asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern amongst British farmers over the imports of Dutch cheese and French dried milk; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that these imports have been the subject of recent comment. For the last calendar year, they were less than 3 per cent. of total imports of the products in question, and should therefore be kept in perspective. I am not satisfied there is any cause for action by the Government.

Would the Minister agree that the British dairy farmer can make an even greater contribution to the replacement of imports of dairy produce? Would he accept that with the present economic stringency this is the time when they could be given a bigger share than they would have under this arrangement?

We hope that they will play a bigger part, but, if we expect to sell overseas, we have to buy. But that does not detract from the part which we think this sector of the industry will play in future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to make the fees payable for inspection of slaughtered meat a charge upon the Revenue and not one which falls upon butchers.

Our proposals for the amendment of the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1963, do not include any change in the financial arrangements. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that the arguments used by his colleague in 1963 when this matter was under discussion are equally compelling now? Since it is a national scheme, as he said at the time, it should be a national responsibility.

The total amount which meat inspection puts on a pound of meat is less than a tenth of a penny. I do not think that the public objects to paying for the aesthetic and health value of meat inspection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many claims for acreage payments have been submitted too late to rank for payment in each of the last three cereal deficiency payment years; and what are his reasons for abolishing the sending out of reminders to growers to send in these forms.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what acreage of barley and oats was involved in applications which were received too late for subsidy payment in each of the last three cereal deficiency payment years.

The number of late claims rejected in each of the last three years was 183, 165 and 123. I regret that information about the acreages involved is not available. It is the farmer's responsibility to submit his claims in time, and we do not issue reminders under other subsidy schemes.

The numbers which the Parliamentary Secretary has given are fairly substantial. He will realise that it has been the practice to issue reminders. Although, in spite of reminders, there has been this number, is not the hon. Gentleman afraid that it will be vastly greater without them? Does not this mean that many farmers who would otherwise be entitled to a subsidy will not get it? Is not this very unfortunate?

No. In the form which we are sending out we include this red printed slip, which surely should be adequate. We are trying to save money. To put out hundreds of thousands of extra reminders is quite a lot. That influenced us a good deal in stopping this reminder system.

Would the hon. Gentleman say how much money his Ministry has saved by stopping the sending of these reminders?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the progress of the home agricultural industry towards fulfilment of the targets set out for it in the National Plan and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. Good progress is being made towards the objectives of a selective expansion of output and the release of labour through increasing productivity. The Government and the industry have taken steps to implement the Plan and we have measures in hand, such as the Agriculture Bill, which will give the industry further help towards the achievement of these objectives.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that, even if the planned targets were achieved, there would be a substantial increase in the bill for imported food, which we cannot afford? Would not he further agree that the right way to give the agricultural industry its head would be gradually to move over to something nearer the Common Market system of agricultural support?

I do not think that that arises from the Question. The figure for increased demand is roughly what the industry itself thought it was capable of achieving.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman a question which arises directly from Question on the Paper? Will he define what neither he nor his right hon. Friend the Minister have previously defined, namely, what is meant by saying that "a major part" of the increased demand at home will be met under the National Plan by home producers?

One cannot possibly be precise in agricultural production, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, but a "major part" is a major part.

Would my hon. Friend say whether any provision was made in the National Plan for a 7·2 increase in rents last year? In order to encourage small farmers, will he agree to a retrospective rent freeze?

We all understand my hon. Friend's interest in rents, which, as he well knows, are always taken into account in the Price Review. We did not include this point in the National Plan, because it is not a production point.

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that one of the targets in the National Plan was to get rid of 140,000 agricultural workers, 5,000 of them in Wales. Would the hon. Gentleman say whether the Government still have that target and whether they intend to carry it through?

