asked the Minister of Works what are the tests used by the officers of his Department to distinguish between licensable and non-licensable works in the interior of buildings for the purposes of Defence Regulation 56A.

In the vast majority of cases the licensable work is clearly distinguishable, but where any doubt arises my officers can obtain legal advice.

Is not it the fact that the test they seek to apply is the distinction between landlord's fixtures and tenant's fixtures? Is not that a difficult test indeed to apply, and does not it give rise to a good deal of hardship in individual cases?

I agree that any test is difficult to apply, and ultimately of course these matters have to be decided by the courts. My officers have instructions, but they are subject to legal interpretation after that.

asked the Minister of Works how far there is uniformity in respect of the form of building contract used in connection with work for the various Government Departments.

All the principal Government Departments placing building contracts use the standard General Conditions of Government contracts for Building Works (Forms CCC/Wks/1 or 2).

Is it possible in any cases, if it is so desired by the contractor, for the standard form issued by the Royal Institute of British Architects to be used in this type of work?

No. We could not adopt that without considerable alteration.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consider removing the statue of the Duke of Cambridge in Whitehall and replacing it with a statue in memory of Alcock and Brown as the first men to fly the North Atlantic.

I do not think that Whitehall would be suitable for a memorial to Alcock and Brown. The Duke was for nearly 40 years Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, and I think that his statue is well placed between the War Office and the Horse Guards.

Will not the Minister agree that, imposing as is that record of the Duke, nevertheless the statue is too bulky for present-day traffic? Will not he also realise that a statue of a smaller size of Alcock and Brown would be inspiring to our own people and enlightening to the Americans?

I should like to see a statue of Alcock and Brown somewhere. As to the bulk of the statue of the Duke, I will go and have another look.

Does not the Minister realise that it is generally thought that an American was the first to fly the Atlantic? Does not he think we ought to pay a tribute to these great British pioneers, and cannot something be done about it?

Yes, certainly, but that is quite another question.

asked the Minister of Works where his consultations with the catering trade on the subject of 2, Park Street, W.1, took place; who were the representatives of that trade for this purpose; and what was the result of these consultations.

There was no formal consultation. In answering the hon. Member's supplementary question on 23rd January I had in mind the informal notification of my intentions that I had conveyed to the British Hotels and Restaurants Association on 7th November and 15th January last.

asked the Minister of Works the capital value of the buildings erected for Government occupation under the building lessor scheme; and the amount allowed as capital expenditure in respect of these buildings in the Economic Surveys.

Capital expenditure on building by the lessors is estimated at about £13 million. Approximately £7 million of this was included in the figures for Government building published in Economic Surveys to the end of 1950, and most of the balance, which is for buildings already in course of erection, will be included in the figure for Government building in 1951.

asked the Minister of Works whether a decision has yet been taken whether the proposed traffic ramp to the basement of Carlton House Terrace shall run from Waterloo Place or from Cockspur Street.

No, Sir.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman has not got the matter under consideration at all? Is not he aware that there is very serious reason to think that inconvenience may be caused by the present site? People dining at the Athenæum may easily fall into the ramp.

The matter is not absolutely settled. A preliminary sketch plan was approved by the Westminster City Council. The Royal Fine Art Commission wanted the entrance through Cockspur Street, but they forgot there was a Nash sewer in the way.

Is this the only ramp the Minister is dealing with?

asked the Minister of Works why licences for work on the maintenance, repair and re-surfacing of estate roads and paths are now to be included in the allocation allowed for building licences.

There is no separate provision made in the investment programme for estate roads and paths and they are therefore included in the miscellaneous category, for which a general allocation is made. Within that allocation, the local authorities and my licensing officers license as much as they can of the more important work.

Is not the Minister aware that this is a new departure and that much essential maintenance work is being held up, and thereby firms specialising in that type of work are seriously hit?

I can assure the hon. Member that I am as anxious as anyone about maintenance work, but it has to be put somewhere and it is put into the miscellaneous field of capital investment.

It is cutting certain firms out altogether.

Even if these roads have a direct benefit to a particular farm, do they still go into this miscellaneous category?

I could not answer that question without notice.

asked the Minister of Works what use he proposes to make of the Lion and Unicorn statues taken from Westminster Hall: and if they can be used on the South Bank Festival of Britain site.

The plaster figures of the Lion and the Unicorn have been offered on loan to the Festival authorities, but they are unable to make use of them. I have no other suggestion for their use at present.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he is going to do with them, and will he give an assurance that they will not be destroyed?

They are being carefully stored against the eventuality of any occasion when their appearance would be suitable.

Could they be used to adorn respectively the offices of the Government and Opposition Whips?

Has the Minister thought of Madame Tussaud's?

asked the Minister of Works if an early decision will be made for the continuation of the Festival Gardens, Battersea, in 1952, to ensure that there will be a profit to the taxpayers.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his interest in the profit-making possibilities of the Festival Pleasure Gardens in Battersea Park, but a decision to keep them open in 1952 can hardly be made in advance of public opinion showing itself in favour of such a course, and of ascertaining the views of local authorities concerned, and of the people normally using the park.

May I ask whether the Minister is in sympathy with the suggestion as being in the best interests of the taxpayers?

The more I look into the matter, the more I am in sympathy with keeping the Gardens open.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that they will, in fact, be open in 1951?

If the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will wait, I am going to make a statement about it.

Does the Minister recall that the Festival of Britain (Supplementary Provisions) Act was passed by this House on the express assurance given by the Minister of Transport and the then Leader of the House that this area of the park would be taken for six months only, after which there would be reinstatement, and that this period was laid down in the Act? Can he give an assurance to the House that His Majesty's Government have no intention whatever of breaking faith with the local authorities and abandoning that assurance?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs made a statement about this the other day. The position is as the hon. and learned Gentleman has stated; and unless public opinion and the House say otherwise, the course to be followed will be as laid down in the Act.

asked the Minister of Works if he is now in a position to make a statement as to the progress of the investigation into the financial and administrative arrangements of Festival Gardens, Limited; in particular, as to who is conducting the investigation; and what measures of an urgent character are being taken to prevent still further increases of expenditure beyond the original estimates while the investigation is proceeding.

With the permission of Mr. Speaker and that of the House, I propose to answer this at the end of Questions.

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and with the leave of the House, I should like to take the earliest opportunity of telling the House of the action which has already been taken regarding the Festival Pleasure Gardens, and in doing so to cover the points raised in Question No. 16.

The Board of Festival Gardens, Limited, has at my request invited a leading firm of chartered accountants nominated by me, to investigate and to submit a report upon the circumstances which had caused the financial commitments of the company to be greatly in excess of the amount which was estimated would be sufficient in December last. Meanwhile many of the facts are not clear and until I receive this report, which I am expecting next week, hon. Members will appreciate that it will be inadvisable for me to say anything which might prejudice its findings. I have, however, several times personally visited the site as well as the offices of Festival Gardens, Limited. I have seen all those principally concerned, and have taken such steps as seem to me advisable.

The House will, I am sure, agree with me that when something appears to be wrong with the control of expenditure of public money it is right that changes in the top direction should be made. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] That was a bit of bad timing! Sir Henry French, the present Chairman of Festival Gardens, Limited, who shares this view on the matter of principle, has tendered his resignation from the Board, which I have accepted. I wish to recognise the unpaid service which Sir Henry has rendered in working out the scheme for the Gardens and in putting it into execution so quickly in spite of so many difficulties.

The Board have also, at my request, strengthened their managerial arrangements by inviting Major H. D. Joseph to become Managing Director, with full executive powers. This invitation has been accepted and the appointment will be confirmed at the Board meeting on Thursday. Major Joseph is a man of the highest standing and experience in the successful provision of outdoor entertainment, and the company are fortunate in having secured his whole-time services unpaid for the 1951 season.

I have felt that the successful management of the Gardens and the control of finance with, I hope, the consequent recoupment of as much as possible of the expenditure is now the paramount objective. I am consulting with the board with a view to finding a new Chairman of the appropriate qualifications and will make a further statement on this as soon as possible.

This is all I am in a position to say at the moment.

Is the Minister aware that what has happened in this case is an illustration of the effect which follows from the example of extravagance and profligacy set by the Government, and that the House is entitled to know why these measures which are now being announced were not taken very much earlier? May I also ask whether we shall be given the opportunity of seeing the report of the accountants?

