asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what has been the result of his investigations into the failure to inform the Government of New Zealand that petrol rationing was to be abolished in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations for what reason the New Zealand Government was not informed of the recent decision of His Majesty's Government in this country to de-ration petrol.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, why, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government in the Dominion of New Zealand had retained petrol rationing in that Dominion at the request of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, no prior notification was given to His Majesty's Government in New Zealand of the intention of His Majesty's Government to end petrol rationing in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he informed the Government of New Zealand of his decision to de-ration petrol prior to the announcement made on 26th May last.

I would refer hon. Members to the reply I gave on 13th June in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for Wimbledon (Mr. Black), Darwen (Mr. Prescott) and Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor).

In order to clear up this unfortunate affair, can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that adequate apology has been tendered to New Zealand over this apparent discourtesy, and that New Zealand is now satisfied that we do not fail to appreciate all she has done in the past to co-operate with us?

I think the affair is settled now. No apology was made to New Zealand, but an explanation was given to the New Zealand Prime Minister. He accepted it completely, and said that the matter was closed as far as he was concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his reply the other day he told the House that at one important point in this story there was an unexplained reason for delay? The Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) asked the result of the investigation. Is the right hon. Gentleman able to explain that hitherto unexplained delay?

No. I am not in a position to do that, because it was due to a failure of the human factor which is, as the hon. Gentleman knows, sometimes very difficult to explain. All I can do is to repeat my assurance that this will not happen again.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that in the reply to which he has referred he used the words:

"In the small hours of 26th May, further telegrams were sent to our High Commissioners. …"—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th June, 1950; Vol. 476, c. 25.]

It referred to the small hours here.

Does not the answer to which the right hon. Gentleman has been good enough to refer indicate that the only attempt to communicate this information to the New Zealand Government was made only a few hours before the announcement in this House; and, as the New Zealand Government had retained petrol rationing at the express request of His Majesty's Government, should not some days' notice have been given during which that Government could have made its own consequential arrangements?

The final telegram was sent as early as possible, immediately after the decision here was taken. All Commonwealth Governments, including the New Zealand Government, were informed, of course, of the discussions that had been going on. I should explain that exactly the same steps were taken to inform all other Commonwealth Governments, and that all but New Zealand were informed in time of the final decision. It was only because there was an inexplicable accident in this case that the New Zealand Government were not informed in time,

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why the New Zealand Government were not notified in sufficient time to enable them to take their own action and make their own arrangements?

A longer interval could not be given because the telegram could not be sent until the final decision had been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will consult the Governments of the Dominions as to the advisability of arranging an Empire Economic Conference similar to the Ottawa Conference of 1932 to plan Empire trade and fiscal policy in the light of post-war conditions.

I can assure the hon. Member that His Majesty's Government have constantly before them the (importance of consultation with other Commonwealth countries on major questions of economic policy as on other matters. He will, of course, be aware that such consultation takes place as a normal matter of day to day business, and, as stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 25th May, we have already had several informal meetings with other Commonwealth representatives since the war to discuss matters of mutual interest connected with Commonwealth trade. A formal high level conference such as he contemplates is by no means the only method of securing the necessary exchange of views on matters of importance. I can assure the hon. Member that his suggestion will be borne fully and continuously in mind.

Would the Minister not agree that a high level conference, such as is suggested, would probably be the best method of dealing with questions that are likely to arise as soon as Marshall Aid comes to an end? Is this not a matter of urgency, in view of the approaching end of Marshall Aid?

I do not know that this is the best method, though it may be. Certainly, it is not for this Government to decide what is the best method.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he has any statement to make on the circumstances in which the trawler "Lock Esk" was fired upon by Irish Republican fishermen off Malin Head on the night of 10th June.

The skipper of the "Loch Esk" has stated that he was fishing at night off the coast of the Irish Republic near Inishtrahull Light in Donegal. While fishing there his vessel was fired upon from three small boats. The skipper was wounded in the thigh. The authorities in the Republic have stated that none of their fishery protection vessels was involved. The local police have questioned fishermen and arrested a man whom they have charged with causing grievous bodily harm to the skipper of the trawler. This man has been remanded on bail until 20th June. A request has been received from the police of the Irish Republic for statements to be obtained by our police from the skipper and members of the crew of the "Loch Esk." The House will not expect me to say more while the matter is sub judice in the Irish courts.

