asked the Minister of Food when, and subject to what conditions, he proposes this year to allow cream to be manufactured, imported or sold.

I hope to make a statement about this shortly.

asked the Minister of Food for what reason has the import of tinned meat from Czechoslovakia been stopped as from the first week in January.

These imports have not been stopped.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of flour was imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1949 and 1950; what was the extraction rate of such flour; whether a pro-rata quantity of milling offals accompanied such flour; and whether such quantity of flour was within the productive capacity of the home milling industry.

589,000 tons in 1949 and 429,000 tons in 1950. The extraction rate varied from 70 per cent. to 73 per cent. In general milling offals were imported separately from the flour; the quantity imported in each year was 81,000 tons and 89,000 tons. The quantity of flour imported was within the capacity of the home milling industry in addition to their production of home milled flour; but in deciding our imports of wheat and flour we have to take many other factors into account, such as availability, freight and existing trade practices.

asked the Minister of Food how many additional tons of wheat per annum would be required to lower the flour extraction rate to 75 per cent.; what extra quantity of milling offals would be available as a result; what quantity of extra pig products it is estimated such milling offals would represent; and whether it is within the present capacity of the home milling industry to mill the extra wheat involved.

About 420,000 tons more wheat a year would be needed to lower the extraction rate of flour milled in the United Kingdom from the present 81 per cent. to 75 per cent., and the same amount of extra milling offal would be provided. It would be within the capacity of the milling industry to mill the extra wheat. The quantity of pig-meat represented by this extra amount of milling offal would probably be about 70,000 tons per annum.

asked the Minister of Food through what intermediaries the negotiations with the Argentine in respect of the resumption of our trade with that country in meat are being conducted.

No intermediaries have been employed. Negotiations have taken place directly through the usual Government channels both in London and Buenos Aires.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of eggs and poultry have been imported by him in 1950 from the Colonial Development Scheme in the Gambia; how these quantities compare with his estimates of imports; and what are the prospects for further imports in 1951.

In the second half of last year we received 107 boxes of eggs (each containing 360) which was less than we expected. Increased quantities may become available this year but I cannot estimate what the quantities will be. About 23 tons of dead poultry were imported from Gambia last year. Imports are made by private traders and I cannot say how much will be imported this year.

asked the Minister of Food why a restaurant in the mid-Sussex area, the name of which has been given to him, was informed before private persons in the neighbourhood of the impending cut in the meat ration.

I have made full inquiries, but there is no evidence that any caterer, other trader, or private person was told of the reduction in the meat ration before I announced it in the House last Friday.

asked the Minister of Food whether he now has any statement to make about meat supplies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on Friday, 26th January.

asked the Minister of Food what he proposes to do with the hospital and other buildings at Kongwa in view of the curtailed activities of the groundnut scheme.

The hospital itself will still be needed for patients from the Overseas Food Corporation's three develop- ment areas. The Corporation are considering which buildings at Kongwa will no longer be required and will decide what should be done with them in consultation with the Tanganyika Government.

asked the Minister of Food what is the average price over the last three months at which his Department has been selling wool; and what profit has been made over this period.

The average price realised for wool sold on behalf of my Department during the last three months of 1950 was 100½d. per lb. Wool is not bought separately by my Department. The whole live animal is bought at a price covering carcase, offals and skin, and it is not possible to estimate separately the financial result of the disposal of wool.

asked the Minister of Food how many calves his Department purchased for veal and manufacturing meat last year; how many of these were bobby calves slaughtered at a few days old and weighing no more than 40 lbs.; and what are the present realisation values of the meat and skin from a bobby calf for which the farmer is paid 30s.

The total number of calves bought in Great Britain last year was just over 1,300,000, which included 660,000 bobby calves. The total now received by my Department for the meat, offal and skin of a large bobby calf, for which the farmer is paid 30s., is about £3, against which must be set about 10s. to cover slaughtering and handling expenses. This profit must, of course, be considered in relation to the overall subsidy on home-produced meat.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to encourage the reestablishment of the pineapple industry in Antigua, St. Kitts and Montserrat.

