asked the Minister of Information what German national has been introduced by an agent of the Government as being suitable to advise the producers of the film dealing with the German freedom station now being made with the approval of his Department from the German point of view; and what was the previous occupation of this German national?

I have no knowledge of the particular point referred to by the hon. Member. The script of this film was submitted for approval by the producers, but otherwise the Ministry has had nothing to do with it.

Will the Minister allow me to make to him some private representations?

indicated assent.

asked the Minister of Information what procedure is followed in opening and examining letters sent to this country from other countries within the Empire?

There is no censorship in the United Kingdom of letters sent to this country from other countries within the Empire.

Is the Minister aware that I have had one sent to me from my sister in Australia which has been opened and censored, and that that is why I am making inquiries?

The letter was opened in Australia.

Surely that is dodging the issue. However, I have an answer for the time being, and I shall put down another Question.

Would the letter that I have received from my constituency be opened in Australia also?

I should certainly want notice of that question.

Is it not the fact that the Post Office have for several years claimed the right to open anything they thought improper?

That may be so in war-time.

And any other time?

At the present moment letters from the Empire are not opened in the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom does not control what happens to letters in any other part of the Empire.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many cases were reported during 1939, where hours of attendances, wages or other conditions appeared to be unsatisfactory in scale payment sub-post offices;

No central record is kept of complaints of this kind, and no general inquiry has been instituted. The standing rules of the Department provide that the conditions of service of assistants employed on Post Office work at scale payment sub-offices should be not less favourable than those of shop assistants of about the same standing in the service of good employers in the same district. So far as I am aware, these rules are being complied with, but I shall be ready to investigate any cases which the hon. Member may wish to bring to my notice.

Is it not the case that supervision of these sub-post offices is provided for in orders or regulations; and, as regards wages and conditions, why should assistants, performing postal services, have their working conditions entirely determined by relation to shop assistants in general, instead of workers performing similar services in the Post Office?

These assistants are not servants of the Post Office but of the sub-postmasters who employ them to do the work of the post office and also, very often, the work of a shop. The sub-postmaster is obliged to give a return of the conditions of work and duty to the postmaster who has to see that they are no less favourable than the conditions generally prevailing.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that a recent decision in the High Court made it quite clear that a postmaster himself is an employé of the Post Office? Therefore, can those working under him not be considered as employés of the Post Office?

I should want notice of that question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has concluded his examination into the possibility of restoring the trans-Atlantic radio-telephone facilities; and what steps does he propose to take in this matter?

In view of the risks attending the use of radio-telephone services under present conditions, the trans-Atlantic telephone service could not be made available for public use without the adoption of adequate safeguards. The question whether the facilities could be restored under a system of censorship without undue risk is still under consideration by the appropriate authorities, but a decision has not yet been reached.

In view of the fact that the matter was under consideration two months ago, will my right hon. Friend expedite it?

So far as can be it is a matter of security, and the interests of security must override all others.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that wives in receipt of naval dependants' allowances in the London area get 3s. 6d. a week more than those residing in Portsmouth and in view of the fact that the dockyard workers in Portsmouth have been granted a weekly bonus of 5s. for the extra cost of living, he will now take action to remove this anomaly?

The recent increase in the bonus paid to male dockyard workers, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, was made in pursuance of the Government's undertaking to observe in the regulation of the wages of its industrial employés the principles of the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons. This increase was not confined to Portsmouth but was applied throughout the country, and workers in the London area receive a higher rate of bonus than those employed elsewhere. I cannot therefore agree that an anomalous situation has been created which would necessitate the extension to Portsmouth of the additional allowance which is now paid to the dependants of men in the Services, living in the London postal area.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very real sense of grievance in this matter?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will read the answer, he will see that the grievance is not well founded.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the hour of arrival of the first invading German war ship in any Norwegian port and in Narvik; and the hour and date at which the Admiralty received this information?

I would prefer not to make public information of this kind.

Is the hon. Baronet not aware that certain events gave rise to some doubt about the reliability of our information service and, in particular, the belief that 48 hours elapsed between these two events? Can he assure the House that the belief is not well founded?

