asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which interests have now made representations to him about the report on bread and flour by the Food Standards Committee.

I have so far received representations from manufacturers, local authorities and an organisation concerned with advertising.

Can the Minister say when he is likely to finish consideration of this matter and be in a position to make a public announcement?

I have asked for all representations to be in by 17th February. The date of my announcement will depend on how many there are. I shall, of course, have to consider them, but I will make an announcement as soon as possible

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will prohibit the movement of bees in and out of the New Forest and make a stand-still order to cover a district of a radius of five miles round any infected apiary, in view of the spread of European foul brood from the New Forest and surrounding districts; and what representations he has received on this matter from the Wiltshire Beekeepers' Association.

I have no reason to think that an extension of the present arrangements for controlling the movement of bees, that is to say movement of hives, when European Foul Brood disease is discovered, would be effective enough to justify the hardship which it would cause. There is in any case no evidence that the New Forest area is now a serious source of infection. On the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend has received a resolution from the Wiltshire Bee-keepers' Association in the same terms as the hon. Member's Question.

I am grateful for that reply, and would be more grateful if the Minister would keep closely in touch with bee-keeping organisations like the Wiltshire body from which he has received representations from time to time.

We are always in touch with such organisations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he gives to rabbit clearance societies about dealing with rabbits on common land; and if he makes a grant towards destroying such rabbits before they spread to adjoining farm land.

My Department deals with rabbits on common land. The Divisional Pests Officer should be informed if rabbits on commons are causing trouble to adjoining farm land.

To avoid duplication of the matter, would not it be better if the local rabbit clearance society were authorised and paid by the council to deal with rabbits on common land adjoining its area? It seems to me that at the moment there is a good deal of overlapping, and it is not always very effective in the result.

My Department is responsible for doing this on common land. It is always possible to make arrangements, and indeed in many instances it has been possible to make arrangements for the local rabbit clearance society to act, so to speak, as agents of the Department and receive a payment from if. If my hon. Friend knows of any instances where he thinks this should be done and is not, and agreement could be reached, perhaps he will let me know. I will then look into it. But I know that in many instances it has been done.

Is the Minister aware that many fellows like to go rabbiting over the weekend? Why should not they have their sport protected?

There is plenty of scope for killing rabbits in this country, but we want to get this pest down and held down.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered the Lincoln Red Cattle Society's pioneer recording scheme for beef cattle, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Lincoln; and what steps he is taking to encourage similar schemes designed to assess the commercial value of different breeds and of different systems of livestock management.

I was glad to hear of the Lincoln Red Society's initiative in starting a recording scheme. The National Agricultural Advisory Service has been demonstrating, in various parts of the country, the value of weighing cattle and will, with the support of the Agricultural Improvement Council, continue to encourage this most promising development in livestock management.

Would the Minister go as far as saying that there is the possibility that a scheme like this, if nationally administered and centrally regulated, might have as much benefit for beef production in the future as the milk recording scheme had for milk production in the past?

I think that there is tremendous scope here. This is beginning in a small way with one breed society. I regard it as a self-help scheme and something which the agricultural industry will be doing very much in its own interests. Any encouragement that we can give I will gladly see is given.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be in a position to present the Report of the Study Group on Toxic Sprays.

Although the Group is still receiving evidence, it is considering the outline of its Report, which my right hon. Friend hopes will be completed some time in the summer.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is now almost exactly a year since the names of the Study Group were announced? Will he try to get the Report out in time for some action to be taken with this season's cropping?

We appreciate the urgency, but it is a complicated subject and it is better to do this thoroughly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether in view of the urgent necessity to stimulate British agricultural exports, he will remove the present regulations which prevent the export of British pig meat to Denmark.

Her Majesty's Government impose no restrictions on the export of British pig meat to Denmark but my hon. Friend may have in mind the restrictions which are imposed on all imports of pig meat into Denmark. These are a matter for the Danish authorities, and I do not think that the present export prospects for British pig meat in the Danish market are sufficient to warrant any special representations at this stage.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is a very onesided policy which allows the Danes to export to this country over half our bacon requirements? In view of the declared necessity to explore every export market for British agricultural goods, will my right hon. Friend see whether he can get the Danes to relax their present restrictions?

I am sure that my hon. Friend is aware of the fact that we are getting considerably increased opportunities for industrial exports to Denmark, under the Convention, but I do not think that we can seriously expect to sell pig meat to the Danes until we can bring our costs of production down to the region of theirs.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that British processors claim that they can export British pig meat and put it on the Danish market at prices lower than those which the Danish producers are charging in their own market today?

The fact is that our own pig producers are subsidised, whereas the Danish pig producers are not.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that dwelling houses in High Street, Stockbridge, are flooded, that their ground floor accommodation is unusable in consequence, and that High Street has been flooded continuously for three months; and whether he will arrange for immediate action to be taken to carry off the surplus water.

