asked the Minister of Education how many paper-backed books his Department has bound, or caused to be bound, in hard covers for the use of schools in the last 12 months.

None, since the purchase and care of school books is within the responsibilities of the local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education why he has reduced the amount authorised for the school building programme for Sheffield for 1962–63 as compared with the allocations of previous years, and as compared with the total amount authorised for England and Wales.

The White Paper policy on secondary education is applied to each authority's circumstances which inevitably vary as between area and area and one year and another. Sheffield had exceptionally large programmes in the years 1960–61 and 1961–62.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes to introduce legislation pursuant to the report of the Roberts Committee.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made in the House on 7th November.

asked the Minister of Education if he will specify the steps taken during each of the last 10 years in, or in connection with, schools under his Department to teach swimming and to provide swimming facilities and teachers of swimming; and with what results.

The number of newly trained specialist teachers in physical education entering the maintained schools each year has increased from 266 in 1951 to 422 in 1960. During the last four years the number of qualified full-time teachers of physical education has increased from 3,391 to 4,713. Nineteen school swimming baths have been built out of public funds since the war, 23 are now under construction and 11 more are being planned.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the severe incidence of dental caries among children, owing to the continuing inadequacy of the school dental service; and what steps he is taking to correct this.

I am aware that the incidence of dental caries among schoolchildren is increasing. The prevention of caries must be the responsibility in the first instance of the children themselves and their parents. The School Dental Service is short of dentists but every effort is made by local education authorities to recruit additional staff.

asked the Minister of Education how many senior pupils in England and Wales attend all-age schools; and how this figure compares with those for a year earlier and for five years earlier.

In January, 1960, there were 100,000 seniors in all-age schools, as against 119,00 in 1959 and 195,000 in 1955. Expressed as a proportion of all seniors the reduction over the five years has been from 9·2 per cent. to 3·5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the overcrowding in Mellow Lane Comprehensive School, Hayes, Middlesex, he will authorise urgently required building work before 1962.

No; but I shall consider carefully the claim of this project for inclusion in a later programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the apprehensions felt in Malta about the future of employment in the Dockyard; what steps are being taken to maintain the level of employment there; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that the slow progress with the conversion of the Dockyard for commercial use is a cause of concern. I hope to be in a position to make a statement on this important matter before the Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much money is paid out weekly to the destitute, elderly, sick, and unemployed in St. Helena.

I am asking the Governor for detailed figures and will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what medical and surgical services are now available at St. Helena.

There is at present one doctor on the island and there is a small hospital. The post of senior medical officer is vacant, but I am in touch with a suitable candidate. Until this vacancy has been filled arrangements are being made for a surgeon to visit St. Helena.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of the national income of Hong Kong is taken in taxation; and what is the annual income per head in Hong Kong.

About 10 per cent. of the estimated national income is taken in taxation. It is difficult to assess the annual income per head because of unreliable population figures; but it is estimated that in 1959 it was between £80 and £100.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in enabling Africans in Tanganyika to study and sit for the General Certificate of Education in the territory itself.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 1st December to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin). A pass with credit in the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate examination is equivalent to a pass at ordinary level in the General Certificate of Education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British subjects and British-protected persons from each of the Colonial Territories have been given places at the University of People's Friendship in Moscow; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that this institution opened on 1st October, 1960, no list of enrolments has, so far as I am aware, yet been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to ensure that the increased numbers of immigrants from the West Indies are absorbed into the economic and social life of this country with the minimum of difficulty.

Her Majesty's Government are naturally much concerned with the problems of the West Indians who come to live in this country and I can assure the hon. Member that everything possible is done by the appropriate Government Departments and local authorities as well as by many unofficial bodies to help them to enter fully into the country's economic and social life in the same way as any other members of the community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new steps he is taking to review the problems of agricultural marketing and the avoidance of excessive surpluses.

These matters are being discussed with the farmers' unions in the current series of talks on agricultural problems. In addition, on the marketing side, the industry has developed plans of its own for sales promotion and the improved presentation of farm produce.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to prohibit the use of suspect food preservatives and colouring materials until they have been proved harmless.

The Preservatives in Food Regulations and the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations already prohibit the use of all preservatives and colours except those specifically authorised for use in foods.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the approximate annual expenditure over the last 10 years for research into foot-and-mouth disease, and over the same period what is the approximate annual loss from this disease.

Government research into foot-and-mouth disease is carried out at the Research Institute at Pirbright, Surrey and financed through the Agricultural Research Council. Annual expenditure over the past 10 years has averaged £140,000. Over the same period compensation to owners of stock compulsorily slaughtered has been about £600,000 per annum. I have no reliable estimates of consequential losses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the large areas at present waterlogged, what encouragement he is giving to the harvesting of grain by rice-gathering machines designed for the paddy fields of South-East Asia, and the sowing of grain by aircraft.

I am glad to say that only a small proportion of our grain crops remains unharvested. Any farmer wishing to use the type of harvester, known as a "bog-master", which has been especially adapted for use on wet land, should be able to make arrangements with an agricultural contractor. There are still problems to be overcome before the sowing of grain from aircraft becomes an established technique, but my Department is giving what help and advice it can.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what grounds he recommended to the National Research Development Corporation that financial support should not be given to the development of the Reading University automated tractor; and whether he will now reconsider his decision, in view of the fact that the Standard Telephone Company has obtained a considerable interest in it.