It is not a good description to say that the aim is to get rid of men. We are asking agriculture to make a contribution of 140,000 men to increasing productivity. We are up to that target. I have not the figures for Wales, where the hon. Gentleman and I were yesterday, as against the rest of the country. But this is part of the target, and it is one which the industry is meeting.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to protect the traditional shell fishermen of Cornwall and Devon from the activities of Irish aqualung divers who have been banned from commercial fishing in the Republic.

I have no reason to think that any protection is needed.

Is the Minister aware that in South Africa, the United States, Ireland and many other countries skin diving has been banned because of its effects upon stocks of crayfish? If the hon. Gentleman is not prepared to ban skin diving, will he consider a method whereby zones could be introduced to protect the spawning grounds of the crayfish?

The hon. Member will be aware that I cannot answer for other countries, but he will also be aware that scientific investigation is at present taking place into the Cornish crayfish stocks. Certainly there is no scientific information to bear out the hon. Member's allegation that skin diving is having an effect.

Is the Minister aware that this is an increasing problem and is not confined solely to the South-West but that there is much poaching of lobsters from fishermen's pots by aqualung operators in other parts of the country, including Selsey, in my constituency? Cannot the Minister offer some protection for the fishermen?

If poaching of that kind is taking place and the hon. Member will let me have information, I will see that action is taken. This was not borne out, however, by a delegation which was led by one of his hon. Friends.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that, despite the agreement arising from Report No. 13 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, brewers are evading the spirit of the agreement by increasing charges in their managed houses in non-public bars, and increasing the practice of not providing public houses with public bars; and what action he will take to deal with this situation.

I have no evidence to suggest that brewers are evading the spirit of the agreement in either of the ways suggested by my hon. Friend. My Department is in close touch with the Brewers' Society on the working of the agreement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is plenty of evidence to show that this is taking place? I will make it available to him pretty quickly if he does not know about it. On the other point, will my right hon. Friend make representations to the Brewers' Society that when some of us are called to the bar we prefer the unpretentiousness of the public bar and are more concerned with price and quality than with the knick-knacks on the walls?

I can only say that I sympathise with that last remark. I have, however, made an agreement with the Brewers' Society and I have no evidence of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend. If he has any evidence, I will carefully look at it.

Would not the Minister agree that the brewing industry has done everything possible to comply with the undertaking which was given to him? Would he not further agree that the attention of his hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Ellis) might better be directed to the much higher prices charged in houses leased to free undertakers by the Bristol Corporation?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the factors responsible for the rise, spread and increase in salmonella typhimurium infection; what are the reasons for the rise in drug resistance in these organisms; whether he is aware of the potential risk of infection from these organisms in man; and if he will make a statement.

I have no precise information to show whether this infection in animals is increasing or that veterinary use of antibiotics has led to an increase in drug resistance. A Joint Committee of the Agricultural and Medical Research Councils has been considering some aspects of this problem and its report is awaited. My right hon. Friend's Scientific Advisory Panel is also reviewing the use of antibiotics in food and agriculture.

Is the Minister aware that six people in this country died of salmonella typhimurium infection during the last six months? Is he further aware that the source of most of this infection is in Essex? Will he not have discussions with the Minister of Health to see whether action should not be taken, because it has definitely been proved that the use of drugs in calves is setting up a serious resistance within human beings?

I doubt the hon. Member's last statement that it has been proved that these drugs have set up this resistance. We recognise, however, the problem of salmonella infections, of which, as I take it the hon. Member knows, there are simply hundreds, including this one. We are looking at the matter carefully and the eminent committees which I have mentioned are looking into the position seriously.

Will the Minister undertake personally to follow up the situation carefully? Some serious issues are involved, including that of human health, and I am sure that he would wish to see every possible safeguard maintained.

I certainly give that assurance.

Owing to the unsatisfactory Answer which I have received, I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will have published the names of agricultural insecticides based on organo-phosphorous compounds.

The list of products for farmers and growers approved for efficiency under the Agricultural Chemicals Approval Scheme indicates those which are based on organo-phosphorous compounds. Manufacturers participating in the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme indicate on the label of their products when an agricultural insecticide is so based.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the lethal and epidemic qualities of certain agricultural insecticides such as those based on organo-phosphorous compounds from the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment; and if he will make a statement.