It would be quite improper for me to express an opinion on how this has all happened. When I see the report, consideration will be given to the question whether it should or should not be published.

I think we would all be ready to await this report. There is one point, however, which must be in the minds of many hon. Members. This, of course, was a Government-sponsored organisation, and it seems strange that accountants have to be called in now. Have not accountants been in constant touch, watching over these matters, while they were going on under an earlier administration?

I thought it desirable to have an independent accountant's report. Accounts, of course, have been kept. [Laughter.] I am treating this with all seriousness. I think if hon. Members opposite will study my statement, they will agree that the steps I have taken are all that could have been taken in the time. As soon as I have this report, I will consider what next to do. The report will be prepared by an entirely independent accountant.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that until the inquiry has been concluded no advances will be made to this company from the Civil Contingencies Fund?

No, I cannot do that. The job has got to go on. As was indicated at Question Time today, we are anxious that the job should be completed in time for the proper opening date, and I could not possibly give that assurance.

As the Board was to a large extent nominated by the Government, and includes serving civil servants, can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Government accept their full share of responsibility for what has happened?

I think we had better wait for the report before commenting on these things. When this report does come out, it will be quite clear what has happened, and I should think it would be fairer not to anticipate it.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman is right, but he will remember, and the House will remember, that we were assured that legislation would be required for the expenditure of this money. We should like to be assured that the publication of the report will not hold up the legislation.

Certainly not. I hope the Bill will be introduced very shortly.

Do the Government accept the principle of the publication of accounts of all public bodies, and if so, will my right hon. Friend ask the Opposition to follow the example and publish their accounts?

Who authorised the use of the Civil Contingencies Fund to make payments which are not in accordance with the policy laid down by Parliament? Surely, it is an accepted principle that the Civil Contingencies Fund is used only to implement commitments that have been undertaken in consequence of policies which have been approved by Parliament when those commitments have proved to be bigger than was anticipated. But as in this case it was not in consequence of policy laid down by Parliament, who authorised the use of the Fund for that purpose?

That is a little bit before my day. The Chancellor of the Exchequer authorised the payment, but not before the announcement to this House that the Bill would be laid.

Why is it that this praiseworthy and selfless example of Sir Henry French in resigning in the case of failure has not been followed in the past by Ministers of the Crown?

Will the Minister give the name of the firm of accountants?

Answer.

asked the Minister of Works what provision is being made to ensure that the workers engaged in the various Festival of Britain features will be adequately and prominently represented at the opening ceremonies.

Fifty representatives of the workers engaged in the preparation of the Festival of Britain Exhibitions are being invited to the Service of Dedication at St. Paul's Cathedral on 3rd May and are being allotted seats which are well placed; and a larger number are being invited to the South Bank Exhibition on the occasion of the first visit of Their Majesties on 4th May.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this news will be welcomed, and that although there are some unruly elements, the majority of the men have a very big interest in this Exhibition being completed?

I am sure that that is the case.

Has the Minister seen the announcement in "The Times" today that the date may have to be postponed, because the Exhibition will not be ready, and can he make a statement about it?

I have already said that I am making a statement about that.

asked the Minister of Works why the Eon Olympia, a sailplane of German design, is to be exhibited in the Transport and Communications Pavilion at the Festival of Britain; and whether he will confine the exhibition to products of British design and manufacture.

The hon. Member has been misinformed. The design of the Eon Olympia sailplane to be exhibited at the South Bank Exhibition is based on a German design, but is the product of development and modification in this country so extensive as to justify its inclusion as a British exhibit.

Arising out of that, is the Minister aware that this German plane was to have been in the German exhibits for the 1940 Olympic Games, and would not it be much better to confine the exhibit to sailplanes such as the Slingsby Sky sailplane, which would bring great credit to British designers and manufacturers?

That may be, but the Council of Industrial Design recommended that this should be included. There are always marginal cases, and it is absolutely impossible to guarantee that everything is 100 per cent. British from its conception.

asked the Minister of Works how much has so far been spent on the South Bank site of the Festival of Britain; what further expenditure is expected; how these figures compare with the original estimates; and how they will affect the final profit and loss account.

