asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made with his scheme for selling low-priced books overseas.

Since my answer to the hon. Gentleman on 6th February, and that to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 20th February, our low-priced university textbooks have begun selling in India. Already repeat orders are coming in. Five further low-priced textbooks are now being produced. I will circulate their titles in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Minister say how many books we sold and how many he expects to have sold by the end of the year? What precautions is he taking to prevent a black market from being created in these books?

It is early to give a figure for the number of books sold. The returns are not yet in, although it is known that a number of repeat orders are coming. The estimate for this year remains the same as that which I gave the hon. Member for Dundee, East. On the third point, while one can never be certain that it will not occur, there is a widespread campaign of publicity about the prices. We are taking such steps as we can to prevent these books from being sold at prices different from those shown on the books. We will watch the position very carefully.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what overall directives he has issued concerning the policy to be adopted by the Overseas Information Service in response to the Communist propaganda theme of competitive coexistence.

I do not issue overall directives. Ministers—and particularly the Foreign Secretary—have made plain the Government's views on this subject, and the Overseas Information Services have reflected and explained those views.

Does the Minister agree that while the Communist conception of co-existence is wide open to attack, it might be as well, apart from just attacking it, if one or two non-Communist countries made clear our conception of co-existence, which is superior to and different from the Communist conception?

I take note of what the hon. Member said, but in essence he is questioning policy, and such questions should more properly be put to my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal.

Will the Minister tell us what is wrong with competitive co-existence? Is it not a great deal better than mutual suicide? If he seeks to alter his line of propaganda, will he keep in mind the statement made by the Prime Minister at the Embassy in Moscow during his visit when he said about Russia,

"The rate and quality of your progress are indeed extraordinary and, so far as I know, unparalleled in history"?

"Across the Steppes glows the furnace of industry beckoning to a promised land."

I will not comment on the differences between the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) and his hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew). They can sort them out between themselves.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will amend the contributions conditions relating to death grants, so that, upon the death of a mentally-defective adult person, who had been unable to work, a grant will be payable to the parents or guardians.

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee, Cmnd. 33, on this point. As he will no doubt be aware, I accepted the advice of the Committee that such persons be covered for death grant on their parents' insurance up to the age of 18, and a provision to raise the age to this figure was approved by Parliament in the National Insurance Act, 1957.

Will not the Minister ask the Advisory Committee to have another look at this question? Will he bear in mind the recent case from East Ham which I sent to him in which a man died who had been mentally defective all his life, had never been able to work and had been dependent on his parents for everything? Surely in a case such as that the death grant ought to be paid as in the case of the death of a child? Will not he ask the Committee to look at this question to see whether some amendment is possible?

The distinction is that up to the age of 18 a person can be treated as a child and dealt with for various benefit purposes on his parents' insurance. Beyond 18 he is not a child. I do not think that this is a question for contributory provision.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many appeals were made, under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts, 1946 to 1960, to the Commissioner during the period of the last three years, in cases where conflicting medical evidence was submitted as to whether pneumoconiosis was a contributory cause of death, by the dependants of the deceased and by the local insurance officer, respectively; and how many of such appeals were upheld or rejected in each of the two categories.

In the three years ended 31st December, 1960, there were 143 appeals to the Commissioner in connection with claims for death benefit under the Industrial Injuries Acts on the question whether pneumoconiosis was a contributory factor in the cause of death. One hundred of these appeals were made by dependants of the deceased and forty-three by the insurance officer; four of the dependants' appeals were successful and forty-two of those of the insurance officer. Whilst medical evidence must play an important part in the decision of these cases, it would be wrong to assume that there was a conflict of such evidence on every appeal.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the information he has given, may I ask if I am right in assuming that, provided the prescribed procedure has been properly followed in such cases as referred to in my original Question, the decision of the Commissioner is absolutely final and there can be no redress in the law courts?

The hon. Member is quite right. The Commissioner's decision on these cases is final.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will simplify the form that is used in respect of applications for refunds of National Health Service charges.

The form of application available in chemists' shops and dispensaries requires of the applicant no more than his name and reference number or address. The layout of the form has been improved and supplies of the new form will shortly be available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are nearly 1,000 words on this form? As the form is used mainly by people who may be suffering from poor eyesight, could he look into the question of reducing the number of words?

