asked the Minister of Labour whether apprentices in Z and G reserves will be exempted from call-up.

Apprentices in occupations which would be of special importance in an emergency will not be recalled.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement as to the occupations which he intends to treat as reserved occupations for the purpose of the recall of Reservists and in an emergency.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the occupations in which men will be reserved for industry in the event of general mobilisation, referred to in paragraph 5 of Command Paper 8146.

These lists are at present purely provisional and subject to change from time to time. Consultation on them with the two sides of industry is about to begin, and they could not at this stage usefully be published. On security grounds it is desirable not to publish them earlier than necessary.

is it the right hon. Gentleman's intention to publish them before their effect indirectly becomes apparent owing to the selection of men for call up as Z reservists this summer?

No. The hon. Member's Question refers to "an emergency" and it would not be desirable to let a potential enemy know the sort of occupations which are at the moment restricted.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is on the other side of the balance sheet, as it were, an enormous advantage to be gained by cer- tainty in this matter both from the points of view of the person concerned and of his own Department? The Service Departments may be guilty of counting men twice unless they know whether they are reserved or not.

I think it is desirable, where we can speak about broad reservations, to give information as early as possible, and I will do that. But I think Members on all sides of the House will agree that there are some special kinds of reservations which it would not be desirable to publish.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that in occupations where there will be a selective call-up, Class Z reservists will, wherever possible, be given the opportunity of deferred positions in preference to those persons who were in these positions during the last war.

No. Sir. This would be quite impracticable.

Why would it be impracticable in the case of certain reserved occupations in which there may be surplus manpower at present? If any have to go can it not be those who were able to dodge the last war?

The hon. Member seems to have forgotten the purpose of the exercise which is about to be undertaken. It is to refresh the training of those who have already been trained.

Could the Minister explain what is the position of Members of Parliament who are in the Z Reserve?

That is entirely another question, but as I took part in a controversy on this matter during the late war I think I can inform my hon. Friend that His Majesty's commands take precedence over everything else.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that all men who are now less than 50 years of age and were in reserved occupations during the last war will be vetted to see whether their present jobs are such as to leave them free to be amongst the first to be called up for active service, in place of some of the Class Z reservists.

No, Sir. Even if this were practicable, I have no power under the present law to do so.

Apart from the present call up of Z reservists, if men are called up at a later period for a longer term, or if hostilities break out, could not this vetting take place?

As I said earlier, I would ask the hon. Member to bear in mind what is really being done. If he does he will then see that these Questions are not on the point at all.

Would the Minister bear in mind, nevertheless, that there are large numbers of skilled men in civil life, possibly not now in reserved occupations, whose occupation in civil life is closely similar to that which they could do in the Forces in war, and that special units of such men might represent a big saving of manpower, and be of great value to the Forces?

They would also be a loss to their industrial occupation. We have to consider and balance the requirements of the Services and of civil occupations. It would be no use calling up men for the Services who would not have arms, because we would not have men in civil occupations to make them.

Is not this extraordinarily high rate of medical exemption proof positive of the rotten nutritional standards under the Tory Government before the war?

I think the whole House will recognise the altruism of my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of men eligible for enlistment in the war 1939–45 were exempted on grounds other than medical; and how many of such exempted men are estimated to be under 30 years of age today.

It is estimated that about 40 per cent. of the men registered under the National Service Acts during the war were deferred on industrial grounds, of whom about 400,000 are now under the age of 30. This includes a proportion of men who would have been rejected if they had been medically examined. About two-thirds of these were employed in coalmining, agriculture or the Merchant Navy, and most of the remainder were key men in the engineering and metal industries.

In view of the fact that these numbers are something like half the Z reservists under 30, what is the availability of those men for military service?

The hon. Member seems to have misunderstood the purpose of the additional training. It is to give a refresher course to people who have already received some training.

That is understood, but, at the same time, is there not also the long-term policy which the Minister must consider?

