asked the Minister of Works what was the percentage distribution of the output of the building industry in 1949, divided into: new housing; factories and warehouses; shops, offices, hotels, etc.; other new building works; civil engineering works and maintenance and all other maintenance, respectively.

The percentage distribution of the output of the building and civil engineering industry in 1949 is estimated to have been as follows:

asked the Minister of Works what steps have been taken, since the development of 2 Park Street, as a Government hotel, to ensure that the safety arrangements in relation to fire risks are adequate; and what authority is responsible for periodic inspection of these arrangements.

A survey was made by my Ministry in May, 1948, when No. 2, Park Street was first used for its present purposes, to ensure that fire prevention and escape measures were satisfactory and that adequate fire fighting appliances were provided. The fire risk in this building is not regarded as above normal. My Ministry's Fire Inspectorate is responsible for periodic inspection of the arrangements; this is done at six monthly intervals.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he has taken in regard to the dispute of boilermakers at the Albion Dockyard, Bristol.

Officers of my Department have been maintaining close touch with the parties concerned with a view to bringing about a resumption of work and so enabling the voluntary negotiating machinery in the industry to be used.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentage he has instructed regional hospital boards to cut down their expenditure on consultant and administrative services, respectively.

No such instructions have been issued. The regional boards' budgets for next year are still under examination and any reductions will relate to specific economies and not to an arbitrary percentage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why it is necessary on transfer of a pedigree bull from England to Scotland for the purchaser to obtain a fresh licence and to pay a second registration fee; and whether he will now take steps to secure that, for the future, this requirement is replaced by reciprocal arrangements for simple recording of the English licence at St. Andrew's House without payment, and similar procedure in England.

On the transfer of a bull from England to Scotland a fresh licence involving payment of a fee of 5s. is necessary in terms of the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931, and the Licensing of Bulls (Scotland) Regulations, 1950. I have noted the suggestion made in the second part of the Question for consideration when and if the appropriate legislation is amended.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to fuel shortage in schools and other public buildings; and what advice and guidance he has given to authorities so circumstanced.

I have received no representation about shortage of fuel in any school or other building.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the weekly rate of disability pension for unmarried ex-Service men who have lost two or more limbs in 1919, 1938 and 1950; and whether he will consider an increase in view of the reduction in the value of the £.

The rates are 40s., 40s. and 45s. respectively for ex-privates. In addition, an attendance allowance is and always has been payable, but the rates in 1950 exceed those payable in 1919 and 1938 by 5s. at the minimum and 20s. at the maximum. If the pensioner is unemployable a further allowance of 30s. a week is payable today, making where the maximum attendance allowance is payable a total of 115s. a week as compared with 60s. in 1919 and 1938. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have just given to the hon. and gallant Member for Gillingham (Squadron Leader Burden).

asked the President of the Board of Trade why permission has been given for an expenditure of £15,000 to enlarge the Coniston private hotel, Sittingbourne, at a time when building trade labour and materials are in short supply, and when the local authority has over 900 applicants on its housing list.

I am satisfied from its record and prospects, that this hotel will, when extended, attract a considerable number of overseas visitors. The work on the hotel has had no adverse effect on the number of houses being built in Sittingbourne.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value and the quantity of matches which have been imported from Poland during the last 12 months; and at what price, per dozen boxes, are these matches being retailed in this country.

During 1950, 84,629 gross boxes to a value of £15,608, were imported into the United Kingdom from Poland. The controlled maximum retail price is 2d. per box (i.e. 2s. a dozen) for boxes of average contents 50 matches.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, having regard to the impending changes in distributive patterns, he will cancel or postpone the Census of Distribution.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that 18 wagon loads of circus tentage, seating, poles, stakes, fencing and general circus equipment were recently imported from Germany and landed at Tilbury; the value of the licence granted to cover this importation; and what similar licences have been granted in the past 12 months.

