asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the observations of the Court of Appeal in the case of Campbell Discount Company Limited v. Bridge reported in (1961) 1 Q.B. 445, with regard to the unsatisfactory state of the law as to penalties, whereby the man who terminates his contract is in a worse position than the man who breaks his contract, he will introduce the necessary legislation to remedy the law.

I have seen a brief report of the judgment to which the hon. Member refers; since an appeal has been lodged, it would not be right for me to comment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now reached a decision on the Report of the Standing Committee (General Merchandise) set up under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have decided not to accept the recommendation in the report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up an authoritative committee to inquire into the economics of the oil industry in so far as they relate to Great Britain's balance of payments on visible and invisible account, including an assessment of the cost to the country in terms of capital investment overseas, dividend and other overseas earnings received by this country, dividends transmitted abroad, and any other transactions whether in sterling or convertible currencies.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will now be the total cost of a school for which the tender price is £170,000, based on the 7 per cent. interest charges.

Local authorities customarily borrow thirty-five years for school building projects. As announced today in the reply given to the hon. Members for Salford, East and Rowley Regis and Tipton, from 5th August the rate of interest on loans from the P.W.L.B. for that period will be 7 per cent. On this basis, the repayments of capital and interest on a loan of £170,000 for school building would amount to £458,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total saving to the Treasury resulting from the reduction in interest of 5 per cent. to 3½ per cent. on War Loan.

I am unable to give an answer to this hypothetical question, since the amount would vary according to how and when 5 per cent. War Loan 1929–47 would have been redeemed or converted if it had not been converted in 1932. The benefit of any saving would, of course, have accrued to the taxpayer rather than to the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that any rise in the cost of living caused by measures to protect sterling will be met by Government action where practical in respect of those living on small fixed incomes.

It is not possible to insulate any section of the community from the effects of the measures which have had to be taken to meet our pressing economic difficulties. In the longer run, however, the steps taken by the Government to bring the growth of incomes into relation with the growth of productivity offer the best hope of safeguarding the position of people living on small fixed incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent Her Majesty's Government's policy that increases in dividends should be avoided at the present time applies to trading companies liable to a Surtax direction under Section 245 of the Income Tax Act, 1952; and if he will make a statement.

As hitherto, where there has been no material change in circumstances, Surtax action will not be taken against a trading company which distributes the same proportion of its profits as the Special Commissioners have accepted as reasonable for past years. A company can obtain the Commissioners' opinion about its past dividends by applying for a clearance under Section 252 of the Income Tax Act, 1952.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce legislation to tax expense accounts.

Expenses payments to employees earning £2,000 or more a year, or to directors, are already taxable as remuneration, subject to a deduction for expenses incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of their duties. As my right hon. and learned Friend said in his Budget speech, he will keep under review the tax treatment of expenditure on business entertainment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to prevent British shipowners from placing orders in foreign yards, he will consult the British Chamber of Shipping with a view to withdrawing the 40 per cent. investment allowance from shipowners who adopt this practice.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place a ceiling on the dollar expenditure on royalties and other payments for United States popular records in the interests of the balance of payments and to further the use of British material and artistes.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the application or approach made to the International Monetary Fund for a loan, the amount of money asked for, and the conditions which are to be attached to the granting of the loan.

An application to the International Monetary Fund was made on 25th July. This is still under consideration by the Fund, and in the meantime the details are confidential. We expect the Fund Board to make and announce its decision shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to initiate a study of the Index of Retail Prices with a view to changes in it as suggested by the recent Report of the Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes; and whether he will also review the field of available statistical information to see whether such information as is already available can be improved upon.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has the Index of Retail Prices under constant review. I would point out that the Fourth Report of the Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes did not suggest that changes should be made in the Index, but my right hon. Friend will keep in mind the comments made in paragraph 60 of that Report. The suggestions made in the Report about the improvement of statistics is being considered by Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the widespread effect of his recent financial proposals to reduce national expenditure, he will consider issuing a series of posters and leaflets, explaining his proposals, to be placed in all post offices, Ministry of Labour and other Government offices.

Yes, we are always ready to consider ways of explaining our economic position.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that an Italian farm-worker spent 16 months in a Welsh hospital, although there was nothing wrong with him, and drew £4 10s. a week National Insurance, which he sent to his wife in Italy, before being finally deported as an undesirable alien, and that he cost the country about £1,500; if he will investigate waste of public money in this and similar ways in all spending departments; and what steps he has taken since his economic cuts to compel the spending departments to become more economically minded.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently sent a directive on public expenditure to all Ministers in charge of spending departments. As regards the first part of the Question, if my hon. Friend will provide particulars of the case he mentions, I will ask my right hon. Friends to look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of recent Government economic measures, he will ask the Commissioners for Crown Estates to reconsider their decision to increase the royalty payable by licensees for dredgings of sand in the Bristol Channel.

