asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will consider making it possible for death grants to be paid in respect of those old persons who are not covered by the National Insurance Act, 1946, in view of the fact that the sum so expended would be a diminishing one.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid) on 4th July last. of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why instructions were issued by the National Assistance Board officials in Liverpool, that no assistance was to be paid to dockers who had been on strike, stating this was on the instructions of the National Board when no such order was issued from headquarters.

The Board are satisfied that applications from dockers and their dependants on Merseyside were dealt with in accordance with their instructions. Over£7,200 was paid out to meet the needs of dependants. Dockers who had returned to work were correctly informed that as they could obtain a payment on account of wages they could not be regarded as needing assistance.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware of the hardships now suffered by old people as a result of the recent increases in price of necessities, such as coal, blankets, clothing and shoe repairs; and whether, as a matter of urgency, she will increase the scale of the supplementary allowances and pensions for old people and amend her regulations to allow a greater discretion to officers of the National Assistance Board in individual cases of special hardship and need.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Browne), and, as regards the second part, to the reply given to the same Member on 28th November last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the murder of Mr. W. H. Jennings in Burma.

Yes. The British Consul at Rangoon flew to Tavoy on 1st March to investigate the circumstances in which Mr. Jennings was murdered. His full report has not yet arrived but it appears that a bridge on the road 12 miles east of Tavoy was dynamited by Communist insurgents during the night of the 26th-27th February. Next morning Mr. Jennings and another mines manager, a Swiss national, decided to inspect the bridge. At the bridge they were seized by four men and murdered in the presence of a large crowd. No other persons were attacked. We have asked the Burma Government to do everything possible to bring the criminals to justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is holding up the extradition of Brynley Fussell from France.

Formal application for the extradition of Brynley Fussell was made to the French Government by His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris on 15th January, and the Ambassador was notified by the French Government on 2nd March that his extradition was agreed to. During part of this period Fussell was under detention because of offences against French law for which he was sentenced on 12th January to one month's imprisonment. The special formalities which have to be observed in extradition cases have now been completed and arrangements have been made for the transfer of Fussell to this country within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what provision is made under the revised Occupation Statute for Western Germany for the West German Government to make treaties or to adhere to conventions.

Since the early days of its existence, the German Federal Government has had authority, on certain conditions, to negotiate and conclude international agreements. Under the revised Occupation Statute, the conditions upon which international agreements may be negotiated have been reduced to the minimum necessary to safeguard the reserved powers of the Occupation Authorities. The conditions upon which international agreements may be concluded remain unchanged, in so far as they are subject to disapproval by the Occupation Authorities within a period 21 days. But this power of disapproval will be exercised so as to permit the Federal Republic to conduct relations with foreign countries to the full extent compatible with the requirements of security, other reserved powers and obligations of the Occupying Powers relating to Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can yet make a statement on the joint discussions now taking place between the British and other Governments as to the issue of a joint declaration of policy on Yugoslavia; and whether any decision or agreement has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the progress of discussions between His Majesty's Government and the United States Government regarding joint action in the event of an attack on Yugoslavia.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement made in this House by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 15th February on this subject. to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the raw materials, and the quantities of each, to be supplied to Yugoslavia under the Anglo-Yugoslav Financial Agreement of 11th January, 1951.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the programme which has now been agreed with the Yugoslav Government for the use of the£2 million raw materials credit to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The quantities to be purchased under each heading will depend on prevailing prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what guarantees he has received from the Yugoslav Government on the recognition of civil and religious liberties, prior to the signature of the Anglo-Yugoslav Financial Agreement of 11th January, 1951.

We do not favour attaching political conditions to the grant of economic assistance and did not do so in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the meat talks with the Argentine.

Hon. Members will have seen accounts in today's Press of a Press conference held in Buenos Aires by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Since negotiations are still continuing I would prefer not to make any further statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the concern felt by the British shareholders in the Buenos Aires Transport Corporation as a result of the Argentine Government's decision to liquidate the Corporation at an early date, he will give an assurance that the British Government's mission to Argentina will, in the course of the current commercial negotiations, try to obtain an undertaking from the Argentine Government to settle these large British transport claims satisfactorily.

Yes. The efforts made over a long period to secure a satisfactory settlement will be fully maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has received from the Chinese authorities to his protest against the ill-treatment and expulsion of His Majesty's Consul-General at Tihwa.

On 3rd March the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in a reply to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, referred to His Majesty's Consul-General as a "British subject residing in Sinkiang," clearly implying that they did not accept him in his official capacity. They went on to refer to "espionage" and "sabotage" activities which fully justified their action in expelling him. The Chinese reply is most unsatisfactory and the question of further representations is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the disappearance of Mrs. Bolton, an employee of the British Embassy in Moscow on 12th February; and what action he proposes to take.

His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow reported on 14th February that Mrs. Nadia Bolton had failed to return home after duty in the Embassy on Monday, 12th February. Mrs. Bolton is a Soviet citizen in addition to being a British subject and is, consequently, subject to Soviet law while in the Soviet Union. A note was sent to the Soviet Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 14th February reporting her disappearance and asking that inquiries should be made. No reply has yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now take steps to abolish visas with Portugal on a reciprocal basis.

Negotiations have started for the conclusion of a reciprocal visa-abolition agreement with Portugal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action is open to a coal retailer on receipt of unburnable coal.

In 1948 the National Coal Board and the distributive trade agreed about the procedure to be followed by any merchant who desired to complain about the quality of the coal which he received; and every merchant was told what he should do. At my request, the matter was discussed again last year, and in October arrangements were made for a more liberal application of the plan. These arrangements have worked well, but if the hon. Member will let me know of any case where things have gone wrong, I will be happy to inquire.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the arrangements for compensating workers in the nationalised gas industry for the loss of their co-partnership rights.

Under Section 59 of the Gas Act of 1948, Parliament decided that the future of the co-partnership schemes should be decided by the industry itself. The Gas Council and the trade unions have now made an agreement on the matter, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Under the agreement, co-partners will for 15 years, so long as they remain in the service of the area gas board, receive a bonus equivalent to their existing bonus under the schemes. Other benefits under the schemes, for example, gas and appliances at reduced prices, and health and welfare matters, will be dealt with by the negotiating and consultative machinery set up by the Gas Act.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in advising the public on methods of cooperation in fuel saving, he will take into consideration the economies in gas and electricity consumption that could be brought about by a wider adoption in this country of the use of pressure cookers in the home, in institutions and in commercial establishments; and what coal-saving would be effected if all homes equipped with gas and electricity used pressure cookers.

Advice about the use of pressure cookers has been given in various publications by the Ministry of Food. I am afraid that I can make no reliable estimate of the saving in coal that would be made if pressure cookers were in general use in the home, in institutions and in commercial establishments; but I am grateful to the hon. Member for this opportunity of saying that the economy which would result, in gas and electricity, would undoubtedly be considerable.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the District Auditor's report upon the financial returns of the Glamorgan County Council for the year 1948–49; whether the evidence of false pretences, which it contains, has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and whether he will make a statement.

No. This matter has not yet been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I understand that the report in question is to be considered by the Glamorgan County Council at its next meeting. In view of this I do not propose, at this stage, to give any directions in regard to this matter.

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been called to the article entitled "Military Service," on page 32 of issue No. 8 of the Architectural Students' Association Journal, "Plan," advising young men to refuse to carry out their national service training; and whether he has considered taking action on it under the Incitement to Disaffection Act, 1934.

I have considered the article to which the hon. Member's Question refers. I do not think that it would be appropriate to take action under the Incitement to Disaffection Act, 1934, in regard to it.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the present confused state of the statute law relating to the compulsory acquisition and hiring of land and whether steps will be taken in the near future to consolidate that part of the statute law.

The law relating to the procedure for the compulsory acquisition and hiring of land is certainly complicated and difficult, but its complexities are, for the most part, inherent in the subject and consolidation of the relevant enactments would do little to simplify them. There are at present in force temporary enactments which account for much of the complication and any attempt to simplify the law on this subject would hardly be practicable until they expire. Even then any attempt to simplify the subject would probably be beyond the scope of any consolidation Bill.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the considerable dissatisfaction among fish friers at the present basis of allocation of supplies of frying fat; and whether he will consider introducing a more up-to-date scheme.

I think the present arrangements secure fair distribution of supplies. The original basis of allocation has been substantially modified from time to time to take account of changing circumstances and it will continue to be reviewed.

asked the Minister of Food the amount that the Government have made on the resale of cooking fats to the fish frying trade during the last three years.

Sales of oils and fats to fish friers are not distinguished in my Department's accounts from sales to other trade users.

asked the Minister of Food if he will hand on the profit made by his Department on the purchase of oils for frying by reducing the price of cooking fats which are used in the fried fish trade.

My Department sells oils and fats to all trade users at the same prices and we cannot make a special exception in favour of fish friers, who are still getting their frying fats at well below world prices.

asked the Minister of Food what is the cash value of eggs and poultry bought by his Department to date from the Colonial Development Corporation Poultry Scheme in the Gambia.