Then these men would be among those who would be over age and they would not be called up.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to ensure that men who were exempted from military service for the whole, or most of the period, from September, 1939, until July, 1945, through being in reserved occupations, but who are now still under 40 years of age, will be called upon to take their fair share in the defence of their country during the next three years.

Some of the men to whom the hon. Member refers were called up after July, 1945, and are liable as Z reservists to recall. With regard to the others, I have no power to call up men over the age of 26.

Is the right hon. Gentleman trying to create an un-military caste? Why not fair shares for all?

Hon. Members really ought to try to bear in mind what we are trying to do. These tendentious questions, based upon a misunderstanding, give rise to more misunderstanding.

The right hon. Gentleman has, in answer to three Questions, said that he is only calling up highly trained people, but I have details of a case where a person has received 13 days' training and is now 44 years of age. Does it not seem a little unfair that such people should be called up while those to whom my hon. Friend has referred are disregarded?

I should like the hon. Member to give me particulars of that case.

Can the Minister say on what he founds his statement that he has no power to call up any man over 26, in view of the fact that his predecessor based his decision to that effect purely on policy and not upon lack of power?

The Question relates to the next three years, which we must assume to be years of peace. The call-up is governed by the National Service Act. under which liability ceases at 26.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men deferred for National Service in 1950; the number exempted on medical grounds and on other grounds in that year; and the number of men deferred since the passing of the Act who have not been called up on the expiry of their deferment.

The number deferred in 1950 was about 110,000: some of these deferments expired before the end of the year. The number found to be medically unfit was about 51,000. All men medically fit for service are called up on expiry of their deferment.

Is it the intention of the Minister to review the working of the National Service Acts in order to increase its effect on the avaliability of manpower for defence?

We are doing that all the time.

But not enough.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the national importance of the optimum use of manpower, he will reconsider the policy of discharging first those men in the older groups when pensionable and instead retain middle-aged persons in employment so long as they continue to give good service.

My policy is to encourage the retention of workers so long as they are fit and willing to work. This policy was endorsed by the National Joint Advisory Council representing both sides of industry in 1948 and again at its meeting a week ago.

Is the Minister aware that there is great waste of manpower at present owing to the inability of middle-aged men to obtain suitable employment? Is he also aware that today many men are finding it very hard to live on their pensions owing to the high cost of living?

The last part of that supplementary question is another issue entirely. I am aware that there is some difficulty about the ability of men over 50 years of age to obtain employment. We are now giving this matter special attention, but I could not discern from the obscurity of the Question if that is what the hon. Member had in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour what machinery exists in his Department for considering probable future trends in employment; and how far he takes any steps to keep himself informed of threats of unusual unemployment in particular industries such as may be expected from coal difficulties.

A specific responsibility rests on regional and local offices of my Department to obtain and to report regularly information on trends in employment which is obtained from local statistics and close contacts with industry. Nationally my Department is in constant consultation with other Departments in regard to all matters which may affect employment trends, including such short-term problems as the shortage of coal.

Would the information of the right hon. Gentleman under these arrangements, keep him informed of the extent to which there may be redundancy among railway men, owing to the large number of cuts which have been announced in train services? If I put down a specific Question to the right hon. Gentleman with regard to the number, would he be able to answer it?

If the hon. and learned Member will put a Question on the Order Paper I will do my utmost to answer it, but we hope that the cutting down of the train services will be only temporary.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that redundancy in British transport, particularly on the railways, has been avoided by the utilisation on coal services of men made redundant on passenger services?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the effect on output of the National Arbitration Tribunal's award on the claim made on 30th November, 1949, by the Confederation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades; and what action does he intend taking.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists in regard to the recent award in the engineering industry and to the fact that under its terms a large majority of engineers are excluded from its benefit; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this matter.

I would first point out that the National Arbitration Tribunal refrained from making an award and that the resultant settlement was embodied in a National Wages Agreement to which both sides of the industry were parties. In general, the Agreement has been well received but in a few areas, particularly the Manchester area, some dissatisfaction has been expressed that pieceworkers already earning above the new minimum will not benefit. This dissatisfaction has shown itself by a reversion to day work and an embargo on overtime by piece-workers in a number of engineering establishments.

