asked the Secretary of State for War the number of huts on the camp site at Donkey's Common, Cambridge; the number of persons the huts were originally intended to accommodate; the number of separate units and detachments now in the camp; and the total number of persons comprising them.

There are 43 huts which were originally intended to accommodate three officers and 224 other ranks. There is now one Women's Royal Army Corps unit and a small detachment of pioneers comprising three officers and 76 other ranks in all.

asked the Secretary of State for War the grounds on which the award of the Defence Medal is refused to prisoners of war.

The Defence Medal is granted in the Army only for services in specified non-operational areas, and enemy territory does not fall within that description.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the case of 224048 Captain John Routcliffe Squire, M.B.E., Royal Engineers, which was forwarded to him on 21st April; and whether this officer's arrears of pay, war bonus, and other emoluments will be refunded to him in view of the fact that his sentence by court martial on 18th August, 1947, was subsequently quashed and this officer was relieved of all consequences of his conviction.

The solicitors acting for Mr. Squire, whose commission was relinquished with effect from 26th August, 1947, informed the Treasury Solicitor on 22nd April that this ex-officer was bringing proceedings immediately. In these circumstances I can only say that I am advised that his claims are not legally enforceable and that I am not prepared to make any ex-gratia payment.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the minimum period of training at home excluding training on board ship and in jungle conditions, respectively, that any infantry soldier has received before being involved in action in operations against the Communists in Malaya; and what is the minimum period of training in jungle conditions which is now laid down as necessary before infantry soldiers are sent into action.

It is not the policy to disclose details of the training received by any particular arm of the Service but as I have previously stated it has been the rule that all troops going to Malaya must have completed their periods of basic training at home. The rule now provides for a minimum period of 16 weeks' training and a total of 18 weeks' service before embarkation. On arrival they are not employed in operations without first receiving suitable training in local conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average cost per head, including pay, allowances and maintenance, of National Service men.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for North Blackpool (Mr. Low) on 7th December, 1948, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour how many posts for women have been filled by his appointments department in 1948; and how many vacancies for women are unfilled at present.

During 1948, the appointments offices filled 3,121 posts for women and on 9th May, 1949, 905 vacancies for women were outstanding. Corresponding figures for the nursing appointments offices are 12,182 posts filled during 1948 and 32,573 vacancies outstanding on 31st March, 1949. Figures for the technical and scientific register are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many overseas appointments have been filled by his appointments department in the years 1946, 1947 and 1948.

The technical and scientific register and appointments offices filled 2,170 overseas appointments in 1946, 949 in 1947 and 691 in 1948. Comparable figures for nursing appointments offices are not available, but would be very small.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed in Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire, on 15th May of 1939, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949, respectively.

The number of persons registered as unemployed at Pwllheli Employment Exchange at the under-mentioned dates were:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of days work lost by stoppages arising from industrial disputes in the mining industry in each of the years 1936, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1947 and 1948.

Working days lost in stoppages arising from industrial disputes in the coal mining industry in the years 1936, 1937 and 1938 totalled 852,000, 1,496,000 and 697,000, respectively. The corresponding totals in the years 1946, 1947 and 1948 were 422,000, 912,000 and 464,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of imports from dollar sources for the periods January to March, 1947, and January to March, 1949, of petrol, tobacco and films, respectively.

Imports from dollar sources of petrol were £5.5 million in the first quarter of 1947 and £4.9 in the first quarter of 1949. For tobacco the figures were £12.5 million and £2.3 million respectively. Expenditure on films in the calendar year 1947 was £14 million. In the first quarter of 1949 remittances to the United States in accordance with the Anglo-American Film Agreement of 11th March, 1948, were rather over £1 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Periodical Proprietors Association with regard to the provision of foreign currency for financing the purchase of certain classes of printing machinery unobtainable in this country; and what facilities he has been able to grant.

I received a letter from the Director of the Periodical Proprietors Association on 13th May on the subject of printing facilities in this country which included a request that permission be granted for the purchase from hard currency countries of printing machinery which cannot be obtained elsewhere. The Association are being informed that import licence applications for printing machinery from overseas are always judged on the merits of the individual case and that provided comparable equipment is not manufactured in the United Kingdom and that the applicant's need to acquire the machinery is fully proved, it is usual for a licence to be granted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what classes of goods Government Departments pay Customs or Excise duties or Purchase Tax when making purchases for Departmental use; and on what classes of goods exemption is conferred;(2) what regulations govern the waiver of Purchase Tax on goods purchased by Government Departments.