The cash value of the eggs purchased from the scheme is£576. My Department does not buy poultry from any source.

asked the Minister of Food if there is any possibility of the meat ration being increased in the reasonably near future.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 26th January.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider introducing a sliding scale of prices for brewing and malting by-products, used as feeding-stuffs, to relate these to the current price of barley.

No. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture announced on 15th February last that increases in the prices of feedingstuffs would be inevitable within the next few months. The prices of brewing and malting by-products used as feedingstuffs will be increased in conformity with increases in the prices of other feedingstuffs to be announced later.

asked the Minister of Food the terms of appointment of the present members of the board of the Overseas Food Corporation and the compensation payable to them on relinquishing their appointments on 1st April or thereafter.

Following is the information:

Sir E. Coates (Chairman). Appointed for a period of three years to 30th June, 1953, at a salary of£5,000.

Sir Donald Perrott (Deputy Chairman), Seconded to the Corporation from the Civil Service for a period of two years to 21st November, 1951, at a salary of£4,000.

Mr. J. McFadyen (Member). Appointed for a period of six years to 15th February, 1954, at a salary of£4,000, with pension rights similar to those which he would have enjoyed if he had remained in the employment of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, on condition that his contributions to the C.W.S. Superannuation Fund were paid over to the Corporation.

Sir Cyril Jones (Member). Appointed for a period of three years to July 18th, 1953, at a salary of£3,000.

Sir Charles Lockhart (Part-time Member). Appointed for a period of five years to 15th February, 1953. His salary is£2,000 a year except when he is in East Africa employed full-time on the work of the Corporation; his remuneration is then at the rate of£3,000 a year.

In other respects the conditions of appointment of the Members of the Corporation are regulated by the Overseas Resources Development Regulations.

As my right hon. Friend announced on 20th February, Sir Donald Perrott and Mr. McFadyen will shortly be leaving the Corporation.

Mr. J. McFadyen will leave the Corporation on 31st March, 1951. He will receive£4,000 representing a year's salary. He has a six years' contract of which he has served three years. In addition his pension which he would have received on retirement at 65 (in two years' time) will be paid from the time he leaves the Corporation.

No question of compensation arises in the case of Sir Donald Perrott since he was seconded from the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Food how many prosecutions have been initiated by his enforcement officers from 1st January, 1946, to the latest convenient date; how many were successful; and how much the fines totalled.

During the period 1st January, 1946, to 31st December, 1950, 44,145 persons were prosecuted for food offences on 114,967 charges. Of these charges 108,720, representing 94.5 per cent. led to convictions. The total of fine imposed amounted to£808,676, and in addition payment of costs awarded against persons prosecuted amounted to£97,442.

asked the Minister of Food how many prosecutions have been initiated by his enforcement officers in Cornwall from 1st January, 1946, to the latest convenient date; how many were successful; and how much the fines totalled.

During the period from the 1st of January, 1946, to the 31st of December, 1950, 422 persons were prosecuted for food offences in Cornwall on a total of 1,066 charges. Of these charges 959, representing 90 per cent. led to con victions. The total fines imposed amounted to£5,165 7s. 0d. and, in addition, payment of costs awarded against persons prosecuted amounted to£835 18s. 2d.

asked the Minister of Food what decision has now been reached regarding the amendment of the Maximum Price Order for Table Jellies.

The figures which the Food Manufacturers' Federation promised to send in support of their request for an increase in the maximum prices of table jellies only reached me two days ago. They are now being examined.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make it compulsory upon manufacturers to give particulars of the fruit content of all jams intended for sale to the public by printing such information on the container.

This seems unnecessary as a minimum fruit content for each type of jam is at present prescribed by order. We shall, however, consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food how many tins of New Zealand lamp chops with tomatoes and gravy are now held in store by his Department; and for what purpose.

None; this commodity is handled by private trade.

asked the Minister of Food how much it cost the Exchequer to send Russian crab meat to the United States of America and have it returned to this country.

About£5,000; but the net profit made on the consignment, after taking this into account, was£33,000.

asked the Minister of Food from which European countries were the 162,000,000 tins of canned fish purchased by his Department.

Denmark, Eire, Holland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, Yugoslavia.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will amend the Transport Act so as to bring the carriage of unpacked new furniture, between wholesaler and retailer, into the category of exempted traffic.

No. I consider that it would be undesirable to extend the present exemption which covers ordinary furniture removals.

asked the Minister of Transport what sum he received from suspended coal rebates under Section 87 (3) of the Transport Act, 1947, during last year; and how much of that sum was used to subsidise coastal shipping.

