asked the Minister of Works what decoration and embellishment he is arranging to do on public buildings in Scotland in view of the plans already being carried out in London.

My officers have been authorised to co-operate with local authorities by decorating Government buildings with flags and bunting in areas for which the local authorities have special schemes of decoration. In Edinburgh, the floodlighting of the Castle will be extended.

asked the Minister of Works the estimated amount of coal required to supply all the components necessary for the erection of a traditionally built house with a floor space of 1,000 square feet; and the quantity of petrol consumed in transporting to site the materials required to build a similar house.

The quantity of coal would vary considerably according to the types of materials used, but I estimate that not less than nine tons would be required. The variety of the distances and of the methods of transport makes it impossible for me to give any useful answer to the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Works how many houses and other buildings under his control in Scotland he is prepared to sell; and where lists of these can be obtained.

None of the buildings under my control in Scotland is available for sale. If the hon. Member has in mind various properties which will be vacated when the temporary office buildings are completed, all these properties, whether held on requisition or on short-term leases, will eventually be handed back to their owners.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps the factory inspectorate takes to ensure the safety of employees against the risk of accidental explosion in factories and plants manufacturing bottled gas used mainly for domestic purposes.

The Factory Inspectorate enforce the Factories Acts and advise employers on technical points from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the representations made to him by the county councils of Scotland regarding sheep worrying by dogs.

Over the past few years representations have been received from county councils in Scotland about losses from sheep worrying with suggestions as to measures that might be taken to improve the position. The main suggestions are that the restrictions on dogs which can at present be imposed by local authorities during the hours of darkness should be extended to day-time particularly in the vicinity of land used for grazing; that licence duty should be increased; that fewer exemptions from licence duty should be granted; that there should be more police supervision and increased penalties for infringements of the law; and that farmers should have the right to shoot on sight dogs worrying their sheep. The county councils are, however, by no means unanimous in their views. All the various suggestions have been very carefully considered, but, while I realise the importance of reducing sheep worrying to a minimum, I do not think that the adoption of any of the proposals so far made would provide a practicable and effective solution of the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now prepared to consider in all its aspects the effect of the Rent Restriction Acts in the light of the practice of local authorities of raising current rents on State subsidised houses.

I can hold out no hope of early legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are employed directly in the seven crofter counties by the Department of Agriculture; and how many by the Forestry Commission.

The number of persons employed directly in the seven crofting counties by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland is 303. This figure excludes direct labour engaged on seasonal or casual work; persons employed on a part-time basis are counted as half units; 2,050 persons are employed directly by the Forestry Commission in the seven crofter counties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total acreage held by the Forestry Commission in the seven crofter counties, giving a separate figure for Ross and Cromarty.

The total acreage at the disposal of the Forestry Commission in the seven crofting counties is 380,600 acres of which 56,024 acres are in Ross and Cromarty.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total acreage of agricultural land held by his Department in the seven crofter counties, giving separate figures for Ross and Cromarty.

The total acreage of agricultural land held by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in the seven crofting counties is 536,544, including 18,809 acres in Ross and Cromarty.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the Class Z reservists who have been recalled originally entered into the Forces in each of the years from 1939 to 1946, respectively.

Information regarding the date of original entry into the Army of Z reservists selected for recall is not readily available. I have, however, arranged for the carrying out of a percentage check of the age and service groups of the reservists who are being recalled.The House will recollect that the recall programme involves bringing certain Regular and Territorial units up to strength by the addition of Z reservists. The general principle adopted in selecting reservists for recall was that of "last out, first back," but this principle is qualified by the differing requirements of various arms and trades and the requirements of senior non-commissioned officers. This has involved the recall of a number of men in the lower age and service groups, particularly for units in Anti-Aircraft Command, where the average age of reservists is generally high.Despite these considerations, the percentage check to which I have referred indicates that the "last out, first back" principle has operated in the case of the reservists to be recalled this year to a very marked degree. I will circulate the figures obtained in the OFFICIAL REPORT; these will show that of the reservists of age and service groups 1–28 who comprise half the Z Reserve, only some 1.6 per cent. are being recalled. On the other hand, of the reservists of age and service or release groups 29–150, 11.8 per cent. are being recalled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now communicated with the Commander of the British Forces in Korea on the subject of a local overseas allowance; and if he will make a statement.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." In the opinion of the Commander there is no case for a local overseas allowance in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for War what further news he has of British Service men formerly reported missing and subsequently reported to be prisoners-of-war; and if he will make new efforts to communicate with them and to secure an exchange of prisoners.