I know about the flooding in Stockbridge, and greatly regret it. I understand from the Hampshire River Board, which is the responsible authority, that it is giving urgent consideration to the problem. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have further information.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, on 27th October, his predecessor told me that at a board meeting the following week the river board was considering what remedial measures would be practicable? Can he give me some indication when it may be possible to do something to alleviate the misery in which my constituents have been living since last October?

I appreciate the difficulty, but in this case there are engineering and technical difficulties. There is the high water level in the river and the fact that the chalk subsoil is so saturated that there is no way of dealing with this problem until the level of the Test drops a little

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the Minis- ter of Health with regard to his joint responsibility for regulations governing the marketing of prepacked cat and dog meat as unfit for human consumption, in view of the fact that the staining of unfit meat is not compulsory.

As canned meat for dogs and cats is clearly not intended for human consumption and is sterilised in the process of canning, my right hon. Friend, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, do not consider that any other safeguards are necessary.

In view of the fact that this prepacked meat is now sold in ordinary grocers' shops and is well displayed along with other canned meat, should not something be done to mark upon the tin the fact that the meat is unfit for human consumption?

I would have thought that the descriptions on these tins of meat, and the pictures of cats and dogs which are normally on them, would be sufficient warning to purchasers of what the contents were intended for. Secondly, under the Food and Drugs Act, which is concerned with the labelling of food for human consumption, my right hon. Friend has no power to require the kind of extra inscription which the hon. Lady has in mind.

This is a very serious matter. I do not know whether the Minister realises what is happening. If there are no powers to deal with the matter, will he go fully into the question with the Ministry of Health to see whether it would be advisable to take some legal action to ensure that these tins are clearly marked "Unfit for Human Consumption"?

I realise that this could be a serious problem. There is no accounting for tastes, as is shown by the fact that, although we stain methylated spirits with a colour in order that everybody can recognise it, there are still a few people who try to drink it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, owing to weather and other conditions, the barley harvest this year is likely to be as much as 1 million tons more than last year's harvest, and that the price paid to the farmer will in consequence be so low that the Exchequer will be faced with a deficiency payment of between £30 and £40 million; and what action he is taking in anticipation of this.

It is too early to forecast with confidence the acreage, the yield, or the market price, and therefore the deficiency payment, for barley of the 1961 harvest. But a million tons more barley would require a combination of an unprecedented increase in acreage and a very high if not record yield. Discussions on barley marketing are taking place between the Agriculture Departments, the farmers' unions and the trades concerned.

Even if the figure is 50 per cent. out, is not the position obviously serious enough to warrant the Minister taking some steps, in the interests of all our people, to discourage the sowing of barley in the spring and also to hasten the calling of an international conference on barley exports?

We had a Question relating to barley exports last week, and I have nothing further to add to what I said in my Answer. As to the discouragement of barley sowing, there is still a lot of winter wheat being put in, and I cannot tell what the acreage is likely to be.

Whether or not we have this greatly increased acreage, is my right hon. Friend aware of the great benefits, both to producers and taxpayers, which would result from an incentive being given to keep barley off the market at harvest time, when it depresses the price? Will my right hon. Friend consider extending the principle of the wheat marketing system to barley and oats?

It is a difficult time of year for me to give a categorical reply to that suggestion. I can only repeat that discussions on the matter are taking place at the moment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Forestry Commission houses are occupied by industrial employees of the Commission; what proportion of the in- dustrial grades employed by the Commission occupy Commission houses; and how rents of Forestry Commission houses compare with rents of council houses in the same area.

About 3,400 Forestry Commission houses are tenanted by industrial employees of the Commission; this represents 30 per cent. of the Commission's total industrial staff. The rents of these houses are usually very close to those of similar houses owned by local authorities in the same areas.

I know that the right hon. Gentleman has not been in his present office for very long, but is he aware that many Forestry Commission houses are situated in very remote areas and lack modern amenities? Is he further aware that they have service tenancies, or are tied cottages, so that the workers have no right to remain in their cottages once their employment with the Commission ends? Is it not unreasonable to charge them rents similar to those of council houses in the same area? Will the Minister look into the matter in order to see whether more realistic rents can be charged for these Forestry Commission houses?

The rents for the more modern houses are naturally higher than those for the older ones. A considerable modernisation programme has been going on, and within the next five years we hope that all the Commission's houses will be modernised. In Norfolk, which I think the hon. Member has in mind, the average weekly rent of a sample of local authority houses was found to be 23s. 6d" while, on the average, tenants of similar Forestry Commission houses were charged 17s. 6d. a week, which is 6s. below the local authority average.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he is represented on the liaison committee which has been set up in connection with the Polaris base at Holy Loch.

