asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with Commonwealth Finance Ministers regarding the recent introduction of decimal currency systems in various Commonwealth countries and the possible introduction of such a system in the United Kingdom.

I have not had any consultations with Commonwealth Finance Ministers on these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ascertain why less than 150 out of every 1,000 owner-occupiers of dwelling houses are currently claiming maintenance relief on Income Tax Schedule A.

None; but the official estimate is rather under 10 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the potential overseas demand for longer-term export credits, whether his department will set up either an export finance corporation or take steps to encourage the establishment of export finance companies associating the capital of the joint stock banks and others to provide long-term finance to exporters of capital goods to the under-developed territories.

The Government recognise that there are genuine problems affecting the supply of credit for certain limited classes of exports, but I am not in a position to add to my, statement on this matter during the debate on 6th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of immature whisky in the last period of 12 months; and what percentage this represents of total whisky exports during the same period.

Separate figures for immature whisky exports are not available, but the best estimate is that they were about one per cent. in value of total whisky exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the North-East.

My right hon. Friend had interesting and useful discussions with representatives of the City of Newcastle, the boroughs of Sunderland, Jarrow and South Shields, and the Northumberland County Council, as well as visiting three firms. He is well aware of the need of the North-East generally for new industry, and will continue to do all he can to encourage firms to go to the development districts there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that twice the number of British firms with over twice the floor space are exhibiting at this year's Leipzig Spring Fair as compared with 1960; and whether he will reconsider his decision not to arrange for an official observer to attend the fair on behalf of his Department.

My right hon. Friend is informed that there will be 225 British firms exhibiting at the fair compared with 144 in 1960 and I have seen a report that double the floor space will be occupied compared with a year ago. We cannot, of course, send an official observer because we do not recognise the East German authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the competitive conditions of overseas markets, whether he intends to introduce improved export credit facilities to cover the sale by United Kingdom manufacturers of heavy capital goods to the underdeveloped territories comparable with those offered by United Kingdom competitors; and whether he is prepared to recommend to the Berne Union a lengthening of the term beyond five years from shipment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made in this House by my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 6th February this year and the President of the Board of Trade on 2nd November last year. I cannot add to this at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans for making loans, on favourable terms, for the building, extension, and improvement of hotels in Scotland, having regard to the importance of extending the Scottish tourist industry.

None.

asked the Prime Minister whether, during his discussions with Chancellor Adenauer, he raised the questions of the Federal Government of West Germany having an official trade agreement with the German Democratic Republic whilst raising objections to Her Majesty's Government having a similar trading agreement with the German Democratic Republic; and whether he will make a statement on these discussions.

My discussions with Dr. Adenauer were confidential.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what expansion in the Regional Information Services of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is proposed for 1960–61. 1961–62, and 1963–64.

The work of the D.S.I.R. branch offices in Edinburgh and Cardiff continues to be reviewed at regular intervals. With regard to the Regional Technical Information Centres, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 8th November, 1960.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make a statement concerning the future of the Dounreay fast breeder reactor.

The work at Dounreay, though widely diversified, is concerned mainly with developing the fast reactor system. Progress to 31st March, 1960, is described in the Authority's Sixth Annual Report.Construction of the fast reactor was completed during 1959. A series of low power tests has been completed, and tests in the megawatt range will shortly begin. The reactor will then gradually be worked up to full power.The Authority do not plan any major change in the level of work at Dounreay.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he will make a statement on the difficulties encountered in the construction of the Dounreay breeder reactor; and to what extent this has further delayed the estimated completion date.

The construction of the fast reactor was completed during 1959. It first went critical in November of that year. The main problems since encountered have not concerned the nuclear side of the experiment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science (1) if he will make a statement on the nature and progress of the work carried on at Dounreay Atomic Energy Station since it started up to the present time;(2) if he will make a statement on the plans for the future work and extension of Dounreay Atomic Energy Station.

The work at Dounreay, though widely diversified, is concerned mainly with developing the fast reactor system. Progress to 31st March, 1960 is described in the Authority's Sixth Annual Report.Construction of the fast reactor was completed during 1959. A series of low power tests has been completed, and tests in the megawatt range will shortly begin. The reactor will then gradually be worked up to full power.The Authority do not plan any major change in the level of work at Dounreay.

asked the Minister of Works what plans he has to use the vacant site which he owns in Broad Sanctuary, Westminster.

My predecessor informed the House on 25th November, 1958, that "The Government have decided that the front part of the site u4p to approximately the line of Matthew Parker Street should be left as an open space and the back part used for a small Government building". I have now decided to hold an open architectural competition for the design of the building. This will provide offices for two or three small Government Departments, and a Conference Centre to replace the accommodation at 10, Carlton House Terrace which is to be surrendered to the Crown Estate Commissioners. The Assessors are Sir William Holford, who agreed last year before becoming President of the Royal Institute of British Architects that he would accept this appointment, Sir Leslie Martin and Mr. Eric Bedford, the Chief Architect of my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has any further information on the possibility of delaying the demolition of the Coal Exchange.