I am asking the Governor to supply me with this information. I will write to the hon. Member when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will institute an inquiry into the handling of the situation during the recent riots in Singapore, and into the police and security arrangements there.

I informed the House of the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry and of its terms of reference on Wednesday last. The members of the Commission who will serve under the chairmanship of the Right Hon. Sir Lionel Leach will be Captain H. Studdy, the Chief Constable of the West Riding, and Mr. J. H. Wenham, J.P., who is a member of the Surrey County Council and Chairman of the Standing Joint Committee for that county. The Commission will leave for Singapore by air on 8th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken to implement the Weston-Ellis Report on technical training in East Africa.

This Report in general prepared the way for the East African Governments to draw up their individual plans for technical education and vocational training. My Adviser on Technical Education has just returned from a tour during which he advised the East African Governments on these plans. I fully recognise the great importance of technical and vocational education in East Africa and shall hope to be in a position to make a statement later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far he was consulted before the publication by the Central Office of Information of "The British Colonial Territories in 1950."

Drafts of this document were submitted to my Department and approved before publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has now received reports of action taken in respect of his communication of November last to Colonial Governors urging the abolition of corporal punishment for convicted persons.

I have received replies from 10 Governments. There is so far a general acceptance of my policy that the complete abolition of corporal punishment as a sanction of the courts should be secured. In two territories steps are now being taken to limit further the powers of courts in respect of its imposition, and in others there are prospects of similar progress in the not too distant future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the circumstances which led to the suspension of the Falkland Islands Defence Force; what is the composition of this Force; and whether its activities have been resumed.

The suspension of this Force in November, 1949, was the result of acts of indiscipline on the part of certain of its members, which were reported to the Government by the Commanding Officer and were followed by his resignation and those of all the other officers except one. The Force consists of a half company of volunteers. It resumed its activities in April, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the payment of war damages compensation to British and Asiatic producers in Malaya.

Up to the end of 1950 payments amounting to 6,370,723 dollars were made in Malaya. Most of these were initial payments, but interim dividends were declared in November, 1950, on awards made in respect of assessed claims in all categories except rubber, and payments of these interim dividends have already begun with the exception of those on seizure claims.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Mr. Musazi, the President of the Uganda Farmers' Union, was arrested and deported from his homeland; and if this man is to be brought to trial for any offence.

As I told the House on 25th October, Mr. Musazi was informed last year that, because of his connection with the 1949 riots, the Uganda Government would feel bound to deport him should he return to Uganda in the near future. Mr. Musazi was detained on his arrival last week, but has not so far been deported. No charge can be preferred against Mr. Musazi in the courts in connection with the 1949 disturbances, because such a charge would be time-barred under the legislation in force at the time; Mr. Musazi was absent from Uganda during the whole of the six months' period when a charge could have been preferred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what records there are of the West Indian Regiment, to include the date of formation and the period in which it was part of the British Army; and whether there are any trained reserves in the West Indies who have had previous service with this organisation.

The West India Regiment was formed in 1795 and disbanded in 1927. The British West Indies Regiment was formed in 1915 and disbanded in 1921. Both formed part of the British Army. It is not possible to say at short notice what records of these forces remain in existence, but if the hon. Member will let me know what particular information he desires, I will try to get it for him. There are no reserves as such in the West Indies, but local part-time volunteer forces exist in British Guiana, British Honduras, Barbados and the Leeward Islands. In addition, a full-time force is maintained in Jamaica. None of these forces is part of the British Army.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if arrangements for the holding of the Gold Coast elections on 8th February are now complete; what steps have been taken officially to explain election procedure to the electors: and whether the respective parties and candidates have been approached with a view to securing co-operative action to ensure the free exposition of rival policies.

