asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that electrically heated thermostat controlled incubators for hatching poultry commercially and chicken brooders are stopped automatically by power cuts; and what steps he proposes to take to limit the period of such cuts in agricultural areas.

The Chick Producers' Association have spared no effort to encourage their members to provide standby generating plant for their incubators and brooders; and I hope the hon. Member will do the same. Where chick producers find it is not feasible to install such stand-by plant, the area boards are doing what they can to help them.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the possible use of ripple injection as a means of load-shedding; and why this method has not yet been tried in view of the recommendations made by the Clow Committee.

I understand that experiments are being made in the use of ripple injection both for giving warning of power cuts and for shedding a part of the load.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what instructions have been given to fuel distributors restricting the allocation of phurnacite to selected users; and what are the qualifications for obtaining a supply of this fuel.

No instructions have been given to restrict the delivery of phurnacite to selected users, since, in general, appliances that use phurnacite can also use anthracite or coke.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will amend Regulation No. 744 of 1949 to allow in deserving cases extra pensions to be paid to past employees of the pre-vesting gas companies who have since vesting date become in need of extra financial assistance.

I regret that I cannot agree to the amendment of these Regulations.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he will make available to the House of Commons the results of his survey of agricultural land scheduled for opencast mining.

Prospecting of agricultural land is going on continuously, and as soon as the prospectors have surveyed one site they pass on to another. Decisions about working the coal are taken in the light of the information revealed for each site, and farmers are informed at the earliest possible moment whether their land is likely to be required. The procedure between the Ministries and farming interests concerned has been agreed in a memorandum of which I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will set out in tabular form each National Coal Board division, and give the average pithead price of coal, price to factor, factors' price to merchant, merchants' selling price and price paid by domestic consumer, giving figures respectively for the distribution of coal by the National Coal Board and the private coal distributive concerns.

The National Coal Board publishes figures showing the average proceeds per ton of all saleable coal for each division in the Quarterly Statistical Statement of the Costs of Production Proceeds and Profit or Loss of Collieries. I regret that figures showing the average proceeds per ton from sales of domestic coals or the average prices paid by factors, merchants and consumers are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British citizens, other than official persons, are registered at the British Embassy in Moscow as residents in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and what evidence he has as to restriction on their freedom to leave that country.

Sixty-two British subjects, other than official persons, are known by the British Embassy in Moscow to be living in the U.S.S.R.; of these 28 also possess Soviet citizenship. I have no knowledge of restriction on the freedom of British subjects, other than dual nationals, to leave the U.S.S.R., although exit visas are required. British-Soviet dual nationals are subject to the same regulations as other Soviet citizens, and have in a number of cases been unable to leave the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any decision has yet been reached about a further contribution by this country to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

I am pleased to inform the House that His Majesty's Government are proposing to request its authority for a further contribution to be made to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund of £100,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer was given by His Majesty's Government to the representations made by the United States authorities in Western Germany which preceded the release by the latter of Alfred von Krupp.

The United Kingdom High Commissioner was only asked what legal and administrative results would follow in the British zone if a decision were taken to rescind the confiscation of Krupp's property. The United Kingdom High Commissioner made a factual reply, based on the legislation in force in the British zone, which set out the difficulties arising from the extremely complicated legal position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new machinery has been or is being devised for communicating United Nations' instructions to the Supreme Commander of the United Nations' Forces in Korea.

None. The position is still as stated by my right hon. Friend in the Foreign Affairs debate on 29th November.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that 23 bacon factories are unable to handle their full quota of pigs owing to shortage of labour, he will reconsider his decision not to increase the quota to Messrs. Smith Rogers & Co., Ltd., who are in a position to handle an increased number of pigs.

No. Pigs which cannot be dealt with by the 23 bacon factories are shared amongst all other factories. These can handle them and we cannot treat Messrs. Smith Rogers & Co., Ltd., preferentially.

asked the Minister of Food how long it takes to inform butchers officially of any change in the meat ration.

A public announcement is, of course, made immediately. The official notice, however, is a document setting out detailed arrangements and the time taken for its printing and distribution varies. At the last change it took 11 days.

asked the Minister of Food how much additional money his Department would have needed to spend, over any convenient period, in order to obtain enough Argentine meat to maintain the 10d. ration beyond 2nd February; and how much money is now being expended, over the same period, to pay butchers the increased rebate of 4s. in the £, as against 2s. 3d.