I am advised that the Commissioners' proposed revision of the royalty rate is the first since 1949, that it follows an up-to-date assessment by the Valuation Office and that it has been under discussion for a considerable time. My right hon. and learned Friend sees no reason to ask the Commissioners to reconsider this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that the proposed increases in salaries of university teachers will not be reduced as a result of his decision to limit public expenditure.

I can give no such assurance. The report just received from the University Grants Committee will be given due consideration, in the light of my statement on 25th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the net invisible earnings of the United Kingdom in each of the last five calendar years.

Net invisible earnings of the United Kingdom in the calendar years 1956–60 were, respectively, £246 million, £269 million, £229 million, £120 million and £22 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the information on which he based his estimate that dividends in the first quarter of 1961 rose by 23 per cent.

The figure of 23 per cent. for the increase in dividends for the first quarter of the year compared with a year ago given by the President of the Board of Trade on 18th July was prepared in the Treasury on the basis of company reports analysed by the Financial Times. Owing to a mistake in calculation, which I very much regret, this figure was wrong; the true figure is l5½ per cent. I should make it clear that it is an estimate of the increase in gross dividends reported by the group of companies classified by the Financial Times as industrial companies.My right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his statement of 25th July, gave a comparison on a more comprehensive basis and covering a longer period. This showed an increase of 20 per cent. between 1959–60 and 1960–61. The correction of the figure for the first quarter does not, of course, in any way affect the Government's view, which the Chancellor stated, that in present circumstances a further general increase in dividends in the coming year could not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing the number of Surtax payers in the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively, since 30th June, 1960, and the number receiving £20,000 or more during the same period.

The latest available information is for the year 1958–59 and will be found in Tables 72 and 75 of the 103rd Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmd. 1258).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the winding up of the War Damage Commission.

The Commission's present main function is settlement of cost of works claims, which are presented when the owners or occupiers of war damaged properties have carried out the work of reinstatement. The completion of this task is therefore, under the existing law, outside the control of the Government, and claims are likely to continue trickling in for a great many years. Annual payments against claims received amounted to £8½ million in 1960–61, and are estimated to cost £7½ million and £6 million in the next two financial years, respectively. The staff of the Commission has also decreased to under 300.The last war damage occurred more than 16 years ago, and the Government consider it desirable in the public interest to introduce legislation to dissolve the War Damage Commission, to provide for the transfer of the remaining responsibilities and staff to the Inland Revenue Department, and to secure the early closure of the payments scheme in an orderly way.A White Paper will be published to explain these proposals in more detail. Meanwhile arrangements are being made for the management of the staff of the Commission to be integrated with that of the Inland Revenue Department, while preserving the independent statutory position of the War Damage Commission under the existing law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take advantage of his visit to West Africa for the forthcoming meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers to propose in addition a wider conference of Finance Ministers of English-speaking and French-speaking nations in Africa and of their associated metropolitan countries to consider joint plans for the economic development of Africa on the widest possible basis.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the next report of the Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes, is expected; and whether he will make a statement on the future of the Council.

Since the Council have only this week published their Fourth Report I have no information about the timing of a further Report. As regards the future of the Council, this is a matter which will naturally come under consideration in relation to the objective which my right hon. and learned Friend explained to the House last week of reviewing our arrangements for economic planning with the object of establishing a more purposeful system than that which we now have. As my right hon. and learned Friend has already said, this does not mean that he is not conscious of the very valuable work which this Council and other bodies have done and are doing within their terms of reference.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now state the date on which an Inland Revenue leaflet, setting out the rules followed in dealing with expense claims under the special provision applicable to directors and senior executives, will be published.

The leaflet is being published this afternoon, and copies will be obtainable from H.M. Inspectors of Taxes tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage convictions for crimes of violence have increased since the courts ceased to have the power to order corporal punishment for any such offence.

The only offence for which corporal punishment was in practice imposed on adults immediately before its abolition in 1948 was robbery with violence. The number of persons convicted of offences of robbery (the majority of which were robberies with violence) or assault with intent to rob increased by 111 per cent. from 1948 to 1960. During the same period the number of persons convicted of offences of violence against the person of a kind for which corporal punishment could not be imposed prior to 1948 increased by 222 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics he has relating to the deterrent effects of the present punishments available to the courts in respect of crimes of violence; and if 'he will publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Such statistical evidence as was available about the effects of different forms of punishment for crimes of violence was presented to the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders and is discussed in the Council's Report on Corporal Punishment, to which I would refer my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the new evidence of the increase in crimes of violence disclosed by the Criminal Statistics for England and Wales recently published, what plans he has to meet the situation.

