asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent consideration has been given to the need for attracting new industry to Normanton and the West Riding of Yorkshire, in view of the closure of industry and increasing unemployment in the area.

The rate of unemployment in Normanton and in the West Riding as a whole is below the national average and I am not aware of any impending closures likely to change this position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many children and old people have died in the United Kingdom through burns

ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME AND RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS
	1956		1957		1958		1959		1960
Cause of death	Under 15	65 and over	Under 15	65 and over	Under 15	65 and over	Under 15	65 and over	Under 15	65 and over

1. DEATHS OF CHILDREN AND OLD PEOPLE CAUSED BY CLOTHING COMING IN CONTACT WITH FIRE, 1956–1960, ENGLAND AND WALES
Burns by clothing from domestic fire (open):
Males	11	9	3	4	6	7	8	9	3	7
Females	50	39	28	45	42	52	20	51	17	39
gas fire, stove, etc.:
Males	—	2	1	2	—	3	2	2	1	—
Females	6	27	3	28	2	20	7	23	3	13
electric fire:
Males	—	3	1	3	1	4	—	4	—	2
Females	5	36	4	28	4	31	4	43	4	34
other specified:
Males	2	13	3	10	5	12	4	22	—	11
Females	12	25	12	27	4	26	9	18	13	16
not specified:
Males	2	3	—	2	2	2	2	2	—	4
Females	12	23	6	12	8	25	8	25	9	18
Totals	100	180	61	161	74	182	64	199	50	144

2. DEATHS OF CHILDREN AND OLD PEOPLE CAUSED BY FIRE AND EXPLOSION OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL, 1956–1960, SCOTLAND
	25	62	21	35	22	44	13	60	11	46

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of many recent fatal accidents to children and old people caused through burns sustained in the home, if he will now introduce legislation requiring children's nightwear to be manufactured from nonflammable materials.

No. Flame resistant fabrics and nightwear are now widely available, and vigorous publicity is being given to their advantages by the Manufacturers, and as part of the National Fire Prevention Campaign. The following are the available statistics on accidents of the kind referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the favourable or unfavourable visible balance of trade in the years 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950 and 1960; and what was the equivalent purchasing power of the above figures in terms of the 1960 purchsaing power of the £.

Figures for imports and exports on a comparable basis of valuation are not available for the years 1900–40. The table below therefore shows the excess of imports (c.i.f.) over exports and re-exports (f.o.b.) which is available for all the years. The equivalent purchasing power cannot be uniquely calculated; it depends on assumptions about how the amounts would have been spent. A measure of the relative importance of the figures is however given by the ratio that they bear to imports or exports, and in the table the ratio to imports is given as a percentage.

UNITED KINGDOM EXTERNAL TRADE
Year		Imports (c.i.f.)	Exports and re-exports (f.o.b.)	Excess of imports (c.i.f.) over exports and re-exports (f.o.b.)	(4) as a percentage of (2)
(1)		(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
		(£ million)	(£ million)	(£ million)
1900	…	523	354	169	32
1910	…	678	534	144	21
1920	…	1,933	1,557	376	19
1930	…	1,044	658	386	37
1940	…	1,152	437	715	62
1950	…	2,609	2,259	350	13
1960	…	4,558	3,697	861	19

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has received for the Isle of Wight under the Local Employment Act, 1960; how many have been approved; how many are under consideration; and how many new jobs have been provided, and how many are in prospect, including those to be provided by firms who have not received assistance under the Local Employment Act, 1960.

Fifteen applications have been received, of which six have been approved. None is under consideration. The number of persons now employed by firms who have had offers of financial assistance is about 350; the number of additional jobs in prospect in these and other projects is about 800.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, since the operation of the Local Employment Act, how many applications for financial assistance have been received from firms from Coat-bridge and Aidrie; how many were successful and how many were unsuccessful; what was the value of the total amount involved in the applications; and what was the actual amount granted.

Twelve applications have been received. Six of these applicants were offered assistance, but two of them are not setting up in the district. Of the remaining six, four were rejected and the other two are under consideration. The total amount involved in the applications is about £900,000. I cannot give the amount granted, as to do so might disclose details of the arrangements made with individual firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the 840 jobs in prospect in the Bishop Auckland travel-to-work area are for men; what occupations they are to be; and by what date they are likely to be available.

