asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals for the revision of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade he will make during the course of the present conference.

The present conference has been arranged for the negotiation of tariff concessions and does not therefore offer occasion for suggesting revision of the General Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the high unemployment in the Houghton-le-Spring area; and what plans he has to bring industry into the area to reduce this unemployment.

Yes. Assistance under the Local Employment Act is available to firms going into the district or expanding there, and we shall continue to do all we can to encourage industrial development in the district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some firms are hampered in their efforts to extend exports by the call up of key personnel; what action he is taking to assist them; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is aware that some firms have found it difficult to replace men who were called up for National Service. The needs of the Armed Forces have to be met while manpower is being built up for voluntary recruitment, and as the call-up has now ended any difficulties that there may be will not last much longer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance has been given for the improvement of basic services under the Local Employment Act, 1960, in the case of Sunderland.

My right hon. Friend is not responsible for the exercise of the powers conferred by the Act for the improvement of basic services in development districts. I understand that as yet no financial assistance under the Act has been given by any of the Departments concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to publish the report of the committee on the extension of the summer holiday season.

I cannot at present add to what I said in reply to the hon. Members for Honiton (Mr. Mathew) and for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 2nd February, 1961.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received urging that representatives of the Engineering Industries Association should serve on the recently established Export Council for Europe; and whether he will reconsider his decision not to ask a representative of this association to serve.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State pointed out in a letter to the hon. and gallant Member on 22nd December last, the members of the Council, who serve in their personal capacities, are drawn from a variety of exporting interests, including a wide range of engineering industries. I have had no representations with regard to the Engineering Industries Association other than from the hon. Member. The second part of the Question does not arise since the appointments are made by the Council's Chairman.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make inquiries of big firms and factories in England and in the South of Scotland, to estimate the extent to which they are willing to place auxiliary orders for machine parts with Aberdeen firms now in need of orders and suitably equipped to execute those orders.

No. The best arrangement would be for Aberdeen firms with spare engineering capacity themselves to approach other engineering firms direct.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he will give his decision on the application of the county borough of Middlesbrough for authority to clear the slums in the Granville Street area, about which a public inquiry was held in October, 1960.

My decision on the Middlesbrough (Granville Street) Compulsory Purchase Order, 1960, was issued yesterday. I have sent a copy of my decision letter to the right hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many tenants have been evicted under the Rent Act, 1957, in the borough of Willesden to date.

As the returns made by the county courts do not distinguish the grounds on which orders for possession are made, I am unable to give the information asked for.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, that there will be 500 or 600 applications for suspension of rent agreements in the Willesden area and that, from 1st August, there will be a substantial number of tenants with nowhere to go; and what financial help he intends to give local authorities to meet this and similar situations.

The hon. Member implies that expiry of the Landlord and Tenant (Temporary Provisions) Act on 31st July will result in many tenants becoming homeless. I do not think that this will happen. My information is that the number of cases current at 31st December last in which the Willesden County Court had granted suspension of possession orders and the period allowed had not expired, was well under 100. The tenants concerned still have nearly six months in which to make other arrangements if they are not able to come to terms with their present landlords. If there are individual cases of difficulty that call for special help, the local authorities should be able to provide for them within their existing resources.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions which exist in some houses constructed for single families but which are now occupied by a number of families or lodgers; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the matter.

I am keenly aware of the problem to which my hon. Friend refers. I am laying a White Paper today which deals with a number of important housing matters, including this one, and indicate the Government's proposals for action.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what estimate he has now made of the total cost of the recent floods in Wales; what is the total amount of claims for compensation; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government intend to make towards meeting these claims.

I cannot estimate the total cost of recent floods in Wales, but the total amount of claims for assistance from the Lord Mayor of Cardiff's Distress Fund for Wales and Monmouthshire is in the region of £500,000. Toward this Her Majesty's Government has already contributed £300,000, and is prepared to make further payments if needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the number of people in Cardiff who have submitted claims for compensation arising out of the recent floods, the number who have received full compensation, and the estimated time before all claims will be met.

Claims have been submitted by 2,126 people in Cardiff, and 1,875 of these claims have already been settled. Of the remaining 251 claims, only a small number will not have been settled by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give further details of the methods by which financial assistance is now being given to those affected by the recent floods in areas where no local voluntary appeals for funds have been or will be made.

Neighbouring Fund Committees have been encouraged to accept claims from places where no local flood relief appeals have been made. Donations not earmarked for any specific fund are also being used to give financial assistance in such cases. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that publication by the local authority of the plan for the redevelopment of Gosforth has caused public anxiety and a fall in property values; and if he will give an undertaking that he will not approve the redevelopment as proposed.

