asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give consideration to the extension of the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955, due to lapse at the end of this year.

I have been considering this very carefully. The Act has done a great deal of good in upland livestock rearing areas. However, while there may still be a few projects we should like to assist after the present financial provision is exhausted, there would not in my view be enough to justify our asking Parliament for more money.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will introduce meat inspection Regulations in England similar to those now operating in Scotland in which provision is made both for ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of animals intended for slaughter for human consumption.

It is my right hon. Friend's intention to make Regulations as soon as he can to secure 100 per cent. post-mortem inspection. He does of course recognise that ante-mortem inspection must be one of the objectives of future policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many regular whole-time agricultural workers ceased to be employed on agricultural holdings in England and Wales in 1961.

Between December, 1960, and December, 1961, the number of regular whole-time workers (male and female) in England and Wales is estimated to have fallen by 18,900.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the difficulties which confront British fishermen as a result of uncertainties relating to the waters in which they may fish legally; and if he will now make, for their guidance, a detailed statement on the subject.

I am not aware of any difficulties of this sort. Full details of the restrictions in operation have been published and are well known to the industry.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by what method he calculates the number of staff needed at Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance branches.

The staff requirements of local Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance offices are based on the amount of work to be done so as to maintain a proper and economically administered service to the public.

asked the Minister of Power what replacement policy is followed by the gas boards in respect of old gas mains laid in the highways and liable to fracture by frost or earth conditions; and if he will make a statement on recent cases in Oldham where gas has escaped into homes with fatal consequences.

The boards make systematic leakage surveys and take into consideration various factors, in order to determine the condition of particular mains and to decide when they need replacement. The risk of fracture is increased by severe frost, and I am very sorry indeed that three people died in Oldham as a result of such a fracture in the very cold weather after last Christmas.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware of the selective price increases of industrial coals in Scotland, and the impact of such increases upon the major industries; and whether he will make a statement on Government action dealing with this matter.

I carefully considered the effects of the National Coal Board's proposals on Scottish industry, but in view of the heavy operating losses being incurred in Scotland and elsewhere, I decided that the Board's proposal to make selective price increases in those areas must be accepted.

asked the Minister of Health if he will institute an inquiry into dental ill-health as suggested by Professor C. A. Moser in his recent report to the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust, a copy of which has been sent to him.

My right hon. Friend understands the Trust is considering this recommendation.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the danger of paratyphoid in desiccated coconut imported into this country, he is satisfied that adequate regulations exist and are enforced to guarantee a satisfactory level of safety in importations of this commodity.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Health, on what date his Department was officially notified that smallpox had broken out in Karachi.

Smallpox is endemic in this area. A significant increase in cases was first known on 18th December.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that approximately 20 per cent. of the deaths which took place in this country last year were caused by lung cancer and that this disease is steadily increasing; if he will take steps to ascertain the reason for this increase; and if he will prepare a scheme to deal with it on similar lines to that taken some years ago to deal with tuberculosis.

Yes, assuming the hon. Member refers to deaths from cancer. The evidence points to smoking habits as the principal reason. Methods suitable for tuberculosis are not appropriate to lung cancer.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that there are still sufficient supplies of vaccine for those people who require to be vaccinated against smallpox; and whether all inquiries and requests from parents for the vaccination of their children before returning to day and boarding schools have been adequately met.

Central stocks are ample, and all demands from local health authorities, which have the prime responsibility for arranging vaccination, can be currently met.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many cases

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, at the Whitley Council for the Health Service Professional and Technical Council held on 16th January, an instruction was sent from his Department that no agreement should be reached at the present time; that this intervention is considered by the union to be an interference with the principle of freedom of this negotiating machinery; and if he will give instructions that no such instructions shall be given in the future.

I asked the management side to seek a deferment pending further guidance to my representatives. I do not accept that this interferes with any principle.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the increasing shortage of physiotherapists of rickets there were in Willesden in the years 1938, 1939, 1958 and 1959;(2) how many cases of rickets there were in England and Wales in the years 1938, 1939, 1958 and 1959.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the volume of sales of welfare foods in the area of the Lancashire County Council for the latest available quarters in 1961 and 1960; and what plans he has in mind to stimulate the sales of these vital foods.

The following are the figures:in the north-east of England; whether new salaries have yet been agreed; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 29th January.

asked the Minister of Health how many dental hygienists completed training in 1961, how many are currently being trained, and how many are required in 1962, 1963 and 1964.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is 10 and 23 in dental hospitals and, I am informed, 22 and 20 in the Armed Forces. It is not possible to estimate the total number for whom employment could be found.

asked the Minister of Health how many dental technician apprentices are being trained in hospital or local authority laboratories; how many additional dental technicians are required each year to replace wastages; and how many fully qualified dental technicians are expected to take up employment in 1962.

