asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Governments have deposited instruments of acceptance of the Havana Charter; which Governments these are; and whether any action has been taken under Article 103, Section 2, subsection (b), of the Charter.

Only one, Liberia. In addition the Government of Australia has been authorised by the Australian Parliament to deposit an instrument of acceptance provided that similar action has been taken by the Government of the United Kingdom and the United States of America.At an informal meeting in July, 1949, of representatives of the Governments concerned, there was general agreement that no useful purpose would be served at that time by action being taken under the article referred to by the hon. Gentleman. No additional instruments of acceptance have been deposited since that date and the position therefore remains unchanged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many permits, and of what nature, have to be obtained to export live poultry and hatching eggs.

An export licence is the only permit required by United Kingdom law for the export of live poultry and hatching eggs.

asked the Minister of Health why, in view of the shortage of accommodation, it is proposed to reduce housing and maintenance expenditure in England and Wales by £20 million this year as against 1949 and £35 million in 1948.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18th April, 1950.

asked the Minister of Health if he will enumerate the water and sewerage schemes discussed with his Department by representatives of the Norfolk County Council; and which schemes can be proceeded with by the local councils affected.

The discussion related only to general principles governing priorities in schemes of water supply and sewerage in the county, and no attempt was made to discuss the merits of individual schemes.

asked the Minister of Health whether before authorising the transfer of the Haddon Isolation Hospital, Bakewell, from the Sheffield Hospital Board to the Derbyshire County Council for the purpose of rehousing displaced persons, he will give the local authorities who were formerly concerned with the hospital an opportunity of expressing their views in the matter.

I am informed that the interested local authorities have already been given ample opportunity to express their views.

asked the Minister of Health what are the minimum and maximum rates of pay for teachers or organisers at occupational centres for mental or physically defective patients.

In the absence of nationally negotiated scales of pay, I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mrs. B. C. Lewis, now resident at 84A, Margate Road, Herne Bay, registration number XPGB.77 2 applied under the National Health Scheme for spectacles in September, 1948, and that she has not yet received them; and when she may expect delivery of them.

The Kent and Canterbury Executive Council have been unable to identify the case from the particulars given. I have asked them to obtain further information from Mrs. Lewis and to inquire into the facts. I will inform the hon. Member of the outcome.

asked the Minister of Health where a parent or guardian makes application for the release of a mentally defective or mentally deficient child committed under the order of the court, what are the right or powers of the parent to have an independent examination of the patient or to challenge the certificate of the resident medical officer.

Under Section 11 (2) of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, every order made under that Act (including orders by the courts) is subject to review by the Board of Control at the end of each of the first two years after it is made and each succeeding five years. On each occasion, the Board of Control are required to give consideration to the report of any duly qualified medical practitioner who may have made a medical examination of the patient at the request of his parent or guardian, or any relative or friend. In addition the case of every patient is reviewed when he reaches the age of 21 by the visitors appointed under the Act; and the parent or guardian has the right of appeal to the Board of Control against the decision of the visitors, if it is unfavourable. Further, it is within the discretion of the superintendent of an institution to afford facilities for an independent medical examination of a patient at any time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to set up a departmental committee to consider the treatment of sufferers from chronic diseases.

The Standing Medical Advisory Committee has already considered this problem.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the great shortage of residential accommodation in Kent for old people, who as the result of infirmity or other circumstances are in need of care and attention; and what progress is being made by the local authorities as directed under the National Assistance Act, 1948, to remedy this state of affairs.

I am aware that there is a shortage of residential accommodation provided under Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948, in Kent as in other parts of the country. Local authorities are doing all they can within the limits of the resources that can be devoted to the work to provide additional accommodation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is taking to ensure that agricultural production increases by a further 10 per cent. to reach the 20 per cent. called for in the 1947 expansion programme; and what are the targets for wheat, potatoes, and sugar beet in the various regions, and the achievements in 1949.

