asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of Fenton Farm; and if he will consult the Minister of Housing and Local Government, the city council of Stoke-on-Trent and the National Coal Board, with a view to taking over the farm and the construction of an enlarged modern Fenton to be planned like the new towns.

On expiry of the lease in September the farm will return to the owners, the National Coal Board. The future use of the land, for which provision is made in the local development plan, will be a matter for the owners and the planning authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what terms Fenton Farm was purchasd or leased; what have been the total costs since it was taken over; what income has been received; whether the lessons learned there have been applied in other areas; what has been responsible for the noxious deposits; and what steps have been taken to obviate their effects in and around Blythe Bridge and Trentham.

Fenton Manor Farm is leased from the National Coal Board, at an annual rent of £254 and on terms broadly similar to those existing between any other agricultural landlord and tenant, for a period of 8 years ending on the 29th September, 1961. Up to the end of March, 1961, the total direct cost of leasing and running the farm was about £47,000 and receipts from sales of produce were about £20,000. In addition animals to the value of £7,000 have been transferred to the Central Veterinary Laboratory.The Veterinary Investigation Service takes every opportunity to inform the veterinary profession in this and other areas of the lessons learnt. A wide variety of industrial processes are carried out in the Fenton district, most of which to some degree or other contribute to air pollution. The control of industrial emis- sions is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations he is making into the effects upon health of chemical additives used in agriculture and in the preparation of food for human consumption; and if he will take steps to safeguard the general public from harmful consequences.

There are already arrangements for controlling the use of chemicals in agriculture and in the preparation of food. No new toxic chemical intended for use in agriculture is marketed nowadays until it has been screened by the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances. This Committee makes recommendations for its safe use, including precautions to safeguard consumers and these are published. There is also a Research Study Group on Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture which is considering what further research is needed into the effects of these chemicals.Chemical additives used in the preparation of food are watched over by a Sub-Committee of the Food Standards Committee. Regulations are made under the Food and Drugs Act to control the presence of chemicals in food when this is necessary for the protection of consumers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement of Government policy in the light of the Report of the Cook Committee upon Milk Composition in the United Kingdom.

Our consideration of the recommendations of the Cook Committee on this complex subject is well forward and I hope we shall be able to discuss their implications with both sides of the dairy industry and with other interested organisations before the end of the summer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price of a side of prime home-killed beef sold by the wholesale trade from 1st May to the last convenient date; and what was the rate of subsidy for the same relative period.

The average of the monthly prices for English Long Sides at Smithfield Market from the 1st May to date has been 1s. 9d. per lb. The average rate of subsidy over that period has been 10·7d. per lb. deadweight.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many personal secretaries, typists and machine operators were employed by his Department in May, 1959 and May, 1961.

Figures are not readily available for May, but the numbers employed on 1st April, 1959 and 1961, were as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures showing the number of farms, with the average income per farm and average acreage, in the years 1945, 1950, 1955 and 1960, respectively, in North Staffordshire.

The numbers and average acreages of agricultural holdings in North Staffordshire for the years in question were as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his attention has been drawn to a fishery officer's report about the concentration of Polish, Russian, Dutch and German vessels off the north-east coast of England and to the landing of white fish at the North Shields market; and what action he is taking to provide sufficient fishery protection vessels to prevent this illegal fishing by foreign vessels.

The report contains no evidence of illegal fishing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many application's have been received under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957, since the Act came into force; and from how many bodies they have been received.

Since the Act came into force in April, 1957, the Board of Trade have received 59 applications from 56 bodies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date he received an application from the National Farmers' Union for anti-dumping action against imported barley; what time elapsed between such application and a decision; whether it will be possible to make a decision on the application for anti-dumping action in respect of imports of milk powder before Parliament rises for the Summer Recess; and what has been the reason for the delay.

The application on barley was received on 19th June. I announced my decision on 4th July and gave details of the action taken on 7th July. The application on milk powder is being investigated with all possible speed, but the case is by no means straightforward and I cannot yet say when a decision will be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that he will not increase the import quota of radio sets from Japan, without at the same time permitting the free import of Japanese components to enable the British radio industry to compete with the Japanese on equal terms.

