asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance and help his Department is able to give to farmers and merchants willing to export agricultural produce particularly to the European Economic Community countries.

My Department; works closely with the Board of Trade, who provide the same services for exporters of agricultural and food products as those supplied for other exports. We have recently had discussions with a number of agriculture and food trade organisations about export problems and prospects.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the percentage rise in the market price of potatoes between February, 1961 and February, 1962; and what was the percentage rise in the market price between May, 1961, and May, 1962.

27 per cent. and 112 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the acreage under cultivation for potatoes in 1960 and in 1961; why it was reduced; and what acreage is to be cultivated this year.

628,000 acres were planted in Great Britain in 1961 compared with 742,000 acres in 1960; the fall in acreage was due partly to difficult planting conditions in some areas and partly to the fall in growers' returns for the previous two seasons. It is too early to state precisely what acreage has been planted this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement about the potato situation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the present position of potato stocks; and what steps are being taken to ensure an adequate supply during the future.

Supplies are likely to be short until potatoes from Jersey and our home crop come on to the market in quantity during this month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Cornish early potato crop.

The cold spring has retarded the growth of first early potatoes in Cornwall by about three weeks as compared with last year and I do not expect liftings in any quantity for another week or so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will amend the rules governing the payment of compensation in connection with fowl pest outbreaks so as to prohibit the restocking of infected premises for at least six months.

No. Under the existing regulations the restocking of premises infected with fowl pest is prohibited for six weeks after slaughter or four weeks after the completion of disinfection, whichever is the earlier. I am advised that this period is sufficient to ensure that any virus present will have been rendered inactive by the disinfection processes. No compensation is paid for the unproductive period, and to extend it to six months would impose an unreasonable burden on poultry-keepers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many organisations have expressed readiness to give evidence before the committee of inquiry into meat marketing; and if he will state the names of those which have done so.

The committee has announced that it will be glad to receive evidence from any interested parties. The inquiry which it is undertaking is, of course, a completely independent one, and the process of collecting evidence is a matter for the committee itself.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for finally eliminating the warble fly.

The Ministry is having discussions with the interests concerned about the future of warble fly control. We shall make a statement on future policy well before the next dressing season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how current supplies of bacon and other pig meat, home produced and imported separately, compare with those of a year ago; how the rate of subsidy compares; to what extent retail prices have fallen; if he expects that home supplies will continue to increase; and if he proposes to effect some limitation of imports to ensure that supply and demand are equated more closely so as to avoid making undue calls on taxpayers for the rest of the year.

I circulate below the figures requested, but during the first four months of this year home production of bacon and pork were about 4 per cent. and 11 per cent. respectively and imports 7 per cent. and 3 per cent. higher than in the same period last year. The average rate of subsidy for pigs in the first nine weeks of the current fatstock year was 13s. 10½d. compared with 8s. 4d. a year ago. My information is that retail prices of both pork and bacon are substantially lower than a year ago.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications he has received during the past year for grants or loans for fishing vessels or engines to be built in foreign shipyards; and how many such applications have been approved.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has formed of the effect in Devon and Cornwall of his proposal to permit subsidies to be paid on fishing boats built in foreign yards.

The effect will be limited by the extent to which fishermen choose to build their boats abroad instead of in the local yards. I would not expect this to happen to any significant extent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the financial help and advice he intends to give to the farming industry so that the amount of craps destroyed by the ever-increasing number of wood-pigeons can be greatly reduced.

The wood-pigeon is a major agricultural pest in many areas. The widespread shooting campaign earlier this year produced good results. To obtain full advantage it needs to be followed up with systematic nest destruction and I would urge all occupiers to try to take action in the present nesting season. Properly done, nest destruction can reduce the number of young birds by as much as two-thirds. Two operations are essential. The best times are the last week in July and the second week in September. In conjunction with agricultural organisations, I am arranging for widespread publicity, including a leaflet on the methods that should be used. If nest destruction is done through rabbit clearance societies, half of approved expenditure is met by Exchequer grant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that meat prices have increased further during the past week, if he will make a statement on the effect of rising wholesale prices and the prospects for the consumer in the near future.

The increase in wholesale beef prices, and to a lesser extent lamb and pork prices, at Smithfield last week, reflects a moderate easing of supplies of home-produced stock, and in the last week or so somewhat smaller shipments of Argentine chilled beef. Looking into the future so far as one can, I would expect the level of supplies to be such as to create a firm market for the next few weeks. I would then expect supplies to increase, with a consequent fall in market and wholesale prices.As to the effect on the consumer, I expect retail prices to be sensitive to movement of market and wholesale prices.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many tenders have so far been received by his Department for the erection of the new hotel at Prestwick Airport.

