asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how often, and for what reasons, Miss Georgina Heath was in hospital before July, 1962; why she was retained in prison between 11th and 24th August, 1962; why, after having been sentenced to borstal training, she was retained in Strangeways Prison, Manchester, until 9th November and treated like an adult offender; for how long she was retained there before being sent for borstal training; why she was treated there as an adult offender on visiting days; and what compensation he proposes to offer to Miss Heath and to her visitors for the treatment they were accorded at Strangeways Prison;

Georgina Heath spent three short periods in hospital before July, 1962, for observation of her mental state. She was detained in prison on remand between 11th and 24th August and again on committal after conviction between 24th August and 24th September when she was sentenced to borstal training. The sentencing court had information about her previous medical history. After being sentenced to borstal training she was detained in the female wing at Manchester Prison until 9th November awaiting a vacancy at a training borstal.

Will the Minister bear in mind that I appreciate that sympathetic reply by the Home Office in London? Will he further bear in mind that I am not attempting to interfere in any way in the function of the judiciary, nor am I condoning what the girl has done wrong? Does he agree with me, however, that her legal detention in Strangeways is a scandalous state of affairs? It is concrete evidence of the need to deal with this kind of case in a far more modern way. In view of what the girl has suffered up to now, will the hon. and learned Gentleman undertake to give his personal attention to seeing that she gets sympathetic treatment and consideration as soon as possible?

I am much obliged by what the hon. Member said at the beginning of his supplementary question. Of course, my right hon. Friend dislikes keeping in prison girls or boys awaiting borstal, even though they are separate from the adult offenders. The remand centres are the answer to this problem and they are coming forward. The first for girls will, we hope, be ready in the early part of 1964, and there will be others ready later that year and 1965.

Following the hon. and learned Gentleman's Answer, is he aware that the Criminal Justice Act, 1948. which was passed 15 years ago, envisaged remand centres but that only one has so far been opened? When is the one at Risley, in Lancashire, which has been on the cards for so long, to be opened? Secondly, can the hon. and learned Gentleman say when the girls will be moved from the borstals which are attached to prisons and when the new borstal in the north of England will be opened?

In reply to the first part of that question, the three remand centres concerned—Risley, Hewell Grange and Pucklechurch—will be opening in 1964. As to borstals for girls, this girl is at Bulwood, in Essex, which is one of the newest and best. All that can be done for her is being done. Of course, we need more of these institutions. I could not give an off-the-cuff answer to the third part of the hon. Lady's question, but the new borstals are coming forward much more rapidly than seemed to be the case last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what documents it is necessary for Commonwealth citizens to obtain from his Department before entering the United Kingdom for a visit.

There is no obligation on a Commonwealth citizen who is a bona fide business or holiday visitor to obtain any document at all from my Department, or from a British post overseas, before coming here. To make certain in advance that he will not experience difficulty at the port of arrival an intending Commonwealth visitor can, if he so desires, obtain an entry certificate from a British post overseas, but there is no requirement upon him to do so.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but is he aware that in the Commonwealth—and especially in Australia—there is a widespread belief that it is necessary to obtain a permit before even visiting the United Kingdom? Will he ask his information officers in the Commonwealth to give the maximum publicity to the Answer that he has just given?

Yes. I am aware that when the Commonwealth Immigrants Act first came into force there was some misconception on these lines in Australia. My information is that it has now been removed. I hope that my hon. Friend's Question will do anything further that is necessary completely to eradicate it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to shipping lines as to the precise nature of the documents which Commonwealth citizens should possess before coming to the United Kingdom for a visit.

Shortly before Part I of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act came into operation, a meeting was held between representatives of shipping companies and officers of the Home Office and of other interested Departments; and members of the Immigration Service are in frequent contact with the companies' representatives at the ports. I have no reason to suppose that the companies are not aware of the position as described in the Answer I have today given to Question No. 2.

Again, I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware, however, that quite recently, at any rate, shipping lines were refusing to allow passages to be booked by persons who did not hold entry permits into the United Kingdom? Will he tackle this problem in order to make sure that this sort of thing is not done, because it damages the reputation of our very liberal immigration and visiting laws?

