asked the Minister of Health how many people in Lincoln and Lincolnshire, respectively, have been inoculated against poliomyelitis in the last five years; and approximately how many people are now entitled to their inoculation.

In Lincoln 31,000 out of 42,000 eligible under local health authority arrangements had been vaccinated against poliomyelitis by the 31st March, 1961. The corresponding figures for Lincolnshire, including Lincoln, were 240,000 and 420,000. (All figures are approximate.)

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the executive councils which have written to him protesting at the increase in prescription charges.

I am sending the hon. Member the list.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will institute a public inquiry into the causes of the strike at Smith's factory as soon as their operatives return to work.

As there has been a resumption of work so that discussions can take place my right hon. Friend does not consider that an inquiry would be helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that further illegal infringement of fishing rights took place off Montrose early in the morning of Sunday, 18th June, involving a disturbance between coast salmon fishery owners and the crew of a boat who were drift-fishing for salmon one mile from the shore, and that the local police and district fishery board were unable to deal with the incident; and whether he will direct his Fishery Protection Service to give assistance to the local authorities in such circumstances in order to protect lawful fishing rights.

I am aware that there have been incidents in the Montrose area but the question whether there has been any illegal infringement of fishing rights is a matter for the courts. As was indicated in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 20th June, enforcement of the salmon laws lies with the district board and the police, and I am not satisfied that the situation calls for any directive to the Fishery Protection Service, which is, of course, primarily concerned with enforcement of the law relating to sea fisheries other than salmon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to improve security in Her Majesty's Prisons.

The physical security of existing closed prisons is being improved urgently. The present building programme includes eight secure prisons for men, and one for boys, as well as nine secure remand centres which will relieve congestion in prisons. I am taking special measures to lessen the risk of escape by recidivist prisoners serving sentences of more than four years, many of whom are hardened and resourceful prisoners with a powerful incentive to escape. A number of these prisoners will be transferred in a few days from Wandsworth and Pentonville to a special wing at Parkhurst, and as soon as Hull borstal can be freed for use as a prison, which I expect to be in about a month's time, more of these men will be sent there.I also intend to set aside a wing in Durham prison where a special regime with rigorous discipline will be provided for prisoners who have escaped from closed prisons. As a general precaution in closed local prisons on Saturday mornings (when there are fewer officers on duty) I propose to restrict work to a scale which will allow of normal week- day manning in those shops which remain open. The Criminal Justice Bill, which is awaiting the Royal Assent, provides for an increase in the penalty for helping a prisoner to escape and a new penalty for harbouring an escaped prisoner.