asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that pesticides for use in homes, shops and offices conform to approved safety standards.

The retail sale of preparations containing a number of toxic substances used in insecticides is subject to appropriate safeguards under the legislation relating to poisons. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that any further steps are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that all new drugs are referred, where appropriate, to the Poisons Board to ensure that no harmful drug is made available to the public; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the arrangements for ensuring that new substances where appropriate are brought to the notice of the Board are well understood by the trade and professional organisations concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to count housemasters in approved schools with 10 years' satisfactory service as fully qualified and award them the appropriate salary scale.

The scale of remuneration for approved school housemasters is a matter for the Standing Joint Advisory Committee for Staffs of Children's Homes, whose awards are recognised for grant purposes by the Home Office. The Committee has recently agreed that housemasters in post on 1st April, 1962, who at that date are not less than 45 years of age and have ten years' service shall be entitled to the housemasters' full scale, which has a maximum of £1,015 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the proposed cuts in the educational expenditure of the Prison Commission will have on educational facilities provided in Borstal institutions and detention centres.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to Questions by the hon. Members for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) and Brixton (Mr. Lipton) today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down the number of immigrants from Commonwealth countries, which in 1961 numbered 136,000, into men, women and children.

Children under 16 have been counted separately only since 1st July, 1961. The net inward balance of movement from those Commonwealth countries for which figures are available was estimated at 52,500 for the first half of the year, made up of 32,500 males and 20,000 females. For the second half of the year it was estimated at 83,500, made up of 50,000 men, 24,700 women aria 8,800 children.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when he received from the Prime Minister of Canada an invitation to arrange for a commonwealth Conference to be held in Ottawa at an early date; and what answer he has sent to that invitation.

No such invitation has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his discussions with Mr. Nkomo, the leader of the banned National Democratic Party, regarding the situation in Southern Rhodesia; and if he intends to take steps to suspend the coming into force of the new constitution, as requested by Mr. Nkomo.

Mr. Nkomo called on me in Dar-es-Salaam on 10th December. He expressed his concern at the decision of the Southern Rhodesia Government to ban the National Democratic Party and urged the British Government to intervene. I explained that this was a matter for the Southern Rhodesia Government and advised him to address any representations to them. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what contracts have been awarded to British companies by the Ghana Government in respect of the Volta River dam.

As yet we have no detailed official information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Labour Department of Northern Rhodesia is taking to secure further African advancement in employment in the mines, in view of the dispute between the African Mineworkers' Union and the Chamber of Mines.

I have asked the Governor for a report on the present position and will write to the hon. Member as soon as this is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to announce changes in the proposed constitution for Northern Rhodesia.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the recent report of the Gov- ernment of Northern Rhodesia on the recent disturbances there.

The report, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, is the result of thorough inquiries set in hand by the Governor in view of the serious allegations made about the conduct of security operations. I accept its main conclusions, which are that the extent of the disturbances, for which responsibility is placed clearly on adherents of the United National Independence Party, fully justified the measures taken to restore law and order; that in general the security forces acted with commendable restraint; and that the accusations of misconduct are either without foundation or grossly exaggerated. I am satisfied that no further action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the fact that the Royal East African Navy is to be disbanded, whether those at present serving will be given the opportunity of joining the Royal Navy, or will be adequately compensated on the termination of their service.

There are twelve officers and petty officers serving in the Royal East African Navy, who have had previous service in the Royal Navy or Royal Naval Reserve. Seven of these are now over age for service in the Royal Navy. The other five have withdrawn from British service at their own request. The question of some of them joining other services in East Africa, and of compensation for those whose service is terminated, is under consideration in East Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that all the local newspapers and journals are placed upon the reading tables in the public libraries of Malta and Gozo except the Labour papers Voice of Malta, Il-Helsien and The Whip, and that a special request has to be made to the librarian by any reader who wishes to see them; and if he will take steps to see that the same facilities of access are granted to all papers.