32 on 31st December, 1961, of whom nine will complete their apprenticeship during 1962.Figures of annual wastage of dental technicians are not available, but the numbers employed in hospitals are steadily increasing.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many local authorities are below their establishment of dental officers and what is their total current deficiency;(2) how many recently graduated dentists entered local authorities service full time during 1961, or the last convenient period; and how many full-time dentists retired from that service in the same period;(3) how many local authority dental officers attended refresher courses in treatment, planning, prevention and organisation during 1961, or the last convenient 12-monthly period.

I regret that national figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will call for, and place in the

asked the Minister of Health how many chief dental officers of local authorities have been appointed to dental teaching schools in a part-time or honorary capacity.

Three.

asked the Minister of Health if, in implementing his new hospital programme outlined in the White Paper, he will ensure that regional boards appreciate the comparative costs of a steel frame building of up-to-date design and a reinforced concrete building.

I am satisfied that boards appreciate this.

asked the Minister of Health what are the grades of the medical nursing and ancillary staff employees at present at Oakwell Hospital, Birstall, Yorkshire; and what is the weekly pay of each, including the additional pay received during the period of isolation.

Following is the information:Library of the House of Commons, a report as to why a lady, the name of whom has been sent to him, suffering from a loss of memory but who was able to give her correct name, and as to whom notification of missing persons had been given to the authorities, was detained in a hospital near Epsom for several months without any information being given to her relatives.

The patient is not detained; no relatives have been traced; I am sending the hon. Member further details.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for the inquiry into Birmingham hospitals management to be held in public.

I have already done so, subject to the discretion of the Committee of Inquiry to hear in private evidence on any matters which it thinks it contrary to the public interest to disclose.

asked the Minister of Health if he will announce the findings of the inquiry into Birmingham hospitals management immediately this has been concluded.

I shall consider this when I receive them.

asked the hon. Member for Chelmsford, as Second Church Estates Commissioner, if he will cause to be shown in the Palace of Westminster a model of the architects' scheme for the Commissioners' redevelopment of the area north of St. Paul's Cathedral.

As there is only one model which is needed for use on the site, it is not possible to arrange in accordance with the hon. Gentleman's request. In conjunction with our partners, however, I would be pleased to arrange for any right hon. or hon. Gentleman to see the model at the site and have the details properly explained.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the monthly figures of persons registered as unemployed at each of the employment exchanges in the area covered by the Durham constituency, commencing with November, 1960, up to the latest convenient month.

Following is the Answer:

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will state particulars of minimum or standard time rates current at the latest convenient date in the following occupations, namely: blacksmith in the electricity, farrier (fireman), gas supply (maintenance), light castings, and shipbuilding industries, bricklayer, carpenter, and plumber in the building trade, cabinet maker in furniture manufacture, cooper in coopering, electrician in electrical contracting, erector in constructional engineering, skilled fitter in civil air transport, electricity supply and engineering, instrument maker in surgical instrument and equipment manufacture, jointer in electricity supply, and moulder in brass working and founding and light castings;

The following is the information requested:

asked the Minister of Labour how many building craftsmen were unemployed in Scotland and Lanarkshire, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

On 11th December, 1961 the numbers of craftsmen whose last employment was in the construction industry and who were registered as wholly unemployed at employment exchanges in Scotland and Lanarkshire were 1,932 and 263 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what discussions his officers have had with the London and Lancashire Insurance Company and the Guild of Insurance Officials; and what progress has been made towards recognition by the company of the London and Lancashire National Guild, which works within the framework of the Guild of Insurance Officers, as the legitimate negotiating body of its staff.

My Chief Conciliation Officer had discussions on this subject with the General Manager of the London and Lancashire Insurance Company on 10th March and 6th December, 1961, and with the General Manager of the Royal Group of Insurance Companies, with which the London and Lancashire Company is now associated, on 15th December. He met the General Secretary of the Guild on 18th April and 11th December, 1961, and on 1st January, 1962. Following these meetings the General Secretary of the Guild met the General Manager of the Royal Group on 25th January, 1962.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the British contribution to the United Nations budget for 1961, to the special United Nations Congo fund, and to the United Nations Special Agencies.