One tender was submitted which I regret to say I am unable to accept.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement about the differences which have developed over charter flights by private companies between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Yes. For many years American charter companies have enjoyed unrestricted rights to operate genuine charter flights to and from this country. In 1960 a British charter company applied to the United States Civil Aeronautics Board for authority to participate fully in this traffic but by the beginning of this year no steps had been taken to deal with this application. Repeated representations were made to the United States authorities without avail and in March this year we asked the United States for early discussions. In the official talks which followed we tabled proposals for freeing this traffic from unnecessary restrictions and consultations are proceeding with the United States Government. To allow time for these we have agreed to permit American charter companies to operate to and from the United Kingdom up to 15th June.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that during the past year the £ sterling has depreciated in purchasing value by 1s. 1d.; and to what extent his Department's estimates for expenditure would have to be increased to ensure the same purchasing power as 12 months ago.

Yes. By about £80 million a year.

asked the Minister of Power what was the cost of the Civil Defence exercise carried out in Hartford, Northumberland, in May 1962; and what value was derived from it.

This exercise was organised and paid for by the National Coal Board. I am asking the Board Chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power if he will consider the policy of no further extension of opencast mining till the problem of pit closures has been solved in all parts of the country.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 21st May.

asked the Minister of Power how many individual pits have been abandoned since the mining industry has been nationalised.

I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what is the capital value of those pits for which compensation was paid and which have since been closed;(2) what amount of the capital charges now borne by the mining industry relates to collieries now abandoned;

I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member about the number of collieries that have been abandoned in South Wales.The global sum of compensation for colliery assets, vested in the National Coal Board, was divided by Valuation Boards among what were known as compensation units. These often comprised more than one colliery, and in these cases the values of individual pits were not computed. For this reason it is not possible to compute the capital value of pits which have been closed or the capital charges still borne by the Board in respect of them.

asked the Minister of Power what he estimates the effect will be upon coal production of the proposals made by the Chairman of the National Coal Board to cut out uneconomic pits.

None, apart from a reduction in costs. Tonnage lost through closures can be replaced by tonnage from other pits, including new and reconstructed pits.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the percentage rise in the price of industrial coal, electricity, gas, fuel oil and steel from 1949 to the latest convenient date, taking 1949 as 100 in each case.

Between 1949 to 1961 the average pithead price of coal for general industry has increased by about 93 per cent.; the average revenue per unit of industrial sales of electricity by about 38 per cent.; the average revenue per therm of industrial sales of gas by about 74 per cent.; the published price of minimum bulk load of medium fuel oil by about 74 per cent.; and the published indices of wholesale price of iron and steel by about 88 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost to his Department of sending delegates to the International Hospital Federation conference in Venice in 1961; what was the cost to hospital free money funds; how many delegates were sent from the United Kingdom; how many delegates will be attending a study tour in Belgium this year; and what is the estimated cost to public funds and free money funds, respectively.

£1,567 and £5,787; 79 in respect of England and Wales; 28 from England and Wales; £860 and £1,919.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the special need which exists among aged people for the care of the feet, because of their inability to bend easily, if he will take steps to introduce chiropody treatment for them under the provisions of the National Health Service.

Chiropody is already widely available for the elderly through local health authorities and voluntary bodies, at old people's homes, and, as part of treatment, at hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health what medical advice he has received regarding the possible effect upon the health of people exposed in a confined space to other people's tobacco smoke.

That it is unlikely to represent any serious hazard to healthy people, but that bouts of coughing and asthma due to it can be serious in those with chest complaints or heart disease.

asked the Minister of Health what is the annual cost of the drug testing scheme for England and Wales under the National Health Service Acts.

About £26,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now give particulars

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of people suffering from leprosy in the United Kingdom at 31st December, 1961, as compared with the number at 31st December for each year from 1951 to 1960.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will in future classify of the condition as to vaccination before exposure and after exposure to smallpox infection of the smallpox cases and deaths at Bradford, Rhondda, Llantrisant and Bridgend.

The following is the information:nursing auxiliaries as full nurses for statistical purposes.

No.

asked the Minister of Health why the management side of the Nurses' and Midwives' Whitley Council have not yet replied to the staff side's letter of 24th May, relating to the opening of negotiations on the salary claim; When a reply may be expected; and if he will take steps through his representatives on the Council to secure more expeditious handling of a claim which has now been outstanding for 10 months.

