asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what reserve stocks of food are held ashore in the United Kingdom, ashore in stations overseas and in ships afloat, respectively, for victualling the Royal Navy in the event of a major war.

It is not in accordance with practice to give this information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the ratio of medical personnel to total personnel in the Navy at the present time, six months ago, and a year ago, respectively.

On 30th September, 1947, the latest date for which figures are available, the ratio of total medical staff (including Q.A.R.N.N.S. and Naval V.A.Ds.) to the total strength of the Navy (including W.R.N.S., Q.A.R.N.N.S. and Naval V.A.Ds.) was 25 per thousand. On 31st March, 1947, it was 28 per thousand and on 30th September, 1946, 30 per thousand. The present ratio of medical officers only to the total strength of the Navy is 3.25 per thousand; on 31st March, 1947, it was 3.46 per thousand and on 30th September, 1946, 2.83 per thousand. Admiralty employees who receive medical treatment from the Medical Services of the Royal Navy in His Majesty's Dockyards, etc., and Naval wives and families, in particular those on stations abroad, are not included in the above calculations.

asked the Postmaster-General what complaints he has received that officers of the Board of Trade have tapped telephone wires in connection with inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no such complaints, and I am not aware of any such practice as is suggested.

asked the Postmaster-General how long it takes for air mail letters from London to reach Hong Kong.

Air mails for Hong Kong are despatched twice weekly and the time of transmission is seven days.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in the interests of the nation's economy and because of the strain on the postal services, he will consider depriving the football pools of the advantage of cheap postal rates.

No. The football pool promoters enjoy no postal facility not available to any other large user of the post.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that men of doubtful character have been re-enlisted in the Service under the Bounty Scheme; and what steps are now being taken to see that these men are not so enlisted.

Yes. Some men were re-enlisted whose records were not examined in sufficient detail. As soon as this was discovered fresh instructions were issued, and no man is now accepted without a full examination of his Service documents.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware than on agricultural land near Theale, Berkshire, which was requisitioned by his Department for use as an airfield and which is no longer required for this purpose, factory buildings are now being erected with the authority of the Ministry of Transport; whether the Bradfield Rural District Council, as the town planning authority, were consulted, and when he will hand this land back for agricultural use.

The Ministry of Transport have authorised the erection of a small hangar. It will be used by a firm of vehicle body builders. The council were not consulted, as the hangar is no more than a temporary building. Although we have not de-requisitioned the airfield, the land is available for any form of agriculture the county committee think most suitable. At present it is used for grazing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what reserve stocks of food are held in the United Kingdom and at stations overseas, respectively, for victualling the Royal Air Force in the event of a major war.

Stocks of food for the Royal Air Force are maintained by the Army, and as stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War yesterday, it would not be in accordance with practice to disclose information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the neglected condition of many airfields in Norfolk, particularly the airfield at Attlebridge; that heaps of weeds have been thrown on runways, and that from these heaps the seeds of thistles, docks and other weeds have been scattered and washed into adjoining ditches and on to adjacent land, causing general deterioration of the surroundings; and will he have the matter investigated and action taken.

The land at Attle-bridge and at 18 other airfields in Norfolk has been handed over to the county agricultural committee for them to farm as they think best. I understand that the committee are dealing with the weeds at Attlebridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his regulations allow airmen under 21 to sign Regular engagements to serve for a period of years over and above the term of their liability under the National Service Acts.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the reason why Horsham St. Faith was selected as the site for a large air station having regard to the fact that it is virtually on the outskirts of the City of Norwich and that there are other sites which could have been chosen and which would cause less inconvenience and disturbance to the nearby urban population.

Horsham St. Faith was selected in 1937, after ten other sites in this part of the country had been inspected. Its level, well-drained surface made it an ideal site for an airfield. It was developed as a permanent R.A.F. station and, as I explained in answer to the hon. Member on 10th July, 1946, it cannot be given up.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if 1685305 L.A.C. Davies, D. M., of R.A.F. Station, Swinderby, has yet been brought to trial by court martial; and on what charges and with what results; and how long was L.A.C. Davies in close or open arrest awaiting trial.

This airman was tried by district court martial on 26th November, 1947. He pleaded guilty to charges of stealing and of escaping from confinement and to three charges relating to improper possession. He was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 18 months and to discharge with ignominy; this sentence is subject to confirmation and review. The airman was kept in close arrest from 14th October, 1947, until his trial.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the comparative landing fees at Government-owned aerodromes in the United Kingdom, the U.S.A., Switzerland, France, Holland and Belgium, and the Scandinavian countries.