Does not this case emphasise the importance of having British fishery protection vessels at places such as Inishtrahull, not only to protect British trawlers but to see that the regulations applying to trawlers are fulfilled in every detail?

I think it will be difficult to comment on that without prejudging the issue in this case.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that no fishermen from Eire would ever be refused the right of fishing in either British or Northern Ireland waters? Why not, therefore, demand reciprocity?

I think we must be careful not to assume the facts until they have been established. We only know them at present from the newspapers.

On a point of order. We know that we are unable to discuss a matter which is sub judice in British courts. Does that also apply to matters which are sub judice in foreign courts?

I should like to have notice of a difficult question like that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the bad quality of materials used in many cases for making clothing of all kinds, household furnishings and stockings.

No, Sir. I cannot accept the suggestion that the use of poor materials in these articles is widespread.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer will cause great annoyance to housewives, who are suffering from bad materials, deteriorating quality and ever-increasing prices? Will he not reconsider his decision?

If the hon. Lady wants me to introduce a lot more controls than we have ever had before on the manufacture of these things by private industry, I am always prepared to consider such a step.

Will my right hon. Friend take every step possible to counteract propaganda against the high quality and great advantages of utility goods?

The Question did not refer to utility goods, but, of course, if there are any cases in the utility field into which the hon. Lady or any other hon. Member would like me to inquire I should be prepared to inquire into them.

On a point of order. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has increased from 11 to 15 the maximum number of members of the Central Price Regulations Committee; and whether this change will involve any increased charge to public funds.

We have thought it desirable in the conditions affecting supplies and prices of consumer goods which have followed devaluation to make room for the appointment of additional members so as to permit an extension of the range of experience and knowledge already available on the Committee. The only increased charge to public funds will be small amounts for reimbursement of travelling expenses, etc.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he takes to ensure that goods imported into this country and marked "Empire Made," are, in fact, made in the Empire.

The sale in the United Kingdom of goods falsely marked as to origin is an offence under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887. Any person may prosecute the offender, and the Board of Trade is empowered to prosecute where this appears to be in the public interest. If goods are improperly marked at importation, they can be confiscated by the Customs.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this boy's shirt, which is marked "Ever Lucky—Empire Made," which I bought the other day in a retail shop in Scotland, and for which I paid 3s. 6d.? To make such a shirt in this country would cost 3s. 6d. for the raw materials alone. Will he look into this sort of case, which, if it becomes general throughout the country, will ruin British industry?

I will certainly look into it. At this distance, the shirt would appear to have come from Hong Kong, which is within the Empire and so that such a mark would be appropriate. There have been a number of suggestions that shirts marked "Made in Hong Kong" have come from Japan, and we have investigated these cases. If we find any cases of incorrect marking, we shall not hesitate to take action.

Has the Minister instituted any prosecutions in this matter in the last 12 months?

I should want notice of that question.

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any luck in catching Japanese sending shirts to Hong Kong?

There has not been any evidence to prove that that is going on, but if any hon. Member could give me evidence I should be glad to see it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can supply figures for 1949 showing the extent of dollar earning or dollar saving by factories established in Scotland since 1945.

I regret that no figures are available of the dollar earnings or savings of factories established in Scotland since 1945.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider allowing glove manufacturers to use, for the production of utility goods, redundant stocks of non-utility material provided that the prices charged do not exceed normal utility ceiling prices for similar articles made with utility grade material.

I am reluctant to alter the present specifications in the Utility Glove Order so far as they prescribe the use of utility material, but if the hon. Member will let me know what particular descriptions of non-utility material he has in mind, I will look into the possibility of licensing its use.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement with regard to the freeing of bulb imports from Holland in 1951.

It has recently been decided, as part of our general policy of relaxing restrictions on imports from O.E.E.C. countries, to bring to an end the arrangements that have been in force for some years to regulate, in conjunction with the Netherlands authorities, the trade in bulbs from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom. Owing to the seasonal nature of the trade and the desirability of giving as long notice as possible to the bulb growers, it has been decided to let the present arrangements stand for the forthcoming season. As from 1st May, 1951, however, importers of bulbs from the Netherlands will no longer be required to produce proof to His Majesty's Customs that shipment of the bulbs has been authorised by the Netherlands Bulb Exporters' Association

Is the Minister aware that during the war bulb growers were restricted to only 25 per cent. of their growing capacity, which involved a great capital loss, and that at that time it was agreed by His Majesty's Government that they should be allowed time to rehabilitate themselves? Is he further aware that some of the Dutch growers are also against taking away the present form of regulation on the import of Dutch bulbs into this country?