The Electoral Regulations were published on 8th January. Summaries have been widely distributed and administrative officers reinforced by special mobile teams are touring the rural areas to explain the election procedure. Particular emphasis has been laid on the secrecy of the ballot. As far as I am aware, no necessity has arisen to approach parties or candidates because of hindrance to the free exposition of rival policies. Public opinion has strongly condemned the few acts of hooliganism which have occurred and interference with lawful public meetings is an offence under the Regulations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many National Service men have received commissions during their period of full-time service; and what percentage is this of the total.

One hundred and seventy-nine since January, 1949. This is about 2 per cent. of the entry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officers and ratings recalled, or retained after they have become due for release, are still serving and what steps are being taken to replace them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps are being taken to arrange for the progressive release from the Royal Navy of men still serving on Regular engagements, whose term of engagement has already been completed.

There are 148 officers and 5,035 ratings at present serving who are either recalled Reservists or have been retained beyond their terms of engagement. Men will be released at the end of 18 months of such service. The process of retention is continuous and, as long as the international situation so requires, these men will be replaced by others similarly recalled or retained.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the established strength of the naval air arm in carrier air groups; what is the actual strength; and whether these groups are up to strength individually.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose this information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what percentage of the contracts for tinned foodstuffs for the Royal Navy have been placed with Welsh firms.

A negligible proportion, as very few Welsh firms have sought Admiralty contracts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the reason for the delay in announcing the new pay code for the Royal Marines; and when a statement regarding the new rates of pay for the Royal Marines may be expected to be made.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 23rd January.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the total of civilian residents and what is the total of civilian staff at Risley Club, Risley, near Warrington; what is the weekly rent paid by residents; and what is the average cost per resident of running this hostel.

Risley Club is an Admiralty hostel for non-industrial civil servants. For the six months ending 30th September last, the average number of civilian residents were 102; the average number of staff was equivalent to 22 full-time employees. The weekly charge to residents ranged from 45s. to 50s. and the average weekly cost per resident of running the hostel worked out at £2 13s.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the total of civilian residents and what is the total of civilian staff at the Eaves Brow Hall Hostel, at Croft, near Warrington; what is the weekly rent paid by residents; and what is the average cost per resident of running this hostel.

In December last the average number of civilian residents was 231, and of the staff, 48. The basic weekly charge is 35s. plus 2s. 6d. if supper is taken. Including all ascertainable costs, the average weekly cost per resident of running the hostel works out at 55s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Supply what proportion of telephone equipment manufactured in this country in 1950 was exported; what countries were the principal purchasers; and what proportion it is intended to export this year.

Complete production figures for 1950 are not yet available, but it is estimated that exports amounted to between 55 and 60 per cent. of the total. The principal purchasers were Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Argentina and Canada. The proportion exported this year will depend on the success manufacturers have in obtaining orders from overseas, and on the production required for essential purposes at home, including defence.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the total of civilian residents and what is the total of civilian staff at the Newchurch Hall Hostel, at Risley, near Warrington: what is the weekly rent paid by residents; and what is the average cost per resident of running this hostel.

The average number of permanent residents, all civilian, during December was 159. In addition, there were 114 temporary residents during the month. Thirty-eight staff were employed at the hostel on 31st December, 1950. The charges to residents are 47s. 6d. a week for a single room and 42s. 6d. a week for a share in a double room. The actual cost of running the hostel during the period 10th September to 2nd December, 1950, was 59s. 10d. a week for each resident.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement about the effect on the supply of home-produced eggs of the present outbreak of fowl pest.

My right hon. Friend cannot at present forecast what the future course of this outbreak may be and is, therefore, unable to estimate what effect it may have on the supply of eggs. Up to the present, the number of birds slaughtered because of the disease amounts to only about 0.3 per cent. of the total poultry population of Great Britain and there should not yet have been any appreciable effect on egg supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that numbers of fat cattle are being exported to Italy; and under what arrangements is this being done.

No. As far as my right hon. Friend is aware, the only cattle being exported to Italy are store animals for breeding purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement comparing the ration scale in force in Korea for British troops in December, 1950. with the field service ration scale in force for British troops in South-East Asia Command in January, 1945.