On Monday last, however, the national organisations concerned considered the position at a joint conference and it was agreed that there should be a resumption of piece-work and overtime working so that any question of low piece-work earnings might be reviewed under the procedure agreement in the industry. I must stress the importance and urgency of securing return to normal working and dealing with any question arising in a constitutional manner. It would not be proper for my Department to intervene.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this award is contained in a document of the greatest possible complexity, something after the style of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, which has never been clearly understood? There is practically nothing given to the pieceworkers at all and a great number of day workers are excluded. Would he accept our appreciation of the steps which have been taken, and of the fact that longer negotiations in specialised circumstances and specialised engineering industries are apparently to take place and our hope that they will put an end to the grievances?

We all hope it will, but I would again remind the House that it is not an award, it is an agreement; and it is complex because the engineering industry is very complex.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage increase of wages received in 1950 over 1914 for the average in industry; in local government; for labourers in engineering; and for craftsmen in engineering, respectively.

I am having the available information extracted and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement concerning the labour troubles in connection with the work for the Festival of Britain.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to a strike of some electricians employed on the South Bank site. The dispute arises from a claim for extra payment to take account of the special circumstances of the work in connection with the Festival. This claim was under discussion between the employers' organisation and the trade union. My officers are in close touch with the parties and I would ask to be excused for the moment from making any further statement.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the strike of dockers on Mersey- side organised by the port workers committee; if he will cause an immediate investigation to be made into the cause of the stoppage; and if, in the meanwhile, he will make a statement.

The position on Merseyside and at Manchester shows some improvement this morning and it is clear that the very extensive efforts to involve other ports have completely failed. It is not my present intention to institute any special investigation.

While the whole House will be glad of the improvement that has taken place, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he realises that the 9,000 dockers of Merseyside have been grossly deceived by the port workers committee which is a Communist inspired organisation? Will he ask his right hon Friend the Home Secretary to publish the information in his possession about that organisation?

It is because the London dock men were grossly deceived in 1949 that the same deceivers are finding it so difficult to get them out today. I hope that the same illumination will dawn upon Merseyside.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there is no interference now in Merseyside with central food supplies as a result of this stoppage?

I understand that that is the position put up to date. We hope that the strike will be over soon.

asked the Minister of Education if the request of the North-West Kent Divisional Executive for 60 places for girls at the new grammar school accommodation at The Oaks, Erith, by August, 1951; has received the necessary approval.

No formal proposal has yet reached me, but I understand that the local education authority propose to submit one shortly.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the information he has given will cause great satisfaction in a district which feels that it is not getting a square deal in the matter of grammar school accommodation?

asked the Minister of Education if he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding salaries for school dental officers; or what steps he proposes to take to bring the present negotiations to a conclusion without further delay.

I understand that at their meeting on 31st January last, the Dental Whitley Council reached a substantial measure of agreement and that they hope to make an announcement as soon as a number of associated details have been settled.

As, in building up the health of the nation, the school dental service developed under successive Conservative Governments played an important and vital role, is not it high time that a decision was reached on this matter?

That is why I am most anxious that the Council should be allowed to get on with it.

asked the Minister of Education whether dentists employed by local education authorities are permitted to indulge in private practice.

This is a matter for the local education authority, and I have no information as to the extent to which school dental officers also undertake private practice.

Would it be possible to get more information about the recommendation from the Kent Education Committee, because it would be interesting to know whether their example is being widely followed throughout the country?

I will make some inquiries.

asked the Minister of Education whether the first M.B. examination will be regarded as the equivalent of the Higher School Certificate by county education committees in considering awards for degree courses.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give his own opinion about the relative merits of these two examinations?

As the educational requirements for this examination are quite as high as those for the Higher School Certificate examination, would not my right hon. Friend make representations to the authorities to treat their students on a more uniform basis?

The School and Higher School Certificate examinations were held for the last time last year. Those examinations will not be available this year.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has yet received the recommendations of the Burnham Committee on the subject of the granting of London allowance to teachers working in schools within the Metropolitan Police district but not at present in receipt of this allowance.

