asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he will give the number of outer cover motor-tyres exported to Europe during the last three months.

I have been asked to reply. Following are the figures:The number of outer cover motor-tyres exported to Europe during the last three months is as follows:

New motor car sized covers	Nil.
New giant sized tyre covers	7,500
New cross-country tyres of Army sizes made available to Liberated Areas	1,350

In addition a number of used tyres with some further life were sorted in the Ministry of Supply dumps and exported to the liberated areas in Europe. The total number of such tyres, of which a part has been shipped in the last three months, is estimated at 150,000.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production when more tyres will be available for the road haulage industry, in view of the fact that shortage of tyres is holding up work.

There is no general shortage of tyres for the road haulage industry. A temporary shortage exists in one or two special sizes, but steps have already been taken to increase their production. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any work which is being held up by shortage of tyres, I will have inquiries made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he estimates that towels for household use will be made available to the public, coupon free.

I cannot forecast the date by which the output of the cotton industry will have increased sufficiently to permit towels to be taken off the ration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the terms and conditions under which the Standard Telephone Company have acquired the Royal Ordnance factory at Newport; the date on which the agreement comes into operation; how many men, women and young people they propose to employ; and whether he is satisfied that all workers who have been, or will be, found redundant will be offered suitable work elsewhere before Christmas.

The standard terms of Government lease apply to this case. The company are now taking possession of the factory as Government war contracts are withdrawn and will employ ultimately about 1,500 people. The workers no longer required at the Royal Ordnance factory are being rapidly absorbed in the area where the prospects of employment are good.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decisions he has reached upon his review of the Retail Licences Order, with particular reference to opening the way for ex-Servicemen to start businesses on their own account.

I am examining the Location of Retail Businesses Order with a view to seeing whether any changes are desirable at the present time, in the light of our experience, and of the wish of some ex-Servicemen to start business, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the large number of ex-Service men and women now desiring to enter the retail trade, steps will be taken to bring up to date the Register of Withdrawn Traders, instituted by his Department in 1942, and to remove therefrom all who do not reregister within a given period and indicate that it is still their intention to resume retail trading.

The matter to which the hon. Member refers will be borne in mind in connection with the review of the administration of the Location of Retail Businesses Order on which I am now engaged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the high prices now being charged for women's non-utility clothing; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the matter.

Yes, Sir. After consultation with the Central Price Regulation Committee, I am making an Order fixing maximum prices for women's ready-made non-utility outerwear. For each main type of ready-made garment, there will be two maximum prices, the higher of which will apply to any garment and the lower to garments made from cloth of limited prices. Thus the maximum retail price of a wool overcoat or costume (including Purchase Tax) will be £20; if made from cloth weighing not less than 10 0zs. per yard and costing 12s. a yard or less (manufacturers' price), the price may not exceed £14. The corresponding maximum utility prices are £6 4s. 3d. for an overcoat and £6 2s. 2d. for a costume.This control will not be reinforced by the addition of cost-plus, at any rate so long as the concession is not abused and the industry can satisfy me by the provision of periodic information that a reasonable supply of garments is available at prices below the maximum laid down. These maximum prices will apply to manufacturers as from the 1st January next and to retailers as from the 1st March. The later date will give time to retailers to get rid of any higher priced stocks, but as such stocks are small and as supplies received after the 1st January will be at the lower prices, I hope that, starting in January, this Order will bring about a considerable reduction in the excessive prices which are now sometimes charged, whilst permitting the production of high quality garments to continue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of handkerchiefs in the Macclesfield Division; and will he take steps to increase the supply in this area.

Yes, Sir. Steps will be taken to get extra supplies for Macclesfield.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the advisability of fixing a cash purchasing value on any new issue of clothing coupons.

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the importation of raw silk from Japan; and what policy his Department is going to take to stop supplies from Japan injuring our own silk production.