That may be so in the case of certain Dutch growers, but this question was, of course, settled after consultation with the Dutch Government.

Will the Minister say whether, before coming to this decision, he entered into consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, and whether he is quite satisfied that the position of the home bulb grower has been protected?

I do not think it is usual to say, in any particular case, what consultation did or did not take place, but I can assure the House that on all questions concerning relaxation of restrictions there is the fullest consultation between my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to encourage the greater use of Colonial timber, he will consider reclassifying timber described as hardwood according to the weight of wood per cubic foot and the uses to which it can be put.

As the import of all, and distribution of nearly all, hardwoods is now handled by private traders, I am not in a position to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Could the Minister say who can adopt the suggestion?

Yes, Sir, the private trade. If the hon. Gentleman will perhaps discuss it with them, or if they see a report of his Question, perhaps they may agree to adopt it.

Cannot the Board of Trade classify timbers according to whether they are hardwood or softwood?

In any figures there have ever been there have always been classifications of softwood and hardwood, but I think the hon. Gentleman's question asked for a simplification of a list of woods which is at present on a botanical names basis instead of on a basis of weight.

Will the Minister see that information—only some of which is available as the result of investigations by research departments under his control—about the performance of these timbers is more widely known?

I shall be very glad to arrange for anything that can be done on those lines.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an estimate of the value of business lost by British firms in Turkey during the past six months owing to German firms quoting lower prices, earlier delivery dates and easier terms of credit.

I have no information on which to base any such estimate. I should, however, like to emphasise that it is Turkey's shortage of sterling, and not German competition, which has been a major factor in the decline of United Kingdom exports to Turkey.

Is the Minister not aware that there has been this competition despite the shortage of sterling, and does not it show that it is really much more sound to rely on Empire markets, where we have protection, rather than on foreign markets?

I agree that there has been this competition, but I am quite convinced that we could have stood up to it successfully had Turkey not had to restrict imports from this country owing to the shortage of sterling. With regard to the second part of the question, obviously we want to rely on trade both within the Commonwealth and with a wide range of countries outside it.

Could we not buy more Turkish tobacco?

I should want notice of that question, although I think the answer is that we have bought all that the consumers in this country seem likely to consume.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to meet the competition from Western Germany in semi-fabricated non-ferrous metals, sales of which are now at the rate of 10 times what they were a year ago and at prices below the cost of production in Germany.

I am aware that, as a result of Germany's post-war return to industrial production, competition from German exports is now being encountered in a number of fields, including that of semi-fabricated non-ferrous metals. It is, however, misleading to compare present statistics with those for a year ago, since German exports of these products a year ago were in most cases either nil or negligible. If the hon. Member will furnish evidence in support of his statement that the exports are being offered at prices below the cost of production, I am prepared to examine the matter further.

May I ask the Minister two things? First, will he not examine the figures, which show a month by month increase of something like 10 per cent. in the export from Germany of these particular articles—therefore, the information is available to him—and, second, will he not discuss with the German people whether they are not aware that the prices at which these goods are sold are well below world level?

As I have already made clear, a 10 per cent. increase on a basis that is very small is not quite so serious as the hon. Gentleman suggests. With regard to his second point, I have always made it clear in this House that if there is any evidence of German goods being sold by dumping methods, below the cost of production, I shall always be glad to look into it with the German authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future supply position of newsprint.

There is nothing which I can yet add to the statement I made on 22nd May, when this matter was discussed in the debate on the Motion for the Adjournment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that as from 1st July, the daily national newspapers are to be reduced in size, and say why this country is exporting something like 100,000 tons of newsprint a year, much of it to Australia? Why not keep it here and let other countries buy it from Canada and the dollar areas?

Instead of attempting to control the size of the newspapers, week by week and month by month, this was left to the newspaper trade itself within the supplies available. I understand from them that they propose to return from the seven pages originally fixed for the election period to six pages at the beginning of July. We are exporting newsprint to Australia to pay for the wool, raw materials and foodstuffs which we import from that country.

Are the Government making available the necessary foreign currency, dollars in particular, to enable the supply of newsprint to be maintained in the coming year at the same rate as in the past year?

There has been no decision yet as to the amount of dollars to be allocated for newsprint in 1951.

Will the Minister say why it has been decided to reduce the size of the national dailies?