The committee have proposed that a tribunal of independent persons should consider the question of "London Area" and territorial allowances and make recommendations. They have also recommended that the present provisions should, meanwhile. continue without change.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when that tribunal will sit?

No, I cannot.

asked the Minister of Education what results have followed from his representations to local education authorities concerning the inequalities of the present grant system.

asked the Minister of Education what progress he has so far made in inducing local education authorities to accept uniform standards for making grants to students at universities.

About 80 per cent. of the local education authorities have adopted, either wholly or in part, the standard figures of maintenance and financial principles set out in Administrative Memorandum No. 332, or have undertaken to do so for the academic year 1951–52.

While thanking the Minister for that encouraging reply, may I ask whether he can say when the other 20 per cent. of local authorities will come into line?

No, I could not; but I intend to review the position shortly.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the extent of a student grant should not depend upon the place of residence of the student, and that a student born in one area should not have his position prejudiced in relation to students of another area?

Will my right hon. Friend try to bring the other 20 per cent. into line by eliminating meanness and not by restricting generosity?

I have never restricted generosity in this matter; but I would point out that the autonomy of the local authorities is a consideration which must be kept in mind.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that, between the 80 per cent. of authorities who have adopted a uniform standard, there is something amounting to a system of reciprocity treaties, so that difficulties do not intervene when children, or their parents, are moved from one area to another in the middle of a course?

Generally speaking. there is agreement in that direction.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the varying policies of local education authorities with regard to financial assistance for teachers attending recognised refresher courses; and what action he proposes to take.

I attach importance to refresher courses, and hope that local education authorities will assist teachers to attend them, according to their need. The authorities are well aware of my attitude, and I pay grant on reasonable expenditure incurred in assisting teachers to attend courses. But such assistance is rightly left to the discretion of the authorities.

Will my right hon. Friend try to get the same result on this matter as that which he so successfully achieved in connection with the previous question?

The same people, with the Minister's assent, have drafted a circular appealing for the same response.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the increased cost of school books and stationery, he will advise local education authorities to increase the expenditure allowance to schools.

No, Sir. I consider that the local education authorities can be relied upon to ensure a satisfactory supply of books and stationery to the schools.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes taking to provide adequate school space for mentally retarded children.

It is my policy to encourage local education authorities to make increased special school provision for educationally sub-normal children as quickly as possible within the limits of my resources.

Will the right hon. Gentleman get in touch with the appropriate authority and ask for a report on the conditions in the borough of Gillingham, which are very bad indeed? Will he endeavour to do something about it?

I will look into that matter.

Can my right hon. Friend give an estimate of the number of children who are not mentally retarded for whom there is a lack of school places at present?

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the many instances where children have long distances to go to school, and the detrimental effect on village community life, he will now reconsider the general policy of closing village schools.

I have laid down no such policy. Under Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944, a proposal by a local education authority to cease to maintain a school involves the issue of public notices, with the possibility of an appeal to me. I should not approve any such proposal unless, after considering all the circumstances, and, in particular, the best interests of the children, I was satisfied that the proposal was justified.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, in rural areas like the East Riding of Yorkshire, where a large number of village schools have been closed, it is not only the distance that children have to travel to new schools but a question of the danger from the traffic on country roads where there are no footpaths? Will he also bear in mind the position of Low Cattan, about which I have sent him some particulars and about which I propose to send him further information?

All these things are taken into consideration as and when a decision is taken. I would point out to the hon. Member that, in the case of the school he has mentioned, and particulars of which he sent me, and which was closed in 1928, a good deal of revision would be needed before I altered my opinion in that connection.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consult with the authorities concerned, with a view to arranging to raise the half-fare privilege on all public transport for children up to 15 years of age on educational journeys.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hastings (Mr. Cooper-Key) on 27th July last.

I have not seen that reply. Does it extend to school children, not only on educational journeys, but other journeys, provided that they are under the age of 15?

