asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when he expects H.M.S. "Lincoln" to sail for the Far East; and for how long he expects she will be away from home.

At the end of next month. H.M.S. "Lincoln" is expected to be away from home for three years, but her ship's company will be relieved on station eighteen months after leaving the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the maximum salary of an assistant secretary in the Civil Service at the date upon which hon. Members of this House were first paid at the rate of £1,750 a year; and what is the corresponding maximum pay today.

The maximum salary of an assistant secretary in the Civil Service on 1st July, 1957, was £2,700 (London). The corresponding current maximum is £3,415 (including £65 for inner London weighting).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present salary in Central London of a civil servant who was receiving £1,750 a year at the date upon which the salaries of hon. Members of this House were increased to that amount.

The present salary of an administrative class civil servant in Central London who, on 1st July, 1957, was receiving £1,730 (the nearest scale point to £1,750), is £2,171.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to prevent unnecessary waste, he will give instructions that, in appropriate cases, where prescriptions are made up, the duration of the time during which the contents will be effectively usable shall be stated clearly on the container.

My right hon. Friend has no power to give such instructions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the percentage of insurance contributors who suffer from industrial diseases within Stoke-on-Trent, Salford, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Luton, Watford and Bournemouth, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state in tabular form the total number who have died from pneumoconiosis within the City of Stoke-on-Trent since 1945; the number who have died from other causes aggravated by pneumoconiosis; the number who died in 1960 from industrial diseases; and the number at present who have applied for benefit.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give details of the income and savings levels, together with a complete list of allowances and disregards, that determine entitlement to refund of prescription charges by the National Assistance Board; and whether the same standards apply to refunds of other health charges.

These scales and disregards and other provisions applicable are those laid down for National Assistance generally. I would refer the hon. Member for these to the National Assistance (Determination of Need) Regulations, 1948, as amended, and to the National Assistance Act, 1948, and the National Assistance (Disregard of Assets) Order, 1959.

asked the Postmaster-Genera/ whether he proposes to undertake cabling work in the area of Bridge Street, Westminster; and if he will make a statement.

Additional telephone cables are required across Westminster Bridge to provide for building developments on the South Bank. To accommodate these cables, additional ducts and manholes are needed between Westminster Bridge and York Road. Every effort will be made to keep inconvenience to a minimum. The work, which is urgent, will take about six to eight weeks in Bridge Street and about four months on Westminster Bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies were available at detention centres at the last convenient date for delinquents under 17 years of age and for older delinquents, respectively.

On Wednesday 8th March there were no vacancies in either of the two junior centres or in the senior centres at Aylesbury, Goudhurst and Werrington. There were fifty vacancies in the recently opened senior centre at Medomsley. A further senior centre at New Hall, near Wakefield, with seventy-five places will be opened next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take under Section 129 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1950, to secure the revision to a realistic level of the rents of the 623 temporary houses let by a Scottish local authority at an average weekly rent of 2s. 5d.

I will consider what action can appropriately be taken in this and other similar cases when the outcome of the recent inquiry into rents in Dunbarton County is known.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the way in which the Crofters' Commission carries out its duties; and if he will make a statement.

I naturally receive a number of representations with regard to the operations of the Crofters' Commission. Where a body carries out duties of a public nature involving questions of judgment, this is to be expected.I should, however, make it clear that on no occasion have I received evidence that the Commission has at any time acted otherwise than conscientiously and with complete integrity.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of warrant officers I, warrant officers II and staff sergeants, respectively, on 1st January, 1961, the numbers in each category who were first-class tradesmen and the numbers of these with no trade.

The total numbers on 1st January, 1961, were:

Warrant Officers Class I	…	…	2,559
Warrant Officers Class II	…	…	6,627
Staff Sergeants	…	…	6,656

Their division between non-tradesmen and tradesmen first class requires further research, and I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible,

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of warrant officers I, warrant officers II and staff sergeants, respectively, who were 30 years of age on 1st January, 1961, and the numbers in each category who were first-class tradesmen.

The total numbers under the age of 30 on 1st January, 1961, were:

Warrant Officers Class I	…	…	17
Warrant Officers Class II	…	…	248
Staff Sergeants	…	…	1,441

Their division between non-tradesmen and tradesmen first class requires further research, and I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible