asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the increased costs of school uniforms, he will now revise the terms of Circular 210, concerning grants by his Department to local education authorities, which gives assistance in the purchasing of school uniforms.

I see no reason to add to the addendum to Circular 210 issued last summer, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. In this I undertook to recognise for grant local education authorities' expenditure on assisting parents to provide school uniforms for girls to the minimum extent considered essential, and for boys to the extent of a cap and badge.

asked the Minister of Education the result of his re-examination into the question whether interest is to be charged after 1st April, 1951, on teachers' late contributions for war service under the Teachers' Superannuation (War Service) Act, 1939.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a new statutory rule which fulfils the terms of my reply to him on 23rd November last. As the hon. Member will see, the interest charged on late contributions has been waived until 1st April next, and the rate of interest has been reduced.

In view of the fact that the interest is a very small sum comparatively and that the teachers were not warned that they were to be asked to pay the interest on these contributions, might it not be a graceful act to forgo all interest?

If the hon. Member will wait until he has read the copy, I think he will be reasonably satisfied.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the fee-paying independent schools which have been inspected to date have been found to be inefficient.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 14th December last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the recommendations of the Report of the National Advisory Council on the Future Development of Higher Technological Education.

I am not yet able to add anything to the reply which I gave on 25th January to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis).

Is my right hon. Friend disposed to regard favourably the recommendation that a Royal College of Technology should be instituted, with power to grant awards?

I have undertaken to consider all representations that are made to me since the Report was printed, but I think it would be unfair to the House to say that I was favourably disposed towards the Report until I have seen the representations that are made.

asked the Minister of Education what amount of school building has been sanctioned and is being proceeded with for the year 1951; and how many additional school places it will provide when completed.

The programme of major school building projects approved for the financial year 1951–52 will provide about 190,000 places at an estimated cost of £40 million.

is my right hon. Friend reasonably hopeful that, by 1953, places will be provided for the 1,150,000 additional children who will then require them?

Yes, Sir.

Can the Minister say to what extent the current year's programme has been complicated by arrears of last year's, and whether they have been made up?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Education (1) why he is not prepared to make a grant towards the extension of St. Andrew's School, Totteridge, on the lines proposed by the managers and supported by the local education authority;

(2) by what criteria he decides whether an extension to an existing school should be regarded as creating an entirely new school.

On the information before me I have reached the conclusion that the enlargement of this school in accordance with the development plan would amount to the establishment of a new school, and a maintenance contribution under Section 102 of the Education Act, 1944, would not be possible. In determining such questions I take into account all the circumstances, including the proposed increase in numbers in relation to the size of the school, any recent previous enlargement, and any consequential change in the character of the school.

As the local education authority regards this as the only satisfactory educational solution, and local opinion supports it, will the Minister change his mind, as his present decision involves very large expenditure in respect of a new school, much larger than would be involved in making a grant towards the extension of the existing school?

This situation would apply in a great many instances.

Why should not the Minister do it in a great many instances?

Because it is contrary to the 1944 Act.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Joint Education Committee for Wales with regard to the provision of special schools for handicapped children;

(2) what progress has been made in the provision of a special school in Wales for spastic children.

Last October the Joint Education Committee opened a school for the deaf and partially deaf to take children from all parts of Wales: Three schools for educationally sub-normal and one for maladjusted children have also recently been opened by individual Welsh authorities, and work on providing eight further special schools in Wales is in progress or expected to begin within the next year. I understand that the Joint Education Committee have been considering what further provision is needed in Wales for handicapped children, including spastics. I have suggested to the Committee that a full discussion between their representatives and my officers would be helpful, and I hope to arrange a meeting shortly.

While thanking the Minister for that most encouraging reply concerning educational development in Wales, may I ask him if he will speed up this consultation because the problem of spastic children is very distressing and urgent?

Yes, Sir, I will certainly do that.

Is it because of the presence of a Socialist Government for five or six years in this country that there are so many children in Wales with spasms that special schools have to be provided for them?

For the benefit of the rest of the House, I would explain there is no connection between "spasms" and "spastic."

But I have just looked it up in the dictionary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the shortage in Wales is only part of a wider shortage of accommodation for spastic children?