Owing to the variety and complexity of methods which landing charges are assessed, it is not possible to present an exact comparison for the countries named, but I attach a table of most of typical charges for two types of aircraft. I should, however, add that the revision

RATES OF LANDING CHARGES FOR DAKOTA AND CONSTELLATION AIRCRAFT AT GOVERNMENT-OWNED
AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CERTAIN OTHER COUNTRIES.
Country. (1)	Landing Charges.						Remarks. (4)
	Dakota. (2)			Constellation. (3)
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
UNITED KINGDOM	5	12	6	13	2	6	—
BELGIUM	4	10	7	—			(a) Surcharge for Night Landings: Dakota —£2 16s. 7d.
							(b) Surcharge for Night Departure:
							(i) After landing the same night: Dakota—£2 16s. 7d.
							(ii) After landing during the day: Dakota—£4 4s. 11d.
DENMARK	5	12	0	17	19	0	Additional charge for Lighting: 12s. 5d. per hour or part thereof.
FRANCE	2	2	0	9	9	0	Surcharge for Night Landing: £2 2S. 0d.
HOLLAND—
(a) Intercontinental	2	8	0	7	13	0	Surcharge for Night Landing: £1 17s. 0d.
(b) European	1	16	0	5	15	0	Surcharge for Night Landing: £1 8s. 0d.
NORWAY	5	8	0	17	7	0	Additional Charge for Lighting: Dakota —£1 10s. 0d.
SWEDEN	5	7	0	—			Night Illumination: £2 1s. 5d.
SWITZERLAND	1	17	0	5	18	0	(a) Surcharge for Night Landing: 14s. 5d.
							(b) There is also a Handling Charge of £11 us. 0d. for turn-round of each passenger aircraft (of Dakota-weight class) operating into Switzerland. This charge includes certain services not elsewhere covered by landing charges.
UNITED STATES (La Guardia Airport, N.Y., not Government-owned)—							(a) The rates given are subject to an additional £1,000 per annum paid by each scheduled operator for the privilege of scheduled operations, and also to the assumption that the operator uses only the type of aircraft named.
1 landing per week	10	1	0	13	3	0
1 landing per day	1	13	0	2	4	0
6 landings per day	1	8	0	1	14	0
10 landings per day		19	0	1	9	0	(b) Recent figures are not available for Washington, the only state-owned airfield in the U.S.A.
Non-scheduled Operators.	5	12	0	11	3	0

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that extra rations will be available for the Olympic crews competing at the Olympic Regatta at Henley in August, 1948; and that when application is made for licences for entertaining these competitors, these will be forthcoming, the numbers are not being limited.

Yes. We are at present considering the appropriate scale of these fees is now under consideration in the countries named, including the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Food in what circumstances a cargo of Jamaican bananas were landed at Avonmouth unfit for consumption; and what proportion were jettisoned and what finally consumed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 1st December and to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 2nd December. I have no further information at the moment as the full report from Jamaica has not yet arrived.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to make certain that none of the potatoes reserved for seed are used as food.

Buyers of seed potatoes are required to certify that the seed will be planted, and shop sales of quantities of less than I cwt. are at present prohibited so that stocks are not dissipated before the planting season is reached.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that 1,100 tons of Italian filberts and 700 tons of walnuts were sold upon the instructions of his Ministry at the London Fruit Exchange on 24th November; will he state the dates upon which these nuts were imported into this country; and why this information was not published in the sale catalogue.

The reply to the first part of the Question is "Yes." These nuts were shipped to this country at various dates between June, 1946, and March, 1947. Representative samples from each parcel of nuts were available for inspection for three days prior to the auction, and a full description of the nuts was given in the catalogue.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied with the present method of allocating fats to fish friers.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Food what was the average crop of potatoes and the consumption per head in the crop year 1938, 1946 and the estimated crop and consumption per head for the season 1947–48.

In the 1938 season the Great Britain potato crop was 4,404,000 tons and weekly consumption per head 3·0 lb.; in the 1946 season, 8,614,000 tons and 5·4 lb. per head; and this season the latest estimates are 6,811,000 tons and 3·9 lb. per head respectively.

asked the Minister of Food what are the principal foods imported from the dollar countries and to what extent they are likely to be reduced owing to the shortage of dollars.