My right hon. Friend is not represented on the liaison committee, nor has he any responsibility in the area.

Can the Minister explain why the name of his Department is on the list issued by the Admiralty and tell us what this scientific committee will do there? Obviously it has some connection with his Department. Is the Committee going to investigate the possibility of radio-activity from the fish? Will he give a guarantee that if there is any damage to the fish, fishermen in the Clyde area will be fully compensated?

Fish is one thing; in order to get the main information he seeks, he should address a Question to my hon. Friend the Civil Lord.

Is he is charge of fish now?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that milk delivery firms are considering stopping Sunday deliveries, and that this will result in hardship, particularly for babies and children, having regard to the fact that milk will not be delivered from Saturday mornings until the following Monday morning; and whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that milk is delivered on every day of the week, including Sunday.

I am aware that one or two milk distributors propose to experiment on a limited scale with deliveries on six days only per week. This is primarily a matter between the dairyman and his customers. While I shall watch the results of the experiment with interest. I do not think that action on the lines proposed by the hon. Member is called for.

Is the Minister aware that his reply will cause considerable anxiety to consumers, especially in view of the fact that nowadays rounds are zoned so that in some cases milkmen deliver only in the afternoon? Secondly, is he aware that pasteurised milk will be delivered to babies about 1½ days later than it should be? Is he aware that this is a serious matter, apart from the question of the inconvenience to the general public on the days in question? Will he see what he can do to persuade milk distributors not to undertake this kind of experiment, which is bound to cause hardship to consumers in the various districts?

As the experiment has not taken place, I think the hon. Gentleman is prejudging the situation when he says that it is bound to cause hardship. The milk distributing industry has a long record of service to the public, which is almost unequalled in any other country, and I do not believe that it would take any step which would diminish the sale of milk.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Minister of Health regarding the position about pasteurised milk being available particularly where there is no refrigerator in the home? Is he aware that babies will not be able to get pasteurised milk and may be given some other kind of food which is not suitable?

The hon. Gentleman inferred that there would be a delivery on Saturday morning and not another until Monday afternoon. I do not believe that will necessarily be the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he now proposes to set up a Government film unit to provide topical news and feature material for overseas television services.

This possibility is under consideration by the Central Office of Information in relation to the production programme for the financial year 1961–62.

The Minister assured me some little time ago that it was under consideration. Would he not agree that there is a definite gap in our overseas information service and that the sooner it is filled the better?

The need has been for an additional news film unit to supplement the capacity of the contractors. It will not be long before a decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what estimate he has made of the increased cost to the National Assistance Board which will arise from the 1s. per item imposed on medical prescriptions; and whether he will make a statement.

A little over £1 million a year.

In view of that staggering figure, is not it perfectly clear that people who are just over the borderline for receiving National Assistance will be faced with a terrible bill for medical prescriptions due to the legislation now being considered?

As the hon. Member is aware, the people who, as he claims, are on the borderline can apply to the National Assistance office. In fact, in case of emergency they may go in person and receive payment for the prescription charge which has been made.

Is my hon. Friend considering the suggestion that a review should be undertaken of the hardship provisions relating to the prescription charges a month or so after the new charges come into effect in order to ensure that the arrangements are working smoothly and efficiently?

I will certainly bring the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to the attention of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why Mr. and Mrs. Duxbury, of Blackburn, have been refused a guardian's allowance in respect of their two grandchildren who are now in their care.

Since no claim for guardian's allowance has been made in this case, there has been no formal determination by the adjudicating authority. However, as I have told the hon. Lady, it would appear from the information I have that the conditions for the allowance, which are laid down in the National Insurance Acts and regulations, are not satisfied.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that I have made a claim to her in this case on behalf of the grandparents? Is not she fully aware also that the mother of these two children was murdered by her husband and that he is now serving a term of life imprisonment? Is not she aware that I brought to her notice a request by the grandparents, who are taking charge of these children, that they should be given a guardian's allowance because they are only working people and cannot afford to do this? Is not it quite intolerable that a guardian's allowance should be refused in such a case? If the right hon. Lady has not the power to act under the National Insurance Acts—and she shows no particular willingness to do so—will not she seek powers to amend the legislation?

My right hon. Friend and I have the greatest sympathy with this very tragic and practically unique case. But, as I explained to the hon. Lady, in the first place such an application must be made by the parents. This benefit is an orphan's benefit. [Interruption.] I am very sorry, but the hon. Lady rightly puts it when she says that the law does not provide for the classification of children as if they were orphans where there may be a surviving parent who, for many and varied reasons, is unable or unwilling for the time being to accept responsibility. We have every sympathy for this unique case, but, as the law stands, with a surviving parent the children cannot be classified as orphans.