There are no special exemptions from Customs or Excise duties in favour of Government Departments. But, since the inception of Purchase Tax, goods bought for official use by certain Government Departments have not been charged with Purchase Tax, so as to avoid artificially swelling the yield of the tax beyond its true net value to the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that owing to the high Purchase Tax, manufacturers are not making pie funnels and similar kitchen utensils which are essential to the housewife; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

I understand that one or two makers of ovenware have ceased to manufacture pie funnels because none of their other products were chargeable with Purchase Tax and they did not think it worth while to keep tax accounts for one line. As my hon. Friend the Secretary for Overseas Trade explained in reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 24th May, pie funnels are not regarded as essential articles. They are taxed at the lowest rate and I propose to take no action in the matter. I do not know what other utensils my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it was decided on 24th May to extend Purchase Tax immediately to certain backed or coated felt fabrics which had been exempted from such tax in June, 1948; why prior notice was not given to enable manufacturers to adjust their output and stock positions; and if he will consider giving some redress in the matter.

The decision referred to relates to decorative furnishing and floor-covering felts which are statutorily excluded from the exemption for felt fabrics. A Press notice was issued after consultation with the trade associations concerned to ensure that practice conformed with the law. I do not see how any legitimate interest can have been damaged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now give the result of his further consideration of the Budget proposal to impose increases in telephone rentals.

Yes. In view of the substantial call on manpower involved in terminating existing contracts and entering into new contracts and of the small increase of revenue to be obtained in the current year, I have decided after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General not to proceed with the proposal to increase telephone rentals. The increase in local call fees will, however, be made in accordance with the Budget Statement.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury the value of German assets in this country; and when the question of their disposal will be decided.

The value of German assets in this country is estimated at about £15 million. I hope to be able to make a statement shortly on their disposal.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what periodicals, journals and magazines are at present published by, or under the sponsorship of, Government Departments; and which of them involves financial loss when all relevant expenses, including overheads, is taken into account.

I arranged in July, 1948, for a list to be placed in the Library

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many students in Scottish Universities obtained bachelors' degrees in science, excluding technological science, in the sessions 1937–38, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1946–47 and 1947–48 respectively; and how many students in the sessions 1945–46, 1946–47 and 1947–48 respectively, began courses leading to such degrees.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the annual report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue will be published.

I hope within a month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, owing to the increased price of petrol in France, he will consider giving a larger allowance of sterling to motorists who intend taking a motor car to France for their holiday.

No. I have no evidence that the £10 car allowance is inadequate in France for the purpose for which it is intended, viz., to cover the cost of petrol necessary to get the motorist from the port of disembarkation on the Continent to his destination and back by the normal direct route.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury whether he has now completed his examination of the possibility of making greater use of timber and so releasing steel and other substitute materials for other uses and whether he will make a statement.

No. The examination, which is covering a wide field, is not yet completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why steel exports in 1948 to the British Empire amounted to only 40 per cent. of 1938 exports, whereas similar exports to foreign countries have increased by 120 per cent.

While I do not accept the figures given by the hon. Member, I agree that a comparison of 1948 figures with those for 1938 shows that the share for British Commonwealth countries has gone down and that for foreign countries has gone up. There are a number of reasons for this—among them, the increased production of iron and steel in some British Commonwealth countries, a change which made them less dependent upon us for supplies, and the increase in supplies to British oil companies operating in foreign countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to give the names and qualifications of the persons appointed as trade advisers in New York, New Orleans, Chicago and San Francisco.

The Trade Adviser in New York has been appointed. He is Mr. C. D. McCarthy, who has had business experience in oil, transport and finance. He has a good war record and has travelled extensively in the United States. I hope to be in a position to announce the names of the other three in a few days' time, and I will send particulars to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many gallons of whisky were exported during 1948 to the United States of America, Chile, Peru, Brazil and the Argentine giving the amounts paid for each area f.o.b. British port.

The following are the figures:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of hand knitting wool and worsted yarn for machine knitting, respectively, imported from France during the past three months.