I understand that the two sides have agreed to meat next week.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now reconsider his offer to the nurses in view of the award to nurses outside the National Health Service hospitals.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the average rate of pay for nursing staff in October, 1951; and, taking the £ sterling as having a purchasing value then of 20s., by how much each year to date this average salary would need to have been increased to maintain the purchasing value of October, 1951.

It is not possible to state the average rate of pay for nursing staff.

asked the Minister of Health how many units of accommodation for married resident doctors are available in the teaching hospitals in the Greater London area; what is his policy in this regard; and if he will make a statement.

I am making a survey, and will write to the hon. Member when I have the results. I have drawn the attention of Hospital Boards to the desirability of an adequate proportion of married quarters.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital authorities are employing outside caterers under contract; and what is the approximate annual sum involved.

Twenty-one. Fees total about £26,000.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital authorities are undertaking ward cleaning by outside contractors; and what is the approximate annual sum involved.

Seven: £200,000.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital authorities were making use of contract radiography services at the latest available date; and if he will estimate the annual cost, and the saving that would accrue, if these services were carried out by radiographers in the authorities' direct employ.

As regards savings, I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mrs. Slater) on 11th December last. I am obtaining the remaining figures and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health at which hospitals in the Greater London area the 100 additional maternity beds are to be provided; and when they will be available.

The hospitals include Lewisham, St. Teresa's (Wimbledon), Perivale, the City of London Maternity and Forest Gate. Ten have been provided already; the remainder will come into use during the next few months.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions or regulations he has issued imposing a limit in the number of years which a member can serve on a regional hospital board; and how many instances there have been where boards have placed a limit on the period of service of members.

None: I know of no such instances.

asked the Minister of Helath what is the average period which elapses between the time an application is made for treatment at the Bristol General and Royal Infirmary Hospitals and the time a patient enters; and what steps are being taken to reduce this delay in treatment.

Urgent cases are admitted at once. Waiting periods for other cases vary considerably according to the speciality and the circumstances of the case. The Regional Board are opening a new ear, nose and throat unit later this year at Southmead Hospital; further developments in Bristol are set out in Command 1604.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many labour attachés there are in posts abroad; and where they are.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what factors he takes into account when deciding the establishment of labour attaches in particular countries; and whether there are consultations with the Ministry of Labour on these matters.

I have been asked to reply. Labour attaches are sent to those countries where the volume and complexity of labour affairs requires that an expert be appointed to the Mission to deal with these matters, and where there is scope for such an expert to perform useful work and to establish useful contacts with those concerned. There are close consultations between my Department and the Foreign Office or Commonwealth Relations Office in reaching decisions on these appointments.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish in Hansard a table of figures giving the average wage for the workers employed in the 20 major industries in this country in October, 1951; and, taking the £ sterling then as having a purchasing value of 20s., by how much per year these wages would have to be increased to maintain their spending power of October, 1951, after allowing for the rise in the cost of living and the depreciation in the purchasing value of the £ sterling.

The following is the table. Figures for 1951 are the average weekly earnings in October of adult malt manual workers in the major industries for which information is collected by the Ministry of Labour or is made available to the Ministry by employing authorities. Figures for subsequent years show the increase required to meet the rise in the cost of living as measured by the index of retail prices.The table also shows average weekly earnings of the same industries in October, 1961.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the estimated loss of jobs in the Northern Region in each of the last five years; and what was the number of new jobs created in each of those years.

The following table gives the number of workers discharged as redundant, and jobs estimated to arise from Industrial Development Certificates in the years stated. From mid-1957 to mid-1961 the total number of insured employees in Northern Region is estimated to have risen by 16,000.

asked the Minister of Labour how many steel sheet and tinplate works in South Wales have been closed in the past twelve months; what was the number of workmen made redundant; and what information he has received regarding the number of works expected to close down and the numbers of workmen to be affected when the Spence works at Llanwern comes into full production.

Five works were closed and from these about 1,650 workers were declared redundant. I have received no information on the points raised in the second part of the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress is being made with the research scheme for nuclear propulsion in shipping; what consultation is taking place on this matter between the Atomic Energy Authority and industry; and if he will make a statement.

A nuclear ship design team has been established by the Atomic Energy Authority in conjunction with the British Ship Research Association and other interested organisations. This team is now working on the design, safety and operating problems of nuclear ships of various types.The principal systems being studied are the steam-cooled and steam-generating heavy water reactors and advanced designs of pressurised water and boiling water reactors. Contracts for design study work have been negotiated with the Nuclear Power Group, the United Power Company, Rolls Royce and Babcock and Wilcox.Work is also in progress on reactor physics, engineering development, fuel element technology and reactor materials in support of the marine reactor systems.