The fact that crimes of violence were continuing to increase was acknowledged when the Criminal Justice Bill was before the House, and the publication of the 1960 figures does reinforce the justification for the plans for dealing with the situation which were described during the debates on the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for bookmakers' permits and betting office licences have been received; how many have now been granted, and how many refused; and whether he is satisfied with the progress that has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bookmakers' licences and betting office permits have been granted; and whether he will make a statement on the operation of the Betting and Gaming Act.

I would refer to the Answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of work done for Government Departments by prisoners detained in Her Majesty's prisons.

These figures are given in the Commissioners' Annual Reports. In 1959, £588,385 was received for goods supplied, and the value of labour supplied without charge was estimated at £72,841. In addition, about £166,000 worth of work was done for other customers, and goods to the value of about £500,000 were supplied for use in prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum income per week that may be earned by a prisoner in Her Majesty's prisons.

The present maximum is 6s. excluding allowances paid to certain long-term prisoners. The Advisory Council on the Employment of Prisoners in their First Report, which will be published shortly, have recommended that prisoners should be given an opportunity to earn higher rates by hard work. This recommendation has been accepted by my right hon. Friend and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the revised rates of payment which will be brought into force shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many thefts from commercial vehicles were reported to the police in the Metropolitan Police district in 1960, and to the latest convenient date in 1961; what were the values of the losses in each year; in how many cases convictions were obtained; what was the average length of sentence in cases where imprisonment was imposed; and if he will give corresponding figures for the remainder of England and Wales, so far as they are available to him.

I will, with permission, circulate the figures for the Metropolitan Police District in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Comparable figures for the rest of England and Wales are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that operators of commercial vehicles are finding it increasingly difficult to get adequate insurance against theft of the goods they carry; if he is satisfied with the present powers of the courts to deal with offences of this nature; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend's attention has not been drawn to any such difficulty. He is satisfied that the courts have adequate powers to deal with offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the effects of the House of Lords decision on Bradley v. Payne and others; whether he has completed his consideration of this case; and whether he will now amend Section 4 of the Small Lotteries and Gaming Act, 1956.

The broad effect of the House of Lords judgment was that the phrase "purposes other than purposes of private gain" in Section 4 of the Small Lotteries and Gaming Act. 1956, does not include the general purposes of a social club; consequently, it is unlawful for such a club to run a small gaming party under that Section if the proceeds are to go into its general fund. The phrase "purposes other than purposes of private gain" is used in a number of contexts in gaming and lotteries legislation, including the provisions of Section 17 of the Betting and Gaming Act, 1960, relating to gaming machines in places to which the public do not have access. Thus the judgment has wider implications which my right hon. Friend has been considering in the light of representations which he has received.I am told that considerable difficulties will be caused by this interpretation of the law to many clubs which have drawn revenue from gaming or lotteries which, before the judgment, were thought to be lawful. The Government is examining the implications of this situation, and the possible ways in which the law might be amended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement in respect of the consideration now being given to the confused situation that has developed in respect of Bingo in working men's clubs arising from the recent judgment in connection with Section IV of the Small Lotteries and Gaming Act, 1956.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, East (Mr. F. Taylor) today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the present shortage of prison officers suitable for staff courses and eventual promotion to the grade of assistant governor.

The number of prison officers considered suitable for the staff course this year is thirteen, the largest since the inception of these courses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants there were for the post of prison officer during the last three years; and how many of these were accepted into the prison service.

Seventeen thousand nine hundred and fifty-two applied-2,916 were accepted for training; 1,330 finally joined for duty after completing their training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decisions he has reached about those patients in Broadmoor Hospital whose discharge has been recommended by the Mental Health Review Tribunal; and how many cases are involved.

In four out of the 88 cases which they have so far considered the Tribunal have advised discharge; in two of these cases I have not felt able to accept the Tribunal's advice, and I have the other two at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that within the area administered by the Bristol Licensing Planning Committee the acquisition of suspended licences by the principal breweries is resulting in a brewers' monopoly, making it virtually impossible for applicants wishing to operate licensed premises without any ties to any particular local brewery to obtain a licence; and whether he will amend the Licensing Planning Area (Added Areas) Order, 1957, in order to restore some degree of competition.