About £2,500,000 has so far been spent on the South Bank Exhibition. The further expenditure on the South Bank Exhibition is estimated at under £4 million, much of which is already committed. The original estimate for the South Bank Exhibition given more than two years ago was about £6 million, but a general contingency was also provided from which part of the estimated increased expenditure will be met. As a result of other adjustments, it is anticipated that the profit and loss account of the Festival as a whole will not be affected. It is, however, not possible to be definite on this point since revenue depends largely on attendances, sales of publications, etc.

Can the Minister state whether that figure includes the removal of all these things after it is over?

My impression is, yes; but I should like to make sure.

Does the Minister's statement mean that he is, so far as he can foresee, confirming the estimate of £6 million for the South Bank Exhibition?

If the right hon. Gentleman looks at the Question and Answer again he will see that it does not quite work out at that. Some things will cost more and some will cost less, but the overall figure will be inside the estimated total.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has any further statement to make about visits by Members of Parliament to the South Bank and Festival Gardens sites.

Yes, Sir. As I told the House in reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Woodside (Mr. Bennett), on 15th March, no ban has been or will be put on visits by Members of Parliament to the site of the South Bank Exhibition but because of the vital importance of avoiding as much as possible any interruption to this last stage of preparation for the opening day, I feel that even visits by Members of Parliament should be limited somewhat and I must, therefore, ask that such visits shall be confined to Tuesdays, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., both to the South Bank and to Festival Gardens.

I would remind hon. Members that if they want to visit the site they should make an appointment beforehand with the Director General of the Festival for the South Bank or with the Secretary of Festival Gardens, Limited, for the Gardens.

asked the Minister of Labour under what circumstances his regulations require an application by a concern wanting to build a new factory to meet orders for defence equipment to be referred to his Department; and what action he takes.

There are no such regulations. My Department is consulted as necessary, however, on the labour aspects of proposals to build new factories or extensions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the five recent fatal accidents arising out of demolition work in the main shopping area of Liverpool; and what steps have been taken by the factory inspectorate to ensure compliance with the Building (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations, 1948.

Four fatalities caused by accidents during the course of demolition work in Liverpool have recently been reported to me. The firm of contractors responsible for the first of these accidents involving two deaths was prosecuted and fined £100 on 29th March. Proceedings are contemplated in respect of the second accident which, like the first, involved two fatalities.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that since this Question was put down there has been a further serious accident on one of these sites? Will he take steps to tighten up the enforcement of the building regulations in crowded city districts?

I am aware that there has been another accident since the hon. Gentleman put down the Question. I note that in his Question he mentions five fatalities: actually, there have been four. If he has any further information on that aspect, I should be very pleased to have it.

Can my hon. Friend tell me when this site moved out of the Exchange Division of Liverpool into the Toxteth Division of Liverpool?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour what trade disputes have been reported to him in connection with the Festival of Britain preparations during the past six months; how many men were involved; and for how many days.

During the six months ended March, 1951, four stoppages of work arising from industrial disputes at the Lambeth or Battersea Festival of Britain sites have been reported to my Department, and a fifth stoppage was reported in connection with Festival of Britain work at the Science Museum, Kensington. The aggregate number of workers involved in these five stoppages was about 1,450 and the aggregate time lost was about 3,500 working days.

asked the Secretary of State for War why a letter sent on 20th December, 1950, to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames by a constituent held in close arrest at B Camp Guardroom, Royal Engineers Depot, Barton Stacey, was not forwarded until on or about 28th January, 1951.

I have made inquiries but have been unable to find any evidence that the military authorities were responsible for the alleged delay in forwarding this letter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how, when a man is in close arrest, anybody else could be responsible for a delay in his correspondence?

As the hon. Member, quite naturally, had not kept the envelope, we were not able to make any conclusive investigation in the matter. The man himself cannot remember to whom he handed the letter at the time, so it is difficult to come to any conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will place in the Library of the House a copy of the court-martial proceedings concerning Driver Fargie.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now make a statement about the case of Private Fargie.

A copy of the proceedings of the court-martial in this case has now arrived in this country. As soon as I have had an opportunity to examine it, I will have a copy placed in the Library of the House and I will consider making a statement.

When my right hon. Friend places the copy of the proceedings in the Library, will he also place with it a copy of the Commander-in-Chief's reasons for interfering with the court-martial sentence?

That is another question.

Will my right hon. Friend consider that?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that boots issued to the 27th and 29th Brigades in Korea have proved inadequate and been the cause of complaint and suffering; on what date he first heard of these complaints; when it was decided to issue a new type of boot; in what way the present boots have been found unsuitable and inferior to those used by the Americans; and on what date all British troops in the fighting line will be issued with the new type of boot;

(2) whether he is aware that in spite of recent assurances to the contrary some units among British troops fighting in Korea have still not got adequate supplies of good quality boots, waterproof capes and battle-dress trousers; that as a result of this morale has already suffered; and if he will now take steps to put these matters right.

The Finnish pattern boot has not proved satisfactory for marching troops in all of the weather conditions encountered in Korea mainly because the upper leather has cracked and the stitching has broken. Neither the United States nor any other country fighting in Korea has provided a completely satisfactory boot for the alternating wet and dry cold of the climate. Complaints regarding the Finnish pattern boots were received in the War Office in February and in the same month, following interdepartmental consultations, the Ministry of Supply were asked to produce an improved type of boot for wet and dry cold. Meanwhile, orders had already been given for the production of a special boot which can be worn with heavy duffel socks for dry cold weather, and sufficient numbers of both types of boots will be produced to equip the whole British force in Korea for next winter if this should prove necessary.

I am not aware of any inadequacy in either the quality or the supply of ponchos or battledress trousers, ample stocks of which have been in Korea and Japan for months. There have, however, been considerable difficulties in effecting distribution locally. I should be glad to investigate any specific complaints the hon. and gallant Member may have.

Would it not be better to provide with proper equipment these men fighting for freedom in Korea rather than to provide thousands of overcoats and so-called battle dress for the Civil Defence people in this country?

asked the Secretary of State for War if the troops in Korea are getting fresh meat and vegetables; and if he will state the weight of fresh meat provided per man per week.

At present the British troops in Korea are provided from British sources with either compo rations or preserved field service rations, neither of which contains fresh meat or vegetables. Arrangements have, however, been made for fresh meat and vegetables, when available, to be drawn from United States Army sources in place of tinned meat and vegetables. The weekly scale of issue per man in such cases is 98 oz. of fresh meat and 56 oz. of fresh vegetables (excluding potatoes, of which fresh supplies are not obtainable).

asked the Secretary of State for War how long the 27th and 29th Brigades have now been on active service in Korea; and what arrangements he is making for these formations to be relieved.

The 27th Infantry Brigade arrived in Korea in August, 1950. It has distinguished itself in action and spent seven months almost continuously in the fighting line. Plans are now in hand for its relief. 29th Infantry Brigade Group arrived in Korea in November, 1950, and has completed four months distinguished service. No arrangements for its relief have yet been made, but the matter is being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now review the question of the issue of orders to sentries, especially when on active service, in order that they may be more precise.

In July, 1950, all Commanders-in-Chief were requested to take immediate steps to re-examine existing orders for armed sentries and to ensure that they were appropriate, clearly and definitely worded, and fully understood by the sentries. A further letter was sent to Commanders-in-Chief in December, 1950, to clarify the position. The actual orders which are issued to sentries overseas or on active service must be left to the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief concerned according to the local circumstances.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that recent cases have indicated that far too much has been left to the discretion of the sentry on duty, and that in one case there was a suggestion that a legal decision should be made; and is he further aware that it is absolutely essential that these men should have orders upon which they are clear, so that their duties are automatic, in order that these unfortunate events should not occur?

We have twice emphasised this point to Commanders-in-Chief, but, of course, we must not take the actual drafting of the orders out of their hands.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of Class Z reservists have failed to reply to their call-up notices to date; and how many notices have been returned to his Department as untraceable.

Some 7.4 per cent. of reservists warned for recall have not yet acknowledged the receipt of a warning notice. Acknowledgments are, however, still being received. In addition, 1,734 warning notices, or some 0.9 per cent. of the whole, have been returned as untraceable.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that the plans indicated for the organisation of the Home Guard and its rôle in any future emergency will be worked out in time for the Home Guard to be included in home defence exercises this summer.

