asked the Minister of Health when it is expected that discussions with the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions on the question of pay increases for engineering craftsmen will be reopened.

As soon as the Confederation wish.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any plans for increasing the number of radiographers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12th December to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle).

asked the Minister of Health in which counties and county boroughs in Wales and Monmouthshire the maternal and infantile rates of mortality are above the average rates for England and Wales as a whole; and if he will give comparative figures for each such area.

The rates of infant mortality in the five years 1955–59 were above the average for England and Wales in all counties and county boroughs of Wales and Monmouthshire except Radnorshire. The figures (per thousand live births) were as follows:

England and Wales	23·2
Cardiff C.B.	26·5
Merthyr Tydfil C.B.	35·6
Newport C.B.	30·3
Swansea C.B.	27·9
Administrative Counties:—
Anglesey	24·7
Brecknockshire	24·0
Caernarvonshire	24·4
Cardiganshire	26·3
Carmarthenshire	29·3
Denbighshire	25·4
Flintshire	25·4
Glamorganshire	30·4
Merionethshire	23·4
Monmouthshire	29·3
Montgomeryshire	24·3
Pembrokeshire	27·3

Maternal deaths were too few for any reliable comparison between individual counties and county boroughs, but the rate in the four county boroughs and the counties of Brecknockshire, Carmarthenshire, Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire was 6·6 per 10,000 births, compared with 6·9 in the rest of Wales and 4·7 in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health to consider making brucellosis, human undulant fever, a notifiable disease, in order to aid effective liaison between medical, veterinary and public health authorities to control outbreaks of this disease.

No. Brucellosis can only be confirmed by laboratory examination, and the Medical Officer of Health would normally be informed by the laboratory concerned when any case is confirmed.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent there has been an increase of venereal disease among young people; what has been the percentage increase in the incidence of this disease among young persons aged 14 to 16 years, inclusive, in recent years for which figures are available; and in which towns, cities, and other conurbations the increase in incidence has been greatest.

The information is not available in this form, but I would refer the hon. Member to pages 66 to 71 of my Chief Medical Officer's last Report (Cmnd. 1207).

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made in supplying transistor hearing aids for adults.

By the end of November, about 38,000 aids had been supplied. The aids are now becoming available in greater numbers and the rate of issue should increase. Priority has been given to the categories named in the reply of 23rd May last to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. McLaren). Outside these, supply will depend on the urgency of the need in each particular case.

asked the Minister of Health how many subnormal and severely subnormal child patients are on the waiting list for hospital accommodation in Essex; what reduction there has been in the waiting list in recept years; and what further progress he envisages in the near future.

One hundred and seventy-four. The waiting list has fluctuated during the last five years between this figure and 131. Eighty additional beds are ready for use at South Ockenden as soon as trained staff can be recruited.

asked the Minister of Health how long Carolyn Macqueen, 65, Strafford Avenue, Ilford, has been on the waiting list for institutional care; and when her parents can expect accommodation to be available.

Since 1950, but as an urgent case needing long-term care only since May this year. She was admitted on 12th November.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to make a further statement about negotiations with the Icelandic Government over fishing limits.

We are continuing discussions with the Icelandic Government through diplomatic channels. I regret that I am still not in a position to make a statement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what estimate he has made of the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations military and other activities in the former Belgian Congo, up to the 31st Decemebr, 1960.

If the General Assembly adapts a recommendation passed by its Financial Committee, the United Kingdom contribution to the 1960 costs of the United Nations civil and military operations in the Congo will be assessed at about $3·77 million.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to state Her Majesty's Government's present policy in the United Nations regarding the future of United Nations activities in the Congo.

Our policy is unchanged; the United Nations effort in the Congo has our full support.

asked the Lord Privy Seal which Government of the Republic of the Congo is recognised by Her Majesty's Government; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the régimes now established in Elisabethville and Stanleyville.

Her Majesty's Government recognises M. Kasavubu as Head of State of the Congo. We have not recognised claims by persons in Stanleyville to constitute the Government of the Congo, nor have we recognised any Government of an independent state of Katanga.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how Her Majesty's Government's representative voted on the resolutions in the Security Council relating to the Congo on 14th December, 1960.