There are no agricultural insecticides on sale in this country based on organo-phosphorous compounds provided by the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a lecture on this subject was given recently by the senior principal scientific officer of that establishment? Is he aware that one of these pesticides was recently reported in the Press as the cause of a small township in the United States needing to be evacuated because of its accidental misuse, and that this particular compound, Paraphion, is freely available to members of the public in this country? In the public interest, should not my hon. Friend prohibit it and the use of other similar pesticides?

We exercise tremendous care in dealing with these matters. We have advisory committees consisting of really eminent people to consider them. I was unaware of the lecture to which my hon. Friend has referred. I shall certainly look at what he has said in the last part of his supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the average quantities of fish, broccoli and potatoes exported from Cornwall to other parts of the British Isles each year; by what means they are transported; and whether he will make a statement.

Precise figures are not available but it is estimated that in a normal year some 4,000 tons of fish, 30,000 tons of broccoli and 11,000 tons of early potatoes are exported from Cornwall to other parts of the British Isles. Some two-thirds of the fish, broccoli and potatoes goes by road and the remainder by rail.

Has the hon. Gentleman any information about the route taken by the proportion that goes by road? Is it the A30 or the A38?

All I know is that if any of it goes the way I went round the A38 one day, it could be slowed up considerably. I cannot give the hon. Member precise information, but there is no evidence of a real hold-up in the area in the transport by road of this produce to the markets.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a White Paper setting out the main effects of British entry into the European Economic Community on British agriculture and retail food prices, respectively.

I do not think I could usefully enlarge upon the statements that have already been made on these matters.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that this is one of the most important questions regarding any sort of negotiations which might be made with the Community, quite apart from any other political considerations, 'and that we need this information to have properly informed public discussion of the matter?

I agree that many statements have been made. I have made statements myself. Obviously, joining the Community could mean a considerable increase in prices.

Would not the Minister agree that his well-known opposition to the Common Market would be put in better perspective by publication of a White Paper of this kind to enlarge public debate on a major issue which will arise if we again seek membership of the Community?

I am not certain about all the factors in relation to the European Community, which has not finally clarified its own position on many points of agricultural policy. I still adhere to the statements which I have made. Entry could be harmful without proper safeguards to our farmers and it could mean increased food prices to consumers.

Will not the Minister leave aside his well-known prejudices in regard to this matter and let us look at it factually? Is it not an excellent thing to do as is suggested and issue a White Paper and let us have discussion of these matters? The right hon. Gentleman knows that I take a very different view from him in this regard and that many of us are not satisfied with his negative approach to the whole question.

I may have prejudices, but I believe that they are good prejudices. My only anxiety on this matter is that our home agriculture should not be jeopardised. Therefore, in any future developments we must hear this in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he is having with the National Farmers' Union and the Agricultural Workers' Union with a view to preparing the ground for the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community and what conclusions he has reached about the problems involved.

I am not holding any such discussions with either of these organisations at present.

As it is now clear that, in spite of all the gobbledegook from the Prime Minister, one of the primary aims of British foreign policy is to join the Common Market on acceptable terms, is it not deplorable that the Government have been so slothful in considering the effects that this might have on British agriculture and horticulture?

The Government have not been slothful. If we had accepted the Conservative approach. we would have gone in without any safeguards.

The right hon. Gentleman must know that that is not so. He has refused to issue a White Paper. Is it not time that he took this matter seriously and tried to take some action which will help to facilitate our entry into the Common Market with proper safeguards?

The right hon. Gentleman knows that the Tory Party levy policy for British agriculture means the end of major safeguards?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of Yugoslav pork and beef were imported into the country during 1964–65

2,200 tons of pork and 13,100 tons of beef between April, 1964, and March, 1965.

