asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will promise an early statement on the future of Rosyth Naval base and on the proposal for a graving dock on the Clyde estuary, capable of berthing and servicing the biggest Clyde-built ships.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Glasgow (Colonel Hutchison).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, having regard to the special circumstances surrounding the case, he will permit Anthony Gomez, 22, Boswell Quadrant, Edinburgh, to sit the Special Entry Cadetship Examination for the Royal Navy in September, 1947, although he will be three weeks over the age limit prescribed for the date of entry.

On the information have received, I regret that it is impossible to justify any exception being made in the case of Anthony Gomez. The hon. Member will appreciate that competition for Naval cadetships is keen, and in fairness to all candidates the Admiralty has to insist on strict observance of the rules on age limits. I might, however, add that Anthony Gomez is within the age limits for entry to the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy and, provided he is suitably qualified in other ways, may apply for consideration for a cadetship in this branch.

asked the Minister of Food if extra rations will be allowed to British competitors in the Olympic games next year.

No.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the shortage of evaporated milk and pork luncheon meat in the Upton area, West Ham; and whether he will take action to overcome these shortages.

Evaporated milk is issued only during the autumn and winter when supplies of liquid milk are seasonally low. We hope to resume distribution in the early autumn. Supplies of pork luncheon meat fall far short of present day demand and the shortage of which my hon. Friend complains is, I am afraid not limited to his constituency.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that milk was being freely sold on Epsom Downs on Derby Day; and what action he proposes to take against those responsible and to prevent it in the future while milk is rationed.

If my hon. Friend will give me further details of such illegal sales, I shall be glad to have the matter investigated.

asked the Minister of Food how much trawl fish and herring have been dumped in the sea since 1st January, 1947.

Two hundred and fifty tons of white fish and 225 tons of herrings. The dumping of the white fish was unavoidable, but the dumping of the herrings was inexcusable. The nation needed the herrings for conversion into oil for margarine and into cattle feed, and our price of 30s. per cran was accepted by a number of the fishermen as a fair one. I am advised that dumping of herrings constitutes an offence under the Waste of Food Order. We did not take steps to initiate proceedings on this first occasion because we are hoping that the fishermen will see the foolishness of what they did and will in future accept the 30s. per cran offer.

asked the Minister of Food what is the justification for selling a case of Jamaican grapefruit to wholesalers in this country at 36s. per case, when the price f.o.b. Jamaica is only 15s. per case, freight, handling charges and insurances approximately 8s. 5d., or 23s. 5d. in all: and what happens to the difference of approximately 12s. 7d. between these two figures.

The Ministry's selling prices to wholesalers for citrus fruits are based on the average cost of supplies from all sources, not from Jamaica alone, and they have to cover other expenses as well, such as overhead, agency and inland transport expenses, as well as any loss from wastage. The figures which the hon. Member has quoted are, therefore, misleading.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that although the wholesale price of green onions has varied from 2d. to 3d. per 1b. and has now dropped to ½d. per 1b. so that growers find them unsaleable, the retail price has in most cases been maintained at the permitted maximum of 10d. per 1b.; and what steps he proposes to take in future to protect the consumer and avoid similar losses to the farmers.

There have been local surpluses of spring onions recently, and I am glad to say that prices at all stages have been lower than the maximum prices prescribed in the Green Onions Order. It is impossible to adapt a Maximum Price Order to the daily fluctuations of supply and demand. Still on 15th June and until 14th July the maximum retail price was reduced from 10d. to 8d. per 1b., and will be reduced to 5d. per 1b. on 15th July. The most usual range of retail prices during the three weeks ended 14th June was from 6d. to 10d. per lb. and during that period a growing number of retail shops were selling at prices below the prescribed maximum. We reckon that 35 per cent. were so selling in the week ended 31st May, 38 per cent. in the following week, and 48 per cent. in the week ended 14th June.

asked the Minister of Food for what reason he has refused increased allocation of foods for manufacturing purposes to the borough of Widnes; and if he will reconsider his decision, in view of the high figures of unemployment together with an excessively low level of wage rates prevailing in the borough in the years before the war.

