asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to report on the fact-finding inquiry made by his Department on resale price maintenance.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) on 12th April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the current supplies and prices of Polish eggs compare with those of a year ago; and if he is still satisfied that there is insufficient evidence to justify an anti-dumping duty on Polish eggs.

Imports of shell eggs from Poland have continued to be much lower than in the corresponding period last year. The figures below are from trade sources of weekly imports in the five-week period ending 5th May, 1962, and in the corresponding period last year, together with the comparable prices. The latest Trade Returns relate only to March. I am still considering the anti-dumping applications submitted by the British Egg Marketing Board with the support of the National Farmers' Union.Following is the information:

IMPORTS OF SHELL EGGS FROM POLAND
1961
Week ending 8th April	56,000 boxes
Week ending 15th April	59,000 boxes
Week ending 22nd April	44,000 boxes
Week ending 29th April	30,000 boxes
Week ending 6th May	30,000 boxes
TOTAL	219,000 boxes

1962
Week ending 7th April	6,000 boxes
Week ending 14th April	4,000 boxes
Week ending 21st April	9,000 boxes
Week ending 28th April	18,000 boxes
Week ending 5th May	22,000 boxes
TOTAL	59,000 boxes
(1 box=30 dozen)
(Source: The British Egg Marketing Board)

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the countries from which wattle bark, quebracho extract and chestnut extract, respectively, were imported during the twelve months ended 31st December, 1961; and what were the quantities and values from each country.

The following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS
—	1961
	Cwt.	£
EXTRACTS FOR TANNING
Chestnut
Western Germany	1	5
France	3,979	11,210
Italy	12,779	35,427
Total	16,759	46,642
Quebracho
Western Germany	984	2,044
Argentine Republic	101,322	230,563
Paraguay	4,223	9,594
Total	106,529	242,201
Wattle Bark
Republic of South Africa	444,453	1,126,250
Rhodesia and Nyasaland	15,360	39,151
Kenya	10,019	25,947
India	200	511
Irish Republic	299	766
Total	470,331	1,192,625

asked the President of the Board of Trade what tariffs are raised against British made electric refrigerators by Australia, Canada, and the European Economic Community, respectively.

The Australian tariff on imports of United Kingdom refrigerators is 20 per cent; the Canadian is 17½ per cent.; and the common external tariff of the E.E.C. is at present 13 per cent. The tariffs currently in force on imports of British-made refrigerators into the member countries of the E.E.C. are: France, 13 per cent.; Germany, 6˙7 per cent.; Benelux 12 per cent.; Italy from 14·5 per cent. to 18·5 per cent. according to the size of the refrigerator.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a pay claim was submitted by the Prison Officers' Association to the Prison Commission on 13th November, 1961; why six months have elapsed without a reply having been given by the Prison Commission; and how soon the Prison Officers' Association can expect an answer.

This claim, which has been the subject of discussion with the Prison Officers' Association since its original submission, has raised a number of issues requiring careful consideration. I hope that it will be possible to send the Association a reply quite soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure, as recommended by the Streatfeild Report, that persons accused of criminal offences or their legal advisers are provided with the reports of the Prison Commissioners on their suitability for various kinds of punishment.

It is already required by the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, that a copy of any report or representations in writing made to a court by the Prison Commissioners on the physical and mental condition of an offender and his suitability for a sentence of borstal training, corrective training or preventive detention shall be given, by the court, to the offender or his counsel or solicitor. The recommendations of the Streatfeild Committee do not involve any modification of these provisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action Her Majesty' Government are now taking to implement the Report of the Wolfenden Committee on Sport.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend on Tuesday.

asked the chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has made to the Ayr County Council's representations to him on the subject of borrowing for capital works.

The Ayr County Council have been informed that the rates of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board are kept in line with those ruling on the market for local authority borrowing, and that if the market rates fall, following the recent reductions in the Bank Rate, the rates charged by the Public Works Loan Board will be reduced also.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Central African Office) if he will make a statement on the nature of the current dispute between African minerworkers and the companies on the Northern Rhodesian Copperbelt, on which a commission of inquiry has been set up by the Government, stating, in particular, the current hourly rates of wages, hours of work, and annual paid holidays for African workers as compared with wages paid, hours worked, and holidays enjoyed, by white workers.