As the hon. Member will have seen from the reply I gave on 14th December to the hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) and other hon. Members, the number of new jobs in prospect for the Bishop Auckland group of employment exchange areas, is about 1,400. Of these, 600 will be for men and 800 for women. The jobs for men are mainly in the engineering, machinery and electrical industries; those for women are mainly in the clothing and textiles industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that an important cause of the present recession in the textile industry is uncertainty about future markets; and what steps he is taking to keep the industry fully informed of future prospects.

The Board of Trade are in constant touch with the Cotton Board and with other organisations in the cotton industry on matters concerning the industry, including future prospects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total amount received by the Exchequer from inland revenue stamps for tenancy and house purchase purposes in the years 1958–59, 1959–60, and 1960–61; and whether he will now reduce the scale of duty payable by tenants and purchasers of houses back to the 1946 level.

The answer to the first part of the Question contains a number of figures, which I am circulating below. I have noted the suggestion in the second part of the Question, and would remind my hon. Friend that, so far as the conveyance duty on the purchase of a house is concerned, a purchase for £3,500 or less is now exempt from duty and the duty does not exceed the 1946 rate unless the consideration exceeds £5,250.

NET RECEIPTS—GREAT BRITAIN
			£
—	1958–59	1959–60	1960–61
Conveyances:
on sale: land and houses	8,683,442	12,227,902	14,728,067
Leases	1,822,166	2,139,826	2,606,727
Mortgages etc.: land and houses	1,886,908	2,682,023	2,949,538
	12,392,516	17,049,751	20,284,332

The figures for conveyances and mortgages include land as well as houses. The figures for leases include leases of all kinds; separate figures are not available for domestic property.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce a land values gains tax; and if he will devote the proceeds to the provision of houses for evicted persons and others urgently in need of accommodation.

No. But the legislation my right hon. Friend has undertaken to bring forward to impose tax liability on certain gains which are at present tax free will cover certain transactions in real property.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to curb abuses in expense accounts.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the loss to the revenue in the years 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960 of the operation of the special concessions granted to overseas trade corporations in Part IV of the Finance Act, 1957.

The estimated cost to the Revenue for the financial years 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60 and 1960–61 is £14 million, £18 million, £14 million and £13 million, respectively. The last figure is highly provisional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the £740 million borrowed from the International Bank is held in reserve and not released for speculative overseas investment carrying the special concessions from imperial taxation provided in Part IV of the Finance Act, 1957.

I assume the hon. Gentleman is referring to our recent drawing from the International Monetary Fund. The proceeds of this drawing were placed in the reserves, which are used for the support of sterling. Any change in the tax provisions relating to overseas trade corporations would be a matter for the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Formula I racing cars not designed to go on the roads or to carry passengers bear Purchase Tax.

Because they are, I am advised, within the description of taxable vehicles in Group 27 of the Tax Schedule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent Premium Bonds have contributed to national savings since the inception of the scheme.

From the inception of the scheme in November, 1956, until 30th November, 1961, net sales of Premium Bonds were £337 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is responsible for the initiating of the construction of a factory at Knighton, Radnorshire; if he is satisfied that sufficient progress is being made in the work; and whether he will indicate who is responsible to him that every possible support is given to the firm interested.

The factory at Knighton, which is being financed by the Development Fund, will be built by contractors supervised by the Industrial Estates Management Corporation for Wales. Preparation of plans is proceeding swiftly and it is hoped that work will start early in the New Year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Development Commission for Wales in the provision of the factory at Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand from the Development Commissioners that they have received no application in respect of a factory at Llandrindod Wells.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will define, where possible in quantitative terms, the principal impediments to achieving a growth rate of 5 per cent. in the United Kingdom.

This question cannot readily be answered within the normal confines of a Parliamentary reply. My right hon. and learned Friend is proposing the setting up of the National Council for Economic Development primarily in order to identify and tackle obstacles to sound economic growth. He announced on 18th December the appointment of Sir Robert Shone as Director-General of the staff of the Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before his next Budget, he will carry out a comprehensive review of the present range of indirect taxation, with a view to eliminating, as far as possible, the levying of high and discriminatory rates of taxation on goods and articles which are either the tools of trade or, in relation to which, the heavy taxation has an adverse effect on the export trade.

My right hon. and learned Friend will include all aspects of taxation in his annual pre-Budget review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increase of wages and salaries above the 1960 level, if the earnings of wages and salaries reached the same level in the third and fourth quarters of 1961 as they reached in the first and second quarters of that year.