I am afraid that the Ministry of Labour statistics of unemployment for this area—11.4 per cent. in 1939—do not bring it within the scheme; nor have I any evidence of excessively low prewar wage rates there as compared with other industrial areas outside the scheme.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the special need for a fried-fish shop at Hales, East Norfolk; and if he will review the recent decision of his Department in the light of the additional evidence which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for East Norfolk.

I am having investigations made and will write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to remedy the present shortage of potatoes in London.

asked the Minister of Food what was the cause of the recent potato famine in London; and what steps he is taking to prevent its recurrence.

The potato shortage in London has been due to damage to the old crop and the late arrival of the new crop, both caused by last spring's great frost. As a matter of fact the shortage has been far less severe than was confidently predicted in the spring, and has actually been of shorter duration than last year. London will get almost its normal supplies towards the end of this week and the new crop should be coming in in volume next week.

asked the Minister of Food what reply he made to a communication from the Fruit and Vegetable Trade Association of Importers calling attention to a coming shortage of potatoes.

I have received no recent communication from this association on the shortage of potatoes, but they sent a message on 7th May to me and also to the Press suggesting that the price limit for imported new potatoes should be increased and the period of importation extended. I issued an announcement to the Press on 10th May extending the period of importation to 31st May, and also increasing the prices and on 19th May the date was further extended to 15th June. I did not, however, see my way to permit the importation of potatoes at prices beyond the reach of most housewives. I think that, even had I done so, we should not have received appreciably more potatoes than we did, and any small additional supply would have been high price luxuries of no appreciable help at all to the housewife in meeting the end of season shortage.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is proposed to extend the East African Groundnut Scheme to Nyasaland.

Not in the near future. There are great difficulties, mainly from lack of communications, of a practical nature in carrying these operations into Nyasaland at present.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the long-continued shortage of soap and washing powers in the Chingford area as a result of which it has been impossible to honour everyone's soap coupons; and if he will take prompt steps to remedy this.

I have evidence of one or two cases in Chingford where people failed to use their coupons, but I am satisfied that there was enough soap in the district to meet the ration though they may have had to go to several shops to get it. Deliveries are steadily improving, now that manufacturers are catching up with the production lost during the fuel crisis.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applicants for telephones on the Headington and Cowley exchanges, respectively; and indicate in each case how many of these have been waiting for more than one, two, three or four years.

there are 284 applications for telephones on the Headington exchange and the numbers waiting for more than one, two, three and four years are 73, 6, 5 and 9 respectively The corresponding figures for Cowley are 273, 77, 15, 8 and 15.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that adequate steps are being taken to prevent listening-in by third parties to telephone conversations.

Yes. Third-party connections are largely due to faults in the switching equipment, which has suffered from intensive usage and insufficient maintenance during the six years of war. We are now making vigorous efforts to overtake the heavy arrears of maintenance.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a telephone line was promised to Miss Coleman-Ivens, Thornton-le-Moor, Lincolnshire, nearly two years ago; that her number is shown as Owesby 249 in the telephone directory, but no connection has been made; and, since considerable farming interests are involved, if he will have the work completed without further delay.

Supply difficulties have made it impracticable to undertake the heavy construction work needed to give Miss Coleman-Ivens exclusive service. An agreement was accordingly made with her in April, 1946, to share service with an existing subscriber, and her new number was included in the directory then being prepared for issue. The other subscriber then unfortunately withdrew his consent and refused to allow the work to proceed. By that time the directory had been printed. I am hopeful that it may now be possible to arrange for Miss Coleman-Ivens to share a line with another existing subscriber and this possibility is being pursued.

asked the Postmaster-General if suitable wavelengths have been allocated to the railways in order that modern methods of wireless communication may be used between train crews and train movement control points, so that railway travelling may become safer and unnecessary delays and stoppages, in consequence, avoided.

