asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature, pay and conditions of the border control service force being raised to enforce control of the boundary between the British and Russian zones.

This force will consist of 5,000 Germans who will be largely recruited from police officers and other serving and redundant officials. It will control the movement of persons and goods on the Eastern boundary of the British zone. This has hitherto been the responsibility of local German police forces. The force will be accommodated, if possible, in private billets, or in huts if billets are not available. Monthly salaries will range from 149 Deutchemarks to 358 Deutchemarks. and annual leave from 18 days to 31 days. A small British element, recruited within the Control Commission, will be attached to the force.

Can my hon. Friend say who will control this force when the Western German Government is set up?

That will be a matter for the Western German Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, under the terms of the Memorandum of the Military Government on the Constitution for a Western German Government, the power to legislate on matters concerning the control and ownership of industry will rest with the Laender Governments or with the Federal Government.

The Memorandum as drafted by the Military Governors allows both the Federal Government and Laender Governments to legislate on matters concerning the control and ownership of industry. The right of the Federal Government to legislate on these matters is limited to those cases where it is clearly impossible for a single Land to enact legislation, or where the legislation if enacted would be detrimental to the rights or interests of other Laender. The right of the Laender to legislate is subject to the overriding validity of federal law, if the Federal Government does in fact legislate. Under the terms of the Memorandum it would therefore depend upon the circumstances of each case whether the Land or Federal Government is competent.

Who will be the arbiter in such circumstances?

I understand that it rests with the Federal Government.

Will the Under-Secretary consider publishing as a White Paper the draft constitution for Western Germany and the Memorandum on it by the Western Powers, as that would make it far easier to follow these things?

That is a different matter, but I will certainly consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Land Reform Law, passed by the Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, was rejected by the Governor of this Land.

The Bill to which my hon. Friend refers was refused assent by the Regional Commissioner because it involved a serious loss of agricultural production, and because it was ultra vires in that it attempted to take retrospective action stretching back beyond the date of Military Government Ordinance No. 103 which is the legal basis of action by the Land Government in this matter. My right hon. Friend is fully aware of the necessity of pressing on with the carrying through of land reform, and in these circumstances our authorities in Germany have themselves prepared legislation, based on the law passed by Schleswig-Holstein, which will be applicable in those Laender which, like North Rhine-Westphalia, have failed to pass the necessary legislation themselves.

Does not my hon. Friend consider that German agricultural experts as are competent as British experts to decide what constitutes a loss of agricultural production?

I can only say that this was very carefully gone into with our own experts, with the conclusion I have described. I cannot recall for the moment the estimates of the German experts on this matter.

In view of the fact that it is of the utmost importance that the maximum amount of food should be produced in this territory, does not the Under-Secretary think it is very important that these estates should not be broken up into smaller units, thereby militating against maximum food production at the present time?

I do not accept the implication that all schemes of land reform decrease food production. On the contrary, there are other factors tending to the opposite conclusion, but I have it against this scheme that it would have seriously reduced food production.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this scheme was agreed to by all the major parties, and does it not make a farce of democracy that all parties having reached agreement, outside experts come along and over-rule them?

On one of the important subjects I have mentioned, the question of the retroactive nature of the proposed scheme, there was a wide measure of support for our scheme, including the support of the Social Democratic Party.

Can the hon. Member confirm that this scheme was supported by any party other than the Socialists in North Rhine-Westphalia?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members there are on the Joint Export-Import Agency Board in the bizone; how many of these are British; who the British members are; and what their qualifications are.

The Board of the Joint Export-Import Agency consists of nine members. They are the Financial Adviser and Economic Adviser to each of the Military Governors of the three Western zones, and the Director-General and two Deputy Directors-General of the Agency. The three British members are Sir Eric Coates and Sir Cecil Weir, the Financial and Economic Advisers respectively to the British Military Governor, and Mr. J. F. Cahan, Deputy Director-General of the Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Joint Export-Import Agency of the bizone last published a balance sheet; and whether this can be seen.

No balance sheet has yet been published by the Joint Export-Import Agency.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us how long this organisation has been in existence, whether there has been time for a balance sheet to be published and, if not, whether one is about to be published?

We are now considering publication with the American Government.

Why is it necessary to consider publication. Surely, an organisation of this kind, which has a substantial financial account, ought to publish an annual balance sheet. Can we have a guarantee that there will be a balance sheet?

I can only repeat that we are considering publication. If the accounts are not published, they will be available for the confidential information of the Public Accounts Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what salaries are paid to the British members of the Joint Export-Import Agency Board; and what firms they represent or are connected with.