I am aware of the case which my hon. Friend has in mind, but I do not think that it would be appropriate as yet to revoke the Order to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the letter forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, South about disparity in amounts of fines for parking offences in places where there is "no waiting" notice to the effect that parking is not permitted; and if he will now consider initiating legislation to ensure some uniformity of treatment as between one parking offence and another, and to impose a scale of fines to be applied to such offences by courts of summary jurisdiction throughout the country.

I have considered the correspondence sent to me by the hon. Member, but I can find no grounds for taking such action as he suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what prowess he has made in his consultation with chief officers of police concerning the misuse of guns by young people; what action he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State on the Second Reading of the Game Licences and Gun Licences (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill on 10th March. In that statement he summarised the outcome of my consultations with chief officers of police, and outlined the Government's views about controlling the use of airguns and shotguns by young people. I am considering, in the light of the proceedings on the Bill, whether further action is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to provide for the extension of the stipendiary magistracy in the larger boroughs in the country.

Under Section 29 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1949, the council of any borough having a separate commission of the peace may petition the Secretary of State for the appointment of a stipendiary magistrate. I see no need for further legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department where it is proposed that George Blake should serve his sentence of 42 years.

He is at the moment in Wormwood Scrubs. His long-term allocation has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the recent escapes at Wandsworth Prison, and other incidents in prisons in recent months, he will hold an inquiry into conditions in prisons with particular reference to overcrowding and staffing.

No. The difficulties caused by overcrowding and shortage of staff are well known and I am keeping the position in the prisons under close and continuous examination. I am pursuing energetically efforts to increase both staff and accommodation. I share the hon. Member's concern about escapes and I have ordered the special measures described in my reply of 30th June to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes). The transfer of certain long-term prisoners from Pentonville and Wandsworth to Parkhurst has already taken place and limitation of Saturday morning work has begun where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the Departmental Committee on the Probation Service; and when he is likely to receive its report.

The Committee has, I understand, made very substantial progress and is in the final stages of its inquiry; but I cannot yet say when I shall receive its report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if discussions between the British Board of Film Censors and local authorities in respect of the sub-division of category A-films have now reached a conclusion.

I am informed that these discussions are still continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the recurrence of anti-coloured demonstrations in London; and if, in view of their danger to public order, he will take steps to stop them.

There has in recent months been a considerable drop in the number of incidents involving white and coloured persons reported to the Metropolitan Police. The police keep a careful watch to see that public meetings do not lead to breaches of the peace, and would not hesitate to take action under their existing powers if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now considered the proposals sent to him from certain professional bodies regarding the compulsory registration of all estate agents; what conclusions he has reached; and if he will make a statement.

I am still examining these proposals and am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are at present in solitary confinement; for how many hours each day they are let out of their cells; and how long he expects this position to continue.

On 1st August, 1961, there were 201 prisoners so segregated of whom 123 were segregated at their own request. They are out of their cells for one hour a day. By providing special accommodation in two prisons for the reception of difficult prisoners I have already reduced the need for segregation and I hope shortly to make another prison available for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a decision has been taken about the period of Summer Time next year.

We propose to repeat next year the arrangement experimentally adopted for 1961, under which the statutory period of Summer Time was extended by three weeks in both Spring and Autumn. Accordingly we shall in due course seek the approval of Parliament for the draft of an Order in Council providing for Summer Time next year to run from 25th March to 28th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make an appeal to the public for the surrender of unwanted firearms and ammunition.

Yes. In view of the serious risks to the public which arise from the retention in private hands of firearms and ammunition for which there is no legitimate use, Her Majesty's Government appeal to all persons holding such weapons or ammunition to help to reduce the risks to themselves and others by handing them over to the police.It is a punishable offence to hold a firearm or ammunition without a certificate. But in order to encourage the surrender of firearms or ammunition which are unlawfully held, I have asked chief officers of police in England and Wales, with whom enforcement of the Firearms Act, 1937, rests, to ensure that proceedings for unlawful possession are not taken against anyone who surrenders firearms or ammunition by 31st October. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Lord Advocate have taken corresponding action to ensure that such proceedings will not be taken in Scotland against anyone who surrenders by that date firearms or ammunition unlawfully held.The Government appeal to all concerned to take advantage of this opportunity. Firearms and ammunition may be handed in at any police station.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, in view of the fact that there is no close season for any mammal in Great Britain, except in the case of deer in Scotland, he will introduce legislation to forbid the sale of venison during the breeding season, with any safeguards that may be necessary;(2) if, in view of the fact that the Forestry Commission now seek to impose a close season for deer within their boundaries, he will introduce legislation to stop the slaughter and wounding of deer by poachers irrespective of the time of year.