Will the Minister bear in mind that increasing quantities of these products will be coming into this country due to the Common Market tariffs, and therefore food is diverted to this country? Does that not show how important it is that there should be far stricter import control over these products?

No. I think the figures for 1965–66 show a very substantial fall. Beef fell to 3,500 tons and pork to 1,300 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the new type of outrigger arms for tractors as an adequate safety device in forming the regulations he is preparing on tractor safety.

We are considering the possible effectiveness of the outrigger arms for tractors to which the hon. Member refers as part of the general study of the comments on the proposed regulations. It does not seem probable, however, that they will afford adequate protection against overturning in as wide a range of circumstances as would a safety frame or cab.

Will the Minister bear in mind that we have had a further two or three fatal accidents with tractors in the South-West very recently? Will he urgently bring forward new regulations to deal with this very serious problem?

Yes, we are attending to this very urgently indeed, but as the hon. Gentleman's Question suggests, there are differences of opinion as to what is the best method, and consultations are going on. We should like to be sure that what we decide is right. We appreciate that outrigger arms afford a considerable amount of safety.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans:le has, in co-operation with the White Fish Authority, for market research into the retailing of white fish.

My Department is meeting half the cost of the White Fish Authority's programme of economic research, which includes studies of retailing.

Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that, in view of the savage cut in the white fish and herring subsidies for the ensuing year, it is essential to press on with this project with a view to giving better returns to fishermen as quickly as possible?

Quite obviously, I disagree with the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, but we will debate it later. As to the latter part, we have always believed that proper marketing would bring better results, not only to those who catch and sell fish but to the consumers as well.

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that the White Fish Authority has been in existence long enough to have conducted half a dozen market researches? Does he really think that the White Fish Authority is making a worthwhile contribution to the industry?

I think that the White Fish Authority has done a fairly good job; and I 'think that under the present Chairman this job has been tackled. I cannot be held responsible for what went on in the years prior to his taking over.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of prospects for the exploitation of the South Atlantic fishing grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Investigations into prospects in the South-Eastern Atlantic are being carried out jointly by the White Fish Authority, the Ministry of Technology and my Department. An account is given in the Annual Report of the Authority laid before Parliament on 23rd June, 1966.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him if he would not agree that the exploitation of these grounds would help in easing the overfishing in some of the more traditional grounds around our coasts?

Yes, I agree with the hon. Gentleman, and that is the reason why these researches have taken place.

Is my hon. Friend aware that fishing off the Patagonia coast will cause longer and longer voyages for the home-based fishing fleet, and is he further aware that the consequent absence of the husbands causes their wives much concern? Will he agree to have a sociological survey into this?

I do not underestimate the seriousness of the question raised by my hon. Friend. When we are investigating these things, as we are, quite obviously we have got to consider all the repercussions they will have on the people employed in the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is now being conducted in the field of fish farming; what results have so far been achieved; and if he will make a statement.

Research and experimental work in fish farming is being carried out by the Fisheries laboratories, by the White Fish Authority and by universities. An account appears in the Annual Report of the White Fish Authority laid before Parliament on 23rd June.

Will the hon. Gentleman hurry this research on? Would he confirm its potential importance to seaside resorts, particularly where heat and power from power stations are likely to be available.

Yes. In reply to the latter part of the supplementary question, research is going on into this particular aspect. With regard to overall research, whatever we do it is going to take some time to get proper answers, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the three parties concerned in this work are not losing any time at all in seeking to find results.

Would my hon. Friend indicate just what success has been attained so far in connection with fish farming as a viable enterprise? Have any definite conclusions yet been obtained?

We are in the early stages of the research at Lowestoft, which is being very helpful indeed; but I am bound to tell my hon. Friend that it will be some time yet before we are able to say whether it will be a viable proposition or not.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what talks he has had with the White Fish Authority regarding the formulation of a scheme for the establishment of minimum prices in the white fish industry; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the replies given on 2nd March and 11th May.