On 3rd February, the Northern Rhodesian Government announced its intention to appoint a Commission of Inquiry to deal, inter alia, with a claim of the African Mineworkers' Union for increased wages and leave conditions. The unions, on 5th March, asked the companies to make an offer on their demands: on 26th March the companies declined to do so, and the unions called a strike on 2nd May.The wage structure of the industry is extremely complicated and I will write to the hon. Member with such details as I can obtain.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will initiate a cheap book scheme for Nigeria.

As explained to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 15th February and 27th March, no final decision has yet been taken. But the needs of Nigeria and other West African countries will be kept under review.

asked the Minister of Education why he rejected the proposals of the Middlesex County Council for a technical college in Edmonton and for halls of residence for the Enfield Technical College.

Neither of these projects was of sufficient priority to justify approval within the resources available for major building projects in 1963–64.

asked the Minister of Education what reply he has sent to the submission from the Governors of Newcastle upon Tyne Training College con- cerning the financial difficulties experienced by mature students undergoing teacher training.

The Governors of the college approached my Ministry on 25th July last, and were told that rates of grants to teacher training students were to be referred to the Standing Advisory Committee on Grants to Students. As I told the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 7th May, the grants are now being reviewed following the submission of the Committee's Report.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that grants to mature students undergoing teacher training are inadequate for recruitment; and whether he will make a statement of Government policy to meet this need.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 7th May.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the Report on University Entrance Requirement in England and Wales.

I have asked the Secondary School Examinations Council, which advises me on examinations policy, to consider this Report. I understand that the Council hopes to send me its comments after its next meeting in July.

asked the Minister of Education which school building projects, submitted for the school building programme of 1963–64 by the Sunderland local education authority, he has not approved.

The authority put forward a list of fourteen projects for 1963–64 and 1964–65 programmes together. The programme for 1964–65 has not yet been considered. For 1963–64 I have so far approved one project and a second will be included as soon as its details are settled. These, with earlier programmes, are sufficient to meet the need of the authority for "roofs over heads" and reorganization. Following is complete list of the projects submitted:

1. Town End County Infant (approved for 1963–64).

2. Secondary Technical School for Girls to replace the present West Park Girls School (a similar project is under discussion with the Authority with a view to its inclusion).

3. Pennywell Secondary School, second phase.

4. Thornhill Secondary School, second phase.

5. Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School, second phase.

6. West Area R.C. Secondary Girls School.

7. West Area R.C. Secondary Boys School.

8. Commercial Road Secondary Schools, Extensions to Boys and Girls School to bring each school up to four form-entry.

9. Hylton Castle Infant School.

10. Hylton Road Junior School.

11. Hylton Road Infant School.

12. Central Area Infant School.

13. Central Area Junior School.

14. Monkwearmouth Junior School in place of Thomas Street School.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the amount of new school building permitted to local education authorities for each of the years from 1950 to 1963–64, inclusive.

The values of starts of all major school building projects which have been authorised for the financial years 1952–53 to 1963–64 are given below:

Financial year	Value (£m.)
1952–53	41
1953–54	43
1954–55	48
1955–56	48
1956–57	61
1957–58	55
1958–59	51
1959–60	46
1960–61	55
1961–62	64
1962–63	64
1963–64	55

NOTES—1. Values of starts authorised in 1950–51 and 1951–52 are not available. Actual starts in these two years amounted to £41m. and £24m. respectively.2. The values given are authorised starts of building work only; site purchases, professional fees, furniture and equipment are excluded.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the amount of the minor works building programme permitted to local education authorities for each of the years from 1950 to 1963–64, inclusive.