The form has to cope with three different categories, the war pensioner, the person in regular receipt of National Assistance and the person not in regular receipt of National Assistance. While I share the desire of my hon. Friend to keep it simple, if we cut out too much we should be charged, quite rightly, with not giving full and necessary information to those concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the main anxiety of the House is about the refund of prescription charges to those who are not war pensioners and not in regular receipt of National Assistance? Both those categories are perhaps aware of their rights, but for those on the border-line of National Assistance hardship may exist. Would he agree that perhaps the use being made of this form for refunds would be an index of how effective the arrangements are? Could he say when he would be ready to reply to a question on how many refunds are being made to persons not in the two categories I have mentioned?

I am not quite sure how long the time lag in respect of these figures will be, although, as the hon. Member will recall, I have given them for past periods from time to time. I agree with the hon. Member that the most difficult category is that of people who are not in receipt of assistance and who are not war pensioners. On the other hand, from the point of view of this form they are numerically much the smallest number of the three.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will send copies of the simple leaflet explaining the system of refunds under the National Health Service to all doctors and to all persons at present benefiting under National Assistance.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health arranged for all doctors in the National Health Service to receive copies of the leaflet during the first half of April. Persons on assistance are already informed by the Board about the refund procedure.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many National Assistance recipients suffered a reduction in supplementary grants when their retirement pensions were increased in April.

About 1,079,000.

Is that not really disgraceful? Will the Minister look at this question again in conjunction with the National Assistance scales? Is he not aware that many old-age pensioners, amounting, as he himself said, to more than 1 million, expected from the Government's propaganda and information that they would receive a 7s. 6d. or 12s. 6d. a week increase? They now discover that they receive anything from 6d. to 3s. 6d. per week. Since this hits hardest the poorest section of the community, will not the right hon. Gentleman immediately take steps to increase the scale rates under which they are allowed National Assistance?

The hon. Member will be aware that the procedure follows that taken on previous occasions, except that by ensuring that assistance scales were increased simultaneously with National Insurance scales it has been possible to secure that all supplemented persons, if their circumstances remained the same, received an increase in their total income from the two sources. The hon. Member will also be aware that, comparing the situation with what it was in 1958, when the last general change of both benefits took place, the total increase in income is greater and a little higher for the supplemented than for the non-supplemented cases. Finally, the hon. Member's supplementary question is quite out of line with the complaint perpetually made from the benches opposite about the proportion of persons receiving supplementation.

asked the Minister of Power whether his attention has been drawn to a report, issued on 28th March, 1961, by the North Regional Board for Industry, regarding the unsuitability of the siting of power stations in the County of Durham; and if, in view of the urgent need for consideration to be given to the siting of a new power station, or power stations, on or near the Durham coalfield, he will make a statement of his policy in the light of the report.

The choice of sites for new power stations is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. The Board is building a station at Blyth, which will be completed in 1965, and has no immediate plans for another new station in Durham or Northumberland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when it became known through this report that his Ministry had decided that the County of Durham was geographically unsuitable for power stations it caused widespread dismay, to say the least, in the county? In view of the fact that this decision cannot be substantiated on those grounds in any way, will the right hon. Gentleman have another look at it to see about siting a power station in the county near the coalfield?

I should like to make clear that the advice from my Department never suggested that there were no suitable sites for power stations in the county but merely said that the problem of building power stations was not so easy as it looked. The Department did not recommend that no power station should be built there. As the hon. Member knows, the National Coal Board and the Central Electricity Generating Board are continually in touch and no doubt will take notice of what he has said.

Could we have a categorical assurance now that the Central Electricity Generating Board will at least consider siting a station on the Durham coalfield?

It will no doubt take notice of what the hon. Member has said.

asked the Minister of Aviation what percentage of air passenger traffic between the United Kingdom and the United States of America was carried by British operators and United States operators, respectively, during the last full year for which figures are available.

I do not think that I should publish commercial information that could be of competitive significance.

While appreciating my right hon. Friend's point of view, may I ask him to resist any blandishments of the American airlines through the Civil Aeronautics Board to reduce any percentage of B.O.A.C. traffic obtained by pooling arrangements with Commonwealth airlines at the moment?