My hon. Friend may be aware of the leaflet entitled "Admission of Commonwealth Citizens to the United Kingdom", which explains how welcome are people who are coming here on holiday or for business reasons. I know that some shipping companies were at one time inclined to take the line that an entry certificate was essential. I do not believe that any airline sought to impress that false idea on their passengers, and I hope that the shipping lines have by now given up doing so.

Is there any definition of the length of visit? Can it be three months, or six months?

The essential point is that the person shall be coming here on holiday, for a business visit or as a student. If the person concerned has any fear that questions may be raised about his entry he can, as I have explained, obtain an entry certificate beforehand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the nationalities of persons charged with crimes of violence in the United Kingdom in the year 1961.

My right hon. Friend regrets that this information is not available.

Can my hon. and learned Friend say whether we shall be able to discover from the figures of deportations the nationalities of those deported for crimes of violence?

The statistics will give, in the round, only the countries to which the deportees go, and they are not necessarily nationals of those countries. But the details provide a pretty good idea of the countries of origin, and I have no doubt that various conclusions can be drawn from them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the cost arising from escapes from Dartmoor Prison over the last ten years; and how much of this cost has fallen upon Devon County Council.

I regret that the information which my hon. Friend desires is not available, but I am informed that a rough estimate shows that additional police expenditure attributable to this cause may have amounted to between £4,000 and £5,000 a year in recent years.

Will my right hon. Friend consider relieving the county of any additional expense on this count in view of the fact that prisoners are drawn from all over England and when they are out in working parties they have a greater opportunity to escape than is the case with most other prisons?

I relieve the county of 50 per cent. of the cost, because that is covered by the Exchequer grant. Some counties have more prisons and borstals than does Devonshire—although I agree that escapes from Dartmoor often receive greater publicity. I do not think that it would be possible to reach any financial accommodation on these lines. All I can say is that the number of escapes from Dartmoor in 1962 was only half the 1961 number—although I do not claim any personal credit for that.

Does not Devonshire County Council gain from the fact that there is an influx of tourists to see this place?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the social consequences of the Betting and Gaming Act, 1960 and the Licensing Act, 1961.

No, Sir.

Am I to understand from that reply that the Minister is satisfied with the consequences of the Betting and Gaming Act, 1960? Does not he share the growing concern about the fantastic growth of casinos in our cities and the widespread increase in almost every other form of gambling? Is he aware of its effect on our home life and on the industrial activity of a great many people? Will he at least set up a Departmental committee to advise him upon the effects of the present widespread gambling increase?

I am never satisfied, but I do not need a Departmental committee to advise me about these matters. It is my business to inform myself fully on them. I put it to the hon. Member that both the Betting and Gaming Act and the Licensing Act have been in force for a comparatively short time. It would be wise for Parliament to take a rather longer view before deciding to amend either of them.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that those who showed much interest in the Betting and Gaming Bill when it was going through Parliament are not satisfied with the results? I agree that the time has not yet arrived for a thorough-going review, but will my right hon. Friend watch the position very carefully?

Yes. I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. These are extremely important matters.

That answer is not good enough. Is the Minister aware that there is growing concern about the undue amount of money being spent on betting and gaming? Bearing in mind the fact that when this Act was passed it was never contemplated that the present large number of betting shops would come into existence all over the country, will the right hon. Gentleman consider it his duty to look into the question now?

It is too early to talk in terms of amendment. In fact, the number of betting offices is no greater than was foreseen when the Bill was passed. Furthermore, illegal street betting has virtually ceased. I agree with the hon. Member that social and economic questions are involved.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to alleviate the overcrowding and unsatisfactory conditions at the Victoria Law Courts, Birmingham.

The provision of court accommodation in Birmingham is primarily for the Birmingham City Council. My right hon. Friend hopes that the provisions of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1962, dealing with the arrangement of assize and quarter sessions business will bring some relief to the problems of congestion.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that assize courts, quarter sessions and magistrates' courts are often all held on the same day, with the result that there is almost chaos in the courts? Is he further aware that there is no accommodation for juries-in-waiting or for probation interviews?

The accommodation is certainly bad, but it was part of the object of the 1962 Act to spread this work over the year by means of new assize arrangements and thus avoid the sort of clash that my hon. Friend has in mind. I must reiterate that for new courts proposals must come from the city council itself in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the number of cases brought before juvenile courts has increased, relative to the level elsewhere in the country, in areas of high and rising juvenile unemployment.