7·4 per cent. That is the increase in the total wage and salary bill in the first two quarters of 1961, seasonally adjusted and expressed as an annual rate, over the total wage and salary bill for 1960.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that in several recent instances it has taken Her Majesty's Stationery Office up to a week to ten days to supply copies of daily HANSARD reports to members of the public applying for these in writing, enclosing cheques in payment; and what is the average time for supply of such reports

Yes. I regret that exceptional pressure on the Stationery Office has temporarily affected the normal 24-hour service, which I hope will be restored before Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of Civil Defence expenditure in the years prior to the year 1960–61 was allocated to the provision of deep air-raid shelters.

None since the reconstitution of the civil defence organisation under the Civil Defence Act, 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deep air-raid shelters have been provided in the United Kingdom; what proportion of the total have been built for this purpose; and if he will state the categories of persons to whom places have been allocated in the event of nuclear attack.

Apart from the London underground railway system, and the seven associated deep tubes which were specially constructed for shelter purposes in the last war, there are about a hundred caves and tunnels giving varying degrees of overhead cover. No places have been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been reported to the Metropolitan Police alleging wilful damage to minicabs or their drivers; and if he will state the number of cases in which prosecutions have been instituted.

The latest available figures show that the Metropolitan Police have received 22 complaints of wilful damage to minicabs and 21 complaints of assault of minicab drivers. Only in one case did the police have sufficient evidence on which to base a prosecution for either assault or wilful damage. In two other cases prosecutions have been instituted on other grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers of taxicabs and minicabs have, since the inception of the minicab service, been fined or imprisoned in the Metropolitan Police area for breach of the peace or of the traffic laws; and what sentences were imposed in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences have been committed in the Metropolitan Police area during the past six months by taxi-cab and minicab drivers, respectively; in how many cases offences have arisen out of rivalry between the drivers of these two types of vehicle; how many of each class of driver have been proved guilty; and what penalties have been imposed.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that sodium chlorate can easily be made into a dangerous explosive and that it has already caused serious accidents; and if he will introduce legislation to prevent the sale of it to children.

My right hon. Friend shares the hon. Member's concern and he is consulting the distributors of this substance with a view to finding the most practicable method of preventing its falling into the hands of young people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the premature publication of names and descriptions in recent murder investigations which contribute to mistakes and prejudice in identification; and whether he will introduce legislation to control identification parades and to apply the stricter procedure to England and Wales which is enforced in Scotland.

I am aware that the police sometimes publish names and descriptions of persons whom they wish to interview in connection with alleged offences. It is for the courts to decide in a particular case whether publication has led to prejudice. My right hon. Friend understands that the guidance given to Scottish chief constables about the conduct of identification parades does not differ in essentials from that obtaining in England and Wales, and he knows of no grounds for thinking that legislation on this subject is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals have been made, in

—	Number of Appeals	Number of cases involving disqualification	Period of disqualification
			Increased	Confirmed	Reduced
Driving while under the influence of drink:
1960	9	8	1	3	4
1961	5	5	—	3	2
Dangerous driving:
1960	29	25	5	10	10
1961	29	28	1	14	13

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent all remand homes and approved schools employ corporal punishment on occasion; to what extent the incidence of this punishment has increased or diminished in recent years; and what reports he has as to whether those institutions with a proportionate higher frequency of corporal punishment have substantially less or more indiscipline than those where corporal punishment is not inflicted or is rare.

During the three years 1958 to 1960, corporal punishment was used in 90 of the 95 approved schools and in 29 of the 30 remand homes in which its use is authorised by the relevant statutory rules. It is not permitted in girls' remand homes or in senior girls' approved schools. In relation to the average number of those in the schools and homes in these years, there was a slight increase in the incidence of corporal punishment in 1959 as compared with 1958, and a further slight increase in 1960. As regards the last part of the Question, no firm conclusions can be drawn from the information available.

The following is the Answer:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce safety regulations under the Consumer Protection Act for oil heaters and domestic electrical equipment.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make Regulations dealing with oil heaters early in the New Year. He has at present no plans for making Regulations regarding domestic electrical equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private individuals in the metropolitan area are authorised, by the granting of a firearms certificate, to carry firearms for use in the protection of property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in the Metropolitan Police area approval has been given for the carrying of firearms by bank personnel for use in the course of their duties.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he has issued firearm certificates to 33 persons permitting them to carry firearms belonging to their employers when escorting consignments of bullion or bank notes. Certificates have been issued to responsible persons in 4 firms enabling them to hold firearms and ammunition for these purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearm certificates have been issued to bank guards in the Metropolitan Police area.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to Questions by the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Holt) and my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. McAdden) today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that guards in all bank vans carrying bullion are adequately armed.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend a Christmas amnesty for all who are in British prisons on grounds of conscience, including supporters of demonstrations by the Committee of 100 against nuclear war.

