asked the Minister of Transport how many fatal road accidents there were in Gloucestershire during 1951; and how many of these took place on the Bristol-Gloucester road.

Sixty-one persons were killed in road accidents in Gloucestershire, including four in the city of Gloucester, in 1951. Of these fatalities seven resulted from accidents on Route A.38 between the Bristol City boundary and the Gloucester City boundary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increase of accidents, he will consider the imposition of a speed limit on the North Circular Road from Green Lanes to the Cambridge Road.

On present evident I am not satisfied that a speed limit here would be justified, but I am referring this matter to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee and will give further consideration to the hon. Member's suggestion when I receive their advice.

asked the Minister of Transport what evidence he has as to the extent to which road accidents have been reduced or increased as a result of the introduction of zebra crossings.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the continued obstruction and congestion caused by cars parked on both sides of the street in central London; and if he will arrange for an extension of the system of unilateral parking so as to facilitate the flow of traffic.

I am aware of the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and I am considering whether I should authorise unilateral waiting in the first place experimentally in certain selected streets in the inner and outer areas of London.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why British passports issued to colonial seamen resident in this country are valid for a period of six months only.

Seamen do not require passports to enable them to pursue their occupation or to return to their home country. Seamen's identity documents are issued for this purpose by the Ministry of Transport or, in the case of colonial seamen by the colonial authorities concerned.When, as sometimes happens, a seaman has to travel overland to join his ship, a passport is issued for that specific purpose, and its period of validity is restricted to ensure that once this purpose has been served the passport is valueless as a travel document unless the time restriction is removed by the proper authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether compensation has now been offered by the Egyptian Government for the loss of British lives and property during the riots in Cairo; and upon what basis of assessment;

The damage to British property is provisionally estimated as between three and five million pounds sterling.No offer of compensation has yet been made. But I understand that the late Egyptian Government was examining the question in the light of investigations into responsibility for the Cairo riots now being carried out by its judicial authorities. That Government had already decided to offer immediate financial assistance to the proprietors of damaged businesses and the sum of five million Egyptian pounds has been allocated for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a reply has yet been received from the Argentine Government to the note of protest handed to the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs on 4th February, following the incident at Hope Bay, Falkland Islands.

Yes. Her Majesty's Embassy at Buenos Aires received a reply on 27th February. I have not yet received the full text but I understand that the Argentine Note, while re-asserting Argentine claims to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the Dependencies, confirms that fresh instructions have been given to the Argentine commander. The Argentine Government say that they are making inquiries in order to decide whether further measures are required. But they have expressed their conviction that there will be no recurrence of the incident.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the violations of British territory in the Antarctic by the Argentine and Chile, together with the dates on which they occurred; and if he Will state whether any of the territory occupied has since been evacuated.

The information required is contained in the documents already made available in response to a Question of 2nd July, 1951. I am sending the relevant extract from the OFFICIAL REPORT to my hon. Friend. Since then there has been the incident at Hope Bay about which I replied to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Hamilton Kerr) on 20th February.I am not aware that any Argentine or Chilean posts in the Falkland Islands Dependencies have been evacuated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the action recently taken by the Australian Government in distributing the proceeds of seized Japanese assets among all Australian ex-prisoners of war; and whether he will take early steps to do the same for British ex-prisoners of the Japanese

I have seen reports in the Press that the Government of Australia have announced only their intention to divide the proceeds of Japanese assets in Australia equally amongst all Australian ex-prisoners of war and civilian ex-internees of the Japanese.For the reasons stated in the reply given on 25th July last by the right hon. Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison) the previous Government considered that the proceeds of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom should, when they became available, be distributed to benevolent organisations rather than to individuals. This arrangement has been endorsed by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in the port of Massawa, recommended for allocation to Ethiopia by the United Nations General Assembly of 1950, the British authorities have dismantled and removed the arsenal, the cement works, and the large cranes, and have demolished or sold for demolition the petrol containers for refuelling ships and cars, the offices and warehouses of the port authorities and the dwellings of the port personnel; and whether he will give instructions that all demolition, removal and sale of property by the British authorities in Eritrea shall cease.

I think the hon. Member is confusing the commercial port of Massawa with the former naval base nearby. It was decided in 1947 to demolish the naval base, which had ceased to operate in 1945 and was falling into disrepair and costing the British Administration a great deal of money to maintain.It has not for a considerable time been our policy to sell or demolish any State assets in the commercial port. The British authorities have not disposed of any of its cranes, nor have they sold or demolished petrol installations, offices or warehouses of the port authorities, or official dwellings of port personnel, except in one case where an unoccupied building became a danger to the public. The cement works are a private undertaking and are of no concern to the British authorities. They have in any case not operated for many years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals he intends placing before the Disarmament Commission of the United Nations Organisation as an alternative to those of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I would refer the hon. Member to the draft resolution tabled by His late Majesty's Govermnent, together with the Governments of France and the United States, at the recent session of the United Nations General Assembly, the text of which was circulated as Cmd. 8414. This was approved by the General Assembly with minor modifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the whole cost of the efforts made by the British Broadcasting Corporation to overcome the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic's attempts to jam broadcasts to countries behind the iron curtain and to Finland has had to be met from the grant to the Overseas Service; that this has been one of the main reasons for the recently announced cuts in the services to friendly countries: and if he will consider the possibility of meeting from other sources the whole of the cost of the attempts to prevent jamming.

These measures have so far been financed from the grant-in-aid, but the proposed cuts in services to friendly countries have been caused mainly by rising costs. The possibility of meeting the cost of the measures necessary to counter the jamming of services to satellite countries is under consideration. But no final decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make available a White Paper setting out the transactions and decisions arising from the recent conference at Lisbon.

Yes. A White Paper is being prepared.

asked the hon. Member for Salisbury, as representing the Charity Commissioners, the amount of money under the control of the Charity Commissioners which, for various reasons, is no longer usable for the charitable purposes originally intended, and for which no alternative scheme has been approved.

At any one time there is inevitably some income awaiting allocation from charitable funds which can no longer be used for the purposes originally intended. It is the duty of the trustees of the charity concerned to bring this to the notice of the Charity Commissioners.Schemes directing alternative ways of applying income in accordance with the

asked the Minister of Supply what were the stocks of finished steel on 1st November, 1951, and 1st February, 1952.

Complete statistics of stocks of finished steel are not available in respect of the two dates named in the Question. A census of consumers' and merchants' stocks is taken at the close of each half year. However, the census for 31st December last is not yet complete.

asked the Minister of Supply for a statement concerning the recent resignation of the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Corporation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made last Monday.

asked the Minister of Supply in view of the agreement recently made for supplies of steel from the United States of America, what increased allocations of steel he proposes to make to the shipbuilding and engineering works of Aberdeen; in what proportions; and when.

The bulk of the additional steel obtained under the recent agreement in Washington will not reach the United Kingdom until the third and fourth quarters of the year. However, a slight increase in supplies is expected in the second quarter from which the engineering industries will benefit.Questions about steel allocations for shipbuilding should be addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty.

asked the Minister of Supply the total value and amount in yards of cloth ordered abroad for rearmament; and when the majority of the orders were placed.

Since July, 1950, about 88 million yards of cloth have been ordered abroad by the Ministry of Supply at a cost of about £29 million. The majority of the contracts were placed during the second and third quarters of 1951.

asked the Minister of Supply how much money was expended on research and development leading to the production of an atom bomb during the period August, 1945, to October, 1951; and on what Vote these sums were borne.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Donnelly) last Monday. On the second part, the expenditure was borne on the Vote of the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of firms in Wales which have received contracts in connection with the re-armament programme; and whether he is taking steps to ensure that small firms in the Principality receive a fair share of such contracts.

Some 250 firms in Wales have received direct contracts from the Ministry of Supply. In regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, West (Mr. Thompson), on 4th February.

asked the Minister of Supply how many men working in the Royal Ordnance factories have been discharged for drawing sick pay under the paid sick leave scheme since July, 1951, while working elsewhere; and whether legal proceedings have been taken against any such men.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None"; the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Supply what are the conditions governing the disposal of kitchen waste at Highways Hostel, Chorley; and why the highest tender was not accepted.

I understand from the Joint Committee of the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., who manage the hostel for the Ministry of Supply, that, for hygienic reasons, they require daily collection irrespective of quantity. The contract has been given to the highest bidder likely, in their opinion, to be able to comply with these conditions.

asked the Minister of Supply the financial arrangements entered into with the Government of Australia as to the cost of the Woomera Range; and how much expenditure has been incurred by his Department up to the end of 1951.

Broadly speaking, costs incurred in Australia are being borne by Her Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia, and costs incurred in this country by Her Majesty's Government in the U.K. It would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Supply what types of steel are included in the 1,000,000 tons recently purchased in the United States of America; and in what proportions.

The steel, of which there will be 800,000 tons, is likely to include ingots, semi-finished steel, hot rolled coil, cold rolled sheet, wire rods, bars, tube strip and alloy steel. The proportions will depend upon further contracts yet to be placed.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) how soon he expects to make an announcement about the future of the Brabazon air liner;(2) what progress has been made with the construction of the second version of the Brabazon air liner; and when it is anticipated that this aircraft will be completed and ready for use.

I hope to make a statement on both Brabazon aircraft very shortly.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when British old age pensioners in South Africa are to be paid the additional 4s. a week granted from 1st September, 1950.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), on Monday, 4th February, 1952.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that, following a grant for a blanket from the National Assistance Board, an applicant in Newport, reference C.P. No. 08/13/190, was informed in writing, on Form B/O 40A, that he would in future be expected to provide for his needs out of his allowance; and whether such instructions were issued with his authority.

Responsibility for the day to day administration of assistance rests with the National Assistance Board. But the Board inform me that, as their weekly allowances are intended to cover all ordinary requirements, it is their practice to remind an applicant of the position in appropriate cases when making exceptional needs grants.

asked the Minister of National Insurance to state, to the last convenient date, how many men and women, respectively, are in receipt of retiring pensions; what is the total annual cost to the State of these pensions, respectively; and what is his estimate of the additional annual cost to the State of giving men retiring pensions at the age at which women now receive retiring pensions.

There were about 1,400,000 men and 2,700,000 women retirement pensioners on 31st December, 1951. The present cost of retirement pensions is rather more than £300 million a year, of which about £190 million is paid to women. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the annual cost of increasing family allowance by 2s. 6d. per week; and if he will increase the family allowances by this amount, in view of the rise in the cost of living resulting from the recent import cuts.

The answer to the first part of the Question is about £31 million a year, and to the second part of the Question, "No."

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will take steps to amend the Family Allowances Act, 1945, and subsequent regulations, so as to provide for the continued payment of allowances to children who are certified mentally backward until they are 16 years of age, who cannot satisfy the school-attendance provision because of the absence of suitable school accommodation to accommodate them.

I can assure the hon. Member that the position of children who are physically or mentally handicapped and unable to attend school will be further considered in any future review of the family allowances scheme. I cannot undertake to promote legislation specially for this purpose, but the point has been noted for consideration at a suitable opportunity.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what rates of pension would be required to give widows and old age pensioners the same purchasing power as when their present pensions were first awarded.

On the basis of the Official Index of Retail Prices introduced in June, 1947, and the previous cost of living index, 34s. 4d. would be required to give the same purchasing power as 26s. in October, 1946.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of old age pensioners who have been refused assistance to pay for dentures and spectacles, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what reduction has taken place in the staff of his Department at Longbenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, since October, 1951; and what further reductions have been agreed to.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 129 and, to the second, about 250 up to 30th June.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what proportion of employed persons who have reached pensionable age since 1st October, 1951, have postponed retirement, and for how long; what proportion are still at work; and how this compares with the corresponding period of 1950–51.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many persons who have reached pensionable age since 1st October, 1951, have retired; and how many are in receipt of National Assistance.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number in receipt of National Assistance and insurance benefits for each of the four weeks in October, 1951; and similar details for the latest stated four-weekly period.

I am sending the hon. Member such information as is available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that in many cases there is insufficient knowledge of the time-limit required when applying for sick benefit and other benefits under his regulations; and if he will consider extending the time allowed for application for these benefits.

The National Insurance Advisory Committee were asked by my predecessor to examine the whole subject of time-limits in relation to claims for benefits under the National Insurance Acts. I have just received a copy of their report and am making arrangements to publish it immediately.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking regarding those persons whose appointments to the North Western Area Gas Board terminate during 1952.

The present terms of appointment of the persons concerned expire towards the end of April this year and I shall shortly be considering the action to be taken in accordance with the powers conferred upon me by the Gas Act, 1948.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to reduce the quantities of stone and solid rock which is at present being delivered in house-coal trucks to Altrincham sidings from West Thorp unit at the rate of 16 cwt. per 10-ton coal truck.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board. The recourse of any merchant who receives a consignment of coal which is not properly prepared is to the Board.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the British Electricity Authority and the Midlands Electricity Board have, together, donated 5,000 guineas to the University College, North Staffordshire, mainly for study and research into those branches of physics connected with electricity; and if he will make a statement on the nature of the current programme for education, training and research settled in consultation with him in accordance with the terms of Section 5 (3) of the Electricity Act, 1947.

I am informed that this donation has been made to assist research and study in electrical and related subjects.The current programmes of the British Electricity Authority and the area boards provide for training and education at all levels and research into generation, transmission, distribution and utilisation including some long-term researches.Details of the work in these fields carried out under the approved general programmes are published in the British Electricity Authority's Annual Reports.

asked the Minister of Food the purpose of the National Food Survey; and to what extent it is to be continued.

My right hon. and gallant Friend is now looking into the use of the Survey and the expenditure involved in maintaining it. I will let my hon. Friend know the outcome in due course.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that supplies of tea will probably exceed demand in the near future, he can see his way to abolish tea rationing or increase the ration.

As my right hon. and gallant Friend told the House on 4th February, his objective is to get rid of rationing. Arrivals are now at their seasonal peak with leaner months ahead. When stocks are sufficient and future supplies assured my right hon. and gallant Friend will act accordingly.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what dollar earnings have resulted from the sale from Frood during the past six months;(2) how much meat has been allocated weekly for the manufacture of Frood during the past six months by way of basic allocation and by way of export incentive allocation, respectively.

"Frood" is the trade name for a product manufactured by one firm. I do not think it would be proper to disclose details of an individual firm's business.

asked the Minister of Food which wage increases were taken into account when he recently reviewed the margins of distributors.

Those resulting from a wages council award, approved by the then Minister of Labour, which took effect on 18th July, 1951.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will institute an inquiry into the costing of the distributive operations concerning fruit and vegetables.

I do not think such an inquiry would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Food the average age of home-produced eggs at present selling in the shops; and to what extent this applies in the glut period.

A fair average would be two and a half weeks, and there is little variation at any season of the year.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will be able to announce a period of egg derationing this year.

It is too early yet to say.

asked the Minister of Food how much he expects to recoup during the present financial year as a result of the recent price increases of bacon and cheese, respectively.

The estimated savings in 1951–52 as a result of these price increases are approximately:

Bacon	…	…	…	£9·0m.
Cheese	…	…	…	£5·0m.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of steel supplied to the Government of Israel in the past five years.

Exports of steel to Israel for each of the years 1947 to 1951 were, in thousands of tons:

1947	…	…	…	…	26·9
1948	…	…	…	…	10·6
1949	…	…	…	…	14·6
1950	…	…	…	…	22·2
1951	…	…	…	…	22·3

asked the President of the Board of Trade what priority he has arranged for the supply of essential raw materials for industry in the development areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 21st February to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. West).

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much manila rope he expects to be able to make available to the inshore fishing industry this year and at what price.

I hope that it may be possible to maintain supplies of manila rope to inshore and other fishermen at their present level for the next six months. But manila hemp costs dollars and future supplies must depend on the state of our balance of payments.The price of manila hemp ropes depends on the costs of raw materials and of manufacture, which change from time to time. Maximum prices for these ropes are approved by the Central Price Regulation Committee; and are at present as follows for the basic types:

Manila Rope 3 in.:—
			Per ton
Superior Special	…	…	£274
High Grade	…	…	£292
Grade I	…	…	£258·5

asked the President of the Board of Trade the annual quantity of plate tin exported during the year ended 31st December, 1951, or to the most convenient date, specifying the quantities and the countries of destination, and also the proposed export of tinplate for the similar period of 1952 together with the quantities and the countries of destination.

The Trade and Navigation Accounts show that the total amount of tinplate exported in the year ended 31st December, 1951, was 239,663 tons distributed as follows:

	Tons
British West Africa	2,486
Union of South Africa	12,405
British East Africa	3,871
India	13,248
Pakistan	10,925
Malaya	12,124
Australia	64,622
New Zealand	15,814
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan	3,464
Other Commonwealth Countries	9,497
Total Commonwealth, including Colonies	148,456
Irish Republic	1,159
Norway	1,975
Denmark	6,919
Netherlands	5,831
Spain	178
Egypt	3,906
Iran	5,874
Brazil	5,318
Uruguay	4,237
Argentine Republic	27,853
Other Foreign Countries	27,957
Total	239,663

These figures include quantities of tinplate, amounting in all to about 60,000 tons for the essential needs of British oil companies operating overseas. They do not, however, include exports of tinplate in the form of flattened cans: these are not shown separately in the Accounts, but they amounted, I understand, to some 7,000 tons.It is expected that direct exports of tinplate, including exports in the form of flattened cans, but excluding supplies for oil companies, will amount in 1952 to about 250,000 tons. Of this quantity about 170,000 tons is likely to go to Commonwealth countries, including the Colonies. Of the remainder, nearly one-third will go to European countries with which we have bilateral trade agreements under which we get supplies of scarce and essential raw materials. The balance will be sent to a number of other countries, as in 1951, largely to be used for packing essential foodstuffs for import into this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the cost of children's clothes and footwear under price control is higher in comparison with those of adults than the respective amount of material and labour required for their manufacture suggests.

The cost of making articles of clothing is not strictly proportionate to the size. The labour cost is proportionately greater for smaller sizes and the cost of trimmings, for example, may be the same or greater.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a reduction in the worker's contribution to the National Health Scheme.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of last year's increase in the profits made by paper manufacturers, and last year's increase in the price of stationery, he will take steps to impose dividend limitation on this industry and to control the price of paper.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." The second part of the Question is a matter for my noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Dockyard and Production Accounts for 1950–51 will be published.

I have been asked to reply. These Accounts will be printed as soon as possible after certification by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Departments are represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee for the allocation of steel.

It is not the practice to disclose the composition or terms of reference of Cabinet committees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the decrease in the purchasing power of a Member of Parliament's salary since the date on which it was raised to £1,000 per annum to the latest convenient date.

Measured over the whole field of consumers' goods and services the purchasing power of a salary valued at £1,000 in 1946 is now about £712.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make arrangements for the annual publication by Her Majesty's Stationery Office of a list or lists of the names and salaries of all the executive and administrative staffs of public boards of a commercial character on the lines of the existing annual Civil Service list published by that office.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the recent increases in the rate of interest on housing loans from the Public Works Loan Board will be met wholly out of higher subsidies from the Treasury.

Subsidy rates are necessarily calculated on average building costs, and on this basis the new rates take full account of the rise in rates of interest.

asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements have been made by his Department as to the future of Tullos Limited, Aberdeen.

Tullos Limited have agreed to terminate their lease of the Ministry of Supply factory at Aberdeen on 1st May, 1952, so that it may be used for production for the defence programme by Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Company, Limited. Every effort is being made to ensure that the arrangements for the take-over cause as little inconvenience as possible on the Company.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that Tullos Limited are making agricultural machinery for export and that they are in an unemployment area, increased supplies of steel can be made available to them.

Tullos Limited have been authorised to acquire their fair share of the steel available for the agricultural machinery manufacturing industry in Scotland. It is not possible to give them preferential treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that Scotland is adequately represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee for the allocation of steel.

I am satisfied that Scottish interests are adequately represented on the Committee concerned. A Scottish Office representative attends all meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the provision of adult education, having in view the present policy of educational economies.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular No. 231, which contains the suggestions I made to education authorities regarding the provision of adult education under the economies in educational expenditure required at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the chief activities in the Department of Agriculture for Scotland which will be curtailed or ended in consequence of the reduction of staff within the period ending on 30th June, 1952.

I hope that the reductions of staff in the Department which it is proposed to effect within the period mentioned will be secured by economy of service and minor reorganisation of work without any material curtailment of activities. I am considering what further reductions might be achieved by the elimination or curtailment of certain services, but I would prefer to wait until this examination is complete before making any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for expanding urgently necessary technical education.

The primary responsibility for the provision of technical education rests with education authorities and other managers of further education establishments. Five regional advisory councils for technical education representative of educational and of industrial interests, both employers and employees, have been appointed to advise these authorities and managers on the development of technical education, and much work has been and is being done by these bodies in examining existing provision and present and future requirements for technical education.The Scottish Education Department are associated with these councils, and keep in close touch with education authorities and other managers, and with industry, to encourage both the provision of necessary facilities and the fullest possible use by industry of the facilities provided.Much new building for technical education has been in hand for some time, and a considerable amount of it has recently been completed. I shall do all I can to ensure that work on the remainder makes good progress.As I have indicated in Circular 232, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, the national interest demands the continued expansion of facilities for technical education, and buildings for this purpose are being given, in general, a priority equal to that given to essential schools.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to a shortage in the supply of hypodermic needles for injecting lambs with lamb-dysentery serum and ewes with lamb-dysentery vaccine, as a result of shortage of materials; and whether, since this shortage may affect the success of the lambing season, he will take steps to ease the supply of the materials in question.

I am not aware of any shortage either of suitable needles or of materials for their manufacture. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any cases of difficulty that have come to his notice I will be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in the research being carried out at the Veterinary Laboratory at Weybridge, into hard pad disease among dogs.

The work which has been carried out at the veterinary laboratory at Weybridge indicates that in certain respects there is a close relationship between the viruses associated with classical distemper in the dog, as known in this country, and so called hard pad disease. The work on these diseases, which was carried out in the course of the general study of virus questions at Weybridge, has now been concluded and no further work specifically in connection with them is contemplated for the present.

asked the Minister of Education what consultations she has had with the Roman Catholic authorities in respect of assistance to be given to new Roman Catholic voluntary schools; and what is the estimated cost of such new schools which have received a licence to be built.

On the first part of the Question, I can give no information at present other than that given in my reply on 31st January to the right hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) and the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd). The total value of the new Roman Catholic schools approved by my Department between the end of the war and the end of 1951 is about £5¼ million.

asked the Minister of Education why the report of her Chief Medical Officer for the year 1948 was not published till the end of 1951.

The report of my Chief Medical Officer for the years 1948–49 was published on 16th January. Much of the material for these reports comes from the annual reports of school medical officers, many of which do not reach my Department until nearly the end of the year following that to which they relate. I am asking local education authorities to send in these reports more promptly in future, and my Chief Medical Officer hopes to publish his report for 1950–51 towards the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Health how many batteries were issued for use with Medresco hearing aids during the year ended 31st December, 1951; and what was the cost of each battery.

The approximate number is two million. I regret that it would not be in the public interest to state the cost of each.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from tuberculosis in Wales and Monmouthshire for the years 1951 and 1938.

The precise number of deaths from tuberculosis in Wales and Monmouthshire in 1951 is not yet known, but is it expected to be substantially below the number in 1950, which was 1,226 compared with 2,003 in 1938.

asked the Minister of Health the infant mortality rate for Wales and Monmouthshire for the years 1951 and 1938.

The infant mortality rate for Wales and Monmouthshire for the year 1938 was 57; the rate for 1951 is provisionally estimated to have been 36.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the need for additional adult patrols in Ilford for the supervision of school-children on highways in the vicinity of schools; and whether he will take measures to meet the requirements of the Ilford Borough Council in this matter.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that 11 crossings used by children in Ilford are regularly supervised by police officers and that school crossing patrols are employed at another eight. The representations made by the borough council for the employment of additional police or crossing patrols have been fully considered by the Commissioner of Police, but he has not felt justified in diverting more police or crossing patrols from other points at which their attention is needed at least as much.

asked the hon. Member for Woolwich, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, the daily cost of printing the menu card in present use in the dining room; and the cost of the menu card in previous use.

The cost of the present card is £5 14s. 0d. The cost of the old cards, of which there were several as against the present one card, was £5 19s. 10d. There will be a further saving during Recess periods when the one card will cover a full week's trading.