The principal foods at present being imported from dollar countries are wheat and flour, meat, cheese, shell eggs, dried egg, bacon, canned meat, sugar, and oils and fats. For the answer to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Aberdeen and Kincardine, Central (Mr. Spence) on 3rd November and 1st December and to the reply given to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) today.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the present rule forbidding luncheons and dinners at which more than 100 persons are present is a hindrance to the important trade, professional and scientific organisations and deprives them of facilities still available to societies with a smaller membership; and whether he will discuss this matter at an early date with representatives of the larger societies and organisations affected.

I am not aware that the Meals (Services at Social Functions) Order presents any serious hindrance to the organisations mentioned and I would hope that the smaller societies would fall in with the spirit of the order even if they do not come within the terms of its letter. When international relationships would be fostered I am very willing under suitable circumstances to grant the necessary licence for a meal for all those interested who otherwise might not be able to make personal contact. In the circumstances I do not consider that any advantage would be served by discussing the matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that in the summer British firms were allowed to buy early crop potatoes and to make forward purchases of later crop potatoes for manufacture into mashed potato powder, sold to the public in packets at the luxury price of 1s. 9d. to 2s. a lb.; whether he has any information as to the quantities so used and why, in view of the known probability that this year's potato crop would be small, with consequent winter shortages, this practice was permitted by his Ministry.

Yes; the firms concerned, converted into mashed potato powder a quantity of early potatoes that was in danger of being wasted, thus securing an extra supply for human consumption. One thousand two hundred tons of raw potatoes are being processed weekly to form a reserve at the direction of my Department to meet local shortages. I do not consider the product a luxury, as 1 lb. of powder is the equivalent of 7 lb. of raw potatoes.

asked the Minister of Defence what facilities are available for ascertaining the whereabouts of members of the Armed Forces for the purpose of serving process for the recovery of sums due under the provisions of properly executed agreements under seal.

The facilities available are fully described in a published memorandum of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many sets of electrocardiographic apparatus for the diagnosis of heart diseases exist in each of the four West African Colonies, respectively, and where they are located.

I have asked the West African Governments to supply this information and will write to my hon. Friend on receipt of their replies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make any statement on the results of the African Governors' Conference recently concluded in London.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the communiqué which was issued at the end of the Conference. This indicates the subjects which were discussed and I have nothing to add to it. I should like, however, to say that the Conference provided a most welcome opportunity for an exchange of views on a wide range of subjects between the Governors, myself and my officials and that the discussions which took place were of the greatest value to us.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken and what further action is proposed as a result of the report presented by the Mission appointed in August, 1946, to investigate and report upon the exportable surpluses of vegetable oils and oil seeds in West Africa.

The recommendations of the Mission are being followed up. The principal action taken has been as follows.Last April I appointed a Mission to investigate the possibility of large scale groundnut production in West Africa. I received their report last week, and hope to make a statement on it when I have had time to consider it in greater detail. Transport difficulties continue to delay the evacuation of Nigerian groundnuts. Railings have very recently shown a satisfactory improvement and I am in continual contact with the Governor of Nigeria on the matter. Fourteen Canadian locomotives have been dispatched to Nigeria this year and 20 British locomotives are being manufactured. With the assistance of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, with whom I am in close touch on this, these will be shipped in the early months of the coming year. The supply of road transport and locomotive spares has also been improved.The Mission emphasised the need for more consumer goods, particularly cotton piece goods, in West Africa. I fully recognise this need but obviously the quantities which can be made available from this country must depend on an increase of our domestic production.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken, satisfactorily, to deal with Indian and other claims in East Africa against the racial discrimination embodied in Colonial Paper 210; and if he is aware that both India and Pakistan are united in the protest against this.

The scheme involves no racial discrimination of any kind and I have nothing to add to my reply on 28th July to my hon. Friend the Member for North Battersea (Mr. Jay), of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. The position has been fully explained to the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures to reduce the cost of living are being taken by the Government of Northern Rhodesia; and whether similar measures are to be taken in Nyasaland and East Africa.

As a result of interim recommendations by the Cost of Living Commission, which started its work in June of this year, the following steps have been taken by the Northern Rhodesian Government to reduce the cost of living in the territory:

(a) The price of wheaten flour and meat has been reduced to that prevailing on 1st August, 1947, entailing an estimated subsidy of £40,500 per annum.

(b) Customs Duties on a wide range of essential articles, such as blankets, clothes, enamelware and bicycles, have been suspended at an estimated loss to revenue of £163,000 per annum.