Is it not the fact that in her reply to me the right hon. Lady quoted two cases where, exceptionally, a guardian's allowance could be paid when one parent is still alive? If the hon. Lady is taking the technical point that no formal application has been made, if I can get Mrs. Duxbury to apply, will she give humane consideration to making an exceptional grant in this case also?

I have already said that we have every sympathy with this case. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Hon. Members will be aware that we have to keep the rule as well as everyone else. The law provides for certain exceptions which I outlined to the hon. Lady; where a child is adopted or illegitimate, where the marriage of the parents has been terminated by divorce or where one parent is missing at the date of the death of the other and the person claiming the allowance is not aware of the whereabouts of the surviving parent and has failed, after all reasonable efforts have been made, to discover them. As the law stands, although I have every sympathy, and so has my right hon. Friend, we cannot count these children as orphans.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why Mr. Fogarty, of Blackburn, who was discharged from the Irish Defence Force in 1942 as medically unfit with a duodenal ulcer, and was admitted into the British Army seven months later and who served for seven years during which he was treated for functional dyspepsia, has been refused a war pension although he is now seriously disabled as a result of a series of stomach operations.

I regret that my right hon. Friend cannot award a war pension to Mr. Fogarty because the independent pensions appeal tribunal decided in 1958 that his disability was not attributable to and had not been aggravated by his service in the British Army.

Is not there something very wrong with the Army medical examination if a man who has been discharged from one defence force with a duodenal ulcer can be accepted as A.l in the British Army a few months later? Is it not obvious that a man in that condition who served for seven years in the British Army, and whose service included action in Normandy in 1944, is likely to have had his condition aggravated by that service? In view of the fact that in 1958 the tribunal did not have all the facts before it, will not the Minister review this case again and give the man the benefit of a reasonable doubt?

I must remind the hon. Lady that the pensions appeal tribunals are completely independent of the Ministry and my right hon. Friend can exercise no control over their deliberations. If her constituent feels that the decision of the tribunal was wrong in law, he can write to the secretary of the tribunal for leave to appeal to the High Court.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what extent under his regulations National Assistance is granted in the case of a single man in receipt of 15s. above the Assistance Board's subsistence standard as a result of additional income through part-time employment in cases where he is sharing accommodation with a fully-employed brother.

The assessment of need in an individual case under the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Regulations depends on the circumstances of such a case and is, by Statute, a matter for the National Assistance Board. I understand that the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and that he wrote to the Chairman of the Board on 8th February about it.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that there are men who have to suffer the added indignity of having to rely on an elder brother, fully employed, to buy such things as boots because the National Assistance Board refuses to make a grant as these young men are 15s. above the subsistence level? If I send her the facts, will the hon. Lady look at this matter again?

I would be prepared to look into the matter, but the hon. Member will be aware that these cases vary and they are assessed on their merits by the National Assistance Board.

asked the Minister of Power what has been the improvement in the level of labour productivity for the last three years in the coal mining industry; and how this compares with the change in productivity for industry as a whole.

Colliery output per manshift in 1960 was about 12½ per cent. higher than in 1957. Although complete figures for last year are not yet available, it is estimated that output per manhour in manufacturing industry increased by about 12 per cent. over the same period.

I note that reply but, because the comparison the Minister has made refers to manufacturing industry, is it not the case that over 1960 productivity in the mines has improved rapidly compared with industry as a whole, which is in fact standing still, and does not that reflect great credit on the miners of this country and the leadership of the National Coal Board?

The hon. Gentleman asked about a comparison between 1957 and 1960, which shows the result that I stated. As he suggested, that is satisfactory, but anyone who knows the mining industry will agree that a further move forward in productivity and output per manshift is vitally necessary in the future.

I take it from the last part of the Minister's Answer that he will not expect an improvement unless greater security is given to the mining industry over the next few years?

The measure of security in the mining industry is that demand looks like being higher than the amount of coal likely to be produced.

asked the Minister of Power what general direction he has given to the National Coal Board in order to obviate a shortage of domestic fuel.

None, Sir. So far as the supply position is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 6th February.

Does the Minister agree that this uncertainty in the mining industry causes a great deal of apprehension? Will he consider giving some real guidance by way of plans, particularly to the coal mining industry?

No, Sir. As my hon. Friend made quite clear last week, although there might be certain shortages of certain items in some parts of the country, there is no general shortage. Therefore, it would be quite impossible, even if there were not a great many other objections, to consider giving a general direction to the Board.

Will my right hon. Friend please check the information he is receiving about a shortage of coal supplies? Is he aware that I have a letter from the High Wycombe and District Coal Merchants Associations, which says:

" it is about time the N.C.B. told the public the truth of their coal supplies".

