asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether he will consider amending the National Insurance (Hospital In-Patients) Regulations, 1949, to ensure that unmarried pensioners without dependants, who have earned an increment to their basic retirement pension either by working beyond retirement age or by way of graduated pension, should not be deprived of the whole of that increment when they become hospital in-patients for a period of 52 weeks;(2) what he estimates would be the cost of allowing unmarried pensioners without dependants who are entitled to an increment to their basic retirement pension, either by reason of working beyond retirement age or by way of graduated pension, to retain 20 per cent. of that increment on becoming hospital in-patients for a period of 52 weeks.

I think the hon. Member has somewhat misapprehended the position. During the period of 52 weeks after becoming a hospital in-patient, a recipient of National Insurance benefits who is without dependants is deprived of neither increments nor graduated pension. After 52 weeks and up to 104 weeks these parts of his benefit are included in the balance which is paid to him as a resettlement benefit on discharge. As these benefits are paid in full during the first period of 52 weeks, the Answer to the second Question is, of course, "Nil".

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensioners in the area covered by the offices of the National Assistance Board in Ayrshire are in receipt of a weekly supplement from the Board.

At 26th June, 4,468.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the average weekly local authority rent taken into account in determining needs of National Assistance recipients in Scotland in 1961, and the corresponding figures for 1951 and 1954.

The average weekly local authority rent taken into account in determining needs of National Assistance recipients in Scotland in 1961 was 19s. 11d. I regret that information is not available for the years 1951 and 1954.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the fact that there is a close association between bronchogenic cancer and long exposure to asbestos dust, whether this disease is accepted by the pneumoconiosis boards as being of industrial origin.

I understand that the pneumoconiosis medical boards accept bronchogenic carcinoma when found in conjunction with asbestos as a sequela of that disease.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether the pneumoconiosis boards accept lung cancer among haematite miners as an occupational disease, in view of its high incidence amongst these men.

The pneumoconiosis medical boards are independent statutory authorities set up under the Industrial Injuries Acts solely to determine in accordance with the provisions of those Acts relating to pneumoconiosis whether claimants for benefit are suffering from the disease and if so the loss of faculty due to it. They have no powers in relation to any other disease.

asked the Minister of Power if he will consult the President of the Board of Trade and the Central Electricity Generating Board on the extent to which further industrial energy needs to be made available for new industrial projects in those parts of the country where industrial expansion is planned.

The Generating Board plans to meat the electricity demand in all parts of the country as economically as possible. I frequently discuss these matters with the Board and with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Power to what extent he takes into account estimates of demand and other economic considerations when considering proposals submitted to him by the Central Electricity Generating Board for building new power stations.

These estimates obviously play an important part in my considerations.

asked the Minister of Power what consideration he gives, in considering proposals submitted to him by area electricity boards for the generation of electricity by them under Section 6 of the Electricity Act, 1957, to the desirability of all electricity being generated within the area in which it is consumed.

This would greatly increase costs. The Central Electricity Generating Board generally finds it more economic to locate the new large generating stations in cheap coal areas and to use the national grid system to distribute the power.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he made, in settling the financial target for the North Eastern Electricity Board, of how the consumption of electrical energy in that area in the current year will compare with the consumption in recent past years.

At the time I agreed its financial objective with the North Eastern Electricity Board, the Board estimated that about 7 per cent. more electricity would be consumed in its area in 1962℃63 than in 1961–62.

asked the Minister of Power what time elapsed between the notification by the South Eastern Electricity Board to the South Eastern Electricity Consultative Council of its recent proposals to increase electricity tariffs by about 1s. 5d. and the signification by the Council of its approval; and what steps the Council took to assess the effect of the proposed increases on the 1,100,000 domestic consumers in the area.

These are questions of the day-to-day administration of the South Eastern Electricity Consultative Council. I am asking the Chairman of the Council to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power what are the qualifications of each of the members of the South Eastern Electricity Consultative Council; on what criteria he based his appointments of the 13 members whose names were submitted by local authorities; what bodies he consulted before appointing the 13 other members; and if he will give an assurance that their appointments will not be renewed in view of their failure to protect the public interest in respect of the recent increases in electricity tariffs in their area.