There is a general shortage of accommodation in England and Wales, which we have been seeking to remedy.

asked the Minister of Education when he hopes to introduce legislation whereby he can assist financially provincial art galleries and museums, whether municipally controlled or privately owned.

I am not able to make any statement on this matter.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the need for this aid is very great? Can he say that he will bring in legislation to this effect when his financial circumstances are less straitened?

asked the Minister of Education what is the average size of modern secondary school classes in the urban districts of Essex; to what extent there is a shortage of teachers for these schools; and what action has been taken to prevent any temporary call-up of Reservists adversely affecting teaching staffs.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 32.5. I have no information to suggest that there is a shortage of teachers in these schools. So far as the temporary call-up of Z and equivalent reservists is concerned I should not feel justified in seeking special protection for teachers.

Is the Minister aware that there are some schools in Essex with classes of 40 and 50 children? In view of the increase in the child population of Essex, can he see that a sufficient supply of teachers is reserved for Essex in the coming months?

If my hon. Friend will give me information as to the numbers and places, I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider introducing legislation to enable teachers' pensions to be paid at monthly intervals instead of quarterly as at present.

I have promised to consider this matter, should legislation be introduced, but I cannot give any undertaking to alter the present arrangements.

Would not the Minister agree that considerable help would be given to such pensioners by this suggestion? Has he not had many representations on this matter?

Yes, Sir, there are a great many representations, but I would point out that the administrative work concerned would be three or four times as great as under the present arrangement.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to imply that it would need legislation to introduce this simple administrative change?

It would need legislation to do what the hon. Member for Mitcham (Mr. Carr) suggests should be done.

asked the Minister of Education what schools are available for the education and care of mentally retarded children whose parents live in the county of Buckingham; which of them are residential; what measures he is taking to increase the amount of accommodation available; and what procedure is used in the selection of pupils for entrance.

There are three special schools, two of which are largely residential. Places are also taken in special schools outside the area and special educational treatment is provided in certain normal schools. A new special school and the enlargement of the three existing schools is contemplated, while 22 additional places have been secured outside the county. As soon as children are ascertained to be educationally sub-normal steps are taken to obtain appropriate treatment for them, but some delay in placing them is at present inevitable owing to shortage of accommodation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the progress of these backward children to normality and to the conditions and standards of those in ordinary schools is being endangered by the present delay in providing this special accommodation? Will he import some urgency into the consideration of these further measures?

I have been importing urgency into this matter for the last four years. Until then little or nothing had been done.

asked the Minister of Education whether approval has been given to the new salary scales for school inspectors.

The salary scales of inspectors and organisers employed by local education authorities do not require my formal approval under Section 89 of the Education Act, 1944. I have not yet been notified of the recommendations of the committee which has recently been considering them. When I am I shall consider whether the expenditure of authorities in paying salaries in accordance with the new scales can be admitted for grant from my Department.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I did not exactly ask whether he had approved the scales but whether approval had been given to the scales? As I understand the terms of reference of the committee, the scales are subject to ratification by local education authorities and the officers' organisation, and the last phrase is to the effect that the recommendations would come into effect on 1st April. Do I understand that this ratification has not yet been given and that there is, therefore, no assurance that the scales will come into effect as early as 1st April?

No, Sir. The position as far as the Ministry is concerned is that if I do not approve them the scales will be a charge on the rates only, but if they are approved by me they will be subject to grant.

asked the Minister of Education whether the detailed recommendations for teachers' salaries of the Burnham Committee have yet been officially submitted to him.

No, Sir.

Does not the right hon. Member agree that this is a peculiar and not altogether satisfactory situation? The Minister, in his private capacity, as it were, made a public speech, not in this House, expressing his approval of these recommendations. Is it not rather inconvenient that there should be this large gap between his private and his official verdict?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that much detailed work has had to be completed by the Burnham Committee, and that it is hoped that their Report will shortly be in his hands?

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), for having answered the supplementary question of the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) for me.

When he is considering the new proposals, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the already accepted principle of equal pay for men and women?

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many men in the United Kingdom for the year ended 31st December, 1950, were recruited into the Australian Armed Forces.

Nine hundred and forty-two, Sir.

Is this recruiting still going on?

Yes, I think so, Sir. There were certain agreed numbers up to which recruits could be sought in this country.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is some query over the allowances to be paid to men of the Royal Australian Navy who were recruited for service in this country only, and will he look into the matter?

Certainly, Sir, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down a Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many people from the United Kingdom emigrated to Canada and Australia, respectively, for the year ended 31st December, 1950; and how many received assisted passages.

Full official statistics are available to the end of November, 1950, only. Between 1st January and 30th November, 1950, 12,614 men, women and children emigrated by sea to Canada and 50,519 to Australia. During the whole of 1950, 37,220 persons sailed under the Free and Assisted Passage Schemes for Australia. There were no such schemes for Canada.

Does the Prime Minister think it is wise for us to encourage the best of our stock to emigrate, and for us to get second-rate stock from Europe?

I understood that there was general agreement that persons of British stock should go to the Commonwealth.

Is the Prime Minister aware that out of the 150,000 people expected to emigrate to Canada this year, only 30,000 will be of British stock? As Canada is most anxious to have people from here, and there are many willing to go, will the Government reconsider the financial restrictions involved?

That is a matter for discussion. I am sure that if the noble Lady will discuss it with the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne), it will clarify his mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the further cuts threatened in supplies of tinplate will oblige British canners to cut down production and close factories; and, in view of the urgent necessity of building up food stocks in this country, whether His Majesty's Government will now restrict exports of tinplate to soft currency countries until the requirements of the home canning industry have been met.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tonbridge (Mr. G. Williams) on Monday, 29th January.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increases in our exports of tinplate have been very great in the last 10 months, and that these have subsequently been used for canning goods which have been re-exported to this country? Is he further aware that quite a small percentage of this increase would satisfy the requirements of our own canners? Why does he not give it?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman will be glad to know that an appreciable proportion of the amount going to export has now been diverted to the home market.

Is the President aware that a canning factory in the City of Aberdeen, which was opened only six months ago, has now to close because it is receiving only one-sixth of their rightful allocation of tinplate?

I am well aware that there is a general shortage of tinplate at present, and this is likely to go on for another few months. While this is likely to continue, we have cut down exports quite sharply.

Is the Minister aware of the importance of tinplate to the pilchard manufacturies of Cornwall, and the high nutriment value of the pilchard?

Yes, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give this careful consideration, because in Aberdeen canning factories have actually closed and more propose to close? It is of vital importance that a newly-established industry should not be discouraged in this way.

As I have made clear, this has been carefully considered with my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Food and Agriculture. In consequence, we have made reductions in the export of tinplate.

In view of the altogether unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he proposes to make amendments to the advertisement prepared by the British Travel Centre in New York until the power cuts are no longer operative, and the meat ration has been increased.

No, Sir. I do not propose to interfere with the publicity in the United States of the British Travel and Holidays Association.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the advertisement referred to in my Question says that this country is abounding in comfort and food, including famous British delicacies, and that if visitors come here they will find a gala spirit in the air? Further, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House where we can find these famous delicacies, and whether the gala spirit in the air is on the other side of the House?

All the overseas visitors to this country whom I have met do not share the jaundiced views of the hon. Member.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us how American visitors will be able to get Colchester oysters during the close season?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he is making to assure adequate supplies of hessian for manufacturers to package carpets and rugs for export from the United Kingdom.

Even though all possible purchases of hessian are being made, total supplies are inadequate to meet all requirements. It is, however, my aim to meet the requirements for export packing in full.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the delivery of hessian is very protracted at the present time due to the jute shortage, whereas his Jute Department insists on a short-term licensing procedure which is causing grave embarrassment to carpet exporters? Would he put a stick of dynamite under his Jute Department?

If the hon. Gentleman will give me any specific case where jute licensing is not being met by deliveries, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what purpose he has convened an international conference on rubber.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the conference on rubber which is being held in London; what is the object of the conference; and what part is being played by representatives of British territories in South-East Asia.