Imports of hand knitting wool and worsted yarn for machine knitting are not separately distinguished in the trade returns. The quantities of woollen and worsted yarns imported from France in the first quarter of this year for all purposes, which would include both knitting and weaving, were woollen 87,000 lb. and worsted 190,000 lb.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that Merseyside is now a development area, what steps he proposes to take to provide employment for the workers made redundant by the proposed closing down of the British Plaster Beard works in Dock Road, Wallasey.

I understand that a number of workers from this factory are transferring to other British plaster board factories, and that although it may not be possible for all redundant workers to be placed immediately in new employment those who have so far registered at their local employment exchange have already been found alternative jobs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what licensing restrictions are now in force regarding the felling of home-grown hardwoods, and the sale of home-grown hardwood, whether converted or in the round.

When an owner wishes to sell trees for felling, he and the intending buyer must obtain a licence; home-grown logs may be sold only to a buyer licensed to acquire them; all converted home-grown hardwoods may be sold without restriction except in the case of ash for which the user requires a licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the current licensing procedure for the acquisition and use of home-grown hardwood.

A licence from the area officer of Timber Control is required for the acquisition of home-grown round timber in the log. No licence is needed for the consumption of any home-grown sawn hardwood except ash.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the detailed reasons for the substantial reduction in softwood imports from Germany, Finland, Canada, and the United States of America, respectively, during the first four months of 1949 as compared with the same period during 1948; if he is buying all that Canada and the United States of America are offering; and to what extent it is now estimated that softwood imports during 1949 will exceed those during 1948.

The reasons for the reduction in softwood imports referred to vary with the countries named. The 1949 figures for Germany reflect the cessation of the import of softwood logs from the Western zones after November, 1948, following the closing down of the British Timber Production Agency. For seasonal shipping reasons, imports from Finland during the first four months of any year have no particular significance in themselves. In the case of Canada and the United States, the shortage of dollars prevented a repetition of the substantial 1947 contracts reflected in 1948 deliveries, and continues to prevent us from buying all that these two countries have to offer. With regard to the last part of the Question, it would prejudice our future buying negotiations if we were to express any view about the level of imports which we anticipate in 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost of the Export Promotion Department during 1948.

The cost of the Export Promotion Department of the Board of Trade during 1948 was approximately £258,500.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of new factories and extensions, respectively, erected in the county of London and the area covered by the Greater London Plan together with the number approved since December, 1944, up to the latest possible date.

One hundred and ninety-two new factories and 442 extensions to existing factories of 5,000 square feet and over were approved in the Greater London Area during the period December, 1944, to March, 1949. Of these 54 new factories and 132 extensions have been completed. The figures for the London County Council area are 20 new factories and 55 extensions approved. Of these three new factories and 13 extensions have been completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which other Departments were represented during the negotiations for the Indonesian trade agreement.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the recent trade arrangement. All Departments interested were consulted before the negotiations began and were kept informed of their progress. Departments with a major interest, namely, the Board of Trade, the Treasury, the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, were represented continuously during the negotiations. The Foreign Office, Ministry of Supply and other Departments were represented when matters of interest to them were discussed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of pipes and tubes of all types suitable for rural water supply installations have been exported in 1945–46, 1946–47 and 1947–48, respectively; and what is the expected export tonnage this year.

I regret that information as to the exports of pipes suitable for rural water supply is not available as such types are not separately specified in the trade returns. No forecast can be made of the expected export tonnage this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the effect on United Kingdom trade of the import cuts announced by the South African Government on 23rd May; and what effect it is estimated the refusal to grant further permits for finished consumer goods after 30th June, will have on our export figures in terms of loss in overseas trade.

The South African announcement stated that importers of sterling goods consisting of essential raw materials, spare parts and consumable stores will be permitted to import 25 per cent. of their 1948 imports during the six months July-December, 1949. The announcement added that the position will be reviewed in August when the Union Authorities will consider how much more they can afford to licence in the classes of essential goods and also whether some permits can be granted for less essential goods. It is clearly not possible to calculate the effect of these arrangements on United Kingdom export trade until it is known what raw materials and capital goods will be classed as essentials. The South African authorities have themselves expressed the hope that the quotas for essential industrial requirements will reach a substantial proportion of 1948 imports and that the position in 1950 will be much improved, although the high level of imports of the last few years will not be possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the inquest on Mrs. Mitchell, aged 73, of Macclesfield, who took her life, at which evidence was given that she supported herself by making rugs for sale by auction and that her mind was unbalanced owing to her concern that she had contravened Statutory Rule and Order No. 1496 of 1947, which forbids any person to enter goods for sale by auction more than once every six months; and if he will now revoke this regulation.