No. My right hon. Friend can find no grounds on which he would be justified in taking such action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a remand centre at Bristol large enough to cover all areas of southwest England.

Yes, at the former R.A.F. Station, Pucklechurch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what areas in South-West England will be able to send offenders to the senior detention centre to be provided near Devizes, and to the proposed junior detention centre to be provided somewhere in the South-West.

My right hon. Friend intends that all areas in the South-West shall be included either in the catchment area of the Senior Detention Centre near Devizes or that of the Centre at Haslar, Hampshire; I cannot be more precise until nearer the time. Both will be ready in about six months. The site for the junior centre referred to is not yet settled. It should be able to cover a wide area including the South-West.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation making it obligatory for all motor-cab hire firms within the London area to subject their vehicles to the annual inspection required by the Commissioners of Police, in order to ensure their safety and mechanical reliability as is at present the case under the London Cab Orders.

I am not satisfied that a case for legislation for this purpose has been established.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the death of a four-year-old child through burns in the county borough of St. Helens, Lancashire, within the last few days; and, in view of the increasing number of deaths through burns, what action he is taking to draw people's attention to this form of danger.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the large increase in the number of stockists retailing children's non-flammable nightwear: and what practicable steps he will take to assist the drive to prevent fatal accidents from burns in the home.

I am aware that flame resistant nightwear for children is available this winter in much greater quantity and variety and in more shops than ever before, at reasonable prices. A good deal of publicity has already been given to this subject by manufacturers, in the Press and in magazines, and by local authorities and voluntary bodies. I hope that this publicity campaign will continue and will lead far more parents to recognise the need to protect their children from the hazards of clothing burns.

asked the Minister of Education how many primary schools were closed in the County of Devon during 1959, 1960 and 1961; and how many further closures are anticipated in 1962.

Nine, ten and three respectively. I understand that the authority expects to submit proposals for the closure of about three schools in 1962. Each proposal will be carefully considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the proposed changes in the Constitution of Swaziland.

I received last week a copy of the Report of the Swaziland Constitutional Committee and am studying it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what Report he has received from Sir James Robertson about possible changes in the 1895 agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Sultan of Zanzibar; and if he will publish the Report.

The Report was published as a White Paper (Cmnd. 1585) on 19th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the report of the commission of inquiry into the disturbances in Zanzibar will be published.

I have nothing to add to the pursuant reply which my hon. Friend gave on 19th December, 1961.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the equivalent in £ sterling of the foreign exchange required to buy a live fat bullock, at the average import price for the first 10 months of 1961; and if he will give the same average price for a live sheep imported for slaughter.

Imports of fat cattle and sheep come exclusively from the Irish Republic. In the ten months January to October, 1961, the average value of imported fat cattle was £67 2s. per head. The price for sheep was £4 12s.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now arrange for further samples of milk for the Hortvet test to be taken on the farm.

The Ministry's officers take samples of milk on the farm either to test for keeping quality or for advisory purposes. It is the responsibility of Food and Drugs Authorities to enforce those provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, that relate to the adulteration of milk. Many Authorities apply the Hortvet test to samples taken for this purpose, if they suspect that the milk contains added water.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is making for the purchase of South African sugar in 1962.

The Sugar Board who purchase sugar under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement will also purchase and re-sell the South African sugar. Pending the introduction of legislation to enable the Board to Act as principles for this purpose under Section 2 of the Sugar Act, 1956, they will meet the cost from funds to be advanced to them from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Government of Somaliland have granted increases of pension to ex-Colonial Civil Servants; and how these pensions now compare with those of the Home Civil Service, under the provisions of the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959.

The Government of the Somali Republic have agreed to make pension increases amounting to about £3,200 per annum, which will bring the pensions into line with the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959. I understand the increases in individual pensions are at present being calculated and that payment will be effected early in the New Year dating from 1st April, 1961.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give in column form the total population, the area in square miles or kilometres and the income per capita of each nation member of the United Nations.

The population and area in square kilometres of member countries of the United Nations are given in the 1960 edition of the United Nations Statistical Year Book.Although the regional Economic Commissions of the United Nations have from time to time published the figures of

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements are being made for the payment to West Cameroon of the £575,000 already promised by Her Majesty's Government.