The values of minor works started in the period 1950 to 1961–62 are as follows:

Year	Value (£m.)
1950	7·3
1951 and first quarter of 1952	8·2
1952–53	7·3
1953–54	7·3
1954–55	8·1
1955–56	13·4
1956–57	14·7
1957–58	15·7
1958–59	13·5
1959–60	16·6
1960–61	21·0
1961–62	12·7

NOTES—1. The figures relate to all minor building works, including work for the school meals service and grant-aided projects at voluntary schools. Separate figures for local education authorities are not available but, in recent years, their share has amounted to some four-fifths of the total.2. From January, 1955, to December, 1957, there was no limitation on the total value of starts of minor works although the cost of individual projects was limited to £10,000 compared with £25,000 at present. For this reason, actual starts have been given rather than authorisations.3. For 1962–63 starts of £10m. have been authorised. The value of starts in 1963–64 has not yet been announced but they are expected to be somewhat above current levels.

asked the Minister of Education which recommendations of the Albemarle Report have now been implemented; what are his proposals with regard to the other recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

On those recommendations which required action by the Government I made a full statement in reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 14th February.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the valuations in the permitted building cost per school place during the past ten years for primary and secondary schools respectively.

The net costs per place allowed for primary and secondary school building during the past ten years have been as follows:

Date of Operation	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools
January, 1951	£140	£240
March, 1953	£146	£250
April, 1955	£154	£264
April, 1960	£164	£290
March, 1961	£175	£310

NOTE: Net cost per place includes the school buildings are paved playgrounds, but excludes other site works, playing field preparation, boundary fencing and headmasters' and care-takers' houses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fishers and Food if he will arrange with the Milk Marketing Board and the cold storage industry to freeze all surplus liquid milk before creaming, for shipment to development countries in need, and recover the costs by reductions from Great Britain's cash contributions which now amount to £160 million per annum.

I am afraid that my hon. Friend's suggestion is impracticable because the countries to which we give aid generally lack the refrigerated transport and storage required for the distribution of frozen milk. Apart from this the money which the Government are able to make available for aid is already fully committed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the basic acreage for potatoes in Great Britain in 1961; how many acres mere planted; what is the basic acreage for 1962; and how many acres he expects to be planted.

The basic acreage allocated by the Potato Marketing Board for Great Britain in 1961 was 810,000 acres. 1961 was, however, a quota year, and the quota amounted to 742,000 acres. A total of 628,000 acres was planted, 592,000 acres of this by producers registered with the Potato Marketing Board. 1962 is not a quota year; the basic acreage for the year is 792,000 acres. It is too early to state precisely what acreage will in the event be planted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that dressed grain falls within the meaning of poisoned or stupefying bait so as to make its deliberate use for the purpose of causing injury to birds an offence under Section 5 of the Protection of Birds Act, 1954, notwithstanding that the dressing is a substance which may be lawfully used for dressing grain; and if he will take steps to amend the the Act in the light of this.

I understand that the legal position is as my hon. Friend states, so his point is met without the need for amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet informed the London County Council of his decision on the Council's proposals for flood relief work in the Manor Lane area of North Lewisham.

The London County Council's proposals for flood relief work in the Manor Lane area of North Lewisham form part of comprehensive proposals for the improvement of the River Ravensbourne. The comprehensive proposals estimated to cost nearly £5 million are still being considered but, in view of the urgency of dealing with flooding in the Manor Lane area, it has been agreed that this work should proceed without prejudice to its consideration for grant aid as part of the comprehensive proposals. The London County Council have been informed accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the establishment of nurses in each hospital in Scotland; and how far each hospital falls short of its establishment.

In the absence of generally recognised standards of staffing, and because of wide variations in the work and layout of individual hospitals, it is impossible to lay down establishments on any uniform basis. Hospital authorities are therefore not required to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses are employed in Scottish hospitals; and what proportion are assistant nurses and auxiliaries.