As negotiations broke down I cannot say what price we should have had to pay to get Argentine meat in time to maintain the 10d. carcase meat ration. Had it been necessary to pay the price then being asked of £140 a ton, the annual extra cost at that rate of South American meat would be more than three times as much as that of the additional rebate allowed to butchers. In any event, however, that increased rebate will not need to be maintained throughout the year owing to the incidence both of Commonwealth supplies of meat and our own flush period in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to announce any increase in the sweet ration; and when he anticipates that it will be possible to discontinue rationing.

asked the Minister of Food if he is now in a position to make a statement on the question of increasing the sweet ration; and when he expects to discontinue rationing.

My right hon. Friend has decided to increase the sweet ration from 5 to 5½ oz. a week from the beginning of the next rationing period on 25th February. I cannot forecast when it will be possible to discontinue rationing.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements he is making to prevent a shortage of canned foods owing to the lack of tinplate in the canning factories.

The general position will remain difficult until the production of tinplate increases, but I am glad to say that more tinplate will be available for home canning in the second quarter of the year than we had anticipated.

asked the Minister of Food what price he is offering per lb. for Canadian bacon; and what price Canada is asking.

We offered to buy in 1951 Canadian bacon at 29 cents per lb, This price is in line with the prices which we pay to our other overseas suppliers of bacon. Current Canadian prices fluctuate but they have for some time been well above this level.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the shortage of tinplate, he will increase the fruit content of jam in order to absorb the expected surplus of home-produced fruit.

We shall review the jam standards before manufacturers start production from the new season's fruit. A decision will be determined primarily by the size and price of the crops and by the expected effect of any changes on the quality and price of jam. We will also bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion, although I am glad to say that the tinplate prospects for fruit canning are somewhat brighter.

asked the Minister of Food how he intends to provide meat for three million visitors to the Festival of Britain; and to what extent the meat for these visitors will be deducted from the quantity available for the people of this country.

asked the Minister of Food (1) to what extent the reduction of the meat ration to 8d. per week is due to the piling up of stocks for visitors coming to this country for the Festival of Britain;(2) how much meat he is holding in store to provide for the visitors to the Festival of Britain.

asked the Minister of Food how many visitors are expected to be in this country during the Festival of Britain; what arrangements he has made, or will make, to ensure that there are sufficient stocks of suitable food; and whether he will give an undertaking that the extra food that will be consumed will not result in any further reductions in the present rations.

asked the Minister of Food what arrangements have been, or will be, made for adequate supplies of food, including meat, for visitors to Britain during the Festival of Britain; and what estimate he has of the average weekly number of such visitors for whom food will have to be provided during the period.

The visits made by people from overseas to the Festival of Britain will be spread throughout the summer; the extra food needed at any one time will only be a very small percentage of our total supply and will have no effect on the ration. I do not know how many visitors will come from overseas, but they will be very welcome and will share the supplies available at the time. The catering establishments will, as usual, be allowed rationed foods—which are not being specially reserved—on the basis of the number of meals they serve.

asked the Minister of Food what was the value of the canned food imported last year from countries who obtained the tin for canning from Great Britain.

According to the records of my Department, imported canned food to the value of about £26 million was packed in tinplate expressly exported for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the time that has elapsed since his discussions with the trade regarding the high fish prices, he will now make a statement on the position and say what action he proposes to take to bring prices down to reasonable levels.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the continued high prices being charged for rabbits and for fish; and whether he can now indicate when he will take action Jo control the prices of these commodities.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the results of the increased landings of fish which are expected this month and we are in fact at present examining the effect on retail prices of the recent heavy landings of cod and the consequent fall in port prices.

asked the Minister of Food if he is prepared to use the excess profit his Department is presently making on wool for purchasing increased quantities of home and Empire-produced lamb.

We already buy all the lamb which Australia and New Zealand can send and all that the home farmer produces.

asked the Minister of Food if he can now help the housewife in her increasing difficulties by making supplies of dried eggs available for home use.