The increase in juvenile unemployment is quite recent, and so I regret that statistics of court cases on which to base a comparison are not yet available.

Is the Home Secretary aware that those of us who represent constituencies with high and rising levels of unemployment are very much aware of the social problems created and, in particular, the one referred to in the Question? We feel that the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Labour are not sufficiently appreciative of the social consequences. Will the right hon. Gentleman's Department take steps to bring this fact to the attention of those Ministries?

The hon. Member has raised an important question of juvenile delinquency. The steps taken by the Prime Minister to appoint Lord Hail-sham with special responsibility for this area prove that the Government are thoroughly alive to all aspects of the problem. But I can assure the hon. Member that I intend to keep the closest watch on any correlation between juvenile delinquency and unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to ensure that sodium chlorate is sold in such a form as to make it less effective as an explosive compound.

My right hon. Friend appreciates the seriousness of the problem to which my hon. Friend refers, and he is taking action in a number of ways to reduce the possibilities of the misuse of this substance.

While appreciating the substance of that reply, may I ask my hon. Friend whether, in view of the alarming number of accidents which are occurring through the misuse of this compound, it could be mixed with a liquified substance which would not impair its use as a weed killer but which would make it less effective as an explosive?

That possibility has been examined and tests have been conducted on behalf of the Home Office Explosives Branch, but they have shown that if would still be quite easy for anyone to dry it out and use it for explosive purposes unless the solution were so diluted as to make it virtually useless as a weed killer. Nevertheless, we are taking steps through manufacturers, distributors and retailers to make sure that the dangers are widely known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) to what extent recruitment for the police has been affected by the minimum height requirements for recruits; and

The minimum height standards undoubtedly mean that some otherwise suitable applicants cannot be accepted as police recruits, but my right hon. Friend does not think that it would be in the public interest to lower the minimum height of 5 ft. 8 ins. prescribed by the Police Regulations.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the average height of adult men in this country has recently been estimated at 5 ft. 7· ins., which is below the minimum height requirements? Is he aware that if the right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown) and the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) had applied to join the police they would have been rejected by all the police forces in this country and those forces would have lost possibly valuable recruits?

I am aware of the statistic to which my hon. Friend has referred, but I think this illustrates the point that it is generally desirable and accepted by public opinion that a policeman should be in a position physically to rise above surrounding humanity. As to the point made about right hon. Members of the Opposition Front Bench, I suppose that it is at any rate to the advantage of this House.

Does my hon. Friend realise that in the finest police force in the country, the Nottingham City Police, we maintain a minimum height standard of 6 ft., and we are fully up to strength and have a waiting list?

I am aware that a number of police forces insist on a minimum standard higher than the minimum laid down by the Police Regulations. There is no reason why they should not, if they can fill their forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a householders' guide concerning action to be taken in the event of a nuclear attack has been prepared; and when it will be distributed.

Copies of a handbook summarising the advice to be given to householders, if this should at any time become necessary, were made available on 15th January to local authorities for issue as a training publication to members of the civil defence, police and fire services. There is no present action which householders are being asked to take. The handbook will be kept up to date. Like other civil defence training publications, it is on sale to the public.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it desirable to allow householders to have this advice? In an Adjournment debate on the subject, I pointed out that Canada and other Commonwealth countries do this and consider it very helpful and necessary to get people prepared in case an emergency occurs.

Any householder can have a copy—the price is only 9d.—but I do not think this is the time for householders to start white-washing their windows and doing the other things they might have to do in a real emergency.

Does the Home Secretary consider that training should be given to the public in bricking up windows and filling book-cases with earth during the space of four minutes, as is recommended in the booklet?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce in the near future legislation for the compulsory licensing of domestic employment agencies.

Legislation is already in force in some local authority areas requiring the compulsory registration of female domestic employment agencies, and in other areas local Acts provide for the licensing of all employment agencies. My right hon. Friend cannot at present give any undertaking about general legislation on the subject.

Does not my hon. Friend think it necessary to get on with this legislation in view of the enormous number of girls coming to this country, particularly from Europe, who go to rather undesirable domestic agencies and who do not get the best appointments when they arrive? It would also enable us to sign the appropriate United Nations Convention.