Sections 12 to 16 of the Larceny Act, 1861, contain comprehensive provisions against deer poaching in any forest, chase or purlieu. I am not at present satisfied that there is a case for further legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he now proposes to introduce legislation to enable a person who succeeds to a peerage to renounce that peerage so that it would remain in abeyance during his own lifetime.

This is included in the terms of reference of the Joint Select Committee which it is proposed to set up to consider this and other aspects of the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the petition to the Home Office from prisoner 8577, Winchester Prison, for leave to take up a legal aid certificate for the investigation of his claim for personal injuries has not been granted; and when a reply will be sent.

A reply has been sent to the petition informing the prisoner that he cannot be given facilities to institute legal proceedings while in prison. He is due for release in October and it will be open to him to pursue the matter then if he so wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that prisoner 8577, in Winchester Prison, completed a petition on 4th June, that it was transmitted to the Home Office on 14th June, and that no reply has been received notwithstanding that the original period for taking action expired on 22nd July and the extended period will expire on 5th August; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such delays in future.

The prisoner made no reference in his petition to a need to take action by any particular date. Consideration of the petition involved the making of certain inquiries and I am satisfied that there was no undue delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the representations, sent to him by the hon. Member for Swindon, about the misleading advertisements of a certain company, details of which have been sent to him.

I have brought the correspondence and documents to the notice of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual quantity of heroin manufactured in the United Kingdom in 1960.

66 kgs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation next Session to sell the State Management Districts to the public.

No such legislation is contemplated at present.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of the anxiety expressed by the business community as to the effects on the British law of contracts of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; if he will consult the Bar Council and the Law Society on this subject; and if he will issue a White Paper on this matter.

The answer to all three parts of the Question is No.

asked the Attorney-General what are the terms of appointment of the honourable Ewen Montagu, Q.C., as Judge-Advocate of the Fleet; and how long he will hold this office.

The appointment of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet is governed by Section 28 (3) of the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act, 1951; he may be removed by the Queen for inability or misbehaviour on the Lord Chancellor's recommendation; and he must retire at the end of the year of service in which he reaches the age of seventy, unless the Lord Chancellor, in the public interest, grants him an extension, which may not, in any event, continue beyond his 72nd birthday.

asked the Attorney General whether he has now considered the evidence provided to him in support of the allegation that Mr. Frederick Beezley was responsible for a deliberate delay in the investigation after the aircraft accident at Southall on the 2nd September, 1958, of alleged infringements of the Air Safety Regulations by Independent Air Travel Limited.

I have received no such evidence. The hon. Member for Southall (Mr. Pargiter), after being asked for the evidence upon which he based his allegation against Mr. Beezley, sent me the following material: a copy of a confidential police report; an extract from the direction given to the jury at an inquest by the Deputy Coroner for West Middlesex, in which he expressed his view that the evidence at the inquest disclosed breaches of the Air Navigation Order and Regulations; and a reference to the OFFICIAL REPORT for 14th July, 1959, when the then Solicitor General told the House (a) that no'evidence justifying proceedings for such breaches had been submitted to me within the statutory time limit and (b) that the time for instituting them had then expired. The police report was included among the documents on which Treasury Counsel advised, within the statutory time limit, that the evidence would not justify the institution of proceedings. The views of the Deputy Coroner for West Middlesex, and the Answers given by the then Solicitor General in the House, appear to me to have no bearing on the allegation that Mr. Beezley delayed the investigations. As I told the House on 5th June last, the investigations were in fact completed in time to permit the institution of criminal proceedings if that course had been thought necessary or desirable in the public interest; and Mr. Beezley was not concerned in them at any stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if Elizabeth Mafekeng, a refugee from the Union of South Africa, will be given security of residence in Basutoland and facilities to earn a livelihood.

Residence in Basutoland is governed by the Entry and Residence Proclamation, 1958, as amended. Mrs. Elizabeth Mafekeng has applied for a permanent residence permit in accordance with the Proclamation. Her application is being reviewed. Meanwhile, she is living in Basutoland and there is nothing to prevent her from earning a livelihood there, if she wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what financial assistance is being given or is proposed for Pius XII University College, Roma, Basutoland.

Provision is made in the estimates for the current year for the administrations of Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland to contribute token sums amounting to £1,400 between them.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement about the time, place and scope of the conference on the review of the constitution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on the 8th June to a Question from the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what administrative action he has taken to date as a result of South Africa leaving the Commonwealth.