Supplies of raw silk available in Japan are understood to be much below prewar levels. It is hoped to send a representative to Japan to report on the position as soon as conditions permit. For currency and balance of payments reasons, no silk tissues are at present being imported except for certain bolting cloths, of which there is not sufficient production in this country. Moreover, all imported silk goods are subject to a customs duty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the prewar capacity of the furniture trade is absorbed by the present designation of utility furniture.

About half the number of furniture firms who, according to the 1935 Census of Production employed 11 or more workers, are now designated to make utility furniture, and it is estimated that at present they employ on this work about 25 per cent. of the prewar labour force.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will increase the buying permits for utility furniture allowed to newly-married couples as the present allotment is inadequate to furnish a home.

No, Sir. It is not yet possible to do this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the factory premises at St. Saviours Road East, Leicester, owned by Messrs. Willow Dye Works, Ltd., hosiery dyers and finishers, are likely to be derequisitioned and restored to their owners; for what purpose the buildings are now being used; and is he aware that negotiations for derequisitioning commenced in January, 1945.

The present requirements of the owners are being met by restoring to them immediately 5,100 sq. ft. of their works. It is hoped to derequisition the remainder of the premises in a few months time when important Government contracts which are now being undertaken on the premises can be terminated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the beneficial effect on women's health, he will allow a greater issue of stockings for the winter with some relaxation of coupons required.

Production of stockings is limited mainly by shortage of yarn. As total yarn supplies improve, stockings will get their share, but until there is a material increase in supplies I cannot consider any reduction in the present coupon pointing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ease the position in regard to the supply of Scout and Girl Guide uniforms by an increased supply and a relaxing of the number of coupons required.

Until more labour and materials are available I regret that I cannot relax the number of coupons required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount in dollars has been paid to the U.S.A. in respect of the exhibition of American films in this country during each year since the present Cinematograph Films Act began to operate; and whether he has any immediate plans to increase the production of British films.

The reply to the first part of the Question is given below. With regard to the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Overseas Trade in last Friday's Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds the purchase price of rubber from Malaya has been fixed at 1od. a pound; whereas the Ceylon price has been fixed at is. 6d. a pound until September, 1946; and whether, in view of the importance of rehabilitating the Malayan rubber industry at the earliest opportunity, he will review this matter at an early date.

The Ceylon price was fixed before the end of the Japanese war, when Ceylon was the main source of supply open to the United Nations. It was designed to secure maximum production, having regard to the costs in marginal areas and the competing demands for labour for other essential purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider removing the control on the uses of scrap rubber and reclaim as covered by S.R. and 0., No. 23, as the necessity for controlling the purposes for which these materials are used no longer exists.

Yes, Sir. This matter is now being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of crude rubber have been purchased by his buying unit operating in Malaya; and what price per ton has been paid.

According to the latest information available a total of 15,260 tons of rubber has been purchased and shipped by the Unit operating in Malaya at prices based on 36 Straits dollar cents for No. 1 Standard Sheet.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the circulation in this country of catalogues by Dutch bulb growers, he will rescind the order prohibiting English bulb growers from issuing and circulating catalogues.

I regret that the paper supply position does not at present permit the unrestricted distribution of advertising circulars. Under the Control of Paper (No. 70) Order, 1945, which has just been issued, however, advertising catalogues relating to bulbs may now be gratuitously distributed in each three months period to the extent of 20 per cent. of the amount so distrsibuted in the corresponding period in the pre-war year. Any circulars distributed in excess of this quantity must be paid for by the recipient.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that persons have recently been informed by the Import Licensing Department that, although an import licencesss can be issued, it will take a week to have it typed; and when he anticipates it will be possible to improve the arrangements in this connection.

The present universal shortage of typing staff is causing me grave concern. Everything possible is being done to secure the necessary increase in the typing staffs of my Department. The delay is now not quite so serious as the hon. and gallant Member suggests, and I can assure him that every effort is being made to improve on the present position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet able to make a statement with regard to the shortage of perambulators in Norwich, to which his attention has been drawn; and when he hopes to be able to remedy this shortage.

Yes, Sir. An investigation has been made, and, as a result, extra supplies are being sent to Norwich.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the causes of the maldistributions, particularly in London, of cigarettes and tobacco; and what steps he is taking to improve the position.