From the launching of the agricultural expansion programme in 1947 all sections of the industry, under the able leadership in the counties of the county agricultural executive committees, have given their fullest support to the achievement of the increase in output. In addition to the technical advice and assistance increasingly made available by the N.A.A.S. and the Agricultural Land Service, the Government have made use of a wide variety of means, including price incentives, selective subsidies and general publicity. The Government's policies have also made possible a large amount of production investment in all types of equipment.In answer to the second part of the Question, I attach to this answer a statement comparing the original target acreages for 1949 with the actual acreages.I would like to take this opportunity to announce that the Government have decided that the United Kingdom 1951 target acreage for wheat will be reduced by 200,000 acres to 2,550,000 acres, and for potatoes by 50,000 acres to 1,250,000 acres. I hope that this reduction in acreage will be offset by higher yields. I

1949 TARGET AND ACTUAL ACREAGES '000 ACRES
Province		Wheat		Potatoes		Sugar Beet
		Target	Actual Acreage	Target	Actual Acreage	Target	Actual Acreage
Northern	…	67	54	54	49·5	·4	·65
Yorks. and Lancs.	…	276	228·2	151·5	142·2	33	34·1
West Midland	…	263·5	211·5	119	101·5	34·2	35
East Midland	…	438·5	376·6	175	164	72·8	74·45
Eastern	…	660	524·7	258·5	242·2	232	247·1
South Eastern	…	370	291·3	90·6	86·6	12·05	13·5
South Western	…	227	174·7	94·2	84	5·25	5·3
Wales	…	38	37·6	58·3	58·5	2	2·4
Total—
England & Wales	…	2,340	1,898·6	1,001·1	928·5	391·7	412·5
Scotland	…	97	63	220	192	10	9
Northern Ireland	…	2	2	180	188	—	—
United Kingdom Total	…	2,439	1,963·6	1,401·1	1,308·5	401·7	421

The failure to reach the wheat target in 1949 was due to some extent at least to the abnormal acreage and yield of potatoes in 1948 and the poor autumn weather.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what he estimates will be the resultant loss or gain to the agricultural industry by the removal of the remaining feedingstuffs subsidies and the fertiliser subsidies, and taking into account the increased prices of livestock, the marginal production scheme, assistance to certain classes of purchasers of feedingstuffs and the fertiliser scheme for improving grass and marginal land.

Costs to the Exchequer of subsidies on feedingstuffs and on fertilisers are estimated to have amounted in the year 1949–50 to £34 million and £15 million respectively. In 1950–51 and subsequent years there will be no cost to the Exchequer in respect of feedingstuffs, and from 1st July, 1951, there will be no trading loss on fertilisers. The increased costs to be borne by farmers as a result of the withdrawal of these subsidies will, however, depend

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the necessity to increase food, he will now consider plans to get rid of restrictions on rations for poultry, based on 1939.

No. As I informed the hon. Member for Woodbridge (Mr. Hare) on 16th March, the Government have decided that the scheme for rationing animal feedingstuffs must be continued for the time being. I would remind the hon. Member, however, that the extended rationing scheme introduced in 1948 provides an alternative basis for poultry rationing not related to the number of birds kept pre-war.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many officials are employed in controlling the breeding of poultry.

There is no statutory control of poultry breeding. Accredited poultry breeders who are members of the voluntary Poultry Stock Improvement Plan, when applying for accreditation, undertake to observe certain regulations, and the supervision of accredited breeders under the plan is carried out by the poultry offices of the National Agricultural Advisory Service, at present 98 in number, in the course of their normal duties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what schemes have been approved under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931; and what additional schemes have been proposed by the National Farmers' Unions of England and Wales and Scotland.

Before the war six schemes were approved for regulating the marketing of hops and milk in England and Wales, and pigs, bacon, potatoes, and milk products in Great Britain. This figure does not include schemes applying solely to Scotland. Since the war three schemes for regulating the market. ing of tomatoes and cucumbers, wool, and peas have been formally submitted by the National Farmers' Unions of England and Wales and Scotland.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the widespread uncertainty which exists regarding the duties of the staff of the Central Office of Information, and the public relations officers attached to numerous Government Departments, the Government will now consider moving to set up a Select Committee for the purpose of making recommendations for dispensing with the large number of redundant staff which is at the present time being retained.

No. I do not agree that redundant staff are being retained. The division of duties between the Central Office of Information and the Information Divisions of the Departments concerned is indicated both in the Report of the Committee on the Cost of Home Information Services (Cmd. 7836) and in the Annual Report for 1948–49 of the Central Office of Information (Cmd. 7830).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any announcement to make regarding Treasury Bills and Treasury Deposit Receipts.

Yes. On and after 1st May next, the currencies of Treasury Bills and of Treasury Deposit Receipts will be expressed in terms of days. Treasury Bills to be issued weekly by tender will be due 91 days after date, instead of three months, and Treasury Deposit Receipts will have currencies of 154, 182 and 210 days, instead of five, six and seven months, respectively. The effect of this will be that Treasury Bills and Treasury Deposit Receipts will (with unimportant exceptions due to Bank and public holidays) mature on the same day of the week as that on which they are issued, and that there will be fewer days on which there can be no maturities. This change should facilitate the day-to-day operations of the Exchequer and of the Money Market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will revise the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure and Surplus on Current Account of Public Authorities, as shown in Tables 12 and 13 of the Economic Survey, by giving figures for 1950 based on the Budget proposals.