Each member of the South Eastern Electricity Consultative Council has the qualifications laid down in Section 7 of the Electricity Act, 1947, as amended. The appointments have been made in accordance with that Section. A list of the bodies which I consulted before appointing members other than those nominated on behalf of local authorities is given below. The last part of the Question does not arise, because I do not consider that the Council has failed in its duties.

asked the Minister of Power what allowances in respect of loss of remuneration, travel expenses and out-of-pocket expenses, respectively, he has authorised for members of the South Eastern Electricity Consultative Council.

The allowances for loss of remuneration are payable to members —other than the Chairman—in accordance with the conditions and at the rates prescribed by the Treasury for unpaid members of Departmental Committees.Travelling and out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed by the Electricity Council at the same rates as apply in the industry.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to amend the Electricity Acts, 1947 and 1957, so as to abolish the consultative councils for the electricity industry and establish Ministerial control over the operations of the electricity boards and Parliamentary accountability for price increases and other matters affecting consumers.

No.

asked the Minister of Power how many men are today employed in small coal mines licensed by the National Coal Board; what is the estimated total annual output of coal from these mines; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous five years.

4,805 men were employed in licensed mines on 30th June, 1962. The current annual rate of pro- duction is about 2¼ million tons. Comparable figures for the years 1956 to 1961 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Power how many licences have been issued by the National Coal Board this year, and during each of the past five years, to enable small coal mines to be worked in Great Britain.

I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to ensure that the cost of vaccinating large numbers of people in any future smallpox epidemic will be a national, and not a local, charge.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of patients are on general practitioners' lists of 3,000 and over in Monmouthshire, excluding Newport; how this compares with the average percentage on lists over 3,000 in Wales; and what action is being taken to improve the position in the valleys of Monmouthshire.

I regret that available information does not separate Newport and the rest of the county. I do not accept that the area generally is under-doctored.

asked the Minister of Health' if, in view of the fact that with the exception of yellow fever any person on the National Health Service list of a general practitioner is entitled to have inoculations and vaccinations for travel purposes free of charge, he will now take steps to alter the terms of service to enable patients to receive international certificates without payment.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he is making to follow up the examination at later ages of the teeth of children living in Watford, Anglesey and Kilmarnock, to determine the long-term effects on teeth of the addition of fluoride to drinking wtaer.

It is the intention to follow this up.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now approve schemes tor the fluoridation of water supplies in areas where it is felt to be desirable by the appropriate local authority and health executive.

I would refer the horn. Member to my reply to the hon. Mem-bar for Greenock (Dr. Dickson Mabon) on 9th July.

asked the Minister of Health whether the inquiry into methods of estimating the scale of net emigration of doctors from Great Britain has now been completed; what information he has concerning the recent emigration of National Health doctors to Saskatchewan; and if he will make a statement.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a recent statement on the scale of net emigration. I have seen Press reports of small numbers of doctors going to Saskatchewan.

asked the Minister of Health what special steps he is taking to ensure that parents of children permanently disabled by the drug thalidomide are fully informed of the facilities for treatment within the National Health Service.

This is a matter for the family doctors. They have been reminded of the facilities available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now state his policy with regard to the establishment of anti-smoking clinics within the National Health Service.

A number are being established experimentally.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take powers to ensure that all new drugs are tested for possible dangers if taken during pregnancy before they are available on prescription.

No.

asked the Minister of Health whether inspection of mental nursing homes is being regularly carried out in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instruments 1960 No. 1272 and of Circular 18/60; if he is satisfied that the work of inspection is being done by suitably qualified staff; how many homes have failed to reach the standards laid down; and how many have been closed for this reason since the Mental Health Act, 1959 came into operation.

I have no reason to think that local authorities are failing in this duty or not using suitably qualified staff. Information as to the outcome of the inspections is not available centrally.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider amending the National Assistance (Charges for Accommodation) Regulations, 1955, so as to ensure that old-age pensioners who have earned an increment to their basic pension, either by working beyond retirement age or by way of graduated pension, should not be deprived of the whole of that increment when they occupy Part III accommodation under the National Assistance Act, 1948; and what would be the estimated cost of amending these Regulations so as to ensure that such pensioners were able to retain 20 per cent. of that increment.

