asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has given instructions that the sale of coal gas for the propulsion of motor vehicles is not to be permitted; and if so, under what regulation.

No, Sir. But my right hon. Friend has power to issue a direction under the Control of Motor Fuel Order, 1947, restricting the use of gaseous fuels, if this should become necessary.

Is it not a fact that a circular was sent round the regional offices instructing them that they should not grant permission for this purpose?

I am not aware of that fact.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable misunderstanding as to the circumstances under which gas can now be used for the propulsion of mechanical vehicles, and will he issue an authoritative statement to clear up this doubt?

I hope that the answer that I have given will do that.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the low quality of pool petrol, of the resulting low mileage obtained and the undue wear upon engines; and what steps are being taken to improve this quality.

I agree that pool petrol, though superior to the average grades supplied before the war for commercial vehicles is in some respects inferior to the prewar No. 1 grades used for most private cars. I regret, however, that I cannot hold out hope of any immediate improvement, since directly or indirectly this would involve additional dollar expenditure.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what he is doing in order to improve the refining facilities here, and thereby improve the quality of the petrol supply?

I think there is another Question on the Order Paper on that matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will arrange for exhibitions in large towns of modern fuel-burning appliances, and for advice as to their use.

Yes, Sir. Arrangements for exhibitions of modern domestic fuel burning appliances in London and Glasgow are in hand; similar arrangements will be made in the North Western Region as soon as suitable premises can be obtained. Technical officers will be available at these exhibitions to give advice.

I presume that the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that if coal were not burned wastefully we should have all the coal we need, and should also see the sun much more often than we do?

We are anxious to have the utmost fuel efficiency and economy. That is the reason for our technical officers and for these exhibitions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many electricity supply authorities have initiated schemes whereby any necessary load-shedding cuts are arranged so as to fall upon particular groups of consumers, whether domestic or industrial, within their areas on a specified day or days of the week; how many authorities have not initiated such schemes; and what method is being used to bring particulars of each such scheme to the knowledge of the individuals affected.

Precise information is not available as to how many of the 570 electricity undertakings have adopted a rota system of load shedding, but the system has certainly been widely adopted by undertakings throughout the country for at least a part of their load. All large industrial firms affected have been notified individually; the remainder have been notified either by post or by advertisement in the local Press.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that these schemes can make a great contribution to public convenience as well as to the economising of electricity if they are widely known to the domestic consumer? Is he aware of the widespread ignorance on the part of the public about the very existence of such schemes, and will he do his best to bring to the notice of the public generally knowledge of the operation of the schemes?

There should be no ignorance on the part of the public where undertakings have introduced this system, as it has been widely advertised in the local Press. There are technical difficulties about making this a rigid national scheme.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will define the respective functions and responsibilities of the Economic Section of the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Department of the Economic Secretary of the Treasury and the Planning Board under Sir Edward Plowden; and to which Minister the last-named body is now responsible.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 15th December to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton).

asked the Prime Minister which of the functions of the Economic Secretary to the Treasury are new and which transferred from another Ministry.

Generally speaking, the Economic Secretary assists my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on that part of his duties which previously fell to him as Minister for Economic Affairs, and, therefore, on duties which have been transferred from that office.

Am I right in assuming that there are no new functions and no transferred functions, and that since there was not an opportunity, on the Bill which appointed this new Minister, for the House to discuss anything other than his salary, the Prime Minister will give the House a chance of discussing the functions of this new important Minister?

That matter can be discussed on a Supply Day on the Estimates, or on any other appropriate occasion.

Is there any mode of approach to this new Minister other than through the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and can any question be put down to him?

The normal course would be to put down a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and, no doubt, if it was appropriate, the Economic Secretary would answer it.

Can the Prime Minister give an assurance that the appointment of this new Economic Secretary will in no way relax the old established rule that Departments must have Treasury permission before they can spend money?

Certainly. It has nothing to do with that at all.

Can the Prime Minister give an assurance that there will be no interference with the Foreign Secretary's Economic Department by this office?

I do not see how that arises at all.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to make statement in regard to the South Africa Aid to Britain Fund.

Yes, Sir. The House will recall that on 18th October, 1946, I received from Field-Marshal Smuts a gold certificate in the sum of £985,000 from the people of the Union of South Africa and the people of Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland, and a draft for £196,625 from the people of Durban and the Province of Natal. To both these gifts further sums have since been added. Field Marshal Smuts laid upon me the responsibility of distributing this gift, and I decided that a Committee of Members of Parliament drawn from all Parties should be set up to advise me. As the House will remember I asked you, Mr. Speaker, to act as Chairman of this Committee, though not in your official capacity.

I have today laid in the Library of the House copies of the report of the Committee with other relevant documents. The Report, as hon. Members will see, broadly recommends that one half of the money should be dedicated to the benefit of the young, one-fifth to the benefit of the old, and the remainder to the benefit of others who have a particular claim to our gratitude or compassion. I am in entire agreement with the conclusions of the Committee, to which, and in particular to you, Mr. Speaker, its Chairman, I should like to express my thanks for accepting and carrying out this task. To the givers of this gift we are profoundly grateful. Their names will in one way or another be linked with the schemes which we have in mind and those who in the days to come reap the fruits of their generosity will not forget them.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Government have any plans for the further development of scientific research as an aid to solving the problems of industrial production.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether more assistance will be given to the solution of current industrial and economic problems through the application of scientific research.

Yes, Sir. I am advised that while a major contribution to industrial productivity cannot be expected in the short run from current research in the natural sciences there are considerable possibilities of increased returns, first, from the more widespread application of research already carried out in the natural sciences and technology, and, secondly, from current research in the social science field.

I have, therefore, decided, in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to supplement the work of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy by setting up a new Committee on Industrial Productivity.

The terms of reference of the Committee are:

"To advise the Lord President of the Council and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the form and scale of research effort in the natural and social sciences which will best assist an early increase in industrial productivity and further to advise on the manner which the results of such research can best be applied."

The main work of the Committee, of which Sir Henry Tizard will be chairman, will be conducted through a number of panels which will be constituted from time to time to investigate and report on various aspects of the problem. In the first instance panels are being set up to deal with Technology and Operational Research under the chairmanship of Sir William Stanier, F.R.S., Import Substitution under Prof. S. Zuckerman, C.B., F.R.S., the Human Factors Affecting Industrial Productivity under the chairmanship of Sir George Schuster, K.C.S.I., K.C.M.G., C.B.E., M.C., and Technical Information Services under the chairmanship of Dr. Alexander King. I will circulate further details, including the names of the other members of the Committee, except those still to be chosen in consultation with the employers and trades unions, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Lord President say how he will ensure that the functions of this new body will not overlap those of the Scientific Advisory Committee, the development councils for industry to be set up by the President of the Board of Trade, and the Industrial Health Research Board, all of which are already doing good work in this and allied fields?

Sir Henry Tizard will be chairman of this Committee, and that will provide a link with the Scientific Advisory Council. With regard to the other bodies mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, they will be associated by appropriate official representation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his reply will give considerable satisfaction to research workers in industry throughout the country, and may I ask if these planners will be working in close co-operation with the existing research associations?

Yes, Sir. Appropriate steps will be taken with that end in view.

In view of the importance of this matter, and the possibility of badly needed improvements in managerial efficiency, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there will be interim reports, and whether the Committee will consider means for disseminating this information so that it gets down to the very smallest firm?

Yes, Sir. Certainly that will be done. Suitable reports will be disseminated through the appropriate channels, and it may be desirable that a collective statement should be issued publicly from time to time.

Can the Lord President say whether any of these chairmen are to be paid?

No, Sir, they are not.