Arrangements are being made for the whole of this money to be paid over to the West Cameroon authorities as soon as possible. Provision for the £575,000 will be made in a Supplementary Estimate to be laid before Parliament in due course. Meanwhile, an advance of this sum will be made from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give financial assistance to Toplis and Harding (Middle East) Limited towards the expenses incurred by them in the course of their help in the implementation of the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement.

Yes. Large numbers of United Kingdom Nationals have asked this firm to act in connection with their Egyptian assets, but the firm are unable to collect their fees at present because of the slowness with which these assets are being transferred to the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government therefore propose to make available to the firm a further loan of £50,000, £15,000 of which it is proposed to make available in the current financial year. Parliament will, in due course, be asked to vote this latter amount by means of a Supplementary Estimate as appropriate.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what use is made of the deductions authorised by the Foreign Secretary in respect of ex gratia loans from awards by the Foreign Compensation Commission to claimants against the Egyptian Compensation Fund.

As was explained in the reply given to my hon. Friend on 29th July, 1959, the Foreign Secretary, acting on the advice of a Board set up under the Foreign Compensation (Egypt) (Interim Distribution) Order, 1959, notifies the Foreign Compensation Commission of an appropriate deduction from the award in respect of an ex gratia loan. I must further explain that the Commission reduce accordingly the amount of compensation which they would otherwise have paid, and the sum thus deducted is retained in the Fund. There is therefore a greater balance remaining in the Fund for distribution than there would otherwise have been. The claimant is informed that his indebtedness to repay his loan is reduced by the sum deducted from his compensation, and the Exchequer surrenders its right to recovery of these sums.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average waiting time of subscribers on the London Cunningham Exchange on dialling 100 or DIR on a Friday evening or Sunday morning; what is the reason for the delay; and how it compares with the rest of London.

The detailed figures asked for by my hon. Friend are not available. Our regular statistics show that the service to subscribers on the Cunningham exchange, particularly in the evening, compares pretty well with that to other London subscribers. The average waiting time at Cunningham in the evening is less than five seconds, although individual calls may take longer to answer. If my hon. Friend has any particular occasions in mind and will let my right hon. Friend have details, we will be glad to make inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it was with his approval that a statement was made by a General Post Office official, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs, that confiscation of television sets for non-possession of a licence is imposed fairly regularly in Scotland but not usually in England; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the practice in England and Scotland is brought into line.

The position is that the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, provides that a court may order confiscation of a set in addition to any other penalty imposed. This provision applies equally to England and Scotland. The decision whether or not to confiscate rests entirely with the courts and I have no power to intervene.

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

No instance of confiscation of a television set in England during 1960 has been brought to my attention.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of recent attacks on Post Office employees, whether he is satisfied with the security arrangements for their protection; and whether he will make a statement.

This problem is a constant concern to my right hon. Friend who has introduced a number of improvements in our security arrangements in recent months and he believes our arrangements are good. But my right hon. Friend is always open to new ideas and will continue to keep a close watch on developments of all kinds.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a small packet posted in Dublin by express post on 14th December was only delivered in the Kensington area of London at 11.45 a.m. on 20th December; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the natural delays in the Christmas post do not affect letters and packets sent by express post.

Every effort is made to maintain a speedy service at Christmas, but, as my hon. Friend recognises, some delay is unavoidable. However, the packet to which my hon. Friend refers should not have taken so long to get from Dublin to Kensington even if it had been sent by ordinary post. If he will let me have the cover my right hon. Friend will gladly make further inquiries.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the continuing liability of the town of Upton-on-Severn to such severe flooding from the River Severn that for substantial periods access to the town is completely cut off other than by water or from the air, he will give, as a matter of urgency, renewed consideration to including the Tunnel Hill raised road scheme in the 1962–63 programme, even at the cost of deferring other schemes of lesser urgency.

In the light of representations I have received concerning the effects of the closure of the railway to Upton-on-Severn I am considering in consultation with the highway authority, the Worcestershire County Council, whether this scheme can be advanced in my programme.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has decided to inaugurate one-way traffic in Valley Road, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

Because I consider the "T" junction of Valley Road with Chorleywood Road (A.404) dangerous for drivers leaving Valley Road. The gradient is 1 in 7 uphill and the sight lines are poor. My decision was taken on the recommendation of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport how many authorised testing stations there are in Sheffield for cars requiring a test before 1st January next; if he is satisfied that the owners of such cars can reasonably conform to the prescribed date, in view of the lack of publicity undertaken by his Department in Sheffield; and if he will consider extending the date when the order comes into force.