I understand from my discussions with them that the calculations they made earlier, when they were hoping to maintain the seven page newspaper for a longer period, have proved somewhat unrealistic because it has been more difficult than was expected to buy supplies in certain soft currency countries.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at a very early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will expedite his decision on the application from Messrs. Johnson and Johnson (Great Britain) Limited, backed by the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, to take over for use as a factory the redundant building training centre at Paulsgrove, thereby giving much needed employment.

I hope that a decision will be reached shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a White Paper to indicate to what extent British exports to the United States of America are hindered by the high level of United States tariff rates.

There is no doubt that existing United States tariff rates hinder United Kingdom exports to that market, but it is extremely difficult to estimate the extent of the hindrance. I doubt, therefore, whether the hon. Member's proposal is practicable, but I shall certainly bear it in mind.

Will the Minister represent to the United States, who are constantly preaching one doctrine for themselves and another for us in Europe about their tariff rates, that they might start a bit of improvement at home?

We have discussed with British industry all the rates, the lowering of which would lead to an increase in exports, or the removal of which would lead to the starting of a general increase in exports, and this matter will be coming up at Torquay.

I asked the Minister whether he will make representations to the people of the United States who preach one doctrine for themselves and another for us?

Has the Minister's attention been called to the enormous protective duty on Irish linen, which hampers very considerably the export from Ulster?

Yes, Sir, my attention has been drawn to it on a number of occasions. If I remember rightly, some improvement was made in it at the Conference at Geneva.

Can the Minister say whether any improvement has been made in the executive side of the Customs procedure in the United States which was almost as big a barrier to our goods as the tariffs themselves?

I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman. We are hopeful that there will be some substantial improvements on the administration side in the United States.

Perhaps I ought to point out that it is now 3 o'clock and that we generally get through 60 or 70 Questions in the hour; we have got through 20 in the first half hour. Some of the supple-mentaries have been long and very repetitive.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further report on the progress in the development of our exports to North America.

Yes, Sir. Though too much should not be read into the figures for a particular month, I am glad to say that the strenuous efforts which all concerned have been making to develop our exports to North America are now showing encouraging results. The value of United Kingdom exports to North America last month is provisionally estimated at £20.6 million, compared with a monthly average of only £10 million during the third quarter of 1949—that is, immediately prior to devaluation— and £14.5 million in April, 1950. In terms of U.S. dollars the increase has been from 40.3 million dollars per month in the third quarter of 1949, to 42.8 million dollars in the first quarter of 1950, and 57.7 million dollars in May. Up to now we have made rather more rapid progress in developing our exports to Canada than to the U.S.A. In May, our exports to Canada were £12.4 million compared with £8.2 million to the U.S.A.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us some break-up as between industries in these gratifying figures, with reference to the motor car industry?

Yes, Sir. The motor car industry has certainly accounted for a considerable proportion, particularly the exports to Canada. When the full Trade and Navigation Accounts are published next week the hon. Gentleman will have all the figures he wants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the total cost involved in compiling a list of the names and addresses of traders throughout the country to whom Census of Distribution Forms are to be sent early in 1951; and whether, in view of the fact that a legal obligation rests upon traders to obtain such a form for completion, why his Department is arranging for a personal inspection.

The preparation of an up-to-date register of traders is necessary to enable the Board of Trade to discharge its obligations under Section 3 (2) of the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947, to give notice in writing and to issue the forms required to be filled up. The procedure under Section 6 can be used to complete any gaps in the list. The estimated cost of obtaining the names and addresses of traders for the register is £75,000.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a letter has gone out from the statistics division of his Department saying that this list is being compiled by personal inspection? Why is that necessary when there is a legal obligation on traders to register in any case?

I think I have already answered that question before the Whit-sun Recess.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of mohair; and what steps are being taken to augment the supply.

I am informed that there is no shortage of mohair, and, consequently, the second part of the Question does not arise.

If I send my right hon. Friend details of a case in Newport in which perambulators for babies have been held up for three months for want of this material, will he look into this case?

Yes, I shall certainly be prepared to look into it, but I am informed by the trade that they do not consider mohair is in short supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to prevent the practice of London hotels of raising their accommodation charges at times when extra numbers of visitors are expected, particularly in connection with the Festival of Britain.