I have seen a short Press report of the inquest referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. The order in question is enforced by the local price regulation committees. I cannot find that any of the committees for the regions likely to be concerned has been in communication with or had even heard of Mrs. Mitchell; I do not think therefore that there can be any reason for attributing the unbalance of her mind to the enforcement against her of this order. The purpose of the order is to ensure that advantage is not taken of auction facilities to carry on a business of selling price-controlled goods without complying with price control regulations. We are considering modifying some of the provisions of this order, but it is not proposed at present to revoke it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how much the price levels of imports and exports have varied at the nearest convenient date by comparison with the years 1946, 1947, 1948.

The yearly average index of import prices rose between 1946 and 1947 by 19 per cent., and between 1947 and 1948 by 14 per cent.; by April, 1949, the index had risen to 18 per cent. above the 1947 average. The corresponding annual average of export prices rose between 1946 and 1947 by 15 per cent. and between 1947 and 1948 by 10 per cent.; by April, 1949, this index had risen to 12 per cent. above 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of a serious shortage of children's socks and three-quarter hose; and what steps he is taking to remedy that shortage.

I am aware that there is still a shortage of children's socks and three-quarter hose, but there has been an improvement in home supplies over the last 12 months. Every effort is being made to ensure that existing manufacturing capacity is fully used and to encourage the expansion of this section of the hosiery industry.

asked the Minister of Education what reply he has made to a resolution sent to him by the staff of the Chiswick County Grammar School dated May, 1949; and what action he proposes to take to meet the dissatisfaction of these teachers with present salary scales.

A statement embodying the resolution has been sent to me. No reply was called for but, in any event, it is the function of the Burnham Committee to consider in the first instance any matters of the kind raised in the resolution.

asked the Minister of Education when he will be prepared to permit local education authorities to resume purchases of cutlery for use in school canteens as obtained prior to 1940.

Equipment supplies are not yet sufficiently plentiful for me to contemplate abandoning central purchase. The stainless steel cutlery now obtained by this means is as good as that which authorities were able to purchase for themselves before 1940.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the recent reduction in coal production in Lancashire has resulted in more coal being sent there from the West Riding of Yorkshire; why the allocations made to some coal distributors in the West Riding during May were reduced; and when it is proposed that such deficits will be made good.

The special measures taken to avoid undue hardship to consumers in the North Western Region included the diversion to that region of about 5,000 tons of domestic coal which would normally have been supplied to the West Riding of Yorkshire. With regard to the second part of the Question the Summer house coal programme came into operation on 2nd May. This, in the normal course, is at a lower level in the Northern regions (including the West Riding) than in the Winter and merchants' allocations generally have been reduced during May on that account. Some merchants' allocations are also being reduced following a loss of customers arising from the opportunity recently given to consumers to change their coal merchants. As regards the last part of the Question, future supplies will be so arranged as to spread the loss of coal caused by the reduction in output in Lancashire as widely and fairly as possible, but, having regard to the requirements of the railways, gas works and general industry and to the necessity for exporting coal, I can hold out no hope of making good that loss to the house coal programme.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can make a statement on the coal seams found in the North Staffordshire area and in the Madeley district.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that boring was undertaken in this area to determine the location of the seams to the East of a major fault limiting the present workings at Madeley Colliery. Five seams with a total thickness of 31 ft. of coal have been proved, and other seams are believed to exist at a lower level. Further exploration is required to determine the full reserves available and will be put in hand, and meanwhile the significance of the discovery for the future development of the area cannot be assessed.

asked the Minister of Labour the average weekly wage of miners in each of the years 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947 and 1948, and the average weekly wage for the quarterly periods since the mines were nationalised.

I have been asked to reply. The average weekly earnings of

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can furnish the number of foreign birds imported into the country during 1948; the number found to be suffering from disease; and what evidence he has of any disease from the egg packing cases of imported eggs.

Except for scientific and zoological collections there was practically no importation of live birds into Great Britain from outside the British Isles during 1948. Records of the