There are 144 testing stations within the county borough boundary. This capacity allowed owners of the vehicles concerned adequate opportunity to get them tested by the end of the year. I do not accept that the publicity given to the requirement has been inadequate to inform those affected. To the last part of the Question the Answer is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recommendations for awards for distinguished service on the part of British officers serving in the Congo have been received from the United Nations Command and are now under consideration at the War Office; what is the date of the earliest of these citations; and when it is expected that a decision upon them will be reached.

Seventeen recommendations for distinguished service have been received, the earliest in September this year. Decisions have been reached on all of them. As my hon. Friend will realise, awards for distinguished service are made in the Half Yearly Honours List.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet reached a decision in the application for compassionate release from the Army of Peter Paterson, 56 Adamson Crescent, Dunfermline.

I regret that my inquiries into this case are not yet complete. Gunner Paterson has, however, had his leave extended until 2nd January, 1962 on compassionate grounds, and will not return to B.A.O.R. until I have given my decision about discharge.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what discussions he has had with the local housing authority in Birmingham about the increasing number of homeless families there; and what information he has received in the course of these discussions about the number of homeless families and the number accommodated in hostels and halfway houses.

We have received no representations on this matter from the city council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will ask local authorities in England and Wales to introduce rubber dustbins in order to alleviate nuisance from noise.

No. The type of dustbin to be used is a matter for local authorities, not for me. By no means all authorities supply dustbins.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of dissatisfaction among consumers and producers concerning the way in which the agricultural deficiency payments scheme is working; and, in view of the fact that neither consumer nor producer is getting the full benefit of such payments, whether he will set up a committee of inquiry to examine the matter.

The Government's system of agricultural support by way of guaranteed prices and deficiency payments has been generally recognised by both consumers and producers as effectively fulfilling the dual purpose of giving the nation the benefit of world food prices and ensuring the maintenance of a stable and efficient home agriculture. My right hon. Friend sees no need for a committee of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the percentage increase in agricultural output over the last 10 years.

Between 1950–51 and 1960–61 the volume of agricultural net output in Scotland increased by 20 per cent. The increase in the value of gross agricultural output in the same period was 42 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what property has been acquired by his agricultural department which has resulted in an increased estimate of £12,000: and for what purpose the property is to be used.

The property in question is Beechwood Farm, Inverness, one of the Department's livestock improvement stud farms, which it had previously occupied as a tenant since 1913.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are involved in the increase of £107,000 in the salaries of officials of the Department of Agriculture.

The £107,000 includes the cost of salary increases for 725 members of the staff, with arrears backdated from 1st May, 1958, and 1st January, 1960 (£102,000); increased allowances for 187 (£2,000); and the salaries for 6 new posts (£3,000).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why there has been an increase in the silo subsidies from the original estimate of £50,000 to £65,000 in the current financial year.

The demand did not fall to the extent expected, but actual expenditure in Scotland is still estimated to be £10,000 less than in 1960–61.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the £110,000 additional sum required above the original estimate for payment of loans and grants to crofters and others; how much of this sum is loan; how much is grant; and who received such sums besides crofters.

The demand by crofters for grants under the Crofters Agricultural Grants Scheme, administered by the Crofters Commission, has exceeded expectations, and it is now estimated that an additional sum of £100,000 will be required to meet claims by crofters in the current financial year. The remaining £10,000 is required to meet possible claims by those persons other than crofters who are now eligible for these grants, by virtue of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants (Scotland) Scheme, 1961, which came into operation on 1st December. None of the additional £110,000 relates to loans.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the percentage increase in total farm wages in the last 10 years.

The average earnings of adult male farm workers in Scotland increased by 77 per cent. between 1950–51 and 1960–61. The number of farm workers declined during this period and the increase in the total wages bill of the industry was 31 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what interim and long-term steps he proposes to take to ensure that all the beds in Western Moffatt Hospital, Airdrie, are fully utilised for hospital cases; and if he will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT;(2) how many beds there are in Blocks 4 and 5 respectively, of Western Moffatt Hospital, Airdrie; how many are now occupied; what is the total staff employed and the approximate cost; and what is the nature of the duties of the medical superintendent employed at this hospital.