In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation, I am considering the future policy on imports of all types of radio apparatus from Japan. We know that some sections of the radio industry would like more freedom to import Japanese components for incorporation in radio sets manufactured in this country, and we shall bear this in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of his bilateral discussions with the Governments of France, Italy and Western Germany about co-operative ventures in film production between European producers; and what he estimates would be the effect upon these ventures of British entry into the Common Market.

Pending the completion of the discussions on co-operative ventures in production between the British film industry and its opposite numbers in France, Italy and West Germany, discussions at the Governmental level have not proceeded beyond explanations of the statutory position. It is too early to estimate the likely effect upon these ventures of British entry into the Common Market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effect upon British film imports, exports and quotas of Great Britain's accession to the Treaty of Rome; what representations he has received from the British film industry upon these matters; and whether he will undertake to consult the representative associations of producers, exhibitors and trade unions about any necessary additions to Lists A to G and Annex III of that treaty required to safeguard the interests of the British film industry.

Since the Common Market countries have not yet decided on a common films policy under the Treaty of Rome, I am unable to assess the effect of accession on British film imports, exports and quotas. I have received no representations from the British film industry on these matters. Consultations such as the hon. Member suggests, would be inappropriate at this time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effects on the paper industry of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; what representations he has received on the subject; and whether he will make a statement.

The British Paper and Board Makers' Association have informed me that, in their views, Britain should now offer to join the Common Market provided that a satisfactory solution can be obtained for the other members of E.F.T.A. and the Commonwealth.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what licences Her Majesty's Government granted for the export of incendiary bombs to Portugal in the last 12 months.

It is not the practice to disclose details of export licences for the supply of defence equipment to other Governments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the value of sales by the chemical industry, including petro-chemicals, to the Common Market countries during the past five years, together with separate figures

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the countries comprising the Common Market for the years 1958, 1959 and 1960, respectively;(2) what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the countries comprising the European Free Trade Association for the years 1958, 1959 and 1960, respectively;(3) what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the United States of America for the years 1958, 1959 and 1960, respectively;(4) what was the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the United States of America for the first five months of 1961 as compared with the first five months of 1960.

This information is available from the Trade and Navigation Accounts which are documents presented to the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average length of time now being taken to arrive at a decision after the original receipt of a formal application for assistance for industrial development under the terms of the Local Employment Act; and what steps are being taken to reduce the delay.

Separate figures for petro-chemicals are not distinguishable in the trade statistics. Exports of chemicals, including petro-chemicals, were as follows:

The interval between the first submission of an application and the final decision upon it averages between four and five months. The interval between receiving from the applicant all the information necessary to enable the Committee to investigate his case and the final decision on it averages less than two months. I do not consider that there is any avoidable delay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government will consider revising and amending the constitution of the British Museum to meet modern needs; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government have in mind to consider with the Principal Trustees in due course the possibility of changes in the composition of the Trustee body. Any change would need legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims were made to the Inland Revenue in the last financial year for tax relief in respect of travelling expenses caused through change of work owing to the 1939–45 war; and what were the comparable figures for 1952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, and 1959–60, respectively.

There are no regular statistics of these claims. The number in 1953–54 was estimated at 140,000 and it is believed now to have fallen to about 100,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer Whether, in view of recent comments by the Master of the Rolls, he will set up a special inquiry to investigate the best methods of ending anomalies between the treatment of expenses under Schedule D and Schedule E of the Income Tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply on 4th July to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson). He does not think a special inquiry is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants have entered the service under the late entry scheme commenced in 1955; and what would be the annual cost to the Exchequer of paying them at the rate of an entrant aged 29 instead of the present notional age of 25.