I am quite prepared to give the hon. Gentleman the definite assurance that the belief is quite wrongly founded.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet considered the question of granting a war-risk allowance to the personnel working on, but not forming part of the crews of yard craft, in view of the fact that an increase of pay for the masters and crews of these craft when engaged on work in dangerous areas was granted some months ago?

Yes, Sir. The personnel referred to are eligible for a war-risk allowance for each day or part of a day of 24 hours during which they are on board a yard craft in the open sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether steps are being taken to implement the recommendations of the committee appointed to inquire into labour unrest at Mombasa last summer; and whether proper housing accommodation will be built and the Government and municipal bodies concerned inaugurate suitable schemes?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Labour Department has been reorganised and strengthened, and I am now awaiting the recommendations of the Governor as to the best method of providing proper housing for native labour in Mombasa, and the other matters to which the Commission has drawn attention.

In view of the rather grave discoveries made by this inquiry, will the Minister see that the matter is expedited?

Yes, Sir. We are dealing with the grievances as rapidly as we can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received a report on the strike at Singapore; what steps have been taken to remove the cause of industrial unrest and improve the conditions of employment; and what has been done in respect of the evicted strikers?

I have now received a report from the Governor, which in general confirms the information regarding the origin and nature of the strikes in Singapore given in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 31st January last. So far as conditions of employment were a reason for the strikes, these have been improved by a general increase in wages or the grant of a cost of living allowance. There have been no evictions of strikers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what number of Jewish children have been permitted to enter Palestine on special certificates with the assistance of the Refugee Fund; and whether this movement will continue to receive his cordial support?

There are no special certificates for Jewish children wishing to enter Palestine outside the periodic quotas. Several thousands of Jewish children have been admitted to Palestine in recent times in various categories under the quotas as orphans, students or dependants of permanent residents or of immigrants, and I under- stand that a number of those who have entered Palestine in this way have been assisted to do so by charitable organisations. Figures are not available, however, to show what proportion of the total number have received such assistance.

Does this movement receive the Minister's cordial support?

Yes, Sir.

Will the Minister say what he means by "recent times"?

Some thousands have gone in during the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the measures taken for the removal of unrest and distress in Trinidad arising from the high cost of living, low wages, unemployment and kindred causes?

As the reply is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has considered the resolutions passed at a large meeting of the organised workers of British Guiana asking that the general elections for seats in the Legislative Council shall be postponed from the autumn of this year until the requisite changes have been made in the Constitution to extend the franchise and reduce substantially the margin between the qualifications for registration as a voter and those for membership of the Legislative Council; and what is the nature of his reply;

I have not received the British Guiana resolutions to which the hon. Member refers. The recommendations of the Royal Commission referred to in these Questions are among those on which I have asked Governors for their early observations, and the hon. Member may rest assured that when these are received I shall give them my early consideration, and I shall certainly bear in mind the points which he mentions.

As the Government have been asked to deal with these things quickly, may I ask whether they are likely to receive the Governor's report quickly enough to enable these things to be done before the annual elections, so that the elections may take place in better conditions and under the extended franchise?

I have asked for the observations of the Governor at an early date, and I expect to receive them in the next few weeks. With regard to the second part of the Supplementary Question, I will bear that consideration in mind in determining what will happen about the date of the election.

Would it not be possible to do this, immediately the report is received, without legislation?

It would be possible, certainly, without legislation in this House to postpone the elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of growing discontent among West African farmers and traders arising from the increased cost of imported goods whilst their own produce has a fixed controlled price; whether, in view of the great hardship such a disparity has imposed, he will be prepared to meet a deputation of representative West African natives and others now in London who could put the case of the African grower and trader; and what action he is now taking respecting the matter?

I am aware of the rise in prices of goods imported into West Africa, which is due to increases in manufacturing costs and freights: and I doubt whether any attempt to regulate the prices of such goods directly would be successful. On the other hand, His Majesty's Government have taken such steps as they could with a view to maintaining the income of the West African producer by purchasing cocoa and oilseeds at prices higher than those which prevailed immediately before the war. These purchases at fixed prices, far from being to the producers' disadvantage, have been the principal, and in some cases the sole, means of preventing the collapse in prices which otherwise would have resulted from the disappearance of the very big pre-war German market for these commodities. I should certainly be willing to consider receiving a deputation on this subject if I were approached by properly accredited representatives of the African growers and traders concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable discontent among West African farmers and traders? Further, would he be willing to receive a deputation from those who are actively concerned with the case of the West African growers and traders?