REVISION OF TABLE 12 OF ECONOMIC SURVEY FOR 1950 REVENUE ACCOUNT OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES(1)
£ million
Receipts		1949	1950	Payments	1949	1950
Direct taxes on income	…	2,028	2,050	Current expenditure on goods and services	2,037	2,220
Direct taxes on capital	…	253	200	Debt interest	591	585
Indirect taxes	…	2,183	2,225	Subsidies	550	505
Income from property	…	148	160	Transfers to persons(2)	726	750
				Transfers to private capital account(3)	216	135
				Current expenditure	4,120	4,195
				Surplus	492	440
Total revenue	…	4,612	4,635	Current expenditure plus surplus	4,612	4,635
(1) Central Government, local authorities and National Insurance funds.
(2) Social Security Payments, War Pensions, etc.
(3) War damage payments, etc.

REVISION OF TABLE 13 OF ECONOMIC SURVEY FOR 1950 THE FINANCING OF GROSS CAPITAL FORMATION
£ million
—	1949	1950
1. Current surplus of public authorities	492	440
2. plus Transfers to capital accounts	216	135
3.less Taxes on capital	− 253	− 200
4. Public authorities' provision for depreciation and maintenance	110	110
5. Additions to reserves for taxes on income	8	20
6. Total sums set aside through the action of public authorities	573	505
7. Provision for depreciation by enterprises	865	900
8. Additions to free reserves by companies and public enterprises	530	600
9. Gross personal saving	427	480
10. Total sums set aside out of domestic receipts	2.395	2,485
11. Gifts and loans from abroad and sums realised by sale of foreign assets	70	− 50
12. Gross domestic capital formation	2,465	2,435
This table is differently arranged from Table 13 in the Economic Survey, since more information can now be given in respect of 1949 than was available when the Economic Survey was compiled. The revised table is consistent with the detailed analysis of the financing of capital formation given in Table 14 of the White Paper on National Income and Expenditure (Cmd. 7933). It should be noted that the figure for gross personal saving is not a forecast but simply the sum which it is estimated will be required if a resurgence of inflationary pressure is to be avoided.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the recommendations of the Garrett Report have been put into operation in the foundries of the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The information is given in the following tables:

As I have previously pointed out, the recommendations were numerous and detailed, their implementation is inevitably gradual, and the extent to which it has become practicable to implement them varies as between one foundry and another. It is therefore impossible in a short statement to indicate the extent to which the various recommendations are now being carried out in the various iron foundries in the West Riding, of which I understand there are some 250. I can say, however, that a great many additional improvements were made last year, that further improvements are confidently expected, and that a fuller account will be included in the next Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men are on the books of the Dartford and Frith employment exchanges; what are the maximum and minimum periods in each place; and what is the average period that these men have been unemployed.

The numbers of unemployed men on the registers of the Dartford and Erith employment exchanges at 13th March, 1950, were 87 and 212, respectively. Figures are not available as to the maximum and minimum periods of unemployment or as to average period, but the following table gives an analysis according to the duration of unemployment.

Duration of unemployment	Dartford	Frith
2 weeks or less	13	114
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks	16	26
Over 4 and up to 6 weeks	1	19
Over 6 and up to 8 weeks	4	9
Over 8 and up to 13 weeks	14	19
Over 13 and up to 26 weeks	17	15
Over 26 and up to 39 weeks	4	6
Over 39 and up to 52 weeks	6	1
Over 52 weeks	12	3

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether he is satisfied that under the proposed arrangements for reducing the cost of the Further Education and Training Scheme there will be no material reduction in the number of students and especially of students whose parents cannot afford to pay for them; and what steps he is taking to guard against this happening;(2) how far the proposed reduction of over £3 million in the further education and training grants which is proposed for the forthcoming financial year will be offset in practice by an increase in the amounts available for State scholarships, aids to students at training schools and university supplementary awards.