I cannot yet add to my statement in reply to the similar Question from the hon. Member on 22nd June.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made under the programme for providing some 5,000 additional hostel places for Commonwealth and other overseas students.

Financial assistance has been approved subject to final legal agreement for nine projects put forward by voluntary organisations through the British Council. These are located in London, Glasgow, Manchester, Blackburn, Birmingham, Hull and Ipswich and the organisations receiving assistance are the Y.M.C.A., the Methodist International Houses and the Catholic Students International Chaplaincy. The number of places to be provided is about 460. Other proposals are also being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how much financial aid by way of loan or grant, has been promised or extended to Pakistan and India, respectively, from 1951 to the present date.

Since 1951 to the present date the total of loans made or promised by Her Majesty's Government to the Governments of Pakistan and India is £35 million and £170 million respectively. No grants have been made to either Government.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the financial difficulties which prevent the Amateur Volleyball Association of Great Britain from entering the 1964 Olympic Games; and if he will make a grant to the Association under the physical training and recreation scheme.

The Association has made no approach to me. I am advised that I have no power under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, to give it a grant towards the cost of sending representatives to the 1964 Olympic Games.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the overcrowded and archaic conditions of Lee Church of England School, Lewisham, which have been brought to his attention, he will now include the rebuilding of this school in his 1963–64 programme.

I am glad to tell the hon. Member that the rebuilding of this school will be included in the 1962–63 building programme in substitution for another project which has had to be deferred to a later programme.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate instruction is given to schoolchildren regarding the additional dangers of trespassing on railway property, in view of the recent electrification of the railway lines throughout the country.

The British Transport Commission has conducted a vigorous safety campaign in co-operation with schools in the areas affected.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that schoolteachers in many towns, including Bristol, intend at the beginning of the autumn term to work according to rule and restrict activities only to their statutory obligations, refusing to take part in school football, netball, swimming, organisation of educational visits and other extraneous activities; and if, in order to avoid this dislocation, he will now agree to accept the Burnham award.

The Government's offer of £42 million is an increase of 14·6 per cent. on the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers. equivalent to about 6½ per cent. a year.This is a fair offer and I hope these teachers will consider it carefully before deciding to take dislocating action of the kind suggested in the hon. Gentleman's question.

asked the Minister of Education how many applications for late transfer to grammar schools were received in England during the last year for which figures are available; and how many were accepted.

This information could only be supplied by addressing a special inquiry to every local education authority and local arrangements vary so much that any figures obtained would not be on a comparable basis.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the West Bromwich Corporation is thirty infant teachers below the quota, and that after following all his Department's instructions it has been unable to obtain the necessary number; and what stops he is taking to help the Corporation to recruit the necessary number of teachers.

Yes. Although the Authority's deficiency total on their quota is only half what it was at this time last year, I know that they are finding difficulty in recruiting infant teachers. I have taken steps to increase the supply of such teachers, and I am doing all I can to help individual authorities to get their proper share of the available teachers.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make certain during the negotiations on teachers' pay that the necessary financial arrangements are made to deal with the deficiency which will arise in future years in the Teachers' Superannuation Fund consequent on the salary increases which are to be agreed.

Provision for dealing with deficiencies in the teachers' superannuation account is already contained in Section 4 of the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1956.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will now state how many education authorities are providing maintenance allowances for schoolchildren over the age of 15 years below those recommended by the Weaver Working Party.

Fifty-one, of whom at least sixteen are considering a revision of their arrangements.

asked the Minister of Education how long he anticipates the Castletown temporary county infant, school, Sunderland, will continue to be used as a school.

In its development plan the authority proposes to bring the premises of this school up to the prescribed standards. I have received no proposal from the authority affecting the future of the school.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decisions have been reached by the conference on constitutional developments in the Gambia.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough. East (Mr. Marquand) on 1st August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to make a further statement on the request of Mr. Julius Nyerere for financial assistance for Tanganyika.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 1st August; but I hope to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that houses and other property of African opponents of the Malawi Congress party have been burnt down; what counter-measures have been taken by the Nyasaland authorities; and whether he will consider the postponement of elections in the Protectorate until there is freedom from intimidation.

In the Visanza sub-district of Central Province six houses of prominent Africans, four of them owned by United Federal Party officials, were burned down on the night of 26th July; a further house, two cattle kraals and two food stores belonging to the same persons were destroyed on the night of 27th; and, fifteen miles away, two houses, one belonging to a Malawi Congress Party supporter, were destroyed by fire on the night of 28th.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members will be returned to the next Maltese Parliament; how the constituencies will be divided as between Malta and Gozo; and how the constituency boundaries will be defined.