The purpose of the Conference, as was stated in the communique issued after the opening session, is

"to review the present and prospective supply-demand position of natural and synthetic rubber and to consider, in the light of the conclusions reached, whether any agreed recommendations for international action should be submitted to Governments, due regard being had to the interests both of the producers and of the consumers."

The British Colonial and Dependent Territories, as important producers, are separately represented.

Will my right hon. Friend, in the meantime, co-ordinate his rubber policy with that of the United States, introducing controls to resist the rubber sellers who are taking advantage of the nation's difficulties?

Will the right hon. Gentleman make certain that the work of the study group on rubber, which is of such value to everybody concerned, is in no way harmed by this session of the Conference?

Yes, Sir. I am quite certain that this session will not so affect the work of the study group.

How long is the Conference likely to last? Will its findings be made known?

I have no idea how long it will last, nor can I have any views about what recommendations will be made to Governments. As soon as the Conference concludes I will see what can be said about it to the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much rubber was exported to Communist China from Malaya in November last; how much in December and how much in January; and how much rubber has been shipped from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in British ships during the same periods.

Exports of rubber from Malaya to China were 9,302 tons in November last and 7,180 tons in December. There were no exports or transhipments of rubber in British ships from the United Kingdom to Russia in November and December. Figures for January are not yet available.

Is it not a fact that a ship with a cargo of 9,000 tons of rubber, worth £3 million, is now on its way to the Soviet Union?

I am not sure where the hon. Member suggests the ship has sailed from. If it is suggested that it is from this country, I should like particulars.

How much profit has been made out of these contracts by private traders?

Is it not about time that this matter was cleared up and that unfounded accusations should be cleared up in the House? Have the Government themselves now stopped shipping rubber to Russia and to China? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the vast majority of rubber growers continue this trade solely to keep open the channels of trade and that most of them would welcome a Government ban on trade which they regard with the utmost disquiet?

It would not be possible in question and answer to reply to all the points which the hon. Member has raised, but certainly our policy regarding rubber shipments from this country is as stated, and as was agreed, I think, by the Opposition Front Bench, in September last. We are keeping watch on the situation, and if there were to be any undue and large movements of rubber we should naturally have to consider the position.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the shipment of the last tonnage of rubber sold by His Majesty's Government to China was made?

Not without notice.

What advantage is expected to be derived by this process of denying to a large part of the world's population access to raw materials which they cannot produce?

I should think that my hon. Friend would realise what is the policy of His Majesty's Government and other Governments in the matter of the control of shipments of goods of direct strategic value. As I have made clear in the House before, that control has not been extended to rubber.

Is the Conference on rubber, which is now sitting in London, considering the limitation, or even the prohibition, of the export to China of rubber which is being used for weapons of war against our troops in Korea?

I do not know what the Conference might consider before its deliberations are over, but it would not be appropriate for me to make a comment at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continued scarcity of newsprint in this country, he will consider the possibility of including newsprint among the scarce raw materials, distribution of which is now the subject of discussion by the international commodity groups.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. John Rodgers) on 8th February.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that nothing which is done in this direction will diminish his own efforts to make long-term contracts on our own behalf, quite apart from what may be done in the international field?

I can certainly assure the hon. Member that in the last few days we have come to a decision to enable the Newsprint Supply Company to offer to Canada a larger contract than has yet been announced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the present position of newsprint in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now give an assurance that the future supply of newsprint will not bring about a further reduction in the size of newspapers or reduce circulation.

The Newsprint Supply Company's estimates of imports of newsprint during January were, unfortunately, not realised, and stocks fell during the month from 72,000 tons to just under 65,000 tons. I understand that the shortfall is due to delay in shipments to this country. The Newsprint Rationing Committee has, therefore, decided temporarily to reduce consumption by a further 5 per cent.

While we can estimate the production of home mills with fair accuracy, we must depend upon the Newsprint Supply Company for estimates of imports. In the light of both these estimates and the level of actual stock, the Newsprint Rationing Committee considers whether any cut in consumption by newspapers is necessary.