Three resolutions were tabled in the Security Council: the first by the Soviet Union, the second by Poland, and a third sponsored jointly by Argentina, Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom Representative voted against the first two and in favour of the last.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps he has taken during past twelve months to secure the admission of Communist China to the United Nations.

Her Majesty's Government's position on this matter was fully explained by my hon. Friend in the debate on 12th December.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to ask Mr. Hammarskjoeld to ensure that the voters in the forthcoming plebiscite to be held in the British Cameroons are made aware of the reason why such a plebiscite has to be held.

The United Nations has charged Her Majesty's Government as the administering authority with the responsibility for ensuring that the people of the British Cameroons are made aware of the reasons why the plebiscite is being held. This will be done during the "enlightenment campaign" in January.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how the British delegation at the United Nations General Assembly voted on the resolution sponsored by 43 African and Asian countries embodying a declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples; and which delegations voted for the resolution, which against, and which abstained.

The United Kingdom abstained on the Afro-Asian draft declaration. The resolution was adopted by 89 votes in favour, none against, with 9 abstentions (Australia, Belgium, Dominican Republic, France, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States). Dahomey was absent.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is now able to make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the composition of the Ten-Power Disarmament Conference.

Her Majesty's Government support the proposal contained in the resolution sponsored by Canada and others that a neutral chairman be appointed to the Ten-Power Committee should negotiations be resumed in that body.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals he has for increasing British contacts with China.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to invite the leading members of the Peking Government to visit the United Kingdom to discuss means of expanding cultural and economic relations between China and the United Kingdom; and, in view of the danger to world peace arising from the isolation of Communist China, if he will treat this as a matter of urgency.

As my hon. Friend told the House on 12th December, the Sino-British Trade Council has recently invited the Vice-Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to lead a mission to this country. I think this is the right level at which to discuss trade matters and I very much hope he will be able to come.We are equally anxious to see an expansion of cultural relations with China, and here again I am satisfied that progress can best be made through established organisations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) how much of the £27,500,000 earmarked under the financial agreement with Egypt for compensation against assessed claims for property and other assets of British nationals taken over by the Egyptian Government will remain after payments have been made, as a result of the Order in Council laid before Parliament on 6th December, 1960, on debts already proved at that date;(2) what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to honour their obligations to British nationals against assessed claims for property and other assets taken over by the Egyptian Government that are in excess of the sum of £27,500,000 earmarked under the financial agreement with Egypt.

I estimate that after payment has been made on claims actually assessed by the Foreign Compensation Commission up to 6th December according to the scale laid down in the Order in Council referred to by my hon. Friend, approximately £20 million will remain out of the £27½ million which was paid to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the United Arab Republic.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that desequestrated assets and funds released by the Egyptian authorities are subsequently blocked and become valueless for local use or for transfer out of Egypt, and that desequestrated property is often requisitioned or let to tenants who cannot be evicted and that the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement has therefore failed to provide the relief and compensation expected; and what action he will take to ensure that the agreement is fully implemented.

I am aware that a number of administrative difficulies have tended to hold up the full implementation of the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement. Talks are in progress in Cairo on the solution of these difficulties.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what discussion took place at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the international political implications of the appointment of General Heusinger as Chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Standing Military Committee; and what view he expressed on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.

This appointment has not been discussed in the North Atlantic Council. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Military Committee appoints its own Chairman for the regular meetings of its Permanent Representatives in Washington.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the present position of the negotiations between the Common Market and the European Free Trade Association.

No formal negotiations are taking place between the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association. We have, however, been having informal and exploratory talks with the Germans and have made useful progress. I cannot, of course, give details of these confidential exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that no area employment exchange is located in the whole of the north-west Durham constituency, which covers an area of 264 square miles, as a result of which a true picture of its unemployment problem cannot be seen; and if he will site one in the area.

I do not consider that a special Exchange of the kind suggested is necessary for obtaining adequate information on unemployment in the area of North West Durham. Unemployment figures are, of course, not collated on a parliamentary constituency basis.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of employees in the television industry at Lowestoft on 30th November, 1959, and 30th November, 1960.