There are three pavilions with patient accommodation.Two, containing in all 44 beds, of which 17 are occupied at present, are used for tuberculosis patients. The Regional Board are considering whether by concentrating the treatment of tuberculosis elsewhere these beds could be used in future for geriatric patients.The third pavilion is being used temporarily for maternity patients, of whom there are 27 at present, while Calderbank House, Baillieston, is being renovated. The Regional Board plan later to adapt this pavilion as a general practitioner maternity unit serving Coatbridge and Airdrie.The total effective staff is 78, of whom 41 have been transferred temporarily from Calderbank House. The annual staff costs are about £42,000 per annum.The Senior Hospital Medical Officer in clinical charge of the tuberculosis patients is also responsible for the medical administration of the hospital as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the percentage increase in farm incomes over the past 10 years.

Farming net income in Scotland is estimated to have increased by 42 per cent. between 1950–51 and 1960–61.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been paid in housing subsidies in Scotland in each of the past 10 years.

Net issues from the Housing, Scotland, Vote in the last ten years have been as follows:

		£
1951–52	…	10,566,058
1952–53	…	10,992,131
1953–54	…	12,882,693
1954–55	…	14,555,719
1955–56	…	12,647,060
1956–57	…	13,852,549
1957–58	…	15,334,435
1958–59	…	16,258,850
1959–60	…	17,697,757
1960–61 (Provisional)	…	18,701,900

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why there has been an increase to £17,170,000 in the price guarantee relating to fatstock and to what extent the consumer will benefit from this additional expenditure.

The supplementary estimate of £9·43 million required to implement the livestock guarantees in Scotland (in addition to the £7·74 million already provided for this purpose) forms part of the total required for the United Kingdom of £66·8 million, to which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food made reference in his reply to Questions on 14th December, and I would refer the hon. Member to that reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been paid to the agricultural industry in Scotland in grants and subsidies in each of the past 10 years.

The amount of grants and subsidies paid to the agricultural industry in Scotland in each of the past ten years is as follows:

					£000
1951–52	…	…	…	…	6,816
1952–53	…	…	…	…	10,444
1953–54	…	…	…	…	12,415
1954–55	…	…	…	…	27,918
1955–56	…	…	…	…	27,358
1956–57	…	…	…	…	34,792
1957–58	…	…	…	…	42,544
1958–59	…	…	…	…	39,920
1959–60	…	…	…	…	38,517
1960–61	…	…	…	…	41,058

There is included in these figures the amount applicable to Scotland in respect of United Kingdom subsidies paid by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.In the years prior to 1954–55 the implementation of agricultural price guarantees in respect of cereals, fat-stock, milk, eggs and potatoes was dealt with by the Ministry of Food through a net trading account. For these years it is not possible to identify the element of subsidy to Scottish farmers for these commodities.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when it is anticipated that Her Majesty's nuclear submarines "Dreadnought" and"Valiant" will join the fleet.

We hope to accept the "Dreadnought" for service by the end of 1962.The "Valiant" will not be laid down until next month. It is not the practice to announce dates of completion so long in advance.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list showing the number and type of aircraft in service with Transport Command, a list of such aircraft already on order, and the dates they are expected to be in service.

I would refer the hon. Member to the information of the worldwide transport force given in this year's Air Estimates Memorandum.I do not think I would be justified in giving details of deployment by Commands or in publishing a forecast in detail of the expected build-up of the transport force over the whole period during which aircraft now on order may come into service.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the transfer of the records of the Welsh Court of Great Sessions to the National Library of Wales.

Following a request from the Board of Celtic Studies of the University of Wales, my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has agreed that the records of the Courts of Great Sessions shall be transferred from the Public Record Office to the National Library of Wales.

asked the Minister of Aviation why Ministry of Aviation personnel were not available at London Airport at 10.30 on Monday, 27th November, to remove the aircraft gangway, thus delaying Flight B.E.466; and whether, to avoid a repetition of such delays in similar circumstances, he will permit British European Airways personnel to push gangways clear of aircraft when this is necessary.

Ministry of Aviation personnel were not available at the aircraft in question because the airline failed to notify the Ministry Aircraft Step Service of the revised time of departure. When aircraft steps have to be removed, there is nothing to prevent airline personnel from doing so.

asked the Minister of Defence what actuarial contribution would have been required in the year 1960–61, or in the latest year for which information is available, to provide for the pensions and dependants' benefits expected to be payable in due course in respect of current service in the Armed Forces.

I regret that there is nothing I can add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 24th October, last.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will ask hospital boards to introduce rubber dustbins in hospitals, in order to alleviate noise.

This was recommended in a Report on the Control of Noise in Hospitals sent to hospital authorities last July.

asked the Minister of Health in the light of the Report for 1960 of his Chief Medical Officer, what consultations he has had with the Jersey health authorities regarding the arrangement of a joint research study of the relationship between smoking habits and lung cancer; what estimate he has made of the cost of this study; and over what period it is planned that this study will be undertaken.