Over 13,000. For the grades concerned pay is linked with age up to 25, and increments beyond that rate are given for length of service and not for age. To give immediately four increments to the older staff would cost about £¾ million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to intensify Her Majesty's Customs' investigation of the smuggling of watches from Switzerland, in view of the fact that the present ex-works value of watches being smuggled into the United Kingdom amounts to over £5 million with a consequential loss of duty and purchase tax amounting to £3,750,000; and whether he will make a statement.

I do not accept the figures mentioned in the Question, but I agree that the smuggling of watches presents a serious problem. The Customs are making every effort, with their available staff, both to detect it and to prevent it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the cost to West Bromwich Corporation of the surcharge upon employers contemplated in the Finance Bill.

If the surcharge were to be imposed the answer would depend upon the rate or rates at which it was levied, the length of time for which it remained in force and the number of employees in the employment of the corporation during that time. With so many variables I cannot hazard any estimate of cost to a particular employer or group of employers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the present holders of 3½ per cent. War Loan acquired their holdings prior to the 1st January, 1950; and what is the total amount of these holdings.

I am afraid that this information is not readily available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now received from the Arts Council their proposals for allocating the recently increased resources by way of grants and contributions for renovating existing theatres and building new ones; and, in particular, what proportion it is proposed to allocate to Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Goole (Mr. Jeger) on lath July. As regards the second part of the Question the allocation to Scotland out of resources made available to the Arts Council is a matter for the Council.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what progress has been made by the Working Party set up under his chairmanship to inquire into the organisation of the official bodies concerned with archaeology in this country, following upon the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates.

The Group has met at frequent intervals over the last six months and has now completed taking a wide range of evidence, both written and oral. It hopes to complete its work in the autumn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many holders there are of 2½ per cent. Consols.

The number of holders is not known exactly, but the number of accounts in this stock is 106,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will state the total amount received as a result of the appeal by the Government of the time for investment in War Loan when it was first issued at the lower rate of interest:(2) if he will state the total amount invested in 3½ per cent. War Stock from inception to date, and the total depreciation loss to date.

No new money was received by the Government from the 1932 conversion operation, and no further amounts of War Loan have been issued since then. In 1932, holders of £1,921 million of 5 per cent. War Loan accepted conversion into 3½ per cent. War Loan as an alternative to redemption. The present market value at yesterday's middle closing prices of the £1,909 million still outstanding was £1,017.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures he has which indicate the increase in visitors, official and unofficial, respectively, between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the last 10 years.

The following is the reply:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the first remand centre for girls will be available.

Probably the first to be completed will be the centre at Risley in Lancashire, which will have a wing for girls, towards the end of 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East can expect a reply to his letter of 4th July enclosing allegations that a prisoner serving a 10-year sentence in Swansea Gaol has been in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day since the early part of the year.

I replied to the hon. Member on 25th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what standard of silence is imposed on the motor cycles used by the Metropolitan Police Force.

The Commissioner of Police does all he can to ensure that motor cycles used by the Metropolitan Police do not make undue noise, particularly at night. A considerable reduction in the sound made by the heavier machines was effected some time ago by arranging for the manufacturers to deliver new machines with an additional baffle in the tail pipe of the exhaust.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now state whether he will seek powers to deport Commonwealth immigrants who become criminals.

I have no further statement to make on this subject at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many personal secretaries, typists and machine operators were employed in his Department in May, 1959 and May, 1961.

The figures required are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present establishment and strength of traffic wardens in London; how many have resigned since the inception of the scheme; and what reasons they gave.

There is no formal establishment for traffic wardens in the Metropolitan Police District, but the Commissioner of Police would like to recruit substantially more than the 123 who are now in post. Of the 174 wardens who have been appointed since July, 1960, three have had their services terminated and 50 have resigned. Of the 50, two have since rejoined.Of the wardens who resigned and did not rejoin, 18 left to go to other jobs, 12 gave domestic reasons (inability to find suitable accommodation, moving to another area, travelling difficulties), 10 said that the pay was inadequate, three left for health reasons, and three because of abuse from motorists. Two did not finish their training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Eighth Report on the work of the Home Office Children's Department will be published.