I should certainly like the deputation to consist of people who can speak for the growers and traders themselves. If the hon. Member has any other suggestion to make, I will certainly consider it.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman already been approached by representatives of growers and traders to receive a deputation?

I am not aware that I have been approached with a view to receiving a deputation. I have received a long and carefully reasoned memorandum on the subject from certain West African representatives in London, and I have sent them in the last few days an equally long and carefully reasoned commentary on their observations.

asked the Minister of Transport what omnibuses, in consequence of the user by the Milk Marketing Board of their premises at Thames Ditton, have been diverted from other districts to the relief of the local traffic; and from what district or districts?

I am informed that the single deck motor omnibus services passing the Milk Marketing Board's premises at Thames Ditton have been maintained at pre-war strength and no buses have been transferred from other districts. The Board's premises are conveniently served by trolley bus service No. 602, and extra trolley buses are being run on this route to deal with the traffic; next month the service on this route during peak hours will run at eight-minute intervals instead of 10 minutes as at present.

Does the answer of my right hon. and gallant Friend mean that there has not been any congestion or interference with local traffic conditions by reason of the use of these premises by the Milk Marketing Board?

That is what I am informed.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the canal interests on the subject of financial assistance; and whether he will take immediate measures to alleviate the difficulties encountered by inland waterways on account of war conditions, and so enable them to play their full part in the national transport system?

Representations have been received from the Canal Association and the National Association of Canal Carriers as well as from certain canal companies, and are being discussed with the associations. As regards measures to secure the fuller use of canals, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to Questions on this subject on 20th March. I hope that, with the co-operation of the canal industry, it will be possible to bring at least some of those measures into operation without delay.

Is the Minister in touch with the railway companies about canals owned by the railways?

We are in touch with all those interests.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that three privates in His Majesty's Forces travelling from Blackpool to Aldershot were charged 2s. 6d., 2s. 3d. plus 3d. service, for three cups of tea only, in a London Midland and Scottish Railway dining-car; that the London Midland and Scottish Railway controller in correspondence states that such charges are quite in order; whether these high charges have his approval; and what steps he proposes to take to protect the travelling public generally, and His Majesty's Forces specially, from this form of profiteering?

I am advised that the charge of 2s. 3d. plus 3d. service charge was not for three cups of tea, as the hon. Member suggests, but for three trays with pots of tea and biscuits, that is, 9d. for each tray. The charge was the usual one made on the company's dining cars. Members of His Majesty's Forces in uniform can obtain cups of tea at the reduced charge of 2d. a cup in station refreshment rooms, that is, a penny less than the ordinary charge.

Do I understand that these high charges have the approval of the Minister? Has he no control over these high charges? From all parts of the country I am receiving constant complaints. Does he not know that at railway stations soldiers cannot get anywhere near the refreshment places? Surely these men ought not to have to suffer all the disadvantages of long-distance travel and then be fleeced by the railway companies?

In regard to the last part of the hon. Member's question, I will certainly be very glad to look into the matter and see whether we can provide further and better facilities at railway stations. As regards meals on dining cars, as it costs a certain amount to run a dining car you cannot expect to have a meal provided at the same price as at a station.

Why should not dining cars give people fair value for their money?

Will the Minister of Transport pay attention to the sense of the House and make representation accordingly to the railway companies?

Yes, Sir, most certainly.

As the Y.M.C.A. can supply cups of tea at 1d., why cannot the L.M.S. or the L.N.E.R. do the same?

asked the Minister of Transport in how many cases, giving dates and names of the councils, he has given decisions adverse to rural district councils under Section 35 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1929, without an inquiry or conference being held by him to ascertain the facts?

I regret that I am unable to give the information requested by my hon. Friend, without an examination of every case of appeal under Section 35 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1929, which I do not feel would in present circumstances be justified. An inquiry is held in those cases where it appears that one is necessary in order to establish the facts.

asked the Minister of Transport why he came to a decision adverse to the Blaby Rural District Council under Section 35 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1929, without holding an inquiry or conference, having regard to the fact that the Minister's predecessor allowed the appeal of the rural district council in the year 1934, after an inquiry when the facts were not then so favourable to the said council?

