33	3	3	5	15	7
1959	…	…	189	11	30	64	61	23	30	1	3	6	12	8

asked the Minister Health how many people, and of what ages, were drowned in the rivers, canals, and off the coasts of Great Britain during each of the last ten years; and, of these, how many were drowned because of their inability to swim.

I regret that figures are not available in the form requested. The following table shows the number of deaths in England and Wales in the last ten years classified as due to accidental drowning, including drowning from boats but excluding accidents stated to have occurred at home or on farms or in mines, quarries or industrial premises.

asked the Minister of Health if he will announce the scale of payment that he proposes to make to relatives of patients, their authorised representatives, and patients themselves, to meet their travelling expenses incurred in presenting appeals to the review tribunals under the Mental Health Act.

Railway fares—second class—and any other necessary travelling expenses; also where appropriate, allowances for subsistence and loss of earnings on the same basis as for members of National Health Service authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state in detail what steps he has taken, and proposes to take, and what tribunals he has set up, to implement the provisions of the Mental Health Act.

Sections 1 and 149 have been in operation since 6th October, 1959, so far as necessary to permit informal admissions. Sections 6 to 10, dealing with local authority services, and certain other Sections, have been in effect since 15th July last. The remainder of the Act came into operation on 1st November last. The fifteen Mental Health Review Tribunals have been appointed by my right hon. and noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Minister of Health what reply has been given to the petition sent to him and signed by medical practitioners urging that accommodation should be provided in hospitals for patients wishing to have treatment in wards free from tobacco smoke.

Following is the reply:

"Thank you for your letter of the 26th September enclosing a petition to the Minister signed by 131 doctors asking him to make 'adequate provision in all hospitals for patients wishing to have their treatment in wards free of tobacco smoke'.

He would certainly wish to meet, so far as may be practicable, the wishes of patients who object to tobacco smoke. How far this can be done depends very largely on the design of the individual hospital; but in any case medical and nursing considerations must be the major factor in deciding how far patients can be separated and how they should be accommodated.

In making rules about smoking in wards hospital authorities will be guided by advice which they receive from their medical staffs. The report of the Central Health Services Council on the Reception and Welfare of In-Patients in Hospitals, which was sent to all hospital authorities in 1953, contained the following:

'In some hospitals smoking is forbidden. We think patients should be permitted to smoke at any rate during some part of the day, except where it would harm themselves or their fellows.'

Many hospitals follow this recommendation and restrict smoking in wards to certain hours of the day."

asked the Minister of Health (I) if he is yet in a position to state when the rebuilding of Fazakerley Hospital will be completed;(2) whether he will open the casualty department of Fazakerley Hospital in advance of the completion of the rebuilding programme.

Sketch plans for the first phase, which will include a casualty department, are expected shortly. I cannot yet give a completion date.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is now in a position to state what his plans are for a National Flying Trust for the promotion of gliding and light aeroplane flying.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement before long.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what communications have passed during the last four months between the Government of Norway and Her Majesty's Government on the subject of fishing limits; and what agreement has been reached by the two Governments on the subject, with particular reference to the areas reserved for line and net fishermen, respectively.

As a result of negotiations earlier this year a fishery agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Norwegian Government was signed in Oslo on 17th November. The text of the Agreement has been laid before the House as a White Paper.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the progress made concerning the Allied order made in 1945 for Alfred Krupp to dispose of parts of his holding in the firm of Krupps, which manufactured plant, equipment and munitions for the German Government during the years 1939 to 1945.

Under the Krupp deconcentration plan of March, 1953, assets worth about f12 million have been disposed of. The remainder of the coal and steel assets incorporated in the Rheinhausen holding company remain to be sold. The Mixed Committee of Experts, established in accordance with the Bonn Settlement Convention, granted an extension of time until 31st January, 1961, for the disposal of these assets. I understand that the Chairman of the Committee has now called a meeting to consider an outstanding application by Herr Krupp for a further extension of time to January, 1962.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the recent detention by United Nations troops in the Congo of Captain John Roberts, a British subject.