I am not aware that there is any general urgency throughout the country on this problem, but if there is in any local authority area, it is open to the local authority to bring in its own legislation.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is very necessary to have these employment agencies licensed? Since it is the responsibility of the Home Office, would it not be very much better if that were compulsory rather than being left to local authorities? Will he look at the matter again, particularly as the hon. Lady the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Miss Vickers) pointed out that it is not only girls in this country but strangers coming to our shores who are involved?

I am aware of the points the hon. Lady has made. We certainly will give them our attention, but I can only repeat what my right hon. Friend's predecessor said on the subject, that it is mainly a question of Parliamentary time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last year a person charged with being drunk and incapable was subsequently found to be ill.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis does not keep separate records of the occasions on which a person charged with being drunk and incapable is subsequently found to be ill, nor does my right hon. Friend receive this information from other police forces. I regret, therefore, that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware of a recent case where a person arrested on a charge of being drunk and disorderly subsequently died in his cell? In view of the gravity of this occurrence, does he not consider that the regulations prescribing medical examination of an accused person should be thoroughly tightened up?

I am not aware of that case. If the hon. Member will send me particulars, I shall certainly look into it. The Commissioner assures my right hon. Friend that the number of cases in which someone is accused of being drunk and incapable and it subsequently turns out that the condition is due to illness is very small indeed. Whenever there is reason to suspect that any person arrested for being drunk is ill, a doctor is called as a matter of practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to allow local justices to order the closing of betting shops during the hours of racing.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. J. T. Price) on 20th December.

If, as is alleged, there is in some localities a considerable nuisance from too many people hanging about in betting shops during racing hours, a nuisance from too many people being tempted to bet from race to race, and a nuisance because in some localities race courses find that people prefer to go to the shops instead of to the race courses, would it not be a good thing to allow justices a local option to make up their minds on the question of prohibited opening in the way suggested in this Question?

It is not a question for the justices but for the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary so far has been acting in general on the views expressed when the Bill was going through Parliament. It was then held that betting offices ought to be open during racing hours so that people who had no other opportunity could place their bets. It was felt that if they were not open to them it would give rise to illegal betting, which is what the Act was designed to stop. But I have an open mind on this, and I am quite prepared to consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent imported cotton textiles are being purchased for use in Her Majesty's prisons; whether the cotton blankets and sheets so purchased are made from imported cloth; and whether this cloth conforms to the specification laid down for cloths of United Kingdom manufacture.

No cotton blankets or sheets are purchased for use in Her Majesty's prisons. About £100,000 was spent in 1962 on cotton goods for prison establishments in England and Wales; about £30,000 of this was spent on imported goods, £20,000 being on yarn and £10,000 on blue drill cloth for overalls.

Do not those figures, which show that the Prison Commissioners are purchasing about a third of their requirements in the form of imported cloth and yarn, represent a very shocking state of affairs in view of the difficulties at present being experienced by Lancashire? Could the right hon. Gentleman say what steps the Prison Commissioners take to ascertain that the goods they purchase from firms in this country are in fact of United Kingdom manufacture? Will he instruct them to buy their goods from Lancashire?

The Prison Commissioners have to do what other Government Departments do and have always done, whatever Government have been in power, which is to accept the lowest tender provided that the goods are up to specification. I might be in trouble with the Public Accounts Committee if I gave contrary instructions. These contracts are open to any British manufacturer and it will please me greatly if British manufacturers are more successful with their tenders in future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales the hostel system is operating; and if he will make a statement on this system.

Thirteen, including two for women.

Can the Home Secretary say what percentage of men and women who have taken part in this scheme have been convicted again after their release?

I am not sure that I can do the mathematics quickly enough, but of 335 men discharged from hostels up to the end of 1961, on completion of long sentences, 290 had not been reconvicted a year later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give directions to electoral registration officers that no alterations be made to electoral registers after they have been published.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the need for such action, but he will be glad to consider any case which the hon. Gentleman may wish to bring to his notice.

Is not the hon. Gentle man aware that during the South Northants by-election names were added to the register in the course of the by-election campaign? I do not suggest for a moment that this was done with anything but the best of intentions, but was it not quite illegal? Should not the hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the law is uniformly enforced, so that there may be public confidence in the register?