No. No estimate of cost can be made.

asked the Minister of Health how many senior registrars have now completed their training and axe awaiting higher posts; how many are in their sixth or even later year; how many have attained additional qualifications such as the Ch.M., M.D. by thesis and Hunterian professorships; and if he will make a statement.

110 and 88. I have no figures on additional qualifications. In accordance with the Platt recommendations boards have been asked to set up joint advisory committees to review the position of those senior registrars.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is being made for additional staff for the 100 new maternity beds shortly to be available at hospitals in Greater London.

No special provision will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the shortage of maternity beds in the Coventry area; and what action he is taking to provide additional beds pending the construction of the new maternity hospital to be built at Wals-grave, which is due for completion in 1965–66.

Yes; 20 additional beds at Gulson Hospital should be ready by the end of October.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Royal Liverpool Babies Hospital, Wooltan. was a gift to the City of Liverpool through the Child Welfare Association, and was transferred to the Health Service under the National Health Service Act without charge; whether, in view of this, he will reconsider his decision to sell it at its present full market value to Che Liverpool Corporation; and if he will negotiate with the Corporation to arrive at a reasonable price for the transfer of the property.

Sales of land between Government Departments and local authorities are at current market value. I see no reason for an exception here.

asked the Minister of Health, if, in view of the judgment in the case of Geigy versus Biorex, he will now instruct hospital authorities that they may purchase drugs from suppliers who have applied under Section 41 of the Patents Act, 1949, for a compulsory licence to manufacture such drugs, and whose application has been allowed to proceed and has been published in the Official Journal, Patents, provided that the suppliers are prepared to indemnify purchasers.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what is the reason for the low percentage or registrars with qualifications obtained in the United Kingdom or Ireland appointed to vacancies in the Sheffield and Manchester hospital areas in 1961; and if he will make a statement.

These areas are relatively unattractive to British applicants.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish a table showing the number of nursing and midwifery staff employed in hospitals at 31st March, 1952, and at 31st March, 1957.

Figures for 31st March, 1952, are; not available. The following

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men, women, boys, and girls there were in

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the overall rise in employment between June, 1951, and June, 1962, in London and the South-East, the Midlands, and Scotland, respectively.

I regret that figures for 1962 are not yet available. The figures for 1951 and 1961 were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 18th April, 1962.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the net loss of insured population to Scotland as ascertained by his Department during the latest year for which such information is available.

There was no net loss. Between mid-1960 and mid-1961, the estimated number of insured employees in Scotland rose by 1,000.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the industries in which 12,606 boys entered apprenticeships in Scotland, and what were the numbers of boys entering apprenticeships in each of those industries, during 1961.

Following is the Answer:

asked the Minister of Labour what was the incidence of short-time working in the shipbuilding, steel and paper-making industries in Scotland over the last three months.

From reports received by our local offices, I estimate that in iron and steel, including steel tubes, 4,200 workers were on short time at end April, 4,300 at end May and 4,200 at end June. Corresponding figures for paper making were 470, 390 and 150. No short-time working in shipbuilding has been reported.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress has been made in correlating the programmes of agricultural research institutions in the interests of meat research; what effect this will have on the decision to site a substation for the Meat Research Institute in Aberdeenshire; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 28th May.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what changes in the valuation of the credit for plutonium assumed in the calculation of the cost of producing electricity by nuclear power would be rendered necessary in consequence of British membership of Euratom without amendment of the governing treaty.

It is too early to say what, if any, effect our joining Euratom would have on the value of plutonium.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, to what extent Scottish firms are co-operating with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the application to industrial processes of air-lubricated bearings.

Since 1st April, 1961, the National Engineering Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has received written inquiries from five organisations in Scotland concerning the application of air-lubricated bearings. Four of these were industrial firms. One has already resulted in the design of an air bearing for a high precision inspection table which is now in use. In addition to these inquiries, at the recent open days held by the Laboratory twelve firms in Scotland asked for design information on the application of air-lubricated bearings to machine tools.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent Scottish firms are co-operating with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the application to industrial processes of hydrostatic transmissions and techniques for automatic error correction in machine tools.