While thanking my hon. Friend for his usual candour, may I ask him whether he is aware that this delay is becoming a little niggling? Could he possibly give us a date when this report may come?

I think my hon. Friend will realise that this really is not a matter for the Ministry. It is a matter for the Authority and the industry. I think my hon. Friend can be assured that the Authority and its very able Chairman are doing all they possibly can.

On this point, may I endorse what the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) has said, in that speed is needed, and also what the hon. Gentleman has said about the very able Chairman, but may I ask whether he would not agree that it is most essential to get this cleared up, since otherwise the industry will suffer very seriously?

Yes, I agree with the right hon. Gentleman, but when one undertakes a scheme like this, then consultation has to take place with every part of the industry.

Order. It is difficult for the Chair to hear the Questions and Answers when there is so much background noise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation compelling milk retailers to provide half-pint bottles for milk, in view of the number of retired persons and individuals living on their own who have no means of storing milk overnight.

Wake up.

I must say that it is a little difficult to hear what Questions are being asked.

Some dairies have discontinued the sale of milk in half-pint bottles because they find it uneconomic. I am not satisfied that it would be desirable to introduce an element of compulsion into the present arrangements governing the sale of milk.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the present system creates a great wastage of milk and also creates a wastage of money? Does he not think that, in the interests of those living on low fixed incomes and of people having to live on their own, this legislation is long overdue?

I have had a look at this. If we are going to insist on this, we are going to put up considerably the cost of delivery. We also have to remember that, in at least half of the country, people are still able to get these half-pint bottles, and we do not want to cause an increase in their cost of living by forcing them upon the others. On the other hand, I am informed by the people concerned that today milk bought in one-pint bottles and kept in a cool place will last two days.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how soon work can commence near Llechryd, Cardiganshire, to combat the danger of flooding by the River Teifi in that area.

We are ready to consider the proposals for approval for grant as soon as we get the details required and I understand that the river authority hopes to give these shortly. I cannot say when it will start this work.

Does my hon. Friend appreciate that there has been quite some delay in this matter? There were reports to the Government in 1852 and 1873. There is a grave danger that if this work is not carried out expeditiously there will be further flooding, perhaps causing loss of life.

My right hon. Friend and I cannot be responsible for the reports submitted on the dates referred to by my hon. Friend, but we are advised that there is no great danger of the slate slipping or loss of human life, but we will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the quantity of meat which will be imported annually into this country from New Zealand during the currency of the recently negotiated agreement whereby imports of meat from New Zealand will be without restriction in quantity until September, 1972.

The quantity will depend on supply and demand but I do not foresee any marked divergence from current trends.

As the New Zealand meat producers have announced plans to diversify the sale of lamb from New Zealand, and particularly to review what is sold to the United Kingdom and North America would not the hon. Gentleman agree that he ought to be able to give encouragement to those producing lamb in this country to increase the amount for the home market?

Certainly, Sir. That was the purpose of our National Economic Plan, to have a selective approach to increased production.

Order. I must ask the House to be fair to those who have Questions to ask.

We have encouraged home production, and that was the purpose of the last review.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that this agreement will not run counter in any way to the assurance given in the National Plan that the major part of the increased requirement would come from home farmers?

Certainly we stand by the National Plan.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to increase agricultural exports; and what success has been achieved in the last 12 months.

The full range of Government services to exporters is available to the agricultural industry, and my Department works closely with the Departments responsible. Exports of agricultural and food products in the year ended May, 1966, were worth £316 million—£38 million up on the previous year.

Last week I presided over the launching of the British Agricultural Export Council, which has been set up by the industry with encouragement and advice from me and my Department.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the possibility of in, creasing our agricultural representatives in embassies abroad?

I will consider the whole question of attachés, but, where we have no attachés, obviously our commercial counsellors help considerably.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to increase the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Sales promotion is primarily a matter for the industry. But the introduction of statutory grading and the setting up of an Apple and Pear Development Council should help.

