asked the Minister of Education what progress he has made in his consideration of the possibility of authorising expenditure in respect of extensions at Mellow Lane School, Hayes, Middlesex, in view of the fact that some pupils are now having to receive instruction in corridors for some periods.

This project is among those now being considered for the building programmes for 1963–65.

asked the Prime Minister what is the nature of the invitation that he has issued to Mr. Chou En-la i to visit Great Britain.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) on 21st February.

asked the Prime Minister why he considered it necessary to intervene personally in the recent negotiations on the future constitution of Northern Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister what official communication he has received from the United States Government regarding an alteration in their plans for the deployment of the Polaris missile depot ship "Proteus".

There has been no change in the arrangements made for the reception of "Proteus" in the Holy Loch, and none has been under consideration. "Proteus" left the United States on 21st February and will arrive in the Holy Loch on 3rd March, as already announced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from what bodies, other than the National Farmers' Union, he has received representations in the course of the present Price Review.

Apart from the Farmers' Unions of England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with whom the usual consultations are now taking place, I have received representations from the Farmers' Union of Wales, from one association of specialist producers and one local organisation of farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the origin and extent of the present series of auubreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England and Wales.

The first outbreaks in the present series were confirmed in Shropshire and Denbighshire on 15th February. Disease has also been confirmed in Cheshire, Warwickshire, Flint and Montgomery. Some, 'but not all, of these cases are thought to have spread from "primary" outbreaks in Shropshire and WarWickshire. Infective animals are believed to have passed through markets at Oswestry, from Which stock was distributed over a wide area. To help in tracing all these animals, controlled area restrictions covering 18 counties have been imposed. Unless something unforeseen happens, these restrictions will be lifted as from midnight tonight. The total number of confirmed cases since 15th February is 28.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the interest on a bank overdraft enables a recipient to charge such interest against liability to Income Tax and Surtax, even When using the overdraft facilities to purchase a motor car or refrigerator or other consumer durable, Whereas interest on a hire-purchase transaction for a like article is not generally so chargeable for Income Tax and Surtax liabllity; and what proposals he will make for ending this difference.

My hon. Friend is not comparing like with like. Interest on a loan from a bank qualifies for relief from tax under Section 200 (1) of the Income Tax Act, 1952. Under the normal type of hire-purchase agreement, on the other hand, the purchaser's periodical payments constitute rent for hire and interest is not payable as such. No relief is therefore due.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to improve the administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act. 1876, in connection with experiments on animals which are expected to give pain.

Close attention is given to this subject and I am not convinced that any changes are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Royal Irish Constabulary was disbanded.

On 31st August, 1922.

asked the Secretary State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from each prison in England during the last recorded twelve months.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that suitable hospital accommodation was and is available, contrary to the belief of the court at the time of sentence, for Peter David Hastings, who was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in lieu of the hospital order which the court wished to make; and what steps he is taking to remedy the injustice that has been done.

The question of Hastings' removal from prison to hospital in accordance with the provisions of Section 72 of the Mental Health Act is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who were murdered during the twelve months ended 20th February, 1961, were pregnant at the time they were murdered.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases, during each of the past 10 years, in which women died through strangulation it was subsequently established that the killer was asleep at the time the offence was committed.

I know of no such case other than the one recently tried at the Essex Assizes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange with the Prison Commissioners to submit the proposal to build a prison at Blackmore Camp to the ordinary procedure under the Town and Country Planning Acts, even though planning permission might not in the circumstances be required.

In accordance with the normal procedure, I have consulted the local planning authorities, and until their views have been received and considered I am not in a position to make any further statement. I will keep my hon. and gallant Friend informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the Metropolitan Police arrested Terence E. Rosario aboard ship on 8th February last, and later handed him over to the British military authorities.

Rosario was arrested as a person whom the police had reasonable cause to suspect of being absent without leave from the Forces. He was handed over to the military authorities in pursuance of an order of a Metropolitan Magistrate. The procedure followed is authorised by Sections 186 and 187 of the Army Act.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent the collective views expressed by the British team in the forthcoming discussions with the official Soviet team at the Foreign Office Establishment at Wiston House, Steyning, Sussex, represent the official policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the matters under discussion.

This conference has been arranged by the Great Britain-U.S.S.R. Association, a non-official body which has rented Wiston House from the Foreign Office for the purpose. The British participants are all private individuals and will therefore not be acting as spokesmen for Her Majesty's Government.