They receive salaries in respect of their appointments with the Control Commission and no additional remuneration as members of the Board. The only member who has outside business connections is Sir Cecil Weir, who is a partner in the Glasgow firm of Schrader, Mitchell and Weir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British representative on the Bipartite Board in Germany refused to agree to the rise in social insurance pensions voted in December by the West German Economic Council.

The Bipartite Board of Military Governors was unable to approve the ordinance concerned in its present form because no clear estimate was offered of the increased expenditure involved or of the way in which it was intended to meet such expenditure. At the same time sympathetic consideration was promised to any proposals of a more limited nature designed to remove anomalies and inequities in the present system. It was also made clear that once a proper actuarial investigation has been made the more far-reaching proposals involving increased benefits over a wider field could be submitted for reconsideration.

Will my hon. Friend again bear in mind the danger to the development of democracy in Germany when every matter, even of a comparatively non-political nature, which comes before these democratic organisations is vetoed by the Military Government?

I am sure my hon. Friend will cordially agree that the sooner responsibility can be shifted on to Germans the better. That will happen soon, but while responsibility is ours we must carry it out properly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action is contemplated by the British authorities in Germany in connection with the speech of Dr. Gereke, Minister of Agriculture for Lower Saxony, at Lebenstedt on 6th March, demanding the return of Germany's Eastern Provinces; and whether it is the policy of the British authorities to permit revisionist speeches of this type.

The speech in question was made at a meeting of the Lower Saxony Farmers' Association. Full reports of the speech are not available, but our inquiries lead to the conclusion that Dr. Gereke said nothing of an inflamatory nature on the subject of Germany's Eastern Provinces on this occasion. If my hon. Friend has any information to the contrary, my right hon. Friend will be glad to examine it.

Does not my hon. Friend consider that in the present state of German nationalism anything which encourages revisionist tendencies is extremely likely to be inflammatory?

Will the Under-Secretary make it clear that these Provinces were given to Poland as compensation for her Eastern Provinces, of which she was unjustly deprived by the Yalta Agreement?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what Press arrangements were made in the British zone of Germany and in Berlin for the recent visit of the Prime Minister.

Comprehensive arrangements were made to enable British, Allied and German correspondents, photographers and newsreel cameramen to report the recent visit of the Prime Minister to Berlin and the British zone of Germany. I am aware that the plans miscarried at some points with consequent inconvenience to correspondents. The British Military Governor has asked me to express his regret for these breakdowns, the reasons for which are being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature and extent of the work of the British Council in Yugoslavia; to what extent the educational and cultural influence of the Council receives the appreciation and support of the Yugoslav people; and if any modification of the existing programme of activities is under consideration.

The British Council maintains establishments in both Belgrade and Zagreb. Well-stocked libraries are maintained in both towns and considerably used by the Yugoslays. An average of 270 students attend weekly English classes in Belgrade. Film shows, particularly those on medical subjects, are much in demand. In addition to these routine arrangements, recent major activities have included two concert tours and an Exhibition of Theatrical Design at which attendances in Belgrade and Zagreb were 6,000 and 4,000 respectively. It is not intended at present to modify existing arrangements.

Are the activities of the British Council in Yugoslavia receiving the sympathy of the Tito Government?

We get useful co-operation from the Yugoslav Government. We would always be glad with their good will to extend these activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the work of the British Council in Spain, giving the number of educational and cultural centres now in operation and the number of students attending courses in English language and the British way of life.

The British Council has a central office in Madrid and offices combined with British Institutes in Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville and Valencia. At the end of December, 1948, there were 5,200 students and, in addition, 4,418 members attached to these institutes. English classes, lectures, exhibitions and film shows are regularly staged and well attended at all the centres.

In view of the very valuable work being done by the Council in Spain, would the Foreign Office now turn a more benevolent look upon the possibility of future friendly relations with Spain?

Wider considerations have to be taken into account there.

asked the Minister of Food to state his policy in regard to the slaughter of sheep while in lamb.

The graders are required by a standing instruction not to accept for purchase any sheep which, in their opinion, is in lamb unless it is necessary or desirable that the animal should be taken for immediate slaughter under the casualty arrangements. The attention of all the graders has been drawn to this instruction and they have been reminded of the need to exercise the utmost care in the examination of all ewes.

In order to comply with your request, Mr. Speaker, to avoid unnecessary supplementary questions, I simply say that I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Food why he will not give the prices paid under his bulk-buying contracts after they have been published by the selling country.