The figures for 30th September, 1961—the latest available—are as follows:

Total Nursing Staff		Proportion of Enrolled Nurses (Formerly known as Assistant Nurses)	Proportion of Nursing Auxiliaries and Similar Groups
Whole-time	23,993	4 per cent.	23 per cent.
Part-time	6,670	10 per cent.	58 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the estimated additional sum involved in granting to all nurses within the National Health Service an increased salary of 10 per cent., 20 per cent., and 30 per cent., respectively.

The approximate sums involved in Scotland annually would be £1·8 million, £3·6 million, and £5·4 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds are closed in hospitals in Scotland, giving numbers for each hospital affected, and the proportion these closed beds represent in each hospital.

At 30th September, the date of the last return, 2,391 beds spread over 53 hospitals were shown as unstaffed. This represented 14·7 per cent. of the beds in these hospitals and 3·7 per cent. of the total number of beds in all Scottish hospitals. In the same 53 hospitals the number of beds shown as staffed but unoccupied was 3,173. I am sending the hon. Member the details.

asked the Minister of Labour how many children who left school at Christmas in Middlesbrough are unemployed.

Of the 803 boys and girls known to have left school at Christmas 30 were unemployed on 6th May.

asked the Prime Minister how many and which national treasures in the custody of art galleries and museums under governmental control have been stolen during the last twenty years; how many were recovered; what was the value of each; what was the cost of steps taken for their recovery; and what was the loss to the nation caused thereby.

Thirty-six objects worth £25 or more have been stolen in the last twenty years from the fourteen national institutions in London and Edinburgh. They had a total value of nearly £170,000, of which £140,000 represents the value of Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington.Following are the details:

asked the Prime Minister what rules at present exist for the protection from theft, fire and other loss of the pictures and other national treasures preserved in the national galleries and museums under Government control.

The particular rules in force in each institution are the responsibility of the authorities of that institution. They vary with the nature of the collection and of the building in which it is housed. It would be against the public interest to publish details of the security arrangements in force in any particular museum or gallery.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what contributions have been made by Cwmbran Development Corporation since its inception to local authorities under Section 11 of the New Towns Act; how much was contributed in the last two years by the Cwmbran, Harlow and Stevenage Development Corporations respectively under Section 11; and, in view of expanding community needs at Cwmbran, whether he will consent to the Cwmbran Corporation making contributions under Section 11.

The answer to the first part of the Question is £19,392, which is the total of the annual contributions to the Pontypool Rural District Council towards the cost of the water supply. The answer to the second part is Cwmbran £3,626, Harlow £57,385 and Stevenage £30,855. I have not been asked to approve any other contributions under Section 11 at Cwmbran, but I am, of course, willing to consider any proposals sympathetically on their merits.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of the importance of the National Coal Board playing a full part in getting rid of colliery spoil-heaps either by flattening or beautification and camouflage; and whether he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to collaborate closely with local authorities to try and get rid of them faster than is already planned.

I think this is important and the National Coal Board is willing to undertake, in consultation with local planning authorities, a continuing programme of minor works to improve the appearance of colliery spoil-heaps. I do not think it would be right for me to ask it to do more at present.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the percentage of absenteeism in the coal industry in 1937 and in 1961.

7·2 per cent. in 1937, 15·4 per cent. in 1961.

asked the Minister of Power, if he will give the percentage increase in the average weekly wage in the coal industry since 1937.

The average weekly earnings in the first half of 1961 were five-and-a-half times as high as in 1937. The figures for the second half of the year are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the average annual increase in output per man in the coal industry since 1937.

Since 1937 it has increased at an average rate of 4 cwt. a year.

asked the Secretary of State for War what inquiries he is making into the explanation of the presence of the high explosive shells which have been found on Llnmadoc beach on the Gower coast; and, in view of the danger arising, if he will make a statement.

I have received a preliminary report. These unexploded shells are the residue of a war-time range. Some are mustard gas shells and others are high explosives. They have been brought ashore by the abnormally strong gales and tides of last winter. Immediate steps have been taken, with the agreement of the owner of the property, to cordon the whole area, and fences and warning signs have been erected, and wardens are patrolling.Urgent action will be taken to clear the area and destroy all shells, but this may take some time.