I am afraid that, quite apart from serious difficulties of repacking, our supplies of dried egg are not sufficient to enable us to make an allocation for domestic use. Happily we are now reaching the time when supplies of shell eggs will be plentiful.

asked the Minister of Food why, by the Dried Fruits Order, 1951, he has defined mincemeat as a mixture of fresh or dried fruit with other ingredients commonly known as mincemeat, in substitution for the definition contained in the Preserves Order, 1947; and what consequences are intended.

The earlier definition was the same with the addition of the phrase "and any substantially similar article," which covered almost any mixture of sugar, suet and dried fruit including some which the trade and the consumer would not normally regard as mincemeat. This has been found to be too wide.

asked the Minister of Food how many tins of fish have been bought by his Department during 1949 and 1950 from European countries; how many of such tins have been exported; how many have been bought by consumers in this country; how many are still in stock; how many have been returned to the countries of origin as unsaleable,; and what has been the estimated cost to the taxpayer of this transaction.

About 162,000,000 cans of fish were bought by my Department during 1949 and 1950 from European countries. During that period about 110 million cans were sold for consumption in this country, and about 9,400,000 cans were re-exported. These quantities were drawn partly from Ministry stocks and partly from new purchases, but it would not be in the national interest to give the figures of unsold stock. All the cans re-exported were returned to the country or origin but there was no loss to the taxpayer on this transaction.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give particulars of his purchase of one million boxes of apples from the United States of America, including the dates for shipment and for release on the markets in this country.

We have agreed to buy up to 500,000 boxes of dessert apples from the United States of America during the present season. Shipping has so far been arranged to lift some 418,000 boxes during February and early March. The apples, which will be sold on the open market as soon as they are landed, will begin to arrive early in March and the final shipments are due in this country by the end of April. As my right hon. Friend has stated on previous occasions, we are not prepared to disclose the prices paid by the Department for supplies of imported fruit purchased from particular sources.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the great difficulty of feeding children between the ages of two and five, in view of the fact that this age group receives no priority eggs and only a 4d. fresh meat ration per week; and having regard to the high price and shortage of other suitable food, whether he will now make arrangements to issue children of this age group, who do not benefit from school meals, with extra cheese, or extend the allocation of priority eggs up to the age of five when the full meat ration becomes available.

The priority supply of eggs for children between the ages of six months and two years is three per week. We expect the average allocation for other consumers, including children over the age of two years, to reach this rate during the present month and to remain as high or higher for several months ahead.

asked the Minister of Food how much tinned meat has been exported from this country to Canada during the past 12 months.

About 480 tons of canned meat and canned meat products in the 12 months ended 31st January, 1951.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that all root vegetables have increased in price this winter; and if he will explain this increase in view of the fact that the supplies have been improved above average due to the climatic conditions of last summer and autumn.

According to my information, the only root vegetables which are higher in price this winter than last are carrots, and I do not think the present retail price of 3d. per lb. for carrots is unreasonable. Prices of beetroot, parsnips and turnips in almost the whole of Great Britain are cheaper, while the price of swedes remains about the same.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the meat for which his Department is paying £177 a ton in France is ex-Argentine meat of poor quality.

None of the meat recently purchased from France originated in Argentina.

asked the Minister of Food what amount of brislings were purchased by his Department from Denmark during the past 12 months; what proportion of these has been made available to the public; and what loss has been incurred by his Department on account of the Danish refusal to repurchase this surplus.

Approximately 1,170 tons of canned brisling were imported from Denmark during 1950, all of which has been made available to distributors. I cannot yet say what will be the ultimate financial outcome of this transaction.

asked the Minister of Food how many tins of sprats and brisling were sold back to the countries from which they were originally bought; and what was the total cost of the shipping, handling and storage of those returned.

Approximately 9,004,000 tins of brisling were sold back to the countries of origin. The total cost of shipping, handling and storage was approximately £11,000 all of which was recovered from the buyers in the price charged to them. There was no loss to the taxpayer on this transaction.

asked the Minister of Food what is the current output for home consumption of the chocolate and sugar confectionery industry; what proportions are, respectively, chocolate products, sugar goods, and goods made from unallocated materials; and at what level production of each of these categories should stand before any or all could be made available free of ration.