The decision on this case was taken without holding an inquiry or conference, because, as I have already informed my hon. Friend, I was satisfied that all the information necessary to determine the appeal was already available. Both the rural district council and the county council had submitted full statements; and I reached the conclusion that to put the authorities to the trouble and expense of a local inquiry would not be justified. After careful consideration of all the facts, I was satisfied that, in the interests of economy and efficiency in highway administration, the roads in the Blaby rural district should be brought under the direct control of the county council, in common with the roads in all the other rural districts in the county.

May I ask my right hon. and gallant Friend whether he does not think it a rather high-handed way of treating a local authority which does its work efficiently?

We have had to remember that highway administration economy is best secured by unity of control. I was suggesting that was the case and that in present circumstances we should pay particular attention to economy of administration.

Is not this practice of settling things without consulting anyone becoming rather a bad habit with the Minister?

I think this is only the second time I have done it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, when fares are in creased, he will see that more trains will be provided for passengers who are now unable to obtain seats between Durham and King's Cross, or that a less price shall be charged for standing in the corridors, or sitting in the guard's van?

The passenger train services between Durham and London were reduced to enable a large number of special coal trains to be run from the collieries of Northumberland and Durham to London and the South. It is still necessary to maintain this special traffic, but by transfer of some coal trains to the London Midland and Scottish Railway it was found possible to increase the passenger services on 15th April. The suggestion made in the last part of the Question is not a practicable one.

The Minister has not answered my Question. When fares are increased will steps be taken to prevent passengers, especially soldiers, having to stand in the corridors?

If we were to do that, it would be necessary to restrict the sale of tickets to the number of seats on the train. I do not think that would be in the public interest.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the amount of money obtained by the London and North Eastern Railway Company by running a train of coal from Newcastle to London?

Assuming an average load of 500 tons, the gross receipts from a train of coal from Northumberland to London would vary between £425 and £450.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that passengers travelling on Friday, 12th April, from King's Cross to Durham, took seven hours and 16 minutes, although nearly all the journey was by the Flying Scotsman; and will he see that, when fares are increased, there shall be an improvement?

The booked time for the journey to which the hon. Member refers is six hours 39 minutes. On 12th April the train was 27 minutes late in reaching Durham, owing to abnormally heavy movements of coal traffic on the line. Delays due to national requirements are sometimes unavoidable in war-time conditions despite every effort to maintain scheduled times.

Will the Minister say what is being done to improve this service? The other day I had to wait in Durham 65 minutes, and last Friday 55 minutes. Surely the Minister can do something to improve the position?

I could not be more sorry for the hon. Member, but the fact is, so long as it is necessary to haul coal from Northumberland and Durham collieries to London and the South, I am afraid there will be inconvenience on the King's Cross lines. The Railway Executive have done what they can by transferring a number of these coal trains to the London Midland and Scottish Railway system at Normanton.

May I ask whether it is not possible to increase the speed of the trains, which at present is very slow indeed?

The difficulty is that if we increase the speed, wear and tear are increased, which means an extra demand on steel.

We have heard all that before.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of a commercial goods motor-vehicle constructed since the outbreak of war, he will provide that the duty payable for a vehicle licence shall not be increased by the vehicle falling into a heavier weight class for taxation purposes than a vehicle of the same design and type constructed before the war if it can be proved by the manufacturers that the increase of weight has resulted from their having been obliged by the Government control of materials to use heavier materials in the construction of the vehicle than those which they used before the war?

The rate of duty payable in respect of a vehicle must be determined by readily ascertainable facts. The question of the extent to which a vehicle is heavier than it would have been but for the unavailability of certain materials is a matter of technical opinion which licensing authorities could not reasonably be called upon to decide.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that unless it is altered it will not only be another indirect tax on the industry but a detriment to production in the industry?

Is the Minister aware that 20 miles an hour is fast enough for vehicles of that weight?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will move to appoint a Joint Committee of the two Houses, or a committee of large-scale organisers of great trading firms, to make a critical examination of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Ministries of Supply and Labour, and the Board of Trade, to ascertain whether the inter-relationship of their war effort is efficient, so that if found capable of improvement a reorganisation of those Departments may be ordered?