I am aware of these points. That is one of the reasons why I do not want to go into publication. There is no agreed basis for these statistics. They are always very controversial in negotiations.

asked the Minister of Aviation if comprehensive plans have been prepared by his Department for the development of internal air services between the cities of the United Kingdom.

No, Sir. The Ministry of Aviation does not operate air services.

Does the Minister intend in the near future to give financial aid to some of our domestic airports? He will appreciate that there are one or two airports in the north of England which require financial assistance from the Ministry for which he is responsible.

At present, the airports as a whole in this country are being run at a loss—remedied somewhat, we hope, by the very proper decision to put up landing charges—but no one can say that they are not receiving some form of Government assistance at present.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a certain dissatisfaction with the services presently provided by B.E.A. on a monopoly basis? Should not these things be looked into in due course by the new Licensing Board?

The decision of Parliament to establish the Air Transport Licensing Board is, of course, the answer to any suggestion of a monopoly position.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on his plans for developing Croydon Aerodrome as a centre for business and private aviation.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is considering the represenations made at the public inquiry held in October, 1960. These included suggestions that the aerodrome should be operated by a commercial organisation for use by executive aircraft.

Yes, but is my right hon. Friend aware that the Minister of Housing and Local Government has now taken several months? Is he fighting the battle on behalf of aviation in this connection? Does he realise that since the end of the war 18 airfields in the vicinity of London have been closed down and that it would be a calamity if Croydon also were closed down?

I appreciate my hon. Friend's view, but it is not the only view which has been expressed about Croydon. I think it right that full consideration should be given to these matters. A number of technical aviation points were raised at the inquiry and it may be necessary to have some further inquiry into these.

If Croydon is not allowed to remain open, will my right hon. Friend consider backing a syndicate which proposes to try to purchase Blackbushe Airport, which has many facilities of great use to executive and private aircraft?

That raises a separate point. Perhaps my hon. Friend would put down a separate Question.

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

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will list the civilian airports in England; how many are operated by charter companies; and what plans he has for making civil airport facilities available for Tees-side and South Durham.

Of the 71 civil aerodromes in England, 14 are operated by companies which also provide either scheduled or charter air services. I will, with permission, circulate a list of the aerodromes in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The provision of an aerodrome for the local needs of Tees-side and South Durham is a matter for the local authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am not sure whether he knows this area to which I am referring, but from the point of view of the provision of airport facilities it has been neglected for a long time? Is he aware that we once had such facilities at Greatham, but they were closed down? Is he aware of the growth which has taken place in the population and the gathering momentum of public opinion on Tees-side? In view of this, does not he think that the time has come when he should enter into consultations with the local authorities and attempt to provide the accommodation which is needed in the North-East, especially in view of the concentration of such facilities in other parts of the country?

The North-East is a fairly large area. There are a number of local authorities around Newcastle which are combining in establishing or developing aerodromes, and with regard to areas further south, I should have thought that the initiative ought to come from the local authorities.

Is the Minister aware that I endeavoured to direct my question to him from the point of view of the local authorities? I asked whether he was prepared to invite local authorities

asked the Minister of Aviation if he intends to order an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accident to an aircraft belonging to Air Condor Ltd. at Southend on 22nd April, 1960.

No formal inquiry was held, but the Ministry looked into the circumstances of the accident and followed up those matters where action was required in the interests of safety.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that answer is wholly unsatisfactory?

I am never averse to consultation with anyone who chooses to approach me in this matter, but it would be very wrong to give the impression that the Ministry or the Government are prepared to support the provision of a local airport whenever a suggestion is made. That would be indeed a very expensive project.

It was an accident in which there were no serious injuries. The question of the pilot's competency and whether there was a breach of Air Navigation Regulations was inquired into. The Director of Public Prosecutions looked at the matter and decided to take no action, though we sent a warning letter to the operator. All these matters were looked into most carefully and the necessary administrative action taken. I cannot believe that it is really necessary to have an inquiry all over again.

Does my hon. Friend realise that the inquiry made one hundred per cent. clear that no responsibility or blame rested on the administration at Southend Airport?

Well, there were some matters to which we drew the attention of the Southend Corporation, in particular to the delay in the dispatch of fire and rescue vehicles. I think that action has now been taken to ensure that this will not happen again.

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

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to provide additional passenger accommodation for internal airline traffic at London Airport.