About 350,000 tons. Approximately half is chocolate confectionery, slightly less than half sugar confectionery, and the balance is made from unallocated materials. The level of production of each category which will permit rationing to be ended cannot be predetermined, since it will depend on the demand at the time.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. S. Hocking of Trevarno Farm, Sithney, Helston, 30 tons of whose contract has been refused by the Sugar Beet Corporation; and what was the reason for this.

I understand that Mr. Hocking failed to comply with the instructions sent to him on 15th January about the date by which all beet should be ready for despatch to the sugar beet factory. Nevertheless the British Sugar Corporation are trying to arrange for some of Mr. Hocking's beet to be sent to a factory where the season is not yet over.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the difficulties caused throughout the country to bakers through the recent increase by his Department of 25 per cent. in manufacturing fats, while retail prices are still controlled; and if he will, under the circumstances, give immediate relief to the bakers.

Most cakes are sold today below the maximum retail prices. Bakers should therefore experience little difficulty in making any necessary price adjustments to meet the increased cost of fats.

asked the Minister of Food what reduction he is making in the allocation of meat to catering establishments at the same time as the latest reduction in the domestic meat ration; and whether any reduction imposed will vary between different types of catering establishments.

Allocations for school meals are unchanged. All other catering allowances have been reduced by one-sixth.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give an estimate of the present machine tool capacity of the country expressed as a percentage of 1945 capacity; and the number of man-hours per tool worked in 1945 and 1950, respectively.

The productive capacity of machine tools installed in industry is probably slightly higher in 1950 than in 1945, but I regret that, in the absence of information about the scale on which machine tools have been scrapped, it is not possible to be more precise. Statistics are not available in a form which would enable me to answer the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Supply how many new cars have been received by Government Departments since 1st December, 1950, the date of commencement of the new covenant enforced by the British Motor Trade Association, in replacement of departmental cars received new any time since 1st January, 1946.

Thirty-four new cars have been delivered to the Service Departments since 1st December, 1950, but I am not in a position to say whether they were in replacement of cars bought since 1st January, 1946. For other Government Departments, one new car has been delivered to replace one,. bought since 1st January, 1946, and damaged beyond repair in an accident.

asked the Minister of Supply, in view of the growing supply difficulties, whether he will make a statement about the steel situation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stechford (Mr. Jenkins) on 7th December and to the statement I made in the debate on 7th February. Because of raw material difficulties, there is little hope that total steel supplies in 1951 will exceed the 1950 level. There does not, however, appear to be any acute general shortage of steel, although marginal shortages of some types, including semi-finished steel, appear to be developing. The position is being closely watched, and, if necessary, measures will be taken to deal with the situation. There is, of course, a serious shortage of sheet steel and tinplate, and supplies will not improve until the new South Wales plants come into production later this year.

asked the Minister of Supply if, in view of the shortage of zinc oxide and other paint ingredients, he will alter the paint specifications of all Government contracts made by his Department.

Specifications for paint ordered by my Department are determined by the standard of performance required and not by the ingredients. Alternative pigments of equivalent performance may always be used. In the light of material shortages, the relaxation of specifications is at present being considered.

asked the Minister of Supply what will be the effect on the price of iron and steel of the recent rise in the price of coal and coke.

It will be necessary to increase iron and steel prices and an Order will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Supply what has been the total production of cast iron pipes suitable for water in the 12 monthes to December, 1950.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that in a number of cases persons receiving legal aid are being asked to pay by way of contribution towards costs a sum in excess of what they were previously required to pay by solicitors acting on their behalf in the ordinary way; and what steps he will take in the matter.

Persons receiving legal aid are asked to contribute the amount that the case will actually cost, unless their maximum contribution, determined by the National Assistance Board, is less than that figure. The committees who grant legal aid, therefore, have to estimate what the probable cost of the action will be in assessing the amount of contribution. If they overestimate, the surplus is, of course, refunded at the end of the case. It does appear that in some cases their estimates have been on the high side, but so far little experience of the actual cost of a legal aid case has

Five hundred and fifteen thousand tons of cast iron pipes suitable for gas of water were produced in 1950. No separate figure is available of the quantity actually used for water, but it is estimated that about 227,000 tons were sold for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Supply what sales of surplus war stores have been arranged after February; and where and when they are to be held.