No, Sir. I do not think the proposal of my hon. Friend would be likely to produce the result he desires.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that hon. Members are frequently kept waiting several weeks before they receive replies to urgent letters to Government Departments on matters affecting their constituents; that there is good reason to believe that this delay, which inflicts great hardship on many individuals, is caused by ineffective methods of dealing with correspondence; and will he, by moving to appoint a committee of hon. Members with business experience to inquire into the matter, or by some other means, take steps to find a remedy for the present unsatisfactory state of things?

I am satisfied that every effort is made by Government Departments to reply as quickly as possible to letters from hon. Members, and I do not consider that it is necessary or desirable to adopt the suggestion made by the hon. Member. Delay is sometimes unavoidable, particularly when it is necessary to obtain information from outlying naval or military stations or from the detached branches or local offices of civil Departments. It must, of course, be recognised that in present circumstances the pressure upon Departments is intense, and I would appeal to hon. Members on their side to refrain as far as possible from putting questions to Departments that are unnecessary or that entail great labourin order to provide answers.

If Departments are very heavily worked at the present time, is not that an additional reason for ensuring that the methods for dealing with correspondence are the best possible, and has the Prime Minister no other means to suggest for dealing with the delay which occurs, not only here but in those cases where inquiries have to be made?

I am sure that the Departments are doing all that is possible in the circumstances.

May I put a question with regard to Departments offering advice to hon. Members?

That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that various Government Departments have sent advice in varying terms to local authorities on the attitude they should adopt towards housing and other contractors who plead that they are unable to fulfil their contracts at the contract prices; whether any administrative machinery or any committee exists through which uniform principles may be applied to the solution of this problem; and, if so, whether he will circulate a statement of what these principles are?

The Departments concerned have discussed together the treatment to be accorded to contractors in respect of rises in wages and increases in the prices of materials. I am not aware that different Departments have given different advice to local authorities, but if the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind, perhaps he will let me have details. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued to local authorities in Scotland giving general advice on the subject. I am informed that it has not been necessary to issue any similar circular in England and Wales but that the Ministry of Health has dealt with individual inquiries on the same basis.

If the Parliamentary Secretary has discussed this matter with other Departments, how is it that he does not know that circulars in varying terms have been sent to local authorities? If I send him copies of the circulars sent by different Departments will he undertake to see that a common policy is devised for local authorities?

In my reply I invited the hon. Gentleman to be good enough to let me have cases.

And in my Question I asked whether the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will act on the information if I send it to him.

I had better see the information first.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the short time and unemployment in the Scottish hosiery and wool trade, as a result of the present method of wool rationing; and whether he is now in a position to make such alterations as will enable the factories of Clackmannanshire and other Scottish areas to utilise the plant and labour available?

The latest official figures available, which relate to March, show that short time and unemployment in the Scottish hosiery, and wool and worsted trades were appreciably less than immediately before the war. The rationing scheme at present in force for wool is intended to ensure that the supplies of wool for civilian manufacture are distributed as equitably as possible among wool users, subject to the needs of the export trade. Any modification in the interests of a particular class of user could only be effected at the expense of other users.

Is the Minister aware that there is some feeling in Scotland that the wool control, being centred at Bradford, rather favours certain manufacturers in that district at the expense of Scottish manufacturers?

Not a bit of it.

It may be a misapprehension, but I think it will be desirable for the Minister of Supply to make it clear that the thing is fairly conducted.

There is certainly no ground for any such belief. It is the endeavour of the wool controller, as of all other controllers, to see that essential raw materials are distributed equitably.

Can the Minister explain why the wool control was moved from London, the historic centre of the wool trade?

Is the Minister aware that the wool control is not located in Bradford, but 13 miles away, and that that is our complaint?

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider the necessity of increasing the control prices for wool having regard to the exceptional winter, the scarcity of feeding-stuffs, and the increased cost of labour; and whether an early announcement of the increase can be made in view of early sales and seasonal arrangements, shearing, etc.?

The price to be paid for the 1940 clip is now under consideration, and an announcement will be made at as early a date as possible.

Can the Minister say how soon the announcement will be made?