That confirms what I have said, that there are certain shortages from time to time, but they are matters for the Board and the trade, and if they are put before the Board it takes steps to put them right. My hon. Friend is perfectly right, but there is no general shortage of coal in the country.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of his revised forecast that the target of 300 million tons of coal equivalent for energy consumption will not be achieved until the late sixties, what alteration to the revised plan for coal is necessary as regards the contribution required from the coal industry in 1965.

rose —

I apologise for the syntax of the Question.

I did not notice that there was anything wrong with it.

Is the Minister aware that since the original forecast was made the rate of general economic progress of the country has been much slower than was expected and most economists now expect a total energy demand in 1965 of 280 million tons, of which something like 100 million tons may be accounted for from oil and other sources? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that leaves far too little for coal? What assurance can he give the coal industry in view of these figures, particularly taking into account the suggestion made in an earlier question by one of my hon. Friends?

It is difficult to know what basis to take to arrive at the likely energy requirements in 1965. If the last two or three years are taken as a basis, the energy requirement in 1965 will be considerably below 300 million tons. If, on the other hand, this last year is taken as a basis they will be about 350 million tons. Therefore, I think it would be wrong to be too certain, or to aim to be too certain, when 300 million tons is going to be reached. I suggest that there is not any basis for thinking that the mining capacity necessary in 1965 will be substantially different from the estimate in the revised plan, which was a mining capacity of 200 million tons.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he proposes to take on the report made to him concerning the import of methane gas.

I have not yet received detailed proposals for the importation of methane gas.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect that the report will be presented?

I have had certain information given to me. I am expecting proposals will be put before me and, as I have undertaken on a number of occasions, when they are put before me I shall consider them very carefully indeed.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the amount of money spentby the gas industry on research in connection with the gasification of oil for the years 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960, and the estimated figure for 1961.

An estimated £146,000 in 1957–58; £249,000 in 1958–59; £227,000 in 1959–60; £290,000 estimated for 1960–61 and £176,000 forecast for 1961–62. These amounts cover some work which will also help with coal gasification.

While appreciating the figures the right hon. Gentleman has given, and also knowing full well that research will have to take place and does take place, may I ask him to consider arranging for discussions between the officials of the gas industry and the N.C.B. on the whole question of research? Will he ask the gas industry not to neglect the question of gasification of coal by the Lurgi system?

In answer to the last part of the supplementary question, I am sure the gas industry will not neglect that system because, as the hon. Member knows, two plants are being built and one will go into operation in the fairly near future. As to the main question of research, the gas industry and the coal industry are considering that matter very carefully at the moment in the light of recommendations in the Wilson Report, which was published a month or two ago.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the number of tons of oil, in coal equivalent, which the gas industry has used for making gas during the years 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960, and the estimated figure for 1961.

Including purchases of refinery gas, the tonnage of oil used was in 1957, 450,000; in 1958, 750,000; in 1959, 890,000; in 1960, 1,030,000; and the estimated use in 1961 is 1,150,000 tons. The coal equivalent of oil used for gas making varies according to the process.

Does the Minister realise that those figures will cause great consternation among the personnel in the mining industry? Will he consider advising the gas industry that the indigenous fuel in this country ought to have favourable consideration in the making of gas for use throughout the country?

The advice which both my predecessor and I have given to the gas industry is that when it takes the view that it is technically or economically beneficial to it to use oil rather than coal it should first discuss the matter with the coal industry to see if there are counter-proposals which that industry can make. That is what it has done, and it would be wrong for me after that discussion has taken place and in cases where the coal industry cannot compete to force competition upon it.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he proposes to choose an architect to proceed with the planning of Abbotsinch Airport.

The preparation of instructions for an architect is in hand and my right hon. Friend expects to be able to make an appointment shortly.

Does the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend realise that between now and 1963, when the Royal Naval Air Service will leave Abbotsinch, he will have to create a modern airport with all the latest facilities? If he is to do that he must move at an incredible speed. Can the hon. Gentleman say what "shortly" means in taking the first steps towards that speed in appointing the architect?

My right hon. Friend fully realises all those matters and will proceed with all the speed that is necessary.

asked the Minister of Aviation why he has not appointed a representative from Glasgow Corporation to his Scottish Advisory Committee for Civil Aviation.

rose —

A satisfactory Answer please.

The hon. Member has not heard it yet.

That is rather unfortunate. Did the Minister simply accept that advice and leave the matter as it was? Glasgow has formerly had a representative. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman could clear up any little background knowledge with which I am unfamiliar?

Certainly, I am glad to help the hon. Member. The Committee is appointed by the Minister after consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Secretary of State for Scotland takes suggestions from a number of bodies, including the Association Of Counties of Cities. On previous occasions a name has been suggested from Glasgow, but on this occasion none was suggested. There are, however, a number of members of the Committee closely associated with Glasgow and its interests will not be overlooked. There are only sixteen members of the Committee and not every district in Scotland can be represented directly.