No newspapers are placed on the reading tables in the public libraries in Malta or in Gozo. In both these libraries, however, all newspapers including those supporting the Malta Labour Party, are available on request from the library attendant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the aviation firm, Seven Seas, applied for leave to land a Fouga aircraft in Malta; what answer was given; on what dates the aircraft arrived and left, respectively; and what information was given to the authorities about the ultimate destination of the aircraft.

Seven Seas have never applied for leave for Fouga aircraft to land in Malta. The question may, however, be referring to an incident on 9th February, 1961, when a Stratocruiser landed at Malta owing to engine trouble. It was declared to be the property of an individual who has since been understood to be associated with Seven Seas. The aircraft left Malta on 13th February, 1961, giving its destination as Johannesburg and its cargo as three jet trainers which were crated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements he has made to prevent political and ecclesiastical intimidation during the general election in Malta.

The elections will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the electoral laws of Malta. I am satisfied that these laws and the regulations made and machinery set up under them, will ensure that elections will be conducted in a fair and proper manner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans he has for safeguarding the interests of long service designated contract staff who, in many instances, have more service than the permanent officials whom he has now agreed to compensate; what the agreed compensation will amount to; and what would the total amount be if he paid compensation to permanent and temporary staff alike.

I know of no reason why contract officers serving the Governments which have recently provided compensation schemes for permanent officers should be unable to complete their existing contracts. I could not therefore recommend special safeguards for them or the payment of compensation. The general benefits due to designated officers both contract and permanent, under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme such as inducement allowance, education allowances and passages, are safeguarded by formal Agreements concluded between Her Majesty's Government and the overseas Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance Her Majesty's Government will give to contract agreement staff who are still employed by East African Railways and Harbours, who may wish to return to Great Britain but lack the means to pay their way, especially those who would be liable to repayment of income tax, which is usually one and a half years in arrears.

Contract staff recruited from overseas are entitled to return passages by their terms of contract. Staff recruited in East Africa on local terms are not so entitled and neither the British Government nor the East African Railways and Harbours Administration have, under their terms of employment, any responsibility for providing them with Overseas passages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken about the Guatemalans captured in British Hounduras on 23rd January.

They have been charged with an offence against Section 243 of the Criminal Code of British Honduras which relates to the use of armed force or the show of armed force against the Government. They have also been charged under Section 29(3) of the Immigration Ordinance with having illegally entered the country. The leader of the party has already pleaded guilty to the second charge and has been sentenced to 2 months hard labour. The other cases have yet to be heard.

asked the Minister of Education what advice or guidance is given to local educational authorities concerning the provision of facilities for teaching children to swim and to life-save.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Notes on School Swimming Baths which have recently been prepared in consultation with the Amateur Swimming Association and the English Schools Swimming Association. These are distributed to authorities who ask for advice.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement about the decisions reached at the Commonwealth Education Conference in New Delhi.

The official report of the Conference was published in Delhi last week and a copy is now available in the Library of the House. The Government intend to publish the report as a White Paper as soon as possible.The Conference reviewed the four main schemes launched as a result of the first Conference held at Oxford in 1959—the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, and the schemes for the Training and Supply of Teachers and for Technical Education, and took a number of detailed decisions which will lead to the development and more effective use of these schemes.The Conference decided that a Commonwealth English Language Information Centre should be established in London to collect and disseminate information and advice on the best means of teaching English as a second language. Useful surveys were also made of the possibilities of further cooperation within the Commonwealth in the fields of social education, rural education and the production and distribution of textbooks and other books.The Conference agreed that the Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee and Unit should be continued and that they should develop their function as a source of information for member Governments. Indeed the Delhi Conference has strengthened co-operation in education as a major feature of inter-Commonwealth relations.It was encouraging that Commonwealth Governments made a number of offers for new developments which were welcomed by all countries. The British delegation made two principal offers. The first was to train and finance experts in the teaching of English who would be available to fill key posts overseas. The second was to provide courses in this country for the training of technical teachers, more particularly of technicians and craftsmen. Courses will also be provided here for those concerned with the production of textbooks.We are greatly indebted to the Government of India both for the efficient arrangements made for the Conference and for their hospitality.The offer by the Canadian Government to hold the next Conference in Canada, probably about the middle of 1964, was warmly welcomed.