The numbers employed in radio and television manufacture were 1,998 at the first date and 1,736 at the second. Separate figures are not available for television manufacture alone.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the progress made in setting up a joint study group to discuss labour relations in the motor car industry.

I suggested to the Presidents of the Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions in October that the two organisations might set up a joint study group or informal committee to consider the problems which cause strikes in the motor manufacturing industry. The Employers' Federation have informed me that they are prepared to take action on this suggestion. The Confederation have asked me to meet representatives of their Executive Council to discuss certain points. I hope to do so this week.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the report of the youth employment officer to the Ammanford and District Local Employment Committee that school leavers in the area are returning to school because no work is available for them; and what steps the Government is taking to provide employment for them.

Yes. Young people return to school for various reasons, and I do not think it is possible to say how far lack of suitable employment is the deciding factor. Ammanford area and Llanelly are development districts under the Local Employment Act, and young people will share in any extra employment that may be attracted to these areas.

asked the Minister of Labour what information he has received arising from the joint meetings held since April between his Department and the representative organisations engaged in Association football; what information he has received from the recent meetings; and what action it is intended to take to put the conditions and relationships on a modern basis.

The hon. Member will be aware of the position up to 30th November from the reply which I gave on that date. Since the decision of the players to take strike action next month my officers have seen representatives of the Football League and the Professional Footballers' Association and a further joint meeting is to take place at my Ministry on Wednesday next, 21st December, Negotiations are, therefore, still in progress and I hope that it may yet be possible to reach an agreed solution of these difficulties. The hon. Member may rest assured that I shall keep in close touch with developments and that I shall continue to do all that I can to assist towards a settlement.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest figure of unemployment in Newcastle-under-Lyme; what proportion this is of the local working population; and how many of those unemployed are disabled persons.

On 12th December 557 were unemployed, representing 2·0 per cent. of the insured employees in the area. On the same date there were 125 unemployed registered disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Labour how many doctors are engaged in whole time work in factories; how many are engaged on a part time basis; and what is the number of appointed factory doctors.

An inquiry in 1955 showed some 465 full-time and 4,000 part-time doctors employed in factories. My right hon. Friend has recently discussed with the Industrial Health Advisory Committee ways of getting more information regularly and we now hope to have more up to date figures by the spring. There are at present 1,578 Appointed Factory Doctors for districts and 684 doctors appointed for specific purposes.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls, respectively, have left schools in the Don Valley area since 1st January, 1960; and how many remain unemployed.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th December, 1960; Vol. 631, c. 139] supplied the following:I must apologise to the hon. Member for an error in figures given in my previous reply to this Question. The actual numbers of school leavers since 1st January, 1960, are 964 boys and 895 girls. The numbers remaining unemployed on 14th November were 8 boys and 5 girls.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Egg Marketing Board regarding a future surplus of eggs.

Discussions have taken place recently between my Department and the producers' representatives. They have been told that it would be contrary to the Government's policy to encourage the production of eggs to a point where an annual surplus develops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money he plans to spend on importing and testing Charollais cattle; and how much money he proposes to spend on similar tests for Hereford, Angus, and Lincoln Red cattle.

I propose to consult the interests concerned about the precise nature of the trials to be undertaken if it proves possible to import Charollais bulls from France. If the suggestions in the Terrington Committee's report are adopted, the cost ultimately falling on my Department would be small, but I can give no estimate at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will use his powers under the Brucellosis Melitensis Order to sanction compulsory slaughter and compensation for herds diagnosed as suffering from this disease.

The use of these powers was discontinued in 1956 because it was no longer thought to be necessary on public health grounds. I do not think I should be justified in singling out this form of brucella infection for special treatment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the approximate annual expenditure over the last ten years for research into animal diseases, other than foot and mouth; and, over this same period, what is the approximate annual loss from such diseases.

Excluding capital costs, Government expenditure on research into diseases of farm animals, other than foot and mouth disease, has averaged about £700,000 annually over the past ten years; the current annual rate of expenditure is over £1 million. There is also considerable expenditure by private organisations. Estimates of losses from all animal diseases in this country, which are necessarily based largely on conjecture, have ranged from £80 million to £150 million annually.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has been taking to compensate landowners whose grassland was ploughed up under wartime directions.