The Eighth Report on the work of the Children's Department is expected to be published on 16th August, 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements exist for liaison between the Government of Nigeria and Her Majesty's Government on matters affecting their mutual security.

The British Government maintain liaison with the Government of Nigeria on these matters through the normal channels of Commonwealth consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what grants OT loans have been made to Commonwealth countries, and for how much, during the years 1959, 1960 and 1961 to date; and what grants or loans are projected during the current financial year.

Table A (i) and (ii) below shows expenditure in respect of loans made to independent Commonwealth countries under Section 3 of the Export Guarantees Act, 1948, as since amended, and the amounts still to be drawn under existing loan agreements. It does not include amounts committed in principle for which agreements have not yet been signed or the timing of expenditure has not ye: been settled. Among these are further loans to India and Pakistan, and

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many personal secretaries, shorthand typists and machine operators were employed in his Department in May, 1959 and May, 1961.

The numbers of staff in these grades employed in my Department, which inolude United Kingdom based staff serving in posts abroad, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement about the application to the United Nations Special Fund for assistance in a survey of the Okavango Swamps in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

I am glad to be able to say that the United Nations has agreed to undertake a preliminary survey of the Okavango Swamps in the Bechuanaland Protectorate at a cost of about $48,000. The Bechuanaland Protectorate Government will make a contribution towards the cost of this survey from the £1·2 million of new Colonial Development and Welfare money of which my hon. Friend informed the House on 6th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East, can expect a reply to his letter of 13th June asking for the present whereabouts of a Mosuto named Leuta Mahao, whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment and who has been transferred from prison in Basutoland to a prison in the Republic of South Africa.

The hon. Member will in the meantime have received my reply to his letter, which was delayed owing to my absence overseas for several weeks.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking, in view of the fact that 63 per cent. of senior

asked the Minister of Education what progress there has been in the preparation of schemes for agricultural education between local education authorities in Wales, as reported in paragraph 308 of the White Paper, Wales, Command Paper No. 1293.

The Welsh Joint Education Committee divided Wales into five regions for the preparation of these schemes. Two regions have submitted schemes to the Committee and two others are expected to do so at an early date. The fifth scheme is in preparation. The Joint Committee will forward the schemes for my right hon. Friend's consideration as soon as they are in a position to do so.

During the next few years the number of seniors on roll will decline. My right hon. Friend expects therefore that a sustained flow of graduates, reinforced by the steps he has taken to improve the supply of specialist teachers from the training colleges and to recruit more married women teachers, will result in smaller classes.

asked the Minister of Education what were the numbers of men and women, given separately, who were admitted at training colleges to one-year supplementary courses for specialist teaching; and what were the numbers of men and women, given separately, who took courses in science and mathematics, respectively, in each of the years 1959 and 1960.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of the teaching profession left the profession in each of the last three years; and what were the proportions for maintained, direct grant, and independent schools, respectively.

The table below gives statistics for maintained primary and secondary schools. Corresponding figures for direct grant and independent schools are not available. The figures shown for numbers leaving during the year are restricted to teachers who were in service at the beginning of the year, and hence exclude teachers who both entered and left service within the twelve-months period ended 31st March;

asked the Minister of Education how many personal secretaries, shorthand typists and machine operators were employed in his Department in May, 1959, and May, 1961.

The totals were 154 and 160 made up as follows:

asked the Minister of Power how much British capital is invested in Kuwait; and through which companies the investments are operated.

British investment in Kuwait is almost entirely confined to that of the British Petroleum Company through the Kuwait Oil Company. These investment figures are given to the Government in confidence and cannot be disclosed.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on his recent official talks with the Rulers of Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

My noble Friend and I had the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest with both the Rulers. These talks, which were most cordial, were confidential.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government now propose to publish a White Paper on the historical and constitutional aspects of the claim of the Government of Iraq to the territory of Kuwait.

I have nothing to add at present to my replies to the hon. Gentlemen the Members for Ayrshire, South (Mr. Einrys Hughes) and Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 5th and 20th July.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he is satisfied that he has sufficient staff with the necessary qualifications for research into foot-and-mouth disease at the Pirbright experimental station; and what progress has been made in research during 1961.