asked the Minster of Education when he expects the development of Moorlands School on the Millfield Estate, Wednesbury, to be completed; and if he is aware that the delay is causing concern in the locality,

I am aware of the concern and I regret that sources available do not allow the local education authority to complete this school at present but they have decided to provide two temporary classrooms this summer.

asked the Minister of Education if the adverse comments of training college authorities who have rejected candidates at their first interview are passed on to other training college authorities interviewing candidates for their second, third or later choice of college.

Yes. I understand that these interview reports, which usefully add a training college point of view to the report from the candidate's school are of considerable help in the subsequent handling of candidates who are not immediately successful. As there are so many colleges and candidates (141 and 23,000 in 1961–62) some such system appears desirable if subsequent interviewing is to kept to manageable proportions for both the colleges and the candidates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to fulfil the undertaking given by his Department on 10th July, 1961, in respect of the industrial estate at Port Glasgow.

An additional factory building site of about 18 acres has been found in the Port Glasgow area and we are hoping to buy it shortly.

asked the Minister of Works whether Her Majesty's Government now intend to introduce a system of control on less essential building projects.

No.

asked the Minister of Works on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture.

I regularly meet representatives of management and workers on my National Consultative Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries. The Council meets quarterly and consists of representatives of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the National Federation of Building Trades Employers, the Scottish National Building Trades Federation (Employers), the Federation of Registered House-Builders, the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, the National Federation of Building Trades Operatives, and the Civil Engineering Construction Conciliation Board (Operatives Panel).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities have applied, under the terms of the Local Employment Act, for grants for the clearing of derelict sites; how many applications have been successful; and what has been the total cost involved.

At the end of January 23 local authorities in England and Wales had applied for grants. Ten applications had been approved subject to consideration of final estimates of cost. The estimated gross cost of the schemes approved amounts to £184,500.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make available to the House, for the convenience of hon. Members, the full text of the speech of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at Berwick on 28th December, 1961.

I told the House on 23rd January that I would have a copy of the full text of my noble Friend's speech placed in the Library. That was done. But naturally I am anxious that all hon. Members should be equally and fully informed, so I am arranging for copies of the speech to be available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present number of slaughterhouses in use in England and Wales; and to what extent ante-mortem and post-mortem meat inspection is in force therein.

There are about 3,050 slaughterhouses in use at present in England and Wales. Over 90 per cent. of meat is inspected post-mortem. Ante-mortem inspection is not at present general but I recognise that it must be one of the objectives of policy to make it so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many meat trade inspectors are now in the service of his Ministry; and whether he is satisfied that meat inspection is now adequately covered.

The inspection of meat is undertaken by local authorities. In England and Wales over 90 per cent. of meat is inspected but my aim is 100 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture.

The body which offers the opportunity to meet worker and management representatives of industry and agriculture is the National Production Advisory Council on Industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements are being made for wood-pigeon shoots this season.

During the coming weeks, concerted shoots against wood-pigeons can be very effective and I would urge farmers, landowners and shooting people generally to give all the support they can to clearance societies and other local bodies in the widespread shoots they are organising. Apart from many district and county-wide shoots throughout the country, the counties in East Anglia are combining on the 2nd and 3rd February for shooting over the whole region; neighbouring counties will be joining in. A special shooting day is to be organised in Yorkshire on the 2nd February, and in Shropshire a series of shoots has been arranged for Thursdays in February and early March. Other shoots are being organised throughout the country and particulars of these can be obtained from the Ministry's divisional offices, rabbit clearance societies, or local offices of the National Farmers' Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the hardship of many pensioners, if he will introduce legislation to make it possible for those with small incomes to be able to purchase milk in quantities of half-a-pint.