In general, experience has not shown that the ploughing up which took place under wartime directions has adversely affected the value of farms. The Government have, therefore, never issued a general invitation to submit claims for compensation, and it is not proposed to do so now. Claims have been accepted for several years in respect of non-agricultural land, such as golf courses and playing fields, and of agricultural land which is unsuitable for rotational cropping. Up to date, about £275,000 has been paid in settlement. Only ten such claims have been received in the past five years, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I consider that the time has come to announce a final date for applications. We wish, therefore, to give notice that the last date on which claims will be accepted will be 31st March, 1961.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many men draw disability pension and in addition one or more of the following benefits namely, constant attendance allowance, most serious cases, unemployability supplement and special hardship; and how many are receiving all these benefits.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind disablement pensions under the Industrial Injuries scheme. The latest estimates relate to October, 1959, when some 62,000 men were receiving such pensions with one or more of the additional allowances named. It is not possible simultaneously to receive the three allowances mentioned in the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will either give further consideration to the widening of the definition of pneumoconiosis, or prescribe emphysema caused, or aggravated, by the conditions of the work of coal miners as an industrial disease.

My Department keeps in close touch with the research activities of the Medical Research Council and others bearing on the problems of the respiratory conditions mentioned. But there is at present no evidence to justify the action suggested by the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will publish a leaflet or make a statement to remove doubt and misunderstanding regarding the reasons why the contributions of insured workers in non-participating employments under the 1959 Act will be higher for both men and women than the corresponding contributions in participating employments for the same flat rate benefits.

It would not be appropriate to publish a leaflet on this subject, but I am circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT setting out the considerations which cause the National Insurance contributions for contracted-out people to be higher than the minimum contributions payable in respect of people not contracted out. These matters, as the hon. Member will recall, were explained in the White Paper on Provision for Old Age and during the debates on the National Insurance Bill, 1959.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will issue an up-to-date edition of the leaflet describing the graduated pension scheme; and when he expects to publish the employers' guide.

A guide to the New Graduated Pension Scheme has been freely available from local National Insurance offices since August, 1959. A new edition incorporating the changes in flat rate contributions provided for by the National Insurance Bill, now awaiting Royal Assent, will become available on 10th January. The Employer's Guide to Graduated National Insurance Contributions will be distributed through Tax offices to employers in Great Britain, totalling about 900,000, by mid January. A leaflet outlining the arrangements for collecting graduated contributions was sent to employers last summer.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will amend the National Insurance (Seasonal Workers) Regulations, 1950, to enable seasonal workers to draw unemployment benefit even if they cannot find the necessary qualifying employment during part of the off-season.

No. It is a long standing provision of unemployment insurance that additional conditions should apply to the receipt of unemployment benefit by seasonal workers during that part of the year when they do not normally work. The present conditions, including that in relation to employment in the off-season to which my hon. Friend refers, are those recommended by the National Insurance Advisory Committee who have fully reviewed the question of unemployment benefit for seasonal workers on two occasions.

asked the Minister of Pensions of National Insurance why Mr. F. W. Hart, of 8, Oak Street, Shrewsbury, was deprived of the statutory right of appeal When, in 1920, without informing Mr. Hart, a pension for war disability aggravated by military service was substituted for a pension for a disability up to then certified as being due to military service.

My right hon. Friend cannot accept that Mr. Hart was deprived of a statutory right of appeal. As I said in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 16th November, Mr. Hart was in 1922 notified that there was no remaining disablement due to his war service. He then had, but did not exercise, a right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. He did not, however, apply for reinstatement of pension until 1943 when his right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal had long since expired.

asked the Minister of Power what action the Northern Gas Board are taking with regard to the gassings of families which have occurred on Tyneside in recent weeks.

The Northern Gas Board is continually surveying its mains in order to detect leaks, and I am glad to say no one has died from this cause on Tyneside for ten years. Three out of four gassing accidents happen to old people and the Board has checked the installations of nearly 20,000 old-age pesioners during the past year.I understand that two of the recent incidents took place where demolition of old property involved special risks of damage to mains.

asked the Minister of Power to make a statement on the capacity of the national power supply to meet all requirements, particularly those arising from periods of cold weather.