Yes. Wavelengths have been allocated to the railway companies to cover their immediate radio communication needs. Any additional requirements will receive consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated annual saving resulting from the recent reduction of postal services in London and elsewhere.

A reduction in postal staff of not less than 3,500 persons is expected.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has considered the demand for a five-day working week from the postal workers' union; if he intends to grant it, since it was granted to the engineers' department a few weeks ago; if its granting would necessitate a five day postal delivery or if more labour, and how much would have to be recruited to maintain existing facilities.

My predecessor had some discussion with staff representatives on this matter, but I have not yet had an opportunity to discuss it with them. I propose to do so in the near future and, in view of the complexity of the subject, I should prefer not to make any statement at present.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters and parcels frequently take two days to get from Bridport to Weymouth, a distance of approximately 20 miles; and what steps he is taking to improve deliveries in this area.

Letters posted at the Bridport head post office before 7.30 p.m. and parcels posted up to 6.30 p.m. and addressed to Weymouth are due to be delivered by first post the following weekday If the hon. Member will let me have details of any letters or parcels which appear to have suffered delay I shall be pleased to investigate.

asked the Postmaster-General, if he will make special facilities available in the post office in Aberdeen for dealing with pathological samples, in view of the extreme urgency in the case of acute diseases such as diphtheria, etc., and the greatly depleted postal services now in operation.

I am looking into this matter and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General by what average time the first delivery of letters in Sutton Coldfield was completed during May of 1945, 1946 and 1947, respectively; by what time delivery was due to be completed in each period; and why there has been so wide a variation in times of delivery in certain streets from day to day.

The information required by the hon. Member is as follows:

Month	Average time of completion of first letter delivery.	Scheduled time of completion of first letter delivery.
May, 1945	9.15 a.m.	9.0 a.m.
May, 1946	9.0 a.m.	8.45 a.m.
May, 1947	8.50 a.m.	8.45 a.m.

I regret that the rearrangements of the postmen's delivery rounds introduced since the end of May have led to variations in the times of delivery. The postmen should, however, shortly become accustomed to their new rounds and I hope the delivery time will quickly be stabilised.

asked the Postmaster-General when it will be possible to resume the late night postal collections at the Leicester Square and Fleet Street post offices.

In view of the urgent need to save manpower and to release Post Office staff for employment on production, it is not proposed to restore late night postal collections at the post offices in question.

asked the Postmaster-General how many mail-bags containing registered and ordinary mail, respectively, have been lost on the railways since 1st January, 1946.

For the period 1st January, 1946, to 11th January, 1947, a total of 1,384 mail-bags (of which 1,346 contained registered items) which were conveyed by rail for part of their journey are recorded as missing, but it cannot be said with certainty that all these losses occurred on the railways. The figure represents about 001 per cent. of the total number of mail-bags despatched by rail during this period.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his regulations apply equally to political slogans placed on the front or the back of envelopes; and whether it is a breach of the regulations to put such slogans on the back of envelopes.

I am glad to have this opportunity to say that the Post Office does not prohibit the use of political slogans as such on the envelopes of letters, provided that they do not impede or embarrass the officers of the Post Office in their work of dealing with the letters. The slogans can be placed anywhere on the back of the envelope. If they are to appear on the front of the envelope they must be placed in the left hand half so as not to impede the reading of the address. If the slogans are printed on labels resembling postage stamps they must be confined to the back of the envelope in order to avoid confusion between the slogan stamp and the postage stamp. I cannot sanction the inclusion of controversial slogans in the impressions of postage franking machines, because they are liable to be interpreted by members of the public as associating the Post Office with the slogan. In referring to political slogans, I rely, of course, on the good taste of the authors of the slogans to refrain from using phrases which might be regarded by those who read them as offensive or unnecessarily provocative; if such phrases were to come into use, I should probably be obliged to reconsider the whole question.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the postage rates charged for sending food parcels from Canada to the United Kingdom; whether such rates are fixed by him or by the Canadian Government; whether he is aware that complaints are being made that in some cases the cost of postage exceeds the value of the parcel concerned; and whether he will take such steps as are open to him with a view to reducing such postage charges.

