asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the purchasing power of the pound sterling at the beginning of August, 1945, and the beginning of June, 1947, on the basis of the figure being 81 for February, 1950.

Figures are not available for August, 1945, but the average for that year was 100 and the figure for June, 1947, was 91.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make about the investment of Savings Banks Funds' moneys.

Yes, £50 million of the balances in the Savings Banks Funds held by the National Debt Commissioners have been invested with the Exchequer on the security of a 3½ per cent. terminable annuity with a currency of 30 years.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the figures of receipts from the tax on pools in quarters from 1st January, 1949, to the latest quarter date.

The quarterly figures of receipts of Pool Betting Duty from football pools (together with other similar pools included under the same heading) since 1st January, 1949, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Air what decisions have now been taken about the distribution of the Royal Air Force Prize Fund.

As already announced, it is the intention to apply the £1,250,000 which was credited to the Royal Air Force Prize Fund in approximately equal shares for the benefit of present members of the Royal Air Force and past members and their dependants respectively. In accordance with Section 3 of the Prize Act, 1948, the Air Council have approved the following grants:

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the amount of feedingstuff rations that are not taken up at the present time, compared with the same period in 1949.

The latest information I have is that in the six months ending 31st December last, the value of feedingstuffs coupons issued but not used was of the order of 300,000 tons or about 10 per cent. of the total coupon issue. This figure takes no account of any ration coupons to which farmers may have been entitled but for which they did not apply. As coupons are valid for two months some of these arrears may be taken up this quarter. The amount not taken up in the corresponding period of 1948 was negligible.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give an assurance that during the manufacture of processed cheese no fat substitutes or other fat is added to the fat in the milk forming the basis of the cheese.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the total output of saleable coal from the small mines privately operated in the years 1947, 1948 and 1949; and what was the average number of men employed in these mines in each of these years.

The following is the information for which the hon. Member asks:

asked the Minister of National Insurance to what extent the present Regulations administered by the National Assistance Board allow of discretionary payments being made in cases of special hardship arising out of the increased cost of living.

The Regulations provide that where there are special circumstances the amount calculated in accordance with the rules set out in the schedule to the Regulations may be adjusted as may be appropriate to meet those circumstances. As is shown in the Board's Annual Report for 1948 (Cmd. 7767). extensive use is made of these powers in individual cases where there are abnormal expenses, but the powers would not enable allowances in excess of the rates approved by Parliament to be paid to applicants in general.

asked the Minister of Health, what is now the position of the claims of public health and domiciliary nurses and midwives to improved pay and conditions.

These claims have been referred to arbitration by the Industrial Court. No date has yet been fixed for the hearing.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that almost 200 cases belonging to other authorities are placed in Stallington mental deficiency colony; and whether a larger number of places can be allocated to the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

The allocation of these places is no longer based on local authority areas, but is dealt with regionally. In the Birmingham Region there are over 200 mental defectives belonging to other regions; the other regions have a still greater number belonging to the Birmingham Region. Readjustment will be a gradual process; but the regional board is taking all possible steps to meet the difficulty to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Health when Mr. Vincent Penfold of Ravenswood, Broad Street, Cuckfield, Sussex, who was until recently a member of the house committee of Cuckfield Hospital, and who wrote to him on 2nd January last regarding the maternity block at Cuckfield Hospital, Sussex, may expect an answer to his letter.

A reply was sent to Mr. Penfold on 19th January informing him that the matter was for the regional hospital board, and that a copy of his letter had been forwarded to them. A reply has now been sent by the board.

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of schoolrooms used for teaching which, in 1949, contained two or more classes.

I regret that the information is not available.