The decrease in the provision made for the Further Education and Training Scheme in my Estimates for 1950–51 is due solely to the normal running down of this scheme for ex-Service students and implies no reduction in either the scope or the value of the awards made under it.When the termination of the scheme was announced, I appointed a Working Party to advise me on the arrangements which should take its place. In accordance with the recommendations of this Working Party, steps have been taken and continue to be taken to expand the system of State scholarships, university supplemental awards and awards made by local education authorities. Increased provision is accordingly made in my Estimates for 1950–51 for these purposes. It is not to be expected that this increased provision will fully offset the reduction in expenditure on the Further Education and Training Scheme; for one thing, many awards under this scheme are held by older students and include allowances for wives and other dependants.The Working Party suggested that about 7,000 local education authority awards would be required, on the assumption that the four-year grants for teachers had been abolished. In fact, the number of new awards granted by local education authorities in 1949 was already 7,131. I see no reason therefore to expect that any material decrease in the number of students at Universities next October will result from the changed arrangements for grants to students of the requisite standard who are accepted by Universities and need assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any statement to make on the recent smallpox epidemic.

The total number of patients definitely established to be suffering from smallpox was 18, of whom 6 died. The possibility of any further spread of the disease is now remote. My right hon. Friend would like again to express his appreciation of the excellent work done by the public health staffs, the hospital staffs, and the general practitioners, who brought the outbreak under control and cared for the patients, and also his sympathy with the relatives of those who died.He hopes the outbreak will serve to remind the public at large of the continuing importance of vaccination, especially in infancy when it is particularly simple and safe.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of those who died in the recent smallpox outbreak in Glasgow had been vaccinated; and if he is satisfied that sufficient precautions are taken to safeguard the staff of fever hospitals.

None of the six persons who died in this outbreak had been successfully vaccinated. As regards the staffs of fever hospitals and other staffs liable to come into contact with smallpox, my right hon. Friends are reminding all hospital and other authorities of the need to ensure that vaccination is offered to all persons on recruitment to such staffs of fever hospitals and re-vaccination is offered periodically to all persons so employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is intended to begin the housing survey in Scotland; by whom the survey will be undertaken; what facts are to be ascertained; whether special attention will be paid to the condition of ploughmen's cottages; and when the results of the survey will be made public.

I propose shortly to consult the associations of Scottish local authorities about the scope and timing of the survey.

asked the Minister of Transport when the street lighting in Carterhatch Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, will be improved.

The initiative in this matter rests with the Enfield Urban District Council as local lighting authority.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has now been able to remove the threat to the Pennine Way through the proposed extension of the Warcop Range.

Yes. I am happy to say that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has, on reconsideration of the matter at my request, and in the light of other circumstances, found it possible to exclude the Pennine Way from the proposed extension. He has assured me that this beautiful and popular footpath will not be interfered with in any way by the long-term proposals of the War Office. I should like to acknowledge the sympathetic and cooperative spirit which my right hon. Friend has shown. The National Parks Commission have, through their Vice-Chairman, Lord Lawson, taken an active and helpful part in the discussion, and will now be able to carry out their declared intention of making the Pennine Way the first long distance route under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered details, which have been sent to him, about the difficulties of the Cornish potato growers owing to excessive imports; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that imports of early potatoes will be allowed up to 1st June, he is satisfied that the home crop will find a market.

I do not think that the imports which we are allowing up to 31st May will be more than we need, or will make it difficult for Cornish and other growers to sell their new potatoes.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in order to increase the earnings of foreign exchange, and particularly of dollars, resulting from tourists in this country, he will arrange for overseas visitors to receive a larger allowance of petrol.

Yes. In future, visitors from Canada and the United States of America who bring their cars with them, or who purchase a new car here for subsequent export, will receive sufficient petrol for 3,000 miles motoring during their first month's stay, 2,000 miles during the second month and 1,000 miles during the third month, making a total of 6,000 miles motoring for a visit of three or more months.Other overseas visitors (not including those from the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man—to whom special arrangements apply) will in similar circumstances receive allowances sufficient to provide for 2,000, 1,000 and 1,000 miles for the first, second and third months respectively, making a total of 4,000 miles motoring in any stay of three or more months. In addition, I propose to double the present allowance of 250 miles motoring to overseas visitors who borrow cars or purchase them second-hand during their visit to this country.Visitors already in this country who have drawn allowances at the old rates will be able to receive additional allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of officers who deserted during the periods 1st January, 1935, to 31st December, 1938, and from 1st January, 1946, to 31st December, 1949.

An officer who absents himself from his unit and whose absence cannot be explained is referred to as absent without leave. There is no record of any such officers during the period 1st January, 1935, to 31st December, 1938. On 31st December, 1949, there were eight officers absent without leave who had absented themselves since 1st January, 1946.