Is the Scottish Advisory Committee, with or without the representatives of Glasgow, helping to get into operation the new airport serving Dundee?

I am sure that it will be very helpful on all matters, including that.

asked the Minister of Aviation why he has increased the landing charges for aircraft at London Airport so that they are substantially higher Chan those of any of the other main airports in the world; and whether he intends to continue the extra charge being made for aircraft using facilities at Gatwick when the congestion at London Airport prevents their landing there.

The purpose of the increase in landing fees is to transfer to the users of the aerodromes part of the costs at present borne by the taxpayer. A bare comparison of our landing fees with those of airports abroad can be misleading, because there is no common basis of accounting, levying of charges, or services provided.

Is the Minister aware that instead of doing good to the finances of the country it may do just the opposite, in that it may prevent planes from landing at London Airport, which otherwise would have landed there, because landing charges elsewhere are cheaper? Does he think that a plane should be compelled to pay an additional charge for landing at Gatwick when it has been diverted from London Airport? What is the sense in that? What is the reason for it?

I am not aware of any of the matters referred to in the first part of the supplementary question. There appears to be no reason to suppose that there will be an effect on traffic. The provision of alternative airports involves expenditure, and I see no reason why the taxpayer should have to bear the full cost of the commercial risk of bad weather.

Is my hon. Friend aware that what he and his right hon. Friend are doing will eventually cost the taxpayers more money? Why is it that the proposed landing charge is in some cases four times as high as those in other countries? All that he is doing is to drive other countries to raise their landing charges. Will he go into the matter and consider divorcing the civil airport from his own Ministry so that it can be run efficiently and serve the public?

The second part of that supplementary question raises wider considerations. In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall), on 5th December, I indicated some of the difficulties in making these comparisons. I can only refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the International Civil Aviation Organisation Manual of Airport and Air Navigation Facility Tariffs, which he will find in the Library.

Is the Minister satisfied that the real costs of London Airport compare reasonably with those of foreign airports, because surely that is the important question? Is the difference in charges fully to be accounted for by the much greater foreign subsidies?

Taking all the relevant factors into account, I do not think that our charges are out of line with those of other major international airports. What we have tried to do is to follow the I.C.A.O. recommendation to keep charging proceedures simple. In contrast, for example, at Idlewild there are charges split under eight or more heads.

If the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner) has no objection, I propose to raise this question on the Adjournment because of the unsatisfactory reply.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the outcome of the recent talks between his Department and the helicopter industry and civil operators concerning the future programme for large transport helicopters.

Discussions with manufacturers and operators about development programmes are very frequent. I have no statement to make about any particular talks on large transport helicopters.

Has the Minister read the last report of the Westland Helicopter Company? Has his attention been drawn to the fact that we are falling behind in this race for a large-scale transport helicopter because of a lack of decision as to which one, of three, the firms should concentrate on? What are the airline companies and corporations doing about their plans for a helicopter service?

I have read the report, but I do not accept that we are falling behind.

asked the Minister of Aviation what firm commitments have been made for the supply of aircraft for civil and military purposes; what is the total value of orders placed; what development contracts have been made: and what is the estimated cost of these, giving individual projects where possible.

The total estimated value of orders placed by the Ministry of Aviation since 1st April, 1958, for research and the development and production of aircraft for civil and military purposes is approximately £700 million. Of this amount, about £200 million is in respect of research and development contracts. It would not be in the public interest to disclose detailed information about individual projects.

Has the Minister any more money left to put into the aircraft industry in this country, in particular into firms outside the two large Corporations? Are we to take it as a precedent that the Minister of Health was appointed to his Department to make cuts? Has his colleague, who resigned at the same time, been moved into this Department also to make cuts?

We provide all the money that is necessary to meet the national requirements.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps are being taken to provide airport facilities in the North-East, additional to those as Woolsington airport.

None that I am aware of, but the matter is one that I should expect the local authorities to consider in the first instance.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that local authorities are considering this matter and that Sunderland Corporation is prepared to purchase Usworth Airfield from the Ministry? Will he use his good offices to expedite those negotiations?

Usworth is an Air Ministry airfield and any question relating to it should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.

Will the hon. Member consult his right hon. Friend about this matter? Is he aware that for many years the local authorities have been considering the desirability of having an airfield in this part of the country? Is it not about time that airport facilities were provided not only for large numbers of businessmen but also for hon. Members?

I am well aware of the local interest in this matter. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation met a delegation representative of local authorities in the area.

asked the Minister of Health what reduction in the number of prescriptions he expects as a result of the increased charge of 1s. per item.

My estimate will be based on a 2 per cent. reduction.