Three applications for licences under patents pending in the name of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for hydrostatic transmissions have been received from firms in Scotland. Co-operation with one of them has resulted in the detailed design of a transmission. No inquiries concerned with automatic error correction in machine tools have been received from firms in Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many inquiries have been received by the Water Pollution Research Laboratories at Stevenage and East Kilbride, respectively; and how many of these were from Scotland.

In the calendar year 1961, 408 written replies were sent to inquiries received at the Water Pollution Research Laboratory, Stevenage; 20 of these were to inquiries from Scotland. In the same year the total number of inquiries at the Water Pollution Research Laboratory, East Kilbride, was 30: all were from Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the value of the work dome by the National Engineering Laboratory for private firms during 1961–62; and how much of this was for Scottish firms.

The facilities of the National Engineering Laboratory and the results of its own work are available to all private firms, and a considerable effort is devoted by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to encouraging firms to make use of them.The N.EL.'s receipts for work done specifically at the request of private industry amounted to £50,782 during 1961–62. Of this £4,515, or about 89 per cent. came from 26 firms in Scotland.My noble Friend and the Council of the D.S.I.R. are anxious to encourage the use by private firms of the N.E.L., and anything hon. Members can do to bring its facilities to public attention in Scotland or elsewhere will be in the interests of 'the whole nation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many requests for research reports were received by the National Engineering Laboratory from industry during 1961–62; and how many were from Scotland.

During the last financial year a total of 5,844 requests for research reports were received by the National Engineering Laboratory. Of these 409, or 7 per cent., were from Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many inquiries were received by the Hydraulics Research Station during 1961–62; and how many were from Scotland.

During the financial year 1961–62 a total of 174 inquiries were received by the Hydraulics Research Station; of this total ten were from Scotland, and of these three were from Scottish Public Authorities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science how many development contracts have been placed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research with private industry; and what was the number of these placed in Scotland.

As I stated in the House on Thursday, two of the Department's new major development contracts have so far been placed.Neither of these have been placed in Scotland but an important part of the work of one of them is likely to go there. My noble Friend and D.S.I.R. would be happy to receive applications from Scottish industry, and subject to technical merits and the availability of funds these would receive sympathetic consideration.

asked the Paliamentary Secretary for Science what percentage of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research's receipts from industry during 1961–62 was received from Scottish firms.

In 1961–62, receipts from Scottish firms were about 4 per cent. of D.S.I.R.'s total receipts from industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the volume of imports of sterilised cream from Denmark in each of the calendar years from 1958 to 1961; and what proportion of the total volume sold in the United Kingdom was supplied by Denmark in 1958 and 1961.

Imports of sterilised cream into the United Kingdom from Denmark were as follows:

asked the Minister of Aviation how the noise level of the Vickers VC10 will compare in operation with that of the Boeing 707; and what steps will be taken between now and its coming into use at London Airport to quieten the VC10.

It is expected that the VC10 will be less noisy than the Boeing 707. Possible methods of reducing aircraft noise are the subject of constant research and study; and advantage would be taken, in the case of the VC10, of any possibilities of improvement that might be found practicable before it comes into service.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of members of the Women's Royal Army Corps which he proposes to send to the British Army of the Rhine in the next few months.

The rôle of the W.R.A.C. in B.A.O.R., as elsewhere, is to carry out responsible military tasks and thereby release soldiers for service with fighting units. At the same time our troops in Germany undoubtedly benefit from their companionship.As I recently explained to the House, there are practical limitations to the number of W.R.A.C. who may be stationed in Germany; partly because B.A.O.R. is an operational command, and partly because of accommodation and administrative problems, which are of prime importance in safeguarding high standards of discipline and conduct in the Corps.There are at present 366 members of the W.R.A.C. serving with B.A.O.R. I hope to send a further 150 members of the Corps in the course of the next eight months. If, as a result of the improved recruiting of the Corps, further opportunities arise for sending more W.R.A.C. to Germany, I shall certainly consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what training is given to both full-and part-time direct entrant probation officers in Glamorgan and Wales, respectively; what are the numbers and stations of part-time probation officers in Wales; and what is the average caseload a direct entrant probation officer in Glamorgan handles in the first year of his appointment;(2) what proportion of full-time probation officers in the County of Glamorgan, and Wales, respectively, are Home Office trained; what proportion are direct entrants; and what are the numbers of direct entrants appointed there in the last five, 10 and 17 years, respectively.