I have heard of that case and, like the hon. Member, I have no doubt that the registration officer was acting in good faith. However, I am advised that it is a question of law whether he was entitled to do what he did, and it is for the courts to settle that point of law. My right hon. Friend has no authority to issue such a direction as the hon. Gentleman presupposes.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiry to see what did happen?

We know exactly what happened. The question of whether it is lawful is for the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the 2,796 accidents needing hospital treatment caused by fireworks in the period 15th October to 10th November, 1962, what consultations he has had with the British Firework Manufacturers' Safety Association to decrease the dangers from fireworks during 1963; and what action he contemplates.

The analysis of injuries caused by fireworks during this period which were treated at hospitals has just been completed, and I am circulating the results in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am sending copies of these figures to the British Fireworks Manufacturers' Safety Association and inviting them to discuss them with my Department.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what pattern of accidents is revealed by a study of the figures and whether the firework manufacturers can do something to remedy this pattern of accidents?

I think the hon. Member will see that the figures are set out in considerable detail. Fortunately, out of 2,800 accidents, 1,800 were only minor injuries.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that many of these accidents are caused by home-made fireworks and not by those made by members of the British Firework Manufacturers' Safety Association, and by the misuse of sodium chlorate?

This is just the sort of matter which the association may wish to discuss with us at the discussions to which I have invited it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limitations he is proposing under the Animal (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962, on the use of rodenticides.

My right hon. Friend is consulting with representatives of those interested in this question about the scope of the regulations to be made.

Would the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no regular poison which is used against rats and mice will be prohibited until there is an effective alternative?

My right hon. Friend cannot give an assurance until he has finished consulting all the interests which have made representations to him on this subject.

Surely we are not to have ridiculous sentiment about rats, or are we? Cannot the Home Secretary give us a definite assurance that local authorities, which in London or elsewhere are carrying on a continous fight against the menace to health which rats cause, will not find that he will prohibit the use of poisons like red squill or other effective rodenticides?

My right hon. Friend will not place any handicaps before a campaign against rats, but I cannot give such an assurance as the hon. Member seeks before we have received and considered all the representations being made.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the poison which is particularly important in keeping pests down is Warfarin? Is he aware that it would be a bad thing not also to bear in mind that there are some poisons which definitely deserve to be removed from the authorised list?

My right hon. Friend will bear both those points in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has decided to release Christopher Craig next May.

Craig's case, in common with those of all persons detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure, or serving sentences of life imprisonment, has been kept under review. After careful consideration of all the circumstances, I reached the decision that it would be right to release him on licence next May. He will then have been detained for 10· years. His release will be subject to his continued good conduct in prison meanwhile, and to satisfactory arrangements being made for his resettlement.

Would the Home Secretary be good enough to explain what principle he follows in deciding to commute life sentences? For example, why has he decided to release Christopher Craig and Frederick Emmett-Dunne, both of whom were involved in murder charges, in the very near future, whereas, on the other hand, he is keeping in prison Joseph Doyle who was also sentenced to life imprisonment for implication in a raid on a military unit in Berkshire, and who is being kept in prison for a life sentence, despite representations which the right hon. Gentleman has received from a deputation of members of the Irish Parliament in Dublin?

I will certainly keep Doyle's case under review, too. His crime was committed some two years later than Craig's. What I take into account are the circumstances of the offence, the age and character of the offender, his development in detention, and the need to protect the public from any prisoner who may become a danger if released.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest figures are of drug addicts known to the authorities.

There are 456 known addicts to drugs controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1951.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is reason to believe that the number of drug addicts has been gravely under-estimated by his Department, that stimulants and sedatives are far too loosely controlled and that all kinds of people are developing drug addiction as a result? Has not the time come for a much more accurate inquiry into the present state of affairs with a view to much more definite action being taken by the Home Office?

I am aware of statements which from time to time are made in the Press and elsewhere and which suggest that the number has been gravely under-estimated. Our experience is that whenever such statements are published and we seek to trace the evidence on which they are based, we make very little progress in adding to the evidence already in our possession. Any evidence which we can obtain from any quarter or which may come to us from the Press or elsewhere will be carefully examined. We are very acutely aware of the gravity of the problem.