Provision has been made for the election of fifty members to the new Maltese Assembly. The number of electoral districts and their delimitation will be determined by local legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the eradication of mosquitoes in the Cayman Islands.

I am asking the Governor for an up to date report and I will write to the hon. Member when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement regarding the release of Jomo Kenyatta.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 1st August.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, a private yacht club, are permitted by him to fly the White Ensign, the distinguishing ensign of ships of the Royal Navy, on their yachts; and if he proposes to continue to allow this practice.

The Royal Yacht Squadron flies the White Ensign under a warrant issued by the Admiralty in 1829. It is not intended that this warrant should be withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a resolution sent to him by the Eastern Regional Council of the Labour Party with reference to the lack of suitable hospital facilities in Ipswich for the chronic sick people of the town and calling upon him to implement at once the agreed proposal of the building of such a hospital in Ipswich, and what reply he has sent.

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

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the replies which he has received from hospital management committees and regional hospital boards to his communication asking them to report action taken on the strength of the Central Health Service Council's Advisory Committee's Report entitled Human Relations in Obstetrics; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. K. Lewis) on 24th July.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total sum at present allocated towards renovation, refurnishing and reconstruction of the Garlands Hospital, Carlisle, including money spent over the past two years.

Five hundred and sixteen thousand nine hundred and forty-four pounds.

asked the Minister of Health if, for purposes of road safety, he will give instructions to all local health authorities to fit warning devices, visible from all directions, on the tops of ambulances.

This would need amendment of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, 1959, which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is now considering.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now cease providing a free health service to foreigners visiting the United Kingdom, in view of the recent Government decision to limit further public expenditure.

Apart from reciprocal arrangements, non-residents have no entitlement, though treatment is not refused in emergency.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the percentage of the total cost of the National Health Service accounted for by salaries and wages in each of the last five years.

Including gross remuneration of doctors, dentists, etc., for professional services, the percentage has been almost constant at nearly 70.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, in view of the historic interest of No. 44, Grosvenor Square, London, and the important mural decorations recently discovered in it, he will reconsider his decision not to grant a preservation order on this house.

No. The historic interest of the house was fully argued at the public inquiry held last February. and the existence of a newly discovered wall painting was also referred to at that inquiry. I agreed with the inspector's recommendation that the preservation order should not be confirmed. The subsequent uncovering of further mural decorations does not affect my decision. I understand that it would be possible to remove them.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that the number of troops in Bristol justify a full-time military medical officer; how many examinations of recruits were made by this officer and how many by other Territorial Army officers during the past twelve months; and what is the cost of this establishment.

This appointment is related not to the number of troops in the area, which is small, but to a variety of duties which include Regular and Territorial recruiting examinations, medical boards, attendance at a Territorial Army weekend training centre, and visiting soldiers sick on leave. During the last twelve months, he has examined 1,100 recruits to the Regular and Territorial Army; three were examined by other medical officers in the Bristol area. The cost of the establishment is approximately £2,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of factory accidents involving accidents to employees in London and Middlesex, at the latest convenient date this year; and what was the comparative figure for 1960.

In the Factory Inspectorate Districts, which correspond approximately to the area covered by London and Middlesex, the provisional total of accidents reported this year up to 30th June was 11,472 compared with 12,200 in 1960.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the total number of persons whose cards are normally exchanged at the Kirkby Employment Exchange and the number of these who were unemployed at the latest date, distinguishing adult males, boys, adult females, and girls, respectively, together with the unemployment percentages involved.

On 10th July, 1961, 597 men, 35 boys, 214 women and 10 girls were registered as unemployed at Kirkby Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office. Separate insured employee figures and unemployment percentages are not available for Kirkby alone, but for the North Merseyside travel-to-work area as a whole the unemployment percentage was 3·7 for males and 1·2 for females.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, following his correspondence with the Soviet Government, he will now announce that it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to participate in a Western Summit Conference to be followed by a Summit Conference with Mr. Khrushchev on the problem of Berlin and Germany.

I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the right hon. and learned Gentleman on 6th July and to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 20th July.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements he is making with the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth for a joint Commonwealth initiative on disarmament at the forthcoming meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

I am sure that the substantial measure of agreement recorded in the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' statement on disarmament will be reflected in the attitudes of Commonwealth Governments to disarmament proposals under discussion there. We for our part will certainly be guided by that statement.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that for several years the annual report entitled, "The Colonial Territories", has been published within three months of the end of the year it covers; and if he will ask all Ministers to see whether publication of their annual reports and similar documents can be speeded up.