It is usually agreed between the Governments of the buying and selling countries that prices should not be published. Where the Government of the selling country takes it upon itself unilaterally to disclose prices I, of course, consider whether publicity should be given in this country also. But I cannot undertake to confirm or deny unofficial reports about prices which may be current abroad.

When the deal has been concluded, is it not right that the people in both countries should know what prices their Governments have incurred on their behalf?

No, Sir.

Is not the real reason for this the fact that if the figures were published they would show up the utter incompetence of the Ministry of Food?

No, Sir. In cases where they have been published they have shown just the reverse.

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of potatoes are available under the reduction of £1 per ton offer for stock feeding; and how many tons of these are the property of his Department.

Under the guarantee to growers I must buy any sound ware potatoes now offered to me, and in consequence we expect to have about 200,000 tons to sell for stock feed between now and the end of the season. I cannot yet say for how long the price reduction recently announced will continue.

Can the Minister say how much more this last disastrous transaction will add to the £10 million he has already lost?

No, Sir. I cannot give to the House an estimate of the end of season position.

asked the Minister of Food how he computed his estimated loss of £10 million on potatoes.

This estimate of the trading loss in potatoes and carrots for the financial year 1948–49, which of course covers part of two crop years, was computed by reference mainly to the surpluses which my Department expected to handle as a result of the guarantee of the grower's market at fixed prices; the cost of imported supplies; the price premiums paid on purchases of potatoes for end of season reserve; and the cost of emergency storage under the allocation scheme put into operation last year.

In view of the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food has stated that the surplus of potatoes is five million tons, will the Minister now say what price he expects to pay for them and what price he expects to get when he sells them again?

My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary said that the surplus of this year's crop as against last year's crop was five million tons. We shall have five million more tons this year than last, but not a surplus of five million tons over the demand.

Is not the Minister aware that I questioned the Parliamentary Secretary twice on the same subject and she confirmed that there was a five million ton surplus?

Surplus in the sense I have just given.

How much money went to Eire by the process of buying Eire potatoes at a high price and selling them back to Eire at a low price?

There was a loss on Eire potatoes as on the other potatoes. I will give the hon. Gentleman the figure if he will give me notice of the Question.

Will the Minister give, in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the actual amounts involved in each of the surpluses mentioned in his original reply?

asked the Minister of Food what is the total tonnage of ware potatoes exported by him in the current potato season; what he has paid for it; what he has received for it; and how many more tons he expects to export from the present crop.

Up to 3rd March, exports of ware potatoes of the 1948 crop amounted to 48,503 tons; the f.o.b. cost was £571,286 and Ministry receipts £477,577. A further 10,000 tons of potatoes may be sold abroad.

Would the Minister explain why he gave an answer on 21st February that 140,000 tons of ware and seed potatoes would be exported from the 1948–49 crop, and why the figure is now so much smaller?

I may have hoped that we should be able to export a larger amount than this, but, as I have said, the final amount at the end of the year is not certain. The figure I have given is the present forecast.

Does not the Minister lose £4 5s. per ton on the average export?

No, Sir, nothing like that amount.

Is not the Minister imperilling the public interest by making these disclosures?

asked the Minister of Food how much Algerian wine is at present in the vaults at London docks; how long it has been there, and what storage fees have been paid in respect of it

asked the Minister of Food of how many gallons of Algerian wine does his Department stand possessed; and what price per gallon he gave for it.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the stocks held by my Department. The wine arrived in this country at various times between February and May last year. Storage fees are approximately 3d. per gallon per annum.

When will the Minister stop this folly of bulk purchase? Is it not a fact that he has got about £1 million worth of this wine in stock? If he wants further particulars will he look at the "Sunday Express" for 13th March? Will he also be good enough to read a pamphlet just published by Lord Teviot "Why I should not be a Socialist"? It might get through his thick head.

Can the Minister give any reason why, in this case, publication would not be in the public interest?

There is no reason whatever to make an exception in this case from the general principle, for which I have given the reason in a number of cases.

Has not the reason given generally been that publication might prejudice further purchases? Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman is going further into the Algerian wine market?

I should have no hesitation in doing so if it proved advisable that we should make further purchases of Algerian wine. Why not?

Has not the Minister of Food informed the wine interests in this country that unless this Algerian wine is definitely sold, he will cut down future imports of ordinary wine into this country?

indicated dissent.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman is hiding behind an excuse which has no validity. Is he really saying to the House that he proposes continuing in the Algerian wine market? Is he not laying himself open to the suspicion of refusing to admit that he has made a mess of it?