Instructions regarding planning for the Home Guard were issued to commands on 2nd March, 1951, and planning has begun. As the House has already been informed, however, it is not proposed actually to raise the Home Guard at present.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that when, on 14th March, I asked the Minister of Defence whether any exercises were to be carried on this summer in order to make clear the rôle of the Home Guard in home defence, the Minister replied that plans for the organisation of the Home Guard, and its rôle in any future emergency, were then being worked out? Can the right hon. Gentleman now give any indication of what those plans are to be?

The planning is going on, and that is being organised in the commands, but it has been decided that the actual raising of the force should not go on for the present.

I have no dispute about the raising of the force, but I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman if this planning includes the appointment of commanders so that, if need be, the raising of the force could rapidly follow?

In these cases, it includes the appointment of officers responsible within the commands.

But it does not include commanding officers of units?

No, not the commanding officers of the units.

That does not get us very far.

Can the Minister say whether he has got the arms ready for them, so that they will be available when they are called up?

There are considerable reserves of rifles in this country.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider a matter upon which I asked the Under-Secretary a question three or four weeks ago; that is, the matter of recruiting at this stage county weapon cadres of trained officers whose services are not being used at this time?

That can only be considered by officers appointed to the staffs of Commands.

Would the right hon. Gentleman realise that any potential aggressor in the West must consider very seriously the possibility of direct attack on this country by means of airborne landings, and does he really think that the existing arrangements for home defence, particularly in regard to Civil Defence and the Home Guard, are such as would deter an aggressor at the present moment?

That is a very much wider question, and I cannot, in reply to a supplementary question, add anything to the considerations which have led my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence and myself to decide that the order of priority should not be for the actual raising of the Home Guard at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now make a statement on the recent escapes from the detention barracks at Maryhill, Glasgow.

I have not yet received the proceedings of the court of inquiry, which are under consideration by the competent military authorities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now taken steps to ensure that all young soldiers sent to Malaya receive adequate training there in jungle fighting before they join operational units.

Reinforcements arriving in the Far East are not sent on operations before they have been in the command for a suitable period—normally four weeks—for acclimatization and for training in the tasks they are likely to be required to perform in jungle operations.

Are we to gather from this answer that every young soldier being sent out to Malaya is given four weeks' intensive jungle training before being sent to join his operational unit?

He is given training, but he joins his unit at once. To that extent he is subject to the same risks to which everybody is subject in Malaya.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if the procedure which is now envisaged is one that has been recently introduced?

No, Sir. I emphasise that men join their units as soon as they arrive there, and it is considered the best form of training, but they are not sent out on jungle patrols or on active operations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rates of duty or tax are at present charged on betting, bookmakers, horse and dog racing, totalisators, sporting and other entertainments open to the public.

The duties are Pool Betting duty, Bookmakers' Licence Duty and Entertainments Duty. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a statement setting out the statutory rates.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of considering bringing these varying imposts to some kind of order and uniformity, so as to make them more just and equitable between the various forms of entertainment?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to paragraph 132 of the First Report of the Gas Council; what steps have been taken to clear the obscurity about the liability of the council to Income Tax and Profits Tax; and if he will make a statement.

I have read the paragraph to which the hon. Member refers, but as I have already told him, I cannot make statements about the liability to tax of particular taxpayers.

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer give an assurance that the Gas Council is treated for the purposes of tax in exactly the same way as a private company?

In exactly the same way as a private company in the same position would be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what duty-free concession vouchers are given to troops in Korea to enable them to send home presents to their wives and families.

Troops serving abroad are allowed to send home presents, other than tobacco, scent and liquor, to a value of 10s. free of Customs charges. In addition, gift parcels of food weighing not more than 22 lb. gross are admitted free.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how often they can send a 10s. voucher, and does he appreciate that a 10s. voucher does not help the people at home when they have to pay a duty which is much greater than the value of the present?

There is no restriction on the number of parcels that may be sent.

May I urge on my right hon. Friend that he should consider the system which operated very well in wartime of allowing troops on active operations to send home so many duty-free parcels, the value of which came to more than 10s. per parcel?