Will the Minister be kind enough to tell me the number of prescriptions involved? It is obviously a very serious matter if people are not able to afford to pay for the prescriptions which their doctor thinks they ought to have. Could he tell me the number of prescriptions involved?

Not without notice. The principal factor in the reduction is the elimination of the prescriptions under 2s.

asked the Minister of Health what would be the cost of providing motor cars for industrially-disabled persons similar to those provided for the war disabled.

My right hon. Friend regrets he cannot estimate this.

Will the hon. Lady or her right hon. Friend look into the matter to see whether something can be done to bring the provisions for industrial casualties into line with those covering war casualties? Has it not been a principle of the Government's policy to maintain the benefits for the industrially disabled in line with those for the war disabled? Is there any reason, except perhaps the mean reason of economy, to make a distinction in respect of these vehicles?

For patients dealt with under the National Health Service, there is no distinction between the various categories, whether they are cases of industrial injuries or civil injuries, or any other case. If the hon. Member is arguing that the industrially injured should have priority, I think that there might be similar arguments for other groups covered by the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increased incidence of venereal diseases shown by recent statistics, he will now initiate a national campaign of popular education and warning in regard to the infectious characteristics of these diseases.

Before deciding what further measures of education ought to be taken, I shall need to study the result of inquiries now being made by my Standing Medical Advisory Committee, by a commission of the British Medical Association and by the Co-operative Clinical Group.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this alarming increase, which was revealed in the figures which he gave me recently, is comprised substantially of young people? Is he not aware that many of these young people appear to be quite ignorant of what is a natural hazard but what, to some of them at any rate, I think, appears to be a spare-time occupation? Will not he give a personal lead in encouraging this education, once he receives the report?

Yes, Sir. I will try to do so, but the important thing is to understand better than we do at present the underlying causes of this phenomenon.

In order to keep the matter in perspective, will the Minister agree that, while there has been a disturbing rise in the incidence of gonorrhoea, syphilis is still broadly under control?

That is so.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the statistical table relating to cases of gonorrhoea in the annual report of his chief medical officer for the year 1959, which was issued until November, 1960, relates only to 1958; and whether, in view of the importance of this subject, he will ensure that future reports contain more up-to-date statistics.

The main statistical table includes figures for 1959; quarterly figures appear in my Ministry's Monthly Bulletin.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of delays, he will seek information on the intervals between consultations and the date of admission to hospitals in cases of haemorrhoidectomy; to what extent these consultations are arranged privately or at a hospital, respectively; and what is the difference in the delay in both categories of case.

Sample figures obtained in 1958 showed that 16 per cent. of admissions for haemorrhoidectomy were immediate, and that over 85 per cent. were within six months. The types of consultation are not separately distinguished.

Does not the Minister think that it would be desirable to find what happens about the 85 per cent., because there is a widespread belief that, if a patient pays his consultant a fee, he can minimise the six months? Would it not be advantageous if the public could be told what the exact position is, by these figures being obtained and published?

I do not think that it is desirable to distinguish hospital admissions in the categories which the hon. Gentleman suggests. Indeed, that would have the apposite effect to that which both he and I want. If there is any evidence at all of undue preference, I shall be delighted to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the new transistor hearing set, which has many advantages over the older Medrescemodel, is nevertheless much less powerful, is of little use to seriously deaf persons, and has no adjustment for pitch; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to rectifying these deficiences.

The Medresco transistor aid is not less powerful than the valve aid, but a still more powerful earphone is being developed for the profoundly deaf. The transistor aid, however, has a different quality of tone, and this may be why some users find it less satisfactory. The possibility of modifying the tone is being investigated.

I thank the hon. Lady for that answer. Will she consider issuing an explanatory leaflet to users of existing transistor sets with a view to informing users how best to use their sets?

I will certainly consider that.

Will the hon. Lady tell the House how freely available transister sets are? Are the waiting lists being satisfactorily dealt with?

I cannot give figures without notice, but we have been able to step up the latest issue and, to the best of my knowledge, it is progressing satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the varying sizes of teaspoons, if he will give instructions that the specific amounts to be taken should be stated in cases where bottles of medicine issued under the National Health Service carry a warning that it is dangerous to exceed the stated dose.

No, Sir. Few patients have appropriately graduated measures, and inaccuracies in using them might be as large as the variation in size of teaspoons.

Is the hon. Lady aware that with the different sizes of teaspoons it is possible that one person's dose may be two, three or even more times that of another's? If there is a notice on the bottle saying that it is dangerous to exceed the stated dose, does not the position I have outlined make nonsense of the notice? If so, can something be done to tidy this up? Is she aware that I have received many letters from knowledgeable people saying that she misled the House last week when she answered a Question about teaspoons?