There has been an exceptionally heavy increase in the demand for electricity in recent months. If this continues and if exceptionally severe weather coincides with the winter peak demand it may, on occasions be difficult to maintain normal voltage and frequency for an hour or so in the morning and in the evening. But it is most unlikely that there will be load shedding on a substantial scale.

asked the Minister of Power what alterations have been considered by Her Majesty's Government since 9th December in the capital investment programme of the National Coal Board.

None.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what was the original estimated percentage increase of coal to be used by electricity power stations in 1960 over 1959; and what has been the actual percentage increase to date;(2) what was the original estimated percentage increase of fuel oil to be used by electricity power stations in 1960 over 1959; and what has been the actual percentage increase to date.

I cannot identify the original estimates to which the hon. Member refers. In the first 49 weeks of this year power stations in Great Britain used 4½ million tons or 10½ per cent. more coal, and 1 million tons or 27 per cent. more fuel oil than in the same period of 1959.

asked the Minister of Aviation what were the circumstances which caused the pilot of his aircraft to land at Hum Airport on 2nd December, instead of at Southampton, Eastleigh airport as scheduled.

The pilot decided not to go to Eastleigh after dark because of the surface conditions reported there on that particular day. I, in fact, landed at Eastleigh a few weeks earlier.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will now make a statement on the Eurocontrol Convention establishing a European Air Traffic Control Plan.

I signed the Eurocontrol Convention on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in Brussels on 13th December. As soon as a certified copy of the Convention as signed in Brussels is available, it will be laid before Parliament in the usual way. The main provisions of the Convention are set out in the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 28th November, 1960.

asked the Minister of Education what emergency action he proposes to take to help St. Illtyd's Roman Catholic College, Cardiff, in view of his decision to delay the building of a new school.

I know of no emergency action which I could take, but if the hon. Member wishes to put a specific proposal to me, I shall of course consider it.

asked the Minister of Education what percentage of State schools are equipped wtih television sets.

I understand that 2,500 schools are registered with the B.B.C. to use their school television programmes and 1,740 are registered for independent television programmes. These may overlap. There are 30,000 maintained schools and departments in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Education to state the nature of the emergency dental service provided in Hinckley referred to in the recent correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Bosworth; and what steps are being taken to improve the emergency service.

There are two ways in which emergency treatment can be obtained, depending on its urgency. A child may be offered an appointment at the South Wigston clinic on the next Saturday or, if the emergency makes it necessary, he will be put in touch with the peripatetic school dentist who works with portable equipment at schools in the south of the county. The authority is unable to make better arrangements for the Hinckley area until it succeeds in recruiting more dentists.

asked the Minister of Education to state the grounds for his refusal to sanction grants from local education authorities to assist students to give voluntary service overseas.

I am advised that grants to assist students to give voluntary service overseas cannot be brought within the scope of the Education Act, 1944, or any of the Regulations made under it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken as a result of the communication he has received from the hon. Member for Swindon about infringement of regulations covering the hire-purchase of television sets.

My right hon. Friend is having inquiries made into the matter and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the recent meeting in Paris of the members of the European Free Trade Area, with particular reference to the admission of Finland.

Ministers from the E.F.T.A. countries, who were attending the O.E.C.D. Conference in Paris last week, met informally on 12th December to discuss matters of mutual interest arising at the Conference. They also took advantage of the opportunity to exchange views on various E.F.T.A. matters including Finnish association. It was agreed that this question should be considered further by the E.F.T.A. Council at official level in Geneva.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate has been made of the cost to the country of the strike of tally clerks in the Port of London.

Some of the fall in exports in October which can be attributed to the tally clerks' strike, was made good in November. Some export business must have been lost altogether, but it is impossible to estimate how much. Nor is it possible to measure the damage done to the good will our exports enjoy in overseas markets by late delivery of goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reply he has given to Dr. Banda's representations regarding intervention by Her Majesty's Government on behalf of Mr. James Sholto Douglas, a United Kingdom citizen, who has been declared a prohibited immigrant by the Government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Wednessbury (Mr. Stonehouse) on 15th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement about the progress of the Southern Rhodesia constitutional talks.

