asked the Minister of Labour which industries now have a labour shortage and which a labour surplus; what general movement there is from one group to the other; and if he will make a statement.

In November, industries in which registered unemployed substantially outnumbered unfilled vacancies included agriculture and fish

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of young persons on the Disabled Persons Register in December, 1961; and how many training centres are now in operation to help them train for suitable employment.

3,168 boys and 2,607 girls were on the Disabled Persons Register on 16th October, 1961, the latest date for which figures are available. Facilities for training disabled young persons are

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent communications he has had with the Foreign Ministers of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation on the subject of the present armed Communist infiltration of South Vietnam.

There is routine consultation among members of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation about all events affecting security of the Treaty area.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that the International Control Commission in Vietnam has drawn the attention of those concerned in its 11th Interim Report to the serious situation in Vietnam; and if, in view of this, he will take steps to implement the recommendations of the Geneva Conference of 1954.

Yes; Her Majesty's Government is also well aware of the seriousness of the situation in Vietnam.As regards the second part of the Question, the implementation of the recommendations of the Geneva Agreement has always depended upon the condition that the cease-fire should be effective and in particular that there should be no military action by the North in the southern part of the country and

asked the Lord Privy Seal what request he has received from the United States Government to join with them in providing military and economic aid to South Vietnam.

None.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government, as one of the two co-chairmen of the 1954 Geneva Conference on Indo-China, to prevent the importation of arms and military personnel into South Vietnam in violation of the 1954 Geneva agreements.

Alleged violations of the Geneva Settlement of 1954 are a matter for investigation by the International Control Commission, and for subsequent report to the Co-Chairmen. No recent reports have been received about the importation of arms and military personnel into South Vietnam.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will resist in the North Atlantic Treaty Oragnisation the proposals which have been submitted to give West German forces control of nuclear warheads;(2) if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government, in order to help secure a peaceful settlement between East and West, will not in any circumstances consent to the placing in the hands of the German Government either direct or indirect control of nuclear weapons.

No proposals for giving Federal German forces independent control of nuclear warheads have been submitted to the North Atlantic Council. In accordance with the resolution for which the United Kingdom voted in the United Nations on 4th December, Her Majesty's Government would be opposed to the relinquishment of control of nuclear weapons to any non-nuclear state.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what have been the results of his inquiries into the source of the leakage of information provided by Her Majesty's Government to the countries of the European Economic Community.

Inquiries have not established where the leak occurred. We have mentioned the need for closer security to our partners in the nogotiations in Brussels and I hope that in future the confidential nature of the documents relating to the negotiations can be preserved.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, following the disapproval of British entry into the Common Market expressed by the Commonwealth Finance Ministers at Accra, he will now withdraw the British application to join the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will arrange for a White Paper to be published describing the course of British policy in the Congo, and the circumstances leading up to Her Majesty's Government's present policy.

The course of British policy in the Congo has been explained many times in this House and elsewhere and most recently on 14th December by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose to the General Secretary of the United Nations that a goodwill mission to the Congo should be appointed composed of representatives of African States with a view to reaching agreement between the Central Government and Katanga and Stanleyville.

I am glad to say that a meeting between Mr. Adoula and Mr. Tshombe is planned to take place at Kitona later today. This is the outcome of the concerted efforts of the French, United States and Her Majesty's Governments and of the United Nations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the proportion of the total cost of the United Nations activities in the Congo which is borne by the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

The United States is assessed to pay 32·51 per cent. of the costs of the United Nations operation in the Congo; the United Kingdom, 7·78 per cent. Of the contributions so far paid to the United Nations, the United States contribution represents 51·5 per cent. and the United Kingdom contribution 12·4 per cent.

asked the Lord Privy Seal on what grounds the delegate of the United Kingdom at the United Nations abstained from voting on the resolution authorising action to end the secession of Katanga from the Congo.

The operative paragraphs of the resolution were aimed solely at the Katanga, while we are opposed to secession everywhere in the Congo. It did not contain any specific reference to conciliation, to which we attach the highest importance. It contained no reference to the cease-fire agreement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the statement on disarmament agreed to by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers in March, 1961, still represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward at the United Nations for reconstituting or replacing the 10-power disarmament commission.

A resolution containing agreed proposals for the enlargement of the Ten-Power Committee was presented on 13th December by the United States and Soviet Governments to the Political Committee of the United Nations and adopted by acclamation. Her Majesty's Government gave these proposals their full support.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the potentialities of recovering valuable raw materials, including manganese, from the bed of the seven-tenths of the surface of the globe which are under sea water and outside the territorial claims of national sovereign Governments, he will propose in the United Nations that these sea territories, which have not yet been subjected to sovereignty, should be vested in an autonomous executive body to be appointed by, and to be subject to dismissal by, the Security Council.