No official news of British prisoners-of-war in North Korea is available. Peking radio has, however, announced that mail is being sent home from United Nations prisoners and at least one letter has reached this country. Indications have also been given that letters from relatives will be forwarded to the prisoners and the arrangements for posting such mail were announced by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General on 29th March. While advantage is being taken of these unofficial arrangements, every effort is continuing to be made to set up official channels of communication. With regard to the possibility of securing an exchange of prisoners, this is a matter which involves the Unified Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War the medical category of 6204638 Private D. Gwinnell, C Company, Royal Ulster Rifles, J Rear Holding Unit, care of British Army, Post Office 3, prior to his embarkation for Korea; what further medical examination he has received since his arrival in Korea; and, if so, with what result.

The hon. Member will now have received my letter of 2nd April, giving this information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Economic Survey for 1951 is not yet published; and why it is so much later in appearing than those for former years.

The Economic Survey for 1951 is being published today. The delay of a week or two in comparison with the last few years which I regret, was due to the need for covering fully in the Survey the economic implications of the new defence programme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in the current year of lowering the age limit at which widows and spinsters receive the old age allowance, from 65 to 60 years.

It is contrary to established practice to give information about the cost of changes in taxation so near the date of the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the concession whereby the Schedule A assessment of a property let at a pre-1939 rental which subsequently becomes owner-occupied is reduced on re-occupation by the owner to the figure adopted for rating purposes or to the figure adopted if owner-occupied before letting began, was not included in the list of Extra-Statutory Concessions published in the Ninety-Third Report of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Inland Revenue for the year ended 31st March, 1950.

The reduction of a Schedule A assessment in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers is not a matter of concessional relief, but of the determination of the annual value of the property by the General Commissioners of Income Tax for the area as the body responsible for hearing appeals against Schedule A assessments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to reducing the tax payable for admission to greyhound racing and speedway tracks to the level appertaining to other forms of sport.

I have noted the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion, but I cannot, of course, anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what arrangements he has made whereby the Establishment Division of his Department shall be represented at and kept informed as to the discussions and as to decisions taken at the meetings of the committee recently appointed by the Postmaster-General to consider the general question of the recognition of organisations representing Post Office Departmental classes of staff; whether he will undertake that the principles underlying any decisions made by the Postmaster-General shall not be accepted by His Majesty's Treasury as applicable throughout the Civil Service and published in Estacode until he has consulted the National Whitley Council and they have agreed to any changes in such principles.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None," and, to the second, that such an undertaking has already been given to the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to grant the request of the industrial workers in Government employment for two weeks' annual paid holiday.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 15th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton).

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning when planning permission was granted for the permanent buildings now being erected on Clapham Common.

These are temporary buildings, for which, under the Public Works (Festival of Britain) Act of 1949, planning permission is not required.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning what steps he has taken to stop land speculators buying properties in order to fell the timber and then resell the land.

Felling which is injurious to amenity may be controlled by tree preservation orders, and I have confirmed many such orders by local authorities. In addition, all felling of any importance requires the licensing of the Forestry Commission.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he is aware that, under the present advertisement regulations, residential hotels are only permitted to erect one advertisement or two in the case of premises having entrances on two different road frontages; and whether, in view of the fact that it is not always possible to erect such signs in such a way that they can be seen from the road in both directions, steps can be taken in due course to modify the regulations so as to permit two advertisements on each frontage.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) and the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Roland Robinson).

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning whether he will allocate an increased number of houses to the Gloucester Rural District Council, in order to speed-up the rehousing of camp dwellers at present living at Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire.

Recent allocations made to this Council have taken into account the need for rehousing camp dwellers in the district. Many of these houses have not yet been begun, and more progress must be shown before I can consider making a futher allocation.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning if he will send a circular to local authorities recommending that old persons removed from under-occupied houses should be compensated for the full expense incidental both to removal and to the occupation of a new dwelling.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a Circular issued to local authorities in April, 1949.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has studied particulars, which have been sent to him, about the export of cotton and rayon piece goods; and if he will, to avoid unemployment and to help our export trade, forbid all shipments of yarn while British looms are stopped.

I am aware that shortage of cotton and rayon yarn is causing difficulty for weavers in this country. Steps have already been taken to reduce exports, and the question of further restriction is being urgently considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a statement showing the quantity and value of goods bought in bulk from overseas by various Government Departments during 1950, together with a statement of the respective deliveries.

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Food, Supply and Works, and as soon as the required information has been collated, it will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what number of people have left and what number of people have joined the agricultural industry since the Control of Engagements was removed.