The postage rate on parcels sent from Canada to the United Kingdom, which are fixed by the Canadian Post Office, were reduced on 1st January last, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member details of the old and the new rates. I am unaware of any recent complaints of the nature mentioned. As regards a further reduction in postage rates from Canada, I would refer to my answer on 4th June to the hon. and gallant Member for Barnstaple (Brigadier Peto) about the rates from Australia. The same considerations apply regarding the sums credited to the British Post Office for its work in handling and delivering Canadian parcels.

asked the Postmaster-General which broadcasting stations he has authorised for reception in this country for the purposes of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1904, in view of the fact that persons convicted of receiving signals from unauthorised broadcasting stations are subject to prosecution.

I do not prescribe the individual broadcasting stations to which the public in this country may listen. The broadcasting receiving licence defines authorised broadcasting stations as stations for the time being authorised to conduct a broadcasting service pursuant to the International Radiocommunication Regulations. These stations are those operated by or under the authority of the governments of the countries in which they are respectively situated.

asked the Postmaster-General which Departments have exercised their rights, since 1st January, 1947, under Section 3 of Clause 4 of the Licence Agreement for 29th November, 1946, between the Government and the B.B.C., to require the B.B.C. to broadcast any announcement or other matter; and how often have they done so.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the hardship being caused to officers and other ranks, now serving in Greece, due to the inadequacy of their allowance on account of the present rate of exchange between drachma and sterling; and what action he is taking to remedy this hardship.

Local allowances for the members of the Royal Air Force stationed in Greece are calculated on the same basis as for the Army, and I would, therefore, refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what total grant is available during the year 1947 for the Auxiliary Air Force; and what percentage this is of the total Air Force grants.

I regret that the information is not available in the form which the hon. Member has requested, as most of the expenditure on the Auxiliary Air Force is merged with that of the Royal Air Force as a whole. Details of certain items are, however, published separately for the Auxiliary Air Force in Vote 2 of the Air Estimates. This Vote provides a sum of £210,000 for the pay and allowances of members of the Auxiliary Air Force and for grants to Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what number of R.A.F. personnel are at present stationed at Boxted aerodrome, Langham; and whether he will make a statement about the future of this aerodrome.

A care and maintenance party of two senior N.C.O.s and 24 airmen is at present stationed at Boxted aerodrome. Boxted is being kept for flying by the R.A.F. at some future date. The aerodrome is now occasionally used by light aircraft, and it is used at week-ends by an A.T.C. gliding club.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the recruiting advertisement for the R.A.F. promises married quarters; and how he reconciles this with the fact that, in some cases, men who have been married for several years have been informed that, owing to a long wailing list of hardship cases, no date can be promised when married quarters will be available for them.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to this advertisement which gives, I am afraid, a misleading impression of the numbers of married quarters which are at present available for members of the R.A.F. I have given instructions for the advertisement to be withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) why members of the W.A.A.F. belonging to certain trades, who are in Groups 59 and 60, have had their release dates postponed;(2) why arrangements have not been made to train more recruits for the R.A.F. so as to enable members of the W.A.A.F. who have been serving since 1944 to be released;(3) whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists on the slow rate of release of members of the W.A.A.F., many of whom have been serving since before the end of hostilities; and what steps he proposes to take to speed up the release of these women.