The Chairman of the Rationing Committee advises me that if all their expectations of future supply are realised, the present size and circulation of newspapers can be maintained. But as stocks are below the danger line, current consumption is now dependent upon current supply; and any further disappointments in current supply, even of a temporary kind, must mean a corresponding reduction in current consumption.

Can the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the acute position today with the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary in answer to me on 23rd January when I asked:

"whether the position is any better than it was three months ago?"

The Parliamentary Secretary replied:

"Yes, the supply position for the country is more definite."—[OFFICIAL REPORT. 23rd January, 1951; Vol. 483, c. 37.]

It is very easy to reconcile those statements, because we always have to rely on the advice of the Newsprint Supply Company about supplies. They do the importing and say what they expect to come in. The statement of my hon. Friend was based on the latest statement of the Company. A few days later it did not look as if two or three ships would arrive and, therefore, they had to make that cut.

Why is the right hon. Gentleman trying to blame the Newsprint Supply Company, when the blame is entirely with his own Government? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] They have messed up the whole thing—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] It is perfectly true. Will the right hon. Gentleman say how much longer the British people will have to tolerate ridiculously small newspapers? Will he also give an undertaking that at the earliest possible date exports of newsprint from this country will be reduced?

I was not in any way trying to blame the Newsprint Supply Company.—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I was answering the plea of the hon. and gallant Member for a reconciliation of two statements. We have to rely on the Company for information, but if they change the basis of their information it is only right that I should tell the House As far as supply is concerned, we have now made dollars available for a contract up to the end of 1954 and the size of newspapers will depend on the progress made with that contract.

What meaning does the Minister's hon. Friend attach to the word, "definite," because the whole position is indefinite?

My hon. Friend's statement was obviously based on the assurance given from overseas about shipments. In one or two cases shipments have not come in.

Is newsprint something else we are to have more of, as well as armaments?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the cost of production by the Crown Film Unit of "Welcome to our Table"; and in what countries is this film being exhibited.

The cost of production was £3,259. The film has not yet gone into distribution, but the series of which it forms a part is normally shown in about 80 overseas territories.

Is it not the case that this film, which, presumably, seeks to attract foreign visitors to the Festival of Britain, depicts our table as groaning under outsize joints of lamb and barons of beef, and will there not be grievous disillusionment among visitors when they arrive to find ewe mutton and reindeer steak?

First, the hon. and gallant Member has the title of the film wrong. That title was suggested at one stage, but was rejected before the hon. and gallant Member put the Question down. Second, it does not deal either with the Festival of Britain or with groaning tables. It is designed to help in the export of certain speciality food stuffs which have earned this country a great number of dollars in the past year or so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons were adjudicated bankrupt during the years 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950, respectively.

Particulars of the numbers of persons adjudicated bankrupt during each of the years 1946 to 1949 were contained in the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member on 5th December, 1950. The figure for the year 1950 is 1,853, making a total of 5,425 in the five years in question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figure has shown a steady and startling increase over the whole of the last five years, and does he recall that in the early days of the last Parliament it was frequently claimed that Socialism would abolish bankruptcy? What has gone wrong?

We have never made that assertion. We do not seek to protect the more inefficient fringe of private enterprise from the consequences of their actions, but I can certainly reassure the hon. and gallant Member by telling him that, despite the steady increase, the figure for the last five years is still only one-third of the post-war figure, and that if deeds of arrangement are taken into account it is only a quarter of the pre-war figure.

How many of these people were farmers?

Very few.

Is the Overseas Food Corporation included?

How do these figures for the five post-war years compare with the corresponding five years after the end of the First World War?

Against 5,425 in the last five years, the number in the first five years after the First World War was 15,563.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the increased ceiling prices for certain categories of utility wool cloth as from 1st February, 1951, it is the intention of the Government to introduce some mark of designation to denote quality for each category.

The increase in the maximum prices of utility wool cloths from the beginning of this month is necessary to allow for the higher cost of wool and does not indicate any change in the utility scheme. All utility wool cloth already bears a number in a place adjacent to the utility mark which indicates the statutory specification with which the cloth complies. The specification applicable to each number is described in Statutory Instrument, 1950, No. 2086.