Statistics of the intake and outflow of agricultural workers are not available. The total number of workers in agriculture in England and Wales at 4th June, 1950, was 737,400 as compared with 748,600 at 3rd June, 1949.

asked the Postmaster-General whether an increase in the pensions of retired supervising class officials in the General Post Office will receive consideration in the near future.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a similar question by the hon. and learned Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Hutchinson), on 30th January last.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning how many parishes in England and Wales were without a piped water supply a year ago; how many of these were in East Anglia; what progress has been made in the last 12 months; what he expects the position to be in a year's time; and if he is satisfied that sewerage schemes are keeping pace with the development of piped water supplies in rural areas.

In 1943, 3,117 parishes in England and Wales had no piped water supply, including 326 in Norfolk, 196 in East Suffolk, 111 in West Suffolk, 39 in Cambridgeshire and 3 in the Isle of Ely. Since the end of the war schemes have been authorised which will either give or improve supplies to 3,671 parishes in England and Wales, including 136 in Norfolk, 102 in East Suffolk, 67 in West Suffolk, 56 in Cambridgeshire and 12 in the Isle of Ely. In the last 12 months schemes have been authorised to give or improve water supplies to 576 parishes in England and Wales, including 19 in Norfolk, 29 in East Suffolk, 5 in West Suffolk and 20 in Cambridgeshire. In the next 12 months it is hoped comparable progress will be made. The reply to the last question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will amend the Rating and Valuation Act, 1945, so as to grant to land and buildings used for apiculture the same rating privileges as those granted to land and buildings used for agriculture.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that there is no prospect of legislation on this subject at present.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be a sufficient supply of anthracite available for hotels in the rural areas catering for the tourist industry, and particularly in the Highlands of Scotland.

A recent rearrangement of supplies of Scottish anthracite (by concentrating them in Scotland) should, if output is maintained, assist the general situation in Scotland. More generally, and bearing in mind that the needs of consumers whose appliances need anthracite of special sizes are catered for under a special distribution scheme worked out between the National Coal Board, the distributors and the appliance makers, the supplies of anthracite likely to be available should be sufficient to meet reasonable requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether permits are being given for oil to be sold by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company to the Shanghai Power Station.

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company have never supplied and do not contemplate supplying oil to the Shanghai Power Station.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the estimated annual saving of fuel when a stove is substituted for an open fireplace; and what action he is taking, in consultation with the Departments concerned, on the lines indicated by the Professor of Thermodynamics in the University of Oxford for the installation of stoves in place of open fireplaces in Government offices and in other places under public control.

I assume that the hon. Member's Question arises from the suggestion concerning "Open Fires" contained in the article by Dr. F. E. Simon in the "Financial Times" of 5th January, 1951. Burned in an improved openable stove, 19½ cwt. of coal will produce as much useful heat as 34 cwt. of coal burned in a pre-war stool-bottom grate.So far as concerns Government offices, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works has formulated a forward programme providing for the replacement of over 5,000 old-fashioned grates by improved stoves during the next 12 months. Other authorities have been approached with a similar object in view. Central heating is the most efficient means of providing space heating for large buildings, and the use of this method will continue to be pressed where appropriate.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what action has been taken in response to complaints of excessive soot and grit issuing from the chimneys at the Royal Navy Ordnance Depot, Priddy's Hard, Gosport, or other neighbouring establishments.

A set of mechanical stokers is on order for the boilers at Priddy's Hard. These should abate the nuisance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the mechanisation of the fishing fleet in Hong Kong; and what amounts have been spent on the development of this important industry.

During 1950 the mechanised fleet in Hong Kong increased from 55 to 111 vessels of all types, the greatest increase being in the number of native-type wooden long liners which rose from 34 to 66, and of the native type fish collectors which rose from two to 14.With reference to the second part of the Question, the approved estimated expenditure for the Hong Kong Fisheries Department for 1949–50 totalled HK $121,593. In addition, the Fish Marketing Organisation in Hong Kong, which is a co-operative undertaking with a staff of nearly 400, has a recurrent expenditure of $1,700,000 a year. This organisation is administered by Government but is self-supporting. In addition, it has spent $870,000 on loans to fishermen, including a sum of $150,000 for mechanising existing vessels, and $60,000 was spent in 1949–50 on subsidising schools for fishermen's children. A grant of £20,000 for new experimental vessels suitable for mechanisation has been made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Hong Kong Government will give facilities to the People's Government of China for the establishment of a selling agency in Hong Kong, in view of their desire to avoid the profits of the middle men.

There is no bar to legitimate trade in Hong Kong in conformity with existing regulations and in this respect an agency of the Chinese People's Government is in the same position as any other trading organisation.