The following auctions have been arranged:been gained, and the committees have been anxious not to charge too little with resultant risk of cost to public funds. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is in consultation with the Law Society on this matter, and it is likely that some guidance will be given to these committees as to the actual cost of the more usual type of case, so as to avoid overestimates in future.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement upon the conclusions of the Supreme Court Rules Committee as a result of their consideration of amendments to the Matrimonial Causes Rules with a view to their consolidation and particularly of the question whether the pronouncing of a decree in a divorce action should be notified by the Court to the respondent.

The Matrimonial Causes Rules, 1950, which came into operation on 1st January, 1951, consolidate and make a number of amendments in the earlier Rules. The Supreme Court Rule Committee decided that it would be unjustifiable, in view of the amount of work involved, to require the Court to notify the respondent of the making of a divorce decree.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that traffic lights are not without a supply of electric current during power cuts.

When there is a complete cut it is not usually practicable to provide an alternative source of current. I intend, however, shortly to issue a circular to highway authorities advising them of measures which might be adopted to minimise danger in the event of such cuts and to counteract voltage reductions, in so far as these may affect the older types of signals.

asked the Minister of Transport the total cost of reconditioning the migration ship "New Australia; and how much of this expenditure is being borne by his Department.

As the cost of the reconstruction and fitting out of "New Australia" will ultimately be borne by the Australian Government, I am not in a position to furnish information as to that cost without their consent.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increasing congestion of traffic in big, cities, he will consider restricting the instruction of learner drivers, in both public and private vehicles, in the densest areas during peak periods of travel.

I am not aware of any powers under which a restriction of the kind suggested could be imposed and I do not think I would be justified in seeking such powers.

asked the Minister of Transport how far it is intended to proceed with the reconstruction of the Newbury Park Bridge during 1951.

I regret that I shall be unable to proceed with this scheme during' 1951. It involves substantial expenditure.

asked the Minister of Transport whether completion of the Ashford by-pass scheme is included on public works schemes scheduled for the current year.

No; it would cost about £160,000 to complete this by-pass, and I am unable to authorise this work in, present economic circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the number of accidents to pedal cyclists during dark hours, if he will consider the advantage of testing the attachment of reflectors to pedals as this system has been proved on the Continent to reduce the number of cases where cyclists have been injured by overtaking traffic.

I have already considered pedal reflectors and am of the opinion that the present statutory requirements with regard to the lighting of pedal cycles are adequate.

asked the Minister of Transport why he refused to accept the recommendation of the Public Works and Watch Committees of the Birming ham City Council for the provision of a pedestrian crossing at Tile Cross School,. Marston Green, Birmingham.

The problem here is essentially one of schoolchildren crossing the road at certain hours of the day and I do not consider a pedestrian crossing to be the right solution. My officers have suggested to the council that an adult patrol would be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to transfer the issue of licences to private road hauliers from the Transport Commission, who are an interested party, to the control of an independent body.

Carriers' licences are issued by the independent licensing authorities appointed under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. If it is permits the hon. Member has in mind, the Commission are authorised by the Transport Act to issue permits to carry long distance traffic which otherwise under the Act only they could carry. The exercise of this power is entirely discretionary and it would be incompatible with the objects of the Transport Act to transfer it to an outside body.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that a number of sparsely-populated rural districts will be adversely affected by the enforcement of the 25 miles radius for private road hauliers, he will consider introducing legislation with a view to increasing the radius for the issue of licences from 25 miles to 60 miles.

No. I do not agree that these districts will be adversely affected.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now exhibit a model of the proposed new lay-out of Hyde Park Corner.

The essential features of this long-term scheme have now been settled in consultation between the London County Council as improvement and planning authority, the Westminster City Council and my Department and models will be on show in the Old Journals Office, Westminster Hall Annexe, from Thursday next, 15th February. I should like to take this opportunity of acknowledging the co-operation of the London County Council and the Westminster City Council in the preparation of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the congestion and dissatisfaction caused by the parking of buses in the lower part of Exhibition Road; and whether he will consider other arrangements.

I am not aware that congestion or serious dissatisfaction has been caused by the parking of buses in the lower part of Exhibition Road. As no satisfactory alternative stand for these buses can be found in the locality, I am considering the appointment of an alternative street parking place for the private cars which have been displaced.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will defray the cost to holders of public service vehicle licences when having to undergo compulsory medical examinations to confirm their continued fitness to drive a public vehicle.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in his negotiations with Glasgow Corporation regarding the proposed Linthouse-Whiteinch tunnel.

Following on a meeting with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself, the Corporation of Glasgow have made a further submission in regard to this scheme. This has been fully considered, but I regret that the Government cannot approve the commencement of the scheme in the present situation.

asked the Minister of Transport how soon he expects to have completed his review of the system of uncontrolled pedestrian crossings; and if, when he has received his divisional road engineer's report on the need for these crossings at Witham, Essex, he will endeavour to provide such of them as may be found necessary before the summer months with their heavy traffic through this town.

This review will necessarily take some months. Meanwhile I hope that we can avoid as far as possible proposals for additional crossings since the aim is to achieve a substantial reduction in the total number.

asked the Minister of Transport what associations of local authorities and road users he has consulted on the proposed new pedestrian crossing regulations; and when the regulations will be tabled.

I give below a list of the Associations of local authorities with whom I am in consultation. I propose also to consult associations representing road users. The regulations will not be tabled until I have considered the comments of these bodies and until the local authorities have been given time to review their schemes and bring them into line with the proposed new policy.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report of the Commission presided over by Sir Robert Inglis is likely to be published.

The British Transport Commission hope to receive a report from Sir Robert Inglis in the next few weeks. I cannot say anything yet about publication.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the many accidents which have occurred in towns this winter owing to icy roads, he will advise all local authorities that every effort should be made by them to de-ice roads as quickly as possible.

I am satisfied that local highway authorities are already sufficiently aware of the dangers of icy roads, and in general take all practicable steps to deal with them. The difficulty is shortage of labour which sometimes causes delay especially in times of alternate thaw and frost.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made towards the restoration of road communications between Lee-on-Solent and Fareham.

I have agreed on the line of the alternative route to replace Milvil Lane and I shall publish shortly draft proposals for the closure of that road and the provision of the alternative. In view of the high cost of providing the alternative highway and the present need for economy, I cannot undertake that the work will be carried out in the near future.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many appeals against refusals by her Department to pay unemployment benefit to seasonal workers have been referred to the tribunal; how many have since been allowed; and how many refusals have been made by her Department.

Up to the end of January, 5,650 claimants had appealed to the local tribunals against disallowances of unemployment benefit under the Seasonal Workers Regulations, 1950. Three thousand, seven hundred and sixty appeals had been decided by tribunals, 1,120 being allowed. The number of claims rejected in the first instance by the statutory authorities is not known.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (I) whether she is aware that a partial-compensation miner does not benefit from an increase in his earnings, because it is deducted from his compensation, which discourages extra effort; and what action she proposes to take to remedy this matter;(2) whether she is aware that a partial-compensation miner is worse off when he receives a rise in his earnings, for not only is the rise deducted from his compensation, but also he has to pay Income Tax on the rise; and what action she proposes to take to end this deterrent to increased effort;(3) whether she is aware that an old age retired miner in receipt of partial-compensation suffers a reduction in his compensation when there is a general wage increase in the industry, although being retired he does not share in the rise; and what action she proposes to take to stop this anomaly.

It has for many years been inherent in the principles underlying Workmen's Compensation that a man's compensation might in certain circumstances be affected by changes in wage rates and I cannot undertake to re-open the question now.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will consider making arrangements whereby retirement pensioners who return to full time employment can, if they so desire, pay contributions under the National Insurance Act, 1946, and thus qualify for a higher pension when they again retire.

This would require legislation, but it is one of a number of matters I am examining.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she has arrived at a decision regarding the desirability or otherwise of doubling the increments for postponement of retirement pensions.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will make arrangements whereby the casual earnings of retirement pensioners are assessed on a monthly, instead of on a weekly, basis as at present.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on Monday last.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will consider allowing persons who have reached 65 years of age to contract out of pension due, permitting such sums to accrue for a deferred annuity at a date not less than 10 years from such contracting-out date.