There has been no postponement in the date of release of members of the W.A.A.F. in Groups 59 and 60. It was announced towards the end of March that we hope to release these two groups between July and September and this is still our intention. We are, of course, training all the recruits we can get for the R.A.F. but in any case those members of the W.A.A.F. who have been serving since 1944, and who do not wish to stay on, will be released before the end of the year. I am informed that no complaints about the rate of release have been received from members of the W.A.A.F. for several months.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if airmen who volunteered to sign on for a further four years' service with the R.A.F. before the Extended Service Engagements Scheme was announced are entitled to the initial bounty of £25, to the gratuity of £25 for each full year of completed service of their re-engagement and to a civilian outfit on discharge.

Airmen who at the date of the introducton of the Extended Service scheme were already serving on Regular engagements, did not become eligible for the special bounty and gratuity payable under the scheme, but were given an opportunity of opting for three years supplemental service at the end of their existing engagements. Airmen who opted for supplemental service qualify for £25 bounty payable immediately and for £25 gratuity for each year of supplemental service actually completed. All Regular airmen, whether on extended service engagements or other forms of engagement, are eligible for civilian outfit on discharge.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many men have been discharged from the R.A.F., suffering from tuberculosis, between September, 1939, and June, 1945, and June, 1945, and the present time, respectively.

The numbers are as follows: September, 1939, to June, 1945, 6,642; July, 1945, to June, 1947, 3,147. I should perhaps add that the increase in the number of discharges per annum during the later period is largely due to the wider application of radiography to the Royal Air Force. An X-ray examination is now provided for new entrants and for members of the Service on release from overseas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the reason for the delay in restoring the inter-island air services in Orkney which were in existence for four years before the outbreak of war.

These services were operated before the war with a type of aircraft which is now obsolete. The planned introduction of standard types in service today necessitate detailed surveys of the sites available for suitable aerodromes. Since it is clear that considerable work, expense and time would be involved in providing such aerodromes, my noble Friend is arranging for immediate examination of the possibility of some practicable and economical alternative of serving the islands by air.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will now state the date on which the aerodrome at Harrowbeer will be brought into use and an air service established to the west country.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Bodmin (Mr. D. Marshall) on 11th June.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is intended to allow charter companies working as agents of the Corporation to run services within the United Kingdom which the Corporation cannot at the moment undertake.

Air services within the United Kingdom are operated from time to time by charter companies, as agents of British European Airways Corporation. Each case is necessarily considered by the Corporation on its merits.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware that A.M.O. A.360, issued 8th May, 1947, in advertising posts in his Department states that applicants must be university graduates or possess professional aviation qualifications and experience of a high standard, preferably with administrative experience, and must either be pilots with a sound knowledge of navigation and possess practical navigation experience; and why it is regarded that university graduation balances the alternative qualifications.

Air Ministry Order A. 360 followed upon the Civil Service Commissioners' Press advertisement, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. The educational standard required is either a university degree or, alternatively, professional aviation qualifications and experience of a high order. In addition, every candidate whether he is a university graduate or not, must be a pilot with a sound knowledge of air navigation or possess practical air navigation experience, at least up to the standard of a Second Class Civil Navigator's Licence. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air is arranging for the Air Ministry Order to be amended to make the position clear beyond doubt.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware that members of the public desiring to see the arrival and departure of passenger aeroplanes at the Heathrow airport are charged 3d. for admission to the enclosure; how much this has produced since this method was first introduced to the latest available date; and to what the total receipts are devoted.

Yes. This is one of the first steps towards providing revenue producing amenities at London Airport. Between 1st June last, when the enclosure was opened to the public, and 22nd June, 36,917 persons and 3,388 cars were admitted. The total receipts, at 3d. a person and 1s. a car, were £633 11s. 3d., which will be credited to public funds as a contribution to the heavy expense of providing, operating and maintaining the airport.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the 11.20 a.m. service from Glasgow to Belfast on 14th June, 1947, broke down; why no reserve aircraft was available; and what steps are proposed to ensure an efficient service in future.