Is it not a fact that the numbers given to utility wool cloths do not denote quality and that a particular category may contain more or less fibre? Is it not quite improper to describe as wool cloth categories of cloth containing as much as 85 per cent. fibre? Would it not be more proper and honest to describe them as woollen fibres?

That last point raises a separate issue. On the first point, I am sure that the hon. and gallant Member realises, as would anyone who knows the wool trade, that it is impossible to provide detailed specifications which give a guarantee of quality grade by grade. What the utility scheme does is to give some assurance of value for money.

Then why did the Minister not make that perfectly clear in his first answer, which contained the implication that the number of the cloth designates quality? It does not do that. It gives a price control and not a quality control.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many seaside resorts are having difficulty in obtaining paper for the production of their annual holiday guides; and what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient supplies for this purpose.

I am aware of these difficulties, but there is a general shortage of paper and, in the case of certain varieties, it is acute. In order to ensure that the most essential uses are met, we have arranged, as I stated during the debate on paper and boards on 24th November last, for the paper trade to operate a system of voluntary priorities. I am unable, however, to give any assurances that supplies of paper, particularly of the better qualities, can at present be made available for the production of holiday guides for home circulation.

Is this not rather unfortunate during the Festival year? Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long gas and electricity undertakings are to be allowed paper for advertising services that they cannot fulfil?

It is unfortunate that there is not more paper, but, as the hon. Member is aware, the supply of paper in this country now is considerably greater than it was pre-war, but the need for it has increased.

Can the Minister supply enough paper to provide targets for the National Small Bore Rifle Association, as they have not any now?

This Question has to do with annual holiday guides.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the extent of the loss or delay in shipment of Pacific coast softwood bought by timber control through the diversion of shipping for the import of United States coal.

Recent demands for shipping have been abnormally heavy in all parts of the world, and it is not possible to estimate to what extent delays in loading Pacific coast timber have been directly attributable to the movement of United States coal.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the quantities bought for shipment in December and January were actually shipped in those months, and say whether he expects that the quantity bought for shipment in February will be shipped in February?

The quantities which we hoped would arrive in December and January were not shipped in those months, but I can assure the hon. Member that the shipping arrangements will catch up with that backlog.

Will not a great waste of shipping take place by having to transfer United States coal into small ships at Rotterdam, instead of bringing it here in large ships, which has never been done before?

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

Is it not a fact that the lateness and suddenness of the Government's decision to import coal caused the maximum amount of disorganisation?

No, I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that in addition to the import of coal there have been very heavy demands on shipping for military purposes and also for the movement of grain from the United States to India and Yugoslavia.

In view of these many factors was it not necessary that the Government should be careful not to disorganise shipping?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that competing demands of various Government Departments, all of which are said to have first priority, have caused absolute chaos in the freight markets of the world?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates the increased cost of Pacific coast softwood will be through the recent rise in shipping freights.

The rise in freights has been a continuous process since last July and future trends may not be in the same direction. It is not possible to translate variations in freight rates into terms of increased cost per standard on shipment over a period. Freight rates for chartering for December-April loading on the Pacific coast average some £8 5s. a standard above those for November, 1950, loading, and some £15 above those for July, 1950, loading.

Is it not a fact that since the right hon. Gentleman's Department concluded their large-scale British Colombian and the American coast contracts all the Pacific freights have gone up, sometimes as much as 100 per cent. above the freights ruling at the time of the contracts?

They have gone up very considerably, but I hope the hon. Member is not suggesting that that it is because we have increased our purchases in Canada—

No, Sir.

I thought hon. Members wanted us to do that.

Is it not a fact that rising freights followed immediately on the disorganisation caused by the sudden decision of the Government to demand ships for the import of coal?

They were already rising before the decision was taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for using 1930 as the basis for the wholesale price index numbers published in the Board of Trade Journal and the year 1948 for those published in the Statistical Digest.

The base of the index is the average of the prices in 1930 of the items included, weight being given to these according to their importance in imports and production in that year. The Board of Trade publishes each month index numbers on this base and, for convenience in making comparisons with other pre-war statistics, percentage changes in them since 1938. In the Statistical Digest, only the changes since 1938 (not 1948, as suggested by the hon. Member) expressed in index number form, are published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the price per ream, at the latest available date, of Swedish grease-proof paper and of the English brands of such paper.