As we are at the bottom of the league table in Europe in respect of both products, will the hon. Gentleman look at this again to see whether there is anything that his Department can do to be of assistance?

We have made a start, and we have persuaded the industry—at least we have done it in consultation with the industry—to set up this machinery, and I am certain that it will show good results.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that some hormone selective weed killers are a danger to the health and life of human beings and animals; and what steps are taken to clear them for use and ensure that dangerous specifications are not put into use.

The Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals subjects weed killers to rigorous scrutiny before making recommendations for their safe use and before they are cleared through the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme.

I understand the interest of the party opposite in pesticides at the moment, but will the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that really great attention is being paid to this matter, because it is causing grave concern in the country?

Yes, Sir. I can give the hon. Member that assurance.

Does the Minister to agree that it looks as if the Treasury Bench needs a little selective weed killer at the moment?

I am encouraged in that view from the position I am looking from just now.

It is obviously time to move away from Questions.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will arrange for the Services Committee to consider the matter of producing an Order Paper listing amendments announced as being provisionally selected by the Chair to be available to Members when a Bill is being considered in committee of the whole House.

The time available is insufficient to produce an over-printed Order Paper listing Amendments provisionally selected by the Chair but consideration is being given to placing an extra 50 copies of the list of selected Amendments on the shelf in the No Lobby. Even if extra copies can be provided in this way, however,Mr.Speaker or the Chairman must, of course, retain their right to alter the provisional selection, which is sometimes done after representations have been received.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware that admission under the Gallery is not open to women without special permission; what is the reason for this discrimination; and whether he will take steps to admit women on the same terms as men.

Under the Gallery is intended primarily for expert advisers and those having a direct interest in the debate and if a woman comes within those categories arrangements can be made for her to be admitted.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that to secure the admission even of a woman expert, it is necessary to obtain the certificate of the Chief Whip on either side of the House? Would my right hon. Friend explain why his need is greater than that of other hon. Members?

The history of the admission of women under the Gallery goes back to the eighteenth century. There is a very good reason for it. I would remind the House that both Mr. Speaker's and the Serjeant at Arm's Galleries are reserved for women only.

Will the Lord President undertake a complete review of the allocation of seats in the public Gallery? Is he aware that many hon. Members have been told that there is not a single seat left today, yet we look up there and see a whole row of empty seats? Is he further aware—

Order. The hon. Gentleman cannot call attention to the presence or absence of strangers without risking serious consequences.

May I partly thank the right hon. Gentleman for his information? Is he aware that who sits in various Galleries in other parts of the House is nothing to do with the right of women to be admitted under the Gallery as experts? The whole procedure to get women's rights established as experts has been abominable. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I was thinking of establishing myself a wayleave under the Gallery in order to protect our interests?

There is no difficulty whatever about a lady being given permission to sit under the Gallery if she is an expert and is advising any hon. Member within the House on a private Member's Bill or on public business.

asked the Lord President of the Council what progress is being made towards supplying each private Member who so requests with more than one filing cabinet.

I have been asked to reply.

The number of filing cabinets issued to Members depends largely on space. A Member who has a single room can have a second filing cabinet if he wants one but there is normally insufficient space in Members' desk rooms for the provision of a second filing cabinet for each Member.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that, within hours of asking my Questions last week about the provision of desks for new hon. Members within the precincts, I was offered one? May I ask him whether that is establishing a precedent, so that if all new hon. Members table similar Questions they will get new desks?

I am glad to hear the efficacy of the hon. Gentleman's efforts so far.

Is not this tinkering with the problem? Is not the spirit of the age after much bigger game than filing cabinets? Is it not the truth that we cannot do our job by our constituents in a building designed as an early Victorian club, charming though it is, and ought we not to clear out of here, Galleries and all—

Order. The hon. Gentleman cannot make a speech. Questions should be brief.