My officers are in touch with the progress of the Jersey study, which is continuing. It is not a joint project.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what further progress has been made with the scheme to assist the development of public library systems in the Commonwealth.

In addition to the grants announced on 17th April, a grant of £27,000 is being made by the British Council in 1961–62 towards the cost of building a new central library at Ibadan, the capital of Western Nigeria. The Western Nigerian Government, who are contributing £18,000 towards the cost of the building and its equipment and staffing, intend the new library to become the headquarters of a library board serving the whole of the Western Region. It will contain lending, reference and children's libraries, together with accommodation for library extension work.

asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what plans he has for the provision of funds to help in the establishment of an ear, nose and throat department at University College Hospital in Ibadan.

My Department does not provide funds; it provides technical assistance. No request has been received from Nigeria for any kind of help in the establishment of an ear, nose and throat Department at University College Hospital in Ibadan.

asked the Minister for Technical Co-operation what requests he has received from the Tanganyikan Government for assistance in the institution of an otological service in that country.

None.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the income to the National Insurance Fund if insured workers paid 4½ per cent, instead of a level rate payment on their individual earnings, including juveniles; and if employers paid 5 per cent, on wages for those insured, such payments to exclude the Industrial Injuries and Health Service Act contribution; and what would have been the total cost of National Insurance for 1960 if £5 per week benefit had been paid instead of the £2 17s. 6d. now operating for pensioners, with sickness, unemployment and widows, wives, children, and other dependency benefits remaining as at present paid; and what balance there would be if these two alternative schemes of contribution and payment were jointly applied.

I regret that there is insufficient information to enable the first part of the Question to be answered. As

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE BEXHILL, HAILSHAM AND RYE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT 11TH DECEMBER, 1961
—				Men			Women
				Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total	Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total
Bexhill	…	…	…	26	141	167	16	6	22
Hailsham	…	…	…	19	52	71	4	2	6
Rye	…	…	…	17	22	39	5	1	6
Total		…	…	62	215	277	25	9	34
In addition to the above, there were 6 boys and 9 girls under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at the Bexhill Youth Employment Office which also covers the Rye, Hailsham and Battle areas; all of these have been employed at some stage since leaving school.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women and young people, respectively, were recorded as insured persons at each of the

INSURED EMPLOYEES AT FALMOUTH AND CAMBORNE-REDRUTH
—			Falmouth		Camborne-Redruth
			Males	Females	Males	Females
End-May, 1956	…	…	7,550	2,590	10,870	4,630
End-May, 1957	…	…	7,830	2,570	10,820	4,410
End-May, 1958	…	…	7,970	2,550	10,150	4,210
End-May, 1959	…	…	7,220	2,580	10,990	4,490
End-May, 1960	…	…	6,820	2,670	10,810	4,510
Notes:
1. Figures of insured employees are collected only once a year in respect of end-May.
2. Separate figures for young people are available only for 1960.
3. Figures of insured employees are available only for the combined area of Camborne and Redruth.

asked the Minister of Labour how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 15th December; and how many of them were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age, and school leavers, respectively.

The table below gives the information desired:three employment exchanges of Falmouth, Redruth and Camborne at half-yearly intervals in each of the past five years.

The information, so far as it is available, is given in the following Table:

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Falmouth and Camborne Redruth, respectively, at each monthly

PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN FALMOUTH AND CAMBORNE-REDRUTH
—			Falmouth		Camborne-Redruth
			Numbers	Percentages	Numbers	Percentages
1961:
16th January	…	…	416	4·4	783	5·1
13th February	…	…	410	4·3	742	4·8
13th March	…	…	727	7·7	697	4·6
10th April	…	…	296	3·1	610	4·0
15th May	…	…	165	1·7	839	5·5
12th June	…	…	141	1·5	586	3·8
10th July	…	…	203	2·1	583	3·8
14th August	…	…	144	1·5	478	3·1
11th September		…	173	1·8	588	3·8
16th October	…	…	275	2·9	698	4·6
13th November		…	431	4·5	769	5·0
11th December	…	…	357	3·8	743	4·9

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether he is aware that the Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy for the year ended 30th June, 1960, was submitted to the Lord President of the Council in August and presented to Par

The following table gives the information desired:liament in October, 1960; whether a report for the following year has been submitted; and when it will be presented to Parliament.

I have received from the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy their Annual Report for the year 1960–61. It is now being printed and will be laid before the House as soon as it is available.