Is my hon. Friend aware that if he visits a hostel in my constituency, he will be able to get much of the evidence which will substantiate what the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) has just said. I hope that he will pay a visit to the hostel and listen to what people in charge of it have to say, for he will find it quite shattering.

That is precisely the kind of evidence which we would like to have made available to us.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for improving London's taxi service.

I am glad to say that there has been a steady increase in recent years in the numbers of both licensed cabs and drivers. Prospective drivers are coming forward in increasing numbers and the procedure for testing them has been simplified and accelerated. My right hon. Friend has invited repre- sentatives of the trade to consider certain suggestions for further improving the service.

But does not that Answer mean that the London public have to go on enduring a totally inadequate taxi service for years to come? Is it not absurd that, although there is a much greater demand today for taxis, the position is that there are still 1,500 fewer than there were before the war, and is not this due largely to the fact that the rules and regulations were laid down in the days of the hansom cab and are completely inadequate to deal with modern conditions?

I do not think that that is entirely true. The question of meeting the public demand is, of course, a question for the trade itself. The responsibility of the Home Office is concerned with fares, with the construction of cabs, and with the character and competence of the drivers. We have no wish to place any limit on the number of either cabs or drivers other than insuring that those controls are met.

As I am not satisfied with that answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires caused by paraffin heaters were reported to the fire services in 1960, 1961, and 1962, respectively; and how many deaths resulted therefrom.

In 1960 2,988 fires caused by paraffin heaters were reported to fire brigades in England and Wales, and in 1961 3,004. The statistics do not show how many deaths were caused by these fires, but it seems from sampling that there were rather fewer than 30 in each year. I regret that figures are not yet available for 1962.

Does my hon. Friend know that in Nottingham, where these heaters are very much used by Commonwealth immigrants, we have averaged one fire a fortnight during the past two years, and will he perhaps encourage some other local authorities to follow the example of the Nottingham Home Safety Council and Fire Brigade Committee which have launched a widespread campaign to instruct people in the proper use of these heaters?

I was not aware of the statistics for Nottingham, and I am very glad to learn of the example it has set, but I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that since the middle of last year regulations have been in force which require oil heaters to conform to certain specifications laid down by the British Standards Institution; but it is really too early yet to know what result that will have had on the statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the recent increase in fires to domestic premises, and the loss of life involved; and whether he will make a statement as to the chief causes of these incidents.

Between 1958 and 1961, which is the last year for which figures are available, the number of fires attended by fire brigades in dwellings in England and Wales rose from 22,736 to 28,532, an increase of approximately 25 per cent. The number of deaths was 579 in 1958 and 564 in 1961. The fires were caused chiefly by electricity, oil appliances, smoking materials, chimney fires spreading beyond the chimney, and gas appliances, in that order of relative importance.

In view of the information which the right hon. Gentleman has given in regard to the part played by oil heaters, is he satisfied that the present standards provide adequate protection?

I think that this is very largely a matter of publicity, and the Committee of the Central Fire Brigade Advisory Council is at this moment considering means of improving fire prevention publicity.

Under the general heading of fires caused by electricity, can the right hon. Gentleman say how many were caused by electric blankets?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what animals have been used in experiments involving the forced inhalation of tobacco smoke; and what means are employed to make them inhale the smoke.

Animals which have been used in experiments involving the inhalation of tobacco smoke include rabbits, rats, mice, guinea-pigs, desert-rats, pigeons and hens. Some experiments involve the introduction of tobacco smoke into the animal's mouth or, in the case of hens, into the air sac. In other cases, animals have been kept in an atmosphere containing a high tobacco smoke content.

But would not my hon. Friend agree that the animals used in these experiments must suffer agonies of fear and pain? Would not he also agree that in America, where the experiments have been discontinued, and in this country, not one animal has been induced to contract lung cancer? As human beings willingly and voluntarily smoke, despite medical warnings, what are the reasons for inflicting these diabolical experiments on animals purely to try to prove that they can be induced to contract lung cancer?

On the advice that we have received in the Home Office, I do not think it is true to say that the animals involved in these experiments suffer agonies. I am told that it causes them no more discomfort to inhale tobacco smoke than it causes human beings.