I am informed by the British European Airways Corporation that this was due to the unfortunate coincidence that both the Jupiter aircraft detailed for these services developed minor engineering difficulties. Although the two reserve DH.89 aircraft were immediately placed on service they had not sufficient capacity to replace fully the two Jupiters. With regard to the last part of the Question, I am satisfied that everything is done by the Corporation to maintain maximum regularity with the aircraft available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to facilitate natural regeneration in the large areas of German woodland which are now being clear-felled; it-td whether any old trees are being left behind in accordance with the common German forestry practice.

Where an area is clear-felled, seed trees are left for forest regeneration. Apart from seed trees, a certain number of trees per acre are left standing in areas where this has been the practice in the past.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent he intends transporting electric generating plant bodily from installations in Germany to this country; and what steps are being taken to replace the shortages which already exist in Germany and which will be exacerbated by this action.

I have no present intention of bringing to the United Kingdom any electric generating plant from public utilities in Germany. The shortage of electric power both in Germany and in countries dependent upon German supply is due not to shortage of generating plant but to shortage of fuel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the target for cereal collections from German farmers in the British zone during the first four months of 1947; and how much was actually collected.

The target for total grain collections from the 1946 harvest in the British zone was estimated at 1,460,000 tons in terms of flour equivalent. Of this 940,000 tons, or 64 per cent., had been collected up to the end of December, 1946, leaving 520,000 tons to be collected in the current year. Actual collections up to the end of April were 345,000 tons. By the end of the crop year total collections are expected to be above 1,300,000 tons or about go per cent. of the target.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to settle the food strike of more than 30,000 workers in Cologne and to prevent it spreading to the Ruhr cities; and whether he will make a statement.

The action taken by a number of workers in Cologne was in the nature of a demonstration to call public attention to the undoubtedly difficult food situation. Work has been resumed in all but one plant, where the men are demanding assurances of increased food issues before resuming work. Everything possible is being done by the British and American Governments and the German bi-zonal administration to improve the food situation and thus prevent any further stoppage of work. I am conscious of the difficulties arising from the shortage of food supplies and transport, and while they have been accentuated by international political complications it must be remembered that the devastation caused by the war, which the Nazis started, is the biggest contributory factor, both in Germany and in the liberated countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what quantity of coal supplies industrial plans for the Anglo-U.S. zone of Germany have been based; whether the anticipated tonnage output in the Ruhr is being realised; and what steps he is taking to ensure its maintenance.

The industrial plan for the Anglo-United States zone for the year April, 1947, to March, 1948, was based on an availability of approximately 45 million tons of coal. The tonnage output in the Ruhr which was anticipated when the original plans were being drawn up is not being realised. A number of incentives are offered to miners covering food, tobacco, clothing, holidays and other items. We are giving the whole matter urgent attention, in consultation with German officials and trade unionists.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he is taking to maintain in operation the basic industries of the Ruhr basin, in view of the grave coal and power position in Western Germany.

Available supplies of coal and raw materials are allocated according to priorities. Every effort is being made, in conjunction with the American authorities, to increase the supply of food to the Ruhr. This, more than anything else, may be expected to bring about a rise in the output of coal, upon which the activity of the basic industries fundamentally depends.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official arrangements His Majesty's Government are making to receive Madame Peron on her forthcoming visit to this country.