Yes. The licence granted to cover this importation did not specify a value, but it is understood that the equipment was of an approximate value of £15,000. The majority of this equipment was in fact admissible under the open general licence which covers the importation of various goods consigned from and originating in a number of countries, including Western Germany. No other similar licences have been issued in the last 12 months. I understand, however, that, following a change of plans, this equipment is not remaining in this country but is being returned to Western Germany.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how much the price of imported softwood has increased since the timber import control scheme was modified in October, 1950; what are the reasons for these increases; what further increases are anticipated; and whether he will consider the re-imposition of fuller controls.

In view of the date quoted, I presume my hon. Friend is referring to the prices now being paid by private importers of softwood. I am not in a position to quote these prices, but it is clear that our 1951 softwood imports, whether bought on private or on public account, will cost considerably more than those of 1950. The price rise is due to the same factors as are affecting the prices of most raw materials throughout the world. I cannot, of course, forecast future price trends. The answer to the last part of the Question is that if I were satisfied that any change in the methods of buying or in public control over the trade would help us to get more and cheaper softwood, I should not hesitate to make them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the price per cubic foot of Canadian poplar and Finnish aspen landed in English ports of a quality suitable for the manufacture of chip baskets.

As both these hardwoods are privately imported, I cannot quote the prices asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of His Majesty's Government's policy to prohibit United Kingdom manufacturers from using zinc, brass and copper in the manufacture of certain goods any decision has been reached in respect of the import of similar goods.

His Majesty's Government have given very careful consideration to the question of restricting imports of goods of the type which United Kingdom manufacturers will be prohibited from making. They have come to the conclusion that, since restrictions on imports imposed by one or more countries would have a very limited effect in saving scarce raw materials, it would be preferable to deal with the problem by consulting the other countries concerned on ways of restricting non-essential uses. Member countries of the O.E.E.C. are required to report the measures they have introduced or are introducing to reduce consumption of raw materials in short supply, and it is our hope that other countries, in so far as they have not already done so, will take other measures, comparable to those which we are taking, to conserve zinc, brass and copper.There is a real danger that the precipitate imposition of restrictions by ourselves and other countries would lead to a contraction of international trade over a far wider field, and the United Kingdom, as a major exporting country, would stand to lose far more than it would gain by such action. For the time being, and pending the international discussions to which I have referred, therefore, the United Kingdom does not propose to apply import restrictions to the goods in question. We shall, however, carefully watch the situation and, should exceptional difficulties arise, we should reserve the right to consider imposing import restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what preparatory arrangements he has made for a Home Guard.

The rôle and organisation of the Home Guard have now been fully discussed with general officers commanding-in-chief of home commands. As a result, instructions to home commands in order to enable them to carry out more detailed planning are now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for War at what price beer is sold by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to troops in Korea; what additional charge is made for the bottle or container; and to what extent Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have recently reduced their price.

N.A.A.F.I. in Korea charge 1s. 9½d. a reputed quart for bottled beer from the United Kingdom, and 1s. 4d. a reputed quart for Japanese beer. No additional charge is made for the bottle or container but, through a misunderstanding, a deposit of 3d. was at first charged. All units concerned have been reimbursed. There has been no recent reduction in price.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the delay which has occurred in the notification to families of casualties in Korea; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the method at present adopted is improved.

Save in isolated cases, the average time taken to notify casualties to next-of-kin is three to four days from the date of the casualty. Missing personnel are not reported as casualties until 72 hours after they have become missing, and the delay in such cases is, therefore, somewhat longer. All possible action has been taken to reduce the time required for notification to a minimum and I am satisfied that the present procedure is expeditious as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total strength of all classes of the Regular Army Reserve; how many have already been called back to the Colours; and how many more will be affected by the latest rearmament plans.

The strength of the Regular Reserves on 31st December, 1950, was 11,463 officers and 21,147 other ranks. In connection with Korea, 143 officers and 5,128 other ranks have been recalled for service in the Army. It is not intended at present to recall further Regular reservists for Colour service, but some Regular reservists and some officers will be recalled for 15 days training. The number has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many rifles have been disposed of either by gift, sale or destruction since the close of hostilities, giving figures in each category.