In 1961 Her Majesty's Government's mandatory contribution to the United Nations Budget was £5·5 million, including the special accounts for operations in the Middle East and the Congo, and £2 million to the budgets of the Specialised Agencies. No contribution during this period was made to the Voluntary United Nations Fund for the Congo.

asked the Lord Privy Seal from what financial source his Department proposes to derive the funds necessary for the purchase of United Nations bonds; and how he intends to submit the proposal for Parliamentary approval.

Token provision to secure the approval of Parliament, in principle, to expenditure on the purchase of these bonds will be made in the estimates for the Foreign Grants and Loans Vote for 1962–63 which will shortly be presented to Parliament.Parliament will be asked to vote substantive provision for such expenditure in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of recent court decisions that shop-window advertisements by prostitutes are legal, he will introduce amending legislation.

No. As at present advised, my right hon. Friend does not consider such legislation to be necessary.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what are the classes of vessels and the number of vessels in each class which comprise the 100 predominantly anti-submarine vessels in commission at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what advice has been given by his Department to contract

These 100 vessels consist of 22 destroyers, 41 antisubmarine frigates, 2 dispatch vessels, 30 submarines and 5 seaward patrol craft.In addition, aircraft carriers and the commando ship, with their antisubmarine helicopters, have considerable capability.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will set out in tabular form the value and weight of the principal manufactured goods of Japanese origin imported into Colonial Territories, giving separately the figures for pottery, cotton and synthetic commodities, for the years 1948, 1950, 1956, 1958, 1960 and 1961 respectively.

Available figures are as follows:agreement staff serving in East Africa with the East African Railways and Harbours, formerly administered through the High Commission Services, and protected by him, and what plans he has for safeguarding designated contract staff.

No special advice has been given but I hope these contract officers will continue to serve in East Africa so long as their services are required. The benefits to which designated contract officers are entitled are protected by Agreement between Governments under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a number of political parties and organisations representing a volume of opinion in the Coast Province of Kenya have now formed a coalition known as the Mwambao United Front; and whether he will invite this coalition to be represented at the coming constitutional conference on Zanzibar and the Coastal Strip.

I am aware of the formation of the Mwambao United Front. As regards representation at the Kenya Coastal Strip Conference, I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend on 30th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue authorities refuse to grant a child allowance for a child over 16 years attending for instruction at a mentally-handicapped centre.

I presume the reason is that the child does not satisfy the statutory condition applicable to a child over 16, that he or she is receiving full-time instruction at a university, college, school or other educational establishment

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the grants to be allocated by the University Grants Committee in the next quinquennium.

The submission from the University Grants Committee on this subject was received on 22nd December last, and is at present under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement on the salaries of university teachers.

I have nothing to add to my previous replies on this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs on what bodies he has regular meetings with the worker and management representatives of industry, including the nationalised industries, and agriculture.

I have no meetings of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to list cadmium fumes and cadmium installations under the supervision of the Alkali Inspectorate; and whether he will make a statement of the present position and his future plans in this respect.

Fumes containing cadmium and its compounds emitted from zinc works have been covered by the Alkali Act since 1939. Since then a small but important cadmium industry has developed and my right hon. Friend is considering the desirability of bringing it formally under the Act. Meanwhile the Inspectorate with the industry's co-operation is ensuring that emissions from cadmium works do not exceed safe limits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out in tabular form the weight and value of the main manufactured goods imported from Japan in 1948 and in each year since, respectively, giving the equivalent

Details of the main manufactured goods imported from Japan in the years 1948 to 1959 are available from Volume IV of the Annual Statement of Trade. Details for the years 1960 and 1961 are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what considerations led him to decide that no case for the imposition of an anti-dumping duty on imports of full cream and skimmed milk had been made out.

The reason for rejecting this application was given in the reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Prior), on 19th December, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has now considered the recommendations of the Committee on the Management and Control of Research and Development, submitted to the Minister for Science on 5th July, 1961, so far as they affect Dollis Hill Research Station; which of them he accepts; and what steps are being taken to implement them.

Those recommendations of the Report which relate to the Post Office are in general acceptable and my right hon. Friend is considering how best to implement them.

asked the Minister of Transport when dual carriageways will be constructed at Hartford Bridge Flats on the A.30.

I have no plans for constructing dual carriageways on this part of the A.30, which will eventually be superseded by the Basingstoke Motorway. But during the summer I intend to widen the carriageway to 24 feet and to strengthen the verges.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will instruct local taxation offices to accept insurance policies as well as certificates of insurance for the purpose of licensing motor vehicles.

There are statutory and other reasons why my hon. Friend's suggestion could not be adopted. I am writing to my hon. Friend on the subject.