Captain Roberts was taken into custody in late October by United Nations troops in the Southern part of the Kasai Province of the Congo and held at Luluabourg. It was claimed that he had been leading a band of African soldiers on a punitive raid in an area in which the United Nations force had imposed a truce. As a result of representations by Her Majesty's Government, the United Nations authorities agreed that Captain Roberts should be released and returned to this country. He was brought back here by a United Nations aircraft and arrived in the early hours of the morning of 28th November.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations to support the Canadian proposal for a committee of netural representatives to consider the next steps in negotiations for disarmament.

Her Majesty's Government recognise and share the motives behind the Canadian resolution. Exchanges of views on this subject are still taking place at the United Nations and I cannot at this stage say what action Her Majesty's Government will take on this particular resolution.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when it is intended to ratify the Cultural Convention with Spain signed on 12th July last.

The Cultural Convention with Spain has lain before Parliament for the established period of twenty-one sitting days and Her Majesty's Government are now ready to proceed to ratification. Subject to the completion of the necessary formalities by the Spanish Government, the Exchange of Instruments should take place early in 1961.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made in the discussions in Cairo on the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement of 1959: and whether he will make a statement.

Discussions are in progress in Cairo on a number of subjects connected directly or indirectly with the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement, but mostly concerned with administrative difficulties which have tended to hold up the full and speedy implementation of the Agreement. A number of these difficulties have already been solved and considerable progress has been made towards a solution of many of the others.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations he has made to the United States Government about the refusal to allow transit facilities at Idlewild Airport to Mr. Cedric Belfrage, a citizen of the United Kingdom.

None.

asked the Minister of Labour what financial contribution is being made by the United Kingdom in the current financial year to the technical assistance programme of the International Labour Organisation; how many officers of his Department, and experts recruited by his Department, are serving overseas under this programme; and how many students and worker-trainees from overseas are now in this country under this programme.

Governments do not contribute directly to the I.L.O.'s technical assistance programme. It is financed partly from the organisation's own budget but mainly from United Nations sources. Of the estimated expenditure for 1960, however, approximately £150,000 may be regarded as coming from the United Kingdom's contributions to the funds of the two organisations.Under this programme 7 officers of my Department and 11 other experts recruited by it are at present serving overseas, and 11 students and 16 worker-trainees from overseas are now in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement as to the number of labour attachés now in post, with a list of the capitals from which they work and the countries which they cover; and whether he proposes to increase the number of these appointments.

The following is a list showing where labour attachés are stationed and the countries they cover. This list of 19 attaché posts includes two vacancies which will shortly be filled. It is based on recent decisions on posting and coverage after review of current needs. My right hon. Friend will continue to keep the needs under review.

LABOUR ATTACHÉS
DISTRIBUTION AND COUNTRIES COVERED
City of Residence	Countries covered
Buenos Aires	Argentine, Chile, Paraguay. Uruguay.
Brussels	Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands.
Rio de Janeiro	Brazil.
Helsinki	Denmark, Finland, Iceland. Norway, Sweden.
Paris	France.
Bonn	Germany (Federal Republic), Austria.
Accra	Ghana, Nigeria.
New Delhi	India, Ceylon.
Tehran	Iran, Turkey.
Tel Aviv	Israel, Cyprus, Greece.
Rome	Italy, Yugoslavia.
Beirut	Lebanon, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Persian Gulf sheikhdoms, Sudan.
Mexico	Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.
Karachi	Pakistan.
Singapore (Office of the Commissioner General for S.E. Asia)	Burma, Indonesia, Malaya, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.
Tunis	Tunisia, Morocco, Libya.
Washington	U.S.A.

NOTE: This list gives details of 17 posts covering 58 countries. In addition, two new posts have been authorised, one in South America and one in Africa, but the location and coverage of these two posts are still tinder consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to relieve the growing volume of unemployment in the furnishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

The number of workers last employed in the furniture and upholstery industries who were registered at local offices of my Department as unemployed on 14th November was 1,865, or 1·8 per cent. of the number of employees. The total was 222 less than on 10th October. These figures reveal no ground for any special measures.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are now registered as unemployed in Swindon.

On 14th November, the latest date for which figures are available, the number was 554.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are employed by the Egg Marketing Board; and what was the cost to the country of running the Egg Marketing Board during the years 1958 to 1960.