No, and I think that the hon. Gentleman is misleading himself because the notice to the effect that it is dangerous to exceed the stated dose does not appear on any prescriptions dispensed under the National Health Service. It does appear on proprietaries in certain cases which include dangerous drugs. In any event, if a standard measure were available there would always be the individual who put in less than the appropriate amount and there would always be somebody who would contrive to overfill the measure, especially with a heavy liquid.

Is there any standard measure called "a teaspoonful" which is recognised in medical circles?

I believe that there is a standard measure, though it is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will ask all executive councils for a report on the action they have taken in reviewing assistantships in general practice; and if he will issue appropriate instructions to those councils whose arrangements he consider to be inadequate.

I shall shortly be issuing guidance on this to all executive councils.

Whilst welcoming the Minister's further guidance, may I ask him if he is aware that previous guidance has been issued and in a number of cases has just not been followed? Will he ensure that action follows in cases where assistants are still being exploited as more or less underpaid servants of general practitioners?

The circular which I propose to issue will include a request for a report from each executive council.

asked the Minister of Health what protection is given to consumers by his regulations in relation to the sale of prepacked cat and dog meat which is not marked unfit for human consumption.

I would refer the hon. Lady to my hon. Friend's reply to Question No. 9 on today's Order Paper.

As the Health Departments have a different responsibility from that of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, does not the Parliamentary Secretary think that it is a matter of very serious concern that meat comes into this country from abroad which is definitely unfit for human consumption, that no steps are taken to stain it and show that it is unfit for human consumption, that it goes to factories and is prepacked, and that no statement is put on the tin to the effect that the food is made from meat which is unfit for human consumption? Does not the hon. Lady think that the Department should look into the matter again with a view to seeing what action can be taken to remedy this?

This meat is sterilised, and that means that it does not constitute a hazard to health. Obviously, much of it is either meat from the knacker's yard or meat from the slaughterhouse condemned as unfit for human consumption. In view of this, it was obviously never intended for human consumption. My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider drawing attention to this fact in the health notes which the Department issues from time to time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to widespread under-employment and short-time working in British industry today, whether he will make a statement upon the effect of the credit squeeze in its present form to date.

The Government's credit restriction measures have reduced to some extent the pressure of demand at home upon our resources. Under-employment and short-time working, however, are not widespread.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the Midlands, for example, over 100,000 industrial workers are employed for between two and a half and four days a week only? Does my hon. Friend propose to allow another two months to elapse until the Budget before any further remedial measures are proposed to get these men back to full time work?

I was referring to the economy as a whole. My hon. Friend will agree that, while it is still too early to say what the effect of the easement in hire purchase restrictions in January will be, some improvement has already been reported in the motor industry.

Is it proposed to take any further measures before the Budget, or have we to wait another eight weeks for that to be done? Does not this represent in the aggregation a huge loss of national wealth?

No. I cannot accept what my hon. Friend says. We will certainly bear his observations in mind, but it is an exaggeration to say, as he has, that there is widespread underemployment and short-time working in British industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss of revenue arising from non-aggregation of the income of spouses, for surtax purposes, up to a ceiling of £4,000 annually of the combined income of such spouses.

I regret that the loss cannot be estimated.

If it cannot be estimated, will my hon. Friend communicate at an early date with the Minister of Education and ask him why he considers it desirable to try to entice married women, notably university graduates, back to the teaching profession actively, whereas the Treasury is pursuing a policy inimical to that by keeping Surtax at such a level as to cause husband and wife to pay in a group of Surtax which acts as a positive deterrent to the woman returning to work?

That supplementary question takes us rather beyond the Question on the Order Paper. I do not know whether enticement is not rather a strong word. The only information about the part of a married couple's income which belongs to the wife relates to the wife's earnings. Information is not available about the division of the investment income between husband and wife. That is why I cannot give my hon. Friend a figure.

When my hon. Friend is examining all these propositions will he bear in mind that there are many married women staying at home to look after their children and they would also like some inducements in the direction of Income Tax being lowered, so that they can stay at home and look after their children?

I assure my hon. Friend that all these matters will be considered at the appropriate time.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make a further statement regarding the effects on local employment in Pembrokeshire of the extensions to the Royal Naval Air Station, Brawdy.

The considerable programme of construction work at Brawdy should provide local employment over a period of about three years. As the work is to be placed out to contract I cannot assess the number of local men who will be employed by the contractor. The number of civilians employed in running the Air Station will continue at about the present level of 200 during, and after, the development period.

Will the Civil Lord be a little more forthcoming than that? Could he not make some rough estimate of what this means in terms of jobs at, say, peak periods of reconstruction? Secondly, what does it mean in terms of capital expenditure?

I would imagine between 400 and 500 extra men may be employed in peak periods of reconstruction. The cost may be of the order of £3 million.