The hon. Member may have overlooked the provisions of the National Insurance Act under which a man who postpones retirement earns increments on the pension payable when he eventually retires. The principle which I think he has in mind is accordingly already embodied in the Act.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many male and female pensioners in Scotland are continuing to earn by working; and what is the total amount withheld annually because of such decision by male and female pensioners respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will give an estimate of what would be the cost to the Exchequer of raising the maximum ordinary scale rates for national assistance from 26s. to 30s., plus rent, for a single householder and from 43s. 6d. to 50s., plus rent, for a married couple.

To increase the allowances of existing recipients on the basis of the higher rates mentioned would cost about £16 million a year, but such increases in rates would, of course, enable additional persons to qualify and this would add appreciably to the cost.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will widen the discretion of the National Assistance Board, so that every old age pensioner living alone, or with another old age pensioner, can qualify for food and clothing allowances.

Any old age pensioner can obtain assistance from the Board if he is in need of it by reference to the standards laid down in the Regulations made under the National Assistance Act but the Act would not permit allowances to be paid regardless of individual needs which is what the hon. Member seems to have in mind.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will supply a statement indicating the number of recipients of grants made by the National Assistance Board; the areas in which such grants were made; the amount thereof in the last period of six months immediately preceding the date when the present scales of payment became operative and in the period thereafter; and the number of persons employed by the National Assistance Board during each of those periods.

At 19th December, 1950, in all parts of Great Britain there were 1,349,902 persons receiving regular weekly grants of assistance, which took account of the needs also of wives and any other dependants. The assistance granted during the first half of 1950 amounted to about £26,150,000 and during the second half to about £31,350,000. The total staff of the Board was 9,351 on 30th June, 1950, and 9,595 on 31st December, 1950.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many people have contracted out of National Insurance.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 6 to 12 of the recently published Report by the Government Actuary, and in particular to the table on page 7, where the latest available information is given.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether now, following the publication of the First Interim Report by the Government Actuary on the National Insurance funds, and in view of the wage increases now being conceded in many industries which in turn will still further increase living costs, any increase in old age pensions and other insurance benefits is contemplated.

I am studying the Report in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer but I cannot make any statement at this stage.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will bring forward the period of review of the insurance machinery in order to consider the old age pensioners conditions, as their case was advanced to 1946, while the main Act operates from 1948, and a review was promised in five years.

I have been asked to reply: no.

asked the Minister of Health when Mrs. Edith Howard, 238, Moor Lane, Salford, 7, is likely to receive her hearing aid, for which she has been registered since March, 1949.

I am informed that it should be within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Health when it is intended to begin using the Isolation Hospital, Gap Road, Wimbledon, for the reception of aged sick cases.

This matter is under consideration in connection with the regional board's estimates for the next financial year.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children in the population 0–15 years of age who were immunised in 1949; and what is his estimate of the percentage of the child population immunised by the end of 1949.

The number of children immunised during 1949 was 693,441. It is estimated that about 65 per cent. of the whole under-15 population in that year were immunised children.

asked the Minister of Health what number of children received boosting immunising doses in 1946 and 1949.

The numbers were approximately 290,400 and 500,500, respectively.

asked the Chancellar of the Exchequer what proportion of the dollars allotted to pay for imports of coal from the United States of America is being used for the payment of freight.

About 25 per cent. of the gross dollar cost of coal so far shipped from U.S.A. under the current import programme of the National Coal Board is attributable to freight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average dollar earnings and expenditure in the Bahamas for the years 1945 to 1950.

I cannot give figures of individual territories' dollar earnings and expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts of post-war credits paid by the Imperial Exchequer to men aged 65 years and over and to women aged 60 years and over and to other persons resident in Northern Ireland for each of the financial years during the period 1st April, 1945 to 31st March, 1950.

My hon. and learned Friend will find the total amounts of postwar credits paid to persons in Northern Ireland for each of the financial years to which he refers in Table 33 of the 93rd Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. No payments have been made to persons other than women over 60 and men over 65. I regret that separate figures for these two categories are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether consideration will be given to the desirability of repealing or modifying Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, so as to enable retired civil servants to take up paid Government employment without loss of service pension.

No. The question of repealing or amending this Section, under which a civil servant's pension may be abated or suspended on re-employment, was very fully considered in connection with the comprehensive review of the Civil Service Superannuation Code which resulted in the passing of the Superannuation Act, 1949. It was decided to retain the provision, which is sound in principle and represents a common feature of superannuation schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount received by his Department month by month, from the bookmakers' licence duty on greyhound racecourses for the months January to March and October to December in the years 1949 and 1950. respectively.