The Southern Rhodesia Constitutional Conference met on 16th and 17th December to discuss procedure. The Conference will meet again in the New Year in Salisbury.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent it is easier to recruit for the Royal Marines than for the Regular Army; and what consideration has been given to the raising of additional Royal Marine Commandos for the protection of British and Commonwealth territories and interests, with appropriate adjustments between the Navy and Army Votes.

Recruiting to the Royal Marines is fully up to target. Army recruiting, however, although improving, is still below the requirement. Consideration has been given, and will continue to be given, to extending the use of the Royal Marines in meeting our overseas commitments, particularly along the lines of the Commando carrier concept. As regards adjustments between the Votes of the individual Service Departments, the allocation of resources made annually in the Defence Budget takes account of the strengths and rôles laid down for the three services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the meeting in Paris on 13th and 14th December of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I attended a conference in Paris on 13th and 14th December which was attended by Ministers from the eighteen members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (O.E.E.C.) and the U.S.A. and Canada. The purpose of the conference was to endorse the arrangements for remodelling the O.E.E.C.The Convention establishing the successor Organisation, with the U.S. and Canada as full members, was duly signed by representatives of all the twenty countries, and we hope it will come into force by the autumn of next year. At the same time Ministers approved a report from the Preparatory Committee they had set up in July on the activities and structure of the new Organisation. A White Paper containing the text of the Convention is being laid today, and will be published tomorrow. The report will be placed in the Library very shortly and will be published by O.E.E.C. in a few weeks' time.The aims of O.E.C.D. are briefly: to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and employment consistent with financial stability; to contribute to sound economic expansion in countries in process of economic development; and to contribute to the expansion of world trade on a non-discriminatory basis.The main task of the new Organisation will be to strengthen and extend consultation on the economic policies of member countries and their impact on others. It will also have an important rôle in contributing to the economic expansion of the less developed countries by consultation on ways and means of improving the flow of long-term funds. Its trade functions will include within the framework of the G.A.T.T., regular consideration of the trade policies of member countries, examination of specific trade problems and consideration of any outstanding problems remitted to the Committee on Trade Problems established last January, which includes relations between the Six and the Seven.Her Majesty's Government believe that the way has now been prepared for a further important advance in economic co-operation between the countries of Western Europe and North America, which will benefit many other countries as well, and they intend to give the new Organisation their full support and to co-operate wholeheartedly in endeavouring to achieve its aims.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the firm, the name of which has been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Easington, which was awarded the contract to build houses in Peterlee is unable to meet its liabilities and a meeting of its creditors has been called; whether any of the creditors are to be reimbursed by the Government; and to what extent.

I am aware of the position. Materials for these contracts were supplied to the contractor under normal commercial arrangements, and the Development Corporation has paid the contractor for all materials used. There can be no question, therefore, of any additional payment by the Government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the conditions upon which the contract to build houses in Peterlee was agreed between the Corporation and a firm, the name of which has been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Easington.

The contracts were the subject of open competitive tender, and were awarded by the Development Corporation to the lowest tenderer. The standard form of R.I.B.A. contract was used.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that the Peterlee Corporation have agreed to make a cash payment of £250,000 to a firm, the name of which has been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Easington, against claims against them but without admission of liability; and whether this was done with his approval.

With respect to the right hon. Gentleman, his information is not correct. A sum of £25,000 is being paid by the Development Corporation, with my approval, in full settlement of a very much larger claim. Agreement on the amount due was reached after a detailed investigation by quantity surveyors on both sides.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will appoint an additional member to the Pilkington Committee to represent the Christian churches.

No. It is necessary to limit the Committee to a reasonably small number. The Churches will, no doubt, put their views on broadcasting problems to the Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General to state the number of temporary postmen required for the present Christmas period in the Hull area, and the number to be taken from the employment exchange.

About 900 temporary staff are required for employment in the City of Hull and about 80 in the remaining area under the control of the Head Postmaster. The Ministry of Labour has so far supplied 778 applicants. Of these, all who are suitable and do not decline employment when offered will be engaged. So far 360 have been recruited.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of temporary postmen employed during the 1959 Christmas period in the Hull area, and the number who were taken from the employment exchange.