No. Her Majesty's Government consider that the principles embodied in the Conventions on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone and on the Continental Shelf, which were adopted by the First United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1958, satisfactorily meet the situation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what new arrangements he is making for the future celebrations of the Queen's Birthday by Her Majesty's diplomatic and consular missions abroad.

None.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the reciprocal arrangement between Her Majesty's Government and the Soviet authorities in East Germany governing the accrediting of news correspondents in London and East Berlin, respectively, is still being observed in view of Her Majesty's Government's refusal on 13th August to permit a particular correspondent to return to London.

There is no such arrangement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent the financial deficit of the United Nations is temporarily financed by borrowing from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund; and how much has been so borrowed.

I understand from the United Nations Secretariat that there has been no borrowing directly from the United Nations Children's Fund, to help the cash deficit. During 1961, however, a governmental voluntary contribution to U.N.I.C.E.F. of 10 million dollars was made available in advance to the Secretary-General on the basis that it could, pending U.N.I.C.E.F.'s need for it, be utilised for other United Nations purposes. This money is expected to be paid over to the Children's Fund before the end of this year.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how the United Kingdom delegate voted in the special committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the resolution seating three representatives of the people of Oman to hear their case in their dispute with Muscat.

The United Kingdom representative in the Special Political Committee cast his vote against the proposal to seat a so-called "Omani Delegation".

asked the Lord Privy Seal what reduction he is now proposing in overseas expenditure on the Foreign Office information services.

About £220,000 per annum, in response to the call for a 10 per cent. saving in the cost of diplomatic and administrative services overseas by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what plans he has for regular machinery to co-ordinate the work of British official representatives in African countries.

I am satisfied that the regular meetings which now take place provide adequate machinery for co-ordination.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action has been taken on the recommendations of the recent conference of British official representatives in Africa.

The discussions at the meeting of Her Majesty's representatives in West and Equatorial Africa held in London from 16th to 19th of May were confidential.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will propose to the United Nations the adoption of the principle that military measures to maintain law and order, in any territory where a dispute occurs, should be conditional upon the United Nations force being able to undertake with ground troops the tasks involved without the use of bombing aircraft.

Her Majesty's Government have every sympathy with the objectives set out in the right hon. Gentleman's Question but it would not be proper to attempt to place an absolute limit upon United Nations operations in this way for any hypothetical future contingency.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when the United Nations committee appointed to consider the Portuguese territories will begin its inquiries.

As far as I am aware, no decision has yet been taken.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the former British officials employed by the Egyptian Government.

Although hopes of an early and satisfactory settlement have not been fulfilled, Her Majesty's Government will continue to press the United Arab Republic Government to comply fully with their obligations in this matter under Article III (f) of the Financial Agreement of 1959. These were to pay to Her Majesty's Government £100,000 as an interim compensation payment (which was in fact duly paid), to cause the Commission originally set up in 1954 to make a final assessment of the compensation due, and to permit the payment in sterling of the balance over and above the £100,000 already paid. In view of the delays which have occurred over the assessment of this compensation and of the payment of this balance by the United Arab Republic Government and of the hardship which is being caused by these delays, Her Majesty's Government have now agreed to make advance payments by way of loans to the officials up to a total not exceeding £100,000 against the ultimate sum assessed by the Government of the United Arab Republic. Parliament will, in due course, be asked to vote the appropriate amount by means of a Supplemental Estimate, and, in the meantime, an advance will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the recent publication of the Lord Privy Seal's statement in Paris, what consultations he has had with the Lord Privy Seal concerning the safeguards necessary to protect British agriculture if the United Kingdom joins the European Common Market; and if he will make a statement.

I had the fullest consultations with my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal about safeguards for British agriculture before he made his statement in Paris. Negotiations with the E.E.C. on food and agricultural matters are to begin in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to produce a satisfactory virus to wipe out as painlessly as possible the rabbit population, which is again increasing.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the exact nature of the restrictions which have been agreed with manufacturers and other interests concerned as to the use of toxic chemicals such as aldrin, dieldrin and heptachlor which have adverse effects on wild life; and to what extent these restrictions will still leave it possible for such chemicals to be used in farming practice.