Manufacturers distribute their cigarettes and tobacco as evenly as they can on the basis of past trade, with adjustments for movements of population. If my hon. Friend will give me full particulars of the districts which he thinks are being badly served, I will have inquiries made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received by Departments from the paper industry. for release of personnel under Class B regulations; how many applications have been already turned down; and how many such applications have been approved.

Applications for men from the paper industry are not recorded separately from the large number from other industries. I regret therefore that the figures asked for are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that paper used for labelling, wrapping and advertising is an essential part of every order for the export trade; and whether he will take steps to increase accordingly the percentage of releases recommended for the paper-making industry of men under Class B terms.

I am aware of the importance of paper for these purposes, but cannot recommend any increase of releases under Class B, as, apart from individual key workers, there is at present no surplus available under Class B.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that certain forms of paper are practically an exclusive product of this country; and will he grant the firms producing these a labour priority which will enable them to fulfil foreign orders that have been waiting manufacture for six months or more.

I am aware of the export value of certain types of home produced paper and my Department and the Ministry of Labour are doing their best to satisfy the labour demands for their manufacture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to improve the present low quality of leather available for the repair of shoes.

The average quality of leather for footwear repairs has, on the whole, been well maintained though there has been some lowering of the average quality of hides available. There is no question of inferior quality leather being allocated to repairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to alleviate the shortage of bottles; and if he will give any indication of increased output as a consequence.

Everything possible is being done, with the help of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, to increase the labour force in the glass bottle industry. About 38 per cents. more bottles are being produced than before the war, but owing to a shortage of other types of containers demand for all classes of bottles is very high.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the lack of piece goods in drapers' shops; and will he take steps to remedy this.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Leeds (Mr. Gaitskell) on 12th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade is he will give the number of price-fixing cartels operating in this country; and what steps he is taking to put an end to these organisations which restrict the freedom of those not connected or desirous of submitting to conditions imposed by them.

The number of such arrangements is unknown. The Government intend to use their powers, particularly price control, to prevent antisocial practices such as charging excessive prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to ensure a fair distribution and allocation of the supply of nylon to all parts of the country.

The small quantity of nylon cloth from current production, together with that part of the cloth arising from cancelled Government contracts which is not being used for linings for suits for demobilised Forces, is being distributed through trade channels to makers-up and for sale as cloth.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if holders of sterling balances overseas are entitled to withdraw their holdings from this country in the form of exports which are not subject to licence.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether the Government propose to construct motorways.

Yes, Sir, in suitable circumstances

asked the Minister of War Transport what is the approximate annual cost per mile of lighting trunk roads in the country; how this compares with the average upkeep and maintenance service cost; and the total estimated increased cost of lighting all the proposed trunk roads not now lit.

I regret that the information sought by the hon. Baronet is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to reopen A 167 from Boroughbridge to Dishforth before 1st April, 1946.

This road crosses Dish forth airfield which is being actively used by a training unit of Transport Command, so I am afraid that I cannot say when we shall be able to reopen it.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware of the position that is developing in all South Wales ports as a result of the suspension of the Direction of Ships terminating at the end of November; and whether he will make a statement on the matter and, in particular, what steps he proposes to take to remedy the situation.

The falling off in the volume of shipping using the South Wales ports in recent months has been due largely to the reduction in military traffic. My power to direct ships remains and will be used when necessary to avoid port congestion, and to ensure the rapid turn-round of shipping, but the selection of the port of discharge must depend primarily on the requirements of the receivers of the cargo.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is in a position to make a statement on the future of British shipping in order to allay the present uncertainty.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement which the Leader of the House made at the end of Questions today.

asked the Minister of War Transport the number of passenger trains running between Bridlington and Leeds, and Leeds and Bridlington; and will he consider improving the service to assist commercial travellers and business men and women who reside in and about Bridlington and work in Leeds.