No rifles have been given away, 800,000 have been sold to other Governments, 825,000 have been handed over to the Ministry of Supply for disposal and 184,000 have been destroyed by fire. These figures, which are based on the records available, are not complete, as it is known that there were some disposals, gifts and destruction of rifles overseas of which, owing to lapse of time and destruction of records, details are not now available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now consider making provision for the payment of a dependant's allowance to the parents of Regular soldiers in cases where financial hardship exists.

Dependants' allowances are no longer paid, having been replaced, in certain circumstances, by National Service grants. These grants are not admissible where service with the Colours is not compulsory. They have been authorised, in certain circumstances, for the dependants of Regular soldiers recalled to or compulsorily retained with the Colours, but are not payable to the dependants of Regular soldiers serving on voluntary engagements.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds a soldier may obtain his discharge by purchase; how many soldiers have obtained discharge by purchase since July, 1945; what has been the highest sum paid; and what has been the lowest.

Regular soldiers have a right, subject to Section 81 of the Army Act, to purchase their discharge within three months of their enlistment. For soldiers with longer service, discharge by purchase is a privilege which, since 1st August, 1950, has been granted only on compassionate grounds. Prior to 1st August, 1950, discharge by purchase was permitted in the case of Regular soldiers who were not in certain classes of tradesmen and had at least three years' service provided their discharge was recommended by their commanding officer. There were additional conditions in the case of soldiers serving overseas. From March, 1948, when discharge by purchase was reintroduced, until November, 1950, 8,257 soldiers, including recruits in their first three months of service, obtained their discharge either on payment or, in certain cases, free. The total includes 1,663 who obtained their discharge free. Of those required to pay, the highest sum paid was £200 and the lowest £10.

asked the Secretary of State for War how Class Z reserve men who have been called up only for fifteen days are to be given uniforms; if such uniforms would normally be new or already used; and to what extent these uniforms can be made to fit for such a short period of use.

Uniforms will be issued to Class Z reservists at the place at which they report for training. Uniforms issued to reservists in the early period of the call up will be new. It may, however, become necessary to issue reconditioned garments to personnel joining for training later in the summer. Size rolls will be attached to the warning notices which reservists will receive. If these are filled in accurately it should be possible to distribute uniforms of the correct size to places of joining. Alterations to garments to ensure a good fit will not, however, be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what will be the programme of training undertaken by men in Class Z who are being recalled for 15 days.

These men will carry out the normal training appropriate to their unit. In addition to refreshing the individual knowledge of reservists and familiarising them with new weapons or devices, the training will be directed towards bringing the units together as a team.

asked the Secretary of State for War what policy is to be pursued with regard to Class Z men who are now studying at a university.

It is not intended to treat university students differently from other Z reservists. As I informed the House on 30th January, provision will be made for any recalled Z reservists to apply for postponement of recall on grounds of hardship and due consideration will be given to the cases of those studying for examinations if applications are made.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will grant to officers of the Territorial Army a bounty free of Income Tax, in view of the sacrifice of time and money that their long hours of service entail.

No. I am, however, examining the possibility of assisting Territorial Army officers to meet certain out-of-pocket expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give an assurance that Territorial Army units to which Class Z reservists will be posted on recall this summer will be issued before the start of the 15 days' training with their establishment of up-to-date arms, up-to-date equipment and up-to-date vehicles.

Arms, equipment and vehicles will be issued for use during the 15 days' training period, to Territorial Army units to which Class Z reservists will be posted, on a scale sufficient to enable them to carry out proper training. This will not necessarily be the scale at which the units will fight in war.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish a comparative table showing all foreign theatres in which British troops are serving and the overseas allowance payable in each theatre; for what reasons the overseas allowance is not being paid to British troops fighting in Korea; and if he will put right this anomaly.