It has always been the normal practice of hotels to charge lower prices out of the season than during the season. This practice is a sensible one in that it encourages greater use of hotel services in the off-season. I have no knowledge of any proposal significantly to increase hotel prices during the period of the Festival of Britain and many hotels have, in fact, already let their accommodation for this period at normal rates.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that during the recent British Industries Fair, one London hotel in particular doubled its charges, an action which was very much resented? In view of the importance of the Festival of Britain, can he at least give an assurance, not only to visitors from outside London but also to visitors from abroad, that hotels will not be allowed to profiteer at the expense of this great national effort?

I have investigated the case to which my hon. Friend refers, and I find that it is a case in which, owing to the shortage of accommodation, a visitor from the provinces was occupying a double room and was, therefore, charged more than he would have been if he had had a single room. With regard to the Festival of Britain, we are watching the position, but I am quite sure that the hotel trade generally will exercise reasonable restraint.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is satisfied at the publicity being given in America to the forthcoming Festival of Britain; what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to make this event more widely known in the United States of America; and, to that end, what sums have been expended to date.

The publicity campaign in America for the Festival of Britain will begin in the late summer of this year. No money has been spent on it up to the present time. The British Travel and Holidays Association and the British Information Services in America are closely associated with these arrangements and are in full agreement as to the timing. I am satisfied that they are on the right lines.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what is the total sum of money which will be allocated to this subject when the campaign begins?

No, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Government will begin the late summer?

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply conform with his earlier replies that the Festival of Britain will not involve us in dollar expenditure?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will let me know when I said that.

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a Swiss, M. Luigi Cei, of Davos Platz, was refused entry into this country at Folkestone on 27th April; and why he was not allowed to telephone his prospective hostess, living near Andover; this refusal causing that lady needless anxiety and waste of time.

This alien is an Italian who had been working in Switzerland as a ski-ing instructor. He had only a single ticket and he admitted that his real purpose in coming to the United Kingdom was to take employment. He had no Ministry of Labour permit and he was refused leave to land. He did not ask to be allowed to get in touch with his prospective hostess. If he had done so permission would have been readily given.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am informed that this man was not allowed to telephone his friends? Would the right hon. Gentleman issue instructions to ensure that in future there can be no repetition of what amounts to either a genuine misunderstanding or quite intolerable officiousness on the part of an official?

No, Sir. I have inquired very carefully into this case and my information is that this man did not ask to telephone. Had he done so the immigration officer, according to instructions, would have allowed him to telephone. If such a person has no money with which to telephone or if he does not understand the British telephone system the official will telephone for him. May I say, as one who, on occasion, has tried to telephone abroad that it is sometimes difficult to understand the telephone system of another country, particularly when one has been accustomed to so efficient a system as the British system?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of aliens who have received British nationality for each year since the war; and the monthly figures since 1st January, 1950.

Since the end of the war 50,062 certificates of naturalisation have been granted. I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual and monthly figures for which the hon. Member asks.

What steps has the right hon. Gentleman taken to see that none of these people who are naturalised are undesirable and that none of them are Communist agents?

The hon. Member only asked for the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give permission to General Zivcovic and 37 other Yugoslav generals, at present classed as displaced persons at Schloss Varlar in the British zone, to come to this country.

As I informed the House on 4th May, His Majesty's Government have undertaken to admit up to 2,000 displaced persons and refugees now in the care of the International Refugee Organisation in Germany and Austria for whom accommodation and maintenance can be provided by relatives, friends or voluntary organisations. Applications may be made on behalf of the generals to whom the hon. Member refers, but in selecting the limited number who can be admitted under the scheme it is proposed to give priority to persons with relatives in the United Kingdom and to children.

Is the Home Secretary aware that, whereas from one point of view one appreciates his principle, there is a very large number of people in this modern world, people of integrity and ability, who are unable to play any part in the life of their own natural country or in any other country? Will he not agree that the fact that they have no friends or relatives is surely a reason not for not giving them consideration but for giving them consideration?

The unfortunate thing is that in the world at the present time there are, I venture to say, millions of such people. If I did not exercise some discrimination about them it would only be the carrying capacity of ships and aeroplanes that would determine the number of people who applied for permission to come to this country. It is a matter of grief to me that I cannot admit all the people who would like to come, but I have to discriminate. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that, as far as these men are concerned, I will exercise as much sympathy as the interest of this country will allow.

Will the Home Secretary perhaps give special consideration to these cases, as these senior officers were taken prisoners by the Germans when, with great gallantry, they led the Yugoslavs early in the war? Is it not awful that such distinguished men should spend the rest of their lives on the German dole?