From Bridlington to Leeds there are no through trains, but there are 12 services on Saturdays and 10 on other weekdays which involve a change en route. From Leeds to Bridlington in addition to one through train, there are 10 services on Saturdays and 9 on other weekdays which involve a change en route. I am advised that the railway company is satisfied that the traffic does not warrant the provision of additional through trains or other services in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that seven compartments on the 9.30 a.m. train from King's Cross to Glasgow on 9th November were reserved for members of the London Orchestra; that only half were occupied; and whether he is now in a position to extend reservations of seats on trains to Members of Parliament travelling to and from their constituencies.

The railways are authorised to reserve accommodation for theatrical parties numerous enough to fill at least one compartment, on condition that the labels are removed when they have taken their seats so that any unoccupied seats may be taken by other passengers. The reservations to which the hon. Member refers was made in accordance with this authorisation. There were 90 first class and 304 third class seats on the train but there were only 49 first and 295 third class passengers. As regards reservations of seats for Members of Parliament, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a Question by the hon. Member for West Leeds (Mr. Stamford) on 29th October.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he is aware of the growing trade in the skins of unborn or newly born lambs, frequently brought about by the practice of abortion on the pregnant sheep, being conducted in Peshawar, Delhi, Kasur, Amritsar, Jullundur, and elsewhere; how many such skins are exported to this country; and whether he will take steps to see that all such trade is prohibited forthwith.

I have been unable to find any evidence that a trade exists depending on the practices described. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with the information on which his Question is based, I will consider whether there is a case for asking the authorities in India for a report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India to what extent censorship of news and corresponence still operates both in India and Britain in respect of communications between the two countries.

There is now no censorship on communications passing in either direction between India and the United Kingdom.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many officers are employed in India Command in the rank of Lieut.-General or above; and how many of these are Indian Army officers.

The number of officers employed in India Command in the rank of Lieut.-General or above is 12; of whom five are Indian Army officers.

asked the Minister of Works the number of bricks in stock in this country; what is our present national monthly production; what was the number of bricks nationally used per month in 1938; and if he will issue a monthly statement of the brick situation commencing with the new year.

Brick stocks in September, 1945, totalled 1,157.5 millions; production in the same month was 101.8 millions; average monthly sales in 1938 were 623 millions. My right hon. Friend is considering how best to keep Parliament and the public aware of the position with regard to important materials required for the building and civil engineering programme and will consider the hon. Member's suggestion with regard to bricks in this connection.

asked the Minister of Health the total direct labour cost in a £1,200 brick-built house; how this cost is divided over the various categories of workmen employed in the construction; and if he will provide similar figures for a pre-war house of the same standard.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Bucklow (Lieutenant Shepherd) on 14th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the national building timber situation is holding up the housing programme; and what special efforts he is making to overcome this difficulty.

The housing programme is not being held up because of shortage of timber, although it is necessary severely to limit the amount of timber which can be used in any one house. Every effort is being made to obtain increased imports of timber from overseas for building and other essential purposes.

asked the Minister of Health how many plans for aged persons' dwellings have been submitted to his Ministry by local authorities in England and Wales since 1st August, 1945; and in how many cases approval has been refused.

Tenders for the erection by local authorities of some 200 dwellings for aged persons have been approved since the 1st August last. I have no record of the rejection of plans or tenders for the erection of such houses. If the hon. Member has any case in mind and will communicate with me about it, I will make inquiries and let him know the result.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the report of recommendations of the National Farmers' Union; and whether it is the intention of H.M. Government to adopt these proposals in whole, or in part.

I am giving close consideration to the recommendations of the report in question. In the meantime I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement on the Government's agricultural policy which I made in the House on 15th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total acreage devoted to hop culture in Britain in each of the war years; and what acreage he proposes to devote to this purpose in the coming year.Mr. T. Williams: The hop acreage during the war years has been as follows:

1939	…	…	…	18,812
1940	…	…	…	18,592
1941	…	…	…	18,158
1942	…	…	…	18,420
1943	…	…	…	19,131
1944	…	…	…	19,603
1945	…	…	…	19,957

As to the last part of the Question, county war agricultural executive committees have been authorised to grant licences for new acreage up to a total cultivated area of 22,500 acres, and I hope that at least 21,000 acres will be grown in 1946.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has approved of the plans submitted to him by the W.A.E.C. for the county of Cardigan, in connection with the Aeron Valley Drainage Scheme; what action he intends to take to implement the scheme; and the approximate date on which work will be commenced thereon.

