asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the availability of credit facilities for farmers wanting to expand beef production; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The main source of credit for this purpose is the banks; indeed one of the big banks has recently been reminding farmers of these facilities. Credit is not commonly given on the security of the livestock themselves, but banks are often prepared to lend on their knowledge of a farmer's ability and reputation, and of a satisfactory balance sheet. A farmer can more easily get credit if he draws up a farm business plan and gets it approved by a competent management adviser such as an adviser of the National Agricultural Advisory Service. Such plans—which may include the expansion of beef production—play an important part in the Government's Small Farmer Scheme, and also in the operations of the National Farmers' Union's Agricultural Credit Corporation which guarantees loans in suitable cases for beef production.In addition to bank credit, the Fat-stock Marketing Corporation operate two credit schemes for beef production. Under the first, producers may receive monthly advances towards the feeding and labour costs of fattening cattle and under the second, they may receive advances of up to 75 per cent. of the purchase price of store cattle. Farmers are taking increasing advantage of these schemes.Finally, under the Calf Rearing Subsidy, payments are made on eligible calves at about eight months old, normally well in advance of their sale as fatstock. This is in effect a substantial interest-free loan for beef production.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the sixty-seven medical officers who joined the Prison Medical Service since 1st January, 1945, have since resigned; and how many have retired due to ill-health or on reaching the normal retirement age.

Of the 26 full-time medical officers who have resigned since 1st January, 1945, 21 were among the 67 who joined since that date; in addition, two such officers were superannuated on age grounds and one was superannuated on medical grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the average monthly imports of copra through North Borneo east coast ports during the years 1958, 1959 and 1960, respectively; and what are the individual monthly figures for 1961 to date.

The average monthly imports of copra through North Borneo east coast ports in 1958, 1959 and 1960 respectively, were (in tons) 4,000, 3,300, 4,100.Monthly imports from January to May, 1961, inclusive were (in tons) 1,735, 2,260, 2,255, 1,762, 2,394 (provisional).The fall in imports in 1961 is largely due to the diversion of Philippines copra from Sandakan to the island of Labuan, on the west coast, which is a free port.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the average amount of pension per annum paid in the last financial year to teachers in Scotland who retired before 1948 was £253, if he will introduce legislation to increase such pensions.

The last Pensions (Increase) Act came into effect in August, 1959: this increased public service pensions, including those of teachers in Scotland, and the largest percentage in creases were given to those who had been retired the longest. My right hon. and learned Friend has no intention at present to introduce another such Bill.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps are being taken to keep his Department in touch with current Government studies on the problems of noise; and what further consideration is now being given to the possibility of scheduling occupational deafness under the Industrial Injuries Act in the light of these studies.

My Department is kept fully informed of the proceedings of the Committee appointed by my noble Friend the Minister for Science to consider the problem of noise. In addition it is one of the normal duties of my Department to keep abreast of developments in research in the field of industrial medicine, including that of occupational deafness, which have a bearing on the operation of the Industrial Injuries Act. In considering whether this condition might satisfy the requirements for prescription laid down in Section 55 (2) of the Industrial Injuries Act, my right hon. Friend is of course assisted by the experienced advice of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council who are giving a good deal of attention to this condition.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he has taken to implement the recommendation of the Beney Committee in 1955 that he should appoint a small body of highly specialised staff to carry out investigations for the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council as to the possibilities of adding to the schedule of diseases prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act.

The recommendation to which the hon. Member refers was discussed by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, together with the Beney Committee's other recommendations relating to the Council's work. The Council suggested that a practicable way of meeting the Beney Committee's concern that suggestions for prescription and research should be encouraged, would be for the Council to examine periodically the various possibilities so that they might submit to the Minister such recommendations on prescription or on research as they thought appropriate.My right hon. Friend accepted the Council's recommendation, and since 1956 these duties, to which he attaches the greatest value, have formed a most important part of its work.

asked the Minister of Transport how many garages have been licensed for testing road vehicles over ten years old; and how many licences have been revoked because of unsatisfactory testing.

Since the vehicle testing scheme was introduced 16,063 garages have been approved for operation as testing stations by authorised examiners appointed under Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960. Of these 464 have ceased to operate as a result of voluntary withdrawal, cessation of business, or for other reasons. I have withdrawn authorisation from five others because of unsatisfactory operation.

asked the Minister of Works if he will take action to clear up the dangerous and unsightly structures, dumps and pits on Air Ministry property at Marsworth, Buckinghamshire; and why no action has been taken during the past eighteen months.

I am proposing to dispose of this property in the near future and in accordance with Government policy the land will be sold with the buildings standing. Action has been taken during the past eighteen months, and will continue to be taken up to the time of sale, to protect trespassers from danger.

asked the Minister of Education the number of teachers employed in England and the total salary bill, exclusive of further education, for the latest financial year in which the figures are available.

The latest available estimates of the average numbers of teachers employed in schools maintained by local education authorities during the financial year 1960–61, and of their total salary bill, are shown in the table below. The figures cover nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, and exclude training colleges and further education establishments.