The number of staff employed is a domestic matter for the British Egg Marketing Board and I regret I cannot undertake to obtain the information requested by my hon. and gallant Friend.As regards the second part of the Question, the cost of running the Egg Marketing Board is met by the producers themselves. But when the Board began operations in 1957 the guaranteed price for eggs was raised to take account of the marketing and administrative expenses, which had previously been borne directly by the Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will try and improve the present arrangements for publishing up-to-date information about the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

As my hon. Friend was promised on 29th November, the arrangements for disseminating information about outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been examined. While I shall certainly not relax our efforts to achieve maximum publicity, I do not think we could justifiably ask more of the radio and television authorities, and of the Press. I am most grateful for the valuable help they have given us.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the landings of wet fish in Great Britain fell considerably during the first seven months of 1960; to what extent this fall has continued up to the present time; if he is aware that these falls are damaging to the fishing industry and consumers; and what steps he has taken, and is taking, to ascertain the cause of this continued fall and to minimise the damage caused to the British economy.

The quantity of wet fish landed in this country in the first seven months of this year was about 5 per cent. less than in the corresponding period last year, and this trend has continued.While fluctuations of this order are not uncommon, I recognise that prices have risen. I am keeping a close watch on the position.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to remove the nuisance of diesel fumes from the streets.

I recently circulated for comment a proposal to amend the regulations by prohibiting the placing of the control for the excess fuel device on diesel-engined vehicles within the reach of the driver, and thus preventing its misuse as a source of additional power at the expense of clouds of smoke. I am at present considering the views of those consulted.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will set up a committee to examine and report on the present state of the omnibus services in London.

I do not think the setting up of such a committee would at this stage contribute to the solution of London's transport problems.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he intends to take to assist the Ship and Boat Builders' National Federation with its recently-announced committee to evolve a code of standards for the boat-building industry, in view of the need for safety at sea and the greatly increased number of small craft.

I have read reports in the Press that this committee has been set up, but so far I have not received any request from the Federation for assistance. My Department will be glad to consider any proposals the Committee may make and to help in any way it properly can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by the representatives of the Metropolitan constables at his refusal to reimburse legal costs of £150 incurred by a police constable who successfully defended himself against a charge of false imprisonment and assault arising out of an arrest made by the constable while on duty; and if he will refer the question of reimbursement to a Standing Committee of the Police Council for advice, as provided for in arrangements made nearly thirty years ago but never operated.

Apart from the representations made to me by the hon. Gentleman I have had no evidence of any discontent about this case. Having carefully reviewed the case, I can find no ground for altering my decision. The general question of supporting police officers in legal proceedings is within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on the Police, which will no doubt consider whether any change in the existing arrangements is desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires were caused in 1959 by celluloid or other inflammable toys; and how many casualties and deaths, respectively, resulted from these fires.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of poisoning or other accidents were reported to him in 1959 resulting from the misuse of such domestic materials as bleaches, disinfectants, cleaning fluids, insecticides, or fire extinguishers.

Such cases are not reported to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants are now employed in the Metropolitan Police Department; and what was the corresponding number immediately prior to September, 1939.

On 31st October, 1960 there were 6,102 civil staff employed in the Commissioner's and Receiver's Offices: this total includes 1,496 part-time school crossing patrols and telephonists. On 31st December, 1939—the nearest date to September, 1939 for which figures are readily available—the total of the civil staff was 2,616.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers on the strength of the Metropolitan Police Department have been made available for regular police duties in consequence of the employment of civil servants in that department.

About 730 officers have been so released, but no precise calculation is possible. In addition, the employment of civil staff has enabled large numbers of police officers to devote more of their time to the prevention and detection of crime.

asked the Minister of Labour if, following his consultations with the Industrial Training Council, he will now make a statement on the progress made in the provision of an adequate apprenticeship scheme, and employment for young people.