(c) The price of maize-meal for Africans living on the line of rail has been reduced from an average price of 19s. 6d. per bag to approximately 15s. 6d. per bag, at an estimated cost of £150,000 per annum. Maize was already subsidised to the extent of £240,000 per annum, so that the total estimated annual cost of the subsidy on this essential item of food is £390,000.

The Acting Governor has informed me that he is confident that these concessions will bring a real measure of relief to the lower wage-earners, especially Africans.As regards measures in other territories, I am obtaining the most recent information from the Governors and I will communicate with the hon. Member later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to obtain the co-operation of the Government of the Union of South Africa on the basis of the decisions on migrant labour agreed by the Central African Council; and what co-operation has been forthcoming up to date.

A delegation representing the Governments of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland discussed with representatives of the Union Government at Pretoria during August the Central African Council's proposals regarding the control and care of migrant African labour. A considerable measure of agreement was reached, and the views of the Union Government on certain aspects of the proposals are now awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the great desire of people in the Colonies to help this country through its crisis; and whether he will request Colonial governors to emphasise to their respective governments or administrations how much help would be supplied by a much greater reduction of local petrol consumption than the 10 per cent. at present advocated.

The Colonies generally have shown themselves very ready to help us in our present difficulties by curtailing dollar and other hard currency imports. Petrol is one of these, and while some Colonies have indicated that they are curtailing consumption by more than 10 per cent., I do not feel able to press the matter further just now as most Colonies are today much more dependent on motor transport than we are.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Colonial immigrants have come to Great Britain in search of employment during 1946 and to the end of October, 1947; how far have those allowed to remain found work in skilled and unskilled occupations; and what, in the main, are these occupations.

No distinction is made in such matters between British subjects from the Colonies and other British subjects. I regret, therefore, that no statistics are kept which would enable me to answer the, Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the useful work done by experts on agriculture and other subjects sent out to different Colonies on short visits by his Department; and what steps he is taking to develop this branch of the Colonial Service.

Yes. It has long been the practice to arrange short visits to the Colonies by experts of different kinds to deal with particular problems. These visits are often most valuable and I have no doubt that the need for them will increase in the future. The members must, of course, be selected in each case according to the nature of the problem to be investigated. There is, I am glad to say, no shortage of public spirited men and women who are ready to undertake such visits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will study the possibility of arranging short-term exchanges of professorship between United Kingdom Universities and Universities in the Colonies.

The possibility both of exchanging staff between United Kingdom and Colonial institutions of higher education and of seconding home University staff is already being actively considered by the Inter-University Council for Higher Education in the Colonies, which was set up last year. The Council has communicated with all home Universities on the latter question and arrangements to circularise all University teachers in this country have been made which I very much hope will meet with a good response.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is his policy for importing consumer goods into Malaya from U.S.A.

The policy in Malaya is the same as that in the United Kingdom and everywhere else in the Colonies, that the supply of United States dollars is so short that only goods which must be imported and cannot be imported except from the United States are licensed for importation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to bring into operation the proposed new constitution for Malaya; for what reason only the Malay Rulers and representatives of the United Malays National Organisation attended the conference on 12th November to discuss administrative arrangements dependent on the new constitution; whether it is proposed to consult representatives of non-Malays; and whether he is satisfied that the Sultans and the United Malays National Organisation are fully representative of Malay opinion.

As stated in paragraph 9 of Command Paper 7171, His Majesty's Government have accepted the Federation proposals for Malaya as outlined in that document. This decision was only reached after most careful study of the proposals elaborated in Malaya as a result of lengthy and exhaustive local consultations, which included full opportunity for all communities and interests to express their views. The drafting of the necessary instruments is now being completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to free the re-export of cotton piece goods from Singapore.

I understand that permission to re-export cotton piece goods from Singapore has now been given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the opposition of the Indian Members of the Fiji Legislative Council in respect of the new immigration proposals; and whether the Governor has been consulted on this matter.

I am aware that the Indian Members have made representations on certain points affecting the Fiji Immigration Bill, a non-discriminatory Measure, and I have been in communication with the Acting Governor on the matter. The Bill is at present before the Legislative Council and I have not yet had'a report of the debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will oppose in the case of the Colony of Seychelles the proposal to give a majority to unofficials in the Legislative and Executive Councils.

In Seychelles it would be premature to consider the introduction of unofficial majorities until experience has been gained of the working of the new constitutional arrangements, which are to be introduced in the near future. These arrangements will include the introduction of the elective principle in the Seychelles Legislature for the first time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the rectification of the boundary between Kenya and Ethiopia.