The wife of the President of the Argentine Republic is proposing to visit the United Kingdom from 16th to 19th July, and the Argentine Government have been informed that she will be made welcome and will receive the facilities and courtesies which are customary in the case of private visits by distinguished foreign visitors. It is the intention of the Government to offer appropriate hospitality and entertainment to Madame Peron. Apart from this, arrangements will be in the hands of a private Reception Committee, which has been formed with my approval by the Chairman of the Hispanic Council, Lord Davidson, and which will assist the Argentine Ambassador in regard to the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received any evidence from the Soviet authorities in Hungary as to the alleged plot of M. Nagy to overthrow his own Government; and whether he proposes to take any further action in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any further reply has been received by His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow in reference to our request for copies of the documents in connection with the allegations against M. Nagy; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received no further information from the Soviet authorities in Hungary. However, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of State informed the House on 18th June, His Majesty's Government were then awaiting a report on further representations by His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow. I instructed His Majesty's Ambassador to wait on Mr. Molotov and to express to him the feeling, which is shared by Members of the House, that His Majesty's Government must have the information for which they had asked in order to form a correct judgment about the events which have taken place.His Majesty's Ambassador saw Mr. Molotov on 17th June. I profoundly regret to say that he received an equally unsatisfactory reply. If, when such events as these occur, information which we have a right to possess is withheld, there is bound to be misunderstanding between the nations. Since in this case the information has been withheld, His Majesty's Government are forced to draw their own conclusions.I am now instructing His Majesty's Ambassador to inform Mr. Molotov that His Majesty's Government cannot but regret the refusal of the Soviet Government to meet the legitimate and friendly requests which have been made to them with anything but unsubstantiated denials and counter-accusations.As regards our future policy to Hungary, I can only say that we shall watch developments closely and shall adjust our policy, both political and economic, to the Hungarian Government in the light of events during the coming months.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make it a condition of any new treaty of friendship and alliance with the U.S.S.R. that Russian women who have married British subjects shall be free to join their husbands in this country.

No. Much as I sympathise with the unfortunate position of these wives and their husbands, and with the desire of the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown) to help them, I do not think this is an appropriate question to be included in the negotiations for the revision of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the new arrests of prominent Socialists in Poland; and if, in view of the provisions of the Yalta Agreement, he will instruct His Majesty's representative in Warsaw to protest to the Polish Government.

Yes, I was aware of these arrests, which, although recently announced, took place last November. I deplore political arrests, but I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to address a protest to the Polish Government on this subject.

asked the secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make available in the Library copies of the recent advertisements which have been appearing in the U.S. Press with regard to British policy in Palestine and in the Sudan, about which he has protested to the U.S. Government; and whether, as a result of these protests, any steps have been taken to prevent the continued circulation of these advertisements.

No protest has been made to the United States Government on the subject of an advertisement recently inserted in the American Press by the leader of an Egyptian political party. Representations have been made, however, as a result of advertisements sponsored by United States citizens and dealing with British policy in Palestine. A copy of the most recent of these, which contains words constituting an incitement to the murder of British troops and officials, has been placed in the Library. With regard to the last part of the Question, we are awaiting a reply from the United States Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a table showing the output per man hour and the output per man year for 1938, 1939, 1946 and 1947 in the principal industries; the amount of horsepower or kilowatt per person employed in the same industries and in the same period in Great Britain.

As to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. Scott-Elliot) on 13th February and to my right hon. and learned Friend's statement on 10th March during the Debate on the Economic Situation. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of the raw materials the supplies of which are being allocated by certificates through trade associations or imported and distributed for approved uses by an importers' association acting as Government agents.

The following raw materials falling within the responsibility of the Board of Trade or the Ministry of Supply are allocated to users by certificates through trade associations or are imported and distributed for approved uses by an importers' association acting as Government agents:

• Casein.
• Fibreboard.
• Vulcanised fibre.
• Leathercloth to meet export allocations.
• Willow rods and sticks (a few growers sell outside this voluntary scheme).
• Japanese raw silk.
• Rosin and liquid rosin.
• Turpentine.
• Pine Oil.
• Linseed oil for the paint trade
• Glycerine for the paint trade.
• Caustic Potash.
• Carbonate of Potash.
• Rotenone-containing materials
• Tin for the pin trade.
• Lead for capsules, collapsible tubes and patent glazing.
• Lead for sheet and pipe (partially).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assurances his Department gave to the group which acquired the assets of Grantham Productions, Limited, before such acquisition, concerning allocation of the factories recently occupied by that company; and what conditions were attached thereto.

None, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if it is possible to make any broad estimate of the number of clothing coupons outstanding in the issues to be cancelled as from 1st November next; and a similar estimate of the number of persons holding these coupons.

Such information as there is suggests that the holding at the present time does not exceed 100 million or the equivalent of two coupons per head. Normal spending would, of course, reduce this number considerably by 1st November, even if the coupons were not to be invalidated. With regard to the last part of the Question, I have no means of making any estimate.

asked the Attorney-General, if he will reverse the decision to discontinue the Holt and North Walsham County Courts, Norfolk, in favour of a county court at Cromer, in view of the long distances many people would have to travel to attend the court at Cromer.

No. Before the change was decided upon, careful inquiries were made locally and special consideration was given to the position of litigants at the North Walsham and Holt County Courts. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor was satisfied that the amalgamation of the areas formerly served by these courts with adjacent county court districts was desirable in the interests of the majority of litigants concerned, notwithstanding that some would have to travel longer distances. In present circumstances, better facilities for the administration of justice can be provided at Cromer than at Holt or North Walsham.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that airmail letters to service addresses in Italy are delivered within seven days when despatched from Chicago, U.S.A., but only after 10 days when despatched from Scotland; that mail from C.M.F. to this country by the free surface-route service is delivered more expeditiously than air-mail; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the air-mail service.

My information is that air-mail letters from America to British Forces in Italy do not arrive quicker than Forces air-mail from the United Kingdom as the former are routed via the United Kingdom. Air-mail from the United Kingdom is averaging three days to North Italy and 2½ days to South Italy. Corresponding figures for surface route are five days and six days. An additional flight to Rome is planned to start at the end of this month giving four weekly flights to South Italy in place of the present three.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will make a statement on the production of a new vegetable oil in Tongaland, South Africa; whether the Government is making a grant towards its development; what acreage has been allocated for an experimental plantation; and how long it is expected before commercial exportation can be made to this country.

Production within the Union of South Africa is a matter for the Union Government. I have no information on the particular project to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Education the number of men and women, respectively, employed as qualified, unqualified and temporary teachers in primary and secondary schools on the latest date for which information is available.

The following figures (which exclude those teachers not in contributory service for purposes of the Teachers (Superannuation) Acts) show the position on the 31st March, 1946, the latest date for which figures are available in the form asked for.

	Men	Women.	Total.
Qualified	49,691	110,694	160,385
Non-Qualified	1,305	11,448	12,753
Total	50,996	122,142	173,138

Of the non-qualified teachers shown, 286 men and 744 women were classified as temporary teachers.The total number of full time teachers in primary and secondary schools at the same date was 180,004. This figure had increased by April, 1947 to 189,810, of whom 63,830 were men and 125,980 were women.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will attend the international railway congress to be held in Switzerland at the end of June, in view of the importance of the occasion and the fact that foreign governments are to be represented by political heads of departments.

My hon. Friend appears to be misinformed as to the representation at this conference. In accordance with past practice, the delegations of most of the Governments represented at the conference will be led by officials of high standing. The British Government delegation will be led by the Permanent Secretary of my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 years and the consequent hardship to many families, he will consider the desirability of immediately extending the age to 15 years for children's half-fares on all forms of passenger transport.

The matter is under consideration, but I am not as yet in a position to announce any decision.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the future of his Department's hostel at Brinsford Lodge, Featherstone, Staffordshire.

The hostel is now urgently needed for workers on heavy electrical plant, and will, therefore, remain open.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mrs. Louisa A. Sheard, 12, Shirley Parade, Gomersal, near Leeds, the wife of pensioner No. 09526093 Mr. Harry Sheard, will receive the old-age pension to which she has been entitled since 8th February, 1947, together with the arrears of payment due to her.

A pension order book at the rate of 16s. a week has now been issued to Mrs. Sheard, together with the arrears due since 13th February, the first pension pay-day after her husband's 65th birthday.