I have been asked by the National Farmers' Union to see that the price should be communicated by 1st June, and I will do everything to implement that.

Can the Minister say what method is being adopted to arrive at this particular price?

Hardly in answer to a Supplementary Question.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to have mementoes of previous wars, in the shape of guns, tanks and other metal objects, utilised for smelting purposes; and whether local authorities are being offered any inducements to scrap such objects and place them at his disposal?

The Iron and Steel Control have for some months past been in touch with local authorities on the question of the collection of iron and steel scrap, and a substantial amount of the material to which the hon. Member refers has already been obtained in this way. The present price of scrap should be in itself a sufficient inducement for local authorities to dispose of unwanted material.

Is there no special action taken by local authorities to get rid of these ugly reminders of the incapacity of statesmen to settle things reasonably?

A quarter of a million letters have been addressed to individuals and organisations on the subject of the collection of scrap.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of the people responsible for these guns, tanks, and so on, still do not know whether the Ministry require them or not?

I hope my reply implies an affirmative answer.

asked the Minister of Supply what progress is being made among the London and county boroughs to save kitchen waste suitable for livestock?

In reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend on 11th March, I informed him that, according to the records of my Department, 14 county borough authorities were collecting waste products suitable for stock feeding. The latest returns received by my Department show that 20 county borough authorities, as well as three Metropolitan borough authorities, are now collecting kitchen waste suitable for stock feeding. In addition, private collections operate in certain other Metropolitan boroughs and county boroughs. With my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, I will circulate particulars in the Official Report.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to improved methods of dealing with scrap aluminium by which it is possible to use safely and efficiently up to 20 per cent. mixed with new aluminium, and an estimated saving may be made of approximately £24,000,000 a year; and whether he is taking any action in this matter?

I am aware of the developments in dealing with scrap aluminium and the question of the best use which can be made of aluminium scrap is receiving constant attention. The Aluminium Controller is constantly reviewing the use which can be made of scrap aluminium in the light of the changing condition of supply and demand, and has a special staff to assist him in regard thereto. I am not clear how my right hon. and gallant Friend obtains his estimate of saving, but if he has any information on the matter which he thinks would be of use I should be very glad if he would be good enough to communicate it to me.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that my information comes from a reliable source or I would not have put it on the Paper? I will gladly let him have it.

I am obliged to my right hon. and gallant Friend. I thought there were one or two noughts too many in the calculation.

Ought not this matter to have been considered before?

My answer shows that not only has it been considered, but there has been a committee dealing with it all the time, with a special staff. I have asked that if there is something unknown to me it should be communicated to me, and my right hon. and gallant Friend has offered to do so.

Has the committee come to any decision after all this time?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding a comprehensive scheme for the management of feeding-stuffs to secure distributive efficiency throughout every county?

Arrangements are now being made to set up throughout the country divisional animal feeding-stuffs committees to assist the Minister to secure the equitable distribution of supplies of feeding-stuffs. Each committee will have an independent chairman and will consist of the chairmen of the county feeding-stuffs committees in the area and representatives of the manufacturers of feeding-stuffs, and of the wholesale distributors serving the area, as well as a representative of agriculturists. Attached to each committee will be a whole-time executive officer with a small staff who will be responsible to the Minister and will also act as secretary of the committee. The main duty of the executive officer will be to assist each distributor to obtain his proper share of supplies and to distribute them in the manner required by the Minister.

Does this mean that the existing doubts, dilatations and delays will be avoided, and that we shall really get some action, swift and sure, which will deal with this matter?

How many of these divisional committees will there be?

One in each of the Civil Defence divisions.

Does this mean increased expenses for the distributive services?

We hope to avoid that, and to get fairer distribution.

Are we to understand that the milling combines will not be allowed to have their own way?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the importance of fish and chips in the national diet, he can give an assurance that the established potato crisp companies are receiving an adequate and fair allowance of suitable oils?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will take into consideration the erection of a potato factory in or near Howden, in the East Riding, in view of the fact that this district has an adequate supply of water and electric power; and whether he is aware that this is the centre of an agricultural neighbourhood where the meal produced could be readily distributed by road, rail or water?

One of the sites chosen for a potato factory is in Selby, which is only about 10 miles from Howden.