I am not concerned with jounrneys other than educational journeys.

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. P. I. Crashley, of Flixton, who caned the whole class of 32 children because he was unable to discover who was the author of a childish misdemeanour; whether such punishment is in accordance with the regulations approved by him; and what steps he is taking to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

I have seen reports of this incident in the Press. Regulations about corporal punishment are made by local education and school authorities, and are not subject to my approval. I see no reason to intervene in this matter.

Does my right hon. Friend consider that a sense of British justice is being inculcated in this school, when one man, constituting himself judge, jury and executioner, punishes 31 innocent children in a way that is prohibited in the case of grown-ups, without censure and without reprimand?

Was this gentleman under the impression that he was carrying out the Socialist policy of fair shares for all?

Will my right hon. Friend, without seeking to intervene in matters that are properly the concern of the local educational authority, see whether the facts do not disclose a case for inquiry as to whether this gentleman is fit to have anything to do with school children?

asked the Minister of Education if he is prepared to consider the enlargement of the scope of Section 104 (2 a) of the Education Act, 1944, so as to include pupils whose parents have been compulsorily removed from their former homes owing to demolition of property due to war damage, slum clearance or other action outside their control.

This would involve an amendment of the provision of the 1944 Act relating to voluntary schools, and raises issues which cannot be dealt with in the scope of a Question and answer.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes officially to inform the House of his attitude towards the Burnham Committee's report and of his proposals for its implementation.

I have informed the Chairman of the Burnham Committee that the new salary scales recommended for teachers in primary and secondary schools, as submitted to me in an outline statement, are such as I shall be able to approve. Final approval of the scales and arrangements for their implementation must await the submission of the proposals in detail.

Will the Minister assure the House that he appreciates the importance of taking every opportunity to explain to people the reasons why the rising costs of education are necessary and inevitable? Does he not realise the anxiety which these rising costs have evoked, and the importance of retaining the good will of ratepayers and local authorities?

I will read that supplementary question in HANSARD tomorrow, and consider it.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the traffic dangers to children when leaving the Cavendish Road School, Balham: and if he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to crush barriers being erected outside the school entrance which will prevent children risking injury by dashing across the road when leaving school.

I am informed by the local education authority that there is police supervision for children attending the school who need to cross Cavendish Road, and that all children leave the school by entrances in Hydthorpe Road, where the volume of traffic is not at present such as would justify special supervision or the erection of crush barriers.

Would the Minister have another look at this matter, because I think his information is not quite full enough? Hydthorpe Road is a dangerous road and—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] Would it not be better to try to prevent possible danger to children in this district, rather than wait until someone is seriously injured?

The London County Council can put up these crush barriers without my approval, and I prefer to leave this problem to the local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the grave shortage of scientific equipment in many schools, as a result of which pupils are hindered in their examination work; and what steps he is taking to remedy this defect.

I am not aware of any general shortage of scientific equipment, though long delivery periods are quoted for some items.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to a report of the Cambridge University Examination Syndicate, a body of some authority, which is very much alarmed about this problem?

asked the Minister of Education if he has any further statement to make on the future development of higher technological education.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on 25th January to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis):

Is the Minister not aware that higher technological education is a factor in the rearmament programme? Would it not be a good idea to press this matter a little more?

Yes, but in the foreword to the report published about this question I promised to give consideration to the recommendations that were made, and also to the comments of people who were asked to make observations upon them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reduce the import duties on agricultural and horticultural machinery to enable farmers with limited capital to purchase equipment which will cause agricultural labour to produce bigger results.

I am always prepared to consider representations from users of imported goods for variations in the rates of import duties. In considering such representations I must, of course, have regard to the interests of United Kingdom industries concerned with the production of similar goods.

As a good many of these agricultural implements are not made in England, would the Minister see whether we can get better results from the labour we put into our agriculture?

There are not many not made in some parts of the United Kingdom, but if there are special cases I will certainly look at them.

Will the Minister also look into the question of spares and replacements for that type of equipment?

The answer I have given covers spares.

