asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what observations he has received from the Post Office Advisory Council on the new increased postal charges.

None.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how often the Post Office Advisory Council has met since his appointment; and how soon its reconstitution can be expected.

My noble Friend proposes to hold his first meeting of the Post Office Advisory Council on 24th April.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of sub-offices in England that have been closed since October, 1951, owing to the lack of suitable applicants for the position of subpostmaster.

Eighteen, including three which have since been re-opened.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the fixing of a manpower ceiling in the Post Office and the continual growth of postal business, what increase he expects in the working of overtime.

It is impossible to say: in recent months postal traffic has tended to fall and overtime to decrease.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which Post Office trade unions have replied to the request of his noble Friend to forward their observations on the Terrington Committee's Report.

My noble Friend has now received comments on the Terrington Committee's Report from 11 organisations. The following organisations have forwarded comments:

1.	Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association.
2.	National Guild of Motor Engineers.
3.	National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers.
4.	National Association of Telephone Supervising Officers.
5.	National Guild of Telephonists.
6.	Telecommunications Traffic Association.
7.	Society of Telecommunications Administrative and Controlling Officers.
8.	Government Overseas Cable and Wireless Operators Association.
9.	Postal Inspectors' Association.
10.	Post Office Clerks Association (Northern Ireland), and
11.	The Staff Side of the Whitley Council for the Engineering, Factories and Supplies Staffs of the Post Office (representing the Post Office Engineering Union, Society of Post Office Engineers, Society of Technical Civil Servants, Society of Telecommunications Engineers).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General for what purpose the General Post Office Cable Ship "Monarch" is going to the United States of America; and who will pay for the cost of the trip.

Her Majesty's Telegraph Ship "Monarch" has been chartered by the Bell Telephone Laboratories Incorporated of the United States of America to carry out cable laying operations for that Company in American waters. The charter is subject to the normal commercial terms and conditions, and the whole of the costs will be paid by the Bell Telephone Laboratories in dollars.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the details of the cost of telephone and telegraphic services supplied to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons for each of the years from 1946 to the latest convenient stated date.

The estimated value of telephone and telegraph services rendered to the House of Commons since 1947 is as follows:

	Telephone	Telegraph
	£	£
1947–48	9,300	10
1948–49	13,700	10
1949–50	14,400	2
1950–51	14,160	10
1951–52	18,440	32

No separate figures are available to show how much of this is in respect of Members only.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement about plans to improve radio reception in south-east England.

The B.B.C. has recently provided low power stations to improve reception of the Home Service programmes in the localities of Ramsgate, Folkestone, Hastings and Brighton. I regret that I can hold out no prospect of further improvements until it is possible to introduce very high frequency sound services.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many wavelengths are used by the British Broadcasting Corporation for foreign broadcasts; and for how many hours each day are these wavelengths used.

Eighty-seven short wavelengths and two medium wavelengths are in use. In addition, the B.B.C. uses a Third Programme wavelength and the Light Programme long wave for foreign broadcasts, during periods when they are not required for the home services. The Corporation also rents the use of a wavelength at Graz-Dobl in Austria. The total output of overseas broadcasts over these wavelengths is about 400 hours a day.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation why he proposes to return British European Airways internal services to private enterprise, in view of the fact that the services are now being successfully operated.

I have made no decisions on future civil aviation policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Robert Mensa, 16 years of age, of the Gold Coast, and Pijan Rahum, of Freetown, both British subjects, were put ashore by the captain of a Norwegian tanker in a desolate spot on the Spanish north-west African coast; and what steps he proposes to take to protect British subjects against a repetition of such treatment.

Yes. A report received from Her Majesty's Consul at Teneriffe confirms the regrettable facts given by the hon. Member. However, a Spanish trawler was fortunately present when these men were being landed from the Norwegian tanker "Jaspis" on which they had stowed away. The trawler took the men on board and landed them in good health at Las Palmas on 27th March. The men have since been repatriated by the British Consul.Her Majesty's Ambassador at Oslo has informed me that inquiries are being made by the Norwegian authorities at the port of registry of the "Jaspis," the results of which will be communicated to the Norwegian Minister of Justice. The Minister will then decide whether or not to proceed against the master.I am informed that the findings of the inquiry will be made available to Her Majesty's Ambassador in the very near future. When I have received his report I will decide what action is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to make a statement regarding the Anglo-Egyptian conversations.

No. I do not think that such a statement could serve a useful purpose at the present stage of what are purely exploratory talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can report any progress in the negotiations for a truce in Korea; and what obstacles still prevent the completion of a truce.

Since the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 5th March, agreement has been reached in naming the five ports of entry on either side at which neutral inspection teams will be based. To facilitate progress on the prisoners-of-war question, closed meetings from which the Press are excluded began on 25th March. These were adjourned on 4th April to allow both sides, in the words of the communiqué, "to develop additional avenues for discussion." No progress has been made on the two other unsettled questions—repair and reconstruction of airfields and the nomination of inspection teams.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the establishment of a sixth Argentine base in the Falkland Island Dependencies; and what action he is taking in the matter.

I am seeking confirmation of reports that a further Argentine base has been established in the area of Hope Bay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the outcome of the inquiry, opened on 18th February, into the allegations that the Wenchihene and his counsellors had abused their powers.

The Report of the Commission of Inquiry was submitted to the Governor last week. It has not yet been published and is now under detailed examination by the Gold Coast Government whose decision on it is likely to be known within the next fortnight. I will inform my hon. Friend of the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Moray Lodge will be available this year as a transit hostel for colonial students; and, if not, what alternative arrangement is proposed.

Moray Lodge will not be available as it has been de-requisitioned, but I can promise that other premises will be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why no information has been sent to the chairman of the Liverpool Colonial Office Welfare Advisory Committee regarding the closing of the Liverpool office, following the request for reconsideration.

I have written to the chairman of the Liverpool Advisory Committee saying that I am prepared to make an arrangement whereby the area officer can go on serving as an adviser at least for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision he has made regarding the indirect election in Sierra Leone in the case of the Protectorate and direct election in the case of the Creoles in Freetown in the Colony.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the representations made to me last month by a delegation of the National Council of the Colony of Sierra Leone. These related mainly to the constitution which was brought into force last year after the most careful study of representations (some of which were met) by the National Council and other bodies. I hope that the political parties in Sierra Leone will co-operate in working the present constitution so that it may be possible to introduce new franchise arrangements before Sierra Leone's next general election, which in the ordinary course will fall to be held in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the proposed Kenya Trades Union Ordinance which passed its second reading recently has now been finally passed; and by what majority.

After a number of amendments had been made in Committee the Bill was passed on 2nd April without a division.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what portion of the land in Kenya reserved for European settlers remains unallocated and how much of this is cultivable; to what extent Crown land in Kenya occupied by Europeans is uncultivated; and how much of the unallocated land is cultivable.

This information is not immediately available and its collection will involve considerable research in Kenya. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the Question can be fully answered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Whitley Council for Civil Service staffs in Kenya has yet met; and to what extent it is now functioning.

Yes. The first meeting was held on 3rd March. The agenda for the second meeting, which was due to take place on 7th April, includes discussions on the functions and composition of the Public Service Commission and the terms of service of temporary staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the collective punishment imposed on the inhabitants of Tanjong Malim, Malaya; why an adequate armed escort was not provided for the men killed in ambush in this neighbourhood recently; and if such escorts are to be provided in similar future circumstances.

As the hon. Member will be aware, I made a statement last Wednesday in answer to Questions by the hon. Members for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) and Tradeston (Mr. Rankin). The High Commissioner is relaxing the curfew which, from today, will be from dusk to dawn only. The rice ration is also being restored.Some arrests have been made as a result of information given by householders on forms distributed last weekend.With regard to the second part of the Question, it is not correct to say that the escort provided for the ambushed party was inadequate. An unusually large escort was detailed, consisting of one n.c.o. and 15 men, for this small party of five people; but they were attacked from a very well prepared ambush.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason the United States air mission to Nigeria has been undertaken; and to what extent this mission has secured the co-operation of the Nigerian Government.

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to a projected visit to Nigeria by members of a United States air rescue squadron to survey the route from Tripoli to Lagos from the point of view of desert rescue operations. This was originally arranged with the full co-operation of the Nigerian Government to take place in February, but I am told that the United States authorities have had to postpone the project and that no definite date has yet been fixed for it to be carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the arms smuggling into Northern Rhodesia; and what action he intends to take to prevent this traffic in the future.

The Governor of Northern Rhodesia reports that he has no reason to believe that there is any large-scale importation of arms into the territory. In recent years the number of muzzle-loading weapons registered by native authorities as held by Africans has increased. This is largely due to more efficient registration by the native authorities, but the Governor has asked the provincial administration to investigate the matter. There is no evidence that large numbers of precision weapons are being illegally imported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the action taken by the Government of North Rhodesia to secure the deportation of Mr. Simon Zukas, a Lithuanian refugee who has lived in Northern Rhodesia for 13 years, because he has helped to organise opposition to Central African federation; to what country it is proposed to deport Mr. Zukas; and if he will cause proceedings against this man to be delayed until he has had time to secure proper legal representation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons which caused the Government of Northern Rhodesia to deport Mr. Zukas.

The High Court in Northern Rhodesia is recommending to the. Governor that Mr. Zukas should he deported from the territory. The territory's Penal Code enables the Court to take this action where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Court that a person is conducting himself so as to be dangerous to peace and good order. Mr. Zukas' opposition to federation did not form part of the case against him.It will be for the Governor to decide whether to make an order in accordance with the Court's recommendation. I am not at present able to say to what country he would be deported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Meru families have been removed from the Ngare-Nanyuki area in Tanganyika; whether they have been settled satisfactorily in a new area; and whether he will give details of the consultation with the native authority which took place before the removal.

350 families were removed, but so far only 21 have settled in the prepared reception area. The remainder have moved elsewhere.The chief who was the Meru native authority during 1947 and 1948 agreed to the proposals, though with reluctance as far as the removal of these Meru was concerned. The final scheme was approved by my predecessor in 1949 and his decision was explained in detail to the native authority, which in the meantime had been reconstituted by the creation of a council advisory to the chief.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made to establish a Whitley Council for the employees of the Singapore City Council; and if he will hasten the establishment of this much-needed machinery of joint negotiations.

This is, of course, a matter for the City Council itself and not for the Singapore Government, but I am asking for information and will write to the hon. Member as soon as I receive it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the cuts in steel allocation to the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries are to be restored; and what prospects there are of increased allocations in the near future, having regard to the heavy programme of these industries.

My right hon. Friend is unable to forecast when it will be possible to increase the allocation of steel for shipbuilding and ship-repairing since this is dependent on the overall steel supplies available; it is hoped, however, that there will be some improvement later this year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the gross tonnage of merchant shipbuilding completed in the months of January, February and March and the corresponding figures for January, February and March, 1951, respectively.

The gross tonnage of merchant ships of 100 gross tons and over completed in January and February of this year and in January, February and March, 1951, was:

January, 1952	39,081 g.t.
February, 1952	71,114 g.t.
January, 1951	88,781 g.t.
February, 1951	87,846 g.t.
March, 1951	108,687 g.t.

The figure for March, 1952, will be available about the middle of this month, and I will arrange for it to be forwarded to the hon. Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of home-based civil servants of his Department serving abroad in the clerical, executive and works group, including mechanical and electrical engineers, scientific, technical, draughtsmen and other categories, respectively.

The latest figures of home-based civilian non-industrial staff serving abroad are as follows:

Executive Grades	170
Clerical Grades	209
Typing Grades	8
Professional and Technical Grades (including Works Group)	429
Scientific Grades	0
Teaching Staff	25
Draughtsmen	64
Ancillary Technical Grades	504
Total	1,409

The comparable figure for home-based industrial staff serving abroad is 904.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of students attending full-time courses at technical colleges in England and Wales in the present academic year; and how many are colonial and overseas students and British students not receiving State or local education authority grants, respectively.

The latest statistics available are those for 1950–51 when there were some 39,800 full-time students in technical colleges. This number included some 800 colonial students, but I cannot say how many other students from overseas. It also included some 23,000 students not receiving State or local authority grants.

asked the Minister of Education what proportion of the item, Grants to Local Education Authorities in her Department's Estimates for 1952–53, it is anticipated will be spent on students' awards.

I cannot give the figure asked for, but the hon. Member will see from the table on page 6 of the Memorandum on my Department's Estimates that I have assumed an increase of £2.7 million in the grant-earning expenditure of authorities on "Aid to Pupils" in 1952–53 and the bulk of this increase is attributable to increased expenditure on awards to students who have left school.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many children are attending the Montreal Church of England School, Cleator Moor; how many senior children occupying the Cleator Moor Market Hall; and what are their age groups;(2) how many places are at present occupied at the Cleator Council School; what is the total place capacity of the school; how many children attend the school today; and what are their age groups.

In January, 1952, there were 359 children on the roll of the Cleator Moor Montreal Church of England School, of whom 99 were occupying the Market Hall. Of these 99 children, 17 were aged 11, 26 12, 23 13 and 33 14.The numbers and ages of the children enrolled at the Cleator County School in January, 1952, are as follows:

Age	Number on Roll
4	1
5	28
6	18
7	26
8	22
9	19
10	13
11	17
12	13
13	15
14	19

The school has a hall, eight classrooms and two practical instruction rooms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reason for the Government's decision to release £10 million from the Egyptian sterling balances in this country.

Her Majesty's Government are committed to release this sum during the calendar year 1952 under Article 3 (2) of the Anglo-Egyptian Sterling Releases Agreement of July, 1951. They decided to make the release now as a gesture of good will towards the present Egyptian Government, who have made further representations about Egypt's serious lack of sterling.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether a starting date has been given for the construction of a sewerage scheme for Crickhowell and Llangattock, Breconshire; and what is the approximate cost.

Final plans for this scheme have not yet been received and application for a starting date has not been made. An estimate of the cost cannot be given in the absence of the final plans.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether a scheme for the provision of a water supply for Bwlch, Breconshire, had now been made; what agreement was arrived at between the Brecon and Crickhowell rural district councils; and how many joint meetings have taken place.

It is understood that agreement has now been reached in principle for Brecknock Rural District Council to afford a supply of water in bulk to the Crickhowell Rural District Council for distribution to the village of Bwlch. This bulk supply will be dependent on the Brecknock Rural District Council's comprehensive water supply scheme on which work is expected to commence in the autumn subject to the necessary steel being available. It is not known how many joint meetings have taken place.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what control he exercises, under his regulations, over the cost of new water supplies to farms; and what opportunity is afforded to potential users to appeal to him against an estimate for supply which they consider excessive.

Statutory water undertakers who desire to construct schemes of public water supply must submit their proposals for my authorisation. The cost of distributing water on farms is a matter for the owners. In suitable cases, grants towards the cost of farm water supply schemes may be obtained under arrangements for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is responsible. There is consultation between the two Departments before schemes with an agricultural element are approved.Where public supplies are wanted for non-domestic purposes, statutory water undertakers may be required by Section 27 of the Water Act, 1945, to give supplies on reasonable terms and conditions, subject to safeguards for existing consumers for domestic supplies in general. Any dispute as to terms and conditions may, in default of agreement, be referred to me for determination.If public supplies are wanted for domestic purposes, an owner or occupier of premises within the limits of supply of the undertakers who has complied in respect of those premises with the relevant statutory provisions relating to the laying of a supply pipe and on tendering in advance the water rate payable, is entitled to demand and receive a supply of water sufficient for the domestic purposes of those premises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the amount paid annually under the Local Government Act, 1947, by way of Exchequer Equalisation Grant and Exchequer Transitional Grant to the County Borough of Sunderland.

The amounts paid to the County Borough of Sunderland are as follows:

	Exchequer Equalisation Grant	Exchequer Transitional Grant
	£	£
1948–49	323,000	Nil
1949–50	397,225	Nil
1950–51	365,421	Nil
1951–52	316,776	Nil

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which rent tribunals have been discontinued since 1st November, 1951.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the necessity for railway workshops to give the greatest possible assistance to the rearmament drive, and the confused circumstances that appear to arise through the provisions of Section 2 (ii) (iii) of the Transport Act, 1947, he will introduce legislation abolishing that subsection completely.

As authority for rearmament contracts to be undertaken in railway workshops can be, and has in fact in one instance been, given by a Direction issued by a competent authority under Defence Regulation 55 (2A), the amendment suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend does not seem necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the imposition on 1st April of a weight restriction of seven tons 15 cwt. on traffic using the suspension bridge at Conway means that all vehicles over that weight travelling between Cheshire on the one hand and Caernarvon and Anglesey on the other, must undertake a tortuous detour of over eight miles and that delay is also occurring owing to the fact that a single line of traffic alone is able to use the bridge in its present form; and whether he can give any indication when the plan for the new bridge will be carried out.

I am aware of the weight restriction imposed by the Conway Bridge Commissioners and of the inconvenience to traffic resulting from the condition of the bridge. I regret that I cannot indicate when it will be possible to incur the considerable expenditure which the construction of a new bridge will involve.

asked the Secretary of State for War the nature of the weapons of Czech manufacture captured by Her Majesty's forces in Korea; and what were the dates of manufacture.

It is not possible to say which national contingent or unit captured any particular weapon in Korea. I am informed that the United Nations forces have captured small quantities of the following weapons of Czech manufacture: three types of 7.92 mm. machine guns, two types of 7.92 mm. rifle, machine carbines and a 7.62 mm. pistol. Except for the light machine gun ZB26, which was manufactured in 1937, I have no information about the dates of manufacture of these captured weapons, but all were designed before or during the 1939–45 War.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. and learned Member for Kettering may expect to receive an answer to his letter of the 3rd March to the Under-Secretary of State about the accidental death of a soldier in Korea; and whether he will take steps to expedite the answer, in view of the anxiety caused to the relatives by lack of information.

My hon. Friend has replied to the hon. and learned Member's letter. A report was sent to this soldier's mother on 27th March.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that members of the nursing profession appointed to posts as health visitors to the Middlesex County Council in accordance with the National Health Service, Act, 1946, under the Consolidated Recommendations of the Nurses Salaries Committee appointed by him, Nurses salaries Committee Notes No. 15 published in 1947, have been held by a decision of the High Court of Justice on 4th December, 1951, to be liable to have their appointments terminated by one month's notice; and, as these consolidated recommendations make no provision for the determination of nurses' employment, what steps he proposes to take to regularise the position.

The question of providing, in the national terms of service of hospital and public health nursing staff, for a specific period of notice on termination of appointment would be a matter for the Nurses and Midwives Council of the Health Services Whitley Councils.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors are employed under Part IV of the National Health Service Act, 1946; and what is the Approximate average annual salary of each for this service.

The average number of principals providing medical services under Part IV of the National Health Service Act in the year ending 31st March, 1951 was 17,717. They are not paid salaries, but their total remuneration for such services, including the value of the Exchequer superannuation contributions, was £43,506,262. This represents an average of £2,456 per doctor, out of which he had to meet his professional expenses.

asked the Minister of Health the average capitation fee paid to general practitoners in 1951.

A figure for the calendar year is not available, but in the year ending on 31st March, 1951, the average payment, based on an annual capitation fee of 18s. 0d., was just under 16s. 5d.

asked the Minister of Health the number of motor tricycles that have been provided for the disabled under the National Health Service since its inception.

5,997 in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health the average cost of a National Health Service prescription in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively.

The average cost in 1948, 1949 and 1950, respectively, was approximately 2s. 3½d., 2s. 8½d. and 2s. 11d. Complete figures for 1951 are not available, but the average cost from January to May inclusive was approximately 3s. 2d.

asked the Minister of Health the average number of outpatients during the last six months attending the Whitehaven Hospital; the number and cost of prescriptions over the same period; and how many prescriptions were issued at a cost of less than 1s.

Most of the information asked for is not available and could be obtained only with the expenditure of disproportionate time and trouble.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of cheese is required to meet the 12-ounce ration of cheese allowed to farmworkers in lieu of canteen meals; and what proportion this bears to total supplies of rationed cheese.

About 10,500 tons a year. This was equivalent to 5½ per cent. of the total supply in 1951.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of milk was

			1950		1951
			Million gallons	Percentage of total sales of milk off farms	Million gallons	Percentage of total sales of milk off farms
Home Produced Cheese	…	…	126	6·7	103	5·7
Home Produced Condensed Milk		…	88	4·7	52	2·9

asked the Minister of Food the location of slaughterhouses in Scotland; and what proposals he has to add to their number.

I have no record of all the licensed slaughterhouses in Scotland, but my Department is using slaughterhouses at the undermentioned places. I have no proposals at present to add to the number we are now using.

• Aberdeenshire: Aberdeen, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Peterhead, Turriff.
• Angus: Arbroath, Brechin, Dundee, Forfar. Montrose.
• Argyllshire: Campbeltown, Dunoon Oban.
• Ayrshire: Ayr, Girvan, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Largs.
• Caithness: Thurso, Wick.
• Clackmannanshire: Alloa.
• Dunbartonshire: Dumbarton.
• Dumfriesshire: Annan, Dumfries, Eastriggs, Lockerbie, Racks, Thornhill.
• East Lothian: Haddington, North Berwick.
• Fifeshire: Anstruther, Buckhaven, Cowdenbeath, Cupar.
• Lanarkshire: Bellshill, Biggar, Coatbridge, Glasgow, Hamilton, Lanark, Larkhall, Mother-well, Shotts, Strathaven, Symington, Wishaw.
• Midlothian: Dalkeith, Edinburgh.
• Morayshire: Elgin, Forres, Grantown-on-Spey.
• Nairn: Nairn.
• Renfrewshire: Greenock, Johnstone, Paisley.
• Ross and Cromarty: Dingwall, Invergordon, Stornoway, Tain.
• Roxburghshire: Hawick, Kelso.
• Selkirkshire: Galashiels.
• Stirlingshire: Falkirk, Stirling.

Milk used in the manufacture of home-produced cheese and condensed milk in the years 1950 and 1951:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to make a statement on the new prices of herring for oil and meal.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the new prices of herring for oil and meal.

After careful consideration in the light of further information supplied by the Herring Industry Board after my meeting with them and representatives of the fishermen on 14th March, the Government have informed the interests concerned that the price payable for surplus herring taken for conversion to oil and meal will be increased from 45s. per cran to 50s. per cran as from today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now considered the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee's report on the housing of special groups of the population; and whether he will arrange for the report to be published.

The Report is being published today and copies have been placed in the Vote Office. I am sending copies of the Report to all local authorities and am asking them to bear its recommendations in mind when planning their future housing programme. I am indebted to the Committee for their valuable study of this important subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sums in architectural fees, consultation fees and expenses, have been paid to the chairman of the Board for Industry (Wales) since 1945 within the light factory programme.

The total sums paid to various persons by the Wales and Monmouthshire Industrial Estates Company in respect of architectural fees, consultation fees and expenses since 1945 amounted to £953,074. I understand that a part of this has been paid to Sir Percy Thomas & Son, who are a large firm of architects, and that a small annual fee has been paid to Sir Percy Thomas in his personal capacity of consulting architect. It is not in accordance with usual practice to disclose details of payments made to and business placed with individuals or individual firms. I would remind the hon. Member that there is no connection between the Welsh Board for Industry, of which Sir Percy Thomas is Chairman, and the estate company, which is responsible for the building programme in the Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement with regard to the conduct of trade negotiations with overseas countries to reassure industry that their views of industries affected will be given the fullest consideration.

My preliminary view is that the procedure adopted by production Departments for consultation with the industries for which they are responsible does substantially meet the interests of industry, but this is a matter on which I should welcome the views of exporting industries themselves. After consultation with the Federation of British Industries, the National Union of Manufacturers and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, therefore, I have asked my hon. Friend the Secretary for Overseas Trade to preside over a small committee consisting of senior officials of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Supply, and representatives of each of these three trade organisations. The terms of reference of the committee are:

"To review current procedures for consultation with industry in connection with bilateral trade negotiations especially in so far as they relate to quotas or similar arrangements affecting United Kingdom exports and to recommend any changes in these procedures which appear to the committee to be desirable and practicable."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of burglary took place in the Metropolitan Police district during the period of 12 months ending 31st March, 1952, or the latest period of 12 months for which this information is available; in how many of these cases a prosecution subsequently took place; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in conviction.

During the 12 months ended 31st December, 1951 (which is the most recent period for which figures are available) 570 cases of burglary and 5,813 cases of housebreaking were known to the police in the Metropolitan police district. In the same period proceedings were taken against 227 persons in respect of 255 crimes of burglary and against 721 persons in respect of 1,147 crimes of housebreaking. Of the 948 persons proceeded against 912 were convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of robbery accompanied by violence took place in the Metropolitan police district during the period of 12 months ending 31st March, 1952, or the latest period of 12 months for which this information is available; in how many of these cases a prosecution subsequently took place; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in conviction.

During the 12 months ended 31st December, 1951, which is the most recent period for which figures are available, there were known to the police in the Metropolitan police district 163 offences under Section 23 (1) of the Larceny Act, 1916 (that is, armed robbery, robbery with violence, and robbery or assaults with intent to rob by two or more persons) and 51 offences under the remaining provisions of Section 23 (that is, simple robbery and assault with intent to rob by persons acting singly). In the same period, proceedings were taken against 186 persons in respect of 88 crimes under Section 23 (1) and against 15 persons in respect of 15 crimes

FIRE SERVICE PAY—DECEMBER, 1946-APRIL, 1952

Men

Rent allowance excluded December, 1946

Consolidated scales April, 1952

Per week

Per week

Fireman

…

…

…

…

…

…

£4

10

0—£5

17

0

£7

15

0—£9

4

0

Leading Fireman

…

…

…

…

£5

8

0—£6

3

0

£8

14

0—£9

12

0

Section Leader (now Sub-Officer)

…

…

£6

8

0—£7

3

0

£9

17

0—£10

12

0

Per annum

Per annum

Company Officer (now Station Officer)

…

£450

£642—£692

Senior Company Officer (now Assistant Divisional Officer)

…

…

…

…

£500

£742—£792

Column Officer (now Divisional Officer Grade III)

…

…

…

…

…

£600

£792—£867

Divisional Officer (now Divisional Officer Grade II)

…

…

…

…

…

£700

£867—£942

Assistant Fire Force Commander (now Divisional Officer Grade I)

…

…

£800

£992—£1,092

Women

Inclusive scales December, 1946

Inclusive scales April, 1952

Firewoman (over 20)

…

…

…

…

£3 2 6—£4 0 0 p.w.=£162 10—£208 p.a.

£285—£325 p.a.

Leading Firewoman

…

…

…

…

£4 5 0 p.w.=£221 p.a.

£340 p.a.

Senior Leading Firewoman

…

…

…

£4 15 0 p.w.=£247 p.a.

£380 p.a.

Assistant Group Officer

…

…

…

£265 p.a.

£412 p.a.

Group Officer

…

…

…

…

…

£325 p.a.

£482 p.a.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give full details of all increases made in salaries in the fire services since 1946.

The following table shows the scales of pay for men and women in the Fire Service at the end of 1946 and at the present time.The figures for the men are not however strictly comparable, for in their case consolidated scales were introduced in April, 1950, replacing not only the former scales but also rent allowances, which varied with the amounts paid by the men in rent and rates. At the same time men stationed in the Metropolitan Police district and the City of London were awarded an additional £26 per annum which is not included in the figures below.