It has been agreed with the manufacturers and other interests concerned that from 1st January seed dressings containing dieldrin, aldrin or heptachlor will not be used on spring sown grain, and that they may be used on autumn and winter sown wheat only if there is a real danger of attack from wheat bulb fly. Until further notice and subject to Government recommendations for safe use, these chemicals may continue to be used in other ways, such as in dressings applied to other kinds of seeds, in sprays or dusts, or incorporated with fertilisers, for the control of wire-worm and other soil pests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assist horticulturists to meet the financial difficulties confronting them as a result of the National Coal Board's proposal to increase coal prices in some areas.

No. It is not the Government's policy to give direct financial assistance to horticulturists to meet changes in costs. Substantial economies in fuel costs can often be made by improving the heating systems of glasshouses. Grants are available for such work under the Horticulture Improvement Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation requiring that containers of stewed steak shall have a minimum meat content of 75 per cent.

The Food Standards Committee has been asked to consider and advise whether regulations to control the composition of all types of canned meat are needed. We must await its report before deciding on the need for legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the disease leptospirosis has been diagnosed in cattle in Great Britain previous to its diagnosis in the Charollais bulls recently imported from France; how many cases have been reported in the years 1951–61; and how far this is a disease which is carried by rats.

The particular type of leptospira to which the three bulls reacted has not been previously discovered in this country. I am advised that rats can be carriers of it, but there is no danger of the disease spreading in this way from the quarantine station in which these bulls are held as it is free from rats.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of wharf owners on the River Hull, with deficient wharves on whom notices have been served to raise their wharves above flood level; the number of wharves which have been raised; and what action is to be taken by the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board to ensure the raising of the wharves which are still deficient in height.

Notices have been served by the Corporation upon the owners of the 64 wharves involved and about two-thirds of the work has been done. If necessary the Corporation will consider enforcement of the notices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the results of the autumn conference of officials from his Department, the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board and Hull Corporation, held in Hull, to consider the prevention of flooding from the River Hull; and what steps are to be taken by the river board to raise the level of wharves prescribed in the Hull Corporation Act, 1925, which level is insufficient to prevent flooding.

At a meeting between the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board, the Hull Corporation, the British Transport Commission, and representatives of the Ministry on 26th September last, it was decided that the first priority was to ensure that all wharves were brought up to the levels prescribed by the Kingston upon-Hull Corporation Act, 1925. The river board is also to consider with the other authorities whether any further increase in the height of flood defences is necessary. I understand that the Board's technical officers are investigating this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many slaughterhouses are licensed and working; what proportion are publicly owned; and the average number of pigs, cattle, and sheep slaughtered weekly in the last year.

At the end of October there were about 3,400 slaughterhouses in operation, of which 155 were publicly owned. During the year ended 31st October, 1961, on average 159,000 pigs, 49,000 cattle, 16,000 calves and 189,000 sheep were slaughtered each week in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he proposes to make in the Registered Vaccinated Herds Scheme for Pigs; and when he proposes to make these changes.

I propose to tighten the conditions of the membership of the scheme so that registered vaccinated herds will be better protected against swine fever. Each pig will have to be marked for identity before vaccination: breeders will have to keep newly-purchased pigs in isolation both before and after vaccination and there will be periodical inspections by my veterinary officers to see that the conditions are observed.The date of introduction of the new scheme is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation requiring that the meat content of sausages shall not fall below 65 per cent., and that the actual content shall be displayed on the container or wrapper in which they are sold.

It is not my right hon. Friend's present intention to lay down a standard for the meat content of sausages or to require wrappers or containers to carry a note of the actual meat content.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what suggestions have been made to him by the Butchers' Federation to secure the better use of cheap cuts of meat.

I have received no suggestions from the Federation, but it is already conducting a publicity campaign to inform housewives of the best buys in the butcher's shop and the way to make the most of them.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what percentage of men's earnings was represented by the 26s. retirement pension in 1948, the 57s. 6d. pension in April, 1961, and the 57s. 6d. pension in June, 1961, respectively.

The 26s. single rate of retirement pension was equivalent to 19·4 per cent. of men's average earnings as shown by the Ministry of Labour's inquiry in April 1948, and the 57s. 6d. single rate of pension introduced in April, 1961, was equivalent to 19·1 per cent. of average earnings recorded in that month, which is the latest for which the relevant figures are available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will keep the basic benefits for pensions, sickness, unemployment and widows rising by the same percentage as men's earnings.

No. This is only one of the factors which have to be taken into account in judging what at any time is the appropriate level for National Insurance benefits and contributions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is making any provision to help old-age pensioners this Christmas.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) on 4th December.

asked the Minister of Power whether his attention has been drawn to the failure of the Electricity Council to provide uninterrupted service in the Crook area of North-West Durham; if he is aware that no notice was given of this and previous breakdowns; and what action he has taken in the matter.