Will the Minister undertake to make steel available to British manufacturers of these products so that they may supply the British market?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will maintain the Empire Preference on grapefruit when this is discussed at the Torquay Conference, in order to safeguard the West Indian producer.

To give undertakings about particular products in relation to negotiations which are in progress would prejudice the negotiations. I regret, therefore. that I cannot give an undertaking of the kind requested, but I can assure the hon. Member that it is our practice to consult colonial Governments on matters arising in these negotiations which might affect colonial interests, and full consideration is given to their views.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the growers, rather like the producers of Australian wine, may well face ruin if these margins of preference are whittled away, and will he not, generally speaking, accept responsibility for the welfare of colonial growers and for the retention of Imperial Preference for our own people?

The fullest weight will be given to all the considerations which bear on this question. Certainly, in these negotiations my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my own Department are accepting the fullest possible responsibility for that aspect.

Before my right hon. Friend even considers the surrender of any preference protecting the colonial countries in this matter, would he take into account the action taken by the American Government to subsidise the export of some of these products, and say whether that is in accordance with the proposals made at Torquay?

Due weight will be given to the question of subsidies in any negotiations on this question.

When the colonial Governments are consulted will the Minister make sure that they consult the producing interests in their territories?

I am quite sure that in readiness for these negotiations we have the fullest possible views of all concerned.

In considering all the various interests, will my right hon. Friend keep in mind the fact that there are many people in this country who would like to consume grapefruit, and would like to get supplies at a reasonable price?

asked the Lord President of the Council what methods were used in selecting five small firms to undertake the catering for the South Bank Exhibition: and why the Susan Throstle Café, Bexhill, was chosen.

The catering concessions available in the South Bank Exhibition were advertised in the catering trade Press. Forty firms submitted tenders. The concessionaires were then chosen from a short list of those which the Festival Office considered could undertake the work satisfactorily. I see no reason why competent firms should be disqualified merely because they are small, but in fact one of the successful tenderers controls 16 catering establishments in the north of England and another has large catering concessions in the south.

As regards the second part of the Question, the firm specifically mentioned has a concession for a restaurant seating 200 people, and is regarded as fully qualified to operate such a concession.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the public are best served by the lowest costs, and that these are achieved by using firms in the area of the Exhibition? Would he not agree that lower distribution and managerial costs must be reflected in the price of the product?

No, I do not think that that follows. These concessions were advertised, and I think it would be quite wrong if we said that because the Exhibition is in London, only London firms would be considered. If the bias of the Question is in favour of the elimination of the little man, I can only say that is a sentiment which does not appeal to the Labour Party.

Would the Lord President tell us whether the Refreshment Department of the House of Commons put in a tender?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Festival committee first approached the biggest caterers in London, that their terms were unacceptable and that, with regret, the committee then resorted to advertising amongst the smaller firms?

I resisted any prejudice against the north, and I must now resist any prejudice against London.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the firms in the soft drinks industry were given the opportunity to tender for supplies to the Festival of Britain before one firm was given the monopoly.

I assume that the Question relates to the South Bank Exhibition. No monopoly has been given by the Festival Office. The catering concessionaires make their own arrangements for supplies, including soft drinks. The Festival Office is at present considering tenders for ice-cream kiosks in the South Bank where soft drinks will also be sold, but the successful concessionaires will make their own arrangements for supplies of soft drinks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the area of land lying south of Skipton and running through East Lancashire was included in the survey of marginal land recently made by his Department.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, as gassing rabbits makes them unsuitable for human consumption, what alternative methods of killing this pest he proposes to enable them to he used for food

The onus of destroying rabbits rests with owners and occupiers of land and they are at liberty to use any legal method of destruction. When rabbit destruction is carried out by county agricultural executive committees it is the normal practice first to trap or ferret and then follow up by gassing any residual breeding stock.

In view of the rather small meat ration we have today, would the Minister consider recommendations that he should approve of other methods to destroy this pest?

We desire to catch as many rabbits alive as possible, but we must make doubly sure that the breeding stocks are disposed of, too.