I hope I have indicated that I will examine these cases with sympathy. I do not deprecate the special pleading but very similar cases can be put up, I regret to say, for thousands of equally deserving persons on the Continent of Europe.

asked the Minister of Health for what purpose a compulsory purchase order has recently been confirmed by his Department in respect of 3,085 acres of freehold pasture land, fronting on Rectory Lane in the parish of Rock, in the Kidderminster rural district of the county of Worcestershire.

For the purposes of Part V of the Housing Act, 1936.

Does the Minister appreciate that, as a result of the intervention of his Department, for which I am most grateful, the Ministry of Fuel and Power have withdrawn proposals for opencast mining on the site, but now propose to surround the entire site with opencast mining activities? Would he again intervene?

The Order has now been made. The Orders are made by the Minister in a quasi-judicial capacity, and the matter cannot be reopened.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to prevent evasion of the law against charging premiums or key-money in respect of the letting of empty premises.

I have no power to enforce the law in this matter, but local authorities have power to institute proceedings for offences under the Rent Restrictions Acts, and I have recently reminded them of their powers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is great indignation at the widespread evasion that is going on, and will he do all he can to suppress it?

I said this was a matter for the local authorities. They are exercising their powers in a number of areas, and I hope local authorities will be vigilant and exercise their powers when they are invoked.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent, in allocating housing programmes to local authorities, he is guided by the number of persons registered with individual local authorities as being in need of housing accommodation.

Allocations made to local authorities by my principal regional officers under standing administrative procedure are determined in the light of the current evidence available as to relative housing needs and building progress. As regards the inferences to be drawn from local authority lists of applicants, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 9th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

While awaiting that statement, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that almost throughout the whole country these waiting lists for houses are increasing rapidly, week by week and month by month? May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, too, what steps he proposes to take to solve the housing problem before the next election, as he could not solve it before the last election?

The housing lists in the country are not increasing month by month. That statement is incorrect.

asked the Minister of Health if he will allow houses costing under £2,000 to be built without restriction.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister not realise that unless he makes some concessions we shall never get the bomb-damaged towns rebuilt as long as we have a Labour Government?

If this concession were made it would be at the expense of persons needing houses and favouring those with money to buy them.

It would be no such thing in Portsmouth. It would be in lieu of garages and greenhouses and other things which are not necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the merits of B.C.G. vaccine as a tuberculosis immuniser; and whether he will make it available to the public.

A trial use of the vaccine is being made for selected cases, but I am advised that it would not yet be suitable for indiscriminate use.

Will the Minister keep in close touch with this experiment, as this shows every chance of being a most useful vaccine?

We are watching it very anxiously and with a good deal of expectancy.

Will the Minister examine the controlled experiment conducted in Portsmouth over the last four years in connection with this vaccine?

Certainly. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars I will have them investigated.

asked the Minister of Health why, in view of the shortage of nurses, it is necessary to charge an enrolment fee of £3 3s. to duly qualified persons willing to join the roll of assistant nurses.

The enrolment fee prescribed by the Rules of the General Nursing Council is required to meet the expense of maintaining the Assistant Nurses' Roll.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to reopen the St. George's Hospital, Long Leys Road, Lincoln.

The Regional Hospital Board hope that it may be possible to bring part of the hospital into use by the end of the present year.

Is the Minister aware that when this hospital was taken over again in November, 1948, there were also taken over two clerks, four or five boiler and maintenance men and also, about that time, a steward or attendant and an assistant matron? Is he aware that, because of that, the hospital has been spending—I am told on good authority— approximately £10,000 a year, for which there has been no return whatsoever? Is he also aware that—

The length of supplementaries is getting intolerable.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the report of the committee now sitting to deal with merit awards for medical consultants.

I expect to receive a report within the next three months.

Is it not intolerable that this class of consultant should be left in such a state of uncertainty for so long?

This is entirely a professional matter. It has not been determined by me at all. It would have been even more intolerable if, by hasty action, the wrong people had been selected.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long this committee has been sitting, who is its chairman and what is the salary paid to him for a year?

If the hon. Member will put that question on the Order Paper I will try to give him a reply.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent medical officers graded senior hospital medical officer are thereby rendered ineligible for promotion to consultant status.

Not at all.

Would the Minister not agree that the interpolation of this grade between the grade of senior registrar and that of consultant looks extraordinarily like a device for obtaining the services of specialists at cut rates?