The information is not immediately available, and I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is still the Government's intention to introduce re-rating of Scottish industry in 1963.

In view of the outcome of the 1961 revaluation in Scotland the Government have decided not to proceed with the re-rating of industry in Scotland in 1963. The present intention is to include in early legislation provision for re-rating on the occasion of the next general Scottish revaluation which is due to take place in 1966.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many branch officers in the Royal Navy in January, 1957, were not given the new rank of lieutenant-commander; and how many of these officers have died between 1957 and the present date.

2,344 on the active list, of whom 18 have since died.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increasing amount of freight and the number of passengers now passing through the Customs at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Municipal Airport at Woolsington, Northumberland, he will arrange for this airport to be upgraded from Category C to Category B for Customs purposes, and to have increased Customs staff stationed there during the summer months.

Customs airports are graded Category B when there is enough work throughout the year to give full-time employment to the Customs officers stationed there. The winter traffic at Woolsington would not keep a permanent officer fully employed. It would not, therefore, be justifiable to upgrade the airport at present, but additional Customs staff will be sent there during the summer months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will modify the individual price contract system for housing to enable those authorities with a heavy slum clearance programme to encourage large building contractors to participate with edaquate strength and over an extended period.

I think that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. I do not insist on competitive tendering for each individual housing project and in the case of local authorities with a long-term slum clearance problem, like Oldham's, I am in favour of forward contract arrangements providing for continuity of building work over a period of years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will appoint a team of qualified staff having a large measure of regional authority, similar to those for the new towns, to deal with the problems arising out of slum clearance in the older towns.

I am arranging for a group of administrative and technical officers to be stationed in Manchester to give special assistance to local authorities with big and difficult slum clearance problems.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) which Government Departments made representations to the Local Government Commission for Wales relating to local government areas in Wales before the preparation of the Commission's draft proposals:(2) which Government Departments made representations to the Local Government Commission for Wales after the publication of the Commission's draft proposals; and if he will give the dates on which the representations were made.

I am informed that no representations have been made to the Commission by any Government Department either before or after the publication of their draft proposals.At the investigation stage, that is before the publication of the draft proposals, information was furnished by the following Departments in response to specific requests by the Commission: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Welsh Department), Home Office, Ordnance Survey, Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Welsh Office), Board of Trade (Welsh Office), Ministry of Education (Welsh Department), Ministry of Transport (Transport Commissioner for Wales and Monmouthshire), and Welsh Board of Health.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether payments have been made to British subjects under Article 18 (a) of the Peace Treaty with Japan for loss or damage to property which arose before the existence of a state of war; what is the total amount of these payments to date; and what is the amount outstanding.

Payments have been made to British subjects under Article 18 (a) of the Treaty of Peace with Japan. The total amount of payments up to date is £431,826 18s. 4d. The total amount remaining available is £68,173 1s. 8d. Some eligible claims remain to be paid.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what proportion of United Kingdom imports duties would have to be raised, and on what proportion they would have to be lowered, if the United Kingdom were to join the European Economic Community on the basis of the existing Common External Tariff.

The proportions would depend upon the treatment of imports from the Commonwealth and upon other factors which are still the subject of negotiation in Brussels. They cannot therefore be calculated at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons, during his recent visit to Poland, he signed a protocol obliging this country to offer quotas for an additional £24 million worth of Polish imports into Great Britain; why no formal steps were taken to consult the British producers of glucose products before the additional Polish imports were agreed; and what steps have been taken to ensure that the imparts will not involve dumping at uneconomic prices harmful to the British industries concerned.

The Agreed Minute between the United Kingdom and Poland which was signed in Warsaw on the 12th June in my presence covers new quota lists for the twelve months commencing 1st July, 1962. The quotas have been increased on each side, the increased import quotas for Poland being balanced by increased export quotas to Poland. As glucose enters the United Kingdom under open general licence, no quota for glucose was established and the question of consulting the glucose industry formally about these imports did not arise. The glucose industry has already been informed that the Board of Trade would consider on its merits an application for action under the antidumping legislation if the industry could show that dumping was causing or threatening them with material injury.