On 29th October a fault developed in a cable belonging to the North Ea stern Electricity Board causing a failure of the supply in the Crook area. Two days later, on 1st November, the supply was cut off for about an hour and a quarter, to replace the faulty cable. No notice could have been given of the first interruption, which was quite unexpected; I understand the Board consulted the bigger industral consumers who would be affected before the supply was cut off on 1st November. My right hon. Friend is asking the Board to ensure that in future at least twenty-four hours' notice is given of planned interruptions of the supply to all consumers likely to be affected.

asked the Minister of Aviation what applications he has received from local authorities in Yorkshire for financial assistance towards air travel facilities; what assistance he now proposes to give; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering an application made by the Leeds and Bradford Airport Joint Committee for a grant towards the cost of developing its airport.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the bad effect of smoking on the health of the nation, he will discuss with the Independent Television Authority some restriction on advertisements for tobacco and cigarettes.

The Government have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in the debate on 18th October.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious shortage of polio vaccine at Whitby; and what steps he is taking to remedy the position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 27th November to the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery) and other hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that the estimated hospital building programme for this year is £18 million less than the £50 million per annum originally promised, he will now abolish some of the increased National Health charges.

I am not aware of any such promise.

asked the Minister of Health what records he has disclosing the number of persons wearing spectacles with frames made from nitrate who have suffered injury caused by the spectacle frames becoming ignited.

My right hon. Friend has no such records.

asked the Minister of Health when the system of numbering doctors in the National Health Service was introduced; for what purpose it was introduced; and to which doctor the number 160525 is now to be reallocated, and why.

In 1949; in order to use machine processes for calculating the amount of the central pool of general practitioners' remuneration; number 160525 will not be re-allocated.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish a White Paper on the Hull polio epidemic when the medical authorities have completed their report.

A report will be published as soon as all the necessary information is available.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons have been asked to act as chairman of the review body for doctors' remuneration; and whether he is now negotiating to secure members of this body.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 20th November to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement upon the present state of health of the former inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha now in this country.

Because of their isolation from viruses in their previous life the islanders are as yet peculiarly susceptible to colds and influenza. This vulnerability is in some measure accentuated by the prevalence of asthma among them. Three elderly islanders have died and at present nearly all the islanders have colds and some are down with influenza and bronchitis, but there are no serious cases. Their health is being looked after by their own doctor who was working with them on Tristan and who came with them to Britain. He is working in co-operation with local doctors and the Medical Research Council who have arranged for detailed clinical investigations to be carried out under the guidance of eminent consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps he is taking to increase the mess allowances for officers and men on weather ships to the level of those for officers and men of similar rank in the Merchant Navy.

Officers and ratings of ocean weather ships when on leave are paid messing allowances at the rates agreed by the National Maritime Board for the Merchant Navy.

asked the Minister of Defence how many persons during the 1939–45 war joined the Services from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the Colonies, respectively; what was the total number of Service personnel from the Commonwealth who supported the war effort; and if he will publish these figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I regret that it is not possible to provide the information required without a detailed examination of millions of documents for which the staff is not available.

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the opposition of both pupils and parents to the proposed closure of the Latymer Foundation School, Hammersmith Road, London, W.6; what advice he has given in the matter; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has advised those who oppose the closure of this voluntary school that the decision was taken by the governors, who are entitled to do so under the Education Acts. He is satisfied that the governors reached their decision only after very carefully considering all the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether the Government are now able to make known their suggestion regarding the formation of the new boroughs referred to in the White Paper on London Government, Command Paper No. 1562.

Yes. Copies are now available in the Vote Office of the circular and maps which I have sent to local authorities in the London area.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how much was spent on research into mental illness in the financial year 1960–61; and what proportion the amount so spent represented of the total national expenditure on the National Health Service.

The Medical Research Council spent approximately £228,000 on mental health research in 1960–61. Considerable research is also undertaken in university departments and teaching hospitals, supported from block grants by the University Grants Committee, as well as within the National Health Service in the normal course of treating patients, but I cannot give a reliable estimate of expenditure from these sources. There is also research supported by voluntary organisations: an example is the Mental Health Research Fund which spent over £29,000 in 1960–61.As it is impossible to give a total figure for expenditure on mental health research, I cannot calculate this as a percentage of expenditure on the National Health Service, but the cost of the research supported by the Medical Research Council in 1960–61 represented 4·7 per cent. of its total expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that statistics of hospital expenditure for the County of Fife as a whole conceal serious regional disparities; that the Dunfermline and West Fife area has not received its due share of expenditure; and whether he will take steps to remedy this.