Planning proposals do affect property values, but my right hon. Friend has no current evidence relating to Gosforth. As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 31st January, there is no plan for the redevelopment of Gosforth before my right hon. Friend; if one were submitted, by the county council, it would be considered on its merits and in the light of any objections.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many of the losing local authorities have had their provisional calculations readjusted under Section 15 of the Local Government Act, 1958; and how many authorities in the category of losing authorities were originally correctly calculated.

On the revised information subsequently submitted by local authorities all the gains and losses have had to be recalculated. Most of them are now different; this is not through any error in the original calculation, but because the local authorities have been able to supply more up-to-date information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD the scope of the voluntary agreement made between the various interests concerned regarding afforestation in the National Parks.

Yes. I am circulating the terms of the scheme in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and also the letter which was sent by the National Parks Commission to the individual park planning authorities recommending its adoption.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has been taken under Section 5 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, in the case of Sunderland.

One application for grant has been received under Section 5 of the Act and this is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the Northern Rhodesian Constitutional Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress made at the Northern Rhodesian Constitutional Conference.

I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the members of the Agricultural Lands Board of Northern Rhodesia, as set out in Ordinance No. 57, 1960, are Africans; and what is his policy regarding African membership of this Board.

None. There is no bar to African membership but the Board deals only with Crown agricultural land of which there are at present no African lessees.

asked the Secretary of State for fhe Colonies how many African and how many non-African Members there are in the Northern Council of the Rhodesian National Farmers' Union in Northern Rhodesia; and how many African and non-African members there are of that branch of the union.

There are 22 members in the Northern Council of the Union and 1,140 members of the Northern Rhodesia Branch of the Union. None are African.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet reached a decision on the recommendations of the Blood Commission regarding the restoration of democratic government in Malta.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 31st January and ask him to be patient a very little longer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a United Kingdom civil servant using his private car on official business in Malta is reimbursed at the rate of 7d. per mile while the Maltese civil servant receives only 4d. per mile for using his car under exactly the same conditions; and if he will explain the reason for such discrimination and take steps to rectify it.

The mileage allowance payable to United Kingdom civil servants in Malta who are on the staff of departments of Her Majesty's Government is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. All civil servants in the service of the Government of Malta, whether Maltese or from the United Kingdom, are reimbursed at the rate of 4d. per mile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the withdrawal of private cars for use on official business in Malta took place after the staff made efforts to obtain reasonable rates for the use of their cars; and, in view of the inefficiency, discontent and unnecessary expenditure arising in consequence, whether he will have this matter reconsidered.

A request for increased rates has been thoroughly examined and rejected. The Governor informs me that the alternative arrangements are working satisfactorily. There has not only been no increase in expenditure but a prospect of economies and I see no reason for intervening.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will be in a position to announce agreement of the Malta Dockyard Development Plan at the same time as the publication of the Blood Report.

I would ask the hon. Member to await my statement on the Constitutional Commission's Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what is the present rate of unemployment in St. Helena; what steps are being taken to relieve it; and if he will make a statement.

The present number of unemployed is 212, which includes 103 men recently returned from Ascension Island. Efforts are being made to re-absorb as many as possible in work being carried out on agriculture, irrigation, improvement of roads and other public works under the Colony's Development Programme. Some jobs are also found for St. Helenians in hotels in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision exists for assisted emigration from St. Helena to the United Kingdom.

Under an arrangement with the Ministry of Labour vacancies are found for single men from St. Helena as hotel workers in this country. Those wishing to take these jobs are given assistance towards the cost of their passages to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the reasons for the arrest in the Southern Cameroons of Gabriel Echokol and Yossa Issidore, officials of the One Kamerun Party; why bail was refused; and in what prison they are detained.

The Commissioner made deportation orders against these two men under the Aliens Deportation Ordinance. They were arrested for deportation and escorted to the frontier. They were not detained in prison and no question of bail arose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the continuing terrorism, subversion and intimidation in Kenya, Uganda, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, he will consult the Governors of those territories with a view to the introduction of further measures to combat these activities.

I am satisfied that the Governors have adequate powers to maintain law and order and I am, of course, in continuous touch with them on the best means of dealing with threats to public security of any kind.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will give his approval to the new byelaws, the draft of which have been lodged at his Department, reducing the permitted speeds for traffic on the River Severn between Gloucester and Stourport; whether they will contain provisions with regard to overtaking, prohibition of approach too near the banks, and enforcement; and when the new byelaws may be expected to come into force.

The revised byelaws for navigation on the River Severn, which have been drafted by the British Transport Commission as navigation authority, contain provisions with regard to the modification of the present speed 1'mit, overtaking, approach too near the banks and penalties for breach of the byelaws. As soon as I have heard that they are satisfactory to the various bodies concerned, I will publish them in draft. Provided that no objections necessitating modifications are then received they should come into force about two months after publication.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the work being done on the electrically-operated level crossing gates on the South Farm Road, Worthing, has been suspended before completion with consequent inconvenience to the travelling public in this area; and if he will refer this matter to the appropriate Transport Users' Consultative Committee for their consideration.