The law permits the sale of milk in half-pints and many dairymen are, I understand, willing to supply half-pints to customers needing this service. But I think it would be unreasonable to require all dairymen by law, to have half-pints available at all times to meet a possible public demand.

asked the Minister of Labour on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture.

The National Joint Advisory Council and the Industrial Health Advisory Committee. I am also advised and helped by a number of other bodies representative of management and workers, at which I do not personally take the Chair.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average waiting time for private automatic branch exchange telephone exchanges in the Southend telephone area and how many applications are outstanding.

The average waiting time in the Southend Area for the types of private automatic exchanges supplied by the Post Office has been ten months. An immediate improvement is, unfortunately, not possible because of shortage of equipment and the high level of demand. I have, however, arranged for the rate of manufacture to be increased and I expect that the delays will be much reduced by the summer. There are 12 outstanding applications in the Southend Area.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to ensure that firms who move out of the London area and have been promised by his local officers definite dates of delivery for telephones in their new premises, will receive the telephones specified by the promised date.

If my local officers are able to promise definite dates for the delivery of telephones, I am sure they fully appreciate the importance of fulfilling them.

asked the Minister of Power on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture.

I attend or am represented at, quarterly meetings of the National Production Advisory Council on Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many uncertificated teachers are employed by Lanarkshire Education Authority; and in which schools they are employed;(2) how many of the uncertificated teachers employed by Lanarkshire Education Authority are regarded by his Department as below standard.

On 2nd October, 1961, the latest date for which figures are available, 317 uncertificated teachers were employed by Lanarkshire Educa- tion Authority, 153 of them with qualifications below standard. I am sending to the hon. Lady a list of the individual schools concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the teachers employed by the Renfrewshire Education Authority are uncertificated; and in which schools they are employed;(2) how many of the uncertificated teachers employed by the Renfrewshire Education Authority are regarded by his department as below standard.

On 2nd October, 1961, the latest date for which figures are available, 148 uncertificated teachers were employed by Renfrewshire Education Authority, 68 of them with qualifications below standard. I am sending to the hon. Member a list of the individual schools concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture.

The National Production Advisory Council on Industry has regular meetings which are attended by a Scottish Office Minister.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science if he is satisfied that adequate funds are being made available to carry out medical research, in view of the appeals which are continually being made by various societies for gifts from the public to expedite medical research; and if he will make a statement.

The Medical Research Council encourages and sponsors medical research in every field. It does not, and in the opinion of the Government should not, have a monopoly in deciding which research projects should receive financial support; nor does it have any powers to prevent research which it does not regard as worthy of support being pursued.Professional opinions on what is promising or worthwhile differ from time to time, and the existence of both private and public funds, whether the former be provided from donations made in response to appeals by voluntary societies or not, is a safeguard against possible solutions in any particular field of medical research being neglected.It is right, therefore, that medical research should be undertaken and financed by the Exchequer in university departments and the teaching hospitals, and within the National Health Service, as well as by the Medical Research Council. The Government also welcomes support for medical research by organisations financed by voluntary contributions and other private sources.But the Medical Research Council is responsible for seeing that no line of medical research, which it considers to be scientifically worthy, suffers from lack of financial support. Their expenditure has more than trebled over the last ten years. My noble Friend is satisfied that no really promising lead for medical research by first class research workers is rejected by the Medical Research Council solely for lack of available funds.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether a decision has now been reached on the proposals to establish a meat research centre; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has approved proposals by the Agricultural Research Council to establish a meat research centre, at which the present research in this field would be expanded and new basic studies undertaken into the growth and properties of meat tissues and the factors influencing quality. The Government considers that it is justified in calling upon the meat industry to make a contribution towards both the capital and recurrent costs. My right hon. Friends the Agriculture Ministers and my noble Friend propose to arrange a meeting with representative bodies within the industry (including representatives of the producers) as soon as possible and to consult them about the arrangements to be made for the collection of this contribution.

asked the Minister of Transport on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture.

I attend or am represented at the quarterly meetings of the National Production Advisory Council on Industry.