The concourse and the airside waiting room are being enlarged. The work will be completed by the end of this month.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for what he has said. Has he received a request from B.E.A. to erect its own facilities at London Airport, and, if so, when does he expect to give the Corporation a reply?

This raises a slightly different point. We are extending the present facilities at London Airport and there is a suggestion from B.E.A. that it might provide its own. This would, I think, have to be looked at in the context of any decision taken with regard to the general question of management at London Airport.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the present extension will be adequate for the immense increase which is now taking place in internal traffic?

Certainly not adequate for all time. If air traffic continues to grow, as we hope it will, obviously we shall be continually faced with the need for more accommodation; but this is a proper increase to meet the present problem and will, I think, assist in the matter.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has yet appointed an architect to proceed with the planning of Abbotsinch Airport.

I regret that this has taken rather longer than we had hoped, but I can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend will make the appointment as soon as possible.

May I assure the hon. Gentleman that I regret it too, because in February of this year, which is quite a long time ago, the hon. Gentleman told me—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]—the hon. Gentleman told me—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]—

Wait for it.

I started with a question—

Order. The hon. Gentleman is giving a reason for requiring some information and I do not think he is out of order yet.

I was asking the hon. Gentleman whether he remembered that, from the Government Dispatch Box in the month of February, quite a long time ago now, he told me that an architect would be shortly appointed. Does he think that three months is a short period, and can he now say when the architect will be appointed? Will his right hon. Friend stand by the statement made at the Government Dispatch Box by his predecessor that Abbotsinch Airport will be available for use in 1963? Does he still stand by that promise even though so far he has broken his promise about the architect?

Perhaps the last part of the supplementary question is the most important—

Yes.

We have no reason to believe that the airport will not be ready when required at the stated date. The hon. Member will recall that before we can appoint an architect we must draw up the detailed requirements for the airport as a whole. The architect is primarily concerned with the terminal building which has to be established in relation to the whole of the facilities. There have had to be a considerable number of discussions with other people. These preliminary matters should be dealt with in a matter of weeks.

asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent it is his policy that British European Airways and British United Airways should come to a private arrangement with regard to certain British airways routes.

Such arrangements form no part of the responsibility of the Ministry of Aviation. There are no legal objections to such arrangements. There is equally no obligation on the Air Licensing Board to adopt them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in reports in the Press he has been attached to these negotiations and they have been successful with B.O.A.C.? Is it the case that pressure is being put on B.E.A. in order that the independent operators may get a slice of its existing traffic, and does the Minister say that he is not in any way lending his authority and influence to these proceedings and that they will go de novo to the Licensing Board in due course?

I have nothing to do with them at all.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the expenditure on repairs and improvements to Solihull Hospital during the three five-year periods 1946–51, 1951–56 and 1956–61.

My right hon. Friend has no record before 5th July, 1948; expenditure was £21,345 from that date to March, 1951; £59,823 in 1951–56 and £109,900 in 1956–61.

Is the Minister not aware that this is pitifully little expenditure in view of the importance of this hospital?

It is nearly £200,000 over the period. My hon. Friend will no doubt be glad to learn that the Regional Hospital Board is preparing long-term plans which include provision for a maternity unit to cost £370,000 and, later on, for a new hospital estimated to cost £800,000. I know this hospital and that it is old and needs further improvement.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction among hospital administrators following the recent appointment of a house governor without previous hospital experience at Hammersmith Hospital; whether he regards this appointment as consonant with the recommendations of Sir Noel Hall as accepted by him; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the continuing concern in the hospital service about this matter, if he will set up a committee of inquiry into the circumstances in which the appointment of a new secretary to the Board of Governors of the Hammersmith Post-Graduate Teaching Hospital Group came to be made; and if he will make a statement.

The Institute of Hospital Administrators have expressed to me concern about the circumstances of this appointment and have asked for a committee of inquiry. I will announce my decision as soon as possible.

While no one objects to the introduction of fresh blood into the hospital service, is the Minister aware that this is one of the twenty or thirty top jobs in the Service? Is it not a fact that this appointment was made by the narrowest majority and against the advice of the assessors, and will he, when considering this matter, let us have his decision at the earliest date?

For the reasons given in my Answer, I should not add to it at this stage.