Apart from a few areas, the employment situation for young people is generally satisfactory in that a range of opportunities is open to them on leaving school. I am hopeful that following the Industrial Training Council's lead, industry will continue and indeed improve on, last year's increase in the number of apprenticeships.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that on 8th November a serious accident occurred at the factory of a firm, the name of which has been sent to him, when goods stored on top of heating pipes caused the collapse of these pipes, scalding and burning a number of operatives working underneath; when the local factory inspector last inspected this factory; whether these goods were then stored in this position; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. This factory was inspected in March and June this year. On the second occasion some cartons were stored on a platform over the heating pipes, but were not considered to present any danger. An inspector called at the factory immediately after the accident, and found that the quantity of goods stored had considerably increased since June owing to the rapid expansion of the business. I am glad to say that nobody was seriously hurt in this accident.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in lightening the burden falling on teachers in respect of clerical work and supervision since he initiated his inquiry into the measures taken by local education authorities on these matters.

In the period since the inquiry was instituted, more than half the local education authorities have given additional clerical assistance and a slightly smaller number have increased their supervisory help. I am keeping the progress made under review.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to improve the children's dental service in Hinckley in view of the correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Bosworth.

The local education authority is doing all it can to recruit more school dentists for Hinckley, and in the meantime is providing an emergency service.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consult with the Minister of Health with a view to issuing advice to teachers on how to deal with schoolchildren who are subject to attacks of asthma.

Teachers receive, through the school health service, advice on how to deal with individual children in their schools who suffer from asthma. A number of the larger education authorities provide special clinics for asthmatic children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the long delay in arranging for a hearing by an arbitration tribunal of a wages dispute between the local trade unions and the official employers in Gibraltar; and whether, in view of the lack of confidence in arbitration machinery now showing itself amongst the workpeople by this delay, he will expedite and announce a date for the hearing.

The arbitration tribunal will open its hearing on 9th December.The negotiations between the official employers in Gibraltar and the local unions extended over a long period, but once the decision to resort to arbitration was taken the arrangements for establishing the tribunal, which involved agreement between both sides on its terms of remit and composition, were given high priority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the estimated total amount of housing subsidies paid by local authorities from their own resources for the year 1960–61.

The latest year for which this information is available is 1958–59. In that year the net total amount of rate fund contributions to the housing revenue accounts of local authorities in England and Wales was £17,264,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs to what extent local authorities have adopted the procedure recommended by his Circular No. 41/59, namely, to permit the tenant and landlord relationship to continue after acquisition of a dwelling-house by a local authority until the dwelling-house is required for demolition.

Since the issue of Circular 41/59 I have had no serious complaints that local authorities acquiring houses for clearance are collecting rents in advance of demolition. I think that authorities generally are acting in accordance with the advice given therein.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider issuing advice to teachers on how to deal with schoolchildren who are subject to attacks of asthma.

It is unusual for asthmatic children who are fit to attend ordinary schools to have an acute attack in school. When this does occur the emergency arrangements made under the school health service have proved adequate to provide the medical advice and assistance necessary. Children suffering from severe asthma can of course attend special schools for the physically handicapped or in some areas they may have treatment at special clinics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in he will give a list of the synthetic rubber plants established and planned to be established in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the proprietors thereof, the location of every plant, the type of rubber produced or intended to be produced and the present and projected capacity of the separate plants.

Information about the activities or plans of individual firms is obtained by the Board of Trade on a confidential basis. I am unable, therefore, to give the details the hon. Member requires. I am however sending him details of certain information on this subject which has been published in the trade Press.

asked the Minister of Works what degree of financial assistance, and what advisory assistance, has been extended since 1945 to slate quarries in Scotland, particularly in Argyllshire; and by what authority, or regulation, such assistance was given.

After an investigation sponsored by the then Scottish Development Council certain slate quarry firms in the Western Highlands merged to form a new company called Scottish Slate Industries Ltd., in 1947. Under its Articles of Association the Chairman and Technical Director were nominees of the Minister of Works. £25,000 capital was raised by the shareholders and a loan of £125,000 was made available from the Building Materials and Housing Fund under the Building Materials and Housing Act, 1945. The Fund was closed in 1954.As the company was not able to operate profitably and to meet the conditions of the loan its assets were sold in 1956. After taking into account the purchase price and also the repayments previously made by the company the Building Materials and Housing Fund incurred a loss of £56,228.