The proposals submitted by the Cardigan War Agricultural Executive Committee in connection with the drainage of the Aeron Valley are at present under consideration by my local technical officers. Until I have received their report, I cannot say whether it will be practicable to implement the committee's scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, to abate the cruelty involved in the use of the gin trap, he will extend the subsidisation of Cymag to winter as well as summer months; abolish or modify the relaxation of the law against setting spring traps for rabbits elsewhere than in rabbit holes; arrange for military or transitionally unemployed labour to clear rabbits by humane methods and to clear lop and top in woodlands to facilitate the use of such methods; and revive the former research by the Bureau of Animal Population into the ecology of the wild rabbit.

As regards the first and second parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 25th October and 15th October respectively. The assignment of labour to rabbit control or lop and top clearance is within the discretion of county war agricultural executive committees, having regard to the relative urgency of the numerous claims on labour from the standpoint of food production. The Agricultural Research Council, in reviewing the research programme of the Bureau of Animal Population, Oxford, in consultation with the University and with my Department, will give due regard to the suggestion made in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that owners of felled woodlands and worn-out coppice land in the southern counties would like, where circumstances are favourable, to convert the areas in question into fruit or arable land; and if he will arrange with the War Department to sell bulldozers no longer required for military purposes to war agricultural executive committees so that they may be hired by landowners for this purpose.

In the only case of which I am aware, my Department was able to obtain the loan from the War Department of large crawler tractors with bulldozers for this work, but the arrangements were not completed because the landowner considered the hiring charges uneconomic.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any figures of Germans who have entered the British zone in Germany from the U.S.S.R. zone, suffering from typhoid, typhus or diphtheria; whether there is any indication of an increase in these diseases in the British zone; and what steps arc being taken to stop these diseases spreading to Western Europe.'.

I am advised by the Army authorities that no detailed figures are available of Germans who have entered the British Zone in Germany from the U.S.S.R. Zones suffering from typhoid, typhus or diphtheria. I am further advised that although improved methods of notification have resulted in more cases of infectious diseases being recorded there has been no indication of an increase in these diseases in the British Zone. In addition to the routine measures for preventing the spread of infectious diseases to Western Europe, an epidemic control system has been established on the borders of the British Zone.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether textile machinery will be included in the German plant which is to be considered for removal to this country.

The possibility of removing the textile machinery from Germany for reparations is not excluded under the Potsdam Agreement. Nevertheless, removals are to take place primarily from the metallurgical, chemical and machine manufacturing industries which are important to war potential and whether textile machinery can be removed will depend upon how much has to be left to Germany to enable her to maintain the average living standards on the basis agreed to at Potsdam.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware of the shortage of reliable teachers in Germany; and what steps he is taking to facilitate repatriation of German refugees in Britain who are anxious to undertake such work.

There is no shortage of reliable teachers in the British zone of Germany. Many of the teachers at present employed with the approval of the British authorities, however, have reached, or will shortly be reaching, the age of retirement, and there will also be increasing demands for teachers as more schools become available for use. Consideration is, therefore, being given to the possibility of repatriating suitable German refugees now in this country, and though there are difficulties it is hoped to organise machinery for this purpose in the near future.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider restoring facili- ties for the daily delivery of bread to homes of people.

My right hon. Friend is considering this matter.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made between his Ministry and the War Office regarding the release from the Army of Private P. W. Sexton, to enable him to return to his former employer in the bakery trade, Mrs. Deadman of The Bakery, Cookham Dean, Berkshire, the details of which were first communicated to his Ministry on I2th May.

I am glad to say that this man was released on 12th November to return to the bakery in question.