Owing to the operational conditions prevailing, British troops in Korea in December, 1950, were, and are still, receiving compo rations consisting of foodstuffs, which provide a daily intake of 4,800 calories a man. The field service ration for British troops in South-East Asia in January, 1945, comprised both tinned and fresh foodstuffs and ensured a daily intake of 4,000 calories a man. Following is a statement showing the make-up of the two scales:

Item	Compo ration in Korea	Ration scale in force in South-East Asia in January, 1945
	Oz. per head daily	Oz. per head daily
Frozen meat (bone-in)	—	12·00
Preserved meat or	8·64	0·50
Stewed steak or	11·52	—
Steak and kidney	11·52	—
Bacon tinned	3·60	3·00
Sausages	1·80	Alternative for bacon
Bread or	14·40	14·00
Biscuits	10·80	9·00
Flour	—	2·00
Oatmeal	1·20	1·00
Margarine	1·80	1·75
Cheese	1·92	1·00
Cooking fat	—	0·50
Milk tinned	3·84	4·00
Jam	2·16	2·00
Sugar	3·00	3·50
Fruit fresh	—	6·00
Fruit tinned or	5·76	—
Fruit puddings	5·02	—
Fruit dried	—	0·86
Fruit juice	—	100
Potatoes fresh	—	12·00
Potato mash powder	1·68 (a)	—
Vegetables fresh	—	12·00
Vegetables tinned	2·40 (b)	—
Onions	—	2·00
Dried beans and lentils	—	0·50
Fish tinned (salmon) or	3·84	3·00
Cake	2·40	—
Chocolate and sweets	3·60	—
Tea	0·90	0·75
Culinary items	Various	Various

(

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers are still employed as permanent presidents of courts-martial; and what proportion of trials by courts-martial are presided over by such officers at home and overseas.

Twenty-six serving officers are at present employed as permanent presidents of courts-martial. Approximately 74 per cent. of the courts-martial held in the United Kingdom in the last six months for which figures are available were presided over by permanent

—		1944	1945	1946	1947
Numbers originally notified	…	29,949	25,246	18,283	10,465
Numbers after correction for revision of diagnosis	…	23,152	18,571	11,967	5,592

The ages of the cases re-diagnosed are not available.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria and death

ENGLAND AND WALES: 1944–1947
DIPHTHERIA
Ages					1944		1945
					Cases notified*	Deaths	Cases notified*	Deaths
All ages	…	…	…	…	23,152	934	18,571	722
0	…	…	…	…	278	26	188	18
1	…	…	…	…	1,360	127	1,086	114
3	…	…	…	…	2,533	199	2,001	121
5	…	…	…	…	7,200	342	5,948	257
10	…	…	…	…	4,417	104	3,467	74
15	…	…	…	…	4,306	64	3,330	45
25 and over	…	…	…	…	2,887	72	2,421	93
Not known	…	…	…	…	171	—	130	—
					1946		1947
All ages	…	…	…	…	11,967	472	5,592	244
0	…	…	…	…	161	23	89	16
1	…	…	…	…	848	85	468	41
3	…	…	…	…	1,362	84	764	47
5	…	…	…	…	3,460	126	1,603	81
10	…	…	…	…	2,122	33	868	22
15	…	…	…	…	2,157	44	937	13
25 and over	…	…	…	…	1,787	77	814	24
Not known	…	…	…	…	70	—	49	—
* After correction for revised diagnosis

asked the Minister of Health how many cases, originally regarded as diphtheria, were re-diagnosed in the years 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947; and what were the ages of the cases.

The numbers of original and corrected notifications of diphtheria were as follows:from that disease were recorded in the years 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947, and their ages.

Following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the average annual fatality rate of diphtheria cases notified since 1920.

