asked the Minister of Supply why 200 sacks of shaving brushes were declared by the storage depot at Byley, Middlewich, to be surplus to requirements; what was the price paid for these brushes; and what was the price realised at auction in November, 1951.

The articles referred to were declared surplus because shaving brushes are no longer issued to the Army. They were manufactured in India during the war and the cost cannot now be traced. They were sold by auction for £2,165.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will control the selling price of secondhand cars.

No, Sir. This would not be practicable.

I do not know if the right hon. Gentleman ever has time to go along St. Martin's Lane, but may I ask if he is aware that if he had gone along that lane in the past fortnight he would have seen in a showroom there a September, 1951, Ford Consul, mileage 500, selling for £1,475? Is he aware that the list price of that same car today, including Purchase Tax, is £717 1s. 1d., and does he agree that that should be be allowed?

I have not been for a walk along St. Martin's Lane, but I am quite ready to accompany the hon. Lady. As for her Question, I am advised that, short of engaging an army of inspectors at a very great expense, it would be quite impossible to devise a scheme which would not be open to wholesale evasion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I should be delighted to accept his invitation and that I hope it will not empty the showrooms along St. Martin's Lane? Does he know, further, that had he gone to these same showrooms in January he would have found there a November, 1951, Vauxhall, mileage 745, selling at £1,485, and that the selling price today, including tax, is £802?

It seems that the hon. Lady and I would have to go there regularly.

asked the Minister of Supply whether the recent criticisms of British jet engine development made by Sir Frank Whittle were made with his consent; and what steps he is taking to improve development.

Sir Frank Whittle no longer has any official connection with the Ministry of Supply. The first part of the Question does not, therefore, arise. With regard to the second part, I do not consider that his criticisms call for any changes in our development policy.

Is the Minister aware that Sir Frank Whittle has been offered a very highly paid post in the United States and is considering accepting it? Would he consider discussing the matter with Sir Frank both in order to go over the development programme and also in an attempt to retain the services of this distinguished scientist in this country?

I am well aware of the contribution which Sir Frank Whittle has made to British aircraft development. 'I he Ministry of Supply know his views on jet engine development. He is a strong advocate of the advantages of the centrifugal as opposed to the axial compressor system, but I do not think that we can discuss this technical matter at Question time.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that some motor car traders are refusing to return deposits when requested to do so by the depositors, and that some have been held since 1946 and amount to £40 or more; and if he will take powers to require the return of all deposits upon request.

I am aware of this problem and have discussed it with the representative associations of the motor industry. They inform me that they have decided to recommend their members to return deposits if requested, except in the case of high-priced cars or where the car is likely to be delivered at an early date.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I shall have much pleasure in giving him further information tonight on my Adjournment, and that I have the permission of my informant to disclose that Gordon Cars, Ltd., of Golders Green Road, are refusing to return deposits of £40 and more which have been made on these low-priced cars? Would he look into the matter?

On a point of order. The hon. Lady has indicated that she will be raising this matter on the Adjournment this evening. Is it therefore in order for her to continue to question the Minister?

The questions of the right hon. Lady are in order so far.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will re-employ retired skilled armament workers in view of the shortage of skilled labour in the ordnance factories.

Yes, Sir. We are already doing so. We welcome applications for employment from retired skilled workers, though we cannot, of course, guarantee that there will always be suitable vacancies for them.

Will the Minister consider recommending to the Minister of Labour that a register of these retired skilled workers should be kept at the employment exchanges, in order that some of them can be offered employment when it is available?

I will certainly draw the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend to that suggestion, but the point is that there is no unwillingness to employ these retired craftsmen. We would welcome more applications for re-employment.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the amount of redundant tram track available as scrap, he has yet come to any conclusion as to the possibility of reimbursing local authorities in regard to the difference in the value of scrap steel made available and the cost of reconditioning the highways concerned.

The iron and steel industry is giving financial assistance to local authorities in order to encourage the recovery of tram rails for scrap. The amount of financial assistance varies according to local circumstances.

Is the Minister aware that there is a certain amount of responsibility to be taken by him to force local authorities to lift these lines, as they are first-rate steel and would make a most valuable contribution to other production?

I do not think that "force" is quite the right word. I should not like to force the local authorities. The Ministry of Supply has no funds with which to subsidise the collection of scrap. It is done by the industry itself, which has already obtained tram rails from 11 different towns, and is hoping to collect something like 50,000 tons of steel scrap from these sources.