The staff of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Institute is employed by the governing body of the Institute, which is grant-aided by the Agricultural Research Council. I am informed that, while the Institute is seeking to recruit additional research workers, the present staff is sufficient to make effective use of the station's facilities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the number of cases in which the Willesden Borough Council have applied for and obtained approval for compulsory purchase orders in exorbitant rent

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the total area in the Borough of Willesden available as an open space or playing fields, as a percentage of the total area of the borough; and how this figure compares with adjoining boroughs in Middlesex.

The latest available figures are those provided by the Middlesex County Survey carried out in 1948–49 for the purposes of the Development Plan under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and are as follows:cases following his circular, and the number of cases now pending.

In December, 1960, the council submitted to me one such order in respect of one house. They later withdrew it and have submitted no similar orders since.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the total number of houses and flats that have been built, acquired or otherwise come under control of the Willesden Borough Council during the first six months of 1961.

The council completed 18 dwellings in the first six months of this year. I have no records to show how many houses they acquired in the same period, but this information should be obtainable from the council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many personal secretaries, shorthand typists and machine operators were employed in his department in May, 1959 and May, 1961.

The following is the answer:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what members of the dependent Commonwealth have received grants or loans from the United Kingdom in 1959, 1960 and 1961 to date; and what grants or loans are projected during the current financial year.

The following table shows the grants and loans made to dependent members of the Commonwealth for which I am responsible since the beginning of the United Kingdom financial year 1958–59, including issues

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the figures showing the number of dentists per head of population in the towns of Leek, Kidsgrove, Biddulph and Cheadle in North Staffordshire in 1945, 1955 and 1960, respectively.

The following is the Answer:made in the current financial year up to 30th June.In the current financial year grants and loans will be made through the Colonial Services and Colonial Development and Welfare Votes as shown in the Civil Estimates, 1960–61, Class II, Votes 8 and 9 (H.C. 104 (i)), the Revised and Supplementary Estimates for these services (H.C. 235 and 236 respectively) and through the Supplementary Estimate of the Vote of the Department of Technical Co-operation, Class II, Vote 12 (H.C. 238). In addition, it is expected that issues of Exchequer loans made under Section 2 of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1959 will amount to about £30 million. Issues will also be made to the Colonial Development Corporation under the Overseas Resources Development Act for investment in dependent territories.I am unable, at the present time, to provide a comprehensive division between territories of the estimated totals of issues of Exchequer loans and issues from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote. Nor am I able to give a firm figure of the amounts of Exchequer advances which will be made to the Colonial Development Corporation for investment in dependent Commonwealth territories during the whole of 1961–62.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many publications designed to assist the British export trade are at present produced by the Central Office of Information for distribution overseas by other Government Departments; what are their titles; What is the annual cost involved; and what steps are taken to ensure that they do not compete with export journals produced by private enterprises in this country and already successfully sold overseas.

I assume my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind periodical publications. The Central Office of Information at present produce only one periodical specifically designed to assist the export trade, a quarterly called "Good Business". Its annual cost, including carriage, is £14,000. It was introduced to meet a specific need in the Asian Commonwealth countries to which it is mainly sent. This need had been put forward by our Trade Commissioners and Information Officers in those areas, and is not met by any existing British publication. Some two years ago I arranged for proposed Government periodicals for overseas to be discussed between the C.O.I. and the Periodical Proprietors Association, and this has since been done.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now publish draft regulations under Section 3 of the Building (Scotland) Act, 1959.

Yes. The draft Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations, 1961, are now ready and, together with an explanatory memorandum which incorporates the report of the Building Standards Advisory Committee, will be on sale this afternoon and copies will be placed in the Vote Office. The period for lodging representations on the draft regulations will end on 1st December, 1961, and I hope all concerned will carefully study the draft Regulations before that date. I should like to pay tribute to the Advisory Committee for the valuable part they have played in the preparation of the draft regulations.