The work in question is the substitution of electrically-operated lifting barriers for gates. From the inquiries I have made I understand that work on these barriers should be resumed shortly and will then take about two weeks to complete. I do not consider that reference to the Transport Users' Consultative Committee would be appropriate in this case.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to make an amendment to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, 1959, to require all pedal cycles to carry rear lamps marked with the number of the appropriate British standard.

I am about to circulate draft Regulations embodying this and other amendments for comment by interested bodies. When I can make the Regulations will depend upon the nature and extent of the comments I receive, but there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of the dissatisfaction regarding the poor quality of smokeless fuels being provided in smoke control areas in Glasgow; and if he will have investigations made with a view to an improvement being effected.

The solid smokeless fuel being supplied in Glasgow is almost entirely "Gloco". I am assured by the Scottish Gas Board that its quality is fully in accordance with the appropriate British Standard specification, but that they will be glad to investigate any case of dissatisfaction.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the average weekly cost per in-patient in hospitals under the National Health Service.

The Hospital Costing Returns do not give an average figure for all types of hospital taken together. The following averages for each main type are given by the Returns for 1959–60:

asked the Minister of Health what is the total cost of drugs supplied on prescription through the National Health Service from which the average figure of 7s. 4d. per item has been calculated; and by how much the current average cost of each prescription item would have to be reduced in order to yield an annual saving of £12½ million to the Exchequer.

£88·9 million; and about one shilling.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the average cost per week for patients in military hospitals.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he is aware that in the recent election of a special member of the British Egg Marketing Board some voting papers were collected by the National Farmers' Union from registered producers instead of voting papers being posted direct to the board's returning officer by the registered producers themselves, thus destroying the secrecy of the poll and opening up the possibility of interference with voting papers; and if he will amend the marketing schemes so as to ensure that future elections held by marketing boards are conducted fairly and in secret.

No agricultural marketing scheme requires that a ballot paper shall be posted by the registered producer in person, and it is for him to decide whether to post it personally or to entrust it to someone else. As a practical matter this is an unavoidable feature of postal ballots.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will state, in table form for each £100 of basic pension from £100 per annum to £1,200 per annum, how the Governments of Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Swaziland and those of former dependent territories have increased pensions to ex-civil servants; and how these increases compare with those given by the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959, to civil servants of the United Kingdom, showing those that fall below the United Kingdom scale in a different kind of type.

Pensions increases granted by Governments of independent Commonwealth countries are a matter for those Governments. The table below shows how increases granted to ex-civil servants of the High Commission Territories of Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland compare with those granted to civil service pensioners in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he expects to receive the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the matter referred to them relating to the additions to retirement pension in the case of husbands who postpone retirement while their wives are under 60 years of age.

The National Insurance Advisory Committee have had this complex matter before them at three meetings, and it is due to come before them again in March. I have, of course, no idea as to when I shall receive a Report from them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the amounts of rates collected in Scotland in the calendar years 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960, respectively.

The information is not available for calendar years. The receipts from rates (including domestic water rate) of Scottish local authorities for the local authority financial years ending 15th May were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest position with regard to starting building operations on Dundee Trades College.

Building work is expected to start on 1st May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has made to the representations received by him concerning the siting of a new mental hospital in Glenrothes.

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. I understand, however, that representations from the Glenrothes Community Association on the siting of the proposed mental deficiency hospital for Fife have been received recently by the Regional Hospital Board and are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for amending legislation on housing subsidies in Scotland.

The Government intend in due course to introduce legislation on housing subsidies in Scotland based broadly on the same principles as those set out in the White Paper on Housing in England and Wales. The various details, including the actual figures, to be proposed in the Scottish legislation will be determined with full regard to all relevant conditions in Scotland, including the revaluation of property for rating purposes which is due to take effect in May of this year, and after consultation with representatives of the Scottish local authorities.

asked the Minister of Education what representations he has received in connection with the refusal by Bristol Education Authority to grant a student at Edinburgh University an award to cover his fourth year, in spite of the fact that his academic performance over the previous three years has been satisfactory, and will be wasted unless the award is renewed: and what reply he has sent.

This case has been brought to my notice. I am in touch with the local education authority and will write to the hon. Member as soon as I can.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of increased industrial productivity and production, or otherwise, in the first 10 months of the current financial year 1960–61, and the effect upon the economy.

The figures are available up to November, 1960. The average index of production for the first eight months of the financial year 1960–61 was 6 per cent. higher than the average for the same period of the previous financial year. But there has been a pause in expansion since the spring of 1960.