I should be more ready to consider that, if I felt satisfied that there was any real dissatisfaction with the present arrangements.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a parcel recently sent from Korea, by a soldier to his mother, the value of which was 20s., attracted no less than 17s. 4d. in Customs Duty and Purchase Tax? Would it not be fair to extend to serving men overseas the generous concession which obtained during the war?

I do not think there is anything I can add. Obviously, if a parcel is worth more than 10s., it will become liable to Customs duty, but I think it is very unusual for that kind of difficulty to arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now ease the currency restrictions imposed on emigrants to Canada.

I am afraid that this is, still not possible.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it very advisable to do everything possible to stimulate emigration to Canada? In view of the improved dollar position, will not he look into the matter again?

That is one of the considerations kept under continuous review.

Has the right hon. Gentleman discussed it recently with his opposite number in Canada and with the Government of Canada?

I am not aware of any recent official or Ministerial discussions.

Will the Chancellor have discussions as soon as possible?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what authority £20 Customs Duty was demanded on 55 crates of snow presented by Norwegian sporting organisations for use in a sporting event in this country; and whether he intends to insist on this payment.

The Import Duties Act, 1932, imposed a Customs duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem on all goods imported into this country, with certain exceptions. This snow was described for Customs purposes by the importers as having a value of £200 and was technically liable to duty of £20. No difficulty would have arisen if the importers had applied for duty-free admission, as was done in similar circumstances last year. On advice from the Customs Department, they have now done so and duty relief has been allowed.

Can the Chancellor say whether this import has since been liquidated?

I think it is self-liquidating.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the proposal to levy a duty on this snow was originally made in the "Manchester Guardian" by way of a joke? Is the explanation of the attempted charge that this was read by a civil servant who did not know it was a joke?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the effect on the cost of living index if subsidies on meat, eggs, sugar and tea were abolished.

On the basis of present procurement prices, the Interim Index of Retail Prices would be raised by 2.56 points.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for compensation out of the global figure of £300 million under Sections 58 and 60 of the Town and Country Planning Act have been agreed; and what sum of money they amount to.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 7th March to the hon. Member for Angus, North and Mearns (Mr. Thornton-Kemsley).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the sum claimed for compensation out of the global figure of £300 million under Sections 58 and 60 of the Town and Country Planning Act by the 807,153 applicants in England and Wales, and the 137,354 applicants in Scotland, respectively.

As claimants were not required to state the amount claimed and the majority have not done so, this information is not available.

When do the Government expect to agree on these claims?

Some time between now and 1953.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total of unrequited exports since 1945; and to what countries principally have they gone.

I am not sure what definition the hon. Member has in mind for "unrequited exports." If it is the excess of current exports over current imports, the answer is certainly negative. If he has some other definition in mind, I suggest that he draws his own conclusion from the Balance of Payments White Paper, which will be published on Thursday.

Without having had a preview of the White Paper, may I ask the Chancellor how much of the war-time accumulated sterling debts we have still to pay off by way of unrequited exports?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will adopt a sliding scale for the calculation of drawback of duty on exported paper bags.

As the trade interests concerned have already been informed, we are ready to consider this proposal sympathetically as soon as we receive from them certain additional information for which they have been asked.

Is my hon. Friend aware that very valuable export trade is being lost as a result of the lack of this sliding scale? Will he do his best to get an early agreement with the trade?

We are awaiting a reply from the trade association and as soon as we get that we shall try to reach an agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many trade commissioners and assistant trade commissioners have been appointed since 1945; and what steps were taken before the appointments were made to make sure that they were qualified for their work.

Since 1945, 49 and 56 appointments have been made to the rank of trade commissioner and assistant trade commissioner respectively. Of these appointments 33 and 28 were to new posts, the remainder being to fill vacancies in existing posts. Before appointment, each candidate appears before a selection board which is so constitued as to ensure that full consideration is given to all the qualities which the work requires.

Although I have no personal knowledge of this, is the Minister aware that it is stated that many of those appointed have no qualifications whatever and know nothing at all about the job? Will he look into the matter again?

That is certainly contrary to all the information we have. Perhaps I can refer the hon. Member to the remarks of his hon. Friend the Member for Southgate (Mr. Baxter) in a recent debate on Anglo-Canadian trade.