Nine hundred and thirteen temporary staff were employed in the City of Hull and 87 in the remaining area under the control of the Head Postmaster. Of these 699 were obtained through the employment exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement on the application to Scotland of the Government's decisions on the recommendations of the Anderson Committee on Grants to Students.

The radically revised scale of parental contributions, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education on 1st December, will come into force in Scotland in October, 1961, and will apply to university students, students at colleges of education and students taking advanced courses in further education establishments.The Government have also been considering the rates of maintenance allowances for these three categories of students, as between Scotland, on the one hand, and England and Wales on the other, with a view to eliminating existing disparities. It is the Government's intention to have new rates in operation not later than October, 1962, but an interim improvement of Scottish allowances will be made in October 1961.I shall consult the local authority associations about the complex problems involved in putting these arrangements into effect, including the future participation of the education authorities in the administration of the grants system. I shall also consult them about the small number of further education students taking shorter courses with lower entrance qualifications, who will not be covered by these arrangements.We also propose to accept the Committee's recommendations that no deduction should be made from the grants from public funds in respect of an award-holder's personal income, including income from scholarships and prizes, of up to £100 a year; and that there should be no restriction on students' freedom of choice to attend any university in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to state for each education authority area the amount, per capita of children at school, spent last year on books, apparatus and equipment;(2) if he will state, for the last available year, the number of children at

Education Authority			Average number of children on roll	Per capita cost
				Staff	School maintenance	Transport Travelling, etc.	Total of columns 3 to 5	Books, apparatus, etc.	Furniture and Equipment
(1)			(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)
				£	£	£	£	£	£
Counties
Aberdeen		…	24,630	50·3	12·4	2·6	65·3	2·0	0·7
Angus	…	…	15,391	45·0	13·0	1·9	59·9	2·2	0·8
Argyll	…	…	8,374	58·3	13·0	9·5	80·8	2·4	0·5
Ayr	…	…	59,461	41·4	11·9	1·9	55·2	2·1	0·9
Banff	…	…	8,586	55·6	13·6	1·7	70·9	2·4	0·7
Berwick	…	…	3,725	57·1	13·1	5·9	76·1	2·4	0·6
Bute	…	…	1,973	56·0	16·1	4·8	76·9	3·3	0·4
Caithness		…	4,750	49·7	13·3	2·7	65·7	3·5	0·7
Clackmannan		…	7,437	41·5	12·1	1·6	55·2	2·9	0·3
Dumfries	…	…	14,920	42·4	15·2	4·5	62·1	2·4	1·5
Dunbarton		…	31,067	36·7	16·4	1·7	54·8	3·1	0·8
East Lothian		…	8,697	45·3	14·4	1·3	61·0	2·7	0·9
Fife	…	…	57,719	41·5	12·9	1·1	55·5	2·9	0·6
Inverness	…	…	14,468	52·4	13·8	7·6	73·8	30	0·6
Kincardine		…	4,538	48·3	10·0	2·5	60·8	2·2	0·7
Kirkcudbright		…	4,802	56·1	12·4	6·0	74·5	1·9	0·2
Lanark	…	…	101,928	39·1	15·3	1·1	55·5	2·4	0·6
Midlothian		…	19,346	43·8	13·7	1·4	58·9	2·2	0·4
Moray and Nairn			10,095	44·0	9·2	1·5	54·7	2·0	0·5
Orkney	…	…	3,154	58·7	16·6	10·0	85·3	4·0	1·2
Peebles	…	…	2,074	54·3	16·3	9·7	80·3	2·5	0·5
Perth and Kinross			20,423	47·5	130	3·3	63·8	2·6	0·8
Renfrew	…	…	56,698	38·4	12·9	1·1	52·4	2·4	0·8
Ross and Cromarty			10,409	58·0	14·2	16·0	88·2	3·2	0·8
Roxburgh		…	6,279	48·7	14·6	3·3	66·6	2·4	0·9
Selkirk	…	…	3,273	47·8	12·9	1·8	62·5	2·1	0·3
Stirling	…	…	33,088	41·6	14·3	1·1	57·0	1·7	0·8
Sutherland		…	2,315	70·7	21·6	24·2	116·5	5·6	1·3
West Lothian		…	16,838	41·7	13·7	1·5	56·9	2·6	0·6
Wigtown		…	5,271	48·9	120	3·8	64·7	2·4	0·4
Zetland	…	…	2,975	67·4	17·6	16·0	101·0	3·8	1·0
Burghs
Aberdeen		…	29,533	53·5	19·4	0·4	73·3	2·2	1·1
Dundee	…	…	31,107	43·0	13·7	0·4	57·1	2·0	0·6
Edinburgh		…	64,491	43·4	16·3	1·5	61·2	2·8	0·1
Glasgow	…	…	181,462	40·8	20·4	2·7	63·9	2·8	1·1
Total	…	…	871,297	43·2	15·5	2·3	61·0	2·5	0·8
Notes
Column 2. School year ended July. 1960.
Columns 3 to 8.—Financial year ended May, 1960.
Column 5.—Includes expenses of hostels and board and lodging of pupils.
Columns 7 and 8.—These expenses form part of the cost of school maintenance (column 4).
These figures cover only expenditure directly related 10 attendance at school; they exclude costs of administration, capital expenditure and loan charges, and other payments for which the share attributable to schools is not known, and of school meals and milk, the school health service, bursaries, further education, libraries, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state for each education