The amount I received during the last completed financial year which ended 31st March, 1950, was£2,208,415. Of this,£408,000 was used for payments under the Coasting Liner Freight Equalisation Scheme and£235,000 was used for payments towards the cost of certain transport services in the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The balance—£1,565,415—was paid to the Minister of Fuel and Power in respect of the Coal Freight Refund Scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will identify the powers enabling other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 304; why these are not identified in the Instrument; and if he will give similar information concerning Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 299.

The only specific statutory powers under which these orders are made are those referred to in their opening words. The reference to other powers is a formula which is usually and properly employed in Statutory Instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Government have yet considered the recommendations of the British Transport Commission on the steps necessary to carry out the recent railway wages settlement; and when he expects to be able to make a statement.

The Commission's proposals are now being considered and I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to make the regulations winding-up the Railway Freight Rebates Fund, as provided for under Section 87 (1) of the Transport Act, 1947.

Regulations were made on 19th December, 1950, and laid on 21st December, 1950. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the regulations and of the answer which I gave on 14th December, 1950, announcing my intention to make them.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total amount of net revenue received by the Exchequer from the operations of the railways from September, 1939, to December, 1947.

The net revenue from the operations of the railways, including the London Passenger Transport Board, after meeting the annual rental due to the controlled undertakings, was£124.5 million.

asked the Minister of Transport whether fresh inquiries will now be instituted to ascertain in what way the numbers of practically empty omnibuses in central London during other than rush hours can be lessened and traffic conditions thereby eased.

This matter has recently been examined by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee who, in their recent report on London Traffic Congestion, expressed the view that no reduction in omnibus services in Inner London is at present warranted. The number of buses operated during the off peak periods is determined primarily by the needs of the travelling public. The London Transport Executive relieve the Inner London area so far as they can by turning omnibuses round short of that area.

asked the Minister of Transport what interference with traffic he anticipates will result during the building of the jetty at Kyle of Lochalsh Ferry; and how long this work will take to complete.

I do not expect that there will be any serious interference with traffic during the extension of this jetty. The conditions of the contract are designed to secure adequate facilities for the continued safe use of the existing slipway. The work of extending the slipway will take about four months to complete, but, as I have recently informed the House, every effort will be made to have the extension usable for Skye Week. It will probably take about five months to carry out the further work of making the slipway more convenient after the extension has been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the fact that fewer children were last year killed on the roads may be attributed to the road safety campaign; and whether he will ask those concerned in carrying out the campaign to continue their efforts and so still further reduce the toll on children.

I have no doubt that the road safety campaign has contributed largely to the reduction in the number of fatal accidents to children. I am most grateful to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the local road safety committees, the teachers and the police who have done so much to bring about this heartening reduction. The training of children in safe and sensible conduct on the roads is not only a protection to them now but should yield an increasing dividend in future years as the number of adults who have had safety training in their most impressionable years increases. The results already achieved will encourage all those concerned, and I am sure that I can rely upon them to continue their efforts to reduce still further the toll of children's lives.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in regard to the case of Magda Baumann, whose contributions to her pension fund at Dartington School, where she was a teacher before the war, have been claimed by the Custodian of Enemy Property, how often Section 1 (6) of the Distribution of German Enemy Property Act, 1949, has been invoked.

So far there has been no opportunity for invoking these powers, but the comparable powers under the Trading with the Enemy (Custodian) Order, 1939, have been used in a very large number of cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of machine tools ordered by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or satellite countries for which permission to export has been refused.

Since the imposition of export control on all metal working machine tools on 6th October, 1950, the number, up to the end of February, 1951, was 128.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the inconvenience resulting from the continued closing of the road across Rackheath aerodrome, near Norwich, leading from the Norwich—Wroxham Road to Salhouse; and if, pending the de-requisitioning of the site, he will make arrangements for the road to be re-opened to traffic.

I regret the inconvenience caused by the continued closing of this road, but Rackheath airfield is still in use for the storage of explosives and it is impossible to open the road until the explosives have been removed. I am, however, examining the possibility of expediting this process.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he was consulted by the First Sea Lord before he made his speech to officers and men of the Royal Navy at Gibraltar, in the course of which he entered into the controversy relating to the North Atlantic Command.

The speech referred to by the hon. Member was the same in substance as the public announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 26th February. My noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty accepts full responsibility for it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 271; and why these are not identified in the Instrument.

The powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 271 are provisions of the general statute law or overriding provisions such as those embodied in the Statute 12 and 13 Viet. Cap 89, governing the signature of Treasury Instruments by two of the Lords Commissioners. The reference to other powers enabling is a formula which is usually and properly employed in Statutory Instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 261; and why these are not identified in the Instrument.

The reference to other powers beyond those specified is a formula which is usually and properly employed in Statutory Instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 272; and why these are not identified in the Instrument.

The only specific statutory powers under which this Order is made are those conferred by Section 10 of the Wages Councils Act, 1945, and referred to in the Order. The reference to other powers, as already explained in the answer to a similar Question on Friday last, is a formula which is customarily used to comprehend any ancillary powers. It is by way of a legal precautionary device.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instruments, 1951, Nos. 328, 329 and 330; and why these are not identified in the Instruments.

The reference to powers other than those specified is a formula which is usually and properly employed in Statutory Instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised. These ancillary powers are provisions of the general statute law (for instance, in the Interpretation Act and the Statutory Instruments Act) or the prerogative powers of the Crown. To identify all the ancillary powers which might be relevant in each particular Statutory Instrument would be liable to confuse anyone having occasion to refer to the instrument.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will identify the powers enabling, other than those specified, to which reference is made in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 318; and why these are not identified in the Instrument.

The only specific statutory powers under which this Order in Council is made are those conferred by Section 3 of the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945 (as extended by the Supplies and Services (Extended Purposes) Act, 1947, and continued in force by the Supplies and Services (Continuance) Order, 1950), and referred to in the opening words of the Order in Council. The reference to other powers is a formula which is usually and properly employed in Statutory Instruments to comprehend such ancillary powers as are or might be brought into play when a specific power is exercised. These ancillary powers are provisions of the general statute law (for instance, in the Interpretation Act and the Statutory Instruments Act), or in the case of an Order in Council such as this—such powers as may derive from the Royal Prerogative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there is no explanatory note to Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 286, seeing that the Instrument is unintelligible without reference to another Instrument.

It was thought that the subject of the Regulation was sufficiently indicated in the text, namely, transfer payments by authorities formerly responsible for pensions to fire authorities who are now responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what quantity of cod liver oil was imported into the Gambia during the year 1950; and what was the value of such import.

My right hon. Friend has asked the Governor for this information, and will write to the hon. Member when he receives it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the quantity of animal and poultry feeding-stuffs imported into the Gambia during the year 1950; and what was the value of such imports.

One thousand four hundred and seventeen tons were imported. My right hon. Friend has asked the Governor their value and will inform the hon. Member when the information is received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amounts of timber have recently been sold for fuel by the Forestry Commission; how this compares with previous years; and to what extent he contemplates increasing these sales.

The quantities of timber sold for fuel during the past three years are:—1948, 12,860 tons; 1949, 24,400 tons; 1950, 33,600 tons. Sales will be increased to the extent to which suitable material is available and in demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision has been reached on the rate of hill sheep breeding ewe subsidy for the current year; and on what basis it is to be paid.

I shall lay before the House shortly a Statutory Instrument fixing a rate of 6s. per breeding ewe. In terms of the Hill Sheep (Scotland) No. 2 Scheme, payment will be calculated on the number of eligible sheep in the flock at 4th December, 1950. The 6s. rate will apply to England and Wales as the standard rate, and also to Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses completed during 1950 by the various agencies in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, respectively; and the relation which these figures bear to the respective populations.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware that applicants for tickets for the Toscanini concerts at the Royal Festival Hall were informed by letter whether successful or not in the ballot for such tickets approximately a week after the announcement that Toscanini would not visit this country to conduct; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a repetition of incidents, which do not augment the prestige of the Festival.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott), on 27th November, 1950.

asked the Minister of Labour what plans are being made in connection with the re-armament programme for the transfer of Scots workers to England and Wales.

None. There are, however, as the hon. Member may be aware, long-standing arrangements by which important vacancies which cannot be

The information asked for is as follows:filled from local resources are circulated to other parts of the country through the employment exchange service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can yet make a further statement about additional assistance in respect of the Antigua hurricanes.

Having received detailed estimates of the damage His Majesty's Government have agreed to increase the grant of£50,000 which I announced on 18th September last to a maximum of£175,000. Of this sum up to£152,000 will be for Antigua, up to£10,600 for Anguilla and up to£12,300 for rebuilding the Leeward Islands Federal Secretariat, which was destroyed by fire shortly after the hurricanes. This assistance will be met in part from the Vote for Colonial and Middle Eastern Services in respect of which I propose in due course to ask Parliament to vote the necessary funds, and in part by means of schemes under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts, 1940–1950.