My right hon. Friend has made no recommendation to the National Research Development Corporation in this matter. I understand that the development of an automated tractor is proceeding with the active help of industry and that the Corporation is maintaining close contact with progress in case its services should be required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken during the last six months towards selling the scientific apparatus and other goods at the Government Research Station, Greyhope Road, Aberdeen; how much of this apparatus and these other goods have been sold, to whom and at what prices; how these prices, giving figures, compare with the original cost of this apparatus and these other goods to the State; and how much apparatus and other goods now remain unsold at Greyhope Road.

The only items of equipment which have been sold during the last six months are a few that were surplus to current requirements. These were sold through the usual Departmental channels. It is normal practice not to disclose the prices obtained for surplus Government stores. Offers for the purchase of the plant and equipment which are now in use at Aberdeen have recently been invited by public advertisement; the closing date for such offers is the 20th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, concurrently with the inquiry being conducted by the Jockey Club, he will consider, with a view to introducing legislation, what more effective means can be found to prosecute the culprits in cases in which racehorses have been drugged either to win or lose, with detriment to the good name of British racing.

I think the right course is to see whether the subcommittee which the Jockey Club have set up makes any recommendations for legislation. If it does, they will, of course, be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers there are in County Durham; how this figure compares with other county areas; and what is the establishment for Durham County of this service.

There are 48 probation officers in County Durham. The average case-load of the men officers is 61·6 and of the women officers 43·9: these figures compare with 64·9 for men and 39·9 for women in the country as a whole on 31st December, 1959, the last date for which national figures are available. The establishment for Durham County is 49, the one vacancy will be filled on 1st January next, and I understand that the Probation Committee propose to increase the establishment by three officers in the financial year 1961–62.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time for which male delinquents under 17 years of age remained in detention centres as a result of sentences imposed in the 12 months to 1st January, 1960.

Eleven weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male delinquents under 17 years of age can be accommodated at one time in the existing available detention centres; and how many will be able to be accommodated at one time at the conclusion of next year's expansion programme.

There are at present two junior centres with accommodation for 150 boys between 14 and 17; and it is hoped to provide two more with similar accommodation by the middle of 1962. The centres expected to be ready in 1961 are for young offenders over 17.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the increasing use of detention centres, he will circularise all magistrates' courts with a memorandum of advice on the programme in these centres and their usefulness in training young offenders.

It is my practice, when notifying a magistrates' court that a detention centre is available to it, to send the clerk a note about the purpose of detention centres and the régime at the centre in question. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of one of these notes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires were notified during the Christmas holiday 1959 in England and Wales, due to decorations or Christmas trees catching fire; and what percentage of these fires was caused by celluloid decorations, electrical faults, or the use of naked lights, respectively.

The number of fires involving Christmas decorations attended by fire brigades in England and Wales during the period 24th-31st December, 1959, was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the police protection provided for those hon. Members whose parliamentary duties are impeded and safety imperilled when seeking to cross from their offices at No. 7 Old Palace Yard to the Palace of Westminster.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that there should be no difficulty if hon. Members cross near the St. Stephen's entrance. When the House is sitting a police constable is posted to the crossing there from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., after which time the constable on duty outside that entrance is available to assist Members who wish to cross quickly in the event of a Division.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of revenue if no taxpayer was liable to pay more than three-quarters of his earned income by way of direct Income Tax and Surtax combined.

To reduce the top rate of Surtax on earned income to 7s. 3d., so that in no case did an extra £1 of earnings bear more than 15s. in tax, would cost about £7 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss in revenue if the starting point of Surtax on earned income were to be £6,000 per annum instead of £2,000, as at present.

About £60 million in a full year on the assumption that present Surtax rates on successive slices of earned income above £2,000 were charged on the corresponding slices of such income above £6,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the cost in a full year of increasing the earned income allowance from two ninths and one ninth to one quarter and one eighth, respectively.

£106 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations haw many British subjects and British-protected persons from each of the South Africa High Commission Territories have been given places at the University of People's Friendship in Moscow; and whether he will make a statement.

I am informed that the University opened on 1st October, 1960. No list of enrolments has, so far as I am aware, yet been published.

asked the Minister of Health if he will hasten the supply of a Mini-Minor car to Mr. D. A. Precey, of 20 Albion Street, Swindon, and pending delivery of this vehicle, take steps to provide him immediately with a temporary replacement for his invalid tricycle while the latter is being repaired.

The car should be delivered in January. Meanwhile a replacement tricycle has been provided.

asked the Postmaster-General if his pilot survey of post office sites and buildings is now complete; what conclusions he has reached; and if he will make a statement.

The pilot survey indicated that there are promising possibilities here, but I did not feel that it had clearly established the best approach to future development. I therefore asked a firm of experts in this field to advise me on selected cases. This work is now in progress and it will be a few months before I have the full report.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of a shortage of bricks which is endangering the progress of the housing programme, particularly in the area of the Stroud Urban District Council; and what steps he is taking to remedy the shortage.

I know that demands for some types of bricks cannot be met at short notice in spite of the fact that this year both the production and deliveries of bricks have been at post-war record levels. I am encouraging increased production; early ordering of supplies and the wider use of other materials where possible help to prevent delays. I understand that by varying its specification the Stroud Urban District Council is helping to overcome its difficulties.