There is not the slightest reason to suppose that these transactions have any element of mistake in them.

asked the Minister of Food what consultations he had with the representatives of the British fruit and vegetable growers and the Channel Island producers before signing the 1949 fruit and vegetable imports agreement with the Netherlands.

On these matters I receive advice from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture who has, I understand, been in touch with British horticultural interests.

Is the Minister aware that there were only very general consultations at an early stage of the proceedings, and that no notice at all was taken of the advice given by the British horticultural industry? Is he aware that the agreement has given rise to despondency and anger throughout that industry?

If we always took in full all the advice given by the British horticultural industry, I am afraid that the price of vegetables would be very high indeed.

Is the Minister aware that, particularly in onions, losses in East Anglia have been very considerable, and that the new agreement which has been signed for the coming year extends the number of countries from which there will be competition? Can nothing be done, at least to regulate the period of the year, by way of timing these imports so that they harm our people to a much less extent?

Of course, it would be possible to exclude these foreign vegetables, but only at the price of dearer vegetables for the consumers in this country.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that only the other day I had to pay 10d. for a very small and pathetic-looking lettuce? Will he undertake to see that greenstuffs in this country are within the reach of the humblest housewife?

Is the Minister aware, taking the one crop that I have mentioned, that the price of Spanish onions has been twice as much as that for which British onions could have sold, if they had been allowed to find their way into the shops?

Surely that question can only mean that if Spanish onions were dearer, they were not interfering with the price of British onions. I should think that even the hon. Gentleman could see that.

Can the Minister say whether he consulted not only the Minister of Agriculture but the Secretary of State for Scotland, and whether the National Farmers' Union of Scotland were consulted, in particular in regard to soft fruits?

My Department consults the Agricultural Department. It is their business to make further consultations.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are necessary for an ex-Service man to enter the potato merchant trade and for a potato merchant to become a Ministry agent; how many applications for merchants' and agents' licences, respectively, he has received since 1945; how many of each he has granted; and what is the usual ground for rejection.

With permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the answer, which is necessarily rather long.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements have been entered into regarding the supply of rationed foodstuffs to personnel under Command Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Britain, Bushey Park, Middlesex; and what ration scales are applied to those military and civilian personnel, respectively.

All the rationed foodstuffs for the United States Air Force Services personnel at Bushey Park, are imported direct from America by the American Government. The civilians use ordinary civilian ration books and are consequently provided with food by us.

Is not the Minister aware that it has been published in this country, from sources in America, that some of the foods are British rationed goods and that the ration scales include, among other things, I lb. of meat per day for each person, I lb. of butter and a dozen eggs per week? Would the Minister agree that acceptance of Colonial status vis-à-vis America, means that the same ration scales should be afforded to us?

As I have already said, the ration scales of the U.S. Services are not the concern of my Department because the rations are brought direct from America. The civilians receive the same scales as we do ourselves.

Would not the Minister agree that we welcome every one of these men here and that, if necessary, we will gladly share our food with them?

if the rations include tinned potatoes, is there any reason why we should not supply them from this country?

Are "foodstuffs to personnel" what used to be called "foods to people"?

asked the Minister of Food whether surplus eggs may now be sold to the public generally; or whether they are available only to registered customers.

So far surplus eggs may only be sold to customers registered for shell eggs. If eggs were to become really plentiful in April and May, I should allow them to be sold freely after the allocations have been fully met.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is now a surplus of eggs in various country districts and that the shops are prepared to sell them to unregistered customers after they have made allocations to their registered customers?

asked the Minister of Food if he will now give the decision of the local food control committee regarding the simultaneous issue of eight weeks' bacon ration to the Manor House Hostel, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, in the last week of February.

I understand that the food control committee has instructed a solicitor with a view to a prosecution.

On a point of Order. I wish to say that if the prosecution succeeds, I shall move that another Lynskey Tribunal be set up.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate of the tonnage of broccoli needed to supply the home market in the autumn and winter season, 1949–50; and whether before making any further arrangements for importations under licence, he will ascertain from the Minister of Agriculture the tonnage which can be expected to be supplied by home producers.