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the single rates of local overseas allowance at present payable to the principal areas overseas to officers of the rank of major and below and to other ranks of the rank of corporal and below. If the commander of the British troops in Korea considers a local overseas allowance necessary I am satisfied that he will submit recommendations accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to a speech made recently at the Slough Rotary Club by a member of the Army Mobile Information Unit, to the effect that bombs dropped on this country would improve recruitment for the Territorials and that it would be beneficial to frighten the women of this country; and what action he proposes to take against the speaker.

I am inquiring into this case and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State of War if it is compulsory for all soldiers to possess a shaving brush; if they are issued free on demand to all recruits; and what was the cost of any such issue in the latest convenient year.

It is no longer compulsory for soldiers to possess a shaving brush. No shaving brushes are now issued by the War Department, the free initial issue of shaving brushes having ceased in 1943. I regret that the cost of the former issue is not now available.

asked the Secretary of State for War what contracts his Department has placed during the last five years with British Fish Canners, Limited, Leeds; and what is the value of such contracts.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now announce a decision about the release of coal miners who are serving with the Army.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power on 1st February.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will provide facilities whereby officers whose service with the Territorial Army has terminated can keep themselves up to date with military developments so that they may be of increased value to the Army in the event of an emergency.

A scheme for providing these facilities for selected officers on a voluntary basis is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the general desire of commanding officers and the changed circumstances, he will now review his decision not to include medical inspection rooms in new or reconstructed Territorial centres.

Every Territorial Army unit with a medical officer on its establishment is authorised to have a separate room for his use, designed for the normal day to day medical requirements. When a room is required for a large medical parade, one or more of the lecture rooms can be used for this purpose. I do not consider, in view of the comparatively small use to which it might be put, that a separate medical inspection room is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention to carry out a selective call-up of the Territorial Army Reserve during the coming training season; and on what principles the selection is to be based.

Yes. The principles on which the selection of these reservists will be based will be exactly the same as in the case of the other Reserves, and was explained by the Prime Minister in his statement on 29th January, 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will publish details of his proposed plans for training the Territorial Reserve as early as possible so that those concerned will have reasonable notice of their obligations.

Yes. In a few weeks' time a date will be set after which any members of the Class Z Reserve who have not had a notice will know that they are not being recalled.

asked the Minister of Health what are the average unit capital and maintenance costs, respectively, for providing accommodation for old people needing care and attention.

I regret that this information is not available centrally and could not be obtained except by elaborate inquiry. In any case the cost of providing and maintaining accommodation varies so widely according to the size and condition of the accommodation and the type of resident that average figures would be of little value.

asked the Minister of Health what Part III accommodation has been provided by Cornwall County Council for old people needing care and attention; and what plans have been made for further similar accommodation.

Accommodation is available under Part III of the National Assistance Act for 297 persons in premises managed by the county council; some additional provision is made by voluntary associations in arrangement with the county council. Two further small homes with accommodation for 78 are in the course of preparation.

asked the Minister of Education how soon it is anticipated that Apsley House will be open to the public.

The contractors have recently informed us that owing to unforeseen constructional difficulties there will be about 2½ months' delay in the completion of their work. As the decoration of the house and the installation of the collections have to follow, it is now unlikely that Apsley House will be open before the autumn of this year.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if, in view of the delay in the completion of the Valuation Lists until 1953, or even later, he will reconsider the basis on which equalisation grants are paid to local authorities.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the comment of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the cost of the expenditure in each of the two Civil Defence training schools run by the Home Department.

Every effort has been, and will continue to be, made to ensure the economical administration of these schools. The hon. Member will appreciate that the technical character of the instruction given requires special facilities such as gas chambers, fire huts and rescue training grounds which are not needed by academic institutions. As regards the establishment of staff, I should explain that, in addition to their primary task of training instructors, the schools are used by the Home Office to help in the study of various Civil Defence problems such as those which I mentioned in the answer which I gave to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Worthing (Brigadier Prior-Palmer) on 23rd November last.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when a statement on the fuel economy campaign as promised by him, will in fact be made.