I think that that raises rather a wider question.

asked the Lord President of the Council what progress is being made in the recruitment of extra Clerks for service with the Estimates Committee in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee on Procedure.

The Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) has already reported on the proposal that Select Committees should be permitted to employ specialist assistance but the recommendation for extra Clerks for service with the Estimates Committee will be considered as part of a wider review of the work and staffing of the Clerk's Department, which is currently being undertaken by a Treasury O and M team.

Is it not the case that, some time ago, my right hon. Friend accepted the recommendation that there should be two full-time Clerks for the whole Committee and that the Clerks of each Sub-Committee should be full-time to the Estimates Committee? Will he give an assurance that the cuts in public expenditure to be announced shortly will not include this particular item, and will he give a further assurance that we might have some women Clerk experts added for the Estimates Committee?

On 27th October, 1965, I promised the House that the House of Commons (Services) Committee would look at the problem. I am sure the whole House is aware of the importance of adequately staffing all the Committees of the House, but the o and M team at present engaged in looking at the whole question is anxious to make sure not only that they are fully staffed but that they are not overstaffed.

asked the Lord President of the Council when a duplicating machine will be installed in Old Palace Yard.

I have been asked to reply.

The Administration Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) is considering the installation of additional duplicating machines in the House, and this proposal will be sympathetically considered.

In thanking ,my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply, may I ask him to ensure that this matter is treated as one of some urgency? Hon. Members crossing the road to duplicate their documents run some risk, and the effect of a by-election after the Government's economic announcement today might be traumatic on Government morale.

We hope to make a recommendation within a few days.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will move to alter the procedure of the House for the Second Reading of Government Bills on major subjects so that there would be a greater opportunity for back-bench Members to speak.

I answered a similar Question on 22nd June when I said that the Select Committee can, if it wishes, look at this question.

asked the Attorney-General if he will state his plans to cheapen, expedite and simplify the procedure relating to the registration by the Land Registry of transfers of property.

The attainment of these objects depends in large measure on improvements to the substantive law relating to the transfer of land. The Law Commission is considering this with a view to simplification. It is hoped that expedition will be achieved through the passage of the Land Registration Bill and the expansion of the Ordnance Survey Department and of the Land Registry, together with the extended use of modern processes and equipment. No immediate reduction in land registration fees can be expected.

While thanking the learned Attorney-General for his historical reply and his hope, may I ask whether he realises that the procedural reforms asked for in the Question are particularly urgent having regard to the present financial stringency which inflicts loss and damage on the vendors and purchasers of properties when there is delay in completing purchases?

The need for improvement is appreciated, and the appropriate steps are being taken.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will now direct the Director of Public Prosecutions to institute criminal proceedings against the publishers of the book, details of which have been handed to him by the honourable Member for Eastbourne, in view of the publicity which it has now received.

No. As I indicated in my Answer to the hon. Member's Question on 11th May, the Director of Public Prosecutions, after consultation with the Law Officers, decided that criminal proceedings should not be instituted. The grounds for this decision are as valid now as they were then.

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman's attention been drawn to Motion No. 119 signed by 35 hon. Members of all parties, which urges that he should change his mind about this?

Yes. My attention has been drawn to that Motion, and also to Motion No. 116, to exactly the opposite effect.

How does the right hon. arid learned Gentleman reconcile his Answer today and his earlier Answer with his imputation that the flood of pornography entering the country was the fault of the Tory Party? In his answers to both these questions, is he not himself guilty of moral turpitude?

Order. I know that the hon. Gentleman means it lightheartedly, but he should withdraw that at once.

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, if that is unparliamentary, and I will withdraw it unhesitatingly. May I substitute moral indecision—moral in. decision.

Whether I heard the hon. Gentleman's condemnation correctly I confess does not trouble me greatly. Nevertheless, the fact is that the Government and public authorities are taking all active steps that are within the resources of Customs and of police in regard to the flood of pornography, and I do not accept the summary of what I said earlier to be accurately stated by the hon. Gentleman.