asked the Minister of Food what increases in rationed foodstuffs may be expected in the current year.

Increases in rations must depend largely on how we get over our economic difficulties.

asked the Minister of Food when he intends to invite private enterprise to undertake the task of seeking foreign supplies of meat.

I cannot at present add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 12th November last.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to save further waste in connection with the Queensland-British Food Corporation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 27th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the killing of a number of North Korean prisoners of war held by the United Nations forces; and whether he will make representations to the United Nations concerning the administration of prisoner of war camps in Korea.

Yes. I am aware that on two occasions recently rioting has broken out in prisoner-of-war camps administered by the United Nations Command. As General Ridgway ordered an immediate inquiry into the incidents, I see no reason to make any representations. The International Red Cross has also been asked to investigate the incidents and is now doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will issue a White Paper summarising the course of the truce negotiations in Korea.

Yes. My right hon. Friend intends to issue a further White Paper on events in Korea, including the Armistice negotiations, as a sequel to Command 8366 which brought the story up to the end of May last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether be can give any figures concerning the epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis in the Sudan; and what steps have been taken to ascertain the causes, both this year and last year, and to check this disease.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proportion of the passports issued in 1951 were issued through Ministry of Labour offices; and what economy in staff has thus been achieved by the passport offices.

Ministry of Labour Offices do not issue passports. Their function is to receive passport applications lodged with them and to forward the applications daily to the Passport Office with a note of the evidence produced and of fees paid. The number of applications for new passports received through Ministry of Labour Offices during 1951 was 262,709, or approximately 56 per cent. of the total number of new passports issued by the Passport Office in that year, excluding applications refused and withdrawn.Without actually reducing the load on the Passport Office, the work of the Ministry of Labour Offices has contributed

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of British technical engineers or other trade specialists at present employed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and whether permission has been granted in every case to applicants seeking permits to take such special employment.

We have no record that any British subjects falling within these categories are employed in the Soviet Union.

asked the Minister of Transport when the new draft of the proposed Highway Code will be

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what percentage of the total issue of new passports and renewals were through the London, Liverpool and Glasgow passport offices, respectively, in each of the past six years; and what percentage of the total staff of all three offices were employed in each of them.

The percentages of the total issues of new passports and renewals handled by the Passport Office in London and the branch offices in Liverpool and Glasgow during the past six years are shown in the table below, which also gives the percentage of the total Passport Office staff employed during those years in each Office.available; and whether he will arrange for the matter to be considered by the House before being printed for publication.

A number of bodies will have to be consulted on the preparation of a new draft, and I cannot therefore say when it will be available. Any alteration of the Code requires the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will construct a roundabout at the point where the new feeder road for Basildon, Essex, joins the South-end arterial road at Nevendon.

When the feeder road has been completed, the construction of a roundabout will be considered if the volume of traffic justifies it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will ensure that all drivers of invalid carriages shall be required to pay only the reduced rate for driving tests.

The lower driving test fee applies to disabled candidates with invalid carriages as defined in the Road Traffic Act, 1930. If the hon. Member will let me know more precisely what he has in mind I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the excellent facilities and the quick turn-round of ships at Sharpness Docks, he will consider making more use of this port.

Such powers as I have with regard to the compulsory direction of shipping could not properly be used for the purpose to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has now decided what changes he proposes to make in the headquarters organisation of the Royal Ordnance factories.

Yes. I have decided to make certain changes in the organisation of the Royal Ordnance factories, based upon the recommendation of the committee of inquiry set up by the right hon. Gentleman. The purpose of these changes is to recognise more fully the industrial character of the Royal Ordnance factories which will henceforth be administered by a board of management including members drawn from outside industry.

asked the Minister of Supply what is the number of houses and cottages owned by his Department for the use of his employees in Royal Ordnance factories and other branches of his Department.

Seven thousand, five hundred and seventy.

asked the Minister of Supply the cost to his Department of the official car service, so far as road tax and petrol charges are concerned; and what the figure is estimated to be arising from the recent increases in the Budget proposals.

Road tax is not payable on vehicles belonging to the Crown. On the basis of the prices of petrol prevailing immediately prior to the Budget, the cost of petrol used by the Official Car Service for a period of 12 months ending 31st March, 1952, is estimated at £56,538. On the basis of the new increased prices the estimated cost would have been £66,793.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to utilise redundant productive capacity and skilled labour in railway workshops for defence production.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that a firm of engineers recently approached a British Railways factory at Eastleigh with a request that it would undertake the machining of an important and urgent defence contract, but that this was refused by the railway authorities on the ground that they were prohibited from accepting such work by the legislation nationalising the transport system; and whether he will arrange to issue directions, under Defence Regulation 55 (2A), to the Transport Commission in such cases.

The Railway Executive have approached me about the possibility of undertaking defence work. In order to enable them to undertake non-railway work it is necessary to issue a direction in respect of each order. I have already issued such a direction in one case. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Winchester for drawing my attention to the position at Eastleigh. I am examining the matter with the Railway Executive.

asked the Minister of Supply if his attention has been called to the increase in the numbers of unemployed in the Merseyside Development Area; and if he will ensure that, where possible, defence programme contracts are directed to this area.

Yes. Special attention is being paid to Development Areas in placing Government orders and considerable contracts have been placed by the Ministry of Supply in the Merseyside area.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why women workers, undertaking part-time employment at wages of 30s. or less per week, are required under his regulations to pay the full National Insurance contribution of 4s. per week.

As this question involves the interpretation of a provision of the Act and the answer will depend on the precise circumstances of the case, I do not think it would be proper for me to express an opinion on it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how far the proposed increase in old age pensions will apply to non-contributory pensioners.

The proposals do not apply to the non-contributory pensioners.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what provision he has made by regulations under the Industrial Injuries Act to secure a hardship allowance to injured workmen who continue in employment six months or more before having operational treatment for a condition arising directly as a result of industrial injury.

I am considering how far the point which the hon. Member has in mind can be met by an amendment of the regulations.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will take early steps to implement such recommendations of the National Insurance Advisory Committee's Report on Time Limits as can be effected without legislation.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what action he proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the Report of March, 1952, of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on Time Limits.

Yes. I have referred draft Regulations for this purpose to the National Insurance Advisory Committee. As regards those which extend specific time limits I have made provisional Regulations to come into force today. Copies of these are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether any provision is to be made by increased payment for men in receipt of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, 1924, to bring their payments into line with the proposed new rates for injured workmen under the Industrial Injuries Scheme.

No.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what methods he adopts for requisitioning land for opencast coal mining; what recourse to the courts or a tribunal in such cases is available where farmers dissent from proposals to sequestrate farmland; and what alterations in these methods and procedure will take place on the transfer to the National Coal Board of the responsibilities for opencast coal mining.

Land for opencast coal mining is requisitioned under Defence Regulation 51 after consultation with other interested Government Departments and authorities. These include, of course, the Ministry of Agriculture, who take fully into account the views of the farmer and the wider agricultural implications of the proposal before agreeing to the requisition.The Defence Regulations make no provision for an appeal against the decision of a competent authority to requisition land required for one of the purposes specified in the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945.No alteration in this procedure will be made on the transfer of responsibility to the National Coal Board for the actual coal-getting operations.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is proposing to take for the setting up of a National Fuel Trust as proposed by the Scottish Fuel Efficiency Committee.

I understand the Scottish Fuel Efficiency Committee have submitted their ideas to the Committee on National Fuel Policy, which will no doubt consider them. I shall await the Committee's report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many development councils under the Industrial Organisation and Development Act, 1947, were established during the last year; and what is his policy on the general question of the establishment of further development councils.

None. My right hon. Friend is prepared to establish further development councils only where there is substantial agreement on both sides of an industry that such a council is desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will move for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider and make recommendations on the conditions of copyright which should attach to sound and television broadcasts.

No. The question of what changes are desirable in the law of copyright is already being considered by a committee set up in April, 1951, by the then President of the Board of Trade. I understand that the committee have taken evidence on the matter to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have now been made with the German authorities in the varous occupation zones to enable former prisoners of war now settled in this country to cash, without returning to Germany, the credit-notes held by them in payment for work done while they were prisoners.

Under the reciprocal agreement between the British and German Governments, the responsibility for paying the credit balances of former German prisoners of war rests with the German authorities.A former prisoner of war who has stayed on in this country after release from captivity may cash a credit note by transfer to a nominated person or to a bank in the German Federal Republic. If he has no banking account he may ask for a blocked account to be opened.The transfer out of the Federal Republic of Germany of funds obtained is a matter for the German exchange control authorities and, I understand, they may allow it on grounds of hardship. Application for such a transfer should be made to the bank in which the account is established, stating in full the reasons for the application. If the hon. Member wishes it, I will arrange for a memorandum giving fuller details to be sent to him.

asked the Secretary of State for War how far, following upon the transfer of teachers of soldiers' children from the service of the Control Commission to that of the Army, conditions of their employment are changed.

Upon the transfer to the War Office, the conditions of service of these teachers remain unchanged. But in due course their allowances are to be reviewed to bring them into line with those of other British civilian staff serving under the War Office in Germany.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the suffering caused to horses in transit to the Continent for slaughter, he will establish a slaughterhouse in England to deal with this traffic, so that the carcase can be chilled and sent to the Continent and the valuable by-products retained in this country.

So far as I know, there is no evidence of traffic in the export of horses from this country to the Continent for slaughter. In any case there would be no need to establish a further slaughterhouse since adequate facilities already exist.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the newly-appointed River Ousel Catchment Board will include the village of Beachampton, Buckinghamshire, within its purview, or which authority is responsible for the prevention of flooding within this village.

The proposed River Ousel Drainage District does not include this village. The county council has certain general powers under the Land Drainage Act, 1930, in regard to the maintenance of watercourses and the execution of minor drainage works, but it is not specifically responsible for the prevention of flooding within this village. If difficulties have arisen and my hon. and gallant Friend will send me particulars, I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government where, in the borough of Whitehaven and the area of the Ennerdale Rural District Council, he has given the necessary permission to build houses for miners.

Fifty houses allocated specifically for miners are being built at Lowca in the Ennerdale Rural District under a tender approved in October, 1951. I understand that it is unlikely that houses will, at any rate in the first instance, be erected in the Borough of Whitehaven and Ennerdale Rural District under the special programme announced on the 28th February in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing). The National Coal Board are, I am informed, at present concentrating on those parts of the country where additional men can most quickly make a substantial contribution to increased coal production.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the committee set up under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, to advise on requirements for preventing refrigeration apparatus from causing undue interference with wireless telegraphy has yet reported: and what action he proposes to take.

My noble Friend has received a valuable report from the committee; copies of it have been placed in the Library. The question of making regulations is being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements have been made by the Royal Air Force for the United States Air Force to use the airfield at Tymbou, Cyprus, as a strategic bomber base; what sums of money will be spent on the proposed alterations to the airfield; how many personnel will be accommodated; and whether he will make a statement.

No arrangements have been made for the United States Air Force to base strategic bombers at Tymbou.

asked the Minister of Education the rent paid by the principal for the principal's house at Cranfield College of Aeronautics; and what is the value of furniture and fittings supplied by the Government department.

The principal pays an annual rent of £100 for his house plus £150 for the furniture and fittings supplied. The cost of the latter was approximately £2,200.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will now make a statement about her intentions for legislation regarding voluntary schools.

I have nearly completed my consultations with the various denominational and secular bodies concerned with the voluntary schools, and I have every hope of being able to bring forward proposals which, without altering the framework of the Education Acts, will ease the unexpected difficulties experienced by the denominations in practice since the passing of the Act of 1944.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what special steps he is taking to ensure that there are welfare facilities for the miners and their families who are transferred from Lanarkshire to Fifeshire.

I understand that the provision of five new miners' welfare halls in the developing coalfields in Scotland, including two in Fifeshire, is being accelerated especially to meet such needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of Scottish agricultural land put out of cultivation by opencast coal working have not been brought back into cultivation after opencast operations have ceased; and what steps he is taking to ensure that as much as possible of this land will be in agricultural use this year.

There are 1,154 acres of agricultural land in Scotland on which production of opencast coal has ceased but which have not yet been handed over to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland for cultivation. The areas concerned are in various stages of restoration and every effort is being made by the Ministry of Fuel and Power to hasten this work so far as weather conditions make this practicable and desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of the loans made during 1951–52 under Section 4 of the Distribution of Industries Act, 1945, to firms in the North East Development Area.

The total amount of loans made to concerns in the North East Development Area under Section 4 of the Distribution of Industry Act 1945, during the period 1st April, 1951, to date was £101,200. The total commitments during the year were £119,350.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been paid to agents for valuing land for compensation under the Town and Country Planning Act.

Up to 21st March, 1952, the Central Land Board have paid £2,499,708 in contributions towards professional fees incurred by claimants under Part VI of the Act and Part V of the Scottish Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that in the Shoreditch area recently there have been a number of large Fascist notices on derelict walls on bombed sites; and what steps the police are taking to apprehend those responsible.

During the past year some 25 cases of defacement of walls in Shoreditch and neighbouring districts have been reported, 17 of them involving the painting or chalking of slogans which might be described as Fascist. The police exercise all possible vigilance, and have successfully prosecuted in a few cases, but detection of offenders is difficult unless they can be caught in the act.