My right hon. Friend promised in the debate in the House on Thursday, 1st February, 1951, that I would, when replying to the debate, make a statement about the fuel economy campaign. In the short time at my disposal I was not able to deal with this matter. The fuel economy campaign is being conducted through all the usual media which are available for publicity. Following my right hon. Friend's broadcast on 6th January a Press advertising campaign has been carried on and the gas and electricity industries are devoting space which they had booked for promotional advertising to the same theme as the Government's campaign. In addition, there is a poster campaign and the first posters appeared on the hoardings in the week beginning 29th January. Crown folio posters for display on works' notice boards, etc. were also distributed last week. The Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association have produced a one-minute trailer film for the Department and are distributing it to all the 5,000 cinemas of their members throughout the country.A number of Press conferences have been held and will continue to be held as frequently as is justified by the position; at these conferences, in addition to information regarding output, consumption, stocks, etc., questions of fuel economy are discussed. As a result of these conferences the Press have devoted considerable space to the coal situation and the need for economy in all forms of consumption of coal, gas and electricity. In addition, a number of papers have been conducting special features in the form of competitions, encouraging fuel economy in the home. I would like to take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the co-operation of the Press of all political views and to the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association for their invaluable co-operation in this matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the growers of seed potatoes in the northeast of Scotland are finding that the railways will not accept consignments of potatoes, owing to the shortage of sheets; and, having regard to the serious risk of deterioration in the stocks of potatoes held up outside stations, whether he will make urgent representations to the Railway Executive on this question.

We maintain close touch with the Railway Executive and have discussed these reports with them. They are giving special attention to this traffic and provided that growers give reasonable notice, their requirements for wagons and sheets will be met.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone service in the Enfield urban district were outstanding at the latest convenient date; and how many new connections were provided in 1950.

Three thousand two hundred and seventy-four were outstanding at 31st December, 1950, in the area served by the Enfield and Howard exchanges; 506 connections were provided in 1950.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone service in the Potters Bar urban district were outstanding at the latest convenient date; and how many new connections were provided in 1950.

Four hundred and thirty-six were outstanding on 31st December, 1950, in the area served by the Potters Bar and South Mimms exchanges; 264 connections were provided in that area in 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused at the smaller airports by the closing down of the broadcast 24-hour air meteorological service; and if he will now consider arranging to use the third programme frequency for this service during those hours when the Third Programme is closed down.

I regret any inconvenience caused to listeners by the closing down of the Airmet service, but I cannot add anything to the statement made to the House in the debate on Adjournment on 14th December by my hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give a remission of the wireless licence tax to bedridden persons using wireless sets provided by the recognised national society.

The Government have from time to time examined the case advanced for the remission of wireless licence fees to various claimants, but they regret to be unable to agree to any concession.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the average time taken in the payment of a death grant by her Department.

In a majority of cases payment is made within a week. Some cases are settled in a day or two: a few, of course, involve considerable inquiry and take longer.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the proper charges of an appointed factory doctor under the Examining Surgeons Order, 1947, are not recoverable through the National Health Service; and if he will take steps to remedy this anomaly.

I have been asked to reply. These are charges for medical services which the employer is required to obtain under the Factories Acts for the purposes of his general responsibility for health and safety in his employment. The National Health Service, on the other hand, is provided for members of the community in a personal capacity and not to relieve employers of those obligations. It is not anomalous, therefore, that these charges are not recoverable from the National Health Service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the number of officers employed in the rating side of the valuation office, which was estimated at 3,009 for 1950–51, now exceeds 5,453.

The hon. Member is mistaken. The figure of 3,009 was the number of staff expected to be employed on rating at the beginning of the year 1950–51. The Inland Revenue Estimates for that year provided not only for this number, but also for an addition of about 2,650 other posts during the year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why temporary civil servants in the valuation department of the Inland Revenue have not been included in the recent pay increases; and whether he will have the situation reviewed, in the light of the fact that temporary civil servants, equally with permanent civil servants, are affected by the rise in the cost of living.

I assume that the right hon. Member is referring to temporary clerks, and I would refer him to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. John Rodgers) on Monday, 5th February, 1951.