Both these papers are purchased by private trade and I have no precise information as to the prices charged to users.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present high price and shortage of this type of paper handicaps shopkeepers in the wrapping of foodstuffs? Will he do his best to assist them to get more of this paper?

Yes, and this is one of the many cases where goods are short for world reasons and perhaps the hon. and gallant Member and his hon. Friends will cease blaming it on bulk purchasing methods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the continued advance in the price of raw materials and of increases already sanctioned by his Department for certain types of merchandise, he has any information as to the date when hosiery schedule L will be revised.

Discussions have recently taken place between my Department and representatives of the hosiery industry and a revised schedule of manufacturers' maximum prices for utility knitted goods will be published in about a month's time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, the necessity for flexibility in the schedules if the goods are to be kept in the shops?

I agree, and in most utility schemes we have been introducing the maximum flexibility during the past few weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give particulars of the livestock exported to Europe during the current year.

I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving the information he requires.

Could the President give an assurance that the figures do not include any store cattle exported to Europe?

I would like to study in more detail the figures which I am sending to the hon. Gentleman. He will be able to adduce that answer for himself.

Will the right hon. Gentleman circulate this information in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say definitely, in his statement, whether this includes 1,500 store cattle sent to Italy from Folkestone about four weeks ago?

I will go into the question as to whether it is possible to deduce that figure. If not, perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put down a Question to get the answer.

Will the Minister circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

It is a rather long and complicated table and will take up a lot of space in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I will consider whether that should be done or whether it would be more convenient for hon. Members if I placed it in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why His Majesty's Government's representatives at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Conference at Torquay were instructed to support Article 29, sub-paragraph one, of the agreement which states that the contracting parties undertake to observe to the fullest extent of their executive authority certain provisions of the Havana Charter pending its acceptance, seeing that this course nullifies the pledge already given that Parliament will have a full opportunity of debating the Havana Charter before commitments are accepted by His Majesty's Government in relation thereto;

(2) whether he will arrange for the proposals contained in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, as set out in Command Paper No. 8048, to be debated by Parliament before being put into operation by His Majesty's Government;

(3) whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to ratify the Havana Charter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) when the provisional consolidated text of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade will be submitted to Parliament for approval;

(2) if he will put forward a proposal that membership of the Executive Committee of the Interim Commission of the International Trade Organisation should be chosen from countries which are contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

I apologise for the length of the answer. As regards Question No. 21, there was no discussion of Article XXIX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade at the recent session of the contracting parties to the Agreement at Torquay, and no instructions on this matter were, therefore, required by or given to the United Kingdom Delegation. But the fact that Article XXIX of the Agreement requires Governments' parties thereto to observe the general principles embodied in the I.T.O. Charter was clearly stated during the debate on the Geneva Tariff Agreement on 29th January, 1948, when approval was given to the provisional application of the Agreement by the United Kingdom. I cannot, therefore, accept the suggestion that His Majesty's Government have not kept their pledges to Parliament.

As regards Questions Nos. 22, 23 and 32, I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave on 8th February to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. J. Hudson).

As regards Question No. 33, since there is no prospect in view of the establishment of the proposed international trade organisation, it is unlikely that there will be any important tasks for the Interim Commission to perform, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by seeking to alter the membership of its Executive Committee. Fifteen of the 20 countries represented on this Committee are, in fact, parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

While welcoming the assurance given by the President the other day that the House would be consulted before the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was ratified by the Government, may I ask if he can also assure the House that, pending ratification, he will not commit this country to any long-term provisional arrangements, which might be of indefinite duration, without first consulting the House?

There will be no further commitment in this respect without further consultation with the House. As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade is at present subject to provisional application from which we could withdraw on giving 60 days' notice.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two questions? First, in view of the fact that only one country has ratified the Havana Charter, why is it that an attempt is being made to bring in about two-thirds of the Havana Charter by the back door through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade? Second, if the Interim Commission of the proposed international trade organisation is not needed, why is it in existence at all; why not abolish it?