May I add my representation that the Minister should make a decision on this matter as quickly as possible in view of the concern at all levels in the hospital service at the nature of this appointment, which seems to suggest that knowledge of hospital administration is no longer a prerequisite for a top hospital appointment?

I shall not avoidably delay my decision.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that his recently announced policy on the future of the mental hospitals has given rise to anxiety on the part of mental nurses, and has had an adverse effect upon recruitment; and what steps he intends to take to restore the confidence of the mental nursing profession in their future career prospects.

I have no evidence of any fall in recruitment. As I told the hon. Member on 13th March, there is no reason to anticipate a diminution in the total effort needing to be devoted to mental treatment.

Is the Minister aware that my information is that not only has recruitment fallen off but that mental nurses are beginning to leave the Service because of their fears for the future? Does the Minister not appreciate that his whole policy of modernisation in our mental hospital service, which we on these benches support, will be in jeopardy if this trend continues, and will he take every opportunity of allaying these anxieties?

These anxieties are indeed, as the hon. Member says, quite groundless, and I am glad of any opportunities so far as they exist of helping to dispel them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that whether they be groundless or not, I and others have received a delegation from mental nurses in my constituency who have very real, even if groundless, anxieties on this subject, and does not he feel that something more ought to be done about it, because we want nurses?

I am not aware of the approach to the hon. and learned Gentleman. If he cares to pass the representations on to me, I shall endeavour to answer them.

Is the Minister aware that, as my hon. and learned Friend said, many hon. Members have been approached on this matter and that the fears among mental nurses are genuine and widespread? Does not he think that he should supplement his speech on 5th March by stating at some length in a public statement at an early date how he visualises the detailed effects upon the staff of his now policy?

I lose no opportunity of illustrating and enlarging upon what I regard as one of the most important developments in the whole of the National Health Service. I am sure that as this becomes more fully understood such fears as exist will be allayed.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is a shortage of district nurses in North Devon; and if he will take steps to ensure that pay and conditions of district nurses are improved.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the shortage. The salaries and conditions of service of district nurses are matters for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in my part of the world, although a house is available in many cases and there has been a considerable amount of advertising, it has been impossible to get district nurses? Is not this a very serious situation? Cannot the hon. Lady or her right hon. Friend try to improve the conditions and pay? Is it not a fact that most of these people would rather go into the routine hospital service than the district nursing association in view of the increased expense of running a car and so on?

I am aware of the shortage in Devon, but it is the case that the Whitley Council reviewed the salaries of nurses and midwives in 1959 as well as the grading, and increases were given of 25 per cent. at the maximum to district nurses, who also benefited from the 5 per cent. increase in December last year.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is a shortage of midwives in Devon, that one Bideford nursing home has had to close down and that there is a danger of a maternity hospital in the area closing shortly; and what further proposals he has for dealing with the situation.

A nursing home has closed temporarily owing to staff sickness, but cases booked there have been accepted elsewhere. Vacancies for the matron and midwife at Torrington Cottage Hospital which has four maternity beds, arise at the end of May, and the posts have been advertised.

This does not help very much. Is my hon. Friend aware that one midwife whom I know in my constituency worked for 72 hours and was paid for a 48-hour week and chat she left this hospital because the Whitley Committee said that she could not be paid for the overtime? Is it not time that something was done about this? Has my hon. Friend had an answer to the memorandum sent out to the hospital authorities, which she mentioned in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ripon (Sir M. Stoddart-Scott) on 6th February?

The memorandum to which my hon. Friend refers has gone to all hospital authorities and all domiciliary employing authorities and they have been asked to report back to us by the end of the year. Perhaps it would help if I sent my hon. Friend a copy of the memorandum.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has sent to the letter he received recently from the East Ham National Health Executive Council recommending that all retirement pensioners should be able to claim the refund of prescription charges from the Post Office, and drawing attention to the large number of cases of hardship which would not be relieved by the existing arrangements.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my reply.

Will the Minister acknowledge that this letter has come to him from a body of people of all political views and no political views, including doctors and others of day-to-day experience in dealing with Health Service matters, and would he not at least acknowledge that it adds to the growing volume of informed opinion that the present arrangements are hopelessly inadequate from the point of view of preventing hardship?

I am seeing the Association of Executive Councils later this month.

Will the Minister give an assurance that he will, in conjunction with the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, keep these arrangements for dealing with hardship under review and look at them again in six months' time to see whether they are really doing the job of alleviating hardship?

I am willing to look at them at any time without waiting for six months, and if there are any improvements which can be made which are practical and fair, I shall not close my mind to them.

Would the Minister not agree that it would be far better if we had an income scale fixed below which no prescription rates would be paid?

The present arrangements are based on scales which are designed to ascertain hardship, and I think that that is the right approach.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, so that United Kingdom sales of motor cars to United States service men can continue, he will seek an alternative method for the control of Purchase Tax exemption in place of the existing method under which exemption for a period exceeding one year can only be obtained if the order is placed through PX.

The history of this matter goes back to 1949. My right hon. and learned Friend has written to my hon. Friend setting out the Government's views at length.

Is my hon. Friend aware that I am very much obliged to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the very full letter he wrote to me when he saw my Question on the Order Paper? Is my hon. Friend aware that the point is that while the twelve months exemption is adequate in the case of the American Service man who can take the car back to America with him and not pay Purchase Tax, it is quite useless for those who are over here for two or three years and who will not, therefore, take the British car and pay Purchase Tax when they can take an American car without Purchase Tax or duty? Therefore, not only because we want these sales to go up but because of their good advertisement value, would my hon. Friend be good enough to ask his right hon. and learned Friend to look closely into the matter?

As my right hon. and learned Friend has explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Mr. Lindsay), the provision in Section 22 of the Finance Act of 1946 concerning temporary residents in this country who wish to purchase motor cars here but intend to export them was an exceptional provision. To extend the period of such use beyond one year would really be a major extension of what is, as I say, already an exceptional provision. As at present advised, my right hon. and learned Friend does not feel able to agree to such an extension. I am sorry that I do not feel able to go any further than that, but my right hon. and learned Friend shares the concern of my hon. Friend at the action that has been taken by the United States Government. I think the next thing is to see what will be the result of the approach that has been made to them.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what Press clippings service is maintained by the Central Office of Information; which fields this covers; and how many staff are involved.

No central Press cutting service is maintained: but the regional offices of the Central Office of Information supply Departments with cuttings from local newspapers. No staff is exclusively employed on this work.

Is not the Financial Secretary aware that he rejected the suggestion I made in February to negotiate the purchase of the News Chronicle Press clippings service because he said that the Central Office of Information arrangements were adequate for the twenty-four Government Departments and the House of Commons Library? In view of his Answer today, is the hon. Gentleman still satisfied with that previous Answer, and will he not look at this again?

I thought that the hon. Gentleman might raise that point, but, in fact, my two Answers can easily be reconciled. Most Departments have a special staff for dealing with cuttings on a daily basis, but look to the Central Office of Information for coverage of provincial newspapers and so on. I believe that the present system does work satisfactorily; I have made inquiries into this since the hon. Gentleman put down his original Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give an assurance that, in connection with the review now being conducted by Her Majesty's judges of the Judges' Rules, those desirous of making representations on the subject will have an opportunity of doing so; and what procedure is contemplated for this purpose.

Yes, Sir. As my right hon. Friend undertook in his reply to the hon. Member on 30th March, he has been in touch with the Lord Chief Justice. The Lord Chief Justice has authorised my right hon. Friend to say that while the judges—who have themselves the widest experience of the operation of the existing Rules—do not propose to invite evidence, they will take account of any representations which may be made to them in writing, through the Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice at the Royal Courts of Justice.

While appreciating that reply, may I ask the Joint Undersecretary to consider the desirability of people who so desire making verbal representations to the judges, in the same way as they would have been able to do if this matter had been left within the purview of the Royal Commission on the Police?

No, this would not have been appropriate. This is not a public inquiry. It is the desire of, my right hon. Friend to obtain the opinion of the judges about this matter in the light of their own very great experience, but if anybody has any information which he thinks may be of help to the judges and delivers it to them in writing, the judges will be glad to consider it.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this matter has certain urgency and is of very wide public interest? Has his attention been called, for instance, to a recent capital case in which the defendants were ultimately acquitted, in which a principal police officer confessed in the witness box, and defended his action, that he had refused to allow the defendants' solicitor or counsel to interview them except in his presence? Does this not show a very wide ignorance of what even the existing Rules are?

I should have thought that we could safely assume that the judges will not ignore that case.