asked the Minister of Labour how many Miners' Union Lodges have passed resolutions refusing to admit Polish or other volunteers to the mines; and how many have agreed to their admission.

I am not aware of the number of resolutions passed but the general position is now sound.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has now received definite proposals from the Italian Government about the importation of miners from Italy to this country to help in the export of coal; and what decision has been reached.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that he has yet only received an informal note on this subject. At present, therefore, I am not in a position to add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power on 6th November.

Will the Minister tell us if he knows for certain that there are spare miners in Italy; and, if there are, does he not consider it would be very advantageous to this country to bring them here, even though all the coal was exported back to Italy?

I think I must confine myself to the answer I have already given.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this policy is being considered in connection with the policy of the International Refugee Committee, of which His Majesty's Government is a participating member, which wishes to have work found for refugees in this and other countries? Is the right hon. Gentleman considering the two things in relation to each other.

I could not give a specific answer to the noble Lord. I think that that is so, but I would like to look at it.

asked the Minister of Labour why Command Paper No. 7266 was tabled on 26th November, 1947, and was not available in the Vote Office or on the Table of the House before 6 p.m. on 27th November, 1947.

The earliest time at which this Command Paper could be published was 6 p.m. on Thursday, 27th November. As I was anxious to advise the House of its forthcoming publication, I presented it in dummy on 26th November so that it would appear in Votes and Proceedings the next morning.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is desirable for these things to be tabled in dummy some 20 hours before they are actually available to hon. Members, and whether it is in accordance with the precedents of this House that that should be done?

In this connection, I thought that I was entitled to a medal, from the hon. Gentleman. This Paper reached me at about 12 o'clock on Tuesday morning and, being anxious that the House should get it without delay, and as I could not get it printed earlier, I had it presented in dummy so that all hon. Members would he aware of the fact that it would be ready on the following day.

asked the Minister of Labour when a factory designed to provide employment for severely disabled persons is likely to be in operation in the London area; and who is the appropriate authority to whom applications for employment in such a factory should be ad dressed.

One such factory, for tuberculosis persons only, is already in operation at 163, Tower Bridge Road. The establishment of others depends upon the acquisition of sites and premises, the search for which has proved particularly difficult in the London area. I hope, however, that negotiations for premises at present in progress will result in further factories being opened in London within the next few months. Applications for employment should be made to the Employment Exchange nearest the applicant's home.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many ex-Service men have been looking forward hopefully for a long time to being employed in these factories, and that they are getting very disheartened at the slowness with which the scheme is being put into operation?

I know that that is a fact, but the difficulties are those which I have set out. I hope that these men will not be completely disheartened, because it is the intention of the Government to establish these factories—we have done it elsewhere—as widely as possible. In spite of the present circumstances, they have priority.

Has my right hon. Friend taken medical advice on the siteing of this factory for tubercular persons, and can he tell us whether his advisers consider that the damp and smoky atmosphere of Tower Bridge Road is suitable?

As a resident of the area adjacent to Tower Bridge Road for a number of years, I did not think it necessary to take medical advice.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that low-priced foreign vaudeville acts are being allowed to work in this country at a time when our own acts are suffering considerable unemployment; and will he, in the circumstances, withhold permits from all foreign performers who are receiving payment of less than £75 per week.

Permits for foreign variety acts are issued on the basis of an arrangement agreed between the managerial organisations and the Variety Artists' Federation and no representations have been received from either side that these arrangements are not working satisfactorily or that they need to be varied.

Would my right hon. Friend assure the House that if such representations are made in the near future he will consider them?

As there is a meeting tomorrow between both sides of this industry, and as I am sure that they will have noticed this Question, if they feel aggrieved, no doubt they will raise the matter.

Is this the Labour Party's new way of uniting the workers of the world?

No, Sir. All we are concerned about is getting a proper agreement in order not to put our own people out of employment.

Will the Minister bear in mind that it is contrary to many of our conceptions of British justice that the big fellow shall work and that the little fellow shall go to the wall?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not lend himself to a policy of bolstering up indifferent British vaudeville artists?

No, Sir. Neither will I agree to a policy of bringing in people who will undercut our own artists?

If these people are unemployed and underpaid, would my right hon. Friend say whether it is within the competence of his local officers to advise them that they can get better employment in industry and thus help themselves and the nation, too?

I do not accept the basis of my hon. Friend's contention. Many of these people are doing a good job of work, and they should be encouraged.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now publish monthly a full list of the changes in particular retail prices used in compiling the interim retail price index in accordance with the practice followed in respect of the former cost-of-living index.

I regret that this is not practicable.

Will my right hon. Friend state why it is not practicable?

Yes, Sir. It is necessary to measure price movements and not absolute prices. At the same time, we have to take into consideration the value of the article as well as the price. Therefore, we can only measure the price tendencies, and not the price of specific articles.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made towards setting up joint production committees in the Scottish Woollen Industry.

I have been in communication with the two sides of the Scottish Woollen Industry on this subject and I understand that a joint meeting may be expected shortly.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the risks of injury to workers in the timber trade, who operate such machines as the spindle and overhead planer when a sudden cut is made in the electricity supply; and if he will consult with the trade unions concerned, and employers, to ensure that such exceptional risks are duly covered.

No, Sir, but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will send me details, I will have inquiries made.