No reliable estimate can be made now of what the demand for broccoli and cauliflower is likely to be next winter. This will depend on the price, the weather and the supplies and prices of other vegetables and foods. Consultations with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture invariably take place before broccoli and cauliflower imports are authorised.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot now give an estimate of the likely home needs of broccoli in this country, will he say on what date he will be able to give an estimate so that we may know how much extra, if any, he will need to import over and above what the home producers can supply?

Hon. Members always leave out of these calculations the little matter price. The need, in the sense of the effective demand or what the market can absorb, depends on the price, and if the price is brought down by imports, the need will be that much the greater.

Are we to understand that the Minister intends to use the price weapon in order to ruin the Cornish broccoli industry?

No, Sir. I intend to use the price weapon, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman calls it, in order to give cheap broccoli to the British housewife.

asked the Minister of Transport the date by which he intends to free all the toll roads and bridges now operating under his control.

There are no toll roads or bridges operating under my control. There are four toll bridges and one toll road on or connecting trunk routes and I am in negotiation with the owners, who include the British Transport Commission, with a view to freeing them. It is not possible to say when the negotiations will be completed.

Why should toll roads be operated by the British Transport Commission? Is it the policy of the right hon. Gentleman to see that all the penalties of nationalisation are visited upon the people while none of the advantages accrue to them?

These were properties of the old railway companies which have been taken over by the British Transport Commission.

Surely a toll road can be freed over-night?

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the fact that he proposes to extend the Hungerford Footbridge on the south side for the Festival of Britain, he will also take steps to extend it into Charing Cross Station.

This extension has not previously been suggested to me, and I cannot see that it would help the Exhibition traffic. There may be some case for it on more general grounds, and I find that this is under examination by the Railway Executive, who are responsible for the footbridge.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the cost of this extension would be negligible, and that unless this footbridge is extended, people coming from the Exhibition will be decanted at the bottom of Villiers Street instead of being able to go to Charing Cross Station?

I think that my hon. and gallant Friend is unaware of the fact that a special Bailey bridge will be constructed right on to the Exhibition site.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that it is part of the long-term policy of his Department to get rid of this hideous footbridge?

the Minister of Transport (1) why, in settling the programme of reorganisation and development of the London Transport Executive in accordance with Section 4 (2) of the Transport Act, 1947, he has agreed to priority being given to the construction of the extension of the Bakerloo Tube and authorised it to be commenced in 1950, when improvements can be brought to a larger section of the population, and at cheaper cost, in more needy areas, such as North London; and

As hon. Members are aware, the British Transport Commission have recently submitted to me a report, which will shortly be published, giving their views on the proposals made by the Railway (London Plan) Committee. No programme for the development of transport in London has been submitted for my approval under Section 4 (2) of the Transport Act, which in any case does not require my formal consent to specific projects. I cannot anticipate the eventual decision as to the priority of surface electrification in the London area, by my hon. Friend may be assured that the needs of North London will be fully taken into account. The extension of the Bakerloo Line to Camberwell will enable the service on this line as a whole to be improved and is on this account urgently needed. Powers for this extension were obtained in 1931 and some of the preparatory work has been done. The scheme has been approved for inclusion in the Investment Programme for commencement in 1950, provided that the agreed level of investment permits.

While I appreciate the need for improving the facilities in South-East London, does not my right hon. Friend agree that, in view of the imminent publication of the working plan, it might have been better to await its publication and discussion before authorising this expenditure on the extension of a tube, which is the most costly of all capital development at the present time?

I do not think that it is desirable to hold up any specific undertaking because of a question of the consideration of a larger programme, which the London railway plan involves.

asked the Minister of Transport how many cargo ships were discharged at Glasgow, Greenock and Ardrossan, respectively, during the month of January.

Three hundred and eleven cargo ships were discharged at Glasgow, 35 at Greenock and 28 at Ardrossan.

In view of the well-known capacity of the port of Ardrossan to handle all appropriate traffic, would not the right hon. Gentleman save a considerable amount of money by using this port much more extensively?

I am afraid that people living in other ports could advance a similar reason.

They might not be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will ascertain through his Department's war agricultural committees how many farmers' co-operative societies have been established in England and Wales with the object, inter alia, of securing a pooled supply of farm machinery; and how many similar associations of farmers for a like purpose.

There are rather over 300 farmers' co-operative societies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts. The number which have among their objects the operating or letting on hire of agricultural machinery, and the number of unregistered associations of farmers for a like purpose, is not known either to the Department or to county agricultural executive committees, but it is not thought to be large.

Does my hon. Friend consider that this attempt on the part of the farmers in self help is to be encouraged?

Certainly, and a great deal has been done to help them.