The priorities accorded to particular hospital projects must be determined by reference to needs, not to the distribution of expenditure over any particular period as between relatively small areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many television sets were confiscated in Scotland in 1960 under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, for non-possession of a television licence.

Forfeiture of 23 television sets was ordered by the Scottish courts in 1960.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether he will place in the Library of the House of Commons copies of the recent reports into the causes and prevention of onchocerciasis and trypanosomiasis, including the Rodger Report into Blindness in West Africa.

Reports entitled "Blindness in West Africa" and "Simulium and Onchocerciasis in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast" were published in 1959 and 1956 respectively for the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind.They are highly technical and of limited interest, but arrangements can always be made to obtain copies on loan.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what was the cost to public funds in the twelve months to the most recent convenient date for computation of research into the cause and prevention of onchocerciasis and trypanosomiasis, respectively.

Expenditure on trypanosomiasis research from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds in the financial year to the 31st March, 1961, amounted to £76,275. In addition, the Medical Research Council incurred expenditure of approximately £2,000. Expenditure on onchocerciasis research is more conveniently dealt with in the reply to Question No. 27.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation how many British entomologists, and at what public expense, are engaged in research into the breeding grounds, habits and possibilities of extermination of the simulium damnosum.

The main centre of onchocerciasis research overseas is the Helminthiasis Research Unit of the West Africa Council for Medical Research. The unit investigates all aspects of the disease including research into the breeding grounds, habits and possibilities of extermination of the vector, Simulium damnosum. Four British entomologists under a British director are employed at the unit. The unit formerly received substantial support from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds but it is now financed entirely by the independent Governments of Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone and the Government of the Gambia except for a contribution made from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds to the Gambia Government to the extent of one half of the Gambia share of the cost. The expenditure from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds is thus now very small and it cannot be separately indentified.In Uganda research into the disease and its vector is part of the work of two British entomologists employed and paid for by the Uganda Government with no assistance from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds. In Kenya as a result of the work of British entomologists the disease has been eradicated.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what is the amount of the current contribution from public funds to the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind.

The Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind receives no contribution from United Kingdom public funds.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a decision has yet been reached about the compensation payable for the acquisition of properties along the Coventry Road which will be partially affected physically by the proposed elevated roadway in Birmingham.

Not yet. This is a complex legal matter. I will write to my hon. Friend to explain what has been achieved so far and what remains to be settled.

asked the Minister of Transport how many wrecks there are in the estuary of the River Forth; to what extent any of them constitute a danger to navigation; what authorisation he has made in respect of their salvage; and if he is satisfied that existing arrangements for salvage are adequate to meet all contingencies.

The responsibility for dealing with wrecks in that part of the estuary which is not under the control of a harbour or conservancy authority rests with the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses, who have power to remove a wreck if in their opinion it is a danger to navigation. There are 20 wrecks in the estuary, but they have considered only one (at Kirkcaldy Bay) to be a danger to navigation; this they have marked with a buoy. The Commissioners have not requested my sanction to expenditure for the removal of these wrecks. I am satisfied that the existing machinery is adequate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture; where these meetings are usually held; who takes the chair; which of the parties is responsible for the secretarial duties; and what is the cost to the Exchequer.

I attend meetings of the National Production Advisory Council on Industry, held quarterly in the Cabinet Office. The chair is normally taken by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I also take the chair at meetings of the Engineering Advisory Council held three or four times a year and of the Consultative Committee for Industry which meets as required, once or twice a year; both meet at the Board of Trade. The E.A.C. does not include representatives of nationalised industries or agriculture; the C.C.I. does not include representatives of the nationalised industries. Secretarial services are in each case provided by Board of Trade officials. These are only part of their duties. The cost, covering salaries and overheads, is estimated to be of the order of £5,000 per annum for the N.P.A.C.I. and £1,000 per annum for the E.A.C. The cost for the C.C.I. is small.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for an inquiry under Section 250 of the Companies Act, 1948, into the liquidation of the Waterhead Funeral Society in respect of which the winding-up order was made on 12th December, 1955, and in respect of which no distribution has yet been made.

No. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to do so. The joint liquidators have had the greatest difficulty in tracing the members of the Society and the contributions which each member has made. These researches are approaching completion and the court will doubtless then be able to make the necessary order for the appropriate distribution to members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount now standing to the credit of the Board of Trade in the Companies Liquidation Account of the Bank of England in respect of the funds of the Waterhead Funeral Society; when such account was opened; and what interest has been credited.

£8,918; December, 1955; £346 2s. 0d. after deduction of Income Tax.