Following is the information:authority area the number of educational grants and the average sum paid in respect of children at secondary schools and university students, respectively.

ACADEMIC YEAR 1959–60
Education Authority						Higher School Bursaries		University (whole-time) Bursaries
						Number	Average sum paid	Number	Average sum paid
Counties							£		£
Aberdeen		…	…	…	…	575	38	270	199
Angus		…	…	…	…	225	40	137	189
Argyll		…	…	…	…	208	32	83	223
Ayr	…	…	…	…	…	849	37	386	192
Banff	…	…	…	…	…	143	40	88	206
Berwick		…	…	…	…	109	43	24	215
Bute	…	…	…	…	…	32	35	23	224
Caithness		…	…	…	…	100	37	37	202
Clackmannan			…	…	…	118	35	72	210
Dumfries		…	…	…	…	257	32	102	228
Dunbarton		…	…	…	…	493	33	225	163
East Lothian			…	…	…	181	37	60	190
Fife	…	…	…	…	…	1,414	34	458	218
Inverness		…	…	…	…	425	30	169	193
Kincardine		…	…	…	…	119	41	61	199
Kirkcudbright			…	…	…	75	37	37	185
Lanark		…	…	…	…	1,861	35	587	194
Midlothian		…	…	…	…	264	36	101	194
Moray and Nairn			…	…	…	221	42	104	212
Orkney		…	…	…	…	77	37	33	233
Peebles		…	…	…	…	65	44	23	234
Perth and Kinross			…	…	…	550	37	191	196
Renfrew		…	…	…	…	727	37	384	169
Ross and Cromarty			…	…	…	181	43	140	235
Roxburgh		…	…	…	…	83	36	52	222
Selkirk		…	…	…	…	69	36	32	231
Stirling		…	…	…	…	666	35	218	194
Sutherland		…	…	…	…	66	43	45	229
West Lothian			…	…	…	371	37	98	201
Wigtown		…	…	…	…	91	38	32	213
Zetland		…	…	…	…	90	40	43	250
Burghs
Aberdeen		…	…	…	…	555	38	431	178
Dundee		…	…	…	…	430	37	216	196
Edinburgh		…	…	…	…	1,362	35	780	162
Glasgow		…	…	…	…	3,545	35	1,110	187
Total			…	…	…	16,597	36	6,852	191

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what answer he has sent to the letter dated 3rd November from Mr. John R. Harvey, General Secretary of the Poultry and Egg Producers Association of Great Britain, about fowl pest and the possibility of the importation of poultry meat for the consumption of United States servicemen at the proposed United States depot to be set up in conjunction with the Holy Loch project.

Following is the information:

I have directed that a reply be sent to the Association saying that their representations will be borne in mind if an application to this effect should be received from the U.S. Navy authorities. In view, however, of the facilities accorded under strict veterinary safeguards to the U.S.A.F. for the importation under licence of table poultry for exclusive use in U.S.A.F. messes in this country, there would appear at present to be no reasonable grounds for refusing an application from the U.S. Navy authorities.