The monthly figures of receipts of bookmakers' licence duty are as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of steel sheets have been exported under bilateral trade agreements in the last 12 months.

Steel sheets, as such, are not specified in any of our bilateral trade agreements. We have, however, undertakings in general terms to supply finished steel. With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures of our exports of sheet steel during 1950 to the countries concerned:

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what countries raw steel is being exported; in what quantities; and what is the reason for this policy since engineering firms in Britain, engaged on export and Government contracts, are experiencing shortages.

During the year 1950 about 2.1 million tons of finished steel were exported to all parts of the world in varying quantities. With my hon. Friend's permission, I will send to him, as soon as it has been prepared, a table giving full details. Deliveries of finished steel for export are, at the moment, being restricted in order to maintain supplies for essential home uses at the highest possible level.Exports must be maintained, however, at the highest level consistent with the needs of United Kingdom industry. The Commonwealth depends on us to a very large extent for its requirements. Many foreign countries, including some which supply us with essential imports, look to us for steel. In addition, large tonnages are exported to meet the requirements of the oil companies overseas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the acute shortage of zinc oxide, lithopone and titanium and the effect it is having upon the paint industry; and what steps he is taking to prevent these shortages affecting the export trade.

I am aware of the shortage of the white pigments referred to: the effect of this shortage on the direct exports of paint as well as on paints used in industry generally is to be discussed with representatives of the paint industry shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Government accepts responsibility and liability for the position of firms that are deprived of their essential raw materials and thereby prevented from doing business.

It is always the aim of my Department to take all practicable measures, having regard to the national interest, to ensure that supplies of raw materials for which I am responsible are available to industry, but I regret that I cannot accept any liability for losses suffered by firms which are for any reason unable to obtain their essential raw materials.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the Report of the Cunliffe Committee on the British Standards Institution.

Yes. The Report was published today and copies are now available. I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the valuable work done by the Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. Geoffrey Cunliffe. I am at present considering with my colleagues those of its recommendations which are the direct concern of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that there are two ships containing rubber worth in the neighbourhood of £3,500,000 on the way from Singapore to Canton, via Hong Kong; and what action he proposes to prevent this loss of strategic material.

I have received information that, as the hon. Member states, some 10,000 tons of rubber are on their way to Canton. In view of the value of the cargo it is assumed that it is of lower grade rubber. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would remind the hon. Member that there are no restrictions on the export of rubber, but that a close watch is kept on the cumulative total of exports to individual countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Nyasaland is taking any action with regard to the problem of migrant labour, in view of the hardship inflicted on dependants, particularly in the famine of 1949; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to make a free grant to Nyasaland as a contribution from the British people towards the hardship and losses resulting from the famine.

Nyasaland Africans are recruited for work in Northern and Southern Rhodesia under conditions which comply with the requirements of international labour conventions and include repatriation after an agreed period and provision for family remittances and deferred pay. Similar conditions are observed by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association which recruits Africans for work in the mines of the Union of South Africa. In determining annual quotas for recruitment under these arrangements, the Government has regard to the existing economic and social needs of Nyasaland itself. It was possible in 1949 to allocate to the Protectorate an additional £500,000 from funds provided under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act.

asked the Postmaster-General what action has now been taken to improve the radio reception on the north-east coast of Yorkshire; and if any consideration has been given to the use of very high frequency transmission in that area.

So far as interference to the Home Service from foreign broadcasting stations and to the Light Programme from the B.B.C. European service is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood) on 31st January. The B.B.C. is examining proposals for improving reception in the area, and I hope to have their conclusions soon. The B.B.C. has also prepared a plan for the development of very high-frequency services, and is experimenting at Wrotham, Kent, with both frequency and amplitude modulated transmissions. It is still too early to say how prospective developments may affect particular parts of the country.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new subscribers in Blackpool received telephones during 1950; of those how many were in business premises; and how many in private homes; and of the telephones how many were new instruments; and how many had been taken from former subscribers.

Eight hundred and sixty-one, of which 555 were in business premises and 306 in residences. In addition about 190 installations were taken over by new or removing subscribers from former subscribers.