Departments are aware of the need to issue documents of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers as quickly as possible. The material is not, however, always available immediately after the period to which they relate and some delay is inevitable in these cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the average weekly earnings of regular adult male farm workers in England and Wales and in Great Britain, respectively, for the year ended March, 1961, the value of payments in kind included in those earnings, and the percentage of earnings represented by those payments in kind.

The estimated average weekly earnings of regular whole-time adult male agricultural workers in the year ended 31st March, 1961, were £10 9s. 10d. in England and Wales and £10 9s. 3d. in Great Britain. In England and Wales the earnings included 6s. 5d. per week, or 3 per cent. of the total, in the form of payments in kind; for Great Britain the corresponding figures are 8s. 2d. and 4 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give particulars of the deficiency payments on wheat, rye, barley, oats and mixed corn for the cereal year 1st July, 1960, to 30th June, 1961.

The particulars of these payments are as follows:

1. WHEAT
Accounting Period	Seasonal Standard Price per cwt.		Deficiency Payment per cwt.
	s.	d.	s.	d.
1st July-30th September, 1960	24	5	3	0·7
1st October-30th November, 1960	25	11	7	2·4
1st December, 1960–28th February, 1961	27	5	7	9·7
1st March-30th April, 1961	29	0	8	10·8
1st May-30th June, 1961	29	5	11	6·1

Total Payments for the cereal year about £24·0m.Payments for the last accounting period 1st May to 30th June, 1961 will be made in August.

2. RYE
Cereal Year	Yearly Standard Price per cwt.		Deficiency Payment per cwt.		Total Payments
	s.	d.	s.	d.	£ million
1st July, 1960–30th June, 1961	21	7	1	0·9	0·01

Payments at the full rate will be completed by September.

3. BARLEY, OATS AND MIXED CORN
—	Yearly Standard Price per cwt.		Price Deficiency per cwt.		Deficiency Payment per acre			Total Payments
	s.	d.	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£m.
Barley	28	9	9	3·18	10	8	6	35·1
Oats and Mixed Corn	27	2	8	1·06	7	8	10	15·5
Note: Advance payments of £7 10s. 0d. per acre for barley and £3 per acre for oats and mixed corn have already been made. Payment of the balance will be completed by September.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following his consultations with the county councils, he has reviewed the operation of the sheep-dipping regulations made under the Sheep Scab Order; and if he will make a statement.

There have been discussions recently with representatives of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, the Association of County Councils, the Association of Municipal Corporations, and the National Sheep Breeders' Association on the regulations at present in force for preventing sheep scab in this country.Sheep scab was once a serious problem, but largely as a result of regular dipping, movement controls and the introduction of modern single dipping type dips, it has now disappeared, except for occasional animals found at ports of entry. No case has been reported since 1952. All sheep entering Great Britain from whatever source have to be dipped before leaving the landing place and any showing signs of disease are immediately slaughtered.The Sheep Scab Order, 1938, enables the Minister to detain affected sheep and their contacts, to place restrictions on the movement of all sheep within any given area, and to require them to be dipped in accordance with specified rules. The Order also enables local authorities with powers under the Diseases of Animals Act to make regulations for the dipping of sheep to prevent the introduction or the spreading of scab. At present 44 of the 62 County Councils in England and Wales and rather fewer than half of the boroughs have such regulations. The majority view expressed by the organisations during the discussions is in favour of continuing these regulations.A suggestion was also made that the powers of the Order should be extended to include the control of external parasites.I have now considered these views. The control of external parasites is a matter of good husbandry. The Diseases of Animals Act does not confer powers to make regulations in the interests of good husbandry and the control of external parasites cannot therefore be a reason for continuing or extending the local dipping regulations. Nor is it considered that, after such a long period of freedom from sheep scab, local dipping regulations are necessary as a precaution against this disease. On the other hand, it would be wise for the time being to keep the power in reserve. But since there is no justification at present for the use of this power by local authorities, I am asking those which have not already done so to consider revoking their existing regulations.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will re-issue Annex 1, Tables 1 and 2 of the Report on Defence, 1961, modified in the light of recent recruitment figures including and excluding boys.

There are inevitably short-term fluctuations in figures of strengths, and I do not consider it would be useful at this stage to issue a revised estimate of strength as at 1st April, 1962.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that the increased rate of National Insurance contributions is affecting the willingness of employers to engage part-time staff; and whether, owing to the large number of people seeking part-time employment, but unable to undertake full-time employment, he will make some concessions in this respect, with a view to ensuring that there is the fullest possible encouragement in industry and commerce to engage those who are only able to do part-time work.