The Corporation of London have agreed to defer for three months any further steps towards demolition to provide a further opportunity for proposals to be put forward for the re-erection of the building elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the widespread public concern over development proposals for the Wine Street area of Bristol; and if he will arrange for public inquiry to consider existing proposals and the possibilities of comprehensive development of this important site.

I am aware that there is some local criticism. But the City Council have already given planning permission for the two buildings now projected; and, while it seems to me that the Council would be well advised to produce comprehensive proposals for the rest of the area, this is a matter for them. There is nothing into which a public inquiry could be held.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what were the circumstances which gave rise to the demolition with his sanction of the house in which Mrs. Mary Foster was tenant at 4 New Works, Wellington, Shropshire.

I understand that the Wellington Rural District Council made a demolition order on this house in 1956 because they considered it to be unfit for human habitation. Such an order does not require my approval, and any appeal lies to the courts. No appeal was in fact made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what conditions he imposed before agreeing to the request of the Wellington Rural District Council for slum clearance orders in respeot of 3 and 4, New Works, Wellington, Shropshire; whether these included the rehousing of the tenant; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no such request. Clearance action has been taken by the Council in respect of only one of these two houses (4, New Works) and this was done by means of a demolition order. Such an order does not require my approval, and I have therefore no power to impose conditions.I understand that the Wellington Rural District Council were prepared to rehouse Mrs. Foster from 4, New Works, when suitable accommodation became available, although there was no obligation on them to do so; but that unknown to them she removed to the house in the Shifnal Rural District where she is now living. I hope that she will be rehoused in the near future, but the decision rests with the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the arrangements his Department has made with education authorities for educational cruises for children; what education authorities are involved; what is the estimated number of children to be invited; and whether consideration will be given to children likely to benefit in health as well as education.

Following consultations with representatives of education authorities and teachers and a shipping company, it was agreed that the company would circulate proposals for such cruises to all education authorities. It is not yet known how many authorities will participate, or how many children they will send, but I have no doubt that consideration will be given to the children to whom the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue an annual return of offences relating to motor vehicles in Scotland, similar to that issued by Her Majesty's Government in respect of England and Wales.

Certain information about road traffic offences is already published in the Scottish Criminal Statistics, but I realise that this is less detailed than that published in the separate annual return relating to motor vehicle offences in England and Wales. I propose to consider what further information about Scottish road traffic offences could most suitably be collected and published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much capital investment on maternity accommodation has been incurred in Edinburgh and Fife, respectively, in the last 10 years.

During the ten years to 31st March, 1960, £56,209 was spent in Edinburgh and £74,805 in Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much capital investment on maternity hospital provision has been incurred in the South-East Hospital Region in each of the last 10 years; and how much of it has gone to West Fife.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he estimates he will collect annually in Scotland from the recently announced additional National Health Service charges; and how much of this will be used for capital investment in maternity accommodation.

The additional charges are estimated to yield about Eli million in a full year. During the next few years the rate of investment in new maternity accommodation will be about £500,000 a year. There is, however, no specific relation between these two figures, and the expenditure on maternity accommodation represents only a part of hospital capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent it is his policy to ensure that maternity hospital provision shall keep pace with changes in population, both in relation to numbers and to age structure; and how far such a policy has been effective in West Fife.

It is my policy that in planning hospital provision of all types, Regional Hospital Boards should make careful assessments of future needs on the best information available, including information about changes in numbers and age structure of the population to be served. In West Fife, while the hospital confinement rate has reached the proportions recommended by the Montgomery Report, more ante-natal beds and other facilities are still required to implement its recommendations fully.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if a decision has yet

The future of this hospital is still under consideration by the Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what dates work was started on extensions or new buildings for the following central institutions and further education centres, which were estimated to begin by February, 1961, namely, Paisley Technical College, Robert Gordon's Technical College, Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt College, Glasgow School of Art, College of Domestic Science, Glasgow, Anniesland College, Glasgow, Barmulloch College, Glasgow, Stow College of Engineering, Glasgow, Reid Kerr College, Paisley, Aberdeen Technical College, Clydebank Technical College, Kirkcaldy Technical College, Dundee New Trades College, and Thurso Technical College; and to what extent delays in starts will affect completion dates in each case.

The following table indicates the present position. The estimated dates are those put forward by the education authority or governing body concerned, with their earlier estimates in brackets.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will specify the number and names of committees appointed by the Government to consider and make recommendations relating to law reform in Scotland, which have reported and

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a further statement on the situation in the Congo, in so far as it constitutes a threat to world peace.

I made a full statement on the situation in the Congo, and Her Majesty's Government's policy, on 22nd February; I have nothing to add to what I then said.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now make a further statement of his policy as to Great Britain's commitments in the Congo.

I made a full statement on the situation in the Congo, and Her made recommendations, giving the respective dates when they reported; and how many have since been implemented by legislation in whole or in part, giving dates of the legislation passed.

The following tables give the required informationMajesty's Government's policy, on 22nd February; I have nothing to add to what I then said. Our commitments in the Congo are restricted to those measures which we have been taking in support of the United Nations operation there, and the House has, at all stages, been kept fully informed about these.