Yes. I am glad to be able to inform the House that agreement has been reached with the Ethiopian Government for the rectification of this boundary, which has never previously been satisfactorily determined. The boundary was originally described in an Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Ethiopia in 1907 but was never actually demarcated. The rectification now agreed upon involves some small, and mutually advantageous, exchanges of territory arising principally from the need to secure suitable watering places for tribes in British and Ethiopian territory respectively. I am arranging with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to place copies of the Exchange of Notes constituting the agreement with the Government of Ethiopia on this matter in the Library of the House at an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will offer release to the 23,000 officers and men in the three Services who are covered by the Ministry of Labour classification "agricultural trades," so that they can re-enter the agricultural industry, and thus avoid the employment of foreign labour.

As my right hon. Friend has previously explained, experienced farm workers have not been called up since February, 1946, and those who were called up before that date have already been offered release to return to agriculture. It is not proposed to extend this arrangement to other men classified as in agricultural or allied occupations who are not in fact experienced farm workers or who have voluntarily entered into regular engagements.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it has yet been decided what the period of National Service shall be for those men whose call-up will be due during the course of 1948; and if he will take steps to see that this information is available at each local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement in the very near future giving further information about the period of service of men called up to the Forces in 1947 and 1948. This information will then be made available at local offices of our Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the ratio of medical personnel to total personnel in the Army at the present time, six months ago, and a year ago, respectively.

The ratio of all ranks of the R.A.M.C. and the Nursing Services to total personnel in the British Army on 31st October, 1947, was 38·5 per 1,000. Corresponding figures for 31st May, 1947, and 30th November, 1946, were 35·4 per 1,000, and 35·6 per 1,000 respectively. The ratio of medical officers to total personnel in the Army on the same dates was, On 31st October, 1947, 3·5 per 1,000, on 31st May, 1947, 3·4 per 1,000, and on 30th November, 1946, 3·9 per 1,000. It should be realised, however, that the R.A.M.C. is responsible for the medical care of large numbers of Colonial troops and of civilians in overseas theatres, who are not included in the above figures. These additional commitments increase the total numbers for whom the R.A.M.C. is responsible at the present time by nearly one-third.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the considerable number of unemployed Italians in Eritrea; and what measures he proposes to prevent any worsening of the situation as well as adding to the burden on the British taxpayer owing to further immigration of Italians.

Yes. Arrangements have been made with the Italian Government to send a ship in the near future to repatriate as many of the unemployed as possible. Apart from replacements for key personnel, Italians are allowed to enter Eritrea only on extreme compassionate grounds.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration led him to issue an order to the effect that cats' eyes on roads in built-up areas where normal lighting has been restored are not to be replaced; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Pudsey and Otley (Colonel Stoddart-Scott) on 1st December, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the difficulties of tin mining companies in West Africa in getting passages for their staffs; and whether, in view of the importance of the tin mining industry to our economy and the necessity of carrying out orders placed in the dollar areas, he will see that all such staffs are granted priority passages or arrange for extra ships to be placed on the West African run, since the passage situation to that country has deteriorated greatly within the last few months.

To relieve the present pressure on the West African route I am arranging for two sailings by civilian transports during the next two months. A new ship has recently gone into regular service on this run and will be followed by a second ship next spring. One of the civilian transports will remain in the service till then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the report of the Parliamentary Boundaries Commission has yet been received; and when it will be published.

Yes. The report of the Commission for Northern Ireland has been published. I hope to announce in a day or two the dates of publication of the remaining reports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total strength of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Preparatory Committee of the International Conference on Trade and Employment at Geneva, including private secretaries, office staff and drivers; and what was the total cost of maintaining the delegation there.

The highest total strength reached by the United Kingdom Delegation at Geneva, which included representatives of certain Empire countries, was 229, but there were considerable fluctuations in numbers during the period of the Conference and the average total of United Kingdom members of the Delegation during the whole period of the Conference was well below this figure. It included some messengers and drivers whose services were made available to Dominion Delegations. The cost to the United Kingdom Government up to 31st October, the latest date at which information is at present available, was £2,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has yet been reached in connection with the proposal to license a new periodical for distribution overseas.

The Committee which was set up under Lord Layton's chairmanship has examined the applications received and has now reported. I have considered its report, but taking account of the change in conditions since this proposal was first put forward, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be desirable to license one new periodical while the paper situation would not permit us to license more, and is at the moment deteriorating. Paper is licensed freely for export of existing periodicals and I am, of course, most anxious to establish a general freedom to publish new periodicals for overseas distribution only as soon as the supply position will allow of such a policy.