The death rates from diphtheria per 1,000 cases notified for the years 1920–1949 are set out in the following table:

DIPHTHERIA: ENGLAND AND WALES
Annual Death Rates per 1,000 Cases Notified
1920	…	…	…	81
1921	…	…	…	72
1922	…	…	…	78
1923	…	…	…	68
1924	…	…	…	60
1925	…	…	…	58
1926	…	…	…	59
1927	…	…	…	52
1928	…	…	…	52
1929	…	…	…	55
1930	…	…	…	47
1931	…	…	…	52
1932	…	…	…	53
1933	…	…	…	54
1934	…	…	…	58
1935	…	…	…	52
1936	…	…	…	52
1937	…	…	…	47
1938	…	…	…	44
1939	…	…	…	45
1940	…	…	…	54
1941	…	…	…	52
1942	…	…	…	44
1943	…	…	…	40
				(a)	(b)
1944	…	…	…	31	40
1945	…	…	…	29	39
1946	…	…	…	26	39
1947	…	…	…	23	44
1948	…	…	…	19	44
1949	…	…	…	17	44

NOTE.—The rates for the years before 1944 are calculated on "partially corrected" notifications, neither "original" nor fully corrected notifications being available for those years; the rates for 1944 and later years shown under (

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether the nurses who volunteered to nurse at Bevendean Hospital during the smallpox outbreak at Brighton were vaccinated before they took up their duties;(2) on what date the staff of nurses, domestic workers and others employed at Bevendean Hospital were vaccinated after the discovery of smallpox in the hospital;

No patients were sent home, but two who developed smallpox were sent to another hospital. The presence of smallpox in Bevendean was confirmed on 28th December, and all staff employed there were vaccinated on that day or the next, except nine who were on leave and who were vaccinated on the 30th.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that the removal of sufferers from smallpox from Bevendean Hospital to Dartford in very severe weather with conditions of snow and ice increased the risk of a fatal result; and what precautions will be taken to safeguard smallpox patients from such risk;(2) which smallpox patients were nursed at Bevendean Infectious Diseases Hospital; why they were not sent to one of the other two isolation hospitals set apart for smallpox cases; were there patients suffering from other infectious diseases in Bevendean Hospital at the same time that smallpox cases were nursed there after the outbreak was discovered; were all the patients and staff at Bevendean Hospital vaccinated as soon as smallpox was discovered there on 28th December; and on what dates were the patients and staff at this hospital vaccinated.

Four persons suffering from smallpox were nursed at Bevendean. Two were transferred as soon as diagnosis was made, two died before this was possible. Patients suffering from other infectious diseases were nursed there when the outbreak occurred; all were vaccinated on the 28th or 29th, together with the staff, apart from nine staff on leave who were vaccinated on the 30th. There is no evidence that removal to Dartford caused any ill effects, but when the weather deteriorated a local hospital was also brought into use to avoid the longer journey.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury what negotiations other than those concerning the meat trade, are at present going on be- tween His Majesty's Government and the Argentine Government; how they have been affected by the breaking-off of the meat trade negotiations; and how far they have advanced.

As announced in the Press in December last, an Argentine delegation is at present in London, engaged upon technical discussions with the Bank of England about the revaluation guarantees applying to Argentina's sterling position. The meat negotiations have not affected these technical discussions. The discussions are still continuing and it is not yet possible to make any statement upon their progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will take steps to form radar reporting units in other centres of London, so that our entire radar defences can at short notice be brought to a high state of efficiency.

I am looking into the possibility of forming a number of additional radar units, including two radar reporting units, one of which would be in London. No final decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Civil Defence Corps and the Auxiliary Fire Service are Class Z reservists.

I could not state the exact figure without obtaining a return from all local authorities, but from sample inquiries which have been made it is estimated that the proportion of Class Z Reservists is about 10 per cent. of the total male strength of the Services.

asked the Minister of National Insurance against how many men have the National Assistance Board taken proceedings for deserting their wives and leaving them destitute and chargeable to the public funds, in the Edinburgh area during the period 1st July, 1948, to 31st December, 1950.

Two.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he has any further information to give on the possibility of running flying boat or helicopter services among the islands of Scotland.

No. British European Airways Corporation are not equipped to undertake flying boat operations and no other company has shown any interest in undertaking such a service. On the possibility of running helicopters, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28th November, 1950.