With regard to the first question, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was adopted as an instrument on its own merits by the House in January, 1948. If there were to be any question of ratifying it, or adhering to it on any other than a provisional basis, we should, of course, first debate it, and all the clauses that are in it, in the House. With regard to the second supplementary question, it was only a few days ago that I announced on behalf of His Majesty's Government that there would now be no question of our recommending the I.T.O. Charter to Parliament. It was only a few days before that that the United States Administration decided they were not pursuing it. Therefore, we have still to consider the position of the Interim Commission.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has come to put a stop to all this nonsense? It costs a lot of money and has done no good to anybody.

I do not think I can accept what the hon. Gentleman has said.

From what the right hon. Gentleman has said, is the House entitled to draw the conclusion that, without further reference to Parliament, nothing will be done at Torquay which could not be repudiated in 60 days' time.

So far as the application of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade is concerned, that is the position. Indeed, there is now nothing left to be done at Torquay on the General Agreement because those discussions concluded before Christmas. Tariff negotiations are a separate matter. Anything affecting the United Kingdom tariff would obviously require the assent of the House.

Under what procedure of Parliament will these tariff arrange- ments be put before the House? Will the right hon. Gentleman recommend to the Lord President of the Council that we must have a full debate on these matters, which have a grave effect on the horticultural industry in particular?

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will bear in mind the suggestion made by the noble Lord.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what concessions in respect of existing preferences have been made by representatives of the United Kingdom at the Torquay Conference on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Langstone (Mr. Stevens) on 30th January.

That is not good enough. Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that fears were expressed in the Colonies, notably by the federation of primary producers of British Gambia and British Guiana as long ago as October of last year, that concessions would be made at Torquay, and does he not consider that the Government have an obligation to the Colonies to make their position quite clear in the matter?

It is an established practice in foreign negotiations that while negotiations are taking place there should be no disclosure of what offers are being made. That procedure was followed faithfully in the Anglo-American tariff negotiations before the war, and I see no reason to change it now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why timber grown in Malaya is taken to Singapore to be cut up in Chinese sawmills, and then exported to London via Rotterdam, c/o the Rotterdam Trading Company; and if he will take steps to enable this country to obtain timber from the Chinese sawmills and export direct to London through the normal channels.

Timber grown in Malaya is imported into this country by private traders, who are free to arrange the methods and channels of import. We do not propose at present to interfere with these operations.

Does my right hon. Friend not think that this country would be advantaged financially by being able to import direct from Malaya to the British Isles?

I have no doubt that quite a lot is imported direct from Malaya in any event.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take urgent steps to co-ordinate the policy of the Ministers of Agriculture and Food and the President of the Board of Trade in regard to resources of tinplate for canning of fruit and horticultural products, with a view to preventing wastage of any part of the United Kingdom crops during the coming season.

Full co-ordination is already maintained.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in spite of the recent increases in the allocation of tinplate to canneries, there is still grave apprehension that if we have good crops in the coming season a large part of those crops will be wasted? Will he please make it clear that it is the policy of the Government to put the home producer first and the foreigner last?

is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the vital need for tinplate in piling up food supplies for an emergency, and will he give an assurance that tinplate will not in future be used to enclose the meat pies and other delicacies which are sent to the Argentine?

That is not a question for me.

What is the point of sabotaging the British canning industry at a time when it was never more necessary to have a supply of food stocks; and when there are unlimited supplies of the best food in the world for canning—herrings?

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement made by the Minister of Works at Manchester on 11th February, that he was opposed to the partition of Ireland, which was an artificial division which would have to be ended, represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to the public statement made by the Minister of Works at Manchester on 11th February that he was opposed to the partition of Ireland, which would have to be ended; and whether this represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

The Government's policy on the partition of Ireland was fully explained in the debates on the Ireland Bill in 1949, and in particular by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council in the debates on the Second Reading and in Committee. There has been no change in policy since that date and none is contemplated.

Is the Prime Minister aware that this statement, made, presumably, by a responsible Member of the Government, has created a most unfortunate impression in Northern Ireland? Can he give the House an assurance that the Government does not intend to put Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom?